Tuesday, October 8, 2024

"Rumors of War" Being Fulfilled

"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." ~ Matthew 24:6 (KJV)

The following article was obtained through the Daily Mail.

Kim Jong Un threatens to nuke US and South Korea ahead of US elections

Kim Jong Un has threatened to use nuclear weapons in potential conflicts with South Korea and the U.S. after he accused them of provoking North Korea, as experts warned that the dictator could be ramping up tensions ahead of the U.S. presidential election next month. In a Monday speech at the Kim Jong Un University of National Defense, he said that North Korea 'will without hesitation use all its attack capabilities against its enemies' if they attempt to use armed forces' against North Korea, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. 'The use of nuclear weapons is not ruled out in this case,' he said.

Kim added that North Korea’s nuclear response position must be fully enhanced because South Korea and the United States are pushing to beef up their military alliance based on joint nuclear and strategic planning. Since adopting an aggressive nuclear doctrine in 2022, North Korea has repeatedly vowed to use nuclear weapons first if it perceives the leadership in Pyongyang as under threat. But many experts question if North Korea could really do so because its military is outgunned by the US and South Korean forces.

Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol warned Kim that using nukes would mean the end of his regime because the dictator would face 'the resolute and overwhelming response' of the South Korean-U.S. alliance. Tensions between the two Koreas have been heightened in recent weeks, with Seol last week staging a military parade where it showcased its bunker-busitng 'monster' missile. Fighter jets also flew over Seoul and tanks rolled through the streets.

Meanwhile, North Korea unveiled a facility last week to produce weapons-grade uranium, a nuclear ingredient, and continuing a run of missile tests. Kim also slammed Yoon for 'clamoring' about his country's alliance with the U.S.

It comes as chilling images released yesterday by KCNA showed the communist dictator inspecting live artillery firing by graduates of the O Jin U Artillery Academy - a facility that trains the backbone of North Korea’s artillery force - at an undisclosed location in the country.

As Kim observed the artillery academy cadets carrying out a live-fire drill, he stressed the importance of 'constantly training the guerrilla war tactics to wipe out the enemies through rapid mobile and surprise operations. He also reiterated the country’s willingness to use all available offensive forces, including nuclear weapons, to defend its sovereignty.

Many analysts have observed that North Korea will likely leverage its growing nuclear arsenal for U.S. concessions like sanctions relief after a new U.S. administration is in place.

Since May, North Korea has been dropping balloons filled with waste and trash onto South Korea, reviving a Cold-War style psychological campaign. This morning, South Korean military reported that more balloons were being released across the border.
__________________________________________________________________________

The following article was obtained through Daily Express US.

Vladimir Putin pinpoints one move that will trigger 'nuclear response' from Russia

Vladimir Putin sent a chilling message to the West, warning them that giving into Ukraine's latest demand would lead to a nuclear war. 

Speaking to group of senior officials, the Kremlin leader pledged to change Russia's nuclear doctrine and threatened to use nuclear weapons if it was attacked by any state with conventional weapons, after Donald Trump claimed Ukraine should "give back a little bit." In his strongest remarks yet on possible nuclear strikes, the Russian leader said his military would have a swift "nuclear response" if it detected the start of a massive launch of missiles, aircraft, and drones into its territory, which presented a "critical threat" to the country's sovereignty.

This comes as Ukraine continues to seek approval to use long-range Western missiles against military sites in Russia. The Kremlin chief added that Russia had the right to use nuclear weapons in the case of aggression.

In a direct warning to Western countries backing Ukraine with significant military aid, Putin said Russia would consider an attack from a non-nuclear state that was backed by a nuclear-armed one to be a "joint attack."

The Russian president said his government was considering changing the rules and preconditions around how Russia can use its nuclear arsenal. He described his country's nuclear arms as "the most important guarantee of security of our state and its citizens."

Responding to the Russian remarks, Andriy Yermak, chief of staff for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Russia "no longer has anything other than nuclear blackmail to intimidate the world".

President Zelensky is set to meet Joe Biden today, where Kyiv's request for using long-range missiles inside Russia is top of the agenda.

He has been asking for months for permission to use British Storm Shadow missiles and US-made ATACMS to hit targets deeper inside Russia.

Kyiv wants to target bases inside Russia which it says are sending missiles into Ukraine, but the US has so far been reluctant to greenlight the move.

In his address to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, President Zelensky claimed he had proof that Russia was plotting to target three Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

In June, Putin warned Europe was "defenseless" against a nuclear strike from Moscow. He said that Russia had "many more [tactical nuclear weapons] than there are on the European continent, even if the United States brings theirs over."

Putin added: "Europe does not have a developed early warning system. In this sense, they are more or less defenseless."

Related:



Sunday, September 8, 2024

Knowledge shall increase...

The Prophet Daniel wrote, "But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." (Daniel 12:4

The surge in human knowledge over the past century alone is a remarkable achievement. For millennia, daily life around the world remained largely the same. Now, the electronic age is advancing rapidly, transforming the globe so swiftly that its inhabitants sometimes struggle to keep pace with the changes.

The following topics show how far mankind has come acquiring knowledge since the beginning of their existence:

1. From Prehistoric to Modern Man

The exploration of prehistoric mankind's mysteries began in earnest in the early 19th century, and it was decades before their importance was acknowledged. For centuries, the general public remained largely unaware of prehistory. However, the scientific community has been investigating the origins of humanity since approximately 3000 BC. With advanced technology, modern science has surpassed ancient scholars in identifying specific periods and describing prehistoric humans. Some experts suggest that Neanderthals and modern humans coexisted for over 10,000 years, while others propose the idea that humanity might be living in a computer simulation today. Regardless of these theories' accuracy, it is clear that our knowledge of human history has significantly increased.

Related:

Extinct human species: how different were they from us? (msn.com)

Human bones unearthed from a German cave have altered the timeline of ancient human history (msn.com)

Microplastics Found in Sediment Layers Untouched by Modern Humans (msn.com)

A Scientist Says He Has the Evidence That We Live in a Simulation (msn.com)

DNA reveals the oldest known family tree, dating back to 6,700 years ago (msn.com)

2. Ancient "Mythical" Cities Found

From Homer's depiction of Troy and Mycenae in the Iliad to the biblical accounts of Nineveh, many ancient cities were once considered by 20th-century scholars to be mere myths. However, the 21st century has disproven these assumptions. The aforementioned ancient cities, along with several other long-lost civilizations, have been unearthed, much to the excitement of archaeologists. The Bible lists several cities, previously thought to be fictional, that have been discovered in modern times. These include Ai, Babylon, Bethsaida, Capernaum, Dan, Jericho, Megiddo, Shechem, and Timnah. Nowadays, excavation and technology work together, facilitating scholarly discoveries. Such archaeological technology was not available forty years ago to reveal these hidden civilizations.

Related:

18 Historical Events Confirmed by Archaeology That the Bible Got Right (msn.com)

Archaeologists Found a Mind-Blowing Cluster of Ancient Lost Civilizations (msn.com)

Ancient Underwater Megastructure Not Created Naturally, Scientists Say (msn.com)

10 Ancient Cities Once Thought To Be Mythical That Have Actually Been Discovered (msn.com)


3. Explosion of Space Revelations

During the mid-20th century, nine planets were acknowledged in our solar system by scientists. Presently, astronomers have identified 1,780 exoplanets, with approximately 16 located within their stars' habitable zones. The 1990 deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope unveiled a broad realm of space for exploration, both thrilling and daunting the scientific community. The introduction of the James Webb Space Telescope in 2021 has since enhanced our exploration of the universe, greatly broadening our cosmic comprehension.

Related:

NASA Made a World-Shaking Discovery: Compelling Evidence of Past Life on Mars (msn.com)

The First Real Images Of Pluto: What Have We Discovered? | Watch (msn.com)

New evidence found for Planet 9 (msn.com)

Saturn's majestic rings will vanish in just six months from now (msn.com)

Mysterious ‘structures’ arranged in ‘stunning’ pattern found in space (msn.com)

NASA Space Probe Unexpectedly Glimpses The Surface of Venus in Astonishing New First | Watch (msn.com)

4. Amazing Medical Wonders

Medical discoveries have indeed soared in the past century. The shift from traditional medical tools to digital diagnostics has greatly enhanced the understanding of the healthcare community's insight. The treatment of diseases, the creation of vaccines to prevent them, and the identification of new illnesses have placed the medical field on a fast track of continuous learning. Additionally, there have been remarkable advancements in the field of medicine, including heart transplants, cochlear implants, and prosthetic limbs, among others. The ancients would be astounded by today's medical miracles.

Related:

Medical Wonders – Chicago Magazine

Medical Wonders – Exploring Promising Treatments (showsta.com)

Scientists Discovered Two 11,500-Year-Old Skeletons And Unlocked Ancient Secrets About DNA (msn.com)

A doctor reveals the hidden wonders of the human body : NPR

Miracles in medicine: A narrative inquiry exploring extraordinary events in pediatrics - PMC (nih.gov)

How modern medicine was made: A century of breakthrough, discovery and invention (medicaleconomics.com)

5. Mode of transportation

For millennia, humans relied on animals and boats for transport. The Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the world's first automobile, was created by German inventor Carl Benz in 1885. By the mid-20th century, cars had completely replaced horses and carriages. The Wright brothers accomplished the first sustained flight in 1903, and by the mid-20th century, aircraft had become commonplace in the skies. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, became the first human to journey into space, and in 1969, Neil Armstrong, an American astronaut, was the first to walk on the moon. Today, astronauts and cosmonauts reside on the International Space Station, established in 1998 and managed by five space agencies. This evolution from basic modes of transportation to advanced space exploration signifies the remarkable expansion of human knowledge.

Related:

History of transport - Wikipedia

How Travel Has Changed: 1900s Through 2020s (travelandleisure.com)

Evolution of Transport Technology since the 18th Century | The Geography of Transport Systems (transportgeography.org)

How has transportation changed in the last 100 years? – Discovering Employment Paths and Travel Experiences (ncesc.com)

25 photos that show how different traveling was 100 years ago (msn.com)

How Has Travel and Transport Changed over Time? - Twinkl Homework Help

6. The Evolution of AI

The evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) can be traced back to the inception of the first electronic computer in 1943. The Colossus, an early electronic computer, was developed and utilized by British codebreakers to decipher German messages during World War II. Although the personal home computer was not commercially available until 1971, the concept of computing was not widely embraced or understood by the general public during that time. It was not until the 1990s that the personal computer (PC) captured global attention and became a staple in homes, offering access to vast amounts of knowledge. 

Related:

Colossus computer - Wikipedia

History of artificial intelligence - Wikipedia

The History And Evolution Of Artificial Intelligence (alltechmagazine.com)

Claude 3 AI is almost as good as a human at persuading people to change their mind — here’s why (msn.com)

The Marvelous AI Robot Sophia: A Glimpse into the Future | Picasso AI (picassoia.com)

Future Of AI – 7 Stages Of Evolution You Need To Know About (the-next-tech.com)

7. Knowledge of Weather

The advancement in tracking various weather patterns has significantly progressed over the last 30 years, and the intensity of weather events has escalated since the beginning of the 21st century. The Old Farmers' Almanac, established in 1818, combines long-range weather forecasts with humor, fun facts, and advice on a range of topics including gardening, cooking, and conservation. The National Weather Service, established in 1870, enhanced our understanding of meteorological phenomena. In 1997, the launch of FarmersAlmanac.com brought the Almanac's enduring charm to a global audience. Previously, most people regarded weather as a divine phenomenon. Now, astronomers and scientists are able to predict with precision the occurrence of tornadoes, blizzards, hurricanes, and other weather irregularities.

Related:

U.S. Extreme Weather: Heat Waves, Tropical Storm—and Snow - Newsweek

Severe weather lashes Tasmania as winds cut power and rains set to bring flooding (msn.com)

Heat advisories, warnings: Millions hit with dangerous heat (usatoday.com)

Gas cloud from Iceland volcano eruption reaches Europe | Watch (msn.com)

National Weather Service's radar upgrade aims to make severe weather tracking more reliable (msn.com)

Heat waves, wildfires and now … snow? California endures a summer of extremes - The Press Democrat


Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Archaeologists Found the Lost ‘Book of the Dead’ Buried in an Egyptian Cemetery

The following article was published by Popular Mechanics and written by Tim Newcomb

Egyptian archaeologists located a lost 3,500-year-old cemetery containing mummies, statues, and a Book of the Dead papyrus scroll. 
  • Egyptian archaeologists recently located a lost 3,500-year-old cemetery containing mummies and statues—among other discoveries.
  • A particularly exciting find was a Book of the Dead papyrus scroll measuring over 43 feet long—a rare surviving copy of the traditional burial item.
  • The team behind the find was mum on the details of the textual discovery.

© Getty Images 

Ancient Egyptians sure knew how to create a burial scene—curated resting places complete with canopic jars holding the organs of the deceased and a Book of the Dead scroll with text meant to help navigate the world beyond the grave.  

One of those scenes was recently located in central Egypt, when archaeologists discovered a New Kingdom cemetery that dates back to more than 3,500 years ago and features mummies, canopic jars, amulets, statues, and a papyrus scroll containing a portion of the Book of the Dead that measures more than 43 feet long.   

© mikroman6 - Getty Image

This scroll is the first complete papyrus found in the Al-Ghuraifa area, and is “characterized by being in good condition,” Mustafa Waziri, secretary general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, said in a translated Arabic statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. 

While the cemetery—dating to sometime between 1550 BC to 1070 BC—was significant for the hundreds of archaeological finds and tombs carved into the rock located within its boundaries, the discovery of what could be a copy of the Book of the Dead captured the attention of experts as a truly rare find. But with few details released to the public about the contents of the scroll—believed to be 43 to 49 feet in length—there’s plenty of questions remaining about this particular copy of the traditional Egyptian cultural book. 

These texts—which can differ depending on the writer—first appeared at the start of the New Kingdom around 1550 BC. As a result, locating one in “good condition” from the era isn’t a common occurrence. 

“If it’s that long and well-preserved [then it’s] certainly a great and interesting find,” Lara Weiss, CEO of the Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum in Germany, told Live Science. Foy Scalf, an Egyptologist at The University of Chicago tells Live Science that it’s “very rare” to find a copy in the grave it was originally buried in—although, without photographs and an official publication describing the text, it's hard to verify the details of the find. 

A book more properly translated as “The Chapters/Book of Going Forth By Day” played a key role in ancient Egyptian culture. Any examples of the text give researchers insight into ancient Egyptian religion and beliefs about an afterlife, according to the American Research Center in Egypt. 

“The Book of the Dead reveals central aspects of the ancient Egyptians’ belief system,” the center writes, “and, like many topics in Egyptology, our theories are constantly changing, growing, and adapting with every new translation of this text.” 

While the Book of the Dead may continue to interest researchers—the Egyptian ministry says they expect the scroll to be displayed in the Grand Egyptian Museum—the text wasn’t the only item found in the burial chambers. 

The team located stone and wood coffins containing mummies, more than 25,000 ushabti statues, an untold number of utensils, thousands of stone and wooden amulets, and canopic jars. The engraved and colored wooden coffins—including that of Ta-de-Isa, daughter of Eret Haru, the high priest of Djehuti in Al-Ashmunin—were highlights of the collection. Next to her coffin were two wooden boxes with her canopic vessels, in addition to a complete set of ushabti statues and a statue of the ostrich-like deity, Ptah Sokar.

Related articles: