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On a small rise less than 20 miles south of Tbilisi, Georgia, a clutch of round, mud-brick houses rises from a green, fertile river valley. The mound is called Gadachrili Gora, and the Stone Age farmers who lived here 8,000 years ago were grape lovers: Their rough pottery is decorated with bunches of the fruit, and analysis of pollen from the site suggests the wooded hillsides nearby were once decked with grapevines.

 In a paper published today in the journal PNAS, an international team of archaeologists has conclusively shown what all those grapes were for. The people living at Gadachrili Gora and a nearby village were the world’s earliest known vintners—producing wine on a large scale as early as 6,000 B.C., a time when prehistoric humans were still reliant on stone and bone tools.

 Excavating the overlapping circular houses at the site, the team found broken pottery, including the rounded bases of large jars, embedded in the floors of the village houses. More samples were found at Shulaveri Gora, another Stone Age village site a mile or so from Gadachrili that was partially excavated in the 1960s. (See “Ghost of the Vine” for more about the search for the roots of winemaking.)

 When the samples were analyzed by University of Pennsylvania archaeologist Patrick McGovern, he found tartaric acid, a chemical “fingerprint” that shows wine residues were present in fragments of pottery from both sites.

 Combined with the grape decorations on the outside of the jars, ample grape pollen in the site’s fine soil, and radiocarbon dates from 5,800 B.C. to 6,000 B.C., the chemical analysis indicates the people at Gadachrili Gora were the world’s earliest winemakers. (Tipplers at a Chinese site called Jiahu were making fermented beverages from a mixture of grains and wild fruit a thousand years earlier.)

 Because they didn’t find many grape seeds or stems preserved in the village’s soil, archaeologists think the wine was made in the nearby hills, close to where the grapes were grown.

 “They were pressing it in cooler environments, fermenting it, and then pouring it into smaller jugs and transporting it to the villages when it was ready to drink,” says University of Toronto archaeologist Stephen Batiuk, who co-directed the joint expedition alongside archaeologist Mindia Jalabdze of the Georgian National Museum.

 In later periods, winemakers used pine resin or herbs to prevent wine from spoiling or cover up unpleasant tastes, the same way modern wine producers use sulfites. McGovern’s chemical analysis didn’t find any such residues, suggesting that these were early winemaking experiments – and that the wine was a seasonal drink, produced and consumed before it had a chance to turn vinegary. “They don’t seem to have put tree resin with it, making it the first pure wine,” McGovern says. “Maybe they hadn’t yet discovered that tree resins were helpful.”

 The evidence adds a new wrinkle to our understanding of the Neolithic, a pivotal period when humans were first learning to farm, settling down and domesticating crops and animals. The gradual process, known as the Neolithic Revolution, began around 10,000 B.C. in Anatolia, a few hundred miles west of Gadachrili.

 It’s increasingly clear that it didn’t take long for people to turn their thoughts to alcohol: Just a few thousand years after the first wild grasses were domesticated, the people at Gadachrili had not only learned the art of fermentation but were apparently improving, breeding, and harvesting vitis vinifera, the European grape. “They’re working out horticultural methods, how you transplant it, how you produce it,” McGovern says. “It shows just how inventive the human species is.”

 View Images Organic residues recovered from the remains of ceramic vessels such as this provide the earliest evidence of winemaking. Such large, open-mouthed pottery vessels are similar in shape to qvevris, traditional winemaking vessels still found in many Georgian cellars today. Photograph by Mindia Jalabadze and courtesy National Museum of Georgia

 View Images Large, beeswax-lined qvevri are still used by Georgian winemakers, who bury the jars up to the neck and use them for generations. Photograph by Brian Finke, Nat Geo Image Collection

 Georgia, nestled in the Caucasus mountains not far from where the Neolithic Revolution began, is still wine-crazy 8,000 year later. It has more than 500 local grape varieties, a sign that people have been breeding and growing grapes here for a long time. Even in bustling downtown Tbilisi, grapevines cling to crumbling Soviet-era apartment blocks.

 “The region’s wine culture has deep historical roots,” says David Lordkipanidze, director of the Georgian National Museum. “Large jars similar to the Neolithic vessels are still used to make wine in Georgia today.”

 Stanford University archaeologist Patrick Hunt says the results show that Stone Age people lived complex, rich lives, with interests and concerns we’d be familiar with today. “Wine fermentation isn’t a survival necessity. It shows that human beings back then were about more than utilitarian activity,” says Hunt. “There’s far greater sophistication even in the transitional Neolithic than we had any clue about.” ||||| Image copyright AFP Image caption Some of the Neolithic jars bore decorations of grapes

 Scientists say 8,000-year-old pottery fragments have revealed the earliest evidence of grape wine-making.

 The earthenware jars containing residual wine compounds were found in two sites south of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, researchers said.

 Some of the jars bore images of grape clusters and a man dancing.

 Previously, the earliest evidence of wine-making was from pottery dating from about 7,000 years ago found in north-western Iran.

 The latest finds were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

 "We believe this is the oldest example of the domestication of a wild-growing Eurasian grapevine solely for the production of wine," said co-author Stephen Batiuk, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto.

 "Wine is central to civilisation as we know it in the West. As a medicine, social lubricant, mind-altering substance and highly valued commodity, wine became the focus of religious cults, pharmacopoeias, cuisines, economies and society in the ancient Near East."

 Traditional methods

 The pottery jars were discovered in two Neolithic villages, called Gadachrili Gora and Shulaveris Gora, about 50km (30 miles) south of Tbilisi, researchers said.

 Telltale chemical signs of wine were discovered in eight jars, the oldest one dating from about 5,980 BC.

 Large jars called qvevri, similar to the ancient ones, are still used for wine-making in Georgia, said David Lordkipanidze, director of the Georgian National Museum who helped lead the research.

 Mr Batiuk said the wine was probably made in a similar way to the qvevri method today "where the grapes are crushed and the fruit, stems and seeds are all fermented together".

 Previously, the earliest evidence of grape wine-making had been found in the Zagros Mountains of Iran and dated to 5,400-5,000 BC.

 In 2011, a wine press and fermentation jars from about 6,000 years ago were found in a cave in Armenia.

 The world's earliest non-grape based wine is believe to be a fermented alcoholic beverage of rice, honey and fruit found in China and dating to about 7,000 BC. ||||| Evidence of the world's oldest known winemaking has been uncovered in the nation of Georgia, with a chemical analysis of Stone Age pottery jars fingerprinting an ancient drop going back some 8,000 years.

 They say wine improves with age, and if that's true, the discovery is truly sublime – and pushes back the world's earliest evidence of modern-style viticulture by up to 1,000 years, trumping earlier finds in the Zagros Mountains of Iran dating to around 5400–5000 BCE.

 The discovery, made by researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada and the Georgian National Museum, is also a fitting one.

 Georgia, which has a long heritage of winemaking, is positioned at a crossroads between Western Asia and Eastern Europe, and the grape identified in jar fragments excavated from two Neolithic-era villages is Vitis vinifera – aka the 'Eurasian grapevine', from which nearly all kinds of modern wine originate.

 Representative early Neolithic jar (Mindia Jalabadze/National Museum of Georgia)

 "The infinite range of flavours and aromas of today's 8,000–10,000 grape varieties are the end result of the domesticated Eurasian grapevine being transplanted and crossed with wild grapevines elsewhere over and over again," says archaeologist Stephen Batiuk from the University of Toronto.

 "The Eurasian grapevine that now accounts for 99.9 percent of wine made in the world today, has its roots in Caucasia."

 The ceramic shards were uncovered in digs conducted in the ancient villages of Gadachrili Gora and Shulaveris Gora, with the team later confirming the presence of a number of acids found in wine taken from the residue of eight jars: tartaric, malic, succinic, and citric acid.

 The researchers say this chemical evidence is a snapshot of early human civilisation toward the end of the Stone Age, as it encountered new environments and made the best use of whatever resources found there – which in this case included cultivating the beginnings of all modern wine.

 "In essence, what we are examining is how the Neolithic package of agricultural activity, tool-making and crafts that developed further south in modern Iraq, Syria, and Turkey adapted as it was introduced into different regions with different climate and plant life," Batiuk says.

 "The horticultural potential of the south Caucasus was bound to lead to the domestication of many new and different species, and innovative 'secondary' products were bound to emerge."

 Gadachrili Gora (Stephen Batiuk)

 As innovative as this early viticulture was, though, it wasn't the first time ancient humans mashed grapes into a fermented liquid and decided to drink it.

 That honour belongs to the long-ago people of Jiahu in the Yellow Valley of China, where researchers previously found evidence of an even earlier kind of wine production dating back to around 7000 BCE.

 But this heady drop wasn't the wine we know and love today, and incorporated hawthorn fruit, rice, and honey mead, in addition to grapes. That means the latest Georgian discovery still takes out the title of the oldest pure wine.

 It's thought the prehistoric imbibers of Georgia may have stored their wine in large jars underground, leaving them to ferment.

 Some of these jars were pretty big – a comparable jar uncovered in a nearby site holds 300 litres (79 gallons), which could have held the contents of 400 wine bottles today.

 It's amazing to think that 8,000 years ago the world's earliest winemakers were producing something very similar to the wine we consume today – and what's even more startling is it hints we probably had lots more in common with these ancient ancestors too.

 "Wine fermentation isn't a survival necessity," archaeologist Patrick Hunt from Stanford University, who wasn't involved with the research, told National Geographic.

 "It shows that human beings back then were about more than utilitarian activity. There's far greater sophistication even in the transitional Neolithic than we had any clue about."

 The findings are reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ||||| The earliest biomolecular archaeological and archaeobotanical evidence for grape wine and viniculture from the Near East, ca. 6,000–5,800 BC during the early Neolithic Period, was obtained by applying state-of-the-art archaeological, archaeobotanical, climatic, and chemical methods to newly excavated materials from two sites in Georgia in the South Caucasus. Wine is central to civilization as we know it in the West. As a medicine, social lubricant, mind-altering substance, and highly valued commodity, wine became the focus of religious cults, pharmacopoeias, cuisines, economies, and society in the ancient Near East. This wine culture subsequently spread around the globe. Viniculture illustrates human ingenuity in developing horticultural and winemaking techniques, such as domestication, propagation, selection of desirable traits, wine presses, suitable containers and closures, and so on.

 Abstract

 Chemical analyses of ancient organic compounds absorbed into the pottery fabrics from sites in Georgia in the South Caucasus region, dating to the early Neolithic period (ca. 6,000–5,000 BC), provide the earliest biomolecular archaeological evidence for grape wine and viniculture from the Near East, at ca. 6,000–5,800 BC. The chemical findings are corroborated by climatic and environmental reconstruction, together with archaeobotanical evidence, including grape pollen, starch, and epidermal remains associated with a jar of similar type and date. The very large-capacity jars, some of the earliest pottery made in the Near East, probably served as combination fermentation, aging, and serving vessels. They are the most numerous pottery type at many sites comprising the so-called “Shulaveri-Shomutepe Culture” of the Neolithic period, which extends into western Azerbaijan and northern Armenia. The discovery of early sixth millennium BC grape wine in this region is crucial to the later history of wine in Europe and the rest of the world. |||||

– Wine has been used as a "social lubricant, mind-altering substance, and highly valued commodity" throughout the ages. Now, a discovery just south of Tbilisi details just how far back through the ages the beverage has existed, the BBC reports. Per a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, archaeologists found 8,000-year-old pottery shards in the nation of Georgia indicating wine was once made there in earthenware jars, the earliest evidence ever of grape-based wine production. Before the discovery of the fragments from eight jars (the oldest from circa 5980BC) in the Neolithic villages of Gadachrili Gora and Shulaveris Gora, the most ancient proof of grape winemaking came from Iraq, dating between 5000BC and 5400BC. Testing of the Georgian pieces showed evidence of a slew of acids from wine that had been made inside the erstwhile vessels. The jars also featured images of grapes and a man dancing, and National Geographic notes the presence of grape pollen in the soil. Scientists believe the jars may have been stored underground during the fermentation process and, based on an intact jar found at a site nearby, were so large they could fit about 400 of today's wine bottles, per a release. There's even a link to modern-day vino production: The old-time jars are strikingly similar to the large qvevri jars used today in Georgia. Because wine wasn't crucial to living in Stone Age times, one scientist not involved in the study tells National Geographic that the find shows "far greater sophistication" during that time period than previously suspected. China still holds the overall wine record, however: Evidence there for a boozy rice-and-honey based concoction dates back to 7000BC. (Archaeologists found a tiny stone that holds unparalleled ancient Greek art.)


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Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images.

 "I heard it and I felt it," American sprinter Manteo Mitchell told the Associated Press after breaking his leg on Thursday. Mitchell, who was halfway through his segment of the men’s 4-by-400 relay when he felt something snap, did what he said “almost any person would've done in that situation”—he finished the remaining 200 meters. His endurance wasn’t for naught: After Mitchell limped off, his three teammates completed the relay and qualified for the 4-by-400 final. After the race, doctors diagnosed Mitchell with a complete break of the left fibula and said the bone would heal in four to six weeks. How difficult is it to run 200 meters on a broken fibula?

 Very difficult, but not impossible. The fibula is the smaller of the two bones that make up the lower leg, the other being the tibia. Unlike the tibia, the fibula is non-weight-bearing. As such, it is possible to run on a broken fibula. The pain, though, would be intense and would likely debilitate many athletes. The fact that Mitchell made it around the track in just more than 46 seconds—a time that placed him in a tie for fifth out of eight runners—is extremely impressive.

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  ||||| Story highlights U.S. runner initially hurt leg on a staircase

 At 200 meters in Thurday's race it snapped

 He still ran 46.1 for one lap

 The U.S. rallied to finish second in its heat

 Just after the U.S. team finished second in its 4x400-meter relay heat, a limping Manteo Mitchell told reporters his injury was nothing serious.

 "It might be a simple cramp," he said.

 Turns out it was a lot more than that.

 Mitchell broke a bone in his left leg, USA Track and Field said in a news release. The 25-year-old, running the leadoff leg, felt his fibula snap with 200 meters to go. He had to finish or the United States would have been out of the event.

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 "I wanted to just lie down. It felt like somebody literally just snapped my leg in half," he said.

 For a half-lap he ran in excruciating pain until he handed off to Josh Mance.

 Mitchell's split was 46.1 and the Americans went on to finish in 2:58.87 to qualify for Friday's final.

 Mitchell said on Monday he was going up a set of stairs, missed one and landed poorly.

 "I got treatment and I was fine," he said, adding that he felt good warming up for Thursday's race.

 An X-ray taken Thursday after the relay showed the break.

 He seemed to have good spirits about it.

 "Never thought that the phrase 'break a leg' would reach reality for me lol," he tweeted later.

 USA Track and Field has not said who will take Mitchell's place on the team. Two other members of the relay team pool -- Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt -- have injured hamstrings and cannot run.

 The Americans will likely turn to one of their 400-meter hurdlers. Angelo Taylor, who was fifth in the 400 hurdles, ran in the 4x400-meter relay final at the world championships last year. Kerron Clement ran for the U.S. at the Beijing Games. But that was in a qualifying race while Taylor ran in the final, winning gold.

 Bolt makes history |||||

– The US made it to the men's 4x400-meter relay finals with the help of a runner who deserves a gold medal for pain endurance. Manteo Mitchell was 200 meters into the race's first leg when a bone in his leg snapped. He managed to finish the rest of the lap in excruciating pain, and keep the US in the competition, CNN reports. After he limped off, an X-ray confirmed that the 25-year-old athlete had a broken left fibula, the smaller of the two leg bones. It is possible to run with a broken fibula, but most people would find the pain unbearable, Slate notes. Mitchell originally hurt himself missing a step as he went up some stairs at the Olympic Village earlier in the week, but he says he felt fine after treatment. But "as soon as I took the first step past the 200-meter mark, I felt it break. I heard it," he says. "I even put out a little war cry, but the crowd was so loud you couldn't hear it. I wanted to just lie down. It felt like somebody literally just snapped my leg in half." The US—which has won gold at the eight Olympic 4x400-meter relays it entered—now advances to tonight's final, although the team has not yet announced its replacement for Mitchell.


Here is a news article: SEATTLE - A mysterious illness that hospitalized several local children has now turned deadly.

 A 6-year-old boy who has been treated for the disease for more than two weeks passed away Sunday night.

 The boy, 6-year-old Daniel Ramirez of Bellingham, was one of eight children being treated at Seattle Children's Hospital for a disease that has baffled medical staff.

 KOMO News spoke to Daniel's parents on Friday, and they said he was sent to the hospital with cold symptoms and dizziness. He was paralyzed within a few hours and never recovered.

 Doctors believe Daniel and the other children may have contracted a rare virus known as acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM - but that hasn't yet been confirmed.

 There weren't any cases in Washington state last year. There were just two cases in 2014 - including 15-year-old Hayden Werdal. He now needs a wheelchair - but his family is grateful he is improving.

 "We thought that Hayden's case was the most severe it could get - paralyzed from the neck down," said Hayden's mom, Heather. "That is scary for us because we didn't think it could (cause death)."

 Hayden is one of two children in Washington diagnosed with AFM in 2014. It all started with a cold. Ten days later, symptoms went from serious to severe.

 “Within 10 days he was completely paralyzed, on a ventilator, and on a trake. He kept getting sicker. It was a scary time,” said mother Heather Werdal.

 Hayen may not ever walk again, but his family hopes he’ll be heading off to college in three years. He recently returned to school for the first time in two years. He’s taking three classes including French, Math, and English. His family realizes the road to recovery will be a long one, but they are hopeful.

 “There is no cure for this. We are desperately looking for more research into this,” said Werdal.

 The Centers for Disease Control says the agency is investigating a spike in AFM cases. Fifty people have gotten sick in 24 states this year - and it's still unclear how someone gets the virus or exactly what causes it.

 Doctors have determined AFM affects the nervous system, specifically the spinal cord. Symptoms typically include sudden weakness in one or more arms or legs, along with loss of muscle tone and decreased or absent reflexes. There is no specific treatment for AFM.

 The children admitted to Children's are from 3 to 14 years old. Three are from King County, one is from Pierce County, two are from Franklin County and two are from Whatcom County. The cases occurred over the past six weeks.

 Staff at Seattle Children's Hospital say they can't comment on the details of Daniel's case because of privacy laws, but they say they expect to hear back from the CDC this week about what could be going on.

 Until then, Daniel's family can only mourn the death of a young boy who was healthy and thriving up until a few weeks ago. ||||| Photo of Breea Shelton from her great uncle Max Marshall - 2.jpg

 Doctors say a 10-year-old girl from Salem has symptoms of acute flaccid myelitis, an illness that causes paralysis and weakness.

 Breea Shelton of Salem is at Dorenbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, her grandmother told KATU Monday night.

 Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were eight children in Washington who had AFM. Oregon health officials confirmed there had been three cases in Oregon this year. All of those people had been released from the hospital.

 The disease that affects the nervous system is rare. It causes sudden weakness in a person’s arms and legs, along with loss of muscle tone and reflexes.

 The exact cause is unknown but many viruses and germs are linked to AFM. Doctors say it is not contagious.

 Oregon Public Health Division spokesman Jonathan Modie says to help prevent the illness people should practice good hygiene.

 “Encourage your kids to wash their hands, cover your cough,” he said.

 He says there’s no treatment for AFM.

 “If a child or adult is experiencing any kind of weakness at all, they should see their health care provider immediately,” Modie told KATU last week.

 CORRECTION: KATU News initially reported Breea was diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, but her doctor says she only exhibited symptoms of the rare illness. ||||| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed acute flaccid myelitis in eight of the nine kids admitted to Seattle Children’s hospital with polio-like symptoms.

 AFM is a rare condition that affects the nervous system, specifically the spinal cord. All eight children ranging in age from 3 to 14 had a loss of strength or movement in one or more arms or legs with a range of types and severity of symptoms.

 Related: Mother of boy who had mysterious symptoms speaks out

 Doctors say the syndrome is not contagious.

 The boy who was exhibiting symptoms before he died was unable to cry, his mother says.

 Marijo Deguzman told KIRO 7 her son, Daniel, was taken off life support on Monday.

 “He woke up, and looked at me. And he started crying. But his tear ducts, he couldn’t cry,” Deguzman told CBS. “His brain wasn’t letting him cry.”

 The Associated Press contributed to this report. ||||| A mystery illness that causes paralysis has popped up again in Oregon.

 State officials have tracked three cases of the disease, acute flaccid myelitis, since August. Two children younger than 10 and an adult over 50 were infected and all were hospitalized.

 "This is not something that happens very often," said Dr. Richard Leman of the Oregon Public Health Division. "But we want to detect it if it's there."

 Two of the patients live in eastern Oregon, including the adult. The other child is in the Willamette Valley.

 In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Infection tracked a wave of cases, including three children in Oregon. The number of patients subsided last year - there were none in Oregon - but the mysterious illness surged again this year, with nearly 90 cases in 33 states.

 Washington state has had nine cases so far this year, including a 6-year-old boy who is suspected of having died from the illness. He's the only known fatality nationwide.

 Acute flaccid myelitis remains a mystery. Scientists don't know what happens in the body to cause the paralysis though it's been linked to enteroviruses along with West Nile and related viruses.

 The adult in Oregon got it from West Nile, Leman said.

 Symptoms involve a weakness or paralysis of at least one limb. There is no treatment, with hospitals providing comfort care only. Most people get better over time though they usually don't fully recover, Leman said.

 Bailey Sheehan, the first child affected in 2014, suffered paralysis in her right leg and arm and then lost sight in her left eye. She's undergone extensive physical therapy and other treatment.

 She's vastly improved, said her mother, Mikell Sheehan, but isn't 100 percent.

 "She still has severe nerve damage in her right leg and arm and still cannot feel them," Sheehan wrote in an email. "But she can use them."

 Bailey, now 9, was infected by enterovirus D68, a virulent form associated with 14 deaths in 2014.

 -- Lynne Terry

 lterry@oregonian.com

 @LynnePDX |||||
A summary of this is?

– It was a quiet 2015 after dozens of people, mostly children, fell gravely ill in 2014 from a mysterious condition called acute flaccid myelitis, which first presents as a cold but quickly escalates to polio-like symptoms, including paralysis. It is quiet no longer as the Centers for Disease Control confirms what appear to be about 90 cases across 33 states so far this year, and three of them are in Oregon, home to the first case in 2014, reports the Oregonian. Washington, which saw only a couple cases in 2014, appears to be suffering from something of an outbreak, with nine cases so far this year including the first suspected fatality; a 6-year-old boy is believed to have died from the illness, reports MyNorthwest.com. The illness is not contagious, according to doctors, but it's not clear how people contract it. Little is known about AFM, though it's been linked to enteroviruses as well as West Nile and related viruses, and there is no treatment other than comfort care. It affects the nervous system, particularly the spinal cord, and telltale symptoms include weakness and paralysis. "If a child or adult is experiencing any kind of weakness at all, they should see their health care provider immediately," Oregon's public health division spokesperson tells KATU. Aside from Daniel Ramirez, the 6-year-old taken off life support last week, most kids appear to make partial to even full recoveries. KOMO News reports that a teenager afflicted in Washington in 2014 still needs a wheelchair but continues to improve and hopes to go to college soon. (Ramirez went from healthy to dead in two weeks.)


'Fatherhood effect' is average weight gain of 3.5 to 4.5 pounds

 Non-fathers lose weight during same time period

 Key time for pediatricians to counsel fathers, who often don't have their own doctors

 CHICAGO --- All those leftover pizza crusts you snatch from your kids' plates add up. Men gain weight after they become fathers for the first time whether or not they live with their children, reports a large, new Northwestern Medicine study that tracked the weight of more than 10,000 men from adolescence to young adulthood.

 The typical 6-foot-tall man who lives with his child gained an average of about 4.4 pounds after becoming a first-time dad; the 6-foot-tall dad who does not live with his child gained about 3.3 pounds, the study reports. That's a 2.6 percent rise in BMI (body mass index) for resident dads and a 2 percent rise in BMI for non-resident dads after controlling for other variables.

 By contrast, the average 6-foot-tall man in this group who was not a father actually lost 1.4 pounds over the same time period.

 This is one of the first studies to examine how fatherhood affects a major biomarker of health, the BMI. The study will be published July 21 in the American Journal of Men's Health.

 The study controlled for other factors that could contribute to weight gain such as age, race, education, income, daily activity, screen time and marriage status. It is already known marriage results in a weight gain for men. The fatherhood weight gain is in addition to the increase resulting from marriage.

 "Fatherhood can affect the health of young men, above the already known effect of marriage," said lead author Dr. Craig Garfield, associate professor of pediatrics and of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and attending pediatrician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. "The more weight the fathers gain and the higher their BMI, the greater risk they have for developing heart disease as well as diabetes and cancer."

 New fathers' weight gain may be due to changes in lifestyle and eating habits.

 "You have new responsibilities when you have your kids and may not have time to take care of yourself the way you once did in terms of exercise," Garfield said. "Your family becomes the priority."

 Eating habits may shift as the house fills with cookies, ice cream and other snack food.

 "We all know dads who clean their kids' plates after every meal," Garfield said. His personal weakness: finishing his kids' leftover cheese pizza.

 Over the 20 years of the study, all 10,253 participants had their BMI measured at four different time points: early adolescence, later adolescence, mid-20s and early 30s. Each participant was categorized either as a non-father, resident father or non-resident father. Then researchers looked at each person's BMI at each time point and took the average of all those measurements to determine whether their fatherhood status was associated with their BMI.

 Because many new dads don't have a personal physician, pediatricians are in a good position to counsel dads about taking care of their health. Many new fathers think they're too young and healthy to need their own doctor, Garfield said.

 "New dads are coming into the health care system as a pediatric chaperone," Garfield said. "This is an opportunity to talk about things that are important for dad's health and the child's health and to offer dads nutritional counseling and mental health education."

 Previous research by Garfield showed new fathers have an increase in depression symptoms in the early years after their child's birth.

 "We now realize the transition to fatherhood is an important developmental life stage for men's health," Garfield said. "It's a magical moment where so many things change in a man's life. Now the medical field needs to think about how can we help these men of child-rearing age who often don't come to the doctor's office for themselves."

 ###

 Other Northwestern authors are Joshua Rutsohn, Thomas W. McDade, Emma K. Adam and P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale.

 The study is titled "Longitudinal Study of Body Mass Index in Young Males and the Transition to Fatherhood."

 The study was supported by grant K23HD060664 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health. ||||| According to Clemson student Mackenzie Pearson, who wrote a viral essay essay on the appeal of the dad bod, it’s a physique that’s a “nice balance between a beer gut and working out,” the result of going to gym but indulging in a few pizzas once in a while and being okay with that. (Think John Hamm, and Chris Pratt before he went Jurassic.)

 And according to scientists, Pearson and her demographic have pretty much nailed it. The source of that “more human, natural and attractive” body is unique to fathers and can be traced to simply having kids.

 In a study published in the American Journal of Men’s Health, Dr. Craig Garfield, a pediatrician at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and his colleagues dove into a database of 10,263 men beginning when they were 12 years old and followed them for up to 20 years. They looked specifically at how body mass index (BMI), a combination of height and weight, changed over time as the men either became fathers or did not, and for those who did, whether they were what the researchers called resident fathers who lived with their children, or non-residents who lived separately.

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 Whether or not they lived with their kids, becoming a father was linked to around a four pound increase in weight over the study period, while remaining child-free was associated with a 1.4 pound weight loss for a six-foot-tall man.

 “It’s a unique look at the influence that a social phenomenon, becoming a father, has on a biological marker, namely BMI,” says Garfield. “It really plants fatherhood as a potential social determinant of health for men.”

 That’s a critical finding, especially since men, and in particular young men, are typically less proactive about taking care of their health. Garfield notes that while many men will quit smoking and drink less and otherwise try to become healthier when they become fathers, there may be other factors associated with caring for kids that counteract those good intentions, such as being surrounded by more kid-friendly, high calorie foods and snacks, as well as their leftovers.

 “From my own point of view, we wouldn’t have as many pizzas in the house if the kids weren’t around, and we wouldn’t have the brownies my wife makes if the kids weren’t around,” says Garfield. “Having kids around changes not only the food in the house and what is available to you for meal, but also for snacks. It also changes whether you are able to find time to get out and exercise and get enough sleep and take care of yourself.”

 Read more Dadbod, Mombod and Our Pretty Bad Bod Prob

 Dads, of course, are not alone in experiencing these effects of parenthood. But this is the first study to tease out specifically the effects of fatherhood on weight gain over time. Since men are less likely to be seeing doctors regularly, if they are joining their partners during prenatal visits or pediatric visits, says Garfield, those are good opportunities to talk to them about their own eating, exercise and sleep habits to make them aware of the sneaky way that pounds can creep up on dads and potentially affect their health (even if the look seems to have its own kind of physical appeal).

 Read next: For the Dad Who Is Confident About How He Looks in Swim Trunks

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– There's science behind the plump dad bod: A new study that tracked the weight of 10,000 males over 20 years from adolescence into their early 30s finds the average 6-foot tall, first-time father gains 4.4 pounds if he lives with his child after birth and about 3.3 pounds if they live separately. That equals a 2.6% and 2% jump in a man’s BMI, respectively, according to a Northwestern University release. And men, don't try to pass off the weight as a side effect of marriage. Though a recent study found marriage does add a little to your waistline, the fatherhood weight gain is a separate issue "above the already known effect of marriage," says lead author Dr. Craig Garfield. Regardless of marital status, childless men actually lost weight in the same period: about 1.4 pounds. So why are men gaining weight while chasing after little ones? It likely comes down to a change in eating habits and lifestyle, researchers say. "You have new responsibilities when you have your kids and may not have time to take care of yourself the way you once did in terms of exercise," Garfield says. While many men quit smoking or cut back on alcohol when they have children, there may be more snacks and leftovers lying around, he tells Time. "We all know dads who clean their kids' plates after every meal." As first-time fathers often feel they're too young to have their own doctor, Garfield suggests pediatricians strike up conversations with child-accompanying dads about their own health, since "the more weight the fathers gain and the higher their BMI, the greater risk they have for developing heart disease as well as diabetes and cancer." (Here's how much weight marriage packs on.)


Here is a news article: Last summer, Democrats argued that the tea party movement was the AstroTurf creation of corporate groups. Now that the grass-roots conservative resurgence has emerged as a clear force on the right, the left is making a different case: that tea parties are simply the enemy.

 To that end, the Agenda Project, a new, progressive group with roots in New York's fundraising scene and a goal of strengthening the progressive movement, has launched the "F*ck Tea" project, which is aimed, the group's founder Erica Payne wrote in an e-mail this morning, "to dismiss the tea party and promote the progressive cause."

 ""We will be launching new products in the next several months to help people all over the country F*ck Tea," Payne told POLITICO. "Products like a Glenn Beck Bowl Buddy (Beck B Scrubbin) and others are perfect holiday gifts or just a great way to say, 'I love you and our country' to your spouse, friend or family."

 Payne, a veteran consultant to progressive groups, is a co-founder of the Democracy Alliance, the low-profile group of liberal mega-donors who helped build the Center for American Progress and other new organizations that grew in the Bush years.

 The new project, so far, features merchandise, polling statistics aimed to paint tea party members as ignorant and a mocking video.

 comments closed

 permalink ||||| TEA PARTY FACTS

 64% of Tea Party activists think that America's best years are behind us.

 66% think global warming does not exist or will not have a serious impact.

 57% think George W. Bush was a good President.

 40% think Sarah Palin would also be a good President.

 32% think that violent action against the government could be justified.

 42% want to decrease legal immigration.

 41% believe that gay couples should have no form of legal recognition.

 45% believe that abortion laws should be stricter than they already are.

 59% like Glenn Beck. |||||
A summary of this is?

– Progressives are taking off the kid gloves. They've tried dismissing the validity of the tea party movement but now have a new approach: f*ck them. The Agenda Project has launched a "F*ck Tea" project, complete with T-shirts, coffee mugs, and more merchandise to come. The point is simply to "dismiss the tea party and promote the progressive cause," the group's founder tells Ben Smith of Politico. To that end, the F*ck Tea website features polling statistics meant to ridicule tea partiers: 59% like Glenn Beck. 66% think global warming does not exist or will not have a serious impact. 40% think Sarah Palin would be a good president. ...and so on. Click here to read about the Tea Party's fundraising troubles.


– Mary Jordan was charged with assault and child endangerment last week in Bellevue, Ohio—but you wouldn't know it from her smiling mugshot. Police say Jordan and friends Ashley England and Sammie Whaley attacked a McDonald's worker in a restaurant parking lot on June 8 because they thought the service was too slow, reports Fox 59. Jordan and England's children were not just witnesses to the incident—which was caught on surveillance cameras—but they even "participated," police write on Facebook. All three women from Sandusky, Ohio, were arrested the next day. In addition to Jordan's charges, Whaley was charged with assault, and England was charged with assault, theft, and child endangerment; it isn't clear what she allegedly stole. When it came time for the women to have their mugshots taken, Whaley put on a straight face. England and Jordan, however, both smiled broadly, per Boing Boing, drawing a host of negative comments online. Jordan is being held on a probation violation, per WTSP.

Expand this summary.

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 BELLEVUE, Ohio - Three women are under arrest after they assaulted an Ohio McDonald's employee because she was working too slowly in serving them, police say. In their booking photos, two of the women appear to be smiling after their arrests.

 The assault happened on June 8th at the McDonald's in Bellevue, Ohio. According to police, the female employee was assaulted in the restaurant parking lot after the women thought she wasn't serving them and their children quickly enough.

 The women are identified by police as Ashley England, Mary Jordan and Sammie Whaley. They were arrested the next day after security video was used to identify them.

 England was charged with assault, theft and child endangerment. Jordan was charged with assault and child endangerment. The child endangerment charges are due to the fact England and Jordan had their children present with them and the children also participated in the incident. Whaley was also charged with assault. ||||| Mothers smile for mugshot photo after arrest for assaulting "too slow" McDonald's worker

 England was charged with assault, theft and child endangerment. Jordan was charged with assault and child endangerment. England and Jordan's child endangerment charges are due to the fact they had their children present with them and participating in the incident. Whaley was also charged with assault.

 The Bellevue, Ohio Police Department reported that Ashley England, Mary Jordan, and Sammie Whaley were arrested on June 8 for assaulting a female McDonald's employee in the parking lot "because she was working too slowly when dealing with three woman and their family and friends from Sandusky Ohio." Jordan (left) and England (right) hammed it up during the mugshots. All three women have pleaded not guilty multiple charges.

 Figuring out what to do with Trump's base means admitting they are racist Dylan Matthews has a wonderful piece up on Vox, Taking Trump voters’ concerns seriously means listening to what they’re actually saying, which points out that in order to heal the great divide in the United States we’re going to have to admit what Trump’s popularity is all about: a fading, racist white majority is struggling […] READ THE REST

 Over 170 nations agree to cut global-warming chemical used in refrigerators and air conditioners A global agreement to cut a heat-trapping chemical used in air conditioning units and refrigerators was announced today, with participation from over 170 nations. “The deal could have a greater impact on global warming than the Paris pact of 2015,” reports the New York Times. READ THE REST

 Report finds over 125,000 complaints against more than 25,000 Chicago police officers An analysis of five decades of police records by The Chicago Tribune found that a small group of Chicago police officers have racked up over 100 complaints each over the course of their respective careers, “including notoriously corrupt cops who wound up in prison but also others whose allegations of repeated wrongdoing were never before […] READ THE REST

 The Boing Boing Store's 2 top headphone deals of the week The Boing Boing Store features tons of headphones with a range of functionality, quality levels, and prices. Today we’re featuring 2 of the best additions, fresh to the Store this week.The first set of bluetooth headphones are great for working out or everyday listening, while the wired second set will be really attractive to anyone who […] READ THE REST

 Pay what you want in this 'Internet of Things and MBA Bootcamp' roundup The Sunday ‘Pay What You Want’ RoundupInternet of ThingsThe Internet of Things movement is one of the most exciting areas of technology, particularly because you can try it at home. This DIY Hardware & IoT Bundle is one of the best and most affordable resources we’ve found to get started. The bundle features 9 courses that will take […] READ THE REST

 Advance your project management career with the PMP Certification It’s no secret that project management is one of the fastest growing and versatile career tracks out there today. The Complete PMP Project Management & Certification Training Bundle will do more than prepare you to be a project manager, it will prepare you to earn the most valued certification in the field. Widely considered the gold standard in project […] READ THE REST

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Article:

FILE - In this July 20, 2017, file photo, the Kenmore Elite Smart French Door Refrigerator appears on display at a Sears store in West Jordan, Utah. Private equity firm ESL Investments is offering to... (Associated Press)

 FILE - In this July 20, 2017, file photo, the Kenmore Elite Smart French Door Refrigerator appears on display at a Sears store in West Jordan, Utah. Private equity firm ESL Investments is offering to buy struggling Sear’s Kenmore brand and home improvement unit. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) (Associated Press)

 NEW YORK (AP) — Sears' biggest shareholder appears to be pushing for a breakup of the 125-year-old company that has survived two world wars and the Great Depression.

 Chairman and CEO Edward Lampert — whose hedge fund has forwarded millions in funding to keep the ailing chain afloat — has asked the struggling retailer to sell its prominent Kenmore appliance brand and its home improvement business, the company said Monday.

 The private equity firm ESL Investments said it might buy the assets if the company is willing to sell. That sent shares of Sears Holding Corp., which have lost more than 70 percent of their value in the past year, up nearly 5 percent.

 Lampert, who combined Sears and Kmart in 2005 after helping bring Kmart out of bankruptcy, has long pledged to turn the company's fortunes around. He said the retailer would find ways to capitalize on its best-known brands like Kenmore appliances and DieHard car batteries, as well as its vast holdings of land.

 But as the company has seen shoppers move on to Target, Walmart and Amazon, and has closed hundreds of stores, cut costs and sold brands to deal with falling sales, Lampert now appears to have reconsidered.

 In his letter to the board, Lampert said Sears has been trying to sell the Kenmore businesses for nearly two years but it has been unable to do so.

 Kenmore could have substantial value. Amazon.com began selling Kenmore appliances on its site almost a year ago. ESL said its non-binding proposal gives the appliance and home improvement business an enterprise value of $500 million.

 ESL said it also would be open to making an offer for Sears' real estate, including the assumption of $1.2 billion in debt.

 "In our view, pursuing these divestures now will demonstrate the value of Sears' portfolio of assets, will provide an important source of liquidity to Sears and could avoid any deterioration in the value of such assets," Lampert wrote.

 Sears, which started in the 1880s as a mail-order catalog business, was a back-to-school and appliance shopping destination for generations. Its storied catalog featured items from bicycles to sewing machines to houses, and the company's stores were a fixture of suburban malls from the 1950s to 1970s. ||||| Sears CEO Eddie Lampert has proposed a deal to raise cash for the struggling department-store chain. AP

 Sears CEO Eddie Lampert has proposed a massive deal between the retailer and his hedge fund, ESL Investments, to raise cash for the struggling department-store chain.

 In a letter dated April 20, Lampert proposed that ESL Investments purchase Sears' Kenmore brand, its home-improvement business, its Parts Direct division, and some of the company's real estate. Sears' shares spiked more than 8% in early-morning trading Monday.

 "We understand that Sears has marketed certain of these assets for nearly two years but, with the exception of the Craftsman divestiture, has been unable to reach agreement with potential purchasers on acceptable terms," Lampert wrote in the letter, which Sears posted on its website on Monday.

 He said ESL valued Sears' home improvement and Parts Direct businesses at $500 million collectively.

 He also said ESL would "be open to making an offer for Sears' real estate," including the assumption of $1.2 billion in debt obligations tied to the properties.

 The deal would raise much-needed cash for the struggling department-store chain, which has been selling off brands and real estate to stay afloat amid years of falling sales.

 The company's sales have dropped from $53 billion in 2006 to $16.7 billion in 2017.

 In a statement to Business Insider, an ESL spokesman said the firm hoped the proposal would "enable Sears to improve its debt profile and liquidity position, creating the runway to help continue its transformation, and allow these businesses to unlock their considerable potential by further expanding their presence in the marketplace."

 Here's the full letter:

 Ladies and Gentlemen,

 Funds affiliated with ESL Investments are the largest stockholders of, and substantial lenders to, Sears Holding Corporation ("Sears"). We continue to see value in Sears and its underlying assets and believe strongly that with an appropriate runway Sears will be able to complete its transformation to respond to the challenging retail environment. We also are of the view that the portfolio of Sears' assets has substantial value that is not being reflected in the capital markets or being maximized under the current organizational structure. These assets include the Kenmore brand and related assets ("Kenmore"), the Home Improvement business of the Sears Home Services division ("SHIP"), and the Parts Direct business of the Sears Home Services division ("Parts Direct").

 We understand that Sears has marketed certain of these assets for nearly two years but, with the exception of the Craftsman divestiture, has been unable to reach agreement with potential purchasers on acceptable terms. We are writing to confirm the view that we have recently expressed to you that Sears should aggressively pursue a divestiture of all or a portion of Kenmore, SHIP and Parts Direct and to express ESL's interest in participating in such divestitures. In our view, pursuing these divestitures now will demonstrate the value of Sears' portfolio of assets, will provide an important source of liquidity to Sears and could avoid any deterioration in the value of such assets. In particular:

 ESL believes that Kenmore is an iconic brand with substantial value and Sears should aggressively pursue a divestiture of all, or a portion of, Kenmore in the near term. If Sears believes it would be helpful, ESL would be prepared to submit a proposal for such a transaction and believes it would be able to close such a transaction within 90 days.

 ESL is pleased to submit a non-binding indication of interest to acquire SHIP and Parts Direct on the terms set forth below.

 Additionally, if requested by the Sears Board of Directors, ESL also would be open to making an offer for Sears' real estate (including the assumption of the $1.2 billion of debt obligations secured by such real estate), with the expectation of entering into an ongoing master lease for some or all of the stores to allow for their continued operation.

 ESL would like to emphasize that its principal interest is seeing that the Kenmore, SHIP and Parts Direct businesses are divested in the near term at a full and fair value, regardless of whether ESL or a third party is the ultimate buyer, so that Sears is able to improve its debt profile and liquidity position. As a result, to ensure a fair process, ESL hereby confirms that:

 Edward S. Lampert and Kunal S. Kamlani will not participate on behalf of Sears (as officer or director) in any discussions, deliberations, negotiations or decisions with respect to a potential transaction in which ESL participates as a buyer, except to the extent specifically requested by the committee referred to below.

 ESL will not participate in any such transaction as a buyer unless such transaction is both (i) recommended by the related party transaction committee (or another committee of independent directors) of the Sears Board of Directors, which is fully empowered to consider such transaction, and (ii) approved by the holders of a majority of the shares of Sears held by disinterested stockholders.

 ESL would accept that any transaction in which ESL participates as a buyer would be subject to a "go shop" process on reasonable terms.

 We believe that adherence to the foregoing procedures will ensure that any transaction with ESL will be on fair and reasonable terms.

 Key terms of our proposal to acquire SHIP and Parts Direct are set out below:

 Valuation: We are interested in acquiring 100% of the equity of SHIP and Parts Direct based on an enterprise value of $500 million. The purchase price would be paid in cash and SHIP and Parts Direct would be acquired on a debt-free and cash-free basis with normalized levels of working capital. Other Agreements: We would expect that Sears will enter into certain interim and long-term agreements with SHIP and Parts Direct to enable the continued operation of those businesses as they operate today. These agreements would include transition services agreements with Sears for a period of time, a brand licensing agreement for SHIP and Parts Direct and other customary ancillary documents for a transaction of this type. Our proposal is also subject to receiving the required consents to assign the supplier agreements to the buyer from the suppliers of each of SHIP and Parts Direct. Financing: The cash consideration for the transaction would be financed with equity contributions from ESL and third party debt financing. At the appropriate time, we would also be open to discussing with you the possibility of partnering with third parties who might be interested in contributing equity financing. We do not anticipate any financing condition, since we plan to have our financing fully committed at the time we sign a definitive agreement. Exchange and Tender Offers: The transaction would be undertaken in connection with (i) an exchange offer with respect to 50% of approximately $600 million in outstanding 2nd lien indebtedness not secured by real estate for equity in Sears of equal value, and (ii) a tender offer for 100% of Sears' approximately $900 million in outstanding unsecured indebtedness at a discount to par reflective of the current trading prices or, alternatively, for Sears equity. ESL believes that the exchange offer and the tender offer would be beneficial to the debt holders, by providing liquidity, to Sears, by reducing its debt obligations, and to equity holders, by reducing risk and giving Sears time to pursue value maximizing strategies. Assuming the proceeds from the contemplated divestitures is sufficient to allow Sears to substantially reduce its overall leverage, ESL would consider participating in such exchange offer and tender offer. Timing and Advisors: We are prepared to move as quickly as possible to complete customary due diligence for a transaction of this nature and enter into definitive agreements. We believe that an expedited process is in the best interest of all parties involved. We have retained Moelis & Company as financial advisor and Cleary Gottlieb Steen& Hamilton LLP as legal counsel. Please feel free to reach out to any of the below regarding this Proposal.

 This letter reflects ESL's non-binding indication of interest. Nothing in this letter should be considered to constitute or create a binding obligation or commitment of ESL to proceed with, or consummate, any transaction. Any transaction among the parties will be subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the execution and delivery of a mutually acceptable definitive agreement.

 This proposal, including the exchange offer and tender offer and any alternative transactions with third parties, are part of a comprehensive solution to create a viable and healthy Sears, and will allow Sears to reduce its debt, extend its maturity profile and alleviate its liquidity challenges.

 We are very enthusiastic about our ownership interest in Sears and its future, and will remain so whether or not a transaction is consummated. We are available to discuss the foregoing at your convenience.

 Very truly yours,

 ESL INVESTMENTS, INC.

 /s/ Edward S. Lampert Edward S. Lampert Chairman and CEO |||||
What is a summary?

– Sears' biggest shareholder appears to be pushing for a breakup of the 125-year-old company that has survived two world wars and the Great Depression. Chairman and CEO Edward Lampert—whose hedge fund has forwarded millions in funding to keep the ailing chain afloat—has asked the struggling retailer to sell its prominent Kenmore appliance brand and its home improvement business, the company said Monday. His private equity firm, ESL Investments, said it might buy the assets if the company is willing to sell. That sent shares of Sears Holding Corp., which have lost more than 70% of their value in the past year, up nearly 5%. Lampert, who combined Sears and Kmart in 2005 after helping bring Kmart out of bankruptcy, has long pledged to turn the company's fortunes around, per the AP. He said the retailer would find ways to capitalize on its best-known brands like Kenmore appliances and DieHard car batteries, as well as its vast holdings of land. But as the company has seen shoppers move on to Target, Walmart, and Amazon, and has closed hundreds of stores, cut costs, and sold brands to deal with falling sales, Lampert now appears to have reconsidered. In his letter to the board, Lampert said Sears has been trying to sell the Kenmore businesses for nearly two years but has been unable to do so. "In our view, pursuing these divestures now will demonstrate the value of Sears' portfolio of assets, will provide an important source of liquidity to Sears and could avoid any deterioration in the value of such assets," he wrote. (Business Insider has the full letter.)


Write a summary based on this article:

Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period. ||||| Warning: Contains spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 6.

 "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." Except for one very lucky actor who's done both, just in separate roles.

 Dean-Charles Chapman is currently known on Game of Thrones for playing King Tommen Baratheon, first of his name and however it goes, who took the throne in Season 4 after his brother Joffrey's death. But Chapman has only played Tommen since 2014, because the character was recast from the much younger actor, Callum Wharry.

 SEE ALSO: Maisie Williams had the perfect response to this Daily Mail headline

 But oddly, Chapman was in the show before then, by the name of a tiny lordling named Martyn Lannister. Hello Giggles first caught the similarities, noticing that the the king who's "only half-Lannister" looks exactly like his pure-blooded Lannister cousin (and also, IMDb says so).

 For reference, that's Tommen on the left and Martyn on the right:

 Image: HBO

 It's an easy thing to miss because poor Martyn Lannister only appeared for two episodes in the third season before getting the axe. For those who remember way back when Robb Stark had an army and was alive, Martyn and Willem Lannister were taken as hostages by Robb's army.

 But in a fit of vengeance, they were murdered by a northern lord named Rickard Karstark. Robb, channeling his inner Ned, was furious over the murdered children and beheaded Karstark himself. Karstark's son is still bitter toward Starks in Season 6, and now works for Ramsay Bolton.

 While this likely has no effect on the greater story, it does feed directly into the never-discussed "Tommen is a faceless man" theory. That is probably nonsense, but that's never stopped Game of Thrones theories before.

 Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments. ||||| Guys, we may not be able to predict what happens in future episodes of Game of Thrones, but we should all be aware of what’s happened in past episodes, right?

 Then, how did we miss the fact that Dean-Charles Chapman (aka King Tommen Baratheon) played ANOTHER character in the Thrones-verse?!

 HBO

 Chapman actually played another member of Tommen’s extended family, Martyn Lannister, waaaay back in Season 3. He appeared in Episode 3, “Walk of Punishment” and Episode 5, “Kissed by Fire.”

 Here’s Tommen, I mean, Martyn in happier times chatting with Robb’s wife, Talisa.

 HBO

 That’s right, King Tommen is also Martyn Lannister.

 For a refresher, Martyn (along with his brother Willem) was a squire in the Lannister army who was taken prisoner by Edmure Tully at the Battle of Stone Mill (events that took place off-camera). Also, sadly, Martyn and his brother were killed off by Lord Rickard Karstark in revenge for Jaime Lannister killing his own son.

 Annyyyyywayyy, the important thing to take away from all of this, is that Martyn was a son of Kevan Lannister, aka Tywin’s younger brother.

 Here’s a SUPER basic family tree to give you an idea of what that means.

 HelloGiggles / HBO / iStock

 So, basically, Tommen is also his own cousin. Well, okay, not really, not in the world of Game of Thrones. But, this does mean Chapman not only played multiple characters in Game of Thrones, but actual family members!

 And if you need further “proof,” here’s Chapman’s IMDb listing for Thrones.

 IMDb

 It kinda makes sense, though. Given the Lannister family’s penchant for incest, having several people in that lineage look the same (like exactly the same) would not be a surprise.

 And clearly it wasn’t a big enough surprise to audiences since NO ONE NOTICED. (Almost.) |||||

– The internet loves obsessing over Game of Thrones, so Hello Giggles wants to know why more people aren't talking about the fact that "Tommen is also his own cousin." Dean-Charles Chapman currently plays King Tommen Baratheon on the show, a role he took over from a younger actor in 2014. But he also played Tommen's cousin, Martyn Lannister, in a few episodes of the show back in the third season, Mashable explains. Hello Giggles thinks the recasting makes complete sense. “Given the Lannister family’s penchant for incest, having several people in that lineage look the same (like exactly the same) would not be a surprise.” Poor Martyn was killed off after being taken hostage by Robb Stark, and Bustle thinks Chapman better hope for a third role as Tommen is "probably doomed just like his look-alike cousin."


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Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump's attorneys are trying to sway him against agreeing to an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller partially out of concern he might incriminate himself through false statements and could be charged with lying to investigators, The New York Times reported Monday evening.

 The report follows on CNN's reporting last week that Trump's attorneys are arguing that Mueller's team has not met the "high threshold" it needs to have Trump in a face-to-face interview.

 The Times, citing four people briefed with the matter, said Trump's attorneys want the President to refuse an extensive interview with Mueller's team and that lawyers and aides believe once refused, Mueller may not be willing to subpoena Trump in an attempt to compel a presidential interview.

 Trump said last month that he wanted to speak with Mueller and would be willing to do so under oath.

 "I am looking forward to it, actually," Trump told reporters. "Here is the story: There has been no collusion whatsoever. There is no obstruction whatsoever. And I am looking forward to it."

 Read More ||||| WASHINGTON — Lawyers for President Trump have advised him against sitting down for a wide-ranging interview with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, according to four people briefed on the matter, raising the specter of a monthslong court battle over whether the president must answer questions under oath.

 His lawyers are concerned that the president, who has a history of making false statements and contradicting himself, could be charged with lying to investigators. Their stance puts them at odds with Mr. Trump, who has said publicly and privately that he is eager to speak with Mr. Mueller as part of the investigation into possible ties between his associates and Russia’s election interference, and whether he obstructed justice.

 Mr. Trump’s decision about whether to speak to prosecutors, expected in the coming weeks, will shape one of the most consequential moments of the investigation. Refusing to sit for an interview opens the possibility that Mr. Mueller will subpoena the president to testify before a grand jury, setting up a court fight that would drastically escalate the investigation and could be decided by the Supreme Court.

 Rejecting an interview with Mr. Mueller also carries political consequences. It would be certain to prompt accusations that the president is hiding something, and a court fight could prolong the special counsel inquiry, casting a shadow over Republicans as November’s midterm elections approach or beyond into the president’s re-election campaign. |||||

– President Trump has claimed he would "love to" be interviewed under oath by special counsel Robert Mueller and that he's "looking forward" to it. His lawyers, however, are worried that Trump will make false statements, potentially leading to a charge of lying to investigators, and have urged him to turn down any interview request, the New York Times reports, citing "four people briefed on the matter." Rebuffing the interview might lead to a subpoena and a legal battle that could go all the way to the Supreme Court, but lawyers including John Dowd, who's representing Trump in the investigation, believe Mueller won't be willing to subpoena Trump and force him into a showdown, the insiders say. White House lawyer Ty Cobb supports full cooperation with Mueller's investigation, but he's outnumbered by opponents, the Times' sources say. Newt Gingrich is among those close to Trump who have publicly said that he should reject any request to be questioned. "The idea of putting Trump in a room with five or six hardened, very clever lawyers, all of whom are trying to trick him and trap him, would be a very, very bad idea," Gingrich said on Fox and Friends recently. CNN reports that Trump's team is arguing that Mueller hasn't reached the "high threshold" of evidence he would need to have Trump interviewed. (Trump has to decide whether to release a Democrat-authored memo on the Russia investigation.)


– A strange turn of events for the "Dog Whisperer": Police say they're investigating Cesar Millan for alleged animal cruelty after Millan's Nat Geo Wild show Cesar 911 featured a dog attacking a pig during a training exercise. "There was a complaint that we received and we are investigating the matter," an LA County Animal Control rep tells TheWrap. TMZ reports officials visited Millan's Dog Psychology Center in Santa Clarita on Thursday night to check on the health of the pig after receiving "numerous complaints." However, Millan was out of town on a business trip at the time, reports NBC Los Angeles. Officials say Millan was then given 24 hours to get in touch with investigators. It isn't clear if he has now done so. The episode showed a French bulldog/terrier mix named Simon, who had previously attacked its owner's potbellied pigs, biting the ear of a pig when introduced to the animal. "It was really difficult to watch," says a professional dog trainer. "It's not the way to rehabilitate an animal that is fearful and aggressive to pigs." A pair of Change.org petitions are calling for the show to be cancelled. Nat Geo Wild, however, says viewers "did not see or understand the full context of the encounter." It adds "Cesar took precautions" and the pig "was tended to immediately afterward, healed quickly, and showed no lasting signs of distress." A clip from the same episode shows Simon calmly interacting with the pig after the attack.

Expand this summary.

“Dog Whisperer” star Cesar Millan is being investigated following an accusation of animal cruelty, TheWrap has learned.

 The host, who currently has a show on the Nat Geo WILD Channel titled “Cesar 911,” had a complaint made against his Santa Clarita, California, dog psychology center on Thursday.

 “There was a complaint that we received and we are investigating the matter,” Deputy Director Danny Ubario of L.A. County Animal Control told TheWrap.

 Also Read: CJ the German Shorthaired Pointer Wins Best in Show at 2016 Westminster Dog Show

 “An officer visited the center today and it is currently under investigation,” he added.

 The complaint was made by a single citizen but no further details could be released as it is an active case, Ubario explained.

 A TMZ report claimed that the incident involved a dog attacking and injuring a pig during a training session.

 Also Read: Shootings, Stabbings, Dog Fighting: 11 NFL Scandals That Rocked the League (Photos)

 Millan is a self-taught dog behaviorist who quickly rose to fame with his series “Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan,” which was broadcast in more than 80 countries worldwide from 2004 to 2012.

 “Cesar 911” premiered on the Nat Geo WILD Channel in 2014.

 A Nat Geo WILD spokesperson issued this statement: “Cesar Millan has dedicated his life to helping dogs and to showing how even the most difficult “problem dog” can be rescued and rehabilitated. In a recent episode of the Nat Geo WILD series “Cesar 911,” Cesar works with an aggressive French bulldog/terrier mix named Simon, who has a history of attacking other animals, including his owner’s pet potbellied pigs. A short clip from the episode was shared online and showed Simon chasing a pig and nipping its ear, causing the ear to bleed. The clip caused some concern for viewers who did not see or understand the full context of the encounter.

 “We have included an additional clip from the same episode [click here to download] to provide missing context. Cesar has created a safe and controlled environment at his Dog Psychology Center (DPC) in California in which to rehabilitate some of the most extreme — or “red zone” — cases of dog aggression, such as Simon’s. It is important to clarify that Cesar took precautions, such as putting Simon on a long lead to assess his behavior, before making initial corrections and removing the leash. The pig that was nipped by Simon was tended to immediately afterward, healed quickly and showed no lasting signs of distress. As the additional clip reveals, Cesar and his animal pack effectively helped Simon to overcome his aggressive behavior toward other animals; as a result, Simon did not have to be separated from his owner or euthanized.” ||||| Cesar Millans methods are inhumane, in my opinion and his shows need to be taken off the air. In this episode, Cesar used pigs as bait for a dog who was a known pig killer and all for "entertainment" purposes and this is not the first time he has used bait animals. This is wrong! Using animals for bait is against the law.

 A complaint has been filed to Animal Control for animal cruelty for using animals as bait in Cesar911 Reality TV shows. Cesar Millan is currently under investigation for animal cruelty. We need your help. We need to have the voice of MILLIONS of you shouting now NO MORE abuse on any Reality TV shows again.

 One of the officers on this investigation with Animal Control called me today March 22, 2016, asking for more people to speak up and come forward about any abuse they witnessed while working, volunteering and or as a trainee in one of his courses at the DPC. He said that this case will remain open for a year so that people will have time to come forward as witnesses to any abuse to any animals. Please call with any concrete evidence not angry calls, CONCRETE evidence that you yourself witnessed any kind of abuse while working with, volunteering or as a trainee at the DPC. 562-658-2000 ask for Officer Ferrufino.

 Please sign the petition.

 It will be sent to Courteney Monroe, CEO of National Geographic.

 The American Humane Association is responsible for the protection of animals during the filming of any movie or tv. I spoke with Mark Stubis, the head of communications with AHA who put out this statement.

 Their contact information is: filmunit@americanhumane.org and call them: 818-501-0123 or 818-574-7779.

 MESSAGE TO NAT GEO REALITY SHOW: ABUSE IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE

 "Animal abuse is never acceptable, and should never be tolerated.

 American Humane Association has received complaints regarding an episode of a Nat Geo reality television series featuring Cesar Millan. As this country’s first national humane organization, we are always vigilant about stopping abuse wherever it occurs.

 We saw what so many concerned Americans saw in that segment. Clearly, the treatment of the animals did not meet our stringent “Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media.” American Humane Association oversees the humane treatment of animals around the world with our No Animals Were Harmed® animal welfare program, but sadly we are not invited to protect the animals featured in reality television productions.

 We call on the entertainment industry to have American Humane Association on all of their productions with animals, including reality television, so that American Humane Association can ensure that all animals in entertainment are safe and humanely treated.

 Situations like this should never, ever happen again. All animals deserve to be humanely treated, and abuse must end now."

 According to California State Law

 West's Annotated California Codes. Penal Code. Part 1. Of Crimes and Punishments. Title 14. Malicious Mischief. § 597. Cruelty to animals

 ..."(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c) of this section or Section 599c, every person who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal, is guilty of a crime punishable pursuant to subdivision (d).

 (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) or (c), every person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal, or causes or procures any animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, drink, shelter, or to be cruelly beaten, mutilated, or cruelly killed; and whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter or protection from the weather, or who drives, rides, or otherwise uses the animal when unfit for labor, is, for each offense, guilty of a crime punishable pursuant to subdivision (d)....

 This law is also stated in the petition but for your use when you are emailing and calling.

 Demand that Cesar Millan shows be to taken off the air. His shows cause the public to imitate his behavior with their own dogs causing children to witness abuse in their own homes to their family pets. This needs to stop.

 We NEED your support. We are their voice. ||||| Cesar Millan is GUILTY of allowing the ATTACK on defenseless Pigs on his show - "The DOG WHISPERER".

 A Woman that owned a Dog contacted him after the Dog KILLED her Potbellied Pig (PET) and asked if he could help because she wanted to get another one.

 He met her at a location (SEE YOUTUBE Video - "Pig Slayer") and had three small Pigs there in a large fenced in area. The Pigs were minding their own business, and Caesar brought the Dog into the area.

 He had the Dog on a long leash at first, but after about FIVE MINUTES - he removed the leash and allowed the Dog to be free.

 He thought - THOUGHT - he could control the Dog with his commands.

 He was wrong. The Dog ran and ATTACKED SEVERAL PIGS - CAUSING INJURIES THAT WOULD REQUIRE VET ASSISTANCE. THERE WAS BLOOD ALL OVER THE PIGS. He could not get the Dog under control for a while and it kept attacking the Pigs.

 Finally after several attacks, he caught the Dog and controlled it.

 He should have put a MUZZLE on this Dog - because he KNOWS THE DOG KILLED A PIG ALREADY! But with his ARROGANCE and OVER-CONFIDENT ATTITUDE, HE THOUGHT THAT HE COULD CONTROL THE SITUATION.

 This is UNACCEPTABLE and he ALLOWED the Abuse of several DEFENSELESS Pigs.

 I want him REMOVED COMPLETELY from NATGEOs airtime, and all other TV Stations that Air him (KTLA Channel 5, etc).

 He should have known better and it shows a lack of concern and the fact that he allowed Animals to be severely injured filming his show. I know he has had other issues in this area before, and it cannot continue!!!!

 Please sign and share this petition. I own three Intelligent, Amazing, Loving Pigs and have hundreds of friends that do as well, and that rescue them. They are not to be used to train Dogs without restraint!!

 Additionally - the man working with Caesar grabbed the Pig by the leg while it squirmed and screamed trying to get away from the Dog attacking it.......and this could have injured the Pig as well. That shows me - he has incompetent people working with the Animals and they are in DANGER of being hurt! |||||


– It's not only the Rockettes who were upset to learn they'd be performing for the 45th US president. Thousands of people have signed a petition asking the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to rescind its acceptance of an invitation to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration next month, and now a singer says she's opted to quit the choir in protest, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. In a resignation letter posted to Facebook, Jan Chamberlin says she weighed the decision over "several sleepless nights and days [spent] in turmoil and agony" but determined "I could never look myself in the mirror again with self-respect" if she agreed to perform. "I only know I could never 'throw roses to Hitler.' And I certainly could never sing for him," she writes. Just as the Rockettes aren't required to perform, neither are the 360 choir members, only 215 of whom will perform based on a lottery system; it's up to members to submit their names. But Chamberlin—who's received hateful messages since her resignation, per KIFI—says "it will appear that [the] choir is endorsing tyranny and facism [sic] by singing for this man." The petition, signed by more than 20,000 so far, adds that the move "does not reflect the values of Mormonism and does not represent its diverse 15+ million members worldwide." A rep for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, says the performance is "a demonstration of our support for freedom, civility, and the peaceful transition of power" and "not an implied support of party affiliations or politics."

Expand this summary.

But she could not do it, Chamberlin said in the letter, she later posted on Facebook. "I could never look myself in the mirror again with self-respect."

 The choir's participation in the inauguration would "severely damage" its "image and networking," she said, adding that many "good people throughout this land and throughout the world already do and will continue to feel betrayed. ... I know that I too feel betrayed."

 For the singer, it is a moral issue, she wrote. "I only know I could never 'throw roses to Hitler.' And I certainly could never sing for him."

 Chamberlin, who said she has been with the choir for five years, did not respond to interview requests and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declined to comment on her status in the famed group or on how many others might have dropped out or complained.

 "Participation in the choir, including the performance at the Inauguration, is voluntary," church spokesman Eric Hawkins reiterated in a statement Thursday. "Only a limited number of choir members are participating (the number is limited by the inaugural committee), and none are required to participate."

 LDS leaders announced the decision to perform last week. Not all 360 singers will make the trip, but church officials have said about 215 are expected to volunteer.

 The choir previously sang at swearing-in ceremonies for George H. W. Bush (1989), Richard Nixon (1969) and Lyndon Johnson (1965). It performed in inaugural parades for George W. Bush (2001), George H. W. Bush (1989) and Ronald Reagan (1981).

 Soon after the announcement about the choir's appearance at Trump's Jan. 20 event, Randall Thacker, a lifetime Mormon and past president of Affirmation, a support organization for gay Latter-day Saints, launched a petition, arguing the choir's participation "does not reflect the values of Mormonism and does not represent its diverse 15-plus million members worldwide."

 By Thursday, it had nearly 19,000 signatures, most of whom reportedly are Mormons from across the U.S. and around the globe. Many expressed being "saddened and perplexed" by the decision to send the choir and urged LDS leaders to reconsider.

 Meanwhile, choir members who have concerns about Trump or their participation could opt not to put their names into the lottery used to select those to perform.

 Response to the choir's appearance "has been mixed, with people expressing both opposition and support," Hawkins said last week in a prepared statement.

 The choir's long tradition of performing for presidents "is not an implied support of party affiliations or politics," he said. "It is a demonstration of our support for freedom, civility and the peaceful transition of power."

 pstack@sltrib.com

 Twitter: @religiongal ||||| As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has acknowledged, "...to be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine."

 We, as signers of this petition, believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' decision to allow the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to perform at the upcoming presidential inauguration of Donald Trump is a mistake and NOT in harmony with the values and principles of Mormonism and does not faithfully represent its diverse 15+ million worldwide membership. We believe the incoming president has demonstrated sexist, racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic behaviors that do not align with the principles and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 The Church's participation will harm this spectacularly talented and beloved choir's image, misrepresent the diversity of Mormons worldwide, and sends the wrong message to LDS children as they will perceive the Church's participation as endorsement of a man whose words and actions do not align with our values.

 We also believe that an official LDS organization performing at any presidential inauguration gives the perception that the LDS Church and its diverse 15+ million members worldwide support an incoming president's values and behaviors. Performing at other government events would not be a concern (e.g. national holidays such as July 4th). As members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we strongly urge the Church to stop this practice.

 NOTE: In addition to signing this petition and sharing your reasons for signing in the comments below, please consider calling LDS Church Public Affairs at 801-240-1000 and respectfully sharing your thoughts with them. They are keeping track of all responses.

 Thank You

 PLEASE NOTE: Comments that attack the LDS Church and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or their leaders and members will be deleted. Please demonstrate CIVILITY, KINDNESS and RESPECT in your comments. THANK YOU! ||||| The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, as seen in this 2011 photo. Courtesy of Intellectual Reserve.

 The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, as seen in this 2011 photo. Courtesy of Intellectual Reserve.

 IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Update 6:55 p.m.: Nevada Senator, and member of the LDS Church, Harry Reid, says he supports Jan Chamberlin, a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who resigned over the decision to perform at next month's inauguration of President-elect Trump.

 In a statement to the Salt Lake Tribune, Reid said "I understand completely the difficult choice Jan had to make. She loves the choir, she loves to sing, she loves to promote the values she holds dear, and she loves her church — the same church that Trump's top adviser, Steve Bannon, mocked when he ridiculed Mitt Romney's sons."

 ORIGINAL STORY: A member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has resigned saying she cannot perform at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and look herself "in the mirror again with self-respect."

 In a letter to the choir president that she later posted on Facebook, Jan Chamberlin said she has spent many sleepless nights dwelling over whether to perform or not.

 "I have reflected carefully on both sides of the issue, prayed a lot, talked with family and friends, and searched my soul," Chamberlin wrote. "I have highly valued the mission of the Choir to be goodwill ambassadors for Christ, to share beautiful music and to give hope, inspiration, and comfort to others. I’ve tried to tell myself that it will be alright and that I can continue in good conscience before God and man."

 The Mormon Tabernacle Choir accepted an invitation to sing at Trump's inauguration last week. The decision has sparked a firestorm of comments among members of the church and thousands of signatures on an online petition demanding the church reverse its decision.

 In her Facebook posting, Chamberlin wrote the decision to not perform is based on her faith and moral standing.

 "I only know I could never 'throw roses to Hitler'," she wrote. "And I certainly could never sing for him."

 The church said in an announcement last week that participation in the inauguration is not required, and is not a political statement but rather a "demonstration of our support for freedom, civility and the peaceful transition of power."

 Chamberlin says since her posting of the resignation letter, she has received several messages of hate. |||||


News article:

DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – An Indiana man took a selfie with an Indiana State Trooper to send a message. That post has gone viral with more than 447,000 shares.

 It happened during a traffic stop along State Road 332.

 “It’s been awesome just to see how just a simple interaction on a Friday in Muncie, Indiana, has touched so many people,” Greg Barnes said.

 It started as Barnes sped to his Muncie home and passed an Indiana State Trooper.

 “Immediately I knew I was in the wrong,” Barnes said.

 The lights went off and Barnes pulled over. The trooper said there was nothing memorable about the traffic stop. But that changed as he came back to hand the driver a warning, and after talking for several minutes, Barnes decided to ask the trooper if he’d take a selfie.

 Barnes took it to show kids that not all police interactions are bad.

 Trooper Shawn Cosgrove told our sister station in Indianapolis why he agreed to take a selfie.

 “Because of what he was wanting it for,” Cosgrove said. “I thought that would be a great moment, especially nowadays when there is tension all around the nation when it comes to policing.”

 It wasn’t just the photo, Barnes posted a message:

 We can continue to fight against each other until we are literally ‘black and blue’, or we can show one another the respect we inherently deserve, not as ‘black man’ and ‘blue police officer,’ but as humans.”

 “It made me feel like our interaction could help people and children,” Cosgrove said.

 “I think that’s the only race that should truly matter, the human race, and just us showing respect for one another in that interaction, that’s what lead to this,” Cosgrove said.

 Although the photo has sparked conversation, Barnes knows it won’t work every time he decides to race home.

 “I don’t think I’ll be able to use that one again if I get pulled over,” Cosgrove said.

 Both say the reason this interaction went so well was the respect they showed each other. Troopers said it may not get you out of a speeding ticket, but it can make the situation go a lot easier.

 Here’s the rest of Barnes message:

 I was pulled over today for speeding. The officer did not know me nor did I know him, but we each showed one another a mutual display of respect in our interaction. He was doing his job, and I had made a mistake in trying to hurry home to get started moving that lead to our path’s crossing. He ran my information, and in the end we talked more about how are individual days were going, and the situa tions and circumstances within our society that have lead to interactions such as he and I’s to play out much more negatively, some even deadly, than ours, than we talked about the situation that lead to him pulling me over. In the end we both thanked each other for our mutual displays of respect and agreed to take a ‘selfie’ together to help tell our story.” ||||| MUNCIE, Ind. — An African-American man’s selfie is going viral after he snapped a picture with a white police officer who had pulled him over for speeding.

 Greg Barnes Jr. of Muncie, Ind., uploaded a photo to Facebook Friday. In it an officer is leaning in Barnes’s car, smiling, and the man is sporting a similar grin. Barnes wrote in his post that the officer had pulled him over for speeding — but the encounter was nothing short of diplomatic and respectful.

 Wrote Barnes:

 The officer did not know me nor did I know him, but we each showed one another a mutual display of respect in our interaction. He was doing his job, and I had made a mistake in trying to hurry home to get started moving that lead [sic] to our path’s [sic] crossing.

 Barnes added that after the officer ran his information, the two began talking about each other’s days, and then delved into a deeper discussion about how other encounters similar to theirs have ended with hostility, even death.

 “In the end we both thanked each other for our mutual displays of respect and agreed to take a ‘selfie’ together to help tell our story,” Barnes wrote.

 He then went on with a powerful final paragraph, writing that no one should jump to conclusion’s on one’s race or profession. “Neither of us are the enemy,” Barnes wrote.

 Added Barnes:

 We can continue to fight against each other until we are literally ‘black and blue’, or we can show one another the respect we inherently deserve, not as ‘black man’ and ‘blue police officer’, but as humans. None greater, none less.

 He then ended his message with one simple hashtag: #Respect.

 Barnes’s post has since garnered hundreds of likes and nearly 500,000 shares on Facebook. Read his full post below: |||||
What is a shorter version of the above article?

– Greg Barnes was in a hurry to get home on Friday, so when he saw police lights behind him on State Road 332 in Muncie, Indiana, "immediately I knew I was in the wrong," he tells WISH. What followed was "a simple interaction" that has touched hundreds of thousands of people. Police officer Shawn Cosgrove, who is white, chatted with Barnes, who is black, after running Barnes' information and handing him a warning. The talk turned to negative and even deadly police encounters, and Barnes asked if the two could take a selfie; the officer agreed. "I thought that would be a great moment, especially nowadays when there is tension all around the nation when it comes to policing," Cosgrove says. "It made me feel like our interaction could help people and children." Barnes posted the photo to Facebook in a post that's been shared some 465,000 times as of this writing. "The officer did not know me nor did I know him, but we each showed one another a mutual display of respect," Barnes writes. "Neither of us are the enemy. We can continue to fight against each other until we are literally 'black and blue,' or we can show one another the respect we inherently deserve, not as 'black man' and 'blue police officer,' but as humans. None greater, none less." WGN points out the hashtag Barnes ended his post with: #Respect. In a subsequent Facebook post made on Sunday, Barnes added, "Together, we, the only race that matters, the human race, can all make this world a better place than we found it." (This guy took a different kind of selfie with a police officer.)