Archiwum miesięczne: Wrzesień 2014

50 Years of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

50 Years of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This year marks the anniversary of one of the world's most loved children's books: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Written in 1964 by Roald Dahl, the book follows the fate of Charlie Bucket, a poor child who wants nothing more than to visit the famous Wonka chocolate factory. One day he finds a Golden Ticket in a bar of chocolate. It is an invitation to tour the factory by the owner Willy Wonka. Four other children have already found the golden invitation. On the fateful day, they are greeted by the colourful and…Czytaj dalej …
English is Evolving

English is Evolving

As with any living organism, the English language is growing, evolving and changing. Not only do words come and go, but the accents gradually tweak and are eventually forgotten. Here is an extremely interesting documentary on the London's Globe Theatre's productions of some of Shakespeare's plays in the Original Pronunciation (OP) rather than the modern Received Pronunciation. Father and son team David and Ben Crystal discuss how Shakespeare's plays sound better in OP and many gags and word puns work in the original London accent but not in the modern interpretation. Linguist David…Czytaj dalej …
Somewhere, Over the Rainbow

Somewhere, Over the Rainbow

In 1939, the world greeted a magical film. Starring Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz transported audiences to a magical land. The visuals and the music were awe inspiring. Perhaps the most memorable song was "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow" from the very beginning of the film. --------------------------- Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true Someday I'll wish upon a star and Wake up…Czytaj dalej …
How did the London Tube Map Came About?

How did the London Tube Map Came About?

Anyone who has ever travelled on the London Underground (affectionately known as the Tube), knows that it is relatively easy to travel from one station to the other. This is mainly thanks to the intuitive map which can be found at every station and on every train. It wasn't always like this. The colourful map as we know it today was first conceived in the early 1930s by Harry Beck, a draughtsman working for the underground train company. Before he had his brainwave, the maps were geographical, superimposed on the actual map of…Czytaj dalej …
Jack the Ripper was Polish?

Jack the Ripper was Polish?

New DNA evidence seems to confirm that the notorious Jack the Ripper -- who terrorised the East End of London in the late 19th century -- was in fact Polish immigrant Aaron Kosminski . What is impressive is not only that a name has finally been identified well over a century after the murders were committed, but that the discovery was made by an “armchair detective”. Russell Edwards is “definitely, categorically and absolutely” certain that 23 year-old Polish immigrant Aaron Kosminski was Jack the Ripper. “I’ve got the only piece of forensic evidence in the…Czytaj dalej …
Hello My Name Is … Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris

Hello My Name Is … Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris

Over the fifty years I spent as a designer, architect, writer and urban planner, I was influential in the development of what is today called modern architecture. I was born in Switzerland, in a small town in the Jura mountains in 1887. Since I was interested in art from a very early age, I soon started travelling the length and breadth of Europe, meeting influential artists of my day, including Gustav Klimt, Peter Behrens and Josef Hoffmann. We spent many hours discussing the future of design, and how to make beautiful but useful…Czytaj dalej …