Blind Spot

So, despite all the warnings and forecasts the apocalypse, end of the world or whatever you might like to call it, failed to transpire.  As many people pointed out at the time, however, when people say the end of the world is coming they almost always mean the end of humanity as a species, rather than the entire third rock going pear shaped.

So, will it happen any time soon? Who can say but it sometimes pays to keep a sharp pair of eyes about you. Steven, the hero (I guess) of Blind Spot couldn't see how his day could get any worse, but that's because he was is looking the wrong way. Blind Spot is a short film by Matthew K. Nayman, a director and cinematographer from Canada.

Serial Taxi

A young businesswoman is caught in inclement weather and decides to hail a cab.  As she starts her journey her social media alerts inform her that there is a taxi killer at large.  Immediately she begins to question her safety as her driver begins to act in ever stranger ways…

Serial Taxi was created by Paolo Cogliati and produced at Ringling College of Art and Design, 2013.  I have to say, I think this is excellent work.  OK, I might have seen the end coming but it is so skilfully done that I didn’t!  Paulo is unfortunate enough to have his name dot commed by another, so you can find his work and resume at his website paoloanimates.com. Serial Taxi also has its own website if you want to read more about it.

The Remarkable Giraffe Weevil of Madagascar

No, this isn’t the monster from a new Ridley Scott film – it is something that our very own Ark in Space, planet Earth, has thrown up.  Called the Giraffe Weevil for reasons that take no soon-ness to become obvious, it lives in Madagascar where it has carved out its own small niche.  The male has evolved this gigantic neck to fight off rival suitors for mating rights. Perhaps a little OTT but the Ark in Space has the story together with a very cool gallery of photos. If you are wondering why you have never heard of it before, that's because it was only discovered in 2008.

Image Credit Wikimedia

The Katskhi Pillar

Deep in the Caucasus region, where Western Asia and Eastern Europe meet, the small country of Georgia has a number of surprises. Not least is the Katskhi Pillar, a 130 feet high limestone monolith. Even more surprising than the monolith itself, however, is the fact that there is a church on its apex.

It is not a large church by any means – space alone demands its diminutive size. The top of monolith, known locally as the Pillar of Life, has an area of just 150 m2. The church – or more likely a hermitage – was made in the ninth or tenth century and lay abandoned from the thirteenth century onwards. Surprisingly, there are no records (official ones at least) of the monolith being climbed after it was deserted until as late as 1944.

The Overview Effect

Fred Hoyle, the English astronomer said in 1948 “Once a photograph of the Earth, taken from the outside, is available… a new idea as powerful as any in history will be let loose.”  Twenty four years later the Blue Marble photograph was taken by astronauts on the Apollo 17 mission and has become one of the most extensively circulated photographic images ever taken. 

The photograph has stirred a sense of wonder in countless millions of people. Yet what must it be like to be the photographer?  Over the decades since we first ventured in to space, astronauts have recounted the perspective-altering experience of seeing the Earth from the outside.  Reactions vary, of course, but a common feature is one of awe, a new or renewed understanding of how all life is connected and – perhaps most importantly – an acute sense of responsibility for the environment. It is called The Overview Effect.

Overview by the Planetary Collective is a short film which recounts how The Overview Effect altered the outlook of five astronauts, Edgar Mitchell, Ron Garan, Nicole Stott, Jeff Hoffman and Shane Kimbrough. It’s twenty minute long but every second is worth it.

Stanley Pickle

Stanley’s life works like clockwork – literally.  He lives within his own self-contained world but everything changes when he spots a girl from his bedroom window.  This charming stop motion short movie is something of a bittersweet tale – one of loneliness, isolation and, finally, freedom.  I am sure that the end will put a smile on the most cynical of faces but I still have to wonder how Stanley’s life came to be as it was in the first place!

Stanley Pickle was shot entirely on a stills camera on 2 sets and 2 locations. The film premièred on to the festival circuit in June 2010 at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, where it picked up the McLaren Award for New British Animation, followed by Oscar qualification at the US première LA Shorts where the film won Best Experimental.  It was directed by Victoria Mather and stars Drew Caiden who surely has the most expressive face on film since Jim Carey.

Le Marais

Le Marais is a district of Paris which, were you to choose, could be a holiday destination in itself.  Although it seems to be seen more and more as simply the gay quarter that should tell the seasoned traveler something – gay districts usually take root in neighborhoods which are diverse, cultural and historic (and therefore interesting to the curious). Le Marais is all of those – and more.

So, take a tour through Le Marais on something typically French – a skateboard.  Seriously. Filmmaker Thomas Guerrin followed an (unnamed) boarder through the streets of Le Marais (using a glidecam + 5D III) capturing, in this unusual way, the architecture and feel of the place. He captures the people too – Le Marais has long been home to Jewish and Chinese communities and he captures these as well as other categories more typical of French life, such as the older lady with her host of pampered dogs!

It is difficult enough to capture the spirit of a place without being on a skateboard, but Guerrin  artfully captures the essence of Le Marais in all its variety. I have yet to see a better advert for my favourite Parisian district.

Virtual Journeys: Exploring the World Through Digital Experiences

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Once upon a time, if you wanted to explore the world, you'd have to book a flight or several flights, along with trains, buses, and perhaps even rental cars. Times have really changed, with digital technology making it possible for us to travel to all corners of the globe without ever leaving our homes. Whether you strap on a virtual reality (VR) headset to go on a simulated journey through some of the world's most iconic landmarks or use augmented reality (AR) to mix up the real world with digital elements, there have never been more ways to see this planet.

Today, we have online platforms at our fingertips that allow us to visit museums, historical sites, and other global destinations from our computers and mobile devices. All of this technological progress has opened up the world like never before, making travel a possibility for just about anyone with a stable internet connection. In this article, we look at how digital experiences are giving us a new way to see the world. 

Online Gaming and Virtual Exploration

While online gaming isn't the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of digital travel, it's one of the best ways to experience the world. Many games have incorporated elements of virtual travel, giving players an opportunity to explore real-world locations or fictional worlds inspired by them. Think about the popularity of Las Vegas and its casinos. 

While many people have visiting Las Vegas as a destination on their bucket list, depending on where they live, it might take years of planning to ever get there. That's where online casinos come in. Technology has made it possible for these virtual platforms to recreate the Vegas experience on computer, tablet, and smartphone screens around the world. For those who like spinning the reels, online slots provide an authentic experience, with online casinos boasting large catalogs of themed games for players to choose from. 

As VR and AR become more advanced, more online casinos will incorporate these technologies, making the experience even more like the real thing. Beyond online casinos, games like Assassin's Creed allow players to explore historical settings that have been recreated to a point where they're hard to distinguish from what one would see in person. The immersive environment created in these types of games gives players a chance to experience the world without traveling. 

Virtual Reality and Travel

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The travel industry has gone all in with incorporating VR into its diverse offerings, allowing its customers to engage in interactive experiences that simulate real-world environments. VR travel allows people to tour famous landmarks like the Great Wall of China and the Louvre Museum without having to buy an expensive plane ticket or travel a long distance.

One example of this trend is the National Geographic Explore VR, which lets users go on virtual expeditions to iconic locations like Antarctica and Machu Picchu. With their VR headsets strapped on, they can kayak around icebergs, explore ancient ruins, and interact with these sites as if they were there in person. Blueplanet VR Explore is another way for people to travel virtually to destinations they might not be able to visit in person, all while learning about the environment. Brink Traveler is another popular VR travel app that offers a fully immersive 3D experience where users can visit natural wonders around the world with virtual guides and even take pictures if they want to. 

Augmented Reality and Cultural Exploration

AR travel is a slightly different experience than VR travel in that it overlays digital information onto the physical environment instead of creating an entirely virtual environment like VR. When it comes to virtual travel, AR enhances how the user views reality and adds interactive elements like text, images, and animations. You might see AR being used at cultural and historical sites to add additional context and information to the monuments visitors are exploring. Museums and historical sites are increasingly adopting AR to create interactive exhibits. They provide visitors with an AR-enabled device that allows them to view historical events, artifacts, and structures in their original context.

Welsh Kid's Ensemble Choir Performs for King Charles III

 

King Charles III recently visited the Senedd in Cardiff to mark the 25th anniversary of devolution in Cymru (sometimes known as Wales). His plan - to make a speech reflecting on the quarter century and looking to the future.

However, the show was somewhat stolen...  Before his speech and the ceremony, there was a performance of the song Safwn yn y Bwlch by Ysgol Treganna Ensemble.  It's a beautiful rendition of a powerful and popular song and, quite rightly, has been doing the rounds on Instagram and TikTok.  As the viewing public only got a minute or so of the ensemble's performance on the news channels, however, I thought it best to show the complete song as they sang it in competition at the Youth Eisteddfod of 2024.  It's sung in four parts (or voices) and the harmonics, particularly when the age of the singers is taken into account, is a joy to behold, as well as the expressive (and typically Welsh) facial performances. Little wonder that they were chosen to perform it in front of the King and Queen on 11 July.

Screenshot (c) S4C

Some of the lyrics are reproduced below.  I do love how this hymn to independence (craftily?) made it into the Senedd celebrations. 

'The dawn of independence is breaking!' 

'We shall not move one inch until Wales is free. 

'Wales is in our blood, we stand for Wales, Her freedom lies within.' 

'We stand in the breach... we stand for our nation, our language, our children, our folk. Together we stand as one.'

The King did deliver some of his speech in Welsh.  You might call it lip-service (literally) to the language as his prononciation of the iaith yr nefoedd (language of heaven) has not improved since his investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle back in 1969.  That sounds a little like sour grapes (and possibly, it is) but he's had a long life in which to get to grips with the language.

Apparently, once the children had finished singing Safwn yn y Bwlch, the Llywydd of the Senedd, Elin Jones, said to the king - "follow that!" which produced a grin before he launched into his speech.  Sometimes, you jusr know when you've been upstaged.

What is Nanoscience? (Narrated by Stephen Fry)

You may well ask. However, if you have ever wanted a great introduction to nanoscience and nanotechnology you can’t go wrong with NanoYou, a short documentary narrated by Steven Fry.

The film was mainly shot at and with the assistance of the Nanoscience Centre at the University of Cambridge and features researchers involved in exploring the world of Nano.

The Pyramids of Egypt

A dig outside of Cairo in 1920 and a single archaeologist, whose only company is a somewhat mystified camel, makes the discovery of a lifetime.  The secret of the ancients are about to be unlocked…

This very amusing animated short was created by the team of Nicolas Mrikhi, Corentin Charron, Olivier Lafay and Lise Corriol.  It was produced as a partnership between their university, Supinfocom Arles and the Museum of Marseille.

The Schmidt Sting Pain Index: How Much Could You Take?

Image Credit Flickr User Danny Perez Photography

You may well have been stung by a honey bee (above) in the past and your memories of it are quite likely not too fond.  However, have you ever wondered how that sting compared to others? The Ark in Space has quite a list on offer – of the creepy crawlies which make up the Schmidt Sting Pain Index.

It’s named after a guy who took time out to experience hundreds of stings for himself so he could describe the pain for himself – and for us fingers crossed.  So, which insect has the nastiest sting? Go find out for yourself!

Bog Bodies

Bog bodies have been found throughout Europe, the cadavers of people preserved in peat bogs some of which are thousands of years old.  Ritual sacrifice has long been suspected as a reason for a number of these deaths and this fantastic animation by Plazma for Mummies Alive (a six part documentary series) imagines the fate of just one bog man.  It is chilling but fascinating dramatic reconstruction of how a man may have died many centuries ago.

The Prandtl–Glauert Singularity – Amazing Jet Plane Shock Collar

It’s an amazing site – a cone of vapor appearing around an aircraft which is travelling at transonic speed.  Known as the Prandtl–Glauert Singularity this astonishing effect simultaneously widens the eyes and drops the jaw. Yet how does it occur?

Image Credit Wikimedia

Alien Communications

How do you finally bond with the boy that you have crushed on for years? By discovering an alien probe in the woods and making sure that he’s the first person you call about it.  Yet even then the course of true love never does run smooth.  This charming and funny coming-of-age short was created by Pennsylvania based Something's Awry Productions and stars upcoming actors Evangeline Young and Luke Baxter.

The Laws of Symmetry Explained

Symmetry is vital to understanding and predicting how our universe works. The relationship between symmetry and the mechanics of the universe is fundamental to physics. From Noether’s theorem to the new and exciting world of local symmetries being revealed by modern day physics, Tara Shears explores the physics of symmetry. This animation was produced by Rosanna Wan, part of the 2016-17 animator-in-residence programme at the Royal Instutition, supported by the Sfumato Foundation.

Sandbox

A group of battle worn soldiers stagger through a vast desert – a seemingly never ending, hellish sandbox.  They are lost but their enemy knows exactly where they are and soon the come under attack.  Yet nothing could have prepared them for the true nature of their mission or their adversary.  Written and directed by Daniel Carberry, Sandbox has made the Official Selection of a number of film festivals. Watch it and you’ll see why.

Lovebites

Cecil the praying mantis is in the mood for a little love and he knows just the present for the lady mantis he has in his sights.  However, poor Cecil is blissfully unaware of the fate which will befall him once the object of his affections has had her wicked way with him.  Can he escape her clutches before he gets a love bite to end all love bites? Lovebites is a 2014 animated short film by students from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment in Sydney, Australia.

Iguazu Falls – Big Water of the Borders

In the local Tupi language, the word means big water.  One look at the staggering Iguazu Falls, located on the border of the Brazilian State of Paraná and the Argentine Province of Misiones and you realise that this is no exaggeration.

Image Credit Flickr User ametxa

Surf City Surf Dogs Catch the Waves

Wipeout! Now in its fifth year the Surf City Surf Dog event, held in Huntington Beach, California brings together over forty surf fans together with their human companions who are there to ensure that all the fun is safe for the surfer dogs.  This fund-raising event helps to raise awareness of various dog related causes, including animal rescue and medical care.  The Ark in Space has a feature on these surfing canines accompanied by some fantastic photos.

Image Credit San Diego Shooter

We’ve All Been There

There are many films out there that make you shed a little tear because they are so desperately sad – and gaining the sympathy of an audience to that extent is a pretty difficult trick to pull off.

Perhaps even harder in terms of film-making is the ability to get your audience all lachrymose because the film has warmed their hearts so much.  Well, call me a big softy but We’ve All Been There by the Australian creative collective Truce Films, made me reach for the happy hanky – and all in just a little over seven minutes.

The recession, triple or quadruple or whatever dip we’re on at the moment has hit everywhere, even the hinterlands of Australia.  There, Jess, eight months pregnant and so far behind on her rent she has received an eviction notice, asks for more hours at the diner at which she works in a desperate bid to make ends meet.

Her request is not received with much sympathy by her manager but when an old lady arrives for a late night supper, a connection is made that will impact the two in ways they both could never have imagined.

We’ve All Been There won two awards at the Tropfest 2013 festival, Best Film and a very deserved Best Actress for Laura Wheelwright who plays Jess (who you may have seen as Electra in Underground: The Julian Assange Story).  Stalwarts of Australian film and TV Penne Hackforth-Jones and Ditch Davey play the lady visiting the diner and Matt the mechanic.  The film was written and directed by Nicholas Clifford.

You might well say you saw the end coming (I did but I didn’t and you will see what I mean when you watch the movie) but what’s that at the corner of your eye?

Smelling Great on a Budget: The Ultimate Guide to Inexpensive Men's Cologne

Ever gasped at the price of a designer cologne? You're not alone. The good news is, you don't need to break the bank to smell amazing. With the rise of quality inexpensive men's colognes, smelling your best is more accessible than ever. So, if you've been holding back on exploring fragrances due to budget constraints, it's time to rethink that!

Why You Need to Try Inexpensive Colognes

Let’s face it — we all want to smell good, but high-end fragrances can make our wallets weep. But here’s the truth: “cheap” doesn’t have to mean “low quality.” In fact, some of the best affordable colognes out there have rich, sophisticated scents and remarkable staying power.

Plus, the low price points give you the creative freedom to explore different scents and amass a versatile fragrance wardrobe. Why stop at one fancy bottle, when you can experience an entire olfactory world?

Tips for Selecting an Inexpensive Cologne

Ready to start the hunt for your signature scent? When you know how to do it, it’s not that difficult. Come, are you an expert in men’s fragrances or just starting out? With this guidance you will know how to find the best cheap men’s cologne.

• Know Your Preferences

First, learn something about your senses before you start discovering the wide cosmos of fragrances. Would you prefer something citrus and fresh? Do you want a deeper scent with woodsy notes? This information will help you to exclude some colognes and detect the most suitable for you.

• Tester Strips and Samples

Don’t consider this step useless. Always ask for testing strips and samples. You might do it in any store. Do you want to try a particular cologne? Find testing strips in the store and spray each cologne on a separate strip. Take those strips and wear them the whole day. You will notice how these colognes change on your skin from the very beginning.

• Seasonal Scents

You might want to think about building a fragrance wardrobe to cater to different seasons. A light, aquatic scent might be the perfect finishing touch for a summer barbecue, whereas a warm, spicy fragrance might be more fitting for a romantic, winter night in. That way, you’ll always have a fragrance to suit the mood and the occasion.

Top Inexpensive Men's Cologne

Woody Sage

Similar to the popular Le Labo Santal 33, Woody Sage is a woody and earthy scent that is quite unisex. The beautiful and captivating scent is a solid everyday go-to that can be dressed up or down. It is highly recommended for just about anyone; a good affordable scent to add to the rotation.

Woody Chestnut 

Fall and Winter seasons call for an ultimate snug, warm scent. Woody chestnut will do the trick. Smoked woods and amber are the epitome of this snuggling smell. Inspired by Maison Margiela By the FirePlace, the fragrant backdrop completes time at the fire, all snuggled up.

Sunny Vetiver and Neroli

Transport yourself to a sun-drenched beach with Sunny Vetiver & Neroli, a refreshing and invigorating fragrance inspired by Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino. This zesty scent blends citrusy neroli with earthy vetiver for a captivating aroma that's perfect for summer days.

Smell Your Best, Always 

Don’t let money get in the way of making sure you smell your best. With a little searching for cheap men’s cologne and some advice from the pros you can build a selection of fragrances that work for your personality, style, and price.

There are cheap cologne options for every occasion from Dossier. Go ahead and explore your options, find your go-to, and enjoy smelling great with the boosting confidence that comes with it. 

Image Credit

Danger Planet

During a routine scan on a distant planet, a young space scout finds romance with a female pilot. But when peril strikes the two star-crossed explorers, he must face what lurks in the darkness of the planet to rescue the girl.

Perhaps something is in the air - this is the second love story that we have posted up on Kuriositas today - even though they could hardly be any different from each other!

Danger Planet is an animated short created by students at Southern Adventist University in Tennessee. This 4 minute student animation was finished primarily in a summer after over a year of preproduction. You may (or may not) spot some possibly accidental references to a number of science fiction movies. See if you can spot them!

The Mystery of Resin

No one knows for absolute sure why some trees secrete resin. However, with the aid of some marvelous macrophotography, although the mystery surrounding this subject cannot be solved for certain, its beauty – at times deadly – becomes evident.

Image Credit Flickr User Paul Garlan

Resin is a chemical that oozes out of various trees. It is known as a secretion rather than an excretion. Excretions are purely waste products whereas, although the reasons behind resin are still a little obscure, most scientists believe that it has some sort of purpose or function. It is probably not simply to trap insects, although there is something almost morbidly satisfying about the sight of an insect being ‘consumed’ by resin. Perhaps it is the fact we have watched Jurassic Park too many times and take some satisfaction in imagining a scientist in the year ten thousand working out the DNA of an amber trapped insect. Most probably it is the wonder of seeing something trapped in time as perfectly preserved as it was on the day it died.

Naptime!

If you have children who are about to start their summer holiday then you might appreciate this – as long as you keep in mind that its creator, Chris Capel, has his tongue so firmly in his cheek it’s probably a surprise that he can talk.  If you are easily offended then, again, don’t press that play button.  If you dread what the summer will bring with your enfants terribles, get your credit card ready….

Einstein-Rosen

One reviewer has called this short an enjoyable blend of complex quantum physics and good old family banter.  That is so true. Let's set the scene. It is the summer of 1982. Teo claims he has found a wormhole. His brother Óscar does not believe him - at least not for now.  It may take a few decades, but...

This charming short film was written and directed by Olga Osorio.  It’s a delight to watch from start to finish, not only for the script and pace of the action but the excellent performances, particularly from the two youngsters.  My feeling is that they didn’t have much of a clue what they were saying, but they certainly give the impression that they do!

The Roof of Africa: The Spectacular Beauty of the Ethiopian Highlands

Do not be uncomfortable if the first words that come to mind when Ethiopia is mentioned have negative connotations. If you live in the developed world then you may easily connect the country to its well documented recent history of insurgency, civil war and famine. Yet although Ethiopia’s troubles are far from over there is much more to the country than this. Its Highlands contain the largest continuous area of high altitude land in the whole of the continent. Little wonder then that the Ethiopian Highlands are often called The Roof of Africa. They are also, without exaggeration, simply spectacular.

Image Credit Flickr User Banksias

Image Credit Flickr User Indrik Meyneur

The Highlands are enormous and are divided by the Ethiopian Rift. All of the pictures you will see here are from the northwestern side of the highlands. Designated a National Park in 1969 (the first of ten in the country), this portion contains Simien Mountain and Ras Dashan which is the highest peak in Ethiopia.