Monday, December 15, 2014

What did ancient Babylonian songs sound like? Something like this

What did ancient Babylonian songs sound like? Something like this



What really lasts in this world? What dies, what can be revived? Are humans basically the same now as in ancient times?
I was left pondering these questions after listening to singer and composer Stef Conner's album The Flood. It's probably the first ever to be sung in ancient Sumerian and Babylonian, and it's hauntingly beautiful.
One concrete answer to the first question: clay. Clay lasts.
andy-lowings-lyre

Monday, November 3, 2014

Gen Con Art Show and Other news.

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Gen Con 2014: Level Up!
Art Show Submissions to Open November 10
As previously announced, Gen Con 2015 Art Show has made some changes in its application process this year due to unprecedented demand, and will accept applicants through a juried process. Any artist interested in applying in the 2015 Art Show, regardless of how many years they have exhibited at the Gen Con Art Show in the past or their professional status, will need to submit an entry to be reviewed by an anonymous jury.
Submissions will open Monday, November 10, 2014 and will close Wednesday, November 19, 2014. There will be a $25 non-refundable submission fee.
Artists interested in learning more can click herethe submission link will appear on that page next Monday, as well.   
 
Gen Con at World Championship Weekend

Are you going to Fantasy Flight Games' World Championship Weekend, November 6-9? Gen Con will be there!

A Gen Con representative will be on-site during the event in Roseville, Minnesota throughout the weekend. They will give away Gen Con prizes, including some promo passes to Gen Con 2015! Just look for the person in the Gen Con Staff shirt.

Can't make the show? You can check out Fantasy Flight Games' Twitch Stream 
here, and see World Champions crowned in some of Fantasy Flight Games most popular titles.
 
Post Show Survey: Part 2
Thank you to all those that have taken Part 2 of the Gen Con 2014 Survey. Haven't had a chance to take the survey yet? There is still time.

You can take it by clicking 
here. Gen Con will distribute four Gen Con 2015 promo passes to randomly selected survey participants. Respondent information will not be shared publicly. Thank you for your participation! 
Gen Con's mailing address is:
Gen Con LLC
120 Lakeside Ave #100
SeattleWA 98122

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Test post

Just seeing if I have found the repeat problem in social media

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien



Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien





Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. TolkienEXPAND1234
The maps J.R.R. Tolkien drew to accompany his tales are their own form of story, sketching out the boundaries of his imagined worlds. But could our own, real cities be just as dramatic a fantasy setting? The answer is yes.
In our show-and-tell thread today, commenter and assistant geography professor at Pennsylvania's Slippery Rock University Stentor Danielson showed us these Tolkien-inspired maps he's been working on which, though inspired by fantasy, use real landmark and geographic cues to show us a slightly different take on mapping our cities.
In addition to Boston which is drawn out above, Danielson also has maps of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Washington, DC, which you can see below. Or you can check out more of his maps over on his Etsy page.

Pittsburgh, PA

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien

Cleveland, OH

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien5

Washington, DC

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien

Images: Stenthor Danielson

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien



Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien





Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. TolkienEXPAND1234
The maps J.R.R. Tolkien drew to accompany his tales are their own form of story, sketching out the boundaries of his imagined worlds. But could our own, real cities be just as dramatic a fantasy setting? The answer is yes.
In our show-and-tell thread today, commenter and assistant geography professor at Pennsylvania's Slippery Rock University Stentor Danielson showed us these Tolkien-inspired maps he's been working on which, though inspired by fantasy, use real landmark and geographic cues to show us a slightly different take on mapping our cities.
In addition to Boston which is drawn out above, Danielson also has maps of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Washington, DC, which you can see below. Or you can check out more of his maps over on his Etsy page.

Pittsburgh, PA

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien

Cleveland, OH

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien5

Washington, DC

Maps Of Modern Cities Drawn In The Style Of J.R.R. Tolkien

Images: Stenthor Danielson

Monday, July 7, 2014

Coin Hoard Discovered in Derbyshire Cave - Archaeology Magazine

Coin Hoard Discovered in Derbyshire Cave - Archaeology Magazine

Coin Hoard Discovered in Derbyshire Cave
Monday, July 07, 2014



(© Richard Davenport)
DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND—Coins from the Late Iron Age and coins from the Roman Republic have been discovered together in a cave in the Peak District. Four of the coins were discovered by a member of the public, which led to an excavation by archaeologists from the National Trust, who were assisted by wounded veterans from Operation Nightingale. “In total we found 26 coins, including three Roman coins which pre-date the invasion of Britain in A.D. 43. The coins would suggest a serious amount of wealth and power of the individual who owned them,” archaeologist Rachael Hall told the Northamptonshire Telegraph. Twenty of the Late Iron Age gold and silver coins are thought to belong to the Corieltavi tribe. All of the coins are being cleaned and conserved by specialists at the British Museusm andUniversity College London.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Gen Con Update

Gen Con 2014: Level Up!
Pre-Registration Closing Soon
As June draws to a close, Gen Con 2014 is coming into view! After June 29, several important things happen in the Gen Con calendar, so even if you have your badge, you will want to pay attention to the following notes.
  • After June 29, most badge prices revert to their standard, non-discounted prices. That means if you want to save $10 off of most badges, you will want to sign-up before the month ends.
  • Ship-to-me options (US residents only) are not available after Pre-Reg ends. Will Call pick-up and on-site registration are provided up-to and throughout the show, however.
  • Badges will begin shipping after Pre-Registration closes. Please allow 3-4 weeks for your badge to arrive. Any package lost in shipping during Fufillment will have a 100% replacement guarantee.
  • Badge refunds are not available after June 29. Please email customerservice@gencon.comif you have refund requests. 
Robotech® RPG Tactics™ to Debut at Gen Con 2014
 
 
The popular Robotech® TV show and RPG will be brought to life as a fast-paced, strategy battle game that will debut at Palladium Games' Booth #1223.

● 34 6mm scale, multi-pose plastic game pieces (40mm to 70mm tall). World-class sculpts.
● Combat rules that use D6 and a turn-based system of play.
● Fast-paced combat, designed to emulate anime action.
● Full color rule book, painting guide, decal sheet, custom dice and more.
● Designed in partnership with Ninja Division – the combined talents of Soda Pop Miniatures andCipher Studios, makers of Super Dungeon™ Explore, Relic Knights™, Helldorado™ and Anima Tactics™.
● Expansions and tournament play support are planned.

Palladium RPGs use the same basic core rules. If you learn to play one game, you can play them all. Port characters, weapons, magic and abilities from one game world to another with little or no conversion! 
Games titles include: Rifts® (multi-genre), Dead Reign™ (zombie apocalypse), Robotech®(transformable robots, war & aliens), Heroes Unlimited™ (superhumans of all kinds), Nightbane®(superhero-horror), Palladium Fantasy RPG® (epic), Splicers® (weird sci-fi), Beyond the Supernatural™ (modern horror), After the Bomb® (mutant animals) and others. 
 
Two coupons to get a 50% DISCOUNT on Robotech® “manga” sized RPG titles (only $8 each!) and select other Palladium RPG titles will appear in the Gen Con 2014 Coupon Book. 

Baen Books to Sponsor Popular Writer's Symposium


Gen Con is happy to announce that Baen Books has agreed to be a Gold Sponsor of Gen Con's Writer’s Symposium, one of the largest writing conferences in the world. With more than 160 hours of programming and 60+ authors and experts, the Writer's Symposium features many seminars, panels, and workshops.

“Baen Books has been at the heart of fantasy and science fiction publishing for 30 years,” said Baen Senior Editor James Minz. “We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this anniversary at Gen Con, which has been at the center of the gaming universe since well before Baen published its first novel.”

Featuring New York Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy, Baen Books' catalog includes
 David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, Eric Flint’s Ring of Fire alternate histories, John Ringo’s hard-hitting military SciFi, Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter International urban fantasies, and Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga. Baen’s paper titles are distributed by Simon & Schuster. To download dozens of free ebooks, including works by Drake, Flint, Ringo & Weber, visit the Baen Free Library.

“Baen Books is synonymous with science fiction and fantasy that is steeped in the action and adventure that our gaming audience craves," Marc Tassin, Director of the Writer's Symposium at Gen Con. In addition to featuring Larry Correia as a Special Guest, Baen also will give away hundreds of books to the attendees of the Writer’s Symposium, as well as sponsoring the inaugural Baen Fantasy Adventure Award.

Sitters to the Rescue
For the past three years, Sitters to the Rescue has provided affordable, high quality child care at Gen Con. Once again, they will offer this service to you during the convention. For details on their service and pre-show, refundable tickets, click here.