The Commoner

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amnhnyc: By analyzing the DNA of more than 600 coyotes, researchers were finally able to understand why northeastern coyotes are larger than those in the West: many of them are actually part wolf. Nearly a century ago, coyotes mated with wolves in the Great Lakes region and produced fertile offspring. Check out the full story here. © AMNH/R. Mickens

amnhnyc:

By analyzing the DNA of more than 600 coyotes, researchers were finally able to understand why northeastern coyotes are larger than those in the West: many of them are actually part wolf. Nearly a century ago, coyotes mated with wolves in the Great Lakes region and produced fertile offspring. Check out the full story here.

© AMNH/R. Mickens

89 notes

todaysdocument: Recruits with their mattresses tied to them to serve as life preservers. Photo taken at Newport Naval Training Station, Rhode Island, 04/1917 

todaysdocument:

Recruits with their mattresses tied to them to serve as life preservers. Photo taken at Newport Naval Training Station, Rhode Island, 04/1917 

1,256 notes

theatlantic: Born in the Gulag: Why a North Korean Boy Sent His Own Mother to Her Death Nine years after watching his mother’s hanging, Shin In Geun squirmed through the electric fence that surrounds Camp 14 and ran off through the snow into the North Korean wilderness. It was January 2, 2005. Before then, no one born in a North Korean political prison camp had ever escaped. As far as can be determined, Shin is still the only one to do it.He was 23 years old and knew no one outside the fence.Within a month, he had walked into China. Within two years, he was living in South Korea. Four years later, he was living in Southern California. Stunted by malnutrition, he is short and slight — five feet six inches, about 120 pounds. His arms are bowed from childhood labor. His lower back and buttocks are scarred with burns from the torturer’s fire. The skin over his pubis bears a puncture scar from the hook used to hold him in place over the fire. His ankles are scarred by shackles, from which he was hung upside down in solitary confinement. His right middle finger is cut off at the first knuckle, a guard’s punishment for dropping a sewing machine in a camp garment factory. His shins, from ankle to knee on both legs, are mutilated and scarred by burns from the electrified barbed-wire fence that failed to keep him inside Camp 14. Shin is roughly the same age as Kim Jong Un, the chubby third son of Kim Jong Il who took over as leader after his father’s death in 2011. Shin was born a slave and raised behind a high-voltage barbed-wire fence. His mother beat him, and he viewed her as a competitor for food. His father, who was allowed by guards to sleep with his mother just five nights a year, ignored him. His older brother was a stranger. Children in the camp were untrustworthy and abusive. Before he learned anything else, Shin learned to survive by snitching on all of them. Love and mercy and family were words without meaning. Read more. [Image: AP] A chilling account of the only person born into a North Korean prison camp and escape. It’ll leave you speechless.

theatlantic:

Born in the Gulag: Why a North Korean Boy Sent His Own Mother to Her Death

Nine years after watching his mother’s hanging, Shin In Geun squirmed through the electric fence that surrounds Camp 14 and ran off through the snow into the North Korean wilderness. It was January 2, 2005. Before then, no one born in a North Korean political prison camp had ever escaped. As far as can be determined, Shin is still the only one to do it.

He was 23 years old and knew no one outside the fence.

Within a month, he had walked into China. Within two years, he was living in South Korea. Four years later, he was living in Southern California.

Stunted by malnutrition, he is short and slight — five feet six inches, about 120 pounds. His arms are bowed from childhood labor. His lower back and buttocks are scarred with burns from the torturer’s fire. The skin over his pubis bears a puncture scar from the hook used to hold him in place over the fire. His ankles are scarred by shackles, from which he was hung upside down in solitary confinement. His right middle finger is cut off at the first knuckle, a guard’s punishment for dropping a sewing machine in a camp garment factory. His shins, from ankle to knee on both legs, are mutilated and scarred by burns from the electrified barbed-wire fence that failed to keep him inside Camp 14.

Shin is roughly the same age as Kim Jong Un, the chubby third son of Kim Jong Il who took over as leader after his father’s death in 2011.

Shin was born a slave and raised behind a high-voltage barbed-wire fence. His mother beat him, and he viewed her as a competitor for food. His father, who was allowed by guards to sleep with his mother just five nights a year, ignored him. His older brother was a stranger. Children in the camp were untrustworthy and abusive. Before he learned anything else, Shin learned to survive by snitching on all of them.

Love and mercy and family were words without meaning.

Read more. [Image: AP]

A chilling account of the only person born into a North Korean prison camp and escape. It’ll leave you speechless.

1,982 notes

Oh look, they aren't 99% relationship questions! DO IT.

suaveasphyxiation:

Bored? Extremely. Answer these, I will.

  • 1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed. Bugs the hell out of me if I leave it opened.
  • 2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? No, ‘cause God knows where and what those been through.
  • 3: Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? Depends on the season and the situation.  
  • 4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before? Nope
  • 5: Do you like to use post-it notes? When the need calls for it, yes.
  • 6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? Never use coupons :B
  • 7: Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees? I reject your question and your reality and substitute my own! Here’s the real question! Would I fight Godzilla or Hydra? I SAY BOTH 8B
  • 8: Do you have freckles? yeah, a few here and there
  • 9: Do you always smile for pictures? When I have too or am forced too
  • 10: What is your biggest pet peeve? Apparently I have a British accent according to a few. I’M AN AMERICAN bbeeeootcho!
  • 11: Do you ever count your steps when you walk? Sometimes. It’s either that or I can the number of people that pass me or any object that I pass and mentally calculate the distance between the selected object and myself.
  • 12: Have you ever peed in the woods? lol yep
  • 13: What about pooped in the woods? nope
  • 14: Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing? nope
  • 15: Do you chew your pens and pencils? I used to, now I flicked the lid of my zippo.
  • 16: How many people have you slept with this week? None!
  • 17: What size is your bed? Twin size
  • 18: What is your Song of the week? Dragon Rider from Two Steps From Hell
  • 19: Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Sure
  • 20: Do you still watch cartoons? Depends on the cartoon/anime
  • 21: Whats your least favorite movie? Twilight
  • 22: Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? In another dimension :]
  • 23: What do you drink with dinner? water, milk, or coke
  • 24: What do you dip a chicken nugget in? BBQ sauce ‘cause I’m country like dat! 8B jk but I do like BBQ sauce
  • 25: What is your favorite food? Potstickers, hamburgers, and thin crust pizza
  • 26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love? The Patriot, The Hurt Locker, Saving Private Ryan, Patton, The Hurt Locker, Ghost Rider, and Iron Man
  • 27: Last person you kissed/kissed you? My first ex
  • 28: Were you ever a boy/girl scout? Nope
  • 29: Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? Hhhmmmmm nah
  • 30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? When I was in the 10th grade.
  • 31: Can you change the oil on a car? Can’t remember
  • 32: Ever gotten a speeding ticket? nope
  • 33: Ever ran out of gas? Almost, but nope
  • 34: Favorite kind of sandwich? Firehouse Subs - Meatball marrinara
  • 35: Best thing to eat for breakfast? bread and coffee
  • 36: What is your usual bedtime? Depends on the situation
  • 37: Are you lazy? When I want to be :B
  • 38: When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? lots of things. lots
  • 39: What is your Chinese astrological sign? Water Monkey 8]
  • 40: How many languages can you speak? Just one
  • 41: Do you have any magazine subscriptions? nope
  • 42: Which are better legos or lincoln logs? LEGOS. Fighter jets, star fighters, and tanks at my build and command! 8D
  • 43: Are you stubborn? When I need to be
  • 44: Who is better…Leno or Letterman? Don’t care
  • 45: Ever watch soap operas? I rather watch Twilight than a soap opera
  • 46: Are you afraid of heights? Nope
  • 47: Do you sing in the car? Depends on the song and the mood
  • 48: Do you sing in the shower? No, just ponder about a couple things
  • 49: Do you dance in the car? nope
  • 50: Ever used a gun? Yep
  • 51: Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? Senior photos and that’s it
  • 52: Do you think musicals are cheesy? Depends on the musical
  • 53: Is Christmas stressful? not really
  • 54: Ever eat a pierogi? Who?
  • 55: Favorite type of fruit pie? Apple pie. The American classic
  • 56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? Fighter pilot in the Air Force
  • 57: Do you believe in ghosts? Yes.
  • 58: Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? Plenty and still do
  • 59: Take a vitamin daily? nope
  • 60: Wear slippers? nope
  • 61: Wear a bath robe? nope
  • 62: What do you wear to bed? Sweats and a shirt or just boxer briefs
  • 63: First concert? Trans-Siberian Orchestra
  • 64: Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart? Yes |B
  • 65: Nike or Adidas? I wear boots
  • 66: Cheetos Or Fritos? Both and neither |B
  • 67: Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Peanuts
  • 68: Ever hear of the group Tres Bien? Nope
  • 69: Ever take dance lessons? Nyet
  • 70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? Nope
  • 71: Can you curl your tongue? nope
  • 72: Ever won a spelling bee? nope
  • 73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy? once, when my dying cat was brought back home. Alive and safe
  • 74: Own any record albums? nope
  • 75: Own a record player? nope
  • 76: Regularly burn incense? nyet
  • 77: Ever been in love? Love in sexual lust I suppose one can say ;]
  • 78: Who would you like to see in concert? All the GOOD classics
  • 79: What was the last concert you saw? TSO
  • 80: Hot tea or cold tea? Coffee ;B
  • 81: Tea or coffee? coffee or death to all
  • 82: Sugar or snickerdoodles? sugar
  • 83: Can you swim well? Decently in my view
  • 84: Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? yep
  • 85: Are you patient? Yep, but I’m forced to be patient with people
  • 86: DJ or band, at a wedding? String or brass ensemble
  • 87: Ever won a contest? yes, won a contest at being a badass
  • 88: Ever have plastic surgery? nope
  • 89: Which are better black or green olives? Neither
  • 90: Can you knit or crochet? fuck no xD
  • 91: Best room for a fireplace? living room or a personal library
  • 92: Do you want to get married? Some day
  • 93: If married, how long have you been married? Either till death or divorce
  • 94: Who was your HS crush? Confidential information ;p
  • 95: Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? No
  • 96: Do you have kids? Nope
  • 97: Do you want kids? Someday, after I’m married
  • 98: Whats your favorite color? Navy blue and orange
  • 99: Do you miss anyone right now? A selected few yes

(Source: alliartist)

0 notes

What then is the American, this new man?…
He is an American, who leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds. He becomes an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater. Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world…. The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions. From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, penury, and useless labour, he has passed to toils of a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence. —This is an American….”

- Hector St. John de Crevecoeur

NOTE: This quote came from the pages of “A Documentary History of the United States: Expanded and Updated Eighth Edition” by Richard D. Heffner with Alexander Heffner