A middle-aged man lives a life of routines, clinging to a long desired promotion, until the day his computer and coffee machine decide that there is need for a change.
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
Thursday 31 January 2013
The World's First Barbie Restaurant
The first Barbie restaurant to grace this Earth has just opened. It's in Taiwan, where themed restaurants are very popular. And it's pink. Very pink!
Toe Wrestling: The Bizarre Sport Sweeping The World Off Its Feet
Although you might not believe it, toe wrestling is a real sport complete with its own world championship. This quirky sport has its origins in the UK. It all started at the Royal Oak Inn, a pub in Wetton in the Peak District National Park. In 1976, a group of walkers at the Royal Oak decided it was time to invent a sport that Brits might actually be good at, and toe wrestling was born.
Unfortunately, however, a Canadian tourist smashed those Brits' hopes when he won the first Toe Wrestling World Championship, and the sport was put on ice. But, nearly two decades later, toe wrestling was brought back to life by George Burgess, a new landlord of the Royal Oak. Since then, the toe wrestling has gained surprising popularity amongst bizarre sports enthusiasts.
10 Incredible Real-Life Laser Weapons
Laser weapons, for years the staple of science fiction movies good and bad, may be the future of warfare beyond the silver screen. Around the world, countries are awakening to the military possibilities presented by these real-life death rays.
The 21st century has seen a significant increase in the power, accuracy and versatility of such weapons, and some of the more advanced systems are tantalizingly close to being ready for deployment in the field. Take a look at the 10 most incredible laser weapons already built or soon to be in service.
Totalitarian Architecture Of The Soviet Union
Unapologetic in their scale and glorification of the totalitarian state, these gigantic structures dominate urban landscapes of the former Eastern Bloc countries, still capable either to inspire dreams of imperial grandeur, or resurrect ghosts of dark abuses of power.
Baby Musk Oxen Are Surprisingly Adorable
The musk ox is an Arctic mammal of the family Bovidae, noted for its thick coat and for the strong odor emitted by males, from which its name derives. Musk oxen primarily live in Arctic Canada and Greenland, with small introduced populations in Sweden, Siberia, Norway and Alaska.
Wednesday 30 January 2013
Cabbit
Cabbit is a short animated film made by Montana based artist Soogie. The entire film was made with Sharpies and a Mac Mini. Cabbit has been a passion project which has been in production for 4 years with contributions from artists in the United States, Australia and France.
Vimeo link
Cabbit production page.
(thanks Emma)
Vimeo link
Cabbit production page.
(thanks Emma)
Stockholm's Incredible Futuristic Metro
In some places it feels like a giant cave - or perhaps a Bond villain's base. In others, it resembles a science-fiction space station. And then there's the part that looks like a blood vessel running through some kind of giant cyborg.
Yet no matter which of Stockholm's 90 decorated subway stations you visit, you're sure to see something amazing.
Mega Machines: The Biggest 'Monsters' Around The Planet
Leafy Seadragon - A Fish That Drifts Along Looking Like Seaweed
The leafy seadragon is a fish in the same family as seahorses. It is found along the southern and western coasts of Australia. The name is derived from the appearance, with long leaf-like protrusions coming from all over the body.
(thanks Cora)
Tupperware Commercial
Don't know if it's something that people still do today, but I remember those Tupperware parties from when I was a child. Tupperware was developed in 1946 by Earl Silas Tupper in Leominster, Massachusetts.
He developed plastic containers used in households to contain food and keep it airtight. The formerly patented 'burping seal' is a famous aspect of Tupperware, which distinguished it from competitors.
YouTube link
(via Nag on the Lake)
He developed plastic containers used in households to contain food and keep it airtight. The formerly patented 'burping seal' is a famous aspect of Tupperware, which distinguished it from competitors.
YouTube link
(via Nag on the Lake)
Paper Wizard: Mid-Century Modern's Unsung Visionary Gets His Due
When you think of 1950s Atomic Age design, a handful of images probably pop into your mind: The Ball Clock. The Marshmallow Sofa. The Sunburst Clock. What you probably don't realize is that the designer of these Mid-Century Modern icons spent decades living in obscurity, filling his upstate New York farmhouse with 300-some whimsical handmade paper sculptures of animals, Pre-Columbian and Southeast Asian figures, Cubist abstractions, and African masks.
But in a few weeks, Irving Harper and all of his delightful creations will come into the light, thanks to a new Skira Rizzoli book, Irving Harper Works in Paper. This full-color tour of Harper's personal sculpture collection is the result of an effort by Michael Maharam - who first visited Harper's home in 2001 - to preserve these unique works of art.
(thanks Lisa)
The Majestic Beauty Of Whales In The Wild
While whales are indisputably beautiful animals, photographing them can be somewhat of a challenge. You'll probably be shooting in the middle of the day on the water which throws up all sorts of exposure problems, and trying to line them up with a good background has obvious limitations. This collection shows some real skill with a camera by various photographers.
Happy Days
The landmark sitcom Happy Days (1974 - 1984) was more than just a show about a clean-cut teenager and his cool biker pal- it bridged the gap between early TV sitcoms like Father Knows Best and edgy modern comedies like The Simpsons. Here's the story of Happy Days.
Tuesday 29 January 2013
SPCA Pet Adoption Video
What a charming way to get attention for your pet adoption center. Made by the Wake County SCPA in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Vimeo link
(via Miss Cellania)
Vimeo link
(via Miss Cellania)
Torre Guinigi: The Tower With Oak Trees On The Top
The city of Lucca in Tuscany, Italy, is famous for its medieval architecture and intact city walls. Yet among all of its exquisite buildings one stands out. The Torre Guinigi towers over the city. At the top of the 44.5 meter (146 feet) high tower is something of a surprise - a garden containing, of all things, oak trees. High above the city this small wood has provided a haven of peace for centuries.
Bloomberg Billionaires Index
The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a daily ranking of the world's richest people. In calculating net worth, Bloomberg News strives to provide the most transparent calculations available. Each Bloomberg Billionaires profile contains a detailed analysis of how that person's fortune has been tallied.
The index is a dynamic measure of the world's wealthy based on changes in markets, the economy and Bloomberg reporting. Each net worth figure is updated every business day at 5:30 p.m. in New York. Stakes in publicly traded companies are valued using the share's most recent closing price. Valuations are converted to U.S. dollars at current exchange rates.
27 Of History's Strangest Inventions
'If at first an idea is not absurd,' Albert Einstein famously said, 'then there is no hope for it.' Sometimes, however, absurd is just absurd - yet, even so, it's a fascinating slice of history's collective direction of curiosity and experimental innovation.
After those vintage versions of modern social media and yesteryear's visions for the future of technology, here come some of history's most weird and wonderful inventions, from wooden swimwear to spectacles for reading in bed, captured in archival public domain images by the Netherland's National Archive.
15 Badass Rappers Who Played Cops On Screen
Hip-hop, like any genre of music, is not impervious to the grinding gears of time. Like all sentient beings, rappers get old too. So what's next on the career path? Well, how about playing an on-screen cop? In rap circles, the po-po are often seen as the enemy. So it's quite a radical departure really - swapping early years of cop-hating and rule-breaking for a mature, adult appreciation of the 'boys in blue.'
Still, the number of rappers who've moved from the hood to the precinct makes it a pretty interesting and hard-to-explain phenomenon. Here's a look at 15 rappers who went from being MCs over to the PD.
How To Draw A Groundhog
This Saturday is Groundhog Day, and if you want to impress your friends at all those groundhog parties, you'll need to know how to draw a cartoon groundhog. Well, you're in luck. Mark Anderson will teach you how to draw a groundhog.
Why Do Our Voices Sound Different To Us Than To Other People?
For many of us, there are few things more painful than hearing a recording of our own voices. They don't sound like we think they should. They're tinnier, higher and just not right. The tape doesn't lie, though, and the way we think we sound isn't how we really sound to everyone else. This is a cruel trick that happens because of the ways that sounds can travel to our inner ear.
Monday 28 January 2013
Macaws Dancing To Waka Flocka Flame
These macaws at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, USA, seriously started dancing when music was played from American rapper Juaquin Malphurs, better known by his stage name Waka Flocka Flame.
YouTube link
YouTube link
Finnjet - A 29-Foot-Long Junk Limousine Worth $1 Million
What weighs 7,500 pounds, is 29 foot long and made completely from junk scraps? Why, a limousine of course. 'Finnijet' belongs to Antti Rahko, a 72-year-old chauffeur from Finland. He immigrated to the US in 1984 and is now a resident of Palm Beach, Florida.
It took Rahko 10 whole years to build the limousine from scratch, initially using two Mercedes Benz station wagons joined together, several parts from a 1962 Chrysler Imperial and various components from other vehicles.
(thanks Cora)
Fake Girlfriend Generator
Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend has been all over the news. If you want to create your own fake girlfriends, she's a click away with the Fake Girlfriend Generator.
(thanks Mike)
(thanks Mike)
The Wolffish
The ferocious-looking wolffish gets its name from the sharp, protruding teeth.
image credit: eirikm cc
The wolffish are a family, Anarhichadidae, of perciform fish. They are native to cold waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, where they live on the continental shelf and slope, to depths of about 600 m (2,000 ft). They are bottom-feeders, eating hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, echinoderms and crustaceans, which they crush with strong canine and molar teeth. The longest species, Anarrhichthys ocellatus, grows to more than 2 m (6.6 ft) in length.
image credit: Kamil Porembiński cc
There are four species in the Anarhichas family: the Northern wolffish, the Atlantic wolffish or sea wolf, the Spotted wolffish, and the Bering wolffish.
image credit: Gaellery cc
The wolffish has a ferocious look. It can live for more than twenty years and when you meet one while diving it's very normal to get a little bit nervous.
image credit: j@ys0n cc
The wolffish are a family, Anarhichadidae, of perciform fish. They are native to cold waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, where they live on the continental shelf and slope, to depths of about 600 m (2,000 ft). They are bottom-feeders, eating hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, echinoderms and crustaceans, which they crush with strong canine and molar teeth. The longest species, Anarrhichthys ocellatus, grows to more than 2 m (6.6 ft) in length.
There are four species in the Anarhichas family: the Northern wolffish, the Atlantic wolffish or sea wolf, the Spotted wolffish, and the Bering wolffish.
The wolffish has a ferocious look. It can live for more than twenty years and when you meet one while diving it's very normal to get a little bit nervous.
El Vendedor De Humo
El Vendedor de Humo (Smoke seller) is an animated short film about a peddler arriving to town offering an amazing product: to make people's dreams come true, for a fair price, of course.
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
10 Tallest People In History
History abounds with tales of hugely tall men and women, but it's only in the past couple of hundred years that we've had medical explanations for the phenomenon. Pituitary gigantism, Marfan syndrome, eunuchoid tallness, Sotos syndrome, and acromegaly are all conditions that can cause those afflicted to grow beyond the human norm.
The stories of the individuals affected by gigantism are as interesting as the causes behind their conditions. Here are the 10 tallest recorded people in history.
Rogz Grinz Ball Dog Toy
For sale at Amazon: Rogz Grinz Ball Dog Toy.
Wait until you throw one of these new balls for Fido! Bounce, fetch, treat - we've done it all. Tails will be wagging uncontrollably and excitement will be high. Just choose your favorite color and watch your dog grin.
(via Everlasting Blort)
50 Incredible Facts About Skin
Skin is not only the human body's largest organ but it's also one of the most important parts of the body because it interfaces with the environment and is the first line of defense from external factors.
(via Look At This...)
Sunday 27 January 2013
True Facts About The Tarsier
Tarsiers are haplorrhine primates of the family Tarsiidae. Although the group was once more widespread, all the species living today are found in the islands of Southeast Asia. The tarsier has large round eyes, a long tail, and long fingers and toes.
YouTube link
(thanks Miss Rare)
YouTube link
(thanks Miss Rare)
Shetland Ponies In Cardigans
Some rather striking cardigans have been seen on an usual set of Shetland residents - Shetland Ponies. Posing in their winter woollies, the ponies were marking the Year of Natural Scotland by sporting some rather plush knitwear that wouldn't seem out of place in any trendy city hangout.
(thanks Cora)
What Is The Difference Between A Lager And An Ale?
For the average beer drinker, the difference between an ale and a lager comes down to how the beer looks, smells, and tastes. Ales tend to be fruity-estery, while lagers are clean-tasting and frequently described as 'crisp.' But to a brewer, the difference is more fundamental than that. So, what is the difference between a lager and an ale?
Which Came First - The Chicken Or The Egg?
It has perplexed humanity from as early as the Ancient Greeks. So which came first, the chicken or the egg?
YouTube link
YouTube link
10 Jobs You Didn't Hear About On Career Day
Back when we were in preschool, there were only a handful of sensible options for the career-minded 4-year-old: doctor, plumber, fireman and astronaut. Clearly, had we heard about 'sin-eating' or any of these other fine ways to make a living, we would have eaten more paste and focused a little less on our permanent records.
10 Jobs You Didn't Hear About On Career Day.
Lake Kaindy - Kazakhstan's Sunken Forrest
Lake Kaindy is situated near the village of Saty in the Kungey Alatau Mountains (a range in the North Tien-Shan) in the central Asian country of Kazakhstan. There wasn't always a lake there: the trunks of pine trees jutting out of the water provide testimony to that.
So what happened here?
Saturday 26 January 2013
Return Of The Sun
Return of the Sun is a portrait of a modern Inuit family. Set against the fearsome North Greenland landscape, the film follows a fisherman and his son as their lives are forced to adapt with the Arctic environment. Directed and edited by Glen Milner and Ben Hilton.
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
14 Wonderful Island Resorts In The Maldives
The Maldives are very famous for its natural beauty which includes the blue ocean and white beaches, accompanied by clean air and pleasant temperatures. Due to its extraordinary underwater scenery and clean water, The Maldives are ranked among the best recreational diving destinations of the world. It consists of 1.192 coral islands, of which over 50 were turned into marvelous resorts.
(thanks Bosko
The Big Top's Top Ten
They came in all shapes and sizes, and we gawked and gasped, just like we were supposed to do. Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages: a list of the top ten circus attractions ever to grace the sawdust stage of circus big tops and sideshows!
Fireworks From A Century-Old Nova
Nova GK Persei is a white dwarf star that threw an epic fit. It steals material from its companion star, and this material piles up on its surface, heated and hugely compressed. All at once it underwent catastrophic nuclear fusion, detonating like a bomb, blasting countless trillions of tons of matter outward at 1000 km/sec.
That happened more than 1,400 years ago. The light reached Earth in 1901, and over the ensuing century we have watched the debris expand like fireworks.
YouTube link
(thanks Miss Rare)
That happened more than 1,400 years ago. The light reached Earth in 1901, and over the ensuing century we have watched the debris expand like fireworks.
YouTube link
(thanks Miss Rare)
Wild Animals That Love The Beach
The beach with its charms not only attracts a large number of tourists but also many wild animals.
(thanks Bojan)
Why Is There A Winter Flu Season?
Flu season is in full swing. It would have been on time if it showed up in November, or even in March - unlike the actual seasons, the timing of flu season is a little hard to predict. Except for one thing: it always happens in winter.
In fact, everywhere on Earth where people have a winter season, they also have a flu season. Here's an illustrated explanation of why the world's most obnoxious virus at least doesn't stick around all year.
Friday 25 January 2013
Firefighters Battle A Warehouse Blaze - Water Turns To Ice
A 5-11 alarm fire engulfed an abandoned warehouse building in the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago last Tuesday. It was so cold that when firefighters fought the fire, the water froze while the building was still on fire. The Chicago Tribune has a gallery with some amazing photos.
(via Neatorama)
5 Vegetables That Cause Weird Physical Reactions
Ever since childhood, we've all been urged to eat our vegetables. And while we're not disputing the fact that veggies are great for your health, it's also undeniable that certain of these healthy foods have some pretty strange side effects.
Check out the following vegetables, which hold the fascinating power to change the color and smell of your urine and tint your skin Jersey Shore orange, among other weird and wonderful things.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Video by Scott McKinley Productions. Music by Kenny G. The majority of this video was shot on location in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and The National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
15 Seriously Demented Tattoos Of Celebrities
Although I don't have them myself, I love a good tattoo. Some people are real tattoo enthousiasts. And some people are crazy tattoo enthousiasts. If you're going to get something permanently etched on your body, shouldn't you wait until you're sober?
Here are the 15 most demented tattoos of celebrities... ever.
Friday Cartoon By Mark Anderson
Mark Anderson is a professional cartoonist from the Chicago area. His cartoons have been published in Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Woman's World and the Saturday Evening Post, to mention just a few. Among his clients are GM, General Electric, FedEx, Microsoft, and IBM.
'80s Tech Inventions That Never Really Took Off
Life in 2013 isn't that much different from life in the 1980s. There are no flying cars. There are no floating cloud cities. There is no teleportation or interstellar space travel.
But what we do have in abundance are those quirky little inventions that make life just that tiny bit easier: affordable cell phones, GPS systems, high-speed internet, debit cards, frost-free freezers, budget airlines and longer-lasting batteries to name a few. And then there are the inventions that never really took off.
But what we do have in abundance are those quirky little inventions that make life just that tiny bit easier: affordable cell phones, GPS systems, high-speed internet, debit cards, frost-free freezers, budget airlines and longer-lasting batteries to name a few. And then there are the inventions that never really took off.
The Tree Of Life (And Its Super Fruit)
The medicinal properties of the baobab fruit are the stuff of African legend. The baobab fruit has three times as much vitamin C as an orange, 50% more calcium than spinach and is a plentiful source of anti-oxidants, those disease-fighting molecules credited with helping reduce the risk of everything from cancer to heart disease.
Until recently, this super-fruit was off limits to consumers, unless they fancied a shopping trip to Africa. But now the baobab fruit has won approval from EU food regulators. Expect it to be winging its way to a supermarket shelf near you.
(thanks Miss Rare)
Thursday 24 January 2013
Electric Disco Clam
The Lima scabra (also known as flame scallop, rough fileclam, lightning clam or disco clam) is a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Limidae. Although their name would suggest otherwise, flame scallops have no relation to scallops, besides their exterior. The flame scallop is found in the Caribbean Sea.
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
Vimeo link
(thanks Cora)
The Greatest Diners In Television History And Their Yelp Reviews
Many scenes from our favorite television shows would often unfold at their eating establishment. Whether the actors are sitting comfortably in their favorite booth, or actually work there, the restaurant setting gives the viewer a feeling of comfort - as if we're actually sitting with, or being waited on by members of the cast.
Although they mostly exist in the alternate reality of television, it begs the question of whether we would frequent them if they were real. Also worth noting, is that if we pretend for a second that these diners did exist, then Yelp would certainly have something to say about them.
(thanks Chris)
Human Migration Around The World
Almost 216 million people, or 3.15% of the world population, live outside their countries. Designer Carlo Zapponi created a visualization showing the migration flows across the world. Click on a country box to know more about migration flow to/from that country.
10 Shortest People In The World
With recent medical advances, people are more aware of dwarfism today than ever before. However, it is certainly not a new condition, and there are even ancient Egyptian records in which it is recognized. With the benefit of modern science, we now know that many sufferers have bone disorders. In total, there are around 200 medical conditions that can cause dwarfism.
Many of those people with dwarfism or related diseases have serious mobility issues, brittle bones, and other associated conditions that can seriously impair their ability to live normal lives. Learn more on the 10 shortest people in the world.
Turning Hot Water Into Snow
It's really cold outside at the moment on the south shore of Montreal, Canada. The temperature outside is at -13°F (-25°C), but when you add in the wind chill factor, it feels more like -29°F (-33°C). A dad decided to use the opportunity to show his kids what happens when you throw really hot water in the air at this temperature.
YouTube link
(thanks Yan)
YouTube link
(thanks Yan)
Mustache Union Suit
What's the opposite of being sexy? Wearing a Mustache Union Suit, of course! The Mustache Union Suit is long underwear covered in the most obnoxious little shape of our time. Done in a cotton/poly blend, fellas and ladies alike can rock these jammies all winter long.
(thanks Cora)
Gary The Goat Cleared Of Vandalising Flower Bed
Gary, the flower-eating goat's graze with the law ended after a judge ruled neither he nor his owner could be found guilty of vandalism of the incident in August last year. Police at the time levelled a fine of AUS$440 against owner Jim Dezarnaul, a comedian known as Jimbo Bazoobi.
But man and goat got their day in court, with Gary arriving resplendent in a colourful hat on Wednesday. The brown-and-white goat did not testify, but he had his own lawyer. Magistrate Carolyn Barkell said the accused had been eating the flowers when police arrived, but said there was no evidence Gary was there with the intention of vandalising vegetation.
(thanks Miss Rare)
Build A Literal International House Of Pancakes
International Pancake Day is coming up on February 12th. How much would an actual international house of pancakes cost? Well, it would cost $113,671, and be constructed of 139,386 delicious pancakes.
(thanks Sally)
Wednesday 23 January 2013
3,000 Arctic Reindeer Face A Mighty Water Crossing
Elle-Helene, a young girl from northern Norway, leads the dramatic migration of 3,000 reindeer across 1.5 miles of water to new pasture.
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
YouTube link
(thanks Cora)
What Is The Evolutionary Purpose Of Tickling?
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You probably know that you can't tickle yourself. And although you might be able to tickle a total stranger, your brain also strongly discourages you from doing something so socially awkward. These facts offer insight into tickling's evolutionary purpose, says Robert Provine, a neuroscientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the author of the book Laughter: A Scientific Investigation.
Tickling, he says, is partly a mechanism for social bonding between close companions and helps forge relationships between family members and friends. In adulthood, tickling trails off around the age of 40. At that point, the fun stops; for reasons unknown, tickling seems to be mainly for the young.
The Deadly History Of Persia's Ancient Assassins
In the year 1090, a charismatic man by the name of Hasan-i Sabbah used his popularity to gather together a small but devout following of Ismaili Muslims.
Sabbah single-handedly molded his following - known as the Order of the Assassins, or Hashashin - into a fighting force capable of bringing down the most well-guarded leaders of the day. Zealous and disciplined, this force would strike terror into the hearts of caliphs, viziers and sultans for the next 200 years.
Flag Secrets: 5 International Flags With Surprising Stories
When designing their flags, countries need to decide on a color scheme and style that accurately reflect their nation's history, people, and prosperity. But if you look a little deeper into the stories of some of these flags, you'll discover hidden symbolism and obscure facts that might cause you to do a double take next time you see them waving in the wind.
Some have, in their designs, gone beyond basic colors and patterns and thought more globally. Here's a look at five nations that have designed their banners to be artistically unique and, as a result, full of life and tradition.
(thanks Danny)
30 Rock High Five Challenge
With '30 Rock' ending their seven year run next week, My Damn Channel's Mark Malkoff and Geeking Out's Kerri Doherty went to Silvercup Studios in Queens to see how many high fives they could get from the cast of '30 Rock.' Tina Fey came out to personally greet them.
YouTube link
(thanks Mark)
YouTube link
(thanks Mark)
An Inside Glimpse Of The World's Biggest Space Telescope
We may not be able to travel back in time, but once the currently-under-construction James Webb Space Telescope is completed, we'll be able to see 13 billion light years into space! That's far enough back to witness the creation of the universe's first stars and galaxies.
To achieve this, an extraordinary instrument is needed; in fact, no less than what, come 2018, will be the biggest telescope ever sent into orbit.
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