PAVAN MICKEY: Entertainment

Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts

Friday, June 21, 2013

Famous Castle of Krak des Chevaliers in Syria

Krak des Chevaliers, also Crac des Chevaliers, is a Crusader castle in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world. The site was first inhabited in the 11th century by a settlement of Kurds; as a result it was known as Hisn al Akrad, meaning the "Castle of the Kurds". In 1142 it was given by Raymond II, Count of Tripoli, to the Knights Hospitaller. It remained in their possession until it fell in 1271. It became known as Crac de l'Ospital; the name Krak des Chevaliers was coined in the 19th century.

Photo — Link

The Hospitallers began rebuilding the castle in the 1140s and were finished by 1170 when an earthquake damaged the castle. The order controlled a number of castles along the border of the County of Tripoli, a state founded after the First Crusade. Krak des Chevaliers was amongst the most important and acted as a centre of administration as well as a military base. After a second phase of building was undertaken in the 13th century, Krak des Chevaliers became a concentric castle. This phase created the outer wall and gave the castle its current appearance. The first half of the century has been described as Krak des Chevaliers' "golden age". At its peak, Krak des Chevaliers housed a garrison of around 2,000. Such a large garrison allowed the Hospitallers to extract tribute from a wide area. From the 1250s the fortunes of the Knights Hospitaller took a turn for the worse and in 1271 Krak des Chevaliers was captured by the Mamluk Sultan Baibars after a siege lasting 36 days, and then purportedly only by way of a forged letter purportedly from the Hospitallers' Grand Master that caused the Knights to surrender.

Photo — Link

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Chicago River Turns Green for St. Patrick's Day

While some cities may offer green beer or bagels to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Chicago takes it up a notch by transforming its river into an emerald stream each year. The Windy City resumed its annual tradition this weekend, which marked the 51st time the Chicago River was dyed green since the ritual's introduction in 1962.

Though the exact formula for the solution remains a Chicago secret, it is an orange dye used to turn the blue waterways into the magnificent green river that marks St. Paddy's Day each year. Native Chicagoans and out-of-city spectators alike gather to witness the ceremonious tradition. Even this year, hundreds of thousands of people braved the low temperatures for the festivities, which included a man dressed as a leprechaun riding a water propelled Flyboard. See the festive guy in action, below.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Titanic 2

Everyone is calling it the "return of a legend." Last year, Australian billionaire Clive Palmer revealed plans for Titanic II, a modern-day functioning replica of the original luxury liner. According to the design plan, "While every bit as luxurious as her namesake, Titanic II will have every modern amenity along with 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems." Passengers can purchase tickets and experience a journey across the ocean in a real life flash to the past, including class divisions and even costumes from the time period.

Just like the original, the accommodations are designed to match the finest restaurants and hotels on land. The plush furniture, carved oak designs, wrought iron and glass dome, and grand central staircase will mimic the grandeur of the original ship, and Palmer says, "This magnificent vessel is to be constructed in memory of the heroic people who served on the ship, the passengers who sadly shared their fate, and all those that survived the tragedy."

The vessel will take its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 2016 and something important to note, the new design will be extremely prepared for any emergency, equipped with 18 modern lifeboats that can hold beyond the ship’s capacity of 2,435 passengers and 900 crew.

Inside the Painter's Studio

Jackson Pollock

When we see an artist's work, it's incredible to think about all of the details that went into the creation process, from collecting the right materials to actual physical labor of production. So, what better way to get to know an artist than to see him or her inside their own personal studio. This was exactly the thought of Brooklyn-based artist Joe Fig, and so he developed a series of miniature dioramas, entitled Inside the Painter's Studio, that show artists at work in their own studios.

One review explains, "A desire for firsthand references led Fig to approach contemporary artists for access to their studios. Armed with a camera and a self-made 'Artist's Questionnaire,' Fig began a journey through the workspaces of some of today's most exciting contemporary artists." Based on photographs and his own eye-witness, he produced 24 mixed media pieces that range in size from just 4 inches to 60 inches. The tiny details portray the personalities and work of each person and, as a result, we get a rare and tiny glimpse into the world of many famous artists including people like Jackson Pollock, Jasper Johns, Willem de Kooning, and Andy Warhol.