Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 62

10 January 2021 - LOST ENGLISH WORDS

 

 LOST ENGLISH

 WORDS

G'day folks,

Well, here are some more of those words that have fallen by the wayside.

 

acrasial

adj

1851 -1851

ill-regulated; ill-tempered

The acrasial judge was known for her rants against younger lawyers. 

 

addecimate

v

1612 -1755

to tithe

They addecimated regularly but were not otherwise known for their charity. 

 

adimpleate

v

1657 -1657

to fill up

The new technique adimpleates the cans with milk through injection. 

 

adnascentia

npl

1706 -1731

root-like branches that sprout into the earth from a plant's stem every winter, the adnascentia would shift around, destroying the lawn's even texture. 

 

aeipathy

n

1847 -1853

continued passion; an unyielding disease

Her aeipathy for stamp collecting bordered at times on the pathological. 

 

affictitious

adj

1656 -1656

feigned; counterfeit

The forger was caught despite his masterfully-crafted affictitious signatures. 

 

affuage

n

1753 -1847

right to cut wood in a forest for family fire

The family's right of affuage ensured they would have enough wood for winter. 

 

agonarch

n

1656 -1656

judge of a contest or activity

Our competition will require six agonarchs to ensure fairness. 

 

agonyclite

n

1710 -1710

member of a heretical sect that stood rather than kneeled while praying

Agonyclites must have had hardy feet to endure their services. 

 

 

Clancy's comment: Mm ... I'm not surprised.

I'm ...

 

23 January 2021 - RARE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM WORLD WAR 11

 

RARE PHOTOGRAPHS

 FROM WORLD WAR 11

G'day folks,

World War II was the most devastating period in human history. This is a collection of eye-opening photographs from WWII that most of us have never seen and won’t be found in history classes.

 

Between WWI and WWII, Germany suffered from extreme hyperinflation because of the debts they had to pay for due to the destruction in the previous war. Money became completely worthless.

 

 During the Nazis’ rampant campaign to dominate Europe, they allowed themselves to loot art galleries. Here, Allies had just uncovered a large cache of stolen art pieces and artifacts that “belonged” to Nazi officer Hermann Goering.
 

British and American soldiers made it their duty to reveal to German soldiers and civilians the atrocities that took place at Nazi concentration camps. German servicemen watched videos that their fellow soldiers had recorded. Many couldn’t control their emotions as they saw the disturbing images of the Holocaust.

 

Here are a few more photographs rarely seen, including the burning of Belsen Concentration Camp.

 

Clancy's comment: War totally sucks. Sadly, we have learnt nothing.

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22 January 2021 - AGIM SULAJ - CREATOR OF POWERFUL ART

 

AGIM SULAJ

 - CREATOR OF POWERFUL ART -

G'day folks,

Born in Albania in 1960, Agim Sulaj began his artistic career at the age of 18 when he joined the Tirana Academy des Baux Artes. After graduating in 1985, his interest in painted political satire was piqued, and he worked as an illustrator for the magazine Hosteni. While his specialization was caricatures, he also developed a deep love for hyperrealism, even being commissioned to create now-famous portraiture. In 1990, he settled in Rimini, Italy, and continued to work on his hyperrealistic paintings and his surreal caricatures.

His work is considered to be both humorous and metaphorical, touching real-world issues in an amusing manner. It's no wonder that he has been awarded numerous prizes for his artwork from institutions all across Europe. Dive into the hilariously heartfelt world of Agim Sulaj with these incredible caricatures, illustrations, and paintings from this notable artist.

Clancy's comment: Very clever and thought-provoking.

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21 January 2021 - A COLLECTION OF WEIRD CARS

 

  A COLLECTION OF WEIRD CARSG'day folks, 
Imagine walking down the road and seeing a car with a giant and scary rat's face glaring at you. No, that’s not a scene from a bad sci-fi film. That’s one of the many weird car designs we're about to present for you today. In these pictures below, you will get to see some of the most peculiar car models ever designed. Some of them resemble tanks and boats and some have been inspired by animals. Looking at them, you will surely wonder how these oddball designs ever got made. 






Clancy's comment: Just weird!
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9 January 2021 - MAGNIFICENT CARVINGS FROM AVOCADO SEEDS

 

MAGNIFICENT CARVINGS 

FROM AVOCADO SEEDS

G'day folks,

I've also been creative with avocado seeds, but these are clever. All I did, was lay them in a large terra cotta bowl, fill it with water and watch them grow into a tiny forest. It looked brilliant sitting on a table. Anyway ...

One day, Jan Campbell was preparing an avocado for lunch when she was suddenly struck by the beauty of the pit inside – an object that most people throw away without giving it a second thought. After weeks of pondering the pit’s potential, she decided to scratch away its layers until she had a beautiful piece of art right before her eyes.

Ever since that day, Campbell has been turning avocado pits into tiny, intricately detailed figurines inspired by Celtic folklore. She carves into these seeds, the tranquil faces of forest spirits, the flowing hair of ancient goddesses, and even a handful of wild mushrooms every now and then. These miniatures can be displayed as statues, or worn as pendants, and are meant to provide the holder with a unique sense of companionship and comfort. Some of Campbell’s best creations can be seen below:

 

Clancy's comment: Look good, eh?

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12 January 2021 - 12,500-Year-Old Cave Paintings Found in Western Amazonia

 

12,500-Year-Old Cave Paintings Found in Western Amazonia
G'day folks,

The world is full of historical and natural wonders that we are yet to discover. One such archeological treasure was discovered by expert José Iriarte and his team from British Columbia. 

The finding in question lies in a remote part of the Amazon Rainforest called Serranía La Lindosa and consists of a series of gorgeous and historically insightful cave

Admire the photographs of these cave paintings and rock art on an 8-mile cliff in the Western Amazon Rainforest dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the Ancients in the media.

These paintings, which have since been collectively christened "the Sistine Chapel of the Ancients", stretch across an 8-mile cliff in the middle of the forest and were likely created 12,500 years ago. This seemingly simple collection of rock art depicts numerous different types of native animals, some that are present today and many that have gone extinct.

Research suggests that these depictions were likely created by the earliest civilizations of Western Amazonia. While there is so much to be learned from these intricate images, there is also an immense amount of beauty to be taken in. Just see for yourself and get lost in history!

Clancy's comment: Very interesting. Not as old as what we have in Australia but amazing  just the same. What a find, eh?

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25 December 2020 - THE FIVE-DOLLAR CIRCUS - A SHORT STORY

 

THE FIVE-DOLLAR CIRCUS

 - A SHORT STORY -

G'day folks,

I love writing short stories, and here is one to remind us of what is important. Maybe, it will bring back some fond memories of a time when people were more important than money ... and mobile phones. 

    I must have been no more than six-years-of-age when my father took me to my first circus. Times were tough in those days, money was scarce, and jobs even harder to find. Luckily, my father had a reasonable job, but he had big commitments as well. At least we owned a car, albeit an old but reliable vehicle. There were five kids in our family, plus Nan, who’d lived with us since Pop had died.

       Living in a rural community was fabulous, with so many different things to do; rolling in the hay, riding our pushbike for miles, trying to catch wild birds, and fishing in dams for yabbies. However, other than the local movie theatre, there wasn’t much in the way of formal entertainment that ever graced our small town.

     The Agricultural Show was the only social highlight for children. It was the one event where every kid could enter some contest. The first year I entered the best pet contest, I won it. That was amazing. I entered Nan’s favourite rooster. Most mothers and grandmothers entered the cooking and preserves competitions, but there were things for the men as well. When Pop was alive, he used to win heaps of prizes for his vegies, and Dad always entered the woodchop.

     Regular dances were held in the Mechanics Hall, but we considered them to be grown-ups entertainment anyway. While our parents chatted and danced, all of us ran amok, waiting for food to be served. Supper at those dances was fantastic, especially when Mrs Gamble brought her pancakes, or old Mrs Stone made one of her special sponges. It seemed like a long wait for supper, but it was worth it when we saw all the food laid out on long trestles.

     When news came to hand that a live circus would be in town, every child hoped and prayed that their parents could take them. If people couldn’t afford the live performance, they could at least walk amongst the animals and soak up the atmosphere. To see wild animals from far away places like Africa, and view the lifestyle of itinerant people who lived in caravans and travelled the countryside was enchanting. Our small farming community was fairly isolated, so a circus was a big deal in those days. The nearest city was a good hundred miles away, only visited for specialist medical treatment or some other important reason.

     Being the eldest child, my father had promised to take me to the upcoming circus as a treat, and I vividly recall feeling really special when he pulled me aside and told me. Looking back, I think it was Dad’s way of spending quality time with his eldest son. Nowadays they’d probably call it secret men’s business or some other politically correct term.

     The hairs rose on the back of my neck every time I saw one of the circus posters pasted to a billboard, or nailed to a power pole. It was a strange feeling, like the feeling you get just before your birthday, or on Christmas Eve when you go to bed full of expectations but can’t sleep from excitement.

     Finally, the big day arrived. Dad had planned to attend the afternoon session, wanting to go early so we could observe the exotic animals at leisure. He’d always loved tigers. Maybe that's why he supported the Tigers Rugby Team. I can remember more than one photograph of tigers in our family home as a child. The biggest one hung above our fireplace in the living room and took pride of place. He used to look at it and make a growling sound that came from deep in his throat.

    ‘Grrr,’ he’d say, then wink at us. We don’t know how he managed to do it, but we all loved to hear that noise.  It sounded so real.

     Happily, we strolled to the local recreation oval and spotted others with similar aspirations. Two of my best mates could not afford to attend, but they wished me well as we passed their house. They’d already been to see the animals, but I’d deliberately held off so I could savour it with Dad. That wasn’t an easy decision to make, but I hung out and waited, convinced it would make our circus visit all that much more enjoyable. I was right. Dad was as excited as I was and, on the way, he told me he’d never been to a live circus performance. Sure, he’d seen circus animals before, but he’d never had sufficient funds to enter the Big Top and watch the live performances.

     We finally arrived, and what a sight it was. I’d never seen such a big tent, and we must have spent a good hour just strolling around, admiring animals that sat peacefully chewing their cud. However, the lions paced up and down their cage as if they wanted to get out and eat us alive. My father was enthralled by the large cats, but I was scared stiff. I kept glancing at the door of the lion cage to ensure that the padlock had been snibbed properly. Unlike Dad, I preferred the camels and small ponies. Those camels were amazing beasts, and I kept staring at their humps, wondering how they could travel for so long in a desert without water.

     Eventually it was time to line up to venture inside and watch trapeze artists, lion tamers, the antics of clowns, and other exciting acts. There was quite a crowd. Folks had come from far and wide; many I’d never seen before, and standing in front of us was a new family who’d just moved into the district. Mum had spoken of them weeks before so I knew they had three children. They’d arrived in town at the commencement of the school holidays, but I’d not seen any of their kids nor taken much interest in their arrival. They were renting the run-down old Hamilton home on the edge of town, and not much was known of them.

     However, I knew that would change in time as locals made it their business to find out all they could about them. Rural townships were always like that. I wasn’t all that curious about the new folks in town. I’d been too busy helping my father with odd jobs, often going to work with him, or trying to tease those Swooper Magpies down near our school with my two best mates; not to mention our yabby enterprise at Swenson’s dam.

     Slowly the line edged forward and, as we patiently waited, I looked at the family in front of us. They seemed to be decent people, but they looked poor. There were two girls and a boy and their clothes were frayed, probably wearing ‘hand-me-downs’ which was common in those days. The young boy wore shoes that had certainly seen better days, but at least they were highly polished. Having polished shoes was something Dad always instilled in us.

     I recall feeling shy and uncomfortable when one of the girls often glanced at me. I tried to look unaffected by her cute smiles, but I’m sure I must have blushed. She was around my age and sure was pretty, with beautiful blonde hair and the bluest eyes. Every now and then I managed to catch an occasional sly glimpse of her when she wasn’t looking. God, she was pretty.

     When we finally made it closer to the ticket office, something happened that I never forgot. We could hear every word that was said. The man in front of us must have miscalculated the cost of the tickets, and Dad and I watched as he stood and re-counted his money a second time. He had insufficient funds to cover the entrance fee. I looked away and felt so sorry for him; even sadder for his children who waited patiently, no doubt hoping and praying that their father would solve the problem. 

     I soon felt an arm on my shoulder and looked up to find Dad smiling at me. In his hand was the five-dollar note he’d saved for our trip to the circus. Dad didn’t say a word, but when he winked at me and grinned, I read his thoughts and smiled proudly. Seconds later, Dad bent down and pretended to pick up something.

    ‘Excuse me, matey. You must have dropped this five-dollar note on the ground,’ said Dad, offering our five-dollar bill to the man who stared at my father with a look of bewilderment.

    ‘I … I don’t think so,’ he replied.

    Dad was so sharp in those situations. He quickly thrust the money at the man. ‘Yeah, sure. I saw it drop … here.’ The man looked blankly at his wife and his children, then he shook my dad’s hand with a knowing look; the type of look that requires no explanation.

     The family paid their entry fee, but we were left standing at the ticket office with no money.

    Thinking quickly, I grabbed Dad’s hand. ‘Come on, Dad. Let’s have a real good look at those tigers again.’ My father grinned and patted me on the head.

     As we slowly strolled to the tiger’s cage, I looked back at the Big Top and saw the man staring at us. His beautiful daughter was waving to me, wearing a grateful smile. To be honest, I wasn’t all that upset. No, I was just glad to be with my father. Sadly, he’d still not managed to enter the Big Top. I so wanted him to see the performances, but we had a great time together, and we must have spent ages observing those wild animals.

       The next day was Sunday. Around lunch time, there was a loud knock at the door. I was closest so naturally I opened it; stunned to see the young girl I’d seen at the circus. She was standing alongside her father. In his hands were a large bunch of flowers and a bag of potatoes. Sitting at his feet was a wooden crate full of vegetables, and the young girl was holding a homemade pie that smelled delicious. Fortunately my father appeared on the scene, and thank God he did. I was starting to feel shy and uncomfortable in the presence of the girl.

     Dad opened the fly-wire door, smiled and greeted them. ‘Hello.’

    ‘G’day. Bill Timmins is me name. This is me daughter Kim. We … we just wanted to express our gratitude for yesterday. Don’t have much, but thought you might like some fresh produce.’

    My father didn’t hesitate and shook the man’s hand firmly. ‘Gosh. Thanks … good to meet you. I’m Jack … Jack Smothers,’ said Dad. ‘Jessie!’ he hollered down the hallway, and Mum soon arrived, wiping flour-covered hands on her apron. My parents then did something that didn’t surprise me. They invited the family to stay for lunch.

     That was a fabulous Sunday roast, and the apple pie was sensational. While the adults talked about grown-up things, I enjoyed listening to Kim Timmins as she told me what had happened under the Big Top.  I was curious, but I also wanted to tell Dad what he’d missed out on. Kim was not only pretty. She was also smart. She knew what my father had done. I guess that’s why she gave him a big hug when they left.

     Dad reckoned it was the best five-dollars he’d ever spent, and I agreed with him. 

 

Clancy's comment: I love reading this. Hey, Merry Christmas to you all. Let's spare a thought for all those who have died from Covid 19, and the nurses and doctors who took care of them. 

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14 January 2020 - KRABI - ONE OF THAILAND'S PEARLS

 

KRABI 

- ONE OF THAILAND'S PEARLS -

 

G'day folks,

Most of you are aware that I’m a great lover of Thailand and SE Asia, having travelled throughout the country and region since 1973. What is my favourite place you may ask? I don’t have one particular place, but this one would come close to it.

Alongside the major tourist spots is a must-see yet well-hidden gem in this south-east Asian nation. The coastal town of Krabi, located in a province of the same name, is the land of adventure. Beaches, parks, and an endless list of fun family activities - everything that makes a perfect vacation! Let's dive into the beauty and excitement that this oriental paradise has to offer.

While Krabi is similar to Phuket in terms of location, lying beside the Andaman sea, it has a unique climate. It experiences a 10-month monsoon season which ends in December, making the final and the first days of the year the ideal time for a visit. The rainy weather also contributes to its vibrant oceanic ecosystem, housed within the boundaries of many marine national parks like crowd-favorite Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, the famous diving hotspot Ko Lanta National Park, and the Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, which attracts flocks of bird-watchers every year.

Other popular destinations include the peninsula of Rai Leh (also known as Railay), the resort town of Ao Nang, and the Phi Phi Islands (otherwise known as Ko Phi Phi). In fact, Krabi is home to over 80 different smaller islands that offer even more stunningly gorgeous landscapes of sand, rock, and ocean. Most are easily reached by land and depending on the location, offer exciting activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, yachting or sailing, kayaking, and even fishing.

Clancy's comment: Mouth-watering place. Can't wait to return.

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19 January 2021 - SURVIVORS FORCED TO EAT HUMAN FLESH

 

SURVIVORS FORCED 

TO EAT HUMAN FLESH

G'day folks,

Here is a true story of survival that has been well-documented.

On October 13th, 1972, an Uruguayan plane travelling from Montevideo to Santiago, Chile, crashed in the Andes mountains. On board were the Old Christians Club, a rugby team, and family members who were going to a match against a Chilean team. Of the 45 people on board, 25 survived, but 8 of them died two weeks later when an avalanche hit the crash site.

 

Trapped in the snow at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters, the survivors eventually resorted to one of the grisliest acts of self-preservation imaginable – they were forced to eat the flesh of dead friends and family members who had been preserved in the cold.

 

After more than 8 weeks without rescue, two of the athletes, 21-year-old Fernando Parrado and 19-year-old Roberto Canessa decided to hike off into the wilderness in an attempt to find help. After 10 days, they came across a livestock herder, and the next day, a search team in helicopters reached the survivors. Their story was made into a book and a movie, both called “Alive.”

Clancy's comment: I'm not sure how I would have coped.

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4 January 2021 - CARLA GRACE - Hyper-Realistic Wildlife Paintings

 CARLA GRACE

 - Hyper-Realistic Wildlife Paintings -

 

G'day folks,

Hyper-realistic art is an extremely difficult skill to perfect. And hence, whenever I come across some insanely good hyper-realistic paintings, I can’t help but be amazed. Those artists must be ridiculously talented and deserve all the recognition and praise. Today, I will present to you the works of one such remarkably talented artist.

Carla Grace is a self-taught artist with a special love for wild animals. Born in South Africa and now based in Australia, Carla has grown up marveling at wildlife and went on to depict them in her hyper-realistic paintings as an adult. Tigers, lions, wolves, giraffes, chimps, leopards, and much more, feature heavily in her marvelous oil paintings and she is determined to continue depicting the beauty of the animal kingdom through her artworks. Now, let’s take a look at some of the best and most extraordinary hyper-realistic portraits of Carla Grace. I guarantee these will take your breath away.

Clancy's comment: So much talent!

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