Spomeniks: The Incredible World War II Memorials That Resemble Alien Art

Spomeniks means monuments in Serbo-Croatian and they can be found in tranquil fields in Serbo Croatia. They look alien and at odds with their surrounding hills and farmhouses. Their beauty is in the misaligned locations. They are concrete structures that are lost in a natural landscape and conspicuously out of place. The only people who get to see these structures are the brave enough who are not scared of exploring Balkan’s nether regions.

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

If these structures had been built today, their obliqueness would spur a lot of controversy in the world of art. Built in the 1960s and 70s, their designers must have had their imagination stretched to the limits. Former President, Josip Broz Tito, commissioned them to commemorate world war II battle sites. Leading architects and sculptors like Dušan Džamonja, Miodrag Živković, Vojin Bakić,  Jordan, Iskra Grabul, Bogdan Bogdanović and Gradimir Medaković did this incredible work.

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Jan Kempenaers from Belgium photographed the abandoned sculptures for a period of three years. He discovered them on an art encyclopedia in the Jan Van Eyck Academy library, in Maastricht. Zagreb, a friend, helped him and together they found a map that showed all locations of the monuments. They sought them out one by one and discovered that most of them had in fact been destroyed…and deliberately-  "because they referred to the previous regime and during the Balkan war, many were dynamited," Kempenaers says. "They refer to the fight for independence of Marshall Tito's partisan army, who led the resistance against the German army."

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

The monuments conveyed the confidence, power and strength of the Socialist Republic. In the 1980s, they attracted millions of visitors yearly for their patriotic education, especially to the young pioneers. "They were like medals in the countryside. Tito couldn't erect figures or busts in honor of generals because he didn't want to be seen to be favoring any ethnic group, for example a Bosnian general or a Serb war hero, so instead they made these things that didn't refer to people."  The monuments were devoid of identity and were used to cultivate cultural togetherness. They were, however completely abandoned after the republic dissolved in the early 1990s. Their symbolic meaning was also lost.

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

According to Kempenaers, nobody cares about them today - both the young and old. Those who encountered him as he photographed them thought he was mad. The spomeniks are in fact crumbling: they have been urinated on and graffiti scrawled on them. They are no longer being preserved and are slowly rotting away. Kempenaers gives them back their dignity with his series of photos; otherwise, they would be forgotten and lost forever.

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

Image credit: Jan Kempenaers (taken from)

(Source: www.theguardian.com)

This Looks Like A Normal Restaurant, But Once Inside, The Truth Will Amaze You

Signs Restaurant owner, Anjan Manikumar, opened his restaurant last month amid much fanfare but, it’s not just his cuisine that’s drawing customers to his spot- the restaurant has deaf waiters and waitresses. Diners at the restaurant are eager to support this initiative that is giving the deaf community an opportunity to work at an industry that has excluded them for a long time. Signs restaurant is a first of its kind.

Image Source: www.cbc.ca

Christine Nelson of the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf says the idea is “super inspiring. On behalf of the whole community we’re thrilled to see something like this take place."

"They're able to show their potential, they're able to show how good they are, and I think they are very talented," Manikumar who is not deaf but knows sign language says. He got his inspiration for the restaurant while working as a server in a Markham restaurant. He was serving a deaf customer who ordered by having to point at the menu. "I felt he wasn’t getting the service he deserved. He wasn't getting the personal touch," he says.

Image Source: www.cbc.ca

The restaurant offers its customers an opportunity to learn sign language through the use of graphics that are incorporated in the menu. Photographs are mounted on the walls that illustrate clearly signs for some common words one uses in a restaurant (like alcoholic drink names) and cheat-sheets are also placed on tables.

"We expect our customers to order using sign language - our menus are designed in such a way that our customers can do that," Manikumar says. "This will allow our customers to experience the fun of learning something new."

The restaurant aims at becoming a meeting point for the deaf community. It will also provide a casual atmosphere for hearing customers to learn and practice sign language. According to Manikumar, the restaurant will not only offer hearing customers a fun experience while they practice sign language, it will also provide job opportunities for the deaf community, in an industry they have been shunned from.

Rachel Shemuel, the manager says that they “want to create awareness for the hearing community that the deaf community has the ability to do anything and everything. It’s also a good opportunity for the hearing community to see exactly what it is that the deaf community goes through on a day to day basis."

When they posted the position for a deaf waiter’s staff, they got over 200 responses and they hired about 50 of them. They have little or no experience at the hospitality sector while some have never had any full time jobs but they are grateful for the opportunity to work in an encouraging environment.

“It’s wonderful. I’m so excited to be here,” Mehdi Safavi, one of the employees says. “It’s a deaf environment where people can come in and experience our world and our culture, so it’s really amazing. It’s a challenge for me. But a great challenge.”

Manikumar hopes that other sectors will be inspired and encouraged to hire from the deaf community as well. As of right now, Signs has very many reservations from diners in Toronto, eager to try sign language.

(Source: www.huffingtonpost.com)

Watch As The Most Massive Robotic Swarm Work Together To Form Complex Shapes

Harvard computer science researchers have created tiny robots that complete tasks by working together. Though many teams of scientists have over time managed to link simple robots together then issue commands, this is in itself revolutionary. They are on an entirely different level! Imagine the 1024 of them moving in concert?  Together they comprise the largest, most impressive robotic swarm to ever be created. They have been named Kilobots which somehow almost sounds like killbots, but okay.

Image Source: www.io9.com

Researchers who have been working on the Kilobot Project say that:  “In current robotics research there is a vast body of work on algorithms and control methods for groups of decentralized cooperating robots, called a swarm or collective. These algorithms are generally meant to control collectives of hundreds or even thousands of robots; however, for reasons of cost, time, or complexity, they are generally validated in simulation only, or on a group of a few 10s of robots. To address this issue, we designed the Kilobot, a low-cost robot designed to make testing collective algorithms on hundreds or thousands ("kilos") of robots accessible to robotics researchers. Each robot has the basic capabilities required for a swarm robot, but is made with low-cost parts, and is mostly assembled by an automated process. In addition, the system design allows a single user to easily and scalably operate a large Kilobot collective, such as programming, powering on, and charging all robots systems.” 

Image Source: www.io9.com

Each kilobit is an inch-wide and has three peg-like legs that are powered by vibration motors. It uses this to help it slide around when responding to commands given over an infrared control system. One single kilobot’s behavior is limited and simple, but when a thousand of them are combined, complex behaviors are generated without the use of high level programming. It’s more like building a virtual ant’s colony rather than a robotic humanoid. 

Image Source: www.io9.com

Previous attempts at building a swarm of robots have only yielded around 100 devices. Algorithms that keep these units connected by this time get complicated and they need more expensive and advanced hardware for the robots. The kilobots are different in that, when they are commanded to form a certain shape, four robots act as the design’s point of origin. A 2D map of the image to be made is received by the other robots and instead of going straight to image formation, they split into groups that take turns to move into position.  Individual kilobots help keep the swarm on track by moving along the edge. 
This AI algorithm is clever and great results have been seen from it- considering the robots are limited. Moving in a straight line is usually trouble and the behavior from one robot to another can vary. Still, these kilobots work together and prove that complexity can materialize from simplicity. The kilobots will be used as a test platform by the team for future swarming- not for killing humans, they say.

[Source: www.geek.com]

These Fascinating Photos Show An Interesting Side Of History You Didn't Know About

These are rare and interesting photos that show a different and eye-opening side to many historical events and figures. They stunningly capture relationships and interesting sides of famous people we never saw before. Some will surprise you or make you laugh, while some will make you appreciate history.
This punt gun was capable of discharging over a pound of shot at a time and could kill over 50 birds. This had a great negative effect on the birds and by the 1860s, it was banned in most states.

Image Source: www.imgur.com

1939, a crowd in New York (there is not one unhatted head)

Image Source: www.imgur.com

A unique Adolf Hitler photo that captures the blue in his eyes

Image Source: www.imgur.com

1923, the testing of a bulletproof vest

Image Source: www.imgur.com

1967, when Sweden switched sides of the road

Image Source: www.imgur.com

1935, German soldier takes while on the back of a trained horse

Image Source: www.imgur.com

1945, a crowded ship as it brought American troops after V-Day to New York

Image Source: www.imgur.com

General Ambrose Burnside of the Civil war: his unusual facial hair led to coining of the word “sideburns”.

Image Source: www.imgur.com

1905, first bananas in Norway

Image Source: www.imgur.com

1937. A clear depiction of the class divide that existed pre-war Britain.

Image Source: www.imgur.com

[Source: www.imgur.com]

Two Decades Ago Their 'Rescuing Hug' Stunned The World And Revolutionised Medicine

Twins Kyrie and Brielle Jackson were born prematurely 12 weeks before their date was due, in 1995. They were born at the Central Massachusetts Medical Center where according to standard practice; twins were incubated separately to reduce chances of infection. Kyrie and Brielle were hence placed in different incubators. Kyrie, who at the time weighed 2lbs 3oz started making good progress and was gaining weight. Brielle on the other hand was having breathing problems and her heart rate was not so good. Her oxygen levels were low and she was not gaining weight.

Image Source: www.lifenews.com

On November 12, Brielle’s condition became critical. She began to turn bluish gray while trying to gasp for air and her heart rate soared. Her parents were terrified that their little bundle of joy may die. Gayle Kasparian, one of the nurses at the hospital tried everything she could but none of the conventional remedies was working. That is when she decided to try a different procedure that was currently in use in most parts of Europe but not in the United States. She got permission from the parents and placed both twins in the same incubator. Immediately she closed the door to the incubator, Brielle snuggled to Kyrie and she began to calm down. Improvement on her blood oxygen readings was seen. When she started to doze, Kyrie wrapped her left arm around her baby sister. Brielle’s temperature rose to normal and her heart rate stabilized.

Image Source: www.lifenews.com/

The twins went home in due time and their parents placed them in the same bed where they continued to thrive. According to the parents, five years later the twins still slept in the same bed and still snuggled.

Image Source: www.lifenews.com

Kyrie’s photograph as she hugged her sister appeared in both the Readers Digest and Life Magazine. It was dubbed the “Rescuing Hug”. It made the twins famous and co-bedding premature twins, quads and triplets became a growing interest. For example, the University of Massachusetts, has co-bedded over 100 sets of multiple twins born prematurely. The hospital staff has found no case of infection between the twins after co-bedding them. Additionally, studies have shown there are benefits to placing premature twins in the same bed.
The hug Kyrie gave to her sister changed their lives and the way premature babies are taken care off. This video catches up with the two 17 years later.
[Source: www.aplus.com]

The Ebola Virus And The Truth They’ve Been Keeping From You

An official study done in 2012 showed how Ebola could transfer between pigs and monkeys that were in separate cages. They were never in direct contact. The experiment made a conclusion that Ebola could be spread through suspended droplets in the air.

An illustration showing the Ebola virus invading a human cell. Image Source: www.cbsnews.com

That Ebola could only be spread through exchange of bodily fluids has been a line we have heard countless times, ever since the virus was discovered, on mainstream news. But corporate media and public health officials have been keeping the truth from you. For some time now, it’s been suspected that CDC’s honesty on this matter is questionable. They have recently made changes concerning Ebola transmission; ease of transference and contamination is of great concern.

Image Source: www.anonhq.com/

According to their update:
“A low risk exposure includes any of the following:
o Household member or other casual contact with an EVD patient.
o Providing patient care or casual contact without high-risk exposure with EVD patients in health care facilities in EVD outbreak affected countries.
“Casual Contact” Definition:
“Casual contact is defined as a) being within approximately 3 feet or within the room or care area for a prolonged period of time while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment or having direct brief contact (e.g., shaking hands) with an EVD case while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment.”

Image Source: www.anonhq.com

Why then didn't the CDC present this information sooner to the public, so that they could implement  effective preventive procedures to curb the spread of the Ebola virus? Ebola is presenting itself as a virus that can spread in the same way Influenza does, but the mainstream media and government insist it can only be transferred through bodily fluids. This is questionable and could turn the general public complacent.

Image Source: www.pontiactribune.com

The new Ebola outbreak is alarming. The world is familiar with the Ebola Zaire, but this is different. Yes, it’s 97% genetically the same, but what is not being broadcasted worldwide is that this new strain is ‘jumping’ borders and spreading very aggressively. It has proved hard to contain. Its incubation period is three weeks and it has ‘hitchhiked’ on international flights to Nigeria since the infected have not been quarantined. Its spread has been unprecedented so far especially in West Africa and one wonders whether it will be contained or will spread even outside Africa.

Image Source: www.anonhq.com/

This 2014 Ebola outbreak is the worst ever since it was discovered in 1976. During a span of five months, it has claimed 1145 lives. August official figures are: Liberia 413; Sierra Leone 348; Guinea 380 and 4 in Nigeria. This could be an underestimate number at the time of reporting, given that 12 cases have been reported so far and over 200 people have been kept under surveillance. Total lives taken a week ago, in the four countries were 961. That is a scary rise of a possible 184 deaths -which is alarming!

Nigeria has been the fourth country to be affected by the Ebola virus which brings the infection tally, in West Africa, to at least 2100 people. This is according to reports from the World Health Organization. Doctors without borders claim that curbing the outbreak may take months even if precautions are taken to discontinue flights to these countries, so as to quarantine the infected.
What is interesting though is the fact that the FDA released a statement stating that “Ebola does not pose a significant threat to the U.S. public,” and this is according to data CDC released. They also stated that the virus was neither “water-borne nor food-borne” and that it could not be “transmitted through the air or spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.”

Image Source: www.anonhq.com/

This non-conclusive reporting on West Africa’s Ebola crisis is a detrimental risk to the containment of the virus. Practical strategies like those implemented during Swine Flu and other viruses should be implemented. If not, how do we expect to contain the deadly Ebola virus that has a death rate ranging from 50 to 80% upon contract? The World Health Organization says that “extraordinary measures are needed to contain the virus.” I think it’s  time we read between the lines and saw what this virus truly is- a potential horror that could reach us if the government and media continued implementing ignorance.
[Sources: www.anonhq.com]

The Camera Of A World War II Soldier Was Found 70 Years Later. What They Found On It, Is Interesting!

Captain Mark D. Anderson, United States Navy and Jean Muller, a historian were alerted to something below their feet while searching for artifacts in the Luxembourg mountainsides from the battle of the bulge. They found a foxhole dug during the World War II battle and inside were the belongings of Technician Fifth Grade Louis J. Archambeau, an American soldier. Among Archambeau belonging’s was a camera that had an undeveloped film. Muller and Anderson developed the film, 70 years later, and brought back to life photographs that tell the story of a dead soldier.

The World War II story as told by Archambeaus very own photos:

Image Source: www.distractify.com

Image Source: www.distractify.com

Image Source: www.distractify.com

Image Source: www.distractify.com

Image Source: www.distractify.com

The camera that contained a partially-exposed film found by Captain Mark Anderson and historian Jean Muller.

Image Source: www.distractify.com

The Battle of the Bulge resulted in more American casualties than any other battle in World War II. Spanning December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945, roughly 19,000 American soldiers lost their lives. However, the battle was an even bigger blow to the Germans, who lost much of their war resources.  
[IMPORTANT NOTE: 70-Year-Old WWII Foxhole Photos Turn Out to Be a Hoax,  Check more info here: www.petapixel.com]