(no subject)
Ozzy and Rex are so smart, someday we're going to see them having this conversation. On second thought, scratch that: Ozzy can't see laser pointers.
Some interesting thoughts on free range kids
The Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives also known as Our Lady of Ransom is a Roman Catholic religious order established in 1218 by St. Peter Nolasco in the city of Barcelona, at that time in the Kingdom of Aragon, for the redemption of Christian captives [that is, to buy back Christian slaves held by Muslims]. One of the distinguishing marks of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy is that, since its foundation, its members are required to take a Fourth Vow to die for another who is in danger of losing their Faith. The Order exists today in 17 countries.
Anásyrma (Greek: ανάσυρμα), plural: anasýrmata (ανασύρματα), also called anasyrmós (ανασυρμός), is the gesture of lifting the skirt or kilt. Pliny the Elder was an author, naturalist, and natural philosopher who wrote Natural History, an encyclopedia published in AD 77-79, that covered the entire field of ancient knowledge based on the best authorities available at the time, which became a model for all subsequent publications. He wrote that a menstruating woman who uncovers her body can scare away hailstorms, whirlwinds and lightning. Anything she touches turns sour including wine and meat. Seeds turn sterile and plants wither. If she strips naked and walks around the field, caterpillars, worms and beetles fall off the ears of corn. Even when not menstruating, she can lull a storm out at sea by stripping.
Women lifted their skirts to chase off enemies in Ireland and China. A story from The Irish Times (September 23, 1977) reported a potentially violent incident involving several men, that was averted by a woman exposing her genitals to the attackers. According to Balkan folklore, when it rained too much, women would run into the fields and lift their skirts to scare the gods and end the rain. In Jean de La Fontaine's Nouveaux Contes (1674), a demon is repulsed by the sight of a woman lifting her skirt.
In Africa, the idea of a woman stripping naked is a curse even in modern times.[5] The idea is that women give life and they can take it away. The curse is invoked only under the most extreme circumstances and men who are exposed are considered dead. No one will cook for them, marry them, enter into any kind of contract with them or buy anything from them. The curse extends to foreign men as well, who will go impotent or suffer some great harm. The threat has been used successfully in mass protests against the petroleum industry in Nigeria and by Leymah Gbowee during the Second Liberian Civil War.
This picture just makes me laugh every time I look at it. (It's not a fluke: this cat is named Bub, and her owner explains, she is polydactyl on all 4 paws, a perma-kitten (which is why her jaw is screwed up, she has no teeth and is bow-legged) and also a dwarf. But she is in perfectly good health. I don't know what's cuter, the cat, or how much her human obviously loves her.
The carnyx was a wind instrument of the Iron Age Celts, used between c. 300 BC to 200 AD. It was a type of bronze trumpet, held vertically, the bell styled in the shape of a boar's, or other animal's, head. It was used in warfare, probably to incite troops to battle and intimidate opponents. The instrument's upright carriage allowed it to be heard over the heads of the participants in battles or ceremonies. The word “carnyx” is derived from the Gaulish root, "carn-" or "cern-" meaning "antler" or "horn," and the same root of the name of the god, Cernunnos. This is the name the Romans gave to the instrument. The original Celtic name is unknown. Even under torture, Carnyx players would not reveal the Celtic name of the instrument to the Romans.
The reconstruction of the Deskford Carnyx was initiated by Dr. John Purser, and commenced in 1991 funded jointly by the Glenfiddich Living Scotland award and the National Museums of Scotland. In addition to John Purser as musicologist, the team comprised the archaeologist Fraser Hunter, silversmith John Creed, and trombonist John Kenny. After 2,000 years of silence the reconstructed Deskford Carnyx was unveiled at the National Museum of Scotland in April 1993. In 1993 John Kenny became the first person to play the carnyx for 2,000 years. Here's a video of him playing it. See its tongue lolling?
Hilarious Star Trek fanfic from 1968: Visit to a Weird Planet.
Are lolcats and internet memes art? Video.
Drogo of Mantes. In case you were ever wondering where the heck Tolkien got the name of Frodo's dad from.
Scroll down for some fascinating/weird/delightful Victorian calling cards. Speaking of crazy Victorians, FINALLY somebody explains the rules of Victorian mourning. I've been looking for something to tell me how long the mourning period was for various relatives!
Now THIS is how one orders pizza. Video
Ignore the tabloid journalism: Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman are going to be in a musical film of Les Mis! Russell Crowe as Valjean and Colm Wilkinson as the Bishop.
Some interesting thoughts on free range kids
The Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives also known as Our Lady of Ransom is a Roman Catholic religious order established in 1218 by St. Peter Nolasco in the city of Barcelona, at that time in the Kingdom of Aragon, for the redemption of Christian captives [that is, to buy back Christian slaves held by Muslims]. One of the distinguishing marks of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy is that, since its foundation, its members are required to take a Fourth Vow to die for another who is in danger of losing their Faith. The Order exists today in 17 countries.
Anásyrma (Greek: ανάσυρμα), plural: anasýrmata (ανασύρματα), also called anasyrmós (ανασυρμός), is the gesture of lifting the skirt or kilt. Pliny the Elder was an author, naturalist, and natural philosopher who wrote Natural History, an encyclopedia published in AD 77-79, that covered the entire field of ancient knowledge based on the best authorities available at the time, which became a model for all subsequent publications. He wrote that a menstruating woman who uncovers her body can scare away hailstorms, whirlwinds and lightning. Anything she touches turns sour including wine and meat. Seeds turn sterile and plants wither. If she strips naked and walks around the field, caterpillars, worms and beetles fall off the ears of corn. Even when not menstruating, she can lull a storm out at sea by stripping.
Women lifted their skirts to chase off enemies in Ireland and China. A story from The Irish Times (September 23, 1977) reported a potentially violent incident involving several men, that was averted by a woman exposing her genitals to the attackers. According to Balkan folklore, when it rained too much, women would run into the fields and lift their skirts to scare the gods and end the rain. In Jean de La Fontaine's Nouveaux Contes (1674), a demon is repulsed by the sight of a woman lifting her skirt.
In Africa, the idea of a woman stripping naked is a curse even in modern times.[5] The idea is that women give life and they can take it away. The curse is invoked only under the most extreme circumstances and men who are exposed are considered dead. No one will cook for them, marry them, enter into any kind of contract with them or buy anything from them. The curse extends to foreign men as well, who will go impotent or suffer some great harm. The threat has been used successfully in mass protests against the petroleum industry in Nigeria and by Leymah Gbowee during the Second Liberian Civil War.
This picture just makes me laugh every time I look at it. (It's not a fluke: this cat is named Bub, and her owner explains, she is polydactyl on all 4 paws, a perma-kitten (which is why her jaw is screwed up, she has no teeth and is bow-legged) and also a dwarf. But she is in perfectly good health. I don't know what's cuter, the cat, or how much her human obviously loves her.
The carnyx was a wind instrument of the Iron Age Celts, used between c. 300 BC to 200 AD. It was a type of bronze trumpet, held vertically, the bell styled in the shape of a boar's, or other animal's, head. It was used in warfare, probably to incite troops to battle and intimidate opponents. The instrument's upright carriage allowed it to be heard over the heads of the participants in battles or ceremonies. The word “carnyx” is derived from the Gaulish root, "carn-" or "cern-" meaning "antler" or "horn," and the same root of the name of the god, Cernunnos. This is the name the Romans gave to the instrument. The original Celtic name is unknown. Even under torture, Carnyx players would not reveal the Celtic name of the instrument to the Romans.
The reconstruction of the Deskford Carnyx was initiated by Dr. John Purser, and commenced in 1991 funded jointly by the Glenfiddich Living Scotland award and the National Museums of Scotland. In addition to John Purser as musicologist, the team comprised the archaeologist Fraser Hunter, silversmith John Creed, and trombonist John Kenny. After 2,000 years of silence the reconstructed Deskford Carnyx was unveiled at the National Museum of Scotland in April 1993. In 1993 John Kenny became the first person to play the carnyx for 2,000 years. Here's a video of him playing it. See its tongue lolling?
Hilarious Star Trek fanfic from 1968: Visit to a Weird Planet.
Are lolcats and internet memes art? Video.
Drogo of Mantes. In case you were ever wondering where the heck Tolkien got the name of Frodo's dad from.
Scroll down for some fascinating/weird/delightful Victorian calling cards. Speaking of crazy Victorians, FINALLY somebody explains the rules of Victorian mourning. I've been looking for something to tell me how long the mourning period was for various relatives!
Now THIS is how one orders pizza. Video
Ignore the tabloid journalism: Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman are going to be in a musical film of Les Mis! Russell Crowe as Valjean and Colm Wilkinson as the Bishop.