photofun 4 u com

Harold Gillies: The Father of Plastic Surgery

This is Walter Yeo, an English sailor who was injured while manning the guns aboard the battleship HMS Warspite during the Battle of Jutland on May 31, 1916. Although the exact cause of his injuries is not documented, he was likely struck by flying shrapnel from an exploding shell and suffered burns from the accompanying hot gases. The blast left Yeo severely disfigured, with the loss of both his upper and lower eyelids.

Yeo was first treated at Plymouth Hospital before being transferred to Queen Mary’s Hospital, where he came under the care of Harold Gillies. Thanks to Gillies’ pioneering work in reconstructive surgery, Yeo received a ground-breaking facial graft. A flap of skin was transplanted across his face and eyes, and after several months of recovery, he was declared fit for active service once again.

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology Pada April 09, 2025 Komentar

Valencia’s Water Tribunal is The World’s Oldest Court

Travel

It’s Thursday, and a sizeable crowd has gathered at the corner of Plaza de la Virgen in Valencia, Spain, near the Apostles Gate of the city’s central cathedral. Mostly tourists, they have come to witness the Tribunal of Waters—an ancient court that convenes to resolve disputes over water distribution in the plains of Valencia. What makes this open-air tribunal remarkable is its continuous operation for over 1,000 years, making it the world’s oldest court and the oldest democratic institution in Europe.

The Tribunal de las Aguas of Valencia in session in 2006. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology Pada April 03, 2025 Komentar

Aqua Tofana: The 17th Century Husband Killer

Travel

Sometime in the summer of 1791, or perhaps even earlier, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart fell ill. His biographer, Franz Niemetschek, described him as pale and melancholy. Despite his declining health, Mozart remained dedicated to his work, focusing on completing his Requiem. He even conducted the premiere of The Magic Flute on 30 September. However, by late November, his condition worsened dramatically. He became bedridden, suffering from swelling, pain, and persistent vomiting. Around two weeks later, on 5 December, he died at his home in Vienna.

The cause of Mozart’s death has been the subject of much speculation and debate. With few eyewitness accounts and no thorough medical examination, researchers have proposed various possibilities, including streptococcal infection, rheumatic fever, kidney failure, and even poisoning. Mozart himself was deeply troubled by his deteriorating health and feared he was being poisoned. “I feel definitely,” he confided to his wife, Constanze, “that I will not last much longer; I am sure I have been poisoned. I cannot rid myself of this idea.”

“Death Comes to the Banquet Table” by Giovanni Martinelli, circa 1635.

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology Pada April 01, 2025 Komentar

Hating Henry Symeonis: An Oxford University Tradition

Travel

The University of Oxford—one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world—has a wealth of traditions, which is unsurprising given its long history. Some, like "trashing," where students have their uniforms doused in confetti and foam after their final exam, are relatively modern, dating back only about 50 years. Others stretch back centuries, their origins obscured by time. Some traditions are so ancient and mysterious that even the University itself has no record of their beginnings. The Bodleian Library’s Archives and Manuscripts blog discusses about one such mystery: the curious case of Henry Symeonis.

The Bodleian Library, the main research library of the University of Oxford, and one of the oldest libraries in Europe. Photo credit: Deposit Photos

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology Pada March 21, 2025 Komentar

Danish Protest Pig

Travel

This pig with a reddish-brown coat and a prominent white stripe might not look very remarkable, but during the late 19th century, it became a symbol of protest among Danish farmers.

For a long, long time, the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein were at the heart of a long-standing dispute. These areas were caught between Denmark and the German-speaking world, and neither states could decide who should rule the two regions. Schleswig was historically tied to Denmark, while Holstein was part of the German-speaking Holy Roman Empire. Over time, both regions ended up being ruled together, even though they technically belonged to different countries.

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology Pada March 12, 2025 Komentar

Smile of Silla: The Ancient Artifact That Inspired LG’s Logo

Travel

Like all business and corporations, LG—the South Korean multinational conglomerate, best known for their electronic products and household appliances—takes pride in its logo.

“Full of personality, our smiling logo signals humanity and intelligence. We always use it with confidence. It's what makes us feel uniquely LG,” the company declares on its corporate website.

The familiar ruby-red logo, featuring a playful face, has adorned televisions, refrigerators, microwave ovens, washing machines, and air conditioners for decades. According to LG, its design is inspired by an ancient artifact known as the “Smile of Silla,” which dates back to the Silla Dynasty (57 BCE–935 CE). This artifact is an ornamental roof-end tile called sumaksae, which is typically round in shape to fit the curved tiles at the edges of traditional Korean roofs or walls. While such tiles often feature lotus patterns, the smiling design is exceptionally rare—indeed, it is the only known example from the Silla period.