Former United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt contracted polio and became a paraplegic when he was only 39-years old. But in order to not appear weak in front of his people, he designed his own walking method that was meant to hide his incapacities. He was wearing leg braces, was walking with a cane and usually, his son or a bodyguard was helping him. This way, he could move short distances without the need of a wheelchair. However, the 32^nd President was still slightly embarrassed that the people might see him as a weak and vulnerable.

Because of this, he asked the press to not photograph him as he was walking, entering or exiting his car. Moreover, the Secret Service had the task of stopping people from taking pictures of the President. According to a 1946 White House photography corps survey, if someone was caught photographing Roosevelt, they had their cameras emptied, the films exposed to sunlight or even their plates destroyed. This is why a recently-discovered video footage taken during the 1935 White House Easter Egg Roll is so shocking an unexpected. It shows president Roosevelt actually walking.

Rare footage of FDR walking was recently discovered

According to reports, a Nevada rancher named Frederick Hill took the silent film while he attended the event with his wife and two children. According to experts, most likely, the Secret Service did not notice him using the camera. If they had, this 16mm film wouldn’t have existed now.

The footage shows Roosevelt being helped by his personal bodyguard, Gus Gennerich. He is helping the President walk around and always stands behind him for support. Even if the portion that shows him walking is only 30-seconds long, it’s enough to prove how ambitious he was to not let the people see his weakness. Despite this problem, Roosevelt looks as if he was the happiest man, without a care in the world.

Image source: wikimedia

Deputized researchers from Florida University opted to smash the skulls of invasive iguanas to tackle the lizard overpopulation.

Florida Wildlife officials took it upon themselves to exterminate invasive iguanas by smashing in their heads, an endeavor that’s part of a $63 thousand research project.

The state of Florida has been plagued with iguanas for the past decade. Initially introduced as pets from their Mexico and Central America native homes, these herbivorous lizards have spread to a point where they can be seen eating people’s gardens on a regular basis. More so, the reptiles have been damaging sidewalks and seawalls with their burrows. Iguanas have become such a nuisance that many Florida residents see them as pests, on par with squirrels and rats.

A team of researchers in Broward County, Florida, have been deputized by the state to kill the iguanas using humane methods.

Two teams made up of 15 researchers each, use blunt objects to destroy the lizard’s brain. Over a three-month span, the team has reportedly killed 249 iguanas.

“Most of what we’re doing is blunt force trauma,” said Jenny Ketterlin, a wildlife biologist and research coordinator with the university. “Hitting their head very hard against a solid object,”

While the method may sound brutal, Ketterlin says the head-bashing technique fall in line with Florida’s animal cruelty laws.

The researchers have also relied on a projectile weapon called a captive bolt gun, which is used to fire bolts directly into the reptile’s brain, instantly killing it.

Other extermination techniques have been considered, however, head bashing was deemed the safest and humane approach. One solution would have been to catch the animals and then send them to a veterinarian where they would be injected with deadly chemicals such as Halothane, Isoflurane, and Sevoflurane, a time-consuming process.

Freezing iguanas was deemed not safe as research found that brain painful ice crystals would form inside the lizards’ brains. Decapitation was also rejected, as awareness can persist for a full minute after an iguana’s head has been chopped off.

Once dead, the iguanas are transported to a nearby lab where they are measured and weighted and then sent to a landfill. The three-month project is set to run through May.

Image Source: Pixabay

North Korea canceled a meeting with US Vice President, Mike Pence, at the last minute.

US Vice President, Mike Pence, and his delegation was stood up by North Korean officials just a few hours before secret talks were due to take place in South Korea. Both delegations were in South Korea for the Winter Olympics ceremony.

According to White House sources, a meeting between the delegations had been in the works for two weeks. The meet-up in South Korea would have been the first between senior officials from the Trump administration and Pyongyang. Tensions between the two countries have been boiling hot, due to North Korea’s nuclear weapons that threaten the US mainland.

“North Korea dangled a meeting in hopes of the vice-president softening his message, which would have ceded the world stage for their propaganda during the Olympics,” said Pence’s chief of staff, Nick Ayers.

President Trump had agreed for the meeting to take place, with the caveat that the US would continue to pressure North Korea to shut down its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, sent a delegation made up of athletes, cheerleaders, domestic media, and high-ranking officials. However, the main person of interest in Pyongyang’s 500-people delegation was Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, who is the head of the country’s propaganda department. Alongside her was also Kim Yong Nam, North Korea’s ceremonial head of state.

The closest that Pence and Jong Un got was at the Winter Games’ opening ceremony, where the vice president and his wife were seated a few feet away from the leader’s sister and Kim Yong Nam. The meeting was due a day later on February 10 at the Blue House in Seoul, the South Korea equivalent to the White House.

Upon his return to the United States, Pence said that he ignored Kim Yo Jong on purpose while at the Opening Ceremonies because of Kim Yo Jong’s position within the government of North Korea.

Image Source: WikipediaCommons

The Salvation Army revealed that it received a $200,000 donation in one go.

Some generous soul in the Twin Cities’ area donated a $200,000 check to the local Salvation Army, giving a major boost to their annual Christmas campaign.

To put that in perspective, the charity’s efforts this year have been about 10 percent lower than last year’s campaign. This donation, however, sees that gap close to around only 7 percent.

The Salvation Army Gets a More than Expected Donation

The mystery donor first called the organization’s local headquarters in Roseville. He told them that he intended to make the drop, letting them know that the check was legitimate. The man said that he did this to inspire others to give, but that he himself wanted to remain anonymous. This is according to Julie Borgen, a spokeswoman for the Salvation Army.

Sure enough, the check appeared later that day in one of the Salvation Army’s famous red kettles outside of a Cub Foods grocery store. It has since been successfully cashed without any issues.

“We were stunned and thrilled to have received such a large donation,” said Northern Division leader Lt. Col. Lonneal Richardson. “This gift comes at a critical time for the Salvation Army.”

Indeed, not only have donations already been behind for the organization, but many are worried that the scheduled snowstorm will mar the end of their campaign, keeping them from any last-minute recoveries.

Similar acts of charity have occurred in recent years. For example, 2015 saw a $500,000 check being dropped in a kettle in Rosemount on County Road 42, also outside of a Cub Foods store. As in this case, the couple who provided that gift wished to remain anonymous.

The $500,000 check is currently the largest donation received by the charity in one go. This latest donation, the $200,000 one, is also among the highest sums received in one.

The Twin Cities have also received numerous donations in the form of wads of cash, including a few up to $1,300. Salvation Army members do not know the person or persons providing them, but refer to them by the nickname of “St. Grand.”

Image Source: StaticFlickr

A little boy that decided to renounce his Christmas gift received an Xbox One X from Microsoft.

Mikah Frye, a 9-year-old Ashland, Ohio resident has learned a lesson that many others might take decades to gain: that it is better to give than to receive.

When Frye realized that his grandmother was planning on sending him a $300 XBox One X, he didn’t do what other normal 9-year-old kids would do. Go out and high-five his buddies at recess or the lunchroom table the next day? No, instead, he told his grandmother to send it back. The boy wanted her to spend that money for 30 blankets for the homeless instead.

How the Boy Received the Xbox One X in the End

Make a long story short, this act of charity caught the attention of Microsoft. Upon hearing about this, the company decided to reward the generous youngster. So they gave him his very own brand-new XBox One X. The boy also received a whole host of games and accessories as well. These gifts were picked up by Frye and his grandma at the local Microsoft store.

Perhaps what touched the hearts of all that heard the story would probably have to be the fact that Frye did not only provide this money for the homeless. Besides these, he also gave them hand-written notes as well.

Even at his young age, the boy understands what its like to be in financial difficulty. The charity he donated to was the Ashland Church Community Emergency Shelter Services, one which his own family had to use several years prior.

During his stay there, he too had his own blanket, but he had to give it back. Thus, he reasoned that giving these families a blanket of their own that they could also keep was the right thing to do. Frye’s grandmother, Terry Brant, said that her grandson was probably moved to do this based of his own experience.

Brant recounts how she was literally crying over the phone when she heard Microsoft was going to give her grandson his very own Xbox One.

Image Source: Pexels

The 2017 Orionid meteor shower will be at its peak this weekend.

The Orionids are an annual meteor shower which occurs around the same period each year. Associated with Halley’s Comet, this is also one of the most prolific such sky gazing events. This year, the meteor shower will reach its peak on October 20 to October 21, with the rest of the weekend also offering good stargazing or more like meteor-gazing occasions.

The 2017 Orionid Meteor Shower, Better Viewing Chances than Usual

The Orionids are some of the best known and most prolific meteor showers, but that doesn’t mean they are also always at their most visible. This depends on the cloud coverage, light pollution, and in some cases, sky gazing can even be disrupted by the Moon’s phases.

However, the 2017 Orionid meteor shower should offer prime viewing chances as it will peak just a few days after the new moon so that the night sky will be darker than in other years. Nonetheless, sky gazers have to be alert when watching the Orionids, as this is well known for having especially bright and fast meteors, ones that can travel around 41 miles per second.

This meteor shower is produced by Earth’s passing through the particles left behind by Halley’s Comet. Although this whizzes past our planet only every 75 or 76 years, it leaves behind a trail of dust and ice and particles.

Although Halley’s Comet is its “creator”, the Orionids are named after the direction and sky region from which they appear to radiate. This was established as being somewhere near the constellation Orion The Hunter.

According to reports, the 2017 Orionid meteor shower can be best viewed in the morning, especially on October 21 and October 22. Meteors produced by this event started crossing the sky on October 2 and are expected to end on November 07. During its peak periods, the 2017 Orionid is expected to produce some 10 to 15 meteorites per hour.

One of the best things about the Orionids is that they can be viewed from anywhere on the planet and that they can be seen from anywhere across the sky.

Image Source: Wikimedia

The Great American Eclipse numbered a higher viewership than the Super Bowl.

The Great American Eclipse that occurred near the end of August was more popular and gained more viewership than the Super Bowl, according to a new study. Over 200 million people took a few minutes out of their day to watch this once in a lifetime event as it was unfolding.

That’s almost 90 percent of all American adults. This is a percentage nearly twice the number of people who tuned in for the most recent Super Bowl, according to Nielsen ratings, which report that the Super Bowl gathered 111 million viewers earlier this year.

The Great American Eclipse, a Unique but Not Uncommon Event?

Of the over 200 million people who watched the Great American Eclipse, 154 million actually got to see it live. These reported having ventured outside to see the Moon cover the Sun. They were able to see this either partially or in full. The other 60 plus million people seem to have watched the eclipse electronically.

Solar eclipses are actually not a rare occurrence, as they happen once every year and a half or so. However, the path of totality, which is the part of the Earth that actually sees the Moon completely cover the Sun, is often in places with no or minimal human habitation. The path of totality for the Great American Eclipse which occurred over a month ago happened to travel through the United States.

According to this new study, not only did American adults watch the eclipse, they seemed to have enjoyed it, too. When asked to rate it on a ten point scale, the eclipse averaged a 7.0. This includes people who watched in person and those who followed it online.

NASA livestreamed the eclipse for those who were unable to physically be in the path of totality. During the day of the eclipse, the NASA website had more than 90 million visits. That’s seven times more visitors than on an average day for the site, according to reports.

Image Source: Pixabay 

The U.S. Air Force is conducting aerial spraying over Texas to combat one of the effects of Harvey.

Texas state authorities are anticipating an increase in the local mosquito populations as the floodwater starts receding. One of the effects of Harvey, the state has called in the U.S. Air Force to try and combat this potential source of illnesses before it sets in.

One of the Effects of Harvey Could Be the Increase in Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Beginning Wednesday, September 13, C-130 military planes from the U.S. Air Force commenced the aerial spraying of insecticides across Texas. According to reports, these will be spread along the state’s coastal regions.

Reportedly, Texas state authorities are looking to spray around six million acres with insecticides with help from the nation’s Air Force. Some three counties, Brazoria, Jefferson, and Chambers have already been treated.

Texas officials have been reported as declaring that most of the mosquitos that turn up in the mentioned areas aren’t disease carriers and that spraying will help protect cleanup crews from discomfort.

However, the spraying actions could very well be helpful in trying to prevent one of the possible effects of Harvey: the increase in mosquito-borne illnesses. As floodwaters recede, local mosquito populations are likely to increase because of the ensuing still water pools.

The Texas Health and Human Services posted a news update on its efforts of combating the effects of Hurricane Harvey. One of the sections specifically targeted the mosquito control actions being conducted by the state.

According to this: “During aerial spraying, a small amount of insecticide is sprayed over a large area, one to two tablespoons per acre. When applied according to label instructions by a licensed professional, it does not pose a health risk to people, pets or the environment.”

The statement continues by pointing out that, although people will likely prefer to remain inside and with their windows closed during these actions, this will not be strictly necessary.
U.S. Air Force-conducted aerial sprayings will be using naled, an ‘organophosphate category of insecticides’.

Image Source: Flickr

Randy Bresnik, a NASA astronaut aboard the ISS, has been tweeting pictures of the Earth from space.

Randy Bresnik, one of the NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station or ISS, took to his Twitter page to show photos of the effects of the Hurricane Irma and the eye of Jose.

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A walk inside the Eye of #Jose. Just amazing to see through the eye to the surface! pic.twitter.com/5IwlKLOWfN

— Randy Bresnik (@AstroKomrade) September 11, 2017

The effects of Hurricane Irma and the total damages produced by its passing have yet to be fully calculated. Presently, Irma has been downgraded yet again and is now a tropical storm after changing several times between Category 5 or 4 and then Category 3.

The NASA Astronaut Captured Media for Harvey, Irma, and Now Jose

Randy Bresnik has been on the ISS since July and has been sharing of images and media that he captured while up in space. Among them, the NASA astronaut released a series of images of Super Typhoon Noru as it formed over the Pacific.

Bresnik’s shares also captured the effects of Hurricane Harvey and now of Hurricane Irma and Jose. Through his images, the astronaut offers a more accurate sense of the scale of the hurricane, now downgraded to a tropical storm. The pictures also give a first look at the damages caused by Hurricane Irma on the Turks and Caicos.

He took photos of the islands a week apart. The shapes and sizes of Turks and Caicos are easily recognizable. However, the color of the two islands is strikingly different as the post-Irma images show the oceanic waters colored by the sand eddying out of them.

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What a difference a week makes, Turks and Caicos before and after #Irma. pic.twitter.com/BAm438TSwe

— Randy Bresnik (@AstroKomrade) September 10, 2017

The NASA astronaut will remain in space until December, this year. He is part of the expeditions 52 and 53, being the Commander of the latter. He is using the robotic equipment to study the Earth from up in space. This is just a part of the ISS technology that casts its eye towards our planet and not the outer space.

For example, the Landsat, which is collecting four decades worth of data on Earth, shows the effects of Irma on the Virgin Gorda island’s vegetation.

While downgraded, Irma is still expected to pound its way across the southeastern U.S. as more rain is predicted to fall on the states of Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama through Wednesday.

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With #Jose exiting off, the windward Caribbean islands can now begin their recovery. pic.twitter.com/yMTJoQFarY

— Randy Bresnik (@AstroKomrade) September 11, 2017

Image Source: Wikimedia

Pyramid Lake visitors are urged not to touch or ingest waters with cyanobacteria blooms.

The California Department of Water Resources issued a warning last week against swimming or even touching the waters of Pyramid Lake. This decision was the result of the increased presence of cyanobacteria blooms, a sort of toxic algae.

An official statement on the matter was released on July 07, coupled with a Twitter post.

Pyramid Lake algal bloom now at ‘Warning’ level. Public urged to avoid water contact. https://t.co/KKfr81gE2j pic.twitter.com/QJh8iSVFdX

— CA – DWR (@CA_DWR) July 7, 2017

Cyanobacteria Blooms Lead to “Warning” Status

The decision to raise the safety levels came after authorities tested the waters of the Pyramid Lake Vaquero Day Use Area swim beach. These were verified on July 06 with a field test kit. This returned a reading of 10 micrograms of microcystins per liter.

The increased levels led to the authorities’ decision of raising a “Warning” health advisory. They also decided to close down the swimming area. In general, people should avoid coming into direct contact or using water containing cyanobacteria blooms.

These toxic bacteria can be either blue-green, white or brown. It can also appear as mats, scum, or brown foam floating on the surface of the water or accumulating in boat ramp areas and along the shoreline. The blue-green algae can come with health problems, especially for pets and children.

“Warning” signs have already been raised at the Vaquero Swim Beach, and “Caution” ones are posted in other areas around the lake. These include the Emigrant Landing Swim Beach, which is still open for swimming. The Vaquero Day Use Area is still open for shoreline activities such as picnics.

Pyramid Lake visitors are urged to avoid swimming or ingesting water in the Vaquero Beach bloom region. They should also not swallow water from anywhere else in the lake. Visitors are also advised to choose safe water activities while at the lake.

The cyanobacteria blooms can rapidly change their conditions and be either concentrated or moved into other areas of the lake by the wind and waves.

While field tests provide faster results, samples have been sent in for laboratory testing. These should yield definitive results and an additional analysis of the features of the blooms.

Image Source: Wikimedia