being a record of elatrometric readings;
n. (tumblr) an instrument for measuring the degree of fangirlism contained within the soul of an ela.
“Painting of Mary Anning made after her death, at the Geological Society/NHMPL, based on a portrait from 1842”. Painted in 1847 by B.J. Donne. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Party like it’s 1799, because that’s the year this trowelblazing woman-the “greatest fossil hunter ever known”-was born.
Mary Anning came from a poor family of religious dissenters, which was partly the reason why she began to look for fossils-in the early 1800s, visitors to the Dorset coast loved to buy fossils as curiosities.
Not only did she discover the first specimens of what would later be recognized as Ichthyosaurus, but also a complete Plesiosaurus, along with specimens of Pterodactylus and Squaloraja (a fossil fish).
We could go on listing her discoveries all day-she also was the first to realize that ink could be made from belemnite fossils and that coprolites (then called bezoar stones) were actually fossilized feces.
Dickens wrote about her in 1865. Though we disagree with his assertion that she was a dull child until being hit by lightening at a young age, thus somewhat dismissing her innate intelligence (and in fact, she would have been only 1 year old with the date he provides) but we liked that he also had this to say:
“The inscription under her memorial window commemorates her “usefulness in furthering the science of geology” (it was not a science when she began to discover, and so helped make it one), “and also her benevolence of heart and integrity of life” (Dickens 1865: 63).
So thank you Mary Anning, for all you did for geology, paleontology, and science. We raise our trowels to you!
Written and posted by Suzie
(via lostbeasts)
98 year old dobri dobrev, a man who lost his hearing in the second world war, walks 10 kilometers from his village in his homemade clothes and leather shoes to the city of sofia, where he spends the day begging for money.
though a well recognized fixture around several of the city’s chruches, known for his prostrations of thanks to all donors, it was only recently discovered that he has donated every penny he has collected — over 40,000 euros — towards the restoration of decaying bulgarian monasteries and churches and the utility bills of orphanages, living entirely off his monthly state pension of 80 euros and the kindness of others.
Wow.
(via everkings)
oh my god someone please explain this in ela terms i ‘m so funcfk ing
canadians
I love these guys
The day they tried to ban these guys from attending NHL games was the biggest outrage in hockey history. They are amazing.
(via garama)
the worst part about arkansas isn’t the tornados, it’s how stupid everyone acts when there are tornados
amazon is having a freakin’ huge sale on pc games (like steam’s summer sale p much) so if you’ve been wanting bioshock ($5 for bioshock and bioshock 2), dragon age (dao ultimate and da2 for $10), saint’s row the third ($12.49 for the ~full package~), mass effect (me1 and me2 are $5 each, me3 digital deluxe is $9) etc GET ON THAT
(via 3ls3n)
Hey, Sherlock fans! Recognise the chap on the left?
Of course you do. He’s the lovely D.I. Greg Lestrade - as played by the also lovely chap on the right, Rupert Graves.
Did you know Rupert’s birthday is at the end of June and he’s going to be fifty?
We’ can’t let such a special milestone go uncelebrated, can we?
That’s why we’ve set up a charity donation to mark the occasion and show Rupert a bit of the love we think he deserves.
The chosen charity is Springboard Opportunity Group who provide daycare and support for children with special needs. Rupert is one of their patrons.
They’re a small charity so every penny really does count. For example:
- Just £10 buys a Talk Back postcard to help stimulate a child’s speech and imagination
- £50 pays for the upkeep of their mini bus for one week, enabling children to explore the wider world
- £100 pays for a member of staff to be trained in PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) to help the development of children with language disorders
- £500 pays for an assistant to provide individual support for a child with additional needs for 3 hours a week for 13 weeks
- £1000 enables a child with additional needs to join in with other children at his or her local pre-school for 3 hours a week for 26 weeks
We’d love to reach that top amount! (We’d really love to blow right past it and keep going - but that’s the initial target!)
PLEASE DONATE HERE! and don’t forget to leave a message for Rupert to wish him a Happy 50th Birthday and say thank you for all the amazing roles he’s been in over the years, including Greg “Two Holidays” Lestrade!
After all, he’s so dishy! ;)
Reblogging because this is actually an interesting org and yanno, that’s my thing.
(via casinpanties)