About life among the maya . From ancient sumer, clay tablets reveal astonishing details about daily life 5,000 years ago, and tell the story of the invention of writing. Symbols can be the gateway to the hearts and minds of ancient people. Their decipherment is one of the greatest challenges facing archaeologists today. We humans are social animals. Our need to communicate is universal. Some of our messages can be easily understood. But we communicate, too, through abstract symbols that have meaning only within a particular culture. These symbols take many forms. The flag is a symbol. A gesture says, were number one. The uniform is a symbol that identifies the official and the player. The game itself is symbolic ritualized combat with clearly defined rules. Even sound can be a symbol. [ whistle blows ] the whistle signals the end of play. But why a whistle . Why not a gong . Why a striped shirt and not a plaid one . The choice is arbitrary. But within this culture, the meaning is mutua
Facing archaeologists today. We humans are social animals. Our need to communicate is universal. Some of our messages can be easily understood. But we communicate, too, through abstract symbols that have meaning only within a particular culture. These symbols take many forms. The flag is a symbol. A gesture says, were number one. The uniform is a symbol that identifies the official and the player. The game itself is symbolic ritualized combat with clearly defined rules. Even sound can be a symbol. [ whistle blows ] the whistle signals the end of play. But why a whistle . Why not a gong . Why a striped shirt and not a plaid one . The choice is arbitrary. But within this culture, the meaning is mutually accepted. The use of symbols is the single most distinguishing feature of any culture. But as distinct as they are, all symbols are used for the same purpose to communica, manipulate, and preserve information. The circle of coral symbolizes the night sky. But this lesson depends on the us
Is the chief means whereby the understanding may most fully and abundantly appreciate the infinite works of nature. [bell ringing] this is the countryside seen 500 years ago by a child who was destined to become one of the unique figures in the history of western civilization. What he began to learn in this italian countryside outside vinci was to know how to see. His genius gave him the ability to see clearly what others could only see mistily, transforming his life and influencing ours as well. As painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, and scientist, he searched the whole nature of creation, always beginning with what he could see. Leonardo da vinci was the natural son of piero da vinci and a handsome peasant girl named caterina. Leonardos character as a man suggests that he had a happy childhood. Throughout his life, he was sensitive, generous, and gentle. The story is told of him buying up Little Songbirds in the marketplace of florence so that he could free them from their cages.
Their decipherment is one of the greatest challenges facing archaeologists today. We humans are social animals. Our need to communicate is universal. Some of our messages can be easily understood. But we communicate, too, through abstract symbols that have meaning only within a particular culture. These symbols take many forms. The flag is a symbol. A gesture says, were number one. The uniform is a symbol that identifies the official and the player. The game itself is symbolic ritualized combat with clearly defined rules. Even sound can be a symbol. [ whistle blows ] the whistle signals the end of play. But why a whistle . Why not a gong . Why a striped shirt and not a plaid one . The choice is arbitrary. But within this culture, the meaning is mutually accepted. The use of symbols is the single most distinguishing feature of any culture. But as distinct as they are, all symbols are used for the same purpose to communica, manipulate, and preserve information. The circle of coral symbol
Stolen suv. How police finally brought him down. Im having the best week of my life. The king of parody is now a king of pop. Weird al skyrockets to the top of the charts for the first time in his career. He says its blowing his mind why Everyone Wants to have mandatory fun. That kind of wrap is just the best we do say good morning, america. And weird al, how do you like me now . Number one. You never know whats going to pop. You have no idea but, boy, his heart is so good. No question about that. We have a lot to get to. Right to that breaking news, another passenger jet disappears, this time in africa. Abcs david kerley is tracking the latest. Good morning, david. Reporter good morning, george. A grim week in aviation with what appears to be another tragedy. Heres what we know at this point from africa. An air algiers flight from burkina faso, algeria lost contact from controllers and has disappeared from radar. The aircraft was md83 that was being operated by a Spanish Company for a