Shibam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for good reason... this village in Yemen is right in the middle of a dusty desert, far from any modern conveniences.
The desert city of Shibam consists of 500 buildings, all built with mud bricks from the local clay, and they tower in size, from 5 to 9 storeys high. That's right, there are literally skyscrapers in the middle of this desert.
Built in the 16th century, Shibam was a walled city, forcing the inhabitants to build up instead of out... now there are only 7000 people, and many of them work very hard to keep the buildings from being destroyed by seasonal floods and wind erosion.
Built in the 16th century, Shibam was a walled city, forcing the inhabitants to build up instead of out... now there are only 7000 people, and many of them work very hard to keep the buildings from being destroyed by seasonal floods and wind erosion.
The streets are too narrow for traffic, if there were enough people to demand the need for any kind of traffic. Each building has one or two families in it, with ample space for storage, and huge open floors for the kids to play ball hockey, if they wanted to play ball hockey.
The population is dwindling in Shibam, which is perhaps it's most crucial problem. It was once the mighty capital of the kingdom of Hadramwat. It was at the height of its prosperity, with trade to India, Africa and Asia, that the city inhabitants decided to build the skyscrapers... with the declining population, the buildings sit hollow and empty. if no one decides to live there, who'll keep the erosive forces of nature away?
The CN Tower is an iconic Canadian building, located in Toronto, Ontario, and used to be the tallest free-standing building in the world, until 2007.
CN stands for Canadian National, the rail company in Canada that built the tower. I'm not sure why they needed a tower, but, at one point, CN was one of the most powerful companies in Canada... after all, you needed a train to cross the frozen wastelands of the Canadian Shield...
According to Wikipedia, CN built the tower to support radio and television communications. Now, however, it's a tourist spot that brings in quite a few visitors. Sure, it's not the Eiffel Tower, but it was in the movie Canadian Bacon.
It's a magnet for the destructive forces of the Earth:
According to Wikipedia, CN built the tower to support radio and television communications. Now, however, it's a tourist spot that brings in quite a few visitors. Sure, it's not the Eiffel Tower, but it was in the movie Canadian Bacon.
It's a magnet for the destructive forces of the Earth:
"The CN Tower is struck by lightning at least 40 to 50 times annually compared to other places in Toronto which are struck, on average, 2 times per square kilometre (5 times per sq mi) every year."
It's also quite dangerous... due to the freezing rain that falls in the winter, deadly icicles can fall from the top of the tower and seriously injure gawking visitors.
This is a stunning photo of the Broadway Tower in England, uploaded under a Creative Commons license for Wikimedia Commons. The author isNewtown2.
It's located in the village of Broadway, in Worcestershire, England. It's presumed that they have barrels of the sauce in the cellar of the tower, but this is just hearsay.
It's not that old - it was built in 1794 in the style of other castles, and hosted a beacon, to be seen from other parts of the area.
It's not that old - it was built in 1794 in the style of other castles, and hosted a beacon, to be seen from other parts of the area.
This is a wonderful idea, clever and original, with the added benefit of being entirely functional...
Australia generally suffers from water shortages, although this year we've had our share and then some. Still, when water is tight, residents are encouraged to use rainwater for non-consumable purposes, and a supply of water is always a good thing to have on hand.
From the webpage:
"Within the living room the ceiling wraps down to an internal water tank. The tank cools the ambient air temperature of the living room during summer, supplies rain water, and structurally carries the roof load. Excess water drains to an external tank, and is used for flushing toilets, irrigating the garden, washing wetsuits and occasionally for drinking."
I love it - the water tank cools the room as well. Water is an incredible substance, capable of cooling and heating, depending on the outside temperature. I'm almost in love with this design. I wish I had thought of it first.
But I didn't, so I'll have to think up something else. How about a house where the roof support is a tank for... um... strawberry jam? Motor oil? Creme soda?
From the webpage:
"Within the living room the ceiling wraps down to an internal water tank. The tank cools the ambient air temperature of the living room during summer, supplies rain water, and structurally carries the roof load. Excess water drains to an external tank, and is used for flushing toilets, irrigating the garden, washing wetsuits and occasionally for drinking."
I love it - the water tank cools the room as well. Water is an incredible substance, capable of cooling and heating, depending on the outside temperature. I'm almost in love with this design. I wish I had thought of it first.
But I didn't, so I'll have to think up something else. How about a house where the roof support is a tank for... um... strawberry jam? Motor oil? Creme soda?
Pshaw! Your feeble Sydney Tower has nothing on the magnificent Oriental Pearl Tower, a communications tower in Pudong, a suburb of the beautiful, commerically frisky, success-story city called Shanghai.
It's the tallest tower in Asia, and the third tallest in the world. The first (now the second) tallest tower is a tower for hosers, though. I don't know anybody that would want to go up there, eh?
In fact, if you think about it, the Pearl Tower is the tallest tower in Asia - and Asia is the biggest continent in the world, so, really, the Pearl Tower is the biggest tower in the world. Basically.
It's 468 m tall, which towers over the puny 309 m Sydney Tower. Why even bother making a tower that small? Am I right?
The Pearl Tower has three observation levels, including one of those revolving restaurants. Revolving restaurants are sweet because you can face backwards to the direction of revolution, move your feet and appear to be moonwalking to people outside.
Well, people that happen to be over 400 meters up. And looking through the windows.
In fact, if you think about it, the Pearl Tower is the tallest tower in Asia - and Asia is the biggest continent in the world, so, really, the Pearl Tower is the biggest tower in the world. Basically.
It's 468 m tall, which towers over the puny 309 m Sydney Tower. Why even bother making a tower that small? Am I right?
The Pearl Tower has three observation levels, including one of those revolving restaurants. Revolving restaurants are sweet because you can face backwards to the direction of revolution, move your feet and appear to be moonwalking to people outside.
Well, people that happen to be over 400 meters up. And looking through the windows.
The Cumberland County Courthouse in Crossville, Tennessee was granted the gift of his noodly appendage.
Yes, the Flying Spaghetti Monster was in full view at the courthouse, drawing non-believers into his margharita sauce of forgiveness.
Yes, the Flying Spaghetti Monster was in full view at the courthouse, drawing non-believers into his margharita sauce of forgiveness.
Well, actually, it's a statue, erected by the happy folks at the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
One reader asked the inevitable question:
One reader asked the inevitable question:
""Why are you erecting a religious statue on public property?"
Which was answered loudly and defiantly to anyone within a garlic breadstick's distance:
"To the last "Anonymous": I believe the finding about the display of religion on public property was this-- If you allow one belief, then you must equally allow all others who request. The door was opened last year when the County allowed Jesus sculptures to be placed on the Courthouse steps and the Courthouse lawn. Now Cumberland County must welcome all requests equally. I expect our Courthouse lawn to become an open forum for personal expression. Our county property now looks Cheesier than ever. Got any Parmesan?"
Ah, Macau!
This Chinese city was a Portuguese colony before the Portuguese decided to get up and leaving; the city grew steadily for years, but exploded in recent years as the Chinese economy surged ahead, giving local tourists more money to spend at the famous Macau casinos.
Now, Macau has eclipsed Las Vegas as the go-to place for throwing your money at a spinning wheel... Asia is the new hunting ground, and the sense of excitement and growth is surging in that corner of the world, even as Las Vegas grow dusty and cold.
The Casino Lisboa was one of the originals, built in the 1960s by a Portuguese company. It was upgraded in the 1970s to include a 12 storey tower, as it appears now.
Compared to the newer casinos, the Casino Lisboa looks antiquated and gloomy. It resembles an office building or discount hotel - not a glamorous place to shed hundred dollar bills and get your teeth capped with diamonds.
Of course, Macau's not only about the gambling... with its Portuguese roots, many of the inhabitants are half-Chinese, half-Portuguese, which may be the sexiest mix of ethnicities....
Unfortunately, I've never been to Macau, but I have had the great fortune of flying Air Macau - I was captivated by the stewardesses, who all had perfect, luxurious skin, and looked incredible in their outfits. If they had tried to sell me a flight and a week's stay at the Casino Lisboa, I believe I would have agreed and forked over my credit card...
This Chinese city was a Portuguese colony before the Portuguese decided to get up and leaving; the city grew steadily for years, but exploded in recent years as the Chinese economy surged ahead, giving local tourists more money to spend at the famous Macau casinos.
Now, Macau has eclipsed Las Vegas as the go-to place for throwing your money at a spinning wheel... Asia is the new hunting ground, and the sense of excitement and growth is surging in that corner of the world, even as Las Vegas grow dusty and cold.
The Casino Lisboa was one of the originals, built in the 1960s by a Portuguese company. It was upgraded in the 1970s to include a 12 storey tower, as it appears now.
Compared to the newer casinos, the Casino Lisboa looks antiquated and gloomy. It resembles an office building or discount hotel - not a glamorous place to shed hundred dollar bills and get your teeth capped with diamonds.
Of course, Macau's not only about the gambling... with its Portuguese roots, many of the inhabitants are half-Chinese, half-Portuguese, which may be the sexiest mix of ethnicities....
Unfortunately, I've never been to Macau, but I have had the great fortune of flying Air Macau - I was captivated by the stewardesses, who all had perfect, luxurious skin, and looked incredible in their outfits. If they had tried to sell me a flight and a week's stay at the Casino Lisboa, I believe I would have agreed and forked over my credit card...
Domestic terrorism has reached erect proportions with the latest line in the sand drawn by competing gangs of nudists and swingers.
They're fighting over territory - the miles of Mediterranean beaches in South France that are perfect for either letting it all hang out, or getting down and dirty with it all hanging out.
FoxNews has the story, with that excellent sense of outrage that Fox manages to summon up:
They're fighting over territory - the miles of Mediterranean beaches in South France that are perfect for either letting it all hang out, or getting down and dirty with it all hanging out.
FoxNews has the story, with that excellent sense of outrage that Fox manages to summon up:
"The normally peaceful Cap d’Agde, a magnet for nudists in the south of France, has been plunged into anxiety as investigators suspect "fundamentalist" nudists of harboring a grudge against the échangistes, or swingers, who are drawn to the town by the promise of sex."
The nudists, presumably, just want to have the freedom to stand bare naked in the sand, with their body parts hanging all over the place - the swingers, on the other hand, want to suckle those parts in freedom.
They're not totally exclusive, but heated exchanges are easily made on beaches with no clear distinction.
"Get your hand off that?"
"No?"
"No!"
All that casual sex must be wearing out the swingers, because all of the terrorist acts are being perpetrated by the nudies:
"A so-called boîte échangiste — or wife-swapping club — called Glamour, where couples engage in group sex, was the first to be destroyed in April. The next day, the Palme Ré, another orgy venue, also went up in flames. In September, the Tantra club and Zen, its neighboring bar, were leveled in blazes."
Glamour is in the Heliopolis building which, from this page, looks like a fabulous spot for a nightclub... located near the beach, attached to a fine restaurant.
Fight your battles, if you have to, but, please, leave the buildings alone...
Welcome to the Smallest Post Office in the world!
Postmaster Lea Redmond takes her little tiny writing desk around to cafes in San Francisco, offering to post your letters in miniature size. The end result is a beautifully created letter, with wax seals and wonderful handwriting, all in a form so small that the recipient would have to use tweezers to open it!
Postmaster Lea Redmond takes her little tiny writing desk around to cafes in San Francisco, offering to post your letters in miniature size. The end result is a beautifully created letter, with wax seals and wonderful handwriting, all in a form so small that the recipient would have to use tweezers to open it!
I guess you give her a normal sized letter, then she transcribes it into tiny form, so that it looks like this:
Fantastic, eh?
The letter is then sent out, and the recipient is certain to be delighted, unless they sneeze, sending the letter flying out the window where a swarm of bees would intercept it and open it.
Here's the webpage for the service, which also takes online orders:
Leafcutter Designs
Found on Boingboing, where blogger Gareth Branwyn writes about an experience he had growing up, where he discovered a tiny little living room in the trunk of a tree:
"There, inside the dank hole, was a tiny overstuffed chair sitting on a braided rug, and next to it stood a floor lamp. Tiny pictures hung on even tinier nails on the inside walls of the knothole. A family portrait. Reclining in the chair, watching the TV inside the hole, sat a little rabbit-man. I think he had on overalls. And he may have been drinking something. A can of carrot juice? Honestly, I don't remember the details, and I'm sure time and memory have exaggerated them."
Ah - if only the world actually existed like this!
St. Michael's is located in Kiev, Ukraine, west of the Dnieper River, and is famous for the, obviously, golden dome that cries out across the city.
The picture that you see here is not the original Monastery, though... it was destroyed by the Soviets in 1934, instead planning to build an administrative office.
The reason for the demolition? A question of architecture. The original monastery was believed to have been built in the 1050s, by Prince Iziaslav Yaroslavych as a tribute to St. Demetrius, and was reconstructed and added to in the next hundred years, getting upgrades and power ups in the 16th and 17th centuries, due to the vandalism by the Mongols, who stripped the gold from the domes.
When the USSR formed, the Soviets decided that little of the original Byzantine architecture remained, so the building was to be demolished.
The reason for the demolition? A question of architecture. The original monastery was believed to have been built in the 1050s, by Prince Iziaslav Yaroslavych as a tribute to St. Demetrius, and was reconstructed and added to in the next hundred years, getting upgrades and power ups in the 16th and 17th centuries, due to the vandalism by the Mongols, who stripped the gold from the domes.
When the USSR formed, the Soviets decided that little of the original Byzantine architecture remained, so the building was to be demolished.
Orava Castle is one of the most visited castles in Slovakia, where it is called 'Oravský hrad', which means Orava Castle in English, which is English for 'Árva vára' as they say in Hungarian.
It's the castle that Murnau used to shoot "Nosferatu", a castle lost in the far reaches of an unknown country, where a vampire lord could rule in fear and panic.
Orava Castle sits up high, at 520 meters, perched on a 112 m high cliff. In 1267, it was built, the location offering natural protection against invaders and sieges - unfortunately, this also prevented unruly mobs from burning the vampire in his coffin.
Now, the castle is a cultural monument in Slovakia, after years of disuse and neglect. It passed hands many times, and I bet it was the audience for some greatly disturbing secrets. The walls have ears, you know.
I'd bet a lot of money that the castle has secret passageways. You've always got to have a secret passage if you're building an old castle... the lord and lady of the manor have to be able to escape, leaving the poor servants to defend the property.
The most obvious way to find a secret passage is to pull on all the books on the bookshelf. I'm sure this has been tried many, many times, so it's prudent to step it up a notch. Look at loose bricks on the fireplace, switches inside stone gargoyles and gems that fit in a special setting, focusing the moonlight into a spectral beam. I'm getting way ahead of myself, though... first, we got to get to the castle, then we can plunder its secrets...
Orava Castle sits up high, at 520 meters, perched on a 112 m high cliff. In 1267, it was built, the location offering natural protection against invaders and sieges - unfortunately, this also prevented unruly mobs from burning the vampire in his coffin.
Now, the castle is a cultural monument in Slovakia, after years of disuse and neglect. It passed hands many times, and I bet it was the audience for some greatly disturbing secrets. The walls have ears, you know.
I'd bet a lot of money that the castle has secret passageways. You've always got to have a secret passage if you're building an old castle... the lord and lady of the manor have to be able to escape, leaving the poor servants to defend the property.
The most obvious way to find a secret passage is to pull on all the books on the bookshelf. I'm sure this has been tried many, many times, so it's prudent to step it up a notch. Look at loose bricks on the fireplace, switches inside stone gargoyles and gems that fit in a special setting, focusing the moonlight into a spectral beam. I'm getting way ahead of myself, though... first, we got to get to the castle, then we can plunder its secrets...
The city of Seuthopolis was found in 1948, at the bottom of a lake in Bulgaria...
The city had existed since 320 BC, originally the capital of the Odrysian kingdom , a union of Thracian tribes.
It was located at the bottom of a valley, apparently, when a dam broke, filling the region with water, creating a lake. The city sat, in its underwater grave for years, until Bulgarian archaeologists discovered that it was one of the best preserved Thracian sites in the country.
Now, they're undertaking a massive amount of work to unearth the city... a circular dam has been proposed, as shown in the artist's rendition, which will allow scientists and tourists to visit the site, a city at the bottom of a lake.
Certainly, it reminds us of that terrible underwater city in Star Wars Episode I, "The Phantom Menace", where the floppy eared aliens spoke in Patois, and were digitally constructed to look as fake as possible.
I'm hoping that George Lucas doesn't get a permit to film in Seuthopolis... he'd probably all a-tingle with the prospect of further destroying the dreams and fantasies that grew up on Star Wars.
Tim Bisley says it best in Spaced.
The city had existed since 320 BC, originally the capital of the Odrysian kingdom , a union of Thracian tribes.
It was located at the bottom of a valley, apparently, when a dam broke, filling the region with water, creating a lake. The city sat, in its underwater grave for years, until Bulgarian archaeologists discovered that it was one of the best preserved Thracian sites in the country.
Now, they're undertaking a massive amount of work to unearth the city... a circular dam has been proposed, as shown in the artist's rendition, which will allow scientists and tourists to visit the site, a city at the bottom of a lake.
Certainly, it reminds us of that terrible underwater city in Star Wars Episode I, "The Phantom Menace", where the floppy eared aliens spoke in Patois, and were digitally constructed to look as fake as possible.
I'm hoping that George Lucas doesn't get a permit to film in Seuthopolis... he'd probably all a-tingle with the prospect of further destroying the dreams and fantasies that grew up on Star Wars.
Tim Bisley says it best in Spaced.
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