Prague’s Astronomical Clock
The Prague Astronomical Clock, or Pražský Orloj, is a medieval clock mounted on the southern wall of Prague’s Old Town City Hall. Clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň and Jan Šindel manufactured the Orloj’s astronomical dial just over 600 years ago in 1410. Despite being the world’s oldest working astronomical clock, the Pražský Orloj still provides an overwhelming amount of information.
This sophisticated clock’s dials, hands and markings display the times of sunrise and sunset, moonrise and moonset, the height of the sun at midday, the times of the solstices and equinoxes, how the Sun moves through the zodiac and how the Moon and the Sun move in the sky above them. It also tells the time—in three different ways! The Orloj is a beautiful and intricate representation of the human desire to understand and explore the heavens.
To see more photographs of this truly amazing clock, visit the Pražský Orloj | Astronomical Clock location page.
Frank Gehry & Vlado Milunić’s Dancing House (Tančící Dům)
If you ever visit Prague, the famous Nationale-Nederlanden building, nicknamed Dancing House (Tančící dům) or “Fred and Ginger,” is hard to miss. It sits in the middle of a densely built section of Prague, surrounded by other structures that are nearly all the city’s standard Baroque or Art Nouveau styles.
It was designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić and Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot of great historical significance. Its site was the location of a house that was destroyed by the U.S. bombing of Prague in 1945 during World War II. The plot and structure lay decrepit until 1960 when the area was cleared.
The building’s deconstructivist dancing shape is supported by 99 concrete panels, each a different shape and dimension. On the top of the building is a large twisted structure of metal nicknamed Medusa. To see more photos of the quirky architectural marvel, visit the Tančící dům | Dancing House location page.
Been there two years in a row and going back for a third. Great part of the city.
Here we go… #clouds #nofilter #creation #sunset #sunrise ☁🌄🌅☁
First of all, let me say that you, the fans of Boy Meets World, have been awesome. That word is often used incorrectly by people, including myself, on a daily basis but you have truly been awe inspiring. You, yes, even YOU, are the reason that Girl Meets World WILL BE MADE. J
I…
Off to Prague (Taken with Instagram at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL))
Went to 105.7 The Point’s HO HO Show featuring Switchfoot. Took these photos and I’m very happy with how they turned out.
I wrote this about a week ago while I was sick. Being my first attempt at Tumblr I didn’t want to rush into things by randomly posting thoughts while I was sick. I’ve decided it’s actually not too bad and the sickness didn’t affect my thought process too much. Enjoy.
I often have a difficult time falling asleep at night, so i generally read. I recently read some articles about Lowe’s pulling its advertising from “All-American Muslim” on TLC and how Russell Simmons is outraged over it. He has been quoted as saying “There are American principles at stake here.” If this is in fact true, then we have some real questions to ask. If you read Lowe’s press release they have valid reason to pull their ad if indeed their patrons expressed disgust with the show. You keep your customers happy. Will this satisfy everyone? Of course not. You have people like Mr. Simmons who think they know and understand everything. Let’s take a look at some more recent occurrences where ads were pulled from a television show and Mr. Russell remained silent even though the show or people it represented are “misunderstood.” Early this year during the Super Bowl a Christian organization wanted to run an pro-life ad with Tim Tebow. After going back and forth to have the commercial go over the airwaves, it was decided the commercial would be run during the pre-game but not during the game even though they had the money to pay for the spot. Talk about “American principles at stake.” There was absolutely nothing wrong with the ad. No sex, drugs, offensive language, violence or intense imagery. Heck, the spot was so carefully worded and executed it was practically fluff. A second instance I know of concerns entertainment personality and entrepreneur Glenn Beck. It happened for well over a year. Advertisers were pulling their spots from his show left and right; leaving only Goldline and other 1+ minute spots to air. Advertisers pulled their spots from Glenn’s show and requested their spots be played elsewhere because their consumers were raising their voices. Another clear situation in which “American principles are at stake.” In the simplest of forms it is a clear violation of speech. Mr. Simmons remained silent in both of the above mentioned cases. I’m not insinuating either party (Lowe’s & Mr. Simmons) is right, I’m just holding Mr. Simmons accountable. One cannot state his argument for just certain groups and individuals. Well, he can but that’s a clear line of opinion and that’s where this lies. Discerning from his own beliefs, Mr. Simmons is a supporter of OWS, I’m surprised he doesn’t fight for every group or individual to have their show supported by everyone. Mr. Simmons has no problem with this show or the content within or surrounding it because that’s his opinion. He does, however, have a problem with Glenn Beck; and I would just assume that he feels no need to defend a Christian organization because Christians aren’t a minority group. In the end Mr. Simmons is just more white noise in an already confused and over-informed society. People need TRUTH and not the rubbish heard spewing from their television set or the bizarre articles, like this one, from the interwebs. I’m done now.
What are your thoughts?
