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by Molly McCall
Wed, April 26, 2006, 3:00 am PDT

Twenty years ago today, the world's worst nuclear disaster blew the roof off the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. For many people, the event seems far off, and much has changed in the decades since. But for those who live in Chernobyl and other former Soviet towns, afflictions from nuclear accidents and experiments remain an intimate part of their lives. Since 1999, photographer Robert Knoth and reporter Antoinette De Jong have traveled through the Ukraine, Urals, Kazakhstan, and Siberia to capture, in searing black-and-white portraits, the way that nuclear radiation has forever altered the humans who face it. Among those photographed are a six-year-old child frozen in a three-year-old's body, a 14-year-old boy with sarcoma of the prostate gland, two sisters with brain tumors, and vast sweeping skies that seem to belie the contamination below.
Sat, September 03, 2005, 3:00 am PDT

In England alone, an intrepid traveler may overhear hundreds of dialects and accents. What's more extraordinary is how these brogues and drawls have evolved throughout the 20th century. Thanks to the British Library's Sound Archive, you can eavesdrop on English people from across the country without packing your bags. For instance, meet Dick Gilbert. In 1958, when he was 79 years old, he spoke about his experience as a young farm hand. The Sound Archive offers the lexis, phonology, and grammar break-down of Dick's commentary. But more importantly, it allows you to marvel at his voice. With recordings ranging from the 1950s to 1999, the site offers a wealth of samples. Some are downright incomprehensible, some are thoroughly entertaining, but all are fascinating. So listen up; England is speaking to you.
by Gabe Weisert
Wed, August 10, 2005, 3:00 am PDT

Fans of offbeat cross-cultural fads, rejoice! During the '50s, Yugoslavia embraced Mexican culture with fervor. Why? Yugoslav premier and strongman Josip Tito broadcast Mexican films on television as an alternative to Soviet programming. The films were a hit, and they inspired dozens of Yugoslav musicians to don mariachi outfits and croon cantina ballads in their native Slavic tongues. Slovenian novelist Miha Mazzini has lovingly assembled a jaw-dropping gallery of album covers and song clips from the golden age of Yu-Mex. Djordje Masalovic's album cover for "Meksiko" says it all -- a pudgy white guy in a sombrero. There are also several dark-eyed, frilly-dress enchantresses, such as Miroslava Mrda. Don't miss the song samples; they're must-listen material. Gracias, Belgrade!
Wed, May 18, 2005, 3:00 am PDT

Most folks have seen postcards of London's Big Ben but what about the South Lighthouse on Fair Isle or the Madejski Stadium near Reading? These less-familiar British nooks are part of the breadth of Jolly Olde England, and locals are scurrying around with cameras to record it all. Like an odd cross between MapQuest and Flickr, this "geographing" site is an online community project to photograph every square kilometer of the British Isles. More than 10,000 images have been submitted so far, covering large swaths of the map. From Porth Hellick Down to Rubha Robhanais and countless motorways in between, the grid squares are filling up fast. As the site's creators say, taking these pictures is a good excuse to get out more.
Tue, April 27, 2004, 3:00 am PDT

It's a sad fact that many of today's cities are known more for their suburban sprawl than their beauty or charm. (Houston, anyone?) For a look at a place before the advent of mini-malls, expressways, and business parks, tour this site dedicated to the picturesque city of Vilnius. Built over hundreds of years and in harmony with its natural surroundings, this Old-World Lithuanian city is unique, inspiring, and bound to be appreciated by all who visit. Should your frequent flier miles not cover an actual trip back in time, Vilnius in Old Photographs may be the next best thing. You'll find preserved black-and-white and sepia photographs that capture not only the city's architectural monuments, but also its streets, homes, and people. One look at the stunning panoramic shots and you'll agree -- they sure don't make 'em like they used to.


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