Black Rock City 2026 rises in the Nevada desert from August 30 to September 7th, 2026. Theme: Axis Mundi.
[Axis mundi is the "world mountain," Buddhism's Mt. Sumeru, sometimes seen as Tibet-China's Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas, a synthetic peak that is far too small to meet the requirements of the descriptions given in Buddhist cosmology, and at other times regarded as Mt. Kunlun in China, the World Tree NorseYggdrasil, or the more sensible axial tilt.]
The Axis Mundi celebrates our interconnectedness, our shared social realities, and our ties to this natural world. Final ticket sales for Burning Man 2026 are open now. No registration is required. Buy tickets now through Black Rock City Tickets or subscribe for fresh Black Rock City updates.
Black Rock City is ephemeral. Every year is beautifully unique. The massive desert city rises for just eight days then disappears without a trace (well, some trace but there is a zero-footprint ethos the festival tries to live by, even if not all participants keep to it).
If anyone is new to Burning Man — welcome! Explorers are embarking on a grand adventure in participatory creativity.
Read the 2026 Survival Guide and the Playa Primer for essential information to help all festivalgoers thrive. And fill out the Volunteer Matching Quiz to join a Black Rock City crew that is the best match!
Burning Man attendees build Black Rock City together. Immerse in Burning Man’s connective magic. Looking for a camp? Read the Camping Quick Guide to find camps seeking campers. These art projects are looking for others to help out.
Connect with Rising Sparks, a grassroots collective igniting next generation artists, creators, and leaders. More: burningman.org
Ayurella Horn-Muller, CNN, 2/2/23; Kelly Ani, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Rare ancient tree discovery has scientists ‘gobsmacked’
Trees are believed to have originated hundreds of millions of years ago. Ever since, evidence of these ancient plant sentinels has been in short supply.
Shush! He's doing something important.
Now, a new discovery of uniquely 3D tree fossils has opened a window into what the world was like when the planet’s early forests were beginning to evolve [change in adaptation to changing environment], expanding our understanding of the architecture of trees throughout Earth’s history.
Five tree fossils buried alive by an earthquake 350 million years ago were found in a quarry in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, according to a study published today (Friday, 2/2/24) in the journal Current Biology.
The authors said these new and unusual fossil trees not only bear a surprising shape reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss illustration, they reveal clues about a period of life on Earth of which we know little.
“They are time capsules,” said Dr. Robert Gastaldo, an American paleontologist and sedimentologist who led the study, “literally little windows into deep-time landscapes and ecosystems.”
Coauthors Olivia King and Matthew Stimson unearthed the first of the ancient trees in 2017 while doing fieldwork in a rock quarry in New Brunswick.
One of the specimens they discovered is among a handful of cases in the entire plant fossil record — spanning more than 400 million years — in which a tree’s branches and crown leaves are still attached to its trunk.
Few tree fossils that date back to Earth’s earliest forests have ever been found, according to Dr. Gastaldo. Their discovery helps fill in some missing pieces of an incomplete fossil record.
“There are only five or six trees that we can document, at least in the Paleozoic, that were preserved with its crown intact,” said Prof. of Geology Gastaldo at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
Most ancient tree specimens are relatively small, he noted, and often discovered in the form of a fossilized trunk with a stump or root system attached.
For his colleagues to find a preserved tree that could have been 15 feet tall in its maturity with an 18-foot diameter crown left the paleontologist “gobsmacked.”
The researchers excavated the first fossil tree about seven years ago, but it took another few years before four more specimens of the same plant were found in close proximity to one another.
Dubbed “Sanfordiacaulis,” the newly identified species was named in honor of Laurie Sanford, the owner of the quarry where the trees were unearthed.
The forms taken by these previously unknown 350-million-year-old plants look somewhat like a modern-day fern or palm, according to the study, despite the fact that those tree species didn’t appear until 300 million years later.
But while the tops of ferns or palms as we know them boast few leaves, the most complete specimen of the newly discovered fossils has more than 250 leaves preserved around its trunk, with each partially preserved leaf extending around 5.7 feet (1.7 meters).
That fossil is encased in a sandstone boulder and roughly the size of a small car, according to Dr. Stimson, an assistant curator of geology and paleontology at the New Brunswick Museum.
The unique fossilization of the cluster of trees is likely due to a “catastrophic” earthquake-induced landslide that took place in an ancient rift lake, he said.
“These trees were alive when the earthquake happened. They were buried very quickly, very rapidly after that, at the bottom of the lake, and then the lake (went) back to normal,” Dr. Stimson said.
Finding complete fossil trees is rare and much less common than finding a complete dinosaur, according to paleobotanist Prof. of Geosciences Peter Wilf at Pennsylvania State University, who was not involved with the study.
Prof. Wilf noted via email that the “unusual” new fossil tree was a relic of a time period from which there are almost no tree fossils.
“The new fossils are a milestone in our understanding of how early forest structure evolved, eventually leading to the complex rainforest architectures that support most of Earth’s living biodiversity,” Prof. Wilf added.
‘Very Dr. Seuss’
AI does not read much Dr. Seuss but it tries.
To King, a research associate at the New Brunswick Museum who found the group of fossils, the Sanfordiacaulis would have looked like something plucked straight out of Dr. Seuss’ most popular works.
“You know in ‘The Lorax,’ the trees have these big pom-poms at the top and narrow trunks? These probably have a similar structure. You have this massive crown at the top, and then it does narrow and paper into this very small trunk,” King said. “It’s a very Dr. Seuss-looking tree. It’s a weird and wonderful idea of what this thing could look like.”
But the reign of the Sanfordiacaulis was short-lived, the researchers said. “We do not see this architecture of plant again,” Dr. Stimson told CNN.
He noted that it grew in the early Carboniferous, a time period at the end of the Paleozoic Era when plants and animals were diversifying as they started to make their way from water to land.
Much of evolution is experimental, with success often measured by a species’ versatility, or ability to adapt to many different places and conditions.
The peculiar set of tree fossils presents proof of a “failed experiment of science and evolution,” Dr. Stimson added. “We’re really starting to paint that picture as to what life was like 350 million years ago.”
Fossils such as the Sanfordiacaulis are not just useful in helping humans understand how life changed in the past, they can help scientists figure out where life on our planet might be headed next.
The existence of this particular species suggests that trees of the period were starting to occupy different ecological niches beyond what was previously understood, according to the researchers behind its discovery.
Dr. Gastaldo sees this as an indication that plants — much like early invertebrates — were experimenting with how they adapted to the environment.
The earthquake that likely led to the trees’ fossilization also offers new geological evidence of what may have been occurring in Earth’s systems at the same moment in time.
“This is really the first evidence we have of [a tree] that would be between what grows on the ground and what would tower way above the ground,” Dr. Gastaldo said. “What else was there?”
Redefine Meat has gone on to partner with Europe’s largest meat importer, Giraudi Meats, allowing for an expansion across multiple countries.
The brand is now available at numerous restaurants Europe-wide, adding a record 70 new food service customers during this year’s Veganuary campaign alone.
In the United Kingdom, Redefine Meat has joined forces with gourmet food distributor Classic Fine Foods to make its products available at high-end restaurants across the country.
GlobalMarketing Manager Ayala Meidan Rimoni told us more about the company’s ongoing expansion and innovations.
Which products are available for hospitality and food service and where?
Redefine Meat’s portfolio of new-meat products is unique in today’s market, both for stand out quality and moreish taste, and how extensive the range is, especially compared to other brands.
We have two lineups, one catering for retail and the other Redefine Pro Series for food service, which currently includes over ten products.
Together with our brand-new category of pulled meats, launched late last year, these include the Redefine Premium Burger, Lamb Kofta, Beef Mince, Pulled Beef, Pulled Pork, Bratwurst, Merguez Sausage. and Beef Flank.
More recent additions include established nationwide chains like The ASH in Germany, the steakhouse chain Loetje in the Netherlands, and the popular craft brewery BrewDog in the UK.
For a full list of locations, see here...
The mind-bending paradox of the Möbius strip and Klein bottle: a 4-D visualization
(Andrew's Campfire) Mar 31, 2022. Embark on a mind-bending journey into the 4th dimension as we explore the fascinating geometry of the Möbius Strip and Klein Bottle. This video will take you on a whirlwind tour of time travel, geometric paradoxes, 4D visualization, and sentient primitive shapes.
CHAPTERS
00:00 - A Hexagon Illusion
00:50 - Defining Topology, Manifold, and Boundary
02:11 - An Open 2D Manifold
02:25 - Riddle #1
02:39 - Cutting the Möbius Strip in half
04:05 - Cutting the Möbius Strip in thirds
04:34 - The Grandfather Paradox
05:13 - Grandfather Paradox Solution Using a Möbius Strip
07:11 - A Closed 2D Manifold
07:46 - Riddle #2
08:03 - Visualizing the Klein Bottle with an Ant
09:12 - Spatial and Temporal Dimensions
09:24 - Linus - Two Dimensions for a 1D Creature
10:26 - Squirrel - Three Dimensions for a 2D Creature
11:19 - Time Evolution of a Flattened Möbius Strip's Boundary
12:07 - Klein Bottle
12:36 - Visualizing the Klein Bottle in 4 Dimensions
The Untold Truth behind Ancient Egyptian Technologies
(Ancient Secret Discoveries) Premiered Jan. 7, 2021. Researcher and UK editor of Nexus Magazine, Marcus Allen takes viewers on a journey through ancient Egypt and reveals many anomalies that are often kept quiet.
For instance, he mentions the remarkable (anti-radioactive property of) Brown's Gas, suppressed technology available to us now.
When conducting research on ancient Egyptian constructs, there are many things that demonstrate technology such as machines, the mechanical cutting of stone, saw marks, drill holes, bore holes with such precision that specialized tools had to have been required.
No one can explain how rocks look like they have scoop marks. So the biggest question that now remains is, "Where is the machinery?"
The Onion's head film critic Peter K. Rosenthal reviews Sandra Bullock and George Clooney in "Gravity" in this week's Film Standard.
(Schmoes Know) The follow up film to "District 9" is about a wasted Earth, and the new Spanish-dominated Los Angeles of the future is making trouble for the rich, largely French speaking, predominantly Anglo white-flight suburb of "Elysium" in near-earth orbit space. "Illegals" trying to get there for medical attention from machines (likely to already exist as secret, reverse-engineered technology) are systematically killed or arrested, abused, and deported. The maniacal Jodie Foster, in charge of immigration and "homeland security" on Elysium, plans a coup de'tat against President Patel. In the meantime, Max (Matt Damon) wants to liberate Earth to share in human technology rather than leaving it in the hands of elites.
(ONN/IFC) The Onion News Network: "Approaching Asteroid Will
End AllLife OnEarthSoon." For entertainment purposes only.
Giving a whole new meaning to the Buddhist expression, "After the ecstasy, the laundry," 3-D pornography goes mainstream. But with mainland China imposing a ban, audiences must go to Hong Kong to see "Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy."
HONG KONG (AP) — A pioneering Hong Kong 3-D erotic comedy has powered ahead at the box office, bringing in $6.7 million globally.
As of Monday, "3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy" has earned $4.1 million in its home market, $1.75 million in Taiwan and $870,000 in Australia, where it has been screening in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney at movie theaters catering to ethnic Chinese communities, publicist Carmen Wong said Tuesday [May 3, 2011].
The $3.5 million production, which opened in Hong Kong on April 14, has drawn audiences with its novel mix of 3-D visuals and the moral tale of an ancient Chinese scholar who loses himself in a duke's harem.
In Hong Kong, it earned $360,000 on its opening day, shattering the territory's previous first-day box office record of $340,000 set by James Cameron's 2009 3-D sci-fi epic "Avatar."
Its $4.1 million take so far makes it the Hong Kong box office champion for the year. The previous champion is the Chinese New Year comedy "I Love Hong Kong," which earned $3.3 million. Ticket sales were boosted by tourists from mainland China, where the lack of a ratings system has ruled out a release, as well as by female-only screenings.
However, "Sex and Zen," a remake of a 1991 Hong Kong movie by the same name, still has a long way to go before beating the cumulative take of "Avatar," which raked in a record $23 million in Hong Kong and then another $400,000 with an extended version.
"Sex and Zen" is to be released in South Korea on May 12 and in France, India, and Italy in June.
3D rou pu tuan zhi ji le bao jian Russell Edwards (new international release film review, April 18, 2011)
Translated from industry-speak into English by Wisdom Quarterly
Audiences get an eyeful of flesh, served with sadistic, spasmodic laughs, in "3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy," an attempt to revive the 1990s Hong Kong softcore-comedy franchise.
While this item is even less interested in spirituality than the original [films], its most notable difference, apart from its stereoscopic visuals, is a distinct mean streak.
[The new film in the series] made a robust $351,000 in Hong Kong on opening day alone, and [the box office take] will continue to be socko there, because China's strict censorship [akin to a Kansas state of mind] forces [Chinese] mainlanders to catch the film in Hong Kong. But in Oz [when no longer in Kansas], local theaters put on extra showings to meet demand.
While not always as coherent as its episodic 2D predecessors, "3D Sex and Zen" does its best to present a feature-length narrative based very loosely on the ancient Chinese text "The Carnal Prayer Mat."
Young Ming Dynasty scholar Yangsheng (Japanese thespian Hiro Hayama) falls in love with and marries beautiful Yuxiang (Leni Lan). The pair are happy, but due to a lack of stamina, among other shortcomings, the newlyweds' sex life is below par. [Ouch!] More
Camera (color, 3D), Jimmy Wong; editor, Azrael Chung; art director, Tony Yu; costume designer, Cindy Cheung; sound (Dolby); stunt coordinator, Lee Tat Chiu; associate producers, Mark Wu, Albert Lee. Reviewed at Xtremescreen 1, Hoyts Broadway, Sydney, April 14, 2011. Running time: 113 MIN
There is some good news for those who have tried meditation, in vain, to get rid of life's worries. Open eye meditation (OEM) may be of help. Based on 3D technology, OEM does not require a person to close his or her eyes, nor is it time consuming.
"You need to look at a chart printed using 3-D techniques. After a few seconds, a hidden religious symbol will appear on the chart. Your meditation is complete and you will be relieved by just seeing the symbol for five minutes a day,'' says Ramesh Kamath, a consultant of open-eye meditation for the last eight years.
Aura meter technology is used to assess the intensity and kind of problems a person faces, he added. This can be used to deal with anxiety, stress-related problems, and depression. Source
All materials on this site are submitted by editors and readers. All images, unless otherwise noted, were taken from the Internet and are assumed to be in the public domain.
In the event that there is still a problem, issue, or error with copyrighted material, the break of the copyright is unintentional and noncommercial, and the material will be removed immediately upon presented proof.
Contact us by submitting a comment marked "private."
Do not follow this journal if you are under vinaya or parental restrictions. Secure protection by Sucuri.
Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at creativecommons.org/about/licenses.
