Good music needs human imperfection. The post Brian Eno explains why modern music is less “human” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

UK Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s euthanasia bill is “the biggest threat we’ve faced since the Marris Bill in 2015. We defeated it then, and we can do so now, but we need […]

In September, the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (“ARIA”) announced a significant investment of £57 million to fund researchers examining ideas for artificially cooling the planet through small-scale outdoor geoengineering experiments.  […]

by William Upton, The National Pulse: Author Stephen King, recently more notable for his asinine anti-Trump social media posts than his fictional accounts of child orgies, says he is leaving Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The prolific writer—known for his novels It, The Shining, Salem’s Lot, and others—made the announcement, ironically, through a post on X. “I’m leaving Twitter. Tried […]

by Brian Shilhavy, Health Impact News: President elect Donald Trump has announced that Florida Representative Matt Gaetz is appointed to be the next U.S. Attorney General, and that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is appointed to the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services, making these two appointments his most controversial appointments yet. Matt Gaetz […]

  Portugal’s deep-rooted history stretches from its medieval castles and Roman ruins to the Moorish fortifications that dot the landscape. Some of its most renowned historic sites include the stunning Convent of Christ in Tomar, the Roman Temple of Évora, and the Moorish Castle in Sintra, each echoing the country’s diverse heritage. However, if you’re eager to explore the hidden, ancient soul of this captivating European country, there’s no better way than to head to its timeless villages perched atop hills and tucked away in mountains. Here are ten must-visit historic villages in Portugal that promise a journey back in time.   1. Monsanto Monsanto village, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   This historic village is located in central Portugal and is renowned for its unique architecture, where granite houses are built around massive boulders, giving it a strikingly unique look. Perched on a 758-meter hill, the village offers sweeping views over the surrounding countryside. Its roots reach back to the Paleolithic era, with Roman, Visigoth, and Moorish influences over time.   In 1165, King Afonso Henriques granted Monsanto to the Knights Templar, who added a hilltop castle that still stands. Named “the most Portuguese village in Portugal” in 1938, Monsanto’s winding, cobblestone paths, ancient castle ruins, and annual Festa das Cruzes draw visitors seeking a deep connection to the country’s heritage.   2. Sortelha Sortelha village, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Sortelha is one of Portugal’s oldest and best-preserved medieval villages, which you can find in the country’s Centro region. Established in the 12th century, it was granted a charter in 1228 by King Sancho II, who also ordered the construction of its castle. The village is encircled by well-preserved granite walls and features narrow cobblestone streets lined with traditional stone houses, reflecting its rich history.   When visiting Sortelha, you can explore the 13th-century castle, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, and admire unique granite formations like the “Old Lady’s Head.”   The authentic medieval atmosphere and architectural heritage of Sortelha make it the perfect village to visit if you want to learn about the past of Portugal.   3. Castelo Rodrigo Castelo Rodrigo village, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Also located in the Centro region of Portugal, this ancient village is perched atop a hill, so obviously, it provides you with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The origins of Castelo Rodrigo date back to the 12th century, with significant developments during the reign of King Dinis, who fortified the village to protect against invasions. Encircled by medieval walls, the village features narrow cobblestone streets lined with traditional stone houses. So you can imagine the depth of history lying within this town.   Start by visiting the ruins of Cristóvão de Moura’s palace, the 16th-century pillory, and the medieval cistern. Also, the Church of Our Lady of Rocamador, with its statue of Saint James the Moor-slayer, is noteworthy.   4. Piódão Piodao village, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Nestled in Portugal’s Serra do Açor mountains, Piódão is famous for its distinctive schist houses with blue-painted windows and doors. Established in the Middle Ages, it served as a refuge due to its remote location, with legends suggesting it sheltered fugitives, including one of Inês de Castro’s assassins.   The labyrinthine cobblestone streets are what draw visitors the most to Piódão, in addition to the 17th-century Igreja Matriz with its white façade contrasting against the dark schist, and the nearby Foz d’Égua, known for its picturesque bridges and natural pools.   The tranquil setting and well-preserved architecture of Piódão will allow you to learn a lot about the rural heritage of Portugal.   5. Marialva Marialva village, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   This charming hilltop village, found in Portugal’s Centro region, is filled with history and takes you back to the country’s medieval era. Its origins trace back to pre-Roman times, but its prominence grew during the 12th century under Portuguese rule, with its castle serving as a crucial defensive stronghold.   When visiting, make sure to check out the three main areas: the Citadel, now a preserved historic area within the castle walls; Arrabalde, where traditional stone houses line cobbled streets; and Devesa, an extension beyond the old fortress.   Within the Citadel, key sites include the 12th-century Marialva Castle, with panoramic views over the Côa Valley, and the Parish Church of Santiago, a 14th-century Gothic structure with well-preserved frescoes. Also notable are the 16th-century pillory and the ruins of the old jailhouse, reflecting Marialva’s medieval civic life.   6. Idanha-a-Velha Idanha-a-Velha village, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Centro region of Portugal is indeed filled with historic villages, and this is why it also houses Idanha-a-Velha, whose origins trace back to the 1st century BC when it was established as Civitas Igaeditanorum by the Romans.   Over the centuries, it was occupied by Visigoths, who renamed it Egitânia, and later by Muslims, who called it Idânia.   Key sites include the impressive Roman walls and the Torre dos Templários, a tower built on the remains of a Roman temple, later repurposed by the Knights Templar.   The 4th-century Cathedral of Idanha considered one of the oldest in Portugal, offers insight into early Christian worship, while the 17th-century pillory and stone sarcophagi add layers to its medieval past. Visitors can also explore the Lagar de Varas, an ancient olive press, and the museum housed in a former Bishop’s Palace, which preserves Idanha-a-Velha’s legacy as a crossroads of history.   7. Monsaraz Monsaraz village, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Monsaraz is a hilltop village in Portugal’s Alentejo region and is a beautifully preserved medieval gem with roots tracing back to prehistoric times.   Overlooking the Guadiana River, Monsaraz was strategically significant, with influences from Romans, Visigoths, and Moors. In 1167, it was reclaimed from Moorish control by Geraldo Sem Pavor and later fortified by the Knights Templar under King Sancho II in 1232, leaving a castle that still dominates the skyline.   The village’s cobbled streets lead you through whitewashed houses to landmarks such as the Gothic-style Church of Nossa Senhora da Lagoa, with intricate Manueline elements, and the 14th-century Chapel of São João Baptista, known for its stunning frescoes. As for The Casa da Inquisição, or Inquisition House, it highlights darker chapters of Portuguese history. The medieval castle, with its sweeping views over the Alqueva Reservoir, Europe’s largest artificial lake, is a must-see.   8. Belmonte Roman tower of Centum Cellas, Belmonte, Portugal. Source: Flickr   Also located in Portugal’s stunning Centro region, this historic village is perched on the slopes of the Serra da Estrela mountains and has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with Roman and medieval influences evident throughout. Belmonte is renowned as the birthplace of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the navigator who discovered Brazil in 1500.   A focal point of Belmonte is its 13th-century castle, which was later transformed into the residence of the Cabral family. When you reach Belmonte, start by exploring the castle’s ruins and enjoying the panoramic views it offers. Adjacent to the castle are the Church of Santiago and the Cabral Pantheon, housing the tombs of the Cabral family.   Belmonte is also notable for its enduring Jewish community, which survived the Inquisition by practicing their faith in secret. The Jewish Museum of Belmonte provides insights into this unique history, showcasing artifacts and narratives of the community’s resilience. The village’s well-preserved synagogue, Bet Eliahu, stands as a testament to this enduring heritage.   Other attractions include the Museum of the Discoveries, which allows you to learn about Portugal’s maritime history, and the Olive Oil Museum, which reflects the agricultural traditions in the region.   9. Almeida The Gates of Almeida, Alameida village, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Located in Portugal’s Centro region near the Spanish border, Almeida is renowned for its star-shaped fortress, a prime example of 17th-century military architecture. The village’s strategic importance is evident in its 12-pointed star fortifications, constructed during the reign of King Dinis in the 13th century and later enhanced in the 17th century.   You can explore the well-preserved walls, gates, and the historic center, which includes the Picadeiro d’El Rey, a former royal riding arena now serving as a cultural venue. The Military Museum offers insights into Almeida’s role in various conflicts, including the Peninsular War. Walking through Almeida’s cobblestone streets, visitors can admire traditional stone houses and the Church of Nossa Senhora das Candeias, where you can get a glimpse into the rich heritage of the village.   10. Linhares da Beira Linhares da Beira village, Portugal. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Linhares da Beira, nestled on the western slopes of Portugal’s Serra da Estrela, is a medieval village that offers a rich tapestry of history and architecture. Established in the 12th century, it received its first charter from King Afonso Henriques in 1169. The village’s strategic importance is underscored by its imposing castle, constructed during the reign of King Dinis in the 13th century, which provided defense against invasions.   The well-preserved castle, which is a must-visit, provides you with panoramic views of the Mondego River Valley. The village’s narrow cobblestone streets are lined with traditional granite houses, many adorned with Manueline-style windows and Gothic doorways, which showcase its architectural heritage. Notable landmarks include the 16th-century Igreja da Misericórdia, known for its Renaissance features, and the Romanesque Igreja Matriz de Linhares da Beira.   Linhares da Beira is also recognized as a prime location for paragliding, attracting enthusiasts from around the world. The village’s rich history, architectural beauty, and scenic landscapes are all valid reasons to visit the beautiful Linhares da Beira.

  Unlike the more famous knightly brethren, the Templars, the Knights Hospitallers were (are) an almost unknown organization. Yet, like their fellow knights, the Hospitallers formed during the Crusades to help Christian travelers in the Holy Lands. They fought like the Templars, fighting against Muslim armies. In 1113, the Pope issued a papal bull, “Pie Postulatio Voluntatis,”  that gave official recognition. By the 19th century, the Hospitallers were now known for their medical and charitable missions. Curious? Let’s learn more!   What Are Other Names for the Hospitallers? Hospitaller Knights. Source: Ralph Hammann   The exact name for this order is “Knights of the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.” They are also known as the Order of Saint John, Knights of Saint John, and Order of Hospitallers. The names did change over time, reflecting location changes. They became the “Knights of Malta” in 1530 after settling in Malta, pushed there by the Ottoman Empire.   Why Was the Hospitaller Order Established Amidst the Crusades? The Hospitaller Castle Krak Des Cavaliers in Syria. Source: AlluringWorld.com   Despite defeating the formidable Muslim armies capturing Jerusalem and the lands around, the Holy Land was anything but safe. Founded much earlier than 1113 by Italian merchants, the Hospitallers built a hospital. Here, Benedictine monks helped poor, sick, or injured Christians in Jerusalem or around.    Their mission changed after Papal recognition in 1113, becoming a military order like the Templars. Their Knights typically wore red surcoats with a white eight-pointed cross as a symbol. Their mission changed slightly, becoming defenders of the Holy Land. This mission lasted until 1291, when Muslim armies retook territory lost two centuries before. Their combined military and humanitarian ethos set them apart from their peers, like the Templars or Teutonic Knights.    How Did the Hospitallers Organize Themselves? Papal Order for Hospitallers. Source: The Order of Malta   Like the other knightly orders, the order was headed by a Grand Master. The Master’s responsibilities included overall leadership, military, and peaceful roles. The second in command, the Grand Commander, assisted him.    The Hospitallers organized themselves around their dual roles as soldiers and healers. The Knights wore white cloaks with red crosses. The Hospitallers, as did the non-military members, wore white crosses on black cloaks. All were professional soldiers, knights being the era’s shock troops. Though the order’s headquarters was in Jerusalem, they built stations, hospitals, and castles throughout the Holy Land and Europe, the Krak Des Cavaliers in Syria is considered the best preserved. A local Arab ruler started building in 1031, but the Knights acquired the site and built this massive fortress. This remained a significant stronghold until 1271.   The Hospitaller Order used local cavalry called turcopoles, who, too, wore white with red crosses. The priests, doctors, and chaplains also had equally important roles.    What Catholic Symbols Represented the Hospitaller Order? Maltese Cross. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The European Catholic knightly orders used the Cross on their surcoats, shields, documents, and buildings. The order adopted the eight-point Maltese Cross in 1126 for the Hospitallers, also called the Cross of Saint John. The eight points represent a Hospitaller’s virtues: reverence for the Church, piety, loyalty, courage, honor and glory, caring for the sick or poor, disregard for death, and honesty.    The Hospitallers used the Amalfi Cross on banners, flags, and other insignia. Similar to the Maltese Cross, this also contained eight points. Lastly, the Order used a white cross on a black background on their surcoats. This embodied their purity and dedication.    When Did the Hospitaller Knights Rise to Prominence?   Raymond Du Puy. Source: Blessed-Gerard.org   The First Crusade in 1099 led to the founding of the Hospitaller Order in Jerusalem. They garnered a reputation for healing and aiding pilgrims. That mission changed in the 1120s under Raymond Du Puy, who gradually militarized the order. He offered the King of Jerusalem the Knights to help defend the Kingdom against Islam. The official Papal recognition boosted the Order’s reputation. The Order helped defend the kingdom and lifted the 1153 lifting of the Seige of Askelon, showing their military prowess.   Where Did the Knights Go After the Holy Land Was Lost? Illustration of the Knights Hospitaller. Source: Wikipedia   Jerusalem fell to the reconquering Muslim armies in 1187. Bereft of a home, the Order went to local locations like Acre. But this fell too to the Muslim armies who now possessed the initiative. The Knights retreated to Cyprus and then Rhodes in 1310. It took the Turks almost 200 years to recapture Rhodes. The Hospitallers’ toughness kept the Ottoman Empire at bay. Upon losing Rhodes in 1530, the Hospitallers were given Malta. This remained their primary location until later troubles.   Where Are the Hospitallers Now?   The Hospitallers’ military arm no longer exists. Several organizations carry on their humanitarian traditions. A successor is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a Catholic order providing worldwide aid. Others, like the Order of Saint John in Sweden, carry out activities like disaster relief.

  Water is the fundamental element that nourishes the Amazon rainforest. Its rivers are home to a sacred world that gives energy to a complex ecosystem that includes biological, spiritual, and inanimate elements. The waters of the Amazon River and its tributaries are home to the green anaconda, the largest snake in the world. Due to its biological importance, many indigenous communities have incorporated it into their cosmological and mythical stories. Aside from the jaguar, the green anaconda is the animal with the greatest cultural significance among the communities that have historically inhabited the rainforest.   Making a Myth: Why the Green Anaconda? Photograph of a green anaconda by Ed George. Source: Nat Geo Image Collection.   Different mythical stories about the green anaconda can be found in different locations in the Amazon rainforest. Indigenous communities have associated the shape and nature of the Amazon River with the anaconda because of, on the one hand, its presence in the aquatic landscape of the Amazon, and on the other, because of how the river bends, taking the shape of the curves of a snake. In these communities’ mythical stories and cosmogonic structures, anacondas have been associated with creating the world and humankind, celestial phenomena, and cultural life surrounding water in the tropical rainforest.   In the northwest sector of the forest, specifically in the Colombian region of Vaupés, indigenous communities believe that an ancestral anaconda was the creator of life’s cultural and social order who, through journeying the Amazon River, gave birth to all the communities inhabiting the rivers and tributaries throughout the rainforest. The ancestral anaconda created space and time and distributed the communities alongside the river, teaching them distinctive cultural practices, languages, and beliefs.   The Ancestral Anaconda of the Amazon Undated photo of some of the pictographs found in the Serranía del Chiribiquete. Fernando Urbina. Source: Semana   The broader anaconda myth explains how an ancestral anaconda was involved in the creation of the universe. The snake started a journey through the waters of the Amazon River, beginning from the Water Doors in the east—also called the Lake of Milk—and heading towards the Vaupés region in the west, “the center of the world.”   The great snake was believed to be at once an animal and a canoe, where all the original human communities embarked. During the creation journey, the anaconda-canoe would emerge from the depths of the waters to the surface to leave ancestral human communities alongside the banks of the river. In some variations of the myth, these were distinct groups of people, including both indigenous peoples and Europeans, demonstrating their historical contact with these communities.   The most significant physical representations of this dual entity have been found in the Serranía del Chiribiquete, a mountainous region in the Colombian Amazon rainforest where ancient pictographs have been found. The anthropologist Castaño-Uribe has described the pictographs as representing anaconda-canoes over which human beings stand and raise their hands to the sky. This suggests a shamanistic relation between veneration practices and the sacredness of the anaconda as one of the most important entities of the Amazon ecosystem.   The myth of the ancestral anaconda varies depending on each community’s linguistic or cultural distinctions. Anthropologist Stephen Hugh-Jones referenced this phenomenon of narrative heterogeneity, describing the myth of the anaconda as a tree with several branches due to the different versions that he found had been recorded.   Undated photo of Desana people. Source: El País.   Among the Desana community in the eastern Amazon rainforest of Brazil, for example, the story describes a boat that was simultaneously a great cobra, or the “grandfather of the world.” This being traveled upriver, and along its trajectory, it stopped at houses next to the waters, leaving entire communities free to enter the houses and perform the first ritualistic ceremonies necessary to settle down and start their social and cultural life.   In the same community, anthropologist Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff added that the anaconda-canoe was used by the creator god, the Sun, to send people to the Earth. This story demonstrates a sexual association with the anaconda, as it is also considered the uterus where humans were conceived.   Among the Tukano people, the ancestral anaconda has a double association: one a terrestrial link to the Amazon River and one a supernatural link associated with the Milky Way. The clear sediment left by the Amazon River during the rainy season and the white liquid that seeps from some hallucinogenic plants are associated with the primordial insemination liquids in the story of humankind’s creation. Mythical stories from other communities associate the anaconda with musical instruments, ceramics, healing rituals, and prevalent and popular dualisms of female-male, day-night, or Sun-Moon.   Additional Anaconda Myths Photo of the Milky Way from a maloca. Jonathan Dávila. 2016. Source: Jonathan Dávila photography   In addition to this story about the origins of the indigenous communities and the world’s creation, mythical associations with the anaconda are found in other regions, specifically in the Peruvian part of the Amazon. This region is home to the Shipibo-Conibo, Ashanika, and Aguaruna peoples. Here, a dangerous mythical anaconda, Yakumama, guards and protects the waters of the Amazon River.   The name Yakumama comes from the Quechua words yaku (agua) and mama (mother), meaning the Mother of Water. The mythical story that made this snake famous in some areas of Bolivia and Peru claims that a giant anaconda used to live undisturbed by humankind. One day, in a time when the rainforest existed in complete harmony, the anaconda was disturbed by a fisherman. Due to the man’s unwelcome presence, Yakumama created a whirlpool from which it emerged, putting the boat and the fisherman in immense danger. Desperate, the man prayed to Inti, the sun god, and asked for help. Eventually, the man managed to flee toward Lake Titicaca, where he could finally escape the dangers of the unexpected encounter.   Other communities tell a different story, narrating how a subtle whipping sound used to be heard coming out from the deep waters. Once, a young warrior from the community, Yahu, went downriver to ask Yakumama the reason for its sorrow. The great snake responded that the lament was because future generations were not going to respect and protect the rainforest. Yahu then decides to join Yakumama and work together to protect the jungle, teaching communities to maintain the balance between all beings inhabiting the forest.   Water is Life: The Centrality of the Amazon River Photo of Tukano people. Márcio Meira. 1990. Source: Povos Indígenas no Brasil.   Different Amazonian stories reflect a profound respect for all the natural and mythological entities that shape the ecological structures of the rainforest. The myths teach values of veneration and protection of the balance between all entities, which should be maintained to safeguard a delicate biological and spiritual order. Myths are also essential in organizing heterogeneous communities with different beliefs, languages, and ritualistic practices. In the myth of the ancestral anaconda, for example, the order in which the communities descended from the snake corresponds to the hierarchical distribution between different people that defines how communities see each other to this day. This ensures a correct system of social, economic, and even kinship exchange between different communities.   Although cultural and geographical aspects specific to each community shape the variations of the myths surrounding the anaconda, the story’s root always refers to the snake’s power as one of the most prominent and most feared and respected animals in the rainforest. The similarities between the snake’s body and the river’s shape reflect how Amazonian communities have preserved strong cosmological narratives that relate the physical phenomena perceived in the environment to their cultural life.   Undated photo of the Amazon River. Alexander Gerst. Source: National Geographic   What the myth of the great anaconda truly reveals is the importance of water as a giver of life and as the center of biological and cultural life in the Amazon rainforest. The anaconda’s journey through the Amazon River represents the very route through which all communities were created. The myth of Yacumama talks about the respect that must be paid to the forest and all living beings that are part of it. The anaconda protects the balance of the ecological structures of the forest and represents a silent power that should not be disturbed so as to maintain peace, embodying the nature of the rainforest itself.   Today in Brazil, some of the indigenous communities keeping the myths alive to be passed to newer generations, such as the Desana, are in danger of extinction as their territories are being threatened by the deforestation and displacement caused by intensive exploitation of their land. This has been exacerbated in recent years by the indiscriminate granting of extraction rights to companies looking for natural resources located within ancestral territories. In this context, understanding the local ways of living in harmony with the environment is a way to raise awareness of the threats they are currently facing and to foster support for these communities that, in their isolation, find themselves vulnerable to the dangers of progress and civilization in the Amazon rainforest.   Sources:   Guida Navarro, Alexandre. (2021). La anaconda como serpiente-canoa: mito y   chamanismo en la Amazonía Oriental, Brasil. Boletín de Antropología Vol. 36 No. 61 January-June 2021.   Cayón, L. (2013). Pienso, luego creo: La teoría makuna del mundo. ICANH. Bogotá.

Robert Smith & co. took on the very chirpy and unCure-like Hello Goodbye for a Paul McCartney tribute album