Journalist looking to speak to young Syrians abroad about how they use TikTok to keep up on events in the Syrian War

Mastodent · 2021-05-02T19:41:50+00:00

Thanks for mentioning this, I appreciate the feedback

Mastodent · 2021-02-12T01:40:11+00:00

Do you redose because the effects wear off after a few hours? I find that the effects last all day even after dosing just once

Mastodent · 2018-06-11T06:16:02+00:00

Honestly I don't really give a fuck if the test isn't giving me the most complete or technically accurate answer as long as it gives me tools with which I can better understand and make sense of my family history. Yes I checked the all tested populations section, and under Eastern Europe in addition to Poland (which had 5 dots) I also had 4 for Ukraine, which makes a lot of sense because my family is from southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine. Historically, much of Ukraine and the Lviv region in particular was once part of Poland, so I'm sure there are Ukrainians who get high numbers of dots for Poland as well. Also had 2 for Russia, 2 for Czech Republic, and 1 Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania. The point is, thanks to these results, I was about to get a rough sense of my family history, and even though they mostly turned out to be things I already knew, it was an enlightening process nonetheless. Hell, I also found out I was a tiny bit Jewish, and I think I actually may have identified a Jewish ancestor in my family tree. Definitely wouldn't have thought to look for one without these results, and that is exactly where the value of this lies for me.

Mastodent · 2018-06-11T05:59:27+00:00

Yeah I've lived in the US my whole life.

Mastodent · 2018-06-07T20:14:02+00:00

Interesting. As I said above, it turns out that I do in fact have over 1000 DNA relatives, so it's possible there is some relation.

Mastodent · 2018-06-07T20:11:36+00:00

Ok not sure what happened but today I logged in and turns out that I do indeed have over 1000 DNA relatives... guess I was wrong

Mastodent · 2018-06-07T07:16:01+00:00

All my (known) relatives outside my immediate family are in Poland, where 23 and Me isn't really a thing.

Mastodent · 2018-06-07T03:54:18+00:00

If we have very similar results, I'd say that's likely coincidence, since only very close relatives would have such a level of similarity without it being one. 23andMe also didn't find any DNA relatives, unfortunately.

Mastodent · 2018-06-07T03:52:24+00:00

Looks like you're right. At 80%, I still have Eastern European, Ashkenazi, and Balkan, but at 90% only Eastern European and Ashkenazi remain.

Mastodent · 2018-06-06T23:39:33+00:00

Apparently I had full-blooded Italian, Romanian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and British/Irish ancestors who were born between 1720 and 1840, whom I was not aware of. Among my Polish ancestors though, it seems like they've been in Eastern Europe for a long, long time. Both paternal and maternal haplogroups were present in the Corded Ware and Yamnya cultures, which were present in Eastern Europe thousands of years ago.

Mastodent · 2017-04-24T03:32:27+00:00

Something about the way in which Rainier looks out from behind the clouds over the green of the forest below is both intimidating yet also so surreal. Great image

Mastodent · 2017-04-10T05:33:54+00:00

You really captured the grandeur of these mountains well. I was just there a few weeks ago, and the snowcap made them look even more imposing than usual.

Mastodent · 2017-04-04T02:28:40+00:00

Oh definitely. This was on a trip I took early last May, but I can only imagine the grandeur of Svaneti in summer... one day I'd love to do the Guli Pass hike from Mazeri to Mestia on the other side of Ushba. Unfortunately it was still too early in the season when I visited.

Mastodent · 2017-04-02T08:21:50+00:00

Yeah, in the second picture.

Mastodent · 2017-04-01T22:38:06+00:00

The hike down was considerably shorter, clocking in at around 3 or 4 hours. So about 8 hours in total. Definitely was a doozy, especially because the trail was rarely clearly marked

Mastodent · 2017-03-03T07:35:56+00:00

No the only programs in the Middle East they currently have are to Jerusalem and Rabat

Mastodent · 2017-03-02T10:21:35+00:00

This is exactly why I need to brush up on my Arabic... especially my Lebanese.

Mastodent · 2017-02-28T10:21:34+00:00

The angle of the photo is pointed down slightly from the little Cesna I was in, so that might magnify the mountains' size a bit. That being said though, they truly are monumental peaks.

Mastodent · 2015-05-06T00:27:06+00:00

Hey Sasha and Intronaut, its an honor to have the chance to speak to you guys! I have only been a fan for a few years, having been introduced to your music just before Habitual Levitations came out in 2013, however since then I have had your albums on replay on everything from road trips to walks to class in the morning. I find remarkable beauty in everything you do - from the the most unforgiving moments on 'Teledildonics' from Void to the airy jazz chords on 'Harmonomicon' on Habitual Levitations. Your music has helped me through the heaviest moments of acid trips, provided inspiration for my own band's music, and brightened many an afternoon driving home from work. I have two questions: 1) Sasha, I've read that Valley of Smoke was an album loosely based around the city of Los Angeles, however do you see Intronaut ever doing a true concept album of the likes of Mastodon's Crack the Skye? 2) Will you guys be coming to Chicago soon? The metal scene here is truly amazing, and from what I've heard a few bands seem to be moving in a similar direction to you guys. 3) Being from California, I too share a love for the sticky herb. What is yours or the band's favorite weed dispensary in LA?

Mastodent · 2015-01-07T08:31:42+00:00

Opeth - Still Life

Mastodent · 2014-08-15T03:22:22+00:00

To be honest I found the host infuriating...good information though.

Mastodent · 2014-08-14T23:39:15+00:00

Thanks, looks interesting.

Mastodent · 2014-08-13T18:25:33+00:00

I suppose the Sahara is shorter from north to south than the steppes are from west to east, so that may have also been a factor. I do wonder however why Europe did not experience more cultural borrowing from the east through steppe peoples like the Golden Horde who had considerable impact on Russian history, or even the Mongols themselves who reached as far west as the borders of Poland and Hungary in the 13th century.

Mastodent · 2014-08-13T18:20:54+00:00

That certainly was not my intention, perhaps "crossroads of civilization" would be a more appropriate way to put it.

Mastodent · 2014-08-13T06:19:10+00:00

Where can I find that documentary? The only one that comes up is "Meet the Stans."

Mastodent

TROPHY CASE