A b o v e and B e l o w

vivianredwood: Pug Appreciation Post

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:02:24 -0700

vivianredwood:

Pug Appreciation Post

Photo

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:00:41 -0700

art-of-swords: Sword-Catching Parrying Dagger Dated:...

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:58:20 -0700

art-of-swords:

Sword-Catching Parrying Dagger

Dated: 1600

Culture: Italian

This unusual fencing dagger demonstrates the way in which the artistic qualities of a weapon could be influenced by the practical concerns of the swordsman. The Renaissance duel was usually fought with rapier and dagger. The rapier, as the main weapon of attack, was complemented by a parrying dagger held in the left hand, used primarily for defensive movements.

However, by 1600 fighting with the rapier alone was becoming the latest fashion. The opposing blade could still be parried or beaten away with the left hand. The free left also allowed the duellist to grab hold of his enemy’s swordblade, temporarily immobilising it to expose him to a lethal counter-thrust.

This distinctive fencing weapon is designed to provide the blade-grabbing ability of the free left hand, while retaining the dagger for defensive action. The arrow-like barbs allowed a sword blade to enter the ‘jaw’ of the dagger, but made it difficult to free it again. With his weapon ensnared, the enemy was exposed, if only for an instant.

The practical challenges of creating such a specialised weapon were considerable. The hardened and tempered steel blade had to be carefully cut with the series of dramatically barbed teeth, a laborious process. The spaces between the teeth have been elegantly filed with ornamental edges, while the base of the blade has been finely etched and gilt- an unusual feature, even for high-quality weapons. In this way, despite its very specific function as a fighting tool, the weapon’s artistic merit is evident.

Source & Copyright: The Wallace Collection

just-laff: egberts: if i ever met a genie i wouldnt wish for a million dollars id wish that...

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:33:32 -0700

just-laff:

egberts:

if i ever met a genie i wouldnt wish for a million dollars id wish that whenever i bought something i’d always have the right amount of money to pay for it in my pocket

you are one of the great thinkers of our time

roselastrider: “The flowers you gave are rotting and still, I...

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:30:34 -0700

roselastrider:

“The flowers you gave are rotting and still, I refuse to throw them away”

birdie-on-the-wire: hamburgerjack: kairisk: So I...

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:44:35 -0700

birdie-on-the-wire:

hamburgerjack:

kairisk:

So I pokemon-fusioned and

…

the MAJESTY

I fucking CAN’T

THIS IS THE BEST ONE

the-absolute-funniest-posts: anacondom: this is sucriya. she...

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:32:58 -0700

the-absolute-funniest-posts:

anacondom:

this is sucriya. she accessorizes her catholic school uniform with a different scarf every day, which every teacher writes her up for. when my principal walked up to her and pointed to her scarf and said “what’s this?” she said

“sister, that’s fashion”

and just walked away

amandaonwriting: Literary Birthday - 22 May Happy Birthday,...

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:25:36 -0700

amandaonwriting:

Literary Birthday - 22 May

Happy Birthday, Arthur Conan Doyle, born 22 May 1859, died 7 July 1930

10 Quotes

It is a great thing to start life with a small number of really good books which are your very own.

Anything is better than stagnation.

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation.

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.

I have frequently gained my first real insight into the character of parents by studying their children.

Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.

As a rule, said Holmes, the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the most difficult to identify.

Where there is no imagination there is no horror.

The love of books is among the choicest gifts of the gods.

Arthur Conan Doyle was a Scottish physician and author who is best known for his Sherlock Holmes novels. He was a prolific writer who wrote fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels.

by Amanda Patterson for Writers Write

Photo

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:51:07 -0700

karkatdokivantas: I made Eren transparent so he can hang on your dash uvu

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:41:57 -0700

karkatdokivantas:

I made Eren transparent so he can hang on your dash uvu

thesassylorax: This makes me happy and sad at the same time.

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:35:32 -0700

thesassylorax:

This makes me happy and sad at the same time.

yokoohnoudidnt: to victory

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:34:40 -0700

yokoohnoudidnt:

to victory

pepsie: I THOUGHT IT WAS A GIANT BIRD AND I WAS REALLY...

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:33:31 -0700

pepsie:

I THOUGHT IT WAS A GIANT BIRD AND I WAS REALLY CONFUSED

artetak: Still one of my favorite runway shows.Alexander...

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:09:23 -0700

artetak:

Still one of my favorite runway shows.
Alexander McQueen Spring/ Summer 2005

continueplease: nbcnews: Teen’s invention could charge your...

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:06:16 -0700

continueplease:

nbcnews:

Teen’s invention could charge your phone in 20 seconds

(Photo: Intel)

Waiting hours for a cellphone to charge may become a thing of the past, thanks to an 18-year-old high-school student’s invention. She won a $50,000 prize Friday at an international science fair for creating an energy storage device that can be fully juiced in 20 to 30 seconds.

Read the complete story.

Everybody, remember this face.
Remember this name.
If this becomes a commonly used & highly lauded discovery, at some point a White guy is going to take credit, even if he has to word it like “Improved upon a previous…”
No no no
Fuck that guy.
Remember this brown girl.
Remeeeemmmmmberrrrr

consulting-idjits-in-the-tardis: assstiel: #whenever you...

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:57:46 -0700

consulting-idjits-in-the-tardis:

assstiel:

#whenever you anything anywhere something bad happens tho

#maybe you should just not wear anything

scienceheroextraordinaire: 0ver-doze: lamp guaranteed to make...

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:56:53 -0700

scienceheroextraordinaire:

0ver-doze:

lamp

guaranteed to make your friends shit themselves

nellyfg: New poster for The World’s End Source

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:56:30 -0700

nellyfg:

New poster for The World’s End

Source

durbikins: When I die, I want to be buried with sunglasses on and my hands behind my head. So when...

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:55:59 -0700

durbikins:

When I die, I want to be buried with sunglasses on and my hands behind my head. So when I deteriorate, I’ll be the chillest skeleton in the graveyard.

hobolunchbox: Super Mario.

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:54:46 -0700

hobolunchbox:

Super Mario.