On June 12, 1817, the first bike ride took place in Germany, when a German inventor took a 14km (8.7 miles) trip around Mannheim on his running machine, which took him less than an hour.

Little is known that the first bike was invented 200 years ago, by German aristocrat Baron Karl von Drais. On this day, 200 years ago, Baron von Drais appeared in public presenting his invention:

A wooden frame with two wheels, a saddle, and an upholstered armrest. There were no wheels, and the ‘running machine’ was to be operated by sitting and gliding with your feet on the ground. The wheels accelerated the movement and made it easier for a person to ‘run’ long distances without getting tired.

Following the Year Without a Summer, caused by a volcanic eruption of Tambora in 1815, many of the horses starved to death due to the lack of crops.

This calamity inspired the baron to think of a way that would allow people to get from one place to another faster, just like with a horse. He named his invention ‘laufmaschine’ (running machine) and translated it as ‘velocipede’ in French. (Fun fact: Many languages still use the term ‘velocipede’ for bicycle).

His new bicycle, and the only of its kind recorded by then, was soon known as Draisine, hobby-horse, or dandy horse. Baron von Drais described the benefits of his “laufmaschine” as similar to those of a horse, and it gained instant popularity.

In fact, several thousand copies were made and used since it was patented in 1818 by the baron, but its popularity faded quickly when some authorities prohibited its use. The drop in popularity may have been partly because of the accidents involved around its use.

However, Baron von Drais set the foundation for the bicycle we all know and love today. In fact, it was the Draisine which inspired a French metalworker to create the first pedal-operated bicycle, by adding cranks and pedals to the front wheel hub, some 50 years later.

It may not be the best idea to run with two wheels accelerating, but the idea soon became the bicycle and it now celebrates 200 years of riding those 2 wheels that were to replace people’s need for horses.

Sources:
The Irish Times
Wikipedia

“Why don’t we light a joint together, priest? Rabbi, are you in?” said the gay atheist. In a Cut video, this is exactly what happens, and the results are fabulous and eye-opening. The video features Jim More, a rabbi; Chris Schuler, an Episcopal priest; and Carlos Diller, a “conservative homosexual atheist”.

It answers some very important questions regarding the negative bias toward Marijuana and religion, while at the same time allowing three members of different belief groups to connect and discuss some very deep topics.

Regarding religion and Marijuana, Schuler says that “there’s no Biblical precedent” that goes against smoking Marijuana – and that’s where the party starts. Watching two men of religion sitting next to a gay atheist, and all getting baked from some serious smoking, is really something.

The effects? The priest gets really stoned, and won’t talk too much; the atheist takes over and starts discussing some deep thoughts regarding God, religion, and the people; and the rabbi starts blessing everyone and praying for them.

At a point, the priest and the atheist even draw each other weed-ash crosses on their foreheads!

“This is kind of cool. I’m smoking with some priests… and a rabbi,” says Diller. “Check off my bucket list.”

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Fashion has long imposed strict appearance standards that were used to define beauty. However, it seems that these unrealistic standards of beauty are being challenged with every new day. The new trend in fashion is breaking its stereotypes.

Melanie Gaydos is one of the growing number of models who challenge and transform the fashion industry. She was born with ectodermal dysplasia, a condition which makes her pores, teeth, nails and small bones form abnormally.

Melanie also has alopecia, lacking hair in areas where it normally grows, and is partially blind as a result of eyelash growth that scratched her eyes as a child. She has lived a very challenging life, with people treating her as if she was contagious.

However, despite all the odd looks and restrictions she has lived through because of the people’s lack of understanding and knowledge, Melanie persisted with her self-confidence and bright outlook on life.

An art graduate based in NYC, Melanie has worked with renowned photographers, including Eugenio Recuenco. It all started when she responded to a Craigslist advert looking for “unique people” for fashion photographers to shoot.

Just as the initial response, her pictures still inspire surprise for some and shock for others and come with an array of positive and negative responses.

However, not only does her career have an overwhelmingly positive impact on her self-confidence, it also heralds change within the modeling industry.

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If you thought beating therapy is just a thing of the past, think again. This method is what Pastor Brooke Covington used to beat the ‘gay’ out of Matthew Fenner, after a typical Sunday prayer service at the Word of Faith Fellowship in Spindale.

The attack happened in January 2013, when more than 20 people, including the church leader, surrounded Fenner and started beating him for nearly two hours. To chase the gay demons away from him, someone even grabbed him by the throat and shook him.

And this comes as no joke when we say ‘gay demons’. Fenner says that the attack was a calculated effort by the church members to break him free of the “homosexual demons” they so viciously despised.

The Pastor who orchestrated the attack, Brooke Covington, 58, is now on trial, facing charges of kidnapping and assault. If convicted, she will face up to two years behind bars, reports Queerty.

Fenner recalls the experience as truly horrifying, testifying that he thought he was “going to die” as one of the church members was choking him while Covington screamed, “God said there is something wrong in your life!” Which was worse, Fenner had been recovering from a biopsy at the time of the attack.

And if you thought that the absurdity of the whole act cannot become bigger than it already is, now Covington’s lawyer claims that his client is innocent because “Fenner never explicitly asked her to stop beating him.”

Of course, should we only ask for whoever is assaulting us to stop doing it… and as if most of them would? Fenner feared that doing so would only enrage them even more, and well, being choked can’t really contribute to the whole ‘asking to stop’.

Which is even more contradictory, while the lawyer used the defense of ‘not being asked to stop’, the Word of Faith church came out with a version where “no one ever physically harmed Mr. Fenner,” and that “the church does NOT target members who are gay.”

Fenner’s coming forward has encouraged more to emerge with similar stories where the Word of Faith church would beat the sins out of the sinners.

Indeed, the church comes with some strict and bizarre rules for its members, such as the church deciding which congregates can marry or have children, while forbidding them from watching TV, going to movies, eating in restaurants that play music or serve alcohol, or reading the newspaper.

Source: QUEERTY

What would you do if someone said that they could read your palm and foretell your future? Would you be intrigued and spread out your hand or just frown and walk away?

Palmistry or chiromancy is the practice of foretelling the future by reading one’s palm. There are some differences in the practice depending on the different cultures but all in all, it’s the same thing.

Some people are believers in palm reading while others consider that their future can’t be predicted by the lines on their palms. 

However, history tells us that palm reading is not just superstition. Did you know that Alexander the Great was foretold to become a great leader because he had the letter x on his palms?

According to research called “X Palm Mystery and Spirit Science Formula”, conducted by the STI University in Russia, the people who were a part of the research and had the letter x on both palms became remarkable people later in life.

Do you want to know one more interesting fact? Vladimir Putin is also one of the people who have the letter x on both his palms. Abraham Lincoln is a member of this list too.

What Are The Characteristics Of People Who Have The Letter X On Both Their Palms?

These people have really strong characters. They are capable of reaching every goal without planning it all the time. Whatever they decide they can achieve. And moreover, they’ll become very successful fast even if they don’t try too hard.

People who have x on palms are destined to become famous and well-known in the world. They are expected to be honored and idolized by a lot of people before they die.

They are pretty intuitive and can easily sense what is good and what is bad for them. These people cannot be easily deceived because they know exactly when someone is trying to cheat them.

Even if sometimes you succeed in lying and betraying them, they’ll be aware of the things you’ve made up and one way or another, they’ll make you tell the truth.

Although they do not look like very big and strong people, many of those with x on their palms will come out as winners if they get in a fight.

These people are not only capable of changing their own lives and achieving everything they’ve planned to, but they are also very helpful in changing and improving the lives of other people as well.

People With An X On Palms Are:

• Great leaders
• Very clever and sharp-witted
• Destined to great success
• They live in people’s hearts long after their death

How To Read Palm Lines

The right hand is usually the dominant one in most people — it represents the present and the future, a person’s time and experience, while the left hand represents the past and the personality traits a person is born with. Hence, the reading on your right hand can be somewhat more relevant, nonetheless, if you have x on both palms, know that it’s always a good indicator.

Now, different lines tell about different aspects of life. For an accurate reading you need to learn how to recognize the five lines. There might be breaks in them or they might be short and curvy, either way, they contribute to a unique and personalized reading.

Head Line

The head line (also known as wisdom line or intelligent line) starts from the palm edge between the thumb and forefinger, and extends across the palm in the middle part with the life line below and the heart line above. It is the second most important line in palm reading, describing the nature of our thinking process, being deeply rooted to our childhood.

Heart Line

The heart line also called also mensal line indicates the strength and nature of a person’s emotions. The heart line indicated the love life of a person.

Life Line

The life line is one of the three major lines alongside the head line and heart line in palm reading. It starts from the palm edge between the thumb and forefinger and extends to the base of the thumb. It indicates the life longevity of a person.

Destiny Line

The fate line also known as Saturn line, is a vertical line running up from the base of the palm the palm towards the base of the middle finger. The destiny line indicates your professional and financial future, your ups and downs in life as well as your lucky periods.

Sun Line

The sun line spans from the wrist until the head line and holds the answers to your luck, fame, and prosperity while at a very young age. A sun line between head line and heart line indicates luck between teenage and late 30s.

Kinds Of Hands: The Four Elements

There are four fundamental hand shapes inside palmistry, each associated with an alternate component and its related characteristics. Albeit the four components are additionally inserted in crystal gazing, your hand type may not compare with your prophetic profile.

For example, in spite of the fact that somebody might be a Libra, the state of their hand might be that of a fire sign, uncovering nuanced knowledge into the intricacies of their character.

Earth Hands

Earth hands are recognized by square palms and short fingers. These hands are frequently firm, strong, and beefy. People with earth hands are known to be viable, sensible, and grounded. While secure and dependable, they can turn out to be excessively overcome with their nearby real factors, which can eventually impede long haul arranging and accomplishment.

Fire Hands

You can tell a fire hand by its long palm and short fingers. These hands regularly have particular wrinkles and characterized hill. People with fire hands are known to be enthusiastic, certain, and productive. They’re driven by their cravings and on an awful day they might need judgment and sympathy.

Water Hands

Water hands are recognized by their long palms and long fingers. These hands are regularly delicate to the touch and somewhat damp, with a general tight appearance. The individuals who have them are on top of their feelings, instinct, and mystic capacity. Energized by empathy and creative mind, these people are frequently creatives. They’re likewise incredibly touchy and their sentiments are effectively harmed, causing bothersome relational pressure.

Air Hands

Air hands have square palms and long fingers and are frequently boney, with jutting knuckles and spindly fingers. This hand type implies mentally inquisitive people with intrinsic insightful capacities and relational abilities. Those with air hands are quickly drawn off-track and, if not animated, can become restless or tense.

Not sure what palmistry says about your lines? Quick, check your palms to see if you can find x on your palms, and more importantly, what else do the palmistry Gods have in store for YOU!