Lesser-known morsels of olden day stuff
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In praise of Japan’s most majestic cat, circa 889 A.D
In the year 889 A.D, the 23 year old Emperor of Japan writes a journal entry filled with awe and gushing praise for his beloved cat. “On the 6th Day of the 2nd Month of the First Year of the Kampo era. Taking a moment of my free time, I wish to express my joy…
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All technology is a double-edged sword
What technology would you be better off without, why? I’m trying to think over a consumer technology that is definitively and conclusively bad, but can’t think of one. Each innovation has brought an equal share of good and bad. Ride-sharing apps: The good: consumer convenience, ability to not own a vehicle, better for the environment…
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Every Picture Tells A Story: Strong Dogs on Antarctic Expedition (1911)
Photographer Frank Hurley snaps his whimsical and wise looking Greenland esquimaux #dogs named Basilisk and Ginger during an #Antarctic expedition between 1911-1914. Image discovered via the State Library of New South Wales. #snow #adventure #old #photo
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Quirky Insights Into Lost Worlds: Ex Libris Book Plates
Passionate devotees of books from throughout history share a common thread with all of us modern-day bibiophiles, they longed to celebrate their books and mark their ownership with an Ex Libris book plate. Ever since Pharaonic Egypt, marking one’s ownership of a book has been a thing. Ex Libris bookplates are more than the stamped…
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Nostalgic Art from 70’s Star Wars
Ralph McQuarrie was responsible for designing many #StarWars characters, including Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO. He was also responsible for the conceptual design of the #film sets and props. #art
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Travel: Exploring Sydney’s exquisite vintage architecture at QVB
The Queen Victoria Building (QVB), is an enchanting architectural wonder in Sydney’s central business district. The style of the building is a Romanesque Revival architectural masterpiece and was originally designed by George McRae. Constructed between 1893 and 1898, this heritage-listed building originally served as a marketplace but has undergone various uses and renovations over the…
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Here be the Viking Hoard: The Mystery of the Lewis Chessmen
The Lewis Chessmen are a treasure of Viking and Scottish history and have elicited awe and wonder since they were first discovered. They were likely to have been made in Trondheim in Norway from walrus ivory. This kind of bone was hard to come across at the time (1150-1200 A.D). The craftsmanship of these tiny…
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The heartwarming story of Hachiko, Japan’s most loved dog
Born in 1923, the #Akita #dog named Hachiko became a living symbol of unwavering love and devotion. His story began as a tiny pup in a quaint town in Japan, quickly evolving into a life intertwined with his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno. #history #Japan #Hachiko #Shibuya #Tokyo
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Vegetable ekiben on the Tokaido shinkansen
Just a quick postcard from my current trip to Japan. I had to jot this down right now while the exquisite flavours swirl in my belly and the remnants of enjoyment are in my mouth. I am on the fast train between Tokyo and Osaka known as the Tokaido shinkansen. I wasn’t aware that vegetable…
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Ancient Word of the Day: Kairos
When you walk with ‘Kairos’ you learn how to tip yourself out of chronological time and are able to decommodify your footsteps to walk in sacred time and to the rhythm of your creative mind.
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Ancient Word of the Day: Humus
From the word ‘Humus’ come many of the words for being human and humility. For millennia and across many cultures, walking with your bare feet in the earth has been a sign of humility.
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Powerful Thought: The dead bird urges you to write
Rachel Carson was urged to write ‘Silent Spring’ by the dead birds she held in her hands who called her to write.
She could not live, knowing what she had learned about DDT, without speaking, without – her gift – lifting her pen to write.
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Ancient Fable: St. Francis of Assisi and the injured wolf
13th century Italian saint, St Francis of Assisi never understood earth as being a garden of resources over which we have dominion. Instead, he saw the earth as a mother or a sister who governs us.
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Travel: Kolejcowo is a cute and creepy version of Poland in miniature
When I was in Poland in 2019, I didn’t hesitate to visit the Kolejcowo in Świebodzki Station in Wrocław. This is the largest model railway in Poland, but also a rather amazing depiction of how life in Poland actually looks. Everything, right down to the petrol stations, graffiti, and the shops actually exists in real…
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Surreal vintage mental health posters from Japan
I found these amazing Japanese advertisements and vintage posters advertising Abilify, Zoloft, Ritalin, Serenase and other medications that are used for a variety of different mental health conditions. Despite me not knowing how to read Japanese, the storytelling here through design is evocative, straight-forward to understand and incredibly imaginative. It brings to mind Dali and…
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