Whether we like it or not, weapons play a pivotal role in human history. Most of them are simple and ruthlessly practical, whereas others evolved to become highly ornate, to the point that they could no longer be used as actual weapons but as ceremonial pieces instead.

Socyberty has an interesting post about the 10 most unusual blades (including knives and swords) from around the world. Take, for example, the katar shown to the left:

The Katar, shown in the introduction, is a short punching sword from India. The hand fitted into the grip so that the blade was above the knuckles. It was a weapon used by the Rajput, referred to as “the most valiant warriors of the Indian sub continent.”

Used in close combat the blades were said to be able to punch through armour.

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From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by sagest.

The retro-fitted futuristic world of the film Blade Runner starring Harrison Ford may not be as far away as one might think. Director Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic dealt with such classic questions of “what does it mean to be human” while depicting the city of Los Angeles in the year 2019 as a smoggy dystopian future, a cultural melting pot brimming with skyscrapers, flying cars and inescapable corporate advertisements. Almost 30 years later the film is hailed as an overlooked masterpiece and has inspired multitudes of designers, engineers and artists.

Now you can also add “Real Estate Developer” to that list. Sonny Astani, a Los Angeles real estate mogul, is hoping to make one part of the film’s dystopian future a reality with 14-story animated billboards.

The plan is currently undergoing environmental review and pending approval by city officials. Officials are wary of anything billboard-related at the moment as downtown L.A already has its fair share of distracting lights and signs that have drawn complaints from area neighborhoods.

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From the Upcoming Queue, submitted by whitespace.