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Friday, April 30, 2010

Living Volcanoes

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Volcanic eruptions are deadly yet very beautiful and breathtaking sights. For some reason they bring to mind images of spirits of the earth coming to punish people for violating nature's laws.

Thanks to multiple studies and experiments scientists have learned how to predict the time of volcanic eruptions, so citizens of nearby villages and towns can now be evacuated before volcanic ash and lava turn their homes to ashes.

An article about living volcanoes.

(via Everlasting Blort)

related posts:
Iceland's Disruptive Volcano
Will Krakatoa Rock The World Again?

How Do You Use A Brick?



(thanks Brandon)

Explore U.S. Government Data About Your Community

'This We Know' presents information the U.S. government collects about every community. By publishing this data in an easy to understand and consistent manner, they seek to empower citizens to act on what's known. Enter a location - for example New York - and this the information you get:

There are 31 Factories (within 5 mi.). 1,648,550 pounds of 30 Pollutants were released (within 5 mi.). Demographics: 418,005 people were Hispanic, 265,682 were African American, 144,368 were Asian, 835,298 were White, 727,990 were Male, and 809,205 were Female (in this town).

82,000 people are Unemployed, while 873,828 have jobs (in this county). There are 148,695 Home Owners and 589,949 Renters (in this town). 22 Bills have been introduced about this location by 12 Members of Congress since 1993.

Breathing Circle


The Breathing Circle is a tool for combating stress, anxiety, and panic attacks.

High Five Etiquette

Tripp and Tyler, with the help of mentor Herb Tankersleigh, discuss the do's and don'ts of proper high-five execution.



(thanks Cora)

related posts:
High Five New York City
Internet High-Five

Man 'Survives Without Food' For 70 Years


Indian doctors are studying a remarkable 83-year-old man who claims to have spent the last 70 years without food and water. Military medics hope the experiments on Prahlad Jani can help soldiers develop their survival strategies. The long-haired and bearded yogi is under 24-hour observation by a team of 30 doctors during three weeks of tests at a hospital in the western city of Ahmedabad.

Two cameras have been set up in his room, while a mobile camera films him when he goes outside, guaranteeing round-the-clock observation. His body will be scanned and his brain and heart activity measured with electrodes.

Pencil Vs Camera


Ben Heine is a Belgian artist who combines a mixture of photography and illustration for an ongoing experimental series, Pencil Vs. Camera.

(thanks Cora)

20 Creepy Things Found Inside Someone

You'd be amazed what some people have in their bodies. These bizarre but true stories cover everything from foreign bodies to biological to specimens to more than one piece of cutlery.

Some are funny, while others are a bit grosser, but it's a good idea to make sure you're not eating as you dig into the list of creepy things found inside people's bodies.

(thanks Amy)

100 Essential Home Economy Lessons You Should Have Learned In School

Let's face it: you'll learn a lot in school, but there's no way you can possibly learn everything. Chances are, if you took a home economics class in school there was a lot it didn't cover.

Get the lowdown on investing, saving, budgeting and so much more in these finance lessons. Check out these household lessons to fill in the gaps.

(thanks Lauri)

A Star Is Born - Just Not with That Name


It's not uncommon for stars to change their names before making it big. Whether to avoid confusion (one comedian's birth name was Albert Einstein) or to add that special star quality (another famous heartthrob upgraded from Archie Leach), swapping out given names is a time-honored Hollywood tradition.

Find out if you know which well-known stars have given the term 'name dropping' a whole new meaning.

(thanks Jessie)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Surfing Sheep

Meet Mildred, the world's only surfing sheep. Actually, this is not what it seems to be. The film is a computer generated viral designed as a publicity stunt for a British clothing firm.

Anne Frank's Secret Hiding Place In 3D

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In her diary, Anne Frank describes exactly what the hiding place looks like inside the house in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It's a labyrinth of hallways, stairs and little rooms.

Now you can wander around the furnished spaces and get to know the stories from Anne Frank's diary. Discover the secret entrance behind the bookcase.

(thanks Cora)

43 Unbelievable Facts About US Presidents

Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt often ate a dozen eggs for breakfast? Or that Grover Cleveland's nickname was Uncle Jumbo?

As a rule, presidents tend to be extraordinary people, but there are just some facts about the presidents that are hard to believe. From skinny dipping to record numbers of offspring there's a lot to learn about our past and present Commanders in Chief. Here is an interesting fact about each of the men that have held the title.

(thanks Emma)

The Truth About Black Helicopters

Black Helicopters are not just helicopters with a black paint-job as you may have been told. They are, in fact, autonomous agents - lifeforms - created by New World Order agencies via nanobiotechnology. Their primary purpose is to spy on the activities of average citizens in order to gather tactical information and discover 'subversives' who are not bowing to the will of the Liberati's UN-backed Federal Government.

How to protect oneself from black helicopters? Black Helicopterswatters are vital for defense against EMBHs and JBHs. Similar to common flyswatters, they can be used to fend off aerial attacks, disperse swarms, or dispatch resting BHs if you catch them unawares. However, make sure your aim is true, otherwise you will only anger them.

Men With Talent

New Heineken commercial.

Twictionary: The Dictionary For Twitter


Since social networking and microblogging service Twitter was founded in 2006, lots of 'new' words are doing the rounds on the Internet. Ever heard of 'Tweetivity'? Do you know what a 'Featherette' is? Or a 'Dweet'?

Here's a repository for the meanings and manglings of words and language on Twitter.

The Chronology Of An Artist


Joel Robert Harris from Los Angeles shows a series of drawings, doodles, and paintings from the age of 5 years up to the present day. He's now almost 33.

22 Sausages From Around The World

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Mm, sausages! Sausages are made, eaten and enjoyed all over the world. There are as many variations as there are countries. Here are 22 examples of delicious sausages from 22 different countries representing all the continents, except Antarctica.

Shown above is a sausage from the Netherlands called 'rookworst' which means smoked sausage. It is usually eaten with a vegatable potato mash called 'stamppot.'

(thanks Nick)

10 Magnificent Urban Gardens

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Cities aren't exactly known for lush scenery - they don't call it a concrete jungle for nothing. But as horticultural technology improves and global warming becomes a bigger concern, a new trend has emerged: urban green spaces.

Not only are urban gardens good for Mother Earth - by helping reduce water pollution and improve air quality - they're also beautiful works of art. Whether you're a city-dweller or suburbanite, celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with these inspiring metropolitan oases.

(thanks Jessie)

Time-Lapse: A Day At A Walmart Store



(thanks Cora)

10 Highest-Paid Public Speakers In The World

How much would you pay to see your favorite celebrity, politician or business leader speak? For some businesses and organizations, the answer is a lot more than you'd expect.

Here's a list of some of the biggest payouts ever made for keynote speakers, though it has to be said that it may not be a definitive list as some speakers don't disclose their fees openly. You may be surprised to learn what some of the big names earn for a few hours of work as you work your way through this list.

(thanks Kaitlyn)

9 Companies With The Best Perks

In today's economy, employees have gotten used to the bare minimum at work. With widespread pay cuts and rampant layoffs, it's not unusual to consider free coffee a great perk.

But some companies are still working hard to keep their employees happy, going above and beyond the standard benefits and rewarding them with everything from on-site massages to unlimited paid vacation time. Here are 9 companies that are not all work - and plenty of play.

(thanks Jessie)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Geocities-Izer

With the Geocities-izer you can make any webpage look like it was made by a 13-year old in 1996. Here's how The Presurfer would look.



(thanks Carly)

The Making Of Florida One

Last week Florida One, a Boeing 737 emblazoned with an artist's rendering of the state flag, was unveiled. Florida One has been secreted away in a private hangar somewhere in the state of Louisiana. Here's The Making of Florida One.



(thanks Cora)

Earth View In Google Maps


Google announced they have added an 'Earth' button to Google Maps. You can now explore the world in luxuriantly-detailed, data-rich 3D imagery and terrain from Google Earth. If you've already downloaded Google Earth to your computer, you should be able to see Earth view in Maps right away.

Otherwise, you will be asked to install a plugin to enjoy a Maps experience that includes angled Earth views, 3D buildings, smooth panning and zooming and a great introductory showcase of places to visit and things to see.

Source: Official Google Blog.

How I Met Your Motherboard


How I Met Your Motherboard celebrates the time when computers were beige and business-y. The site shares the stories of your earliest computer memories.

In the early days, computers were strictly for the nerds. Back then we had no clue that we'd soon be 'Googling' strangers, building enormous networks of 'friends,' and creating fan pages for goats and pickles.

Nope, we were learning how to be young entrepreneurs with Lemonade Stand and exploring the old west with Oregon Trail. As the years progressed, however, the nerds won out, and we all now live in their Facebooky, Twittery, cloud-computery world.

30 Best Stress Relievers

With the everyday stresses from work, parenting and budgeting finances, it's no surprise that stress has been directly linked to causing heart disease, high blood pressure and decreased immunity.

While it is difficult to avoid it altogether, there are ways to relieve stress and manage it through simple and often free practices that can be done at home and work.

(thanks Christine)

James Hance's Amazing Star Wars-Themed Art


James Hance is a Jacksonville-based artist who takes his inspiration from television shows and movies from his childhood to create some of the best paintings. Here are some examples of his Star Wars-themed art.

(thanks Yan)

James Hance website.

Insane Dominoes Maze

Domino Day is a world record attempt for the highest number of toppling domino stones, organized each year in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, there will be no Domino Day 2010 because of the financial crisis. Sponsors were very interested but their available sponsor budgets were not sufficient to produce the TV show this year.

Instead, enjoy this insane dominoes maze made last year to promote the ImagineRIT Innovation and Creativity Festival from the Rochester Institute of Technology.



(via AdFreak, thanks David)

24 Awe Inspiring Garage Doors

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So you thought the only purpose of garage doors was to open so that you could get your car? This is certainly not the case anymore!

These painted garage doors will show you that garages have so much more to offer. When you are sporting one of these doors, your neighbors will either love you or hate you.

(thanks Danny)

10 Celebrity Writers Actually Worth Reading

Celebrities love to multitask and push the envelope beyond their regular day jobs. Movie stars try out singing careers, models become actresses, and all kinds of celebrities seem to want to try their hand at writing books.

And while most celebrity-written books just aren't worth the time, these authors have successfully made the transition from acting, hosting, and directing to writing as well. Here are 10 celebrity writers actually worth your time.

(thanks Kaitlyn)

40 Photoshop Add-Ons For The Avid Photographer

Adobe Photoshop is the most recognized name in image-editing software, but one of the things that makes the program so powerful is the host of add-ons that are available for download.

Here are some of the most fun and helpful Photoshop add-ons for avid photographers, though it's important to check that your operating system and software meet the technical specs required before you download them. Some are free, while others range in price, but they're all designed to get the most out of your images.

(thanks Carl)

The Arm Sleeper's Pillow


The Arm Sleeper's Pillow is the memory foam pillow that promotes a full, uninterrupted night's slumber for those who sleep with their arm under their heads. A center groove and a recessed front edge let you fully extend your arm without it having to support the weight of your head and neck.

By allowing you to lie comfortably in your preferred sleep position and relieving pressure that can make your arm fall asleep, the Arm Sleeper's Pillow helps you awaken feel rested and refreshed.

(thanks Cora)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

KLM Economy Comfort Product Launched At Manchester Airport

With effect from December, passengers travelling in Economy Class on all intercontinental flights operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines can choose seats offering greater comfort. KLM launched their new Economy Comfort product at Manchester Airport with this campaign.



(thanks Cora)

50 Most Beautiful And Brilliant Books For Your Coffee Table

While most books are valued for their insightful content, educational value, storylines and characters, there are some that can also be admired for sheer attractiveness, whether it's found in design, photographs or drawings.

Here are 50 books that will not only keep you entertained, but are also simply a joy to see sitting on your coffee table each day.

(thanks Gracie)

The Admiral Ackbar Toilet


The worlds greatest toilet, the 'Admiral Ackbar.'

12 Unique Spatulas

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A spatula, also called a turner, a fish slice in the UK, an egg slice, a flipper in Canadian English, or an egg flipper or tosser in Hiberno-English, is a kitchen utensil with a long handle and a broad flat edge, used for lifting and turning fried foods. Here are 12 unique spatulas.

7 Astounding Beach Scenes

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The majority of those lucky enough to have visited a beach in their lifetime will have experienced what is essentially a common sight at the coast; a strip of golden sand; a few dozen sunbeds; calm blue sea and clear skies.

Of course, things aren't always normal depending on your location. Here are some incredible, uncommon beach scenes.

The Daily Dish


The Daily Dish is a catalog of 365 petri dishes painted by San Francisco-based artist Klari Reis.

(via Dark Roasted Blend)

10 Celebrities That Went To Schools With Online Degree Programs

It's tempting to think of online degree programs as existing in some parallel educational universe: Sure, they're accredited, but who's actually gone to one? The answers are surprising.

In addition to online-only programs, many established schools are adding distance learning initiatives, meaning you can get the same education online. Just to prove how popular online education is, here are some famous faces who attended schools with online degree programs.

(thanks Tim)

The Madness Of Messerschmidt

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Take a look at this startling tin alloy bust. It is called 'A Hyporcrite and a Slanderer.' When do you think it was created? Five years ago? Ten? It certainly has the air of something very modern - almost Damian Hirst without the diamonds (as it were).

Would it surprise you to learn that this magnificent head was made almost two hundred and fifty years ago?

(thanks Robert-John)

10 'Bad' Foods That Are Actually Good For You

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While the staple of any nutritious diet is fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, changes in the way mass produced food are prepared, processed, and packaged have changed in recent years.

These changes can muddy the waters about what we have been told in the past when it comes to nutrition. It can also offer dieters a wider range of foods than previously thought. Here are 10 'bad' foods that are actually good for you.

(thanks Christian)

The Train That Never Stops At A Station


A brilliant new Chinese train innovation. Get on and off the bullet train without the train stopping. No time is wasted.

The bullet train is moving all the time. If there are 30 stations between Beijing and Guangzhou, just stopping and accelerating again at each station will waste both energy and time.

(thanks Cora)

25 Movies Or TV Shows Ripped From The Headlines

The phrase 'ripped from the headlines' gets a bad rap. At its essence, it just means that a movie or television show has been inspired by real-life events, often a crime.

Some of the most popular movies and TV series from the past half-century have been created this way, taking their inspiration from everything from the mob to drug dealers to underage crime sprees. Here are just a handful of the stories born from real events.

(thanks Jay)

Monday, April 26, 2010

Chickens For Checkups


Last week, Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sue Lowden suggested that people who could not afford health insurance should 'barter' with their doctors for health care with things like chickens and house painting. You can write a letter to Sue Lowden with your ailment and what you're willing to trade, and she'll make sure you get it.

It's not just chickens you can offer for health care. She also suggests to offer 2 goats, 50 bushels of barley, 5 sets of overalls, your new log cabin, or 10 acres and a plow.

(via J-Walk Blog)

From The Red Green Show - Beer Holders



(thanks Cora)

Maxed Out: Testing Humans To Destruction

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We have an irrepressible urge to push our boundaries and set records. How much further can we go, physically and mentally, before we reach our ultimate limits?

What's the human speed limit? How long could you survive without food or drink? How long can you go without sleep? How much can a human lift? and other questions are answered in 'The Astounding Limits of Endurance.'

Sydney's Sibera


An interactive and infinitely zooming digital poem by Jason Nelson.

related posts:
Evidence Of Everything Exploding

Handling Money Could Bring Pain Relief

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Who needs aspirin when cold, hard cash could ease your aches and pains? In a series of experiments, conducted by scienctists from the University of Minnesota's Carleton School of Management, people who counted money felt less pain when their hands were dipped into scalding water. The soothing power of cash also helped them shrug off the emotional pain of social exclusion.

The findings might offer a way to ease life's stings and hurts, from painful medical treatments to social ostracism: simply flip through a bulging wallet before enduring a painful experience.

(via Neatorama)

50 Incredible, Historical Speeches You Should Watch Online

You hope that your professors will be good speakers who can keep your interest for at least the length of a class period, but more often than not, you'll have a teacher or two each semester who drones on and on and doesn't make you feel passionate about the subject.

They could take tips from these speakers who have inspired thousands or even millions of people around the world, some even long after they've died. Here are 50 incredible, historical speeches you should watch online.

(thanks Kaitlyn)

An Amazing Journey To The Centre Of The World: Investigating The World Below


The thickness of the earth's crust ranges from 50 miles in mountainous areas to just six miles beneath the ocean floor; the average around the world is 21 miles. The borehole, therefore, has already eaten its way through one-third of the earth's surface.

While scientists probe the secrets of outer space, much about the world on which we stand remains mysterious. To expand our knowledge, the Russians started a deep borehole drilling program to investigate geological theories about the formation of the earth.

Scarecrow Recession

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Used for millennia to scare birds away from crops, the scarecrow is finding times as tough as we are and many have lost their jobs over the last year. However, the scarecommunity is now undergoing something of a twenty first century renaissance, if not remodelling.

Here we expose the alternative careers that many modern scarecrows are adopting to make ends meet. Are they still up for the job or has the scare gone out of them? Judge for yourself.

(thanks Robert-John)

80 Easy Ways You Can Join The Food Revolution

If you've been paying attention the past few weeks, surely you've noticed that people are getting excited about the food revolution. The concept of cooking and eating healthy food is not new, but it's recently enjoyed a revival of interest thanks to TV, blogs, and news reports.

If you're interested in becoming a part of this movement toward better food and health, with '80 Easy Ways You Can Join The Food Revolution' you can get involved.

(thanks Hannah)

Home Schooled

Home Schooled is a comics series by American artist Ash Jackson and co-written 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, which started on May 16, 2005.

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: Right in the Cookies.

click on the picture for real size

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Vicious Dog Man

Blocking Delicious Smells Could Lead To Longer Lifespans

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Dieters know the powerful temptations of just seeing or smelling food. Certain odors might have such a strong effect as to actually change the body's metabolism and lead to an early grave. At least, that's the case for fruit flies on a diet.

Scientists have known that low-calorie diets can lengthen the lives of yeast, fruit flies and monkeys. One study also showed that blocking the sense of smell in roundworms extended their lives. Another conducted by the University of Michigan and Baylor College showed that wafting the tasty smell of live yeast in front of dieting fruit flies shortened their lives.

The Story Of Survival Town

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One pleasant spring day in 1955, an atomic bomb blasted an American city into oblivion. This is the story of Survival Town, a purpose-built collection of structures, buildings, even mannequins designed to measure the effects of an atomic weapon used against urban centers.

12 Amazing Stories Of Animals Saving Men


From a pot-bellied pig who went for help when its owner was having a heart attack, to a beluga whale who used its nose to guide a drowning diver safely to the surface of a pool; meet this amazing animals who put their life in risk to save a human.

How do you pronounce 'Moleskine'?



You can find the answer here.

(thanks Cora)

Gene That Allows Worms To Grow New Head And Brain Discovered


Scientists at The University of Nottingham have discovered the gene that enables an extraordinary worm to regenerate its own body parts after amputation - including a whole head and brain.

The research led by Dr Aziz Aboobaker, a Research Councils UK Fellow in the School of Biology, shows for the first time that a gene called 'Smed-prep' is essential for correctly regenerating a head and brain in planarian worms.

Cats In Sinks

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The old proverb is true. In a cat's eye, everything belongs to cats. That includes, well, everything - including your sink. What has a certain use for us may be interpreted as useful in an altogether different way by our feline friends.

So it is with that useful household item, the sink. Cats love them - but for very different reasons to us. Welcome to the world of cats in sinks.

(thanks Robert-John)

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Robot Tralala

First there was this.
Then came this.
And now, combining the two together, here's this.

13 Lottery Winners Who Lost Everything


Winning a huge amount of money in a lottery can change your life. For the better or the worse. Here are 13 people who's life changed (or even ended) after winning the lottery.

(via 2leep)

Exploding Stadium


Imagine: You are IN an exploding stadium.

(thanks Cora)

This Is Spinal Tape


This is Spinal Tape is a handy spinal cord on a roll. Use this tape to seal and stick with endless sacral style.

(via Boing Boing)

10 Fantastic And Surreal Creatures


A list of some of nature's creations that simply defy human imagination. These are species that are alive today. They may not be big or scary, but these creatures are certainly fantastic and deserve more attention than they usually get.

Google Earth Car Chase Animation

Not a real car chase. It was created by animating cars on a Google Earth landscape.



(thanks Cora)

12 Cool Cardboard Artworks

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Biodegradable art is all the rage, with artists using anything from old newspapers to cardboard. But the artists who choose cardboard do so for its structural strength.

It also happens to be cheap. Whether the materials are straight out of the trash or brand-new, here are 12 examples of what a creative mind can do.

(thanks Jessie)

Friday, April 23, 2010

Search Stories Video Creator

Google recently released 'Search Stories Video Creator.' You can input up to seven search queries like web search, images, maps, etc. After that you can choose a song from different genres. You can then preview the story and, if you don't want to make any changes, upload it to YouTube and share it through various social networking platforms including Twitter and MySpace.

Here's a search video I made about my websites. It's a great (and free) way to promote your work.



Search Stories Video Creator.

A Breakdown And Explanation Of Radar


Radar (RAdio Detection And Ranging) is an object detection system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range, altitude, direction, or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as aircraft, ships, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain.

The term RADAR was coined in 1940 by the U.S. Navy. The term has since entered the English language as a standard word, radar, losing the capitalization. A Breakdown And Explanation Of Radar.

The Presurfer Through The Eyes Of A Child

Ever wondered how your baby sees the world, or how they see you? In the first few months of life your child sees the world very differently to you. For the first time ever, using the Tiny Eyes engine, you can see the world through their eyes.

TinyEyes will show you how a baby sees an image that you provide. Our baby-vision simulation method is based on scientific studies of infant visual perception. Please remember that this is our best scientific guess about how a baby of a particular age would see the world. There is quite a bit of individual variability, so any particular baby may see things differently.

Here's a picture that shows The Presurfer as you see it (left) and how an 8-week old baby would see it (right).


(via J-Walk Blog)

Postcards From 1900 Show the Year 2000


An amazing collection of postcards from the dawn of the twentieth century that depict what life would be like in the year 2000. The postcards were produced by Hildebrands, a leading German chocolate company of the time.

Winscape

Are you tired to look outside and see the same street or backyard all the time? Rational Craft created Winscape, a 'faux window' system that can be controlled with a Wii remote and iPhone app.



Winscape website.

(thanks Cora)

Hobbit Doll House


Maddie Chambers created a fantastic Hobbit doll house as part of a college course called 'The Importance of Play.' It's a replica of Bag End from 'The Fellowship of the Rings.

Werner Herzog Reads Where's Waldo

Uncompromising German film director Werner Herzog reads the children's classic Where's Waldo.



(thanks Ryan)

related posts:
Werner Herzog Reads Madeline
Werner Herzog Reads Curious George
Werner Herzog Reads Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel

10 Legendary Concept Car Successes and Failures


All the bases are covered in this gallery of legendary concept cars. Droolworthy visions, dramatic departures, genre-defining pioneers and true forehead-slappers.

10 Classic Sitcoms Recast

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First it was Beverly Hills, 90210, and then it was Melrose Place. Networks even tried to bring back The Bionic Woman in 2007. Now networks have added The Rockford Files, Charlie's Angels and Hawaii Five-O to their line-ups for next fall.

But most TV remakes so far have been disappointing at best and monumental failures at worst. So why do they keep trying? Maybe the problem isn't doing remakes, but the shows they're choosing... or the actors they're casting. Here are 10 shows that could be remade and the actors who could be picked to resurrect them from television history.

(thanks Jessie)

Thursday, April 22, 2010

A History Of The Sky

Ken Murphy's 'A History of the Sky' enables the viewer to appreciate the rhythms of weather, the lengthening and shortening of days, and other atmospheric events on an immediate aesthetic level: the clouds, fog, wind, and rain form a rich visual texture, and sunrises and sunsets cascade across the screen.

An image of the sky is being captured every 10 seconds from a camera installed on the roof of the Exploratorium, on the edge of San Francisco Bay. The images collected over each 24-hour period are assembled into a 6 minute movie.



Ken Murphy's website.

(via Urlesque)

The Urban Forest Map


The goal of The Urban Forest Map is to map every tree in San Francisco. Along the way the project will calculate the environmental benefits the trees are providing - how many gallons of stormwater they are helping to filter, how many pounds of air pollutants they are capturing, how many kilowatt-hours of energy they are conserving, and how many tons of carbon dioxide they are removing from the atmosphere.

The information gathered with The Urban Forest Map will help urban foresters and city planners to better manage trees in specific areas, track and combat tree pests and diseases, and plan future tree plantings. Climatologists can use it to better understand the effects of urban forests on climates, and students and citizen scientists can use it to learn about the role trees play in the urban ecosystem.

The World's Biggest Airplanes


Of course you can fly the latest Airbus today, but vintage giant planes still evoke a certain fascination and a sadness of their demise.

Their stupendous size seemed to fuel dreams of daring-do and glamour... like smoking a cigar on board of a giant flying boat bound for some nameless Central American lake, discussing the odds of finding an ancient treasure with a sultry brunette lady - seemingly a fellow adventurer but, very possibly, a rival spy.

100 Incredible Open Lectures For Biology Geeks

If your biology classes just don't seem to give you all you need to fill your desire for learning more, then you just may be a biology geek.

If this sounds like you, then you will love this listing of 100 open lectures on topics including the basics of biology, biological engineering, astrobiology, medicine, neuroscience, ecology, climate change, and more.

(thanks Hannah)

Gravité

Falling objects synchronized to produce rhythm.
A 2009 video by Renaud Hallée.



(thanks Karl)

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson who died in 2005 aged 89.

Earth Day was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment.