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daresplaining · 6 years

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Daredevil Countdown: 8 Days

Trailer #1 Analysis

We barely had time to recover from Iron Fist Season 2 before Netflix started dumping Daredevil content on us, and it’s been tough to keep up! We were away minding our own business at NYCC when this trailer dropped, and we’ve only just started to pick through it. There are some major revelations in this thing, which I’m very excited about. There are also a few scenes excerpted here that we saw in their entirety at NYCC, so while I’ll try to keep spoilers to a minimum, expect some minor ones.

Is it geeky to get a kick out of Matt saying this? Because this makes me really happy. He has spent so much time struggling with his superhero identity that just hearing him call himself Daredevil is thrilling. Also, the background seems to suggest that he’s in the church, and may therefore be saying this to Maggie... which is good, because in one of the scenes we saw at NYCC, she called him “the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen” and I nearly pitched a fit.

We saw this scene, so I won’t go into details... beyond saying that it kicks off what sounds like will be an interesting (read: upsetting) relationship between Fisk and the FBI, and as well as Fisk’s manipulation of the justice system and the city as a whole this season. He is getting out of prison and aiming to reclaim his throne, and this trailer gives us hints of some of the pawns he will be using to make that happen.

Hey look, it’s Rosalie Carbone!

And we’ve mentioned it before, because it’s been in a bunch of the promos, but it’s great to finally have Fisk in his comics-accurate white suit! He looks great.

We’re also finally getting Sister Maggie! In the comics, of course, Maggie is Matt’s long-lost mother. In the show, we know that she works at the orphanage where Matt ended up after Jack’s death, and that she will be providing him some degree of emotional support (not to mention medical help...) following his near-death experience under Midland Circle. Their relationship is very strange, and in the comics they’ve spent a long time trying to negotiate their dynamic. They go back and forth on their degree of emotional closeness (depending on the writer), and while they will likely never have a parent/child relationship in the traditional sense, they do hold deep significance in each other’s lives. Whether that will become true in the show remains to be seen, but at the very least, Maggie will clearly act as a confidante for Matt during this difficult time.

This is one of several highly intriguing interactions between Matt and Fisk in this trailer. The surveillance is particularly interesting. It ties into the suggestion later in the trailer that Fisk will develop some control over media surveillance (in the comics he buys his own radio station during Chichester’s run). It also gives me a small amount of hope that we might get expert media manipulator Jonathan Powers (AKA the Jester) in the show, because that would be really cool. But why is Matt in a doctor’s office in a suit? The framing of this scene is great, and I really need to know what’s going on here.

Matt channeling that Stick vibe is something I never knew I needed. And this is another intriguing interaction between these two. What is the context here? For now, I love how cocky Matt sounds in this clip. Clearly, his spirit has not been broken (yet?) by this point.

At NYCC, there was some mention of a scene that would rival the hallway scene from Season 1. This may be it. I’m already pumped about this, because I love when Matt fights in civvies! If I were to guess what was going on here, I’d assume these are prisoners in Fisk’s pocket who have been instructed to take Matt out. This has serious “Devil in Cell Block D” (a story arc in which Matt is sent to prison) vibes, and that is very exciting. Whether or not the actual story draws from that arc, just a reference to the tone or basic concept would be awesome.

After two full seasons of teasing, we’re finally getting a Gladiator origin! Back in our Season 2 countdown, I wrote a post detailing Melvin Potter’s story in the comics, hoping that it would be adapted soon. The show has already laid down several key elements of his character: his vulnerability (particularly in regards to being manipulated by the people around him) and the tug-of-war between his gentle nature and his capacity for violence. In the comics, many of Melvin’s most compelling stories cover this struggle, as Matt and Betsy Beatty (Melvin’s social worker-turned-girlfriend) attempt to help him suppress the dangerous, out-of-control side of himself. As we see later in the trailer, Fisk is going to start using Melvin for his own ends again this season, thus pushing him to protect himself and Betsy by becoming the Gladiator.

Yet another oddly candid moment between Matt and Fisk. This is so uncanny that I almost wonder if it’s a hallucination. It’s also worth noting Matt’s lack of sunglasses in these scenes. In both the comics and the show, the glasses serve Matt as a type of mask, and his scenes are given an added layer of intimacy and exposure when he takes them off. Regardless of context, it’s clear that Fisk will be seeing Matt this season at his most vulnerable, with all facades and pretext removed. Which brings us to that quote...

Get excited, because it looks like we’re finally getting some big deal Daredevil Secret Identity Shenanigans(TM)! Matt having his secret identity exposed is a longtime Daredevil tradition; such a pervasive plot point that even Matt has begun joking about it.

Daredevil vol. 3 #7 by Mark Waid, Paolo Rivera, and Javier Rodriguez

Going all the way back to the Mike Murdock Saga in the 60s, Matt has struggled with keeping his double life hidden-- a surprisingly challenging task for a blind guy without outwardly obvious superpowers. Ben Urich figured it out through research and deduction, and while he has remained loyal in keeping Matt’s secret, a fellow reporter once nearly stole his notes and made them public. In “Born Again”, the Kingpin found out and used the information to ruin his life. Later, one of the Kingpin’s underlings sold the information to the FBI, which then made its way into the newspapers. Recently, with his secrets being used as blackmail, Matt decided to make his identity public. He has gone to extreme lengths over the years-- faking his death, lying under oath, creating various alternate personalities-- to protect his dual identity, and the thought of seeing him finally faced with this same challenge in the show is very exciting.

Melvin: “I don’t like it. I know who you work for, Felix. And the Kingpin is never up to anything good.”

Felix: “What is there not to like, Potter? You construct costumes. I am heretowith commissioning from yourself a costume. Said costume being one you are infinitely familiar with-- during such time frame as before you did renunciate your status as a prominent member of the criminal class to open this shop within which we now converse. Speaking of this most neatly custodiated establishment, we will summarily execute its premature demolition-- not to mention the removement [sic] of your most valued body parts-- should you perchance fail to render unto us a perfect duplicate of the uniform of a certain Man Without Fear.”

Daredevil vol. 1 #230 by Frank Miller, David Mazzucchelli, and Christie Scheele

As we know, that’s going to be Bullseye’s costume. This is a combination of two plot points: one from “Born Again” (above) in which Fisk commissions a DD suit from Melvin to give to a convicted murderer, who he sends to kill Foggy, and one from Nocenti’s run in which Bullseye himself runs around causing chaos as Daredevil.

As indicated above (and just like he attempted in Season 1), Fisk is out to ruin Daredevil (and maaaaybe also Matt Murdock?)’s reputation, even more than Matt might manage all on his own.

This is a terrifying image, because it brings to mind Karen’s funeral in “Guardian Devil”. But a bunch of the people in the audience are smiling, so hopefully not...

...Unfortunately, they’re still screwed. Bullseye in the church is both a “Guardian Devil” reference and (even better) a movie reference!

We were shown this scene at NYCC, and it is awesome! I can’t wait for everyone to see it, so that I can talk about what makes it so great. It’s an absolutely killer fight scene that emphasizes just how intense Bullseye is as an opponent when handled well. And I’m not going to spoil this moment in particular... All I’ll say is that it’s something we’ve all been waiting for for two damn seasons, and when it happened at the panel, the whole room screamed.

*Cough* Don’t worry, that’s not Bullseye.

Also, there is not nearly enough Foggy and Karen in this trailer.

Bullseye: “Yup! I’m Daredevil now. I wonder-- it’s been easy to play the bad guy-- maybe too easy. Be kinda fun to play the hero. After all, I am Daredevil!”

Daredevil vol. 1 #290 by Ann Nocenti, Kieron Dwyer, and Steve Buccellato

As mentioned above, Bullseye will be prompted by Fisk to run around as Daredevil, ruining Matt’s reputation. Both actors have talked a little bit about Fisk’s manipulation of Dex, and the fact that this will play a large part in the latter’s turn to villainy. In the final arc of her run, Ann Nocenti penned a story in which Bullseye and Daredevil switched costumes, resulting in an intense exploration of villainy and heroism, and of their bizarre relationship as nemeses. In the show, it should be fun-- and probably a little horrifying too-- to see how this jumbling of identities affects how Matt and Dex see themselves and each other.

T-minus one week!

#Daredevil spoilers #Netflix Daredevil #Daredevil #Commentary #DD Countdown #Sorry this is so late! Busy day.

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marymosley · 4 years

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From Blacklisting To Red Baiting, McCarthyism Is Back In Vogue

Below is a slightly expanded version of my column in the Washington Post on increasingly McCarthyite conduct evident in this election. I am particularly interested in the new trend toward boycotting other states that do not share your “values” in a given area.

Here is the column:

In 1950, columnist and civil libertarian Max Lerner penned a chilling prediction in the New York Post about the Red Scare: “There is a hate layer of opinion and emotion in America. There will be other McCarthys to come who will be hailed as its heroes.”

Almost 70 years later, Lerner’s political prophecy appears to be coming true.

On one side is GOP President Trump, who routinely describes the news media as the “enemy of the people” and has attacked political adversaries such as House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), along with government whistleblowers at the center of the current impeachment inquiry, by saying that they might be guilty of “treason” for challenging him.

On the other side of the aisle, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nominee, just tried to tag a current Democratic presidential candidate, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), as a “Russian asset.” Last month, meanwhile, the left-leaning San Francisco city council unanimously passed a resolution calling the National Rifle Association a “domestic terrorist organization.” Although nonbinding, the resolution sought to “limit those entities who do business with the City and County of San Francisco” from doing business with the NRA.

San Francisco has also issued a blacklist of 22 states that its municipal employees are banned from traveling to as part of their jobs. Or, reports the Los Angeles Times, from entering into “any new contracts with companies headquartered” in any of those states if the laws of those states do not comport with California’s approach to reproductive rights.

What is most striking about these pronouncements is the acquiescence that accompanied them: A recent New York Times account of Clinton’s comments seemed to praise her as a “master troll” and speculated on her possible return to politics, rather than addressing the gravity of her attack on Gabbard (who first drew Clinton’s ire by endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries).

Leading Democratic contenders such as former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) stayed mum when it came to supporting Gabbard or condemning Clinton. Even on the outrageous NRA “terrorism” measure or the blacklisting, leading Democrats have been largely silent. It is doubtful they would be so quiet after a similar attack by a right-leaning city against, say, Planned Parenthood.

Trump has similarly accused a couple dozen people and organizations of “treason.” And when he has, Democratic leaders have been quick �� and justified – in denouncing such declarations as inimical to our protections of free speech and the free press. Yet, when a prominent Democrat suggests that another Democrat is a Russian asset or a staunchly Democratic city punishes whole states for adopting opposing policies, the reaction is muted, if discernible at all. The reason is obvious: It’s unpopular to be seen as defending the right of others to hold opposing views, particularly if those others are members of groups like the NRA.

In the same way politicians once failed to speak out against Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) until his popularity waned – and his damage to U.S. democracy had already been done – many Democratic leaders have now gone silent. For years, even President Dwight D. Eisenhower avoided publicly confronting McCarthy’s red-baiting. It fell to Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (R-Maine), then a freshman, to break the silence, when she took to the Senate floor, beseeching her colleagues to stop “thinking politically as Republicans and Democrats about elections” and start thinking about “individual freedom.” That’s the thing about crying Russians! If others hesitate or object, they join the list of fellow travelers.

It was only a matter of time before someone such as Clinton used this sort of cudgel against another Democrat. The “vast right-wing conspiracy,” it seems, is now a vast Russian conspiracy that just happens to include her political foes.

In the case of San Francisco’s blacklists, the approach is sadly ironic: Hollywood, one of California’s cornerstone industries, has done countless movies about the Red Scare period and the targeting of artists for their political beliefs. In the infamous 1947 “Waldorf Statement,” major studios pledged not to do business with any of the listed individuals as they sought to “eliminate any subversives” from the movie business. Now, almost three-quarters of a century after the creation of the Hollywood blacklist, a major California city is blacklisting whole states and the NRA for their stances on hot-button issues.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Vallie Brown have been lauded in some circles for their move to bar business associations with nearly half the states in the nation due to their “severe anti-choice policies.” Brown tweeted: “Our +$12 billion budget should be spent on what we stand for and reflect our values.” Breed declared: “We have to fight back. Just as we restricted spending with states that have laws that discriminate against LGBTQ people, we are standing up against states that put women’s health at risk and that are actively working to limit reproductive freedoms.”

That’s a slippery slope: What happens when other groups say their values are just as important, and therefore call for the blacklisting of states, too?

LGBT rights, environmental protection, immigration and other areas of the law are all ground for sharp differences between states. Colorado may not be on the blacklist for having “severe anti-choice policies” but it is a major coal producing and oil fracking area. It is not hard to envision an environmentalist group seeking to blacklist Colorado for its “severe anti-environmental policies.”

States could find themselves in the same unwinnable position of actors in the Hollywood blacklist era who lamented: “Every time I thought I was off the list, someone new named me.” And the San Francisco blacklist could easily result in retaliatory listings from right-leaning states over its pro-choice or other “severe” policies.

It’s not about the underlying issues – I’m more inclined to agree with left-leaning jurisdictions on environmental protection. Rather, it’s about some parts of the country punishing others for supporting opposing views, or coercing states to “reflect our values.”

A democratic nation allows, even encourages, disagreement when it comes to policy choices. Indeed, different state approaches are protected in our system of federalism. San Francisco looks to punish states because of their policies on abortion or gay rights. But most of the state laws in question are currently constitutional and, until the Supreme Court declares otherwise, these states are exercising their right to take a different path.

For example, it would have been equally wrong for Alabama to ban doing business with California when it recognized same-sex marriage. States differed on the interpretation of the constitutional protections for same-sex marriage. I shared the view of California that such marriages are protected. Yet, states had a right to reach their own conclusions on that constitutional question until the Supreme Court finally resolved the question in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015.

To be sure, there is nothing illegal or unconstitutional about a state or city exercising its right to limit state contracts or purchases. But that doesn’t make it right, or wise, to set off this type of interstate economic warfare. By cutting off fellow states, these blacklists risk creating a new patchwork system of state-by-state barriers reminiscent of the Articles of Confederation period. That period, before the adoption of our Constitution, left the country balkanized by predatory and punitive state measures directed against other states.

Ultimately, boycotts like San Francisco’s are not designed to change minds. They are designed to thrill local voters while punishing those who fail to conform to a mandated view. Before a new war between the states escalates, people of good faith can act to support the right of self-determination in these states and to end a cycle of boycotts and counterboycotts. States should enact reciprocity laws that impose boycotts on any state that boycotts other states or cities for policy disagreements. States should consider measures banning their municipalities from taking this type of action.

Ironically, California has taken an anti-boycotts positions on other issues. Three years ago, California passed a law barring government contracts or business with companies supporting the boycott of Israel. Israel is the only country mentioned by name, but, under pressure from the free speech community, the law now includes boycotts against any sovereign state. Thus, some of the same politicians who support a bar on the boycotting of countries like Israel are in support of boycotting U.S. states for not sharing their values.

San Francisco has already banned roughly half of the nation for not adhering to its views of acceptable state policies. The only deterrent is to boycott San Francisco, which relies heavily on business generated by hosting conferences. The key to such measures is that they must be content-neutral. If a city or state engages in economic boycotts against other states over policy differences, that act should trigger immediate isolation from other states – not the particular issues at stake. This type of boomerang boycott law would be based on the common democratic values in our system, recognizing the right or states to have differing policies.

During the McCarthy period, Julia Child was pressured by the sister of conservative firebrand William F. Buckley Jr. (a McCarthy supporter) to boycott Smith College (Childs’s alma mater) until five suspected communists were fired from the faculty.

Childs responded with a profound letter that read: “In the blood-heat of pursuing the enemy, many people are forgetting what we are fighting for. We are fighting for our hard-won liberty and our freedom; for our Constitution and the due processes of our laws; and for the right to differ in ideas, religion and politics. I am convinced that in your zeal to fight against our enemies, you, too, have forgotten what you are fighting for.”

So, it seems, have many on the left in the “blood-heat” of our contemporary politics.

From Blacklisting To Red Baiting, McCarthyism Is Back In Vogue published first on https://immigrationlawyerto.tumblr.com/

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itsworn · 5 years

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This 1958 Plymouth Fury is the Ultimate Christine Tribute Car

What’s not to love about an automobile that fixes itself and can dispense some justice to your enemies? If that brings a specific car to mind, then you’re probably thinking about the demonic 1958 Plymouth Fury used in Christine, John Carpenter’s cult-classic horror movie based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. While King’s novel was a huge success, the movie didn’t get the same kind of love. It opened on December 9th, 1983 to lackluster reviews and poor attendance at the box office. It has, however gone on to be one of the most iconic horror and car films ever produced. Cast with relatively unknown actors, and what King described as a “forgotten car,” it cemented the ’58 Plymouth Fury forever on the automotive landscape with a huge worldwide following. As a result of the popularity of the film, it has spawned many Christine clones, yet only a handful can lay claim to actually being used in the movie.

When the film was originally planned, $500,000 was set aside and ads were placed nationwide looking for suitable candidates. A total of 24 cars were purchased for use during filming, with most being ’57 and ’58 Savoys and Belvederes, and one Fury. Since the automotive carnage that the script required was extensive, many of those cars were specifically destined as parts donors. Different cars were assigned specific tasks in the movie, and when filming wrapped up, all but three survived intact. One was sent to MTV to be raffled off. After it was given away, all traces of it disappeared to this day. Another one was sent to a radio station in Simi Valley, California as part of a nationwide promotion that was awarded on New Year’s Eve. That car ended up in the hands of Scott Edminster and was relocated to New Hampshire until 2004, after which it was sold at Barrett-Jackson to Ron Pratt. It was again sold there in 2015 and is currently on display in the Rochester Auto Museum in Rochester, New York. Martin Sanchez purchased the last survivor, which is currently on display at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, California. The remaining cars, or what was left of them, ended up at Bill and Ed’s Auto Wrecking in Fontana, California after the movie wrapped up. At this point you might be wondering what the story is on the Plymouth that you’re looking at. Was it in the movie, and also rescued from the junkyard? The best answer to that is – sort of.

New Yorker, Joe Caldwell owns this particular car, and it has its roots very much in the film. His fascination with cars, and horror movies, started when he was a young lad. At the ripe age of 12, he had to sneak into the local movie theater to see Christine when it was released. The movie had a hard R-rating for lots of F-bombs being dropped, so that was the only way he was going to see it unaccompanied by an adult. He recalls, “As a kid, I went in with the expectation of seeing a great horror movie, and not realizing that the Plymouth was going to be the star of the movie. That’s when I fell in love with the car.”

As he eased into adulthood, his automotive tastes gravitated towards the Pentastar brand and in 2009, he made his first big ticket purchase – a 1967 Plymouth GTX Hemi survivor. That car stayed with him for two years until someone came along and offered him stupid money for it. In his mind, that pile of cash was his ticket to one of the movie cars. He explains, “I took a car that I was a fan of but not in love with, and I sold it to buy a car that I was not only a fan of, but also one that I always wanted.” Unfortunately, reality set in when it became clear that with only two actual movie cars accounted for, getting one fell into the unobtanium category. That prompted a switch to plan B, which meant that he would build a clone.

In 2011 he found his donor car in Arizona. It was a low mileage, rust free ’58 Plymouth Savoy decked out in white with pink coves that had been parked under a carport since 1974. During the time leading up to that purchase, he also immersed himself in the whole Christine world to the point he became the co-president of one of the clubs. It was through his contacts with these clubs that his clone ended up taking a decidedly different direction. Just as he was starting the transformation on the Savoy, one phone call got him closer to an actual movie flavored car.

The foundation for the project started with this ’58 Plymouth Savoy. It was a fairly rust-free Arizona car. Only the shell was used, while the rest of the parts came from the movie cars.

When the remnants of the cars ended up in the junkyard back in 1983, there were a few individuals that got wind that the yard was loaded up with mangled Plymouths. The yards deal at the time was 100 bucks for a pickup’s worth of parts. Needless to say, all the cars were picked clean and three partially-complete damaged cars were pulled before everything else was crushed. Aaron Kahlenberg shot the vintage photos that you see when he went looking for a tail panel for his Plymouth. Others amassed stashes of parts to repair existing cars they were working on. Mark VanCleve purchased one of the damaged cars at a swap meet in Pomona, California with the intention of putting it back together. The car had no interior, the windows were tinted black, and it had been cobbled together with parts from other cars used in the movie. He would eventually buy one of the other cars pulled from the yard as a parts donor, along with additional parts that were salvaged by a few of the individuals in that circle. After many years of storage, the intact car he owned was dismantled and its parts either sold or scrapped. The bulk of that horde of parts ended up in the hands of Drew Picard, who was planning on building a Christine recreation using the salvaged movie car parts. Having lost the ambition to follow through on the build, in 2011 he was the one who eventually called Caldwell to ask if he was interested in the parts.

“He called and asked if I knew anyone that wanted the parts,” Joe explains. “I told him that I’d take them, I’ll take it all. I didn’t even ask how much?” Joe ended up buying numerous pallets of parts along with a rusty ’57 Savoy.

After all the parts were shipped to New York, his plans for the rust free car shifted. He recounts,” I only ended up using the bare shell. That’s it!” Everything else that was on that car was sold off along with any unusable parts that were obtained from Picard. The plan was to assemble his car using the bolt-on sheet metal, drive train, and trim from the junked movie cars. The end goal was to have as much of the “Christine blood” on his car as possible.

That journey started in 2011 and would take four years to complete. Along the way, the obstacles that he faced were extensive. He notes, “A lot of stuff was burnt. Things were pretty rough.” It all kicked off with the donor shell being sent to Brighton Collision in Brooklyn, New York for its rotisserie restoration. Caldwell wanted the bottom of the car to look as nice as the top, so everything was massaged and sealed in a custom red Glasurit basecoat and clear topcoat. When it came time to redo the drive train, he had a few donors to choose from. Included in the parts hoard were two engines, two rear axles, and two transmissions. After a close inspection, the engine that he went with was actually the one that the bulldozer drove over in the final scene of the movie. It was a dual-quad 350 Golden Commando that was complete from intake to oil pan and only needed a new set of carburetors and air cleaners. Like the rest of the hardware to be installed, it was given a full rebuild. As the car came together, one of the biggest challenges was the vast amount of chrome and stainless steel trim needed for the restoration. There was no easy fix for the poor state of the pieces from the movie cars. The bumpers, for example, were the ones that were on the car that was set on fire in the movie. They needed to be straightened and re-chromed. Much of the stainless trim was dinged up and in some instances, warped from heat. Caldwell had Roque Pimentel in Long Island, NY handle the aluminum and stainless, while the chrome hardware was shipped to Librandi’s Plating in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The money spent on these pieces alone was staggering. The interior and glass were additional hurdles that he needed to overcome. Many of the movie’s stunt cars had no interior, and the glass was painted black to hide that fact, so there weren’t many useable parts in the mix. The front seat frames, dash, steering wheel, and a portion of the headliner were the only items used. Everything else was sourced from various places and sent to Carthom Upholstery in New Rochelle, New York. Vintage Glass in Toland, Connecticut crafted new side glass and a windshield for the Plymouth, while the rear window is an NOS piece that Caldwell purchased at the Chryslers at Carlisle event. All that new glass was treated to a heavy layer of dark tint applied by Lorenzo Window Tinting in Bronx, NY.

More than just a straight up restoration, this car was a puzzle with many pieces that all merged from various sources. When it came time to put it all together, he leaned heavily on his buddy “Fury” Jim Rawa. As the nickname implies, he knows a few things about vintage Furys and was instrumental in helping Caldwell reassemble the car. Jim was also responsible for the rebuild of the transmission, rear, and instrument cluster. As it all came together, this car wasn’t destined to be just another Christine tribute. The vision was to emulate as much of movie car’s evil attributes as possible. Some of that was accomplished with items like the instrument cluster registering mileage in reverse, or when the door is opened, the interior lighting gets very bright and the radio starts playing “Keep a Knockin.” There is also a smoke machine that allows smoke to fill the interior, and exterior, as well as a front seat that will move forward toward the steering wheel – a feature Caldwell had disabled due to its potential danger. Under the hood, the only concern with authenticity came down to visually replicating the engine that was filmed in the “show me scene.” There is chrome where paint should have been applied, but it is all legit, right down to the zip ties holding things in place. In the trunk, he had Carthom Upholstery in New Rochelle, New York finish the trunk in red leather, which included the installation of a 40-inch plasma TV, that plays the movie at shows, and a massive JL Audio sound system installed by Audio Etc in New Rochelle, New York that pumps out music with speakers hidden in all four wheel wells.

After the Fury was finished, it had its maiden outing at a George Thorogood and the Destroyers concert at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. His song, “Bad to the Bone” was used in the opening minutes of the movie.

Since that unveiling, Joe has traveled extensively with the car and can often be found at Mopar events, Terror Con, and Comic Con shows with some of the original cast from the movie. It also set him on a path to document, as much as possible, the history and background of the movie cars. He has an extensive archive of behind-the-scenes movie photos, a large amount of emails from everyone involved in the production of the film, and a copy of the salvage yard’s ledger with the serial numbers of the junked cars.

This recreation is about as close as anyone will ever get to an actual Christine from the movie. For Joe Caldwell, it is the culmination of that 12-year-old boys’ desire to one day own such a car.

The post This 1958 Plymouth Fury is the Ultimate Christine Tribute Car appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

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sheilalmartinia · 6 years

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Artificial intelligence and machine learning: What are the opportunities for search marketers?

Did you know that by 2020 the digital universe will consist of 44 zettabytes of data (source: IDC), but that the human brain can only process the equivalent of 1 million gigabytes of memory?

The explosion of big data has meant that humans simply have too much data to understand and handle daily.

For search, content and digital marketers to make the most out the valuable insights that data can provide, it is essential to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) applications, machine learning algorithms and deep learning to move the needle of marketing performance in 2018.

In this article, I will explain the advancements and differences between artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and deep learning while sharing some tips on how SEO, content and digital marketers can make the most of the insights – especially from deep learning – that these technologies bring to the search marketing table.

I studied artificial intelligence in college and after graduating took a job in the field. It was an exciting time, but our programming capabilities, when looking back now, were rudimentary. More than intelligence, it was algorithms and rules that did their best to mimic how intelligence solves problems with best-guess recommendations.

Fast forward to today and things have evolved significantly.

The Big Bang: The big data explosion and the birth of AI

Since 1956, AI pioneers have been dreaming of a world where complex machines possess the same characteristics as human intelligence.

In 1996, the industry reached a major milestone when the IBM’s Deep Blue computer defeated a chess grandmaster by considering 200,000,000 chessboard patterns a second to make optimal moves.

Between 2000 and 2017, there were many developments that enabled great leaps forward. Most important were the geometric increases in the amount data collected, stored, and made retrievable. That mountain of data, which came to be known as big data, ushered in the advent of AI.

And it keeps growing exponentially: in 2016 IBM estimated that 90% of the world’s data had been generated over the last few years.

When thinking about AI, machine learning and deep learning, I find it helps to simplify and visualize how the 3 categories work and relate to each other – this framework also works from a chronological, sub-set development and size perspective.

Artificial intelligence is the science of making machines do things requiring human intelligence. It is human intelligence in machine format where computer programs develop data-based decisions and perform tasks normally performed by humans.

Machine learning takes artificial intelligence a step further in the sense that algorithms are programmed to learn and improve without the need for human data input and reprogramming.

Machine learning can be applied to many different problems and data sets. Google’s RankBrain algorithm is a great example of machine learning that evaluates the intent and context of each search query, rather than just delivering results based on programmed rules about keyword matching and other factors.

Deep learning is a more detailed algorithmic approach, taken from machine learning, that uses techniques based on logic and exposing data to neural networks (think human brain) so that the technology trains itself to perform tasks such as speech and image recognition.

Massive data sets are combined with pattern recognition capabilities to automatically make decisions, find patterns, emulate previous decisions, etc. Self-learning comes from here as the machine gets better from the more data that it is supplied.

Driverless cars, Netflix movie recommendations and IBMs Watson are all great examples of deep learning applications that break down tasks to make machine actions and assists possible.

Organic search, content and digital performance: Challenge and opportunity

Organic search (SEO) drives 51% of all website traffic and hence in this section it is only natural to explain the key benefits that deep-learning brings to SEO and digital marketers.

Organic search is a data-intensive business. Companies value and want their content to be visible on thousands or even millions of keywords in one to dozens of languages. Search best practices involve about 20 elements of on-page and off-page tactics. The SERPs themselves now come in more than 15 layout varieties.

Organic search is your market-wide voice of the customer, telling you what customers want at scale. However, marketers are faced with the challenge of making sense of so much data, having limited resources to mine insights and then actually act on the right and relevant insight for their business.

To succeed in highly demanding markets against your competitors’ many brands now requires the expertise of an experienced data analyst, and this is where machine learning and deep learning layers help recommend optimizations to content.

Connecting the dots with deep learning: Data and machine learning

The size of the organic data and the number of potential patterns that exist on that data make it a perfect candidate for deep learning applications. Unlike simple machine learning, deep-learning works better when it can analyse a massive amount of relevant data over long periods of time.

Deep learning and its ability to identify or prioritize material changes in interests and consumption behavior allows organic search marketers to gain a competitive advantage, be at the forefront of their industry, and produce the material that people need before their competitors, boosting their reputation.

In this way, marketers can begin to understand the strategies put forth by their competitors. They will see how well they perform compared to others in their industry and can then adjust their strategies to address the strengths or weaknesses that they find.

The insights derived from deep learning technologies blend the best of search marketing and content marketing practices to power the development, activation, and automated optimization of smart content, content that is self-aware and self-adjusting, improving content discovery and engagement across all digital marketing channels.

Intent data offers in-the-moment context on where customers want to go and what they want to know, do, or buy. Organic search data is the critical raw material that helps you discover consumer patterns, new market opportunities, and competitive threats.

Deep learning is particularly important in search, where data is copious and incredibly dynamic. Identifying patterns in data in real-time makes deep learning your best first defense in understanding customer, competitor, or market changes – so that you can immediately turn these insights into a plan to win.

To propel content and organic search success in 2018 marketers should let the machines does more of the leg work to provide the insights and recommendations that allow marketers to focus on the creation of smart content.

Below are a just a few examples of the benefits for the organic search marketer:

Site analysis

Pinpoint and fix critical site errors that drive the greatest benefits to a brand’s bottom line. Deep learning technology can be used to incorporate website data, detect anomalies tying site errors to estimated marketing impact so that marketers can prioritize fixes for maximum results.

Without a deep learning application to help you, you might be staring at a long list of potential fixes which typically get postponed to later.

Competitive strategy

Identifying patterns in real-time makes deep learning a brands’ best first defense in understanding customer, competitor, or market changes– so that marketers can immediately turn these insights into a plan to win.

Content discovery

Surface high-value topics that target different content strategies, such as stopping competitive threats or capitalizing on local demand.

Deep learning technology can be used to assess the ROI of new content items and prioritize their development by unveiling insights such as topic opportunity, consumer intent, characteristics of top competing content, and recommendations for improving content performance.

Content development

Score the quality and relevance of each piece of content produced. Deep learning technology can help save time with automated tasks of content production, such as header tags, cross-linking, copy optimization, image editing, highly optimized CTAs that drive performance, and embedded performance tracking of website traffic and conversion.

Content activation

Deep learning technology can help ensure that each piece of content is optimized for organic performance and customer experience—such as schema for structure, AMP for better mobile experiences, and Open Graph for Facebook. Technology can help marketers can amplify their content in social networks for greater visibility.

Automation

Automation helps marketers do more with less and execute more quickly. It allows marketers to manage routine tasks with little effort, so that they can focus on high-impact activities and accomplish organic business goals at scale.

Note: To make the most of the insights and recommendations from deep learning marketers need to take action and make the relevant changes to web page content to keep website visitors engaged and ultimately converting.

Additionally, because the search landscape changes so frequently, deep learning fuels the development of smart content and can be used to automatically adjust to changes in content formats and standards.

Deep learning in action

An example of deep learning in organic search is DataMind. BrightEdge (disclosure, my employer) Data Mind is like a virtual team of data scientists built into the platform, that combines massive volumes of data with immediate, actionable insights to inform marketing decisions.

In this case the deep learning engine analyzes huge, complex, and dynamic data sets (from multiple sources that include 1st and 3rd party data) to determine patterns and derive the insights marketers need. Deep learning is used to detect anomalies in a site’s performance and interpret the reasons, such as industry trends, while making recommendations about how to proceed.

Conclusion

Think of deep learning applications as your own personal data scientist – here to help and assist and not to replace. The adoption of AI, machine learning and now deep learning technologies allows faster decisions, more accurate and smarter insights.

Brands compete in the content battleground to ensure their content is optimized and found, engages audiences and ultimately drives conversions and digital revenue. When armed with these insights from deep learning, marketers get a new competitive weapon and a massive competitive edge.

from Search Engine Watch https://searchenginewatch.com/2018/01/02/artificial-intelligence-and-machine-learning-what-are-the-opportunities-for-search-marketers/

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nancygduarteus · 7 years

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The Algorithm That Makes Preschoolers Obsessed With YouTube

Toddlers crave power. Too bad for them, they have none. Hence the tantrums and absurd demands. (No, I want this banana, not that one, which looks identical in every way but which you just started peeling and is therefore worthless to me now.)

They just want to be in charge! This desire for autonomy clarifies so much about the behavior of a very small human. It also begins to explains the popularity YouTube among toddlers and preschoolers, several development psychologists told me.

If you don’t have a 3-year-old in your life, you may not be aware of YouTube Kids, an app that’s essentially a stripped-down version of the original video blogging site, with videos filtered by the target audience’s age. And because the mobile app is designed for use on a phone or tablet, kids can tap their way across a digital ecosystem populated by countless videos—all conceived with them in mind.

The videos that surface on the app are generated by YouTube’s recommendation algorithm, which takes into account a user’s search history, viewing history, demographic region, gender, age, and other individual data. The algorithm is basically a funnel through which every YouTube video is poured—with only a few making it onto a person’s screen.

This recommendation engine poses a difficult task, simply because of the scale of the platform. “YouTube recommendations are responsible for helping more than a billion users discover personalized content from an ever-growing corpus of videos,” researchers at Google, which owns YouTube, wrote in a 2016 paper about the algorithm. That includes many hours of video uploaded to the site every second of every day. Making a recommendation system that’s worthwhile is “extremely challenging,” they wrote, because the algorithm has to continuously sift through a mind-boggling trove of content and instantly identify the freshest and most relevant videos—all while knowing how to ignore the noise.

The architecture of YouTube’s recommendation system, in which “candidate videos” are retrieved and ranked before presenting only a few to the user. (Google / YouTube)

And here’s where the ouroboros factor comes in: Kids watch the same kinds of videos over and over. Videomakers take notice of what’s most popular, then mimic it, hoping that kids will click on their stuff. When they do, YouTube’s algorithm takes notice, and recommends those videos to kids. Kids keep clicking on them, and keep being offered more of the same. Which means video makers keep making those kinds of videos—hoping kids will click.

This is, in essence, how all algorithms work. It’s how filter bubbles are made. A little bit of computer code tracks what you find engaging—what sorts of videos do you watch most often, and for the longest periods of time?—then sends you more of that kind of stuff. Viewed a certain way, YouTube Kids is offering programming that’s very specifically tailored to what children want to see. Kids are actually selecting it themselves, right down to the second they lose interest and choose to tap on something else. The YouTube app, in other words, is a giant reflection of what kids want. In this way, it opens a special kind of window into a child’s psyche.

But what does it reveal?

“Up until very recently, surprisingly few people were looking at this,” says Heather Kirkorian, an assistant professor of human development in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “In the last year or so, we’re actually seeing some research into apps and touchscreens. It’s just starting to come out.”

Kids videos are among the most watched content in YouTube history. This video, for example, has been viewed more than 2.3 billion times, according to YouTube’s count:

youtube

You can find some high-quality animation on YouTube Kids, plus clips from television shows like Peppa Pig, and sing-along nursery rhymes. “Daddy Finger” is basically the YouTube Kids anthem, and ChuChu TV’s dynamic interpretations of popular kid songs are basically inescapable.

youtube

Many of the most popular videos have an amateur feel. Toy demonstrations like surprise-egg videos are huge. These videos are just what they sound like: adults narrate as they play with various toys, often by pulling them out of plastic eggs or peeling away layers of slime or Play-Doh to reveal a hidden figurine.

Kids go nuts for these things.

Here’s a video from the YouTube Kids vloggers Toys Unlimited that’s logged more than 25 million views, for example:

youtube

The vague weirdness of these videos aside, it’s actually easy to see why kids like them. “Who doesn’t want to get a surprise? That’s sort of how all of us operate,” says Sandra Calvert, the director of the Children’s Digital Media Center at Georgetown University. In addition to surprises being fun, many of the videos are basically toy commercials. (This video of a person pressing sparkly Play-Doh onto chintzy Disney princess figurines has been viewed 550 million times.) And they let kids tap into a whole internet’s worth of plastic eggs and perceived power. They get to choose what they watch. And kids love being in charge, even in superficial ways.

“It’s sort of like rapid-fire channel surfing,” says Michael Rich, a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Center on Media and Child Health. “In many ways YouTube Kids is better suited to the attention span of a young child—just by virtue of its length—than something like a half-hour or hour broadcast program can be.”

Rich and others compare the app to predecessors like Sesame Street, which introduced short segments within a longer program, in part to keep the attention of the young children watching. For decades, researchers have looked at how kids respond to television. Now they’re examining the way children use mobile apps—how many hours they’re spending, which apps they’re using, and so on.

It makes sense that researchers have begun to take notice. In the mobile internet age, the same millennials who have ditched cable television en masse are now having babies, which makes apps like YouTube Kids the screentime option du jour. Instead of being treated to a 28-minute episode of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, a toddler or preschooler might be offered 28 minutes of phone time to play with the Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood app. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is a television program, too—a spin-off of Mr. Roger’s—aimed at viewers aged 2 years old to 4 years old.

But toddlers and preschoolers are actually pretty separate groups, as far researchers are concerned. A 2-year-old and a 4-year-old might both like watching Daniel Tiger, or the same YouTube Kids video, but their takeaway is apt to be much different, Kirkorian told me. Children under the age of 3 tend to have difficulty taking information relayed to them through a screen and applying it to real-life situations. Many studies have reached similar conclusions, with a few notable exceptions. Researchers recently discovered that when a screentime experience becomes interactive—Facetiming with Grandmère, let’s say—kids under 3 years old actually can make strong connections between what’s happening onscreen and offscreen.

Kirkorian’s lab designed a series of experiments to see how much of a role interactivity plays in helping a young child transfer information this way. She and her colleagues found striking learning differences among what young children learned—even kids under 2 years old—when they could interact with an app versus when they were just watching a screen. Other researchers, too, have found that incorporating some sort of interactivity helps children retain information better. Researchers at different institutions have different definitions of “interactivity,” but in one experiment it was an act as simple as pressing a spacebar.

“So there does seem to be something about the act of choosing, having some kind of agency, that makes a difference for little kids,” Kirkorian says. “The speculative part is why that makes a difference.”

One idea is that kids, especially, like to watch the same things over and over and over again until they really understand it. I watched the Dumbo VHS so many times as a little kid that I would recite the movie on long car rides. Apparently, this is not unusual—at least not since the age of VCRs and, subsequently, on-demand programming and apps. “If they have the opportunity to choose what they’re watching, then they’re likely to interact in a way that meets their learning goals,” Kirkorian says. “We know the act of learning new information is rewarding, so they’re likely to pick the information or videos that are in that sweet spot.”

“Children like to watch the same thing over and over,” says Calvert, of Georgetown. “Some of that is a comprehension issue, so they’ll repeatedly look at it so they can understand the story. Kids often don’t understand people’s motives, and that’s a major driver for a story. They don’t often understand the link between actions and consequences.”

Young kids are also just predisposed to becoming obsessive about relatively narrow interests. (Elephants! Trains! The moon! Ice cream!) Around the 18-month mark, many toddlers develop “extremely intense interests,” says Georgene Troseth, an associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University. Which is part of why kids using apps like YouTube Kids often select videos that portray familiar concepts—ones that feature a cartoon character or topic they’re already drawn to. This presents a research challenge, however. If kids are just tapping a thumbnail of a video because they recognize it, it’s hard to say how much they’re learning—or how different the app environment really is from other forms of play.

Even the surprise-egg craze isn’t really novel, says Rachel Barr, a developmental psychologist at Georgetown. “They are relatively fast paced and they include something that young children really like: things being enclosed and unwrapped,” she told me. “I have not tested it, but it seems unlikely that children are learning from these videos since they are not clearly constructed.”

“Interactivity is not always a good thing,” she added.

Researchers differ on the degree to which YouTube Kids is a valuable educational tool. Obviously, it depends on the video and the involvement of a caregiver to help contextualize what’s on screen. But questions about how the algorithm works also play a role. It’s not clear, for instance, how heavily YouTube weighs previous watching behaviors in its recommendation engine. If a kid binge-watches a bunch of videos that are lower quality in terms of learning potential, are they then stuck in a filter bubble where they’ll only see similarly low-quality programming?

There isn’t a human handpicking the best videos for kids to watch. The only human input on YouTube’s side is to monitor the app for inappropriate content, a spokesperson for YouTube told me. Quality control has still been an issue, however. YouTube Kids last year featured a video that showed Mickey Mouse-esque characters shooting one another in the head with guns, Today reported.

“The available content is not curated but rather filtered into the app via the algorithm,” said Nina Knight, a YouTube spokesperson. “So unlike traditional TV, where the content is being selected for you at a specified time, the YouTube Kids app gives each child and family more of the type of content they love and anytime they want it, which is incredibly unique.”

At the same time, the creators of YouTube Kids videos spend countless hours trying to game the algorithm so that their videos are viewed as many times as possible—more views translate into more advertising dollars for them. Here’s a video by Toys AndMe that’s logged more than 125 million views since it was posted in September 2016:

youtube

“You have to do what the algorithm wants for you,” says Nathalie Clark, the co-creator of a similarly popular channel, Toys Unlimited, and a former ICU nurse who quit her job to make videos full-time. “You can’t really jump back and forth between themes.”

What she means is, once YouTube’s algorithm has determined that a certain channel is a source of videos about slime, or colors, or shapes, or whatever else—and especially once a channel has had a hit video on a given topic—videomakers stray from that classification at their peril. “Honestly, YouTube picks for you,” she says. “Trending right now is Paw Patrol, so we do a lot of Paw Patrol.”

There are other key strategies for making a YouTube Kids video go viral. Make enough of these things and you start to get a sense of what children want to see, she says. “I wish I could tell you more,” she added, “But I don’t want to introduce competition. And, honestly, nobody really understands it. ”

The other thing people don’t yet understand is how growing up in the mobile internet age will change the way children think about storytelling. “There’s a rich set of literature showing kids who are reading more books are more imaginative,” says Calvert, of the Children’s Digital Media Center. “But in the age of interactivity, it’s no just longer consuming what somebody else makes. It’s also making you’re own thing.”

In other words, the youngest generation of app users is developing new expectations about narrative structure and informational environments. Beyond the thrill a preschooler gets from tapping a screen, or watching The Bing Bong Song video for the umpteenth time, the long-term implications for cellphone-toting toddlers are tangled up with all the other complexities of living in a highly networked on-demand world.

from Health News And Updates https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/07/what-youtube-reveals-about-the-toddler-mind/534765/?utm_source=feed

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ionecoffman · 7 years

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The Algorithm That Makes Preschoolers Obsessed With YouTube

The architecture of YouTube’s recommendation system, in which “candidate videos” are retrieved and ranked before presenting only a few to the user. (Google / YouTube)

But what does it reveal?

Kids videos are among the most watched content in YouTube history. This video, for example, has been viewed more than 2.3 billion times, according to YouTube’s count:

youtube

Kids go nuts for these things.

Here’s a video from the YouTube Kids vloggers Toys Unlimited that’s logged more than 25 million views, for example:

youtube

“Interactivity is not always a good thing,” she added.

youtube

Article source here:The Atlantic

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itsiotrecords-blog · 7 years

Link

http://ift.tt/2rE0roZ

The Egyptian Pyramids are some of the most mysterious structures to ever exist on the planet. There has been speculation that aliens, slaves, and people from nations outside of Africa built them. But if you depend on Hollywood movies and cartoons to reveal secret truths, you might want to reconsider. There is only so much information that the Egyptian Government is willing to release to researchers which makes it all the more fun to learn about. Archaeologists have been studying them for hundreds of years, and we’ve dug up some of the coolest facts out there. In this article, I will share with you locations around the world where you will never expect pyramids to exist and the truth about who built the Pyramid of Giza. I’ll also cover many of the things that people often mistake when thinking about the pyramids. If you enjoy Egyptian history, you are going to love this list about the pyramids and things you might have never known.

#1 Egyptian Pyramids in the Remote Desert – False If you watched a number of Hollywood box office movies with Egyptian pyramids, it is normal for most to believe that these mystical structures are located in an isolated desert location in Egypt. However, there are many monuments located not far from Egypt’s capital in the largest city in the country called Cairo. The city of Cairo is most known for the Giza Pyramid which is the seventh Wonder of the World and built during the time King Khufu was alive (2589-2566 BCE). There is a royal pyramid that is south of Cairo near a temple called the Abydos which is the only monument in this location. Did you know the statue of Sphinx faces the same direction of a TGI Friday’s restaurant? The Sphinx is a tall and wide statute made of sand with a human head and the body of a lion. These ancient formations are in a north to south direction near the west bank of the Nile River.

#2 Pyramids Exist in the United States – True If you thought pyramids were only a mystery in Egypt, think again. Many monuments throughout the United States are worth talking about, but today, I will mention the Monks Mound. It is located in St. Louis, near the Mississippi River and is considered an important part of world history. Engineers that studied this structure discovered a layer of vegetation in between the pyramid which is 92 feet high and 836 feet wide. It stretches across 14.4 acres of land and consists of 2.16 billion pounds of soil mixed with clay. Surprisingly, the soil found at this location is uncommon in the area. When it rains, water gets trapped in the pyramid which has caused it to shrink in height as time passes. Archaeologists are researching to find its original location. However, to further add to the puzzle, in Indiana 43.1 million baskets of this soil was used to construct a pyramid.

#3 Pyramids Were Built By Aliens – False The idea of aliens has existed before Area 51 was built in 1955 and many cultures have linked them to being the builders of some of the unique monuments around the world. The Pyramids of Giza were designed 4,500 years ago and were meant to be for pharaohs and the elite society of Ancient Egyptians. As of today, researchers have not been able to explain how these structures are made and in my opinion, they never will. The stones weigh two tons and even the technologically advanced construction equipment used today would not be up for the challenge of building them. That leads some alien believers to think extraterrestrials built the pyramids. There is no evidence to show that a species from another planet were the creators. There were human samples found at monuments that prove about 100,000 men built them with their hands. Most of these men were clearly skilled engineers and construction workers.

#4 The Crystal Pyramid In the Bermuda Triangle – True There have been recent reports that there is a crystal pyramid at the bottom of the ocean right beneath the Bermuda Triangle. Some call it the Devil’s Triangle because of the many aircraft ships that have disappeared while flying over the location since the 1950s. There are articles on the internet state that since the 1960s a crystal pyramid was discovered by a doctor named Ray Brown that found the structure when he was scuba diving in the Bahamas. According to the Daily Star online news site, in 2012 “At a press conference in the Bahamas, Dr. Verlag apparently revealed the exact coordinates of the pyramid, which is supposed, three times the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza.” There are photos available online in addition to reputable news sites that have published this story to prove the validity of the pyramids. Some scientists believe that there might be a connection between these monuments to missing planes and ships that have disappeared over the centuries.

#5 The Pyramids Stored Grains for a Famine – False The 2016 United States presidential Republican candidate Ben Carson made a joke during his campaign that Egyptian pyramids were a place to hold grains. Some believed this misinformation, but these African structures were, in fact, a place to bury pharaohs in tombs. In American history, presidential candidates were asked about events that happened in the past during political campaigns. During the election, the media discovered a video filmed 17 years ago of Ben Carson. He was delivering a college commencement speech stating that he believed Joseph in the Bible built pyramids as a place to store food (grains). When journalists asked about this, he mentioned that his idea about the pyramids has not changed. After all, Ben Carson must have read the Old Testament stating that when Joseph and his people were sold into slavery in Egypt, the grains in the pyramid helped feed people during a seven-year famine. What do you think about this biblical story?

#6 The Original Designer of the Great Pyramid of Giza Was Hemiunu – True In an article I read in National Geographic January/February 2017 issue, the truth is Hemiunu was the architect and supervisor at the time that the Great Pyramid of Giza was built. Here’s a quick bio of Hemiunu: His father was Nefermaat, and he was married to an Egyptian noblewoman named Itet (Atet). On the front of his tomb, the writer described him as being a great prince. His wife is beside him inside of the Pyramid of Medium which is about 62 miles away from Cairo. In the fall of 2016, a statue of Hemiunu was temporarily displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Germany. The head was reshaped because in 1912 a trouble maker removed the eyes which were made out of gold. Another interesting fact is Imhotep was an architect of the 3rd dynasty of the Saqqara pyramid. Imhotep also helped build the pyramid of Djoser.

#7 The Movie Exodus Portrays Pyramid Truths – False The movie Exodus: Gods & Kings earned $268 million when it played in theaters in 2014. However, Egypt banned the movie because it depicts Jewish people as slaves that originally built the Egyptian pyramids. A few of the other moments in the movie that did not sit well with the Government were the Red Sea splitting after an earthquake erupted, which is not an Egyptian belief. It was also banned in Morocco because the people were insulted by the film. At first, the Moroccan Cinema Centre accepted the film but later changed their minds the day it was supposed to be released. According to the Mirror UK, a man that owns a movie theater in Casablanca stated, “They phoned and threatened they would shut down the theater if I did not take the film off the schedule.” The good news is it cost $140 million to make the movie, and it earned a solid return at the box office.

#8 Everything About Ancient Egypt Has Been Discovered – False Some critics believe everything there is to know about Ancient Egyptian pyramids has been found. The truth is Archaeologists are making discoveries every day in the field. Also, the Egyptian government limits the amount of information it offers to foreigners. Many theories describe how the Egyptians constructed mummies and exactly how these structures were made. There was a boat called the Khufu solar ship that was discovered beside the Great Pyramid of Giza. Some believe the boat was a place where dead Pharaohs’ bodies were stored. In the Egyptian culture, the sun-god Ra used this boat in a spiritual universe to fight enemies in battles. Over the past few decades, pyramids have been found around the world in Greece, Antarctica, Italy, China, India and the list goes on. If you were bamboozled to believe that Hollywood movies depict the entire truth about an Ancient civilization of Egyptians you wouldn’t be the only one, but more discoveries will continue as long as experts are interested in the mysterious.

#9 Pyramids Exist in Australia – True Above you read about some of the places pyramids can be found, but did you know there is also one down under? In Australia, located south of Cairns, is a natural looking monument that is considered “one of the most distinctive landmarks in the small sugar-farming town of Gordonval,” according to the Crystalinks website. It stands 922 meters high in the sky and is very steep. If you enjoy hiking, it will take about 3 hours for you to get to the top. On the surface of the pyramid is vegetation which is called Australian scrub. There is another pyramid on the island locals call Gympie Pyramid in Queensland. The Australian officials have no idea who built it, but some believe it was the Egyptians. A self-published author by the name of Rex Gilroy claims that he found the Gympie Pyramid in 1975 and went on the record to state that it was the Egyptians that traveled from Africa to build it.

#10 Noah Built The Great Pyramid – False If you Google Noah and Egyptian Pyramids there are published articles that state he was the mastermind behind these mysterious landforms. A publisher by the name of John Taylor in Britain wrote a book titled The Great Pyramid: Why It Was Built and Who Built It. Although critics state he never made the trip to the motherland to see the Pyramid of Giza, he analyzed a photo of it, studied the measurements and came to the conclusion that Noah was the original architect. Egyptians in his eyes have no connection to the pyramids in Africa. He stated, “He who built the Ark was, of all men, the most competent to direct the building of the Great Pyramid.” Not only is this an outrageous statement but it is FALSE. The Ancient Egyptians who came from Nubia and were, in fact, African. It is time to throw this false story out into the garbage.

#11 Fascinating Pyramid Facts You Never Knew – True All the pyramids in Egypt were built precisely on the west bank of the Nile River. It is the exact position where the sun sets in the evening. Egyptologists believe that it was purposely built in this direction by Ancient Egyptians to pay homage to people that die in Egypt. The Pyramid of Cheops is located in the north direction of a compass and is the only structure in the world to achieve this exact direction. Also, it is the oldest seventh wonder of the world and is the highest land mass on the planet. The stones that were used to build the pyramids are made of limestone and reflect the appearance of light from the sun. From far away, it appears that these structures shine similar to a jewel. The exact temperature of the heat inside of the pyramids in this country are 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 degrees Celsius.

#12 Atlantis Built The Pyramids – False It amazes pyramid fans of the blasphemous claims on the internet about who built the pyramids. In 1882 a Congressman named Ignatius L. Donnelly in Minnesota that admired the legend of Atlantis published his ideas in a book titled Atlantis: The Antediluvian World. He believed that the people of Atlantis had a colony in Egypt and their “civilization was a reproduction of that of the Atlantic island.” He went as far as comparing the pyramids to the land formations found in Mesoamerica. Mesoamerica is an area in South America where the Aztecs and Mayans lived that some scholars in the 19th century believed is linked to Atlantis. To discredit Ignatius, an archaeologist named Kenneth Feder stated that “The pyramids of the Old and New Worlds do not look the same. The construction methods were different; most Egyptian pyramids represent a single development episode, whereas Mesoamerican pyramids usually represent several building events, one on top of another.” If you thought this was true, you might want to let go of this fabrication.

#13 Pyramids of Tenerife, Canary Islands – True In the Canary Islands sit the Pyramids of Tenerife which are made of lava stone. In 1990, in the city of Guimar, the world became aware of these structures. A group of archaeologists completed research and discovered that the Guanches (Spaniards) built these structures in the 19th century. They had to clear and construct the land to make stones that were used to build them. The Guanches were the original native people that discovered the Macaronesian islands before the Europeans, and the Canaries natives also lived on the islands during this time. In this location, there are a total of six pyramids that are 12 meters in height made by Spaniards. All were aligned with the summer solstice with stairways at the top facing the western hemisphere. It means that it was constructed for ceremonial purposes because the stairway suggests people would face the west in the morning to watch the sunrise.

#14 The Great Pyramid of Giza Is the Tallest In the World – False If you haven’t heard this new theory, you need to pay close attention. According to Epoch Times, the tallest pyramid on the planet is in Puebla, Mexico. It is called the Great Pyramid of Cholula and in Spanish, Tlachihualtepet. The definition in Spanish meant an artificial mountain and was once an ancient temple used by the Aztecs. However, Mexican historians are unsure, but some believe it was before the civilization of the Aztecs. The Great Pyramid of Cholula was constructed in seven phases and began in the 3rd century BC ending in the 9th century AD. An archaeologist that works at Boston University named David Carballo mentioned to the BBC that the pyramid is 455 feet taller than the Pyramid of Giza. He believes it is the largest monument in the world. If you were to see the Cholula pyramid in person, you would think it is a mountain because of the grass and trees on the top of it.

#15 False Doors Were A Pathway to the Dead – True Can you imagine being able to move from different dimensions? A false door is an artistic representation of a real one, but it does not function as a door. They were carved on the wall or painted inside of pyramids. False doors are a common architectural element in the tombs of Ancient Egypt and Pre-Nuragic Sardinia. These pieces of artwork are in Etruscan tombs, and during the time of Ancient Rome, they were used in the interiors of houses. The Ancient Egyptians believed that it was a pathway between death and reality where a spirit of the dead could come into the real world and then exit. The false door was the central focus of a tomb’s offering where families would place gifts to the dead in front of the false door. Most are located facing the west, and most of the time a husband and wife were buried behind the door.

Source: TheRichest

#IoTRecords

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thehungrykat1 · 7 years

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Novotel Manila Welcomes Summer With Opening of Ice N Cream (Part 2)

Summers in the Philippines are excruciatingly hot. They say that you can even fry an egg outside just by placing it on a hot concrete floor, and I totally believe that. So what’s the best way to cool and refresh ourselves during these sizzling summer months? Let’s have ice cream! Novotel Manila Araneta Center has the perfect solution to our problems as they open the newest and hippest ice cream parlor in the city, Ice N Cream by Novotel. The Hungry Kat was invited to the media launch of Ice N Cream last April 11, just two days after I had checked out from my summer staycation at Novotel Manila. It was great to be back at my new secret hideaway in Cubao and try all these fantastic ice cream flavors.

But before that, let’s get back to my overnight staycation at Novotel Manila (read part 1 here) where I found another way to beat the summer heat. Their Swimming Pool is located on the sixth floor and is open from 6:00am to 7:00pm. I did not imagine this hidden tropical oasis sitting right here inside the busy Araneta Center, so it was so refreshing to get my feet wet and take a dip inside their lovely pool.

Families will definitely enjoy bringing their kids to the swimming pool for a morning or afternoon of fun and bonding. They can also learn essential swimming skills this summer through the Bert Lozada Swim School from March 29 to June 19, 2017. Kids and even adults can have sessions of learning and fun before the school season starts again.

I wanted to avoid the crowds so I decided to hit the swimming pool early in the morning after I woke up from my relaxing slumber. My massage service at In Balance Spa last night was really effective and it was so tempting to just lie in bed all morning, but I also wanted to take a quick swim.

Just beside the pool is the 6th Pool Bar and Lounge. This is a casual pool bar by day but it transforms into the trendiest outdoor club at night. Guests can groove to the beats of the resident DJ and experience a pool party during weekends and special events.

I just love having the pool all to myself which is why I usually wake up very early to catch this serenity. After a few laps around the pool, my tummy was already telling me that it was time to head down to Food Exchange for a yummy breakfast buffet.

Food Exchange Manila offers its breakfast buffet from 6:30am to 10:30am. Guests at the Club floors can actually have their breakfast either here or at the more private Premier Lounge, but I always like the wider selection at the hotel cafe so this is where I usually have breakfast first. I did have an indulgent dinner last night so I really needed their Juice of the Day to keep my appetite healthy.

A wide selection of breads and pastries are available like the Ube Ensaymada which is a highly recommended item. Early risers can also get as much Puto Bumbong as they want as well as crepes, salads, fruits and more.

They also offer a good range of hot dishes like the Homemade Corned Beef which is a thicker and meatier version of those canned items. The Canadian Bacon was also a popular dish with its low fat bacon. I had some fried eggs prepared which I placed on top of my garlic rice and that was all I needed. Noodles and even pizza are also on hand with several juices and beverages to choose from.

After my breakfast at Food Exchange, I went up to the Premier Lounge to check out the breakfast setup there. The lounge is a better venue for those who want a quiet and more private breakfast experience. While the selection may be smaller, you get a much better view of the city. As expected, I could not help myself from having a second breakfast so I ordered a cup of hot chocolate and helped myself with a plate from the buffet table. That is how The Hungry Kat enjoys breakfast.

The best thing about staying at the Executive Room is that you can request for late check out as long as it is available. My check out was scheduled at 4:00pm so that gave me even more time to explore the hotel facilities. The one area that really impressed me at the hotel is their expansive bridal garden and tent called the Versailles Garden. This 2,500-square meter outdoor events venue can be found at the back of the swimming pool area and offers a spectacular place for weddings and celebrations. Many special occasions have been held at this venue which gives its guests an exclusive and enchanting area.

Would you believe that this picturesque garden paradise can be found right inside Cubao? I would have never thought that a place like this even existed here at the Araneta Center but Novotel Manila has definitely transformed the way we see this busy commercial district.

Novotel Manila is even taking it one step further this summer with outdoor movie screenings and garden picnics at the Versailles Garden all weekends of April starting April 15. Take a break and bond with family and friends while watching exciting movies at this outdoor oasis.

Another reason to visit Novotel Manila Araneta Center is the newly opened Ice N Cream by Novotel located at the lobby floor just beside Food Exchange Manila. The newest ice cream destination started scooping to the public yesterday, April 16, 2017 and gives everyone the coolest and sweetest reasons to beat the smoldering summer heat.

This hip ice cream parlor is not just for hotel guests but for anyone who wants to get out from the heat and enjoy their fun and creative ice cream flavors. There are around 30 different and unique ice cream flavors to choose from which you can enjoy on a cup or cone starting at only P100 per scoop. I think that’s much better than going to those crowded coffee shop for a cup of coffee that is twice as expensive.

Novotel’s ice cream are made from premium local and imported ingredients from Germany and France. These are all homemade and gluten-free, with less sugar and absolutely no stabilizers, resulting in a very creamy texture with high quality and consistency. Some of these flavors, like the Purple Dream with ube and langka, are found at the dessert section of Food Exchange Manila but diners loved these so much that Novotel decided to set up their own ice cream store.

Ice N Cream by Novotel showcases many creative and yummy flavors like Cocoyeah, creamy coconut milk mixed with slivers of young coconut meat; Breezy Berry, a mélange of berries married with the cool breeze of mint; or Sugar-Free options like Oh Honey Honey, local lime zing blended with Tagaytay honey.

Other Philippine flavors are also highlighted like the Leche De Almond with its velvety leche flan crowned with crunchy Almond Florentine. The Passionista, on the other hand, has a pleasantly sweet and tart silky passionfruit goodness.

Ice N Cream by Novotel also offers classic flavors with catchy names such as Oui Vanilla, Choco Goes Nuts, It Match-a Been Love, and Wake Me Up Before You Go Go which has rich notes of coffee with real coffee bean crunch. They even have alcoholic ice cream flavors like Kirsche Me, a black forest ice cream with high quality couverture chocolate and sponge infused with fruity Kirsch brandy. Or try the Papa Don Preach with plump, juicy raisins enhanced with a kick of warmth from rum. All these exciting flavors are sure to keep ice cream fanatics coming back for more.

During the media launch last week, I was privileged to be one of the first to sample their myriad of delicious flavors. I ordered two scoops of ice cream on a cone with Choco Goes Nuts and Oui Vanilla flavors. I was really surprised with the creaminess of the ice cream which are almost similar to other imported ice cream brands. Novotel Manila takes pride in their homemade ice cream flavors and I can attest to the quality of their creations.

Guests can also choose to have their ice cream inside a cup for the same affordable price. You can also add toppings to your ice cream to personalize your treat.

Aside from the yummy ice cream offerings, Ice N Cream by Novotel also features freshly made pastries and baked favorites like Buko Pandan Layer Cake, Coconut Cheesecake, Chocolate Praline Cake, Croissant, Danish breads, Double Chocolate Chip cookies and much more. They also offer milkshakes and Carmen’s Best ice cream flavors for even more variety.

One ice cream monstrosity that is available at the Gourmet Bar by Novotel is the 15-scoop Le Mont Gourmand which is now also available at Ice N Cream. Media guests were invited to participate in a fun ice cream challenge to design and create their own bowl of Le Mont Gourmand.

We had all these toppings, syrups and sauces at our disposal to create the best and most creative bowl of Le Mont Gourmand ice cream. It was not as easy as I thought because this bowl is huge! We also had to act quickly because the ice cream was melting fast.

Here it is! Presenting our own Le Mont Gourmand. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to win the top prize but we did have fun sharing and devouring this colorful bowl of ice cream.

Here’s another great treat from Novotel Manila. From April 16 to 29, 2017, Ice N Cream by Novotel will be having a Buy 1 Take 1 offer for the purchase of one scoop of any ice cream flavor (diner pays for the higher priced ice cream flavor). What’s more, if you are social media savvy and aspiring “IT” girls and guys, you can join the search for the Novotel iScreamers: The Ice N Cream Dream Team. Simply follow Novotel Manila’s Facebook page and look for their Ice N Cream contest video (here’s the link). Share on the comments why you should be part of Novotel iScreamers and take your shot to be part of the lucky five to win exciting prizes such as a year’s supply of ice cream at Ice N Cream by Novotel, one overnight stay in an Executive Suite with breakfast and Premier Lounge access similar to my summer staycation, exclusive passes to product tasting, events and new flavor launches, plus a meet and greet with the Bb. Pilipinas Candidates on April 28, 2017 during the Ice N Cream grand launching! Check out the full contest details here.

I never thought that I would enjoy having a staycation at Cubao, but everything during my stay at Novotel Manila Araneta Center has been magical. It has been a while since I last stayed in the Cubao district, but Novotel Manila has truly transformed the way I see Araneta Center and I’m sure this is the case for other travelers as well. Other higher priced luxury hotels may be more popular in Makati or at Roxas Boulevard, but Novotel Manila is now my favorite secret hideaway this side of the city.

Novotel Manila Araneta Center

Gen. Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City

990-7888

www.novotel.com/Manila

www.facebook.com/NovotelManilaAranetaCenter

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