Vladimir lenin statue gets a Star Wars facelift in Ukraine
An outdated Ukrainian statue of Soviet-era leader Vladimir lenin has been artistically transformed to depict the fictional Star Wars villain Darth Vader. After Ukraine passed new legislation in April demanding all symbols of the country’s communist past to be removed, artist Alexander Milov focused on giving the gypsum statue a new look. The statue still contains the original depiction of lenin, but is reinforced with new material and painted black.
Although lenin statues all over the country are being dismantled, this particular statue will not be taken down due to its pop-culture facelift. “The Bronze lenin was left inside, so that the grateful or not so grateful descendants could exhume him, if needed,” the artist said.
Through what he reportedly claims to be the world’s first Vader monument, Milov provided a new, literal hotspot for Star Wars fans: He installed a WiFi router in the statue’s helmet. local fans are flocking to the statue, making sure to document their visit with selfies uploaded to the Internet.
(UPI)
New York man creates a ‘sovereign nation’ in Utah
A New York man is building his own sovereign nation called Zaqistan on a remote piece of land in Utah. Zaq landsberg has created a yellow-and-red flag, official-looking passports and a border patrol gate guarded by a giant robot sentry for the realm.
“The conceptual goal is I want it to become a real country,” said landsberg, its President. “I mean, that goal is not going to happen. It’s impossible, but going through the motions, (I’m) trying to make that happen.”
He’s even created a motto for the land of Zaqistan: “Something from nothing.” When he bought the sage-brush covered stretch of Utah backcountry a decade ago, the city-dwelling landsberg was amazed at how removed it was. It’s about 60 miles from the nearest town and 15 miles away from a paved road.
While he calls the area harsh and desolate, it’s also appealing. “Out here, it’s not that crazy of an idea to have your own little spot, and to do your own thing and to have your own space and the privacy to do that,” said landsberg, who’s hesitant to reveal the exact location of Zaqistan for fear of people getting lost trying to find it.
(AP)
Puffins ‘attack’ camera atop Newfoundland cliff
A nature photographer who planted her GoPro camera on a Newfoundland cliff to record puffins captured the curious birds’ “attack” on her equipment. Megan lorenz posted a video to YouTube showing what happened when she left her GoPro unattended on a Newfoundland cliff frequented by Atlantic puffins.The video shows the curious puffins initially “attack” the foreign object by pushing and pecking at it. The birds eventually seem to get used to the camera and allow it to continue recording.
(UPI)
Indiana judge overturns ban on ‘ballot selfies’
An Indiana judge overturned the State’s so-called “ballot selfies law,” allowing the residents to once again take selfies with their completed ballots. US District Judge Sarah Evans Barker ruled the law, which took effect July 1, was unconstitutional because it barred constitutionally protected speech — specifically, taking photos of one’s own completed ballot while casting a vote and distributing it “using social media or by any other means”.
The law, which carried penalties of up to 30 months in prison and a $10,000 fine, was challenged in a lawsuit from the American Civil liberties Union. Barker sided with the AClU, saying the State failed to demonstrate a need for the ban.
“The State has entirely failed to identify any such problem in Indiana relating to or evidencing vote buying, voter fraud, voter coercion, involuntary ballot disclosures, or an existing threat to the integrity of the electoral process,” Barker said in her ruling.
(UPI)
Bigfoot believers gather at NY retreat
Bigfoot believers gathered in western New York, convinced the legendary Sasquatch has left its footprints all over the region. About 100 people sported buttons saying “I believe” and swapped stories at the fourth annual Chautauqua lake Bigfoot Expo.
Organiser Peter Wiemer knows it may not be the first topic that comes to mind in the rural county, best known for the Chautauqua Institution, a summer retreat devoted to scholarly and artistic pursuits.
“You say Bigfoot in a room full of people and watch everyone stop and look to see who’s talking,” he said with a laugh. And while he may have started the event as a way to draw people to the tourist-dependent region and his family’s rental cottages, he said he has since met dozens of people who are certain they’ve seen one of the ape-like creatures in the area, far from the oft-cited Pacific Northwest.
Wiemer is now enough of a devotee that he’s tried to get New York state to put Sasquatch on its list of endangered species, alongside the mud turtle, the golden eagle and the cougar.
The Department of Environmental Conservation isn’t convinced. Its 2012 response in part: “This mythical animal does not exist in nature or otherwise. No programme or action in relation to mythical animals is warranted.”
(Yahoo)