Resembling #Sriyantra, one of the largest Buddhist temple it was built in the 9th century by the #Shailendra_Raj dynasty. It is located in Central Java Indonesia.
It is currently included in # UNESCO Heritage

🕍𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗯𝘂𝗱𝘂𝗿 or sometimes Barabudur

dating from the 8th and 9th centuries is located close to Muntilan on the island of Java, which is the most visited tourist site in Indonesia. Built during the rule of the Sailendra Dynasty (c. 650-1025 CE). UNESCO designated Borobudur as a World Heritage Site in 1991 CE

following restoration in the 1970s and 1980s CE, and the iconic temple continues to play a powerful role in shaping Indonesian aesthetics, architecture, and cultural identity.

🕍𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗯𝘂𝗱𝘂𝗿 covers an enormous area, measuring 123 x 123 meters,

It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms, and at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2.

The monument is a marvel of design, decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The architecture and stonework of this temple have no equal. And it was built without using any kind of cement or mortar! The structure is like a set of massive interlocking Lego blocks

1/ I’m not one for ‘told ya so’s but in 1989 when David Duke won the state House seat in Louisiana, some of us said this was an inflection point in American politics. This wasn’t just the logical result of Reaganesque racial dog whistling. It was something different (a thread)...

2/ It wasn’t even George Wallace, strictly speaking, though it was closer to that than Reagan. It was the blatant introduction of racist appeals under the guise of mainstream conservatism, and w/a polish and media-savvy Wallace lacked, as had most previous white supremacists...

3/ Duke knew how to use media. He cut 30 minute infomercials in his Senate run in 1990 — unheard of at the time — to slowly lay out his politics of racial resentment, knowing it would find a home w/white folks angered by previous GOP scapegoating of welfare, etc..

4/ ...but wanting to do more with it than just win an election. He wanted to turn mainstream racially-resentful conservatism into full blown white nationalism. And he knew it would take a while. He was grooming the electorate for what was to come....

5/ And yes, he lost in 90. But he got 60% of the white vote. I want to reiterate that. Six in ten whites in Louisiana voted for someone they all knew was a white supremacist. Indeed, a Nazi. And at the time, folks outside of Louisiana told us, “ah, that’s just LA...”

Honeybee historians - track changes in the UK floral landscape over the last 65 years, showing key changes in nectar resources. New paper in @CommsBio by the Science Team @walesbotanic @Zwickynova @abigailjayne26

We analysed 441 honey samples from throughout the UK using DNA metabarcoding to find out which plants honeybees use to make honey. We compared this to a survey of honey samples carried out in 1952.

In 1952 the most important plant for honeybees was white clover (Trifolium repens). This used to be abundant in grazed pastures but increases in silage production and use of inorganic fertilisers and herbicides means that there is less flowering white clover available in 2017.

With less white clover available, honeybees most important plant in 2017 was bramble (Rubus fruticosus). Commonly found on the edges of hedgerows and woodlands and other wild spaces.

The honeybees have also made use of a new crop, oil seed rape. Oil seed rape was first grown in the 1960s and now bright yellow fields of oil seed rape are common in spring. It is now an important honeybee plant and a source of honey (which I think tastes of cabbages).

It appears that the ancient Aeolian city of Kyme will be partially (or entirely?) destroyed as the plans for a new commercial port that degrades its legal protection status as a historical site were

While focusing on such events individually is important, like most crimes against humanity's shared cultural heritage, there's also an ideological component; the Erdogan regime has successfully utilized the "progress" idea in its relentless pursuit to channel resources to its+

client base (as in clientelism) via construction projects, many of them without proven economic benefits. Anyone who dares to oppose such projects automatically becomes an enemy of progress, a remnant of the ancien regime. The success of the idea of progress, and in particular+

progress in this guise are neither new nor unique to the Erdogan regime. The Turkish Republic's ideological and material history is rich in the utilization of this idea, and I have personally witnessed its destructive tendencies in the name of progress as a kid in the 70s and 80s

The idea has been so successful because it combines the destruction of Turkey's ideologically "unacceptable" non-Turkish heritage with the idea that anything old must be replaced with the new for the benefit of the people. So the Erdogan regime is merely the latest flag bearer of

With all this talk about Khalistan, one thing again is being buried in the narrative.

This is how a peaceful, law abiding state was made into a hellhole and the genie of Khalistan unleashed purely by Indira Gandhi and her minion Sanjay Gandhi.

Thread on how she did this

1/n note, this piece only talks about how the Frankenstein named Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (JSB) was created by Sanjay Gandhi and Giani Zail Singhi. It does not touch on the whole Khalistani movement which would require a seperate write up on it's own.

2/n The primary party in Punjab was the Congress, but over time opposition arose in the form of the Akali Dal. The Akali Dal was primarily a Sikh party which took a hardline stance when it came to Punjab.

3/n The people of Punjab, sick and tired of the corruption and inefficiency of the Congress found in the AD a solid electoral alternative.

Things came to a head in 1977 when the AD+JP alliance swept into power and ordered investigations into corruption by

4/n the previous (and soon to be President) Giani Zial Singh who is in a way, the true villain of the story.

Sanjay Gandhi and Giani (mostly Giani) decided they needed a hardline front to combat AD and split the anti Congress votes and hence Bhindranwale was born.

This is the hillfort of Castromao (Celanova, #Galicia), the former Coeliobriga (celt., 'The fort of the Bold'). An object found here is key to understanding the politics of the hillforts. Other... is just the cutest thing you will see today on twitter. Go!👇 #HillfortsWednesday

Coelibriga was inhabited from the end of the Bronze Age until the height of Roman times. Outstanding examples of Gallaecian Iron Age art have been found there. #HillfortsWednesday

And even unique technological objects. This is a portable oven, possibly used for melting metals. Raw gold pieces have been found in the hillfort. #HillfortsWednesday

But let's stop at the 'tabula district', a singular group of buildings next to the rampart. Here, exceptional objects were found. One of them in that building with the elevated door. #HillfortsWednesday

This is the amazing Tabula de Castromao. A pact of hospitality between the Coelerni people and G. N. Aquilinus Novaugustanus, the prefectus of the first cohort of Celtiberians in the Roman army. It was signed en el 132 AD. #HillfortsWednesday

Wow. Both Wapo and NYT calling for impeachment and prosecution of 45 for insurrection and sedition.

Could there finally be consequences for 4 years of lawbreaking?

NyT calling for impeachment

WaPo calling for inpeachcment.

Even USA today calls for prosecution of 45.

Sun times calls it treason, as well as the actions if supporting Rs pike Cruz.

Radio silence for 1 hour, binge-watching cartoons for over an hour and other #Christmas memories from my childhood – a thread to the past in Iceland and Christmas there in the countriside #isolation in the 1970’s where Radio and TV played a key role.

I grew up on a farm just outside the village of Vopnafjörður northeast-Iceland. The village with ca 600 people is surrounded by a few farms like ours but the next living soul is more than 40 km away! It is one of the most isolated places in Iceland (8 hours from Reykjavik).

Back in the 1970´s the roads out of Vopnafjörður were frequently closed for weeks, even months. So apart from flying in or out (not cheap!) via the airport, our only connection to the outside world was the radio and the TV. But until the mid 1980´s Iceland had one radio station!

This sole station is still known as RUV @RUVohf an abbreviation which stands for the State Radio! And there was only one TV station – you guessed it, the State TV, established 1966 (available in colour from 1977).

The radio and TV were operated by the State to provide news and useful information and to promote culture (particularly Icelandic) to the public. The idea of “fun” was pretty low on the priority list. Being State owned meant also the State Employee Rep. Union had a strong say.

A few thoughts about tugs:

As I've been reading Beans, Bullets, and Black Oil, a 1952 book about logistics in the Pacific in WWII, I've been struck how often the topic of tugs has come up: ships that were saved because of their presence, or perhaps lost due to their absence.

Some examples that jumped right out: that the carrier USS Yorktown might have been saved at Midway, had the Navy yet appreciated the value of fleet tugs.

That the carrier USS Hornet and destroyer USS Porter might have been saved at the Battle of the Santa Cruz islands if tugs had been available:

And that tugs were able to help save three heavily damaged cruisers after the Battle of Tassafaronga:

By my count it looks like the USN started WWII with 20 or so ocean-going tugs (ATs) available. And then over the course of the war, as lessons were learned, the USN built 200+ more (ATAs and ATFs), many of which served for decades more.

Here's some New Year fun (which I'm sure we could all do with right now). When I was getting ideas together for the book, one of the potential chapter headings I had was 'Hawkwind's Thwarted Pop Career'... Here's a "what if?" alternative singles schedule for the 1970s ;-) 1/17

‘Mirror Of Illusion’ – July 1970. At the last minute, the A & B side of Hawkwind’s debut single are swapped when John Peel tells Doug Smith that ‘Hurry On Sundown’ takes “too long to get going.” It doesn’t chart, but Peel gives it lots of spins on Top Gear

‘You Know You’re Only Dreaming’ – Oct 1970. Their profile boosted by reports of their Isle Of Wight performances, Andrew Lauder suggests a standalone single. A re-recorded version of this track from the Trident sessions is rush-released and sells strongly

‘Master Of The Universe’ – Sept 1971. By now the biggest band in the underground, Hawkwind trail the release of their second album with an edited version of this soon to be classic track. To everyone's surprise, it charts for four weeks, peaking at no. 37

‘Silver Machine’ – June 1972. Hawkwind’s next single crashes into the charts, its space age boogie loved by teenyboppers and Hells Angels alike. Pan’s People perform a ‘sexy robot’ routine to it on Top Of The Pops, and the following week, it goes to no. 1

Playing a bit of Tower of Druaga, in the Namco Museum collection. Splatterhouse is in there too, and it makes a good comparison, because you know how Splatterhouse's only draw is the hyper-detailed violence? Druaga is like that except the only draw is the hyper-obscure secrets.

But the secrets made it a huge hit in Japan in 1984. This is supposedly the game that created the Japanese arcade culture of players sharing notes, because the only path to success was approaching the game as a community.

Tower of Druaga clearly draws inspiration from Pac-Man (it's a maze chase) and Rogue (the maze isn't randomized, but everything *in it* is, plus you bump into enemies to attack them) and Wizardry/D&D (theming and upgrades).

To advance past each floor, you need to find the key and the exit, dodging monsters. You can also find a secret item on each floor. These "optional" items are crucial, some are literally required to proceed, and the processes you need to guess at to unlock them are *ridiculous*.

A sampling:
- Kill 3 slimes.
- Touch the left and right dungeon walls.
- Don't touch the outside walls for 12 seconds.
- Swing your sword while standing on the exit.
- Press 1P start.
- Kill 6 colored slimes in a specific order.
- Step on 3 unmarked tiles in a specific order.

How important are historians in achieving historical reconciliation? [THREAD] #History #historian #politics

1. Reparations agreements are a prominent and relevant example of historians being at the forefront of historical reconciliation. As they often involve monetary gains for one party from the other over memory and victimization.

2. Historians are at the forefront of presenting the state with so-called historical 'ammo' to legitimize the request of reparations. This could however be seen as a source of increased tensions, and could lead to an increase of nationalism and hatred due to negative memories.

3. However, a more definitively positive aspect of historical conciliation can also increasingly be seen due to evidence newly uncovered by historians.

4. For instance, as a result of the publishing of Jan Gross’s Neighbors in 2001, Polish president Kwasniewski issued an apology for the murder of 1,600 Jews who were killed by
their neighbors 60 years earlier in Jedwabne.

@SenateGOP start of a long list of issues. First while you are seemingly secure in DC you are not across an ocean like the English King was in 1775. The Constitution provided remedies. When an independent judiciarybis no longer independent then there is another check

You are that check. You see here in America we are fed up with lockdowns, we are fed up with complacent legislatures, we are fed up with our protests being squashed with local government intervention. We have sought every avenue to have our voices heard.

Our protests were met with violence from the left, our affidavits were scorned and not given ear in the courts which are supposed to be unbiased and non partisan places for our offenses to be judged. We have protested the heavy ham handed lockdowns.

The media has turned a blind eye to our plea's instead siding with DC. Did anyone see the voting map? Little dots of blue in a sea of Red? Our forefathers who were quakers, protestants, and puritans were very patient with a King.

We are not quakers, protestants or puritans and we are fed up. The same issues facing Britain in 1776 now are present in America. You live in a city, DC that thinks the world revolves around it. It does not. You think you are insulated like a British King. You are not.

When Pat Bowlen bought the Broncos in 1984, he inherited the best quarterback of that era of pro football and one of the greatest of all-time, John Elway.

In 9 of the next 15 seasons, the Broncos made. the postseason. They made it to five Super Bowls and won two

After John Elway retired, the Broncos missed the playoffs in 8-of-12 seasons including no winning record from 2007-2010.

Who did Pat Bowlen call at that point in time?

I don't like putting words in Pat Bowlen's mouth, saying he would have done this or wouldn't have done that. Fact of the matter is, both Pat Bowlen and John Elway hate losing.

It was Pat who fired Mike Shanahan after a playoff drought. It was also Pat who gave Josh McDaniels the keys to the franchise and let him dismantle the most talented roster the team had in nearly a decade.

Not a slippery slope or sudden subversion: German medicine and National Socialism in 1933.
https://t.co/S5FqTYKG78

"On 29 July Deutsches Arzteblatt reprints the entire Sterilisation Act and comments:"

#vaccinatieplicht

“Since sterilisation is the only safe method to prevent the inheritance of mental diseases and serious genetic disorders, the law must be looked upon as an expression of loving care for the coming generations, and as an act of altruism."

"The elimination of defective genes is not of itself sufficient to keep our nation healthy and energetic, for this purging of the common gene pool must be complemented by positive population measures."

"On 14 July the new administration proclaims the Sterilisation Act, entitled “Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Descendants.”

"Paragraph 12 instructs that the mutilating operation “must be performed even against the will of the person to be sterilised. The attending surgeon must request any necessary assistance from the police authority."

In June, 1965 a monk in Vietnam hoped to convince Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to speak out for the first time against the US war in Vietnam.

So he sent a letter, and a year later in 1966 he sat with Dr. King as he spoke out against the war.

Here’s what Thich Nhat Hanh wrote...

"The self-burning of Vietnamese Buddhist monks in 1963 is somehow difficult for the Western Christian conscience to understand. The Press spoke then of suicide, but in the essence, it is not. It is not even a protest."

"What the monks said in the letters they left before burning themselves aimed only at alarming, at moving the hearts of the oppressors and at calling the attention of the world to the suffering endured then by the Vietnamese."

"To burn oneself by fire is to prove that what one is saying is of the utmost importance. There is nothing more painful than burning oneself. To say something while experiencing this kind of pain is to say it with the utmost of courage, frankness, determination and sincerity."

"During the ceremony of ordination, as practiced in the Mahayana tradition, the monk-candidate is required to burn one, or more, small spots on his body in taking the vow to observe the 250 rules of a bhikshu..."

Thread
This Day, 1801: John Adams, a lame duck president, nominated John Marshall to be chief justice of the Supreme Court. The Senate confirmed him seven days later. Marshall would serve in that role for 34 years

This Day, 1937: Franklin Roosevelt became the first president to be inaugurated on Jan. 20th (they used to be Mar. 4). In his Inaugural address, he said the fight against the Great Depression was far from over: “I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished.”

This Day, 1949: The interlude between World War II and the Korean War was brief, as Harry Truman - a caretaker president since Apr 12, 1945 - was sworn n

This Day, 1953: After receiving permission from Dwight Eisenhower - just sworn in as the 34th President - rodeo star Montie Montana lassoed him. Mamie Eisenhower seems delighted; VP Nixon perplexed. Secret Service wasn't too happy

He was the youngest person ever elected - just 43 years old. John F. Kennedy, sworn in this day in 1961 (youngest POTUS ever, however: Theodore Rosevelt, 42, who took over for the assassinated William McKinley in 1901)

"For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made. And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him."
Gen 7:4,5 (c. 2300 BC)

The Great Deluge ⬇️

Exhibit A⬇️

"...The flood came forth. Its power came upon the peoples like a battle,
one person did not see another, they could not recognize each other in the catastrophe..The deluge belowed like a bull...the darkness was dense, the sun was gone..."

From: The Epic of Atrahasis

The Epic of Atrahasis, an Akkadian/Babylonian poem recorded on clay tablets, tells the story of mankind's creation and a great flood sent by the gods to decimate humans on Earth.

The tablets are said to date back to the 18th century BC though the Flood tale itself is much older.

In the poem, Atra-hasis, the 'exceedingly wise' (a.k.a. Ziusudra, said to be the last Sumerian king before the deluge), had been warned by god Enki (a.k.a. Ea) of the coming disaster and instructed him to build an ark to save himself and his family.

Does it sound familiar? 🤔

Exhibit B ⬇️

"For six days and six nights the winds blew, torrent and tempest and flood overwhelmed the world, tempest and flood raged together like warring hosts. When the seventh day dawned the storm from the south subsided, the sea grew calm, the flood was stilled..."

The mysterious story of tomatoes 🍅 & cigarettes 🚬
An interesting scientific story discussed by Kenneth M. Smith (1892-1981) who is considered to be one of the pioneers of the scientific field of ‘Virology’. Long thread, Enjoy the Sunday reading 😀1/n

In his 1943 book, Smith wrote about a story of two American tobacco farmers, one of whom was much troubled by outbreaks of tobacco mosaic disease in his crops, while the other managed to keep his plants fairly clear of the trouble. 2/n

Furthermore, the first farmer noticed that the infection tended to occur in a straight line (tobacco mosaic is very infectious disease & it is not insect-transmitted). So, Smith assumed that the disease seemed to follow the movements of the farmworkers who tended the plants. 3/n

It seemed likely, therefore, that they were the transmitting agents. Closer inquiry into the personal habits of the farmworkers revealed the fact that several of them indulged in the practice of chewing tobacco, & herein, lies the clue to the mosaic infection. 4/n

The virus of tobacco mosaic is one of the most stable & resistant viruses known, & some brands of chewing tobacco are not subjected in the curing process to sufficiently high temperatures or other treatments which would destroy the virus. 5/n