Category Archives: Viva!

Why Roman concrete still stands strong while modern version decays | Science | The Guardian

Their structures are still standing more than 1,500 years after the last centurion snuffed it: now the Romans’ secret of durable marine concrete has finally been cracked.The Roman recipe – a mix of volcanic ash, lime (calcium oxide), seawater and lumps of volcanic rock – held together piers, breakwaters and harbours. Moreover, in contrast to modern materials, the ancient water-based structures became stronger over time.Scientists say this is the result of seawater reacting with the volcanic material in the cement and creating new minerals that reinforced the concrete.

Source: Why Roman concrete still stands strong while modern version decays | Science | The Guardian

nadya from pussy riot is rewriting what it means to be punk | read | i-D

“Be persistent. Stay focused. Panic will not help. Have patience. There is a lot to be done, but it’s ok.Seduce your hangman into taking on your beliefs. Make prison wardens your friends. Win over the hearts of those who support the villain. Convince the police that they should be on your side. When the army refuses to shoot into the crowd of protestors, the revolution has won.Take your beatings as a badge of honour. When you say that the emperor is naked, you may end up being punched in the face by the emperor’s bodyguards. You’ll be called demented, insane, a lunatic, perverted, a dangerous idiot. But you’re the happiest sort of idiot — an idiot who knows the divine joy of telling the truth.Being a punk is about constantly surprising people. It’s not about getting a mohawk and keeping it forever, if you do that you’re not a punk, you’re a conservative.

Source: nadya from pussy riot is rewriting what it means to be punk | read | i-D

This Week in Egypt: Week 26 ( June 26-July 2)

Nervana

Top Headlines

  • Egypt raises fuel prices for second time in less than a year
  • Egyptian Air Forces air forces foil arms smuggling attempt in Western Desert
  • Tiran and Sanafir to be located within Saudi territories without a handover ceremony
  • Egypt’s UN delegation blames Qatar, other unnamed country in the region for terrorism in Libya
  • Hamas to create buffer zone with Egypt to improve ties
  • Egyptian court sentences 20 to death for killing policemen for killing policemen
  • Egypt property mogul back in charge after a presidential pardon
  • Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

 Main Headlines

Monday

  • Tiran and Sanafir to be located within Saudi territories without a handover ceremony
  • Armed groups target Endowments Ministry imam in North Sinai
  • Egypt’s PM orders implementation of measures to alleviate economic burdens
  • Female police officers deployed to combat sexual harassment on Eid
  • Businessman Hisham Talaat Mostafa…

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Estonia takes EU′s helm with focus on digitalization, cyberdefense | Europe | DW | 29.06.2017

Young talent like him rebuilt Estonia into one of the world’s most connected – and firmly pro-European – societies. It’s home to both Skype and a cyber army. Now, as the country prepares for six months as the head of the rotating EU Council Presidency, which starts Friday, Jaarats said he feels his country has what it takes to inject a bit of this optimism into a battered European Union.

Source: Estonia takes EU′s helm with focus on digitalization, cyberdefense | Europe | DW | 29.06.2017

White House correspondent Brian Karem defends criticism of Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

She went on to criticise the media for using unnamed sources, when Karem interrupted her.”Come on, you’re inflaming everybody right here, right now, with those words. This administration has done that as well,” he said.”Why in the name of heaven — any one of us are replaceable, and any one of us, if we don’t get it right, the audience has the opportunity to turn the channel or not read us.”You have been elected to serve for four years at least. There is no option other than that.”We’re here to ask you questions. You’re here to provide the answers.”And what you just did is inflammatory to people all over the country who look at it and say, ‘See, once again, the President is right and everybody else out here is fake media.’ And everybody out here is only trying to do their job.”

Source: White House correspondent Brian Karem defends criticism of Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

On the Side of the Road #kindness #sundaydevotions

penned in moon dust

“It’s as easy as…”

LIFE

“you fall off –

 get right back on”

bruised and bloodied

stumbling off the road

 scraping out the rocks

“Just get up” a person calls

I think I’ll just sit in the dirt

another person rolls her eyes

increasing her pace

“take the bike I won’t be needing it” I holler

I feel gentle arms around me

“let me clean that” a kind whisper

“we will get you home”

the man puts me on his bike

his wife rides my battered one

I’m awakened to fluffy white pillows

I don’t know how long it takes to heal

 there it was painted and straight

“I think I’m ready to try “

I wave at the kind couple

their hands are full so they smile

there will always be battered people

to pick up on the side of the road

The original story of the Good Samaritan…

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