October 15, 2012
The world is filled with history and so much evidence of that history. A lot of the evidence has not stood the test of time, but many halls and palaces such as the beautiful European palaces have been preserved for future generations to learn from, and thoroughly enjoy.
The Halls of Grandeur
The amazing halls of many European palaces have such interesting tales to tell. Filled with kings, queens, court jesters and beautiful ball gowns and dancing. The huge halls, libraries and corridors of some of the most famous palaces have put many European cities on the map.
Images show some of the most beautiful and lonely halls in history featuring amazing construction that one would struggle to find in modern architecture. The stunning architecture is extremely intricate and detailed. Visitors marvel at the high marble ceilings of these European palaces and wonder how labourers back in history managed to create these phenomenal structures without safety boots and gear. The images taken from the portfolio of photographer Massimo Listri, give credence to the stunning edifices and their part in our history.
The stunning rooms in the Royal Palace of Stockholm, in which the Swedish monarchy still resides, shows marble columns and reclining statues that tell stories of historical wars, while the statues that stands between the ornate columns of the church in this stunning European palace, are a tribute to famous royal figures and their historical stories from within the hallowed palace walls.
The Quelez National Palace in Lisbon boasts some of the most beautiful checkered marble flooring juxtaposed against stunning murals and chandeliers. Dating back to the 18th century, this European Palace evokes images of colourful dances and stunning balls.
Wiblingen Abbey, which was once a Benedictine Abbey is still in use. Utilised for medical facilities, the building is used by the University of Germany, and students can be seen wandering in their medical overalls, perusing the books in the stunning library in what is considered one of the most beautiful European palaces ever built.
Look out for the Massimo Listri portfolio of European palaces and take in the stunning images he captured for posterity and a great education on the architecture of the past.
February 8, 2012
An incendiary defence used by the Byzantine Empire to great effect. Greek fire burned on water and was infamously difficult to extinguish. A fire so tenacious not even water could put it out. The formula was such a closely guarded secret by the Byzantines that it was eventually lost. Contemporary theorists, scientists and weapons manufacturers are left to speculate what the recipe was for such an intense weapon that could endlessly burn on water, burning ships and boats to cinders. Greek fire saved the empire from many invasions that would reasonably have changed the course of history.
In Greek mythology there seemed to be several formulas used by a few countries such as the Arabs, Chinese and Mongols, but none of these nations could come close to the recipe used by the Byzantines. Nothing of the formula has been left for modern day theorists to even remotely understand the combination of ingredients, but there is speculation that it included quicklime, sulphur or naphtha, but that’s up for debate.
The Byzantines deployed this indestructible weapon by means of shooting it through a siphon, a tube which was standard issue on all the Byzantine ships. The siphons would projectile the Greek fire which would create a barrier on the water preventing enemy ships from landing on the beaches and attacking villages. Boat restoration must have been a full-time exercise for countries going to war because ancient Greek fire didn’t take any prisoners. It’s one of the lost weapons, along with Damascus steel, which was also made-up according to a closely guarded formula that will never be rediscovered.
Greek fire holds some interesting about preventing invasions and taking several fleets of ships that would in modern times prove to be a mighty war. The ancient empire took their closely guarded secret of Greek fire with them into the history books, leaving their ancient enemies with boat maintenance and contemporaries permanently scratching their heads.
November 17, 2011
This past weekend, South African internet established itself as having 20 years of service to business and residential homes. From the first packets sent through from Randy Bush in Oregon to Rhodes University, through to the current business services of server virtualisation and IP PBX communication systems. It’s time to celebrate all those who contributed to making South Africa the business powerhouse it is in Africa today, with previous recognition being given to Randy Bush who received an honorary doctorate from the University of the Eastern Cape. Emails were sent to three universities in South Africa; The University of Cape Town, Rhodes University and the University of Natal.
The three visionaries from the various Universities went on to create amazing developments in the internet service industry in South Africa. Chris Pinkham and Fred Goldstein at UCT worked with Alan Barrett in Natal to organise the serves that could orchestrate this first international digital mail transmission. Pinkham went on to study with Randy Bush in Oregon and return to put together, with Barrett and a gentleman called Chris Nash, the first Internet Service provider in South Africa: Internet Africa (iAfrica). iAfrica went through numerous changes of UUNET South Africa, Verizon and finally the powerhouse it is today, MTN Business.
Mike Lawrie, The Professor at Rhodes, must be noted as being the person who drove the expansion of internet services from the realms of the elite tertiary institutions to the home. He contacted Telkom and arranged the first cable to be set from Rhodes to his home. He then organised the international Linux system to transfer mail over vast oceans, and the rest is history through to the excellent business internet providers that South Africa Enjoys over the rest of the continent. South African Internet services celebrate these men and the challenges they overcame and look forward to the developments to propel South Africa to world standards in the next 20.
The loss of the HMS Hood 70 years ago is considered one of the darkest hours in the Royal Navy’s history. 1,400 Crew went down with the vessel as the battle between Hitler’s Bismarck sent the battleship to her watery grave. Decades later and Paul Allen – Microsoft billionaire – offered his luxury yacht, Octopus, to the British navy as they prepared to raise the HMS Hood’s bell from the murky depths of the Irminger Basin between Iceland and Greenland.
own deep-sea submersible. The expedition will be carried out by the 60-man crew, some of which include ex-US Navy Seals. It’s a far cry from several weeks ago when this huge moving palace of luxury was ogled by tourists on a day boat hire during the London Olympics. Paul Allen’s luxury yacht is unimaginable luxury that boggles the mind and now he’s using it to give something back to British history.