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#1

Off the Record / Re: Archaeologists do it in ho...

Last post by jimmy olsen - Today at 08:21:24 AM

Neat
https://www.reuters.com/science/italy-uncovers-basilica-designed-by-vitruvius-father-architecture-2026-01-19/

ROME, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Italian officials on Monday hailed the discovery of a more than 2,000-year-old public building attributed to Vitruvius, the ancient Roman architect and engineer known as the "father of architecture."

"It is a sensational finding ... something that our grandchildren will be talking about," Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli told a press conference.

Vitruvius, who lived in the 1st century BC, is celebrated for having written "De architectura," or The Ten Books on Architecture, the oldest surviving treatise on the subject.

His teachings on the classical proportions of buildings have inspired artists over centuries, including Leonardo da Vinci, whose famous drawing of the human body is known as the "Vitruvian Man."

BASILICA BELIEVED TO BE 'DISCOVERY OF THE CENTURY'
Archaeologists believe they have found the remains of an ancient basilica, or public building, in the central Italian city of Fano northeast of Rome, that was created by Vitruvius.

"I feel like this is the discovery of the century, because scientists and researchers have been searching for this basilica for over 500 years," said the Mayor of Fano Luca Serfilippi.

"We have [an] absolute match" between what was discovered and the descriptions given by Vitruvius in his books, regional archaeological superintendent Andrea Pessina told reporters.

PRECISE LAYOUT DESCRIPTIONS
The basilica had a rectangular layout, with 10 columns on the long side, and four on the short ones, Pessina said.

During excavation, when traces of four columns emerged, archaeologists used Vitruvius' descriptions to calculate where the top right corner column should be. When they started digging, they found it immediately, Pessina said.

"The are few certainties in archaeology ... but we were impressed by the precision" of the match, he added.

Further digging will determine whether more of the basilica lies underground and if the site can be shown to the public, the superintendent said.

(This story has been refiled to add a dropped word in paragraph 9)
Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Bernadette Baum

#2

Off the Record / Re: Iran War?

Last post by Crazy_Ivan80 - Today at 08:21:03 AM

With the trees i actually ment that if the shit hits and then swamps the fan that'll be the tech level we'll end up at. Fire made of twigs and logs. 

#3

Off the Record / Re: Iran War?

Last post by mongers - Today at 08:19:38 AM

So is it worth reading the news today or just leave it at me having seen this thread?

Seems Iran wants to talk.

Thanks I'll leave it at that then, off to some gardening instead.

#4

Off the Record / Re: Iran War?

Last post by jimmy olsen - Today at 08:18:14 AM

And what if they want to continue fighting after you decide you're through?

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-15-26?post-id=cmmrp9h4t000n3b6uar9gk79z

27 min ago
Israel to continue Iran campaign for at least three more weeks, spokesperson tells CNN
Tal Shalev
Oren Liebermann
By Tal Shalev and Oren Liebermann

The Israeli military is planning at least three more weeks of its campaign against Iran with "thousands of targets" remaining, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military spokesperson told CNN today.

"We have thousand of targets ahead," IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said. "We are ready, in coordination with our US allies, with plans through at least the Jewish holiday of Passover, about three weeks from now. And we have deeper plans for even three weeks beyond that."

According to the IDF, since the start of the Iran campaign on February 28, the Israeli Air Force has carried out roughly 400 waves of strikes in western and central Iran, focusing on dismantling infrastructure and targeting operatives of the fire, defense, and production units.

Israeli officials say the US and Israel have already struck thousands of targets since the war began.

Defrin told CNN that the IDF is "not working according to a stopwatch, or a timetable, but rather to achieve our goals" which are to "weaken the Iranian regime severely."

He said that the massive US-Israeli offensive against Iran pushed Hezbollah in Lebanon to join the conflict, unlike their decision to stay out during the 12-day war last summer.

"In June, they understood that it's a limited campaign in Iran, so they didn't attack. Now that it's all out, they join in," Defrin said.

Israel's military operations in Lebanon could continue beyond an end to the war in Iran, according to Israeli officials. The IDF is sending more troops to its northern border in an attempt to seize territory and push Hezbollah back.

This post has been updated with additional information.

#5

Gaming HQ / Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vid...

Last post by Norgy - Today at 08:15:52 AM

That is the Truck Simulator series, I think.

#6

Off the Record / Re: Iran War?

Last post by Norgy - Today at 08:14:54 AM

So is it worth reading the news today or just leave it at me having seen this thread?

Seems Iran wants to talk.

#7

Off the Record / Re: Iran War?

Last post by Norgy - Today at 08:13:05 AM

I do wonder if this whole mess will accelerate the move towards renewables.

It probably will. Nuclear too.
The oil crises of the 70s did lead to tech that was more efficient.

That said: trees are renewable too and we might end up there as well

Yes and no. If you mean fuels made from trees, they are renewable but have very little to recommend them when it comes to clean air and water. It's basically BBQ coal.

I remember some big name conference I attended where some young, healthy leader of an organisation called ZERO back when the two degree target seemed something to strive for. "We can make anything from our forests that we make from oil". Turns out, the costs of refining pulp are a bit higher than refining oil. Norway has tried the path of renewables with huge outlays for biodiesel that would work on cars. That fuel never became competitive. A country of 7 percent arable land should not spend it on rapeseed.

Would I like some traction on a more renewable world and more energy? Yes.
I do think I have said this before, but even in a country as windy as Norway, wind power seems out in the cold. Not because the state does not want it, but because people in the localities where it might be built say no and not in very courteous terms.
Norway has a lot of hydro energy. The technology is aging poorly, but what is really needed are more power lines and more transistor stations. That is not going to happen any time soon.

Strangely enough, considering our natural gas deposits, Norway has not gone for natural gas as a load bearer for energy.

#8

Off the Record / Re: Iran War?

Last post by mongers - Today at 07:57:10 AM

So is it worth reading the news today or just leave it at me having seen this thread?

#9

Gaming HQ / Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vid...

Last post by mongers - Today at 07:55:22 AM

Syt, man those impressions look souless, not that the problem is the games graphics.

#10

Gaming HQ / Re: The Miscellaneous PC & vid...

Last post by mongers - Today at 07:54:01 AM

Enjoying playing  'Egypt - Old Kingdom' - nice with interesting mechanics and lots of historical flavour.

Sounds familiar

Yes an old one, worth it because the presentation has encouraged me to read a lot more Egyptian history.