Glossary
Allies
Allies refers to allies. They are not part of the community per se, but try to draw attention to the concerns and problems of the LGTBQIA+ community and fight for equal rights. Allies educate, intervene when they witness discrimination and show a presence at community events (such as the Pride Parade).
Anatomy Act of 1832
The legal text allows doctors, surgeons, anatomy teachers and medical students to carry out examinations and dissections on donated bodies. In particular, this refers to people who have died in hospitals, prisons or workhouses. You could also donate your body to avoid the funeral costs. This was paid for by the medical school. The Anatomy Act of 1832 was updated in 1984 (England/Wales) and 1992 (Northern Ireland).
You can take a look at the original document here:
Barry Callebaut
The cocoa processor has its headquarters in Switzerland. The Barry Callebaut Group operates worldwide and is the global market leader in high-quality chocolate and cocoa products. More than 13,000 employees work for the company in its 66 factories worldwide, which boasts more than 175 years of experience in handling chocolate. The company manufactures products for the industry as well as for chefs, confectioners and other consumers. The Barry Callebaut Group announces its 9-month sales figures for fiscal year 2023/2024. This puts sales at CHF 7.3 billion (EUR 7.68 billion). (Exchange rate as of Sept. 11, 2024)
Awareness of Burke and Hare
Burke and Hare became so well known through their trial that entire limericks were even written about them:
"Up the close and down the stair
In the house with Burke and Hare
Burke's the butcher, Hare's the thief
Knox the man who buys the beef"
In addition, "burking" became a common word for suffocating a victim or "committing an anatomical murder".
Beer tents: List of the largest with their special features
Crossbow tent
With a total of more than 7,000 seats, this tent is the venue for the German Crossbow Championships.
Augustinian tent
It is supplied by its own butcher's shop. Since 2010 there has been the Augustiner Tower (height: 30 meters), which on the second floor is the storage area for the 200 liter wooden barrels of beer (also known as Hirschen). They are lowered down by means of an elevator and then rolled to the pub.
Marquee tradition
It offers space for more than 8,000 guests and can be found in the Alte Wies'n. There are still classic stone mugs, wooden barrels and performances by traditional costume groups. For wheat beer lovers, there is a separate beer garden with Franziskaner.
Fischer Vroni
15 meter long open grill and Augustiner beer from wooden barrels with Steckerlfisch and other specialties. From time to time, Arnold Schwarzenegger swings the baton here to the brass band music.
Hacker marquee
In the tent you will find modern paintings on 2000 m². This is where actors and politicians sit and enjoy their drinks. On the last Sunday of the Wiesensonn, the inside of the tent is lit up with thousands of sparklers while contemplative music is played.
Hofbräu festival tent
is the only tent with a standing area and space for more than 10,000 guests. Decorative wreaths of hop vines hang under the tent roof. The Hofbräu tent is themed around the angel Aloisius. Here is his story:
"The angel Aloisius, alias servant Alois Hingerl, went to heaven after his sudden death. There he not only clashed with the angels, but was also too rebellious and loud for the Lord, who sent him back to the Bavarian state government with his divine advice. However, he never got there because, as a regular at the Hofbräuhaus, he first tried to find his way back to his old regulars' table. And so the Bavarian state government is still waiting for divine inspiration today - sometimes over a beer in the Hofbräu beer tent."
Löwenbräu tent
It is very environmentally conscious. No disposable crockery is used, the tent's own water is recycled (the rinse water is used for the toilet). The water costs saved in this way are donated 16000 light bulbs are LED. The operators have already won the Free State's gold medal for environmental protection several times.
The lion at the entrance has been roaring "Lööööööwenbräu" every minute since 1949, and this is the meeting place for TSV 1860 Munich fans.
Pschorr Bräurosl
A real "Bräurosl" sits on horseback at the opening of the Oktoberfest. She is selected from many applicants. This tent is also home to Gay Sunday, the first Sunday of the Wiesn, where the LGTBQIA+ community meets in the rainbow-flagged tent. This has been a tradition for 30 years.
Schützen marquee
is one of the oldest tents (1926), has its own shooting range and is the largest tent on the Wiesn in terms of area. There are 110 shooting ranges, each with 10 meter lanes, which are located in the tent annex and some are even two-storey high.
Schottenhamel Festhalle
The traditional O'zapft has been held here since 1950. In contrast to the other tents, the tables in the tent, which seats around 9000 people, are not just arranged opposite each other. To facilitate conversation (and flirting), the benches are also placed around the corner.
"Bloody" Mackenzie
Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh was born in Dundee in 1636, attended the University of Aberdeen, the University of St. Andrews and the University of Bourges in France before starting his career as a lawyer. He was admitted to the bar in 1659, but lost one of his first cases. Mackenzie's career nevertheless took off and he was even appointed deputy judge between 1661 and 1663. In this role, he was also responsible for witch trials, among other things. It is interesting to note that he defended the accused women as "harmless old women".
In 1677, he was promoted to "Lord Avocate of Scotland" and showed his true colors two years after taking up this position. At this time there was religious unrest between the Covenanters and the government. He had the prisoners of this unrest tortured, almost starved and frozen to death. It was during this time that he was given the name "Bloody Mackenzie". Mackenzie was a multifaceted man, as can be seen from the writings he produced. In addition to legal texts, he wrote on religious topics and philosophized about morality. He criticized intolerance and inhumanity. He was also the founder of the Scottish National Library. He died in Westminster in London in 1691, but was buried in a mausoleum in Edinburgh. Only a few meters away from the Covenanters' prison camp, which he himself had built.
Burlesque
Elements of theater, dance and cabaret are combined here. Elaborate costumes are often worn during performances, which are then gradually removed. The performers (sometimes also men) never undress completely. The difference to a striptease lies in the playful approach, the self-irony and the humor. It is precisely these characteristics that make burlesque so special. The best-known performer is Dita Von Teese, who has reinterpreted the 19th century art form as "neo-burlesque".
Canon Episcopi
Is a canonical regulation from the early Middle Ages. In the 10th century, this collection of decrees and regulations was compiled by Regino von Prüm, a German abbot and bishop. The Christian church wanted to use it to control and eradicate various forms of superstition. The Canon Episcopi was a guide for dealing with people accused of heresy (doctrine, philosophy, opinion or even heresy that deviated from the church's beliefs). The Canon Episcopi took a clear stand AGAINST witchcraft and sorcery. The nocturnal flights of women in the wake of the pagan goddess Diane were expressly condemned as imagination and delusion. Clergymen who participated in the belief in witchcraft or sorcery were removed from office and punished. This represented a serious attempt to preserve the purity of the clergy.
Colin Grant
Colin Grant, a clergyman and medium, performed an exorcism at the Black Mausoleum. He was accompanied by a journalist and a photographer during the exorcism. His intention was not to tame the spirit of Bloody Mackenzie (which he said was overpowering), but rather to appease the souls of the hundreds of Covenanters buried nearby. During the expulsion in November 1999, Grant said several times that "this ritual would be the death of him".
The exorcism culminated around two o'clock in the morning when photographer Susan Burrell captured something unusual during the ritual: In a window behind the priest, a dark figure appeared to be inside the locked and empty church, and everyone present felt "something weird." Shortly afterwards, Grant collapsed, muttering "This is going to kill me, this is going to kill me". The exorcism had to be ended. A few weeks after this attempt, the 66-year-old Grant died of a heart attack during a séance he had led.
Dirndl
The position of the bow on a traditional dirndl says a lot. Here is a short summary:
Bound on the right: The wearer is already taken (in a partnership, married or engaged) or simply not interested in flirting.
Bound on the left: Single and looking for Mr. Right. Attention: This is not a free ticket! Please treat everyone with respect and courtesy!
Tied in the middle: This is Wies's version of "It's complicated". The wearer is undecided or simply doesn't want to reveal her relationship status.
Tied at the back: This can either be a waitress at the Oktoberfest or a widow.
Edible cannabis
Most beginners prefer this type of consumption. The active cannabis ingredient THC and CBD is incorporated into food. These can be cookies, gummy bears, muffins or similar. However, caution is advised here: The effect is delayed (as it is absorbed through the digestive tract) and lasts longer.
It can take between 30 minutes and two hours for an effect to occur, but this then lasts between 12 and 24 hours. In comparison: if you smoke cannabis, the effect sets in within a few minutes and reaches its peak after around half an hour.
According to the CCSA (Canadian Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse), one should not consume more than 2.5 mg of the active ingredient. Furthermore, it should not be consumed with alcohol.
Cemetery
Space is scarce in some cemeteries in Mexico, which leads to a somewhat macabre measure for Europeans. If a family member dies and the grave is still "occupied", the family receives a call from the cemetery. The body is exhumed from the grave. The family then removes any remaining tissue from the bones. The now "cleaned" bones are placed in a box. This is then stored in a special recess on the back of the gravestone.
There are variations here too. In some areas, the "cleaning" is carried out by cemetery employees. Or the box is placed on the coffin of the recently deceased and then reburied. The exhumed body may also be cremated. However, for reasons of hygiene, the body may only be removed after seven years. If the grave is needed before this time, another resting place must be found.
Forms
A disclaimer must be signed on arrival at the Repair Café. The repair assistants are technically skilled, but not professional craftsmen. Therefore, no guarantee can be given for the repair.
You will also be informed that pictures/videos will be taken and possibly shared/posted on social media.(Data protection)
As the legal situation can change at any time, new forms may be added at any time. It is therefore best to read through the forms before signing them.
Grappling
In mixed martial arts, a distinction is made between striking and grappling. While striking is a short, quick contact (such as a controlled punch or kick), grappling is a longer physical contact that opens up the possibility of bringing the opponent to the ground. Grappling is therefore the opposite of striking.
Greyfriars
Greyfriars Cemetery has always been a place of death and destruction. Founded in 1562, it originally took the form of a depression, but due to the 500,000 or so buried dead, the plot became a hill. Due to the amount of corpses, it can happen on rainy days that human remains protrude from the earth and a white bone appears among the green grass.
Guard Pull & Guard Pass
In the guard position, a fighter lies on his back while his opponent stands or kneels next to him. The fighter lying on the ground has his legs wrapped around the waist of the other fighter, creating a barrier that makes it difficult for the standing/kneeling opponent to break through.
Guard pull means that the person lying on the ground uses a technique to pull the standing opponent closer to him in order to restore his barrier (guard). The balance of the standing fighter can be disturbed very effectively, making attacks possible.
Guard Pass is used by the standing fighter to break through his opponent's barrier. After successful execution, he can assume a dominant position and bring his opponent under control.
Belt in BJJ
Here is a quote from Helio Gracie:
The Belt is just good for holding your pants.
It is too thin to protect your ass from being kicked!
(The belt is sufficient to keep the pants up. But it is too narrow to protect your bottom from a kick).
This shows that the founder of BJJ was not so strict with the categorization.
The classification (adults) according to the guidelines of the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation):
White belt
Blue belt
Purple belt
Brown belt
Black belt - there are ten grades here.
Black-red belt
Red and white belt
Red belt - here there are ninth and tenth degrees. It is only awarded after 48 years as a black belt holder.
Depending on talent, commitment and mental strength, it takes ten years or more to reach the basic black belt. There are several intermediate levels between the white and blue belt, which are indicated by white stripes glued to the belt.
Incidentally, there are 13 different belt colors for children.
Hash
Like marijuana/weed/grass, hashish/hash/shit is a cannabis product. It is obtained from the female hemp plant. However, hash is made from the resin of the plant and is much more concentrated than marijuana. Hash is available in the form of blocks or slabs and has a sticky consistency.
Henderson
Jan-Andrew-Henderson (author of a book about the poltergeist and operator of the Black Hart Tour) says about the Bloody Mackenzie myth: "I'm a very science-minded person and I'm not sure about the existence of ghosts. But I just have no other explanation for the unusually high number of people who have collapsed, had their fingers broken and so on. I've even had phone calls from two people saying their partners have passed away in front of them and they blame the ghost."
In October 2003, there was a fire in the offices of Black Hart Entertainment and Jan-Andrew Henderson's nearby private home. "Fire experts were unable to determine the cause of the fire. However, five years' worth of letters, photographs, recordings and reports about Mackenzie were destroyed, as were all the possessions I had in the world. None of the surrounding buildings were destroyed." The author of horror books has since turned his back on Scotland and now lives in Australia.
Initiative HOSI
HOSI stands for HOmoSexuelle Initiative Wien. It was founded in 1979 and is the oldest LGTBQIA+ organization in Austria. It focuses on lobbying, supporting people who are about to come out and fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation. HOSI ensures that the issue is not lost in the political landscape (by supporting legislative changes) and carries out educational work. The organization also runs a community center in Vienna, which serves as a meeting point for the community. HOSI is the organizer and co-operator of events such as the annual Vienna Pride.
Here is the link to the organization:
Kilt
The kilt is the traditional clothing of the Scots. It is a knee-length piece of woolen fabric that is wrapped around the waist. The tartan, i.e. the check pattern of the fabric, provides information about the wearer's clan/family. The kilt is often worn on formal occasions (e.g. weddings, ceremonies or other events such as the Highland Games). The kilt is traditionally worn with knee-high stockings, a small bag (sporran, worn on the front of the kilt) and special shoes (ghillie brogues, lace-up shoes without a tongue). In Edinburgh, there is a custom that if a man is caught wearing underwear under his kilt, he must drink a shot of brandy.
Professor Dr. Robert Knox
Robert Know studied at the Royal High School before attending the University of Edinburgh in 1810. After graduating in 1814, he joined the army to care for the wounded at the Battle of Waterloo. After living briefly in France and South Africa, he returned to Scotland in 1822. He was a driving force in the establishment of the Anatomy and Pathology Museum in the College of Surgeons. Dr. Knox was renowned for his excellent and accessible teaching. For all his accomplishments, he will forever be remembered by most in connection with the Burke and Hare murders. Before the Anatomy Act of 1832 came into force, access to teaching material in the form of cadavers was very difficult. Dissections were mainly carried out on dead bodies that had died in executions. However, the number of executions was steadily decreasing, which made it extremely difficult for him to train his students properly. In this respect, he was grateful for the fresh corpses he received from Burke and Hare and did not ask many questions. After Burke and Hare were caught, Burke wrote a letter of exoneration for Dr. Knox. Because of this document, he was never prosecuted for his role in the murders. However, his reputation was ruined and he was forced to resign his position as a curator at the Royal College of Surgeons. After being pushed further and further out of the medical field, he eventually moved to London and published several books there. He died in Hackney, London, in 1862.
La Catrina
The skeleton lady is THE symbol of the Day of the Dead in Mexico. During the processions, many people can be seen made up like La Catrina. She was originally created by a Mexican engraver named José Guadalupe Posada. He made fun of the upper classes with La Catrina at the beginning of the 20th century. Unfortunately, his art was only appreciated after his death and he died in poverty.
LGTBQIA+
Lesbian- Women who are emotionally and/or sexually attracted to other women.
Gay- Men who are emotionally and/or sexually attracted to other men.
Transgender(transpersons) - people whose external sexual characteristics do not match their gender identity.
Bisexual(bi-sexual) - people who are attracted to both men and women.
Queer(or questioning) - an umbrella term for people who do not want to be categorized in the traditional categories.
Intersexed- people who have variations in their physical sex characteristics. They have sexual characteristics that are not exclusively male or female. Some of these variations are visible from birth, others only develop with age. Around 2,000 people in Austria are intersex.
Asexual- People who have little to no sexual desire.
+ is intended to indicate that the list is not exhaustive and also includes all other orientations.
Further terms:
Straight - another term for heterosexuality, i.e. when people feel attracted to the opposite sex
Cis (cisgender) - the gender identity corresponds to the congenital biological sex. The term can be seen as the opposite of transgender.
Dimension
This unit of measurement, which is used for beer especially at the Oktoberfest, stands for one liter.
Marijuana
Marijuana/weed/grass are the dried flowers and leaves of the female hemp plant. The psychoactive substances THC and CBD are extracted from these parts of the plant. Consuming these substances by smoking or eating marijuana-infused foods results in euphoria, a high (THC) or relaxation (CBD).
Marijuana is also used in medicine: The non-psychoactive active ingredient cannabidiol is used to treat sleep disorders, epilepsy, chronic pain and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is used to treat nausea (e.g. during chemotherapy), loss of appetite and muscle cramps.
However, with THC, the possible side effects that you have to accept for the high feeling are considerable: anxiety, paranoia and short-term memory disorders are not uncommon. CBD has fewer side effects: Fatigue, diarrhea or altered appetite have been observed here.
What is behind the term "OSS"?
But what is it about the exclamation "Oss" that you often hear in BJJ? There are various explanations for this. OSS comes from Japanese and is used as a short form of a greeting (good morning). Another interpretation is that by saying "OSS", the instructions, demands, criticism or wishes of the teacher/respectful person are to be followed. Without questions, discussion or contradiction. This is intended to reduce the ego of the BJJ student. "Just listen, understand and do" is the motto.
"O'zapft is"
At 10:45, festively decorated floats pulled by horses parade from Munich city center to the Oktoberfest grounds. At midday, the Lord Mayor performs the famous barrel tapping. With as few blows of a wooden hammer as possible, he tries to get the tap into the barrel - without a big shower of beer. After his famous exclamation "O'zapft is - Auf eine friedliche Wies'n", the Bavarian Minister President receives the first beer. Afterwards, twelve firecrackers signal to the festival hosts that the beer can now be served. The Wies'n is officially opened.
Collaboration on the Hexenhammer
The Benedictine abbot Trithemius claimed that Sprenger had even co-authored the Hexenhammer. However, the relationship between Kramer and Sprenger had been strained since the early 1480s. Nevertheless, in 1495 the abbot wrote in his book "De sciptoribus ecclesiasticis" that he had collaborated on the Hexenhammer. This assertion was contradicted by Sprenger's successor as prior of the Dominican monastery. In a letter, Vanckel spoke out strongly against Sprenger having collaborated in any way on the Hexenhammer.
Points at BJJ
There are three ways to win a BJJ competition.
On the one hand, if the opponent taps, i.e. gives up. Scoring points also leads to victory. If you have more points than your opponent at the end of the specified time, you win the tournament. These are awarded, for example, if the opponent is held on the ground for at least three seconds (takedown), if you overcome the opponent's defense (guard pass) or if you get onto the opponent's back or upper body (mount) using a technique. The third way to win is to disqualify the opponent.
Recovery and Defense
Just as important as an active attack is fighting back to a better "guard" position. The methods used to achieve this are known as "recovery". Some examples of this are Granby Recovery, High Leg or Frame, Shrimps and Reguard.
To protect yourself from submission holds, you use "defense". BJJ trains body, mind, endurance and strength. This is why self-reflection is important here. After losing a fight, you should acknowledge your own mistakes and learn from them.
During the fight, you should be one step ahead of your opponent, but also develop the strength to accept failure.
Religious unrest (Covenanters)
The Covenanters, a Scottish group who had sworn an oath of allegiance to the Presbyterian denomination, did not agree with the changes introduced by King Charles II to the practice of religion. He had introduced strict controls, which meant that the Covenanters were extremely restricted in their practice of faith. Despite the ban, they continued to hold religious ceremonies, which were regularly broken up by government troops. At one of these meetings in 1678, however, the Covenanters turned the tables and attacked the pro-government troops (aka government dragoons).
To bring the rebels to heel, a 5,000-strong army was raised and encircled the Covenanters at Bothwell Bridge on the River Clyde. The Covenanter force, commanded by Robert Hamilton, was superior in numbers but lacked discipline and a functioning chain of command. The Covenanters were defeated by the government troops and more than 1000 Covenanters (1,184) were captured. They were handed over to the care of George Mackenzie, who imprisoned them in a camp in Edinburgh.
The grounds of the prison camp were much larger than today's cemetery. Nevertheless, there was not enough space for the many prisoners, so they were also housed at the Cannongate and in the Edinburgh Tollbooths. The prisoners of the Bothwell Bridge Battle did not remain alone for long: Further conflicts between the Covenanters and the troops loyal to King Charles II and James VII ensured that the number of prisoners in the prisons continued to rise sharply.
The Covenanters had landed in hell on earth. Unless they signed a document renouncing their faith, their stay in one of the prison camps was almost tantamount to a death sentence. Some were tortured, others were sentenced to death with the saying: "to be hanged on a gibbet till they be dead and their bodies be hung up on chains in the said place thill they rot" ("Hanged on a gibbet till they are dead and their bodies be hung up on chains in the said place thill they rot"). Another method of execution was to cut off the head. These were then displayed outside the city walls, impaled on stakes. The Covenanters also had to stay outside during the harsh Scottish winter. If they survived this, they were shipped off as slaves for American plantations.
The ship "The Crown" set sail for America on December 10, 1679 and was caught in a violent storm. It sank off Orkney Island, which further increased the number of dead Covenanters. The crew managed to partially escape from the doomed ship by sawing off the mast and balancing over it onto one of the islands after the ship ran aground on the sharp rocks near the shore. However, the many prisoners were not so lucky: on the captain's instructions, they were locked in the hold with the hatches closed, which meant their certain death. The reason for this was simple: the captain was paid per prisoner (alive or dead). However, if a prisoner escaped from the ship, he received no pay for that person. In the days that followed, the bodies of the prisoners were washed up on the coast of Orkney Island over a distance of almost five kilometers.
Only 48 people survived their captivity.
Repair Café
It all started with a lady from the Netherlands: Martine Postma. She had the idea of combining repairs and a cozy coffee klatch back in 2009. However, it wasn't until 2013 that the first Repair Café finally opened in Austria.
The Rieder Repair Café opens its doors every two months and is open to visitors between nine and twelve o'clock. Repairs are free of charge, but a small donation towards the cost is appreciated. The Repair Café is located in the foundry on the second floor. Please note: There may be a summer break during the summer. You should also keep an eye on the dates for Repair Café "On-Tour". The café then takes place in other municipalities.
Just as the café is open to all visitors free of charge, technically gifted repair helpers can always join in. If you are interested, simply contact Bernhard.
Schottenhamel
When the Schottenhamel family placed an order for an 8,000-seat tent with electric lighting in 1908, the Augsburg company J. Einstein was awarded the contract. The boss's nephew, a 17-year-old vacation jobber, eagerly helped to screw in the light bulbs. It was the young Albert Einstein, the world-famous physicist who later invented the theory of relativity.
Sparring
This term refers to the continuous training and practice fights that should be carried out consistently. Constant repetition burns the techniques into your memory so that at some point you automatically react to your opponent's actions without having to think about them (muscle memory).
Statement of the Theological University of Cologne on the Hexenhammer
It is explained that the first and second parts of the hammer, which deal with the existence of witches and their deeds) correspond to church teaching. With regard to the third part, which deals with the punishment of witches, they noted that this was also to be approved "provided it does not contradict the sacred canons. (Canons is a doctrinal and legal principle of canon law. Although the examples described in Hammer seemed credible, the book was only suitable for reading by learned and conscientious men because of these very examples. In a second private report, the same men, along with four others, declared the ideas of the Hexenhammer (harmful spells and the devil's pact) to be consistent with the faith.
Sweep
In this technique, the athletes swap positions. The fighter in the ground position (guard position) tries to put his standing/kneeling opponent in a worse position using the sweep technique and to put himself in a dominant position.
Takedowns
Even though BJJ is focused on ground fighting, some sparring (= practicing new lessons) and all competitions start in a standing position. Using various takedown methods, the opponents try to knock each other off balance and send the other fighter to the mat. In the best case scenario, the takedown ends with the thrower in a dominant position.
There are many types of takedowns: some of the most effective are the "single leg takedown" or the "double leg takedown". Here, either just one leg or both legs are grabbed and lifted by the opponent, resulting in a loss of balance.
Thomson Reuter Foundation
The Foundation is part of the global news and information services company Thomson Reuters. The Foundation is registered as an independent charity in the US and UK. Their aim is to promote media freedom, human rights and inclusive economies. One of the ways they try to do this is through news and free legal aid. "We believe that societies around the world should be free, fair and informed," is their mission statement.
Traditions
Shortly after Bloody Mackenzie's funeral, there was a test of courage that was particularly popular among children. They shouted outside the Black Mausoleum: "Bluidy Mackenzie, come oot if ye daur, draw the sneck and lift the bar" ("Bloody Mackenzie, come out if you dare, turn the key and open the latch").
Unusual occurrences concerning George Mackenzie
Attention: This is hearsay. No source could be found for these statements. However, for the sake of completeness, I would like to mention this here:
One woman reported that she had looked through the iron grating at the half-open door of the mausoleum and was "pushed back from the entrance by an eerie, cold-looking force". Another woman was found unconscious near Bloody Mackenzie's mausoleum a few days later - with severe bruising on her neck. She survived and testified that "invisible hands" had wrapped themselves around her neck. Similar injuries were also discovered on a young man found opposite Mackenzie's grave.
Incidents after the start of the tours
According to the operators of the Ghost Tour, more than 350 attacks on tour participants have been reported since 1998 (as of 2022). Of these, 180 people have allegedly lost their senses. These figures have been confirmed by documents (photos, written reports). Unfortunately, a fire broke out from an unexplained cause, destroying the evidence. There are also reports of some unusually cold spots as well as an extraordinarily high number of dead wildlife in the vicinity of the Black Mausoleum. The operator of the tour, Black Hart Entertainment, stated that "victims had their fingers broken, their hair pulled, punched and kicked". Unexplained bruising occurred among tour participants who came too close to Mackenzie's grave, as well as burns, rashes, nausea and sudden listlessness.
Interestingly, these symptoms only appeared in the visitors a certain time after the attack. The participants were already back at the hotel and relaxed. According to those affected from Black Hart Entertainment, most of the scratches disappeared within a short time. However, some others will have the scars for the rest of their lives.
During the tour, participants heard inexplicable laughter and growling, others told of strange knocking noises that seemed to come from underground. Here is a quote from one participant "We hadn't been in the Black Mausoleum long when we heard knocking noises that seemed to come from below. It kept getting louder and seemed to be moving up and down the walls." (Source: Reviews of the "City of the Death" tour)
When asked about possibly contacting victims of the attacks, the operator of Black Hart Entertainment, Mr. Henderson, explained in writing that "they receive many letters about incidents. However, the company's policy is to refrain from contacting victims again." (September 10, 2024
Union Canal
The Union Canal is a shipping canal that was built from 1817. It connects Edinburgh to the Forth and Clyde Canal. The length of the canal is approximately 50 kilometers. There are several tourist attractions to admire along the canal. One example of this is the only rotating boat elevator in the world: the Falkirk Wheel. There are also some magnificent buildings along the canal, such as Blackness Castle, Callendar House and Linlithgow Palace. Also worth mentioning is "The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway", a historic railroad that runs along the southern coast and the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Unavoidable
If a person dies in Mexico, the funeral procedure is similar to that in Austria. The deceased receives the last rites, depending on their faith and wishes, and is either buried or cremated. Cremation would be more practical due to the lack of space in some cemeteries. However, this is rejected by many Mexicans because of their faith.
Before the actual funeral, there is a "velorio" in the house of the deceased. This wake is attended by relatives and friends. Prayers are said (Rosarios) and mourning continues throughout the night. The next day, the funeral takes place at the cemetery. This is followed by a nine-day commemoration (Novena), followed by a funeral feast.
Choke and lever techniques
These holds, which are intended to make the opponent give up, are also known under the umbrella term "submission". "Chokes" and "locks" belong in this category. While air chokes cut off the air supply via the windpipe, blood chokes cut off the blood supply from the arteries to the brain, which can also lead to a brief fainting spell. For safety reasons, chokes with the hands are prohibited. As soon as the opponent gives up by tapping, any choke technique must be stopped immediately.
In addition to the choke techniques, the lever technique is the most popular form of attack in BJJ. This mainly focuses on the joints. Arm and wrist levers as well as leg and foot levers are particularly popular. It should be noted that not all levers are permitted in all belt classes. The application of the technique is stopped immediately as soon as the opponent gives up (tap) or when severe pain occurs.
Roots
Mitsuvo Maeda was a pioneer and taught his student Carlos Gracie the basic techniques of Kodokan judo. His lanky brother Helios urgently needed a lesson in self-defense. He was constantly being harassed on the street. Unfortunately, when practicing together, it turned out that the throws and holds taught by Maeda were not helpful for Helios in street fights. The Gracie brothers got together and adapted the technique to Helios' needs. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was born!
The Gracies imparted their knowledge at their school "Academia Gracie de Jiu Jitsu" in Rio de Janeiro, which was founded in 1925. The (unconfirmed) newspaper advertisements that Carlos placed in Brazilian newspapers are legendary: he invited anyone to compete against him in an open fight. Size, weight, age or martial arts experience didn't matter. A great advertisement for their school! These open competitions, which Carlos initiated, are still part of the "Gracie Jiu Jitsu" style today.
Aims of the chocolate Tony's Chocolonely
According to the company website, the aims/principles of the chocolate are:
Transparent supply chains - Tony's works with cocoa farmer cooperatives and pays the 11 wholesalers in West Africa prices that are fair and significantly above the market price.
Fair trade - by paying fair wages, farmers can do better and invest in their business. After all, they know how much they will receive for their produce in the future.
Drawing attention to inequality - the uneven distribution of chocolate means that the injustice in the producing countries also catches the eye of consumers here in Germany.
Social responsibility - Tony's works on education and health projects for the cocoa farmers and families/villages.