via About History by Alcibiades
Titus Flavius Vespasianus, 69- 79, known as Vespasian, Roman Emperor proclaimed by the army July 1, 69, was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, one of the most active and successful rulers of the 1st century.
Vespasian was known for his sense of humor, open and friendly character, commanding attitude and military capabilities. He helped impoverished senators and the cities and areas affected by natural disasters. He was particularly generous with writers. Nevertheless, Vespasian did not like philosophers, considering them as an unkempt gang. He was also very intolerant of political opponents. He spoke openly and joked with his friends.
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via Boing Boing by David Pescovitz
In 1907, pharmacist and photography buff Dr. Julius Neubronner invented the "pigeon camera." Neubronner attached his cameras, with a built-in shutter timer, to his own homing pigeons and let them fly. For most people, the birds' photos provided a previously unseen view on the world.
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via the Big Think blog by Philip Perry
Our understanding of the universe has expanded tremendously in the last few decades. But there are still some mysteries out there, and the Great Attractor is one of them.
Since the Big Bang, the universe has been spreading out in every direction, and it’s picking up speed. The space between galaxies is getting larger every day. Currently, things are drifting apart at a rate of 2.2 million kilometers per hour. Now, you’d think that the galaxies to the left and the right of ours would be moving at the same velocity. You’d be wrong.
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via Library Link of the Day: by Sarah Laskow at Atlas Obscura
A girdle book held by the Beinecke Library, Yale University BEINECKE LIBRARY/CC BY-SA 2.0
Girdle books had to be small, and they had to be light. From the bottom edges of their bindings extended an length of leather, usually gathered into a knot at the end. This extension of the cover could be used to carry the book like a purse or could be tucked into a girdle or belt. To read, the owner wouldn’t even have to detach the book; when taken up, the book would be oriented correctly, just as if it had been pulled from a shelf.
Used from the 14th to 17th centuries, these books were texts that their owners needed to keep close at hand: prayer books used by monks and nuns, for example, or law books used by traveling judges. Though they were valuable objects—luxuries, even—these books were meant to be consulted and read.
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via Interesting Literature
The best literary travelogues
There are plenty of books out there telling the story of English literature: its history and development. But what about those guidebooks which take a geographical approach to literary Britain, and offer suggestions for places to visit around the UK based on their literary associations? Here are five of our favourite literary guides to travelling around Britain.
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via the Guardian by Agence France-Presse in Berlin
Part of the hoard linked to Bluetooth, the Danish king who reigned from around AD958 to 986. Photograph: Stefan Sauer/AFP/Getty Images
A 13-year-old boy and an amateur archaeologist have unearthed a “significant” trove in Germany which may have belonged to the Danish king Harald Bluetooth who brought Christianity to Denmark.
René Schön and his student Luca Malaschnitschenko were looking for treasure using metal detectors in January on northern Rügen island when they chanced upon what they initially thought was a worthless piece of aluminium.
But upon closer inspection, they realised that it was a piece of silver, German media reported.
Over the weekend, the regional archaeology service began a dig covering 400 sq metres (4,300 sq ft). It has found a hoard believed to be linked to the Danish king Harald Gormsson, better known as “Harry Bluetooth”, who reigned from around AD958 to 986.
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via Boing Boing by David Pescovitz
As we make our way through the Lost In Space reboot on Netflix (or not), let's honor the late, great Jonathan Harris who stole the original series as the prissily menacing Dr. Zachary Smith.
"(Smith) was written as a deep-dyed, snarling villain, and he bored the shit out of me," Harris said.
(Thanks, Bob Pescovitz!)
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via About History by Alcibiades
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle between the British and the French-Spanish Navy. It occurred on October 21, 1805, at Cape Trafalgar on the Atlantic coast of Spain. In this decisive naval battle of the Napoleonic Wars, France and Spain lost twenty-two ships, while the British lost none. During the battle, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, Commander of the British Navy, was killed. The United Fleet of France and Spain was commanded by the French Admiral Pierre Villeneuve. Under his command was Spanish Admiral Federico Gravina, who led the Spanish forces.
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via the Big Think blog by Philip Perry
Or maybe it’s already begun.
There are a number of possible cataclysms that could wipe out the human race. Take the expansion of the sun into a red giant. That'll will eventually absorb the Earth. This event is set to occur in about 7-8 billion years. The only way to escape it, as Elon Musk and others argue, is to become an interplanetary species—if not an intergalactic one. Would such a move forever safeguard the human race?
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via Interesting Literature
On one of Hardy’s most haunting poems about the past
‘A Spellbound Palace’ is not one of Thomas Hardy’s best-known poems, but in our opinion it is one of his best. Focusing on Hampton Court Palace on the River Thames, and summoning memories of Tudor England during the time of Cardinal Wolsey and King Henry VIII, ‘A Spellbound Palace’ is a moody and evocative poem that deserves more critical attention than it has received.
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