This is one of two locations filmed in the United States as most of the movie was filmed in Spain. It is the location of what remains of the historical hanging arch from the movie. The film was released in 1968. Once Upon a Time in The West starring Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, and Jason Robards was filmed at more than 11 locations. Among them La Calahorra in La Calahorra, Spain. …
The world’s first municipal fire service (public, and government-funded) was founded in 1824 in Edinburgh, under the leadership of James Braidwood. Before the establishment of the service, firefighting was often privatized and buildings that were uninsured, or insured by the “wrong” company, would often be left to burn. Among the innovations developed by the Edinburgh service were Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and military-style training that ensured firefighters were in top shape physically and mentally to deal with fires as……
Visitors to the town of Pinedale, Wyoming, are greeted by a sign that reads, “Welcome to Pinedale…All the Civilization You Need.” Yes, Pinedale has long prided itself on its history of being off the grid, even before there were grids in the first place. And the place where this rough-and-tumble hunting, fur trapping, and trailblazing era is celebrated is known as the Museum of the Mountain Man. The era of the mountain man began just after the turn of……
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things by asserting that one is the other, implying a similarity or analogy between them. For instance, describing “Atlas Obscura is a compass for exploring hidden wonders” is a metaphor. Here, the comparison likens the online magazine to a magnetic navigation device, illustrating how the website serves as a guide pointing towards fascinating and lesser-known destinations. While some metaphors can radiate poetic beauty or showcase clever wit, enriching……
Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and snow-capped peaks, Lake Lucerne is one of the most scenic spots in all of Switzerland. On the lake’s shore, across from the historic lake-side resort Brunnen, lies an unassuming meadow with enormous importance to Swiss history. In 1307, the cantons that now make up the Swiss Confederation were firmly under the control of the Holy Roman Empire. According to the White Book of Sarnen, representatives of the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden had……
Twenty miles to the west of Budapest, the remains of a 13th-century monastic church sit on top of a hill in the small Hungarian town of Zsámbék. Construction of the church began in 1220 and was completed some 30 years later by the middle of the century. Descendants of a French knight, Ainordi (Aynard) de Champagne, originally funded the building of the Premonstratensian church. Founded in 1120, Premonstratensian monks believed in living a severely austere lifestyle. In 1241, Mongols……
Microbial sequence databases contain a wealth of information about enzymes and other molecules that could be adapted for biotechnology. But these databases have grown so large in recent years that they’ve become difficult to search efficiently for enzymes of interest. Now, scientists at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Institutes of Health have developed a new search algorithm that……
Whether it’s the latest natural disaster or just awkward small talk at the water cooler, weather is the start of many a conversation. And if you want to discuss meteorology history in detail, there’s no better town to visit than Norman, Oklahoma, the home of the National Weather Museum & Science Center. First things first, it’s important to note that the National Weather Museum is unaffiliated with the National Weather Center. It’s easy to make that mistake, given that……
In the rural Japanese countryside on the coast of the Mie Prefecture hides a quirky ode to Spain. Called Shima Spain Village, or Parque España, this complete themed entertainment experience mixes faithful recreations of actual castles, statues, and Spanish landmarks with whimsical rides, parades, and a unique cast of original animal characters. If you can’t make it the 7,000 miles from Japan to Europe, Parque España’s Santa Cruz Street looks like a scenic walk through Spain‘s Andalusia, and the……
The Cisco Zoo opened in the 1920s, to the delight of residents in rural central Texas. Situated in the shadow of a dam, this small zoo offered visitors a chance to see flamingos, monkeys, bears, and many other animals. Although its selection of animals would have been quotidian by modern standards, the Cisco Zoo was a thrilling experience to visitors. The fun came to a grinding halt when the menagerie became a murder mystery. A bear was poisoned in……
Tucked away on the seven-mile barrier island known as the Lido, an astounding hotel sits just outside of Venice. Designed by architect Nicholo Piamonte, the hotel was built in 1907 and welcomed celebrities and royals from all over Europe. Originally called the Hungaria Palace Hotel, the height of Hungarian society frequented the accommodation. Visitors traveled to Lido using railroads and ferry routes that connected the vast Astro-Hungarian Empire. Ceramist Luigi Fabris and his young apprentice Doro Sebellin from Bassano……
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson scored 25 points, Brandon Ingram added 21, and the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings 117-112 on Wednesday night. Both New Orleans stars made pivotal plays late to put the Pelicans in front for good en route to their second straight victory and fourth in five games. After Williamson powered through multiple defenders in the paint to spin in a layup off the glass, Ingram stole De’Aaron Fox’s pass, broke the other…
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points while hearing boos that prompted San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich to admonish the crowd, Paul George added 24 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs 109-102 on Wednesday night. Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall draft pick, had 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs, whose fans were more focused on jeering one of their former stars. Fans booed as Leonard — who played for San…
NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been quite a week for ChatGPT-maker OpenAI — and co-founder Sam Altman. Altman, who helped start OpenAI as a nonprofit research lab back in 2015, was removed as CEO Friday in a sudden and mostly unexplained exit that stunned the industry. And while his chief executive title was swiftly reinstated just days later, a lot of questions are still up in the air. If you’re just catching up on the OpenAI saga and what’s…
NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been quite a week for ChatGPT-maker OpenAI — and co-founder Sam Altman. Altman, who helped start OpenAI as a nonprofit research lab back in 2015, was removed as CEO Friday in a sudden and mostly unexplained exit that stunned the industry. And while his chief executive title was swiftly reinstated just days later, a lot of questions are still up in the air. If you’re just catching up on the OpenAI saga and what’s…
