Funny commercial by Dutch insurance company 'Centraal Beheer.' It's one in a series of commercials where someone gets in trouble and all they have to do is call the insurance company.
The Prison Guard
100 Places To See Before You Die
Yes, some of these places I actually do want to see before I die. Like the pyramids, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, Easter Island, and New York.
Anatomy Of The Heart
Your heart is a very hard working muscle, which unlike other muscles of the body has to work around the clock to keep your blood circulating. It is useful to know the normal heart anatomy, so as to understand the conditions affecting the normal heart.
This online presentation helps to understand the structure and function of the heart. Also, it explains the risks, complications and provides guidelines for living with surgeries, conditions and procedures.
Home Schooled
Home Schooled is a comics series by American artist Ash Jackson.
Co-writing by Silas Jackson.
The Presurfer will feature a Home Schooled cartoon every Monday. This is an absolute exclusive cooperation between The Presurfer and Ash Jackson.
Home Schooled is more or less a reflection of the wacky and occasionally interesting adventures of the artist, Ash Jackson, himself, with the aid of his friends, family, and other cohorts.
Title: Just Makin' Banana Pancakes.
click on the picture for real size
Atmosphere
A beautiful NASA Earth Observatory photo of the atmosphere taken one hundred kilometers above the earth.
Order Of The Science Scouts Of Exemplary Repute And Above-Average Physique
From the twisted minds of the Science Creative Quarterly, a publication by students of the University of British Columbia, Canada, comes the Order of the Science Scouts of Exemplary Repute and Above Average Physique - being an initiative aimed squarely at promoting informal networking amongst science communicators, and the sharing of merit badges.
They have a badge for everything. These include the 'Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah, I've got a TV gig' badge, the 'I'm pretty confident around an open flame' badge, and the 'I may look like a scientist, but I'm actually also a pirate' badge.
(thanks Ron)
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
No, I'm not drunk. This is a grammatically correct sentence used as an example of how homonyms and homophones can be used to create complicated constructs.
It has been known to exist since 1972 when the sentence was used by William J. Rapaport, currently an associate professor at the University at Buffalo.
Here in the Netherlands, the Dutch equivalent is 'Als In Bergen, bergen bergen bergen bergen bergen bergen bergen bergen bergen bergen' wich means 'When in Bergen, heaps of mountains salvage heaps of mountains, then heaps of mountains salvage heaps of mountains.'
The Mouse Mouse
A computer mouse made from a real mouse. If this offends you, I'm with you. You got to be really brainsick to make, or use, something like this.
Disney Ride Simulators
You are in control of these Disneyland rides: Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Phantom Manor.
It's like playing The Sims. You control the gates, the rides, and do some maintenance if needed.
Nosefrida
Nosefrida is a doctor recommended nasal aspirator that removes mucous from your child's nose. When your child has a cold with a runny stuffed nose, it can be frustrating when they can not blow their own nose. Congestion interferes with sleep, feeding and makes for an overall cranky child, and parent too.Place the large tube at the child's nostril and the red part at the other end in your own mouth. Apply gentle suction to begin with, increasing suction as necessary until you see mucous in the large tube. The filter will protect you from getting anything near your own mouth.
Flying Alarm Clock
This morning I had my alarm clock set at 8 o'clock. At that time, the alarm went off, I woke up, hit the button, and went to sleep for another hour. Fortunately, it's Saturday and I didn't have any appointments.
But this happens to me sometimes. I just hit the button and go back to sleep. Maybe I should buy one of these.
(via geekman)
My Hovercraft Is Full Of Eels
We've all encountered it before. Coming home from a trip, you find your hovercraft is full of eels. So, you go to see your hovercraft dealer and tell him: 'My hovercraft is full of eels.' He'll fix the problem.
But what if, for instance, you're on vacation in, say, Hungary. Finding a hovercraft dealer in Hungary is not that difficult, but do you know how to explain the problem in Hungarian? Do you know that you have to tell him: 'A légpárnás hajóm tele van angolnákkal'?
I bet you didn't know that. To avoid these problems here's 'My hovercraft is full of eels' in many languages.
Stallions4Mares
Stallions4Mares is the on-line dating agency for horses and ponies.Stallions4Mares finds the perfect stud and stallion for your mare. It's totally free to search. Whether you are looking for a huge hunter, thoroughbred or a small pony, simply search our database of available stallions.
Each stallion has his own profile showing pictures, and describing his nature, pedigree and statistical data.
51 Things We Can Do To Save The Environment
Can one person slow global warming? Actually, yes. You - along with scientists, businesses and governments - can create paths to cut carbon emissions.
Time, in partnership with CNN constructed a guide to some of the planet's best ideas.
Internal Watch
The internal watch is encased in leather, rendering it a non-functional timepiece. The hidden watch transcends typical associations of status by isolating the emerging form rather than acting as a flashy signifier.
Perfect for the man with no time. For only $275.00.
(via Boing Boing)
MEDgle
MEDgle is a search for general medical conditions, an online information and educational health service. It is not a diagnostic or decision making tool. MEDgle indicates the possibilities that exist for any given combination of symptoms.
Search over 900 symptoms and more than 1300 diagnoses. It excludes psychiatric, neonatal, obstetrics, orthopedics and other medical subspecialty information.
Preposterous Headdresses And Feathered Ladies: Hair, Wigs, Barbers, And Hairdressers
In the second half of the eighteenth century the hair of the fashionable world in England soared to new heights. The Lewis Walpole Library has a selection of prints focused on hair and wigs, and on the hairdressers and barbers who created and tended them.
These images of 'preposterous' hairstyles give evidence of the increased economic prosperity that made possible such extreme fashions as well as the luxury goods necessary to them.
(via Everlasting Blort)
Batavia
The Batavia was a ship of the Dutch East India Company, built in 1628 in Amsterdam, which was struck by mutiny and shipwreck during her maiden voyage.
In 1985 a start was made with the reconstruction of the Batavia on a shipyard in the Dutch city of Lelystad. Under the guidance of Master-shipbuilder Willem Vos a group of young people worked on this project. The keynote has been to achieve the most authentic reconstruction by using traditional materials and following the building methods of the day.
Thanks to QuickTime VR technology it is now possible to 'look around' on the Batavia. Click on 'Virtual tour Batavia' to see panoramic pictures of the entire ship.
The Transition
Terrafugia, Inc. is developing the Transition. The Transition is a road-able aircraft that will be able to land at the airport, fold up its wings, and drive on the road. Terrafugia's mission is expanding personal mobility through the practical integration of land and air travel.
The first prototype wil be ready in late 2008, while the first delivery is scheduled for late 2009.
The anticipated price of the Transition is $148,000.
The Elevator Hug
The Elevator Hug is a short animation, a virtual hug, meant to help raise funds for Meagan's Walk which raises funds to fight paediatric brain tumors. Meagan's Walk was started by Denise Bebenek after her 5 year old daughter Meagan died of a brain tumor 6 years ago.
Every year on Mother's Day, Denise leads thousands of people to hug sick kids where Meagan had received such excellent care.
(thanks Mike Erskine-Kellie of Avery Ant)
Game Cakes
Game cakes are cakes decorated with video game themes. Michael Fahey, a writer for Kotaku (a blog which focuses on video and computer games, and part of Gawker Media), was slowly being driven insane by the influx of cake-related tips he received via email every day.
In the course of a month it wasn't odd to receive upwards of 30 cake submissions. That's why he started Game Cakes.
FlickrBlockrs
Does everyone you know have a digital camera? Are you sick of finding pictures of yourself on the internet? Are you annoyed by the way your eyes look? Do you wish that documentation did not exist? Are you awkward in front of the 'digital lens?' Would you like to maintain some realm of anonymity on the internet?
Finally, with FlickrBlockrs you're able to relax in front of the camera! Don't fret about looking awkward! No one will know who you are! You can now hide behind the anonimity of the Internet!
(via J-Walk Blog)
Sheep 'Poodle' Scam
According to English newspaper The Sun, thousands of Japanese have been swindled in a scam in which they were sold Australian and British sheep and told they were poodles. Flocks of sheep were imported to Japan and then sold by a company called Poodles as Pets, marketed as fashionable accessories, available at $1,600 each. That is a snip compared to a real poodle which retails for twice that much in Japan.
The scam was uncovered when Japanese moviestar Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk-show and wondered why her new pet would not bark or eat dog food.
I found this story hard to believe.
And indeed, it seems to be a hoax.
What Do 300 Calorie Meals Look Like?
A selection of meals that are in the 300-400 Calorie range.
The visual representation gives an idea of portion size.
Turn Off The Interweb
What if you could turn off the Interweb just by pushing a button. Well, you can!
But wait a moment! First read today's other posts here on The Presurfer. Then go to this place to turn off the Interweb.
Online Dating Profile Dictionary
You've probably seen some of those dating advertisements before. Where people describe themselves as 'easy going', 'romantic', 'spontaneous' or 'creative'. But what do these words really mean?
The Online Dating Profile Dictionary.
Let's Boogie
Yesterday morning, President Bush marked Malaria Awareness Day by participating in a Rose Garden ceremony featuring Senegalese performers from the West African Dance Company. The President and First Lady Laura Bush danced along with the performers.
Melissa McEwan at Shakesville has posted a series of emotionally overwhelming pictures.
And The Huffington Post has the video.
Grailcode
Prince William is the Antichrist, King Arthur Prophecy, Satanic Conspiracy, Knights Templar, Holy Grail Code, Bible Revelation, Temple Israel, Royal Bloodline, Merovingian, Celtic Druid, Wiccan, Witchcraft, Mayan, New Age, Atlantis.
You got it!
Conspiracy theories. With annoying music.
Geminoid
Japan's latest humanoid brings new meaning to I-Robot, as Geminoid, the offspring of a university robotics professor, not only has his brains, but his looks.
Hiroshi Ishiguro, professor at Osaka University and researcher at ATR Intelligent Robotics and Communication Laboratories, crafted his android twin by molding a figure based on his body, even implanting his own hair.
One Dollar Hot Dogs
If you're hungry for a hotdog, you're in luck. For only $1, I will cook you a hot dog and mail it to you. Just PayPal me a buck, and I will personally cook you a delicious hotdog, and then ship it out to you!
Now, because your hot dog may get cold during shipment, I also include instructions to re-heat your hot dog, at no additional charge.
(thanks Leo)
The Top 5 Brain Health Foods
Is there something like food for your brain? Food that can help turn your brain into a lean, mean thinking machine?
The brain is an extremely metabolically active organ, making it a very hungry one. Research labs around the world have established that the right food can enhance mental capabilities. The right food can help you concentrate, keep you motivated, enhance your memory, speed your reaction times, and defuse stress.
Here are 5 Brain Health Foods worth considering adding to your diet.
Things From Wes' Nose
Yes, it's not for the really-weak-stomached. But those with bad sinuses or weird senses of humor will appreciate it. It's the Things From Wes' Nose section. Wes' family has rotten sinuses. Three of four aunts (including Aunt Priscilla, Queen of the Northwest) have had major surgeries to try and fix what nature wrought. Wes continues the tradition for the next generation.
Wes also shares tips on nose maintenance to help fellow sinus sufferers. And my number one tip: If your nose doctor causes you pain, fire that insensitive twit.
(via Everlasting Blort)
'Hello Kitty' Hell
Hello Kitty is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company Sanrio. Hello Kitty is an anthropomorphized white cat, characterized by a distinctive bow or some other decoration on her left ear, and the absence of a mouth. Although originally aimed at the pre-adolescent female market, the Hello Kitty logo now adorns almost every product that one can imagine.
Here's a weblog by someone who has had enough of Hello Kitty. He finds himself in a Hello Kitty Hell.I live in a Hello Kitty Hell, no if ands or buts about it. What makes it even more of a hell is that it is the result of my own doing. I have nobody to blame but myself which makes the daily torture that much more intense. I live with it because I helped to create it, I initially encouraged it and it gradually engulfed me until there was no escape.
(via Nag on the Lake)
Kryptonite Discovered In Mine
Kryptonite, which robbed Superman of his powers, is no longer the stuff of comic books and films. A new mineral matching its unique chemistry has been identified in a mine in Serbia. It's not green and it doesn't glow either. The real mineral is white and harmless.
The new mineral will not be called Kryptonite. It will be formally named Jadarite when it is described in the European Journal of Mineralogy later this year. Jadar is the name of the place where the Serbian mine is located.
The Childrod Paddle
The state of Discipline of Children in the Western World is in crisis! We all see it every time we go to a restaurant, ride a plane, or go into a convenience store: Young people totally out of Control! And who's to Blame?
The Blame lies squarely with today's Mothers and Fathers who abdicate their Duty to Police the behaviour of their very own children! By providing high quality and affordable Disciplinary Equipment, ChildRod.com seeks no less than the rescue of Modern Civilization.
(thanks Stella)
Snap
Using your webcam, Snap lets you take snapshots and add stickers, speech bubbles, and wacky fun-house filters. With the click of a button, Snap allows you to instantly share your snapshots on the Internet using the popular photo-sharing site Photobucket.
You can use Snap to create your chat or myspace avatar, create personalized greeting card photos or just to play around when you are bored.
10 Hot Female Stars From China
CCTV International is the English-language 24-hour news channel of China Central Television, China's largest national TV network.
On their web site they are presenting the 10 hottest female stars of China. But they have a peculiar - though very honest - way of describing them.
On the left is Huang Shengyi.
The accompanying text says: 'She has a horse face, and big nose. When she smiles, she is fatally attractive.'
On the right is Zhang Baizhi.
The text says: 'Her face is perfect, but her voice is terrible, just like a weight lifter.'
10 hot female stars in China.
Animals In The Depths Of The Sea
The deep sea, which has been immersed in total darkness since the dawn of time, occupies 85% of ocean space, forming the planet's largest habitat. Yet these depths abound with mystery. The deep sea is mostly uncharted - only about 5 percent of the seafloor has been mapped with any reasonable degree of detail - and we know very little about the creatures that call it home.
Current estimates about the number of species yet to be found vary between ten and thirty million. The deep sea is without doubt Earth's largest reservoir of life.
The World's Strangest Vehicles
Sometimes simply getting from point A to point B is not really the point. Some people want to do it in style and with a certain panache, and some want to set their vehicles as far apart from the norm as possible.
The World's Strangest Vehicles.
What's Your Ideal Hairstyle?
Did you know that your hairstyle reveals something about your character? It's true, I tell you! Everyone has one particular hairstyle which perfectly matches his or her character. Find out what hairdo suits you the most.
Shown here is my ideal hairstyle. It's unbelievable but that's my hairstyle exactly. What I don't understand is how they got hold of this picture of mine.
What's your ideal hairstyle?
Top 10 Artificial Technologies Ready To Create A Real Human Being
One of the major subjects that have caught everyone's attention in medical science is the development of artificial organs. An artificial organ is a man-made organ that is implanted in human body to replace its natural counterpart.
The pace at which scientists are doing experiments with the artificial body parts, somehow it seems like we would be able to create a real human being very soon in the near future. Here is a list of top 10 technologies that are vying to make this possible.
Make Your Own Whopper Sandwich
Add or Subtract ingredients to make your very own perfect Whopper sandwich. Then sit back and watch the show.
(via Ursi's Blog)
Kako Messenger
With The Kako Messenger you can send singing messages instead of text emails. You choose a singer, then type your message and click on 'play.' When you're done, you can send your singing message by email in a secure way - the message is encrypted and requires an authentication of the sender.
Currently the singers are Gina from Alabama and Humphrey from Dubrovnik, Croatia, but more singers will be added in the future. I made a singing message for you, please click here to listen to Humphrey.
Then go and make your own singing message.
Third Man In History To Ever Walk On Water
The first one was Jesus Christ.
The second one was Peter the apostle.
And now there's this guy, Jose.
Totally Wrong Predictions Of The Past
American science and technology magazine Popular Mechanics said in 1949: 'Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.'
And in 1977 Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. said: 'There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.'
They were, of course, totally wrong!
Eat Bunny
Hi and welcome to the home of tasty snacks for animal lovers. It's nice to see you. Back in the old days life was hard. Mom and Pop kept bunnies in the backyard.
The depression hit - and they ran out of money. There was nothing for it, they had to eat bunny. Before long, the recipes were complete. It was time for 'Bunny Snacks' to hit the street.
Playa Cofi Jukebox
The best of the top 100 from 1950 until 1984, the golden years of popular music. Just select a playlist and go back to work. It will play in the background.
The Mysterious Flying Humanoids
In December 2000, Mexican UFO skywatcher Salvador Guerrero videotaped a 'hombrecito volador' (a little flying man) in the sky.
This sighting signaled the beginning of a series of similar sightings in Mexico, and more reports and videos of these strange flying creatures followed creating a state of intense interest among Mexican ufologists.
If you are interested in UFO's, this article from Jeff Rense might need your attention.
32 Things You Can Do With Beer
Beer is so good that you should be able to do more with it than just drink it. Did you know you can bath in it, cure insomnia, catch mice, lower your blood pressure, and build a plane with it?
32 Things You Can Do With Beer.
Home Schooled
Home Schooled is a comics series by American artist Ash Jackson.
Co-writing by Silas Jackson.
The Presurfer will feature a Home Schooled cartoon every Monday. This is an absolute exclusive cooperation between The Presurfer and Ash Jackson.
Home Schooled is more or less a reflection of the wacky and occasionally interesting adventures of the artist, Ash Jackson, himself, with the aid of his friends, family, and other cohorts.
Title: Mr. Sardonicus.
click on the picture for real size
A Day In The Life Of A Digger
A Digger is a member of Digg, the community-based news website with an emphasis on technology, science articles, politics and videos.
MrBabyMan has been a member of Digg since 2005. People are always asking him 'How can you devote so much time to a single website? What does it take to be a Digger?' According to MrBabyMan it's really no different than any other person.
Dogs With Wigs
Our goal here at dogs w/wigs is to entertain and informt he public on the growing trend of putting wigs on ur dogs!! hopefully by looking @ dese pics u will become more knwledgeable about dogs w/wigs and we encourage you to supoport their cause of putting wigs on dogs thank you!!!
Dogs with Wigs.
(via Everlasting Blort)
Etymologic
From where does the word tadpole originate?
The origin of the word yacht?
What's the definition of epidermis?
What was the original meaning of pedigree?
Yes, it's The Toughest Word Game On The Web.
The Wonderful Paleo Art Of Heinrich Harder
The wonderful paleo art of Heinrich Harder.
(via Incoming Signals)
The Only Cleaner You'll Ever Need
Most cleaning products fall into one of two categories: toxic or expensive. While both types will clean almost anything (or at least, anything within their limited range of capabilities), there's a third option.
It's inexpensive and not at all poisonous to humans. It's multi-purpose as well - one container will take care of laundry, kitchen cleaning, even bugs and weeds.
This 'miracle cleaner' is vinegar.
(via swissmiss)
UFO Cow Abduction
A video of what appears to be a cow being abducted by a UFO.
I think it's fake. Or is it?
How to Pick Your Nose Inconspicuously
The Thumb-Finger Method and the Advanced Hand-Guard Method. These are just two methods of picking your nose in public without getting noticed. Although not socially accepted, nose picking can, at times, be necessary.
When something in your nose needs help finding its way out, you can be ready to respond by following one of these basic stealth techniques for public nasal manicuring.
Cake Art
Looks like an old Singer sewing machine doesn't it? It's not! It's a cake. No plastics or any other artificial stuff is being used - everything is eatable.
More Russian Cake Art.
77 Ways To Learn Faster, Deeper, And Better
Knowledge is the backbone of society's progress. Knowledge can lead to a new job, better pay, a new hobby, or simply knowledge for knowledge's sake - whatever is important to you as an end goal.
Life-changing knowledge does typically require advanced learning techniques. In fact, it's been said that the average adult only uses 10% of his/her brain. Imagine what we may be capable of with more advanced learning techniques.
Here are 77 tips related to knowledge and learning to help you on your quest.
Newsbreaker
MSNBC launched a breaker-style game called Newsbreaker. The object of the game is to clear all of the bricks on the level. Collect Headlines and Power Ups for bonus points.
Browse the news with your mouse by hitting Pause, clearing a level or at Game Over. Click a headline for the full story.
(via Ursi's Blog)
Anatomy Models
Anatomical models contain more than just information about human anatomy. They convey social meaning. By examining the way in which anatomy models are fabricated and decorated, the values and attitudes of the societies that produced them can be further understood and analyzed.
An analysis of anatomy models from three centuries.
(via plep)
Leo Of The Light
Unlike most people, Leo of the Light never gave up his psychic abilities when he was a child. Instead, he developed what he thought was a natural part of himself. And, when Leo saw a monster or alien being in another dimension, he stood up to it and showed it that he wasn't afraid.
Leo of the Light believed in himself so much that he wasn't afraid and he grew stronger and more clever every day in dealing with the aliens and monsters. Now Leo of the Light wants to share his knowledge with children all over the world who are being bullied by alien monsters. For the first time, someone can help kids who are in trouble.
Power Line Maintenance
Have you any idea how power lines are maintained? Here's a documentary called 'Straight Up!' showing power line maintenance being performed on live wires by a man from a helicopter. You won't believe your eyes.
Coffins And Decorated Chests From Ghana
These hand sculpted wooden coffins or decorated chests are made by the famous Ga coffin carpenters in Accra, Ghana. Traditionally these chests are the size of a full coffin or a half-length coffin.The coffin carpenters can make just about anything you want. They can work from a photo or a model. Order a chest according to your hobby or interest - these are truly antiques of the future.
No Man Is An Island, He Is An Ecosystem
This article from National Geographic Magazine will surely take away your appetite. It's about 'life on the human body.'Our skin is a habitat for roughly as many bacteria as there are people in the United States, for fungi and viruses, and on occasion for mosquitoes, fleas, bedbugs and kissing bugs, blackflies and botflies, lice, leeches, ticks, and scabies mites, which tunnel across the backs of an afflicted person's hands like moles burrowing in the front lawn.
Ear Scope
Everyone enjoys a little bit of earwax excavation every now and again, but if you want to take that potential hobby a little bit further, then you'll need the Ear Scope GXL.
Simply stick the tiny video camera and ear-pick combo into one of your lugs, look into the eyepiece, then scope out problem pieces of wax with astonishing precision. You can even use a TV or LCD screen, like pictured here.
Donkey Becomes Witness In Dallas Dispute
The first witness in a lawsuit between two neighbors was Buddy the donkey, who walked to the bench and stared at the jury, the picture of a gentle, well-mannered creature and not the loud, aggressive animal he had been accused of being.
The donkey was at the center of a dispute between oilman John Cantrell and attorney Gregory Shamoun that began after Cantrell complained about a storage shed Shamoun was building in his backyard in Dallas.
Surreal Art Of Vladimir Kush
Vladimir Kush is a Russian painter, who is identified with the metaphorical realism movement. Bored with the Cézanne-style painting his art school concentrated on, Kush switched to surreal images as a teenager.
He believes that realistic paintings show the artist's professional skill and draw the viewer in so that they accept the impossible images enough to see the metaphors in them and explore the different layers of meaning.
(via Information Nation)
Pop Band For Sale
For the first time in the history of the entertainment business, there is a pop band for sale. A successful pop band with dozens of international Top 10's and No. 1's in over 15 countries is actually for sale.
The buyer gets it all: the Music, the trademark, the band, the record deals, the record releases, the contacts, the contracts, the styling, all previous hits and recordings, and of course, the opportunities, the future.
The band is called Rednex and the starting bid is $1.500.000.
It's A Breeze
Really it is. You can see how breezy it is here at The Presurfer when you go to The Presurfer Windy Headquarters.
This is done with Windmaker, an ambient weather widget that applies the current wind conditions to your web site. First, it uses a United States ZIP Code to grab local conditions from the Yahoo Weather RSS feed. Second, it parses your web site into individual pieces such as text blocks and images. Finally, WindMaker sets the pieces in motion according to the strength of the wind.
Try Windmaker with your own web site. It isn't always working and it looks like there's a bug in it somewhere. Also not sure if this works in Internet Explorer.
(thanks Xena and Alex)
We're All Going Down Down Down
Funny pictures from the highdiving contest in Melbourne 2007.
(via Grow-A-Brain)
Heartbreaking
Renee C. Byer of the Sacramento Bee is the winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography. Here are her serie of twenty photos of a young mother and her son's losing battle with cancer.
Warning: Be prepared that these are not pretty pictures and that it's going to be a tough read.
(via Metafilter)
Missile Train
Missiles can be launched from underground shafts, from mobile trucks, or from submarines. But in Russia , missiles can also be launched from... trains!
Photos of a missile train in St. Petersburg.
Lessons From Virginia Tech
As the nation comes to grips with the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, debate will turn inevitably to gun control, youth alienation and video-game violence. Emergency responders, meanwhile, will be asking tough questions about tactics and technology.
Related: Virginia shootings - The Victims.
Your Car Negotiation Guide
It's sad how most people think they've negotiated a good deal from used car dealers. The biting reality is that over 90% are ripped off. So don't walk into the car lot until you've read this Car Negotiation Guide, or your hard earned cash will turn you into yet another dealer victim.
You spend your days (and likely nights) studying or working, saving up enough cash to buy a car. The danger is that Used Car Dealers have stacked the cards in their favour.
This Car Negotiation Guide gives you the inside track and exposes the hidden tricks dealers use to line their pockets with your cash.
Suicide Food
What is Suicide Food? Suicide Food is any depiction of animals that act as though they wish to be consumed. Suicide Food actively participates in or celebrates its own demise. Suicide Food identifies with the oppressor.
Suicide Food is a bellwether of our decadent society. Suicide Food says, 'Hey! Come on! Eating meat is without any ethical ramifications! See, Mr. Greenjeans? The animals aren't complaining! So what's your problem?' Suicide Food is not funny.
(via J-Walk Blog)
Treasure Hunting With Bill Wyman
Yes, that Bill Wyman. The bassist of The Rolling Stones is now selling metal detectors.I have always been interested in archaeology and early cultures and when I bought a manor house in Suffolk in 1968 I kept finding fragments in the grounds which inspired my interest even more.
In the early 1990s I brought my first C.Scope metal detector and this helped me uncover the site of a Roman homestead. I've been a serious detecting enthusiast ever since and was delighted when my daughter Katie showed an interest in the hobby.
(via Neatorama)
Landscape Photos
A web log with beautiful landscape photos.
Pictured here is a typical Dutch landscape.
(via Ursi's Blog)
Who Is Sick?
Who Is Sick? is a map with local, timely, and broad sickness information. You can use the map for:
1. I am feeling a little sick and want to check what sicknesses are going around in my local area - probably within 10 or 20 miles from where I live or work.
2. I am traveling to another area of the country and want to know if there are sicknesses going around that I need to be careful of.
3. I live in an area where I notice lots of people getting sick, so in preparation, I can take an AirBorne or vitamins to prevent catching anything.
Fast Food: Ads Vs. Reality
Fast food in advertisements always looks very tasty. But in reality you get something else.
On the left is KFC's Famous Bowl, on the right is what you get.
More examples of Ads vs. Reality.
10 Things You Never Knew About Cigarettes
* Urea, a chemical compound that is a major component in urine, is used to add 'flavor' to cigarettes.
* The U.S. states with the highest percentage of smokers are Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, while the states with the fewest are Utah, California, and Connecticut.
* According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of cigarettes sold around the world are smuggled.
10 Things You Never Knew About Cigarettes.
DiggGraphr
DiggGraphr is a treemap view of Digg, where each story is represented by a rectangle and the area occupied by each rectangle is proportional to the number of Diggs relative to the other stories in that channel.
You can hover over the rectangles for more info. Clicking on the rectangle takes you to the source page.
Virgina Tech
I just wanted to let you know that, although the dominant tone of today's posts doesn't represent it, I'm absolutely shocked and horrified about the news coming from Virginia Tech.
My thoughts are with the families who lost someone and with those who are recovering from their injuries.
CNN developing story.
What If You Could Transform 2D Into 3D?
Well, you can. With Fotowoosh. Fotowoosh will forever change the way you think of your pictures. Mathematically, it is completely impossible to reconstruct a 3D scene from a single image. And yet when we humans look at a photograph, we see not just a plane filled with color and texture, but the world behind the image.
Fotowoosh is a new service from Maryland-based startup Freewebs, and it will turn any image into a 3D model. Photos uploaded to Fotowoosh will be torn apart. Sky, ground and vertical elements within the photo will be separated, then cut and folded into a 3D model.
(via Techcrunch)
Contronyms
A synonym is a word that means the same as another. An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another. A contronym is a word that, by some freak of language evolution, are their own antonyms.
Fun With Words has some examples of contronyms.
Fisherman
Can you see Him?
Can you feel Him?
Is He with you?
I have no idea what this site is all about.
(via J-Walk Blog)
Time Machine Rolling Ball Clock
The Time Machine is the clock that's fun to watch! Just turn it on and its precise mechanism transfers a chrome ball every sixty seconds for perfect time. Utilizing black light responsive colors, the entire timepiece glows brightly when displayed under any ultra-violet black light!
The clock works by using steel balls to indicate the exact time. There are 3 main rails which are numbered for hours and minutes. The bottom rail represents the hours. The middle and upper rails are used to represent the minutes. An electric motor scoops up a ball every minute.
(via blog.pcnews.ro)
Wikis Gone Wild
Wikipedia is the world's largest encyclopedia available on the Internet. Using wiki software, Jimmy Wales started Wikipedia in 2001. By the end of 2005, there were 1.8 million entries in more than 100 languages on every conceivable subject, written and edited by hundreds of thousands of contributors from all walks of life.
Since then, lots of parodies have shown up. Mental Floss Magazine has a list of the most important Wikipedia knockoffs.
The Zimmers - 'My Generation'
The oldest and greatest rock band in the world - meet The Zimmers and their amazing cover of The Who's 'My Generation.' Lead singer Alf is 90. And he's not the oldest - there are 99 and 100-year-olds in the band!
Antilimit
Antilimit is visual creativity - without limits. Everything found here is the unfiltered work of artist/photographer Eric M. Gustafson and exists only for the sake of art itself.
The sole purpose of this site is to serve as a digital medium and let you, the spectator, be introduced to some truly revolutionary imagery.
Google Acquires Internet
Mountain View-based search giant Google Inc. today announced they've acquired the Internet for the astounding sum of $2,455.5 billion in cash. The deal had been rumored in various search blogs since the beginning of the year and was now confirmed by the company’s CEO.
'This is in line with our vision to make information more accessible to end users,' says Eric Schmidt. 'With the acquisition, we can increase the speed of indexing as everything will already be on our servers by the time it’s published.'
Home Schooled
Home Schooled is a comics series by American artist Ash Jackson.
Co-writing by Silas Jackson.
The Presurfer will feature a Home Schooled cartoon every Monday. This is an absolute exclusive cooperation between The Presurfer and Ash Jackson.
Home Schooled is more or less a reflection of the wacky and occasionally interesting adventures of the artist, Ash Jackson, himself, with the aid of his friends, family, and other cohorts.
Title: I'm Sorry, You Drew The Death Card.
click on the picture for real size
Box Of Apples
Box Of Apples is an online museum of fruit crate labels from the early 1900s to 1950s. Back in the days of our grandparents and their parents, people did their produce-shopping at markets that were more like a farmer's market than today's grocery stores.
The fruit and vegetables would be displayed in their shipping crates somewhere near the railroad tracks, probably under a big shed. Each crate would have a label showing the name of the packer, and a colorful design to differentiate the brand.
(via Everlasting Blort)
Panorama Pictures Of Car Interiors
Beautiful panorama pictures of the interiors of luxury cars like the Audi A8, BMW 760, Infinity QX56, Mercedes S600L, and Range Rover Vogue.
(via Ursi's Blog)
You Are Damned
Do you know of someone who deserves condemnation?
Eternal punishment?
At 'You Are Damned' you can fill in the name of the poor soul you want to damn, as well as the reason for their banishment. Their name will then be plastered upon the wall of the doomed.
Dinosaurs And Their Biscuits
Every good vertebrate palaeontologist today knows that dinosaurs had a taste for biscuits. In fact, 100% of the dinosaur diet was biscuits. As a challenge to palaeontological dogma this may at first sound amazing, but the evidence is undeniable.
It is also now known that dinosaurs did not eat biscuits randomly, a custard cream here or a hob-nob there. If a dinosaur didn't have its preferred teatime snack it would undoubtedly go ape. Only now in this age of cutting-edge discovery and open-minded enthusiasm are these prehistoric facts coming to light.
Pop-Up And Movable Books
Because books are by design two-dimensional, it might seem impossible for a page to add motion or depth other than through illustrations with perspective and illusion. And yet, for more than 700 years, artists, philosophers, scientists, and book designers have tried to challenge the book's bibliographic boundaries. They have added flaps, revolving parts, and other movable pieces to enhance the text.
Traditionally, pop-ups have been seen as little more than children's books but in recent years, they have grown in prominence, chiefly due to the innovations of Robert Sabuda and David Carter.
Pop-up and Movable Books, a tour through their history from the nineteenth century to the present.
(via Optical Poptitude)
Gunfights Of The Old West
Though movies and television would like us to believe otherwise, it was very rare when gunfights occurred with the two gunfighters squarely facing each other from a distance in a dusty street.
This romanticized image of the Old West gunfight was born in the dime novels of the late 19th century and perpetuated in the film era, to such a point that this fictional version is what our mind's eye quickly conjures up when we hear the word 'gunfight/' In actuality, the 'real' gunfights of the Old West were rarely that 'civilized.'
Gunfights of the Old West.
Teleportation Experiment
Teleportation is the movement of objects or elementary particles from one place to another, more or less instantaneously, without travelling through space. The use of teleportation has traditionally been found only in science fiction. Until now, exact (quantum) teleportation was possible only with photons and atoms.
Not any more, as this video demonstrates.
(via Destination Creation)
To A Better Job
Terrible working conditions, low wages, stop it! Jobsintown.de, a German job-hunting site, shows you the way to get a better job than crawling up your boss's ass.
(via Boing Boing)
Boomshine
Boomshine is a very addictive little game. Just touch your expanding dot to make contact with other dots and start a chain reaction.
Try to explode as many dots as needed to pass a level.
Boomshine contains 12 levels ranging from the easy to the hard (only 3.97% of games pass level 12).
The Pony Express
The Pony Express was a system of rapid mail transportation by relays of horses that operated from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 1860 to late October 1861. The service was operated by The Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express Company by William H. Russell, Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell and was later known as the Pony Express.
Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok were Pony Express riders in their youth. The system provided an important mail link with the West, but it was a financial failure and became obsolete after 18 months with the completion of the transcontinental telegraph system.
Popcorn Recipes
Before about 1912, less than 19,000 acres of farmland were dedicated to growing popcorn, but the electric popcorn machine and the microwave increased the demand for 'prairie gold.' Today, annual consumption of popcorn in America exceeds 1 billion lb. Of the volume grown in the United States, 10% is used for seed and sold outside the United States; 30% is sold at ball games, movies, fairs, and circuses; and 60% is consumed in the home.
We all know that popcorn is delicious by itself or with a little butter - but pesto sauce? Popcorn is an amazingly versatile grain that lends itself equally to caramel or Cajun spices. With a little imagination and some common household ingredients, you can make tasty and original snacks in no time at all.
Popcorn Recipes.
Happy Friday The 13th
A Friday occurring on the 13th day of any month is considered to be a day of bad luck in English, German and Portuguese-speaking cultures around the globe. Similar superstitions exist in some other traditions. In Greece and Spain, for example, Tuesday the 13th takes the same role.
The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia or friggatriskaidekaphobia, and is a specialized form of triskaidekaphobia, a fear of the number thirteen.
Related: How Friday the 13th works and
Friday the 13th is a day fraught with peril.
List Of Places Blurred Out On Google Maps
Google Maps or Google Earth contains digital images of the earth; a number of sensitive locations are digitally obscured or blurred. Many other areas in Google Earth have been blurred by governments keen to stop people seeing sensitive sites. This is in contrast to portions of Google Maps where only low resolution photographs are available, or where atmospheric or photographic conditions resulted in reduced resolution or clarity.
Here's an example. This is a satellite picture of the Royal Palace here in the Netherlands.
Wikipedia has a list of more places blurred out on Google Maps.
Hamlet For The Shakespeare-Impaired
Shakespeare's English, in spite of the calamitous cries of high school students everywhere, is only one linguistic generation removed from the English spoken today. Although the Elizabethan dialect differs slightly from Modern English, the principles are generally the same.
Nevertheless, for many people today, reading Shakespeare's language can be a problem. But it is a problem that can be solved. Here is a snippet from Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 1 in 'Shakespearian - and in italics the same sentence in today's English:
Marcellus:
Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, and will not let belief take hold of him. Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us. Therefore I have entreated him along with us to watch the minutes of this night; That if again this apparition come, he may approve our eyes and speak to it.
Horatio thinks we're loopy. He doesn't believe in ghosts even though we've seen it twice, now. So I dragged him along to stand watch with us tonight. If the ghost shows up again he can see it for himself. And maybe if he's so darn smart, he'll even talk to it.
Original The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.
Hamlet in today's English.
IP Address Lookup And Locator
IP-address.com is probably the most accurate IP Address locator that quickly shows the IP address of your internet connection and locates your city, or the city of your ISP, based on your IP address.
Your IP address location is shown using Google maps. This IP address site is different in that you can look up and trace any IP address and get the accurate IP location in an easy-to-read google map for free.
7 Inventive Ways To Live in A Closet
From American Inventor Spot:Need furniture? Real estate, real estate...that's all I hear these days. First, prices are going through the roof. Now, supposedly, prices are caving in. Who cares? All I know is that with prices so high, I can't afford a decent sized place to live.
Assuming that there are lots of people just like me, feeling boxed in and feeling wretched, I decided to help my fellow small space dwellers by finding inventive pieces of furniture that can help you save on space. Here is furniture that gives you 7 Inventive Ways to Live in a Closet.
Things You Should Know Before Buying A New Bed
Have you been having difficulty sleeping lately? Do you toss and turn, wake up in the middle of the night, or have an ache in your back? The problem might be less about your body and more about what your body is lying on.
Abnormalities in your sleep routine could be signs that you need to buy a new mattress and box spring. But what's the best way to shop for a new bed set?
Here are some suggestions about buying a bed that will be just right for your body.
(thanks Micle)
Be Wise About Beauty
Today men and women from virtually all walks of life are turning to cosmetic surgery as a way to bring their personal visions of beauty to life. But, with so much information out there – how do you know what's best?
Be Wise About Beauty is an informational portal designed to help you define your personal vision of beauty – whatever that means for you. The site includes important information – from popular procedures to common misconceptions – to help you make informed decisions about cosmetic enhancement.
(thanks Melanie)
Kurt Vonnegut Dies At 84
Kurt Vonnegut, the satirical novelist who captured the absurdity of war and questioned the advances of science in darkly humorous works such as 'Slaughterhouse-Five' and 'Cat's Cradle,' died Wednesday.
Kurt Vonnegut has been called a science fiction author, but it's well known that he's only used the cloak of sci-fi as a means to deliver his cranky-but-funny deliberations on the human condition. A modern-day Mark Twain, Vonnegut has written dozens of satirical novels whose central theme is life's cosmic joke on humanity.
Mad Mary
On the Australian version of The Price Is Right this woman named Mary gets called on stage from the contestants row and pretty much hyperventilates from excitement.
Liquid Journey
Through the marriage of math with music, colors with numbers, motion with structure, abstraction with order, and symmetry with chaos, the unexpected can, and often, does emerge. Computer generative art is only limited by our own imagination. So much of what is visually created is all about the beauty of numbers and the subtlety of imagination.
This presentation by Gary Stasiuk will explore ideas in finding a balance between order and chaos through the use of generative algorithms. Here's a fantasy bonsai tree created by one the applications.
(via Neatorama)
Lawrence Goldhuber
Hibernating in your work cage?
Cooped up in your cubicle?
Worn out being a wage slave?
Actor, cabaret performer and dancer Lawrence Goldhuber says, this spring, reclaim your life and start living large.
(via Ursi's Blog)
The Daily Render
The Daily Render is Nikolas Schiller's web site where he makes maps that look like masks, feathers, and acid trips. He combines geography with art.
He takes aerial photographs from the U.S. Geological Survey and transforms them into beautiful kaleidoscopes, quilts, and political statements.
The one shown here is a quilt of Lower Manhattan.
(via Neatorama)
Online Converters
Online converters always come in handy. Once you need to perform some operation with your files, they can save time achieving the same results online, without installing some specific software. Using them, you can generate .pdf-documents out of images, images out of texts or RSS-feeds out of web-sites. You can also convert any audio- and video-files immediately - the results can be received via e-mail.
This overview of online converters for users and developers might give you some useful starting points and improve your productivity.
Photos From Rarindra Prakarsa
A collection of beautiful pictures from Indonesian photographer Rarindra Prakarsa. On his homepage he calls himself an amateur photographer.
Amateur or not, there's only one word I know of to describe Rarindra Prakarsa's work: Wow!
(via Dump Trumpet)
Famousr
Famousr is a site dedicated to answering the age-old question: Who's more famous? Famousr ranks over 8,000 celebrity actors using a custom 'fame rank' algorithm.
Because Famousr focuses on actors, it may skew results to favor actors rather than simply famous people. In other words, Oprah Winfrey is quite famous, but since her acting roles are limited, she won't rate as highly as someone who's a famous actor and gets a lot of press.
Frozen Back To Life?
From American Inventor Spot:
When it comes to our health, sometimes it can be out of our control. No matter how healthy we are or how safe we try to be, accidents happen and our lives... can suddenly take a turn for the worst.
Lucky for us there are people who dedicate their lives to helping us get back on our feet. People like Dr. Joseph Varon from St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital is one interesting example. He is known for saving lives with an innovative hypothermic treatment used for brain dead patients.
Painted Face
Meet Michael Edward Thompson. The North Carolina man, 34, was busted Sunday by Hickory Police Department officers and charged with inhaling toxic vapors.
Although an examination of the picture leaves little doubt where the toxic vapors he was allegedly inhaling came from, a police report notes that at the time of his arrest, Thompson was in possession of a can of spray paint and a plastic bag.
How To Power Nap At Work
A power nap is a short nap, usually 15-30 minutes, coined by Cornell University social psychologist James Maas. It is thought by many to maximize the benefits of sleep versus time.
Power naps have recently been studied more extensively by researchers and found to yield many benefits such as a boost in productivity at work, lower stress, improved ability to concentrate, and enhanced mood.
Morpho Towers
'Morpho Towers - Two Standing Spirals' is an installation that consists of two ferrofluid sculptures that move synthetically to music. The two spiral towers stand on a large plate that holds ferrofluid (a liquid that becomes strongly polarised in the presence of a magnetic field).
When the music starts, the magnetic field around the tower is strengthened. Spikes of ferrofluid are born from the bottom plate and move up, trembling and rotating around the edge of the iron spiral.
His First Broccoli
It's a well known fact that I like 'cute.' Anyway, it's a well know fact now! Here's Mocha, and he's eating his forst broccoli.
(via Everlasting Blort)
If Ancient Rome Had The Internet
If Ancient Rome had the Internet:
* The destruction of Pompeii in 79AD is the most viewed video at YouTube. The first comment is...'OMG so cool! Volcanos ROCK!'
* 'Naked Cleopatra' is the top search term on Google.
* Hannibal blogs his way across the Alps with posts like, 'Whoops, lost another elephant today.'
(via Jon Baas)
Century-Old Fish Caught In Alaska
A commercial fishing boat hauled in what may have been one of the oldest creatures in Alaska - a giant rockfish estimated to be about a century old. The 44-inch, 60-pound female shortraker rockfish was caught last month.
Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle measured, photographed and documented the fish. They removed an ear bone, the otolith, which contains growth rings similar to rings in the trunks of trees. They estimate the rockfish was 90 to 115 years old.
Charity Songs Of The 80s And 90s
In 1984, Bob Geldof threw together a bunch of England's finest performers and recorded 'Do They Know It's Christmas.' The success spawned at least 9 different other celebrity benefit singles that serve as bizarre all-star teams of their respective music genres of the time.
Some may have proven more effective than others in getting their points across or evils vanquished, but together, they're a mind-blowing testament to use fame to sell some records and perhaps help out their fellow man.
(via linkfilter)
Did NASA Accidentally Nuke Jupiter?
On September 21, 2003 NASA deliberately directed its amazing, still-functioning Galileo spacecraft to make one final, 108,000 mph suicidal plunge into Jupiter's vast atmosphere.
When NASA announced its 'Galileo into Jupiter' option, among those to publish immediate, serious objections was an engineer named Jacco van der Worp. Van der Worp claimed that, plunging into Jupiter's deep and increasingly dense atmosphere, the on-board Galileo electrical power supply – a set of 144 plutonium-238 fuel pellets - would ultimately 'implode'; and that the plutonium Galileo carried would ultimately collapse in upon itself under the enormous pressures of Jupiter's overwhelming atmosphere.
US Home Prices Plotted To A Roller Coaster
Yale economist Robert Shiller created an index of American housing prices going back to 1890. It is based on sale prices of standard existing houses. It presents housing values in consistent terms over 116 years, factoring out the effects of inflation.
To get a better idea, here are these figures plotted to a roller coaster.
Home Schooled
Home Schooled is a comics series by American artist Ash Jackson.
Co-writing by Silas Jackson.
The Presurfer will feature a Home Schooled cartoon every Monday. This is an absolute exclusive cooperation between The Presurfer and Ash Jackson.
Home Schooled is more or less a reflection of the wacky and occasionally interesting adventures of the artist, Ash Jackson, himself, with the aid of his friends, family, and other cohorts.
Title: By Popular Demand.
click on the picture for real size
Dice Stacking
German Dennis Schleußner is world champion dice stacking. Making it a real art, he stacks dice almost faster than the eye can see.
Now Look What You Did
Advertising company Make from Minneapolis created two new short CG environmental PSA commercials to advertise the real dangers of smoking and littering. Respect yourself. Respect your environment.
(via Larry Hnetka Goes HMmmm)
Triangle Research Initiative
If you have found this page, then you know what we are about. We are here to help you. You don't know what's happening to you, but we do, and we can save you, but you have to act quickly. Your condition gets worse by the second.
Be patient, be calm, we're here to help you. DO NOT panic, it will only make thingse worse. DO NOT tell anyone else about your condition, even your doctor - there are people out there that want to harm you. Stay where you are, fill out the form, and wait. Everything will be fine. Do not tell anyone about the Triangles.
No One Belongs Here More Than You
That's the title of Miranda July's new book.
And she has a wonderful and original way of presenting it.
Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Nana, Hachi, Kyu, Jyu
That's counting to ten in Japanese.
But I couldn't have done it without learning it from this video.
(via Grow-A-Brain)
Google Voice Local Search
Google Voice Local Search is an experiment on Google Labs that offers free 411-like service. With Google Voice Local Search, you get fully-automated, fast access local-business information. It's voice-activated and you can access it from any phone, at anytime.
To try this service, just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone. You can search for a local business by name or category. And it's free of charge. Google doesn't charge you a thing for the call or for connecting you to the business. Regular phone charges may apply, based on your telephone service provider.
Google Voice Local Search is still in its experimental stage. It may not be available at all times and may not work for all users. It's currently only available in English, in the US, for US business listings.
America's National Game
From the NYPL Digital Gallery, the Albert G. Spalding Collection of Early Baseball Photographs.
Over 500 photographs, prints, drawings, caricatures, and printed illustrations from the personal collection of materials related to baseball and other sports gathered by the early baseball player and sporting-goods tycoon Albert G. Spalding.
This collection includes 19th-century studio portraits of players and teams of the day, rare images, photographs, and original drawings.
Unusual Google Commands
Did you know that Google accepts a lot of new search words? Want to know what languages are spoken in India ( type 'language India') or how many employees Microsoft has (type 'employees Microsoft)? Here's a list of all the new commands in alphabetical order:
age structure, airports, area,
birth rate,
capital, climate, coastline, constitution, currency,
dependent areas, diplomatic representation from the US,
economy, employees, environment, ethnic groups, executive branch, exports,
flag description, founded,
genre, geography, government,
head of state, headquarters, heliport,
illicit drugs, imports, independence, industries, inflation rate, internet TLD, internet users,
judicial branch,
key people,
label, labor force, land use, language, legal system, legislative branch, literacy,
map reference, maritime claims, military branches, music,
national hazards, national holiday, nationality, natural resources,
population, political parties, president, prime minister, products, public debt,
radios, railways, religion, revenue,
slogan,
televisions, time zone, terrain, trading partners,
unemployment rate.
(thanks Jan)
How To Build A Time Machine
Time travel has been a popular science-fiction theme since H. G. Wells wrote his celebrated novel The Time Machine in 1895. But can it really be done?
Is it possible to build a machine that would transport a human being into the past or future? For decades, time travel lay beyond the fringe of respectable science. But not anymore... Here's how to build a time machine.
Gather the necessary materials. You'll need rocks, a Sega Saturn, some celery, spaghetti noodles, thumbtacks, a port-o-potty, and a cellular telephone from the 1980's.
Naked Gefilte
Passover Seder is not like Thanksgiving. The shank bone, egg, parsley, horseradish, and salt water that are included on the traditional Seder Plate are there primarily for symbolic reasons, not because they're especially tasty.
Brad Levy, chef-owner of Firefly Restaurant in San Francisco, has done his best to change this, cooking Passover Seder for his customers for the last 13 years. See a slideshow of the process of making Naked Gefilte Fish.
Propelling Automobiles Without Using Petrol
Yes, it's possible. At least according to Arthur Paul Pedrick. Pedrick was an extremely prolific British inventor in the 1960s and 1970s. After a career as an examiner in the UK Patent Office, he spent his retirement applying for large numbers of patents.
Like this one:An automobile is propelled by a horse pushing from behind. A U-shaped member 4 is attached by its free ends to the automobile, the automobile pulling a trailer in which food for the horse can be placed. The horse is connected to the U-shaped member 4 in such a way that it can only reach the food by pushing against the U- shaped member and so propelling the automobile.
The ignition switch can be arranged to give a mild electric shock to the posterior of the horse when it is switched on. The brake pedal maybe linked by cables to halter around the neck of the horse.
Global Lake Monster Database
Everyone has heard of the monster of Loch Ness in Scotland. But Nessie is not the only lake monster. Scattered across the globe are over 250 lakes reporting unidentifiable creatures. Many have never even heard of most of the lake monsters.
Evolutionists assume that if the lake monsters are real, then they became trapped in the lake millions of years ago. However from a creationists view point it is relatively clear that some of them became trapped in the lakes as the waters from Noah's Flood receded about 4,400 years ago.
2007 State Easter Eggs
The 2007 Easter Egg Collection continues the tradition that began in 1994 where each state sends a decorated egg to the White House for display.
Artists from across the United States created the decorated eggs, which represent each state and the District of Columbia.
What's In A Name?
Yuniel, Ynieski, Yulieski, Yolexis, Yuslan, Yoanni, Yumiel, Yadel, Yunieski, Yulieski, Yolexis, Yuslan, Yoanii, Yumiel, Yadel, Yonelki, Yunior, Yusded, Yinier, Yusnel.
You might think it's Russian, and it could be, but these are the most common Cuban first names.
In the World Series of weird baseball names, Cuba is a real contender.
How about Van Lingle Mungo, Yulieski Gourriel, Mickey Klutts, Urban Shocker, Danger Guerrero, Vicyohandri Odelin and Calvin Coolidge Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLish.
(via Will's Thrills)
Graham Barker's Beard Collection
A collection of facial hair clippings.Have you ever grown a beard? If so, and you shaved it off, were you ever tempted to save the whiskers for posterity? I was, and the result is this small collection of beards.
(via Everlasting Blort)
The State Of The Live Web, April 2007
Technorati is known widely for its quarterly State of the Blogosphere reports, analyzing the trends around blogs and blogging.
With this report, David Sifry expands on this tradition by introducing information and analysis relating to the broader range of social media on the Web, the Live Web.
Trippish
Trippish is a free service that gives you driving directions with weather forecasts along the route. Trippish not only tells you what the weather is likely to be during your drive, but also allows you to determine the best time to leave based on current forecasts.
Input the end and start point for your trip and the departure time. Trippish will begin retrieving directions and then weather forecasts. After some seconds the map will display your trip trajectory with weather icons along the way.
The Fenelon Place Elevator
The Fenelon Place elevator is described as the world's shortest, steepest scenic railway, 296 feet in length, elevating passengers 189 feet from Fourth Street to Fenelon Place in Dubuque, a city of eastern Iowa on the Mississippi River.
J. K. Graves, a former mayor and former State Senator, lived on top of the bluffs and worked at the bottom.
Unfortunately, he had to spend half an hour driving his horse and buggy round the bluff to get to the top and another half an hour to return downtown.
As a traveler he had seen incline railways in Europe and decided that a cable car would solve his problem. John Bell, a local engineer, was hired to design and to build a one-car cable modeled after those in the Alps.
The Fenelon Place Elevator.
Carbon Copies
This is kind of morbid.
Pencils made from the carbon of human cremains.
240 Pencils can be made from an average body of ash - a lifetime supply of pencils for those left behind.
Easter Egg Generator
This has got to be the easiest way to decorate an Easter egg. There are no dyes or wax to make a mess.
Choose egg colors, line styles or type a message onto your eggs. As you're making them, your eggs will be displayed as square 'wrappers.' When you're done, they will be wrapped around eggs.
The 50 Best Tech Products Of All Time
PC World has a list of the 50 best tech products of all time. From breakthrough hardware to time-honored software, we salute those amazing products that changed technology - and our lives - forever.
For me, it's a walk through memory lane with products now long forgotten but that I actually once posessed. Like Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS, a 3dfx Voodoo graphics card, the Iomega Zip Drive, Aldus Pagemaker, Print Shop from Brøderbund, and the Commodore Amiga.
The Evolution Of The Third Eye
Have you ever come across the expression 'the third eye?' It refers to an additional eye positioned between the two eyes. In some religions, deities are said to possess them.
In fact, however, our ancestors also had a third eye. Even today, what remains of this eye still senses light and plays a role in regulating our daily rhythm.
Although this organ, known as the pineal gland, is located in the brain, at the cellular level it is astonishingly similar to the eye - particularly to the cellular structure of the retina.
Ghost Cars Of The World
Dark Roasted Blend has a series of photos of vehicles that were once cars, but now fall in the category of ghostly apparitions.
It's a miracle these 'things' can still drive.