Triathlon Juggling

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Nigerian Hyena Handlers

I first saw a picture of these Nigerian street performers and their use of Hyenas in the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. They were taken back in 2005 by Pieter Hugo when he followed them as they performed. I never realized how big hyenas are.

From: Twenty-two Words

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Pictures of Syria 18 months ago

Here are pictures of Syria from photographer Matthew Kovacs that he took 18 months ago, before the fighting started.  You can see more pictures he took in Syria here: Syria Photos

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My Grandfather on Local News Talking about His Blue Bird Houses

My Grandfather on news back in 2004 showing off his blue bird houses.

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8 German words with no English equivalent

From: bookofjoe

Wrote Ignatius Graham in a January 12, 2012 Socyberty post: “Sometimes there just isn’t a word for what you want to say. But sometimes, there is — in German.”

“The German language is one that has fully embraced the compound word. I’ve heard it said, even by German-speakers, that if there’s no German word for a concept, the Germans will just make one up. Perhaps English could take a lesson, especially considering these eight words that succinctly describe ideas that English-speakers obviously have but need many more words to express.”

…………………..

1. schadenfreude: Every non-German speaker’s favorite German word, schadenfreude literally means “harm-joy,” and it’s used for the feeling of taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune or unhappiness. Like The Simpsons’ Nelson jeering “Ha ha!” or your smile when you find out something unfortunate happened to your ex. There’s a whole song about it in the Broadway musical Avenue Q [top].

2. fremdscham: Almost the opposite of schadenfreude, fremdscham is the feeling of being embarrassed for someone else (presumably someone who’s not embarrassed for themselves, but should be).

3. torschlusspanik: Fear of decreasing opportunities as time passes. It’s the feeling that you’re running out of time and the pressure’s on. It’s often used to refer to a woman’s “biological clock” increasing desire to have children, but I wonder if it could also be used for college kids who feel they need to have their fun now before being released into the drudgery of a full-time job, or simply for people growing older and worried about all the things they’ve yet to do.

4. waldeisamkeit: A feeling of solitude in the forest.

5. weltschmerz: Literally, “world-pain.” When you watch the news, and it’s all about war and murder and global warming and political catfights, and you start to wonder if there’s any good left in the world at all, and get completely depressed about the state of thing… that feeling you have is weltschmerz. Getting down about how far off the world is from what would be ideal.

6. fernweh: My personal favorite, fernweh is the opposite of homesickness; it’s a longing to venture out into the world. Almost like wanderlust, but sadder and lonelier. Think homesickness — that same sense of not just wanting something, but missing it — in reverse.

7. gemütlichkeit: “the warm fuzzy feeling you get when you are cozy, a little drunk, and surrounded by friends.” What a great word. Similar to the Danish word hygge.

8. stammtisch: This strangely specific word means a gathering of friends at a bar, to talk about life. In other words, many of the sitcoms of the last few decades.

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Giant insect

Cool story at NPR on it’s re-discovery several years ago and current work to send it back to the wild.

 

Even more cool, a video of one being hatched:

 

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Valentines Day around the world.

A Pakistani girl sells roses on a street on Valentine’s Day in Lahore, Pakistan.

 

More Valentines pictures from around the world at Big Picture

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