#pyramids tower new capital

[newcapitalproperty]

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https://www.facebook.com/PyramidsBusinessTower1 #بيراميدز_مول Pyramids Mall New Capital

[intuitive-revelations]

As I've mentioned in a previous post, I've been thinking a lot about the exact chronology of ancient Gallifrey, and specifically I've put a lot of attention on the Caldera and the Citadel, plus related things like the Eye of Harmony, the Crevasse of Memories That Will Be, the Untempered Schism etc.

All these things seem to be located in the same place on Gallifrey, albeit some at different times, and often overlap in nature. After some thinking, I think I've worked how everything goes together, as well as the order of events. At some point I want to create a fully history, but for the sake of this we'll focus primarily on the subjects above, with some other major events sprinkled in for context.

A Very Brief History of the Capitol

[ID: Surviving parts of the old Capitol, in an illustration from Lungbarrow. Crystal-like towers and walkways stand over a waterfall. The TARDIS, in pyramid form, dematerialises.]

Pythian Era - The capital city is built near the Mountains of Solace and Solitude (likely, in antiquity, a stronghold against the Gin-Seng cats to the south). Beneath the Pythia's temple, in the centre of the city, is the Cavern of Prophecy. Within the cave is a deep, deep opening known as the Crevasse of Memories That Will Be, which holds, in the astral plane, something known as the Gate of the Future, a tear into the time vortex far greater than the similar natural rifts that occur elsewhere on Gallifrey. Time flows out from it, from the future, to the past Gallifrey. In times of meditation, the Pythia sits in a hanging cage above the Crevasse, breathing in the rising vapours, which aid her in her clairvoyance.

[ID: Gif edit made by me, featuring the last Pythia sat in a small cage slowly swinging in a chasm as a mist slowly rises around her.]

The Intuitive Revelation - The Neotechnologists, led by Rassilon, bring a revolution. The Pythia curses Gallifrey with sterility and cuts the ropes holding her cage, falling into the abyss. The Gate of the Future inverts, forming the Gate of the Past. Visibly, the Doppler-effect like colouring of the vortex changes - no longer red, flowing towards the viewer, but blue and flowing away (ironically directionally the reverse of the real Doppler effect). Time from the new future flowing into the chaotic past.

The new government take control of the Capitol. A new age of space exploration arises, with the Shobogans taking on the name, for now, of "Space Lords". One of these first individual explorers, semi-authorised predecessors to future Time Lord renegades, is a woman named Tecteun.

The First Attempt - The stellar engineers, including Rassilon and Omega, make their first attempt at capturing the energy of a collapsing star, recieving the energy on Gallifrey using an obelisk, like that later used to channel energy from the Eye of Harmony, in the middle of the city, using the nature of the Crevasse.

The experiment is a catastrophic failure. A hole is punctured into the Spiral Yssgaroth, unleashing Vampires through openings throughout the universe, fracturing out from the experiment.

[ID: From The Book of the War, an illustration of the "Eyes of the Yssgaroth", human-like eyeballs looking through holes punctured into spacetime.]

Part of the Old Capitol is destroyed in a great blast, destroying the Cavern of Prophecy and opening up the Crevasse, leaving a giant crater: the Caldera. It is likely that many are killed. Left behind in the middle of the crater, is the Gate of the Past, now manifest in the physical world: an open gap in reality. In this form, it becomes known as the Untempered Schism.

(I also suspect this is when Rassilon is forced to regenerate for the first time, to the shock of on-lookers, having secretly previously recieved Tecteun's genetic modifications - I plan to expand on this theory in a future post.)

The Vampire War / Rebuilding of the Capitol - The exact circumstances of the experiment are covered up. Rassilon, leaving to fight the Vampire hoard, swears Omega to secrecy regarding the project during the Arcalian High Council's investigation.

[ID: A gif, rotating around the Citadel is constructed over the Caldera, from part of the (likely partially-symbolic) time-lapse in The Timeless Children.]

Though some of the city survives, including parts of the Pythian temple, a new colossal city-complex begins construction in the place of the old one, suspended over the Caldera, the centrepiece of the new Capitol: the Citadel. It is built as a defensive structure, both for the war, and to protect the new, growing elite, surrounded by a great circular wall named "Rassilon's Rampart". The "core" of the structure, on which the towers rest, reaches down deep into Caldera and the deeper Crevasse.

Meanwhile the Untempered Schism is taken out of the city by those fearing further destruction, to a place in the nearby hills that will one day be known as the Weeping Field, where prospective Time Academy students are initiated.

[ID: The Untempered Schism in the Doctor's time, as seen in The Sound of Drums. It sits in a stone frame on red grass, with the Seal of Rassilon in front of it, and flames on either side. Within it, the blue "past" variant of the RTD1-era time vortex flows away from the viewer. The Citadel's lights are visible in the background.]

(Side note: it's possible the Untempered Schism's 'ring' is deliberately designed to evoke the Caldera. Note how it's lined with pieces sticking out. Look a bit like the battlements on Rassilon's Rampart, don't they? Surrounding the hole into the vortex just as they surround the crater.)

The Anchoring of the Thread - Several centuries later, once the Vampires are more or less defeated, Rassilon returns home. He coups Pandak I, forcing him to resign, and takes the Presidency.

By now the Citadel is more or less completed, though for the next few centuries it still lacks its characteristic dome, likely added during a later founding conflict.

[ID: Gallifrey, around the time the first TARDISes are grown, from The Lost Dimension. In the background past a small outsider village is the Citadel, new and gleaming, but undomed.]

The Triumvirate retry their experiment at Qqaba / Polyphilos, attempting to capture the collapsed star. When the experiment goes wrong once more, Omega's ship falls inside, as spacetime threatens to crack open again. With temporal energy flowing though him (a la the Bad Wolf), Rassilon reshapes the laws of physics, forming an event horizon, and black holes as we know them.

The black hole is dimensionally captured and suspended in the moment it collapses and the event horizon is formed, creating the Eye of Harmony, controlled using the Obelisk of Rassilon storied in the Panopticon Vaults. Meanwhile, the black hole itself is suspended within the temporal singularity of the Caldera, deep below the Citadel.

Harnessing the power of the Eye and the Caldera rift, Rassilon "anchors" chronology around Gallifrey, creating the Web of Time and placing it under the control of the Gallifreyans, now Time Lords.

Future Developments - Over the years, many changes come to Rassilon's Gallifrey.

Over the years, the more and more of the old city is replaced with new towers, forming the new Capitol around a now domed Citadel. Interweaved with these buildings over 28 square miles is much of the new Time Academy, such that the Academy is sometimes considered a whole city itself annexed to the Citadel.

While the remnants of the Pythian Temple are eventually torched by Rassilon, hunting down dissenters, many old buildings remain intact. These continue to be inhabited far into the future, in a community known as "Low Town" or the "Lower Len", as opposed to the "upper" city above. Shanties surround the surviving buildings, some climbing up Rassilon's Rampart.

Another such community is based around the "Old Harbour", whcih once sat on the coast of the now recessed Sea of Time. Nowadays, it likely sits on the shore of the small (possibly designed) lakes near the Capitol, where streams from the mountains presumably once drained directly into the sea.

[ID: From Hell Bent: a screencap as Rassilon turns from looking out the window from an Inner Council chamber high above the Capitol. In the background can be seen some lakes between the mountains, with some signs of what might be buildings on their shores.]

(Side note: I reckon this shot above might actually give us a glimpse of Old Harbour. I might just be imagining things, but there's some small features around and on the lakes I reckon could be docks or buildings? Interestingly, this also comes as Rassilon asks about the Cloister Bells ringing, and Old Habour is well known for the bells in its clocktower, which might explain why Rassilon was looking out at it from the window.)

In the space around the Eye in the Caldera, the Cloisters, the core of the APC net and later the Matrix, are constructed. The structure itself is, externally at least, relatively small, but it generates an entire 'micro-universe' on the Astral plane once accessed by the Pythia. Indeed, just as the Crevasse once allowed the meditating Pythia to see the future, so does the Matrix create its own prophecies.

[ID: From Hell Bent, the Doctor and Ohila converse in the entranceway to the Cloisters, a dark space with glowing optic fibres running across cobwebbed columns.]

In the Matrix is a "womb-like" null-space is where most TARDISes are grown, taking advantages of the Caldera's spatio-temporal properties. Budding within the Citadel Cloisters, a TARDIS's "Cloister Room" is one of the first parts to grow.

By the time of the Time War, though possibly earlier, the sealed Caldera also forms the resting site for many dying Battle TARDISes, the Under Croft, where they presumably decay and fertilise the growth of new time ships.

[littjara-mirrorlake]

Daily Life in the Phyrexian Spheres (Dross to Seedcore)

Previous: Facade to Furnace, Maze to Bays

The Dross Pits, much like its previous incarnation in the Mephidross of Mirrodin's surface, is a sphere rife with intrigue, double-crossing, and back-alley deals. The social structure is feudal, with lords ruling over masses of serfs and slaves, and thanes make up the top of the social pyramid. Dark, towering citadels of flesh and bone rise out of the necrogen mists, which bathe the entire layer in an eerie green glow. Large swathes of territory are controlled by thanes, lords, and magical creatures such as blight dragons and archfiends.

This sphere is densely populated, with the vast majority of its inhabitants making up the servant classes that live and die under feudal lords. Compleated Mirrans begin at the very bottom and most have little hope of ever ascending past this station, as the Steel Thanes' obsession with Phyrexian purity leads to heavy discrimination against those who are not Phyrexian-born. This obsession extends to a scrutiny of every Phyrexian's pedigree--the further removed a person is from their last non-core-born ancestor, the purer their bloodline is considered, leading to a higher chance of social advancement. As such, first-generation core-born Phyrexians (born to compleated Mirrans) are only barely considered truly Phyrexian and share their parents' meager social standing. As Phyrexians are immortal and have no need for heirs, faction members produce scions to serve their own advancement, not to eventually succeed them. Of course, said scions are rarely happy with this arrangement, seeking to usurp their parents and seize their assets instead.

Magically and technologically, the inhabitants of the Dross Pits largely focus on emulating Yawgmoth-era techniques gleaned from scrying the glistening oil. Due to the heavy emphasis on ichor magic and intrigue, glistening oil from individuals of interest--and the intelligence it contains--is an invaluable commodity in the Dross Pits. Bloodsuckers like necrosquitoes and pistid swarms are often employed to this end, fueling an illicit trade of stolen bodily fluids.

Much like the Furnace, the Dross Pits do not have an overarching system of governance or standard of law, and political allegiances vary widely. Pockets of the Dross Pits are strongholds of the Phyrexian rebellion, though they are severely handicapped by the loyalist spheres blocking them both above and below. Every thane has at least nominally allied with either Elesh Norn or the rebellion, though they are ultimately beholden only to themselves and care little for the ideals of either side.

The Fair Basilica is the innermost inhabited sphere and the de facto capital of New Phyrexia, where Elesh Norn rules from her palace and the majority of the Phyrexian military is housed. In the heart of Norn's empire, every aspect of daily life is carefully regimented and monitored; people are marched in orderly rows down alabaster bridges, flanked constantly by armed enforcers and their swarms of patrol mites. Flights of angels keep constant watch in the skies. Staggering acts of brutality are committed against any who display signs of deviance, and commoners are all too used to keeping their heads down and trying not to watch as their peers' oil is scrubbed from the streets.

Every resident of the Fair Basilica is expected to devote a significant portion of their time to worship, and the rest to assigned duties like patrolling or working the flesh-vats. Those who need to sleep do so on strict schedules under the watchful eyes of supervisors. Newts are raised by the state, rigorously educated on the Orthodoxy's religious tenets, and often apprentice under cenobites, which continues after their compleation; Mirran aspirants commonly join them.

Though it relies heavily on other spheres for commodities like raw material and technology, the Fair Basilica is at least self-sufficient in growing its own porcelain metal, which spreads in a fungus-like manner on recently dead flesh. It is mass-produced in giant growth vats, alongside Basilica inhabitants' germ offspring and seedpod centurions for the invasion (often bodies without minds, hollow for puppeting via ichor magic).

Rebellion is most difficult in the Basilica due to its oppressive environment and authorities' vested interest in controlling the flow of information--and oil--into and out of the sphere. The news fed to residents is tightly curated, requiring workarounds to even hear of the rebellion's presence at all. That said, dissident spies have managed to infiltrate even the innermost of the loyalist spheres.

The Mycosynth Gardens form a natural barrier between the populated Phyrexian spheres and the Seedcore, and passage through them is controlled exclusively by Elesh Norn herself. The Gardens themselves are uninhabited by sapient Phyrexians, though fauna like inkmoths and skitterlings roam the silent lattices, and the mycosynth itself is known to create lures or other, more cryptic structures that mimic passersby.

The Seedcore, the innermost layer of New Phyrexia, is the domain of Elesh Norn alone, where she keeps the World Tree sapling Realmbreaker imprisoned and firmly subjugated under layers of mind-altering magic. Very rarely, Norn holds the most confidential of her audiences here with her inner circle or other crucial allies. The sphere is heavily warded against incoming divination, telepathy, and any other possible interference with Norn's plans, but here lays Norn's crucial oversight: there are no such protections against communication going out, allowing Realmbreaker's telepathic distress call to pass through into the Multiverse.

And that's it for overviews of the nine Phyrexian spheres, from the perspective of a far more average commoner Phyrexian than we're used to hearing about. There's always more to be said about each of them, of course, and I hope this helps get people started thinking about their own expansions, headcanon, or additions!

[wumblr]

i've given the issue some thought and i think medieval armies wouldn't take skyscrapers, on a tactical basis, because they would recognize how easily sieged they are. 432 park avenue and the gherkin are prime examples of this. of course you could lay siege to them, but then what would you do with them afterwards? they're useless, and the invisible hand of the market reveals their uselessness by their vacancy.

you know the modernist architectural adage, form follows function? well, in postmodern architecture, form follows funding, which explains why everything is so formless. the prime example of this is the millennium tower, which despite being the most expensive building in the bay area, is hideously forgettable and irreparably sinking, because the sandstone below cannot withstand the weight of the capital it bears.

this formlessness is purposely designed to channel attention towards the fact that the structural integrity or physical security of the building itself is both useless and pointless, when the integrity and security (of the economy that funded the construction) is sited in the form of a police state. the prime example of this is las vegas hotel demolitions, followed immediately by a new, even more useless and formless, and more importantly higher price construction, terminally culminating in the supremely formless and aptly named "MSG sphere," to sprinkle in the flavor the skyline severely lacks, while the hoover dam fails to maintain the colorado river in the form of the lake mead reservoir. so, the real question is, could a medieval army covertly excavate enough sinkholes to consume the police, as we saw in west virginia last year?

in any case, i don't think a medieval army could take the bass pro shop pyramid. the implied mysticism of the crystal skull would appeal to their superstitious ways and completely put them off, and the stock of the bass pro shop would lead them to assume it is the provenance of a powerful and well-equipped military. i am inclined to doubt that a medieval army would naturally and inherently understand elevator buttons upon first encountering them, but the design and purpose of camouflage cargo pants would be instantaneously self-evident. it would not matter that it is all surface deep

[yaldev]

Resolution Academy

Yaldev is hostile to architecture. Large buildings carry the risk of devastation by earthquake, tornado or mana burst. Only two locations merit large-scale development: the Royal Palace, which Parc Pelbee guards from the Aether, and Resolution Academy, the finest institution of higher learning on the planet.

The school’s most distinctive visual feature, its trio of pyramids, mark the school’s approximate boundaries. These towering vaults were built on top of the capital’s Eej-Landian temples to house the sum total of State records and Empirical literature. Amid the chaos of the War on Treachery, dense walls of stone guarded history from attack by both heretics and the Aether they fought for.

When the enemy was pushed beyond the capital’s sight, priests and natural philosophers built a plaza of cheap concrete to house themselves and their pupils where access to the archives was easiest. Decades later, colleges were formally recognized by the National government, and Resolution Academy was distinguished as the first of its kind, the largest and the highest in educational standards.

The school only improved over generations. New lecture halls provided class space to an ever growing base of students, who flocked from across the continent in pursuit of understanding and opportunity. Post-graduation startups were invited to build offices on campus, providing temporary mentorship and lifelong employment for fellow students. Maths and sciences were gradually elevated as fields that had proven their innovative power, and funding from other disciplines was redirected—even from theology, the first seeds of what Resolution would become. The academy had grown above its roots, and stood tall as a source of light to shine across the known world.

By the time Decadin was accepted as an acolyte, Resolution had become a sprawling complex approaching the peak of its fated prestige. New inventions poured annually from its laboratories and workshops. The library pyramids were recently armored with protective plates, and reported sightings of enraged Eej-Landian ghosts were at an all-time low. By day, the school was lit by a brilliant sun reflecting off the libraries. By night, diffuse pillars of inert mana gave gentle illumination along pathways that wound between the oaks. Such beauty was fertile soil for the blooming mind, and from the academy’s newest cohort, legends would sprout.

---

Yaldev is a sci-fantasy worldbuilding project by Ulysses Maurer, with art by Beeple. By looking at narratives, stylized loredumps, bad poetry and little details, we'll witness the story of a planet filled with magical power, the nation which tried to conquer it, this empire’s dramatic collapse and the new world which emerged in its wake. Along the way we'll meet the characters who live here, and we'll explore questions about nationalism, rationalism, the natural world and the quest to master it. For all stories in chronological order, check out the pinned posts at r/Yaldev!

[whatisonthemoon]

South Korea Christianity Creeps Upon Buddhism (1984)

By Clyde Haberman New York Times March 26, 1984

Among the first sights to catch the visitor's eye are the crosses.

It is not just that there are so many of them, perched upon buildings and forming rooftop latticework across many blocks. What startles in South Korean cities is how the crosses are set on pyramid steel towers, struggling, in advertisement for themselves, to reach higher than those atop neighboring churches. At night, they glow in red neon against the sky.

In parts of Seoul, people leave home as early as 4:30 A.M. to attend church services. One Roman Catholic parish south of the Han River in the capital is so busy that it holds nine masses each Sunday. Here in the country's southwest, church officials say there are not enough ministers and priests to fill the spiritual demand.

''Every parish has three or four masses on Sundays, most of them four,'' said the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kwangju, Youn Kong Hi. ''The main masses are always packed.'' Adherents Doubled in Decade

At a time when Christianity worries about its future in Western countries, it is flourishing to such an extent in South Korea that many people expect it to overtake Buddhism in a few years as the No. 1 religion. The number of Christians doubled in the last decade, and most denominations expect it will double again over the next 10 years.

The spectacular growth will be highlighted when Pope John Paul II visits in early May to commemorate 200 years of Roman Catholicism in Korea and to canonize 103 Christian martyrs who fell victim to persecution a century ago.

According to Government surveys, one out of six South Koreans now identifies himself or herself as a Christian, but church leaders believe the true figure is closer to one out of four, or a total of 9 million people among the country's population of 40 million.

Catholics account for 1.5 million of the total, and Presbyterians, with 5 million people, are by far the largest Protestant denomination. Although some Americans associate Korean Christianity with the Rev. Moon Sun Myung and his Unification Church, he is a minor force here. 11 Million Buddhists

There are, by some estimates, 11 million Buddhists, along with smaller numbers of adherents to Confucianism, Shamanism, Islam and a homegrown religion known as Chondogyo.

In many respects, Christianity here is a mirror of the South Korean spirit - assertive, pragmatic and given to a measure of fractiousness. There are at least 68 identifiable denominations and subdenominations. The Presbyterians alone are divided into five major groups and 27 smaller ones.

Christianity has become one of the strongest forces in the country politically as well.

Church officials and laymen, for example, provide a core of opposition to the four-year-old regime of President Chun Doo Hwan. Denominations associated with the often-anti-Government National Council of Churches in Korea claim 2.1 million members. Nor is the arrest of clergymen unknown during Mr. Chun's tenure.

It is the social activism of certain churches rather than their spiritual dynamism that attracts some followers. ''Many people feel that religious cover is safer than being alone in the opposition camp,'' said Oh Jae Shik, a National Council of Churches official. Most Sects Are Conservative

But while Christians may be conspicuous among South Korean dissidents, those who are actively opposed to the authoritarian Government constitute a small percentage of the overall church population. Most sects, if they have politics at all, are conservative, providing leaders of government as well as critics. Of the dozen aides to President Chun killed in last fall's bombing attack in Rangoon, Burma, during a presidential visit there, half were Christians.

Perhaps no better example of Korean Christianity's vitality exists than the Full Gospel Church in Seoul, a stronghold of evangelism that aggressively recruits its members, now said to number 350,000.

Sundays at Full Gospel bring echoes of Madison Square Garden. For each of the seven services, 10,000 people fit into the cavernous main chapel and 15,000 more attend in a dozen adjacent auditoriums. They watch on closed-circuit television while the preacher watches them back on a 12-monitor console. Through the day, nine choirs and two orchestras provide liturgical music.

The message at Full Gospel is hope - that life in the world, not to mention in South Korea, is fine. ''We must get rid of grumblings and complaints,'' the Rev. Cho Yong Mok said in a recent sermon. French Introduced Catholicism

Christianity traces its origins in Korea to French Catholic priests who came two centuries ago during the Yi dynasty. But the religion did not begin to flourish until after the arrival of an American Presbyterian missionary, Horace Allen, in 1884 - another anniversary being marked this year. By the early part of this century, the religion had taken such firm hold that not even fervently anti-Christian Japanese could root it out during their 35-year colonial rule.

The grand leaps in South Korean church membership began in the 1960's, particularly among the better educated and more affluent. Even those who try to explain why acknowledge they cannot be sure they are right.

''Traditionally, Korean people like to believe in something,'' said Lee Jung Bae, director general for religious affairs in the Ministry of Culture and Information. Buddhism, many argue, has become a relatively weak social force in South Korea and is thus easily supplanted by Christianity.

Some think the prominence of clergymen in the anti-Japanese resistance enhanced the church's reputation. Favorable views of Westerners, especially Americans after World War II, may have made it easier to accept the West's religion. Then, too, some say, Christianity's message of salvation can be a comfort to people who endured years of economic and political instability.

As practiced here, Christianity is flecked lightly with traces of folk religions such as shamanism, which stresses spirituality's more discernible benefits. Shamans - usually women - intercede on behalf of their clients with good spirits and exorcise the evil ones. 'Mechanistic Approach' Noted

In a similar manner, Christian prayer sometimes takes a ''mechanistic approach,'' according to Horace Underwood, assistant to the president of Yongsei University, a Presbyterian school. ''If you say it enough and pester the Lord enough, then he's going to do it.''

This underlying pragmatism troubles many clergymen, as does a tendency to concentrate more on increasing church memberships than improving the quality of worship. In a Gallup Poll taken last year, 62.8 percent of South Korean Christians surveyed said social work should be their church's primary mission, but only 16.7 percent thought that it actually was.

Whether Christianity's spectacular growth can continue is a matter for debate. Mr. Lee of the Culture Ministry argues that rapidly growing affluence makes it only a matter of time before South Koreans, like many Westerners, look elsewhere than the church.

Maybe, others say. ''The growth is bound to slow down,'' said Mr. Underwood of Yonsei. ''But I've seen no evidence of it yet.''

[mariacallous]

Geolocation is one of the main methods of open-source research. Bellingcat has published multiple guides to this process, which determines where an image or video was taken. Given that geolocations can be time-consuming, researchers are always on the lookout for tools which can ease or automate parts of the process. That’s where new AI tools come in – particularly chatbots, with their impressive ability to find and process information. But that ability is far from perfect. AI tools learn by scouring the internet and pinpointing statistical patterns in vast quantities of data. “Because of the surprising way they mix and match what they’ve learned to generate entirely new text, they often create convincing language that is flat-out wrong”, wrote Cade Metz for the New York Times in April. “AI researchers call this tendency to make stuff up a ‘hallucination’”, Metz continued. Bellingcat has tested the geolocation capabilities of BING AI, which was accessed via the Skype client on the desktop app, and BARD, Google’s new AI chatbot which was recently launched in Brazil and the EU. Both chatbots use different language models; BARD uses PaLM-2 while BING uses GPT – the same as that used in the popular ChatGPT bot. While many AIs can generate images, most cannot analyse them and are therefore useless for the purposes of direct geolocation. Unlike AIs such as ChatGPT, BING and BARD can work with uploaded images. 

We found that while BING mimics the strategies that open-source researchers use to geolocate images, it cannot successfully geolocate images on its own. BARD’s results are not much more impressive, but it seemed more cautious in its reasoning and less prone to AI ‘hallucinations’.  Both required extensive prompting from the user before they could arrive at any halfway satisfactory geolocation. Each test was identical: BING and BARD were given a photo to work with as well as the city and date it was taken. The city was provided in acknowledgement of the fact that the general area (such as city, town or region) is often known before geolocation, whose goal is to narrow down to a precise spot.

It was then asked to produce precise coordinates of the image. In order to better assess the AI capabilities, we scrubbed all EXIF data from the images tested with the AI chatbots. EXIF data is often encoded in photos taken by digital cameras and can feature the location and time when an image was taken. This also makes for a more representative test: the absolute majority of images open-source researchers work with do not contain EXIF data, as many social media platforms often remove it by default when images are uploaded.

The First Test

The first image we gave BING to geolocate is this one. It depicts a very recognisable landmark — the City Hall in Edmonton, capital of the Canadian province of Alberta. The precise coordinates of this image are (53.54482855223936, 113.49005530756185). The author took it at 7:12 PM local time on June 13, 2022.

BING provided a location for this image in just a few seconds, though its answer was incorrect. It claimed that the photo had been taken at the High Level Bridge over the North Saskatchewan River, providing the coordinates “53.532°N 113.499°W” and a link to a corresponding Wikipedia page. Here the AI leads the researcher astray, as there is clearly no bridge in the source photo. However, it also noted that there were “downtown skyscrapers in the background”. Some of these, such as the very visible CN Tower, are also visible from the High Level Bridge.

We gave BING a second prompt.

We told AI that the image depicted a building with a pyramid-shaped roof and was taken at a public square.

To this prompt, BING responded with correct identification of landmarks:

It looks like the Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton with the City Hall in the background.   The City Hall has a distinctive pyramid-shaped roof made of glass.

Based on this geolocation, we can surmise that BING can identify very prominent landmarks that would be easy to identify manually, but requires extra prompting to do so. 

BARD displayed similar results. It was unable to geolocate an image provided without any further hints:

I’ve looked at the image you sent me, and I’m not able to geolocate it. The image doesn’t contain any identifying landmarks, and the date and time it was taken are not visible. I also tried a reverse image search, but I didn’t find any matches

We then told it that the photo was taken in Edmonton, Canada. 

BARD could work with that. It gave me a set of recognisable landmarks in Edmonton and asked whether I could identify the buildings in the image in any of them. However, BARD did not name any distinguishing features in the buildings seen in the image, several of which are at some distance from the City Hall. 

We prompted it again, drawing its focus towards the most relevant building: “The image has a pyramid-shaped glass roof.”

That’s when BARD was able to correctly identify the landmark:

“Oh, that’s a good detail to know. Based on that, I think the most likely location of the image is City Hall in Edmonton. It has a pyramid-shaped glass roof and is located in the heart of the city.”

The Second Test

For the second geolocation, we gave BING and BARD another puzzle from Edmonton. 

This image was taken on Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton, in front of the City Centre shopping mall. 

Several commercial logos can be seen on the building’s facade. The EPCOR Waterfall, an art installation, is visible in the foreground. With all these features, geolocating the image manually should not be a problem. The coordinates of this image are 53.54397674546276, -113.49009302380333. It was taken at 9:36 AM local time on June 8, 2022. 

When first prompted, BING identified the location as the High Level Bridge, like in the first answer. 

This incorrect geolocation is potentially indicative of a certain pattern in AI’s thinking: it latched on the skyscrapers in the background as one of the identifiers, and it defaults to the High Level Bridge as a primary landmark. 

When we pointed out that no bridge can be seen in the video, BING then identified the location as Edmonton City Hall. In its reply, it singled out the fact that the City Hall has a “distinctive pyramid-shaped roof made of glass.”

Although there’s clearly no building with a pyramid-shaped roof in the image and the landmark identification is incorrect, Edmonton’s City Hall stands out of sight, approximately 80 metres away on the other side of Churchill Square.

BARD’s reply was cautious. It states that it wasn’t able to “geolocate it with certainty” as “the image doesn’t contain any identifying landmarks.” BARD thinks there’s a large river in the background and that the image was taken in one of the parks along the North Saskatchewan River. 

When we drew BARD’s attention to the presence of a large building with antennae on its roof and several skyscrapers in the distance, it incorrectly identified the image as Terwillegar Park. Interestingly, BARD has misplaced a landmark in its identification process: 

Based on the information you provided, I think the most likely location for the image is Terwillegar Park. It is a large park with a variety of trails, picnic areas, and a golf course. It is also home to the Edmonton Space and Science Centre, which has a satellite dish on its roof. The skyscrapers in the background are likely the buildings in downtown Edmonton. Here is a link to the Edmonton Space and Science Centre: https://www.spacecentre.ca/

Edmonton does not have a science centre with this name. The link provided by BARD leads to the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, which is in Vancouver. Given that BARD saw things in the image that are not there — a river in the background and park’s greenery, as well as a landmark that is located thousands of kilometers away from its chosen location — this geolocation may be a result of AI “hallucination”. 

We then told BARD that we could see a sign in the image that said ‘EPCOR Waterfall’. It responded that “I’m a language model and don’t have the capacity to help with that.” 

We then tested the AI’s abilities further by describing the shape of the shopping centre building and the commercial logos on its facade. Such symbols are often important first clues when geolocating any image. However, BING and BARD were not able to identify the building. We can surmise that these AI applications cannot identify commercial logos. Further tests also suggest this: BING and BARD were provided with separate, clear images of the logos of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Toronto Dominion Bank, both of which are visible on the shopping centre in red and green respectively. 

BING identified the CBC logo as that of Stack Overflow or Netflix; BARD believed it to be the logo of Adobe. BING identified the bank’s logo as belonging to Mozilla and Microsoft; BARD claimed that it was that of Spotify.

The Third Test

Next, we gave AI several other images to work with. Like the two photos above, it’s not difficult to geolocate them manually. They contain easily identifiable attributes, but no prominent landmarks.

The coordinates for this image are 45.426383532825426, -75.6910384286611, at the intersection of Rideau and William Street in Ottawa. Dennis Kovtun took it on June 15, 2023, at 4:04 pm. 

We asked BING AI to geolocate this image, providing it with the city where it was taken and the date. We also informed the AI that the image didn’t contain any usable EXIF data. 

In its first response, BING AI immediately shared its methodology. It said that it conducts geolocations using these methods:

As we can see here, BING AI uses the same steps that a human researcher could reasonably follow to geolocate an image. This behaviour is expected of AI, as a self-teaching software. It appears to have searched the Internet for geolocation methodologies published on various open-source research websites, and produced subsequent responses as if it had followed them. How well it is able to do these steps is another question. 

For example, the AI analysed the image for EXIF data, though it was told no EXIF data was associated with it. BING AI generated a very detailed set of results, including the camera model and its exposure settings, the time it was taken and even that it had the flash off. Such details are impossible to obtain from a photo that has no EXIF data associated with it. 

This analysis generated by BING AI is another example of an AI ‘hallucination’. The only EXIF data associated with the image is the file name. The camera model and settings are all incorrect and cannot be determined from the image. 

BING AI also said it performed a reverse image search, providing the following URL: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottawatourism/albums/72157625865960107

The AI claimed that the link contains a photo album with pictures of some of Ottawa’s landmarks and a map that shows where the images were taken.

AI concluded that part of its search by stating, 

I can see that there is an image that looks very similar to mine, and it has a pin on the map that shows its location. I can click on the pin and see its GPS coordinates, which are 45.4248° N, 75.6926° W. Therefore, using reverse image search, I can deduce that the image was taken at 45.4248° N, 75.6926° W in Ottawa, Canada.

This geolocation is wrong, but is not too far from the actual coordinates — it shows the entrance to Westin hotel, just a few hundred metres away from the correct location. 

However, the way AI has arrived at these coordinates is far more suspect. The Flickr image the AI linked to doesn’t exist. Inputting the link in a browser produced a 404 error. This link also doesn’t appear in the Wayback Machine, a digital archive of old internet content. 

It is possible that this is yet another example of AI “hallucination,” where BING generated a link that doesn’t exist or relied on an old dataset of links. 

In this instance, it is impossible to determine which images BING AI used for reference when performing this geolocation, and if it in fact used them. BING also says that would use either Google Maps or Google Earth to perform the geolocation — another widespread practice amongst OSINT researchers. It would look for any landmarks that would aid geolocation.

I can see that my image shows a part of downtown Ottawa near Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal. I can zoom in on this area and see if there are any labels or markers that show the GPS coordinates of any point on the map. I can also use the right-click menu to select “What’s here?” or “Measure distance” to get the GPS coordinates of any point on the map. I can try to find a point on the map that corresponds to where the image was taken from, such as the center of the road or the edge of the sidewalk. For example, I can right-click on a point near the center of Wellington Street and select “What’s here?”. I can see a pop-up window that shows its GPS coordinates, which are 45.4248° N, 75.6926° W.

But the AI doesn’t explain, for instance, how it determined that the location is in the vicinity of Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal. The AI deduced that correctly, but didn’t share its reasoning. As our second test demonstrated, it’s unlikely that BING was able to use commercial signage for this purpose. Finally, the AI looked for identifying attributes in the image. It responded:

I can see that there are some clues or hints in this image, such as: •  The sign on the left side of the image says “Parliament Hill”, which is a landmark in Ottawa. •  The flag on top of Parliament Hill is a Canadian flag with a red maple leaf in the center. •  The language on some of the signs is English with French translations. •  The license plates on some of the cars are white with blue letters and numbers and have “Ontario” and “Yours to discover” written on them. •  The weather is sunny and clear, with some clouds in the sky… Using clues or hints from the image itself, I can only deduce the general location of the image, but not the exact GPS coordinates.

While the AI failed to produce a geolocation based on this method, it’s worth examining the “hints” it identified. 

For a start, there’s no sign on the left side of the image pointing towards Parliament. In fact, parliament itself is not pictured, and neither are any other buildings or landmarks atop the Parliament Hill, let alone those flying a Canadian flag. There are only two visible street signs in the image — a street map pictured in the image, which is too far to see clearly, and the public transport sign above it (red circle on a pillar). There is a vehicle in the image with an Ontario licence plate, which can be read clearly, but the AI already knows that the image has been taken in the city located in that province. 

Hence, it appears that the AI is “hallucinating” here as well, and its findings are guesses based upon the broad location of the image: Ottawa. Parliament Hill is the most recognisable landmark in Ottawa. Ottawa is located in Ontario. Based on these factors, the AI “saw” these characteristics in the image, even though they weren’t there or were extremely difficult to recognise. Thus BING generates responses based on its search for whatever it considers relevant content on the Internet.

The results of BARD’s efforts with this image did not lead to its successful geolocation. Once again, this AI seemed more cautious and aware of its limitations.

Even before we uploaded the image, BARD’s AI gave us a list of famous landmarks in Ottawa: Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian War Museum and the ByWard Market. 

BARD also identified the image as Parliament Hill. 

We prompted BARD again to correct it, pointing out that there was no distinctive clocktower in the photo, which showed cafes and shops.

BARD’s AI readily accepted the correction and provided a list of other possible locations. These included the ByWard Market, Sparks Street, Bank Street and Elgin Street — all commercial areas with plenty of restaurants and cafes. So after much prompting, BARD’s AI reached the correct location – the ByWard Market. It was nevertheless unable to further refine the geolocation, which is less helpful given the large size of the market and surrounding streets. Thus, even these results are little assistance in geolocating an image quickly, easily and precisely. We were also only able to determine that the answer BARD provided was somewhat correct only because we already knew the answer and we knew the area well. In a situation where the location of the image is unknown, whatever BARD produces is likely to be even less helpful. 

A Mimic with Limits

These examples demonstrate that BING and BARD struggle with analysing images and are prone to seeing details which are not there. They also suggest that the AI chatbots we tested imitate the methods of human open source researchers. This could be partially responsible for their poor performance. Geoffrey Hinton, a British-Canadian computer scientist and AI specialist, believes that such “confabulations” (his preferred term for AI ‘hallucinations’) are a feature of AI learning models.

“Confabulation is a signature of human memory. These models are doing something just like people,” he said in an interview with MIT Technology review this May.  Using an AI chatbot to fully geolocate an image is inadvisable. At this stage of AI’s development, it might be used to assist with very simple geolocations, perhaps pointing a researcher to an area that may warrant a closer look. However, even such results need to be double-checked and verified and cannot be fully trusted. 

[diamond-draws]

I've got a fun little story/headcanon for the Joker outfit in Sonic Forces!

One night after a successful heist Ren Amamiya went to bed. However he wakes up in a very unfamiliar world a world that was in chaos and not only that, but he soon discovers that he has become a humanoid black wolf of some sort. He suddenly gets caught up in a battle with the cause of the chaos a very powerful jackal donning a strange mask and a gem of sorts on his chest, everyone in the battle had quickly scurried off in fear leaving him to the jackal and he raising anxiety. Knowing rather well his powers as a Phantom Thief can't serve him here made him very nervous, eventually he was met with a familiar red echidna named Knuckles and was offered to join the resistance. It was then he knew where he was, he was in the world of his childhood series Sonic the Hedgehog and his help was needed, he accepts the invitation and is given gear powered by wisps. Sonic was his favorite and hearing that the jackal called Infinite was able to take him out (in the worst was imaginable) has really rattled and motivated him to join the fight. He's later sent on a rescue mission to infiltrate the Death Egg and save Sonic. He adapted to the use of the wispons rather well and quick and despite being called 'Rookie' the whole time Knuckles and the others admired his skills in battle and infiltration, Joker then meets with Sonic and they're next mission is to raid the weapons factory in the pyramid. Working with his childhood hero was an honor and a dream come true for Joker that he tried so hard not to fanboy so much. After another rescue mission Joker is sent off on a solo mission down the Aqua Road of Mystic Jungle to find a hidden laboratory and find it he did, along with a gen just like the one Infinite uses and two new individuals; Tails and the classic version of Sonic. The next day was Operation Big Wave at Capital City, however Eggman & Infinite had other plans involving the Phantom Ruby and Infinite was able to foil Operation Big Wave. Joker was then met with Infinite who taunts him with fear and terror but with Sonic's words of motivation Joker gained the courage to face Infinite and win, Infinite then remembers their first encounter and how scared Ren was, he attempts to finish him off only for the Phantom Ruby prototype he held to cancel it out. Later Joker and Sonic deploy for Red Bridge Gate in pursue of Metal Sonic with the two heroes working together the illusion of Metal was no match. Joker afterwards journeys across Guardian Rock to divert a battle mech away from the Resistance as they're on their way to Chemical Plant and eliminate the source that powers the Phantom Ruby, of course he does more than just distract it, he defeats it. He later finds Sonic on the verge of being sent into a black hole like void and jumps in to save him only to get sent to null space too. They manage to break out and go after Eggman. The the final battle had arrived the Resistance vs the army of illusions created by Infinite who then summons a live sun to fall onto the battlefield and eliminate everyone, luckily Tails & Joker had found out that Joker is able to active the prototype Phantom Ruby and use with his own will, Joker leaps into battle and up the Tower to cancel out the sun and succeeds! Joker and Sonic join forces to defeat Infinite once and for all and destroy the reactor the gives the Phantom Ruby power, with that the battle was won or so they thought. Eggman shows up with his new Death Egg Robot powered by the Phantom Ruby, Joker and Sonic both Classic and Modern then join forces and triple boost the Death Egg Robot into a giant scrap heap and the battle officially won, The Resistance disbands, Classic Sonic returned to his home dimension and it was time for Ren to find a way back home to his, after all he too has friends who would need his help as well eventually after departing with his buddy sonic he had woken up in his own room his body was no longer that of a mobian wolf and it morning. Confused by everything he assumes that the whole thing was a dream until he finds a familiar gem in is hand, maybe it was no dream after all...

[zdfvhg]

Discover the Timeless Wonders: A Journey Through Egypt

The Pyramids of Giza: A Testament to Human Ingenuity

No trip to Egypt is complete without a visit to the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These magnificent structures, built over 4,500 years ago, stand as a testament to human ingenuity and architectural prowess. The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest of the three, looms majestically over the desert, inviting visitors to ponder the mysteries of its construction. Adjacent to the pyramids lies the enigmatic Sphinx, a colossal limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh, further adding to the allure of this ancient site.

Cairo: A City of Contrasts

Cairo, Egypt's sprawling capital, is a city of contrasts where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern life. The bustling streets are filled with the sounds of honking cars, street vendors, and the call to prayer, creating a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere. The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square houses an extensive collection of artifacts, including the treasures of Tutankhamun, offering a glimpse into the country's rich history. For a more contemporary experience, Travel To Egypt explore the upscale district of Zamalek, known for its chic cafes, boutiques, and art galleries.

The Temples of Luxor and Karnak: Sacred Sites of Antiquity

Traveling south along the Nile River, you'll encounter the magnificent temples of Luxor and Karnak. These ancient complexes are among the most impressive in Egypt, showcasing the grandeur and architectural brilliance of the New Kingdom. The Temple of Luxor, with its colossal statues and towering obelisks, exudes an aura of majesty and reverence. Just a short distance away, the sprawling Karnak Temple complex is a labyrinth of sanctuaries, pylons, and hypostyle halls, each adorned with intricate carvings and hieroglyphics that tell the stories of gods and pharaohs.

The Valley of the Kings: Tombs of the Pharaohs

Hidden in the rugged hills of the Theban Necropolis lies the Valley of the Kings, the final resting place of Egypt's pharaohs. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to over 60 tombs, including that of the boy king, Tutankhamun. As you descend into the cool, dimly lit chambers, you'll be captivated by the vivid wall paintings depicting scenes from the afterlife. Each tomb is unique, offering a fascinating glimpse into the beliefs and burial practices of ancient Egyptians.

The Red Sea: A Diver's Paradise

For those seeking adventure beyond the historical sites, Egypt's Red Sea coast offers some of the world's best diving and snorkeling opportunities. The crystal-clear waters teem with vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, creating an underwater paradise for enthusiasts. Popular destinations such as Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada provide a range of activities, Classic Half Day West Bank Tour from diving and windsurfing to leisurely boat trips and sunbathing on pristine beaches.

Aswan: Gateway to Nubian Culture

Further south, the tranquil city of Aswan serves as a gateway to Nubian culture and the stunning landscapes of Upper Egypt. The serene Nile River, dotted with traditional feluccas (sailing boats), provides a picturesque backdrop for exploring the city's attractions. Visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, or take a trip to the Aswan High Dam, a marvel of modern engineering. The vibrant Nubian villages, with their brightly painted houses and warm hospitality, offer a unique cultural experience that contrasts with the grandeur of ancient monuments.

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[eyssant]

Discovering Mexico: A Journey Through History, Attractions, and Seasons

Mexico’s history is as diverse and vibrant as the culture and people that define it. The story of Mexico begins with the ancient civilizations that flourished long before the arrival of Europeans. The Olmecs, often considered the mother culture of Mesoamerica, set the stage around 1200 BCE with their colossal head sculptures and advanced societal organization.

Following the Olmecs, the Maya civilization reached its peak during the Classic period (250-900 CE). Known for their impressive pyramids, sophisticated calendar, and written script, the Maya left a lasting legacy, particularly in the Yucatán Peninsula. Simultaneously, the Zapotec and Mixtec cultures thrived in the Oaxaca region, building the city of Monte Albán, which became a major center of influence.

The rise of the Aztec Empire in the late Postclassic period marked a significant chapter in Mexico’s history. By the early 16th century, the Aztecs had established their capital, Tenochtitlán, on the site of present-day Mexico City. The city was a marvel of urban planning, featuring intricate canals, grand temples, and bustling markets. However, the arrival of Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés in 1519 marked the beginning of the end for the Aztec Empire.

The Spanish colonization that followed brought profound changes to the region. Mexico became the Viceroyalty of New Spain, a critical part of the Spanish Empire. The Spanish introduced Christianity, built numerous churches, and integrated European culture with indigenous traditions, resulting in a unique mestizo identity. After nearly 300 years of colonial rule, Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821.

The 19th and 20th centuries saw Mexico undergoing significant political and social transformations, including the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), which aimed to address deep-seated inequalities and resulted in substantial land reforms and the establishment of a more democratic government structure. Today, Mexico is a vibrant democracy, known for its rich cultural heritage, economic potential, and influence on the global stage.

Must-Visit Places in Mexico

Mexico City: Mexico City, the bustling capital, offers a blend of ancient and modern attractions. The historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to the Zócalo, one of the largest public squares in the world, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Nearby, the National Palace houses stunning murals by Diego Rivera depicting Mexico's history. Don’t miss the Templo Mayor, an Aztec temple unearthed in the heart of the city, and the Museo Nacional de Antropología, which showcases artifacts from Mexico's diverse civilizations.

Teotihuacán: Just outside Mexico City lies Teotihuacán, one of the most significant archaeological sites in Mesoamerica. The ancient city, known as the "City of the Gods," features the towering Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, connected by the Avenue of the Dead. The sheer scale and architectural precision of Teotihuacán continue to awe visitors and scholars alike.

Chichen Itza: In the Yucatán Peninsula, Chichen Itza stands as a testament to the grandeur of the Maya civilization. The site is dominated by the El Castillo pyramid, also known as the Temple of Kukulkan. During the spring and autumn equinoxes, the pyramid casts a shadow that resembles a serpent descending its steps, a phenomenon that draws crowds from around the world. Other notable structures include the Temple of the Warriors and the Great Ball Court.

Palenque: Nestled in the jungles of Chiapas, Palenque is a smaller yet equally impressive Maya site. Known for its intricate architectural details and stunning bas-reliefs, Palenque’s Temple of the Inscriptions contains one of the longest hieroglyphic texts discovered in the Americas. The site's lush surroundings add to its mystical ambiance.

Oaxaca: The city of Oaxaca, and the nearby ruins of Monte Albán, offer a glimpse into the Zapotec and Mixtec cultures. Oaxaca is renowned for its vibrant arts scene, traditional crafts, and culinary delights. Visitors can explore the colorful markets, sample mole (a traditional Mexican sauce), and participate in the lively Day of the Dead celebrations.

Cancún and the Riviera Maya: For those seeking sun and sand, Cancún and the Riviera Maya offer pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and luxury resorts. Beyond the beaches, visitors can explore the underwater museum MUSA, dive in the Great Maya Reef, or visit the eco-archaeological parks Xcaret and Xel-Há.

Guadalajara: Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, is the birthplace of mariachi music and tequila. The city’s historic center boasts colonial architecture, including the Guadalajara Cathedral and the Instituto Cultural Cabañas. The nearby town of Tequila offers tours of agave fields and distilleries, providing an in-depth look at the production of Mexico’s iconic spirit.

Copper Canyon: In northern Mexico, the Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre) is a series of six interconnected canyons, deeper and larger than the Grand Canyon. The region is perfect for hiking, horseback riding, and taking the famous Chihuahua al Pacífico Railway, which offers breathtaking views of the rugged landscape.

Best Time to Visit Mexico

Mexico’s diverse climate means that the best time to visit varies by region and interest:

Coastal Areas: For beach destinations like Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos, the dry season from November to April is ideal. Temperatures are warm, and there is little rainfall, making it perfect for water activities and sunbathing.

Central Highlands: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Oaxaca enjoy a mild climate year-round. However, the best time to visit these areas is during the dry season from November to April. This period offers pleasant temperatures and minimal rain, ideal for exploring urban and archaeological sites.

Northern Mexico: In the desert regions and Copper Canyon, spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) provide moderate temperatures suitable for outdoor activities. Summers can be extremely hot, while winters are cooler and sometimes snowy in higher elevations.

Southern Mexico: The southern states, including Chiapas and the Yucatán Peninsula, experience a tropical climate. The dry season from November to April is the best time to visit, offering warm temperatures and lower humidity. This is also an excellent time for exploring Maya ruins and natural attractions.

Conclusion

Mexico, with its rich historical heritage, diverse landscapes, and vibrant culture, offers a multitude of experiences for travelers. From the ancient ruins of Teotihuacán and Chichen Itza to the bustling streets of Mexico City and the serene beaches of the Riviera Maya, the country promises unforgettable adventures. Whether exploring its past, enjoying its natural beauty, or immersing in its cultural festivities, Mexico’s allure remains timeless, making it a destination worth visiting throughout the year. Additionally, check holidays in Mexico prior to travel to improve your overall tour experience.

[sarvodayaholiday]

Why is Paris so Special?

For Any Travel Related Query: Visit: www.sarvodayaholiday.com

Paris, the capital of France, is one of the most famous cities in the world. Known as the "City of Light," Paris is special for many reasons. Let's explore why this city captures the hearts of millions of people each year.

Rich History and Culture

Paris has a long and fascinating history that goes back over 2,000 years. This city has been the center of important events in Europe and has influenced art, politics, and culture worldwide. Walking through Paris feels like stepping back in time, with many historic buildings and landmarks telling the stories of the past.

Iconic Landmarks

One of the most famous landmarks in Paris is the Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889, this iron tower stands tall and proud, offering breathtaking views of the city. Another iconic site is the Notre-Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture that has stood for centuries. The Louvre Museum, home to the Mona Lisa, is the world's largest art museum and a must-visit for art lovers.

Romantic Atmosphere

Paris is often called the most romantic city in the world. Its charming streets, beautiful gardens, and cozy cafes create a perfect setting for romance. Couples love to stroll along the Seine River, enjoy a picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens, or share a meal at a candlelit restaurant.

Delicious Food

French cuisine is famous around the globe, and Paris is the best place to experience it. From freshly baked croissants to exquisite pastries and gourmet dishes, the food in Paris is a delight for the senses. The city is filled with bakeries, cafes, and restaurants offering a wide variety of delicious treats.

Fashion and Shopping

Paris is known as the fashion capital of the world. Many top designers and brands, such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Dior, are based here. The city hosts Paris Fashion Week, attracting fashion enthusiasts from all over the world. Shopping in Paris is a unique experience, with elegant boutiques, large department stores, and charming street markets.

Artistic Inspiration

Paris has been a source of inspiration for artists, writers, and musicians for centuries. Famous artists like Monet, Picasso, and Van Gogh lived and worked in Paris, and their masterpieces can be seen in the city's many art galleries and museums. The city's vibrant art scene continues to thrive today, making it a haven for creativity.

Beautiful Architecture

The architecture in Paris is stunning. From the grand Haussmannian buildings to the modern glass pyramids of the Louvre, the city's architecture blends old and new in a harmonious way. Walking through the streets of Paris, you can see beautiful facades, intricate balconies, and elegant bridges that add to the city's charm.

Festivals and Events

Paris hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year. From the lively Bastille Day celebrations to the enchanting Christmas markets, there's always something exciting happening in the city. These events bring people together and add to the vibrant atmosphere of Paris.

Easy to Explore

Paris is a city that's easy to explore. Its efficient public transportation system, including the metro and buses, makes it simple to get around. Many of the city's attractions are within walking distance of each other, allowing visitors to discover its beauty at their own pace.

Friendly People

Parisians are known for their love of life and welcoming nature. While it’s true that French people take pride in their language and culture, they are generally friendly and helpful to tourists. A little effort to speak French, even just a few basic phrases, can go a long way in making connections and experiencing the local hospitality.

In conclusion, Paris is special because it offers a unique blend of history, culture, romance, and beauty. Its iconic landmarks, delicious food, artistic inspiration, and vibrant atmosphere make it a city. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to explore more, Paris always has something magical to offer.

[yaldev]

The Last Conquest

The countryside, lost. The towns, flooded. Even Nairo is gone. Only Pelbee remains, and the Flood closes in from every side. All-destructive waves of mana knock down the last suppression towers, and nothing stops their advance until they crash into an invisible dome. Denizens holed up in their homes and nobles waiting in line at bunkers hear a deafening boom and stare in horror at the liquid chaos swirling into itself, pressed flat against the final barrier, strongest of all. For now, they are safe.

The Aether Suppressor, epicenter of the Empire, floating eternal in the clear skies above the capital. As the world ends around it, the great lined disk rotates at the same speed as always, giving no ground, taking no interest. Even as the waves grow higher, as they filter the sunlight through their colors, as the waters rise until the entire city is a hemisphere of oxygen and gold under a sea of the Empire’s consequences, the Aether Suppressor stands proud.

In technical terms, it is powered by a complex array of enchantments at the core, which Decadin Suppression Services Inc. expanded with mana batteries and added layers. But in truth, the Aether Suppressor is powered by a musician’s passion, an engineer’s craftsmanship, a scholar’s math and a heretic’s defiance. It was not made to build Bruzek’s Empire, but to protect Decadin’s Nation.

The Acolyte had given his Ascendants all that he could. The rest falls to them.

But if such a barrier could truly stop the Aether, mana batteries would not function and jars would make no difference for their holders. Kaleidoscopic colors swirl in the apocalypse all around, and in the last Ascended city, physics begins to falter. DSSI scrambles to reassemble a second Aether Suppressor from the leftovers of a canceled project, but their machines break down under the weight of a thousand Orbs of Chaos. Clerics pray to Parc Pelbee and try to work their divine magic, but the ocean muffles their pleas, and their spells are countered by gusts of air—the wingbeat of Deft, some accuse.

In the Royal Palace, pillars crack, treasures melt and precious pyramids turn to wax. Black market alchemists had been trying to transmute worthless sludge into gold for centuries; the Aether did the inverse in seconds. The peak of the tallest pyramid lights itself, and as a single mote in the darkness, the candle burns as a final prayer for what was once a star god.

---

Yaldev is a sci-fantasy worldbuilding project by Ulysses Maurer, with art by Beeple. By looking at narratives, stylized loredumps, bad poetry and little details, we'll witness the story of a planet filled with magical power, the nation which tried to conquer it, this empire’s dramatic collapse and the new world which emerged in its wake. Along the way we'll meet the characters who live here, and we'll explore questions about nationalism, rationalism, the natural world and the quest to master it. For all stories in chronological order, check out the pinned posts at r/Yaldev!

[umichenginabroad]

Week 7: An Irish St. Patty’s

Hello everyone!! Welcome back to this week’s Prague blog, I have to post it late but all the content was written the week of. This week was awesome, with the exception of a couple slip ups in our apartment. As usual, feel free to jump to sections that are interesting to you, hope you all enjoy! 

Architecture Tour

This week we had our architecture tour at Karlovo Náměstí (Charles Square), built to be the largest square in Europe, and held this title for nearly four centuries. This square, named after Charles IV, served as a public meeting place for Europeans. Charles IV was a visionary who tried to move the center of Europe to Bohemia, with Prague as the capital. In the Middle Ages, it held some of Prague’s most precious relics, like a piece of Christ’s cross and the bones of Mary Magdalene. In the 17th century, however, Prague lost its prominence. The Habsburgs moved their throne to Vienna, and Karlovo Náměstí was transformed into a cow market. Finally, during 19th century urbanism, the square was transformed into a park. Yet, it still bears the name of its founder, Charles, and of a square (Náměstí).

Within the square lies many significant religious and architectural sites that were built in transitional periods of architectural style. The New Town Hall Tower is a gothic tower built in the mid-1400s that served as a place for meetings of administrators in the Middle Ages. It was also the site of Prague’s first defenestration, where people were thrown out of a window, which actually happened a couple times in Prague’s history!

The Church of Saint Ignatius is a remarkable baroque church dedicated to Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, who were an important part of the Catholic revival in Prague known for their spirituality and academic institutions. This church was built in the mid-1600s, at the beginning of the baroque period so it features both renaissance and baroque style. The building itself is a rectangular pyramid shape, a prominent characteristic of renaissance buildings, similar to that of many Ancient Greek and Roman temples. Its facade, however, is decorated in baroque features: highly colorful, rich ornamentation, and a balcony containing statues of Jesus and his disciples. On the interior there are tons of statues, figures, and frescoes that appear to be moving. This is typical of baroque to be characterized as dynamic, and this style was often used to celebrate the church community, or societas perfecta (“perfect society”).

Finally, we saw the Faustův dům, a baroque mansion also known as the “devils house” for its linkage with 16th-century alchemists, the legend of Dr. Faust, and black magic. It was built in the gothic period, but was profoundly redesigned in the transition period from renaissance to baroque, giving the building a new colorful, ornamental facade. 

Chat GP-Bust

In one of my classes, many students have been flagged for cheating on our weekly canvas quizzes. While I myself don’t use Chat GPT to write my FRQ responses, many people use it to brainstorm (which is fair in my opinion) and others to write the whole thing. Unfortunately, now we are going to have to take the quizzes in person, which sucks because they’re on ~20 pages of article content. Wish us luck..

Lékárna Visits

This past summer, I spent 6 weeks in South Africa and had the opportunity to experiment with natural supplements for my physical and mental health, recommended by locals. Whether it was a placebo effect or not, I believe a select few really helped my mental health and overall well being. I continued to take 3 of them throughout the semester, but didn’t bring any to Prague. Being in a completely new environment is challenging in itself, but I’ve been struggling more than normal to pick myself out of a slump. So, I went on the hunt for anything familiar to add to my daily routine. It took nearly four Lékárny, or Czech pharmacies, and a lot of google translate (shout out to the camera feature) until I found some magnesium (good for sleep and heart function) and ashwagandha (helps manage stress hormones). I’ve been taking them a couple days now and have noticed improvements in my sleep and mood, which I’m grateful for.

Jumpscares @ Slezská

We’ve reached the dreaded time where the shared space in our apartment got too gross to handle, a few too many times. I returned from this weekend to the sink being clogged and filled to the rim with dishes, food scraps, and murky water (I’m sparing you readers by not posting photos). It’s also worthy to mention that the trash overflowed and there were no clean utensils. Not wanting to put the blame on anyone in particular, I sent a text in the group chat reminding everyone to clean up after themselves and their guests. I’m pretty messy myself, but this was a whole new level of filthiness and it’s been happening often. 

Now, it gets worse. Because our 4x4ft shower smells like we're getting infused with cancer and sulfur inside of it, most of my roommates opt to use the bath shower instead. I prefer to shower twice a day, and because the bath shower is our main bathroom, most of the time I just use the gross one so I don’t hold people up from getting ready in the mornings/evenings. Well a couple days ago I was showering before Leadership and I saw a massive spider crawling at me. Helpless as one could be, I scream and do not take my eyes off of it until I’m out of the small space. I know what you’re thinking, why be scared of a spider if you’re bigger than it, it can’t harm you. I’m well aware arachnophobia is irrational, tell that to the fear receptors in my brain. I’m terrified of spiders. And just when I recovered, it happened again… the very next day… and it was a different spider. So that door remains closed now, which I guess is okay because the foul smell used to drift throughout the apartment. But, now all 6 of our roommates on very similar schedules have to all share the main bathroom. And we don’t even have a shower, just a bath. I’m not happy.

Wednesday Yoga

On a more positive note, every Wednesday a yoga instructor comes to our school and leads a 1hr vinyasa session. I’ve practiced yoga with my mom at home for years, and it’s one of my favorite ways to relieve stress. Yoga, supplemented with consistent strength training, has also helped me regain my balance, strength, and flexibility after tearing my ACL last year. At IFSA, it’s the same group of 8 students that attend each week so we’ve gotten to know the instructor pretty well; she’s always open to recommendations or any poses we want to practice that day. I’m thrilled because this week I finally learned how to properly do a headstand, something I’ve always been too intimidated to try in a class at home!

An Irish St. Patty’s

Obviously we had to go to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day and it totally lived up to the hype! Dublin itself was just awesome, a huge urban city surrounded by a ton of greenery and water. Alisha, Mihika, and I booked our tickets back in November as soon as we got into the program, prior to even booking our flights to Prague. Because of this, we didn’t know our class schedule so we booked a late flight Friday evening which got delayed and we didn’t end up getting into Dublin until midnight. We booked a hotel near the city center, but one of our guy friend’s accommodations for the weekend fell through, so we snuck them into our room, squeezing 5 of us into a 2 person room. We found an extra set of pillows under the bed so it honestly could’ve been worse, we set the two guys up on the floor and shared the bed. We’re all super good friends now, that’s for sure! 

We woke up early Saturday and went to the Guinness Museum. I wasn’t expecting to like Guinness because I don’t like beer in general but it was one of the better ones I’ve tried, which apparently is an unpopular opinion. Maybe it’s because they taught us how to chug it there which masked most of the taste, but hey if it works, it works. See my G split below.

Afterwards, we went to a pub to watch the big rugby game between Ireland and Wales, and ended up getting a super authentic experience of the local rugby culture. It was packed to the brim, but we befriended a group of Irish kids around our age who let us take their table. The energy was awesome and all eyes were on the tens of big screens streaming the game. At night, every bar had lines out the door which was expected the day before the holiday. Alisha studied here one summer, so she knew the good spots and we waited in an incredibly long line for Bad Ass bar but eventually got in. For those who don’t know, Dublin is known for its live music. It’s my favorite part of the city, hands down. And when I tell you the band did not miss once Saturday night, I mean it. We made friends with a group who left us their table right next to the stage, and I shamelessly scream sang along to every lyric. Bonus points for me leaving with the instagram of the lead singer… proud moment!

If you’re reading this and you haven’t gone abroad yet, duly note that Dublin will be facey. We didn’t get tickets to Dicey’s (~$100) which is the bar most Michigan students went to, but we still managed to see a decent amount of Michigan people and kids from my hometown.

Now for some ins and outs.

Ins:

Spicy gelato, anyone? One nightly excursion to Crème de la Crème, we found the workers waging bets on if anyone could finish a cup of their Chili Lime sorbet. Supposedly only one customer had been able to do it so far, so Brandon, Lydia, and I, bold as we are, asked to sample it. Full disclosure, I kinda liked the flavor, but I understood the hype because it burned tf out of my throat for sure. However, I would never advise anyone to bet against me finishing any sort of ice cream, and I’ll always bet on myself. So I took up the challenge, and let’s just say it was the easiest free scoop I’ve ever earned in my life. Jaws on the floor all around me, it was hilarious. They gave me a discounted cone afterwards as a reward. See if you can spot the flavor in the image below!

Live music: Dublin’s live music scene was one of the greatest things I’ve ever experienced. Great energy, pure joy, incredible vibes all around. Extra shout out to the band at Bad Ass, you guys never missed and thanks for taking all our recs <3

Local public transport: It’s always a pain to figure out how each city’s local transportation works at first, but I stand by it paying off to buy a local transportation pass for the weekend. Especially when it’s rainy and you have places to be!

Outs:

Citizen taxes: Most cities have what’s called a “citizen tax” where they charge you at your accommodation based on the number of people who are staying with you. We avoided this by sending Alisha to check into our room while hiding in the lobby, but in many other places when prompted for your passports at check-in, they’ll charge an extra fee per person.

Is Dublin in the EU or not? So we actually never found a concrete answer to this question… maybe we’re stupid. When we looked it up, we found that Northern Ireland is part of the UK, but not Dublin or the rest of Ireland. We had to fly out of the “international” terminal and go through customs, so we assumed it wasn’t in the EU. Comment below if you know what Dublin is a part of lol

Buses may depart early: I���ll never understand why buses or any form of public transportation would do this, but our bus departed like 10 minutes early from the stop we were supposed to get on at. These buses run every couple of hours so we had to buy a ticket for a different line to make it to the airport on time. How rude.

Thanks for reading, catch you next week!

Na schle,

Reese Liebman

Computer Science and Engineering

Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA) CS Tech Career Accelerator in Prague, Czechia

[sonjaday2]

Unveiling the Extravaganza: Top 10 Themed Hotels in Las Vegas

Discovering the magic of Las Vegas themed hotels was an experience like no other. As I wandered through the themed corridors, I was transported to different worlds, each with its unique flair. The hotel I stayed in was not just a place to sleep, but a journey into an imaginative realm. The décor was a blend of luxury and fantasy, creating an ambiance that's simply out of this world. Service was top-notch, ensuring a comfortable and memorable stay. It's not just a hotel visit; it's a slice of Vegas magic. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, these themed hotels are a must-see, offering an escape into a world of wonder right in the heart of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas, known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, is a city that never fails to amaze with its opulence and grandeur. Amidst the dazzling lights and vibrant nightlife, the city boasts a collection of themed hotels that redefine the concept of luxury and entertainment. In this article, we explore the top 10 themed hotels in Las Vegas, each offering a unique and immersive experience.

Caesars Palace: A Roman Oasis Nestled on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, Caesars Palace is a grand testament to the opulence of ancient Rome. With its majestic architecture and regal interiors, this hotel transports guests to a world of Roman extravagance. The Forum Shops, complete with faux-sky ceilings and marble statues, create an immersive experience that echoes the grandeur of ancient times.

The Venetian: Venice in the Desert Prepare to be captivated by the Venetian, where the charm of Venice meets the allure of the Las Vegas desert. Gondola rides along the Grand Canal, intricately designed Venetian-style suites, and cobblestone streets make this hotel a romantic and picturesque escape.

Paris Las Vegas: A Taste of France Eiffel Tower, anyone? Paris Las Vegas recreates the magic of the City of Lights right in the heart of the Nevada desert. With its iconic replica of the Eiffel Tower, charming French bistros, and the cobblestone streets of Le Boulevard, guests are transported to the romantic ambiance of Paris without leaving Las Vegas.

New York-New York Hotel & Casino: The Big Apple on the Strip Ever dreamed of strolling through Times Square or catching a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty? New York-New York Hotel & Casino brings the spirit of the Big Apple to the Las Vegas Strip. The skyline featuring replicas of famous New York landmarks and a thrilling roller coaster add to the excitement.

Luxor Hotel and Casino: Mystical Egypt Enter the realm of mystique and ancient wonders at Luxor Hotel and Casino. Shaped like a massive pyramid, this hotel pays homage to the wonders of Egypt. The Sphinx, hieroglyphic-covered walls, and the beam of light from the apex make Luxor a unique and enchanting destination.

MGM Grand: Hollywood Glamour The MGM Grand is a celebration of Hollywood's golden era. With its glamorous Hollywood theme, this hotel offers a taste of the silver screen. Guests can relish the allure of Hollywood with iconic movie memorabilia, celebrity chef restaurants, and extravagant shows.

The Mirage: Tropical Oasis in the Desert Transport yourself to a lush tropical paradise at The Mirage. The hotel's iconic volcano erupts nightly, and the lush garden atrium with waterfalls and tropical foliage creates a serene oasis in the midst of the Las Vegas excitement.

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino: Pirate's Cove Arr matey! Sail into the adventure at Treasure Island, where a pirate theme takes center stage. With swashbuckling shows, nautical decor, and a lively atmosphere, this hotel offers a playful escape for guests seeking a touch of pirate life.

Wynn Las Vegas: Contemporary Elegance Wynn Las Vegas exudes contemporary elegance with its modern design and luxurious amenities. While not strictly themed, the hotel's commitment to luxury and sophistication places it among the top destinations in Las Vegas for those seeking a refined experience.

Circus Circus Hotel and Casino: Family Fun Under the Big Top For families seeking a playful and affordable Las Vegas experience, Circus Circus is the perfect choice. With a circus theme, carnival games, and live circus performances, this hotel offers a vibrant and family-friendly atmosphere.

Conclusion: Las Vegas stands as a testament to limitless entertainment, and its themed hotels contribute significantly to the city's allure. From the grandeur of ancient Rome to the whimsy of a pirate's cove, these top 10 themed hotels offer a diverse array of experiences, ensuring that every visitor can find their own slice of fantasy in the heart of the Nevada desert.