In September 2004, French police discovered a hidden chamber in the catacombs under Paris. It contained a full-sized movie screen, projection equipment, a bar, a pressure cooker for making couscous, a professionally installed electricity system, and at least three phone lines. Movies ranged from 1950s noir classics to recent thrillers.

When the police returned three days later, the phone and power lines had been cut and there was a note on the floor: “Do not try to find us.” (via)

SECRET, MILDLY THREATENING UNDERGROUND COUSCOUS CINEMA

A selection of incredible portraits from photographer Charles Fréger’s collection and book Wilder Mann, documenting the ancient pagan rites still being practiced throughout Europe today.

From the New York Times Lens blog: 

About 10,000 years ago, humans began domesticating wild animals for both food and companionship. Over the course of centuries, animal species were bred for traits that made them docile and more useful to their masters. But as humans changed and fenced in animals, they were also domesticating themselves. The skills needed to survive in the wild were different than those needed to succeed in more complex social arrangements.

Hello friends, I’m going to tell you some cool stuff about bees and why you shouldn’t be afraid of them!

See, there is a lot of misplaced fear over our fuzzy pollinating buddies. Many folks think they are mean and dangerous, but bees are very good little friends. The little, kind bee should not be mistaken for their evil look a likes, such as Hornets Yellow Jackets and Wasps, which are evil and should be hated like the beasts they are. Bees are docile by nature, and are not a threat to anyone who’s not allergic to them.

These bees are Swarming, which despite it’s scary sounding name, is not a dangerous time to be around bees. This time is the safest time to be around bees because they couldn’t give a hoot about you. These bees are gathering themselves together in order to go as a whole colony to find a new home. The gif is showing how bees don’t mind the outside world at this point in a swarm. The bees probably feel like a tickle on his hand. ^-^

Here’s some cool facts about bees!

-Bees are the BEST pollinators in the world! better than butterflies, or humming birds.

-Bees in a colony are all females. The males of the species look totes different and are called drones.

-Bees are totally different from Yellow Jackets, Hornets, and Wasps. They are not even close relatives in the insect kingdom!

-“Africanized” Bees are of no threat to anyone north of the New Mexico, and they barely pose a risk there! They are more territorial than some other species of bees, but not as bad as wasps.

-Many crops rely on bees.

-Bees will often die after stinging someone. Bees know this, and thus will do much to avoid stinging you. Hate to say it buddy, but you’re not worth their time.

-Honey, in it’s natural state, is a vitamin rich superfood! It can help with everything from icky feelings, to gross hair.

-Bees are threatened in many places by parasites, people, and misinformation. Do your part to help the bees and plant some flowers.

There was a particular practice in England that involved bees in the Early Modern Period called ‘telling the bees”.

If you owned property it was important to have your own hive. These bees were so important that they were considered a part of your family. Whenever something of significance happened with the family (especially a death) someone had to go out and tell the bees everything that happened. It was believed that if the bees felt left out, they would become depressed and would be less effective at pollinating and producing honey. Sometimes other practices were involved like giving the bees a slice of wedding cake, draping the bees in a black mourning cloth, singing to them, etc.

A short history of black US indie cinema