Here you can see a collection of photos which were taken in an abandoned fire station and a few of abandoned neighboring buildings in Russia. We could not reveal the real name of the town where those buildings are located but that is least important now. The photos tells us a pretty sad story about those buildings where a plenty of stuff, which were left by people who were living there, can be found.

The reason why people abandoned those building is unknown but it was probably because of the search for a better life in some other more urban area.

Itelmens are not only indigenous tribe which lives in Russia but they are considered as most authentic one. Their community of about 1500 people is better educated than the other indigenous communities but their life still remains pretty primitive. Here you are watching a photos of an exhibition in a Moscow based photo centers which was made in order to improve the knowledge about existence of Indian culture on Russian soil.

Images VIA

They made amazing photo story about the old Russian cars, mostly from 1960s. For a moment they awakened those sleeping machines which once drived humans and now waiting their turn to be melted by recycling machine and maybe to became the part of some other car.

The result is a series of photos which look like they are taken from some horror movie. They tried to catch the spooky atmosphere which surrounded those cars so they also added some light effects.

This impressive battle cruiser was built in one month. The ship has a length of almost 80-stud and it is wider than 60-stud. You too can have a star wars experience with this submachine that looks real in a magnificent way. You can use simple building blocks to make a battle cruiser that is far much more superior to the LEGO battle cruiser operational. You do not have to look at the machines in the video games to build a sub-machine, look at the LEGO battle cruiser operational to build an impressive battle cruise machine of your own.

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Photos Credits: Jerac Flickr

Posing to a picture could put supermodels to a big shame. You had to give your finest pose next to a ‘General Purpose Computer’ or a friend’s cool ride. Perhaps, the biggest moments were hanging out with colleagues in the office and in the streets.

Galerina autumnalis

Galerina autumnalis is a deadly poisonous mushroom. They are often found growing on wood, and when on the ground have a preference for mossy habitats. This group is most noted for toxic species which are occasionally confused with hallucinogenic species of Psilocybe.  Galerina autumnalis can be identified by its brown cap, with a relatively small fragile annulus (ring) on the stipe (stem). The lower part of the stipe is usually darker brown, sometimes with apparent floccules, or little tufts of hyphae. Above the annulus, the stipe is usually lighter tan in color and lacks ornamentation. The gills are about the same color as the top of the stipe and darken with age. The mushrooms are usually not very big, with the caps only about an inch or two in diameter and the stipes are usually less than 2 inches . The spore print is a rusty brown.

The toxin in Galerina is a relatively small protein of eight amino acids, a cyclopeptide called a-amanitin.  A-amanitin works by slowly attacking the enzyme RNA polymerase. Although RNA polymerase occurs in all body cells, the cells of the liver are particularly affected because the body tries to sequester toxins in the liver, and those cells are damaged the most. The a-amanitin ultimately affects the central nervous system and kidneys. Unlike many fungal toxins it does not cause symptoms right away. As long as 6-24 hours after ingestion there may be an early feeling of unease, followed by violent cramps and diarrhea. On the third day, there is a remission of symptoms, but this is a false remission. On the 4th to 5th day the enzymes increase, and liver and kidneys are severely affected. Death often follows if a liver transplant or other heroic measures are not performed. There is no cure for ingestion of the poison once it gets this far, but doctors are getting much better at treating the symptoms.

Amanitas Muscaria

Amanita muscaria, the highly visible and strikingly beautiful mushroom, also known as the Fly Agaric, is yellow to red in color and speckled with white. Amanita muscaria is probably humanity’s oldest entheogen. This is the mushroom almost always found in fairy tales with its big red cap and speckled appearance. Amanita muscaria is a mushroom found throughout the northern hemisphere. It has been found to be psychoactive by oral ingestion and inhalation, though it has been listed as a poison by the FDA because the Amanita family of mushrooms is responsible for about 90% of all mushroom-related deaths.  The infamous Death Cap is the biggest culprit.

The entheogen constituents of A. muscaria as well as properly made acetates and 10x extracts are ibotenic acid, muscamol, and possibly muscazone, at least according to Ott. Muscamol appears to be the primary intoxicant.  Effects typically appear within 30 minute to 2 hours after ingestion and last for several hours. Nausea and vomiting are quite common, but the principle effects are on the central nervous system: confusion, visual distortion, a feeling of greater strength, delusions and convulsions. Drowsiness is also common and many who ingest these mushrooms fall asleep and can not be easily awakened.

Panther cap

Amanita pantherina Panther Cap. Another member of the Death Cap family, this is also very poisonous, although not normally fatally so. The name presumably comes from the spotted cap, which is mid-brown, with very obvious white veil remains dotted upon it. The stipe has a fleecy ring near the top, and the bulbous base has a ring-like rim in well-developed specimens. This is rather rare in Guernsey, and sometimes confused with the much commoner Blusher, Amanita rubescens, but unlike the latter, this species never bruises red. It is found in wooded areas and parks.

The most important factors contributing to intoxication are confusion of toxic mushrooms with edible species, and non-specific mushroom poisoning. The genus Amanita has a global distribution and is one of the most well-known genera of macrofungi. Active toxins present in the panther cap (A. pantherina) (DC ex Fr.) Secr are ibotenic acid and muscimol, which are rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. It is likely that other substances also participate in the psychotropic effects. Symptoms onset occurred after 120 min with central nervous system (CNS) depression, ataxia, waxing and waning obtundation, religious hallucinations and hyperkinetic behaviour.

Death angel

Some of the most beautiful, but most deadly fungi are a group of species collectively known as the death angel. A single specimen of any of these three mushrooms, Amanita bisporigera, Amanita virosa, and Amanita verna, can be deadly. All three species are pure white, with white gills that are free from the stalk. All have an annulus, or ring (which is the remnant of the partial veil, which protects the gills as they are developing) around the stalk. All three have a volva, or cup at the base, which is the remnant of the universal veil that surrounded the young fruiting body primordium. Like all Amanita species, they are mycorrhizal, which means they have a symbiotic (mutualistic) association with the host tree.

The toxin in the death angel is a relatively small protein of eight amino acids, a cyclopeptide called alpha-amanitin. Alpha-amanitin works by slowly attacking RNA polymerase, an enzyme in the liver. It ultimately affects the central nervous system and kidneys. Unlike many fungal toxins it does not cause symptoms right away. 6-24 hours after ingestion there may be an early feeling of unease, followed by violent cramps and diarrhea. On the third day, there is a remission of symptoms, but this is a false remission. On the 4th to 5th day the enzymes increase and liver and kidneys are severely affected. Death often follows if a liver transplant or other heroic measures are not performed. The same toxin is, coincidentally, found in a completely unrelated mushroom Galerina autumnalis.

Brain Mushroom

Brain Mushroom is a beautiful springtime mushroom frequently found by morel hunters in northern and western areas of the continent. It can be distinguished from other false morels by its brainlike, reddish brown, irregular cap, and by the fact that its stem is not massive in proportion to its cap. In dry weather conditions, these mushrooms can blacken and dry up–and last for an amazingly long time on the forest floor.

Gyromitrin is a hemolytic toxin (i.e. it destroys red blood cells) in humans, other primates, and dogs. It is toxic to the central nervous system and damages the liver and gastrointestinal tract. It may act by interfering with transaminases, particularly those having a pyridoxal phosphate cofactor. Vitamin B6 is used in the treatment. As in cyclopeptide poisoning, a relatively long latent period ensues (6 to 12 hours) between ingestion and symptoms. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, distention, weakness, lassitude, and headache; if the condition is severe, these may develop into jaundice, convulsions, coma, and death. Methemoglobinuria and very low blood sugar are found in laboratory tests.

Most Beautiful Mushrooms
Mushrooms who found their purpose in medicine

]]> http://www.crystalkiss.com/this-is-not-a-mushroom-you-want-to-mess-around-with/feed/ 4 http://www.crystalkiss.com/one-little-smile-can-make-you-feel-better/ http://www.crystalkiss.com/one-little-smile-can-make-you-feel-better/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:00:21 +0000 admin http://www.crystalkiss.com/?p=878

Koopa is the world’s first internationally collected, professional turtle artist. His paintings are the finest quality nonhuman-created art available anywhere. Koopa is under no stress when he paints. The slippery texture is just like mud to him and it is equally safe. Every gorgeous detail is created through Koopa’s natural walking motion. He is not coerced, assisted, or guided in any way during the painting process. A Certificate of Authenticity and a CD rom (containing at least 30 photos of this painting’s creation) will be included with the artwork. Koopa’s goal is to have at least one of his paintings hang in all 50 states, and at least one on every continent, except Antarctica. No small feat for a box turtle! Koopa knows that life isn’t so good for all turtles, so 20% of the purchase price from all of Koopa’s paintings will be donated to a non-profit organization that cares for sick/injured/abandoned turtles and tortoises. Koopa’s art has raised over $10,000.00 for turtle rescue organizations.

Piggy Painters: Van Snout and his pal Bottabelli. A farm in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England has stumbled upon a novel idea to raise funds for their Farm Crisis Network charity. The farm has enlisted the help of two piglets, known as “Van Snout” and “Bottabelli” who one day accidentally got into a few cans of non-toxic paint, and the next day had become artists. Their work is comparable to a Jackson Pollock painting for its messy and loose design, and wild mix of colors. Farm owner Chris Murray said “The pigs tended to go more for pointilism – they weren’t too keen on cubism. We think of them as our little Pigassos.” The paintings sell for up to £16 each and have raised more than £150 so far, which is sure to grow once the news spreads. The quality of the paintings is actually quite good, so good that you may be surprised to see who the true artists are behind the works.

He is the artist who paints without putting brush to canvas. Instead, Steven Kutcher uses moths, beetles, spiders, flies, honey bees, butterflies, grasshoppers – and even Hissing Cockroaches from Madagascar. He dips the insects in paint, places them on a blank canvas and lets their movement create a string of colourful paintings. Mr Kutcher, 63, uses insects as living paintbrushes, guiding them by using their reaction to light or simply letting them wriggle at will. He said: “I’ll take a bug in my hand and, leg by leg, load the paint on to each leg. Then I put them on to the canvas and off they go, leaving a tiny trail of coloured footprints in their wake. “I can switch colours and even insects to create the effect I am looking for. “If a bug is sensitive to light, I can influence its movement on the canvas by controlling the lighting. “Insects have different footprints and behaviours so I use both my entomological and artistic knowledge to create fine works of art.” The artist, who lives in Los Angeles, is a keen environmentalist and says he ensures his paint-soaked insects are unharmed. He said: “I use water-based, nontoxic gouache paints which easily wash off. I have to take good care of them. After all, they are artists.”

Dutch style aquascapes

The Dutch aquarium follows an orderly, often symmetrical arrangement, in which multiple types of plants having diverse leaf colors, sizes and textures are displayed much as terrestrial plants are shown in a flower garden. This style was developed in the Netherlands starting in the 1930’s, as freshwater aquarium equipment became commercially available. It emphasizes plants located on terraces of different heights, and frequently omits rocks and driftwood. Linear rows of plants running left-to-right are referred to as “Dutch streets.” Tall growing plants that cover the back glass originally served the purpose of hiding bulky equipment in the tank.

Nature style aquascapes

Biotopes

Paludariums

In a paludarium, part of the aquarium is underwater, and part is above water. This allows plants to grow emersed, with their roots underwater but their tops in the air, as well as completely submersed.