Cabinet of Wonders Feng shui Feng shui ( i/ˌfɛŋ ˈʃuːi/;[1] i/fʌŋ ʃweɪ/;[2] pinyin: fēng shuǐ, pronounced [fɤ́ŋ ʂwèi] ( )) is a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment. Historically, feng shui was widely used to orient buildings—often spiritually significant structures such as tombs, but also dwellings and other structures—in an auspicious manner. Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.[3] Feng shui was suppressed in mainland China during the cultural revolution in the 1960s, but since then has increased in popularity. Modern reactions to feng shui are mixed. History[edit] Origins[edit] Cosmography that bears a striking resemblance to modern feng shui devices and formulas appears on a piece of jade unearthed at Hanshan and dated around 3000 BC. Beginning with palatial structures at Erlitou,[12] all capital cities of China followed rules of feng shui for their design and layout. Early instruments and techniques[edit] Foundation theories[edit] East
Optical Illusions in Art, Part 3 "QUANTUM SHOT" #334(rev) Link - article by Avi Abrams We love it when pictures play with our minds Careful! Don't hurt your brain looking at these images. Better yet, warp your brain into another dimension. To achieve different angle, illusion or an unusual effect with only two-dimensional picture is a challenge many photographers and artists can't seem to pass by. "The House, that Swift Built" (image credit: Anna Gunter) (image credit: Josh Sommers) (image credit: Istvan Orosz) Did you know that some illusions can actually be constructed in real life? (image credit: Shigeo Fukuda.html) Aldo Cavini Benedetti made the working model of M. (image credit: Aldo Cavini Benedetti) This video is almost out-of-this-world: The "Impossible Triangle" is also possible to make, see the instructions here - with a printable template from that site, anybody can make it! (images credit: Scott Henderson, Simon Scott) Almost Real: Illusions in Art (images credit: Sandro del Prete) Transformations & hidden figures!
The story of the Gömböc September 2009 Play this movie to see the Gömböc wriggle. This article is also available as a podcast. A Gömböc is a strange thing. Balancing act The defining feature of a Gömböc is the fact that it's got just two points of equilibrium: one is stable and the other is unstable. A Gömböc made from plexiglass. "It's a bit like putting a ball on a hilly landscape," says Domokos, "if you put the ball down at a generic point, it will always roll off in the same direction, down into the valley. To give it its full mathematical description, a Gömböc is a three-dimensional, convex and homogeneous object with exactly one stable point of equilibrium and one unstable point of equilibrium. Doubtful existence An ellipse has two stable and two unstable points of equilibrium. The reason why many people thought that Gömböcs didn't exist is that in two dimensions there is no convex shape with only two points of equilibrium. A geometric stem cell "This is intuitively clear," says Domokos. Mathematical field work
Katsushika Hokusai - The complete works CHIEF SEATTLE'S LETTER CHIEF SEATTLE'S LETTER "The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? the land? 13 Most Bizarre Mushrooms These 13 crazy mushrooms will blow your mind. You probably won’t find them on your dinner plate, but you will find them entertaining. Travis S/CC BY-NC 3.0 Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) This strange mushroom goes by many names, including Lion’s Mane Mushroom, Bearded Tooth Mushroom, Hedgehog Mushroom, Satyr’s Beard, Bearded Hedgehog Mushroom, pom pom mushroom, or Bearded Tooth Fungus. candiru/CC BY 3.0 randumtruth/CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 alumroot/CC BY-NC 3.0 peppergrass/CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 ishyam79/CC BY-NC 3.0 V. Puffball Mushrooms There are quite a few varieties of puffball mushroom, all of which belong in the division Basidiomycota, and all of which have their own unique characteristics. alfred.crabtree/CC BY-ND 3.0 cotinis/CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 Indigo Milkcap (Lactarius indigo) This purple beauty can be found in the coniferous and deciduous forests of eastern North America, East Asia, and Central America. Latticed Stinkhorn (Clathrus ruber) Bleeding Tooth (Hydnellum peckii) emmapatsie/CC BY-NC-ND 3.0