Amid the scorching/freezing desert of Atacama in Chile, one of South America’s largest botanical storehouses aims to protect both the wild and cultivated heritage of the country’s plant life. Called the Initihuasi Seed Bank, this genetic mothership is the central node in a nationwide network of institutions that are safeguarding the country’s plant diversity, come […] The post Giant Seed Vault Freezes Beneath Atacama Desert, Preserving Chile’s Floral Diversity For the Ages appeared first on Good News Network.

Upon Further Reflection: NY State Canceling 5th Phase Offshore Wind Acquisition

A 3,000-word “news analysis” by New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker on Trump’s supposed cult of personality was headlined cheekily: “A Superman, Jedi and Pope -- Trump’s Relentless Bid to Mythologize Himself.” The online version was more insulting: “Trump’s Relentless Self-Promotion Fosters an American Cult of Personality-- President Trump has engaged in a spree of self-aggrandizement unlike any of his predecessors, fostering a mythologized superhuman persona and making himself the inescapable force at home and around the world.” The story included a photo of a gold-leaf copper statue of Trump, tilted on its side -- a statute paid for by outside private sources selling crypto coins. After a year back in the White House, Mr. Trump’s efforts to promote himself as the singularly dominant figure in the world have become so commonplace that they no longer seem surprising. He regularly depicts himself in a heroic, almost godly fashion, as a king, as a Superman, as a Jedi knight, as a military hero, even as a pope in a white cassock. While Mr. Trump has spent a lifetime promoting his personal brand, slapping his name on hotels, casinos, airplanes, even steaks, neckties and bottled water, what he is doing in his second term as president comes closer to building a cult of personality the likes of which has never been seen in American history. Other presidents sought to cultivate their reputations, but none went as far as Mr. Trump has to create a mythologized, superhuman and omnipresent persona leading to idolatry. .... His White House is pressuring the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery to display portraits of Mr. Trump by his supporters. A group of cryptocurrency investors has shelled out $300,000 to forge a 15-foot-tall gold-covered bronze statue of Mr. Trump called “Don Colossus” to be installed at his golf complex in Doral, Fla. For the record, late Minneapolis resident George Floyd had three memorial services while residing in a 14-karat gold-plated coffin, but no one would dare insinuate that Floyd's supporters were a “cult of personality.” As for fellow presidents, it would be hard to top Barack Obama hero worship from the entertainment community, like Black Eyed Peas musician will.i.am’s infamous celebrity video for Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign, “Yes We Can,” which the Times greeted favorably. The Obama worship often spread to the elitist media itself. It began with a Washington Post front-page story gawking at his “chiseled pectorals” and ended with Times columnist Frank Bruni gushing "We’re going to miss this man, America. Whatever his flaws, he’s been more than our president. Time and again, he’s been our national poet.” Baker himself wrote a gushy Obama tribute book complete with color photographs titled Obama: The Call to History. Amazon includes this sugary blurb:  "Very likely not since tributes to the assassinated John F. Kennedy will a book of photographs of a president so recently departed make millions of Americans want to cry."―James Goodman, The New York Times Book Review But that’s all in the dustbin of history; Obama’s only mention in this long Baker piece is as the racial victim of a clip reposted by Trump. Baker mentions several other U.S. presidents to put up against Trump, who comes out as by far the most cultish American leader, approaching Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung territory. Cults of personality are traditionally associated with dictators and demagogues, not democrats. They are figures like Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Benito Mussolini and more recently the shirtless, horseback-riding Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. But Mr. Trump does not seem concerned that he might be heading down a dangerous path. Baker did some cherry-picking to establish a pattern of commentators and Democratic politicians accusing Trump of encouraging a personality "cult," then came back to the Trump statue, which remains un-erected. The efforts to exalt himself, however, have accelerated in the past year far beyond his first term and have increasingly come to resemble eccentric regimes in far corners of the world. To those who have spent time in the former Soviet Union, the “Don Colossus” statue bears a striking resemblance to the rotating gold statue erected by Saparmurat Niyazov, the megalomaniacal former dictator of Turkmenistan who called himself Turkmenbashi and even renamed the months of the year after himself and his family. Trump’s “Don Colossus” statue, tacky or not, was not commissioned by the president, and February is not yet known as “Trumpuary."

A group of 10 students in California caused a controversy after spelling out a controversial word with letters on their T-shirts last week.The students were originally part of a photo celebrating the class of 2026, but then decided to pull a prank that they may end up regretting.'A small group of students made the poor decision to publicly spell out a message.'Originally, more than 20 students wore coordinated T-shirts for a photo in the bleachers at Redwood High School, located southeast of Fresno, California, in the Visalia Unified School District.Surrounded by a crowd of their peers, the students spelled, "Always Legit, Class of 2026," with each student having a single letter on the chest.According to Your Central Valley, some of the students then rearranged themselves for a different photo during the school event.Seven students spelled out the word "faggots," utilizing a "6" T-shirt in place of a "G" when spelling the word. Another student sat to the left wearing a "2" T-shirt, while two students sat three rows behind in the photo. All of the students were criticized for smiling or placing their arms around each other in the picture.RELATED: Dad says former math teacher and coach sent 15-year-old daughter nude selfie School officials sent out an apology letter to families that same night, KFSN reported, saying the school prides itself on respect, integrity, and leadership."Good afternoon, Ranger Families, I am writing to inform you about a recent incident in which a small group of students made the poor decision to publicly spell out a message that was derogatory and disrespectful," the letter read.The school added that "this behavior is unacceptable" and "does not reflect who we are as a school community."In a statement to Your Central Valley, Visalia Unified Superintendent Kirk Shrum indicated that the district was made aware of students who coordinated to "spell out a hateful, homophobic slur."RELATED: 2 Florida 15-year-olds accused of threatening to shoot up high schools Photo by John Moore/Getty Images "This is unacceptable behavior, and this matter is being thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken," Shrum went on. "Every student deserves to feel respected, protected, and valued on our campuses. We will continue working to ensure our schools are places where dignity, belonging, and accountability guide our actions."On Friday evening, Visalia Unified School District announced that it had taken "appropriate disciplinary action" against the students for spelling out a "hateful" slur. It has also been noted that some of the students were reportedly members of the school student government.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Robert Selden Duvall has died at the age of 95, according to a statement from his wife. The iconic actor was best known for his roles in "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now."'To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything.' Duvall's wife posted a statement on Facebook Monday saying that he had died the day before."Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort," Luciana Pedraza, the actor's fourth wife, wrote."To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court," she added.A statement from his public relations agency said he died "peacefully" at his home in Middleburg, Virginia.Duvall was nominated seven times for an Academy Award and won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Mac Sledge in the 1983 film "Tender Mercies."He was also known for being openly conservative and campaigned for several Republicans including John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. "What a double standard," he said about feminists. "They witter on about having the vote and then elect a guy like Clinton because he’s good-looking and puts through women-friendly policies." RELATED: Gene Hackman’s death riddled with suspicion "For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented," his wife continued. "In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all," she added. "Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Investigators searching for Nancy Guthrie said they have a new lead relating to the suspect seen in a terrifying doorbell video last week.Pima County (Ariz.) Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News that investigators believe the suspect's clothing and face mask were purchased at Walmart, and they are trying to identify each brand.The FBI previously described the individual in the surveillance video as a male with an average build who is about 5 feet, 9 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall, the news network added.The news network said it first reported that the suspect's backpack — identified as a black Ozark Trail Hiker — was sold exclusively at Walmart.CBS News added that it's not yet known if the items were purchased online or in an Arizona store — or somewhere else. Investigators have spent several days reviewing surveillance video at local Walmarts, the sheriff also told the news network.Authorities believe Guthrie — the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie — was abducted from her Tucson home in the middle of the night, CBS News said, adding that she has been missing since Feb. 1.Nanos called the backpack one of the most promising leads in the case, the news network reported.More from CBS News:Walmart has provided records of all Ozark Trail Hiker online and in-store purchases over the past several months, including sales beyond the Tucson area, to investigators, Nanos told CBS News.CBS News has reached out to Walmart corporate offices but a spokesperson declined to comment.Investigators believe the face mask the suspect wore is black but appears lighter on the video footage due to Nest camera's infrared technology.The FBI previously described the individual in the surveillance video as a male with an average build who is about 5 feet, 9 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall, the news network added.RELATED: How the FBI actually got the Google Nest footage of Nancy Guthrie’s alleged kidnapper More from CBS News:Investigators have also collected other DNA evidence from Nancy Guthrie's property as part of the ongoing investigation, but the results have not led to a suspect, according to Nanos.Multiple law enforcement agencies spent hours Friday evening searching a residence less than two miles from Nancy Guthrie's home.Nanos told CBS affiliate KOLD that the activity was the result of following up on "a lead that led to a search warrant and no arrest." Authorities did not release other details on what led them there or what, if anything, may have been found.The FBI on Tuesday released video and images from a security camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door; an FBI press release said the man was armed.A post on the X platform from FBI Director Kash Patel stated that authorities had been working "to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie's home that may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors — including the removal of recording devices. The video was recovered from residual data located in backend systems."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Wikimedia CommonsThe Tsar Tank, pictured during field tests, with soldiers standing on the carriage. From 1914 to 1918, the killing fields of Europe were a place of bloody stalemate. The Great War — or World War I, as we know it today — resulted in massive casualties on a frightening scale as belligerent empires became bogged down in trench warfare, with hundreds of thousands of lives sacrificed for mere yards of territory. To break the deadlock, numerous military innovators turned to the drawing board. Several countries simultaneously came up with the concept of the tank, as in water tank, coined by the British to disguise the real purpose of the armored vehicle that they were secretly developing. Most World War I tanks followed a similar design: a motorized protective barrier with treads to plow over obstacles and rough terrain, while also providing shielding for troops. Some early versions included machine guns and cannons to add offensive capabilities to strike at enemy positions. All kinds of tank designs and features were considered during the world conflict. But perhaps the most unusual prototype to emerge from the new era of military technology was the Russian Tsar Tank. What Was The Tsar Tank? Standing nearly 30 feet tall and weighing 60 tons, this monstrous machine looked more like Paul Bunyan’s tricycle. It included two enormous wheels that were intended to roll over any impediments. Also known as the Lebedenko Tank or the Netopyr (a Russian name for Pipistrellus, a genus of bats), this behemoth was the brainchild of Nikolay Lebedenko, a Russian military engineer who worked on the original design with Nikolai Zhukovsky, Boris Stechkin, and Alexander Mikulin. The Tsar Tank was gigantic even by today’s standards, so it would’ve been considered especially massive during the advent of modern weaponry. It was nearly 60 feet long and almost 30 feet wide. The tank featured a large armored T-shaped carriage with a main top turret bristling with machine guns. Lower sponsons were also equipped with machine guns for covering fire. A crew of at least 10 men operated the vehicle. Each large wheel was powered by a 250-horsepower engine that was adapted from motors captured from a destroyed German Zeppelin. On firm ground, the Tsar Tank reached a top speed of 11 miles an hour. At the rear, a small metal rotor provided balance, giving the military vehicle the appearance of a “tricycle on steroids.” It also boasted some of the best weapons of the time, making its presence all the more intimidating. A design of the infamous Russian Tsar Tank, which was never used in a single battle. The Tsar Tank got its most famous name from Nicholas II, who was then the ruler of Russia. He took a keen interest in the project after Lebedenko showed the Tsar a small working version of the tank in 1915. They played with the small tank on the floor, setting up obstacles of books and other barriers, which the miniature model easily overcame. In theory, it seemed like a larger version of the tank could really give Russia the edge during World War I, and perhaps even break an agonizing deadlock on the battlefield. Nicholas was impressed with the idea and gave Lebedenko a reported 250,000 rubles (about $125,000, an enormous sum at the time) so that he could embark on the project for real-life battles. Construction then promptly began, under incredible secrecy. All of the parts for the Tsar Tank were produced as if they were intended for use in battleships or heavy industrial machines so that no one would know the truth about the project’s nature. Inside The Infamous Failure Of The Tsar Tank On August 27, 1915, the Tsar Tank was put through its first field test, which initially seemed promising. The vehicle moved along a corduroy road — a path lined with logs — across a swamp. It crushed a tree and then moved off the roadway into the wetland. But that’s where it stopped. The wheels spun and could not dislodge the rest of the Tsar Tank from the muck. The vehicle’s weight was too far to the back, causing the rear rotor to easily sink into the soft ground. Even with large engines, the two massive wheels did not have enough power to pull the rest of the tank out of the bog. It was clear that the tank had failed its tests miserably. Surprisingly, after this discouraging testing stage, many attempted to free the vehicle from the mud and even outlined plans to possibly redesign it for future tests. Some were so confident in the tank’s potential for success that they ensured it would be guarded at its site in the wetland. But in the end, the vehicle was abandoned during the Russian Revolution. The tank then sat in the swamp until 1923, when it was salvaged for scrap. RedditThough the Tsar Tank failed its field tests, some hoped to improve the tank’s design and give it another try in the future. Military historians have since debated whether or not the Tsar Tank would have been effective on the battlefield if it had been properly designed. Its sheer size certainly would have intimidated enemy soldiers, especially at a time when tanks were still relatively unknown (one might even imagine a War of the Worlds-style alien craft attacking average military units). However, the impressive bulk of the Tsar Tank would have also likely been a detriment, as heavy artillery would have easily damaged or destroyed its front wheels. Though it may have appeared powerful and indestructible from a distance, perhaps it would’ve been taken down once it got too close to enemy troops, stopping it right in its tracks. Chalk it up to another case of “interesting idea, but maybe we should have thought it out a bit further.” After this look at the Tsar Tank, go inside the story of Tsar Bomba, history’s biggest nuclear weapon that created the largest man-made explosion the world has ever seen. Then, read about the Panjandrum, a disastrous experimental weapon that was supposed to help the Allies during World War II. The post Inside The Wild Story Of The Tsar Tank, Russia’s Absurd Experimental Vehicle From World War I appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Mae West achieved success in virtually every kind of media that existed during her lifetime. This is a rarity now, but it was especially rare in the 1930s. She was the epitome of power in Hollywood — and she didn’t even make her first film until she was in her late 30s. West was a stage actress by age seven who became professional vaudeville entertainer by 14. She danced her way into audiences’ hearts in her mid-20s, and then began writing provocative plays (some of which led to police raids). Click here to view slideshow On top of all this, she had a nightclub act, recorded a number of music albums, and, in her later years, enjoyed her role as a self-styled campy parody of the bold persona she helped create. Fans loved her and critics panned her, and she likely wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Today, we remember her for her snide, sexy demeanor and killer curves. However, Mae West was more than just eye candy with an edge. See some of the most memorable photos of this Hollywood icon in the gallery above, then learn more about her incredible life story below. The Early Life Of Mae West Born on August 17, 1893 to a prizefighter father and (fittingly) a fashion model mother in Brooklyn, New York, Mary Jane "Mae" West had the world wrapped around her finger at an early age. Her mother doted on her and supported her in fulfilling her every dream. To some, Mae was seen as spoiled or difficult — but she simply knew what she wanted and how to get it. Her mother took her to see popular vaudeville acts like Eva Tanguay, whose wild shows teetered between avant-garde and burlesque. Many say that Mae's mother had wanted to be a star herself, so she gladly encouraged the attention-seeking behavior that Mae already possessed. Mae West wowed at amateur talent competitions at a young age, and one such show in 1901 at the Royal Theater in Brooklyn sealed her fate. A stage manager promised to give her a spotlight during her rendition of "Movin' Day." But when 7-year-old Mae stepped onstage, there wasn't a spotlight. Wikimedia CommonsA publicity still of Mae West from 1936. "I stepped out on the stage, looked up angrily at the spotlight man in the balcony, stamping my foot," Mae West later wrote in her autobiography, according to Vanity Fair. "'Where is my spotlight!' I stamped it again and the spotlight moved across stage onto me and caught me in the act of demanding my light. The audience saw me and laughed and applauded." Her nickname "Baby Mae" was coined and quickly stuck with viewers, and audiences never stopped wanting more of Mae West. So, she dropped out of school in the third grade to become a full-time performer. From The Stage To Court To Hollywood For the next few years, Mae West performed in several plays put on by Hal Clarendon's stock company, then later in William Hogan's stage adaptation of Huck Finn. It was during this show that she met Frank Wallace, a vaudeville song-and-dance man whom she started a relationship with. The couple secretly married in 1911 when West was 17, but they separated soon after. West quickly made a name for herself on the vaudeville circuit, turning heads the entire way. Never one to shy away from the limelight, she had a solo comedienne act as the "Original Brinkley Girl" in 1913. Eventually, West began to write her own original plays by the 1920s. An early supporter of gay rights in America, she created a play called The Drag, which spoke out against gay conversion therapy. NYPL/Digital CollectionsMae West in a stage production of Diamond Lil (with an unidentified actor). Then in 1927, her Broadway play Sex was raided by the police, and West was indicted for immorality, according to PBS. She was fined $500 and sentenced to 10 days in jail on Welfare Island (now Roosevelt Island). West correctly predicted that the jail sentence would garner more attention for her show, and she ended up getting released two days early for good behavior. Upon her release, she began writing again, and it wouldn't be long before her 1928 play The Pleasure Man was raided by police... twice. However, she and her cast members would soon be acquitted in this case. She continued to garner attention thanks to both her legal battles and the provocative nature of her performances. It's little wonder why Hollywood's Paramount Pictures soon took notice. The film production company was struggling mightily due to the Great Depression, and they saw Mae West as their next meal ticket. Intrigued, she left her native New York for California. How Mae West Became A 1930s Icon Paramount studio head Adolph Zukor likely entered negotiations with Mae West not knowing what would hit him. West demanded the ability to re-write her roles as she saw fit, and design her own costumes. When Zukor asked what she expected to be paid for all this, West asked him what he made, and then asked for $1 more. She received exactly that. Her initial contract in 1932 pulled in an impressive $5,000 a week. By 1935, West would be the highest-paid woman in Hollywood — and the entire United States. She had the final say on her leading men, the lighting, the backgrounds, the scripts, you name it. West was very specific about what she wanted, and, again, knew how to get it. Mae West didn't enter Hollywood until her late 30s, but she quickly made a splash. Despite being in her late 30s by the time she got to Hollywood — then widely considered "advanced years" for female starlets — West's beauty, sensuality, and clear talent for writing was more than enough to make her a star both on set and behind the scenes. This was evident by the time she started filming her first movie appearance in 1932's Night After Night. West insisted on heavily revising her role. This led to one of her most memorable scenes, in which a younger woman admires her jewelry, saying, "Goodness, what beautiful diamonds!" and West's character responds, "Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie." Mae West's first starring role in She Done Him Wrong came in 1933 and was a box-office hit. Next came I'm No Angel, also released in 1933, and that was also a major success. Before long, the actress was a bona fide icon. Her Personal Life And Later Years Mae West's first serious relationship was the one with Frank Wallace, the vaudeville song-and-dance man who she secretly married in 1911 and then separated from shortly thereafter. (Despite their separation, however, she wouldn't officially divorce him until decades later, in 1942.) A few years after her failed romance with Wallace, in 1914, she began a relationship with Guido Deiro, another vaudeville performer. Before long, West was romantically linked to numerous other men, including her manager James Timony, gangster Owney Madden, and actor George Raft. At one point, West became pregnant and underwent a botched abortion procedure, which left her unable to ever bear children. Eventually, West dated boxer William "Gorilla" Jones. During this relationship, she encountered trouble from her landlords, who had a problem with West dating a Black man and didn't want any Black people in her apartment. In response, West purchased the entire building — and lifted the racist ban. Finally, during the 1950s, she somewhat settled down with wrestler Paul Novak, who was about 30 years younger than her. Though the pair never officially married, their romantic partnership lasted for over 25 years, and West called him the love of her life, according to The Independent. Even in West's later years, she continued to work, with her last two films Myra Breckinridge and Sextette being released in the 1970s. Nothing could stop her but her death from a stroke on November 22, 1980. She was 87 years old, and had Novak at her deathbed during her final moments. After learning about Mae West, read about these nine scandals of Old Hollywood that tarnished its sparkling image. Then, find out about the 1920s pop-culture sensation that was Clara Bow. The post 33 Iconic Photos Of Mae West And The Little-Known Story Behind The Old Hollywood Star appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Whoopsie! The Democrats' President's Day Postcard Is Conspicuously Missing Someone

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