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Ken Nordtvedt Has Passed

The following was posted by David Vance in the ISOGG group in FaceBook today. As one of Ken’s acolytes back in the early days of Y-DNA Haplogroup I research, I feel compelled to post some links about his works. Ken helped guide me through testing of individual STRs and SNPs before autosomal testing was even available.

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The early pioneers in genetic genealogy in this group will remember Ken Nordtvedt, who I just heard passed away earlier this month at 86. His Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Nordtvedt) has already been updated.

While his contributions far exceeded genetic genealogy, in our field he was an early innovator in more accurate Y-DNA TMRCA algorithms back when most of us were still fan-girling over Bruce Walsh’s original 2001 paper on the subject. Ken’s Interclade TMRCA methodology is still the basis for the SAPP tool TMRCAs and have held up remarkably well over the decades.

But more than that, Ken was a major force in analysis and discovery in the I haplogroup for many years.

RIP and thank you to one of our departed visionaries and a giant upon whose shoulders we stand.

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See also https://genarchivist.net/showthread.php?tid=2028

Jim Robeson,
I1a-M253 > DF29 > CTS6364 > S4795 > S4767 > S4770 > Y13495/Y13016 > Y29634/S4774 > A13294 > FTA86767

Unknown's avatar

One Battle After Another ‘best movie of the year’

I saw the race scene in Bullitt (1968) with Steve McQueen and now I’ve seen the race in One Battle After Another (2025) with Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn and must admit that I loved them both!

One Battle After Another is a comedic political action thriller with a race through some hills in California that really had me jumping.  I have a feeling that this might become a love it or leave it kind of film. It surely will become a cult classic. 

Currently at 96% in Rotten Tomatoes, you need to see both movies in a large screen theater to appreciate those race scenes (VistaVision if you can). From the director Paul Thomas Anderson, the film also stars Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, and Benicio Del Toro. 

Filmed all around California, things start at an immigration detention center on the U.S.- Mexico border.  Many “family” scenes were near Cal Poly in Humbolt County and nearby Eureka, CA…  Some were filmed in Stockton, Tracy and Sacramento.  The race scenes were near the Texas Dip in Borrego Springs, CA with most desert action in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in southern California.

See more at https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/leonardo-dicaprio-movie-northern-california-21066073.php

https://variety.com/2025/film/features/one-battle-after-another-car-chase-location-breakdown-1236529697/

https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/hk/destinations/north-america/exploring-the-stunning-shooting-locations-of-one-battle-after-another/

https://travelnoire.com/where-was-one-battle-after-another-filmed

Watch in VistaVision

Vista Theater (Los Angeles, CA)
Regal Union Square 17 (New York, NY)
Coolidge Corner Theater (Boston, MA)
Odeon Leicester Square (London, England)

Watch in 70mm IMax

Cinemark Dallas IMAX (Dallas, TX)
AutoNation IMAX (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Indiana State Museum (Indianapolis, IN)
Regal Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 (Irvine, CA)
BFI IMAX (London, England)
AMC Lincoln Square 13 (New York, NY)
AMC Metreon 16 (San Francisco, CA)
Harkins Arizona Mills 18 (Tempe, AZ)
AMC Universal Citywalk 19 (Universal City, CA)
Cineplex Vaughan IMAX (Woodbridge, Ontario)


Unknown's avatar

Al Gore on China’s climate rise: ‘I would not have seen this coming’

The report suggests China is becoming the world’s first “electro state” while the U.S. abandons the race for clean tech leadership. Could you have imagined this scenario 25 years ago?

Al Gore: Looking from the standpoint of 25 years ago, I have to say no, I would not have seen this as the most likely outcome. But I was always impressed with the degree to which Chinese leadership was listening carefully to their scientific community.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/16/al-gore-on-chinas-climate-rise-i-would-not-have-seen-this-coming/

Unknown's avatar

Oil Discovered In Hell

The phrase comes from an old story Graham told to explain why investment professionals often act in ways that defy rational analysis. In the tale, an oil prospector arrives at the gates of heaven, only to be told by St. Peter that the compound reserved for oil men is already full. The prospector asks for permission to say just four words to those inside. Granted the chance, he shouts, “Oil discovered in hell.” At once, the entire group of oil men rushes off, leaving heaven’s gates open. When St. Peter offers the prospector a place inside, the prospector hesitates, saying he may as well join the others — after all, there might be some truth to the rumor.