Special News

3July2009

The smallest campground in the world

Posted by Cecilia under: Culture; Economy; Science.

It’s just an architectural concept but it’s so unusual that it’s worth taking a look at.  Belgian architects developed the ultimate solution for urban campers:  Urban Camping. 

It’s a steel structure supporting four platforms on which tents can be pitched.  The levels are connected through ladders.  The towers are mobile and can be placed anywhere there is a flat surface. 

If this idea is just a concept or will be realized is uncertain - most of all because there is no place for sanitary facilities in this first model.  Let’s just say in this arrangement, it’s good to be on top!

From July 25 to August 1, 2009 one Urban Camping tower will be placed in Copenhagen, Denmark to promote the city of Antwerp and its innovative spirit.

Just be alert if you decide to walk underneath it.

2July2009

The oldest flute in the world

Posted by Cecilia under: Art; Culture; Science.

If we had to guess when humans first started to make music with instruments we would probably place the date at around 9,000 BC - the time of the ancient but highly developed culture of the Sumerians.

Last week this date was updated by German archaeologists.  Their findings are stunning.  They discovered a flute determined to be over 35,000 years old. 

This oldest flute in the world was almost 8 inches long, had 5 holes and was made of a wing bone of a griffon vulture.

A reconstruction of the flute showed that people could make complex melodies with it. 

Making music with instruments was probably one of many signs of the higher culture of the modern Homo Sapiens versus the Neanderthals.

1July2009

Paul with a pointed beard - a sensational finding in Rome

Posted by Cecilia under: Art; Religion; Science.

Last Sunday the Vatican newspaper “L’Osservatore Romano” published a portrait of a man with a black pointed beard.  The fresco is thought to be the earliest depiction of Paul, an apostle of Jesus.

Archaeologists made this sensational finding in the underground catacomb of Santa Tecla in Rome, Italy while they were removing beds of clay. 

Researchers believe the fresco is over 1,600 years old.

The timing is perfect because the Vatican had just celebrated the festival of Peter and Paul.

30June2009

Who invented the Internet?

Posted by Cecilia under: Culture; Economy; Life; Science.

A search for the inventor of the Internet reveals several people who made major contributions to the Internet we know today.  None of these people, however, claim to be the inventor of the Internet.

Here are some of the people who played a large part in the development of the Internet:

Leonard Kleinrock:  published a 1961 paper about the idea of packet switching.  Packet switching is the idea that groups of data can be “routed” from one place to another based on address information in the data.

J.C.R. Licklider:  in 1962 he described an Internet-like worldwide network of computers which he called “Galactic Network”.

Larry G. Roberts:  created the first long-distance computer networks in 1965.

Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf:  invented the Transmission Control Protocol TCP between 1972 and 1973.  TCP describes a method to move data on the Internet.

Radia Perlman: in the 1980’s invented the spanning tree algorithm which allows efficient bridging between separate networks.

Despite claims that Al Gore invented the Internet, his involvement was only as a political supporter and came rather late in the scheme of things.

29June2009

Recent changes in World Heritage list

Posted by Cecilia under: Culture; Nature.

Last week Germany saw dramatic changes to two of their UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.

 On June 25, 2009 Dresden was deleted from the World Heritage list due to the building of a four-lane bridge in the heart of the cultural landscape.

Dresden was inscribed as a cultural landscape in 2004 because of its numerous monuments and parks dating from the 16th to 20th centuries.  On such location was the Pillnitz Palace. 

Just one day later, on June 26, the Wadden Sea National Parks along Germany’s North Sea were added as new World Heritage site.

The inscribed site represents over 66% of the whole Wadden Sea and is one of the last remaining natural, large-scale, intertidal ecosystems where natural processes continue to function largely undisturbed.

28June2009

Food for health: apricots

Posted by Cecilia under: Health.

Apricots are in season in North America from May through August.  This small delicious fruit has big health benefits.

Apricots contain a wide range of protective nutrients which among other benefits help to combat infections, improve mood, promote good vision, relieve digestive problems and have an amazing anti-cancer effect.

Apricots provide all these health benefits when eaten either fresh or dried.  Particularly in their dried form, apricots are one of the best natural sources of Vitamin A.  Five apricots, fresh or dried, cover your entire daily need of Vitamin A.

Another great health benefit is the fact that apricots have a high fiber content - which makes apricots to one of the best foods for treatment and prevention of constipation.

According to research done in Austria only fully riped apricots provide the most antioxidants.  The best apricots are tree-ripened.

27June2009

Red Cross founder Henri Dunant

Posted by Cecilia under: Culture.

It was on a hot summer day 150 years ago, evolving from a horrifying massacre, the idea for a worldwide organization was created.  Swiss businessman Henri Dunant witnessed the terrible battle in Solferino, North Italy.  On June 24, 1859  soldiers from France and Italy fought against the armies of Austria.

Henri Dunant was deeply touched by the terrible pictures he saw.  He went home to Geneva, Switzerland and developed the idea of an independent and neutral aid organization.  From his life-changing experience the Red Cross was born.

The Red Cross movement caught on almost immediately.  It spawned the Geneva Convention, setting humanitarian principles for soldiers, prisoners of war and civilians.  Today the ICRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross, continues the work begun by Henri Dunant.

26June2009

Picasso’s first exhibition failed 108 years ago

Posted by Cecilia under: Art.

Very few artists have great success with their first works.

In 1901 a young painter named Pablo Picasso visited Paris for the first time.  Influenced in part by the paintings of Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso created a series of colorful impressions of Paris.

His paintings caught the attention of French art dealer Ambroise Vollard.  He opened the first exhibition of Picasso’s work on June 24, 1901 in Paris.  Critical reaction was swift and harsh, saying that Picasso was overly influenced by existing French painters.

Nevertheless Picasso decided to stay in Paris where he established his studio.  Despite early failure, Picasso went on to distinguish himself through his varied work and independent style.

25June2009

The new Acropolis Museum in Athens

Posted by Cecilia under: Art; Culture.

Last Saturday Athens, Greece hosted a world-wide event with the opening of the new Acropolis Museum.

The construction of this monumental steel and glass museum lasted 11 years and cost over $170 million.

Visitors can find precious discoveries from the Acropolis and at the same time witness a spectacular view toward the Acropolis.

The exhibition is divided into 5 themed galleries.  One of them is the one from the Archaic Period, with life-life-size statues and horse riders.

This important new museum would make a great destination during a visit to Greece.

24June2009

Animals help when being helped

Posted by Cecilia under: Nature; Science.

When a human being receives help from a total stranger it’s likely he will some day return the favor to another stranger at some point in the future.

This behavior, once thought to be uniquely human, can also be observed among animals.

Evolutionary biologists at the University of Bern, Switzerland published an article about a study which set out to determine if this behaviour occurs among animals.

Their findings showed there are two forms of cooperativeness among animals.  The simple one, which could be called ”to help when being helped”, can be demonstrated by any animal.

The other form requires higher cognitive abilities.  To be able to return a favor an animal need to identify and memorize others as having been helpful.