On Sunday, May 30, 2010, officials in Cairo, Egypt announced a most fascinating find. The 3,300 year-old tomb of Ptahmes, mayor of the ancient Egyptian capital Memphis had been found since it had last been plundered in 1885 by treasure hunters.
The tomb, located in a New Kingdom necropolis at Saqqara was plundered over 120 years ago and artifacts such as the decorative wall panels were removed and sold to museums. After the ancient treasures were removed the tomb was all but forgotten. Were it not for the artifacts that ended up in museums in the Netherlands, United States, Italy and even the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Pthames and his tomb might have been forgotten forever.
In 2005, a team of archaeologists from Cairo University's archaeology department found the tomb while excavating in the area. A vivid wall engraving of fishermen in papyrus reed boats, amulets and statue fragments were found in the discovered chambers. The inner chambers and the mayor's mummy have not been discovered.
Pthames served as Mayor of Memphis, army chief, overseer of the treasury and royal scribe under the rulers Seti I and his son, Ramses II in the 13th century B.C.
For more information and to view photographs of the outside of the tomb and an unfinished funeral painting please visit the MSNBC.com article. (Click on "view related photos" next to the picture of the funeral painting.)
Monday, May 31, 2010
3,300 Year Old "Lost Tomb" of Egyptian Mayor Found
On Sunday, May 30, 2010, officials in Cairo, Egypt announced a most fascinating find. The 3,300 year-old tomb of Ptahmes, mayor of the ancient Egyptian capital Memphis had been found since it had last been plundered in 1885 by treasure hunters.
The tomb, located in a New Kingdom necropolis at Saqqara was plundered over 120 years ago and artifacts such as the decorative wall panels were removed and sold to museums. After the ancient treasures were removed the tomb was all but forgotten. Were it not for the artifacts that ended up in museums in the Netherlands, United States, Italy and even the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Pthames and his tomb might have been forgotten forever.
In 2005, a team of archaeologists from Cairo University's archaeology department found the tomb while excavating in the area. A vivid wall engraving of fishermen in papyrus reed boats, amulets and statue fragments were found in the discovered chambers. The inner chambers and the mayor's mummy have not been discovered.
Pthames served as Mayor of Memphis, army chief, overseer of the treasury and royal scribe under the rulers Seti I and his son, Ramses II in the 13th century B.C.
For more information and to view photographs of the outside of the tomb and an unfinished funeral painting please visit the MSNBC.com article. (Click on "view related photos" next to the picture of the funeral painting.)
The tomb, located in a New Kingdom necropolis at Saqqara was plundered over 120 years ago and artifacts such as the decorative wall panels were removed and sold to museums. After the ancient treasures were removed the tomb was all but forgotten. Were it not for the artifacts that ended up in museums in the Netherlands, United States, Italy and even the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Pthames and his tomb might have been forgotten forever.
In 2005, a team of archaeologists from Cairo University's archaeology department found the tomb while excavating in the area. A vivid wall engraving of fishermen in papyrus reed boats, amulets and statue fragments were found in the discovered chambers. The inner chambers and the mayor's mummy have not been discovered.
Pthames served as Mayor of Memphis, army chief, overseer of the treasury and royal scribe under the rulers Seti I and his son, Ramses II in the 13th century B.C.
For more information and to view photographs of the outside of the tomb and an unfinished funeral painting please visit the MSNBC.com article. (Click on "view related photos" next to the picture of the funeral painting.)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Sunday Funnies: What Gender is a Computer
(Who doesn't love a little bit of techie humor??)
A SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.
'House' for instance, is feminine: 'la casa.'
'Pencil,' however, is masculine: 'el lapiz.'
A student asked, 'What gender is 'computer'?' Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether 'computer' should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.
The men's group decided that 'computer' should definitely be of the feminine gender ('la computadora'), because:
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your pay check on accessories for it.
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ('el computador'), because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won.
A SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.
'House' for instance, is feminine: 'la casa.'
'Pencil,' however, is masculine: 'el lapiz.'
A student asked, 'What gender is 'computer'?' Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether 'computer' should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.
The men's group decided that 'computer' should definitely be of the feminine gender ('la computadora'), because:
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your pay check on accessories for it.
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ('el computador'), because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won.
Sunday Funnies: What Gender is a Computer
(Who doesn't love a little bit of techie humor??)
A SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.
'House' for instance, is feminine: 'la casa.'
'Pencil,' however, is masculine: 'el lapiz.'
A student asked, 'What gender is 'computer'?' Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether 'computer' should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.
The men's group decided that 'computer' should definitely be of the feminine gender ('la computadora'), because:
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your pay check on accessories for it.
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ('el computador'), because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won.
A SPANISH Teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.
'House' for instance, is feminine: 'la casa.'
'Pencil,' however, is masculine: 'el lapiz.'
A student asked, 'What gender is 'computer'?' Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether 'computer' should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.
The men's group decided that 'computer' should definitely be of the feminine gender ('la computadora'), because:
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your pay check on accessories for it.
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ('el computador'), because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won.
Horned Dinosuar Possibly Moved From Island to Island Into Europe
There have been several great dinosaur stories in science news lately. This latest discovery is just as exciting as the others recently reported.
Horned dinosaurs, known as ceratopsians, were plentiful during the late Cretaceous, roughly 100 million to 65 million years ago (Ceratopsians include such well-known dinosaurs as Triceratops.) It wasn't until scientists found a new small horned dinosaur, possibly a dwarf dinosaur, in Europe that they believed ceratopsians lived only in Asia and North America.
Three skull bones belonging to the horned dinosaur, Ajkaceratops kozmai, were unearthed in the summer of 2009 in a Hungarian quarry near the town of Ajka. Fully grown, the newly discovered dinosaur grew to a tiny 3 feet long. Dwarf dinosaurs did live in what we now know as Transylvania.
In 2007, scientists reported fossil teeth that could have been ceratopsian having been found in Sweden. But the Hungarian find is the first clear discovery of a horned dinosaur in Europe.
The newly revealed small horned dinosaur lived roughly 85 million years ago and, at that time, much of what is now Europe was part of a complex series of island chains known as the Tethyan archipelago. These islands were situated between the African and Eurasian land masses in the Tethys Ocean. It is theorized that the small horned dinosaur moved from island to island thus eventually ending up in what we know as Europe.
For more information and to see a photo of a research team excavating the remains of the small horned dinosaur, please refer to this MSNBC.com Technology and Science article.
Horned dinosaurs, known as ceratopsians, were plentiful during the late Cretaceous, roughly 100 million to 65 million years ago (Ceratopsians include such well-known dinosaurs as Triceratops.) It wasn't until scientists found a new small horned dinosaur, possibly a dwarf dinosaur, in Europe that they believed ceratopsians lived only in Asia and North America.
Three skull bones belonging to the horned dinosaur, Ajkaceratops kozmai, were unearthed in the summer of 2009 in a Hungarian quarry near the town of Ajka. Fully grown, the newly discovered dinosaur grew to a tiny 3 feet long. Dwarf dinosaurs did live in what we now know as Transylvania.
In 2007, scientists reported fossil teeth that could have been ceratopsian having been found in Sweden. But the Hungarian find is the first clear discovery of a horned dinosaur in Europe.
The newly revealed small horned dinosaur lived roughly 85 million years ago and, at that time, much of what is now Europe was part of a complex series of island chains known as the Tethyan archipelago. These islands were situated between the African and Eurasian land masses in the Tethys Ocean. It is theorized that the small horned dinosaur moved from island to island thus eventually ending up in what we know as Europe.
For more information and to see a photo of a research team excavating the remains of the small horned dinosaur, please refer to this MSNBC.com Technology and Science article.
Horned Dinosuar Possibly Moved From Island to Island Into Europe
There have been several great dinosaur stories in science news lately. This latest discovery is just as exciting as the others recently reported.
Horned dinosaurs, known as ceratopsians, were plentiful during the late Cretaceous, roughly 100 million to 65 million years ago (Ceratopsians include such well-known dinosaurs as Triceratops.) It wasn't until scientists found a new small horned dinosaur, possibly a dwarf dinosaur, in Europe that they believed ceratopsians lived only in Asia and North America.
Three skull bones belonging to the horned dinosaur, Ajkaceratops kozmai, were unearthed in the summer of 2009 in a Hungarian quarry near the town of Ajka. Fully grown, the newly discovered dinosaur grew to a tiny 3 feet long. Dwarf dinosaurs did live in what we now know as Transylvania.
In 2007, scientists reported fossil teeth that could have been ceratopsian having been found in Sweden. But the Hungarian find is the first clear discovery of a horned dinosaur in Europe.
The newly revealed small horned dinosaur lived roughly 85 million years ago and, at that time, much of what is now Europe was part of a complex series of island chains known as the Tethyan archipelago. These islands were situated between the African and Eurasian land masses in the Tethys Ocean. It is theorized that the small horned dinosaur moved from island to island thus eventually ending up in what we know as Europe.
For more information and to see a photo of a research team excavating the remains of the small horned dinosaur, please refer to this MSNBC.com Technology and Science article.
Horned dinosaurs, known as ceratopsians, were plentiful during the late Cretaceous, roughly 100 million to 65 million years ago (Ceratopsians include such well-known dinosaurs as Triceratops.) It wasn't until scientists found a new small horned dinosaur, possibly a dwarf dinosaur, in Europe that they believed ceratopsians lived only in Asia and North America.
Three skull bones belonging to the horned dinosaur, Ajkaceratops kozmai, were unearthed in the summer of 2009 in a Hungarian quarry near the town of Ajka. Fully grown, the newly discovered dinosaur grew to a tiny 3 feet long. Dwarf dinosaurs did live in what we now know as Transylvania.
In 2007, scientists reported fossil teeth that could have been ceratopsian having been found in Sweden. But the Hungarian find is the first clear discovery of a horned dinosaur in Europe.
The newly revealed small horned dinosaur lived roughly 85 million years ago and, at that time, much of what is now Europe was part of a complex series of island chains known as the Tethyan archipelago. These islands were situated between the African and Eurasian land masses in the Tethys Ocean. It is theorized that the small horned dinosaur moved from island to island thus eventually ending up in what we know as Europe.
For more information and to see a photo of a research team excavating the remains of the small horned dinosaur, please refer to this MSNBC.com Technology and Science article.
Friday, May 28, 2010
500 Million Year Old Mollusk Identified
It was discovered in British Columbia, Canada and looks like a cross between a shrimp and cartoon alien but it is actually one of the world's oldest and most primitive cephalopods.
It's name is Nectocaris pteryx pushes the origins of cephalopods back at least 30 million years making them one of the longest lasting animal groups on Earth. Cephalopods include modern octopi, squids and cluttlefish.
Martin Smith, a paleobiologist at the Royal Ontario Museum's Department of Natural History told Discovery News "modern cephalopods display a quite astonishing intelligence, and I like to think that Nectocaris may have been the smartest critter in the Cambrian sea."
Smith and his colleague, Jean-Bernard Caron studied at least 91 Nectocaris fossils found from the Burgess Shale, located in Yoho National Park near Field, British Columbia. Thanks to the exceptional preservation of soft-bodied animals Burgess Shale is known for, the paleobiologists were able to get an idea as to what primitive cephalopods looked like.
Nectocaris did not have a hard shell contrary to what most scientists had thought for decades. According to Smith, "shells evolved much later, probably in response to increased levels of competition and predation in the Late Cambrian."
Nectocaris was approximately 2 inches long, quite small by modern cephalopod standards, and swam using its large lateral fins. It could accelerate to high speeds by using a nozzle-like funnel to squirt out water. It was kite-shaped and flat from top to bottom with large, stalked eyes and a long pair of grasping tentacles.
Other scientists have wondered why Nectocaris lacked such cephalopod features as a ring of tentacles around the mouth, a beak and a radula. According to Smith, he and Caron were able to identify some possible mouthparts but that they weren't well preserved for them to describe in detail.
Highlights from the Royal Ontario Museum's Burgess Shale collection will go on display in its future Peter F. Bronfman Gallery of Early Life. They will also be able to be seen on the Virtual Museum of Canada Burgess Shale website which will be launched in the spring of 2011.
For more information on this interesting mollusk and to see an artists rendition of what Nectocaris would have looked like you can read the MSNBC.com Technology and Science article and find further information in the Vancouver Sun's Technology section.
It's name is Nectocaris pteryx pushes the origins of cephalopods back at least 30 million years making them one of the longest lasting animal groups on Earth. Cephalopods include modern octopi, squids and cluttlefish.
Martin Smith, a paleobiologist at the Royal Ontario Museum's Department of Natural History told Discovery News "modern cephalopods display a quite astonishing intelligence, and I like to think that Nectocaris may have been the smartest critter in the Cambrian sea."
Smith and his colleague, Jean-Bernard Caron studied at least 91 Nectocaris fossils found from the Burgess Shale, located in Yoho National Park near Field, British Columbia. Thanks to the exceptional preservation of soft-bodied animals Burgess Shale is known for, the paleobiologists were able to get an idea as to what primitive cephalopods looked like.
Nectocaris did not have a hard shell contrary to what most scientists had thought for decades. According to Smith, "shells evolved much later, probably in response to increased levels of competition and predation in the Late Cambrian."
Nectocaris was approximately 2 inches long, quite small by modern cephalopod standards, and swam using its large lateral fins. It could accelerate to high speeds by using a nozzle-like funnel to squirt out water. It was kite-shaped and flat from top to bottom with large, stalked eyes and a long pair of grasping tentacles.
Other scientists have wondered why Nectocaris lacked such cephalopod features as a ring of tentacles around the mouth, a beak and a radula. According to Smith, he and Caron were able to identify some possible mouthparts but that they weren't well preserved for them to describe in detail.
Highlights from the Royal Ontario Museum's Burgess Shale collection will go on display in its future Peter F. Bronfman Gallery of Early Life. They will also be able to be seen on the Virtual Museum of Canada Burgess Shale website which will be launched in the spring of 2011.
For more information on this interesting mollusk and to see an artists rendition of what Nectocaris would have looked like you can read the MSNBC.com Technology and Science article and find further information in the Vancouver Sun's Technology section.
500 Million Year Old Mollusk Identified
It was discovered in British Columbia, Canada and looks like a cross between a shrimp and cartoon alien but it is actually one of the world's oldest and most primitive cephalopods.
It's name is Nectocaris pteryx pushes the origins of cephalopods back at least 30 million years making them one of the longest lasting animal groups on Earth. Cephalopods include modern octopi, squids and cluttlefish.
Martin Smith, a paleobiologist at the Royal Ontario Museum's Department of Natural History told Discovery News "modern cephalopods display a quite astonishing intelligence, and I like to think that Nectocaris may have been the smartest critter in the Cambrian sea."
Smith and his colleague, Jean-Bernard Caron studied at least 91 Nectocaris fossils found from the Burgess Shale, located in Yoho National Park near Field, British Columbia. Thanks to the exceptional preservation of soft-bodied animals Burgess Shale is known for, the paleobiologists were able to get an idea as to what primitive cephalopods looked like.
Nectocaris did not have a hard shell contrary to what most scientists had thought for decades. According to Smith, "shells evolved much later, probably in response to increased levels of competition and predation in the Late Cambrian."
Nectocaris was approximately 2 inches long, quite small by modern cephalopod standards, and swam using its large lateral fins. It could accelerate to high speeds by using a nozzle-like funnel to squirt out water. It was kite-shaped and flat from top to bottom with large, stalked eyes and a long pair of grasping tentacles.
Other scientists have wondered why Nectocaris lacked such cephalopod features as a ring of tentacles around the mouth, a beak and a radula. According to Smith, he and Caron were able to identify some possible mouthparts but that they weren't well preserved for them to describe in detail.
Highlights from the Royal Ontario Museum's Burgess Shale collection will go on display in its future Peter F. Bronfman Gallery of Early Life. They will also be able to be seen on the Virtual Museum of Canada Burgess Shale website which will be launched in the spring of 2011.
For more information on this interesting mollusk and to see an artists rendition of what Nectocaris would have looked like you can read the MSNBC.com Technology and Science article and find further information in the Vancouver Sun's Technology section.
It's name is Nectocaris pteryx pushes the origins of cephalopods back at least 30 million years making them one of the longest lasting animal groups on Earth. Cephalopods include modern octopi, squids and cluttlefish.
Martin Smith, a paleobiologist at the Royal Ontario Museum's Department of Natural History told Discovery News "modern cephalopods display a quite astonishing intelligence, and I like to think that Nectocaris may have been the smartest critter in the Cambrian sea."
Smith and his colleague, Jean-Bernard Caron studied at least 91 Nectocaris fossils found from the Burgess Shale, located in Yoho National Park near Field, British Columbia. Thanks to the exceptional preservation of soft-bodied animals Burgess Shale is known for, the paleobiologists were able to get an idea as to what primitive cephalopods looked like.
Nectocaris did not have a hard shell contrary to what most scientists had thought for decades. According to Smith, "shells evolved much later, probably in response to increased levels of competition and predation in the Late Cambrian."
Nectocaris was approximately 2 inches long, quite small by modern cephalopod standards, and swam using its large lateral fins. It could accelerate to high speeds by using a nozzle-like funnel to squirt out water. It was kite-shaped and flat from top to bottom with large, stalked eyes and a long pair of grasping tentacles.
Other scientists have wondered why Nectocaris lacked such cephalopod features as a ring of tentacles around the mouth, a beak and a radula. According to Smith, he and Caron were able to identify some possible mouthparts but that they weren't well preserved for them to describe in detail.
Highlights from the Royal Ontario Museum's Burgess Shale collection will go on display in its future Peter F. Bronfman Gallery of Early Life. They will also be able to be seen on the Virtual Museum of Canada Burgess Shale website which will be launched in the spring of 2011.
For more information on this interesting mollusk and to see an artists rendition of what Nectocaris would have looked like you can read the MSNBC.com Technology and Science article and find further information in the Vancouver Sun's Technology section.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Divers Exploring Cleopatra's Palace in Alexandria Harbor
On Tuesday, May 25, 2010 divers entered the waters of Alexandria harbor to explore the ruins of a palace and temple complex belonging to ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra. They had to swim over heaps of limestone blocks that went into the sea over 1,600 years ago because of earthquakes and tsunamis.
An international team of researchers led by French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio are using advanced technology to survey the Alexandria Royal Quarters. It is encased deep below the harbor sediment. They are working to confirm the accuracy of 2,000 year-old historical descriptions left by Greek geographers and historians. Researchers have been doing topographical surveys of the area since the early 1990's.
The researchers are have discovered such artifacts as coins, granite statues of Egyptian rules, sunken temples dedicated to Egyptian deities and every day objects. Also among the finds is a massive stone head believed to be of Caesarion, son of Queen Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, two sphinxes, one of which most likely represents Ptolemy XII, the father of Cleopatra. Their finds will be going on display at Philadelphia's Franklin Institute from June 5, 2010 to January 2, 2011 in the "Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt" display of more than 250 artifacts before going on the road to tour four other North American cities.
Cleopatra was from the last dynasty to rule Egypt as the country was annexed into the Roman Empire in 30 B.C.
For more information on the Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt exhibit please visit the artmuseumjournal.com article.
For more information on the archaeological expedition and to see a photograph of a diver inspecting a quartzite block please read the MSNBC.com article.
An international team of researchers led by French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio are using advanced technology to survey the Alexandria Royal Quarters. It is encased deep below the harbor sediment. They are working to confirm the accuracy of 2,000 year-old historical descriptions left by Greek geographers and historians. Researchers have been doing topographical surveys of the area since the early 1990's.
The researchers are have discovered such artifacts as coins, granite statues of Egyptian rules, sunken temples dedicated to Egyptian deities and every day objects. Also among the finds is a massive stone head believed to be of Caesarion, son of Queen Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, two sphinxes, one of which most likely represents Ptolemy XII, the father of Cleopatra. Their finds will be going on display at Philadelphia's Franklin Institute from June 5, 2010 to January 2, 2011 in the "Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt" display of more than 250 artifacts before going on the road to tour four other North American cities.
Cleopatra was from the last dynasty to rule Egypt as the country was annexed into the Roman Empire in 30 B.C.
For more information on the Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt exhibit please visit the artmuseumjournal.com article.
For more information on the archaeological expedition and to see a photograph of a diver inspecting a quartzite block please read the MSNBC.com article.
Divers Exploring Cleopatra's Palace in Alexandria Harbor
On Tuesday, May 25, 2010 divers entered the waters of Alexandria harbor to explore the ruins of a palace and temple complex belonging to ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra. They had to swim over heaps of limestone blocks that went into the sea over 1,600 years ago because of earthquakes and tsunamis.
An international team of researchers led by French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio are using advanced technology to survey the Alexandria Royal Quarters. It is encased deep below the harbor sediment. They are working to confirm the accuracy of 2,000 year-old historical descriptions left by Greek geographers and historians. Researchers have been doing topographical surveys of the area since the early 1990's.
The researchers are have discovered such artifacts as coins, granite statues of Egyptian rules, sunken temples dedicated to Egyptian deities and every day objects. Also among the finds is a massive stone head believed to be of Caesarion, son of Queen Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, two sphinxes, one of which most likely represents Ptolemy XII, the father of Cleopatra. Their finds will be going on display at Philadelphia's Franklin Institute from June 5, 2010 to January 2, 2011 in the "Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt" display of more than 250 artifacts before going on the road to tour four other North American cities.
Cleopatra was from the last dynasty to rule Egypt as the country was annexed into the Roman Empire in 30 B.C.
For more information on the Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt exhibit please visit the artmuseumjournal.com article.
For more information on the archaeological expedition and to see a photograph of a diver inspecting a quartzite block please read the MSNBC.com article.
An international team of researchers led by French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio are using advanced technology to survey the Alexandria Royal Quarters. It is encased deep below the harbor sediment. They are working to confirm the accuracy of 2,000 year-old historical descriptions left by Greek geographers and historians. Researchers have been doing topographical surveys of the area since the early 1990's.
The researchers are have discovered such artifacts as coins, granite statues of Egyptian rules, sunken temples dedicated to Egyptian deities and every day objects. Also among the finds is a massive stone head believed to be of Caesarion, son of Queen Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, two sphinxes, one of which most likely represents Ptolemy XII, the father of Cleopatra. Their finds will be going on display at Philadelphia's Franklin Institute from June 5, 2010 to January 2, 2011 in the "Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt" display of more than 250 artifacts before going on the road to tour four other North American cities.
Cleopatra was from the last dynasty to rule Egypt as the country was annexed into the Roman Empire in 30 B.C.
For more information on the Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt exhibit please visit the artmuseumjournal.com article.
For more information on the archaeological expedition and to see a photograph of a diver inspecting a quartzite block please read the MSNBC.com article.
Space Shuttle Atlantis Finishes Final Flight
After 120 million miles, 25 years, 32 flights, 294 days in orbit 4,648 times circling the Earth, 189 astronaut passengers, 7 flights to Russia's Mir Station, 1 flight to the Hubble Space Telescope and 11 visits to the International Space Station, Atlantis, the fourth to fly in NASA's shuttle series, has finished its last flight.
While Atlantis might look old and worn out to the average eye, the trained eyes of NASA engineers believe the shuttle is still in its prime and could make at least one more flight.
Twelve hundred guests stood by at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on May 26, 2010 to watch Atlantis gracefully touch down for the final time ending its 12-day journey to the space station.
Atlantis if the first of three shuttles going into retirement to eventually find homes in museums. Discovery and Endeavour will be making one more flight each then they will join Atlantis in retirement. Discovery is slated to fly in September and Endeavour in November. Once the three shuttles have retired, the entire shuttle fleet will have retired. Atlantis will be on stand-by as a rescue ship for the last shuttle flight then be moved to a museum. It is possible Atlantis might be able to make one final supply run to the space station next summer provided no rescue mission is needed for Endeavour's flight.
By the end of June or July NASA officials should have decided which museum(s) Atlantis and Endeavour will eventually call home. Discovery is headed to the Smithsonian Institution.
For more information:
NASA
USA Today Article
MSNBC.com Article
While Atlantis might look old and worn out to the average eye, the trained eyes of NASA engineers believe the shuttle is still in its prime and could make at least one more flight.
Twelve hundred guests stood by at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on May 26, 2010 to watch Atlantis gracefully touch down for the final time ending its 12-day journey to the space station.
Atlantis if the first of three shuttles going into retirement to eventually find homes in museums. Discovery and Endeavour will be making one more flight each then they will join Atlantis in retirement. Discovery is slated to fly in September and Endeavour in November. Once the three shuttles have retired, the entire shuttle fleet will have retired. Atlantis will be on stand-by as a rescue ship for the last shuttle flight then be moved to a museum. It is possible Atlantis might be able to make one final supply run to the space station next summer provided no rescue mission is needed for Endeavour's flight.
By the end of June or July NASA officials should have decided which museum(s) Atlantis and Endeavour will eventually call home. Discovery is headed to the Smithsonian Institution.
For more information:
NASA
USA Today Article
MSNBC.com Article
Space Shuttle Atlantis Finishes Final Flight
After 120 million miles, 25 years, 32 flights, 294 days in orbit 4,648 times circling the Earth, 189 astronaut passengers, 7 flights to Russia's Mir Station, 1 flight to the Hubble Space Telescope and 11 visits to the International Space Station, Atlantis, the fourth to fly in NASA's shuttle series, has finished its last flight.
While Atlantis might look old and worn out to the average eye, the trained eyes of NASA engineers believe the shuttle is still in its prime and could make at least one more flight.
Twelve hundred guests stood by at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on May 26, 2010 to watch Atlantis gracefully touch down for the final time ending its 12-day journey to the space station.
Atlantis if the first of three shuttles going into retirement to eventually find homes in museums. Discovery and Endeavour will be making one more flight each then they will join Atlantis in retirement. Discovery is slated to fly in September and Endeavour in November. Once the three shuttles have retired, the entire shuttle fleet will have retired. Atlantis will be on stand-by as a rescue ship for the last shuttle flight then be moved to a museum. It is possible Atlantis might be able to make one final supply run to the space station next summer provided no rescue mission is needed for Endeavour's flight.
By the end of June or July NASA officials should have decided which museum(s) Atlantis and Endeavour will eventually call home. Discovery is headed to the Smithsonian Institution.
For more information:
NASA
USA Today Article
MSNBC.com Article
While Atlantis might look old and worn out to the average eye, the trained eyes of NASA engineers believe the shuttle is still in its prime and could make at least one more flight.
Twelve hundred guests stood by at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on May 26, 2010 to watch Atlantis gracefully touch down for the final time ending its 12-day journey to the space station.
Atlantis if the first of three shuttles going into retirement to eventually find homes in museums. Discovery and Endeavour will be making one more flight each then they will join Atlantis in retirement. Discovery is slated to fly in September and Endeavour in November. Once the three shuttles have retired, the entire shuttle fleet will have retired. Atlantis will be on stand-by as a rescue ship for the last shuttle flight then be moved to a museum. It is possible Atlantis might be able to make one final supply run to the space station next summer provided no rescue mission is needed for Endeavour's flight.
By the end of June or July NASA officials should have decided which museum(s) Atlantis and Endeavour will eventually call home. Discovery is headed to the Smithsonian Institution.
For more information:
NASA
USA Today Article
MSNBC.com Article
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
"Hell of a Year" for 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is almost upon us again. The season runs from June to November and, according to experts, this year is going to yield an above-average threat in the Atlantic.
In what experts are calling a "hell of a year" 18 named storms have been predicted, 10 hurricanes and five intense hurricanes rated as Category 3 with winds of 110-130 mph or greater. Past averages from 1950-2009 have ranged around 10 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 intense hurricanes.
Weather Services International has given the eastern coastal region of the United States from the Outer Banks of North Carolina northward to Maine as an area that should expect twice as likely the normal hurricane experience.
To date, the most active hurricane season in history was the 2005 Atlantic season which left more than 1,500 deaths and more than $115 billion in damages from hurricanes such as Katrina and Rita.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration releases its updated 2010 hurricane season forecast today.
For more information:
Weather Services International: http://www.wsi.com/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov/
MSNBC.com "Weather" article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37360717/ns/weather/
In what experts are calling a "hell of a year" 18 named storms have been predicted, 10 hurricanes and five intense hurricanes rated as Category 3 with winds of 110-130 mph or greater. Past averages from 1950-2009 have ranged around 10 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 intense hurricanes.
Weather Services International has given the eastern coastal region of the United States from the Outer Banks of North Carolina northward to Maine as an area that should expect twice as likely the normal hurricane experience.
To date, the most active hurricane season in history was the 2005 Atlantic season which left more than 1,500 deaths and more than $115 billion in damages from hurricanes such as Katrina and Rita.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration releases its updated 2010 hurricane season forecast today.
For more information:
Weather Services International: http://www.wsi.com/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov/
MSNBC.com "Weather" article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37360717/ns/weather/
"Hell of a Year" for 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is almost upon us again. The season runs from June to November and, according to experts, this year is going to yield an above-average threat in the Atlantic.
In what experts are calling a "hell of a year" 18 named storms have been predicted, 10 hurricanes and five intense hurricanes rated as Category 3 with winds of 110-130 mph or greater. Past averages from 1950-2009 have ranged around 10 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 intense hurricanes.
Weather Services International has given the eastern coastal region of the United States from the Outer Banks of North Carolina northward to Maine as an area that should expect twice as likely the normal hurricane experience.
To date, the most active hurricane season in history was the 2005 Atlantic season which left more than 1,500 deaths and more than $115 billion in damages from hurricanes such as Katrina and Rita.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration releases its updated 2010 hurricane season forecast today.
For more information:
Weather Services International: http://www.wsi.com/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov/
MSNBC.com "Weather" article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37360717/ns/weather/
In what experts are calling a "hell of a year" 18 named storms have been predicted, 10 hurricanes and five intense hurricanes rated as Category 3 with winds of 110-130 mph or greater. Past averages from 1950-2009 have ranged around 10 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 intense hurricanes.
Weather Services International has given the eastern coastal region of the United States from the Outer Banks of North Carolina northward to Maine as an area that should expect twice as likely the normal hurricane experience.
To date, the most active hurricane season in history was the 2005 Atlantic season which left more than 1,500 deaths and more than $115 billion in damages from hurricanes such as Katrina and Rita.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration releases its updated 2010 hurricane season forecast today.
For more information:
Weather Services International: http://www.wsi.com/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov/
MSNBC.com "Weather" article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37360717/ns/weather/
BBC One Dramatic Series: "Luther", Behind the Scenes, Madsen's Fall
The BBC has put up a four and a half minute "behind the scenes" video of the Henry Madsen fall from the very first episode of Luther. I found it rather interesting to see how this tense scene was filmed.
BBC One Dramatic Series: "Luther", Behind the Scenes, Madsen's Fall
The BBC has put up a four and a half minute "behind the scenes" video of the Henry Madsen fall from the very first episode of Luther. I found it rather interesting to see how this tense scene was filmed.
BBC One Dramatic Series: Luther, Episode 4
We are four episodes into the series now and there's been some time for viewers to start making comments about the show online. I've read some these comments at various sites around the Internet and it seems that viewers either really love Luther or they really dislike it. There is little middle ground. Being someone who is used to the American style of television, I personally find this show quite refreshing. I severely dislike reality programming preferring my entertainment to be of the scripted variety. Sure, I love some flat-out nonsense fun entertainment but I also want some great drama in the mix as well. I like a show that leaves me thinking long after it's over. I like complex characters.
In my most humble opinion, this series just gets better and better. I'm so very happy I started watching it as I've truly enjoyed all four episodes that have aired. It's one of the best dramas I've had the pleasure of watching in a very long time. The acting is superb and I greatly enjoy every single character. Alice Morgan has got to be one of the best characters I've seen in a long time. Even if you don't care for police dramas this show is worth watching for her alone.
That having been said, I want to keep my opinions to a minimum so as not to influence how anyone thinks of this show but I've got to say, this was my favorite episode of Luther yet. It was an incredibly full show with a lot going on. Luther is still plagued by the demons that have followed him since the beginning of the series. Things seem to be getting a bit more complicated for him with each episode. That's going to make for some excellent tension later on when things start coming to a head. The ending to this episode came as a big surprise to me. I certainly didn't expect it in the least.
There are only two more episodes to finish off the first series of Luther You can catch the next one on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 9 p.m. on BBC One.
Now for the summary...(Be aware, there are spoilers here so if you want a surprise for the ending avoid the last paragraph!)
The show starts with a man bent over a woman's body. He stands, then bends again and removes a crescent moon necklace from her. He turns and walks away. Luther is awakened by a telephone call. The case is his. There have been three victims in five weeks, spread across London. The body is carefully posed with items from her handbag arranged around her head and her shoes placed soles-up at her feet. The police know the killer will strike again soon so they are working against the clock to stop him before another woman dies. Luther believes the killer is in the police database somewhere. Our old friend DCI Shenk calls DCI Teller to the hospital where Henry Madsen is awake and, according to Shenk, it's looking very good that he will be able to be questioned. Meanwhile, Luther visits Alice and they speak about Madsen's awakening from his coma. He tells her he can't see or talk to her anymore while the whole Madsen issue is hanging over his head. That does not please her.
The man we see at the start of the show arrives home. Luther and Ripley watch one of the victims on CCTV footage while discussing the case. Luther's phone rings--it's Zoe. They talk briefly before she has to hang up as Mark is awake. Our mystery man, Graham, is listening to news of the discovery of the woman's body. He turns the radio off then takes the moon necklace from his pocket. His wife returns home and he gives her the moon necklace as a birthday present. After seeing her wearing the necklace they must immediately go upstairs. They go out that evening to celebrate her birthday.
Luther has photographs arranged in a circle on the floor and he gets in the center of them to try and see things from a different perspective. The police learn there was a necklace missing from the victim which helps them further profile the killer. Graham makes an excuse that he has to work to leave the birthday celebration. Luther and Ripley come to the conclusion that the victims must have trusted their killer and Luther suggests they're looking for a taxi driver. We next see Graham taking a cab out into the London night scanning the streets. Luther sits alone at the station going through CCTV while, at the hospital, Madsen screams out Luther's name which Luther later learns about from DCI Teller. Thanks to CCTV, they get a plate and home information of a taxi driver and the police go out to make the arrest. Graham stops and tells a young woman who is walking home a lie about a report of a nearby attack. She gets into the cab thinking he will be taking her safely home. The police pull over a cab and arrest the driver but it is the wrong man. Graham's wife goes home with the man she is having an affair with. They know that Graham knows of the affair. We next see the body of the young woman Graham picked up positioned on the snowy ground. After learning they arrested the wrong man and carefully observing CCTV more closely the police know they aren't looking for a real taxi driver.
Alice goes to the hospital. She tells the officer guarding Madsen that they need his assistance with crowd control. When he leaves, she goes in and kills Madsen. Shenk tells Luther of Madsen's death and asks him if he knows who would want Madsen dead. Alice calls Luther and they argue over what she's just done. She tells him she did it for him and he yells at her to stay away from him drawing the attention of everyone in the station. Alice goes to Mark and tells him that Zoe has been lying to him. They get a viable suspect in the case (Graham) and Ripley is ordered to bring his wife, Linda in. Ripley asks Graham's wife to accompany him back to the station to speak. She asks to go to the bathroom before they leave and calls Graham. When she asks him what he's done be becomes enraged.
Luther sits down and talks with Linda about Graham and is interrupted by Ripley with an urgent message. While Luther is out of the room Linda goes through the case folder and sees a photo of one of the victims wearing the moon necklace Graham gave her. Zoe and Martin talk about the situation between her and Luther. She tells Mark that Luther isn't what she wants. She wants to be with him. Linda tells Luther that her husband knew she was having an affair.
Graham goes to the house of Linda's lover, Dennis and attacks and kills him. A hooker, Layla arrives at Dennis' home. Luther finally gets a hold of Layla on the phone and tells her to get to a safe place and wait for the police. She runs into the bathroom and locks herself in. While Graham is beating on the door to get in, she sees the body of Dennis wrapped in plastic in the bathtub. Graham begins tearing the door down. The police arrive and Linda calls out to her husband. He goes downstairs where he is confronted by Linda and the police. Overcome with emotion, Graham drops the hammer he is carrying and the police take him. Linda goes upstairs and sees Layla crying in the bathroom and sees Dennis' body. She goes back downstairs and picks up the hammer, rushes outside and bashes Graham in the head, killing him as the police are leading him to the car. Luther finally goes home and calls Zoe. She doesn't pick up so he leaves a message for her.
In my most humble opinion, this series just gets better and better. I'm so very happy I started watching it as I've truly enjoyed all four episodes that have aired. It's one of the best dramas I've had the pleasure of watching in a very long time. The acting is superb and I greatly enjoy every single character. Alice Morgan has got to be one of the best characters I've seen in a long time. Even if you don't care for police dramas this show is worth watching for her alone.
That having been said, I want to keep my opinions to a minimum so as not to influence how anyone thinks of this show but I've got to say, this was my favorite episode of Luther yet. It was an incredibly full show with a lot going on. Luther is still plagued by the demons that have followed him since the beginning of the series. Things seem to be getting a bit more complicated for him with each episode. That's going to make for some excellent tension later on when things start coming to a head. The ending to this episode came as a big surprise to me. I certainly didn't expect it in the least.
There are only two more episodes to finish off the first series of Luther You can catch the next one on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 9 p.m. on BBC One.
Now for the summary...(Be aware, there are spoilers here so if you want a surprise for the ending avoid the last paragraph!)
The show starts with a man bent over a woman's body. He stands, then bends again and removes a crescent moon necklace from her. He turns and walks away. Luther is awakened by a telephone call. The case is his. There have been three victims in five weeks, spread across London. The body is carefully posed with items from her handbag arranged around her head and her shoes placed soles-up at her feet. The police know the killer will strike again soon so they are working against the clock to stop him before another woman dies. Luther believes the killer is in the police database somewhere. Our old friend DCI Shenk calls DCI Teller to the hospital where Henry Madsen is awake and, according to Shenk, it's looking very good that he will be able to be questioned. Meanwhile, Luther visits Alice and they speak about Madsen's awakening from his coma. He tells her he can't see or talk to her anymore while the whole Madsen issue is hanging over his head. That does not please her.
The man we see at the start of the show arrives home. Luther and Ripley watch one of the victims on CCTV footage while discussing the case. Luther's phone rings--it's Zoe. They talk briefly before she has to hang up as Mark is awake. Our mystery man, Graham, is listening to news of the discovery of the woman's body. He turns the radio off then takes the moon necklace from his pocket. His wife returns home and he gives her the moon necklace as a birthday present. After seeing her wearing the necklace they must immediately go upstairs. They go out that evening to celebrate her birthday.
Luther has photographs arranged in a circle on the floor and he gets in the center of them to try and see things from a different perspective. The police learn there was a necklace missing from the victim which helps them further profile the killer. Graham makes an excuse that he has to work to leave the birthday celebration. Luther and Ripley come to the conclusion that the victims must have trusted their killer and Luther suggests they're looking for a taxi driver. We next see Graham taking a cab out into the London night scanning the streets. Luther sits alone at the station going through CCTV while, at the hospital, Madsen screams out Luther's name which Luther later learns about from DCI Teller. Thanks to CCTV, they get a plate and home information of a taxi driver and the police go out to make the arrest. Graham stops and tells a young woman who is walking home a lie about a report of a nearby attack. She gets into the cab thinking he will be taking her safely home. The police pull over a cab and arrest the driver but it is the wrong man. Graham's wife goes home with the man she is having an affair with. They know that Graham knows of the affair. We next see the body of the young woman Graham picked up positioned on the snowy ground. After learning they arrested the wrong man and carefully observing CCTV more closely the police know they aren't looking for a real taxi driver.
Alice goes to the hospital. She tells the officer guarding Madsen that they need his assistance with crowd control. When he leaves, she goes in and kills Madsen. Shenk tells Luther of Madsen's death and asks him if he knows who would want Madsen dead. Alice calls Luther and they argue over what she's just done. She tells him she did it for him and he yells at her to stay away from him drawing the attention of everyone in the station. Alice goes to Mark and tells him that Zoe has been lying to him. They get a viable suspect in the case (Graham) and Ripley is ordered to bring his wife, Linda in. Ripley asks Graham's wife to accompany him back to the station to speak. She asks to go to the bathroom before they leave and calls Graham. When she asks him what he's done be becomes enraged.
Luther sits down and talks with Linda about Graham and is interrupted by Ripley with an urgent message. While Luther is out of the room Linda goes through the case folder and sees a photo of one of the victims wearing the moon necklace Graham gave her. Zoe and Martin talk about the situation between her and Luther. She tells Mark that Luther isn't what she wants. She wants to be with him. Linda tells Luther that her husband knew she was having an affair.
Graham goes to the house of Linda's lover, Dennis and attacks and kills him. A hooker, Layla arrives at Dennis' home. Luther finally gets a hold of Layla on the phone and tells her to get to a safe place and wait for the police. She runs into the bathroom and locks herself in. While Graham is beating on the door to get in, she sees the body of Dennis wrapped in plastic in the bathtub. Graham begins tearing the door down. The police arrive and Linda calls out to her husband. He goes downstairs where he is confronted by Linda and the police. Overcome with emotion, Graham drops the hammer he is carrying and the police take him. Linda goes upstairs and sees Layla crying in the bathroom and sees Dennis' body. She goes back downstairs and picks up the hammer, rushes outside and bashes Graham in the head, killing him as the police are leading him to the car. Luther finally goes home and calls Zoe. She doesn't pick up so he leaves a message for her.
BBC One Dramatic Series: Luther, Episode 4
We are four episodes into the series now and there's been some time for viewers to start making comments about the show online. I've read some these comments at various sites around the Internet and it seems that viewers either really love Luther or they really dislike it. There is little middle ground. Being someone who is used to the American style of television, I personally find this show quite refreshing. I severely dislike reality programming preferring my entertainment to be of the scripted variety. Sure, I love some flat-out nonsense fun entertainment but I also want some great drama in the mix as well. I like a show that leaves me thinking long after it's over. I like complex characters.
In my most humble opinion, this series just gets better and better. I'm so very happy I started watching it as I've truly enjoyed all four episodes that have aired. It's one of the best dramas I've had the pleasure of watching in a very long time. The acting is superb and I greatly enjoy every single character. Alice Morgan has got to be one of the best characters I've seen in a long time. Even if you don't care for police dramas this show is worth watching for her alone.
That having been said, I want to keep my opinions to a minimum so as not to influence how anyone thinks of this show but I've got to say, this was my favorite episode of Luther yet. It was an incredibly full show with a lot going on. Luther is still plagued by the demons that have followed him since the beginning of the series. Things seem to be getting a bit more complicated for him with each episode. That's going to make for some excellent tension later on when things start coming to a head. The ending to this episode came as a big surprise to me. I certainly didn't expect it in the least.
There are only two more episodes to finish off the first series of Luther You can catch the next one on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 9 p.m. on BBC One.
Now for the summary...(Be aware, there are spoilers here so if you want a surprise for the ending avoid the last paragraph!)
The show starts with a man bent over a woman's body. He stands, then bends again and removes a crescent moon necklace from her. He turns and walks away. Luther is awakened by a telephone call. The case is his. There have been three victims in five weeks, spread across London. The body is carefully posed with items from her handbag arranged around her head and her shoes placed soles-up at her feet. The police know the killer will strike again soon so they are working against the clock to stop him before another woman dies. Luther believes the killer is in the police database somewhere. Our old friend DCI Shenk calls DCI Teller to the hospital where Henry Madsen is awake and, according to Shenk, it's looking very good that he will be able to be questioned. Meanwhile, Luther visits Alice and they speak about Madsen's awakening from his coma. He tells her he can't see or talk to her anymore while the whole Madsen issue is hanging over his head. That does not please her.
The man we see at the start of the show arrives home. Luther and Ripley watch one of the victims on CCTV footage while discussing the case. Luther's phone rings--it's Zoe. They talk briefly before she has to hang up as Mark is awake. Our mystery man, Graham, is listening to news of the discovery of the woman's body. He turns the radio off then takes the moon necklace from his pocket. His wife returns home and he gives her the moon necklace as a birthday present. After seeing her wearing the necklace they must immediately go upstairs. They go out that evening to celebrate her birthday.
Luther has photographs arranged in a circle on the floor and he gets in the center of them to try and see things from a different perspective. The police learn there was a necklace missing from the victim which helps them further profile the killer. Graham makes an excuse that he has to work to leave the birthday celebration. Luther and Ripley come to the conclusion that the victims must have trusted their killer and Luther suggests they're looking for a taxi driver. We next see Graham taking a cab out into the London night scanning the streets. Luther sits alone at the station going through CCTV while, at the hospital, Madsen screams out Luther's name which Luther later learns about from DCI Teller. Thanks to CCTV, they get a plate and home information of a taxi driver and the police go out to make the arrest. Graham stops and tells a young woman who is walking home a lie about a report of a nearby attack. She gets into the cab thinking he will be taking her safely home. The police pull over a cab and arrest the driver but it is the wrong man. Graham's wife goes home with the man she is having an affair with. They know that Graham knows of the affair. We next see the body of the young woman Graham picked up positioned on the snowy ground. After learning they arrested the wrong man and carefully observing CCTV more closely the police know they aren't looking for a real taxi driver.
Alice goes to the hospital. She tells the officer guarding Madsen that they need his assistance with crowd control. When he leaves, she goes in and kills Madsen. Shenk tells Luther of Madsen's death and asks him if he knows who would want Madsen dead. Alice calls Luther and they argue over what she's just done. She tells him she did it for him and he yells at her to stay away from him drawing the attention of everyone in the station. Alice goes to Mark and tells him that Zoe has been lying to him. They get a viable suspect in the case (Graham) and Ripley is ordered to bring his wife, Linda in. Ripley asks Graham's wife to accompany him back to the station to speak. She asks to go to the bathroom before they leave and calls Graham. When she asks him what he's done be becomes enraged.
Luther sits down and talks with Linda about Graham and is interrupted by Ripley with an urgent message. While Luther is out of the room Linda goes through the case folder and sees a photo of one of the victims wearing the moon necklace Graham gave her. Zoe and Martin talk about the situation between her and Luther. She tells Mark that Luther isn't what she wants. She wants to be with him. Linda tells Luther that her husband knew she was having an affair.
Graham goes to the house of Linda's lover, Dennis and attacks and kills him. A hooker, Layla arrives at Dennis' home. Luther finally gets a hold of Layla on the phone and tells her to get to a safe place and wait for the police. She runs into the bathroom and locks herself in. While Graham is beating on the door to get in, she sees the body of Dennis wrapped in plastic in the bathtub. Graham begins tearing the door down. The police arrive and Linda calls out to her husband. He goes downstairs where he is confronted by Linda and the police. Overcome with emotion, Graham drops the hammer he is carrying and the police take him. Linda goes upstairs and sees Layla crying in the bathroom and sees Dennis' body. She goes back downstairs and picks up the hammer, rushes outside and bashes Graham in the head, killing him as the police are leading him to the car. Luther finally goes home and calls Zoe. She doesn't pick up so he leaves a message for her.
In my most humble opinion, this series just gets better and better. I'm so very happy I started watching it as I've truly enjoyed all four episodes that have aired. It's one of the best dramas I've had the pleasure of watching in a very long time. The acting is superb and I greatly enjoy every single character. Alice Morgan has got to be one of the best characters I've seen in a long time. Even if you don't care for police dramas this show is worth watching for her alone.
That having been said, I want to keep my opinions to a minimum so as not to influence how anyone thinks of this show but I've got to say, this was my favorite episode of Luther yet. It was an incredibly full show with a lot going on. Luther is still plagued by the demons that have followed him since the beginning of the series. Things seem to be getting a bit more complicated for him with each episode. That's going to make for some excellent tension later on when things start coming to a head. The ending to this episode came as a big surprise to me. I certainly didn't expect it in the least.
There are only two more episodes to finish off the first series of Luther You can catch the next one on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 9 p.m. on BBC One.
Now for the summary...(Be aware, there are spoilers here so if you want a surprise for the ending avoid the last paragraph!)
The show starts with a man bent over a woman's body. He stands, then bends again and removes a crescent moon necklace from her. He turns and walks away. Luther is awakened by a telephone call. The case is his. There have been three victims in five weeks, spread across London. The body is carefully posed with items from her handbag arranged around her head and her shoes placed soles-up at her feet. The police know the killer will strike again soon so they are working against the clock to stop him before another woman dies. Luther believes the killer is in the police database somewhere. Our old friend DCI Shenk calls DCI Teller to the hospital where Henry Madsen is awake and, according to Shenk, it's looking very good that he will be able to be questioned. Meanwhile, Luther visits Alice and they speak about Madsen's awakening from his coma. He tells her he can't see or talk to her anymore while the whole Madsen issue is hanging over his head. That does not please her.
The man we see at the start of the show arrives home. Luther and Ripley watch one of the victims on CCTV footage while discussing the case. Luther's phone rings--it's Zoe. They talk briefly before she has to hang up as Mark is awake. Our mystery man, Graham, is listening to news of the discovery of the woman's body. He turns the radio off then takes the moon necklace from his pocket. His wife returns home and he gives her the moon necklace as a birthday present. After seeing her wearing the necklace they must immediately go upstairs. They go out that evening to celebrate her birthday.
Luther has photographs arranged in a circle on the floor and he gets in the center of them to try and see things from a different perspective. The police learn there was a necklace missing from the victim which helps them further profile the killer. Graham makes an excuse that he has to work to leave the birthday celebration. Luther and Ripley come to the conclusion that the victims must have trusted their killer and Luther suggests they're looking for a taxi driver. We next see Graham taking a cab out into the London night scanning the streets. Luther sits alone at the station going through CCTV while, at the hospital, Madsen screams out Luther's name which Luther later learns about from DCI Teller. Thanks to CCTV, they get a plate and home information of a taxi driver and the police go out to make the arrest. Graham stops and tells a young woman who is walking home a lie about a report of a nearby attack. She gets into the cab thinking he will be taking her safely home. The police pull over a cab and arrest the driver but it is the wrong man. Graham's wife goes home with the man she is having an affair with. They know that Graham knows of the affair. We next see the body of the young woman Graham picked up positioned on the snowy ground. After learning they arrested the wrong man and carefully observing CCTV more closely the police know they aren't looking for a real taxi driver.
Alice goes to the hospital. She tells the officer guarding Madsen that they need his assistance with crowd control. When he leaves, she goes in and kills Madsen. Shenk tells Luther of Madsen's death and asks him if he knows who would want Madsen dead. Alice calls Luther and they argue over what she's just done. She tells him she did it for him and he yells at her to stay away from him drawing the attention of everyone in the station. Alice goes to Mark and tells him that Zoe has been lying to him. They get a viable suspect in the case (Graham) and Ripley is ordered to bring his wife, Linda in. Ripley asks Graham's wife to accompany him back to the station to speak. She asks to go to the bathroom before they leave and calls Graham. When she asks him what he's done be becomes enraged.
Luther sits down and talks with Linda about Graham and is interrupted by Ripley with an urgent message. While Luther is out of the room Linda goes through the case folder and sees a photo of one of the victims wearing the moon necklace Graham gave her. Zoe and Martin talk about the situation between her and Luther. She tells Mark that Luther isn't what she wants. She wants to be with him. Linda tells Luther that her husband knew she was having an affair.
Graham goes to the house of Linda's lover, Dennis and attacks and kills him. A hooker, Layla arrives at Dennis' home. Luther finally gets a hold of Layla on the phone and tells her to get to a safe place and wait for the police. She runs into the bathroom and locks herself in. While Graham is beating on the door to get in, she sees the body of Dennis wrapped in plastic in the bathtub. Graham begins tearing the door down. The police arrive and Linda calls out to her husband. He goes downstairs where he is confronted by Linda and the police. Overcome with emotion, Graham drops the hammer he is carrying and the police take him. Linda goes upstairs and sees Layla crying in the bathroom and sees Dennis' body. She goes back downstairs and picks up the hammer, rushes outside and bashes Graham in the head, killing him as the police are leading him to the car. Luther finally goes home and calls Zoe. She doesn't pick up so he leaves a message for her.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Gamers Can Control Their Dreams?
I always knew the countless hours I love to wile away playing on Pogo.com or playing PC video games would eventually pay off!
Jayne Gackenbach, a psychologist at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada has been interested in video games and how they affect those who play them since the 1990's. For a decade, she has been involved in game-related research and that research has offered up several surprises. However, it is important to note that the findings aren't definitive proof, just representations of suggestive associations.
Both lucid dreamers and gamers seemed to have better spatial skills, were less prone to motion sickness and demonstrate a high level of focus or concentration.
Gackenbach surveyed dreams of hardcore gamers and non-gamers with two studies published in 2006.
Gackenbach's first study suggested that gamers were more likely to report lucid dreams, observer dreams and dream control. Her second study attempted to narrow down uncertainties and focused more on gamers than non-gamers. The second study revealed that lucid dreams were common but gamers never had control over anything beyond their dream selves. They also changed between first person and third person view of themselves during dreams.
Gackenbach's studies have shown that gamers have been able to control nightmare situations during dreaming that, instead of providing fear, the nightmares were more of a fun situation. Gamers also showed lower levels of aggression during dreams overall but Gackenbach found that when gamers did show agression in dreams, they really showed aggression.
Gackenbach is pursuing a new study with Athabasca University in Athabasca, Alberta, Canada to determine whether or not gaming could be of help to individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD sufferers have used virtual reality simulators in the past to help manage the nightmares symtomatic with the illness. If Gackenbach's theories prove true, PTSD sufferers might need to just spend some time playing on thier PC's or consoles before bed.
This week, Gackenbach is scheduled to discuss her studies at the Sixth Annual Games for Health Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
For more information about this interesting study, read the MSNBC.com Technology and Science article.
Jayne Gackenbach, a psychologist at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada has been interested in video games and how they affect those who play them since the 1990's. For a decade, she has been involved in game-related research and that research has offered up several surprises. However, it is important to note that the findings aren't definitive proof, just representations of suggestive associations.
Both lucid dreamers and gamers seemed to have better spatial skills, were less prone to motion sickness and demonstrate a high level of focus or concentration.
Gackenbach surveyed dreams of hardcore gamers and non-gamers with two studies published in 2006.
Gackenbach's first study suggested that gamers were more likely to report lucid dreams, observer dreams and dream control. Her second study attempted to narrow down uncertainties and focused more on gamers than non-gamers. The second study revealed that lucid dreams were common but gamers never had control over anything beyond their dream selves. They also changed between first person and third person view of themselves during dreams.
Gackenbach's studies have shown that gamers have been able to control nightmare situations during dreaming that, instead of providing fear, the nightmares were more of a fun situation. Gamers also showed lower levels of aggression during dreams overall but Gackenbach found that when gamers did show agression in dreams, they really showed aggression.
Gackenbach is pursuing a new study with Athabasca University in Athabasca, Alberta, Canada to determine whether or not gaming could be of help to individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD sufferers have used virtual reality simulators in the past to help manage the nightmares symtomatic with the illness. If Gackenbach's theories prove true, PTSD sufferers might need to just spend some time playing on thier PC's or consoles before bed.
This week, Gackenbach is scheduled to discuss her studies at the Sixth Annual Games for Health Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
For more information about this interesting study, read the MSNBC.com Technology and Science article.
Gamers Can Control Their Dreams?
I always knew the countless hours I love to wile away playing on Pogo.com or playing PC video games would eventually pay off!
Jayne Gackenbach, a psychologist at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada has been interested in video games and how they affect those who play them since the 1990's. For a decade, she has been involved in game-related research and that research has offered up several surprises. However, it is important to note that the findings aren't definitive proof, just representations of suggestive associations.
Both lucid dreamers and gamers seemed to have better spatial skills, were less prone to motion sickness and demonstrate a high level of focus or concentration.
Gackenbach surveyed dreams of hardcore gamers and non-gamers with two studies published in 2006.
Gackenbach's first study suggested that gamers were more likely to report lucid dreams, observer dreams and dream control. Her second study attempted to narrow down uncertainties and focused more on gamers than non-gamers. The second study revealed that lucid dreams were common but gamers never had control over anything beyond their dream selves. They also changed between first person and third person view of themselves during dreams.
Gackenbach's studies have shown that gamers have been able to control nightmare situations during dreaming that, instead of providing fear, the nightmares were more of a fun situation. Gamers also showed lower levels of aggression during dreams overall but Gackenbach found that when gamers did show agression in dreams, they really showed aggression.
Gackenbach is pursuing a new study with Athabasca University in Athabasca, Alberta, Canada to determine whether or not gaming could be of help to individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD sufferers have used virtual reality simulators in the past to help manage the nightmares symtomatic with the illness. If Gackenbach's theories prove true, PTSD sufferers might need to just spend some time playing on thier PC's or consoles before bed.
This week, Gackenbach is scheduled to discuss her studies at the Sixth Annual Games for Health Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
For more information about this interesting study, read the MSNBC.com Technology and Science article.
Jayne Gackenbach, a psychologist at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada has been interested in video games and how they affect those who play them since the 1990's. For a decade, she has been involved in game-related research and that research has offered up several surprises. However, it is important to note that the findings aren't definitive proof, just representations of suggestive associations.
Both lucid dreamers and gamers seemed to have better spatial skills, were less prone to motion sickness and demonstrate a high level of focus or concentration.
Gackenbach surveyed dreams of hardcore gamers and non-gamers with two studies published in 2006.
Gackenbach's first study suggested that gamers were more likely to report lucid dreams, observer dreams and dream control. Her second study attempted to narrow down uncertainties and focused more on gamers than non-gamers. The second study revealed that lucid dreams were common but gamers never had control over anything beyond their dream selves. They also changed between first person and third person view of themselves during dreams.
Gackenbach's studies have shown that gamers have been able to control nightmare situations during dreaming that, instead of providing fear, the nightmares were more of a fun situation. Gamers also showed lower levels of aggression during dreams overall but Gackenbach found that when gamers did show agression in dreams, they really showed aggression.
Gackenbach is pursuing a new study with Athabasca University in Athabasca, Alberta, Canada to determine whether or not gaming could be of help to individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD sufferers have used virtual reality simulators in the past to help manage the nightmares symtomatic with the illness. If Gackenbach's theories prove true, PTSD sufferers might need to just spend some time playing on thier PC's or consoles before bed.
This week, Gackenbach is scheduled to discuss her studies at the Sixth Annual Games for Health Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
For more information about this interesting study, read the MSNBC.com Technology and Science article.
Stephen Fry in America, Episode One: The New World, New England
Yeah, I've gotten a tad side-tracked and it's taken me longer than I intended to get this up. I know I promised this a while back, so, after too-long of a wait, here it finally is. Mr. Fry packs so much into a single hour that it would take several pages to give you every single detail so I'm just going to be giving you a hit-and-miss review of all the places he goes and all the things he sees.
Stephen Fry in America
Episode One, New World, New England
The original air date for this episode on BBC One was October 12, 2008
In this, the beginning of Stephen Fry in America our fearless hero takes us on a guided tour of the eastern United States. The eastern portion of the United States is best known for its picturesque views, stunning fall colors, never-sleeping big cities and colorful residents. We see all of these things in this episode, plus.
The first stop on our journey is the state of Maine. Maine is the northernmost, easternmost state in the continental United States. It is widely known as the home of author Stephen King and setting for the large majority of his writings, moose and as one of the best places, if not the best place, in the United States to go for fresh seafood. Following the latter, Stephen takes us to the city of Eastport where he goes lobster fishing with a local family of commercial fishermen. Stephen goes out on the boat with them and, then once back on land, he learns how to "put a lobster to sleep" before enjoying a fresh lobster dinner.
Next, we move on to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire must come in second only to Massachusetts in terms of political importance to the United States. If it weren't for the prominence of Massachusetts' Kennedy family it would probably come in first place. Stephen's visit to New Hampshire focuses on a political rally for Mitt Romney. He attends a house party at the home of one of Romney's supporters and discusses the political atmosphere and process in the United States. Then, he moves on to something much more interesting and relaxing than politics. (And, really, isn't just about anything more relaxing and interesting than politics?) Stephen visits the Mt. Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods and takes a train to the top of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern United States. It is also the windiest place on the planet. A record of 231mph was set on April 12, 1934.
Next, Stephen moves on to Vermont where he visits Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Ben & Jerry's is one of the most popular brands of ice cream in the United States. They specialize in unique flavors that have even more unique names. Some of their popular flavors are Cherry Garcia, a cherry flavored ice cream named after Grateful Dead member Jerry Garcia and Chunky Monkey, a banana flavored ice cream. Stephen tries his hand at creating his very own ice cream flavor. He mixes vanilla ice cream with candy bits and walnuts and a blend of chocolate and the flavor is ultimately named "Even Stephen". You know, I wouldn't mind stocking my freezer with a pint or two of "Even Stephen"!
But, unfortunately, we cannot stay with Ben & Jerry forever so we move on to New York state. Of course the most famous thing about New York state is New York City but, for now, we're not going there. We are in the Adirondack Mountains where we visit a beautiful cabin built by Marjorie Merriweather Post, Topridge. After a brief tour of the luxurious cabin, Stephen on to his next activity in New York state: hunting white tailed deer. Now, I've really got to say here that I find deer hunting to be an absolutely repulsive sport so I developed an entirely new love for Stephen when he asked the hunters if they could shoot the deer with the cameras instead of guns. While Stephen is a meat eater, he doesn't want to see an animal actually being harmed. When you consider the other rituals the hunters go through to track their prize (such as smearing themselves with deer poo and not washing their hunting clothes for the entirety of hunting season) and that deer hunting can be long hours of simply sitting and waiting I can imagine Stephen was mighty happy to be moving on from his New York hunting party to his next destination. (I know I would have been!)
Next, we enter the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts is the home to the famed Kennedy family of politicians (President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert and Ted Kennedy) as well as home to famed ivy league university Harvard. Stephen attends a tea party in Boston at Harvard University being hosted by Professor of Divinity Peter Gomes. He discusses the history Harvard University as well as a brief history of American social attitudes. Another thing that the state of Massachusetts is famous for is witches. And not the witches of Hollywood like you see on Charmed or Sabrina the Teenaged Witch but real people who practice witchcraft as their religion. Stephen stops by Salem, Massachusetts and speaks with Laurie Cabot in her shop about her religion. He even gets to attend a Sowain (Samhain) celebration, or a witches New Year celebration.
After a night of celebrating with witches in Salem, Massachusetts, Stephen moves on to Connecticut where he starts off by sailing on an America's Cup yacht, The Weatherly, before heading to the United States Navy submarine yard where he tours a submarine and gets to raise the periscope and look through it much to his pleasure. He has a seat in the officers mess and speaks with his tour guide about daily life on the submarine. He gets a view of the torpedo room and gets to see an actual Tomahawk missile.
Next, we move to the tiny state of Rhode Island and the city of Newport. Stephen shows us a few of the stately "cottages" built there by the wealthiest of Americans at the start of the twentieth century. He visits one of the cottages where author Edith Wharton used to live. He speaks with one of her friends about life at the cottage and about attending the wedding of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier.
Back we head to the state of New York, but this time, we go to the Big Apple, New York City. There, Stephen meets up with a gentleman who drives a cab for a living and is given a small tour of Manhattan where he learns about the "class cleansing" in New York City and how the cabbie judges who he will and won't pick up. John the cabbie takes him to what Stephen calls a "Goodfellas social club". There, he meets a group of gentlemen who are true New Yorkers through and through. From their sense of humor to their accent they are pure New Yorkers. They talk to Stephen about everything from running numbers to why there are bullet holes (!!) in the walls of the club to one of them having the pleasure of working with Robert DeNiro. Before leaving New York City, Stephen drives ex-Police front man Sting around for a bit while they discuss life in the Big Apple.
On to New Jersey! No Jersey Shore antics on this visit! No, Stephen takes us to Atlantic City. Atlantic City is one of the most famous gambling meccas in the United States; right up there with Las Vegas. Stephen tries his hand dealing blackjack in a casino. He doesn't do a bad job but I really do think it's best he keep his day job.
Next, he crosses the Delaware River by ferry. Once on land and in his little black cab Stephen recites the old song Delaware by Perry Como.
Our next state is Maryland. However, we're just passing through here. Nothing to see here, gentlemen. Move along, please!!
And we hit Washington D.C. Washington D.C. isn't a state but, by all American standards, it could be. Washington D.C. is where all American laws, both good and bad, are made and American politicians, both good and bad, get together to make those laws. It is a city that is often ripe with scandal, corruption and dirty politics. But we don't see any of that on this visit with Stephen, thankfully. Instead, he sits down for a brief conversation with the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales then heads off for a show at a local comedy club, Capitol Steps. Stephen talks politics and show business over lunch with two of the performers from the club before heading off to the Willard International Hotel.
The final leg of our journey in episode one is the state of Pennsylvania. Stephen visits the city of Gettysburg where he views the Civil War battlefield where more than 46,000 and 51,000 men and boys were killed in the battle fought there from July 1 to July 3, 1863.
The next installment of Stephen Fry in America takes us to the Deep South where he visits states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Florida and Alabama.
Stephen Fry in America
Episode One, New World, New England
The original air date for this episode on BBC One was October 12, 2008
In this, the beginning of Stephen Fry in America our fearless hero takes us on a guided tour of the eastern United States. The eastern portion of the United States is best known for its picturesque views, stunning fall colors, never-sleeping big cities and colorful residents. We see all of these things in this episode, plus.
The first stop on our journey is the state of Maine. Maine is the northernmost, easternmost state in the continental United States. It is widely known as the home of author Stephen King and setting for the large majority of his writings, moose and as one of the best places, if not the best place, in the United States to go for fresh seafood. Following the latter, Stephen takes us to the city of Eastport where he goes lobster fishing with a local family of commercial fishermen. Stephen goes out on the boat with them and, then once back on land, he learns how to "put a lobster to sleep" before enjoying a fresh lobster dinner.
Next, we move on to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire must come in second only to Massachusetts in terms of political importance to the United States. If it weren't for the prominence of Massachusetts' Kennedy family it would probably come in first place. Stephen's visit to New Hampshire focuses on a political rally for Mitt Romney. He attends a house party at the home of one of Romney's supporters and discusses the political atmosphere and process in the United States. Then, he moves on to something much more interesting and relaxing than politics. (And, really, isn't just about anything more relaxing and interesting than politics?) Stephen visits the Mt. Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods and takes a train to the top of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern United States. It is also the windiest place on the planet. A record of 231mph was set on April 12, 1934.
Next, Stephen moves on to Vermont where he visits Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Ben & Jerry's is one of the most popular brands of ice cream in the United States. They specialize in unique flavors that have even more unique names. Some of their popular flavors are Cherry Garcia, a cherry flavored ice cream named after Grateful Dead member Jerry Garcia and Chunky Monkey, a banana flavored ice cream. Stephen tries his hand at creating his very own ice cream flavor. He mixes vanilla ice cream with candy bits and walnuts and a blend of chocolate and the flavor is ultimately named "Even Stephen". You know, I wouldn't mind stocking my freezer with a pint or two of "Even Stephen"!
But, unfortunately, we cannot stay with Ben & Jerry forever so we move on to New York state. Of course the most famous thing about New York state is New York City but, for now, we're not going there. We are in the Adirondack Mountains where we visit a beautiful cabin built by Marjorie Merriweather Post, Topridge. After a brief tour of the luxurious cabin, Stephen on to his next activity in New York state: hunting white tailed deer. Now, I've really got to say here that I find deer hunting to be an absolutely repulsive sport so I developed an entirely new love for Stephen when he asked the hunters if they could shoot the deer with the cameras instead of guns. While Stephen is a meat eater, he doesn't want to see an animal actually being harmed. When you consider the other rituals the hunters go through to track their prize (such as smearing themselves with deer poo and not washing their hunting clothes for the entirety of hunting season) and that deer hunting can be long hours of simply sitting and waiting I can imagine Stephen was mighty happy to be moving on from his New York hunting party to his next destination. (I know I would have been!)
Next, we enter the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts is the home to the famed Kennedy family of politicians (President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert and Ted Kennedy) as well as home to famed ivy league university Harvard. Stephen attends a tea party in Boston at Harvard University being hosted by Professor of Divinity Peter Gomes. He discusses the history Harvard University as well as a brief history of American social attitudes. Another thing that the state of Massachusetts is famous for is witches. And not the witches of Hollywood like you see on Charmed or Sabrina the Teenaged Witch but real people who practice witchcraft as their religion. Stephen stops by Salem, Massachusetts and speaks with Laurie Cabot in her shop about her religion. He even gets to attend a Sowain (Samhain) celebration, or a witches New Year celebration.
After a night of celebrating with witches in Salem, Massachusetts, Stephen moves on to Connecticut where he starts off by sailing on an America's Cup yacht, The Weatherly, before heading to the United States Navy submarine yard where he tours a submarine and gets to raise the periscope and look through it much to his pleasure. He has a seat in the officers mess and speaks with his tour guide about daily life on the submarine. He gets a view of the torpedo room and gets to see an actual Tomahawk missile.
Next, we move to the tiny state of Rhode Island and the city of Newport. Stephen shows us a few of the stately "cottages" built there by the wealthiest of Americans at the start of the twentieth century. He visits one of the cottages where author Edith Wharton used to live. He speaks with one of her friends about life at the cottage and about attending the wedding of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier.
Back we head to the state of New York, but this time, we go to the Big Apple, New York City. There, Stephen meets up with a gentleman who drives a cab for a living and is given a small tour of Manhattan where he learns about the "class cleansing" in New York City and how the cabbie judges who he will and won't pick up. John the cabbie takes him to what Stephen calls a "Goodfellas social club". There, he meets a group of gentlemen who are true New Yorkers through and through. From their sense of humor to their accent they are pure New Yorkers. They talk to Stephen about everything from running numbers to why there are bullet holes (!!) in the walls of the club to one of them having the pleasure of working with Robert DeNiro. Before leaving New York City, Stephen drives ex-Police front man Sting around for a bit while they discuss life in the Big Apple.
On to New Jersey! No Jersey Shore antics on this visit! No, Stephen takes us to Atlantic City. Atlantic City is one of the most famous gambling meccas in the United States; right up there with Las Vegas. Stephen tries his hand dealing blackjack in a casino. He doesn't do a bad job but I really do think it's best he keep his day job.
Next, he crosses the Delaware River by ferry. Once on land and in his little black cab Stephen recites the old song Delaware by Perry Como.
Our next state is Maryland. However, we're just passing through here. Nothing to see here, gentlemen. Move along, please!!
And we hit Washington D.C. Washington D.C. isn't a state but, by all American standards, it could be. Washington D.C. is where all American laws, both good and bad, are made and American politicians, both good and bad, get together to make those laws. It is a city that is often ripe with scandal, corruption and dirty politics. But we don't see any of that on this visit with Stephen, thankfully. Instead, he sits down for a brief conversation with the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales then heads off for a show at a local comedy club, Capitol Steps. Stephen talks politics and show business over lunch with two of the performers from the club before heading off to the Willard International Hotel.
The final leg of our journey in episode one is the state of Pennsylvania. Stephen visits the city of Gettysburg where he views the Civil War battlefield where more than 46,000 and 51,000 men and boys were killed in the battle fought there from July 1 to July 3, 1863.
The next installment of Stephen Fry in America takes us to the Deep South where he visits states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Florida and Alabama.
Stephen Fry in America, Episode One: The New World, New England
Yeah, I've gotten a tad side-tracked and it's taken me longer than I intended to get this up. I know I promised this a while back, so, after too-long of a wait, here it finally is. Mr. Fry packs so much into a single hour that it would take several pages to give you every single detail so I'm just going to be giving you a hit-and-miss review of all the places he goes and all the things he sees.
Stephen Fry in America
Episode One, New World, New England
The original air date for this episode on BBC One was October 12, 2008
In this, the beginning of Stephen Fry in America our fearless hero takes us on a guided tour of the eastern United States. The eastern portion of the United States is best known for its picturesque views, stunning fall colors, never-sleeping big cities and colorful residents. We see all of these things in this episode, plus.
The first stop on our journey is the state of Maine. Maine is the northernmost, easternmost state in the continental United States. It is widely known as the home of author Stephen King and setting for the large majority of his writings, moose and as one of the best places, if not the best place, in the United States to go for fresh seafood. Following the latter, Stephen takes us to the city of Eastport where he goes lobster fishing with a local family of commercial fishermen. Stephen goes out on the boat with them and, then once back on land, he learns how to "put a lobster to sleep" before enjoying a fresh lobster dinner.
Next, we move on to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire must come in second only to Massachusetts in terms of political importance to the United States. If it weren't for the prominence of Massachusetts' Kennedy family it would probably come in first place. Stephen's visit to New Hampshire focuses on a political rally for Mitt Romney. He attends a house party at the home of one of Romney's supporters and discusses the political atmosphere and process in the United States. Then, he moves on to something much more interesting and relaxing than politics. (And, really, isn't just about anything more relaxing and interesting than politics?) Stephen visits the Mt. Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods and takes a train to the top of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern United States. It is also the windiest place on the planet. A record of 231mph was set on April 12, 1934.
Next, Stephen moves on to Vermont where he visits Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Ben & Jerry's is one of the most popular brands of ice cream in the United States. They specialize in unique flavors that have even more unique names. Some of their popular flavors are Cherry Garcia, a cherry flavored ice cream named after Grateful Dead member Jerry Garcia and Chunky Monkey, a banana flavored ice cream. Stephen tries his hand at creating his very own ice cream flavor. He mixes vanilla ice cream with candy bits and walnuts and a blend of chocolate and the flavor is ultimately named "Even Stephen". You know, I wouldn't mind stocking my freezer with a pint or two of "Even Stephen"!
But, unfortunately, we cannot stay with Ben & Jerry forever so we move on to New York state. Of course the most famous thing about New York state is New York City but, for now, we're not going there. We are in the Adirondack Mountains where we visit a beautiful cabin built by Marjorie Merriweather Post, Topridge. After a brief tour of the luxurious cabin, Stephen on to his next activity in New York state: hunting white tailed deer. Now, I've really got to say here that I find deer hunting to be an absolutely repulsive sport so I developed an entirely new love for Stephen when he asked the hunters if they could shoot the deer with the cameras instead of guns. While Stephen is a meat eater, he doesn't want to see an animal actually being harmed. When you consider the other rituals the hunters go through to track their prize (such as smearing themselves with deer poo and not washing their hunting clothes for the entirety of hunting season) and that deer hunting can be long hours of simply sitting and waiting I can imagine Stephen was mighty happy to be moving on from his New York hunting party to his next destination. (I know I would have been!)
Next, we enter the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts is the home to the famed Kennedy family of politicians (President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert and Ted Kennedy) as well as home to famed ivy league university Harvard. Stephen attends a tea party in Boston at Harvard University being hosted by Professor of Divinity Peter Gomes. He discusses the history Harvard University as well as a brief history of American social attitudes. Another thing that the state of Massachusetts is famous for is witches. And not the witches of Hollywood like you see on Charmed or Sabrina the Teenaged Witch but real people who practice witchcraft as their religion. Stephen stops by Salem, Massachusetts and speaks with Laurie Cabot in her shop about her religion. He even gets to attend a Sowain (Samhain) celebration, or a witches New Year celebration.
After a night of celebrating with witches in Salem, Massachusetts, Stephen moves on to Connecticut where he starts off by sailing on an America's Cup yacht, The Weatherly, before heading to the United States Navy submarine yard where he tours a submarine and gets to raise the periscope and look through it much to his pleasure. He has a seat in the officers mess and speaks with his tour guide about daily life on the submarine. He gets a view of the torpedo room and gets to see an actual Tomahawk missile.
Next, we move to the tiny state of Rhode Island and the city of Newport. Stephen shows us a few of the stately "cottages" built there by the wealthiest of Americans at the start of the twentieth century. He visits one of the cottages where author Edith Wharton used to live. He speaks with one of her friends about life at the cottage and about attending the wedding of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier.
Back we head to the state of New York, but this time, we go to the Big Apple, New York City. There, Stephen meets up with a gentleman who drives a cab for a living and is given a small tour of Manhattan where he learns about the "class cleansing" in New York City and how the cabbie judges who he will and won't pick up. John the cabbie takes him to what Stephen calls a "Goodfellas social club". There, he meets a group of gentlemen who are true New Yorkers through and through. From their sense of humor to their accent they are pure New Yorkers. They talk to Stephen about everything from running numbers to why there are bullet holes (!!) in the walls of the club to one of them having the pleasure of working with Robert DeNiro. Before leaving New York City, Stephen drives ex-Police front man Sting around for a bit while they discuss life in the Big Apple.
On to New Jersey! No Jersey Shore antics on this visit! No, Stephen takes us to Atlantic City. Atlantic City is one of the most famous gambling meccas in the United States; right up there with Las Vegas. Stephen tries his hand dealing blackjack in a casino. He doesn't do a bad job but I really do think it's best he keep his day job.
Next, he crosses the Delaware River by ferry. Once on land and in his little black cab Stephen recites the old song Delaware by Perry Como.
Our next state is Maryland. However, we're just passing through here. Nothing to see here, gentlemen. Move along, please!!
And we hit Washington D.C. Washington D.C. isn't a state but, by all American standards, it could be. Washington D.C. is where all American laws, both good and bad, are made and American politicians, both good and bad, get together to make those laws. It is a city that is often ripe with scandal, corruption and dirty politics. But we don't see any of that on this visit with Stephen, thankfully. Instead, he sits down for a brief conversation with the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales then heads off for a show at a local comedy club, Capitol Steps. Stephen talks politics and show business over lunch with two of the performers from the club before heading off to the Willard International Hotel.
The final leg of our journey in episode one is the state of Pennsylvania. Stephen visits the city of Gettysburg where he views the Civil War battlefield where more than 46,000 and 51,000 men and boys were killed in the battle fought there from July 1 to July 3, 1863.
The next installment of Stephen Fry in America takes us to the Deep South where he visits states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Florida and Alabama.
Stephen Fry in America
Episode One, New World, New England
The original air date for this episode on BBC One was October 12, 2008
In this, the beginning of Stephen Fry in America our fearless hero takes us on a guided tour of the eastern United States. The eastern portion of the United States is best known for its picturesque views, stunning fall colors, never-sleeping big cities and colorful residents. We see all of these things in this episode, plus.
The first stop on our journey is the state of Maine. Maine is the northernmost, easternmost state in the continental United States. It is widely known as the home of author Stephen King and setting for the large majority of his writings, moose and as one of the best places, if not the best place, in the United States to go for fresh seafood. Following the latter, Stephen takes us to the city of Eastport where he goes lobster fishing with a local family of commercial fishermen. Stephen goes out on the boat with them and, then once back on land, he learns how to "put a lobster to sleep" before enjoying a fresh lobster dinner.
Next, we move on to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire must come in second only to Massachusetts in terms of political importance to the United States. If it weren't for the prominence of Massachusetts' Kennedy family it would probably come in first place. Stephen's visit to New Hampshire focuses on a political rally for Mitt Romney. He attends a house party at the home of one of Romney's supporters and discusses the political atmosphere and process in the United States. Then, he moves on to something much more interesting and relaxing than politics. (And, really, isn't just about anything more relaxing and interesting than politics?) Stephen visits the Mt. Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods and takes a train to the top of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern United States. It is also the windiest place on the planet. A record of 231mph was set on April 12, 1934.
Next, Stephen moves on to Vermont where he visits Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. Ben & Jerry's is one of the most popular brands of ice cream in the United States. They specialize in unique flavors that have even more unique names. Some of their popular flavors are Cherry Garcia, a cherry flavored ice cream named after Grateful Dead member Jerry Garcia and Chunky Monkey, a banana flavored ice cream. Stephen tries his hand at creating his very own ice cream flavor. He mixes vanilla ice cream with candy bits and walnuts and a blend of chocolate and the flavor is ultimately named "Even Stephen". You know, I wouldn't mind stocking my freezer with a pint or two of "Even Stephen"!
But, unfortunately, we cannot stay with Ben & Jerry forever so we move on to New York state. Of course the most famous thing about New York state is New York City but, for now, we're not going there. We are in the Adirondack Mountains where we visit a beautiful cabin built by Marjorie Merriweather Post, Topridge. After a brief tour of the luxurious cabin, Stephen on to his next activity in New York state: hunting white tailed deer. Now, I've really got to say here that I find deer hunting to be an absolutely repulsive sport so I developed an entirely new love for Stephen when he asked the hunters if they could shoot the deer with the cameras instead of guns. While Stephen is a meat eater, he doesn't want to see an animal actually being harmed. When you consider the other rituals the hunters go through to track their prize (such as smearing themselves with deer poo and not washing their hunting clothes for the entirety of hunting season) and that deer hunting can be long hours of simply sitting and waiting I can imagine Stephen was mighty happy to be moving on from his New York hunting party to his next destination. (I know I would have been!)
Next, we enter the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts is the home to the famed Kennedy family of politicians (President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert and Ted Kennedy) as well as home to famed ivy league university Harvard. Stephen attends a tea party in Boston at Harvard University being hosted by Professor of Divinity Peter Gomes. He discusses the history Harvard University as well as a brief history of American social attitudes. Another thing that the state of Massachusetts is famous for is witches. And not the witches of Hollywood like you see on Charmed or Sabrina the Teenaged Witch but real people who practice witchcraft as their religion. Stephen stops by Salem, Massachusetts and speaks with Laurie Cabot in her shop about her religion. He even gets to attend a Sowain (Samhain) celebration, or a witches New Year celebration.
After a night of celebrating with witches in Salem, Massachusetts, Stephen moves on to Connecticut where he starts off by sailing on an America's Cup yacht, The Weatherly, before heading to the United States Navy submarine yard where he tours a submarine and gets to raise the periscope and look through it much to his pleasure. He has a seat in the officers mess and speaks with his tour guide about daily life on the submarine. He gets a view of the torpedo room and gets to see an actual Tomahawk missile.
Next, we move to the tiny state of Rhode Island and the city of Newport. Stephen shows us a few of the stately "cottages" built there by the wealthiest of Americans at the start of the twentieth century. He visits one of the cottages where author Edith Wharton used to live. He speaks with one of her friends about life at the cottage and about attending the wedding of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier.
Back we head to the state of New York, but this time, we go to the Big Apple, New York City. There, Stephen meets up with a gentleman who drives a cab for a living and is given a small tour of Manhattan where he learns about the "class cleansing" in New York City and how the cabbie judges who he will and won't pick up. John the cabbie takes him to what Stephen calls a "Goodfellas social club". There, he meets a group of gentlemen who are true New Yorkers through and through. From their sense of humor to their accent they are pure New Yorkers. They talk to Stephen about everything from running numbers to why there are bullet holes (!!) in the walls of the club to one of them having the pleasure of working with Robert DeNiro. Before leaving New York City, Stephen drives ex-Police front man Sting around for a bit while they discuss life in the Big Apple.
On to New Jersey! No Jersey Shore antics on this visit! No, Stephen takes us to Atlantic City. Atlantic City is one of the most famous gambling meccas in the United States; right up there with Las Vegas. Stephen tries his hand dealing blackjack in a casino. He doesn't do a bad job but I really do think it's best he keep his day job.
Next, he crosses the Delaware River by ferry. Once on land and in his little black cab Stephen recites the old song Delaware by Perry Como.
Our next state is Maryland. However, we're just passing through here. Nothing to see here, gentlemen. Move along, please!!
And we hit Washington D.C. Washington D.C. isn't a state but, by all American standards, it could be. Washington D.C. is where all American laws, both good and bad, are made and American politicians, both good and bad, get together to make those laws. It is a city that is often ripe with scandal, corruption and dirty politics. But we don't see any of that on this visit with Stephen, thankfully. Instead, he sits down for a brief conversation with the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales then heads off for a show at a local comedy club, Capitol Steps. Stephen talks politics and show business over lunch with two of the performers from the club before heading off to the Willard International Hotel.
The final leg of our journey in episode one is the state of Pennsylvania. Stephen visits the city of Gettysburg where he views the Civil War battlefield where more than 46,000 and 51,000 men and boys were killed in the battle fought there from July 1 to July 3, 1863.
The next installment of Stephen Fry in America takes us to the Deep South where he visits states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Florida and Alabama.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Deer Breaks into Hair Salon, Trashes the Place
You think I'm joking, don't you? This isn't Sunday and it isn't a Sunday Funny. It could be, but it isn't.
In one of those "only in Kentucky" moments, Sunday, May 23, 2010 a deer jumped through the front glass of the Choppers Hair Salon in Benton, Kentucky (Benton is about 28 miles southeast of Paducah, Kentucky). Apparently, the receptionist was in the bathroom and the deer saw that as its chance. People in the salon thought the place was being robbed but they were astonished to see a deer in the salon instead.
For about 20 minutes the deer ran wild in the salon damaging the floors, breaking water lines and damaging salon product before leaving. None of the shops occupants were injured but the deer was. The animal was cut on the window glass and left blood and hair behind.
There are currently no damage figures available but expectations are in the thousands of dollars.
I guess the deer couldn't get an appointment so he had to take matters into his own hands, er, hooves.
Read the article from WPSD-TV in Paducah, KY for more information and to see a photo from the inside of the hair salon.
This reminds me of a story from 2007 where a coyote wandered into a Loop Sandwich Shop in Chicago, Illinois and spent some time in the drinks cooler. I loved this story when it was on the news. You can read more about it and see video at the cbs2chicago.com site or at MSNBC.com. You can bet that when I come across more "animal funnies" like this, I will surely be blogging about them.
In one of those "only in Kentucky" moments, Sunday, May 23, 2010 a deer jumped through the front glass of the Choppers Hair Salon in Benton, Kentucky (Benton is about 28 miles southeast of Paducah, Kentucky). Apparently, the receptionist was in the bathroom and the deer saw that as its chance. People in the salon thought the place was being robbed but they were astonished to see a deer in the salon instead.
For about 20 minutes the deer ran wild in the salon damaging the floors, breaking water lines and damaging salon product before leaving. None of the shops occupants were injured but the deer was. The animal was cut on the window glass and left blood and hair behind.
There are currently no damage figures available but expectations are in the thousands of dollars.
I guess the deer couldn't get an appointment so he had to take matters into his own hands, er, hooves.
Read the article from WPSD-TV in Paducah, KY for more information and to see a photo from the inside of the hair salon.
This reminds me of a story from 2007 where a coyote wandered into a Loop Sandwich Shop in Chicago, Illinois and spent some time in the drinks cooler. I loved this story when it was on the news. You can read more about it and see video at the cbs2chicago.com site or at MSNBC.com. You can bet that when I come across more "animal funnies" like this, I will surely be blogging about them.
Deer Breaks into Hair Salon, Trashes the Place
You think I'm joking, don't you? This isn't Sunday and it isn't a Sunday Funny. It could be, but it isn't.
In one of those "only in Kentucky" moments, Sunday, May 23, 2010 a deer jumped through the front glass of the Choppers Hair Salon in Benton, Kentucky (Benton is about 28 miles southeast of Paducah, Kentucky). Apparently, the receptionist was in the bathroom and the deer saw that as its chance. People in the salon thought the place was being robbed but they were astonished to see a deer in the salon instead.
For about 20 minutes the deer ran wild in the salon damaging the floors, breaking water lines and damaging salon product before leaving. None of the shops occupants were injured but the deer was. The animal was cut on the window glass and left blood and hair behind.
There are currently no damage figures available but expectations are in the thousands of dollars.
I guess the deer couldn't get an appointment so he had to take matters into his own hands, er, hooves.
Read the article from WPSD-TV in Paducah, KY for more information and to see a photo from the inside of the hair salon.
This reminds me of a story from 2007 where a coyote wandered into a Loop Sandwich Shop in Chicago, Illinois and spent some time in the drinks cooler. I loved this story when it was on the news. You can read more about it and see video at the cbs2chicago.com site or at MSNBC.com. You can bet that when I come across more "animal funnies" like this, I will surely be blogging about them.
In one of those "only in Kentucky" moments, Sunday, May 23, 2010 a deer jumped through the front glass of the Choppers Hair Salon in Benton, Kentucky (Benton is about 28 miles southeast of Paducah, Kentucky). Apparently, the receptionist was in the bathroom and the deer saw that as its chance. People in the salon thought the place was being robbed but they were astonished to see a deer in the salon instead.
For about 20 minutes the deer ran wild in the salon damaging the floors, breaking water lines and damaging salon product before leaving. None of the shops occupants were injured but the deer was. The animal was cut on the window glass and left blood and hair behind.
There are currently no damage figures available but expectations are in the thousands of dollars.
I guess the deer couldn't get an appointment so he had to take matters into his own hands, er, hooves.
Read the article from WPSD-TV in Paducah, KY for more information and to see a photo from the inside of the hair salon.
This reminds me of a story from 2007 where a coyote wandered into a Loop Sandwich Shop in Chicago, Illinois and spent some time in the drinks cooler. I loved this story when it was on the news. You can read more about it and see video at the cbs2chicago.com site or at MSNBC.com. You can bet that when I come across more "animal funnies" like this, I will surely be blogging about them.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
57 Ancient Egyptian Tombs Containing Mummies Discovered in Lahun
Fifty-seven ancient Egyptian tombs, most of which contain sarcophagi have been unearthed by a team of archaeologists led by Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, according to Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. The find is located at Lahoun, in Fayoum, approximately 70 miles (100 kilometers) south of Cairo. This is the same area where, last year, 53 tombs dating to various periods of ancient Egypt were discovered.
The oldest of the 57 tombs dates back to approximately Egypt's first and second dynasties, 2750 B.C., with twelve dating to the 18th Dynasty during the second millennium. We are familiar with the 18th Dynasty thanks to names such as Queen Hatshepsut, Tutankhamun and Akhenaten.
The 18th Dynasty ornately painted wooden sarcophagi contain mummies covered in linen decorated with religious texts from the Book of the Dead.
According to Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, one of the oldest tombs discovered is almost completely intact.
Thirty-one of the tombs date to approximately 2030-1840 B.C. and contain painted scenes depicting ancient Egyptian deities like Horus, Hathor, Khnum and Amun.
Follow this link to see a photo of one of the wooden sarcophagi Lahun 20th Tomb 0-52.
The oldest of the 57 tombs dates back to approximately Egypt's first and second dynasties, 2750 B.C., with twelve dating to the 18th Dynasty during the second millennium. We are familiar with the 18th Dynasty thanks to names such as Queen Hatshepsut, Tutankhamun and Akhenaten.
The 18th Dynasty ornately painted wooden sarcophagi contain mummies covered in linen decorated with religious texts from the Book of the Dead.
According to Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, one of the oldest tombs discovered is almost completely intact.
Thirty-one of the tombs date to approximately 2030-1840 B.C. and contain painted scenes depicting ancient Egyptian deities like Horus, Hathor, Khnum and Amun.
Follow this link to see a photo of one of the wooden sarcophagi Lahun 20th Tomb 0-52.
57 Ancient Egyptian Tombs Containing Mummies Discovered in Lahun
Fifty-seven ancient Egyptian tombs, most of which contain sarcophagi have been unearthed by a team of archaeologists led by Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, according to Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. The find is located at Lahoun, in Fayoum, approximately 70 miles (100 kilometers) south of Cairo. This is the same area where, last year, 53 tombs dating to various periods of ancient Egypt were discovered.
The oldest of the 57 tombs dates back to approximately Egypt's first and second dynasties, 2750 B.C., with twelve dating to the 18th Dynasty during the second millennium. We are familiar with the 18th Dynasty thanks to names such as Queen Hatshepsut, Tutankhamun and Akhenaten.
The 18th Dynasty ornately painted wooden sarcophagi contain mummies covered in linen decorated with religious texts from the Book of the Dead.
According to Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, one of the oldest tombs discovered is almost completely intact.
Thirty-one of the tombs date to approximately 2030-1840 B.C. and contain painted scenes depicting ancient Egyptian deities like Horus, Hathor, Khnum and Amun.
Follow this link to see a photo of one of the wooden sarcophagi Lahun 20th Tomb 0-52.
The oldest of the 57 tombs dates back to approximately Egypt's first and second dynasties, 2750 B.C., with twelve dating to the 18th Dynasty during the second millennium. We are familiar with the 18th Dynasty thanks to names such as Queen Hatshepsut, Tutankhamun and Akhenaten.
The 18th Dynasty ornately painted wooden sarcophagi contain mummies covered in linen decorated with religious texts from the Book of the Dead.
According to Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, one of the oldest tombs discovered is almost completely intact.
Thirty-one of the tombs date to approximately 2030-1840 B.C. and contain painted scenes depicting ancient Egyptian deities like Horus, Hathor, Khnum and Amun.
Follow this link to see a photo of one of the wooden sarcophagi Lahun 20th Tomb 0-52.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday Funnies: The Southern Way of Doing Things
Alabama
A group of Alabama friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night, one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck. "Where's Henry?" the others asked. "Henry had a stroke of some kind. He's a couple of miles back up the trail," the successful hunter replied. "You left Henry laying out there and carried the deer back?" they inquired. "A tough call," nodded the hunter. "But I figured no one is going to steal Henry!"
Georgia
The owner of a golf course in Georgia was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help. He called her into his office and said, "You graduated from the University of Georgia and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?" The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, "Everything but my earrings."
Louisiana
A senior at Louisiana was overheard saying .... "When the end of the world comes, I hope to be in Louisiana . "When asked why, he replied, "I'd rather be in Louisiana because everything happens in Louisiana 20 years later than in the rest of the civilized world."
Mississippi
The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, "Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!" Bubba replied, "Did you see who it was?" The young man answered, "I couldn't tell, but I got the license number."
North Carolina
NEWS FLASH! - North Carolina 's worst air disaster occurred! A small two-seater Cessna 150 plane, piloted by two University of North Carolina students, crashed into a cemetery earlier today. Search and Rescue workers have recovered 300 bodies so far and expect the number to climb as digging continues into the evening. The pilot and copilot survived and are helping in the recovery efforts.
South Carolina
A man in South Carolina had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait. A passerby studied the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was. The man replied, "I have a flat tire." The passerby asked, "But what's with the flowers?" The man responded, "When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back. I never did understand it neither."
Tennessee
A Tennessee State trooper pulled over a pickup on I-65.. The trooper asked, "Got any ID?" The driver replied, "Bout whut?"
Texas
The Sheriff pulled up next to the guy unloading garbage out of his pick-up into the ditch. The Sheriff asked, "Why are you dumping garbage in the ditch? Don't you see that sign right over your head." "Yep", he replied. "That's why I’m dumpin’ it here, ‘cause it says: 'Fine For Dumping Garbage."
You can say what you want about the South, but you never hear of anyone retiring and moving north.
A group of Alabama friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night, one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck. "Where's Henry?" the others asked. "Henry had a stroke of some kind. He's a couple of miles back up the trail," the successful hunter replied. "You left Henry laying out there and carried the deer back?" they inquired. "A tough call," nodded the hunter. "But I figured no one is going to steal Henry!"
Georgia
The owner of a golf course in Georgia was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help. He called her into his office and said, "You graduated from the University of Georgia and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?" The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, "Everything but my earrings."
Louisiana
A senior at Louisiana was overheard saying .... "When the end of the world comes, I hope to be in Louisiana . "When asked why, he replied, "I'd rather be in Louisiana because everything happens in Louisiana 20 years later than in the rest of the civilized world."
Mississippi
The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, "Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!" Bubba replied, "Did you see who it was?" The young man answered, "I couldn't tell, but I got the license number."
North Carolina
NEWS FLASH! - North Carolina 's worst air disaster occurred! A small two-seater Cessna 150 plane, piloted by two University of North Carolina students, crashed into a cemetery earlier today. Search and Rescue workers have recovered 300 bodies so far and expect the number to climb as digging continues into the evening. The pilot and copilot survived and are helping in the recovery efforts.
South Carolina
A man in South Carolina had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait. A passerby studied the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was. The man replied, "I have a flat tire." The passerby asked, "But what's with the flowers?" The man responded, "When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back. I never did understand it neither."
Tennessee
A Tennessee State trooper pulled over a pickup on I-65.. The trooper asked, "Got any ID?" The driver replied, "Bout whut?"
Texas
The Sheriff pulled up next to the guy unloading garbage out of his pick-up into the ditch. The Sheriff asked, "Why are you dumping garbage in the ditch? Don't you see that sign right over your head." "Yep", he replied. "That's why I’m dumpin’ it here, ‘cause it says: 'Fine For Dumping Garbage."
You can say what you want about the South, but you never hear of anyone retiring and moving north.
Sunday Funnies: The Southern Way of Doing Things
Alabama
A group of Alabama friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night, one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck. "Where's Henry?" the others asked. "Henry had a stroke of some kind. He's a couple of miles back up the trail," the successful hunter replied. "You left Henry laying out there and carried the deer back?" they inquired. "A tough call," nodded the hunter. "But I figured no one is going to steal Henry!"
Georgia
The owner of a golf course in Georgia was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help. He called her into his office and said, "You graduated from the University of Georgia and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?" The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, "Everything but my earrings."
Louisiana
A senior at Louisiana was overheard saying .... "When the end of the world comes, I hope to be in Louisiana . "When asked why, he replied, "I'd rather be in Louisiana because everything happens in Louisiana 20 years later than in the rest of the civilized world."
Mississippi
The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, "Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!" Bubba replied, "Did you see who it was?" The young man answered, "I couldn't tell, but I got the license number."
North Carolina
NEWS FLASH! - North Carolina 's worst air disaster occurred! A small two-seater Cessna 150 plane, piloted by two University of North Carolina students, crashed into a cemetery earlier today. Search and Rescue workers have recovered 300 bodies so far and expect the number to climb as digging continues into the evening. The pilot and copilot survived and are helping in the recovery efforts.
South Carolina
A man in South Carolina had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait. A passerby studied the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was. The man replied, "I have a flat tire." The passerby asked, "But what's with the flowers?" The man responded, "When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back. I never did understand it neither."
Tennessee
A Tennessee State trooper pulled over a pickup on I-65.. The trooper asked, "Got any ID?" The driver replied, "Bout whut?"
Texas
The Sheriff pulled up next to the guy unloading garbage out of his pick-up into the ditch. The Sheriff asked, "Why are you dumping garbage in the ditch? Don't you see that sign right over your head." "Yep", he replied. "That's why I’m dumpin’ it here, ‘cause it says: 'Fine For Dumping Garbage."
You can say what you want about the South, but you never hear of anyone retiring and moving north.
A group of Alabama friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night, one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck. "Where's Henry?" the others asked. "Henry had a stroke of some kind. He's a couple of miles back up the trail," the successful hunter replied. "You left Henry laying out there and carried the deer back?" they inquired. "A tough call," nodded the hunter. "But I figured no one is going to steal Henry!"
Georgia
The owner of a golf course in Georgia was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help. He called her into his office and said, "You graduated from the University of Georgia and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?" The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, "Everything but my earrings."
Louisiana
A senior at Louisiana was overheard saying .... "When the end of the world comes, I hope to be in Louisiana . "When asked why, he replied, "I'd rather be in Louisiana because everything happens in Louisiana 20 years later than in the rest of the civilized world."
Mississippi
The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, "Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!" Bubba replied, "Did you see who it was?" The young man answered, "I couldn't tell, but I got the license number."
North Carolina
NEWS FLASH! - North Carolina 's worst air disaster occurred! A small two-seater Cessna 150 plane, piloted by two University of North Carolina students, crashed into a cemetery earlier today. Search and Rescue workers have recovered 300 bodies so far and expect the number to climb as digging continues into the evening. The pilot and copilot survived and are helping in the recovery efforts.
South Carolina
A man in South Carolina had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait. A passerby studied the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was. The man replied, "I have a flat tire." The passerby asked, "But what's with the flowers?" The man responded, "When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back. I never did understand it neither."
Tennessee
A Tennessee State trooper pulled over a pickup on I-65.. The trooper asked, "Got any ID?" The driver replied, "Bout whut?"
Texas
The Sheriff pulled up next to the guy unloading garbage out of his pick-up into the ditch. The Sheriff asked, "Why are you dumping garbage in the ditch? Don't you see that sign right over your head." "Yep", he replied. "That's why I’m dumpin’ it here, ‘cause it says: 'Fine For Dumping Garbage."
You can say what you want about the South, but you never hear of anyone retiring and moving north.
A New Savior in the Gulf Oil Spill? Kevin Costner?
The situation in the Gulf of Mexico seems to get worse by the day, doesn't it? They've tried capping the spill once and it failed. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil has spilled, and continues to spill out into the waters threatening animal and plant life as well as the economy of those who live and work in the Gulf.
But, there may be new hope and it is from a rather unlikely source. Kevin Costner.
Yes, you read that right. Bull Durham, Robin Hood, Dances with Wolves. That Kevin Costner.
No can deny that the situation in the Gulf is severe and something needs to be done ASAP before things get any worse. And, yes, they can get worse.
British Petroleum (BP) recently enlisted the help of movie star Kevin Costner who, along with his older brother, Dan, a scientist invented a vacuum-like machine that works using a high-powered centrifuge to suck up polluted water then separate it into oil and heavier water. Mr. Costner has spent 15 years and approximately $26 million of his personal fortune developing this machine with his brother.
In the mid 1990's, Mr. Costner founded the Costner Industries Nevada Corporation to fund eco-friendly research by his brother and a team of scientists. The firm invented the water cleaning device as well as a non-chemical battery.
Currently, there are 26 machines in Louisiana waiting to be deployed to do their jobs in the Gulf waters. Each machine can clean between 5 and 200 gallons of water per minute depending upon the size of the machine. Theoretically, this means the machines could clean up the oil as fast as it is polluting the waters. The water that is filtered out of the machines comes out 97% clean.
For more information on this ray of hope for the Gulf, you can read the independent.co.uk article.
I truly hope Mr. Costner's machines do the trick in the Gulf. He certainly has spent a great deal of time and money on this invention. Something needs to be done and right now, this solution does seem to add a bit of hope to an otherwise dark situation.
But, there may be new hope and it is from a rather unlikely source. Kevin Costner.
Yes, you read that right. Bull Durham, Robin Hood, Dances with Wolves. That Kevin Costner.
No can deny that the situation in the Gulf is severe and something needs to be done ASAP before things get any worse. And, yes, they can get worse.
British Petroleum (BP) recently enlisted the help of movie star Kevin Costner who, along with his older brother, Dan, a scientist invented a vacuum-like machine that works using a high-powered centrifuge to suck up polluted water then separate it into oil and heavier water. Mr. Costner has spent 15 years and approximately $26 million of his personal fortune developing this machine with his brother.
In the mid 1990's, Mr. Costner founded the Costner Industries Nevada Corporation to fund eco-friendly research by his brother and a team of scientists. The firm invented the water cleaning device as well as a non-chemical battery.
Currently, there are 26 machines in Louisiana waiting to be deployed to do their jobs in the Gulf waters. Each machine can clean between 5 and 200 gallons of water per minute depending upon the size of the machine. Theoretically, this means the machines could clean up the oil as fast as it is polluting the waters. The water that is filtered out of the machines comes out 97% clean.
For more information on this ray of hope for the Gulf, you can read the independent.co.uk article.
I truly hope Mr. Costner's machines do the trick in the Gulf. He certainly has spent a great deal of time and money on this invention. Something needs to be done and right now, this solution does seem to add a bit of hope to an otherwise dark situation.
A New Savior in the Gulf Oil Spill? Kevin Costner?
The situation in the Gulf of Mexico seems to get worse by the day, doesn't it? They've tried capping the spill once and it failed. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil has spilled, and continues to spill out into the waters threatening animal and plant life as well as the economy of those who live and work in the Gulf.
But, there may be new hope and it is from a rather unlikely source. Kevin Costner.
Yes, you read that right. Bull Durham, Robin Hood, Dances with Wolves. That Kevin Costner.
No can deny that the situation in the Gulf is severe and something needs to be done ASAP before things get any worse. And, yes, they can get worse.
British Petroleum (BP) recently enlisted the help of movie star Kevin Costner who, along with his older brother, Dan, a scientist invented a vacuum-like machine that works using a high-powered centrifuge to suck up polluted water then separate it into oil and heavier water. Mr. Costner has spent 15 years and approximately $26 million of his personal fortune developing this machine with his brother.
In the mid 1990's, Mr. Costner founded the Costner Industries Nevada Corporation to fund eco-friendly research by his brother and a team of scientists. The firm invented the water cleaning device as well as a non-chemical battery.
Currently, there are 26 machines in Louisiana waiting to be deployed to do their jobs in the Gulf waters. Each machine can clean between 5 and 200 gallons of water per minute depending upon the size of the machine. Theoretically, this means the machines could clean up the oil as fast as it is polluting the waters. The water that is filtered out of the machines comes out 97% clean.
For more information on this ray of hope for the Gulf, you can read the independent.co.uk article.
I truly hope Mr. Costner's machines do the trick in the Gulf. He certainly has spent a great deal of time and money on this invention. Something needs to be done and right now, this solution does seem to add a bit of hope to an otherwise dark situation.
But, there may be new hope and it is from a rather unlikely source. Kevin Costner.
Yes, you read that right. Bull Durham, Robin Hood, Dances with Wolves. That Kevin Costner.
No can deny that the situation in the Gulf is severe and something needs to be done ASAP before things get any worse. And, yes, they can get worse.
British Petroleum (BP) recently enlisted the help of movie star Kevin Costner who, along with his older brother, Dan, a scientist invented a vacuum-like machine that works using a high-powered centrifuge to suck up polluted water then separate it into oil and heavier water. Mr. Costner has spent 15 years and approximately $26 million of his personal fortune developing this machine with his brother.
In the mid 1990's, Mr. Costner founded the Costner Industries Nevada Corporation to fund eco-friendly research by his brother and a team of scientists. The firm invented the water cleaning device as well as a non-chemical battery.
Currently, there are 26 machines in Louisiana waiting to be deployed to do their jobs in the Gulf waters. Each machine can clean between 5 and 200 gallons of water per minute depending upon the size of the machine. Theoretically, this means the machines could clean up the oil as fast as it is polluting the waters. The water that is filtered out of the machines comes out 97% clean.
For more information on this ray of hope for the Gulf, you can read the independent.co.uk article.
I truly hope Mr. Costner's machines do the trick in the Gulf. He certainly has spent a great deal of time and money on this invention. Something needs to be done and right now, this solution does seem to add a bit of hope to an otherwise dark situation.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
BBC One Dramatic Series: Luther, Episode 3
The strong writing and brilliant acting continues in episode three of the new BBC One dramatic series Luther. In this episode, Luther must find an abducted young woman before she is killed while avoiding suspension due to something Alice Morgan caused to happen. This episode is a tense and gritty one that has a lot going on from the first minute to the last. The tension among the characters remains high and some situations seem to be getting even more complicated.
With some shows you will occasionally have a scene that appears to be just filler to round out the episode. I'm yet to see a scene in the three episodes that have aired thus far that doesn't have a purpose. Everything that happens, in some way, has something to do with something else. There are several story lines running parallel to one another throughout this episode and each one, in some way, has an effect on the others.
I think it is safe to say that after the first three episodes of Luther I am definitely a fan of the show and am greatly looking forward to each new episode.
On to the summary of episode three...
A Detective Inspector Philip Hamilton arrives at the home of Kirsten Ross. We get the feeling right off that he isn't who he appears to be. Soon, he drops the facade. He puts Kirsten in the trunk of his car then goes back into the house. Luther arrives on the scene to find the walls of the house scrawled with words written in blood and Detective Ripley suggests they may be dealing with Satanism. Back at the station, DSU Teller shows Luther and Ripley notes from a case 10 years ago that has aspects similar to the case they are currently working. The woman in the old case, Grace Allen, was found to have been frozen post mortem and completely drained of blood. An anonymous tip led the police to a man named Lucien Burgess. The writing on the wall in the current case was in the still-fresh 10-year-old blood of the first victim, Grace Allen.
We next see a freezer and can hear Kirsten Ross beating on the lid begging to be freed. The man who abducted her is cleaning a stainless steel table and preparing items to be worked with later.
Alice is back and she is watching video of Mark being beaten which she emails to Luther. Mark comes in to talk to DSU Teller about the beating. He tells her that one of the girls involved said "John says 'hi'" during the beating. Luther speaks with Richard Henley, a policeman involved in the Grace Allen case. He gives Luther details about things Burgess did and said and how Burgess taunted him with a photo of Grace Allen. He tells Luther the biggest regret in his life was that he didn't kill Burgess.
Burgess opens the freezer and takes a photograph of Kirsten Ross then asks her "Are you ready?" Thankfully, what happens to poor Kristen isn't shown. Next time we see Burgess he is drinking blood from a cup then cleaning it from the outside of the freezer Kirsten Ross is being held in. He then tapes up the air holes in the freezer and turns it on.
DSU Teller informs Luther about Mark's beating and that she will be taking her time entering the paperwork but she will be entering it unless Mark withdraws his complaint. Luther goes to visit Mark and tells him he had nothing to do with the beating. He asks Mark to not make the complaint and when he refuses, he tells Zoe that while he may have done a lot of things, he didn't lie to her. He tells them both they need to trust him. When he leaves Zoe's home, he calls Alice and tells her to stop interfering in his life.
Luther stops into an occult shop and speaks with the owner, Lucien Burgess. They make small talk about grisly souveniers before Luther takes Burgess' book from his pocket. Burgess signs the book for Luther, first picking up a pen with his left hand as if to sign then switching the pen to his right to sign the book. Burgess later calls a press conference where he claims his innocence in the Kirsten Ross and Grace Allen crimes.
Luther, about to be suspended by DCI Martin Shenk because of Mark's beating, takes a moment to confer with Ripley about the case then goes to see Alice to ask her help in catching Burgess. Alice tells him he already knows how to catch him; she says he needs to change the state of play.
Luther, avoiding Shenk, speaks with Ripley about a lead in the case. Luther, knowing they are in a bind, tells Ripley that they need to throw away the rule book and change the state of play. They go to the docks where the boat they are looking for in connection with the case is. They board and search the boat and find the freezer containing Kirsten Ross only to find her dead. Luther tells Ripley they can't report that they were there because if they do they cannot use any of the evidence against Burgess. They argue over Luther's decison.
Luther and DCI Reed have a plan to trap Burgess. Luther disguises himself and hits Burgess to get some of his blood. They go back to the boat and place some blood there. DCI Reed calls Burgess and tells him that evidence was planted against him and that for a price, he can fix it. Burgess heads back to the boat with Luminal to clean away any traces of evidence that can be found linking him to Kirsten Ross. He finds what he is looking for and begins to clean when Luther steps out of the shadows.
Zoe goes to Luther and kisses him with Alice watching them from a window.
Was John Luther able to catch the bad guy in this episode? Did the plan he and DCI Reed devise do the trick or did it backfire on them? Was Luther suspended because of the beating Mark received? Watch the latest episode of Luther to find out!
BBC One has posted a clip of the "writing on the wall" from this episode of Luther:
Episode four of Luther airs on BBC One May 25, 2010 at 9 p.m. A preview of episode four can be seen on You Tube thanks to BBC One:
With some shows you will occasionally have a scene that appears to be just filler to round out the episode. I'm yet to see a scene in the three episodes that have aired thus far that doesn't have a purpose. Everything that happens, in some way, has something to do with something else. There are several story lines running parallel to one another throughout this episode and each one, in some way, has an effect on the others.
I think it is safe to say that after the first three episodes of Luther I am definitely a fan of the show and am greatly looking forward to each new episode.
On to the summary of episode three...
A Detective Inspector Philip Hamilton arrives at the home of Kirsten Ross. We get the feeling right off that he isn't who he appears to be. Soon, he drops the facade. He puts Kirsten in the trunk of his car then goes back into the house. Luther arrives on the scene to find the walls of the house scrawled with words written in blood and Detective Ripley suggests they may be dealing with Satanism. Back at the station, DSU Teller shows Luther and Ripley notes from a case 10 years ago that has aspects similar to the case they are currently working. The woman in the old case, Grace Allen, was found to have been frozen post mortem and completely drained of blood. An anonymous tip led the police to a man named Lucien Burgess. The writing on the wall in the current case was in the still-fresh 10-year-old blood of the first victim, Grace Allen.
We next see a freezer and can hear Kirsten Ross beating on the lid begging to be freed. The man who abducted her is cleaning a stainless steel table and preparing items to be worked with later.
Alice is back and she is watching video of Mark being beaten which she emails to Luther. Mark comes in to talk to DSU Teller about the beating. He tells her that one of the girls involved said "John says 'hi'" during the beating. Luther speaks with Richard Henley, a policeman involved in the Grace Allen case. He gives Luther details about things Burgess did and said and how Burgess taunted him with a photo of Grace Allen. He tells Luther the biggest regret in his life was that he didn't kill Burgess.
Burgess opens the freezer and takes a photograph of Kirsten Ross then asks her "Are you ready?" Thankfully, what happens to poor Kristen isn't shown. Next time we see Burgess he is drinking blood from a cup then cleaning it from the outside of the freezer Kirsten Ross is being held in. He then tapes up the air holes in the freezer and turns it on.
DSU Teller informs Luther about Mark's beating and that she will be taking her time entering the paperwork but she will be entering it unless Mark withdraws his complaint. Luther goes to visit Mark and tells him he had nothing to do with the beating. He asks Mark to not make the complaint and when he refuses, he tells Zoe that while he may have done a lot of things, he didn't lie to her. He tells them both they need to trust him. When he leaves Zoe's home, he calls Alice and tells her to stop interfering in his life.
Luther stops into an occult shop and speaks with the owner, Lucien Burgess. They make small talk about grisly souveniers before Luther takes Burgess' book from his pocket. Burgess signs the book for Luther, first picking up a pen with his left hand as if to sign then switching the pen to his right to sign the book. Burgess later calls a press conference where he claims his innocence in the Kirsten Ross and Grace Allen crimes.
Luther, about to be suspended by DCI Martin Shenk because of Mark's beating, takes a moment to confer with Ripley about the case then goes to see Alice to ask her help in catching Burgess. Alice tells him he already knows how to catch him; she says he needs to change the state of play.
Luther, avoiding Shenk, speaks with Ripley about a lead in the case. Luther, knowing they are in a bind, tells Ripley that they need to throw away the rule book and change the state of play. They go to the docks where the boat they are looking for in connection with the case is. They board and search the boat and find the freezer containing Kirsten Ross only to find her dead. Luther tells Ripley they can't report that they were there because if they do they cannot use any of the evidence against Burgess. They argue over Luther's decison.
Luther and DCI Reed have a plan to trap Burgess. Luther disguises himself and hits Burgess to get some of his blood. They go back to the boat and place some blood there. DCI Reed calls Burgess and tells him that evidence was planted against him and that for a price, he can fix it. Burgess heads back to the boat with Luminal to clean away any traces of evidence that can be found linking him to Kirsten Ross. He finds what he is looking for and begins to clean when Luther steps out of the shadows.
Zoe goes to Luther and kisses him with Alice watching them from a window.
Was John Luther able to catch the bad guy in this episode? Did the plan he and DCI Reed devise do the trick or did it backfire on them? Was Luther suspended because of the beating Mark received? Watch the latest episode of Luther to find out!
BBC One has posted a clip of the "writing on the wall" from this episode of Luther:
Episode four of Luther airs on BBC One May 25, 2010 at 9 p.m. A preview of episode four can be seen on You Tube thanks to BBC One:
BBC One Dramatic Series: Luther, Episode 3
The strong writing and brilliant acting continues in episode three of the new BBC One dramatic series Luther. In this episode, Luther must find an abducted young woman before she is killed while avoiding suspension due to something Alice Morgan caused to happen. This episode is a tense and gritty one that has a lot going on from the first minute to the last. The tension among the characters remains high and some situations seem to be getting even more complicated.
With some shows you will occasionally have a scene that appears to be just filler to round out the episode. I'm yet to see a scene in the three episodes that have aired thus far that doesn't have a purpose. Everything that happens, in some way, has something to do with something else. There are several story lines running parallel to one another throughout this episode and each one, in some way, has an effect on the others.
I think it is safe to say that after the first three episodes of Luther I am definitely a fan of the show and am greatly looking forward to each new episode.
On to the summary of episode three...
A Detective Inspector Philip Hamilton arrives at the home of Kirsten Ross. We get the feeling right off that he isn't who he appears to be. Soon, he drops the facade. He puts Kirsten in the trunk of his car then goes back into the house. Luther arrives on the scene to find the walls of the house scrawled with words written in blood and Detective Ripley suggests they may be dealing with Satanism. Back at the station, DSU Teller shows Luther and Ripley notes from a case 10 years ago that has aspects similar to the case they are currently working. The woman in the old case, Grace Allen, was found to have been frozen post mortem and completely drained of blood. An anonymous tip led the police to a man named Lucien Burgess. The writing on the wall in the current case was in the still-fresh 10-year-old blood of the first victim, Grace Allen.
We next see a freezer and can hear Kirsten Ross beating on the lid begging to be freed. The man who abducted her is cleaning a stainless steel table and preparing items to be worked with later.
Alice is back and she is watching video of Mark being beaten which she emails to Luther. Mark comes in to talk to DSU Teller about the beating. He tells her that one of the girls involved said "John says 'hi'" during the beating. Luther speaks with Richard Henley, a policeman involved in the Grace Allen case. He gives Luther details about things Burgess did and said and how Burgess taunted him with a photo of Grace Allen. He tells Luther the biggest regret in his life was that he didn't kill Burgess.
Burgess opens the freezer and takes a photograph of Kirsten Ross then asks her "Are you ready?" Thankfully, what happens to poor Kristen isn't shown. Next time we see Burgess he is drinking blood from a cup then cleaning it from the outside of the freezer Kirsten Ross is being held in. He then tapes up the air holes in the freezer and turns it on.
DSU Teller informs Luther about Mark's beating and that she will be taking her time entering the paperwork but she will be entering it unless Mark withdraws his complaint. Luther goes to visit Mark and tells him he had nothing to do with the beating. He asks Mark to not make the complaint and when he refuses, he tells Zoe that while he may have done a lot of things, he didn't lie to her. He tells them both they need to trust him. When he leaves Zoe's home, he calls Alice and tells her to stop interfering in his life.
Luther stops into an occult shop and speaks with the owner, Lucien Burgess. They make small talk about grisly souveniers before Luther takes Burgess' book from his pocket. Burgess signs the book for Luther, first picking up a pen with his left hand as if to sign then switching the pen to his right to sign the book. Burgess later calls a press conference where he claims his innocence in the Kirsten Ross and Grace Allen crimes.
Luther, about to be suspended by DCI Martin Shenk because of Mark's beating, takes a moment to confer with Ripley about the case then goes to see Alice to ask her help in catching Burgess. Alice tells him he already knows how to catch him; she says he needs to change the state of play.
Luther, avoiding Shenk, speaks with Ripley about a lead in the case. Luther, knowing they are in a bind, tells Ripley that they need to throw away the rule book and change the state of play. They go to the docks where the boat they are looking for in connection with the case is. They board and search the boat and find the freezer containing Kirsten Ross only to find her dead. Luther tells Ripley they can't report that they were there because if they do they cannot use any of the evidence against Burgess. They argue over Luther's decison.
Luther and DCI Reed have a plan to trap Burgess. Luther disguises himself and hits Burgess to get some of his blood. They go back to the boat and place some blood there. DCI Reed calls Burgess and tells him that evidence was planted against him and that for a price, he can fix it. Burgess heads back to the boat with Luminal to clean away any traces of evidence that can be found linking him to Kirsten Ross. He finds what he is looking for and begins to clean when Luther steps out of the shadows.
Zoe goes to Luther and kisses him with Alice watching them from a window.
Was John Luther able to catch the bad guy in this episode? Did the plan he and DCI Reed devise do the trick or did it backfire on them? Was Luther suspended because of the beating Mark received? Watch the latest episode of Luther to find out!
BBC One has posted a clip of the "writing on the wall" from this episode of Luther:
Episode four of Luther airs on BBC One May 25, 2010 at 9 p.m. A preview of episode four can be seen on You Tube thanks to BBC One:
With some shows you will occasionally have a scene that appears to be just filler to round out the episode. I'm yet to see a scene in the three episodes that have aired thus far that doesn't have a purpose. Everything that happens, in some way, has something to do with something else. There are several story lines running parallel to one another throughout this episode and each one, in some way, has an effect on the others.
I think it is safe to say that after the first three episodes of Luther I am definitely a fan of the show and am greatly looking forward to each new episode.
On to the summary of episode three...
A Detective Inspector Philip Hamilton arrives at the home of Kirsten Ross. We get the feeling right off that he isn't who he appears to be. Soon, he drops the facade. He puts Kirsten in the trunk of his car then goes back into the house. Luther arrives on the scene to find the walls of the house scrawled with words written in blood and Detective Ripley suggests they may be dealing with Satanism. Back at the station, DSU Teller shows Luther and Ripley notes from a case 10 years ago that has aspects similar to the case they are currently working. The woman in the old case, Grace Allen, was found to have been frozen post mortem and completely drained of blood. An anonymous tip led the police to a man named Lucien Burgess. The writing on the wall in the current case was in the still-fresh 10-year-old blood of the first victim, Grace Allen.
We next see a freezer and can hear Kirsten Ross beating on the lid begging to be freed. The man who abducted her is cleaning a stainless steel table and preparing items to be worked with later.
Alice is back and she is watching video of Mark being beaten which she emails to Luther. Mark comes in to talk to DSU Teller about the beating. He tells her that one of the girls involved said "John says 'hi'" during the beating. Luther speaks with Richard Henley, a policeman involved in the Grace Allen case. He gives Luther details about things Burgess did and said and how Burgess taunted him with a photo of Grace Allen. He tells Luther the biggest regret in his life was that he didn't kill Burgess.
Burgess opens the freezer and takes a photograph of Kirsten Ross then asks her "Are you ready?" Thankfully, what happens to poor Kristen isn't shown. Next time we see Burgess he is drinking blood from a cup then cleaning it from the outside of the freezer Kirsten Ross is being held in. He then tapes up the air holes in the freezer and turns it on.
DSU Teller informs Luther about Mark's beating and that she will be taking her time entering the paperwork but she will be entering it unless Mark withdraws his complaint. Luther goes to visit Mark and tells him he had nothing to do with the beating. He asks Mark to not make the complaint and when he refuses, he tells Zoe that while he may have done a lot of things, he didn't lie to her. He tells them both they need to trust him. When he leaves Zoe's home, he calls Alice and tells her to stop interfering in his life.
Luther stops into an occult shop and speaks with the owner, Lucien Burgess. They make small talk about grisly souveniers before Luther takes Burgess' book from his pocket. Burgess signs the book for Luther, first picking up a pen with his left hand as if to sign then switching the pen to his right to sign the book. Burgess later calls a press conference where he claims his innocence in the Kirsten Ross and Grace Allen crimes.
Luther, about to be suspended by DCI Martin Shenk because of Mark's beating, takes a moment to confer with Ripley about the case then goes to see Alice to ask her help in catching Burgess. Alice tells him he already knows how to catch him; she says he needs to change the state of play.
Luther, avoiding Shenk, speaks with Ripley about a lead in the case. Luther, knowing they are in a bind, tells Ripley that they need to throw away the rule book and change the state of play. They go to the docks where the boat they are looking for in connection with the case is. They board and search the boat and find the freezer containing Kirsten Ross only to find her dead. Luther tells Ripley they can't report that they were there because if they do they cannot use any of the evidence against Burgess. They argue over Luther's decison.
Luther and DCI Reed have a plan to trap Burgess. Luther disguises himself and hits Burgess to get some of his blood. They go back to the boat and place some blood there. DCI Reed calls Burgess and tells him that evidence was planted against him and that for a price, he can fix it. Burgess heads back to the boat with Luminal to clean away any traces of evidence that can be found linking him to Kirsten Ross. He finds what he is looking for and begins to clean when Luther steps out of the shadows.
Zoe goes to Luther and kisses him with Alice watching them from a window.
Was John Luther able to catch the bad guy in this episode? Did the plan he and DCI Reed devise do the trick or did it backfire on them? Was Luther suspended because of the beating Mark received? Watch the latest episode of Luther to find out!
BBC One has posted a clip of the "writing on the wall" from this episode of Luther:
Episode four of Luther airs on BBC One May 25, 2010 at 9 p.m. A preview of episode four can be seen on You Tube thanks to BBC One:
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tutankhamun's Leftover Linens Give New Insight Into Mummification
Leftover linens used to wrap the body of King Tutankhamun are the highlight of the "Tutankhamun's Funeral" exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The bandages run from 15.4 feet to 15.3 inches (4.70 meters to 39 centimeters) and consist of 50 linen pieces that were woven especially for King Tutankhamun upon his death and mummification.
Now, after a century of being stored in large ceramic jars at the museum's Department of Egyptian Art, the bandages have been put on permanent display at the museum's Egyptian galleries.
Dorothea Arnold, curator of Egyptian art at the museum told Discovery News that the linens used on King Tutankhamun's actual mummy were decayed because of the excessive use of resins. The linens on display at the museum were not exposed to the resins and are the best-preserved lot of Tutankhamun's wrappings.
The linens look a great deal like modern-day gauze bandages. They bear an inscription containing the date the linens were woven. One linen features the inscription "Year 8 of the Lord of Two Lands, Nebkheperure". "Nebkheperure" was Tutankhamun's throne name and "Year 8" was the final year of his life (1341-1323 B.C.).
The jars containing the leftover linens were discovered in a pit 110 meters (360.8 feet) away from the undiscovered tomb of King Tutankhamun. The jars also contained bits and pieces of pottery, animal remains, dried flowers, kerchiefs and embalming material leading the discoverer, Theodore M. Davis to believe he'd uncovered the tomb of a poor man.
For more information about the linens, their discovery and to see a couple of photos of them you can check out the Discovery article or the article from MSNBC.com's Technology and Science section.
Now, after a century of being stored in large ceramic jars at the museum's Department of Egyptian Art, the bandages have been put on permanent display at the museum's Egyptian galleries.
Dorothea Arnold, curator of Egyptian art at the museum told Discovery News that the linens used on King Tutankhamun's actual mummy were decayed because of the excessive use of resins. The linens on display at the museum were not exposed to the resins and are the best-preserved lot of Tutankhamun's wrappings.
The linens look a great deal like modern-day gauze bandages. They bear an inscription containing the date the linens were woven. One linen features the inscription "Year 8 of the Lord of Two Lands, Nebkheperure". "Nebkheperure" was Tutankhamun's throne name and "Year 8" was the final year of his life (1341-1323 B.C.).
The jars containing the leftover linens were discovered in a pit 110 meters (360.8 feet) away from the undiscovered tomb of King Tutankhamun. The jars also contained bits and pieces of pottery, animal remains, dried flowers, kerchiefs and embalming material leading the discoverer, Theodore M. Davis to believe he'd uncovered the tomb of a poor man.
For more information about the linens, their discovery and to see a couple of photos of them you can check out the Discovery article or the article from MSNBC.com's Technology and Science section.
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