These houses are in Norway, covered in moss, the heat never leaves, the cold only because it doesn't enter. This engineering was carried out by the ancient Viking inhabitants

Native American tribes who originally inhabited the Texas region, including the meaning of their names and their history.

1. Apache
• Meaning of the Name: Generally believed to derive from the Pueblo-Zuni word "Apachu," meaning "enemy." However, the Apache people call themselves "Inde," "Tinde," or "Tinneh," all meaning "the people."
• History and Culture:
• Originally from the north, they migrated to the American Southwest and Plains regions between the 12th and 16th centuries.
• They were nomadic hunter-gatherers, roaming vast territories to hunt buffalo and forage for food.
• After acquiring horses from the Spanish in the 17th century, they became a powerful mounted nation. The Lipan Apache were prominent in the Texas region.

2. Comanche
• Meaning of the Name: Derived from a Ute word meaning "anyone who wants to fight me all the time." The people refer to themselves as "Nʉmʉnʉʉ" (NUH-MUH-NUH), meaning "The People."
• History and Culture:
• Dominated the Southern Plains of Texas in the 18th and 19th centuries and were known as the "Lords of the Plains."
• They were originally part of the Shoshone tribe from Wyoming and moved south.
• They were exceptionally skilled at breeding and using horses, and their horseback fighting ability was unique and unmatched by other tribes of the time.
• Buffalo products were the core of their economy and way of life.

3. Kiowa
• Meaning of the Name: Derived from "Ka'I gwu" or "Ka'I gua" in their own language, meaning "principal people" or "leading people."
• History and Culture:
• Originally from western Montana, they migrated to the Yellowstone River and Black Hills, becoming skilled horsemen and buffalo hunters.
• They gradually moved south into the northern Texas and Oklahoma regions in the early 18th century.
• They were known for unique cultural practices like their Sun Dance ceremony.
• They had a prestigious warrior society known as the "Principal Dogs" or "Ten Bravest."

4. Jumano and Eastern Pueblos

Meaning of the Name: The term "Jumano" referred to at least three distinct groups in the Southwest and Southern Plains between 1500 and 1700. They were called "rayado" (striped or marked people) due to the distinctive horizontal striped patterns tattooed or painted on their faces.
• History and Culture:
• They were primarily buffalo hunters and traders, playing a crucial role as middlemen between the Spanish colonies and various Indigenous groups.
• Their main territory was in Central Texas, between the lower Pecos River and the Colorado River.
• "Eastern Pueblos" may refer to people living in villages like the "Humanas pueblos" in eastern New Mexico, with whom the Jumano were associated.

5. Coahuilteco and Carrizo Tribes
• Meaning of the Name:
• Coahuilteco: Not an original name for a single tribe, but an umbrella term created by Mexican linguists to group many bands and clans speaking various dialects in Northern Mexico and South Texas.
• Carrizo: A Spanish word meaning "reed," applied to many Coahuiltecan groups along the Rio Grande. (For example, the Comecrudo tribe, whose Spanish name means "eats raw meat," was also called Carrizo).
• History and Culture:
• They were nomadic hunter-gatherers who lived along the Rio Grande and throughout South Texas.
• They established villages near rivers and water sources.
• Due to disease and conflict with European settlers, their population was decimated. Many sought refuge in Spanish missions, where they adopted European farming techniques.

6. Karankawa
• Meaning of the Name: Generally believed to mean "dog-lovers" or "dog-raisers" in their own language, as they were known to keep dogs described as a fox-like or coyote-like breed.
• History and Culture:
• A coastal people who lived along the Texas Coast from Galveston Island to south of Corpus Christi.
• Their encounter with the Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1528 marks the earliest recorded contact between Europeans and the First Peoples of Texas.
• They were nomadic, using dugout canoes to travel the shallow coastal waterways.
• They were known for tattooing their bodies.

7. Tonkawa
• Meaning of the Name: Comes from the Waco language, meaning "they all stay together." They called themselves "Titska Watitch," which means "the most human of people."
• History and Culture:
• A nomadic hunting tribe originally from eastern and central Texas and Oklahoma, hunting buffalo, deer, and other game.
• They lived in about 20 independent wandering bands.
• Historically, they were often at war with neighboring tribes like the Apache and Comanche.
• They faced forced relocations and population decline due to violence in the 19th century.

8. Bidai
• Meaning of the Name: A Caddo word for "brushwood," named after the local geography along Bedias Creek where they lived. They referred to themselves as "Quasmigdo."
• History and Culture:
• Settled in East Texas, between the Brazos and Neches Rivers.
• Some historical records suggest they may be one of the oldest tribes in Texas.
• They practiced agriculture (maize), hunting (bison, deer), and fishing.
• They were allied with Caddo and Atakapan tribes.

9. Caddo
• Meaning of the Name: Derived from the French abbreviation of "Kadohadacho," a Caddo word meaning "real chief" or "real Caddo."
• History and Culture:
• A confederacy of about 25 affiliated groups centered around the Red River in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
• They were sedentary agriculturalists, focusing on farming.
• They developed complex social and political systems, centered around the construction and use of earthen temple and burial mounds.
• Their leadership hierarchy included the xinesi (spiritual leader), caddi (principal headman), and canahas (subordinate headmen). The name of the state, Texas, comes from the Caddo word taysha, meaning "friend" or "ally."

10. Wichita
• Meaning of the Name: The origin is unknown, but they called themselves "Kitikiti'sh," meaning "the people" or "the preeminent people." French traders called them "Pani Piqué" (Tattooed Pawnee), referring to their distinctive tattoos.
• History and Culture:
• A confederacy of subtribes (including Taovaya, Tawakoni, Waco, and Kichai) who mainly lived in Northern Texas and South-Central Kansas.
• They combined agriculture (corn, beans) with hunting (buffalo, deer).
• They lived in distinctive conical, haystack-shaped houses made of grass and matting.
• Their society was matrilocal (married couples lived with the wife's family) and matrilineal (descent was traced through the mother's line).

11. Tawakoni & Kitsai
• Tawakoni:
• Meaning of the Name: Believed to mean "river bend among red sand hills." The French also referred to them as "Three Canes."
• History: A Caddoan tribe and member of the Wichita Confederacy, they settled along the Brazos and Trinity Rivers in Texas in the 18th century. They shared similar agricultural and housing methods with the Wichita.
• Kitsai:
• A subtribe of the Wichita Confederacy. Notably, the Kitsai were the only group within the Wichita Confederacy to speak a distinct Caddoan language.

Note : Most descendants of these historic Texas tribes were forcibly relocated to reservations, primarily in Oklahoma, during the 19th century. However, as noted in the follow-up, three federally recognized tribes and numerous descendants of the original tribes continue to reside in Texas today.

In 1998, a surprising controversy hit Sony when it was discovered that around 700,000 of its camcorders had an unintended feature. The Sony Handycam CCD-TRV65 was built with an infrared "Night Vision" mode for low-light recording. However, when used in daylight with an infrared filter, the device could effectively see through certain thin fabrics and swimsuits, creating an unexpected X-ray-like effect. This accidental capability quickly led to a media frenzy and alarm among the public.

What was meant to be a simple feature for nighttime recording suddenly became a major privacy concern. Parents and privacy advocates were especially worried about the potential for misuse. The incident forced Sony to take immediate action. The company promptly recalled the camcorders and discontinued the feature to prevent any further controversy, putting a swift end to what was becoming a significant scandal.

The event remains a fascinating example of the unintended consequences of technology. While Sony had no malicious intent, the camcorders sparked important debates about surveillance, ethics, and consumer privacy that are still relevant today. This story serves as a memorable piece of tech history and a powerful reminder that even the most innovative tools require careful and thorough testing.

#TechHistory #Privacy #UnintendedConsequences

Here’s a clear comparison between the old World Trade Center (WTC 1) and the new One World Trade Center (often called the Freedom Tower):

🏙 Old WTC 1 (North Tower)

Official Name: World Trade Center 1 (North Tower)

Completed: 1972

Height (roof): 1,368 feet (417 meters)

Height (with antenna): 1,728 feet (527 meters)

Floors: 110

Destroyed: September 11, 2001

New WTC 1 (One World Trade Center / Freedom Tower)

Completed: 2013

Height (architectural top / spire): 1,776 feet (541 meters)
(Symbolic number representing the year 1776 — U.S. independence)

Height (roof): 1,368 feet (417 meters) — the same as the old North Tower’s roof height.

Floors: 104 (plus mechanical and observation levels)

Quick Summary:

Both towers reach 1,368 ft to the roof, but the new WTC 1’s spire makes it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 1,776 ft.

The old North Tower was slightly shorter if you compare total height (its antenna wasn’t part of the official architectural height).

The captivating Pam Grier, photographed in 1974, continues to command attention fifty+ years later.

In 1966, Marie Van Brittan Brown, a Black nurse from Queens, New York, made history when she invented the world’s first home security system with TV surveillance. Living in a neighborhood where police response was slow, she wanted a way to feel safer at home. Her design included a camera that could move between peepholes in the front door, a monitor inside the house, and even a microphone to speak with visitors. She also built in an emergency button to alert authorities. Brown received a patent for her invention in 1969, and her groundbreaking work became the foundation for modern home security systems used across the world today. A true pioneer, she not only protected her own family but also changed the way we all think about safety in our homes.

Unclog a Drain with Baking Soda & Vinegar
Why it works: This classic combination creates a fizzy chemical reaction that helps break down organic gunk, hair, and soap scum, loosening minor blockages.

The Method: Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed immediately by half a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain to contain the fizz, wait 15-20 minutes, then flush with a pot of boiling hot water.

Remove Water Stains with Mayonnaise
Why it works: The oils in mayonnaise can penetrate the wood finish and displace the moisture trapped inside, making the white, cloudy ring disappear.

The Method: Apply a small dollop of full-fat mayonnaise directly to the water stain on your wood table. Let it sit for 15 minutes to several hours, then wipe clean with a soft cloth and polish as usual.

Clean Your Microwave with Lemon
Why it works: The steam from boiling lemon water will loosen baked-on food splatters, and the citric acid helps to break down grease, making it easy to wipe clean.

The Method: Juice one lemon into a microwave-safe bowl filled with 1 cup of water (you can add the spent lemon halves too). Microwave on high for 3-5 minutes until the window is steamy. Let it sit for another 5 minutes, then simply wipe the interior clean.

Remove Sticker Residue with Rubbing Alcohol
Why it works: Rubbing alcohol is a powerful solvent that breaks down the adhesive glue left behind by stickers and labels without damaging most surfaces.

The Method: Soak a cotton ball or cloth in rubbing alcohol (or hand sanitizer) and dab it onto the sticky residue. Let it sit for a minute to dissolve the glue, then wipe away with a clean cloth.

Deodorize Carpets with Baking Soda
Why it works: Baking soda is a natural odor neutralizer. Its fine particles settle deep into carpet fibers, absorbing and eliminating smells instead of just covering them up.

The Method: Liberally sprinkle baking soda over your dry carpet. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, or for strong odors, several hours or overnight. Then, vacuum thoroughly.

Remove Pet Hair with a Rubber Glove
Why it works: The rubber creates friction and static electricity, which attracts and lifts pet hair from upholstery, carpets, and clothing much more effectively than many brushes.

The Method: Put on a clean, damp rubber glove (like a dishwashing glove). Run your hand over the fabric in one direction—the hair will ball up for easy pickup.

The entire state of Texas as photographed by NASA from space, 2018. This is a fascinating image to look at if you're at all familiar with Texas geography. Not only can you see all of the major cities but even towns like Temple-Killeen, Midland-Odessa ... even small towns like Monahans, Alpine, Marfa etc.. The Eagle Ford can also clearly be seen. But what blows me away is the lights in the area around Pecos. The lights aren't quite as intense as they are in Midland-Odessa (immediately to the east of Pecos) but the area is at least as big, perhaps bigger. Amazing. Fortunately, with the exception of Presidio, the Big Bend remains dark. May it ever be so!

Barbie and Hot Wheels, two of the most famous toys, were created by husband and wife Ruth and Elliot Handler, who co-founded Mattel. Ruth introduced Barbie in 1959, inspired by her daughter's imaginative play. Elliot launched Hot Wheels in 1968, designing fast, colorful toy cars.