The Arizona Nomadic Community That Runs on Solar-Powered Car Batteries

A one-man operation called High Desert Off Grid is repurposing old lithium batteries from electric cars by hooking them up to solar panels and turning them into emissions-free generators. The concept solves two problems — it gives Quartzsite’s boondockers a green energy source, and it offers a second life to cast-off batteries that are too depleted to run a car but still have enough juice to power some lights, a hot plate and a laptop computer. A custom-built software program manages the loads on the batteries, tracking energy output and helping the user choose when to run appliances to optimize efficiency.  Source: The Arizona Nomadic Community That Runs on Solar-Powered Car Batteries

The Crossing

Weekend Stories by Trishikh

A sudden burst of wind revealed the silhouette of a man lying huddled and hidden under the silver desert sand. Visible by the light of a million dotted stars and the enchanting midnight moon magnified in the backdrop of the nomadic night sky painted in hues of lilac, turquoise and electric blue. A night in the desert can be mesmerisingly beautiful while being cold, deathly, and merciless too.

It was somewhere deep in the bowels of the two hundred thousand square kilometres of the ‘Great Indian Desert,’ covering the states of Gujrat, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan in India, continuing to become the Cholistan Desert in the Punjab province of the Republic of Pakistan.

Abrupt gusts of wind made the loose desert sands dance on his grey trenchcoat, the man’s only covering from the elements. The weathered brown leather boots that peeped from the bottom of his coat indicated that he…

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Myanmar coup opponents plan new tactics after 7-year-old girl killed inside home – National | Globalnews.ca

Myanmar activists plan more anti-coup protests on Wednesday, including a silent strike with many businesses due to close and calls for people to stay home, a day after a seven-year-old girl was killed in her home when security forces opened fire during a crackdown in Mandalay.

Pro-democracy protesters also held more candle-lit vigils overnight including in a district of the commercial capital Yangon and in Thahton in Mon State.

The vigils came after staff at a funeral service in Mandalay told Reuters on Tuesday that a seven-year-old girl had died of bullet wounds in the city — the youngest victim so far in a bloody crackdown of opposition to the Feb. 1 coup.

Source: Myanmar coup opponents plan new tactics after 7-year-old girl killed inside home – National | Globalnews.ca

Fact check: Madison Cawthorn (habitual liar) falsely claimed there are ‘zero dollars’ spent on homeless veterans. It’s actually more than $2 billion this year – CNNPolitics

“The Biden Admin just dropped $86 Million dollars to get hotel rooms for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS yet we have zero dollars going to our homeless veterans who are at a high risk of suicide. UNACCEPTABLE. UNAMERICAN,” Cawthorn wrote. Facts First: Cawthorn was not even close to correct about federal spending on homeless veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs will spend “more than $2 billion” in the 2021 fiscal year “supporting Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness,” department spokesman Terrence Hayes said in an email. The American Rescue Plan pandemic relief law President Joe Biden signed this month — which Cawthorn voted against — itself provides significant funding to address housing insecurity, both in general and among veterans in particular.

Source: Fact check: Madison Cawthorn falsely claimed there are ‘zero dollars’ spent on homeless veterans. It’s actually more than $2 billion this year – CNNPolitics

Three Dolphins Spotted Frolicking In East River Near Greenpoint – Gothamist

A dolphin spotted in the East River on March 23rd, 2021. Off the shore of Greenpoint on this sunny Tuesday afternoon, three dolphins were spotted swimming in the East River. Yes, dolphins! You can breathe easy, fellow pandemic-weary New Yorkers—for what better omen exists for welcoming the spring. Source: Three Dolphins Spotted Frolicking In East River Near Greenpoint – Gothamist

Cold infections could help stave off coronavirus infections – study – The Jerusalem Post

Scottish researchers have found that antibodies accumulated during the common cold can serve as a level of protection against the novel coronavirus.

Research performed by the University of Glasgow creates an argument that the human rhinovirus “triggers an innate immune response” that blocks coronavirus replication in the respiratory tract, the university said.

Previous research has shown that when human rhinovirus infections come into contact with other respiratory viruses, the “type and severity” are generally affected, normally in the virus’ ability to spread.Source: Cold infections could help stave off coronavirus infections – study – The Jerusalem Post