Lesser-known morsels of olden day stuff
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History: The dizzying world of alchemy and the philosopher’s stone in medieval times
The word alchemy is derived from the Arabic root “kimia”, from the Coptic “khem” (referring to the fertile black soil of the Nile delta). The word “alchemy” alludes to the dark mystery of the primordial or First Matter (the Khem).
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History: The history of the Forth and Clyde Canal
Above is a map of the first part of the canal which stretches from Lochrin Basin to Falkirk Wheel over a distance of 32 miles. The remainder of the canal after that goes to Glasgow and turns into the Clyde River. See more detail. Originally opened in 1789, the Forth and Clyde Canal crossed the…
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Travel: A weekend trip to the medieval town of Linlithgow: History through the mists of time to today
The beautiful burgh of Linlithgow charmed the pants off me when I went there in 2012. The town sits astride the Forth and Clyde Canal (which I’ve written on extensively) which is around half way between Edinburgh and Glasgow. There’s a train link on Scotrail which goes between cities that takes you there, and there’s a…
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Verner Panton: The Daring Spirit of 60’s Design
Verner Panton (1926-1998) is remembered for his bold, daring furniture design and aesthetic which embodied the fun and turbulent times of the 1960’s and 1970’s. His most famous pieces are the S chair, which became the world´s first one-piece moulded plastic chair, the cone chair and the flowerpot lamps. Born in 1926 Panton initially began his…
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Knitting with Dog’s Wool (1966)
Instead of allowing your pesky pooch to malt all over your sofa, put your pet to work in a novel way. The most luxuriant of dog breeds can be put to practical use as producers of dog wool for your next knitting expedition. Some of the best breeds for yarn include the Collie, Old English…
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The medieval artisans of Poland
On a visit to the Muzeum Narodowe we Wrocławiu in the Polish city of Wrocław I discovered fascinating medieval shop signs and merchant guild coats of arms that illustrated the professions of artisans, traders and merchants of medieval times. Here are some images I took without the flash on in the Wrocław museum. The remarkable artistry of these…
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Mysterious Rongorongo Glyphs from Easter Island
A collection of 24 sacred wooden objects from Easter Island bear Rongorongo inscriptions, a system of glyphs that was discovered in the 19th Century and is still a mystery to historians. Numerous attempts at decyphering the proto-writing have been unsuccessful. These pieces of wood (a lot of it driftwood) are weathered, burned and damaged and…
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To Won’s Father: An Ancient Love Letter Rediscovered
In 1998, archaeologists in Andong City, South Korea to their amazement discovered the tomb of Eung-tae a man who lived in the 16th century. The mummified remains were a rare find for the time. Eung-tae was unusually tall, even by today’s standards. He was 5”9 and well built with skin and beard still intact. “The…
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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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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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