Archaeologists say the discovery could lead to a 'major re-evaluation' of Iron Age wealth​

A stunning hoard of destroyed – yet still insightful – two-millennia-old artifacts were recently brought to light by archaeologists in the United Kingdom.

The discovery was announced by Durham University on Tuesday. In an announcement, the university described the findings as being "one of the largest and most important Iron Age finds in the UK."

The Iron Age began at around 1200 B.C. and ended in 550 B.C., though the university says the objects date back around 2,000 years.

Dubbed the Melonsby Hoard, the cache of objects were found by a metal detectorist named Peter Heads in Melsonby, North Yorkshire, in 2021. Although the hoard was excavated by Durham University archaeologists the year after, the contents were unknown until this week.

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Let’s not bash our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thanks.

Good for him... the less fraud we have on election day - the better.

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is planning to freeze federal family-planning grants worth about $120 million this year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla postponed their visit to the Vatican at the advice of Pope Francis’ doctors, who say the Holy Father needs more rest time following his recent illness.

The royal couple was set to visit the Vatican in early April to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee but announced the postponement of their visit on Tuesday due to Pope Francis’ health. Their audience with Pope Francis, now canceled, would have been on April 8.

The postponement was mutual, according to a March 25 statement from Buckingham Palace.

“The king and queen’s state visit to the Holy See has been postponed by mutual agreement, as medical advice has now suggested that Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest and recuperation,” read a post on X by the royal family.

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And all of them dead silent during Oct 7 unprovoked attacks against peaceful citizens in Israel.
How "humanitarian" of them.

Wouldn't it be great if those who try and cast themselves as being concerned for innocent victims - were able to bring themselves to advocate for all such victims?

If they have power - then let them convince Hamas to end hostilities by freeing their starving victims.

How "instructive" that the captives Hamas does bring themselves to free - report to the free world that Hamas steals the food sent to their victims.

I don't understand what they hoped to gain by all of that nonsense.

Goonie said:

Trump ramps up retribution campaign against legal community

President ordered attorney general to refer partisan lawsuits to White House and recommend sanctions against firms

www.theguardian.com

So try to hold him to account, and he will strip any law firm of their clearances ensuring it will be impossible for them to represent their clients.

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Gee what a shocker ....

Koberstein said:

It is of interest that Zuckerberg is Jewish. Jews, especially gifted in communication, have always been at the vortex of history-making movements and part of the intellectual and culture-change movements.

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There is sufficient evidence so as not to completely reject the reality that Gutenberg was of Jewish ancestry. Possibly one reason why Judaism rejects the idea is because the famus 42-line Gutenberg Bible was printed in Latin. FWIW, the Gutenberg Bible that i received permission to view (UM) used a high quality of paper with a "cluster of grapes" for its watermark ...


In order for Jews to be accepted in a Christian community it was not uncommon to change their name and become "Catholic" (if in name only) in order to prosper in their trade/craft. Johannes Gutenberg was likely a Catholic, given the time period and the prevailing religious landscape in Europe, although his personal religious beliefs are not definitively known.


Because of the persecution of Jews (e.g. *1282 pogrom) it's possible that even before 1450 Johannes considered himself to be a "christian" so as to be of good standing in the Mainz community. Ironically it was the Catholic church that was most opposed to the machine printing of the Bible. Gutenberg possibly thought he was doing the RCC a favor by printng in Latin (instead of Germanic). However, the RCC did not appreciate Gutenberg's secret covert effort and tried more than once to destroy his enterprise.

Became interested in the possibility that Gutenberg was of Jewish ancestry when first learning typography, typesetting, operaating a letterpress printing press and bookbinding in college and as an industrial arts printing instructor.

The Republicans are following four years of outrageous spending. Trillions of dollars in debt! This kind of spending is what causes governments to collapse. Americans are going to think hard of the Republicans, kind of like taking a credit card away from a son or a daughter who is used to spending outrageous sums of money.

This is a complicated story - but the punchline is worth it! We'll look at the setup of the EU military - and then the political ramifications below.

Why do 450 million Europeans need 330 million Americans to defend them against 160 million Russians?

DIVISION CAUSES DUPLICATION
The EU is divided. The EU’s military is bespoke, chaotic, ineffective, and eye-wateringly expensive. In a very literal sense, they need more ‘bang for their buck.’ Their 27 national militaries build their own artillery guns and tanks and fighters and bombers and ships. They have an 178 different weapons platforms! The sheer duplication is incredible!
Infographic: Europe Has Six Times As Many Weapon Systems As The U.S.
America’s VAST military only has 30 streamlined and standardized platforms! This means each is manufactured with huge economies of scale. In contrast - the EU does relatively TINY manufacturing runs at an ENORMOUS cost per unit!

CONFUSION
Imagine being a soldier in the field when one of the unit's tanks breaks down. The engineer that got dumped with your unit at the last minute says “I’ll try - but it’s not the one I’m trained on!” Duplication of complex equipment means that in the field, soldiers stuck on the ground can be stuck with incompatible parts, procedures, and people. It's not only extra expense in the supply chain - but can cause catastrophic confusion in the theatre and fog of war. Standardization cuts all this waste.

CLARITY
Instead - America has the one streamlined command structure running streamlined supply lines that support a streamlined military. Production, purpose, and power are all aligned. Robert Baratheon from Game of Thrones was right! (2 minutes.)
Login to view embedded media
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
The EU’s fragmented military stems from historical national interests, divergent threat perceptions, bureaucratic complexities, and deep-rooted national political sovereignty. Genuine unification of their MILITARY demands genuine unification of their POLITICS. Europe must Federate!

TRUMPISM

The astonishing news is that Trumpism has finally forced some EU countries to do something previously unimaginable for domestic political reasons. The EU is a Confederation of Federations. But even they have taken their first baby steps towards harmonizing military procurement. Different countries pooled money together to let the EU buy kit, trusting the EU to get the right things from the right places! Imagine America handing over money to an All-America-Alliance to buy their own military kit - but not knowing if it was going to be purchased from the USA, Mexico, or Brazil? That's why this is so astonishing - and could easily break down.

NUKES?
Even today, the French President is the one who controls their nuclear arsenal - and might not launch to protect some other nation if it is not in their national interest. Even though the EU's mutual defence treatise is stronger than NATO's article 5!
France and the UK have nuclear weapons. One needs the US to use them

For clarity of procurement, production, purpose and power - the EU must Federate - even if it only starts with a tiered system involving the core 5 or 6 countries at the beginning.

Then they can build their own true military industrial complex - which will have other spin off benefits.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

The reason is twofold. Firstly, ordering weapons from local firms, rather than mostly importing them as the EU has been doing, would increase domestic production, lifting GDP, as well as create jobs, with the salaries spent in the European economy.
Secondly, when cutting-edge military equipment is designed locally, the knowledge gained in the process spreads locally too, rather than staying abroad, generating so-called technological spillovers across the economy.

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https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/06/business/europe-military-spending-economic-growth-intl/index.html

The nematode, officially named Panagrolaimus kolymaensis, was discovered at a depth of 40 meters inside a fossilized burrow of Arctic squirrels.​

Scientists revived a 46,000-year-old microscopic worm from Siberian permafrost. The nematode, officially named Panagrolaimus kolymaensis, was discovered at a depth of 40 meters inside a fossilized burrow of Arctic squirrels. This depth protected it from environmental shifts and severe cold, allowing it to remain frozen in a suspended state since the Ice Age.

Panagrolaimus kolymaensis survived the harsh conditions of the Late Pleistocene Era by entering a suspended state called cryptobiosis, where the biological activities of an organism are completely halted, enabling survival in conditions that are usually lethal. Through cryptobiosis, these worms pulled off their millennia-long hibernation, suspending their vital functions to resist extreme temperatures and hostile conditions for long periods. Cryptobiosis reduces the metabolism of the organism to undetectable levels, essentially hitting the metabolic pause button and preventing the deterioration of its tissues.

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ViaCrucis said:

I can't comment on the 2nd point, but on the 1st point. This seems like political posturing, and feels like drinking MAGA kool-aid, something the Church needs to resist and reject thoroughly, because it is thoroughly un-Christian.

-CryptoLutheran

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nothing in Christian doctrine say we need to break laws in order to cater to others, especially those who aren't even Christian

the same "Christians" who argued that we need to bend the knee to civil authority and shutter the churches in 2020, are now saying we need to violate immigration law out of pious duty

this schizophrenic thinking doesn't;t help the church, and instead makes us look like inconsistent hypocrites

FutureAndAHope said:

It has been a while since I have done it. Just get so busy with work and family life, that it can be hard to get down there.

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It is hard to get out there. I get annoyed because I have big house that takes up a lot of my time. I have to spend at least 1 month every year painting it. Frustrating.
But there are several verses that emphasize the importance of prioritizing the Gospel over the distractions and cares of life. Here are a few key ones:

2 Timothy 2:4 – "No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer."
-Paul uses the analogy of a soldier to show that believers should not let the affairs of this life distract them from their mission—pleasing Christ and sharing the Gospel.

Luke 9:59-60 – "He said to another man, 'Follow me.' But he replied, 'Lord, first let me go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'”
-Here, Jesus emphasizes that proclaiming the Kingdom of God must take precedence over even important personal responsibilities.

Luke 9:62 – "Jesus replied, 'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'”
-This verse warns against allowing distractions or second thoughts to interfere with serving Christ.

Matthew 6:33 – "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
-Jesus teaches that our priority should be God’s kingdom, and everything else will fall into place.

1 Corinthians 9:16 – "For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"
-Paul expresses an urgency in preaching the Gospel, as though it is a duty that must not be neglected.

These verses collectively teach that nothing in life—whether responsibilities, personal concerns, or worldly distractions—should hinder the mission of sharing the Gospel. But yes, even I let things get in the way of sharing. (Frustrated)

Again. Not normal.

I think it will look different; I see much of our institutional baggage already creaking and cracking under the strain, when we simply don't have the demographics to support them as once we did. But if we can have the humility to be re-shaped and re-imagined, I do hope for that resurrection.

Why are more Catholic women today choosing to wear veils during Mass? What was once seen as a tradition of the past is experiencing a quiet yet noticeable resurgence. Veil makers report growing demand, and veiling is increasingly a subject of discussion in Catholic media.

Rooted in Scripture and full of spiritual meaning, the veil is a powerful symbol of humility and reverence, meant to honor God in the sacred space of the Mass. Some women also see veiling as a way to foster a deeper connection with the Eucharist. The revival of the practice reflects a growing interest in embracing symbolic significance in Catholic worship and upholding the reverence of the liturgy.

Where does this practice come from?​

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Could one imagine the Apostles giving Queer feminist readings of the Old Testament as they taught others? Like Saint Peter instructing some young men that in actuality David and Jonathan were actually gay lovers and we have to respect that. Leftist subversion has no limits.

Valletta said:

Jasmine Crockett demands Musk be 'taken down' during Tesla protest call

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, on Thursday joined a nationwide protest call, during which she demanded that Elon Musk be “taken down.”The representative, who s

abc3340.com

Not surprising. Call for Democrats to tone down the violent rhetoric and this is what the leaders do.

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Personage being mean to right-wing demagogues!
Oh noes, what ever shall be done!?

The Vatican Press Office reported that Pope Francis’ convalescence at St. Martha’s House, his Vatican residence where he returned after being discharged from the hospital on Sunday, continues “under the terms prescribed by the doctors at the time of his discharge from the Gemelli Hospital.”

Thus for the time being, both the general audience scheduled for this Wednesday and the Angelus on Sunday will remain suspended, and the Vatican will release the text prepared by the pontiff, as it has done during the nearly six weeks he was hospitalized in Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

Furthermore, he is not expected to meet with large groups of faithful until at least the end of May. In fact, the greatest fear of the medical team treating him for double pneumonia is that he could become infected with another virus or bacteria that could compromise his health again.

In this regard, the doctor who coordinated the Gemelli team, Sergio Alfieri, requested “everyone’s help” in a press conference on Saturday afternoon to avoid “visits and meetings” and thus speed his recovery.

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Richard T said:

I can think of two ways to help. First, is to forbid advertising of prescription products to the general public. Second, perhaps a 100% tax on all gifts, trips and free samples given to Dr's from the Pharma companies. Some do carry a conflict of interest in what they prescribe.

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Yeah, I'm on board with both of these.

Valletta said:

They are auditing the SSA and finding massive waste:

https://ifunny.co/picture/mommy-why-would-anyone-be-against-doge-probably-because-those-Ej2pSg3EC

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Yeah, no, that's not what auditing is. Do you know any auditors or system analysts?

The so-called waste DOG-E is finding is a combination of ignorance and misinformation. Meanwhile, they are wrecking havoc on the system, deliberately crippling services which they have evidently not got a clue about.

Marty T H said:

WOW. I read your book, it took me a couple of hours. You seem a bit more confrontational then me. And I've been known to step on church toes. I was raised a JW, I was lied too. I'm 74. I've studied the Bible for 50+ years, I made a web site just recently, it includes my life time study. It also includes two minor studies and my testimony. From reading your book I have one word for you (you and Jesus are a majority!).

Effective Bible Study System

Then said Jesus ... "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"

www.martyctt.com

Please go to my web site and e-mail a link to your web site.
Your brother in the LORD
Marty

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Marty, thank you for reading the book and for your kind and thoughtful remarks. I am 75, female, and I have taught the Bible for 50+ years. God called me to this ministry nearly 21 years ago to write down what he teaches me from his word each day and to post these writings on the internet, so I have been doing that since 2004, and full-time since 2006. Then he added on song writing, poetry, books, memes, and video talk devotions. Right now he is having me write and post 5 documents per day, which is a full-time job (my assignment from God). I am married to my husband 52 years and we have 4 adult children and some children-in-law, and 16 grandchildren, so that also keeps me pretty busy. I have a full life. When I have time I will try and look at your website. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. Sue J Love

Chrystal-J said:

I'm here. Haven't been posting that much because I've had a rough year. First I broke up with my boyfriend of 13 years, then my dad died. It's been a rollercoaster. I still check in regularly and I'll start posting again when I get over my funky mood.

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God bless you

Ru 4:

1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer [R1], of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down.

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R1 was a closer relative to Naomi than Boaz and had the priority to choose redemption ahead of Boaz.

2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.”

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Initially, R1 agreed.

5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

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When he learned that he would also need to marry Ruth, potentially complicating his own inheritance, he refused. R1 didn't want to deal with the added hassles. By declining to take on the role of kinsman-redeemer, R1 effectively removed himself from the narrative. He symbolically relinquished his sandal—a cultural gesture signifying the forfeiture of rights—and faded into obscurity (Ruth 4:7-8). He remained anonymous while the name "Boaz" appeared even in the New Testament (Mt 1:5).

In contrast, Boaz didn’t wait passively for events to unfold; instead, he took decisive action. From the moment he learned of Ruth’s situation, he ensured her safety, provided generously for her, and sought to resolve the redemption matter honorably. His leadership and integrity shone through at every turn. The story of Boaz celebrates the transformative power of his selfless love and points forward to God’s greater plan of redemption through Jesus, the Messiah, who descended from Boaz.

See also

• Orpah served as a literary foil to Ruth