General

Why We Say OK
There's a two-letter word that penetrates our day to day discussions, from easygoing gab to our communications with innovation. OK. Okay. It's a word so pervasive that it may very well be the most generally perceived term on earth. OK! OK! We use it to avow, to recognize, and to convey understanding. Yet, have you at any point halted to consider the beginnings of this unpretentious yet fundamental word? Where did it come from, and what does it really mean?
By Chaudhary Haroon Ali3 years ago in History
Eternal Odyssey: The Dramatic Tale of the Universe
In the beginning, there was nothing but an infinite void, a cosmic canvas devoid of light and life. Time, as we know it, did not exist, and the universe was but a mere notion in the grand scheme of things. Then, in a burst of unimaginable energy, the universe was born.
By Hamim Hassan3 years ago in History
Rising from the ashes of Brazil museum national fire Chapter 2. 🔥
more than 18 million objects and specimens. Along with a variety of other recent fossil discoveries, the Museum also housed many of the world's best-preserved pterosaur fossils. Quantification of additional losses has started, yet in many respects, the destruction was, and is incalculable.When I learned of the fire, I was inconsolable.The loss of the collections in Rio affects everyone with an interest in the globe, its histories, and cultures, not only Brazilians or those who work in museums today. The fire depicts a complete theft of the world's information that was accumulated over hundreds of years by just as many people, as well as the life it has supported. I wanted to speak with someone who had been directly impacted by these events because I've been trying to comprehend this loss, what we learn from it, and how we move on from it in the months after the fire initially started. At the time of the fire, paleontologist Beatriz Hörmanseder was a master's candidate working in the institution.She was in the middle of describing a new species of extinct crocodile that was destroyed and was only known from one specimen.Beatriz: I was researching a species of fossil crocodile from the Ceará region.region, and this specific crocodile stood out from the others in the area.Therefore, it was probably a really crucial species for this, for my study, and I misplaced it.When it first emerged, I could even make out the location, but all that was there was dirt.Emily: Do you recall what came to your mind when you learned about the fire in the National Gallery?Beatriz: I was at home when I overheard someone say,The museum is on fire."I can recollect that I stood in front of the television for around three hours. every room in the entomology collection caught fire, and it has since spread to the My department, the paleontology department, was the last one standing,along with the mummies and archaeology To burn one.Do you recall some of the ideas that were running through your head at the time?Beatriz: The fire seemed like something out of a movie at first, and we couldn't believe it.similar to. Then,together with the entire museum community, we began to converse. The morning after the fire, all we could think was, "hmm what's left?The burnt remains of books, field notes, and stories drifted in the days following the fire.fell next to the museum, serving as a perpetual reminder of the disaster.The larger bits were sought after by many people as reminders of their connection to the museum. Brazilians were able to monitor the response and recovery process thanks to the hashtag "Museu Nacional Vive,which stands for "The National Museum is Alive.In order to show the country that not everything had been lost, an exhibition with the same name was established. Some of the museum's contents were kept offsite in an annex and had escaped damage.adjacent items Then,together with the entire museum community, we began to converse. The morning after the fire, all we could think was, "hmm what's left?The burnt remains of books, field notes, and stories drifted in the days following the fire.fell next to the museum, serving as a perpetual reminder of the disaster.The larger bits were sought after by many people as reminders of their connection to the museum. Brazilians were able to monitor the response and recovery process thanks to the hashtag "Museu Nacional Vive," which stands for "The National Museum is Alive.In order to show the country that not everything had been lost, an exhibition with the same name was established. Some of the museum's contents were kept offsite in an annex and had escaped damage. adjacent items
By Nora Ariana3 years ago in History
Rising from the ashes of Brazil's Museu Nacional fire 🔥
The largest and first natural history museum in Latin America was Museu Nacional, the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.When an electrical fire broke out on the museum's bottom level in the evening of September 2nd, 2018, it had just finished commemorating its 200th anniversary. It turned into an inferno as the night went on, devastating the structure and nearly all of the items it housed.Within 10 hours, it became evident how extensive the damage was: an estimated 18 million things.and the samples turned into ash and smoke.30,000 artifacts from Brazilian indigenous tribes and recordings of languages with no living speakers were among the things destroyed. The floor it was stored on collapsed, destroying the entire entomology collection. 5 million specimens were included in it, including a number of holotypes, which are the unique animals on which a species is based. Future specimen identifications are practically difficult without holotypes. Along with a variety of other recent fossil discoveries, the Museum also housed many of the world's best-preserved pterosaur fossils. Quantification of additional losses has started, yet in many respects, the destruction was, and is incalculable.When I learned of the fire, I was inconsolable.The loss of the collections in Rio affects everyone with an interest in the globe, its histories, and cultures, not only Brazilians or those who work in museums today. The fire depicts a complete theft of the world's information that was accumulated over hundreds of years by just as many people, as well as the life it has supported. I wanted to speak with someone who had been directly impacted by these events because I've been trying to comprehend this loss, what we learn from it, and how we move on from it in the months after the fire initially started. At the time of the fire, paleontologist
By Nora Ariana3 years ago in History
What if you jumped into lake Natron what would you do?
She might simply be a fiction, but there is a place wherenotorious Lake Natron, Why is the water in Lake Natron so hazardous? What species of animals abound there? If you fell in, could you survive? There is a place so dangerous that it could truly turn you to stone: the fabled Lake Natron. Have you heard of Medusa, the mythical Greek monster with snake-hair who can turn people to stone with a single glance? She may simply be a myth. What makes Lake Natron's water so hazardous? What animals inhabit it? Could you survive if you fell in? These are the questions that need to be answered. what would occur if you dove into Lake Natron?Before diving in, we need consider what Lake Natron is built of.This Tanzanian Lake, like the Dead Sea, doesn't drain into any seas or rivers, allowing it to take up all that salty, soupy desert rain. Its proximity to the active volcano Doinyo Lengai, which spews a peculiar poison, makes it exceptionally deadly. The perfect preservative in lake form is a type of lava rich in sodium and potassium carbonate called natural carbonatite, also known as Natron for short. This mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate was once used in Egyptian mummification to create the perfect preservative. In 2013, wildlife photographer Nick Brandt was one of the first to document this phenomenon. He discovered several stone birds and other unfortunate animals in the dry season when the water had receded. He theorized that since the lake has an alkalinity of 10.5 close to that of ammonia this gives the lake its rosy hue any birds who happen to take a dive and don't make it out become calcified in a hardened stone like husk talk about killing two birds with one stone in 2013 is so mirror-like and reflective that the birds must have flown right into it as if it were a large glass door, but despite the fact that so many birds perish in Lake Natron, one species is flourishing. It turns out that the lake's toxic waters offer a safe haven from predators, making it the ideal flamingos flocking grounds. If flamingos can handle it, then why couldn't we? It is not that easy. Because of their tough skin and scaly legs, which prevent birds from drinking fresh water from nearby Springs or geysers at the edges of the lake, flamingos must live in salty lakes. If they are desperate enough, however, they can even filter saltwater using special glands in their nasal cavities, and to top it all off, their strong stomachs enable them to feed on the toxic algae found throughout the lake. This makes Lake Natron the ideal place to raise and protect flamingos. I wouldn't plan on performing any fancy dives or cannonballs because the water is shallow and full of sharp, salty structures; although you wouldn't turn to stone right away, if you drown and stay under water, your entire body would harden and be preserved; if people found you hundreds of years later, you might still have your hair and organs intact, ya still lookin' spiffy after all. The water is sixty degrees, which is hot enough to cause third-degree burns in A group of wildlife videographers fell into Lake Natron toxicity in 2007 when their helicopter crashed. The pilot suffered a broken leg and another passenger had a broken hip, but miraculously one of the passengers managed to struggle to shore and make it to safety. Your eyes or any open wounds would sting like crazy because of all that salt, so I'd put on some goggles if I were you.
By Nora Ariana3 years ago in History
Julian Eltinge documentary Chapter 2.
I was attending school at the time as there stands on the stage today clothed in extravagant clothing, with his hair puffed up with a band. Oh Louis, your moves were so exquisite, and he was so wonderfully lighted. When the show ended, I decided to go backstage, so I entered an alley.I once met a stern stage manager who told me I was too young to speak to Mr. Lengs. I responded that I knew him, to which he replied, "You're too young. then you can enter and find Elton in a kimono and in a closet. I told him I wanted to be a female impersonator like he was and he said I was too ambitious and I wouldn't recommend it. He then gave me the most fervent and enthusiastic advice.clap my bottom and sign with the warmestI took a picture and came away with excellentreviews He was brought to New York in 1904 for his first Broadway musical, after which he moved into New York vaudeville and was paid a top salary. Audiences were astounded by his quick character changes, and one reviewer declared that they were completely deceived as to Elton's sex until he removed his wig. His act is far superior to what is referred to as female impersonation. By 1910, Elton's had attained the height of vaudeville star He portrayed both the male and female leads of a man disguising himself as a woman to expose a two-timing cat in order to capitalize on his excellent feminine impersonations. Hell His celebrity position and financial success as a Broadway in vaudeville celebrity took him to Hollywood where he appeared in four silent feature films and a sound musical and socialized with the Hollywood elite. He also built huge landmark residences and lavishly spent money on antiques. Ladies and gentlemen, I've been away for three days, but I'm back in Hollywood making my first talking movie. This year, I've been asked by multiple women on the set and in the hallways of several studios who makes my outfit. I suppose that Hollywood now leads the world in the creation of gowns because there are so many amazing movie stars who need so many outfits and costumes. This has brought all the best designers from around the world to Hollywood, despite Elton Jay's reputation for tasteful elegance and high artistry. Some critics vehemently criticized him because they saw his performances as indicators of the foreign social and moral decay invading America's shores, defending thos El Tinges was a boxer, horseback rider, and ladies' man. As the Great Depression worsened, financial problems signaled the start of El Tinges' decline. The trend for female impersonation had peaked, and it was no longer seen as lighthearted entertainment but as a sign of perversion. As a result, municipalities passed laws prohibiting drag. Alcoholism started to threaten Elton Jay's life and health in January of 1940, when a chubby Elton attempted to make a comeback in a somewhat seedy Los Angeles nightclub. However, he was denied permission to appear on stage dressed as a guest of honor in a performance at Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe. In 1941,Elton missed two performances and was discovered dead in his New York apartment. Sadly, within a decade of his passing, Julia Elton faded into obscurity. Today, on 42nd Street, the former Elton's dinner has been transformed into the AMC movie Plex. On the original lobby ceiling, a fresco of the three muses can still be seen, all of which feature Julia Elton as a woman. However, when show business professionals and historians discuss the great performers of the past, Elt is always mentioned.you.
By Nora Ariana3 years ago in History
Meet America's most famous female impersonator
One of the most well-known female impersonators at the beginning of the century is Julian Eltinge. At the conclusion of his performances, he stunned the crowds by taking off his wig and revealing that he was a guy because his mimicry of women was so convincing. Eltinge eventually rose to the position of one of the most paid entertainers in the country and sold out theaters all over the world.His Broadway productions of "Fascinating Widow" and "The Crinoline Girl" enjoyed successful runs, and in the 1920s, he rose to fame in Hollywood.Even King Edward VII requested him to perform. who was so moved by what he saw that he sent Eltinge an English Bulldog to express his gratitude.Despite his fame, Eltinge faded from view in the 1930s as anti-cross-dressing laws spread across America and kept entertainers like Julian from appearing in public. He passed away before drag made a comeback decades later, and his career never fully recovered.Postcards from Eltinge's female imitation presentations, like this one, serve as a reminder that drag has a long history and has endured over the years. Julian Eltinge documentary A short story complex of a feature length documentary project exploring the life and career of Julian Eltinge, the most talented unique,and underrated females illusionist in america show business notwithstanding objections, even. The Empire Theatre, which had been constructed in 1912 on 7th Avenue and weighed 7.4 million pounds, was moved on tracks to a new location near 8th Avenue on Sunday, March 2. Few people who attended the performance were aware that the theater had previously been known as the Elton's Theatre in honor of Julian Elton, a celebrated female illusionist and prominent figure in theater and film during the first third of the 20th century. In contrast to female impersonation in vaudeville, which came from variety shows and saloon entertainments, which consisted of portraying elderly Crohn's and parodies of women in outlandish costumes, style draws its roots from a specialty of the blackface minstrel shows of the 19th century. These shows featured gender impersonations of women played seriously as fashionable, delicate and refined on Jews. Julia squatted happily AddThis completely his impersonations were sophisticated and clever satires of the feminine image as established by a civilization that was controlled by men at the height of gist success of Elton I first saw Elton in a vaudeville performance when I was 10 years old at the Keith Albey theater in Boston on Washington Street. I was attending school at the time and decided to play hooky to see this performance, which was the first one of the day. I purchased his ticket and found myself in a darkened theater. Syme Silverman, the founder and editor of Variety, described Elton as an actor who has no peer as great a performer as there stands on the stage today. Elton Chipiya and the audience, although he was clothed in extravagant clothing, with his hair puffed up with a band. Oh Louis, your moves were so exquisite, and he was so wonderfully lighted. When the show ended, I decided to go backstage, so I entered an alley.I once met a stern stage manager who told me I was too young to speak to Mr. Lengs. I responded that I knew him, to which he replied, "You're too young. then you can enter and find Elton in a kimono and in a closet. I told him I wanted to be a female impersonator like he was and he said I was too ambitious and I wouldn't recommend it. He then gave me the most fervent and enthusiastic advice.clap my bottom and sign with the warmestI took a picture and came.
By Nora Ariana3 years ago in History
Sudan's conflict, explained Chapter 2.
Bashir had lost control over, is where the majority of the nation's oil reserves are located.Bashir granted Hemeti and the Janjaweed official status as a paramilitary unit known as the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, in 2013 to increase his control.The group was initially subordinate to NISS, one of Bashir's security agencies in Sudan.Despite the fact that they were aiding the SAF in the ongoing Darfur war.Then, in 2017, he signed a statute that put Hemeti under his direct control and made it obvious that the RSF's primary duty was to keep him safe. Bashir granted Hemeti financial independence and gave him permission to seize control of portions of Darfur's gold mines, smuggle weapons and minerals into nations like Chad and Libya, and transfer troops into conflict-ridden areas in exchange for cash in order to keep the RSF loyal.Bashir also allowed the SAF to participate in important sectors of the economy, such as the manufacturing of weapons and telecommunications. Civilians still struggle while Bashir is busy enriching these two forces.2018 saw protests start in the midst of a terrible economic crisis.Putting his protective system to the test was the biggest difficulty Bashir had to confront at that time. The budget for the government, which contained a 60–70% allocation for the security sector, which included Bashir's bodyguards, was the decisive catalyst.whereas Sudanese people battled for their most basic requirements.The largest revolution in Sudan's history resulted from this.Random demonstrations started happening all around the nation.Then they changed to the capital city of Khartoum. Bashir resisted leaving his position. He was supported by the RSF, SAF, and other security forces, who also put pressure on the protesters who ultimately favored democracy. But the protestors persisted for months, and the RSF and SAF realized that Bashir's leadership wouldn't be as helpful to them any longer.They therefore made a move on April 11th, 2019 that alarmed both citizens and Bashir.Commanders of the SAF conspired with Hemeti of the RSF to depose Bashir. While protesters welcomed Bashir's ouster, many lacked confidence in the person who brought it about. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, a recognized regional commander in Darfur, assumed control of the South one day after the coup.The two guys took charge of Sudan together.Since they collaborated during the turmoil in Darfur years ago, people perceived them as participants in it.One as a soldier in the Sudanese military.One as a militia chief on the same side..against significant segments of the Darfuri populace.The two men soon started attacking demonstrators. As Khartoum's pro-democracy demonstrations grew more violent, Hemeti and his forces began to repress them.During a sit-in protest on June 3rd, 2019, the RSF killed around 100 individuals.Massacres kept happening all around the nation.the next.These nations were compelled to intervene to support the transition of Sudan to democracy.The United States put pressure on Sudan's military and demonstrators to accept a power-sharing arrangement together with its Arab allies the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and the African Union.In this new agreement, a transitional council would include protester and military members.In this scheme, civilians would be in charge for 18 months and the military for 21.This implied that the military would eventually have to cede control to the citizens who govern the nation.The issue was that, despite demonstrators' warnings The council was run by these two soldiers, with Burhan serving as chair and Hemeti as vice chair. At initially, the council carried out its duties in accordance with the agreement... and appointed Abdallah Hamdok as the new prime minister.Hamdok, however, resigned in January 2022 following numerous military interventions by these leaders, including a putsch coup in October 2021.As a result, Burhan became the de facto ruler of Sudan, with Hemeti serving once more...
By Nora Ariana3 years ago in History
Sudan's conflict, explained
Sudan saw a revolution that began spreading there on December 19, 2018. Civilians rebelled after years of tolerating President Omar Bashir's repressive military government.They desired democracy for their nation.A few months later, this man and this man participated in a coup that removed Bashir, promising the demonstrators the future they had called for.The same two men are still at war with one another four years later, tearing Sudan apart and claiming hundreds of innocent lives. Therefore, how did Sudan change from this to this in such a short period of time?How did these two strong guys change from being allies to enemies [overlapping] -Conflicts in Sudan. -a fatal coup...supportingforces..Coups have occurred frequently in Sudan.Military men have brought down leader after leader. The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, are the official military of the nation and have had considerable influence there for close to a century.And not long after Sudan obtained independence from Anglo-Egyptian domination, they began to use that power. "The flags of those two countries have been replaced by the Sudanese flag." In 1958, there was a successful military coup. Former military officer and current prime minister Abdullah Kalil ousted his own civilian government to impose military authority over Sudan.A decade or so later, Colonel Jaafar Nimeiry executed a successful coup once more, overthrowing a transient democracy. Later, in 1985, Nimeiry was released. He was overthrown by this military officer, who then put in place a new democratic government. Four years later, Colonel Omar Bashir overthrew the existing administration and proclaimed himself the new ruler. But Bashir turned out to be distinct from his predecessors.Bashir was aware that, given the history of military coups, he might end up in the same situation as earlier rulers. He therefore employed a tactic known as coup proofing. where he would surround himself with guardians while controlling each one to prevent overthrow.With the SAF, it all began.Bashir strengthened the army and cultivated a close bond with them during his rule.He largely relied on them to put an end to the ongoing civil conflict in southern Sudan, where he ordered the SAF and other militias to brutalize civilians. Then, with the army occupied in the south, a new war in the west began to take shape. Crisis arose in Darfur.In the past, people here have been ignored.They felt uneasy for years due to a lack of medical supplies, basic amenities, and representation in the government of Sudan.Therefore, in 2003, the army was largely stationed in the South. In this Darfur city, rebel factions attacked the armed forces.When Bashir realized this insurrection was happening, he opted to arm the Janjaweed, a local Arab militia in the area rather than relying on the Sudan Armed Forces, or SAF, the regular military.At Bashir's request, this deadly force targeted the annihilation of civilians and rebels in Darfur. According to satellite images, the Janjaweed are probably to blame for the destruction of more than 3000 villages.The destruction in Darfur was also brought on by SAF troops.Both factions are charged with mass murder, rape, and the deliberate eviction of civilians.They killed thousands of Darfuris collectively.Bashir learned how to maintain his position from what happened in Darfur. And in need of a new guardian, he turned to the Janjaweed.There were a few guys Bashir tried to recruit into the central government from the Janjaweed militias.But there was one Janjaweed commander in particular who Bashir had the most faith in.Hemeti or Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.Bashir referred to him as "my protection".Hemeti, his moniker, is a pun on the Arabic word hemmati, which means "my protection.South Sudan gained independence in 2011 after a protracted and brutal civil conflict, leaving Bashir in a precarious position.The Sudanese economy collapsed shortly after.The South, which..
By Nora Ariana3 years ago in History
Divisiveness: Haiti's age-old cancer
This September 20, 2023, marks the 265th birth anniversary of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. The one who took up the torch of the struggle for Freedom and the Dignity of the human Being, as general-in-chief of the indigenous Army after the capture and deportation of the genius Toussaint Louverture by the French. However, this date is unknown to the vast majority of Haitians since the date of his death has always been put forward, unlike the day of his birth.
By Louinel Estimable 3 years ago in History
Abebe Bikila
Abebe Bikila was an Ethiopian marathon runner who won two Olympic gold medals, both while running barefoot. He was born in 1932 in a small village near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He began running at a young age, and his talent was quickly recognized. In 1956, he was selected to represent Ethiopia at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. However, he was forced to withdraw from the race due to an injury.
By Antehun sendeku3 years ago in History
The big problem with cement, and how to fix it. Chapter 2.
so let's examine another method that cement contributes to emissions: the method of chemistry.This is the carbon that the heated limestone has released.It transforms into clinker, the main binder in cement, after passing through the kiln.And in concrete, cement holds the rocks, sand, and water together. The majority of concrete's emissions come from cement, which makes up around 10% of the material.Therefore, one tactic is to come up with a clinker replacement.Startups have been competing to create a brand-new type of green cement that completely avoids clinker.But as of now, nothing is as cheap and useful as the limestone-based material.Additionally, it requires a lot of work and safety testing to modify concrete formulations.with justification. The recent incidents in Turkey involved the usage of a lot of subpar cement and some questionable construction methods. Due to safety regulations, clinker makes up 90% of the cement in North America. But in comparison to the rest of the globe, North America is unduly cautious. In 2020, the global average clinker-to-cement ratio was at 72%That is made possible by alternatives that resemble clinker. We could further lower the clinker ratio. One novel cement formulation that securely reduces the clinker ratio to 50% by adding additional clay and raw limestone was highlighted by experts.So that's with a technology that already exists and complies with building regulations.This will reduce cement and concrete sector emissions by half. These cuts will aid in lowering emissions, but until we develop a cement that is scalable and emits no emissions, all clinker production will eventually produce process emissions.This brings us to the final step in the decarbonization process.To get there, the cement industry will need to adopt carbon capture and storage.There is no avoiding it. This would include storing the carbon that is released into the atmosphere due to the heat and chemical reactions taking place right now deep within a geologic deposit. One of the first cement plants in the world is being tested by a Norwegian cement firm. to capture carbon worldwide. And they'll keep it in their oil and gas reserves beneath the North Sea.A few new businesses are also figuring out how to reintroduce carbon that has been saved during production into cement and concrete.This makes use of the carbon-absorption capacity of rocks.And who knows, maybe one day our built environment which we typically don't think about when we think about big, concrete cities, big buildings, our roads, and all that will even turn into a carbon sink.So in this situation, we get net zero emissions for this structure.And getting there by 2050 is the current target. To do it, we must act swiftly and forcefully. especially in China, the largest producer in the world.However, specialists informed me that there is some good news there.Therefore, a cement plant in the US is typically 34 to 35 years old.With a value of 15,many of China's plants are actually more energy-efficient than those in the United States.China uses less clinker than the typical country and is working on at least one carbon capture project.But there is still much to be done. They revised the target date for peak building emissions from 2025 to 2030 last year. Process changes for the production of cement and concretewill be the simplest to put into practice. yet carbon capture and storage is still in its infancy.And the cost of all this will be high.It is anticipated that the cost of the cement used in this structure will increase by between 70 and 115%.The price of cement or concrete makes up a very minor portion of the project's total cost.In order to absorb the green premium, it is therefore relatively simple and cost-effective for a government agency to commit..
By Nora Ariana3 years ago in History