All The Buildings In New York

An attempt to draw all the buildings in New York by James Gulliver Hancock, an illustrator originally from Australia currently based in Brooklyn, New York.

Dream Rangers

It's an advertisement for Taiwanese Ta Chong Bank. Based on a real story, a group of old men decide to revisit their motorcycling youth after one of their own passes away.



YouTube link

(thanks Michael)

Toepener - Hads-Free Foot Door Opening Solution

The Toepener is a simple device that attaches to doors, enabling users to open the door with their feet. It is the ideal solution for exiting a public restroom.

It provides a sanitary, hands-free alternative for users to open the door and avoid touching the handle. The Toepener is a great way to help reduce the spread of germs and keep people healthy. The price: $49.95.

(thanks Cora)

Famous Objects From Classic Movies

An online game for movie lovers. Try to guess which classic movie a particular object is from.

'Wild West' 19th Century Photographs

The Wild West as it really was rather than how Hollywood has imagined it is revealed in this extraordinary collection of pictures. The grainy photographs, taken in the late 19th century in and around the notorious gold mining town of Deadwood, provide a unique, sepia-toned glimpse of the Wild West.

The images were published in American papers this week after being released by the U.S. Library of Congress.

Firefox And Chrome Add-On To Erase Charlie Sheen From The Web

Are you sick of hearing about Charlie Sheen? Tinted Sheen is a browser add-on for Firefox or Chrome that blocks mentions of Sheen as you go about your daily browsing.

Block Charlie Sheen from the Internet by downloading the plugin for Firefox or Chrome, and never again worry about seeing his name or face.

(via Urlesque)

Realistic Geminoid

What you see in the picture above is not a human. It's a robot, a geminoid. A geminoid is an android, designed to look exactly as its master. The first geminoid was created in 2005 by Prof. Hiroshi Ishiguro of ATR and the Tokyo-based firm, Kokoro. This one is called Geminoid-DK and comes from Aalborg University in Denmark.

Geminoid-DK is intended to advance android science and philosophy, in seeking answers to fundamental questions of which the most important are: What is a human? What is presence? What is a relation? What is identity?

(thanks qqqing)

Distorted Bridges And Overlays From Google Earth

Artist Clement Valla takes screenshots of distorted bridges in Google Earth.

(via J-Walk Blog)

How To Use A 2-Liter Bottle As A 50 Watt Light Bulb

In 2002, during an energy crisis and blackout, Alfredo Moser, a Brazilian engineer disvocered that he could make light by hanging water-filled bottles in the roof of his workshop.



YouTube link

(thanks Stanley)

Dear Sriracha Rooster Sauce

From The Oatmeal: Dear Sriracha Rooster Sauce.

Grapes To Raisins Time-Lapse

Grapes become raisins right before your very eyes in only 30 seconds. This video took over 3 months to shoot.



YouTube link

(thanks Cora)

Awesome Songs From TV Commercials

Many television advertisements feature catchy songs which may remain in the minds of television viewers long after the span of the advertising campaign.

Some of these songs may take on lives of their own, spawning gags or 'riffs' that appear in films, television shows, magazines, comics, or literature.
Here are some awesome songs from TV commercials.

(thanks Andi)

Steampunk Insects Created From Bullets

Tom Hardwidge's Arthrobots are robotic insects - steampunk creations made from upcycled gears, nuts, bolts... and bullets!

(thanks Ritu)

Cadbury Creme Egg Cad-Apult

Nice little game from Cadbury Creme Egg where you can egg people's houses. Type in an address (city, state, country, street), then follow the instructions to catapult an egg towards that address.

(thanks Jesse)

Up-Inspired Floating House

National Geographic created a real-life version of Pixar's animated film Up. National Geographic Channel and a team of scientists, engineers, and two world-class balloon pilots successfully launched a 16' X 16' house 18' tall with 300 8' colored weather balloons from a private airfield east of Los Angeles, and set a new world record for the largest balloon cluster flight ever attempted.

The entire experimental aircraft was more than 10 stories high, reached an altitude of over 10,000 feet, and flew for approximately one hour. The filming of the event, from a private airstrip, will be part of a new National Geographic Channel series called How Hard Can it Be?, which will premiere in fall 2011.

40 Hilarious Passive-Aggressive Office Notes

Isn't life in the office fun? Sometimes a little anonymous tip is the best, and funniest, way to make your point.

Herring Break Wind To Communicate

In polite society, flatulence is often a social faux pas - especially when issued deliberately. But in the world of fish, group 'raspberry-blowing' sessions appear to perform an important social role.

This intriguing idea comes from scientists who discovered that herring create a mysterious underwater noise by farting. Researchers suspect herring hear the bubbles as they're expelled, helping the fish form protective shoals at night. It's the first ever study to suggest fish communicate by breaking wind.

Biker: Danger

Quite an informative sign. From The Sketch Show.



YouTube link

(thanks Cora)

9 Spectacular Sculpture Gardens

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Slowly but surely, spring is creeping in and that means it's finally time to head outside for some fun. But while parks, hiking trails and beaches are common outdoor destinations, there are other fresh-air spots to visit as well - like, sculpture gardens!

Not only can visitors take in the scenery and enjoy being outdoors, they can also view incredible works of art. Get excited for spring by checking out these nine impressive sculpture gardens from around the world.

(thanks Jean)

12 Delicious Edible Insects

Human insect-eating is common in cultures in parts of the world, such as North, Central and South America; and Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Over 1,000 insects are known to be eaten in 80% of the world's nations. However, in some societies insect-eating is uncommon or even taboo.

In many cases people started eating insects out of necessity, but these days they've become a delicacy, as any entomophage (eater of insects) will tell you.

Scenes From Antarctica

Winter is coming back to Antarctica and, after a busy season for both scientists and tourists, most researchers stationed there have traveled north for the season.

Among them were a Russian team that recently came within 30 meters of drilling into Lake Vostok and the crew of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, who have been burying a massive array of detectors deep in the ice. Here are recent images of Antarctica, its environment, and some of the scientific work taking place there.

Camera Capture

If you've ever wondered what all those strange modes on your camera do, this may answer your questions.



YouTube link

The Dogbrella

Keep your dog dry while walking them in the rain with The Dogbrella.

This inverted bumbershoot forms a waterproof cocoon around a small dog, enabling canine and master to maintain a walking regimen in inclement weather. The umbrella is made from clear polypropylene that sheds rain, sleet, and snow while allowing an unfettered view of your walking companion.

Not only does the umbrella eliminate the excuse 'it's too wet for a walk' from a dog owner's lexicon, it prevents moisture from getting spread throughout the home, along with the unpleasant scent of a wet dog. The tip of the umbrella hooks to your pet's leash to keep it from straying beyond its protective canopy.

Dynosphere Car Runs On One Wheel

The Dynosphere consists of a wide-rimmed latticed wheel with a power plant inside its circumference, where the driver sits. There is also room for a companion. Dr. Purves invented the Dynosphere in 1932. Speeds of 30 miles an hour, with two occupying the seat, have been comfortably attained.



YouTube link

(via Everlasting Blort)

T-Shirt Give-Away Winners

The T-Shirt Give-Away, courtesy of Johnnyroyale t-shirts in cooperation with The Presurfer, is over. With the help of a True Random Number Service we picked 5 winners.

They are Lynn, Eugene, Hubert, Kim, and Sherry. The winners have already received an email. Thank you all for participating and I'm sorry if you didn't win. Better luck next time.

Which Movie Was This Quote From?

Which movie was this quote from? More here.

Cycling In The Netherlands In The 1950s

Cycling is a common and popular method of transportation and recreation in the Netherlands. The country is well equipped with cycle-paths and other segregated cycle facilities. Cycleways come with their own sets of rules and systems - including traffic signals/lights, tunnels and lanes.

Nearly 85 percent of the population in the Netherlands own at least one bicycle. There are about 16 million bicycles in Holland, slightly more than one for every inhabitant. About 1.3 million new bicycles are sold every year. This video shows a collection of colorful images of the Dutch cycling in the 1950s.



YouTube link

(thanks Cora)

Popcorn Cake

A cake made of buttery, salty popcorn, dotted with colorful M&M's and salty pretzel sticks, all held together by sticky, sweet marshmallow.

(via Everlasting Blort)

10 Most Eccentric Millionaires

Ever heard of the millionaire who decided to give away his entire fortune because he was unhappy? Or the millionaire who changed his mansion for mud after being adopted by tribe in Kenya? They're a funny bunch of people, those millionaires.
Here are the 10 most eccentric millionaires.

(via Look At This...)

T-Shirt Give-Away (Last Chance)

Johnnyroyale t-shirts, in cooperation with The Presurfer, is giving away 5 t-shirts to Presurfer readers. This is your last chance to win a free t-shirt. The give-away closes tonight. Go here for more information.

Are You Typical?

In a world of 7 billion people, who is most typical?



YouTube link

13 Most Famous Trains In The World's History

Trains have been around longer than planes and automobiles and they carry a special charm into the world of transportation. They were present when the West was conquered and the railways were the predecessors of civilization in many parts of the world.
Here are the most famous trains remembered in the history of our society.

Baby Laughing At Ripping Paper

Here's something to light up your day. This is 10-month-old Micah. His father, Marcus McArthur, says he's finishing up his doctorate and is applying for professor jobs. When he received yet another rejection letter he ripped it in half and baby Micah started laughing uncontrollably, so he started ripping credit card statements and the sweet sounds of laughter continued.



YouTube link

(via Miss Cellania)

Spider Vs Car

Under the heading of strangest recalls ever, Mazda is weaving the most bizarre of all: more than 65,000 Mazda6 are being recalled because of possible spider webs. The fear is that they can lead to blockages that will eventually cause fuel tanks to leak.

The recall of 2009 and 2010 Mazda6s is due to the yellow sac spider, an animal that may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent line and this may cause a restriction in the line. About 20 instances have been reported, none of them severe enough to have caused a leaky gas tank.

Christopher Quiray - Tachycardia

Progressive guitarist Christopher Quiray plays his acoustic solo 'Tachycardia' in a live studio performance. Audio recording and mastering by Peter Giza and Alex LaCroix. Film by Joseph Basile.



YouTube link

(thanks Joseph)

Concordia - Research Station At The End Of The World

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These pictures could easily be publicity stills from a new science fiction blockbuster set on an ice bound planet circling a distant sun. It is, however, the Concordia Research Station which is located on the Antarctic Plateau in Antartcica - the largest desert in the world. It is one of only three research stations on the plateau to operate permanently on a year round basis.

(thanks Robert-John)

Various Hairstyles And Maru

Maru the cat shows different hairstyles.



YouTube link

(thanks Cora)

Why Some Countries Drive On The Right And Others On The Left?

In some countries people drive on the left side of the road. This strange quirk perplexes the rest of the world; but there is a perfectly good reason.

In the past, almost everybody travelled on the left side of the road because that was the most sensible option for feudal, violent societies. Since most people are right-handed, swordsmen preferred to keep to the left in order to have their right arm nearer to an opponent and their scabbard further from him. Moreover, it reduced the chance of the scabbard hitting other people.

Stereo Dock For iPod Or iPhone With Bath Tissue Holder

A stereo dock for your iPod or iPhone with a bath tissue holder.

Now you can enhance your experience in any room with your favorite music from your iPod/iPhone. 4 Integrated high performance moisture-free speakers deliver exceptional clarity and high quality sound. The integrated bath tissue holder that can be easily folded as a stereo dock.

(thanks Cora)

The Strange Powers Of The Placebo Effect

A placebo is a simulated medical intervention. Sometimes patients given a placebo treatment will have a perceived or actual improvement in a medical condition.

Placebos can have a surprisingly positive effect on a patient who knows that the given treatment is without any active drug, as compared with a control group who knowingly did not get a placebo.



YouTube link

The Power Of Color: 40 Colorful Bird Photos

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Bird photography is one of the most popular parts of nature photography. Of course the most colorful birds you see don't live in your backyard. Here are 40 colorful bird photos.

The Mysterious And Exotic World Of Geishas

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A geisha is a member of a professional class of women in Japan whose traditional occupation is to entertain men. A geisha must be adept at singing, dancing, and playing traditional musical instruments in addition to being skilled at making conversation. The geisha system is thought to have emerged in the 17th century to provide a class of well-trained entertainers.

The numbers of geisha have declined from some 80,000 in the 1920s to a few thousand at present, almost all in the Tokyo and Kyoto areas, where they are patronized by only the wealthiest businessmen and most influential politicians. Here are some of the secrets that hide behind the white painted faces of geisha women.

Do You Know What Day It Is?

YouTube link

(thanks Cora)

Please Do Not Go Beyond This Point

We'll see about that!

The Evolution Of Famous Dogs

The Evolution of Famous Dogs.

(via CollegeHumor)

3D Printers Create Edible Objects

The computational synthesis laboratory at Cornell University and the New York City-based French Culinary Institute have teamed up to construct novel edible objects with 3D printers that use pureed foods in place of ink. Miniature space shuttles made of ground scallops and cheese are among the masterpieces that had already been made using 3D food printers.

They already printed everything from chocolate, cheese and hummus to scallops, turkey, and celery. Pastes made of different foods are squirted from nozzles inside the box-like printer, which carefully controls their position at all times.

Cozy Powell Plays 400 Drums In 60 Seconds

Cozy Powell (real name Colin Flooks), was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands like Whitesnake and Black Sabbath. Sadly, Cozy was killed on April 5, 1998, in a high-speed car wreck.

He was a serious and versatile drummer who played with extreme power and precision; he was one of the first double-bass drummers and holds the world record for speed drumming, set live on TV in the children's show Record Breakers.



YouTube link

(thanks Cora)

The Worst, Best, And Weirdest Chess Sets

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Chess set making has come to the point where it's no longer about the game but about whatever weird twist you can put on it. And they've come a long way from simple walrus ivory carvings. So whether your covet these gameboards, or laugh at those that do, please enjoy this humble collection of the least humble chess sets the Internet has to offer.

(via Neatorama)

Sparrow Keychain

Keep your keys safe and sound with the Sparrow Keychain and holder. Not only does this chirpy character provide a handy place to hang your house keys, but it also doubles as a whistle! Simply attach the Sparrow to your bunch of keys.

The convenient hollow shape makes a perfect whistle, which can come in handy when you're out and about. When you walk through your front door, just hook the Sparrow and keys into the mini wall-mounted birdhouse and let your keys dangle underneath, ready for when you head back out. No more jangling pockets or doing yourself a mischief when you sit down!

(via J-Walk Blog)

What Wiped Out The Ice Age Giants?

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In the past two centuries, many images of huge creatures have surfaced in various caves around the world. Recently, in northern Colorado, researchers dug up the bones of a giant Ice Age mammoth. Also, in Utah, another piece of rock art was discovered that depicts a giant mammoth.

All around the world, frozen carcasses and other remains of oversized animals such as bison, musk oxen, elk, saiga antelope and even woolly rhinos and mammoths have been excavated by researchers, which indicates that giant animals were in existence around 8000 BC.
So, what wiped out these Ice Age giants?

Cats With Thumbs

Ever wondered why cats stare while you're pouring milk? It's because they know that it is only a matter of time. That time is the only thing between them and opposable thumbs. An army of cats with thumbs is forming and they are after your milk.

A funny commercial for Cravendale milk, a UK milk brand from Arla Foods.



YouTube link

Volkswagen Unveils New Version Of Microbus

Volkswagen has 'reinterpreted' the Microbus as an electric vehicle. With four doors. And an iPad. It's called the Bulli, which is what Germans called the Microbus when it first appeared. Aside from the bench seats, two-tone paint and oversized badge, this concept has little in common with the Transporter that inspired it.

The exact birth of the Volkswagen Type 2, known affectionately as the Microbus or just the Bus, is open to interpretation. Volkswagen says it's 1947, when Dutch VW importer Ben Pon first sketched the design.

The Dogs Who Listen To Children Reading

When children read to him, Danny does not criticise or correct their pronunciation. He just nods and pricks up an ear. Danny is a greyhound and a novel way of encouraging pupils at Oakhill primary school in Tamworth, Staffordshire, to read aloud. A 'listening dog', he is part of a scheme that originated in the US called Reading Education Assistance Dogs.

It helps with their self-esteem in reading out loud because he is non-judgmental, says the dog's owner, Tony Nevett, who has a degree in animal-assisted therapy. He doesn't judge them and he doesn't laugh at them. He's just a tool - the children don't realise they are reading, which they might not have the confidence to do in class. Danny received five months of training to become a Read Dog.

Most Ironic Deaths In History

Death is a normal part of life. While most people die with predictable reasons, some people die rather ironic deaths. The world has seen numerous deaths in which the universe seemed to have conspired with fates to make an ironic statement.

Some of these deaths include historical figures, royalties, celebrities and inventors. Remembering these various accounts of ironic deaths never fail to bring an eerie kind of sense.

(thanks Ritu)

Year Of The Beard

As part of a bet Cory Fauver grew his beard for a year and 6 weeks and took roughly one photo every day, then stiched the pics together to make a neat video.



YouTube link

(thanks Cora)

15 Great Jingles Written For Fake Brands

Creating an addictive jingle has long been one of the most prized skills in advertising. It's especially impressive when you have a memorable jingle that doesn't even promote a real product. Here are 15 songs written for fictional products and brands.

(thanks David)

I'm Ben Warheit

Ben Warheit's cartoons, drawn on Post-Its, are surreal, whimsical, and above all else, very funny. Ben Warheit is a writer, actor, and artist based in New York City. He was born and raised in Delaware and received a degree in Neuroscience at the University of Delaware.

Ben started seriously doing cartoons when he was working as a researcher in the Opiate Lab at Columbia University. There were a ton of Post-Its around, giving birth to his signature medium.

(thanks Leila)

Employees Spend Half Their Days Doing Nothing

Does it often seem like you spend your whole day working, but get nothing done? Well, you're not imagining it. A new survey confirms it - you really are accomplishing nothing. Employees at small and midsize businesses spend 50 percent of their day on 'necessary, yet unproductive' tasks like filing, communications and dealing with correspondence.

The study found that 36% spend their time trying to contact customers, partners or colleagues, find information or schedule a meeting. They spend 14% of their time duplicating information and managing unwanted communications such as spam e-mails or unsolicited phone calls.

T-Shirt Give-Away

Last year, British based t-shirt company Johnnycocktail ran a t-shirt give-away in cooperation with The Presurfer. We would like to do that again this year. Johnnycocktail, which went to a name change and is now called Johnnyroyale is kind enough to give away 5 t-shirts to Presurfer readers.

Just as last year, you don't have to answer any questions. Just go to Johnnyroyale t-shirts, take a good look around and tell me what t-shirt you would like to receive. I need design, size, and color.

Mail your answer to webmaster@presurfer.com
The contest closes on Sunday evening, March 6, at midnight GMT. Everyone who enters will have a chance to win a t-shirt. The 5 winners will be drawn by a True Random Number Service and announced on Monday morning, March 7.

Winners wil be contacted by me and asked for their postal address.
Important: I am very concerned about your privacy. Email and postal addresses will only be used for this contest.

T-SHIRT GIVE-AWAY RULES:

Contest ends Sunday, March 6, 2011 at midnight GMT.
Go to Johnnyroyale t-shirts.
Look around and pick a t-shirt.
Mail design, size, and color to webmaster@presurfer.com

Beer Can Dispenser

A surprisingly large number of people struggle to pour a decent glass of beer from a can. Since we can't all afford to pop to the bar every night, recreate that well-poured beer drink sensation at home with the handy Beer Hour (Biiru Awa).

Coming in yellow or black, this beer can dispenser can fit a range of can sizes and makes it a cinch for just about anyone to pour themselves or others a good glassful of beer.

(via Random Good Stuff)

Chinese Magician's Goldfish Trick Sparks Controversy

Animal rights activists in China are furious with magician Fu Yandong who performs a trick in which he directs goldfish to swim in formations. They cried foul over the stunt, saying Fu had likely fed the fish magnets - or implanted them in the fish - so they could be dragged around their tank from underneath. Fu has so far refused to reveal the secret.



YouTube link

(via Boing Boing)

360 Degree Panoramic View Of Holy Sepulchre Church In Jerusalem

Enjoy the 360 degree panoramic view from within the Holy Sepulchre church in Jerusalem. Click on 'Details' in the lower right corner to have full up, down, right and left views. Photographs were made by Turkish photographer Aykut Ince.

(thanks Cora)

Gadgets Created From Recycled Cardboard

What if a recycled cardboard device became your latest gadget? Trust British designer Kyle Bean - you might like it better than your current one.

(thanks Ritu)

Internet Up For Nobel Peace Prize

The Internet, which was nominated but lost to Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo last year, is up for the Nobel Peace Prize again. This year there are 241 nominations including the controversial site WikiLeaks, Russian human rights group Memorial, the European Union, and Afghan rights advocate Sima Samar.

I'm curious who will accept the award should the Internet win.

Andrew Myers' Screw Portraits

California-based artist Andrew Meyers drives thousands of screws at various depths, creating unique 3D images. Once the screws are in at the correct depth, (from 7,000 to 10,000 holes by hand) he paints over each head individually to create the finished product, which looks more like a portrait than a sculpture.

1950's Fifth Wheel Parking Concept

In the 1950s in California someone invented a retractable fifth wheel to aid in parking.
Does anyone know who invented this?



YouTube link

(thanks Cora)

Sugar, Sugar

Sugar, Sugar is a new Bart Bonte game. Draw lines and get enough sugar in the cups! Complete all 30 levels to unlock the bonus freeplay mode.

More Bart Bonte games.

Traveling Through Time To The Old Time Apothecary Shops

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The first mention of an apothecary actually dates back to the time of Moses. An apothecary is the historical name for the profession of individuals who used to formulate and dispense medicines, ointments and tinctures to doctors and patients.

In the 19th century the old time apothecary started to fade away and became what we know of today as the pharmacist. Although we can still get medicines, ointments and various tinctures from our local pharmacist, there will always be something intriguing, mysterious and awe-inspiring about the apothecary. Just take a look at some of these old time apothecary shops.

Solowheel

It's like a Segway but less awkward. Produced by Inventist, it's supposed to come out next month for $1,500.



YouTube link

More about the Solowheel at Gizmodo.

World Compliment Day

Today is World Compliment Day. The initiative, in contrast to Valentine's Day, Secretaries' Day, and Mother and Father's Days, is not commercially oriented, so everyone can afford to participate. World Compliment Day simply addresses the basic human need for recognition and appreciation. Nobody wins commercially, but everybody gains emotionally.

March 1st is just about consciously reflecting on what someone in your area does well and letting that person know he/she is sincerely appreciated for that. It should be done through words instead of gifts.

The King's Speech - The Real One

The British film The King's Speech has been crowned best picture at the Oscars. The King's Speech is a historical drama about King George VI, who, to overcome his stutter, is introduced to Lionel Logue, an unorthodox speech therapist. The two men become friends as they work together, and after his brother abdicates, the new king relies on Logue to help him make a radio broadcast at the beginning of World War II.

Here is rare footage and audio of King George VI speaking in public. His stammer becomes quite pronounced midway through. He's a very courageous man.



YouTube link

Mitoza

Mitoza is an animated choose-your-own-adventure. You start with a seed and then have to choose from 2 options at each step. There are lots of variations. You could end up with a flying saucer beaming up a giant cow's udder or a bunch of flies performing Hamlet.

Mitoza is created by Gal who says he does Flash things. He was inspired by the games of Amanita Design.

(thanks Cora)

10 Incredible Real-Life Robots

There's nothing unimpressive about a robot. Whether designed to save someone's life or to merely clean floors, every successful prototype leads to something bigger and better. Check out these advanced models - from humanoids to autonomous machines - that prove how far technology has come.

(thanks Jean)