unique and interesting: July 2009

Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Abbey Habit

It's the most imitated image in pop history. Forty years on, the Beatles' Abbey Road has inspired an astonishing array of 'cover' versions. Dozens of bands - ranging from Booker T & The MGs to the puppet characters from TVs Sesame Street - have recreated their own versions of John, Paul, George and Ringo striding across the zebra crossing outside the Abbey Road studios on August 8, 1969.

Here are 40 copies of the Fab Four.

Birds Can Dance

Cats, dogs, and lab monkeys spend lots of time around human music. But no animal had ever been confirmed as moving to a beat - leading to the common belief that animals ain't got rhythm.

For one of two new studies on animal dancing, Aniruddh Patel at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego and colleagues worked with Snowball the parrot, which seems to love 'dancing' to the likes of Queen and Backstreet Boys.

For years, buildings have been erected for lords and nobles for the display of wealth and power, and with that power comes the ability to possess an architectural marvel that has stood through centuries of war and dispute.

A dovecote is a small detached round or square building containing nesting boxes for the breeding and accommodation of doves or pigeons. Of greatly varying ground plan, dovecotes were important economic resources during medieval and later times as they provided sustainable supplies of meat, eggs, feathers, and manure. Also known as a columbarium.

(via Lauren)

The AllModern.com giveaway in cooperation with The Presurfer has ended. The winner is Heather. Congratulations. I'm sorry if you didn't win, but thanks for participating.

Remember the video of Wesley, the 5-year old who sang Folsom Prison Blues? That was recorded at the 2009 Spring Coffee Shop Jam, at The Columbia City Theater in Seattle, WA. The Jam's a chance for Heartwood Guitar Instruction students to showcase their talents.

I got an email from Rob Hampton, Wesley's guitar teacher. He pointed me to a website where you can see some other students who performed at that show.

(thanks Rob)

Documentary Heaven: Food For Your Brain

Documentary Heaven was set up earlier this month to provide the public with a vast collection of documentaries spanning across every genre out there.

Curiosity Almost Killed The Cameraman

(thanks Cora)

A list of top of the range products that will not only help you do your job better, but make you look good while you're doing it.

All made from the finest materials, with absolutely no expense spared. Quality like this does not come cheap, but it's worth investing in the best if you want to promote an impeccable corporate image to colleagues and competitors alike.

(thanks Andy)

image credit

Tokyo - vast sprawling metropolis of the East. In this day and age of global terror, a protector is needed. The Japanese, ever inventive, came up with this: Konnichiwa, Gundam.

(via Robert-John)

Flitter Fairies are toys who seem to fly on their own using 'invisible Pixie Silk.' They are produced by the William Mark Corporation, makers of Exceptional Flying Products.

Flitter Fairies magically flit and fly all around you with enchanted flapping wings. It's easy to guide your fairy with your magic wand. Luckily for us believers, Flitter Fairies have chosen to slip from their Realm Slightly Above Time into the human realm of Timefulness.

Their deepest wish is to inspire humans to take better care of the natural world. Each Flitter Fairy seeks to bond with a human friend who shares her most important trait such as compassion, protection or inspiration.

(thanks Cora)

Wild crows can recognize individual people. They can pick a person out of a crowd, follow them, and remember them - apparently for years. But people, even people who love crows, usually can't tell them apart. Try it yourself.

You will see a picture of a crow. Give it a good look. Look at its beak, its feathers, even its beady little eyes. After that you will see a lin up of six crows. Pick the right crow. It's not as easy as it seams.

Windmills and tulips are so typical of the Netherlands.
Great photo gallery by Dutch photographer Jaap Hart.

Old green eyes is back. And boy is Formula One pleased to see him.

A season that has already produced more than its fair share of thrills and spills just got even more exciting after it was confirmed yesterday that Michael Schumacher is to make a sensational comeback for Ferrari as temporary cover for the injured Felipe Massa.

The 40-year-old seven-time world champion will line up against reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton for the very first time at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23.

Cyriak Compilation

Cyriak Harris is a British freelance animator from Brighton. Cyriak displays a surreal and often disturbing animation style with a distinct British theme. Here's a compilation of various commercial work he has been doing recently, including some very annoying music.

(via Everlasting Blort)

Personal urns are a new and exciting way to memorialize your loved one. Now we can create a custom urn in the image of your loved one or favorite celebrity.

New advances in facial reconstruction and 3D printing have made it possible to have an urn made in the image of anyone from just a photograph. Never forget a face. Personal Urns combine art and technology to create a family heirloom that will be cherished for generations.

(thanks Darren)

image credit

Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky set about the project of a lifetime - to capture, in full color, the sites of his country, Russia. Here, in part 2 of this article, find out more about this amazing collection.

(via Robert-John)

5-Year-Old Boy Plays 'Folsom Prison Blues' By Johnny Cash

Folsom Prison Blues performed by Wesley, 5 years old, at the 2009 Spring Coffee Shop Jam, at The Columbia City Theater in Seattle, USA.

(thanks Cora)

A Pictorial History Of Dentistry

image credit

Dentistry got its start in the Indus Valley of India and Pakistan. These industrious would-be dentists were master beadmakers who used bow drills to cure tooth problems.

This is also the first appearance of dental assistants, whose duties consisted of restraining the flailing arms and legs of patients during the undoubtedly excruciating procedures. Still, this obviously beat a life without teeth.

(thanks John)

Scientists from the University of Helsinki, Finland, have found that evolution is driving women to become ever more beautiful, while men remain as aesthetically unappealing as their caveman ancestors.

The researchers have found beautiful women have more children than their plainer counterparts and that a higher proportion of those children are female. Those daughters, once adult, also tend to be attractive and so repeat the pattern. Over generations, the scientists argue, this has led to women becoming steadily more aesthetically pleasing, a 'beauty race' that is still on.

These days, with a pocket of change (or a credit card), an interested buyer can score a lot more than a can of soda from a vending machine.

As much as people might not like to admit their tendencies toward immediate gratification - sans the salesperson hassle -it can no longer be denied. The proof is in these ingenious dispensers.

Computers are evolving. A team of US scientists have engineered bacteria that could solve complex mathematical problems faster than anything made from silicon. The scientists have proved that it is possible to solve puzzles with living cells.

A research team made up of faculty members and undergraduate students from the biology and mathematics departments at Missouri Western State University and Davidson College in North Carolina, engineered the DNA of E coli bacteria. The biological world also has other advantages. As time goes by, a bacterial computer will actually increase in power as the bacteria reproduce.

San Francisco-based weather site Weather Underground began asking visitors in 2002 to submit nature photos.
This week, they received their one millionth photo, pictured above.

(thanks Kara)

image credit

Every couple of years, a new extreme roller coaster is introduced into the world for thrill seekers and amusement park lovers. But don't forget the roller coasters of yesteryear.

Some may be dinosaurs, but they still give us a thrill. Even with the revolution of giga-coasters and hyper-coasters, these old timers still stand their ground.

(via Lauren)

Who is America's most trusted newscaster now that Walter Cronkite passed away. The question was asked by Time and the results were in favor of Jon Stewart.

(via Neatorama)

Leif Olson's Hole-In-One Shot At Canadian Open

Leif Olson gets a hole-in-one on the 15th hole during the Canadian Open. One of the weirdest shots I've ever seen.

Can you guess the make and model when you only see the headlight of a car?

Tron Legacy Trailer

Tron Legacy is a forthcoming 2010 science fiction film. It is a sequel to the 1982 film Tron. Joseph Kosinski is directing the film, while the previous film director, Steven Lisberger, returns as a producer.

Jeff Bridges will reprise his role as Kevin Flynn, while Garrett Hedlund will portray Flynn's now-adult son, Sam. The other cast members include Bruce Boxleitner, Olivia Wilde, Beau Garrett and John Hurt.

Bumperstickers for Shoes.

(via Neatorama)

Space has many beautiful mysteries hidden inside. Many people have tried and are still trying to uncover those mysteries. Smashing Magazine presents beautiful photographs from space explorations: nebulas, comets, stars, planets, etc.

Charles Darwin thought the toucan's oversized beak was a sexual lure for attracting potential mates, while some modern-day biologists suggested it was either for peeling fruit or to warn off territorial rivals. A new study has found, though, that the outrageously big structure helps to keep the bird cool in the heat of the tropical day.

The beak of the toucan accounts for about one-third of the bird's body length, which is larger than the beak of any other bird for its size. A toucan's beak has a rich supply of blood vessels running along its surface so the bird's bill is suited to act as a means of radiating heat to keep the core temperature of the body stable.

Simon's Cat

A cat resorts to increasingly desperate measures to catch a housefly.

(thanks Cora)

Top 20 Most Anticipated Movies Of 2010

2010 Doesn't sound like a real year does it? It sounds like something that appears on a title card at the beginning of a movie. It sounds like the future. It sounds like you need a crazy, wild-eyed old man and a flux capacitor to get there, but you don't, all you need is patience.

Unfortunately, the people at Movie Moron are impatient as all get out. They're already looking ahead to 2010 and its silver screen offerings, and they’d like you to join them. Here's a list of the 20 most anticipated movies of 2010.

(thanks Sheridan)

Get A Product From All Modern For Free

The Presurfer has teamed up with AllModern.com in a giveaway where you can win a free product worth up to $150. Please note that this giveaway is only for residents of the United States and Canada.

All Modern has a fantastic selection of modern furniture and home accessories from many leading designers. Part of CSN Stores, All Modern is just one of over 260 retail sites that offer a diverse array of products from Herman Miller's popular Aeron Chair to cookware by Rachael Ray.

You can pick your prize from All Modern's Browse by Space page. Categories to choose from are living room, bedroom, dining room, outdoor, office, bathroom, kitchen, kids and baby, and bar. You can choose a single item priced at or below $150. All Modern will ship the item to you for free.

How to enter:
1. Anyone can enter who resides in the United States or Canada.
2. Visit All Modern's Browse by Space page and pick a single item. Your budget is $150.
3. One entry only.
4. Send an email to me at webmaster@presurfer.com and tell me which single item you would want to win. Do not enter your home address. The winner will receive an email from me in which I will ask where to send the item you picked.
5. The Giveaway ends on Thursday evening, July 30, at midnight GMT.

Who can win:
Everyone who enters has a chance to win. Incoming emails will be numbered and the winner will be drawn by a True Random Number Service and announced on Friday morning, July 31.

Underwear for your foot?
Yes, underwear for your foot!
Why?
I have no idea!

(via Streamings)

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Says There's A Monolith On Mars Moon

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin has revealed that there is a 'monolith' on the moon of Mars, Phobos. On July 22, during an interview on CSPAN's Washington Journal, Aldrin mentioned the monolith when he was promoting further exploration and development of the moon as well as going to Mars.

Aldrin's statement reinforces comments made by other astronauts that extraterrestrial vehicles were present during at least the first moon landing. It also raises questions such as 'who really put the monolith there and how does Aldrin know about it?'

Actually, a lot of people know about it. This revelation by Aldrin is referencing to a picture taken in 1998 by the Mars Global Surveyor. According to the dictionary, a monolith is a geological feature such as a mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock. Here's a picture of the monolith.

The human tendency to act in a way that is detrimental to health has always been a part of society. Whether wearing a cape jumping off the roof to test your flight abilities when you're six, or dancing on a wire dozens of stories off the ground when you're thirty, we manage to put ourselves in harms way for the sake of fame, fortune, self-discovery, or exploration.

Regardless of motivation, people have and will continue to act in this way. Here are 19 of the most daring and extreme human feats ever completed.

Artist Peter Root created Staples City. He says:

Low-Rise is a precarious assemblage of thousands of free-standing stacks of staples densely tessellated to create a city-like mosaic. Like a city, the staples are subject to the elements, on a micro scale. The slightest breath or vibration and the domino effect kicks in.

(via Gizmodo)

One Trillion Dollars Visualized

Did you know that with one trillion dollars you can buy a $3 latte every day for the next 900 million years? It has been done before but this is a new look at what one trillion dollars look like. One trillion dollars is a number that few people can comprehend, let alone your standard nine digit calculator.

If you're looking for inexpensive things to do this summer, city parks are the perfect option. Many esplanades around the globe offer free admission and charge just a small fee for some attractions - if any at all.

Highlighted here are 10 of the world's grandest parks that are loaded with things to do. From Hyde Park in London to the shores of Stanley Park in Vancouver, check out these one-of-a-kind destinations that may make you green with envy, but won't cost you a thing to enjoy.

(thanks Rahel)

Stunning Space Photography

Penguin Surprise

A combover is a hairstyle worn by bald or balding men in which the hair on one side of the head is grown long and then combed over the bald area to minimize the display of baldness.

(thanks Nick)

International Country Codes, Made Simple

When making an international call, the exit code is the number you are required to dial first to 'exit' your country. It is often times replaced by a '+' when dialing from a cell phone or over Skype. The country code is the number you are required to dial after the exit code to specify the country you are calling. Every country has a unique country code.

International Country Codes can help you when you don't know the country code. Type the country you are in, then type the country you are calling.

Is the summer heat getting to you? Hit a waterpark and cool off with a thrilling ride. From plunging through pure darkness on Rapids Water Park's Black Thunder to dropping over 130 feet on Holiday World's Pilgrims Plunge, these nine water rides are sure to get your pulse racing and your adrenaline pumping.

(thanks Rahel)

The Three Tenor Tots

Jose Diaperas, Lucianno Poopalotti, and Placido Bambino.

The 10 Oldest Still-Inhabited Cities

Urban society may seem a modern phenomenon but cities have been around for a lot longer than one might think. Indeed, once nomadic tribes began to settle in one location, they saw that it was good, became fruitful, and multiplied.

Decades, centuries and millennia passed while war, climate change and human migration all took their toll. Relatively few cities have managed to survive the test of time. Here are 10 ancient cities that have not only survived, but continue to thrive.

Last Wednesday, the moon passed directly in front of the sun, causing a total solar eclipse that crossed nearly half the Earth - through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. It was the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting as much as 6 minutes and 39 seconds in a few areas.

Despite cloudy skies in many of the populated areas in the path, millions of people gathered outside to gaze up and view this rare event. Collected here are a few images of the eclipse, and those people who came out to watch.

If you never thought that soda machines would adapt to the high-tech world, think again. Coca-Cola's Freestyle fountain comes equipped with a touch screen that is able to mix flavors on the spot, using precise machinery originally developed for dialysis and cancer treatments.

There are over 100 flavors available, across an array of drink brands, including Coke, Fanta, energy drinks, flavored waters, and more. When you select a drink, you're able to select from a variety of flavors, some of which are unfamiliar such as Raspberry Coke and Peach Fanta.

Baboons Steal Underwear From Rooftop Luggage

Bosses at the Merseyside Knowsley Safari Park in the UK are warning motorists to beware of the baboons, after the animals learned how to open rooftop luggage and began stealing items such as underwear after helping themselves to the contents.

(thanks Cora)

Ah, the wonderful world of pickled products. There is something about the combo of salty and sour that is so delicious. Pickles are edible products which are preserved in an acid solution.

A Plethora Of Pickled Products From Across The Planet.

(thanks Nick)

The sport of cycling claims the most awe-inspiring backdrops. Athletes who compete in professional competitions such as the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de Suisse pedal hundreds of miles through some of the most beautiful landscapes with snow-capped mountains, architecturally preserved coastal cities, brightly lit fields of sunflowers and more.

Though cyclists only focus their eyes on the road ahead, tuned-in audiences can witness every sweeping view. Check out the most gorgeous plotted courses of all.

(thanks Rahel)

Your Movie Moment

Look it's the Terminator. Well, actually it's me. Looking like a scary terminator.

See the video here.

Be the star in a movie. Choose between The Terminator, Back to School, Dodgeball, City Slickers, Office Space, or Robocop.

Do you hear a lot about the Ocelot? Hunted for its pelt for hundreds of years, the Ocelot was classified as a vulnerable endangered species until 1996. One look at this still rare animal and the attraction is undeniable but why is it no longer considered endangered?

(via Robert-John)

Everyone wants an imaginary unicorn friend that they can call forth to smite their enemies. The Avenging Unicorn Play Set has everything you need to use the power of the unicorn to rid your life of irritations.

Put the posable, hard vinyl unicorn on a flat surface and then impale one of three soft vinyl figures including a businessman/boss, a new age lady and of course, a mime.

(thanks Nick)

Throughout history, the earth has been given the names of the gods. Volcanic rocks were named after the god of fire and intrusive rocks were named after the god of the underworld.

These volcanic rocks are found all over the world, in rare form of course, stemming from a place that ignites change from within.

(via Lauren)

For thousands of years, human beings have been fascinated and intrigued about mushrooms, toadstools and other members of the fungi kingdom.

While modern science has unraveled some of the mysteries of these wonderful organisms, they still remain creatures of wonder to us. Their delicate structures, and often bizarre, yet beautiful shapes, make them attractive subjects to be captured in the lens of the discerning photographer. Here is a small, but beautiful photo collection of mushrooms, toadstools and other species of fungi.

(thanks Danny)

Mickey's Forest is a collection of 50,000 pine trees and the start of a big plan to re-forest about 2,000 acres of Lake and Orange counties but completing Mickey's Forest was as far as Disney got.

Since then Mickey's Forest has pretty much been forgotten about, many of the locals don't even know it exists.

Skate Ride On Rollercoaster

German stuntman Dirk Auer raced down a huge 2,800-foot roller coaster at Trips Drill Theme Park in Stuttgart, Germany. He reached speeds up to 60mph. He even designed and made his own pair of skates.

(via Neatorama)

This photograph captures the majesty of Mount Everest as you've never seen it before - from more than a mile above. The spectacular panorama shows the breathtaking landscape of the Himalayas. It was shot by British filmmaker and adventure cameraman Leo Dickinson wearing breathing apparatus in -56C temperatures 36,000 feet up.

It is believed to be the highest panoramic picture taken by hand from a balloon, and was described by mountaineer Reinhold Messner as the 'best snap on earth'.

Twitter Job Description By Date Joined

This chart claims that the date you joined Twitter says a lot about your job.

For example: if you joined Twitter in July 2006, you're probably a professional geek. If you joined in December 2007, you're a blogger. If you joined in April 2009, you're Oprah Winfrey. And someone who joined in May 2009 is probably your Mum.

This is quite possibly the first action figure to have 'turns water into wine' as a selling point on the box.

This 'deluxe' Jesus character stands 5 1/4-inches tall, comes in an illustrated window box with 8 accessories: a jug, 2 fish, and 5 loaves of bread. Oh, and glow-in-the-dark hands! Just like the real Jesus, right?

(thanks Nick)

Just a funny message on Craigslist.

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009