From jeton at hotmail.com Sun Dec 4 09:32:31 2005 From: jeton at hotmail.com (Jeton Ademaj) Date: Sun, 04 Dec 2005 09:32:31 -0500 Subject: [NYC-L] Illyrian Pyramid ? Message-ID: here's an article postulating an Illyrian pyramid in Bosnia... http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=1370321 Scientist: Bosnian Hill May Have Pyramid Archaeologist Thinks Bosnian Hill May Contain a First for Europe: a Pyramid By AIDA CERKEZ-ROBINSON Associated Press Writer The Associated Press VISOKO, Bosnia-Herzegovina - With eyes trained to recognize pyramids hidden in the hills of El Salvador, Mexico and Peru, Semir Osmanagic has been drawn to the mound overlooking this central Bosnian town. "It has all the elements: four perfectly shaped slopes pointing toward the cardinal points, a flat top and an entrance complex," he said, gazing at the hill and wondering what lies beneath. No pyramids are known in Europe, and there is no evidence any ancient civilization there ever attempted to build one. But Osmanagic, a Bosnian archaeologist who has spent the last 15 years studying the pyramids of Latin America, suspects there is one here in his Balkan homeland. "We have already dug out stone blocks which I believe are covering the pyramid," he said. "We found a paved entrance plateau and discovered underground tunnels. You don't have to be an expert to realize what this is." Osmanagic, 45, who now lives in Houston, is personally financing excavations at the Visocica hill, a 2,120-foot hump outside Visoko, a town about 20 miles northwest of the capital, Sarajevo. He learned about the hill in April from Senad Hodovic, director of a museum devoted to the history of Visoko, which is rich in Bronze Age and medieval artifacts. Hodovic had attended a promotion of an Osmanagic book about ancient civilizations and thought he would like to see Visoko's pyramid-shaped hill. When the pair climbed the hill, the sweeping view revealed a second, smaller pyramid-shaped hill. It reminded Osmanagic of pairs of pyramids he has seen in Latin America that together create a gateway into a valley. After obtaining a permit to research the site, which is protected by the state as a national monument, the first probes of the main hill were carried out this summer at six points. Nadja Nukic, a geologist involved in the research, said she found 15 anomalies suggesting that some layers of the hill were manmade. "We found layers of what we call 'bad concrete,' a definitely unnatural mixture of gravel once used to form blocks with which this hill was covered," Osmanagic said. "The hill was already there," he added. "Some ancient civilization just shaped it and then coated it with this primitive concrete and there you have a pyramid." Small-scale excavations continued until early November, when winter set in, with the work focusing on what Osmanagic theorizes may have been the entrance to a pyramid-shaped temple. Osmanagic believes the hill was shaped by the Illyrian people, who inhabited the Balkan peninsula long before Slavic tribes conquered it around A.D. 600. Little is known about the Illyrians, but Osmanagic thinks they were more sophisticated than many experts have suggested. Nukic, who has walked up and down the hill several times, said she noticed symmetrical platforms in the slopes indentations that Osmanagic believes are steps built into the pyramid. A local businessman who bought a lot at the foot of the hill and brought in a bulldozer to dig the foundation for a house, meanwhile, unearthed manmade sandstone plates that the archeologists think may have been paving stones. Anthropologists say the Visoko valley already offers ample evidence of organized human settlements dating back 7,000 years. The town was Bosnia's capital during the Middle Ages, and German archaeologists working the valley recently found 24,000 Neolithic artifacts just three feet below the surface. Osmanagic is taking a cautious approach about the hill. "No fast conclusions, please. The evidence has to be firm, at least beyond a reasonable doubt," he said. "Not that I don't believe in a pyramid here," he added. "This place was always called 'Pyramid' by the local population. But we have to prove that this is not a natural shape." He thinks, however, that the shape of the hill speaks for itself. "God can make many things, but such perfectly geometrically formed slopes, pointing exactly toward the north, south, east and west if he did that, well, that's phenomenal itself." Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright ? 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures From eb246 at columbia.edu Mon Dec 5 16:10:19 2005 From: eb246 at columbia.edu (Erkanda Bujari) Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2005 16:10:19 -0500 Subject: [NYC-L] January Deadline Reminder: American Councils Southeast Europe Language Program Message-ID: <4394ACBB.7040008@columbia.edu> FYI--forward to who is interested. American Councils Southeast Europe Language Program Application Deadline: Applications for fall 2006 and academic year 2006-2007 programs are due on January 15. The American Councils Southeast Europe Language Program offers academic year, semester and summer programs for independent research and language study in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia and Montenegro. Full and partial fellowships are available for research and language training through American Councils from the U.S. Department of State (Title VIII) grant support. Application Requirements: Applicants must plan to study for at least one month in the region. Study-trips for periods of four to nine months are particularly encouraged. Open to students at the MA and Ph.D. level, as well as post-doctoral scholars and faculty who have at least elementary language skills. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applicants should explain how their plans for language-study support their overall research goals. While students with a wide range of interests and research goals have received Title VIII support in the past, all applicants should specify how their studies will contribute to a body of knowledge that enables U.S. policy makers to better understand the region. Fellowships for Language Study typically provide: --Full tuition at a major university in Southeast Europe --International round trip airfare from the fellow's home city to her/his host-city --A monthly living stipend --Housing stipends or direct payment for housing in university dormitories --Health insurance of up to $50,000 per accident or illness --Visa support as necessary --Graduate-level academic credit through Bryn Mawr College for programs providing 7 weeks or more of full time instruction --Ongoing logistical support from American Councils offices throughout the region --Language programs are designed to maximize linguistic and cultural immersion into Southeast European society. All academic programs emphasize the development of practical speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Courses in literature and cultural studies may be available depending on the student's language proficiency. All classes, including area studies courses, are taught in the host-country language. Applications for fall and academic year programs are due on January 15, 2006. For more information contact: Outbound Programs/ Title VIII Research Scholars American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 833-7522 outbound at americancouncils.org www.americancouncils.org ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give at-risk students the materials they need to succeed at DonorsChoose.org! http://us.click.yahoo.com/iEagnA/LpQLAA/HwKMAA/oLXolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ceescholarships/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ceescholarships-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From eb246 at columbia.edu Mon Dec 5 16:11:49 2005 From: eb246 at columbia.edu (Erkanda Bujari) Date: Mon, 05 Dec 2005 16:11:49 -0500 Subject: [NYC-L] Jan. 15 Deadline Reminder: American Councils Southeast Europe Research program Message-ID: <4394AD15.1000904@columbia.edu> Aother one. ------------ American Councils Southeast Europe Research Program Application Deadline: Applications for fall 2006 and academic year 2006-2007 programs are due on January 15. The American Councils Southeast Europe Research program provides full support for graduate students, faculty, and post-doctoral scholars seeking to conduct research for three to nine months in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia and Montenegro. Scholars may apply for support for research in more than one country during a single trip, provided they intend to work in the field for a total of three to nine months. Full and partial fellowships are available for research and/or language training through American Councils from the U.S. Department of State (Title VIII) grant support. Award Components: The total value of Title VIII Southeast Europe Research fellowships, administered by American Councils, ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. Typical awards include: --International airfare from the scholar's home to his/her host city overseas. --Academic affiliation at a leading local university. --Visa(s) arranged by American Councils in direct collaboration with academic host institutions in order to facilitate archive access and guarantee timely visa registration. --Housing stipends or direct payment for housing in university dormitories --A monthly living stipend. --Financial and logistical support for travel within the region as required by research. --Health insurance of up to $50,000 per accident or illness. --Ongoing logistical support from American Councils offices throughout the region. Application Requirements: Scholars in the humanities and social sciences are eligible to apply for the program. While a wide-range of topics receive support each year, all funded research must contribute to a body of knowledge enabling the U.S. to better understand the region and formulate effective policies within it. All applicants should clearly describe the policy-relevance of their work, be it in anthropology, literature, history, international relations, political science, or some other field. Applicants must submit research proposals in English and their proposed host-country language, curricula vitae in English and the host-country language, archive lists (if relevant) in English and the host-country language, a bibliography in English, an application form, a clear copy of the inside page of their passports, and two letters of recommendation from colleagues, professors, or other qualified persons who are familiar with the applicant's work. Research proposals must be two to three pages long, typed. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. All competitions for American Councils funding from Title VIII fellowship sources are open and merit based. Applications for fall and academic year programs are due on January 15, 2006. For more information contact: Outbound Programs/ Title VIII Research Scholars American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 Telephone: (202) 833-7522 outbound at americancouncils.org www.americancouncils.org ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose.org helps at-risk students succeed. Fund a student project today! http://us.click.yahoo.com/9.ZgmA/FpQLAA/HwKMAA/oLXolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ceescholarships/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ceescholarships-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From pirrorexhepi at yahoo.co.uk Mon Dec 19 19:33:49 2005 From: pirrorexhepi at yahoo.co.uk (Pirro Rexhepi) Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:33:49 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [NYC-L] Ismail Kadare Article in The New Yorker Message-ID: <20051220003349.80373.qmail@web86802.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Is there anything to be said about his writings, aside from the fact that the guy is a genius and once again has outdone himself! This is a great article, I urge you all to read it: http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/content/articles/051226fi_fiction Happy Holidays to you all! Pirro --------------------------------- Yahoo! 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