ANCIENT INVENTIONS LOST TO THE AGES WE STILL DON’T KNOW HOW THEY WERE MADE
Even as the modern world becomes more technologically advanced, we still haven’t been able to uncover all the secrets of some ancient civilizations. From waterproof fire to unbreakable steel, these carefully guarded inventions were taken to the grave and have never been recreated or rediscovered. Like the civilizations that birthed them, they have been lost in time.
variously shaped stones is still unknown, but its construction allowed the citadel to withstand earthquakes for centuries.
DAMASCUS STEEL
GREEK FIRE
SAKSAYWAMAN BLOCKS
In 500 A.D., superior swords and knives began to appear in the Middle East. It was said that their blades could cut through a feather midair and that they were stronger than any other metal. “Damascus steel” was named for Damascus, Syria, the city where the steel was supposedly created. However, the secret to creating the blades was in the steel ingots from India used to make them, called Wootz steel. The technique for creating Damascus steel was lost in the 18th century, and though many have tried, no one has been able to replicate Wootz or Damascus steel.
There’s a reason the Byzantine Empire ruled the land and sea in Eastern Europe for seven centuries. That reason was Greek fire, an incredibly flammable, petroleum- based substance that the Byzantines used to incinerate their enemies. It was unique from other incendiary materials because water purportedly did not put out the fire. Some even reported that water helped it spread. Its composition was carefully guarded by the Byzantines, and with the decline of their empire, the secret ingredients for Greek fire were lost.
On the other side of the world, the ancient Incans built an awe-inspiring citadel outside Cusco, the capital city of their empire. It was called Saksaywaman, and it functioned as a fortress, temple, and storage depot. However, it is not the function of the citadel that is mysterious, but the architecture. The walls of Saksaywaman are made with large stones, some weighing 200 tons, that are cut so precisely that mortar was not necessary to hold them together. The technique the Incan stonemasons used to fit the
DON’T RISK YOUR VISA!
A SIMPLE MISTAKE CAN HAVE MAJOR CONSEQUENCES
In California, we’re lucky to attract hardworking professionals from all over the world who come to live and work here on visas. Of course, because some of these individuals overstay their limited time in the US, agencies like ICE have been stepping up their enforcement efforts around the country. This heightened scrutiny can turn a simple speeding ticket into a full blown investigation. A SPEEDING TICKET CAN’T COST ME MY VISA, RIGHT? In theory, this is correct. A simple “fix-it ticket” or minor traffic infraction shouldn’t cost you your right to live and work here — only misdemeanors or felony charges carry that kind of weight. However, in practice, the way you conduct yourself during the traffic stop can determine whether immigration officials come knocking at your door. WHAT’S PROPER CONDUCT? We normally urge drivers to exercise their Fifth Amendment rights when being questioned at a traffic stop regarding the reason for the pullover. However, the worst thing you can do is
lie about your identity or other material fact. Be polite. Give the requested information to the officer not related to the offense and remember that normally fewer words on a stop are better. If immigration finds you lied to law enforcement, your chances of getting or keeping the legal status you want in the United States is much smaller. WHAT IF I DRIVE FOR A LIVING? This is where even a minor infraction could have major consequences for your visa. Under U.S. law, you must satisfy all the conditions of your visa for it to remain active. Thus, if having your license suspended means you are unable to do the job you came here to do, then your visa can be revoked. That’s where an experienced team of traffic attorneys comes in. If a traffic-related offense is putting your visa status at risk, our team can help. Even if you must be back in your home country during your appointed traffic court date, your legal representatives can show up in your place to defend your right to re-enter our nation legally.
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