Issue #24 - Columbus ain't S#*t!

Broster - A combination of a bro and a hipster. Has the party-loving attitude of a bro, the pretentious taste of a hipster, but is somewhere in between. 

Columbus ain't S#*t!
Scientists estimate that several hundred years before Columbus' transoceanic voyage, a significant and mysterious journey took place across the Indian Ocean. Research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society found that approximately 30 percent of Madagascar's Malagasy people shared the same maternal mitochondria traced back to one of only 30 women of Polynesian heritage. A diverse population of humans would normally share only two percent, by comparison. The large percentage of Malagasy from Polynesian descent is evident in the same linguistic and cultural characteristics also found in a small region of southern Borneo, over 4,300 miles away.

The research team ran 40 million different simulations of settlement events to see which was the most likely to have given rise to the current genetic patterns of the island. The most likely result was that a one-off settlement of 30 women (mitochondrial DNA passed down through the mother) and some men landed on the island after a long ocean journey from Borneo/Indonesia. The landing on Madagascar perhaps resulted from a shipwreck or early exploration in vessels not built for long distant transport. The exact circumstances of how they arrived is a mystery with some researchers suggesting perhaps a refugee ship, rather than a merchant vessel, which would be less likely to carry women. Madagascar was then also settled by Bantu peoples of the East African kingdoms as well as other migrant groups all contributing to the biological and cultural make up of modern Madagascar.

Good News/Organization
Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD) is a growing network of over 800 health career bound undocumented students across the country. The organization investigates and shares information on career pathways for pre-health undocumented students as well as advocates for more progressive institutional and governmental policies for undocumented students.

Recently heard about one of the founders, Jirayut "New" Latthivongskorn on a podcast speaking about the organization and the current issues. He is the first undocumented immigrant to attent UC San Francisco School of medicine and was named as a Forbes "30 Under 30" for the work with Pre-Health Dreamers. Jirayut was brought to the U.S from Thailand when he was nine and is now a fourth year medical student. His DACA work authorization expires in January 2019 with his medical residency not yet to being until a few months after that, and could be impossible if loses his authorization to work legally.

"I have all these big ideas about how I want to change the world and change systems around health care. The fact that I might not be able to get there is troubling and frustrating" - Jirayut

He has since joined six other DACA recipients in suing the Trump Administration.

Music
Exhuming McCarthy - R.E.M

Issue #23 - For the Ladies!

Broster - A combination of a bro and a hipster. Has the party-loving attitude of a bro, the pretentious taste of a hipster, but is somewhere in between. 

In observance of the Women's March here are several important women in history

Mary Wollstonecraft - (1759-1797) - An English writer, philosopher, and women's rights advocate. Wollstonecraft is best known for "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman." A central argument was that women are not naturally inferior to men and that women should be educated in a rational manner to give them the opportunity to contribute to society.

Harriet Tubman - (1822-1913) - An absolute BAMF, abolitionist, humanitarian and spy for the Union during the Civil War. Most famously known for her role in rescuing slaves with the Underground Railroad. In her later years she worked to promote the cause of women's suffrage. During the Civil war, Tubman acted as a nurse, conducted reconnaissance missions and became the first woman to lead an armed assault.

Kathrine Switzer - (b.1947) - She became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry. During her run, race official Jock Semple attempted to tackle Switzer but was shoved tot he ground by Switzers boyfriend who was running with her. It was not until 1972 that women were allowed to run officially.

Valentina Tereshkova - (b. 1937) - The first woman to fly in space aboard the Volstok 6 in 1963.

Bertha von Suttner - (1843-1914) - An Austrian-Bohemian pacifist and novelist. In 1905 she was the first woman to be solely awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Her pacifist novel, "Die Waffen nieder!" (Lay Down Your Arms) made her one of the leading figures in the Austrian peace movement.

Wangari Maathai - (1940-2011)  a Kenyan environmental & political activist as well as a Nobel Laureate. Founder of the Green Belt movement, an environmental NGO focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation and women's rights.

My Mom, Eileen Brennan - Granted I am a bit biased with this addition but must add the woman who taught me to be a feminist and highlight her contributions to women's history. In 1972, Nassau County (NY) Police Department refused to place her in a police training program with a police official at the time explaining that a woman is not capable of being a patrolman. The official went on to state that if a woman was trained for such a position she would carry a latent defect that would cause violence. She then promptly filed New York State's state's first sex-discrimination complaint against a police department. Six months later, she won her case and the state ordered Nassau to start training cadets for patrol work without regard to sex.

Music
RIP Dolores O'Riordan
NPR Tiny Desk Concert - The Cranberries

Issue #22 - "Too Rich to Describe"

Broster - A combination of a bro and a hipster. Has the party-loving attitude of a bro, the pretentious taste of a hipster, but is somewhere in between. 

Richest People in History
With the recent movement of Jeff Bezos into the position of richest person in the world, brief research ensued in searching for the richest historical figures in todays dollars.

10. Genghis Khan (1162-1227) - Large Land Area of Mongol Empire stretching from China to Europe.

9. Bill Gates - $86 Billion - Microsoft

8. Jeff Bezos - $105 Billion - Amazon

7. Andrew Carnegie - (1835-1919) - $372 Billion - The Scottish immigrant sold his company, US Steel, to J.P Morgan for $480 Million in 1901. Worth roughly 2.1% of US GDP at the time.

6. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) - $392 Billion - By 1880 his Standard Oil controlled 90% of American Oil production. At the time of his death he was worth roughly 2% of U.S economic output.

5. Emperor Shenzong (1048-1085) - Ruled empire with 25% of global GDP. His rule was during the Song dynasty and wealth came from technological innovations and skilled taxation.

4. Catherine the Great (1729-1796) - 5.4% of Global GDP - ($1.5 Trillion) as ruler of Russian Empire.

3. Empress Wu (624-705)- 22.6 % of Global GDP - 15 year reign expanded Chinese Empire deep into central Asia. Trade of tea and silk allowed for more than 300 units of currency produced.

2. Augustus Caesar (63 BC-14 AD) - 30% world's economic output ($4.6 Trillion) - At one point he personally owned all of Egypt.

1. Mansa Musa (1280-1337) - "Too rich to describe" - King of Timbuktu, his West African Mali Empire was the largest producer of gold in the world.
- Made a pilgrimage to Mecca with an entourage of tens of thousands of soldiers, civilians, and slaves, 500 heralds bearing gold staffs, many horses & camels, and an abundance of gold bars.
- Spent so much money in Cairo, and donated much to the poor, that it caused mass inflation which took years to recover.

Good News
A Pug Cafe exists in Kyoto, Japan.

Relevant Music
Rich Girl - Hall & Oates
Chain Gang - Sam Cooke
Take the Money and Run - Steve Miller Band
Mo Money Mo Problems - The Notorious BIG