unique and interesting: November 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Are You Smarter Than A Chimp?

I'm sure you are, but not when it comes to cognitive performances. Ayumu is a 7-year-old chimpanzee with an outstanding cognitive performance. Ayumu was shown a couple of numbers on a screen and he then had to click them in numeric order. Take a look at how he does it.

Now, try it yourself. Are You Smarter Than A Chimp?

A photograph taken from an unusual angle can take an image from the dull to the wonderful in an instant. Instead of concentrating on the face, why not take a chance on that sometimes neglected part of the anatomy - the butt.

Call it what you like, caboose, bum or bottom - its inclusion on film can make a photograph. Have a look at this collection - no ifs or ands, but quite a few butts.

(via Robert-John)

24 Ways To Brighten Your Morning

The morning is probably no one's favorite part of the day, particularly if you stayed up the night before to watch Leno or Jaws for the seventeenth time. Remember: Stress and anxiety wreak havoc on your immunity.

Enter your day happy and relaxed, and you greatly increase your chances of a healthy, productive day. How to wake up on the right side of the bed and ease into your day with a positive, calm attitude.

(via Look At This...)

Einstein The Parrot

Einstein, the African grey parrot, and her trainer Stephanie White.

The date December 21st, 2012 A.D. (13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count), represents an extremely close conjunction of the Winter Solstice Sun with the crossing point of the Galactic Equator (Equator of the Milky Way) and the Ecliptic (path of the Sun), what the ancient Maya recognized as the Sacred Tree.

This is an event that has been coming to resonance very slowly over thousands and thousands of years. It will come to resolution at exactly 11:11 am GMT.

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: Don't Turn On The Ugly Light!

click on the picture for real size

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.

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.

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.

How To Transport 20 Bricks Without A Wheelbarrow

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)

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 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)

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.

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)

Looking outside I wonder...

Is it going to rain?

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.

How to impress a girl.
From ancient history to now.

Top 10 Street Artists. (site is in German)

(thanks Martin)

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.

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 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.

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. 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.

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)

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.

Real Ads And Newspaper Messages.

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 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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

Swedish Dance Bands From The 70's

Pictures of Swedish dance bands from the 70's.

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.

Linkdump

Mathematical Symbols

Top 10 Things You Can Do with a DVD

Popular Baby Name Map

Top 10 Celebrities Who Read Their Own Obituary

Police Dash Cam Of Meteor Over Edmonton, Canada

Filmed about 5:30pm Thursday, November 20th, 2008.

(via Dark Roasted Blend)

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)

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

Worst Beatbox Ever

Could this be the worst human beatbox ever?

GenderAnalyzer

The GenderAnalyzer uses Artificial Intelligence to determine if a blog is written by a man or woman. It was right about The Presurfer.

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)

Pictures of a young Barack Obama.

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

Hawhawjames has a rubber face.
See his facepainting in action.

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?

20 Strange sculptures from around the world.

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.

Swedish artist Jacob Dahlgren took hundreds of dartboards and glued them together to make the world's largest game of darts.

(via UniqueDaily)

Pages - Menu

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Friday, November 28, 2008

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Monday, November 24, 2008

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Friday, November 21, 2008