Word of the Day
Celerity (n., sell-AIR-eh-TEE)
Swift movement, right quick and in a hurry, like how long it takes to much on a stalk of a negative-calorie green vegetable.
Gif of the Day
For the second straight day, we've got a cool designed gif. Today's is from Japanese animator Segawa 37, who animated this Ukiyo-e and a few others for a contest.
ArtJapanUkiyo-eFireworksWaterAncient and modernPaging George Frederich Handel
Link of the Day
Disappearing Indian Stepwells
For about 1,000 years in India, between the 2nd and 11th centuries A.D., water was collected in stepwells. These structures were originally simple—dig a hole in the ground, let water fill it, repeat—but quickly became elaborate, with series of steps allowing for easy access to a fluctuating water supply.
The stepwells are falling into disrepair, which makes Victoria Lautman's photos of them especially great:
Some more excellent photos and details about Lautman's journeys can be found at the link. I've seen some of these before in films or other media but never knew the story. Such a simple idea done so intricately and well.
PhotosStepwellsIndiaArchitectureFunction and formSubterranean structuresWater