Have you ever picked up the phone to call someone, only to realize that you didn't know how to pronounce that person's name? Have you ever read a name but had no clue how to say it? Is your name commonly mispronounced?
How To Say That Name lets you learn how to pronounce names as a native speaker would say them. Not sure how to pronounce the name 'Nguyen?' Listen to a native Vietnamese speaker pronounce it.
How To Say That Name
20 Artistic Architectural Optical Illusions
Seeing is believing… or is it? Aided by high-tech materials, today's artists and architects are finding that if it can be imagined, it can also be built.
This selection of architectural optical illusions showcases 20 very public ways to fool the eye, please the mind and satisfy the soul.
Give Me Back My Google
Searching for products on Google can be annoying: nothing but Kelkoo, Pricerunner et al clogging up your search results.
These sites have their uses, but sometimes you really don't want them in your search results.
Give Me Back My Google gives you Google results without the annoying affiliate links.
Dragonfly Delight: Superb Macrophotography
The sight of a dragonfly on the wing is one of the more remarkable that nature has to offer. Here, with the help of some astounding macrophotography, we take a look at the life cycle of the dragonfly as well as its remarkable and unusual physiology.
(via Robert-John)
Drawers By Paho Mann
Photographer Paho Mann takes pictures of drawers and medicine cabinets. He believes these drawers show an expression of individuality in a society that relentlessly emphasizes on conformity.
(via Dump Trumpet)
Chicken Head Tracking
Chickens have a great ability to keep their heads stable. Our bodies use a gyro-like mechanism in our ears which has 3 mutually orthogonal inertial measurement devices.
These devices provide movement data which can be used to compensate for the movement. Chickens apparently have the same type mechanism only with a higher update rate.
(via b3ta)
The Pink And Blue Project
The Pink and Blue Project by South Korean artist JeongMee Yoon explores the trends in cultural preferences and the differences in the tastes of children (and their parents) from diverse cultures, ethnic groups as well as gender socialization and identity.
The Pink and Blue Project also raises other issues, such as the relationship between gender and consumerism, urbanization, the globalization of consumerism and the new capitalism.
Jeppson's Malört Face Photo Pool
Malört is the name of a Swedish style of schnapps which is flavored with wormwood. The smell and taste is musty and extremely bitter.
Most first-time drinkers of Jeppson Malört reject the liquor. Its strong, sharp taste is not for everyone. A Flickr photo pool of people who drank Malört for the first time.
(via Grow-A-Brain)
Top 5 Inappropriate Soundtracks
A soundtrack can do so much to craft a film, to give it subtly and nuance. But what if all that went out the window and the music was chosen by someone who'd gone full retard?
Here are the Top 5 Inappropriate Soundtracks.
(thanks Sheridan)
Unusual Churches
There are thousands of beautiful churches around the world, but only very few are so odd, that you would definitely take a camera and take a picture.
Here's a list of 20 unusual churches.
Candied Bacon Ice Cream
Do you like bacon? Do you like eggs? And ice cream?
Here's a recipe for Candied Bacon Ice Cream.
Changing A Light Bulb
What it's like to change the light bulb on top of the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis, Missouri?
(via Bits & Pieces)
Drawminos
With Drawminos you can create your own falling dominos game. Drag dominos and balls and drop them anywhere you want. When creating your game dominos are2D, once saved they will be 3D.
10 Weird Gourmet Foods
While there are still people who love their lobster and fillet mignon, many modern chefs like to experiment with the newest and craziest ingredients, while others like to reach back deep into the past - say, the middle ages - for inspiration.
As a result, there are some gourmet foods that are just too out there for the average man and woman to even begin to comprehend. Travel this weird world, the strange land of the couture gourmets.
Food Can Sculptures
Canstruction is an international charity competition featuring giant structures built entirely out of cans of food. Top architectural and engineering firms in over 100 cities across North America participate in Canstruction, collecting millions of pounds of food for local food banks.
These can sculptures are finicky beasts - sensitive to gravity, sometimes small sections collapse, needing to be reassembled.
11 Awesome Comic Book Hideouts
James Bond has some cool settings, but even the most breathtaking location is no comparison to what has been conjured up in the minds of those doodling comic book geniuses.
From stunning island nations complete with secret hideaways to orbiting space stations, comic books never cease to amaze.
(thanks Andy)
Around The World In 116 Beers
Beer is by far the most popular beverage in the world. Have you ever wondered what countries produced beer, and what the most popular domestically produced beers were in these countries?
Around The World In 116 Beers.
(via Dark Roasted Blend)
YouTube Videos In High Resolution
Some people have asked me how come the embedded YouTube videos on The Presurfer are of much better quality than the ones you can find on the YouTube site. There's a little hack I use and it goes like this.
Copy the embed code of the video you want to show from YouTube. Then add '&ap=%2526fmt%3D18' at the places shown in red below.
ThinkAnatomy
ThinkAnatomy has links to the best anatomy resources on the Internet. Not everyone can get their study needs met through lecture, lab, and a textbook. You probably find yourself searching for other study aids. It's can also be vbery frustrating to search the Internet for good resources because there's a lot of bad information out there.
ThinkAnatomy reviews each site, tells you who the authors are, and even lay out the pros and cons. They look for things like clarity of information, clear illustrations, intuitive navigation, and good information design.
ThinkAnatomy is the creation of Vanessa Ruiz, art director, medical illustrator, blogger, and all out anatomy fanatic.
70's Rock Musicians And Their Parent's Homes
A series of photos from LIFE Magazine, giving a peek inside the homes of the parents/grandparents of some of the most influential musical artists from the 1970's, including the likes of Frank Zappa, Grace Slick, The Jackson Five, Eric Clapton, and Elton John (pictured above).
A-Z Of English Words With Surprising Origins
English words with the prefix 'al-' as in alchemy and alcohol, often have Arabic roots, and many seafaring terms - skipper, schooner, land-lubber - are Dutch. But there are plenty of other surprises. Who knew that marmalade is in fact Portuguese?
Here is an A-to-Z of some favourite English words that have been absorbed from and inspired by other languages.
The Eco Zoo
The Eco Zoo. If you take a close look at the animals there you might be able to get some tips to live in a more environmentally friendly way. Make sure to click on an animal to check out their pop-up books.
The Wanderings Of The WEEE Man
People around the United Kingdom have been in for a big surprise. A seven meter three tonne metal man has been wandering in their midst.
Who (or what) is he and why is he here? Is the Earth about to stand still? Hardly, but like Klaatu the WEEE Man brings a message to which we should really listen!
(via Robert-John)
The Magnificent Truck Art Of Pakistan
Nowhere else in the world is the practice of truck art so pervasive as in Pakistan. In a country where the per capita income is barely north of $2,000, it is surprising to see fleet owners spend $3,000 - $5,000 per truck for structural modifications that convert these gas-guzzling, smoke-spewing, road-dominating monstrosities into beautiful moving canvases.
(via WebUrbanist)
Perspectives
While interviews traditionally present what people say, in Perspectives the interviewees don't actually say anything. With the spoken portion of the footage edited out, Perspectives leaves only body language, pauses for thought, and interjections to do the communicating.
Typically people think of 'content' only as what's literally being said. The content of Perspectives is based on the idea that what's not being said says something of its own.
Perspective is an art project by Basemotion, the audiovisual division of creative studio Basedesign.
Think Design To Take Gifts From Mundane To Sublime
It is often difficult to think of something different to give a friend or family member that will make a memorable gift. So don't! Stick with the old ideas but concentrate on the design of the object.
You won't find it too difficult, given some time, to take gifts from the mundane to the sublime. You still may not always get it right, but thinking about design will make the whole gift buying experience more enjoyable for you!
(via Robert-John)
One Spring Away
41 Commercials mashed up into a music video. Highlights are the drumming gorilla (Cadbury), Sony Bravia spots (balls, rabbits, dominos), slow-mo explosions, lots of dancing, Gap's Khaki Swing, and James Brown (BMW).
The mashup and accompanying music is by Roni Brunn who is the sole member of the band From. Roni is from Tel Aviv, Israel, and currently lives in Los Angeles.
(thanks Roni)
Top 14 Top Gear Moments
Top Gear is an Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, mainly cars. The programme is estimated to have 8 million viewers each week in the UK.
The show is presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig, an anonymous test driver. It is one of the most pirated television shows in the world.
Here are the top 14 Top Gear moments.
10 Of The Most Extraordinary Places To Take A Bath
Soak your troubles away in a mammoth glass of champagne, or bubble away in a beer spa. Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009 lists some of the most unique places in the world to take a bath.
(thanks Andi)
StateStats
StateStats shows you how popular a Google search query is in each U.S. state. It then compares this ranking with other ways of ranking states, like average income, number of obese people, or population density.
Be careful drawing conclusions from this data. For example, the fact that a search for 'walmart' shows a moderate correlation with 'obesity' does not imply that people who search for walmart are obese! It only means that states with a high obesity rate tend to have a high rate of users searching for walmart, and vice versa.
Martial Arts
Watch out for these men! They're very dangerous!
Don't get into a fight with them.
You'll be sure to die... well, laughing.
(via Miss Cellania)
Primate Programming Inc
Primate Programming Inc. is dedicated to the advancement and gainful employment of non-human great apes within the United States information technology sector.
A skilled primate from Primate Programming Inc. can handle code maintenance and report writing for as little as 45 cents per hour.
The entire staff receives ongoing .NET training and JSP training in addition to training in XML, Java and related technologies.
50 Beautiful Winter Wonderland Photos
Winter photography, especially in the colder parts of the world, is a specialized niche. Photographers have to take care of their cameras and guard against frostbite and hypothermia.
They often venture into remote wilderness searching for the perfect winter landscape. Their reward is stunning imagery.
Text Tag Generator
Text Tag is for generating a little tag graphic with text on it. After you make your tag, you can download it to your computer or save it to Flickr or ImageShack with a single click. To get different sized words, try breaking up your text in different places.
(thanks Zack)
Nap Sounds
A power-nap is a short sleep, usually 15-20 minutes, intended to revitalize the subject from drowsiness while working.
In our modern society, napping is often mocked and taunted, as it is associated with a lazy attitude. But very busy and effective people practice it regularly.
Nap Sounds provide you with sounds that will help you with your power nap. There are three napsounds available: electronic, classic and nature.
Star Trek: New Faces, Right Look?
Since its announcement, the new Star Trek prequel has caused huge debate among fans. Here we look at the actors who have been chosen to play the roles of Kirk and company and ask - do they have the right look?
(via Robert-John)
Keyboardr
Keyboardr is a new search engine that speeds up your internet experience. And if you like, it helps you keeping your hands on the keyboard. In the first place keyboardr is a meta-search. You get Google, Wikipedia, Youtube altogether. The instant search and the keyboard navigation are replacing the feeling of 'searching' with the feeling of 'launching.'
You don't need your mouse for Keyboardr. All functionality is accessible with your keyboard. This is fast and attractive for notebook-users.
Spy Gadgets For The James Bond Within You
Become the next James Bond and save the world with these cool spy gadgets. Some of these are not too expensive, so they can also make great Christmas Gifts or Stocking Presents.
What Happy People Don't Do
Happy people spend a lot of time socializing, going to church and reading newspapers - but they don't spend a lot of time watching television, a new study finds.
That's what unhappy people do. The data show that people who spend the most time watching television are least happy in the long run.
Police Dash Cam Of Meteor Over Edmonton, Canada
Filmed about 5:30pm Thursday, November 20th, 2008.
(via Dark Roasted Blend)
Free Marijuana Church Of Honolulu
Aloha and welcome to the Church devoted to the religion of higher consciousness. You are cordially invited to open your door of perception and discover the God within your own mind with one free toke of marijuana.
I am an ordinary guy with an extra-ordinary life since I opened my door of perception and discovered the ultimate purpose of human life is our own enlightenment. I invite, urge and pray that you look beyond your ordinary concept of God by chemically opening the door in your mind to experience the inestimable value of higher consciousness and come to know the God within your own mind.
(via Eclecticity)
Top 50 Dystopian Movies Of All Time
Massive dehumanization, totalitarian government, rampant disease, post-apocalyptic terrains, cyber-genetic technologies, societal chaos and widespread urban violence are some of the common themes in dystopian films which bravely examine the ominous shadow cast by future.
Top 50 Dystopian Movies Of All Time.
(via Everlasting Blort)
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: Moderation: Meet My Middle Finger. AKA Happy Thanksgiving!
click on the picture for real size
GenderAnalyzer
The GenderAnalyzer uses Artificial Intelligence to determine if a blog is written by a man or woman. It was right about The Presurfer.
The Dreadlocked Donkey: Back From The Brink
A look at the Poitou donkey from South West France. Only thirty years ago, less than thirty of these beautiful and friendly animals were left.
Now, thanks to a conservation program, it looks as if the dreadlocked donkey is set to stay awhile on Planet Earth.
(via Robert-John)
Williams Word Generator
Enter a word (10 characters or under) and the Williams Word Generator will create a poem.
Admittedly, these poems are gibberish. But they're visually interesting, and you're welcome to rearrange the words yourself for more proper poetry.
(via kaolin fire)
Cruise Ship Caught In Cyclone
This is security footage of a dining room of a cruise ship as it hits rough seas. The video starts of a bit slow but by the end the dining room is completely destroyed.
Random Recipe Generator
Don't know what to make for dinner? Use the Random Recipe Generator.
An example:
Slices Of Bread A La Raisins
You will need:
100g lard
80g raisins
3 slices of bread
Instructions:
1. sift the slices of bread
2. grill the raisins
3. throw the lard away
4. throw it all away
Mosquito Tone Test
A Mosquito Tone is a cellphone ringtone that uses a constant frequency generally only heard by people under 20. Also known as 'Teen Buzz' or 'Mozzy Tone,' it became popular because parents and teachers usually cannot hear the high-pitched tone when the phones are ringing. After 20, most people's ability to hear these higher frequencies begins to decline.
With the Whipper-Snap-O-Meter you can test yourself whether you can still hear these high-pitched tones.
Treadmobil
Alex Astilean invented a treadmill vehicle. The Mobile Treadmill, designed specially to move and walk down the street while you're treading. Isn't this the most useless exercise machine ever invented? Why buy a mobile treadmill when you can just walk or run down the streets?
Uncontrollable Semantics
American artist Jason Nelson created Uncontrollable Semantics. Use your mouse to pull together over fifty different sound, image and interactive environments.
Within your mouse flows all directions. Create from your wrist, your hand, a tense and sleepy world. And their shapes arrived missing and rideless in the snow. Play, oh play.
The Ultimate Dart Board
Swedish artist Jacob Dahlgren took hundreds of dartboards and glued them together to make the world's largest game of darts.
(via UniqueDaily)
We Stare At The Computer
We stare at the computer,
For hours, every day.
MySpace, Facebook and Google,
Entrapped us in their hands...
We Stare At The Computer.
Four Philosophical Questions To Make Your Brain Hurt
Philosophy involves standing back and thinking - intensely and rigorously - about aspects of our lives that are at once ordinary and fundamental. And when the surface is scratched, what you find below is extraordinary - or, rather, extraordinarily difficult to make good, clear sense of.
Here are some pesky arguments to apply your minds to.
What A Lovely Name
What A Lovely Name is a website for helping you find the perfect name for your baby. You can browse by tradition, or personality trait, or even check out what celebrities are naming their children.
iSerenity
iSerenity offers a relaxing web-based experience that delivers soothing sounds and images designed to reduce stress and calm nerves.
Use iSerenity while at work or at home. You can even leave it running in the background while you work on your computer.
The Atlantic School Bus Yard
The Atlantic School Bus Yard is the premier destination for school bus fans looking for photos of school buses from the Eastern part of the United States.
(via Grow-A-Brain)
Creative Barn
The Creative Barn is the one and only cassette tape closet: a closet built with 918 cassette tapes that are individually screwed onto a wooden frame. The closet has three doors which provide access to the huge storage space inside.
If The Google Pagerank Bar Could Sing
If the Google Pagerank Bar could sing...
What Would It Say?
(via Google Blogoscoped)
Top 25 Days In Computing History
The path to modern-day computing is longer than many suspect, and strewn with interesting nuggets of information. These include:
The inventor of e-mail can't remember when he got it working.
Pac-Man was modelled on a pizza and called Puck-Man until vandals forced a name change.
The first hard drive had a 5MB capacity and could only be moved by a fork-lift truck.
Deep Blue's chess victory over Garry Kasparov was described as a 'psychological triumph'.
Full details of these milestones, and other gems of computing history.
8 Of The Best Treehouses In The World
Tree houses are the only solution for building of eco-friendly facilities in some remote forest-areas. The wildlife, climate and illumination on ground-level in areas of dense close-canopy forest is not suitable for human habitation.
There are over 20 architectural businesses in Europe and North America that specialize in building treehouses of various degrees of permanence and sophistication, from children's play structures to fully-functioning homes.
(thanks Yaw)
50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do
Do you know how to tell a story that captivates people's attention? How to change a tire? How to remember names? How to sew a button onto clothing? Or how to handle a hammer, axe or handsaw?
If you don't, you're never too young to learn.
50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do.
God Trumps
Struggling to choose the top religion? Can't decide between Bible-thumping evangelism or benign, gentle Buddhism?
Make the process fun and easy with God Trumps, the cut-out-and-keep metaphysical card game for all the family. Cartoons by Martin Rowson.
Ten Unusual Food Combinations
Would you add sugar to your vegetables? Or add a touch of salt to your coffee? How about strawberries with pepper, and chili with chocolate?
While some people know about these little tricks, the majority do not. These are small tips to help you improve the foods we commonly eat - most are recommended by top chefs and others by very experienced home cooks.
(via Grow-A-Brain)
The Brewster Kaleidoscope Society
Kaleidoscopes developed into an important new art form as an unprecedented renaissance began in the late 1970s. It gained momentum in the 1980s with an article in the November, 1982 issue of Smithsonian Magazine, followed by the publication in 1985 of the first book on the subject, Through the Kaleidoscope, by Cozy Baker.
The Brewster Kaleidoscope Society was founded in 1986 by Cozy Baker as an international organization for kaleidoscope enthusiasts. Named after the inventor of the kaleidoscope, Sir David Brewster, its purpose is to share and promote the beauty, creativity, and joy of these mirrored tubes of magic.
(via DeepFUN)
LIFE Photo Archive Hosted By Google
Search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive, stretching from the 1750s to today. Only a very small percentage of these images have ever been published. The rest have been sitting in dusty archives in the form of negatives, slides, glass plates, etchings, and prints.
Google is digitizing them so that everyone can easily experience these fascinating moments in time. Today about 20 percent of the collection is online; during the next few months, Google will be adding the entire LIFE photo archive — about 10 million photos.
Pete Drake's Talking Electric Guitar
Roddis Franklin 'Pete' Drake and his 'talking' steel guitar playing Forever.
(via Boing Boing)
Not A Cough In A Carload
Early in the last century, when questions about the health effects of smoking became a topic of widespread discussion, tobacco companies undertook a multi-faceted campaign to allay the public's fears. As terms like 'smoker's cough' and 'coffin nails' (referring to cigarettes) began to appear in the popular vernacular, tobacco marketers recognized the need to counter this threat to their livelihood.
Not a Cough in a Carload.
Images from the tobacco industry campaign to hide the hazards of smoking.
Animal Camouflage
Nature is fascinating, and some of nature's best work is illustrated by a group of animals that have adapted to mimic leaves. Leaf mimics employ a heightened form of camouflage to evade detection from predators or prey.
These animals make use of extraordinary color patterns, in addition to modified exoskeletons, skin, scales, and behavior to take camouflage to another level.
Come Into The Closet
IKEA has come up with a way to sell closets.
Come Into the Closet is a promotion for furniture in an unusual way; control the movement of characters by a predefined sound, upload music, turn your keyboard into a drum machine, or use your microphone to yell, sing, clap, or whistle.
(thanks m.c.)
Jules
An animation with Jules, a biologically designed robot. This animation was created to test the limitations of his servos and experiment what he can and cannot do. Jules was created by the Robotics Laboratory of the University of Bristol, England.
Spider Drawing Invoice
David Thorne didn't have the $233.95 to pay an overdue account. Instead he submitted a picture of a spider he drew.
Spider Drawing Invoice.
(thanks Chris)
Codgers! Don't Let Cloud Computing Confuse The C**p Out Of You
Some words that the young 'uns bandy about like there is no tomorrow seem designed purposefully to perplex anyone over thirty. Cloud Computing is just one of those terms.
If you have ever wondered but were afraid to ask then read on.
(via Robert-John)
Female Bodybuilders
One of the most successful portrait photographers in the world, Martin Schoeller, in cooperation with publishing house Pond Press Books has presented a picture book under the name 'Female Bodybuilders.'
(via Boing Boing)
Guidelines For Cats
If you have to throw up, get to a chair quickly. If you cannot manage in time, get to an Oriental rug. If there is no Oriental rug, shag is good. When throwing up on the carpet, make sure you back up so that it is as long as the human's bare foot.
Guidelines for Cats.
Noah's Blog
What would the Bible look like if it had been written like a blog?
Day 1. Rain.
Day 2. Rain.
Day 3. Rain.
Day 4. Rain.
Day 5. Rain.
Day 6. So I was loading up the last of the animals last week when I walk past my neighbor Roger, the Molech-worshipper. He looks up and says 'Hey, looks like rain.'
(via Neatorama)
50 Examples Of Tilt-Shift Photography
Tilt-shift photography is a creative and unique type of photography in which the camera is manipulated so that a life-sized location or subject looks like a miniature-scale model.
Here are 50 beautiful examples of tilt-shift photography.
The Spiral Jetty
Massive sculptures are fascinating and American artist Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty walks the fine line between nature and the artificial. In 1970, he built a 1500-foot long, 15 foot-wide counterclockwise coil out of mud, salt crystals and rocks at the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Like most land art, the Spiral Jetty is a part of its landscape and its affected by the elements: it exists to eventually erode under natural conditions. Since its creation, the jetty has been completely covered and uncovered by water several times, being dependent on fluctuating water levels.
(via Dark Roasted Blend)
Awesome Geek Cakes
Even geeks have got to eat, and when pizza's just not enough, there's cake. Not just any cake either - the surest route to geek satisfaction is a slice of pi. Pie, that is.
So sharpen up the knives and prepare for sugar shock from scrumptious Super Mario to sacrilicious Barack Obama!
Jumping On Eggs Without Breaking Them
From the 1974 Nationwide show. Tony McCabe demonstrates how to jump on eggs without breaking them.
(via Everlasting Blort)
Children Of The Great War
All armies in the Great War used kid soldiers. In the beginning of the war the enthousiasm to join the battle was so great that young boys (and even girls) could hardly be stopped to enlist. Recruiting Officers in all countries closed their eyes when eager children clearly under the required age - 18 years old - showed up to join their armies.
Hardly trained the kids were send to the trenches in Belgium, France, Russia and Turkey, where they mingled with the oldier soldiers - and died with them.
(via Grow-A-Brain)
Typealyzer
What type of writer are you? Typealizer finds features that distinguishes one type from another. When all features, words, and sentences are combined, Typealyzer is able to guess which type of writer you are.
The analysis indicate that the author of The Presurfer is of the type: ISTP - The Mechanic. The independent and problem-solving type. He is especially attuned to the demands of the moment and is a master in responding to challenges that arise spontaneously.
The Mechanic enjoys working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often likes to seek fun and action both in his work and personal life. He enjoys adventure and risk such as in driving racecars or working as policeman and firefighter.
The World's Most Super-Designed Data Center
This underground data center has greenhouses, waterfalls, German submarine engines, simulated daylight and can withstand a hit from a hydrogen bomb. It looks like the secret HQ of a James Bond villain. And it is real.
It's a newly opened high-security data center run by Bahnhof, one of Sweden's largest ISPs, located in an old nuclear bunker deep below the bedrock of Stockholm city, sealed off from the world by entrance doors almost 16 inches thick.
The Strange Cult Of Santa Muerte
The Grim Reaper as a cross-dresser? In South America Mexico, Saint Death (Santa Muerte) will visit you one day - or so it is believed - and it will come in female form dressed up to the nines.
Take a look at the strange tradition of Saint Death. A pagan mix of the supernatural and black magic or a Catholic saint worthy of veneration?
(via Robert-John)
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: The Bottom of the World .
click on the picture for real size
The Dudespaper
The Dudespaper is the official publication of The Church of the Latter-Day Dude, a religion better known as 'Dudeism.'
Where other newspapers are mostly vehicles to deliver bad news and get you to buy stuff you don't need, The Dudespaper is here mainly to help you feel groovy and to promote an idea for its place and time.
The Most Extreme Conditions Ever Seen On Earth
There have been volcanic eruptions thousands of times more powerful than Mt. St. Helens. Recent storms have redefined the ranking systems for wind speeds. The hottest place on Earth has hit temperatures 288 degrees hotter than the coldest place on earth.
Here is a compilation of the most extreme conditions that add a little spice (and devastation) to the planet Earth and its inhabitants.
(via Dark Roasted Blend)
Molecular Expressions
Molecular Expressions has the web's largest collection of color photographs taken through an optical microscope.
They cover just about everything from beer and ice cream to integrated circuits and ceramic superconductors.
Bird Families Of The World
The purpose of this list of Bird Families of the World is as an aid to world birders who desire to maximize their study of avian diversity by observing examples of as many bird families as reasonable within the time and money available for travel, and as a study tool for all interested readers.
It is exhilarating to see or learn about unique birds, and bird families structure the avian world into the most discrete and unique groups.
10 Laugh Out Loud Online Animations
Are you in need of a little cheering up, or do you just want to have a little internet style distraction? To use an old cliche, laughter is the best medicine!
Take a look at these ten laugh out loud online animations and see if they don't put a huge smile on your face - a few of them at least. A warning though - these toons are very, very silly!
(via Robert-John)
Beautiful Examples Of HDR Photography
HDR is a set of techniques that allows a greater dynamic range of values between light and dark areas than normal digital imaging techniques. Here are some examples of beautiful and creative HDR photography.
Flair Hair
We all have 'bad hair' days; some of us have 'no hair' days. When you need to cover your dome, you'll want something that does the job, something that adds a little fun, a little flair; your very own Flair Hair visor.
(via Unique Daily)
Wrapping Cords And Hoses
Despite all the cordless tools that keep showing up on job sites, air hoses and extension cords still need to be rolled out every morning and wrapped up at the end of the day. Coiling them tightly for storage introduces twists and kinks that can cause damage and make them harder to manage around the work zone.
Learn how to avoid twists and kinks that can cause damage.
My Mall
My Mall is the world's first virtual 3D shopping mall. MyMall currently boasts over 1500 stores, in 36 categories hosting in excess of over 25 million products, from insurance and travel to stationery, chocolate and pizza delivery.
My Mall is based in the UK. The majority of the 500 brands that have signed up are UK based. But they will be launching worldwide very soon though.
(thanks Melanie)
Energuy
Drag Energuy by the hand and click on stuff that will help him save energy. But watch the clock!
(via Ursi's Blog)
Dreadfully Different Dolls
If your Christmas list includes someone, a doll collector or not, whose taste runs to the unique, odd, or totally bizarre, here are some wonderful shopping suggestions. This is the world of doll making turned on its head.
Woman Wants Webcam To Replace Lost Eye
This is Tanya Vlach's new eyeball. She lost her real one in a car accident a few years ago. She is now looking for help in turning her artificial eye into a eye-cam. A mini web cam inside an eyeball.
It would capture live video and stream it to a memory somewhere and also perhaps eventually assist her own vision in real time.
(via Boing Boing)
OmniMedicalSearch
OmniMedicalSearch is a medical search engine. You can find authoritative, consumer-oriented health and medical information. There are nearly one million medical terms and synonyms that translates everyday language and precisely matches it to complex medical information.
You can also use Medical Image Search.
(via Interesting Pile)
Living Wage Calculator
In many American communities, families working in low-wage jobs make insufficient income to live locally given the local cost of living. Recently, in a number of high-cost communities, community organizers and citizens have successfully argued that the prevailing wage offered by the public sector and key businesses should reflect a wage rate required to meet minimum standards of living.
Here's a living wage calculator to estimate the cost of living in your community or region. The Calculator lists typical expenses, the living wage and typical wages in the location you have selected.
10 Fascinating Last Pictures Taken
The words 'last picture taken' before his or her death conjure up many emotions, whether in front of the camera or behind it.
This list consists of 10 last time stamps in history taken of and by some fascinating individuals.
Turkish Mayor Suing Batman Director
A Turkish mayor is suing the director of the latest Batman film because he claims he stole the name of his city. The Mayor of Batman, an ancient oil-producing city in southeastern Turkey, is hoping to receive royalties if he is successful in suing director Christopher Nolan.
Hüseyin Kalkan, the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party mayor of the city, claims that American producers took the name of his city without telling him or his people. He said: There is only one Batman in the world. The American producers used the name of our city without informing us.
(via Arbroath)
Twitter Status Generator
Sometimes the banalities of life just don't make for solid Twitter or Facebook status updates.
Add a little mystery and confusion with the Twitter Status Generator.
Kogao Meiku Beruto
Unsatisfied with your face? Do you want to change the shape of your face without an expensive operation? People thinking to have a too big face or want to get a slimmer cheek, strain skin, or get rid of a double chin could be helped by the Kogao Meiku Beruto (small face make belt).
According to the manufacturer, the face will become smaller and slimmer by just stringing the belt around the head while sleeping or relaxing. Sounds easy, right?
The Cage Of Death
Without the cage you wouldn't stand a chance swimming with a massive saltwater crocodile. But for brave punters who still want to get cosy with a feisty croc, a new Australian tourist attraction is offering the chance for a close encounter in the safety of a clear acrylic box dubbed the 'cage of death.'
The attraction at Crocosaurus Cove in the heart of the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory has been given high marks by adrenaline-junkies.
(via Look At This...)
Resampled Space
Belgian photographer Filip Dujardin makes images of unexpected buildings – that is, he 'combines photographs of parts of buildings into new, fictional, architectonic structures.'
The resulting projects look like old factory sites in the American rust belt – Mark describes them as 'informal and often dilapidated structures with unspecified functions.'
Urban Knitting
There's a new form of graffiti in town, and it's extremely pleasant. Who in their right mind would come face to face with a sweater-wearing tree and do anything but smile?
Here are some of the best examples of knit/crochet graffiti.
Top 10 James Bond One Liners
James Bond has returned to our screens in Quantum of Solace, but without such classic lines as 'Martini; shaken, not stirred,' and 'The name's Bond. James Bond.'
Daniel Craig means it's out with the one liners and in with the serious plot. For great puns you now have to delve deep into Bond's prestigious/cheesy history. So let us cast our minds back to some of the most memorable quotes.
Here are the top ten best James Bond one liners.
(thanks Sheridan)
Not A Father's Day
Not A Father's Day is a holiday dedicated to the celebration and commemoration of an oft forgotten segment of our country's population: the not fathers. These brave men have chosen to remain childless, despite an avalanche of pressure, expectations, and condemnation.
So on this day, all of humanity shall pause to remember that it is better to change partners than diapers, that the only thing in a bottle should be beer, and that the only reason to be up at 6am is because you haven't gone to sleep the night before.
Joe Biden's Teeth
The mission of Joe Biden's Teeth is to reduce our dependency on porcelain and metal fillings through the investment in clean and renewable enamel.
To teach our youth that tooth decay is a matter of national security, and to unite democrats and republicans for the conservation of our most precious natural resource.
(via Everlasting Blort)
16 Mesmerizing Mirrors With Radical Reflections
Whether polished obsidian, bronze or metal-backed-glass, we have been gazing at our reflection for thousands of years. Still, mirrors are somewhat behind the times when it comes to creative and off-the-wall modern furniture designs.
Here are 16 unique examples of new mirror designs that one would expect to find lurking with Alice in Through the Looking Glass.
Ana Serrano
Ana Serrano is a first generation Mexican American born in Los Angeles in 1983. Inspired by both of the cultural contexts in her life, she creates work utilizing a variety of mediums including drawing, collage, sculpture, and motion.
Blogger Reuben Miller has an exclusive interview with Ana Serrano.
What Kind Of Animal Is On This Rubber Ball?
Mark Frauenfelder of Boing Boing can't identify the animal (if it is one) depicted on this little rubber ball that his five-year-old was playing with. Rotated versions were added to assist in identification.
Tiny Geo Coder
Ever wanted to know the latitude and longitude of a certain place without having to go through crazy location-based services?
Try Tiny Geo Coder. Just enter a location like San Francisco or Spain and you'll get a latitude and longitude pair which is good to use in Google Maps applications.
Google Flu Trends USA
Google found a close relationship between how many people search for flu-related topics and how many people actually have flu symptoms. Of course, not every person who searches for 'flu' is actually sick, but a pattern emerges when all the flu-related search queries from each US state and region are added together.
Google Flu Trends uses aggregated Google search data to estimate flu activity in your state up to two weeks faster than traditional systems.
Scenes From Antarctica
Down in Antarctica, November marks the end of spring, the beginning of austral summer, and the beginning of Antarctica's cruise season. The Sun just rose for the first time in 6 months on September 22nd, and is now visible in the sky all the time.
51 Japanese Characters
What is an Otaku, a Jukensei, a Narikin or an Obatarian? Where does the name Yakuza come from, and what is special about Fugu? What exactly is Shintoism and what is Kabuki.
Japanese society is full of special expressions for certain strange, cute or funny characters. 51 Japanese Characters is an insightful collection of figurines showcasing several typical members and cultural phenomena of Japanese society.
(via Everlasting Blort)
Caption X
CaptionX is a new game by Nikolai Kordulla and Philipp Lenssen. The goal: compete against other players in real-time to come up with the funniest photo captions!
You sit together in a room with 3 other people, get presented with a photo, and each of you tries to come up with the funniest caption. The winner is decided by a vote amongst you. You have to sign in with your Google account.
Incredible Paintings By Tetsuya Ishida
Tetsuya Ishida was a talented Japanese painter whose paintings were known for their dark portrayal of Japanese life. The characters in his paintings appear unhappy and often their bodies are in pieces or part of some machine or other object.
Tetsuya Ishida died in 2005 after being hit by a train leaving behind around 180 works created during his 10 year art career.
Top 10 Irritating Phrases
A top 10 of irritating expressions has been compiled by researchers at Oxford University. Heading the list was the expression 'at the end of the day', which was followed in second place by the phrase 'fairly unique'. The tautological statement 'I personally' made third place.
See the whole list.
(via Neatorama)
Generatus
Generatus is a social networking status generator. How many hours have you wasted trying to think of something suitably witty, funny and original for your status on Facebook or Twitter? Let's face it, a status like 'Dave is mowing the lawn' or 'Kate is asleep' is not going to impress that huge entourage of friends you've amassed.
Never fear! With Generatus your days of boring status updates are over! Simply type your name, indicate whether you are a boy or a girl, then hit Generate. You will be served up a brand new, sparkly status all ready to be copied and pasted into Facebook, Twitter or whichever social networking site you like best.
The Magical World Of Electric Irons
Ironing works by loosening the bonds between the long-chain polymer molecules in the fibers of the material. While the molecules are hot, the fibers are straightened by the weight of the iron, and they hold their new shape as they cool.
No doubt, ironing occupies an important place in our society. Go to a job interview without a pressed shirt if you want a practical demonstration.
The Magical World of Electric Irons.
(via Grow-A-Brain)
Whatever Happened To The Buffy Actors?
It has been five long years since the last episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was aired. After seven years of working on the same project, the actors involved might have been forgiven if they never went in front of a camera professionally again!
However, inquiring minds demand an answer! What happened to the eight actors who played the major roles in the TV series next? Did they go on to bigger and better things or did they disappear without a trace? Take a look at the fates that befell these actors as they struggled to cope - and find work - in their post-Buffy universe.
(via Robert-John)
Sensational Footage Of Flying Saucer Making Crop Circle
Take a look at this exclusive footage of a flying saucer creating a crop circle.
More information here.
Shopping Cart Fail
So you just loaded hundreds of shopping carts into a truck. But you forgot to secure them. When the truck drives away, imagine what happens.
Obama Russina Nesting Doll Set
The many layers of Obama, right on your tabletop. These meticulously handpainted nesting dolls match Barack Obama's visage with folk art touches such as an accordion and a chicken. Made of well-finished wood, they're a must-have politico collectible. Imported from Russia.
Now
Now is a widget that shows a whole lot of things going on right now. Like top words being used online, houses built now, people stuck in elevators, coffee cups being produced, babies being born, money being spend online, up to new cases of malaria.
The widget was made by telecommunications company Sprint. Sprint is planning to turn this widget into a Social Networking application.
The Walking House
The Walking House has been built on six hydraulic legs and was designed by art collective N55 in Copenhagen, Denmark, who worked in conjunction with engineers in Massachusetts, U.S. The 10ft high home is solar and wind powered and can stroll at walking pace across all terrains.
Designers say it provides a solution to the problem of rising water levels as the house can simply walk away from floods.
9 Creatively Camera-Free Photographers
Looking at some of the most impressive contemporary photography, it's easy to believe that sophisticated equipment is necessary. Thoughts of prohibitively expensive cameras and all of the other trappings of professional photography have dissuaded plenty of would-be photographers over the years.
But amazing images have been made for centuries without any help from cameras using creatively strange pinhole and photogram photography techniques.
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: How's This for Preconditions?
click on the picture for real size
Akinator, The Web Genius
Think of a person and The Akinator will try to guess who you are thinking of by asking a couple of questions.
I know, this has been done before but none were as good as The Akinator. I tried it several times and his answers were spot on!
Rich Kids: When Child Labor Pays Dividends
Child Labor. The words sound rather grim and conjure up an image of exploitation at its very worst. Yet some young people find themselves incredibly rich at a young age and, surprisingly, have made the money themselves.
So, rights and wrongs of child labor aside, who are the ten richest teenagers in the world - at least those who have earned their own money?
You may be surprised.
(via Robert-John)
Fun With PiZap
PiZap is an online photo editor. You can play with some demo photos or upload your own. You can then add text, stickers, change faces and a whole lot more. Here's an example of a demo photo I changed.
Learning Games For Kids
Learning Games For Kids is a great way to build the foundation skills that today's elementary school curriculum requires. These learning games and songs are fun, teach important skills for preschool and elementary school kids and they're free.
The Lego Minifig Timeline
Gizmodo has worked with Lego to painstakingly collect and catalog almost every minifig ever produced into a photographic timeline.
You will be able to see the evolution of the iconic figure, from the very first sets in the 70s to the latest and greatest ones in 2008.
How Many Miles Per Gallon Does Your Body Get?
Assuming you consumed 1 gallon of liquid food mixed with water, this short survey will tell you approximately how far you could walk before you passed out ran out of gas.
Hooray For Photoshopping
There is fresh speculation about the health of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il, amid suggestions that an image of Mr Kim may have been doctored. The image, released on Wednesday, appeared to show Mr Kim in good health while inspecting two military units.
But an analysis by the UK's Times newspaper highlighted incongruities around the leader's legs, and the BBC found what look like mismatched pixels.
10 Japanese Customs You Must Know Before A Trip to Japan
If you know these key Japanese customs, you'll get closer to the locals and see beneath the surface of Japan.
Laser Shooter Alarm Clock
Place this target-topped alarm clock across the room; in the morning, the alarm goes off and keeps going off until you accurately zap the bulls-eye with your laser pistol.
The Goat Is On A Pole
Goatonapole is the philosophy of being that holds that there is a Goat and a Pole and that the Goat is on the Pole. In the relation of Goat and Pole we Goatonapolists find an eternal thread of unfathomable cosmic significance, a point of reference in which all opposites dissolve into a unity of infinite breadth, a universal truth underlying the very fabric of existence.
Upon contemplation of the Goat, the Pole, and their relative positions, one cannot help but realize that we've always been talking about Goatonapole. Whether we accept, reject, or live in ignorance of Goatonapole, we are all Goatonapolists.
389 Years Ago...
A typographic mashup of the history of slavery, racism, and the progress of African Americans.
Top 10 Most Expensive Accidents In History
Throughout history, humans have always been prone to accidents. Some can be very expensive. Here's a list of the top 10 most expensive accidents in the history of the world as measured in dollars.
This includes property damage and expenses incurred related to the accident such as cleanup and industry losses. Many of these accidents involve casualties which obviously cannot be measured in dollar terms. Each life lost is priceless and is not factored into the equation.
(via Dark Roasted Blend)
Bugs Eating Whole Head Of Lettuce In One Hour
Afraid of bugs? Well, here area a whole lot of them. Crickets to be precise, 40,000 of them, eating a whole head of lettuce in just one hour. Coolest high speed video ever!
Is Obama President?
Is Obama President?
November 4, 2008 by illustrator Patrick Moberg.
In a vote of historic proportions, Senator Barack Obama became President-Elect of the United States of America. Over two years of campaigning was resolved with a record voter turnout. With such a high level of interest and attention, there have been millions of words written and photographs taken of the candidates over the past year.
Here is a collection of some of the best photos of President-Elect Barack Obama over the past several months.
Intrade
Intrade is the latest iteration of one of the most important economic developments of modern times. Intrade's mission is to provide you with the best prediction market platform and related services bar none and to facilitate you to connect, predict, discuss and contribute your insights on uncertain events that you are passionate about.
At the heart of Intrade is a marketplace for the exchange of predictions on uncertain future events often called prediction markets or event markets.
The Weird Life Cycle Of The Ladybug
The ladybug has something of a strange life cycle and one that surprises many people. From egg to fully grown ladybug, join us on a journey of a lifetime - literally!
(via Robert-John)
Save The Axolotl
The alien-looking Axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum), aka Mexican walking fish or Mexican water monster, is seriously threatened with extinction because of habitat destruction and water pollution. The number of axolotls has dropped from roughly 1,500 per square mile in 1998 to a mere 25 per square mile this year.
One problem is with non-native fish species like the Asian Carp and the African tilapia that eat young Axolotls. They haven't evolved in the same environment, so they don't have good defense mechanisms against them. The other big issue is habitat destruction. Lakes have been drained, and wastewater from Mexico City pollute waterways.
100 Blogs That Will Inspire You To Be A Better Person
Everyone needs a little help sometimes in getting motivated, feeling happy or just getting those creative juices flowing. Luckily, the Internet is full of places to find inspiration.
These blogs can help you get moving towards your goals, whether you want to give back more to the community, feel better about yourself, or just get in shape.
18 Crazy Ways To Hang Your Hat Or Coat
Wherever you hang your hat or coat, that's your home. No modern dream home is complete without a dazzling, eye-catching coat rack - and there is plenty of options to choose from.
Here are 18 coat racks that are unafraid to hang up traditional designs and do something a little more creative and unexpected.
Barack Obama First African-American President
Barack Obama made history by becoming the first African-American to win the US presidency.
Barack Obama, who launched an admittedly improbable campaign for the presidency 21 months ago with a remarkably focused appeal to a widespread hunger for change in a distressed nation, has claimed an insurmountable majority of the electoral votes required to name him the 44th president.
George Garratt Changes Name To Captain Fantastic
A teenager has changed his name to Captain Fantastic Faster Than Superman Spiderman Batman Wolverine Hulk And The Flash Combined. The record-breaking name, now thought to be the world's longest, was the idea of music graduate George Garratt.
Garratt, from Glastonbury, Somerset, added that while he thought the new name was 'crazy,' his grandmother was no longer speaking to him.
Women's Hands 'Harbour More Bugs'
Women have a greater range of different types of bacteria on the palms of their hands than men, research from the National Academy of Sciences suggests. The study also found that human hands harbour far higher numbers of bacteria species than previously thought.
Using powerful gene sequencing techniques, researchers found a typical hand had roughly 150 different species of bacteria living on it, with a greater diversity found on the hands of women. On average, women had 50% more bacterial species on their hands than men.
It's A Thingummy... Whatjermercallit...
Our lives are full of 'thingummys', 'thingamajigs' and 'whatjermecallits' - those everyday items we should know the word for, or were once told but have since forgotten.
Here's a collection of those items.
The Oceanic Art Of Juan Cabana
Juan Cabana, wandering the lonely shores of secluded beaches, has often found the mortal remains of mermaids. Cabana's mermaids are no gentle pre-Raphaelite maidens. These mermaids seduce us, not with their siren beauty, but with parchment skin and haunted eyes.
Their allure lies in their hypnotic honesty. Cabana's mermaids have been dredged from the stygian depths, where the pressure and endless darkness breed spine-toothed monsters and grotesque simian scavengers.
