Coatlicue statue From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Coatlicue statue is one of the most famous surviving Aztec sculptures. It is a 2.52 metre (8.3 ft) tall andesite statue by an unidentified Mexica artist.[1] Although there are debates about what or who the statue represents, it is usually identified as the Aztec deity Coatlicue ("Snakes-Her-Skirt").[2] It is currently located in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. The statue was most likely completed in 1439 or 1491, although these dates are contested. Burial, excavation and early interpretations[edit] After the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan in 1521, the Spanish invaders ordered the systematic destruction of the city, including Mexica statues and buildings.[4] The Coatlicue statue likely occupied a prominent position in Tenochtitlan. The Coatlicue statue was excavated in the main plaza of Mexico City in front of the National Palace on 13 August 1790 during the excavation of a water canal. References[edit]
Voynich manuscript The Voynich manuscript is an illustrated codex hand-written in an unknown writing system. The vellum on which it is written has been carbon-dated to the early 15th century (1404–1438), and may have been composed in Northern Italy during the Italian Renaissance.[1][2] The manuscript is named after Wilfrid Voynich, a Polish book dealer who purchased it in 1912.[3] Some of the pages are missing, but about 240 remain. The text is written from left to right, and most of the pages have illustrations or diagrams. The Voynich manuscript has been studied by many professional and amateur cryptographers, including American and British codebreakers from both World War I and World War II.[4] No one has yet succeeded in deciphering the text, and it has become a famous case in the history of cryptography. The mystery of the meaning and origin of the manuscript has excited the popular imagination, making the manuscript the subject of novels and speculation. The Voynich manuscript was donated by Hans P.
Gopnik Gopnik (Russian: го́пник, IPA: [ˈɡopnʲɪk])[1] is a pejorative stereotype describing a particular subculture in Russia, former Soviet republics, Israel, and Russian-speakers in East Slavic countries to refer to young men or women of sometimes lower-class suburban areas (usually under 25 years of age)[2] coming from families of poor education and (sometimes) income. The female form is gopnitsa (Russian: го́пница), and the collective noun is gopota (Russian: гопота́). The subculture of Gopniks has its roots in Tsarist Russia and evolved during Soviet times in big cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg. [3][4] Etymology[edit] Gopnik is most likely derived from the Russian slang term for a street robbery: gop-stop (Russian: Гоп-стоп).[5] However, it could also be related to GOP, the acronym for the Gorodskoye Obshchestvo Prizreniya. Stereotypical appearance and behaviour[edit] Gopniks have become infamous for conducting robberies in large groups.[12] See also[edit] References[edit] Фима Жиганец.
Takashi Murakami installation at Versailles (2010) sep 20, 2010 takashi murakami at versailles ‘oval buddha’ by takashi murakami, 2007-2010 (bronze and gold leaf) ©2007-2010 takashi murakami/kaikai kiki co., ltd. all rights reserved. photo: cedric delsaux – water parterre / château de versailles the château de versailles is the location of the latest exhibition by japanese artist takashi murakami. the show is titled ‘murakami versailles’ and features a number of manga-inspired sculptures displayed both indoors and out at the historic french palace. of the 22 works on display, 11 were created specifically for this show. all the murakami works sit within the context of the palace, often contrasting sharply with the period décor and complimenting it at other times. the show will run from now till december 12th as part of the regular versailles admission. nate archer I designboom
Vela incident 1979 detection of a double light flash near the Prince Edward Islands by American satellites The cause of the flash remains officially unknown, and some information about the event remains classified by the U.S. government.[1] While it has been suggested that the signal could have been caused by a meteoroid hitting the satellite, the previous 41 double flashes detected by the Vela satellites were caused by nuclear weapons tests. Detection[edit] The satellite reported a double flash, which could be characteristic of an atmospheric nuclear explosion of two to three kilotons, in the Indian Ocean between the Crozet Islands (a sparsely inhabited French possession) and the Prince Edward Islands (which belong to South Africa) at 47°S 40°E / 47°S 40°E / -47; 40. Office of Science and Technology evaluation[edit] Victor Gilinsky (former member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) argued that the science panel's findings were politically motivated. Possible responsible parties[edit] Israel[edit] [edit]
Amish Group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships The Amish (; Pennsylvania German: Amisch; German: Amische) are a group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships with Swiss German Anabaptist origins. They are closely related to, but a distinct branch off from, Mennonite churches. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, and are slower to adopt many conveniences of modern technology, with a view to not interrupting family time, nor replacing face-to-face conversations whenever possible. In the early 18th century, many Amish and Mennonites immigrated to Pennsylvania for a variety of reasons. Members who do not conform to these community expectations and who cannot be convinced to repent are excommunicated. History[edit] Anabaptist beginnings[edit] Cover of The Amish and the Mennonites, 1938 The Anabaptist movement, from which the Amish later emerged, started in circles around Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531) who led the early Reformation in Switzerland. 20th century[edit]
Soo Sunny Park "Unwoven Light" Installation (2013) Soo Sunny Park, Unwoven Light, 2013 / Commission, Rice University Art Gallery, Houston, Texas / Photo by Nash Baker Currently on view at Rice Gallery is this shimmering installation titled Unwoven Light by Soo Sunny Park, comprised of some 37 sections of chain-link fence embedded with translucent sections of Plexiglas. The suspended waveforms capture and reflect nearly every light source in the gallery creating a fractalized rainbow of color that changes quality depending on the time of day. Of the work Park says, “We don’t notice light when looking so much as we notice the things light allows us to see. Unwoven Light captures light and causes it to reveal itself, through colorful reflections and refractions on the installations surfaces and on the gallery floor and walls.” Update: Added a new documentary short courtesy Walley Films.
Metcalf sniper attack From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 2013 electrical substation attack in Coyote, California On April 16, 2013, an attack was carried out on Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Metcalf transmission substation in Coyote, California, near the border of San Jose. The attack, in which gunmen fired on 17 electrical transformers, resulted in more than $15 million worth of equipment damage, but it had little impact on the station's electrical power supply.[1][2][3] Assault[edit] On the morning of April 16, 2013, a team of gunmen, using rifles, opened fire on the Metcalf Transmission Substation, severely damaging 17 transformers.[4][5][6] Preparation[edit] Prior to the attack, a series of fiber-optic telecommunications cables operated by AT&T were cut by the culprits. Timeline[edit] 12:58 a.m. – AT&T fiber-optic telecommunications cables were cut not far from U.S. Sophistication of attack[edit] Aftermath[edit] Seventeen transformers were seriously damaged, requiring over $15 million worth of repairs.
Potluck An assortment of different dishes at a church potluck A potluck is a communal gathering where each guest or group contributes a different and hopefully unique, and often homemade, dish of food to be shared. Other names for a "potluck" include: potluck dinner, spread, Jacob's join,[1][2] Jacob's supper, faith supper, covered-dish-supper, dish party, bring-and-share, shared lunch, pitch-in, bring-a-plate, dish-to-pass, fuddle, and carry-in. Etymology[edit] While there exists some disagreement as to its origin, two principal theories exist: the combination of the English "pot" and "luck" or the North American indigenous communal meal potlatch. The word pot-luck appears in the 16th century English work of Thomas Nashe, and used to mean "food provided for an unexpected or uninvited guest, the luck of the pot." Description[edit] Potluck dinners are events where the attendees bring a dish to a meal. See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] What's the origin of "potluck"?
Ben Young Sculpts Sheets of Glass Into Sculptures of the Ocean Self-taught artist Ben Young creates stunning sculptures of ocean waves and watery landscapes by layering multiple sheets of hand-cut glass. Young, who also surfs and builds boats professionally, is inspired by his upbringing in New Zealand's beautiful Bay of Plenty. His affinity for the sea is clear in his extraordinary glass works, which portray both the gentle tranquility and the powerful force of Mother Nature's tides. Although the extreme precision and detail of his sculptures lead many people to assume that he uses high-tech machinery to build his pieces, Young actually does everything manually, making the end results even more incredible. Young's use of glass allows him to portray many different elements of his conceptual ideas. Ben Young's websiteBen Young on Tumblr via [Colossal], [Faith is Torment]
The Hum Low-frequency noise not audible to all people The Hum is a name often given to widespread reports of a persistent and invasive low-frequency humming, rumbling, or droning noise audible to many but not all people. Hums have been reported all over the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.[1][2] They are sometimes named according to the locality where the problem has been particularly publicized, such as the "Taos Hum" in New Mexico and the "Windsor Hum" in Ontario. The Hum does not appear to be a single phenomenon. Description[edit] A 1973 report cites a university study of fifty cases of people complaining about a "low throbbing background noise" that others were unable to hear. Taos Hum[edit] Auckland Hum[edit] In 2006, Tom Moir, then of Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand, made several recordings that appeared to be the Auckland Hum.[9][10] His previous research using simulated sounds had indicated that the hum was around 56 hertz.[11]
The Tale of the Eagle The Tale of the Eagle is an Albanian folk tale that explains how Albania and Albanians received their indigenous name. Tale[edit] A youth was hunting in the mountains. "Why do you kidnap my child?" "Give me back my child, and I will give you as a reward the sharpness of my eyes and the powerful strength of my wings. Thus the youth handed over the eaglet. Amazed by the valiant hunter's deeds, the people of the land elected him king and called him Shqipëtar, which is to say Son of the Eagle (shqipe or shqiponjë is Albanian for eagle) and his kingdom became known as "Shqipëria" or Land of the Eagles.The two heads on the eagle represent the north and the south. See also[edit] References[edit] This article contains information from Frosina.org and it is used with permission.
Abandoned Monuments from the Former Yugoslavia Treasure of the Llanganatis From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Supposed treasure in Ecuador History[edit] In 1532 Francisco Pizarro founded the town of San Miguel de Piura and began the conquest of the Inca Empire. The legend holds that the Inca general Rumiñahui was on his way to Cajamarca with an enormous amount of worked gold for the ransom when he learned that Atahualpa had been murdered. References[edit] External links[edit]