Cells in Dinosaur Fossils

Seems we have been talking about Dinosaurs a lot this week.

And rightly so as they are very interesting creatures.

Of course, if you believe what movies, text books, TV programs, secular museums and secular schools tell you about Dinosaurs, you would think they died millions of years ago.

Millions of years.  Hmmm. That is a very long time.

So fossils that are millions of years old should not have any tissues that degrade in hundreds or thousands of years.

But, guess what.

What?

Many fossils have been found that do have tissues that should be long gone if they really were millions of years old.

What kind of tissues? you ask.

Well, such things as feathers, hair, soft tissues, blood vessels, and blood cells.

Hmmmmm.  How can that be?  Tell me more.

Ok.  First, check out this short 1 minute 40 second video. HERE'S THE LINK.

Then to read a short article that explains the ramifications of finding blood cells and soft tissues in fossils thought to be millions of years old, HERE'S THE LINK

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Harvest Moon this weekend

The moon has many names depending on when it is seen.

One name is Blue Moon -- which is when two full moons occur in the same month.  

And, by the way, that is the case with the moon you are seeing this weekend; it is a Blue Moon. You will recall that the other appearance this month was on Saturday September 1.

Interestingly, the moon we are viewing this weekend also has another name, which is the reason for today's DIT, and which we will mention shortly.

In the meantime ....

Another name for the moon at about this time of the year is the Hunter's Moon -- which is the full moon after the Harvest Moon. 

Which means that the full moon in October will be the Harvest moon.  But that is then and this is now.

And 'now' brings us to the Harvest Moon, which is the moon we will be seeing this weekend, Sept 29-30.

So the moon this weekend is really unusual in that it is both a Blue Moon and a Harvest moon.

So, What and Why is the Harvest Moon?

Well, for the answers to those questions about the Harvest moon, HERE'S THE LINK

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Were Dinosaurs Carnivores ?

Recently we received an email from a friend whose grandson had asked the question:

"What is the evidence that the dinos were plant eaters? My grandson insists that some were carnivores."

We replied in an email answer to this question but then the thought occurred to us that some of you or some of your friends, children or grandchildren might have the same question.

So, to read the answer we sent, HERE'S THE LINK

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Bamboo Railway

Those of you who live in big cities with Metro Rails or who live in places in the USA served by AmTrack or those who live in Europe, Japan, and other places with widely used and usually very efficient Trains and Subways probably think you have problems from time to time.

But, guess what -- you have it made compared to what is happening in other parts of the world.

For example, the DIT for today is a video of the train situation in Cambodia and how some enterprising Cambodians are trying to improve on what is definitely a bad situation.

This is a kinda long video, about 10 minutes, but it is so interesting that the time flies -- even though the trains and norries don't.

Norries?

What is a Norrie? you ask.

Well, you will find out as you watch this video.

And you will also appreciate your rail travels more than ever before.

So, with that by way of introduction, HERE'S THE LINK

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Westray to Papa Westray flight

This is reported to be the shortest scheduled flight in the world.

It goes from Kirkwall on the island of Westray to Papa Westray or visa versa and takes 2 minutes.

No kidding.

Several years ago several DITers went to the Orkneys in Scotland, heard about this flight, and considered taking it.

For some reason, they didn't do it, though they have been accused of being the intrepid travelers and this is something they would do.

Perhaps (my memory fails me) it wasn't scheduled the day the 'Intrepids" were in the area or the weather was probably inclement.

Whatever the reason, we have always wondered what it would have been like.

Well, guess what.

What?

Well, now we and you can take that flight.

It will be another vicarious experience, of course.

And it will be a whole lot cheaper.  As I recall, it was not cheap.

Anyway, with that by way of background, for those intrepid travelers on that trip years ago,

And for the rest of you who probably never even knew such a flight or place exists,

to take this flight JUST CLICK ON THE ARROW IN THE PICTURE ABOVE

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Yom Kippur begins at sundown today

Yom Kippur begins at sundown today.

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and most Holy holiday on the Jewish calendar.

"Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God."- Leviticus 23:27-28 

Interestingly, It is another Jewish holiday that ends with one long note on the Shofar.

To read an excellent article about the details of this holiday, HERE'S THE LINK

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Hobby Lobby Stores

If you are 'into' making home decorations and other hobby and fun things such as scrap booking, craft making items, and more, you are surely aware of the Hobby Lobby Stores.

But, it is possible that you do not know the 'story' about how these stores came to be or the details about how the profits are spent.

A friend on the other side of the world, literally, found this article and sent it to us.

I think you will find this fascinating, informative, and inspirational.

This is definitely a 'must read' article.

You will have to click away the ad of the day or whatever posted by Forbes Magazine to get to the article, but do so.

Also, there are 3 short pages in the article so be sure to read all 3.  

So, with that said,  HERE'S THE LINK

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By man came death

There are many false teachers 'out there' in Churches, Schools, Books, and almost everywhere you look.

One of the false teachings that is not usually considered to be 'false' is the teaching about Evolution.

Evolution !  False???   You must be kidding.

No, not kidding.

Though evolution is the current 'in thing' it is a false teaching though many folks don't think so.

Why is it false? you ask.

Well, for one thing it negates the reason for Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection.

Most folks have not considered this and the impact that belief in evolution conflicts with belief in Christ and what He did.

This very brief article explains why.  HERE'S THE LINK

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Today is the First Day of Fall (Autumn)

Today Summer officially ends and Fall begins.

The 'fancy' name for this event is "The Fall Autumnal Equinox."

So what is the Fall Autumnal Equinox and why is it important?

Well, for one thing, it is that special day at the end of summer and the beginning of fall when the sun at the equator rises in the due East and sets in the due West.

Thus, both the day and the night are about 12 hours long. The reason why they are not exactly 12 hours each is explained in the article below.

But, more significantly, to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the days will now start getting shorter and shorter as each day passes and the nights will get longer and longer and longer ....

Until we come to the Winter Solstice when the shortest day of the year occurs.

But that is then and this is now.

And today is the Fall Autumnal Equinox.

If you are paying attention, you will notice that today there will about 12 hours of day and about 12 hours of night.

To read more about the Equinoxes and view a really informative 2 min 38 second video from National Geographic, which they posted for the 2009 equinox,  but same concepts apply every year including 2012, HERE’S THE LINK.

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Penguin leap of faith

Wow!  You have heard about a leap of faith.

Usually it is related to people and a leap they take either physically, mentally, or spiritually.

But, did you know that animals also often have to make leaps of faith?

Yes, I am sure you do.

One such leap that you probably immediatly considered is that of mountain goats and the precarious leaps they take and the scary trails that they travel in and on  mountains.

But, penguins also can do scary things.

Watch this 31 second video about a penguin as it considers a leap of faith. 

For this critter, it really is a leap of faith.  HERE'S THE LINK

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How do you know God exists?

This is another question that is asked by everyone!

And it is a very basic essential question that must be answered.

The usual 'answer' is: "you can't know!"

But is that correct?

Is God unknowable?

Does God not exist?

Or what?

Well, this brief article addresses this question and provides the answer.

This is definitely a must read article and is one that you will want to print out and share.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Dog controls volume of its bark on command

Today we are going to link to a short but very funny video.

What is it this time? you ask.

Well, as you are probably well aware, especially if you have a dog or have dogs in your neighborhood, dogs love to bark.

And they are usually reallllllly reallllly loud barkers.

But the dog you will be watching and hearing today is very unusual in the way it barks.

As noted in the title of today's DIT, this dog can control its volume.

How?

Don't know.

And I don't know exactly what the owner / trainer is telling this dog either as she is not speaking english.

But whatever is being said, the dog knows and responds.

So with that by way of background, prepare to be amazed at this dog.  HERE'S THE LINK

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Bill Nye the Science Guy

Recently I saw a website that approvingly reported that Bill Nye the Science Guy has said that children should not be allowed to hear about Creationism.  

Specifically Bill Nye said: "Creationism is Not Appropriate for Children … "

WHAT ??

Yes, it seems that the famous 'guy' whom zillions of children watch on TV and zillions of adults listen to on his TV and Radio programs, is an evolutionist and only wants the evolutionary side of the 'scientific debate' espoused.

Hmmmm.

Read this very important and insightful rebuttal to Bill Nye, The Science Guy, and be sure to watch both videos in the article.  HERE'S THE LINK

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The Feast of Trumpets aka… ends at Sundown today

The Feast of Trumpets aka… ???? What do you mean? you ask.

Well, the Feast of Trumpets has several names including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Teruah, and Day of Trumpets.

So what does this mean?

Rosh Hashanah literally means 'head of the year' and is observed on the first day of the first month (Tishri) on the Jewish Calendar.

In other words, today at sundown is the end of Trishri 1, the first day of the Jewish New Year. It began at sundown on Sunday.

So what happens on the Jewish New Year? Do they have fireworks or what?

No fireworks -- but during Yom Teruah there are many many blowings of the Shofar. I have heard the number 100 but don’t hold me to that.

The last of the many blowings is a lonnnnnnnng blast, the Teki'ah Gedolah, which some Biblical Scholars believe refers to “The last trumpet” mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:52

“51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” KJV

So what is a Shofar and what does it sound like? You ask.

The picture today is of a Shofar which is usually made from a Ram's horn.

To hear what it sounds like, we will link you to a video of a shofar played by Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg. 

As you watch the 2 minute 29 second video, notice that each of the specific sound/blasts has a specific name. 

After you hear the name to be played, Rabbi Ginsburg will play the named call on the Shofar. 

The name of the last long blast that is sounded on the video will be the Teki'ah Gedolah, which is the last blast sounded on the day of the Feast of Trumpets. 

Hmmmm. Very Interesting. Is this the last trumpet that Paul mentioned???

Anyway, if you would like to hear the shofar and its various sounds including that of the Teki'ah Gedolah, the Last Trumpet, HERE’S THE LINK.

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Junk DNA ?

DNA was discovered about 60 years ago by Francis Crick and James Watson.

But, not much was known about the details of DNA until in the 1990s when the Human Genome project began to map DNA and discovered many of the details and specific functions for its various components.

Some parts of DNA, however, seemed to have no purpose or function, or so the scientists thought.

So those seemingly 'purposeless' components were called "Junk DNA".

But, guess what?

"junk DNA" is not "junk" after all.

More and more of these so called "junk" components are now being shown to have very important specific and essential functions.

We have referenced this topic previously on DIT. So if you want more information after reading today's DIT,  you can find the previous posts by typing "Junk DNA" into the little search box at the top left hand side of this page. 

But, back to today's DIT.

There is a short article about DNA with new and very interesting information that will provide reasons why "junk DNA" is not junk at all.

It will even detail what some of this DNA actually does.

HERE'S THE LINK

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