Valclav Havel - Positive Influence felt Around the World
December 19, 2011 by admin · View Comments
In many ways, Havel embodied the spirit of the “flower child;” he spoke often of “truth and love” as trumping all other things, and was emphatically anti-war. In 1990, one of his first acts as president was to empty Czech prisons and close down its arms factories. Yet even the most conservative leaders seemed to love him. President George H.W. Bush, in an interview with Columbia University, remembered watching Havel command a crowd of a million after the Velvet Revolution, and said he couldn’t think of another foreign leader for whom he has more respect.
“I cannot say enough good things about President Vaclav Havel,” he concluded.
In 1990, Havel delivered a New Year’s address to a budding new nation, three days after being named its first president. He encouraged the new nation to be built around a politics of morality above all else, a message Orwell would likely have approved himself.
“Let us teach ourselves and others that politics should be an expression of a desire to contribute to the happiness of the community,” he said. “Let us teach ourselves and others that politics can be not simply the art of the possible, especially if this means the art of speculation, calculation, intrigue, secret deals and pragmatic maneuvering, but that it can also be the art of the impossible, that is, the art of improving ourselves and the world.”
This past week we lost a writer and a major intellectual, and we lost a brutal, confounding dictator. We also lost a playwright, a rebel, a rockstar, a chain-smoker, a renowned artist, a non-profit leader, and one of the most beloved presidents in history.
Beth
Cold, Bold & Old: 10 Monumental Volcanic Plugs
May 17, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steve in Geography & Travel & History & Trivia & Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Volcanoes have caused incalculable destruction throughout history but even the most massive lava blaster has a heart. Volcanic plugs (the eroded cores of extinct volcanoes) are all that remain of some of the Earth’s most fearsome, fiery fumaroles after many millions of years of wind, water and weathering.
Devils Tower, Wyoming, USA
(images via: Richpix, VirtualTourist/Toonsarah and Ranger Doug’s Enterprises)
One of the most famous volcanic plugs and the first declared United States National Monument, Devils Tower rises 1,267 feet (386 m) from the rough terrain of northeastern Wyoming state. Most geologists estimate Devils Tower to have formed at least 50 million years ago, but a firmer fix on the time and even the method of formation remain problematic as most of the associated rock formations have eroded away.
(image via: Louis J. Maher, Jr.)
The polygonal porphyry columns that help define the sides of Devils Tower are confirmation of its volcanic origin, while providing the approximately 4,000 hikers who complete the near-vertical ascent to its summit each year with an unforgettable rock-climbing experience.
The Pitons, Saint Lucia
(images via: Travel4America, St. Lucia Wedding Guru and Up To Date St. Lucia)
Looking like stand-in scenery for Lord Of The Rings, the Pitons rear up from the coast of St. Lucia like the two last teeth of a VERY large shark. Gros Piton stands 2,530 ft (771 m) tall while its neighbor Petit Piton is just slightly smaller at 2,438 ft (743 m) tall. St. Lucia must have been the ultimate anti-tourism “hotspot” back in prehistory when the worn-away volcanoes that produced the Pitons were at their fire-breathing best.
(image via: Banana Pancake)
The Pitons don’t just dominate St. Lucia’s scenery, they’re a part of the Caribbean island’s culture as well. Be sure to enjoy a Piton beer next time you visit… in fact, make it two!
Ailsa Craig, Scotland
(images via: Amazing Nature Blogspot and Hoyus)
Rising 1,110 feet (340 m) above the breathtakingly chill waters of the outer Firth of Clyde, the now-uninhabited island of Ailsa Craig is a volcanic plug marking the location of an ancient volcano last active around 500 million years ago. The ruggedly pyramidal isle’s oft-precipitous slopes feature exposed columnar basalt formed when magma in the core of the volcano cooled and crystallized.
(images via: Ayrshire History, Flores Azores and Garrique Cottage)
Ailsa Craig’s cold, hard heart doesn’t just keep this ancient volcanic plug extant when everything around it has long eroded away. Curling’s top skips & sweepers know the best “rocks” are those ground from fine-grained Ailsa Craig Common Green and Blue/Red Hone granite by Kays of Scotland.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sri Lanka
(images via: Localyte, Boston.com and Travelpod)
Spectacular Sigiriya (Lion’s Rock) in central Sri Lanka may have been inhabited since prehistoric times. The rock formation and the surrounding area underwent lush landscaping and extensive building in the 5th century. Formed from a very ancient volcanic plug of indeterminate age, Sigiriya soars 1,214 ft (370 m) above sea level and can be seen from quite a distance as there’s nothing like it on Sri Lanka’s central plains.
(image via: WHL Travel)
Erosion has undercut Sigiriya’s base in some areas, giving it a mushroom shape from some vantage points. The enormous igneous rock formation made an ideal, easily defended fortress and hosted a Buddhist monastery up until 14th century.
The Nut, Tasmania
(images via: Victor Augusteo, Killynaught Spa Cottages and SMH)
The Nut is a steep-sided volcanic plug that anchors one end of the bay fronting Stanley, Tasmania. Though The Nut’s official name is Circular Head, bestowed upon it in 1798 by explorers Bass & Flinders, most just call it The Nut and nobody really complains. Only 469 ft (143 m) tall, The Nut still affords a picture postcard perfect view of Stanley and the surrounding area as it’s the only high point around.
(image via: Carldashjonesdotcom)
Steep sides notwithstanding, a well-worn footpath leads to the flat-topped summit of The Nut and, of course, back down again. If that’s too much trouble, a ski-resort style chair lift offers those with no fear of heights one of the most scenic trips around.
Taung Kalat, Myanmar
(images via: Oddity Central and Asia Explorers)
Taung Kalat is a 2,417 ft (737 m) tall volcanic plug located in central Burma. The steep-sided pedestal rock is topped by a centuries-old Buddhist monastery that can be reached by climbing 777 steps.
(image via: Wikipedia)
The monastery crowning Taung Kalat occupies almost every bit of available space on the summit. Visitors are advised not to bring meat with them as doing so could offend the “nats” – disaffected spirits who occupy the site. There’s also a practical reason: dozens of macaque monkeys who mob exhausted tourists who manage to reach the summit.
Shiprock, New Mexico, USA
(images via: Terragalleria/QTLuong, SUNY Orange and Blood Orange Review)
Shiprock is a jagged remnant of an ancient volcano’s throat located in extreme northeastern New Mexico. The formation looms 1,583 feet (482.5 m) over an eerie desert landscape that has been steadily eroding away since the magma that formed Shiprock began to cool about 27 million years ago.
(image via: Alex Maclean)
Shiprock got its name in the mid-nineteenth century when travelers noted its resemblance to a huge clipper ship, and it was first successfully climbed in 1939. The rock formation is sacred to the Navajo Nation and figures strongly in their most cherished origin myths and legends. Out of respect for the Navajo people, climbing Shiprock has been expressly forbidden since 1970.
Kapsiki Peak, Cameroon
(images via: Cameroon Discovery, Science Photo Library and Corbis)
Located in an otherworldly landscape near Rhumsiki village in Cameroon’s Far Northern Region, Kapsiki Peak is perhaps the most striking of several sharply eroded volcanic plugs. It’s also one of the tallest volcanic plugs on Earth, measuring a nosebleed-inducing 4,016 ft (1,224 m) in height.
(image via: My World Travelguides)
Kapsiki Peak has a noticeably phallic appearance, a fact noted by the native tribes in the region. This distinctive characteristic has attracted barren women to the formation for many centuries, and continues to attract tourists in the modern day.
Trosky Castle, Czech Republic
(images via: Rich Pick and Kurositas)
If you were a medieval warlord looking to build a castle, the pair of basalt volcanic plugs in the Czech Republic’s Český Ráj (Bohemian Paradise) would be a great choice – and so it was, between the 14th and 17th centuries when Trosky Castle was built, rebuilt, and rebuilt yet again.
(image via: Kurositas)
Though not especially tall, the 154 ft (47 m) tall Baba (Old Woman) and 187 ft (57 m) tall Panna (Young Maiden) provide excellent vantage points for keeping an eye on tenant farmers and invading armies.
(image via: All Empires)
Legend has it that there’s buried treasure hidden inside Trosky Castle; the fruits of a raid on the nearby Opatovice monastery. Supposedly the treasure was secreted in an underground chamber sealed by a huge boulder, subsequently buried in rubble and scree. Sounds like the plot of the next Indiana Jones movie – the producers will at least have a spectacular location to work with!
Morro Rock, California, USA
(images via: Visit USA, City of Morro Bay and Morro-Bay.com)
The knobby, rounded volcanic plug known as Morro Rock has been a familiar landmark for many generations of Californians. Rising to a height of 581 feet (177 m), the formation was named in 1542 by the Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Though quarried for stone used to build the Morro Bay Breakwater, efforts by environmentalists to protect and preserve the rock came to fruition in 1968 when the state government created the Morro Rock State Preserve.
(image via: Solis-Family)
Unlike many famous volcanic plugs, Morro Rock doesn’t stand alone though it does claim seniority by virtue of being the tallest of the so-called Nine Sisters of San Luis Obispo County. It’s a reminder that the California coast has always been a geologically active region though these days residents need not fear any new volcanic eruptions.
(image via: Sahara Overland)
Like most of us, volcanic plugs were wild & restless in their youth but with the passage of age, settled down and mellowed out – and that’s a good thing. When it comes to volcanoes, it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie and don’t EVER think of… pulling the plug.
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Egg-Shaped Architecture & Art From Amazing To Bizarre
April 1, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Angie in Art & Design, Geography & Travel, Home & Garden. ]
Easter eggs were reportedly first decorated in the 13th century, while egg shaped architecture “caught on” significantly later than that. From amazing decorated eggs to strange structures, here is a bizarre collection of oval-like designs in architecture and art.
Decorated With A Drill
Franc Grom created hundreds of amazing eggs. He uses his electric boring tool to pierce about 2,500 to 3,500 holes in each fragile eggshell.
(image credits:damnfunnypictures,ragandbone,a-pic.co.tv)
Grom was inspired by Slovenian designs. He patiently creates and then sells his masterful eggshell designs. There are times he drills as many as 17,000 holes per breakable egg.
Egg Art
(image credits:applicant)
Decorating Easter eggs is not only for children. Some painted eggs are displayed in museums such as in the Eggs Museum located in Moldoviţa, Bucovina. The hand-made designs are passed down from families, differing in colors and patterns depending on which Bucovina village they were made. These Easter ornaments eggs were created by Lucia Condrea.
Egg City
(image credits:pitodoble,neatorama)
In terms of patience, it would seem to take huge amounts to stack these eggs for a massive sculpture. This “egg city” was built for an avant-garde exhibit in Groninger Museum in Groningen, Netherlands. Avant-garde is experimental or innovative, pushing the boundaries of what one might expect. The Groninger Museum was transformed into a ‘Small Chinese Empire.’
World’s Largest Easter Egg
(image credits:crazywebsite)
The world’s largest Easter egg or Ukrainian ‘Pysanka,’ was constructed in 1975 in Vegreville, Canada. The outer aluminum skin weighs 2,000 pounds. The Pysanka is an immense jigsaw puzzle containing 524 star patterns, 2,206 equilateral triangles, 3,512 visible facets, 6,978 nuts and bolts, and 177 internal struts. It measures 25.7 feet long, 18.3 feet wide, and stands 31.6 feet high.
Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló Has Egg-Shaped Windows
(image credits:parisparfait)
Designed by famous architect Antoni Gaudí, Casa Batllo is in Barcelona, Spain. It has egg-shaped windows and Juliet balconies. This curved building is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Gaudí is known for his work as “God’s Architect” and spent ten years working on studies for the design of La Sagrada Família. He died in 1926 after being run over by a tram.
Blob VB3
(image credits:The Design Inspiration)
The mobile living space, blob VB3, has a bathroom, kitchen, storage niches, and even a nook for sleeping. The nose opens and can function as a porch. It took 18 months to build, is made primarily of polyester, and is easily transportable. The Blob can function as a office, garden house, or guest room.
Egg Shaped Structures
(image credits:frank-heger,artmargins)
Frank Heger addressed the designing challenges of how to keep digesters from falling over. With his help, the Crom Corporation constructed two 3-million gallon egg-shaped sludge digesters for Baltimore’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. The red egg-shaped house by architect Sergey Tkacheneko is located in Moscow. It is one part of a larger residential structure. His egg design was deliberated for years before construction.
More Design Egg Shapes
(image credits:cowboyofbottrop,unci_narynin,decodir)
The Egg-shaped digesters in Bottrop, Germany, are used for sewage treatment processing. Another large egg-shape building is located in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Egg-o house with the garden in the center was designed by architecture company A69 from the Czech Republic.
London City Hall
(image credits:waymarking,futurearchitects,danclafrance)
London City Hall is located on the south bank of the River Thames. Its unusual egg-like shape reduces surface area and improves energy efficiency. Inside the ten-story building, a 1,640 foot spiral staircase goes up to an exhibition and meeting space called “London’s Living Room.”
Gherkin Behind The Tower Of London
(image credits:worldtravelgallery)
The Gherkin skyscraper is also in London. Designed by Norman Foster and constructed by Skanska, Gherkin has 40 floors and stands 591 feet tall. For energy savings, this unusual shaped building incorporates the double glazing effect. It has gaps in each floor to create six shafts, or chimneys, trapping air between two layers of glazing to insulate the office spaces.
City Of Arts And Sciences
(image credits:architec)
The City of the Arts and the Sciences in Valencia, Spain, is an egg-shaped entertainment-complex that is both culturally and architecturally amazing. It has glass windows and floors. The large “eye” is an Imax Cinema. There are three floors and 13,9930 square feet of the building which also houses a Planetarium and a Laserium.
Egg Building in China
(image credits:twistedsifter)
The National Centre for the Performing Arts, also known as The Egg, is a 129,000 square foot titanium and glass opera house in Beijing, China. The exterior has over 18,000 titanium plates, more than 1,000 sheets of ultra-white glass, and a low-iron glass with a high rate of light transmission. It cost $468.7 million and seats 5,452 people in three halls, The Opera House, The Hall, and The Theatre. It is said to look like an egg floating on the water; an artificial lake surrounds it. The hallway goes underneath the lake, but with a massive glass ceiling, light shines through the water to give visitors an otherworldly experience. The Egg was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. It held its first concert in 2007.
Cybertecture Egg
(image credits:sharearchitecture)
The Cybertecture Egg, in Mumbai, India, is scheduled for completion this year. By using this “egg” shape, the building has approximately 10-20% less surface area than conventional buildings. This 13 story “egg” will use solar photovoltaic panels and rooftop wind turbines to generate on-site electricity. In focusing on health and wellness, it will interact with occupant’s vital health statistics such as blood pressure and weight. The 32,000 square meter egg-shaped building will combine “iconic architecture, environmental design, intelligent systems, and new engineering to create an awe-inspiring landmark in the city.”
Glow In The Dark Alien Eggs
(image credits:glowstickfactory)
Dear children and/or trolls: Happy Easter to you too. Since none of the “eggs” here probably interested you, perhaps you would better like a dozen glow-in-the-dark alien eggs from Area 51?
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