Interesting Posts and Articles #46

1. Aharon's staff discovered
   

   This amazing photo shows the writhing reptile trying to devour an orange-naped snake, known as a moon snake, as it coiled in defence, wrapping around its killer's body.

   Click on the link to see the picture and article.
2. LifeInIsrael reports on a psak from Rav Ovadiah Yosef about allowing the automatic washing of a soldier's uniform on Shabbos.
   
3. The Chafetz Chaim and the Cantonist
   

   The Chofetz Chaim reached out to the man. "Let me shake your hand. he said shaking the man's hand with both hands. " I have so much respect for you. You've made an unbelievable sacrifice to remain a Jew. Please promise me that you'll speak for me in the next world if you get there before me. Your word will carry a lot of weight. You are a living saint."

   One real point of the story is that regardless of the effect (kiruv of the cantonist), the point the Chafetz Chaim was telling the truth and did have true regard for him.
4. A good illustration of the need to be dan lekaf zechut.
5. "Bacteria make major evolutionary shift in lab." After 20 years:
   

   But sometime around the 31,500th generation, something dramatic happened in just one of the populations – the bacteria suddenly acquired the ability to metabolise citrate, a second nutrient in their culture medium that E. coli normally cannot use.

   Indeed, the inability to use citrate is one of the traits by which bacteriologists distinguish E. coli from other species. The citrate-using mutants increased in population size and diversity.

6. The Edah Chareidis says not to make counter-protests of the gay pride parade:

   "בהחלט, אנחנו מודים בטעות. רק גאוותנים ואינטרסנטים לא מודים בטעויות. ההפגנות בשנתיים האחרונות יצאו מכלל שליטה, והמשתתפים בהם כלל לא היו מהציבור שלנו. זה היה חילול ה' איום ונורא, וזו לא הייתה הכוונה שלנו. כיוון שהרבנים הגיעו למסקנה שרב הנזק על הרווח, הם החליטו לעצור את כל הדבר הזה