New Research Proves Single Origin Of Humans In Africa

Just found a really interesting article.

New research published in the journal Nature (19 July) has proved the single origin of humans theory by combining studies of global genetic variations in humans with skull measurements across the world. The research, at the University of Cambridge and funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), represents a final blow for supporters of a multiple origins of humans theory.

Watch out Creationists. Your beliefs are crumbling under the weight of scientific proof by the second.

Competing theories on the origins of anatomically modern humans claim that either humans originated from a single point in Africa and migrated across the world, or different populations independently evolved from homo erectus to home sapiens in different areas.

The Cambridge researchers studied genetic diversity of human populations around the world and measurements of over 6,000 skulls from across the globe in academic collections. Their research knocks down one of the last arguments in favour of multiple origins. The new findings show that a loss in genetic diversity the further a population is from Africa is mirrored by a loss in variation in physical attributes. Read more

K-OS- Atlantis-Hymns for Disco

speaker After browsing the iTunes Music Store I found this album by hip-hop artist K-OS. I’ve heard his name in underground hip-hop circles for quite a while but I’ve never actually listened to him before. I had to pick up this album because of the review I read online. I can’t even describe this album. It is more than hip-hop. Where OutKast and Gnarls Barkley left off, K-OS picks up and takes us further. It is definitely a trip through great melodies, beats, and lyrics. I wouldn’t call this a hip-hop albums as it incorporates many different styles. He does some R&B, some rock, some funk, some disco, and does it all very well. The song “Valhalla” is reminiscent of Ricky Nelson or Chuck Berry where “Born to Run” is a mix of Michael Jackson and reggae sounds. Mixing so many genres on one album is a tough feat to accomplish, but K-OS does it so well that the flow is able to continue from one track to the next. It really is a journey through genres. It’s this type of variety in an album that I love. Here are two of my favorite tracks from the album:

Valhalla
[audio:http://pieceofshep.com/audio/08-Valhalla.mp3]

Highway 7
[audio:http://pieceofshep.com/audio/12-Highway-7.mp3]

Tech N9ne- Misery Loves Kompany

misery loves kompany I recently obtained Tech N9ne’s new album that is releasing on Tuesday. This is just an album to tide his fans over until his next release Killer. This album, which is an album of collaborations with other artists, is a really solid album for being an album they are putting out just to keep his name coming out of people’s mouths. The album features the Strange Music artists, including the underrated Kutt Calhoun, the very talented and versatile Big Krizz Kaliko, and the street sounds of Scatterman and Snug Brim. The album also features artists outside the Strange camp; artists such as Yukmouth, Joe Vertigo, and Big Scoob. For those fans that just started listening to Tech N9ne, this album will sound very different from his last two. For the long-time fans, this will bring them back to the days of his The Calm Before the Storm album or his collaborations with the 57th Street RDVs. For many, this album signifies Tech’s return to his more street or gangsta sound. I don’t know about that, I just know it’s good music. A couple of my favorite tracks or his track “Message to the Black Man,” a song questioning where the support from the black community is, and “Fan or Foe,” a song questioning the intentions of fans and people Tech meets. For an album entitled Tech N9ne Collabos, I would have liked to have seen some more outside guests, as the Strange camp appear on Tech’s regular albums (Big Krizz Kaliko on almost every track on Everready). I also wish the rest of the Strange camp would get the exposure that Tech receives. I think everyone who has listened to more than one song featuring or by Kaliko knows his amazing talent and he is someone to look out for, whether he’s singing or rapping. All in all, if you are looking for a solid album of some really good music, check this album out. You can download the first two songs from the album, “Midwest Choppers” and “Gangsta Shap” on iTunes. The album releases on July 17th. While I don’t expect this album to make any kind of impact on the charts, it is one that can definitely help Tech’s career.

Squishee Blue

I went to 7-11 today. I felt like a Slurpee. The Slurpee was replaced by a Squishee machine, an obvious tie-in to The Simpsons movie that is coming out. As I sit there pouring my Blue Vanilla Slurpee Squishee, I begin to think. Why aren’t there more blue colored foods? Now, I know the color blue is rare in nature, hell, even blueberries are purple. I remember Pepsi Blue, that god awful concoction. Do they not know what blue should taste like? Pink usually tastes like bubble gum, brown like cola or caramel, yellow or white tastes like lemon or lemon-lime. I think we should designate a flavor to blue and stick with that so we can have more blue foods. And in case you were wondering, this Blue Vanilla Squishee doesn’t taste blue or vanilla. It tastes like a pina colada.

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New Missouri law protects killing of intruders

Woke up this morning to some interesting news. Well, interesting if you live in Missouri.

Gov. Matt Blunt signed legislation on Tuesday allowing Missourians to fatally shoot intruders without fear of prosecution or lawsuits.

Not all too surprising really. We, in Missouri, like our guns, even when we don’t like them. (I’m referring to our state legislature passing a concealed weapons law allowing people to carry with a permit even though the voters said no).

The measure spells out that people are not required to retreat from an intruder and can use deadly force once the person illegally enters their home, vehicle or other dwelling, including a tent. The bill provides an absolute defense against being charged or sued for using such force.

Why do I foresee a lot of drunk camping/hunting accidents/murders involving rednecks? I mean really, a tent? Does that happen often? Someone breaks into your tent to steal all your valuables? “Well officer, he did try to take my hundred-dollar Coleman lantern. That’s worth more than my trailer. And it’s a double wide.”

Under the old law, deadly force was justified only if people believed it necessary to protect themselves or others from death or serious injury.

Wasn’t that reasonable enough? Now all they have to do is come on to your property? Why do I think Blunt had one too many door to door salesmen or Mormons show up at his door? I can probably think of a few people that I wouldn’t mind inviting over and have myself protected under this new law. I know what you’re thinking, if I invited them, then I’m not protected under this law. Well, how are you going to find that out if they’re spread out over my lawn? (No, I’m not being serious, but I can’t wait until someone actually does claim this).

The measure also gets rid of a state law requiring people to obtain permits from their local sheriffs before they can get a handgun.

Sweet. Now it’s even easier for people to have guns without telling anyone. Gun Control in Missouri is an oxymoron. And don’t give me the crap about owning more guns makes crime rates drop. In Missouri it hasn’t.

Via StLToday.com