By Mike Zonta, BB editor
(Image from Wikipedia.org)
The Apostle Paul said:
–I Corinthians 13:2
–Mike Zonta, BB editor
(Image from Etsy.com)
6/3/26
Nearing our 250th Declaration of Independence celebration, some words/thoughts by some of our colonial Fighters for Independence/Constitutional-Founders & Framers that didn’t make it into our Constitution; *plus, the words of possibly the most forward thinking scientist; **and the words/thoughts of one retired (2006) Supreme Court judge (who died in 2023):
“Government is, or ought to be instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community…when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.” George Mason
“That there be prefixed to the Constitution a declaration, that all power is originallyvested in, and consequently derived from the people.” James Madison
“The means of defense against foreign danger, have been always the instrumentsof tyranny at home…the armed forces kept under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.” James Madison
“…this (new government under the Constitution) is likely to be well administered for a course of years; and as other forms have done before, the people, being incapable of any other mode, will become so corrupted as to need authoritarian rule, such that, this Government will end in Despotism!” Benjamin Franklin
“As Nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need for masters. Only a virtuous people are capable of Liberty.” Benjamin Franklin
*”The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” Albert Einstein
(Pasoir.com)
Depiction of Confucius by Wu Daozi, 8th century CE
~ Confucius
Confucius, born Kong Qiu, was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the philosophy and teachings of Confucius. Wikipedia
By Chelsea Gohd published 2 days ago (Space.com)
“Measurements of two mudstones show hundreds of organic detections, making this the most robust organic detection in Jezero crater.”
Could Martian mudstones be holding evidence of ancient microbes? New findings strengthen the case that the Red Planet once held life.
New data from NASA’s Perseverance rover has revealed complex carbon in two Martian mudstones found in Mars’ Jezero crater, the same location where previous evidence of possible ancient life has been found. Scientists think this macromolecular (meaning large) complex carbon, could hold evidence that ancient microbial life once existed in the same sedimentary material, according to one new paper describing these observations. “Measurements of two mudstones show hundreds of organic detections, making this the most robust organic detection in Jezero crater,” the paper reads.
This comes soon after the news last year that Perseverance found what has been dubbed the strongest evidence of potential biosignatures, or hints of life, on Mars.
“Carbon is the primary building block for life on Earth, and all living things are made up of complex organic macromolecules,” co-lead author Ashley Murphy, a researcher at the Planetary Science Institute, told Space.com. “On Earth, [macromolecular carbon] is often found in extremely old rocks and in some cases it is the only organic evidence of past microbial life.
“Since early Mars may have been more similar to Earth,” Murphy added, “we may anticipate finding [macromolecular carbon] in old Martian rocks too, so we are searching for these organic macromolecules on Mars and other planetary bodies to determine whether the necessary chemical ingredients and environmental conditions to support life have ever existed there.”You may like
Perseverance landed on Mars in 2021 in Jezero Crater, an expansive crater thought to once be a lake that could have possibly harbored life. This landing site was in fact chosen because scientists thought it could have some of the best evidence for possible ancient life on the planet. And so far, in Perseverance’s extensive explorations — which have now officially taken the rover the distance of a marathon on Mars — that prediction seems like it’s turning out to be true.
In this new research, a team of scientists co-led by Murphy used Perseverance’s spectrometer SHERLOC (the Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals), which uses lasers to identify an area or object’s chemical and mineral makeup, to map the distribution of organic matter in the individual mudstones. The crew found organic carbon inside two mudstones.
Furthermore, these carbon-filled mudstones were found in the same location as the last year’s discovery of a potential biosignature found in a sedimentary rock on the Red Planet, which scientists say is still the strongest evidence that life could have once existed on early Mars. In this discovery, Perseverance found a rock now-named “Cheyava Falls” with distinctive “leopard spots.”
These types of rock marking can be created in high heat or extremely acidic temperatures, but neither of these conditions are thought to have existed in the area. However, the markings can also be formed by the presence of life. So, while this rock wasn’t conclusive evidence of past life on Mars, it certainly provided significant evidence that is now supported by this new data.
With these observations, the rover has made two main findings.What to read next
First, Perseverance has found organic, large, complex carbon in mudstones in Bright Angel, a rocky area on the northern and southern edges of Neretva Vallis, which is an ancient river valley in the Jezero area. And not only did Perseverance make hundreds of detections of organic carbon in these rocks, but the researchers also state that this is “the only detection of macromolecular carbon on a natural rock surface on Mars.”
“This is also the first detection of MMC in a mudstone on Mars outside of Gale Crater, suggesting that the availability of organics may have been widespread across the planet billions of years ago,” co-lead author Kyle Uckert, the SHERLOC deputy principal investigator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told Space.com.
While both studied mudstones have organic carbon in their interiors, according to these observations from Perseverance, there were some differences between the two rocks. The carbon in one mudstone was found mixed with primarily silicate minerals, while the other was filled with carbon mixed with secondary carbonate and sulfate minerals. The team also found that the carbon in both rocks was relatively intact, meaning the specimens might be resistant to radiation and oxidation or that it may have been recently exposed to the Martian surface.
Secondly, the team found that, in this identified carbon, Perseverance has detected evidence of potential biochemical interactions. These interactions left behind features in the two mudstones that look just like features created by microscopic life in sediments on Earth. This begs the question: Did ancient microbes on Mars really live in the sediments in this once-flowing river?
Maybe, maybe not. While that would certainly be one explanation, it’s also possible that the carbon could have been created without life.
“There are multiple potential pathways to form abiotic organics on Mars,” the authors state in this paper, clarifying that this, even compounded with other existing data, cannot conclusively say whether or not life created what Perseverance has observed.
“The science payload of the Perseverance rover was not designed to distinguish between abiotic and biotic processes, but was instead selected to identify compelling rocks to be collected for possible return to Earth for more rigorous testing,” Uckert told Space.com. Uckert added that there could be many non-life reasons behind the presence of this complex carbon, “for example, it may have been delivered to the surface via meteoritic infall, or formed through hydrothermal geologic processes,” he said.
For now, we can only wait until the next juicy bit of evidence about ancient life on Mars reveals itself.
This work was described in a paper published June 24 in the journal Science Advances.
| World Cup 2026 kicked off last week, as 48 countries faced off in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. With all the excitement, it’s easy to forget that just four years ago the world’s most-watched sporting event, held in Qatar, was mired in controversy over human-rights abuses, backroom dealings, and geopolitical maneuvering. Qatar’s World Cup is just one of countless examples of “sportswashing” — the use of sports by autocratic regimes “to bolster repression at home and gain influence abroad.”To learn more about this growing phenomenon, read the following Journal of Democracy essays by Sarath K. Ganji. |
| The Rise of Sportswashing The staggering global popularity of soccer makes it a prime target for regimes that worry about the negative press they get for their undemocratic practices. The Gulf monarchies have led the way in getting into the wide world of sports as a means of cleaning their image. By Sarath K. Ganji |
| How Dictators Use Sports to Win Friends and Influence People Authoritarians are developing new tools to project their malign influence across the globe. The world of sports can teach us a lot about the games they play. By Sarath K. Ganji |
| How Qatar Became a World Leader in Sportswashing The government has spent billions preparing to host the 2022 World Cup. Never mind the abusive labor practices and human-rights violations. It’s betting that your love of the “beautiful game” will make you more fond of this tiny Gulf state, too. By Sarath K. Ganji |
The Journal of Democracyis published quarterly in January, April, July, and October. Subscribe now for full access to our archives.
(Image courtesy of Steve Hines and AI)
June 27: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Mike Zonta, H.W., M.
In a crisis — any crisis — The Prosperos offers Translation. Translation Saturday Meetings is a weekly series of Translation presentations by veteran Translators, live and up to date on the issues of the day.
It is not a Translation workshop, It is not a Translation class. It is not a group Translation in the usual sense, though group participation is encouraged.
It is, however, restricted to those who have taken Translation class. So if you have never taken Translation class, check the calendar tab on The Prosperos website (TheProsperos.org) or get in touch with us and we will schedule a class.
Last week our sense testimony was: Breathing can be difficult due to allergies to pollen. My parents can do everything and prevent me from doing anything. Our conclusion was: Truth, being its own authority (parent), is love. Love is the only authority.
Then we asked ChatGPT to Translate the same sense testimony.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – See you there!!! – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81749347119
For more info and link to join please email Mike Zonta at:
New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove Jun 25, 2026 Mark Booth is the author of several comprehensive books including The Sacred History: How Angels, Mystics, and Higher Intelligence Made Our World, The Secret History of Dante: Unearthing the Mysteries of the Inferno, The Secret History of the World, and most recently The Secret History of the Universe: How Ancient Wisdom Made the Modern World. Mark explores the surprising relationship between modern physics, ancient esoteric traditions, and the nature of consciousness. He argues that many of history’s greatest scientists, from Isaac Newton to contemporary physicists, were deeply influenced by mystical ideas and suggests that modern science increasingly points toward an intelligent, interconnected universe. Booth’s discussion ranges from Platonic mathematics and quantum theory to artificial intelligence, spirituality, and humanity’s evolving role within a living cosmos. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:30 Newton, mysticism, and science 00:06:00 Childhood experiences and esoteric inquiry 00:10:30 Publishing the secret history 00:14:00 Plato, mathematics, and reality 00:18:00 Physics, idealism, and consciousness 00:22:00 Intelligent universe, and information 00:27:00 Time, space, and interconnectedness 00:31:00 Artificial intelligence, and ethics 00:41:16 Conclusion New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. He is Co-Director of Parapsychology Education at the California Institute for Human Science. (Recorded on Friday, May 29, 2026)
Science and Nonduality Jan 25, 2019 http://www.scienceandnonduality.com Bob Thurman delights the audience at SAND 2018 with his lighthearted approach to the wisdom and the message of Buddha. He criticizes materialism, calling it a decision, one which limits our responsibility for our actions, personal and global, by confirming the belief that this is all there is, that there is nothing after life – so it doesn’t matter, because we won’t be here to face the consequences. For more information visit https://www.bobthurman.com
brabantstraat Sep 20, 2017 PBS Frontline “Sick around the World” 2008, an enlightening documentary about different approaches to health care in 5 countries. They each have their pros and cons, described in this evenhanded report, but they all appear to be superior to the US system in the important ways. Uploaded as a public service. More here: • Healthcare Around the World
