Like a lot of people, I find myself going through phases of watching a lot of documentaries and then not seeing a single one for months on end and reverting back to films.
It’s only when I decide to break this routine that I often find myself questioning why I haven’t been watching more documentaries.
Anyway, every now and again you’ll watch a documentary that really strikes a chord and resonates with you and most of the time these are documentaries with an ultimately sad story to tell but somehow becomes a most uplifting and inspiring experience.
One such documentary that falls into the uplifting category is Waste Land by British documentary maker Lucy Walker, who also bought us Countdown to Zero, Devil’s Playground to name but a few. Waste Land is about Brazillian contemporary artists Vik Muniz who spends 3 years at the largest rubbish (garbage) site in Brazil the Jardim Gramacho. Here he meets an interesting selection of pickers of recyclable material and begins working with them on an international art project: to make pieces of art out of rubbish that will sell at internationally. It’s an amazing documentary and offers exceptional insight into the lives of the some of the poorest and distregarded people.
The central character, the leader of the pickers: Tião, is an exceptional human being who already achieved a lot before the film makers came to Jardim Gramacho, setting up ACAMJG, the Association of Recycling Pickers of Jardim Gramacho. You wouldn’t imagine someone working in such a place would be litterate let alone be able to cite Machiavelli and have read Nietzsche, but Tião like the other pickers featured in the film really shatter peoples’ pre-conceptions about refuse workers/recyclers. One of the main concerns that the documentary addresses is the eye opening nature of the project and how they’ve opened up the pickers to the art world, and the potential ramifications this could have on their lives. It’s pointed out that many won’t want to return to the recycling work and garbage dump after they’ve been taken out of this environment. But, as the Vic Muniz argues and you’re inclined to agree with him, this isn’t necessarily detrimental to their future lives and as reported at the end it has actually empowered many of them to improve their lives e.g. run their own small business and take charge of their lives.
After watching this uplifting documentary you certainly start thinking about your own habits and how much people have to fight for change and never give up hope, even when the odds are stacked against them. It also makes you think more about your household waste and how you can perhaps help those who end up dealing with it.
Guest Article by Dragonfly Productions an event filming and corporate video company in London
Filmstrip image courtesy of  David Castillo Dominici – freedigitalphotos.net
We see these people most of the time on TV and on stage.
No matter what genre of music you are into, you will always find ways to watch your favourite artists whether through the Tube or through a live performance. But have you ever given thought to how these people possibly live their lives? Are they similar to us, sans the difference that they have substantial amounts of cash that we do not have? Let us take a look at what life does a musician or any celebrity, particularly a very successful one, lead each day.
They Actually Live Very Ordinary Lives
Despite all the glam and hype that surround them, successful celebrities actually try to live a life that is as ordinary as their commitments and schedules allow. They get up in the morning and then they eat breakfast, and after that off they go to their tasks for the day. If you take a close look, you will see that the difference between us and the famous artists that we know is the fact that they live very hectic lives as compared to ours. They have commitments left to right that they could not keep track anymore, so they hire an organizer or a secretary that takes care of their bookings for them. They also cannot look out for opportunities while doing their different jobs, so there is an agent that does that job for them.
If you take that away from the equation, you will find that they lead almost the same lives as we do. They do that are more or less similar to the activities that we do every day. They just have more money than we could make, unless we land a really good deal that can catapult our worth to millions.
They Have to Deal with House Keeping Too
Contrary to what most people think, famous musicians and actors also deal with housekeeping and household chores. Of course, most of them prefer to hire a housekeep for practical purposes, since they are so famous that they may not have enough time to do the tasks for themselves. There are some musicians that like to do the dirty work themselves if they have the time. Some, like Hugh Jackman, would go out every once in a while to do some manual tasks by themselves.
One thing that famous musicians and non-show business people have in common is the fact that they would have to deal with house removals, as well. Because they have a lot of money in their hands, they have the tendency to buy homes either for themselves or their families. In other cases, a famous personality would purchase a home when he expects himself to go to that place occasionally for work. Others would just decide to move out of their existing home for personal reasons and buy a new home somewhere. One such case is Mel Gibson, who sold his estate in Connecticut in 2010 for US$24 million after he and his wife Robin Moore divorced. He probably could not bear living there with all the memories that the otherwise magnificent, circa 1926 Tudor-style mansion has for him.
Unlike us, however, actors and famous personalities cannot stay content with DIY house removals. This is because their properties are so large that there are certainly a lot of stuff in there to move out. That is why they are certain to enlist the help of professional house removal companies, since these companies have the necessary manpower and equipment that these celebrities need to help them out with their move. They can also save money that way, since the services of removal companies come in packages. Aside from providing the manpower for carrying the items out of the old residence and into the new property later on, the sevice also includes the trucks needed for the task.
Whether you are a celebrity or not, you could also benefit from the services offered by house removal companies. These firms, for example, like the House Removals Company, can guarantee you safe transit and highly professional handling of your precious stuff. You can trust these professionals to do the job for you instead of sweating over it on your own.
This article was written by Viviana Alberti for The House Removals Company. The House Removals Company (link removed) are market leaders in relocation services. She has written several articles that are centred on the topic of house removals in an effort to guide readers who become confused with the chaos that faces them after successfully moving to a new home.
Note: Link removed at the request of the website in question.
Although these guys donâ??t actually specialize in going into your ear they are nasty little buggers. Ever since Iâ??ve been a kid Iâ??ve been told they go into ears and the image of that happening to me is enough for me to hate these bugs. The female lays about 50 eggs in an underground nest during the winter. Well guess what? My ear is a perfectly warm nest during the winter. No thank you Mr.Earwig!
I also used to think that the two little spikes on the back were pinchers used to break your ear drum. Further researching this bug I’ve found out that the spikes are actually two functional penises. So if you see this bug please donâ??t be a green hippie that catches it in a cup and walks it outside to reproduce and live happily ever after. Instead I recommend you stomp its brains in and grind it into smithereens with your foot. (AppReviews4u does not promote or condone animal abuse of any kind.)
Giant Water Bug
The Giant Water Bug is one of the biggest bug in the world measuring up to 7 cm. They use a snorkel that is attached to their butts to hunt underwater. They hunt tadpoles, small fish, frogs, snails, and other aquatic insects. The Giant Water Bug has toxic saliva which can paralyze small creatures. Victims that have been bitten by them report excruciating pain and reduced sense of touch.
Little Barrier Island Giant Weta
The Weta Bug weighs as much as three mice. It has almost been exterminated on the New Zealand offshore islands after rats were introduced to the areas. It only survives on the Little Barrier Island now. It is unsocial and unattractive. Kind of hoping rat populations go up soonâ?¦
Cave Spider
Damon diadema or â??tailless whip scorpionâ? is found in Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania. It is neither a scorpion nor a spider; rather it belongs in the Amblypigi class. It is 4-28 millimeters long with a flat body and is harmless. It is however the most disgusting thing Iâ??ve probably ever seen.
Bot Fly
Bot flies donâ??t look that ugly but what they do is presumably the worst a bug could do. They infest humans and animals with their larvae that grow inside your skin. The bot fly also likes to tunnel in your flesh so it has to be surgically removed.
The way the eggs are planted is that the female fly captures a tick or mosquito and glues her eggs to the abdomen. When these insects land on a human or animal to feed, the larvae will hatch and enter the skin of the host. The worst part about bot flies is that they donâ??t die off or just leave your skin. They can live there forever unless if you remove them.
Stonefish (Synanceia Verrucosa) is known to be one of Australiaâ??s deadliest marine creatures. It is often found in shallow waters in northern Australia and in the Indo-Pacific Region. The fish got its name from its ability to camouflage as a rock.
The fatal combination of being able to appear like a harmless rock underwater and its deadly poison makes the stonefish a deadly fish. It must also be noted that the stonefish can survive up to 24 hours out of the water. It is often mistaken as a rock or a coral when it stays along the seashore. The length of a stonefish reaches up to 14 inches long and its thirteen extremely sharp dorsal spines in the back are poisonous because of its toxic venom. Its poisonous dorsal spines are used by the stonefish as their defense mechanism against the bottom-feeding sharks and rays. Humans accidentally stepping on a stonefish in shallow waters are seriously injured because of its extremely toxic venom.
The victim will feel extreme pain and experience swelling that rapidly develops to death. The occurrence of symptoms depends on the number of spines involved and the length of the penetration. The venomâ??s effects include temporary shock, paralysis and muscle weakness that if not treated immediately, may cause death.
First Aid
Once you are stung by the dorsal spines of the stonefish, you may immediately put hot water into the affected area but hospitalization is the best remedy to prevent other infections from occurring. Sometimes, when there is severe pain, a local anesthetic infiltration is required. Usually, the stonefish anti-venom is given intramuscular. You will know that the victim needs to be administered with anti-venom when he/she is:
suffering from severe pain
having symptoms like paralysis and weakness in their body
having multiple punctures meaning that the dorsal spines are being discharged
Eating the Stonefish
Though considered as deadly, the stonefish is a fixture in Asian and tropic cuisine. It is often served as a sashimi called okoze and may also be served boiled or deep fried. The stonefish deploys its venom when it bites its prey or when its human victims step on its sharp dorsal spines. However, when its venom is cooked, it loses its potency. And when it is served as an okoze, its venomous dorsal fins are removed. The remaining fish meat is non toxic.
With the stonefish, itâ??s either youâ??re the hunter or the prey. Itâ??s a matter of whether you end in the hospital or the stonefish ends in your stomach. Of course, if you dare to eat this deadly fish.
Author Bio: Adam Fridman, president of TelemarketingService.com, writes on his company blog about how outsourcing telemarketing services can be the best way for small and medium size companies to create leads.
When a massive emergency strikes and the people has no other choice left for survival, a mass exoduses often happens.
Mass migration and mass evacuation, are just some of the terms used to relate to the mass exoduses of people in the history. People decide to move from one place to another to avoid the danger of being involved in a disastrous event be it natural or man-made. A mass exodus occurred most often during the early history when wars spark and a certain area is put into chaos. There are some of the most influential and the biggest exoduses of people in history that people usually regard as the â??Great Exodusesâ? which includes the Barbarian Invasions, the Great Migration from England, the California Gold Rush and the Great Migration of African Americans.
The Barbarian Invasion happened during the era of the Roman Empire from 400 to 800 AD and was regarded to be the period of intensified migration of people in Europe. The mass exodus of people in Europe was a result of the barbarian invasion— the time when they cannot take the inhumane treatment of the barbaric tribes. This mass exodus came in two phases, one that happened between 400-500 AD and the other from 500-800AD.
Another notable mass exodus of people in history is the Great Migration in England, also called the Puritan Migration. The Puritans questioned the lack of religious freedom and religious tolerance in England which made them decide to move out of the place and land on the other countries in Europe where they believe they could find the religious freedom that they wanted. About 80,000 people participated in this great migration and fled to countries like Ireland, New England, etc.
One of the biggest mass exoduses of people that happened in the history includes the California Gold rush. The mass exodus started on the 24th of January 1848 when James W. Marshall found gold at Sutterâ??s Mill, Coloma, California. The gold discovery brought about 300,000 people from different parts of the world who were hoping to find gold too. The exodus brought many changes to California as it transformed San Francisco from a small settlement to a large base of gold seekers in a very short period of time.
The Great Migration of African Americans is another notable mass exodus that would never be taken aside in the course of history. About 6 million African Americans were involved in the occurrence of the mass exodus that fled from Southern United States to West, Northeast and Midwest. The primary cause of the mass exodus was discrimination, unequal working conditions, integration and segregation of the white Americans from the African Americans.
Death…Are you scared of it? Iâ??m not…But there are some who cringe when talking about certain people who experienced gruesome deaths, and or those who were victims of heinous crimes.
Whatever the reason of someoneâ??s demise, it is always best to remember that no one can cheat death. But who knows? Some might get lucky…Some may have their guardian working overtime to protect those who we call â??the lucky onesâ?…
Here are some people who were among those on the list..Ahad Israfil is a 14 year old boy who survived an accidental discharge of a gun in 1987. It blew his brain out but was lucky enough to still live to tell how he feels about being given a second life.
Then thereâ??s someone by the name of Shannon Malloy…She was involved in a serious car crash accident that caused her to be internally decapitated. Her skull was pulled from her spine and her whole body was really shattered. But Shannon was able to pull it off through various surgeries. She may not look as she was before, but she was really glad to be alive.
But there are people who were luckier! Yes! Not once but seven times luckier. Who would have thought that anybody would survive after being struck by lightning not once, not twice but actually seven times?
This is the story of a man named Roy Sullivan…Lightning wonâ??t leave him alone! First one struck him on his leg while he was on a lookout tower which caused him to lose his nail. That was year 1942.The 2nd one was in 1969.The bolt hit him while he was driving and knocked him unconscious and leaving him with burned eyebrows. Next year he was again struck in his own homeland. This time he suffered from shoulder burns. Fourth one happened in 1972. It cost him his hair this time. The same thing happened the following year when lightning set his hair on fire. He got an injured ankle year 1974 when he was hit for the 6th time. The 7th and the last hit was 1977.Roy was sent to the hospital this time for burnt chest and stomach.
Though some said that we may never cheat death itself, but for some who were able to do it, their stories makes us want to think…Life is short and we must always be thankful for each and every day that we are alive. Hope these peopleâ??s stories inspire us. These people who escaped death against all odds..
The terms poisonous and venomous are often interchanged. Letâ??s begin by distinguishing poison and venom.
A poison is something that is absorbed or ingested. Thus a poisonous animal can only deliver toxic chemicals if another animal touches or eats it. On the other hand, venom is always injected. Venomous animals have a mechanism to inject toxins to other animals via teeth, spines, spikes or harpoons.
According to Kyle Hill, a science writer, these are the most poisonous creatures on Earth:
Golden Poison Frog
The Golden Poison Frog is one of the most poisonous creatures on earth. They are also called as the Golden Dart Frog. This type of frog is an amphibian; it is carnivorous since it only eats meat. It has a life span of 10 years. Its size is only 1 inch (2.5 cm) or its size is relative to a paper clip. The golden poison frog has a congested skin that is coated with alkaloid poison which is one of the poisons that is common to dart frogs.
Funnel Web Spider
Sydney Funnel Web Spider is one of the most venomous creatures on earth. It is usually found in Sydney, New South Wales Australia within a 100 km (62 mi) radius. Sydney funnel-webs have sizes that range from medium to large, and its body length is 1 to 5 cm (0.39 to 2.0 in). The colors range from black-blue, to brown and dark-plum hues. The carapace that is covering the anterior part of the body is almost smooth and hairless, glossy and darkly colored in appearance.
Sydney Spiders live in moist sand and clays. They are mostly land or earth spiders, most of them can build a silk-lined hole or a tunnel that causes collapsing of the grounds. A Funnel-web spider contains venom which is known as atracotoxin compound, an ion channel inhibitor that blocks the charge particle to move the inhibitor, which produces highly toxic venom for humans and other animals like monkeys. Inspite of that, the venom does not affect the other mammalâ??s nervous system. When spiders bite they deliver the entire poisonous material in your body, many times striking again and again, due to their large fangs. A female funnel-web spider has no record of extreme poison which validates the fact that the female specimen has lesser venom than their male counterparts..
These are just two of the most poisonous creatures on earth. Run for your life whenever you see one of these.
Is Atlantis a myth or history? Many people were confused. According to Holly Hartman in the article â??Atlantis Myth or History?â? there is no actual proof that Atlantis existed.
Many people think that Atlantis was just a story fabricated by Plato to impress Athenian society. Others believed that the story is based on facts. Some argued about its location which could be anywhere in Antartica, Canary Islands, or the Americas. There are still others who think that Atlantis was Thera, a Greek islandâ??a theory fed by fairly new archaeological discoveries.
In Athanasius Kircher‘s Atlantis map, Atlantis existed in the Atlantic Ocean. The map is said to have placed south on top. Atlantis was derived from the Greek word â??Atlas.â? It was first discussed in Platoâ??s dialogues, Critias and Timaeus, written in the 360 BC. Atlantis was said to be a legendary island recognized as a naval power found in front of Herculesâ??s Pillars, which conquered several places in Africa and Western Europe in 9600 BC. Atlantis sank “in a single day and night of misfortune” after their failed attempt to conquer Athens.
Ancient writer differ in their opinions on the existence of Atlantis. The philosopher Crantor, a student of Xenocrates, who happened to be Platoâ??s student, is often cited as one of the writers who believed Atlantis to be historical fact. Though his work, a commentary on Plato’s Timaeus was lost, a fifth century AD Neoplatonist named Proclus reported about it. This passage supposedly has been depicted in modern literature as a claim that Crantor visited Egypt, had conversations with priests, and saw hieroglyphs that confirmed its existence.
In 2011, there was a National Geographic Documentary team supervised by Professor Richard Freund from Hartford University which claimed that they have found evidence somewhere in the southwestern part of Andalusia that Atlantis existed. The team placed Lacus Ligustinus, located in Doñana National Park marshlands situated between the Cadiz, Seville and Huelva provinces as the place. They say that a powerful tsunami had destroyed the city of Atlantis. Juan VillarÃas-Robles, an anthropologist, said that a newcomer named Richard Freund appeared and showed them his proof about King Solomonâ??s research concerning gold and ivory in the harbor city called Tartessos. The document showed that a settlement was established during the first millennium BC at the Doñana area. Rainer W. Kühne, a German researcher, put a similar theory, based on Cadiz where Atlantis could be located as placed by satellite imagery. But before that, in the 1920s, Adolf Schulten, a historian, had declared that Plato used the harbor city known as Tartessos as his proof for the Atlantis myth.
The debate on whether Atlantis existed or not is still up in the air until a solid proof is found that it indeed existed. The search continues.
Imagine walking down the street one day and then finding a very cute house at the end of the road. . .
Observing the house from the outside, you already picture the inside like a life-sized dollhouse with small and cute stuff fitted for petite people. Then you decided to walk through the door and realized that the inside was actually of a mansion-like size! The house was actually much bigger in the inside and all of your ideas about small living room, kitchen, dining area, etc. were instantly gone because you are faced with giant furniture pieces, a cavernous living room, thirteen large bedrooms and a restaurant-like kitchen. Does it ring a bell? YES! An Alice in Wonderland Experience and a concrete example of warped space and time! Surprisingly, the Alice in Wonderland experience is not just plain fiction because Albert Einstein was actually one of the first geniuses who came up with the idea that space could warp time.
Time warp is one of the many life mysteries that people keep on mulling about. It is a recent concept that theorizes the occurrence of distortion and discontinuity in the timeâ??s flow that can possibly move events from one period to another. It is the closest science fiction that can jive with the idea of time machine inventions. For the past years, the topic that time warps do exist in space has sparked controversy in the limitations of science.
Albert Einstein suggested the possibility that space could warp time or form black holes that when explored could take a person or an object to a different dimension-something that science has yet to explain as of the moment. So how does space warp time? To give you a clearer view of the picture, I would explain how this occurrence exists. It is believed that there is a certain area where electronic and magnetic forces are altered in such a way that it creates a sporadic energy force-field. This force field is a result of a very fast circular motion that forms a tunnel at the center. When an object enters such field, its structure is altered, thus projecting the object to another place and time-speed. The branch of science that covers such occurrence is quantum physics.
Wikipedia explains it this way, â??According to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, when a body of mass “m” and volume “V” (each length of “l”) moves with a velocity “v”, then many changes take place in is physical appearance. Its length decreases and mass increases. These factors keep on increasing and decreasing with the increase in velocity. When the body reaches the speed of light “c”, the length becomes zero, mass becomes infinite and time factor vanishes. In other words, no time passes inside the event horizon of the moving body. In this way, the body sometimes takes irregular shapes and covers a distance of millions of light years in no time, because the passage of time for that moving body is vanished. During this process, the body is said to be moving with a time-warp speed.â?
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