Modular Origami. Fireworks

Carvings. Baskets with orange and lemon

Tsunami December 26, 2004. An epic tragedy

A sea of sorrow. The world suffers an epic tragedy as a tsunami spreads death across Asia.

How the Deadly Waves Spread

The most powerful earthquake in 40 years quickly turned into one of the worst disasters in a century, as walls of water crashed ashore across South Asia

Scope Of The Tragedy

The death toll has surpassed 100,000 and will surely climb. Thousands are missing, and millions have been left homeless, threatened by diseases that are spread through dirty water, mosquitoes and over-crowding.

Tanzania. 10 dead.

Kenya. 1 dead.

Somalia. 200 dead.

Maldives. 73 dead.

India. 9,000 dead. Most deaths were in the southern province of Tamil Nadu. As many as 10,000 more are feared dead in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Bangladesh. 2 dead.

Burma. 90 dead.

Thailand. 5,000 dead. Thousands are missing from villages near such popular coastal resort areas as Phuket.

Malaysia. 66 dead.

Sri Lanka. 29,000 dead. Tsunamis lose their energy in shallow water. The ocean off Sri Lanka’s eastern coast is thousands of meters deep just a few kilometers from shore, so the tsunami hit with much more force than it did in Bangladesh, where the shallow water extends more than 160 km out to sea.

Indonesia. 80,000 dead. By far the highest death toll was on the remote northern end of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, which suffered the double shock of the quake and the earliest strike of the tsunami. Tens of thousands died in Meulaboh and the provincial capital, Banda Aceh.

7 hours. Approximate travel times of the tsunami after the initial earthquake.

Undersea ridges altered the course of the waves, redirecting N the tsunami's main strength '- toward Somalia.

Was it a tidal wave?

Tsunamis are not tidal waves because they are not influenced by the gravitational effect of the moon. But their appearance from shore can be similar to a rapidly rising or falling tide, and the severity of a tsunami can be affected by the level of the tide when the waves hit land.

What causes a tsunami?

A tsunami (a Japanese word that translates as “harbor wave”) is triggered by a vertical disturbance in the ocean, such as an earthquake, landslide or volcanic eruption.

1) The disaster was caused by a massive earthquake off the coast of Indonesia, where two plates of the earth’s crust grind against each other.

2) About 1,200 km of the plate snapped, forcing a massive displacement of water in the Indian Ocean.

3) The waves spread in all directions, moving as fast as 800 km/h. In the deep ocean, the waves may be imperceptible, but they slow down and gain height as they hit shallow water near shore.

The retreat of a tsunami from land can be quick—and just as dangerous as its approach. The waves often come in a series.

In deep water tsunamis are very long, hallow waves, which means they don’t lose much energy fighting gravity. Given enough initial force, they will travel vast distances until they are slowed by resistance from the sea floor near shore.

A Giant Jolt: The Indian plate usually moves northeast about 6 cm a year. Scientists estimate that in last week’s quake, the two plates slid about 15 m at once. 

Source: Time, special report Tsunami December 26, 2004, January 10, 2005.

Dear children, the economic crisis has hit the North Pole of Santa Claus

Santa Claus challenge the crisis and like us tighten the belt

     We knew it would happen, only, we’ll hope that does not happen so soon. The economic crisis has reached the North Pole of Santa Claus. You will not receive gifts this year. The IMU (council tax only) is only the spark of the disaster. It all started with the rise in food prices: Santa Claus had, like many of us, "tighten their belts", which had to her belly an effect equal to gastric banding. So he lost several pounds and decreased him blood pressure. He’ll live longer, but hardship. The increase in excises on magic fuel that sets in motion the magic sleigh, only aesthetically pulled by reindeer, prevents it use. The gasoline that costs more than solid polar milk is the reason of huge disadvantages.

     Let us now turn to him employees, elves and goblins. Some of them ended up in layoffs; others took advantage of early retirement to avoid the heartbreaking experience to see the scenario of the end of a millenary tradition; others have had accidents at work: according to the input sheet to “glacialhospital” they have multiple and broken fractures caused by falls. In other words, have stumbled upon the ozone hole.

     The melting of glaciers caused by global warming caused the loss of several thousand square miles of his laboratory with toys, wrapping paper and glittering ribbons now irrecoverable, lost in the Arctic Ocean. Strange to say, but this event isn’t a problem because the cadastral plan was not declared in accordance with the actual size of the laboratory. They are small construction scams scattered here and there around the globe.

     Maybe this year should be sent, in a sealed envelope, a money order or a few bills that serves to restore the Arctic finances.

     However you can still write him, indeed continue to do so. Continue to believe in the magic of Christmas. Support the tradition even as adults and with the same heat of when pushed to make those, albeit, small projects (decorations, little crafts, greeting cards, little films, elegant table), but full of faith, joy, enthusiasm, perspicacity. 

     Source: "La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno", an italian newspaper, December 15, 2012, p. 28.

Easel with ice cream stick. Photo frame

Holidays and celebrations

In the States there are only two official national holidays, Thanksgiving and Independence Day, apart from Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter. But like people all over the world, Americans love celebrations and holidays, and have many special days to mark events throughout the year.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a very old tradition and a very important date on the American calendar. It was first celebrated in October 1621 by the first British settlers, the Pilgrims, but today it is on the fourth Thursday of November. The Pilgrims gave thanks after their first winter in America. They celebrated with the Indians who helped them to live in the new land. Today it is a family feast celebrated with a huge dinner with traditional food — roast turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, corn bread and pumpkin pie.

American Independence Day

American Independence Day is on 4 July, the day when the Declaration of Independence from Britain was signed. All Fourth of Julys are celebrated with parades, firework displays, bonfires, picnics, barbecues and parties.

Labor Day

Labor Day, when Americans celebrate all people working in the country, is on the first Monday in September. It usually means the end of summer. For children it is the end of holiday time and the beginning of a new school year.

Trick or treating

31 October is Hallowe'en, the night when witches, ghosts, demons and other scary things come out to haunt people. Children dress up in costumes and go Trick or Treating to each house in the neighbourhood. If the neighbours don't give them sweets, the children play a trick on them.

Opportunities to celebrate

The dates of birth of famous people offer another opportunity to celebrate.

Americans celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday on the third Monday in January, and the birthdays of two great presidents, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington (the first president of the USA in 1789) on President's Day on the third Monday of February. Memorial Day on the last Monday in May remembers people who died at war, and Earth Day (22 April) reminds Americans to think about the environment.

Special days for different states

Some holidays are only celebrated in certain states: Louisiana has All Saints’ Day, while about 40 states celebrate Columbus Day.

Different states also have special days, weeks or months to honour particular people, events or food. For example, by tradition, Clown Week is celebrated in August, and Take Care of Your Pet Week is always the last week in September.

Strange events

National Pizza Month is October, March is both National Hamburger and Pickle Month, and National Peanut Month, and August is National Sandwich Month. In fact, think of a food or a person or event and you’ll probably find someone in the USA will want to celebrate it! 

Source: Excursion, an old Italian book. 

Merry Christmas from Santa's assistant

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

By Santa's assistant

Anglosaxon Festivals

New Year

In London on 1^st January’s Eve, a lot of people go to Trafalgar Square and celebrate. People all over Britain have parties in their houses, too. The TV and radio stations have special allnight party music and broadcast Big Ben when it strikes twelve. When people hear it they drink a toast to the New Year. There is also a tradition called first-footing – a tall dark man must be the first person to come into the house after midnight. He must carry a piece of coal.

Valentine’s Day

The British can be romantic! On 14th  February they send romantic cards to people they like or love, Boys and girls also send cards to their parents. The cards are not signed and you must guess who sent them.

Bonfire Night

Who was Guy Fawkes? He and his friends put a bomb under the Houses of Parliament on 5^th November 1605 and tried to kill the king. They failed, but people still celebrate this date with barbecues, fireworks and big bonfires. On top of the bonfires they put a man made of old clothes and newspapers — this is the ‘Guy’.

Easter

In March or April people have a public holiday to celebrate Easter. On the Sunday some people go to church, and most people spend the day with the family. People usually give presents of chocolate eggs, especially to children, and they can send greetings cards with pictures of eggs, rabbits and lambs, flowers etc.

Christmas

25^th December is Christmas Day, a traditional family day. British children believe that Father Christmas brings them presents. He comes down the chimney on the night of 24^th December and puts his presents in a stocking. Children leave him cakes and a drink. All the family open their presents in the morning, then they eat Christmas dinner (roast turkey, roast potatoes and Christmas pudding) and Christmas crackers. At three o’clock in the afternoon the Queen reads her message on TV. Other traditions are Christmas cards, a Christmas tree, carol-singing (door-to-door singing of Christmas songs), and decorations.

Word definition

Christmas Cracker: a cardboard tube wrapped in coloured paper containing a small present, a paper hat and a joke. Two people pull them apart, each holding one end and the tubes make an explosion as they break.

Fireworks: small colourful containers filled with an explosive chemical powder that burn or explode with bangs and coloured lights.

Bonfire: a large fire made in the open air to burn things.

Drink a toast: to hold up a glass before drinking in order to wish good luck or success. 

Father Christmas: an old man with a red coat and a long white beard, also named Santa Claus. He is supposed to live Lapland or the North Pole where he spends most of the year in his workshop making toys for children. He files in the sky in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. 

Source: Excursion, an old Italian book. 

Jesus Christ embroidered half-stitch

The Home of Sport

     English people are very fond of sports and practise them much more than Italian people do. In English schools most after-noon lessons are devoted to games and sport activities. A boy who is good enough to play football in his school team is regarded by his fellows as a hero, and a Cambridge or Oxford undergraduate selected to be a member of his university crew in the Boat Race acquires life-long fame.

     Cricket is the national game in England. It is played by 22 men dressed in white on a large green field. All true cricketers must be gentlemen: this is one of the main rules of the game. It is difficult to describe a game of cricket to foreigners because it has very complicated rules. A game may even last for a few days on end !

     Rugby football, or rugger, is more popular in England than it is in Italy. It is considerably different from Association football, or soccer, because each rugger team has fifteen men instead of eleven, the ball is oval instead of round anal it can be played with both hands and feet.

     Golf is the national game of Scotland. It is very popular among middle-aged people, and it is played with a number of clubs and a small ball that must be hit into the 18 little holes of the golf course.

     Rowing is the best-liked sport at public schools and at universities. The Boat Race, the famous contest between the students of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, is rowed every year on the Thames. It is always watched from the river banks by thousands of fans wearing the colours of their favourite University: dark blue for Oxford and light blue for Cambridge.

     Horse racing is also a great favourite among English people. The Derby, the annual race which takes place at Epsom Downs, is perhaps the world’s most famous sporting event and is almost invariably attended by a member of the Royal Family. Fox hunting is chiefly practised by the aristocracy and upper classes. The opponents of blood sports consider fox hunting cruel and barbarous; the defenders, on the other hand, advance strange theories: one is that the fox is a good sportsman and enjoys being hunted. 

     Source: R. Colle – I. Vay, L’esame di inglese, Lattes, an old Italian book 1974. 

Merry Christmas from Santa's assistant

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

By Santa's assistant

Journalism: the Code of Ethics

Society Of Professional Journalist

Code of Ethics

Preamble

Members of the Society of Professional journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalists credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behaviour and adopt this code to declare the Society’s principles and standards of practice.

Seek Truth and Report It

Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

► Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.

► Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.

► Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability.

► Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise male in exchange for information. Keep promises.

► Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

► Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.

► Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.

► Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story.

► Never plagiarize.

► Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.

► Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.

► Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability; physical appearance or social status.

► Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.

► Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.

► Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labelled and not misrepresent fact or context.

► Distinguish news from advertising shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

► Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

Minimize Harm

Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect.

Journalists should:

► Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.

► Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.

► Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the nevus is not a license for arrogance.

► Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.

► Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.

► Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.

► Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.

► Balance a criminal suspect’s fair trial rights with the public’s right to be informed.

Act Independently

Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know.

Journalists should:

► Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

► Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.

► Refuse gifts, favours, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.

► Disclose unavoidable conflicts.

► Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.

► Deny favoured treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.

► Be wary of sources offering information for favours or money; avoid bidding for news.

Be Accountable

Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.

Journalists should:

► Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct.

► Encourage the public to voice grievances against the news media.

► Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.

► Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.

► Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

Sigma Delta Chi’s first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984 and 1987. The present version of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics was adopted in September 1996.

Balloon sculptures. A machine gun

A Bloggers’ Code Of Ethics

Be Honest and Fair

Bloggers should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Bloggers should:

• Never plagiarize.

• Identify and link to sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability.

• Make certain that Weblog entries, quotations, headlines, photos and all other content do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

• Never distort the content of photos without disclosing what has been changed. Image enhancement is only acceptable for for technical clarity. Label montages and photo illustrations.

• Never publish information they know is inaccurate – and if publishing questionable information, make it clear it’s in doubt.

• Distinguish between advocacy, commentary and factual information. Even advocacy writing and commentary should not misrepresent fact or context.

• Distinguish factual information and commentary from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

Minimize Harm

Ethical bloggers treat sources and subjects as human beings deserving of respect. Bloggers should:

• Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by Weblog content. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.

• Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.

• Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of information is not a license for arrogance.

• Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.

• Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity. Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects, victims of sex crimes and criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.

Be Accountable

Bloggers should:

• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.

• Explain each Weblog’s mission and invite dialogue with the public over its content and the bloggers’ conduct.

• Disclose conflicts of interest, affiliations, activities and personal agendas.

• Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence content. When exceptions are made, disclose them fully to readers.

• Be wary of sources offering information for favors. When accepting such information, disclose the favors.

• Expose unethical practices of other bloggers.

• Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

Scale model soccer field and volleyball field

Dimensions:

Soccer field: 12,5 x 17 cm (4,92 x 6,69 inches). 

Volleyball field: 10 x 18 cm (3,93 x 7,08 inches).

Advertising

     Advertising is a strategy to persuade people to do something (to buy a product, to use a product, to elect a politician). In this sense it is a kind of magic.

     For some analysts, advertising is a kind of magic. Raymond Williams in Problems in Materialism and Culture, (UK: Verso, 1980) argues that it has the ability to ‘associate consumption with human desires to which it has no real reference. The magic obscures the real sources of general satisfaction because their discovery would involve radical change in the whole common way of life’. Judith Williamson in Decoding Advertisements (UK: Marion Boyars, 1978, 1998) shares a similar concern: ‘Advertisements obscure and avoid the real issues of society, those relating to work, to jobs and wages and who works for whom. The basic issues in the present state of society which do concern money and how it is earned, are sublimated into ‘meanings’, ‘images’, ‘life-styles’, to be bought with products not money’. Further the magic of advertising means that we may believe commodities can convey messages about ourselves; this leads to us being ‘alienated from ourselves, since we have allowed objects to “speak” for us and have become identified with them’. Such alienation may well lead to feelings of fragmentation and discomfort within the self, feelings which may fuel a desire to seek solace in further consumption.

     The many modes of advertising may be categorized as follows:

     (1) Commercial consumer advertising, with its target the mass audience and its Channel the mass media.

     (2) Trade and technical advertising, such as ads in specialist magazines.

     (3) Prestige advertising, particularly that of big business and large institutions, generally selling image and good name rather than specific products.

     (4) Small ads, directly informational, which are the bedrock support of local periodicals and are the basis of the many giveaway papers which have been published in recent years.

     (5) Government advertising — health warnings, for example.

     (6) Charity advertising, seeking donations for worthwhile causes at home and abroad.

     (7) Advertising through sponsorship, mainly of sports, leisure and the arts. This indirect form of advertising has been a major development; its danger has been to make recipients of sponsorship come to rely more and more heavily on commercial support. Sponsors want quick publicity and prestige for their money and their loyalties to recipients are very often short-term.

     Source: Dictionary of Media and Communication Studies, fifth edition, James Watson and Anne Hill, Arnold, A member of the Hodder Headline Group LONDON Co-published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press Inc., New York. 

Carvings. Beetle, butterflies, mushrooms and leaves

Little mushrooms with radish and zucchini, butterflies with lemons and carrots, leaves with zucchini, beetle with radish.

Thanksgiving Day

     Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November and in Canada on the second Monday of October.

     This holiday has roots in cultural traditions. It’s a very old tradition and a very important date on the American calendar. It was first celebrated in October 1621 by the first British settlers, the Pilgrims, but today is on the fourth Thursday of November. The Pilgrims gave thank after their first winter in America. They celebrated (at Plymouth, in present day Massachusetts) with the Indians who helped them to live in the new land.

     Today it’s a family feast celebrated with a spectacular parade and a huge dinner  with traditional food: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, corn bread and pumpkin pie. 

The Pilgrims and their Native American friends

     At the beginning of the 1600s, a group of English Protestants lived in England under the reign of King James. He was also the Head of the Church of England, but these people wanted to separate from the Church of England. They were called Puritans and they dressed in a very severe way, and had very strict rules.

     People who disobeyed the king could be sent to jail, so the Puritans made their decision.

     The Puritan Pilgrims boarded a ship called the Mayflower at Plymouth, in the south of England. They sailed for many weeks until they reached America, far across the sea. It was a long and difficult journey – the people were tired and sick when they arrived off the coast of Massachusetts, in November 1620.

     They got off the Mayflower by stepping onto a big rock which they called Plymouth Rock. The people who met them when they arrived in the new land were Indians from the Wampanoag tribe.

Squanto and a group of Indians stayed with the Pilgrims and showed them how to survive in the wilderness. They taught them how to plant and cook maize, sweet potatoes and pumpkins, how to catch wild turkeys and deer, and where to fish. They also showed them how to shoot a bow and arrow to fertilize the soil with dead fish. 

     One year later, thanks to the Indians, the Pilgrims had a good harvest. To celebrate it they had a big party, which now is called Thanksgiving. The new European, settlers and the American Indians were quite happy together at first. But gradually life became very difficult for the Native Americans and eventually they were forced to live on reservations. Only now are Americans beginning to learn and respect Indian values again, and Indians are fighting for their rights. 

     Source: Excursion, an old Italian book. 

White chicks & Jack and Jill’s soundtrack It’r tricky – Run D.M.C.

This speech is my recital, I think it's very vital

To rock (a rhyme), that's right (on time)

It's Tricky is the title, here we go...

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time

It's Tricky...it's Tricky

It's Tricky...Tr-tr-tr-tricky (Tricky) Trrrrrrrrrrricky

I met this little girlie, her hair was kinda curly

Went to her house and bust her out, I had to leave real early

These girls are really sleazy, all they just say is please me

Or spend some time and rock a rhyme, I said "It's not that easy"

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time

It's Tricky...(How is it D?) It's Tricky (Tricky) Tricky (Trrrrrricky)

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time

It's Tricky...Tricky (Tricky) Tricky

In New York the people talk and try to make us rhyme

They really (hawk) but we just (walk) because we have no time

And in the city it's a pity cos we just can't hide

Tinted windows don't mean nothin', they know who's inside

 

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time

It's Tricky...(How is it D?) Tricky (Tricky) Tricky (Tricky)

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time

It's Tricky...Tricky (Tricky) Tricky (Tricky) huh!

When I wake up people take up mostly all of my time

I'm not singin', phone keep ringin' cos I make up a rhyme

I'm not braggin', people naggin' cos they think I'm a star

Always tearin' what I'm wearin', I think they're goin' too far

A girl named Carol follows Daryll every gig we play

Then D dissed her and dismissed her, now she's jockin' Jay

I ain't lyin', girls be cryin' cos I'm on TV

They even bother my poor father cos he's down with me

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time

It's Tricky...(How is it?) Tricky (Tricky) Tricky (Tricky)

It's Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time

It's Tricky...Tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tricky (Tr-Tr-Tr-Tricky) Tr-tr-tr...

We are not thugs (we don't use drugs) but you assume (on your own)

They offer coke (and lots of dope) but we just leave it alone

It's like that y'all (y'all), but we don't quit

You keep on (rock!) shock! Cos this is it...

How to survive in the jungle

     The jungle is an exciting place, but it’s dark and dangerous if you aren’t well-prepared. Here are some guidelines to make your excursion safe.

     Clothes

     Wear strong, cotton clothes. You’ll get wet and need to change your clothes and wash them frequently.

     Don’t wear short sleeves or shorts. Wear a cotton hat. Wear strong boots, designed to dry easily. Avoid open necks and keep your sleeves rolled down. Carry a pullover for cool evenings.

     Equipment

     Take a lot of water in strong containers. Don’t drink any water without filtering and purifying it first. You’ll need a well equipped first-aid kit. Wear insect repellent bands on your wrist and ankles; and carry a mosquito net for sleeping.

     Keep valuables on a string around your neck. A strong knife is very important for cutting your way through the vegetation; but don’t carry your knife in your hand when you’re not using it, keep it in your belt.

     Some tips

     Get an anti-malaria vaccination and take the prescribed medication. Don’t put on clothes before checking them for insects and snakes! Move backwards if you get trapped by vegetation. Don’t put insect repellent on your forehead as it will get in your eyes. Don’t travel during the heat of the day. Look for a campsite by 3 pm. If you can, sleep above the ground to protect you from animals, and splashing rain. Don’t eat unfamiliar fruit and plants. Keep all cuts covered. Eat well-balanced food. Drink a lot – jungle travel is dehydrating. 

     Source: Excursion, an old Italian book. 

Aquatic origami

Sailing boat, frog, gold fish, lobster, seahorse, ray, turtle, three different types of  crabs, penguin.  

The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence

     The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, which they began to build in 1294 according to the plans of Arnolfo di Cambio, is the largest Franciscan church in the world. It was constructed with funding from the population and the Florentine Republic and built above the foundations of a small church which some monks had erected outside the walls of the city in 1252, just a few years after the death of Saint Francis.

     The remains of the original building weren’t identified until 1966, when, in the aftermath of the great flood that submerged the city, part of the paving belonging to the present Basilica gave way. From its beginning, the history of Santa Croce has been closely linked to the history of Florence itself. Since its foundation, it has been continually re-planned and re-designed throughout the course of those seven centuries without suffering significant interruptions, and therefore acquiring new symbolic connotations each time.

     From the original Franciscan church it evolved to become a religious “town hall” for the important families and corporations when Florence was ruled by the Medici family. From being a craftsmen’s laboratory and workshop – first Humanist and then Renaissance – it became a theological centre; and in the 19^th Century, it saw a change from being a pantheon of the nation’s glories to a place of reference fro the political history of Italy before and after its unification.

     In Florence, Santa Croce has always been a prestigious symbol and a gathering place for some of the greatest artists, theologians, religious figures, writers, humanists and politicians. It has similarly served the powerful families that throughout the centuries have determined, both for good and bad, the identity of Florence during the Late Medieval and Renaissance periods. Within its walls, it has hosted many famous people in the history of the church, such as Saint Bonaventure, Saint Antony of Padua, Saint Bernadino of Siena, Saint Ludovico d’Angiò and the bishop of Tolosa. It was also a resting and reception place for Pontiffs such as Sixtus IV, Eugene IV, Leo X and Clement XIV.

     With its impressive gothic architecture, marvellous frescoes, altar pieces, precious stained-glass windows and numerous sculptures, the Basilica represents one of the most important pages in the history of Florentine art from the thirteenth century onwards.

     Inside it houses works of art by Cimabue, Giotto, Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello, Giorgio Vasari, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Orcagna, Taddeo and Agnolo Gaddi, Della Robbia, Giovanni da Milano, Bronzino, Michelozzo, Domenico Veneziano, Maso di Banco, Giuliano da Sangallo, Benedetto da Maiano, Canova and many others.

     In particular, the presence of Giotto and his school of art makes Santa Croce and extraordinary complete testimony of Fourteenth Century Florentine art.

     The historical and political upheavals that have accompanied Santa Croce right up until today have always left a precise mark as much in the artistic-architectural works (such as the radical transformations imposed by Vasari around the middle of the sixteenth century; or the exuberant commitment during the nineteenth century to transforming Santa Croce into a huge mausoleum of Italian history), as in the testimonies guarded in its archives which hand down to us a daily reconstruction, through the course of the centuries, of a great project befitting its own creators, its own resources, its own objectives and difficulties.

     Santa Croce has been defined as “the Pantheon of the nation’s glories” because within its walls are the tombs of famous figures such as Niccolò Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Gioacchino Rossini, Giorgio Vasari, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Vittorio Alfieri and Ugo Foscolo.

     The indisputable fascination that this place exerts, in an unequalled synthesis of art, spiritually and history, is confirmed by the influx of around one million visitors a year. 

     Source: Opera di Santa Croce, Italy.