Happy 80th Birthday to Jimmy Page‚ the brilliant guitarist‚ songwriter‚ and producer whose groundbreaking band Led Zeppelin released its first album 51 years ago this week. A complicated man‚ his guitar playing reflected his broad imagination‚ and seems to fit with the portrait of a man married and divorced 3 times‚ owner of multiple historic […] The post Good News in History‚ January 9 appeared first on Good News Network.

The folklore of the northernmost state of the United States is a treasure trove for paranormal investigators. The mysterious Sitka phenomenon is reported in the 2016 book Spirits of Southeast Alaska: The History &; Hauntings of Alaska’s Panhandle by author James Devereux. The author drew attention to the urban legend of the former Novoarkhangelsk associated with the “Baranof Castle”. This is the name of the hill on which stood the residence of the first ruler of Russian Alaska‚ Alexander Baranov. The building itself burned down in a fire back in 1894. But stories about the ghost of a “Russian princess” allegedly appearing in these places arose much earlier. One of the first publications on this topic can be read in the New York Times newspaper dated August 22‚ 1883. The article “The Story of a Ghost in Alaska” talks about a ghost that settled in an abandoned building. The residents of Sitka usually saw the mystical “princess” at midnight. She was said to wear long black robes and had diamonds on her forehead‚ neck and wrists. “She wrings her beautiful white hands and wanders sadly from room to room‚ leaving at every step the light scent of wild roses‚” the newspaper wrote. Brave officers from warships sometimes dared to spend the night in Baranov’s castle‚ but none of them managed to talk with the ghostly beauty. The “Lady in Black” was considered the daughter or niece of the “Russian governor‚” who was once famous in Sitka for her beauty and grace. The girl was married against her will to an unloved man. On the first wedding night‚ the bride disappeared. She was soon found dead in a small guest room. According to one version‚ the girl committed suicide. According to another‚ she was killed by her unhappy lover‚ a sailor on one of the merchant ships. James Devereux provides in the book the details of the romantic legend he discovered. He describes the groom of the “lady in black” as a cruel and vicious man who blackmailed the ruler of Alaska‚ who was involved in a “revolutionary conspiracy.” Even after the engagement‚ the beauty continued to secretly meet with her lover on the banks of the Koloshenka River (Indian River). When the governor found out about this‚ he sent the young man along with a naval expedition south along the American coast. On March 18‚ the girl was married to the “evil prince” in the Orthodox Cathedral of the Archangel Michael. On the same day‚ the warship returned to the harbor. Upon learning of this‚ the newlywed ran away from the ballroom to meet her lover. Realizing that their situation was hopeless‚ the couple decided to die. “With one last kiss they drew their hidden blades‚ pierced their hearts‚ and fell dead on the banks of the Indian River‚” Devereux writes. The lovers were allegedly buried locked in each other’s arms. And since then the spirit of the “Russian princess” began to wander around the “Baranov Castle”. In some versions of the story‚ it is stated that the girl is holding a candle or lantern in her hands‚ as if looking for her beloved. A bloody wound was seen on the chest of the dead beauty‚ and before disappearing‚ the ghost usually emits a terrible cry of pain. “The Lady in Black‚” according to folklore‚ comes once every six months‚ preferring the northwestern part of the former Baranov mansion. Who was “The Lady in Black” There is no historical evidence for the Sitka legend. Rumor connects the “lady in black” with the name of the first ruler of Russian America‚ Alexander Baranov. Polar explorer Frederick Svatka attributed the ghost story to the period of the sixth ruler – Baron Ferdinand von Wrangel‚ who was the “master” of Sitka in 1830-1835. And according to The Boston Alaskan newspaper‚ published in 1906‚ the bloody drama took place in the spring of 1826‚ when Alaska was ruled by Matvey Muravyov. Journalists named Muravyov’s niece Princess Olga Arbuzova‚ the young midshipman Demetrius Davidov and the old Count Vasiliev as the characters in the story. However‚ not a single historian of Russian America mentions such persons. There are plenty of other contradictions in the legend itself. For example‚ from the description it is not clear why the unfortunate bride is dressed in a black robe‚ because the wedding attire of Russian aristocrats has always been white. However‚ in some versions of the story the ghost is called “the lady in blue.” Apparently‚ in the dark‚ when the spirit appears‚ it is not easy to make out the color of his clothes. Moreover‚ in the presence of a ghost‚ the fire of eyewitnesses mysteriously goes out. The plot of the “lady in black” is influenced by literary tradition – in particular‚ Walter Scott’s novel “The Bride of Lammermoor”. Therefore‚ it is possible that the whole story is a common invention of the yellow press of the late 19th century. But even if this is so‚ the legend of the beautiful ghost eventually took on a life of its own. For example‚ the estimated date of death of the “lady in black” – March 18 – is due to the fact that it was on this day in 1894 that the “Baranof Castle” burned down. Despite the dubious authenticity of the legend‚ guides in Sitka still make money from it to this day‚ showing tourists the supposed grave of the “Russian princess.” The post “The Lady in Black”: The Story of a Russian Ghost in Alaska appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Animal experts are urging an end to a concerning trend in China where pets undergo cosmetic surgery to resemble Disney’s iconic character‚ Mickey Mouse‚ reports South China Morning Post. An advertisement from a pet clinic in Chongqing’s Beibei district has garnered attention for offering a “Mickey ear” procedure at 300 yuan (US$40) with completion by the Chinese Spring Festival‚ depending on the clinic’s production schedule. Liu Yundong‚ a dean at Loving Care International Pet Medical Centre in Beijing‚ detailed the two-part process. First involves surgical removal under anesthesia lasting about 30 minutes. The second phase styles the ears to stand upright‚ a process spanning 20 to 60 days‚ demanding frequent adjustments for permanent positioning. Leading experts highlight the physical pain and emotional distress inflicted‚ demanding an end to such practices. Although it is legal to carry out the procedure‚ reputable big city animal hospitals seldom perform this type of surgery on pets. “It is rarely performed in pet hospitals in tier-one cities but is common in dog kennels and breeding facilities. Currently‚ there are no legal restrictions on this surgery in China. It’s a moral issue‚” Liu said. “As veterinarians‚ we adhere to the principle of animal welfare and do not advocate these surgeries. The colleagues I’ve encountered are tacitly opposed to such surgeries.” He emphasised that the surgery’s impact on pets includes physical pain and psychological torment‚ along with the risks of having anaesthesia‚ which could lead to psychological trauma as well as physical side effects. The post Cosmetic surgery trend in China: pets altered for “Mickey Ears” appeared first on Anomalien.com.

The great palace built by Philip II of Macedon at Aegae‚ the royal capital of the Macedonian kings near modern-day Vergina‚ has reopened to the public after a 16-year project of repair and restoration. Built in the mid-4th century and completed by 336 B.C.‚ the palace was the centerpiece of Philip’s construction program that would transform Aegae into a dazzling royal metropolis. “I‚ the ruler‚ and my people coexist in this building‚ the palace of the Aigai‚” Philip wrote in an inscription. The palace was more than 160‚000 square feet in area‚ three times larger than the Parthenon‚ and was the largest building in Classical Greece. Philip spared no expense in the opulence of the materials‚ elegant geometry of the design and the latest in technological advancements‚ including an elaborate drainage and water supply system fed by mountain springs. It had a two-story façade with a monumental propylon (a temple entrance) opening into an enormous peristyle (row of columns surrounding an open space). The peristyle had 16 massive Doric columns on each side forming a square that was the first of its kind. The square was 43‚000 square feet and could comfortably accommodate 8‚000 people. It was the central gathering place for the citizens of Aegae‚ the political and social heart of the city. The palace offered spaces for banqueting‚ symposia‚ a library and archive‚ a gymnasium‚ a tholos (round temple) dedicated to Herakles and other structures to perform public and administrative functions of all kinds. The palace was complete in time for the wedding of Philip’s daughter Cleopatra by his fourth wife Olympias (also mother of Alexander the Great) to Alexander I of Epirus‚ Olympias’ brother and therefore his bride’s uncle. It was during the celebration in 336 B.C. that Philip was assassinated in the theater next to the palace. Under the shadow of the Doric colonnade of the mega peristyle‚ Philip’s son Alexander was proclaimed king and would go on to change the world in the 13 years remaining of his extraordinary life. Philip’s royal palace was destroyed after the Roman conquest of the kingdom in 148 B.C. Its prized building materials were looted for centuries and over time the location of the palace was lost under layers of earth. Its remains were discovered in 1865 and excavations uncovered more of it in subsequent decades. Reconstruction began by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Imathia in 2007‚ and lasted to 2023. It was funded by several European Union funding programs at a total cost of 20.3 million euros. Works included maintenance‚ structural support‚ restoration‚ and reconstruction of the monument. The restoration project was expanded into the surrounding complex (the 15‚000 sq.m.) and the area beyond (nearly 25‚000 sq.m.). Excavations and registration of thousands of portable findings and architectural components of stone (tens of thousands) were carried out on the entire site‚ as well as the restoration of a section of the roof of the museum’s atrium. Earth support works were also included. Dr Angeliki Kottaridi was the scientific and administrative supervisor of the entire project at all stages‚ with the help of a team that included a civil engineer‚ an architect‚ archaeologists‚ conservators‚ and craftsmen. Some 70-160 people worked on the site at various times.

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Becoming a survivalist is all about learning how to utilize the natural resources in the wild at your disposal to help yourself stay alive. If there’s one natural resource in the wild that will be to your benefit more than any other‚ it’s a tree. Trees‚ in general‚ are perhaps the most underappreciated plants in […] The post These 15 Trees Could Save Your Life appeared first on Ask a Prepper.

A final‚ courageous act.