Odilon The Naked Cat

Odilon the naked cat 

By 'Jan de Stripman' see Odilon. 

Surviving the winter

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blog birthday

Puddingbroodje

Today I celebrate the 4th anniversary of this blog! Mmmm puddingbroodje....

next episode: Odilon

Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky - View of the Kremlin in Rostov

Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky - View of the Kremlin in Rostov from the Bank of Lake Nero, 1911 (LOC).

Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky was a pioneer in working with color photography. Outfitted with a specially equipped railroad-car darkroom provided by Tsar Nicholas II he documented the Russian Empire around 1909 through 1915.

series of photos

present day (source)

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The World's First Weekly Crossword Puzzle

The world's first weekly crossword puzzle.

Sometimes you don't realize even well known things have a beginning. So I was puzzled when I encountered the first crossword puzzle. This puzzle appeared in the December 21st 1913 edition of the New York World. It was created by Arthur Wynne.

The solution.

next episode: Gene

Roman Paris

An interesting website about Roman Paris.

next episode: gene

Fifty States With Equal Population

Electoral college reform (fifty states with equal population) by Neil Freeman, 2012.

I'm not showing this map for its political ramifications. I simply like the fact that an algorithm is used to center the 50 'states with equal population' around the large metropolitan areas. And I love the fact that the names are taken from geographical features, many are in native Indian languages.

Here is a previous version (also by Neil Freeman) with more common names:

So what would be the new name of your home state? Or, if you're not an US citizen, in which state would you like to live?

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π Day!

Today is March 14, AKA 3.14 => Pi Day!

So today you have a good excuse to eat pie :-)

next episode: 50 equal states

View of the Colosseum with the Arch of Constantine

 Caspar van Wittel - View of the Colosseum with the arch of Constantine (48,5 x 108 cm, ca. 1707)

(source: www.dutchinrome.com)

This painting of the Caspar Van Wittel (aka Gaspar Vanvitelli) (Amersfoort, 1653 - Rome, 1736) is temporarily shown in our local municipal museum Flehite. With a value of 3 million euros it is the most expensive painting ever exhibited in Amersfoort. Click on the image for a larger version.

Guest curator Bart van Steenbergen with the painting

(source: Amersfoortse Courant / www.vanvitelli.nl)

next episode: π

Photochrom image of Launceston (Cornwall)

Launceston, Cornwall (UK), ca. 1890-1900 (Library of Congress)

Launceston (Cornish: Lannstevan) is located at the eastern border of the English county of Cornwall. This photo is a photochrom print; a colorized image produced from black-and-white photographic negatives via lithographic techniques. The photographer is standing on St. Stephen's Hill, in the background Launceston Castle is visible. Today's street view:

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Maude Fealy Day !

Maude was born on March 4, 1883

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Waterloo Veteran of the Month: Monsieur Dreuse

M. Dreuse, member of the 2nd Light Horse Lancers of the Guard in 1813-14, in 1858. He is 

holding a plumed shako in his right hand.

next episode: Maude's Birthday!