“If he had been paid, or taken a tax deduction, perhaps. Some places maybe took him to dinner, gave him some V.I.P. treatment, that’s their decision, but there was no loss that we could uncover. Basically, you
have a guy going around the country on his own nickel giving free stuff
to museums.”
Mark Landis is one of the greatest art forgers in history but instead of making
money from his copies he has simply donated them to institutions over
the past 30 years. Creating epic stories as to how he came into
ownership of the artwork he would at times dress as a Jesuit priest or
in other various costumes.
He’s a great guy, he had no ill wishes and did it to please/honor his mother. He just wanted
to give, but didn’t have the means.
After the evacuation, nature has slowly crept in. Once an area of heavy industry and collectivized agriculture, the zone is now nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding countryside. The forest has reclaimed long-abandoned villages and farmland; roads and buildings are being swallowed up by thickets of trees and shrubs.
It is now a sanctuary for many animals such as bears, boars, wolves, deer, and cats.
A - Fuck you Russia B - The report was led by Dick Pound, who is a McGill Alum and also the owner of the best name ever. C - If you google dick pound surprisingly the results are very PG D - If you click through the photo...Those Russian outfits don't leave much to the imagination
This is the wrong kind of the ‘Own the Podium’ program: Russia could be banned from participating in international athletics, including the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics, after an independent report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) alleged a widespread state-sponsored doping program in Russian sport. The 325-page report was led by Dick Pound, a Canadian […]
This description of the kangaroo from the early explorers led many back home to not take them too seriously for quite some time…until the first kangaroo to be seen in Europe was one shot by James Cook’s crew in 1770.
The Guano Islands Act is federal legislation passed by the U.S. Congress that enables citizens of the U.S. to take possession of islands containing guano deposits. The islands can be located anywhere, so long as they are not occupied and not within the jurisdiction of other governments. It also empowers the President of the United States to use the military to protect such interests and establishes the criminal jurisdiction of the United States.
Whenever any citizen of the United States discovers a deposit of guano on any island, rock, or key, not within the lawful jurisdiction of any other Government, and not occupied by the citizens of any other Government, and takes peaceable possession thereof, and occupies the same, such island, rock, or key may, at the discretion of the President, be considered as appertaining to the United States.
More than 100 islands have been claimed for the U.S. under the Guano Islands Act. One of them is Baker Island
You know what builders say when they run out of room? Build up, not out. That seems to be the concept embraced by Airbus after the company filed a patent with the European Patent Office for a new airplane seat layout that sees passengers stacked on top of each other. If you are as horrified by […]
The king ordered the experiment to be conducted using two identical twins. Both of the twins had been tried for the crimes they had committed and condemned to death. Their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment on the condition that one of the twins drank three pots of coffee, and the other drank the same amount of tea, every day for the rest of their lives.
Two physicians were appointed to supervise the experiment and report its finding to the king. Unfortunately, both doctors died, presumably of natural causes, before the experiment was completed. Gustav III, who was assassinated in 1792, also died before seeing the final results. Of the twins, the tea drinker was the first to die, at age 83; the date of death of the surviving coffee drinker is unknown.
Michael Jackson insisted on bringing a llama into the recording studio.
Unsurprisingly, Mercury was nonplussed by this behavior. According to an interview conducted with the Times of London, Queen’s former manager, Jim “Miami” Beach claims that Mercury called him and said, “Can you get over here? You’ve got to get me out of here, I’m recording with a llama.” [x]
Barring a few notableexceptions, most wireless audio speakers are better only heard than seen. Taking that idea to its eventual conclusion is Soundwall, a Wi-Fi connected speaker disguised behind the surface of an pleasing work of art, photograph, chalkboard, or even a blank canvas to customize to your heart’s content.
One might assume upon being informed about the audio capabilities of this product that there are several speakers hidden underneath. On the contrary, the Soundwall’s entire surface operates as a speaker, using DML (Distributed Mode Loading) technology; 4 electro-acoustic exciters and 2 tweeters vibrate the flat panel and transform the visual into an auditory experience. The solution is desirable in two-fold: 1) the flat+wall-mounted form factor makes the Soundwall a decor and space optimized audio solution, and 2) the DML audio technology will trump almost, if not all, smaller wireless audio speakers.
“Among my tools were a beat machine, record player, 12” vinyls, black/white latex, acrylic, spray paint, coffee, and a clear horizon. Aiming to capture the energy of the moment, my process would begin with crafting a beat based from sounds discovered on the records. From there, with that beat in my ears, I would create a painting that reflects the sound and energy of that instance.” – Bisco Smith
Soundwall has partnered with artists like Bisco Smith, Will Day, Amelia Caruso, and Spencer Rogers to offer a catalog of works to appeal to a range of artistic tastes, whether it be street art or colorful abstract works. Those with their own creative streak can upload their own photo to be printed into a 24″x36″, 36″x36″, or 36″x48″ print; chalkboard or blank canvases are also an option for those seeking to personalize their speaker+wall art at their leisure.
A 100 Watts Class D Digital Amplifier handles the 2 channels rated for 50 Watts RMS each, while users can control the sound using an iOS or OS X Airplay compatible device, or Android phone/tablet via BubbleUPnP. The whole system is powered by a Raspberry Pi 2 computer stashed inside each canvas.
Soundwall’s complete product line is available online at their website, with prices starting at $599 for a blank canvas model.
You can call this a sight for sore eyes for ski enthusiasts and resort operators. Earlier this morning, on the second day of September, Whistler Blackcomb recorded its first snowfall of the season. Webcam live feeds show the peak of Whistler Mountain has been blanketed by a dusting of snow. At the moment, the freezing […]
Fun fact:
Cashews are sold shell-less because they are a member of the same family as poison ivy and contain an oily chemical called urushiol, a strong irritant that can be fatal if ingested. Cashews are removed from the shells and roasted at high temperatures, steamed or boiled in oils. [x]
Apparently putting clumsy boys near priceless paintings from the 17th century is a recipe for disaster – who knew? A 12-year-old boy from Taiwan is likely feeling a little guilty after tripping over a display and punching a hole in an oil painting by Paolo Porpora worth around $1.5 million. In the security footage released on YouTube, he appears […]
Tesla Motors, the automobile company that designs and manufactures the world’s most advanced electric vehicles and electric powertrains, has secured a lease on a 18,500-square-foot location in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood. The company will be the sole commercial tenant at the Radius residential development on West 4th Avenue and Fir Street, located near the south end of the Granville Street […]
