Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
International Newsletter on Rock Art
The 2009 newsletter/s is/are not yet on the site but the Masaryk University website says that an article about the Cave of Swimmers (Gilf Kebir, Egypt) rock art by Jiří Svoboda should appear in that issue. Here’s the citation: SVOBODA, Jiří. Observing anthropomorphs in the Swimmers´ Cave, Gilf el-Kebir, Egypt. International Newsletter on Rock Art 54, Francie, Comité International dArt Rupestre (CAR, France. ISSN 1022-3282, 2009, vol. 2009, no. 54, pp. 23-25. And here’s the abstract:
Several rockshelters and smaller caves in the southern Gilf el-Kebir area provided Neolithic paintings, but there is a variability of topics and meanings between the individual sites. This paper examines the so-called “swimmers”, and compares their form with ethnological analogies: the acrobatic dances of actual Africa.
Keep an eye on the above page if you’re interested.
Firefox 3.6 isn’t even out the door and the Mozilla folks are already looking well ahead not only to 3.7 but to 4.0 as well. One area the team is focusing on in particular is the user interface which is starting to look a little long in the tooth compared to Google Chrome and even Internet Explorer. Luckily, things are beginning to move ahead and the upcoming releases are starting to look very interesting from a design point of view. And, since this is an open-source project after all, Mozilla is asking for your help with one particular problem, designing a new “Home tab.”
“In the upcoming releases of Firefox, we’ll move the Home button to be a ‘Home tab’ instead. We will keep the existing functionality where you can display a web page of your choice — or disable it altogether — but since we’re moving this page to live in Firefox instead of on the web, there are some interesting opportunities,” the announcement reads.
Traditionally, the home button would load the page the user has selected as his “home page.” Firefox is currently using this to link to a custom Google search page though, on Linux for example, it may be a help page or anything else the distribution might decide. A couple of years back Opera, the perennial underdog in the browser market introduced a great new con… (read more)
Volkswagen has already announced its enthusiastic plans to become the world’s number one manufacturer in the next decade so its rivals have already started developing new market strategies to counteract its expansion. One of the first to react to VW’s growth is Toyota, which recently decided to end a 17-year collaboration with the German manufacturer in Japan.
The reason is still an enigma for all of us but leftlanenews.com writes that Toyota and Volkswagen will cut ties in 2010. … (read more)
Los Angeles has always been a sought after city for housing. Now, houses that love the environment as much as you do are being constructed by RLG properties in Atwater Village in LA. Taking advantage of the small lot ordinance, the company is constructing 23 homes. Each of these will boast 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and an open floor plan. Priced at $599,000 onwards, The Mews, designed by Corsini + Stark, have a whole lot of concepts and technologies that make these houses environment friendly and energy efficient. Some of these include extensive day lighting, natural ventilation, Grasscrete permeable paving, appliances that use energy efficiently, an installed solar system and bamboo flooring.
Look through the over sized windows for a beautiful view of the hills of the Griffith Park located nearby and enjoy sunrises and sunsets. If you ever plan to move to LA in the near future, move to this beautiful green and clean neighborhood.
Article Tags: Copenhagen Conference
Cracks emerged on Tuesday in the alliance on climate change formed at the Copenhagen conference last week, with leading developing countries criticising the resulting accord. The so-called BASIC countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China – backed the accord in a meeting with the US on Friday night, and it was also supported by nearly all other nations at the talks, including all of the biggest emitters.
But on Tuesday the Brazilian government labelled the accord “disappointing” and complained that the financial assistance it contained from rich to poor countries was insufficient. South Africa also raised objections: Buyelwa Sonjica, the environment minister, called the failure to produce a legally binding agreement “unacceptable”. She said her government had considered leaving the meeting.
“We are not defending this, as I have indicated, for us it is not acceptable, it is definitely not acceptable,” she said. There was even harsher criticism from Andreas Carlgren, environment minister of Sweden, current holder of the rotating European Union presidency, who proclaimed the Copenhagen accord “a disaster” and “a great failure.
Click source to read FULL article
Source: ft.com
The tuners from ART unveiled their latest contraption, the G Streetline, at the 2009 Dubai Motor Show, held between December 16-20. Based on the Mercedes-Benz G55K AMG, the G Streetline recalls the one-off ART AS55K Yaas Edition, created for the Royal Family of Abu Dhabi some five months ago.
Enhanced performance, an innovative lighting system, modification into a wide-body design, a superior wheel/chassis combination, and high quality interior improvements, are all part of the ve… (read more)
With all the excitement surrounding Volvo’s countrymen Saab, the fate of Ford’s division in Europe has somehow slipped in the background. Yet, apparently, things are moving along and, according to some sources cited by Bloomberg, Ford will announce a sale as soon as today.
The rumor pushes the deadline when the deal was expected to be concluded some two months ahead. Last week, the deal was seen as done by February 14.
"The Volvo deal sees no more hurdles,&quo… (read more)
“Eveline Zahradnik. 2009. Zur Darstellung eines Königs mit krankhaftem Beinbefund auf dem Relief ‘Spaziergang im Garten’ Spectral Imaging of Ostraca. – PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 6(8) (2009)” was written on the December 23, 2009 at 09:25 on “PalArch”.*Abstract* The relief Berlin 15000 from the Amarna Period, known as ‘The Stroll in the Garden’ most likely shows Tutankhamun with an injury of the left leg. According to a specialist in accident surgery who also practices sports medicine, the relief shows a man leaning on an auxiliary crutch whose left leg seems to be injured, as he is holding the crutch on his right side. This assumption is further strengthened by the fact that in 2005, a new CT scan of the mummy of Tutankhamun diagnosed a fracture of the left leg.
Tutankhamun was also the sole king to be represented with sticks in his hands, and a high number of sticks were among his grave goods. I elaborate on the unusual representation of a young king holding a staff and the potential medical consequences and complications of a broken leg.————————-
*Download PDF File*Links:
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[1] http://www.palarch.nl/wp-content/Zahradnik_Spaziergang_im_garten_PJAEE_6_8_2009.pdf
Dubai may have its financial troubles. But that hasn’t stopped the country from plucking the moon out of the sky. Designed by Varabyeu Partners for an international design competition, the New Moon will be the center piece of a new landscape park, Zabeel Park, in the City of Dubai. The structure is designed as a crescent, a symbol of energy and power. The building has five levels with an observatory each. These five levels symbolize the Five Pillars of Islam; faith (Shahadah), prayer (Salat), charity (Zakaat), lent (Sawm) and pilgrimage (Hajj). The outward siding of the structure is made of steel frame with different transparency levels and is decorated with Arab calligraphy.
The transparency levels make it possible to control the buildings lighting and air temperatures, ensures circulation of air and protects the insides from direct exposure to the suns rays. This helps create a microclimate in the building and reduces the use of the power supply systems. To further cut energy consumptions, solar panels and batteries should be installed on the exterior of the building. The New Moon was built according to LEED Green Building standards. This is yet another marvel in Dubai; and what makes it cooler? It is environment friendly!
Article Tags: Web Article
A few years ago, I accepted global warming theory with few doubts. I wrote several columns for this paper condemning what I thought were unfair attacks by skeptics and defending the climate scientists.
Boy, was I naive.
Since the Climategate emails and documents revealed active collusion to thwart skeptics and even outright fraud, I’ve been trying to correct the record of my earlier foolishness. In one of those columns, I even wrote: ‘And see Real Climate (www.realclimate.org) for global warming science without the political spin.”
In fact, Real Climate was and is nothing more than the house organ of global warming activists, concerned more with politics than with science.
Source: nctimes.com
Eco Factor: Sustainable pavilion for a private residence.
The Leaf House by Undercurrent Architects is a sustainable pavilion for a private residence constructed in Sydney, Australia. The nature-inspired design allows the occupants to be in the garden and inside the cottage at the same time. The building engages it surroundings and forms a part of the landscape, with its roof blending into the vegetation.
Heritage Key (Sean Williams)
With video.
“In most Egyptian tombs you’ve either got the wall paintings or the coffin.” Fiona, 8th Countess of Carnarvon says, stressing the uniqueness of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the greatest discovery in history. Its treasures may be well documented, less so the incredible wall paintings that greeted Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon when they burst through in 1922 (Watch a special video on the discovery here).Lady Carnarvon, herself a two-time author on the Tutankhamun phenomenon with Carter & Carnarvon (click here to buy) and Egypt at Highclere: The Discovery of Tutankhamun (click here to buy), seems totally engrossed in the walls she and husband George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon have replicated in the bowels of Highclere Castle.
Fischer Connectors: overmolded connectors and cable assemblies perfect for scientific testing equipment.
Able to withstand vibrations, explosions, sand storms, torrential rains, deep-freeze temperatures, crash tests, melting processes, and ocean depths of 100 meters, Fischer connectors were recently selected by Pinnacle, a worldwide energy solutions company to the oil and gas industry. “Our operations would come to a screeching halt if our instruments failed. We rely on collecting data 24/7,” says Ralf Krug, Development Engineer, for Pinnacle.
“Fischer was the only manufacturer who had the type of rugged connector and cable assembly that met the specifications for our geo data gathering equipment. Its durable connectors and rugged cable assembly are difficult to damage and excel in extreme environments typical of fracture and reservoir diagnostic and monitoring work,” continues Krug. “In the past, we specified military-style connectors, but our new products required something smaller with more pull strength, a specific number of pins, fail-safe mechanical lock, and rugged construction. Fischer had what we needed, stated Krug.”
“What’s interesting about Pinnacle’s application is that the tiltmeters equipped with Fischer connectors allow the scientist to observe the underground movement of fluids – several 1000m beneath the earth’s surface,” says Daniel Spycher, International Sales Director for Fischer Connectors SA. “Our job as manufacturers of high-quality electronic components is to design products that guarantee reliability in the most demanding environments. For this application, Fischers’ interconnectivity solution included a cable assembly that mates with a Fischer DEE 105 receptacle, while the other end of the cable assembly plugs into a controller device.”
Fischer’s high-performance connectors offer excellent strength-to-weight ratio and can withstand harsh environments. Connector products are 360° EMC shielded and sealed up to IP68, or even hermetic. Ideal for frequent connect and disconnect operations, the plugs and receptacles are engineered to endure more than 10,000 mating cycles within a temperature range of -50°C to +150°C.
Fischer attributes its marketplace success to its innovative technology, responsiveness, rapid and wide-ranging solutions, flexibility, and high-quality products. Fischer’s internal technical support team efficiently creates the perfect design and product match for optimum customer satisfaction.
Part the waters for the Orcageno superyacht! Pharos Marine unveiled plans for this hydrogen diesel- electric yacht baby lately. The yacht has a slender hull form with an axe bow which offers lower resistance with a low entrance angle. The yacht can cruise up to a distance of 13,000 nautical miles. The minimal surface design reduces the brunt on marine life and shoreline erosion. The yacht is propelled by a hydrogen diesel-electric combustion engine that uses hydrogen fuel, a cleaner option to diesel that produces three times the energy, without leaving a trace of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide in the air.
The hydrogen tank is safely built and isolated. It is made out of stress resistant materials to prevent any leakages of hydrogen gas. The tanks also boast leakage sensors and an emergency shut down system if any malfunction occurs. The yacht can also be propelled using diesel oil. At a speed of 10 knots in hydrogen mode, the Orcageno can swallow up 3500 nautical miles and at 18 knots; it can easily cover 1800 nautical miles. This super sleek and environment friendly yacht designed by Pharos Marine is a sure winner in the luxury boating business.
Audi fans out there are surely satisfied with the S3 but the guys over at MR Car Design decided to give it a try and develop a more advanced version, somewhat like an unofficial RS3. The resulting model is indeed a much more powerful car, although it is still equipped with the 2.0-liter TFSI engine offered by Audi.
To get straight to the point, the tuners used the aforementioned engine but added a sports exhaust system with optimized dynamic pressure, a big intercooler plus additi… (read more)
Jenson Button has lost his first head-to-head confrontation with his new teammate and future rival Lewis Hamilton since he joined McLaren Mercedes team. Although the two were not put one alongside another on a track to compete for 1st place, they were given the chance to lap for the fastest time (in different days) during the famous BBC show Top Gear.
While Hamilton’s test happened a couple of years ago – during his very first season in Formula One and before he became world champ… (read more)
With the rise in population, shortage of free space isn’t unusual in cities across the globe. Likewise, car parks are now insufficient, due to which many civic multi-storey car parks are being built. The guys at Mitsubishi had a recent brainwave and have planned the construction of multi storey car parks that have chargers for your electric vehicles to juice them up when parked. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Parking Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, has based these car parks on the ‘Lift Park’ and has renamed it the ‘Plug-in Lift Park’. These car parks are usually used in condominium buildings, offices etc. All you need to do is, drive your electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid (PHV) vehicle into one of these parking places, plug it in, and have it charge up while you go about doing your business.
The charging outlets are fitted onto the pallets on which cars are parked. Mitsubishi anticipates the rise in use of EV’s and PHV’s in the future and plans to build more of these car parks and also convert the existing ones into EV-friendly parking spaces. The company has also planned reducing the power consumption by using regenerative energy of elevators and solar-powered car parks.
[Techon]
In an official presentation, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has revealed that the company’s long anticipated Small GasolineEngine (SGE) will make its way to the market next year in the form of a 0.9 liter turbocharged, twin-cylinder gasoline unit mounted on the Fiat 500.
The engine will feature the group’s innovative Multiair technology, which controls the intake valves in order to provide the exact amount of power needed. According to Fiat the new unit will offer the same performanc… (read more)
Taking the jump straight from karting to the big boys league, 19-year old Michael Self announced his decision to enter the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Series West, under the Mike Naake/Motorway Motorsports banner. Self thus put an end to the speculation that he will be driving open wheel vehicles.
About a year and a half ago I decided I wanted to go the opposite way of go kart racing, Self said. I wanted to race NASCAR, even though I already had connections and scholarships for raci… (read more)