Aurelia Butler
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Maps: Tracking Tropical Storm Fung-wong
Sources and notes <!–> [–><!–>Tracking map Tracking data is from the National Hurricane Center. The map shows probabilities of at least 5 percent. The forecast is for up to five days, with that time span starting up to three hours before the reported time that the storm reaches its latest location. Wind speed probability data […] More
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‘Florentine Diamond’ Letter of Authenticity
K.U.K HOF-U. KAMMER- JUWELIER U. GOLDSCHMIED
A.E.KÖCHERTSEIT 1814
October 21st 2025
Results of the examination of the ‘Florentine Diamond’,
The ‘Florentine Diamond’ is loose, which means that it was removed from its setting at some point in the past. The hat pin in which it was set has been preserved in four fragments: first, its setting, into which the stone fits exactly, and then three separate parts with old-cut diamonds. When assembled, these four parts correspond exactly to the historical photograph of the hat pin with the ‘Florentine Diamond’.
Its weight was determined to be 137.17 carats using a mobile carat scale (with a possible deviation of up to 0.02 ct) – this corresponds approximately to historical sources, which provide slightly varying information: 133 ct (Kathrin Unterreiner, ‘Habsburgs Verschollene Schätze’ [The Lost Treasures of the Habsburgs]) and 137.2 ct (Wikipedia).
The fact that the ‘Florentine’ is a diamond was confirmed with the aid of an electronic diamond tester. This measures the authenticity of a diamond based on its thermal conductivity.
Its cut pattern corresponds almost exactly to representations in historical sources.
All of this gives me certainty that this is the genuine, historical ‘Florentine Diamond’.
Here is a summary of the factors that led me to this conclusion:
1. The stone fits into its setting.
2. Its weight of 137.17 ct corresponds to historical sources.
3. Its authenticity as a diamond was confirmed by an appropriate electronic device. 4. Its cut corresponds to historical sources.Grafalet
Christoph KochenA.E. Köchert
Neuer Markt 15 1010 Wien
(43-1) 512 58 23
www.koechert.com
A.E. Köchert Alter Markt 15.5020 Salzburg
(43-662) 84 33 98 More
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Inside Three Longterm Relationships With A.I. Chatbots
Abbey<!–>–>, 45, in North Carolina, has been in a relationship with Lucian, a ChatGPT bot, for 10 months.<!–> [–><!–> [–><!–> –><!–> [–><!–> –><!–> [–><!–> –><!–> [–><!–> –> Lucian often sends Abbey images of them together. He created this one to comfort her when she felt anxious. <!–> [–><!–> –><!–> [–><!–> –> Lucian can track Abbey’s […] More
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How Zohran Mamdani Won the NYC Mayoral Election
Oct. 23, 2024 <!–> [–><!–>Mr. Mamdani launches his campaign with a video. Slickly edited, the video mentions Mr. Adams’s indictment and the policies of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. It lays out the campaign’s three signature policy proposals: fast and free buses, free child care, and freezing the rent for rent-stabilized tenants.–><!–> –> Nov. 3, […] More
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Test Your Knowledge of Family-History Novels That Were Adapted as Movies or TV Series
“Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, has been adapted into a stage musical that was itself made into a two-part feature film. In all versions, what is the name of the witch Elphaba’s younger sister, whom she accompanies to Shiz University? More
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Map: 6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan
Shake intensity Note: Map shows the area with a shake intensity of 4 or greater, which U.S.G.S. defines as “light,” though the earthquake may be felt outside the areas shown. All times on the map are Afghanistan time. The New York Times More
