Incredibly Interesting Websites

[Ausgirl]

I'm sure most of us spend time tooling abut in some pretty obscure corners of the web, in the name of research. I know I do.. and now and then come across a website that's just... kind of random, but fascinating. So I thought it'd be good to have a place to share those, when we happen on them.

For example, the other day I was looking up an obscure legend concerning the stonework in a certain cathedral and happened on this site made by a British stonemasonry firm. I've often been curious as to the mechanics of how they can carve these amazing things, and set them in place so very high off the ground.. Also, the sheer tradition of it all is rather romantic and appealing.

They provide a bestiary of creatures found in stonework:

http://www.finestoneminiatures.com/zoo2.htm

Plus a gallery of photos well worth clicking through:

http://www.finestoneminiatures.com/cathedral_builders1.htm

I just loved how they added a couple of illicit snails to one carving, to get even with the person who hired them for showing no interest in their work..

Please do share any links you might come across that are random and enjoyable (and don't charge $4.95 a minute... ) - Ripper-related or not.

[Rosella]

delete

[c.d.]

Just came across this one today -- ironchariots.org It cites all the classic arguments (including straw man arguments) both pro and con for the existence of God. Very interesting.

c.d.

[Rosella]

I'm quite a fan of the carving under misericords in British and European cathedrals. Most were created in medieval times and are non-religious in nature.

The one I wanted to post is a cute carving from Carlisle cathedral, but it's not available. It represents two demons, Bigorne or Fillgut and Chicheface or Pinchbelly. Fillgut feasted on good husbands and was very fat, while Pinchbelly ate good wives and was always starving! The carving shows Fillgut in the process of swallowing a husband, whose little legs are waving in the air!

It's a shame I can't find it but these photos from Ripon Cathedral show the quality of carving and how well-preserved these mostly still are after hundreds of years.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/478591...7631272788486/

[Ausgirl]

Just came across this one today -- ironchariots.org It cites all the classic arguments (including straw man arguments) both pro and con for the existence of God. Very interesting.

c.d.

That's the sort of site I'd enjoy getting utterly lost in on a winter's afternoon, which is not far off now, over here. Thanks for sharing it.

I'm quite a fan of the carving under misericords in British and European cathedrals. Most were created in medieval times and are non-religious in nature.

The one I wanted to post is a cute carving from Carlisle cathedral, but it's not available. It represents two demons, Bigorne or Fillgut and Chicheface or Pinchbelly. Fillgut feasted on good husbands and was very fat, while Pinchbelly ate good wives and was always starving! The carving shows Fillgut in the process of swallowing a husband, whose little legs are waving in the air!

It's a shame I can't find it but these photos from Ripon Cathedral show the quality of carving and how well-preserved these mostly still are after hundreds of years.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/478591...7631272788486/

I saw mention of Bigorne and Chicheface on the stonemason's site, and had a good laugh, what a funny legend! The carvings from Ripon are beautiful - the wood is too, it has a lovely golden glow to it in some of those pictures. I was impressed by the perspective on the carvings, very unusual.

[Ausgirl]

A lot less lovely but perhaps a little more pertinent to JtR is this article on serial killer Peter Kurten. Of course I'd read about him before, but this article kind of brought him more to life for me, and I thought it fascinating to juxtapose Kurten with some or other fictionally apprehended JtR... Would his life story, maybe some of his moods and desires, his adult life, maybe some of his hunting methods, be anything like this?

Morbid stuff, but it got the wheels turning:

http://lunar-loft.tripod.com/asylum/id15.html

I was also unaware that Kurten idolised JtR.