Best of Blurtit

What Are The Best Gadgets Available This Christmas?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:04:33 +0000

It's been a tough 2009 for many of us which means you might be celebrating Christmas with an orange and big bag of humbugs. If, however, you do have a bit of spare cash stuffed down the back of the sofa you might be interested to know what the must have gadgets of 2009 are. In alphabetical order, here are a few:

Amazon Kindle

Reading books is so last century. Now everyone is reading computer screens. Or they will be. 2009 is set to be the year of the e-reader and Amazon's Kindle is proving to be the one thing people are really really talking about. The Kindle can hold a staggering 1,500 books (isn't that a town library?), is wireless and requires no contact with any computer. Ever. What's more the reader is lighter than an average paperback and is supposed to stay charged for days. The screens have always been the problems with these things but apparently this one's just like looking at paper. Test it out yourself. Cost: $259 from Amazon

DJ Hero

Music games are big and who could ever be bigger in music computer games than Liverpool's favourite mop-topped sons The Beatles? Well Jay Z and Eminem is who. And they are going to bust Mr Sir Paul McCartney's face this Christmas. Full of 'booming' tracks as the press release says including Rhianna, The Killers, Queen, The Black Eyed Peas and Marvin Gaye, you get to hone your late night skills with a new turntable controller. Gran will love it. Cost: Renegade Edition featuring Jay Z and Eminem CDs - $199/£139.99 Standard DJ Hero Bundle - $119/£89.99 available through DJHero.com and GAME

Fuji Finepix Real 3D W1

Just how much money have you got this Xmas? Because this toy is quite expensive. And you know how much cheaper new technology gets throughout the year. But this new camera is very exciting. Why? Because it's 3D. Yes, that's right. A 3D camera. Mad, isn't it? Fuji have come up with it. Apparently it's all in the enhanced parallax (the left eye right eye stuff) and Fuji's clever little printing centre. Cost: $599.95 from FUJI or £479 from JESSOPS

iPod Nano 5th Generation

Oranges used to be the fruit of choice for Christmas but in the past few years we've all got used to Apples. 2009 is no different with the latest iPod on offer - the iPod Nano 5th Generation. So what do you get? Well a video camera is one thing. Plus a larger screen, FM radio, voice recorder, a built-in speaker (presumably meaning bus journeys are going to get even noisier) and a pedometer. However the video recorder is not a camera, which bears reading again and the memory is no bigger than previous iPods. I've always had problems with my Nano, but then I got it as a present so I don't really care. Cost: $149 from Apple US or £115 from Apple UK

ISS Pro Evolution 2010

If it's winter then it usually means another year of ISS Pro Evolution. I have no idea if you like football games, and quite frankly I don't care. So what if the latest updates have not been all that was expected. Get some Christmas cheer, get the new Pro Evo and enjoy all the new players in all the right teams. Cost: $59.99 from Amazon or £34.99 from GAME or from Play

Lucky Voice Karaoke Party Box

In the 90s the West went Karaoke crazy. Then there were celebrity singing contests on the television and the clever guys at London Studio encouraging every man, woman and tone deaf dog to party with their vocal cords through the creation of Singstar. While all this was going on a chain of Karaoke bars called Lucky Voice were inviting people to hire a room as if they were in Japan and sing sing sing. Well now they're telling everyone to stay home (a slightly strange message for a business dependent on people spending money in one of their bars for the opportunity to do something which they are now being told they can definitely do veyr cheaply at home with a bottle of old gin and a David Bowie wig) by selling what might be this year's most annoying and most popular gift under the tree on Christmas morning: A pink microphone and a little technobox that plugs into a PC. It's cheap and it's simple, which means it probably won't last until the turkey sandwiches. Simply go to the Lucky Voice website, download the songs you want and start singing. You will need to buy the microphone!
Cost $81 or £49.95 (Microphone: $33 or £19.95) from Firebox

Netbooks

Man appears to have a fetish for extremely small things: IPods, mobile phones, Jeannette Krankie. So it's no surprise that the new shape of computers is XS (Extra Small). Netbooks (or mini-laptops) are primarily for those of you who can't stand to be without the world wide web for more than a few seconds, but there are some very powerful little machines around right now which will serve you well whatever your purpose. A lot will depend on the Christmas budget you have, and exactly what you want your Netbook to do. The Asus N10 for example comes with a big enough keyboard for serious typing but is extremely portable and has a lot of smart features. It looks sexy and the security system operates through your fingerprint which is just very very cool. Cost: $697.20 from ANT Online or £482 from MISCO or see various Netbooks

Sony PSP Go

There's a theory about big Christmas releases which says something like, what companies really like to do at Christmas is make sure there aren't enough of their products in the shops and therefore create a huge demand to get on all the news programmes and make everyone go mental. But this won't be happening with the new PSP Go. I don't think. Unless enough of you read this. So, what's the news? Well the Go is the latest PSP handheld from Sony and a complete redesign at that. It is now wireless and does away with cartridges. Games, films and music must all be downloaded, much like on an iPod. The Go is slimmer but with a smaller screen. And it's a bit expensive. If you already have an earlier PSP the chances are you may be getting something else this year. Cost: $249.99 from Amazon or £199.99 from GAME

Star Wars Force Trainer

There used to be nothing better at Christmas than sitting down and having a Luke Skywalker session on the tele. But now you can be Luke Skywalker. That's how good 2009 is. This Crimbo must-have enables you to train your Jedi mind skills by means of a headband and a ping-pong ball (it's much better than that, honest). The computer technology reads your brainwaves and translates them into levitational force. You must progress through the levels controlling the ball in different ways. All with your mind. Mental! Plus there are loads of Star Wars sound effects. Cost: $163 or £99.95 from Firebox

Wii Fit Plus

The Nintendo Wii has helped a lot of people look very silly in the last couple of years. But their games have found favour amongst the young, the old and now the ruling classes. Encouraged by politicians and doctors alike, the Wii Fit package has now gone Fit Plus which means much more exercising. You can even weigh your pets. I don't know. Maybe it's me, but isn't all this fitness stuff just a litte boring? Cost: Wii Fit Plus Bundle - $99.99 from Wii or £79.99 from GAME Wii Fit Plus Game - $19.99 from Wii or £17.99 from Play

What Films Have Been Banned Worldwide?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:09:14 +0000

Over the years, there have been many films that have caused controversy, resulting in some of them being banned outright in particular countries. Whilst there aren’t many films that have been banned in every single country, there are ones that were so controversial at the time of their release that they still remain banned in particular countries today. In the UK, several films in the 1980s were dubbed “video nasties” due to the amount of violence in them. The majority of these were horror films that were not well known and many were outright banned in the UK and in other countries. Here are some of the most controversial films to be released:

I Spit on Your Grave

“I Spit on Your Grave” is a 1970s horror film that focuses on the theme of revenge. The story centres on a woman who spends her summer in the countryside to complete a novel that she is working on. Whilst there, she is brutally attacked by a gang of men, who destroy the novel that she is writing. She later carries out a series of brutal acts in order to get her revenge on the men. The film was banned outright in some countries due to scenes of graphic violence and torture. In the United States, a censored version of the film was released in 1980. In the UK, it made the 1980s video nasties list and was banned up until 2001, when a cut version became available. Although the film still remains controversial today, a remake is currently being planned.

Cannibal Holocaust

Released in 1980, Cannibal Holocaust is one of the most controversial films ever to be made. The film centres on an American film crew, who travel to the Amazon Rainforest to film a documentary about the tribes that live there. The crew goes missing, prompting an anthropologist to go searching for them. The anthropologist, who is accompanied by several guides, manages to locate several reels of film that were made by the missing film crew. The reels of film are played later, revealing what happened to the crew. “Cannibal Holocaust” was banned in a number of countries including Australia, Finland and New Zealand as a result of the film containing sexual violence and gore. It was also banned in the UK, where it made the video nasties list. It is thought that the film was banned in over 50 countries, though this has never been confirmed and some of the countries that originally banned the film have now lifted the ban, allowing the film to be released. As well as the violence and gore, the film was also heavily criticised for containing animal cruelty. Several animals, including two monkeys and a turtle, were killed during the making of the film. When the ban was eventually lifted in the UK in 2001, the film was released with an 18 certificate, with all the animal cruelty scenes removed.

A Clockwork Orange

“A Clockwork Orange” was released in 1971 and is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name. The story centres on Alex De Large, who is 17 or 18 years old (15 in the novel). Alex is the leader of a gang who regularly engage in a number of violent acts. After the violence leads to Alex killing a woman, he is placed in a prison, where he is placed under the Ludovico technique. The technique includes forcing the patient to view a series of violent acts whilst suffering from the affects of drugs, which eventually cause the patient to become repulsed by what they are witnessing on the screen, leaving them unable to perform the acts themselves. The film then deals with Alex’s reactions to the treatment. Despite earning a number of positive reviews, the film was banned in several countries due to scenes of extreme sexual violence. In the UK, it was banned outright upon request from the director, Stanley Kubrick, after it was revealed that the film had been the main influence in a number of real life events, including the murder of a boy. It was later revealed that Kubrick had been receiving threats due to his involvement in the film and this was the real reason for him wishing for it to be banned. A year or so after Kubrick died in 1999, the ban was lifted and the film became available on VHS and DVD.

The Exorcist

Released in 1973, “The Exorcist” is one of the most popular horror films of all time. It is a film adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist”. The novel was thought to have been inspired by a real life incident in which an exorcism was performed on a boy. The story centres around twelve year old Regan MacNeil, who begins to posses strange powers. Her mother, Chris, takes her for a number of medical tests in order for doctors to identify what is wrong with her. Later, when Chris is advised to take her to see a psychiatrist, Regan’s behaviour becomes more aggressive. As the film progresses, Regan’s appearance changes dramatically, becoming more demonic. After a series of strange events take place, Chris seeks the help of a priest, Father Karras, who agrees to perform an exorcism. “The Exorcist” was banned in several countries, including the UK, for its controversial themes and disturbing scenes, the most famous being the crucifix scene and the “spider walk” (the spider walk scene was not added until later, but still remains one of the most famous scenes in the film). The film was said to have affected viewers badly upon its release, with reports of people requiring medical attention after viewing the film. The film was also said to have led to several miscarriages. It was also thought that the film was cursed, with several actors being hurt during filming and at least one dying. The room where most of Regan’s possession takes place was also damaged in a fire. The ban has been lifted in some countries. In the UK, the film was released the late 90s with an 18 certificate and was finally shown on television in the early 2000s.

Monty Python’s Life of Brian

“Monty Python’s Life of Brian” was released in 1979. The film is a comedy and centres on Brian, a young man who was born under the same circumstances as Jesus Christ. Throughout the film, he performs a number of rebellious acts against the Romans, which leads to him being captured. He manages to escape but later attracts a large crowd of people who believe him to be the Messiah. Brian tries to convince the group that he is not the Messiah, but they continue to harass him, and he runs away from them only to end up being captured again and sent to be crucified. The film was banned in several countries for it’s religious satirical themes and was branded blasphemous by many religious activists. The ban has only just been lifted in some countries. Despite being banned in the UK upon its initial release, the film has since been considered one of the greatest British comedy films of all time.

The Da Vinci Code

“The Da Vinci Code” is a 2006 film adaptation of the Dan Brown novel of the same name. The novel was extremely popular and fans eagerly awaited the release of the film. However, the film ended up being badly received by critics due to historical inaccuracies and was branded blasphemous in many countries by religious groups. Several groups tried to boycott the film and it was banned outright in some countries. The novel had also previously received criticism for inaccuracies but, unlike the film, was a world-wide success. Protestors in the United States attempted to stop the film from being shown. The protests and negative response from critics did not stop the film from performing well at the box office though and it ended up being one of the highest grossing films of 2006.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was released in 1974. It is the first instalment in a series of well-known slasher films that centre on a killer known as “Leatherface”, who wears a mask made from human skin. The character is based on a real life serial killer, Ed Gein, who also wore masks of human skin. The first film focuses on a woman, her brother and some friends, who stop at a gas station, which is owned by Leatherface and his family, to fill up their car. They come across a house not far from the gas station and discover that Leatherface and his family are killers. The film was banned in many countries for containing scenes of extreme violence and gore. In the UK, it was placed on the video nasties list and banned until 25 years later, when it was released with an 18 certificate. Despite the controversy surrounding the film, it has since become one of the most popular horror films of all time, and in 2003, a remake was released.

The Last House on the Left

“The Last House on the Left” was released in 1972. It is a highly controversial horror film that tells the story of two girls Mari and Phyllis, who are abducted by a gang of criminals after attending a concert. They are tortured and brutally murdered by the gang, who later end up staying overnight at the home of one of the girl’s parents. The parents discover that the gang has murdered their daughter and carry out a series of brutal revenge attacks. The film was banned in many countries for containing scenes of sexual violence and sadism. It was banned in the UK and wasn’t released properly until 2002, when it became available on DVD with an 18 certificate. An uncut version is also now available. The film has been brought to attention recently due to a remake, which was released in early 2009. The remake differed slightly from the original, with character names being changed and several characters, including one of the girls, surviving. The revenge scenes with the parents were also less brutal.

The Evil Dead

“The Evil Dead” is a horror film that was released in the early 1980s. The film is the first instalment of three films and focuses on a gang of students who encounter evil spirits when they play a tape that contains incantations from “The Book of the Dead”. The film contained much violence and gore, which caused controversy and resulted in it being initially turned down by US film distributors and being placed on the video nasties list in the UK. A fully uncut version wasn’t released in the UK until 2001, twenty years after the film’s release. Despite the initial controversy, the film has since become extremely popular and several comic book adaptations and a musical have been released.

Salò

“Salò” is a film adaptation of the novel “The 120 Days of Sodom”. The film centres around the story of a group of boys and girls and are subjected to extreme violence and torture by a group of fascists in Italy in 1944. The group, who consist of the president, the Magistrate, the Duke and the Bishop carry out a series of brutal and humiliating acts on the boys and girls, who are eventually murdered. The film was banned in many countries for containing scenes of torture, sadism and extreme violence. The ban has now been lifted in most countries and an uncut version of the film is available on DVD.

What Happens When Animals Are Introduced To New Environments?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:08:09 +0000

Through evolution, plants and animals have learned to better adapt to their surrounding ecosystems. Eventually, human hubris intervenes as we attempt to shift what we consider the best parts of various ecosystems in to vastly different ones. Sometimes the results work out well. For example, the sweet and delicious yellow bananas we all eat would not exist if it weren’t for human tampering. But sometimes, shifting an animal in to a new environment for the betterment of human kind doesn’t always work out very well…

New Zealand Imports Opossums, Stoats and Rabbits

For millions of years New Zealand had a relatively small number of species. In fact, for nearly 80 million years New Zealand had only 4 types of mammal and they were all just different species of bat. By the time the 1800s rolled around, the Europeans started coming in with various livestock such as goats, sheep and pigs – all of which made little impact on the overall balance of life in New Zealand…until these same people stated bringing in the rabbits, opossums and the stoats. The rabbits and opossums were brought over for the purpose of game hunting. After all, why bother even living on a massive expanse of land if there’s nothing to shoot for fun, right? The problem with the rabbits was that they multiply like Gremlins (or, like rabbits, really). What started out as a fairly small number of rabbits at the start of the century exploded in to millions of rabbits by the end of it. While these rabbits were profitable for those in the pelt selling business, they were awful for farmers as they and the opossums would eat the local flora and fauna usually reserved for grazing animals like sheep, and they caused massive amounts of damage to crops. Then came the stoat. They were brought in by farmers in the hope that they would help control the ever growing rabbit and opossum populations. This backfired tremendously. Once the stoats made it to New Zealand they found it much easier to catch bats, native birds and insects – all of which were integral to the ecosystem. The stoat actually helped drive some animals to extinction. Fast forward to today. The New Zealand government spends millions of dollars every year trying to rid the country of its terrible stoat problem as their populations have exploded and they continue to wreck havoc. To top it all off, the stoats never even came close to getting rid of the imported rabbits and opossums because, as of 2001, rabbits and opossums were number one and number two most troublesome pests in New Zealand.

Australia Imports Cane Toads

Australia is currently one of the world's largest raw sugar exporters, and has been for quite a while, what with their over 6,300 sugarcane growing farms. In 1935, Australian sugarcane growers were having some problems with a couple of particularly bothersome types of beetle that would destroy sugarcane crops. To combat this, farmers started to import cane toads from Central America. The idea was to have the very small numbers of cane toads – only 101 were brought over – eat as many of the bugs as possible. It seemed like a good idea…at the time. Too bad nobody cared to educate themselves on how truly terrible cane toads are. First of all, they don’t climb. Cane toads live on the ground and eat only what is on their level. The beetles the farmers wanted the toads to eat were very higher up on the tops of the sugarcanes. The beetles they ate were the ones that fell off the sugarcanes, in other words, a relative few. With the cane toad experiment failing miserably, they had no other purpose, so farmers just let them be. After a while, the cane toad population of Australia grew larger and larger. What started as a mere 101 toads is now, today, over 200 million. What makes matters worse is cane toads eat just about anything they can fit in their mouths. From any kind of insect to other toads and frogs, cane toads, like the stoats mentioned above, were responsible to the extinction of a few species. Today, cane toads are still a huge problem in Australia. Their poisonous sacks, located just below their eyes, make them nearly impossible for larger animals to eat so Australia has had to devise other ways to get rid of them. For example, Queensland is an area of Australia that’s home to many of its sugar cane fields. Recently, Queensland held a bit of a celebratory day called “Operation: Toad Day Out” where citizens both young and old collected as many cane toads as they possibly could. Participants then take their collection of toads to collection points where the toads are frozen or gassed to death, then liquefied. Why? Well, other than just getting rid of the toads, which is obviously a good thing, it turns out that liquefied cane toad makes for a great fertilizer.

The United States (accidentally) Imports Rats

Way back in the 16th and 17th century, Europeans had a whole host of reasons for leaving their homes to start new lives in what would one day be known as the United States. Tyrannical rule, extraordinarily dirty living conditions, oh, and the plague and all other manner of terrifying epidemics made the decision to up and leave a fairly easy one. Sick of it all, large groups packed their things on to large ships and came over to the soon-to-be states like herds of cattle. The problem was that they didn’t just import themselves and their belongings; they also brought along their rats. Hundreds of thousands of rats. In fact, most of the ships carried with them more rats than they did people. As the ships docked and the humans got off to start new lives, so did the rats. Rats can adapt to nearly any environment which meant that they spread to the farthest regions of the United States with little to no trouble. As of 1999, it was estimated that there had to be about 1 billion rats in the U.S., and as far as the whole “really bad part” of it goes, on farms alone rats are the cause of an estimated $19 billion worth of damage every year.

New York Imports English Sparrows

In 1850, New York was quickly shaping itself into the new the bustling city it is today. They just had a few minor Mother Nature related problems that needed to be taken care of -- one of which included cankers worms that were killing trees in some of the city’s most beautiful parks. Someone in New York had the bright idea of importing some English Sparrows to solve the problem. This, of course, brings up another problem that no one ever seems to think of when they do these animal transplants: What do you do with the animals once they’ve done their jobs? When the Sparrows were introduced to their new home they immediately began doing just what everyone expected them to do. They gobbled up a huge portion of the canker worm population and everyone was happy that their parks’ trees were now looking as beautiful as ever. But, then, the sparrows started to like the taste of America’s native insects, so the English sparrows decided to extend their vacation by just a little bit longer. Then, they had lots of babies on this vacation. Once the babies came, the sparrows started to look for other American cities to live in. By 1875, the sparrows had made it as far as San Francisco, but not before they destroyed crops, kicked native birds out of their nests, and ate all the livestock feed they possibly could along the way.

How Do Fast Food Restaurants Make Fast Food?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:31:10 +0000

Fast food restaurants are complicated places. Take a typical menu: Burger, fries and a fruit flavoured milkshake. All you really need to make this menu in your home is beef, potatoes, some oil, milk, ice cream, and fruit. That seems to be six ingredients. But this is not the way fast food restaurants like to do things. A fast food restaurant is much more like a science lab than a kitchen. Here are some of the strange and frankly scary things that go on in nearly every fast food restaurant you will ever visit.

Hamburgers

Generally speaking hamburgers start off simple and then get very, very complicated. A plain old hamburger for example will contain beef, bread, pickle, ketchup, mustard, onion and salt and pepper. Easy. Although that bun alone contains some twenty to thirty ingredients including hydrogenated oils (the stuff that keeps food alive for 100 years and humans alive for about 57), the ketchup has plenty of high fructose corn syrup in it and the pickle is packed with preservatives and some 'natural flavour' which is not quite natural enough for the pickle to already contain it naturally. But if you want to get really complicated, then track down the chicken recipes of many fast food restaurants around the world. What you will find is that chicken is just one of the delicious meats being served to you as 'chicken'. Actually that 'chicken' also includes beef, and probably pork, in the form of cheap injected protein powders. Because when you think fast food chicken what you really ought to be doing is picturing a pink inflatable flapping water balloon. Astonishingly, some 40 per cent of a fast food chicken is water and the protein powders are needed to keep the water in the bird. Cheap food really takes some thinking about. Plus of course all of those extra flavours you love - the barbecue sauces and oriental dips, the spicey hots and sweet and sours, well of course they're designed by scientists miles away from a kitchen with little petri dishes of ingredients like cellulose gum, xanthan gum, caramel colour, natural hickory smoke flavour and more high fructose corn syrup. But you knew all that already, didn't you?

French Fries

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In the past when fast food restaurants didn't understand the concept of the non-meat eater the one vegetarian option animal lovers could rely on when eating out was the humble potato. Except it wasn't. Because the harmless french fry actually contained more meat than a hamburger due to the huge amount of animal fat it was fried in. This later changed but the fry still does contain some animal, due to more of that mysterious 'natural flavouring' which comes from beef. How natural is that? Also if you like oil, especially that oil that preserves you along with the food, then most fries are cooked in a list of various hydrogenated oils. Delicious.

Milkshakes

Milkshakes are easy. And healthy. If you make them yourself. But there is nothing simple about the milkshake you will drink in a fast food joint. Most of them contain over 50 ingredients, with no mention of any fruit. The one thing a strawberry flavoured milkshake will not contain for example is strawberries. But it will be packed with other goodies like high-fructose corn syrup, guar gum, monoglycerides and diglycerides, cellulose gum, sodium phosphate, carrageenan, citric acid, E129... And as for the strawberries, well all you need are about 40 chemicals including lemon essential oil, orris butter, mint essential oil, rose, benzyl acetate and hydroxyphrenyl-2-butanone (10% solution in alcohol). Get cooking!

Soft drinks

Soft drinks are one of the big money spinners of fast food restaurants. Incredibly cheap to produce they can be sold with a nice fat profit margin. But why are they so cheap, and how do they differ from the soft drink you might buy in a can in a supermarket? Well for a start the black bubbly stuff you will buy in a fast food restaurant comes from a Coca-Cola syrup, which the store buys in enormous quantities. This is then diluted with gassy water and sold in a cheap paper cup. Think of a glass of orange squash. The orange concentrate is the cost and all that clear tap water that fills seven eighths of the glass is pure fast food profit. The bigger the cup the bigger the profit. Hence the beauty of the supersize.

Salad

Of course the way to avoid all this trouble is to walk right up to the counter and order a nice big green salad. But the shocking truth is that many of the salads fast food restaurants serve often have more fat in them than the burgers!!! How much evil can there be in the world? In fact if you do want a salad you really need to do your homework and check out the exact nutritional breakdown. For example a Wendy's Garden Sensations Mandarin Chicken Salad has more calories, fat, carbs, and sugar than one of their whopping Double Stack burgers. Why Why Why?! Well a lot of it has to do with the dressings. Then many of the healthy salad options fast food restaurants supply actually come packed with unhealthy meat. And then there's all the cheese. Wouldn't it be nice if you could order a salad and a guy gave you a lettuce, a tomato and a fork.

Ice cream

If you don't know the truth about ice cream then I suggest you don't read on. Because I imagine in your mind when you think of ice cream you think of hot sunny days at the beach with small children and little dogs. Not tons and tons of vegetable oil. But that's exactly what most ice cream is. Just vast vats of oil poured into small cones and fed to babies. Something else you should also be aware of is the difference between 'fruit' and 'fruit flavoured' ice cream. The guidelines stipulate that a product sold as fruit eg Pineapple Ice Cream must contain at least a gentle scraping of pineapple. But to be named Pineapple Flavoured Ice Cream means the dessert can have as much in common with a pineapple as a pogo stick. If you've just read this and feel sick, the good news is that anything labelled as dairy ice cream is not allowed to contain vegetable fat. Hurrah.

Coffee

DeusXFlorida

Now surely fast food coffee is OK. Well that depends how you like it. Hot or cold? Because the iced version can come with bowel-cleaning agents (sodium phosphate), sodium stearoyl lactylate which can irritate the eyes and skin and tetra sodium pyrophosphate which when ingested can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

And don't mention the hygiene

There are a lot of things the fast food restaurants won't tell you. And one of them is just how clean their restaurants are. A survey conducted by Dateline NBC a few years back in America found 60 per cent of the nation's top ten fast food restaurants had critical violations of cleanliness, ranging from dead rodents, undercooked meat, chewing gum in a taco and blood dripping from a cup at Hardee's. I think we will leave it there.

What Are Some Of The Most Unusual Records To Be Entered Into The Guinness Book Of World Records?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:13:11 +0000

There are many unusual records that people have broken. Here a selection of some of the strangest:

Most Cockroaches Eaten

Ken Edwards from Derbyshire in the UK broke this record when he managed to consume 36 cockroaches in one minute. He achieved this on the set of the UK breakfast show The Big Breakfast in 2001. As well as cockroach eating, Ken also participates in a number of other unusual acts,including placing a large number of rats down his trousers. Ken now eats cockroaches regularly, stating that they are an essential part of his diet due to him having a hernia. He states that the cockroaches, when cooked, “taste like bacon” and that their scent, which they use against predators, acts as an anaesthetic to his throat. To add to his antics, Ken has even had fangs surgically implanted, so that the hard shell of the cockroaches is easier to bite into. Since some cockroaches carry disease, Ken has his selection cleaned so that he is able to eat them. Ken’s cockroach eating has made him a worldwide celebrity and he now appears regularly on a variety of television programs, where he discusses his cockroach diet. In 2006, a cockroach eating contest that was planned for the theme park Six Flags caused controversy when the animal group PETA received a selection of complaints. The contest was due to be held in time for Halloween and would involve competitors attempting to break Ken’s world record. PETA expressed their concerns for the competition, stating that they did not believe that it was suitable for live insects to be eaten.

Longest Fingernails In The World

Lee Redmond from Salt Lake City, Utah, previously held the world record for the longest fingernails. She decided to stop cutting her nails in 1979 and entered in Guinness Book of World Record in 2002, with the first female with the longest fingernails. Despite the length of her nails, Lee still managed to carry normal tasks, such as applying makeup and going on bike rides. She admitted that some tasks were troublesome, but still managed to carry out normal daily routines. Lee’s fingernails quickly made her a celebrity and she appeared on a number of television programs discussing her nails, which she always kept well manicured. In 2006, she stated on a number of television shows that she was planning to have her nails cut. She decided against this and her nails continued to grow. However, in early 2009, Lee was involved in a serious car crash, which resulted in her world breaking nails being broken. Lee’s injuries were serious, but not life threatening. Her nails were measured at a total of around 28ft long before the crash, the longest nail being 2ft 11 inches. Lee has since said that life without her long nails is much easier and she has no plans to grow them back to how they once were, stating that she may not be around for the 30 years that it took to grow them before. Her nails are currently around four inches long. Melvin Booth currently holds the record for the longest fingernails on a man. His nails measure a total of 29ft.

Most Body Piercings

The record for the most pierced woman is currently held by Elaine Davidson, who currently lives in Scotland. In early 2009, she had over 6,000 body piercings, which are both internal and external. In addition to her record breaking piercings, Elaine is also known for attempting other unusual acts, such as sleeping on nails. Originally a nurse, Elaine now owns a shop in Edinburgh, where she offers a variety of services such as tattoos, piercings braiding, aromatherapy and much more. She makes regular appearances on chat shows and festivals. Other records in this area include the record for most body piercings in one session, which is held by Kam Ma, who received over 1,000 piercings in just over eight hours by Charlie Wilson.

Most Tatoos

Isobel Varley currently holds the record for the world’s most tattooed senior citizen. Born in 1937, Isobel’s love for tattoos grew in the 1980s after she attended a tattoo convention. She started out with a small number of tattoos on her shoulder blades and thighs then proceeded to have them done in other areas. Today, the only parts of her body that remain untattooed are her face and parts of her hands. She entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000 as the world’s most tattooed senior citizen and still currently holds that title today. In September 2009, she had a number of previous tattoos reworked. She makes regular appearances at studio openings and tattoo conventions. The world’s most tattooed man is Lucky Diamond Rich from New Zealand, who entered the Guiness Book of World Records in 2006. Born in 1971, Lucky Diamond Rich is also known for his love of dangerous acts, such as sword swallowing. The world’s most tattooed woman is Julia Gnuse, who chose to cover her body in tattooes she developed a skin condition known as porphyria, which caused her body to blister when exposed to sunlight, leaving her with scars. Julia’s tattooes have earned her the nickname “The Illustrated Lady”.

Stretchy Skin

Garry Turner entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999 for having the stretchiest skin. He is able to stretch the skin of his stomach to 6.25 inches long. His skin stretching abilities are caused by a rare genetic disorder known as Elhers-Danlos Syndrome. Garry, who is also known as “Gary Stretch”, originally worked as a plasterer. His condition is extremely rare, but also dangerous. Although he wasn’t expected to live past his twenties, Garry, who is now in his thirties puts regular performances for the public, attaching pegs to his stretchy skin and he makes regular appearances on television shows. He has broken a series of other records, including one of his own, where he attached over 150 pegs to his face.

Eyeball Popping

Kim Goodman currently holds the world record for the furthest eyeball protrusion. She currently resides in Chicogo, Illinois and can pop her eyeballs out of her eye sockets by 12mm. She discovered her talent when she was hit on the eye when removing a hockey mask, which caused her eyeball to come out of its socket. Kim has stated that she has never been to see a doctor about her eyeball popping and said that friends were left speechless when they first witnessed her doing it. Kim’s eyeball popping has made her celebrity and she has appeared on a number of talkshows, including a David Letterman show, where guests had to show off their unusual talents. Letterman was impressed by Kim’s talent and invited her back to one of his other shows.

Longest Ear Hair

Radhakant Bajpai from Uttar Pradesh, India, was previously the world record holder for the longest ear hair, which measured 13.2cm. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the record was broken by Anthony Victor, who entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007. He is the second man from India to break this world record.

What Are The World's Scariest Monsters?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:26:16 +0000

- “From goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night
Good Lord, deliver us!” - An old Cornish Prayer

Monsters are the manifestations of our greatest fears; they are the darkest thoughts and collective terrors of humankind. Throughout our history certain themes appear time and time again, making these nightmarish creatures some of the scariest monsters known throughout the world.

Vampires

^{No sparkles, no angst, no soul. Now that's a proper vampire.} Though the modern day version of the vampire myth seem to speak more of teen angst and sex than soul twisting horror, tales of bloodsucking beasties and fanged demons reach back into our deepest, darkest past. The modern vampire tradition came to us out of the early 18th century South-eastern Europe, where vampires were considered to be the revenants of suicides, witches, evil doers and of course, the innocent victims of vampire snackage. In some areas it was common for graves to be exhumed to ensure that the body was indeed at rest and had not been wandering around treating the local populace like the historical version of a fast food drive-through. Vampire descriptions vary, though most described the beings as being undead, bloated and dark with the blood of their victims. If that wasn’t nasty enough, they could often be picked out of a lineup by the fact they had blood seeping from the mouth and nose and were dressed in the tattered remains of the shroud they were buried in.

Ogres

^{Not the sort of fellow you take home to meet the parents} Ogres are huge, brutish monsters that are somewhat humanoid in appearance. They are cruel natured and like several others on this list, tasty people bits is at the top of their preferred menu. By the 1600’s Charles Perrault’s fairy tales had brought the name and the modern idea of the ogre into being with tales such as Sleeping Beauty; though the belief in these vicious brutes had already been around for centuries. They are slow witted creatures that take great joy in inflicting suffering on their victims, and in some cultures have much in common with myths of giants of the “grind his bones to make my bread” variety. They are the brutes and bullies of the monster world, the one most likely to shake down the other monsters for lunch money at recess.

Lycanthropes (Werewolves)

^{Lycanthropy: The curse that means you have the sudden urge to chase cars and bite the postman} Werewolves are Therianthropes, humans with the ability to shape shift into the form of an animal, in this case a wolf. The idea of shape shifters is as old as the idea of vampires, and in fact the two conditions are sometimes linked. They are very different situations however, as werewolves are still living beings, usually believed to have invoked spirits or Satan in one of a wide variety of rituals designed to transform man’s inner beast into a snarling lap dog of the devil, complete with fangs and fur. If you suspect your neighbour invoked evil spirits/drank water out of the footprint of a wolf/fell asleep outdoors with the full moon shining down in his face and is now transforming into a canine and wreaking havoc on your village? No worries, you can just use silver…or not. It turns out that idea of silver killing werewolves is a new addition to the legend, appeared only after 1935. Instead, try keeping rye or mistletoe on your person and building your house in the shadow of a mountain ash tree. As the name suggests, wolfsbane is also reported to keep these carnivorous critters at bay. According to the Danes, scolding a werewolf firmly will cure them, and a Sicilian belief of Arabic origin claims that nothing will do but driving nails through the lycanthrope’s hands…er…paws.

The Chupacabra

^{Artist's rendition of a goat's worst nightmare} Much newer to the monster scene is the Chupacabra, which translated from Spanish literally means “goat sucker.” The first attacks by this creature were reported in Puerto Rico in 1995, and over the past 19 years reports of sightings and incidents have spread to Mexico, the United States, and many other South American countries. It commonly kills and drains the blood from livestock via one or two puncture holes, and has been cited as killing everything from sheep to turkeys. Though witness descriptions vary, the livestock assassin is commonly reported as being 3-4 feet high and moves by hopping, much like a kangaroo. They are described as being vaguely reptilian, with leathery greenish grey skin or scales and a line of quills or or spines that run down their spine. Red glowing eyes, fangs, forked tongue and a panther-like face make this monstrosity so ugly I doubt even its mother loved it much, especially given the fact that many reported it to be accompanied by a sulfuric stench that left them nauseous.

The Bogeyman

^{Bogeymen: A really good reason to be afraid of the dark.} There are countless variations of this childhood terror, with nearly every culture in the world having some sort of monster who torments and terrifies our children; especially those who misbehave. They are the phantasmal manifestation of all our childhood fears, swirled together into one unholy mess of a monster. Its appearance varies from culture to culture, and even from region to region within the same country. They can appear as anything from a green fog to a fiendish creature with wicked claws and a terrifying visage. Part nightmare and part punishment, it dwells under children’s beds or in their closets, and in many cultures travels the countryside looking for ill behaved children to punish or kidnap. In Croatia she is a horned old lady that steals naughty children through holes in their ceilings and takes them off to her cave to eat them, in Egypt it is a burned and crippled shell of a man who was burned as a child when he disobeyed his parents and takes away other naughty children to cook over his fire while they are still alive. They are the dreaded closet monster who only comes out when our parents closed our bedroom door and shut off the hallway light, and the reason many a child doesn’t let an arm or leg hang out over the edge of their bed. They are the most documented and most commonly reported monster to ever not exist.

Wendigos

^{Gluttony has never looked so terrifying} The next charming candidate on the list is the Wendigo, a cannibalistic super-ghost feared by the members of the Algonquian tribes of North America, including the Cree, Ojibwa and the Naskapi. They represent the cruelest elements of winter: Freezing cold, starvation and darkness. They appear as gaunt creatures of great height, but that’s where the resemblance to supermodels comes to an end. Their skin is grey and desiccated, stretched out over bones that in some places push right through their skin. Their lips are tattered and bloody with the remains of their feasts and they stink of corruption and death. In their unending quest for food they are literal avatars of greed and gluttony, never satisfied and eternally hungry. In some myths they gain in size with every meal, growing to gigantic proportions while never easing their hunger. Though supernatural, the tribes believed that Wendigo’s were once human, transformed though acts of greed or avarice, or because they violated taboos and consumed the flesh of another human being. Innocent people could also be possessed by these food obsessed phantoms, suddenly growing a yen to chow down on their friends and family while dropping weight like a starlet before her big audition.

Succubus/Incubus

^{Demonic dating is never a good idea.} Succubi are the demonic equivalent of that girl you knew back in high school, the one all the boys claimed spent more time under the bleachers than a wad of chewing gum. Incubi are their male counterparts, and together they are a demonic tag team of sex and reproduction that will haunt your nightmares for days. I know what you’re thinking, “What could possibly be scary about a sex demon? That’s not a nightmare, that’s a dream come true!” Well no, not really. Modern myths have revamped the image of these malevolent mates, but historically they were as dangerous as they were ugly. Descriptions go back as far Sumerian times and continue up to the present era. The victims of these nocturnal attacks were seduced in their dreams and awake to find themselves in the embrace of a demonic creature and not the attractive subject of their dreams, much like the folks who take someone home at bar close only to regret it in the light of day. In some myths the demons drain the live force from their victims, continuing their assaults until their mortal partners are exhausted or even dead. In others the pair works together, the Succubus seduces men and gathers up their semen, the Incubus use this semen to impregnate their victims in turn. These children were called Cambions, and despite having human parents were thought to be supernatural beings in their own right.

Zombies

^{Brraaaaiiiiins... No?} No, not the brain slurping undead creatures that invariably make their way to the local mall in every Hollywood movie. I’m talking about the original zombies, the nightmarish flesh puppets trapped between this life and the next one and forced to do the will of their master. The idea of zombies originally came from the Carribean, where followers of the mystic faith of Vodou believe that people can be controlled by sorcerers and made to do their bidding as mindless drones by means of ritual and powerful magic spells. Big business does much the same thing, only they use powdered doughnuts and training videos to achieve the same affect. The sorcerers are known as bokor, and it is widely believed by those who follow Voodoo that they have the power to enslave the soul and reanimate dead bodies to do their bidding. The modern day version of these undead creatures came out of various reports from Haiti and other areas where Voodoo is practiced, mixed liberally with creative license, and then defined by the 1968 movie “Night of the Living Dead.”

The Old Hag

^{Hags, sucking the life out of the living for over two}^millennia When we dream we are vulnerable, and many of the monsters we fear come out of the night to attack us while we sleep. The Old Hag or Night Hag is one of these monsters, a cruel and hideous shadow that kneels on her victim’s chests as they sleep, crushing them as she steals their breath and life away. Those who wake up during these attacks claim to be paralyzed, pinned beneath a terrifying weight that drives the breath from their bodies as faint voices and odd sounds ring in their ears. Some claim to see nothing, others see a ugly old women or other creature leering down at them as they struggle to move or cry out. Like the bogeyman, the Old Hag has many names and faces, though her attacks are always described much the same. In Persian folklore she is named Bakhtak, German folklore call it “Elf Pressure” and in French stories there are mentions of the “Trampling Ogre”. These these attackers are blamed for the sudden deaths of the young and the healthy who die as they sleep in their beds, unfortunate victims who did not manage to elude the Old Hag’s terrible clutches.

Who Are The Most Violent Deities?

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:02:27 +0000

We all tend to believe that Gods are all benevolent beings that watch over us and care for us like only the most loving parent could. Nope, not at all. Most Gods are extremely violent lunatics that are vain, self-centered, and did we mention they were violent lunatics? Here are some of the most violent.

Kali

In the western world we are used to our Gods being benevolent and kind, with a bit of an angry streak. In Hinduism, they have an onslaught of Gods that should have their own adults only comic books. Take, for instance, Kali, the Hindu goddess of fertility. You’d expect the goddess of fertility to be motherly and sweet, but that’s only if your religion has no imagination. Like Buffy, Kali is a Slayer – a slayer of demons. She is the mother of all life and…well…if this were a movie poster we would say “She’s the mother of all life, and the bringer of death.” For a silly as they sounds, it’s true because Kali is also the goddess of death. Anytime you see Kali there is a good chance that she’s sporting an elegant dress fabricated from the arms of many dead men, a necklace of human skulls, and she uses cobras for bracelets. You can also tell it’s her because, well, she’s blue and has a ton of arms – but also because of patented sticking-out-tongue look.

Thor

Sure, you’ve heard the name a thousand times, but do you know how truly badass this God of Thunder is? First of all, he drives a chariot. Sure, nothing special, right? Yeah, you think that until you saw a gigantic man (compared to humans) with a huge red beard charging your way in a goat drawn chariot. A goat drawn chariot that literally set the world on fire everywhere it went. Now, imagine this huge bearded man charging at you in his flaming goat chariot as he wielded a massive hammer (named Mjöllnir) that fired lightening. If you didn’t soil yourself just by reading that there is something wrong with you. Thor wasn’t really an angry god, per se. He was more of a bar brawler – the kind of guy that no matter how terrifying he looked, people always seemed to mess with him. Granted, many of these people were giants that made Thor look like an infant, but still. A lot of Thor’s stories share similar themes, and by “similar themes” we mean someone messed with Thor, Thor finds them, Thor kills a giant even if they had nothing to do with anything. That’s just how Thor rolls.

Huitzilopochtli

Huitzilopochtli is the Aztec god of the sun, as well as the god of war. It’s safe to say that this god’s story is a little…weird. First of all, his mother was a goddess. Nothing strange about that considering who were dealing with here. But his father…his father was a ball of feathers. We’ve tried looking it up, but we can quite figure out the significance of that. Anyway, Huitzilopochtli’s sister became enraged when she discovered that her mother was impregnated by a ball of feathers because not only is getting pregnant by a ball of feathers a thing that can happen, but it’s something that’s frowned upon. When ths sister discovered this she attempted to kill her mother. Huitzilopochtli was not going to sit idly by in his mother’s womb and just let his sister kill his mom! So he did what any respectable baby would do in such a situation – he ripped out of his mom’s womb as a fully grown man in full armor. For plotting to kill his mother, Huitzilopochtli killed his own sister (whom, we assume, he had just met for the first time), chopped off her head and threw it in to the sky, where it became the moon so his mother could see it every night without having to worry about getting stabbed. Probably after realizing that he had the power to create objects in space out of human bodies, Huitzilopochtli then tracked down about 500 of his brother, killed them, and then through their bodies in to space, where they became stars.

Artemis

The Greek goddess of hunting, nature, and chastity is one violent lady. In nearly all of the stories she’s in have her doing nothing but feeling insulted and then killing the people that she felt insulted her. She has a short fuse and really, really does not want to deal with your crap. Just imagine how many bodies you would have left in your wake if you murdered a person for any menial little transgression you experience every day? Yeah, Artemis was that kind of lady. Some of her greatest wrathful moments include, killing her follower Marea and transforming her friend Callisto in to a bear because they both lost their virginity. But it doesn’t stop there. No, it gets waaaay more petty. Artemis and her brother Apollo once took offence to the Theban queen Niobe feeling a sense of superiority due to the fact that she had 14 children – 7 boys, 7 girls – while the mother of Artemis and Apollo only had one of each sex. Feeling that no one should feel superior to their mother, Artemis and Apollo mercilessly killed all of Niobe’s children. ALL OF THEM. They didn’t kill Niobe. They killed her kids. That’s messed up. Of course, some versions of the story have Artemis and Apollo killing all but one of each sex to make it even so Niobe could no longer boast, but, really, altering that little fact doesn’t necessarily make you look at this godly brother and sister tag team of crazy in a different, kinder light. But if you really want to reach the summit of Artemis’s pettiness-driven murdering then look no further than the story of Artemis and Chione. Chione was guilty of committing the sin of being too pretty, which, at the same time, committing the even greater sin of possibly, maybe, kind of, sort of, being prettier than Artemis herself. If you really need to ask what Artemis did, than you have not been reading any of this. Artemis killed Chione with a poison tipped arrow. Chione’s mother was so distraught by the death of her daughter that she flung herself off of a mountain to kill herself – but not before Apollo decided to be an even more terrible person than usually by turning her in to a hawk before she it the ground; leaving Chione’s mother to live out the rest of her days as a very morose little hawk.

Balor

This giant, and Celtic god of the underworld had one particular power that allowed him to rule with an iron fist: His literal evil eye. Sure, we all talk about someone giving you the “evil eye” at some point, but so rarely (read: Never) can this person’s “evil eye” actually kill you. Balor’s did. Luckily for most people living around him, Balor only opened his one eye when he was more than a little bit ticked off. Balor’s stories are packed to the gills with one eye opening kill after another (Get it?!!?), but it most violent act wasn’t even a kill at all. Balor had a daughter named Ethlinn. Ethlinn was pregnant with a child that was prophesied as being the savior and defeater of Balor. Obviously, when you hear that someone who will soon be born will one day kill you, you kind of want to do something about it. What’s that you say? You wouldn’t do anything to them? Well, it would make sense to you if you’re a crazy evil lord of the underworld. Sadly, so few of us are. We may never get to understand the other side of that argument. In a half-assed attempt at preventing his own death via the hands of his own grandson, Balor imprisoned his not-yet-pregnant daughter in a tower made of crystal. Cian, an all around good guy and fighter of evil, broke in to the tower and impregnated Ethlinn with triplets. Balor found out about the triplet and tossed them in to ocean…except for you that was saved. The one was named Lugh. Lugh eventually grew up and fulfilled his prophecy – he killed his grandfather by tosses a spear in to his big, stupid eye of death.

What Were The First Ever Inventions?

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:18:57 +0000

Boffins like Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Nikola Telsa are the people who normally spring to mind when we think about inventors. However, the greatest inventions in history were actually created thousands of years before these guys, by unwitting geniuses such as Ugg, Grok or Grumphhh. Without the important discoveries of prehistoric man things would be a lot different on planet Earth. All of the modern advancements in the world of technology would not have been possible had Stone Age man not fashioned tools from rock, rubbed wood together to create fire, or stabbed a hole in a piece of skin to sew clothes and shelters. Our culture and arts would be a lot less rich were it not for cavemen grinding rock to make pigments, or early humans boring holes in bone to make musical instruments. Here is a run-down of what are believed to be the first inventions. It’s worth bearing in mind that exact dates are very difficult to ascertain when charting discoveries from so long ago, and it may be the case that different people in different areas were inventing similar things at the same time. You’ll find a timeline of History’s important inventions on Wikipedia, although citations are missing for many of the earliest discoveries.

Stone tools

When: 2.4 million years ago First discovered in: East Africa

Prehistoric man’s first foray into the world of inventing began with the crafting of stone tools. These tools were created by hitting stones against each other, or applying pressure with wood or bone implements. As Palaeolithic man evolved, the tools became ever-more sophisticated and diverse in their design and function. There were ground-edge axes for chopping, flaked-edge adzes for working with wood, and much later, arrowheads, which were used for hunting.

Knife

When: 1.4 million years ago First discovered in: Ethiopia

You know who is really responsible for all this knife crime that’s going on? The cavemen, that’s who. Stone Age howdies would spend their time carving out blades by flaking off rocks from blocks of raw material. Different knives were fashioned for different purposes, and from a range of different rock types, including basalt, chalcedony, flint, jasper, diorite and quartzine. In actual fact, the invention of knives pre-dated man’s hunting days, and the earliest blades were predominantly scrapers, used to remove fatty tissue from animal hide, or as part of food preparation. It would almost certainly have been the women who wielded the first knives, as they were usually responsible for preparing meals.

Fire drill

When: 1 million years ago Where: South Africa

Next time you ask someone for a light, think for a minute about what life would be like were it not for the discovery of fire. When primeval man first learned how to create and control fire it sparked off an entire history of inventions and technological achievements. The exact date of the first ever flame is still unknown, but evidence of burnt bones at the Cradle of Mankind in South Africa suggests that it happened around 1,000,000 years ago. Scientists are unclear about exactly how the discovery came about. It is known though, that Stone Age man used fire drills to make fire for cooking. These drills consisted of a sharpened stick of hard wood and a softer slab of wood with a hole in it. The stick would be lowered over the hole and rapidly twirled under the softer wood started to smoulder. Then, small pieces of tinder could be added to create a flame.

Paint

When: 400,000 years ago Where: Zambia

Without paint the World would be a very boring place. Art galleries would be empty, all our houses would look the same, and kids would get very bored on rainy days. Well, we can thank the prehistoric people of Zambia for the pleasures of paint. Pigments and paint-grinding equipment dating back 400,000 years were discovered in the Twin Rivers area of Lusaca, Zambia. These paints were almost certainly used by the Stone Age inhabitants to paint their bodies in colours that ranged for yellow to purple. If only they’d have had the foresight to invent photography at the same time, perhaps we would have a clearer idea of what these painted prehistoric people looked like.

Spears

When: 400,000 years ago Where: Germany

These days you’re more likely to see a spear used in a javelin event than you are in a battlefield. However, for thousands of years spears were an essential item for hunters and warriors the World over. The oldest spears were discovered in Schöningen, near Hanover, and were some 7.5 feet long. They were carved from the trunk of a picea tree and had a frontal centre of gravity, suggesting they were launched like a javelin in order to catch prey from a distance. The discovery gave light to the theory that Stone Age man was able to hunt, and wasn’t just a scavenger.

Sewing needles

When: 40,000 years ago Where: Russia

Fashion these days is a trillion dollar industry, and it all started when one sharp caveman (or woman) decided to make a hole with a piece of bone. Stone Age folk in cold climates would stitch skins together with threads of tendon or leather thongs. This would be done by pushing the bone into the skins then hooking the thread through. Not only was this useful for fashioning primitive clothes, but the sewn fabrics could be used to provide shelter. Over time, the needles got smaller and more refined, and gradually horsehair was introduced as a means of stitching materials together.

Timepiece

When: 37,000 years ago Where: Swaziland

If you’d asked an early human for the time, they’d probably reach into their pocket and pull out a piece of bone. One particular piece, the Lebombo bone, dates back 37,000 years, and is regarded as one of the oldest mathematical artifacts. Made from a piece of a baboon’s fibula, the tool is marked with 29 clear notches. This suggests it could’ve been used as a lunar phase calculator, meaning that African women may have been the first mathematicians if they had been using this to keep track of their menstrual cycle. The Lebombo bone bears more than a passing resemblance to the calendar sticks still used by the Bushmen of Namibia.

Flute

When: 35,000 years ago Where: Germany

You might think that all early man did was walk around grunting. However, it turns out that the first humans were actually quite a cultured bunch, and would pass their time by playing the flute. This year’s discovery by scientists in Germany of a collection of 35,000 year-old flutes, fashioned from vulture wing bones, backs up the thinking that music was one of the things that gave the early Homo Sapiens the edge over their Neanderthal rivals. It is understood that music may have helped the humans to forge closer social groups and participate in religious rituals. Still, I wouldnt’t fancy their chances in a game of Guitar Hero.

Darts

When: 27,000 years ago Where: France

When they weren’t rocking out to the latest flute hits, the Paleolithic people could be found playing darts. Actually, it was more likely they were aiming for a rabbit or a boar than the treble twenty. The first darts, known as Atlatl, were made of reindeer antler and were capable of being launched in excess of 100 metres. Atlatls consisted of a shaft with a cup, in which the butt of the wooden dart would be laid. Once the dart is in place, the atlatl is held at the end away from the cup and the thrower uses the action of their upper arm and wrist to fling the dart and send it hurtling towards its victim.

Boomerang

When: 23,000 years ago Where: Poland

Believe it or not, the first ever boomerang was not discovered in Australia, but in a cave in the Oblazowa Rock in Southern Poland. Made from mammoth tusk, this straight, non-returning boomerang was almost certainly thrown at prey, though there is evidence to suggest that early boomerangs were used as weapons in hand-to-hand combat. It wasn’t until 10,000 years ago that the first returning boomerangs of the Australian Aboriginals came about. Then, of course, about 9,960 years later, the frisbee was born, which would challenge the boomerangs supremacy as the best thing you can throw through the air.

What Are The World's Most Romantic Animals?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:14:33 +0000

According to Webster’s Dictionary romance is the art of trying “to influence or curry favor, especially by lavishing personal attention, gifts, or flattery.” According to most women, it’s a lost art normally only practiced by men on Valentine’s Day and usually involves a box of chocolates and flowers bought at extortionist prices at the very last minute.

In the animal kingdom wooing a mate is serious business, and only the ones who know the score are going to get the chance to pass on their genes. Here are some of the most romantic animals around.

Brolga

These grey cranes from “Down Under” mate for life, raising brood after brood of babies with their chosen mate, often in the same place. Their similarities to a 1950’s sitcom family are not what put them on this list though; it’s because even the old married couples still know how to boogie. Brolga are considered to have the most elaborate mating dance in the world and they do it every year, no matter how long they’ve been together. The birds jump and gyrate, their wings outstretched. They hop, bow, call and bob their head in rapid movements, getting a serious groove on while trying to enhance the romance. They’ll often toss grass up in the air and catch it in their bills as a way to add to their displays. One bird may dance alone, or a pair may dance together. Occasionally a whole group gets together, lines up and does the avian version of the Thriller zombie dance.

Elephants

Their famous memories already give elephants the advantage over humans, in that they almost never forget a birthday or anniversary. These massive mammals usually live separate lives, but when it comes time to woo, the boys know what they’re doing. Bull elephants fight for the right to mate, displaying their prowess and strength. Once the battle is done though, these mighty warriors turn tender, wooing their newly won mates with tender trunk twinings and nuzzles. After mating, the two will often stay together in a “honeymoon” period for several weeks. During this time they act like any love struck couple, nauseating their friends and ignoring the world in favour of each other’s company.

Bower Bird

^{For his sake I hope blue is in vogue this year.} You don’t have to be the toughest or the biggest to win the ladies, at least not if you’re a Bowerbird. These feathered fellows are masters of interior decorating, and the ones with the swankiest bachelor pad get the most avian action. The birds build a bower with two walls of vertically placed sticks, and then decorate the whole thing with brightly coloured objects. The types and colours of object vary from species to species, but usually include shells, leaves, flowers, feathers, stones and even discarded trash such as glass, coins and rifle shells. The girls wander from bower to bower, checking out the male’s as they preen and dance and show off their collections, parts of which will have likely been stolen from other male’s bowers in a classic game of one-upmanship. The males with the best décor get the most attention, and usually end up with the lion’s share of the ladies.

Angler Fish

^{"Til death do us part."}Everyone wants a mate that will stick by them forever, staying by their side through the darkest of times. The male Angler fish is the most devoted of mates, never straying nor cheating, forever bound to their chosen lady. In the total darkness that is the ocean floor, finding a mate at the right moment is a nearly impossible challenge. Instead, mature Angler fish males have developed a different approach. When they are mature, their digestive systems begin to pack it in, forcing them to find a female to bond to. Once he finds one, he gives her a very special love bite, releasing an enzyme that dissolved his mouth and her body and fusing them together, truly making them two hearts beating as one, as they will share a bloodstream for the rest of their lives. When the time comes for her to spawn, she will already have a mate ready and waiting to father her future brood.

Terns

^{"With this fish, I thee wed."} Giving gifts is a time honored romantic tradition. Call it bribery, generosity or demonstrating the ability to provide for your mate, it all boils down to winning your chosen one over with well chosen tokens of your affection. Giving courtship gifts is not limited to humans however, though I don’t know of many girls who could appreciate the Tern’s idea of a dazzling present. Terns are seabirds who know a thing or to about bling, as the females judge their potential mates on the size and number of fish they are presented with. The ladies reward the biggest and most lavish gift givers by flying off to join them in an acrobatic flight overland to celebrate their union before they go off to pick a nesting site together.

Alligators

^{Good, good, good vibrations.} Yes, alligators. Sure they’re ugly as sin and have a disturbing tendency to eat the cute and fuzzy mammals we all root for on the Discovery Channel, but to another alligator, these guys have the right stuff. Bull gators will approach the female and begin showing off his best moves, including rubbing her back, blowing bubbles gently against her cheeks and swimming in circles around her, making her the centre of his attentions. Along with these tender moments, he will bellow, roar, and use subsonic noise to create an aquatic display that is unique in the animal kingdom. They make the water around them dance like the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas, putting on a show worthy of Headliner status, all in the name of love.

White-Crested Hornbill

^{Okay, this is a bushy crested hornbill, but you get the idea.} Putting a lady on a pedestal and doing her every bidding is a romantic notion straight out of a fairytale, along with princesses in towers and dashing knights in shining armour. The White-Crested Hornbill has taken a page from those stories though, and stashes his lady love like a princess in a tower, keeping her safe and nurtured during the time she is clutching their eggs. When the pair has consummated their bond and she has laid her eggs, the male Hornbill goes about carefully sealing her and their future brood into the cozy hole she has chosen to nest in. Mud and excreta are piled up until there is only a tiny slit left through which she can be lovingly fed by her devoted mate. For the next few weeks he will be her lifeline, keeping her safe and nurtured until the eggs hatch and the mother breaks out to help in the feeding of their new family.

How Does Blu Ray Technology Work?

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:37:45 +0100

Blu-ray is taking over the world of visual and audio entertainment having won the Great War of HD (2004-2006). But who is Blu-ray? Why is he Blu(e)? And just what the hell are we going to do with all our old dvds? Here's a cool trailer, and then some answers:

What is Blu-ray?

Blu-ray (not Blu Ray or Blue Ray or anything else except Blu-ray, Blu-ray Disc or BD) is the next-generation of optical disc storage media or, as most of us understand it, CD or DVD. Not only does a Blu-ray Disc offer much more storage space than a CD or DVD it also provides high definition (HD), so you can really see nice George Clooney’s face. A Blu-ray disc does, however, look very much like a CD or DVD, the main difference being the words ‘Blu’ and ‘ray’ on the box.

Why is it called Blu-ray?

Nice question. The name comes from the laser the new technology uses. Traditionally DVDs have employed a red laser like in the film Star Wars (now available on Blu-ray Disc). Blu-ray uses a green laser. Not really. Blu-ray uses a blue laser. With some violet in it. That’s right. A Blu-ray Disc should actually be called a Blu-with-a-bit-of-violet-in-it-ray Disc. The new laser is much more precise than the old red one. It has a shorter wavelength (405 nanometres if you really want to) compared to the DVD’s 650 nanometres. Greater laser accuracy equals more data and better quality. Good news.

Why is there no ‘e’ in Blu?

It’s a trademark thing. Blue-ray was already registered. So to get the name onto the streets the ‘e’ had to go. Plus words with missing or even backwards letters look cool.

Who’s involved in Blu-ray?

Blu-ray has been developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) – a group of the world’s leading consumer electronics and motion picture companies including Apple, Dell, HP, JVC, LG, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, TDK and many more. Everything started with Sony and their development of Blu-ray laser technology.

What’s the history of Blu-ray?

It’s a familiar story concerning a new technology format, a war and one big winner. In the past everyone had DVDs. DVDs offered up to ten times more storage space than CD. CDs had replaced cassette. Cassette had replaced vinyl. Before that there was a fat man in a white suit and a microphone. DVD had also replaced video. While people were sitting happily at home listening or watching their new Elvis Presley DVDs techno-geeks were getting bored and techno-companies were getting poor. So they set about inventing something new. Something big. Something new and big. Then two different factories working completely independently suddenly created near enough the same thing at the same time. These things were Toshiba HD DVD and Blu-ray. Then came a fight. Various companies and motion picture houses supported one party or the other. Some, like Warner Bros, couldn’t decide who was going to win and so supported both. This made it impossible for the public to know what was going to happen and several people buying the wrong thing. In the end with Blu-ray securing big support from companies such as Universal, Paramount and Blockbuster, and, very importantly, PlayStation 3 launching itself as a dual games and Blu-ray Disc player, it was Toshiba HD DVD who, in February 2008, hoisted the white flag and threw all their rubbishy stupid useless boring bits of old metal in the bin.

So why should I bother getting a Blu-ray machine then?

Well because it’s new and everyone likes new things. They stop us getting old and boring. They give our lives new meaning and stop us thinking about death. Death death death. But also because we now live in an HD world. Where everything in your television is exactly or even more like it is in real life. Philosophers and psychologists are still to understand the impact of this. Of the fantasy world becoming more realistic. But for now everyone’s doing it. So you should too.

How much will it all cost?

Blu-ray started off expensive but now the prices are coming down. That’s the way of technology, you know that. In fact if you bought a Blu-ray player in the beginning then the chances are you’ve probably had some problems. A lot of them were unable to offer the newer features as the technology developed. The discs cost the same as DVDs and the players vary up from the low hundreds. Know how much you want to spend and do your research. You want a machine that can cope with any coming changes. The PlayStation 3, for example, is able to update all new software through its online access.

What happens to my DVDs?

Don’t panic. Everything’s OK. Kind of. You can still definitely play DVDs on Blu-ray machines. Definitely. For sure. What’s more your DVDs may look better than you’ve ever seen them thanks to your new Blu-ray machine. That’s what the companies are saying anyway. I wouldn’t be so sure. You do need to make sure your Blu-ray box is backwards compatible. Some manufacturers might try a cheeky one.

How much stuff can I get on a Blu-ray Disc?

It’s not stuff. It’s films, music, pictures, sounds. Blu-ray is big. It offers over five times greater storage capacity than a DVD. This means 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. What does this mean in film? Well over nine hours of HD film on a 50GB disc and about 23 hours of standard definition (SD). That’s pretty good, isn’t it? Developments by Pioneer have increased storage capacity to 500GB on a single disc by using 20 layers.

And how fast can a Blu-ray disc read and write data?

Pretty fast. And faster than a CD ROM. Here are some numbers:

1x drive speed = 4.5 MB/sec
2x drive speed (supported by all Blu-ray drives) = 9MB/sec
4x drive speed =18 MB/sec
6x drive speed = 27 MB/sec
8x drive speed = 36 MB/sec
12x drive speed = 54 MB/sec

Can you tell me the difference between 1080i and 1080p?

HD TV arrives in your television in two ways: 1080i and 1080p. The ‘i’ is interlaced and sent to the TV in two sequences. The ‘p’ is a single sequence. This is what Blu-ray uses. It’s sharper than ‘i’. 1080 by the way is the number of horizontal lines in the picture.

Is my TV OK for Blu-ray?

Well it depends on what TV you have. If you have an HD TV then yes, you’re OK. But a lot of the HD TVs that first came out don’t do full credit to the Blu-ray experience. Annoying, I know. If you get a new HD TV then you should be absolutely fine with Blu-ray products. Check prices and ask questions. Simple tips.

Does region coding exist for Blu-ray?

Yes and it’s a bit different to DVDs. It's all done to combat the pirates. Here’s the code:

Region A: Americas and Southeast Asia
Region B: Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia
Region C: Central and South Asia and Russia.

What about Blu-ray computers. Any news?

Yes. Well for gaming there is the PlayStation 3. The Microsoft XBox is a bit of a mystery to me. Up until now, as I’m aware, there has been no Blu-ray player. Microsoft backed the wrong pony, the Toshiba HD DVD, and since then they’ve openly declared hate and more hate on any idea of incorporating a Blu-ray player. But there have been countless rumours and even strong suspicions that things are happening. Anyone got any news? There are Blu-ray PCs such as the Sony VAIO AR216 Notebook and Blu-ray drives available but the numbers of computers incorporating Blu-ray technology remain small, mainly because of the cost. A burnable Blu-ray drive costs about seven times as much as a DVD-RW drive and the demand doesn’t appear to be there for watching HD movies on small computers.

How Are Robots Being Used In War?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:03:23 +0100

One of the main problems with war is that people die. Even when your team's doing well. Clubs, stones, knives, arrows, tar, guns, dynamite, gas, grenades, missiles, bombs; man has tried everything. And still people keep dying. But now we are in the future. And in the future the one thing none of us need, for pretty much anything, is man. We do, unfortunately, still need war. Which leads us to the quite ridiculous and rather horrifying prospect of a world where computers play each other for us. And you thought robots were cute, didn't you? Still, thankfully, it seems we are some way away from full-scale robot warfare where man is left standing on the sidelines cheering 'Go Robot... Go Robot Go'. But it is happening. The robots are beginning to take over the asylum. And here's how:

ACER

The Armored Combat Engineer Robot (ACER) is a hardy little bulldozer with a very tough shell and a multitude of purposes. Capable of clearing and cutting obstacles with a giant cutter, sweeping and clearing mines, hauling cargo and disabled vehicles and firefighting and decontamination with the use of foam and a decontaminant tank, it is one handy robot.

BigDog

The BigDog is a fairly incredible machine to witness. Rather than reading this I really recommend you just watch the film clip of it above. If you're still reading, here are some BigDog facts:

BigDog was invented in 2005 by Boston Dynamics as a robotic pack mule built to accompany soldiers in rough terrain and carry all their stuff
BigDog climbs, jumps and even recovers balance when kicked or pushed
BigDog is about three feet long, two and a half feet tall and weighs 240 pounds (110 kilograms), about the size of a small mule or, interestingly, a big dog
BigDog is capable of traversing difficult terrain at four miles per hour (six point four kilometres per hour), carrying 340 pounds (150 kilograms), and climbing a 35 degree incline
BigDog sets a world record for legged vehicles by traveling 12.8 miles without stopping or refueling
These were BigDog facts

Boeing X-45

The next generation of unmanned combat aircraft look like flying stingrays. They are completely autonomous. Not only can these floating discs land and fly all on their own, they can detect enemies, engage in combat, drop bombs, launch precision guided missiles, change course, work as a team and fly to previously undetected targets. Remote pilots are optional.

Counter Rocket Artillery Mortar (CRAM) or R2-D2s

(warning - above clip contains excitable language!) In response to the fact that humans take way too long to make decisions, CRAM robots or R2-D2s (because they resemble the flashing little Star Wars character) were deployed in Iraq to counter incoming artillery fire. Using radar to detect rockets and mortar rounds R2-D2s automatically fire their rapid Gatling Guns at incoming targets leaving man completely out of the equation.

Dragon Runner

Dragon Runner is possibly the toughest thing on the planet. You can throw it down stairs, round corners, through windows and even out of fast-moving cars. What's more Dragon Runner always lands on its feet, or rather wheels. Either way up Dragon Runner functions perfectly as a mobile video camera broadcasting realtime images back to base. As soon as it senses something the little car sounds the alert.

Global Hawk Drone

In a similar way that you might log on to your computer, work from home, log off and then spend the evening with your children, so pilots (four in total) can fly the Global Hawk Drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), from an aircraft hangar thousands of miles away from a war zone, finish work and drive back to the family in time for tea. Used primarily for surveillance the drone has an unprecedented range and airbourne loitering time. It can:

take off and land automatically
fly at a speed of over 400 miles per hour (650 kilometres per hour)
spend as long as 36 hours in the sky
fly at over 60,000 feet
cover a range of three thousand miles (4,828 kilometres)

The Global Hawk is over 44 feet long (13.5 metres) and has a wingspan of nearly 116 feet (35 metres). Each Global Hawk costs about $123 million to produce.

iRobot Warrior

One of the next generation of remote military robot, the Warrior is a powerful and rugged machine capable of travelling over rough terrain, climbing stairs, disposing bombs, clearing routes, surveillance, reconnaissance and, as you can see from the clip, rescuing casualties, all while carrying payloads of over 150 pounds.

MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System)

Offering a more lethal form of soldier support, MAARS employs the powerful M240B medium machine gun and has significant improvements in command and control, situational awareness, manoeuvrability, mobility and importantly safety than its SWORDS predecessor (see SWORDS below). It is also something of a transformer. MAARS' mechanical arm has the ability to switch from machine gun to explosives identification and neutralisation tool. What's more MAARS offers non-lethal options including:

a loudspeaker for shouting at non-compliant humans
a green, eye-safe, laser to dazzle people
riot beanbags or gas bombs launched from its 40mm grenade launcher

MATILDA

The Mesa Associates’ Tactical Integrated Light-Force Deployment Assembly (MATILDA) is a reconnaissance robot helping the military with its detection, disablement and deployment of explosives. The stupidly sweetly named robot is equipped with a manipulator arm, a 4-wheel trailer, larger monitor, and an upgraded radio system for extended range. If one of her treads breaks she can replace it in five minutes. Isn't she a clever little thing?

MARCbot

The Multi-function Agile Remote Control Robot (MARCbot) is a very small remote control truck fitted with a video camera. The camera, which is mounted on the end of an adjustable mast, allows soldiers to search for explosives from a safe distance. The size of the MARCbot means it can easily drive under suspect vehicles.

MULE

The Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment (MULE) vehicle is an autonomous unmanned 6x6 ground transporter capable of crossing all terrain. Current developments of the MULE include vehicles that will not only detect and neutralise anti-tank mines but also engage in combat. The MULE can be controlled remotely WITH A PLAYSTATION CONTROLLER!!!

PackBot

So called because it can be carried in a soldier's backpack, the PackBot claims to be a miltary man's best friend. PackBot will find a way under, over or through the most difficult locations including rocks, mud, gravel, stairs, logs, bombed buildings, caves and water. It can dig, tunnel and fall from helicopters. There are various versions of PackBots for different missions ranging from surveillance, mine clearance, reconnaissance, bomb clearance, first response, inspections, examine suspect vehicles, excavation. One of PackBots' stand-out features is its ‘flippers’ which give the machine 360 degrees rotation and allow it to traverse all terrain. PackBot is capable of speeds up to nearly six miles per hour.

Predators

There are a number of Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) being used for surveillance, reconnaissance and the deployment of missiles and bombs. The RQ-1 Predator is able to distribute surveillance imagery from radar, video cameras and a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) in real time to soldiers on the front line or globally via satellite links. The MQ-1 Predator comes with extra AGM-114 Hellfire missiles for a slightly more assertive mission. The MQ-9 Reaper Predator, operational in Afghanistan, can fly up to 50,000 feet and carry four Hellfire II anti-armour missiles and two laser-guided bombs (GBU-12 or GBU-12) as well as 500 pounds of direct attack munition. Pilots are able to fly Predators remotely from simulators thousands of miles from the aircraft's deployment.

Raven

The Raven is a tiny little UAV with a big reputation. It is launched into the air by hand much like a model aeroplane. Once airbourne the Raven can fly autonomously using GPS navigation or be controlled remotely from the ground. The Raven has three different cameras attached to the nose of the plane and a side mounted Infra Red camera providing live coverage. The Raven has between 45 and 60 minutes of battery time and lands by autopilot not requiring a landing strip. The Raven has a range of over six miles and can fly up to 15000 feet at a speed of 60mph. Plus it's small enough to keep in your rucksack.

SWORDS

Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System (SWORDS) robots are currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you ever saw Short Circuit (see the trailer at the top of this answer!!) you will know the type of machine we are talking about. Built on a standard TALON (see next robot) chasis the robot can be mounted with a choice of several big guns including an M-16 rifle, machine gun, a grenade or rocket launchers capable of taking out a tank. SWORDS have been used to secure checkpoints and conduct armed reconnaissance. Though they love to shoot they are not autonomous and still need humans to press the right buttons from a remote distance.

TALON

The TALON began life in Bosnia as a robotic mine detector and clearer. Its gripping arm could identify and neutralise roadside bombs. Now, however, the TALON is a much meaner machine. Loaded with various weapons including rocket launchers, grenade launchers and machine guns. The TALON can also function under water. Soldiers control the TALON with virtual reality goggles from distances as far as 1800 metres.

What Are The Most Bizarre Vending Machine Items?

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:34:42 +0100

Vending machines are typically known as the best place to get an overpriced bottle of soda, or some chips that never quite replace the 2 meals you’ve missed that day. In our narrow way of thinking, we tend to think of vending machines as small, mechanized snack food dispensaries and nothing more. We in the Western world tend to be a little unimaginative with our vending machines. We think a vending machine with a credit card slot is a massive leap forward when it’s not even close to the astoundingly strange, yet magnificently cool vending machines that are actually out there. Here are some of them.

Live Bait Vending Machine

Are you the type of person that will be walking around your city on your lunch break when you are suddenly overcome with the insatiable urge to go fishing? If you are then you had better hope that you don’t live near one of these things because your mysterious post-lunch disappearance from work will either get your fired, or will spark a 12 state manhunt for you, depending, of course, on whether or not your office is filled with over-reacting lunatics or not.

Porn Vending Machine

Instantly and readily available porn magazines in public places is far from the greatest idea ever. I mean, this can only cater to the young and randy teenage boy market, or the street wandering sex maniac demographic – two markets that are ethically challenged and are libel to perform some rather unsavory sexual acts in said public places. There are no soccer moms grappling with their fidgety Riddlin-hungry kids stopping on the way to McDonalds to pick up some magazines filled with naked women presumably doing very lude and lascivious acts that may or may not involve men and animals. My guess is that these things exist solely to anger and tempt sex addicts on the way to their group meetings.

Tie Vending Machine

Here’s the scenario: You’re a high-powered business man with your totally awesome brick cell phone. You’ve got your briefcase loaded with all manner of documents, memos, stock projections, and contracts. You’re racing down the street with your totally sweet Armani jacket billowing in the wind. You’re in a mad dash to make it to the office because you’re late for your meeting with the Japanese firm that, under a contractual technicality, can actually kill you if you’re late for work. Half way to the office you realize something horrible: You forgot to put on a tie. If you walk in to work with no tie, the Japanese conglomerate that can technically kill you if you’re late can technically kill you for not sporting a spiffy tie. In your moment of panic filled realization your life flashes before your eyes. Just before you decided to take your own life with a brick cell phone to the cranium, you spot the one thing that will save you…a vending machine filled with ties. Why is it filled with ties and not delicious candies and treats? Who knows? But it has ties in it and ties are what you need to save your life. You slip in your cash, a tie is dispensed. You race up 48 floors to your office (because your elevator is broken). The Japanese firm that can technically kill you if you are not wearing a tie has a representative there that day. He complements you on your tie. It. IS.AWESOME. And so are you. But you were late, so he kills you.

Fortune Telling Vending Machine

Real fortune tellers are generally pretty useless. They usually play off of generalities and commonalities that all humans share. Once they zero in on just what you want to hear, they go in for the kill and offer you the most generic fortune possible. A fortune telling vending machine strips all of the theatrics and just treats you the same way a human fortune teller would if they were to cut the crap and just spin a wheel of fortunes (so to speak) and then ask for money.

Egg Vending Machines

Eggs, dude. EGGS! Quick! You have onions. You have bacon. You peppers. You have potatoes. You have everything you need for your signature “Start the day with a kick-ass omelet” omelet. But there is one thing you forgot to pick up from the grocery store. Eggs. Eggs, dude. You forgot the eggs. You can’t possibly be expected to supply a steady stream of prompt ass kicking throughout the day if you don’t have your “Start the day with a kick-ass omelet” omelet. What do you do? Go to a store that sells eggs? NO! What is this? The 17th century?! No! It’s the double-zeros or whatever we’re calling this decade! It’s time to get futuristic with your egg delivery system. Head to the egg vending machine and pop in some coins. When a sufficient number of coins have been deposited, simply push a button and a little window will spring open. In side this magical never land of a vending machine is a sack of eggs. Totally awesome farm fresh eggs, dude! You’ve got your eggs. You’ve got your omelet. You’re ready to kick ass.

The Used Panties of Japanese Schoolgirls

Let’s just cut right to the chase: If you use this machine, you are a crazy person. There are no 2-ways about it. You are sick and twisted and a little dangerous. There is absolutely no need – none whatsoever – to make the previously worn underwear of teenage girls an item you might pick up on a whim while walking your dog. Even if you have a practical reason for it, it’s still insane. You will not be a good parent if your daughter asked you to buy her some underwear, so you go get her someone else’s from a machine. This machine probably caters to the same market as the porn vending machine above. Perverts and sickos. No one else. Thankfully, these things don’t exist anymore. Or, at least they aren’t supposed to. If you walk the streets of Osaka you may still catch a fleeting glimpse of one as you run in fear from the crazy crowd of sex offenders that surround it.

What Is The Difference Between A Biological And Non-biological Washing Powder ?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:58:34 +0100

A biological washing powder contains enzymes which break down stains and dirt whilst in the wash. A non-biological washing powder does not contain these enzymes and this is the major difference.

Biology Big Brother

Sometimes the enzymes may be artificially created so that they are more able to remove stains, particularly ones which are very deep and dried on to the fabric. Some people with very sensitive skin may find it better to use a non-biological powder, although this may not be as effective at getting rid of stains ! In terms of the environmental impact, neither system is perfect. Whilst the enzymes contained in a biological wash powder may take longer to disperse within the environment, the temperatures for washing can be lower than for a non-biological powder. The non-bio powder could take a higher temperature to do the same wash, which uses more electricity and water and this also has an environmental impact.

What Are The Most Dangerous Pets In The World?

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:27:00 +0100

For some people keeping an ordinary pet is unthinkable. They would no more settle for a kitten as a pet than some people would chose to drive a mini-van. It’s all about finding a companion that is as unique as they are, and in this quest many chose exotic critters that are as dangerous as they are rare.

Alligators and Caimans

^{Awww how cute! Sort of. I suppose. People like these?} Alligators and Caimans start off life as adorable little guys who look just darling as they hiss try to gnaw on your thumb. They fit in the palm of your hand and are just ugly enough to be cute, thus avoiding the fate of becoming matching luggage or a Hollywood starlet’s new purse. The trouble is, they don’t stay tiny and darling. No matter what that seedy pet salesman tells you, confining an alligator or caiman will not stop it from growing, and no amount of handling and tummy rubs will ever convert your wild carnivore into a snugly, cuddly fellow that can sleep at the foot of your bed. Caimans grow to 6-7 feet, while male alligators can be expected to hit the 12-13 foot mark. No matter what you do, big Al just isn’t going to fit in your bathtub by the time he’s a teenager.

^{Not shown: 2 minutes later when the knot comes undone and chaos ensues.} With a lifespan of up to 70 years, expensive dietary requirements and a tendency to bite the hand that feeds it, these toothy reptiles are not for the faint of heart. Attacks by pet caimans and alligators are not often reported, because many of the pets are illegally owned, and frankly it’s embarrassing to admit that your kick-ass pet tried to eat you, your family members or your neighbour’s dog Fluffy. Still, there are enough maulings each year to make sure that these predators made the list of pets you do not want to own without investing in life insurance.

Big Cats

^{See how cute and cuddly? He won't try to eat his owner for at least another year.} Tabby cats are one thing, but there are folks who prefer the company of lions, tigers and other exotic members of the cat family. Since the well publicized 2003 attack by Montecore, one of Siegfried and Roy’s beloved white tigers, the dangers of owning these beautiful and deadly hunters has become well known. There are currently as many captive tigers living in zoos, menageries and backyards as there are living wild on the entire planet, and nearly all of them are dangerous. In the United States alone there have been over 200 mauling incidents involving captive big cats since 1990, 21 of them fatal.

^{Not so cute when the grow up.} Like alligators, big cats are hunters and carnivores and their need to hunt is as powerful as a teen-aged boy’s need to eat every 20 minutes. They are powerful, well armed by Mother Nature and they have as much in common with today’s domestic house cat as a Pomeranian has with a Dingo. Most of these cats weigh in at at least 100 lbs, but the largest species, the Siberian Tiger can be as large as 600 lbs. You can’t just toss one of these guys a ball of string and call it a day; they need a large enclosure, proper diet and a lot of things to keep them busy so you can keep yourself off the menu. Even the most experienced handlers can suddenly have a cat turn on them, and when a carnivore gets cranky, people tend to bleed.

Snakes

^{Snakeskin furniture. Caution, may eat user.} No list of dangerous pets would be complete without including serpents, both the venomous and constrictor species. In this case the word “pet” is a bit of a misnomer, because last time I checked, pets were supposed to be attached to their owners and provided some level of companionship. Scientists state that snakes are non-social and do not form affectionate bonds, making them more like your college roommate than your childhood pet. Between 1990 and 2008 in the United States, 16 people were killed by captive venomous snakes. The vast majority of snake bites are non-fatal when treated, so the true number of people put in hospital after a love bite from their fork tongued friends is far higher. 8 people have been killed by constrictor type snakes in the same time frame, making constrictors statically less likely to snuff out their owner’s life than their venomous kin. There are no numbers on how many boas and pythons snacked on neighbourhood pets instead of their two legged keepers, or how many folks died of heart failure after finding an escaped constrictor in their supposedly snake free home. Exotic snakes are not just dangerous to their owners either; they can do a great deal of damage to the local ecosystem if released into the wild by an irresponsible handler who tires of them. In Florida, young Burmese pythons are a hot commodity, but once they reach a fraction of their potential size of 20 feet, many owners are abandoning them into the Everglade swamplands. They are eating other endangered species, threatening to destabilize the entire ecosystem, and even consume the resident alligators, sometimes with disastrous results.

^{Fatal case of indigestion}

Monkeys and Apes

^{When he gets bigger he's going to need primate therapy over this picture.} More than a dozen attacks involving pet primates have occurred since 1990, meaning these little guys have been up to more much more than just monkey business. The most common report seems to be monkeys or apes biting their owners or escaping and going on a banana fuelled rampage, destroying property and in one case actually attacking a police officer. Often bought as a surrogate child by the desperate or lonely, or by those who somehow think that there is nothing creepy about dressing a primate up in a tutu parading around the neighbourhood.

^{He was forced to wear a dress once too often.} Monkeys and apes commonly become increasingly aggressive as they mature. Most monkeys have a life span of 30 years, and apes can live 50 in captivity, meaning they are a life long commitment for an owner, especially once they reach maturity and pass the “cute and cuddly” stage.

Bears

^{Bear, beer, hot tub. No way this could go horribly wrong...} In defiance of most people’s basic survival instincts and despite such charming adages as “hungry as a bear” and “mean as a bear”,some people keep these notoriously dangerous omnivores as pets. Most commonly kept are Black bears, which are smaller and more docile than Grizzlies, though still quite capable of taking down a full grown adult human if they feel the urge. Since 1990 there have been 3 reported fatalities caused by American held pet bears, and many times that number in non-fatal maulings. These attacks are usually brought on by the owner or a family friend trying to get snugly with this living, breathing teddy bear, forgetting that human’s are not friends but food and real bears don’t specialize in picnic basket related shenanigans.

Adult male black bears can weigh over 600 lbs, while adult grizzly bears can tip the scales at a nightmarish 1000 lbs depending on their geographical location. All that fuzzy ferocity was not meant to be penned up and most exotic animal trainers consider bears to be the most unpredictable and dangerous of the animals they train.

What Is A Sea Cucumber?

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:32:15 +0100

Sea cucumbers are part of the Holothuroidea family and can be found on the seabed in oceans/seas throughout the world. Despite their name suggesting they look like cucumbers, they look more like slugs although they are slightly more sausage shaped and they often have a very warty skin.

Ed Bierman

They are basically scavengers, who live on the sea bed and eat debris which drifts down there, usually plankton. They are an interesting animal because they basically breathe in through drawing water through their anus and then expelling it. Within the cuisines of the far east, in particular Japan, they are considered a great delicacy. In Russia they are also 'farmed' to maximize production. They are also regarded as having great healing properties within Eastern medicine. Recently this has started to become of interest to western pharmaceutical companies. The sea cucumber is said to assist with tissue repair from injuries and to significantly reduce scarring.

What Is The Origin Of The Superstition About The Number 13?

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:36:59 +0100

The number 13 has a long history of being unlucky. As a result, most hotels don’t have 13 floors, most planes don’t have a 13^th row, and airports rarely boast a Gate 13. There are a few theories about the ominous nature of this number.

Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, was the 13^th member present at the Last Supper and is commonly cited as the main reason 13 is to be avoided. In ancient Rome a witch’s coven comprised 12, with the 13^th being the devil. There is also a Norse myth about 12 gods dining who are joined by a 13^th uninvited guest, Loki, who proceeds to persuade the God of Darkness to slay the God of Happiness. Numerologists consider the number 12 to be a ‘complete number’ because it is the number of months in a year, the number of Olympian gods, the number of apostles etc and so 13 can simply be thought of as avoidable because it exceeds a complete number by one. In contrast, the Chinese and the Egyptians consider the number 13 lucky. Sikhs believe 13 is a special number based on a legend about Guru Nanak Dev and also because 13 is tera in Punjabi which means ‘yours’ as in ‘I am yours, O Lord’. Ancient Egyptians associated the number 13 with eternal afterlife. For them, 13 symbolized death: But a glorious and desirable death. It’s possible that this association with death carried on but the positive nature of it did not.

What Is Deposit Insurance?

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:18:44 +0100

Deposit insurance is a guarantee provided by the government to all citizens, which stipulates that part of their money deposited in bank accounts would be insured, even if the financial institution goes bankrupt.

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There are, however, some very important restrictions which apply to deposit insurance. First, in most cases only deposits in the country's national currency are normally insured. This means that if an American citizen deposits $10,000 on his/her savings account, this amount would be guaranteed by the US government, even if the bank becomes insolvent the next day. However, if the same US citizen deposits €10,000 in a foreign currency account provided by a licensed bank, the investor stands to lose his/her euro savings, if the financial institution goes bankrupt, as the government will not refund this amount. In the US, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provides citizens a degree of financial safety, as long as their funds are kept in American dollars. But there is another very important restriction to keep in mind as well. The FDIC only provides protection up to a maximum of $250,000 for each client at a given bank. As such, those who have a larger savings are usually advised to split their money between registered banks, in order to ensure that their entire fortune is protected.

What Are The Best Cities To Live In?

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:42:22 +0100

There are two annual surveys of living conditions that determine “the world’s most livable cities”, the Mercer Quality of Living Survey and The Economists’s World’s Most Livable Cities. Mercer’s survey is released annually and values criteria such as safety, education, hygiene, recreation, political-economic stability, and public transportation. These lists play a significant role in whether internationally operating companies will choose to open offices or plants in certain cities and what they will pay their employees there. In 2009, Mercer’s determined that Vienna, Austria was the top city to live in.

glen edelson

It was closely followed by Zurich, Switzerland;

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Geneva, Switzerland;

jon gos

and then a tie between Vancouver, Canada

D'Arcy Norman

and Aukland, New Zealand

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making up 4th and 5th place. Then followed three German cities, Dusseldorf, Munich and Frankfurt followed by Bern, Switzerland; and Sydney, Australia in 10th. The Economist uses data from the Mercer consulting group, but their top list for 2009 was slightly different. Their number one city to live in was Vancouver, Canada followed by Vienna; Melbourne, Australia; Toronto, Canada; Perth, Australia and Calgary, Canada (tie); Helsinki, Finland; Geneva, Sydney, and Zurich (3-way tie).

What Is The Origin Of The Superstition Of Going Trick-or-treating On Halloween?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:15:58 +0100

Although going out ‘trick or treating’ is now predominantly a children’s Hallowe’en tradition involving chocolate and candy, the practice of dressing up and going door-to-door has a long history. The Druids believed that on October 31^st the dead would rise from their graves to visit their old homes. People would put offerings, usually of fruit or nuts, out to try to appease these spirits and save their homes and selves from harm at the hands of the wandering souls.

In the Middle Ages the poor would go door-to-door and this act was called ‘souling’. This was practiced on Hallowmas, November 1^st. They would receive food in return for making prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (November 2^nd). This was common in Ireland and Britain but similar traditions relating to the souls of the dead were also practiced in southern Europe. Despite the popularity of Hallowe’en trick-or-treating in the USA it seems that souling was never practiced in North America. The tradition of wearing costumes or masks dates back to the Celts who would try to mimic the evil spirits in order to appease them. Scottish men would impersonate the dead by dressing in white and masking their faces or painting them black. As it was in the 1930s that Hallowe’en celebrations became common in North America, it is likely that the British and Irish immigrants from the late 19^th century brought traditions with them that evolved into what is now called ‘trick-or-treating’, a practice that has only been recently (1980s) introduced to the UK.

How Do You Control A Barking Dog?

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:10:48 +0100

Controlling a barking dog can be done in various ways. It is often a matter of training it not to bark. If the dog barks when you are out, causing nuisance to your neighbours, then it needs to learn that it should not do this.

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Get it used to you going out of the house and coming back in. When you come back in tell it not to bark and make sure that it is quiet before you leave the house. Reward it when it is quiet. Repeat this ten or twelve times a day so that it does not feel abandoned. If it barks when you are in the house together, always tell it to stop barking and always reward it when it does (this goes for when you are out with the dog as well). If all else fails you can buy a dog collar which will emit a sound inaudible to humans but which can be heard by the dog. This will train it not to bark through an association with barking making a noise it does not like. But it is better to try and use training techniques first.

What Is The Origin Of The Superstition About A Lucky Rabbit's Foot?

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:58:52 +0100

The practice of carrying a lucky rabbit’s foot dates back to about 600 BC making it one of the oldest traditions. This superstition was prevalent in the southern United States particularly among African Americans and so may well have arrived in the USA with African slaves.

Many cultures have believed rabbits and hares to be symbols of fertility and abundance. Rabbits tend to be particularly active in spring which is a hopeful time of year when life seems to be bursting with renewal. They also reproduce easily and in great numbers. Rabbits were considered sacred prior to 600 BC because of a belief that spirits inhabited the bodies of animals. European Celts also held this belief and thought that the amount of time rabbits spent underground indicated they were inhabited by underground spirits. A number of cultures have been known to use a rabbit’s foot in herbalism and folk magic. As rabbits are considered lucky in so many areas, particularly those that once did or currently practice animism, the foot is the easiest way to keep this lucky creature with you at all times. Also, when a rabbit runs it’s back feet touch the ground before their forefeet and so many people believe this makes their back feet lucky.

How Many Things On Tomorrow's World Actually Got Made?

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:57:07 +0100

The television programme Tomorrow’s World first launched on the BBC on 7 July 1965, the day before Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs escaped from prison. Tomorrow’s World failed to predict this. Yet on that first ever broadcast the show, which was to popularise science through a combination of fascinating first sights of new technologies and disastrous live transmissions, declared the future would be run by robots, computers and lasers. Oh yeah, it later said that we would all be eating worms. Still there were more than a shedload of inventions that premiered on TW which are still with us today here in this near perfect vision of what everyone once called earth. Here are some of them (in alphabetical order!):

The Barcode Reader

Beep beep beep. Black and white lines would revolutionise shopping, host Maggie Philbin stated to a hypnotised and slightly nauseous public. Then came Tesco, shopping on Sundays and the end of the church.

The Breathalyser

In the past people got drunk and drove home. Then they woke up wondering why their car was in the living room. Former Spitfire flying presenter Raymond Baxter ended this when he demonstrated how crystals changed colour depending on how much alcohol was breathed on them. The breathalyser was born. The drunk driver was arrested.

The Bucking Bronco

In 1978 TW visited a cowboy college in Dallas. Amongst a crowd of spotty cowboys in Velvet Underground and Ramones tshirts longest-serving presenter Judith Hann tried out a new apparatus built to test the rodeo skills of the very best bull tamer. The horned robot could be set at different speeds and was later seen at frat parties all across the West.

The Camcorder

The 80s were Camcorder crazy. In 1981 TW was explaining how two machines (the camera and the video recorder) had become one. Progress was fast leading to everyone buying the wrong machines and staring at piles of Betamax tapes instead of the television. It was a good time.

Cash Machines

Invisible banking, cashless societies and the ATM (automated teller machine or cash machine) were ideas all first aired on TW. There was even a demonstration of ‘chip and pin’ transactions, in the 60s!

CCTV

In only TW’s third programme Raymond Baxter did an Orwell. ‘Robot television cameras’ would be placed in strategic positions to deter robberies, he said while worrying that privacy would be infringed. They were and it was. Still he never wrote a book about it.

Ceefax

TW might not have predicted the internet, but it did tell viewers all about Ceefax which had been developed by the BBC. The same station that produced TW. Other predictions on that show included some music, darkness and probably sleep. Amongst other things Ceefax did give insomniacs two repeating news stories to read once the national anthem had finished.

The Clockwork Radio

One of the more recent inventions featured on TW was the clockwork radio. Inventor Trevor Baylis explained how, with a little bit of arm power, music and news could be available to anyone day and night. After his spot on the show the clockwork radio was singing all over Africa.

The Compact Disc

Music would never sound the same again. Plus it would be indestructible. To prove this in 1981 presenter Kieran Prendiville (later creator of Ballykissangel!) smeared a Bee Gees disc with strawberry jam. It still played.

The Digital Camera

It never worked. How could it work, it wasn't even in the studio. There was no digital camera. But way before anyone had linked photographs with computers TW was talking about it. It would happen. Even if no-one was quite sure how.

The Digital Watch

In 1970 Swiss chemical firm Hoffman La Roche patented liquid crystal display (LCD).In 1972 Judith Hann said the future was digital. She was talking about clocks and watches. She was right. Then TV went digital. It was something different but Judith had predicted it. Kind of.

The Fax Machine

There might be some people who don’t even know what a fax is anymore. A fax is like a scanner with email. Or a photocopier attached to a computer. It was important for about two and a half years. They made futuristic whirring and beeping sounds a bit like a washing machine having sex with a microwave. No-one quite knew what faxes were. The commercial fax was first shown on TW. People got excited. Then they forgot about it.

Fibre-Optics

Fibre-optics are now so widely used that no-one has a clue what they are. It’s the same as electricity. So when communicating with fine strands of light-carrying glass instead of copper was discussed as a real idea of the future on an early edition of TW viewers chuckled.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

All old technology is massive. It’s one of the rules. GPS navigation was performed on TW but it came in a massive computer in the boot of a four door saloon. The A-Z was safe in the glove-box for another twenty years.

The Home Computer

On the very first show, TW featured two Essex schoolboys learning to use a computer in their school. A couple of years later the programme investigated Europe’s first home computer terminal. The machine, which included an electric typewriter, a diary and a calculator, could send and receive messages and check bank balances. Raymond Baxter predicted every home would have one. He didn’t say when.

The Hovercraft

TW thought amphibious vehicles were the future. And they were. Passenger hovercrafts later shuttled customers across the English Channel. Still Raymond Baxter was disappointed that the full potential of the great machine was never fully utilised over land. People would later be transported by high-speed train to Paris through a 'Channel Tunnel'. TW had said this would happen twenty years earlier.

In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)

Judith Hann was a real scientist which meant the bits no-one else watched really interested her. Becoming a champion for IVF Judith helped many would-be parents get the advice and information they so desperately sought. Later shows would talk about too many people living on the planet.

Kraftwerk

German synth combo Kraftwerk were always from the future. They still are. Back in 1975 they were live on TW making robot sounds.

Laser Surgery

TW was never squeamish when it came to its predictions. From the very first show there were predictions about advances in medicine. It became a core part of the show’s success covering pioneering laser surgery on the brain of a woman with Parkinson’s, live laser eye surgery and controversial heart surgery. Quite a lot of people died in the heart one.

The Mobile Phone

The mobile phone’s first ever television appearance was filmed live on TW in 1977. The phone rang. The presenter answered it. It was a wrong number.

The Mouse With The Human Ear

Just as people were tucking into their futuristic Micro Chips, Dr Charles Vacanti and his team at the University of Massachusetts popped up on the show with a new human ear; it was grafted on to the back of a mouse. Eek! Grown from human cartilage cells, the achievement became a major scoop for TW and was broadcast all over the world. The mouse was a star.

The Personal Stereo

In 1980 music went mobile. Viewers looked at their record players and tutted. This new walking around with a cassette player and a pair of headphones with pink hair and funny coloured socks would never catch on. But it did. It was just the music that was crap.

Phone Cards

Back when there were phone boxes that weren’t just for tramps a common problem was loose change. These were the days of one pound notes and half penny coins. So TW featured a neat looking plastic card that could be used in special phone booths. It could also cut vandalism since there would be less cash in phone boxes to be nicked. Tramps everywhere looked confused, mainly as a result of being tramps.

Pocket Calculators

One of the stars of TW was inventor Sir Clive Sinclair. Back in the 80s he invented the Sinclair C5, a battery operated electric car bike type thing. It was stupid. But in the 70s he’d already come up with the pocket calculator. He introduced it on TW and soon everyone had one. No-one kept it in their pockets.

Pong

Video games weren’t so good in the beginning. Two sticks, a ball and one shared space beep. But Raymond Baxter enjoyed playing it on the show with his American wife Sylvia. Later he would demonstrate a new bulletproof vest with a gun and an assistant. Sylvia was unavailable.

Suspenderless Stockings

TW wasn't all science. Or else no-one would have watched it. In between the microscopes and radiation were women’s legs and the age old question: How do you keep a stocking in place without a suspender? Fat legs and lard were two wrong answers.

Uri Geller

In the 1970s TW investigated the subject of Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) and inadvertently thrust spoon-bender and future best friend of Michael Jackson Uri Geller into the public consciousness. Geller would later demonstrate the power of the mind by becoming quite famous. He went on to bend keys.

Some of the things that didn't quite work out:

Worms as food, the floating bicycle, paper underpants, waterproof paper, the sheep-shearing robot, the snooker-playing robot, the portable bath, the paper suit, the glow-in-the-dark fishing rod, interplanetary etiquette, pills for an all-chemical meal, centrally-heated ski poles, squash ball warmers, real plants that double as television aerials.

How Should A Beginner Train For A Marathon?

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:28:05 +0100

A marathon is 26.2 miles, so even those who run 3- 8 miles a few times a week to keep fit still need to ‘train’ for a marathon.

Paul Keleher

There are a number of running schedules to be found in running magazines and online as well as suggested meals. If you are a beginner – generally fit (see your doctor if you’re not sure) but not a regular ‘runner’ – then your first focus is to get used to running regularly to build endurance. Don’t worry about speed. Find a friend to run with if you can. It’s usually very helpful to follow a structured training schedule to avoid temptation to run too much (beginner’s over-enthusiasm) or too little (which can lead to panic as race day looms). Following a 16-week training schedule will get most beginners ready to go. Usually week 1 through 5 will have 3 ‘rest’ days and 4 running days. Most schedules will begin with 20 minutes of jogging (during which you can walk if you need to, but stop your watch if you do) on Mon, Weds, and Sat with a one hour ramble/walk on Sunday. The ramble should increase from week 2 - 4 to 90 minutes while your jogging days can be 20 – 25 mins. By week 5 the 90 minute ramble can continue or you can run/walk a 10k race. This will give you race-running experience. By week 7 your Sunday should be 8 miles (walking when necessary); week 8 should be a ½ marathon or a 2 hr jog/walk. Weeks 9 – 14 should include a timed session once a week (i.e. 3 x 1 mile) and only 2 rest days. Sundays are 8 – 12 mile slow runs and another 10k and ½ marathon. Week 15 you should practice your prep for the marathon and run for 50 mins at marathon pace. Week 16 should be 3 easy, 20 minute runs (one in your race kit) with the race on the weekend.

How Long Did It Take The Titanic To Sink After It Hit The Iceberg?

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:04:33 +0100

It took the Titanic two hours and forty minutes to sink, after hitting the iceberg at 11:40 pm on the night of April 14 1912. Titanic had already received warnings of icebergs from the steamer SS Amerika and also the Mesaba, but unfortunately, both warnings weren't delivered to the correct place.

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After the iceberg was spotted by lookouts, warnings were sent to the bridge, and an attempt to turn and reverse the ship went wrong, ending in a collision between the right side of the ship and the iceberg. The ship's creator, Thomas Andrews and a few others carried out an inspection on the ship after the collision, and from this it became clear that the sinking of the Titanic was inevitable. After the inspection, a distress signal was sent out, and lifeboats were readied just after midnight, with the first one being lowered just after 12.40 am on April 15, 1912.

Why Is Dubai Called An Open City?

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:32:28 +0100

Dubai is generally referred to as being an 'open' city because although it is situated within the Muslim Gulf States, it is more relaxed about certain values compared to other Gulf states. For example, women are able to wear 'western' style clothes and alcohol is permitted. It is also easier to travel there as a tourist.

Faithful Chant

However, within other Gulf States, where the state is more traditionally Muslim, women, whether tourists or residents are expected to dress modestly and to avoid showing too much flesh. Alcohol restrictions are also in place and depending on the state can be hard to access. Dubai is generally viewed as being more open to tourists who do not have to adapt their dress codes, alcohol intake or general outlook in order to visit this country. Nevertheless the more traditional Gulf States can offer tourists a fascinating insight into a complex Islamic Society.

Can Lightning Travel Upwards?

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:46:26 +0100

Lightening can travel ‘upwards’. Huge jets can travel more than 60 km (40 miles) into the ionosphere. This type of lightning is known as “gigantic jets” and are as powerful as the more common cloud-to-ground lightning bolts. This phenomena was photographed near Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. This type of lightning is relatively uncommon and scientists are yet to discover what type of storm is most likely to produce gigantic jets. The jets are capable of delivering electric charge into the upper atmosphere. This is comparable to ground lightning but the charge actually travels faster and further because there is less resistance in the thinner air up between the clouds and the ionosphere provides less resistance. Gigantic jets occur very quickly and the only way to get a photo of them is to have a camera ready for the exact time they occur. The recently captured images were caught by chance. A low-light, high speed camera is necessary to capture relatively clear images, but you also need quick reflexes and good luck.

How Do You Pick The Best Watermelon?

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:09:17 +0100

To choose the best watermelon, first look for one that doesn’t look too dented or bruised. Once you’ve found one you like the look of, pick it up. It should feel quite heavy for it’s size. Now that you’re holding the melon, turn it around. Although you picked a melon that looked good in the pile, you should be able to find a creamy, yellow spot or patch on its underside. A yellow patch means that the melon was left to ripen on the vine – this is the spot that was on the ground and never saw sunlight – and so it has the best chance of being very tasty. Watermelons that are picked before they are ripe (as with most fruits and vegetables) will have lost nutrients and exposure to sunlight and therefore flavour.

Watermelon can be stored for up to 3 days on the counter. It’s best to put it in the fridge to chill the day before you plan to eat it. You can also chop the watermelon up immediately and store what isn’t used in a sealed container in the fridge. Eating watermelon is an excellent way to stay hydrated because about one cup of watermelon contains 92% water. They are also packed full of vitamins including A, C, and B6 which help boost your immune system to fight off colds and viruses, and also cope with stress.

How Many Chromosomes Does A Human Cell Have?

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:31:31 +0100

A human body cell, such as those that make up skin, kidney tissue, heart tissue and blood vessels all contain 46 chromosomes. The chromosomes are arranged in pairs, so that each cell has 23 pairs. In females, each of the pairs are identical but in males, one pair, the sex chromosomes are different. While women have two X chromosomes, men have and X chromosome and a Y chromosome.

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Each chromosome contains, on average, 4000 genes and in total, the human genome consists of about 30 000 genes. There are two cell types that are exceptions to the rule of having 23 pairs of chromosomes - gametes, otherwise known as sex cells have only 23 individual chromosomes - they have half the normal complement of genes and chromosomes. This is because when the female gamete, the egg, is fertilised by the male gamete, the sperm, the two individual sets of chromosomes come together to form a fertilised egg with the full 23 pairs, one pair from each parent.

What Are The Strangest Restaurants In The World?

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:21:44 +0100

A lot of restaurants try to get you in their seats by dressing the place up with some road signs or sports memorabilia or maybe a random assortment of trinkets that defiantly refuses to conform to any one cohesive theme. There are other restaurants, though, that take this theme restaurant idea well beyond some festive wall decoration. Instead, they convert their restaurant in to the edible version of a Disney attraction. Eating at these places is no longer something you do for sustenance. You do it for the experience. The food is practically an after-thought. Granted, some of them are kind of crazy…

Modern Toilet

Go ahead, just admit it. It’s okay. It’s natural. A lot of us want to eat poop out of a toilet. But we can’t. First of all, it’s just gross. That’s a give in. Secondly, you may not be aware of this but poop is only good for your health if it’s coming out of you. Going in, not so much. This is why Modern Toilet exists. When you visit this Taiwanese restaurant you will be seated in a seat that is a toilet seat. A decorative toilet seat, of course. The tables themselves are bathroom sinks, and the meals are served in mini-toilet bowls. The drinks come served in (what else?) a plastic urinal. If the thought of eating noodles out of a toilet and drinking out of a urinal grosses you out, then do not order the ice cream because it comes served in a toilet bowl…and the ice cream itself is a delicious swirl of chocolate frozen yogurt.

Dinner in the Sky

“AHHHHH! THIS STEAK IS DELICIOUS BUT—BUT…AHHHHHHH!” is the general reaction of those that eat at the traveling restaurant called Dinner in the Sky. Dinner in the Sky is one of the most absurd experiences one can have while eating, and perhaps the most terrifying as you and your party of up to 22 are no longer confined to the restrictions of a building. The entire table is suspended via crane 165 feet in to the air with a server at the center making sure you are properly attended to. In terms of pricing, Dinner in the Sky is what one can consider “Are you insane?!” kind of money. $11,400 gets you their services for 8 hours, not including catering which is an independent cost that Dinner in the Sky has nothing to do with. On top of that, the insurance fees are extremely high; thereby securing the fact that you will probably never be able to afford to do this. Of course, you can always just heat up a frozen TV dinner and then climb a tree…

Eternity

Evidently, people in the Ukraine have a very morbid sense of humor. That or very morbid eating habits. Eternity is a death themed restaurant that was opened by the owners of a funeral parlor that wanted to give their customers some place to hang out before and after a funeral. So, taking this whole dead theme several thousand steps too far, the constructed a restaurant in the shape of a massive coffin. In this massive coffin are yet more coffins; these line the walls along with various other pieces of death-related paraphernalia. Their menu included such morbidly named salads such as the “Nine Day Salad” and “Forty Day Salad.” These names are taken from local death rituals that are normally involved with a Ukrainian funeral.

Cannibalistic Sushi

The western peoples of the world (save for your more trendy cities like New York and LA) have, historically, had a hard time with the idea of eating raw fish. In a probable attempt to get more westerners on the raw fish bandwagon, restaurants with a very particularly theme began to sprout. Nyotaimori is the serving of sushi and sashimi off of the naked body of a beautiful woman. Of course, once this concept made it to U.S. Shores, it became the hottest way for people to eat cold food. But then Nyotaimori underwent a bit of an evolution. In Japan, the restaurant called Cannibalistic Sushi decided to take this idea one step further. Instead of eating food off of a human body, why not eat from inside a human body? When you sit down, a fake human body is wheeled out on a gurney. When you cut in to this fake body fake blood pours out and the internal organs are then exposed. Once you have dissected the body, you can then go to town on the organs which are made of sushi that has been cut in to the shape of kidneys, livers, and various other organs.

Buns and Guns

“Sandwiches Can Kill You” is the slogan of this Beirut located restaurant that serves some typical sandwich shop type of foods, but it wraps the typically boring sandwich eating experience in camouflage, hands it an automatic rifle, and tosses it head first in to a hellish battlefield where people are losing limbs and being blown apart by bombs. In other words, its atmosphere is very cozy. "We wanted to create a new, attractive idea inspired from the events that our country went through," said the restaurant’s general manager to the L.A. Times. By this he means that the restaurant was created in the aftermath of a 2006 bombing. Why someone would want to commemorate such an event with a cool burger joint hangout is, arguably, a little strange, but, hey, Buns and Guns does it very well. All of the food has some kind of militaristic name attributed to it like the M16 Carbine meat sandwich, or the Mortar burger. This DMZ atmosphere is further perpetuated by the stacks of sandbags that line the outside of the restaurant and the constant aural barrage of helicopter and gunfire sound effects that blare throughout the place as you eat.

What Is The Origin Of The Spilling Salt Superstition?

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:51:25 +0100

Many people consider it bad luck to spill salt. This superstition does not have one clear origin, but there are a number of good theories that may explain how it developed into one.

Unlike today, salt was once very expensive and quite scarce. Imagine your meal without any salt and you will start to appreciate why this simple spice was once a hot commodity! So, spilling salt used to be extremely wasteful and a faux pas whilst at the dinner table and was certainly considered to be bad form. Wasting salt being termed ‘bad luck’ might have developed as a way to stop people from being careless at the dinner table. Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper shows that Judas – an Apostle who betrayed Jesus to the Jewish authorities in return for thirty pieces of silver – is shown to have accidentally spilled salt onto the table. Some Christian beliefs also claim that the Devil hangs about over the left, or sinister, side of the body waiting for an opportunity to invade. Those who believe in this see tossing some of the spilled salt over ones left shoulder is the equivalent to tossing it in the devil’s face to put off his attack.

What Were The Most Popular Films That Were Released Twenty Years Ago?

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:09:58 +0100

There were many top films that were released in 1989. One of the most notable films of that year was “Batman”. This film was the very first instalment in the “Batman” film series and was the second most successful film of that year. The most successful was “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. The Disney comedy film “Honey I shrunk the Kids” was also released in 1989. Other popular films released twenty years ago include teenage black comedy “Heathers”, “Look Who's Talking”, “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation”, “Dead Poets Society” and Disney's 28th animated feature film “The Little Mermaid”. The year 1989 was also a popular year for sequels. The second instalment of the “Back to the Future” series was released and was the third most successful film of that year. Other sequels included “Lethal Weapon 2”, “Ghostbusters 2”, “The Fly II” and “The Karate Kid Part III”. There were also many horror sequels “A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child”, “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhatten” and “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers”.

How Do You Get The Smell Of Garlic And Onions Off Your Hands?

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:36:40 +0100

Garlic and onions add fantastic flavour to dishes, but you don't want to smell them on your hands for the next day after cooking! The best way to quickly and easily get rid of the smell of garlic on your hands and fingers is to rub your fingers on stainless steel. A spoon or tap or sink basin is fine. Just rub the skin that touched the garlic on steel for a few seconds and the smell will be completely gone. Wash with soap and water after, if you like.

To get rid of the smell of onions, stainless steel helps but doesn't seem to entirely remove the smell. Instead, try rubbing your hands with coarse salt and then rinse with cool or cold water.

If you want to prevent onion-related tears and also minimize the amount of smell that gets on your fingers in the first place, try chopping them under water.

What Is A Moral Panic?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:22:32 +0100

A moral panic occurs when an event or group emerges that rocks society’s boat the way that iceberg rocked the Titanic, threatening to capsize the values of the day and causing a panic that is utterly bewildering to those not caught up in the insanity.

_{It is a strange and new idea, thus it must be destroyed!} On some level everyone fears change. From the moment we are dragged screaming from our mother’s safe, warm womb and out into the cold reality of life, we treat every new experience with doubt and suspicion. After all, we tried creamed spinach didn’t we, and look how that turned out! Sometimes this resentment grows into a beast of fear and hostility that takes on a life of its own and runs rampant through the minds of normally sane men and women, turning them into a panicky mob looking for a place to plant their pitchforks.

Rock and Roll

_{The Satanic Ritual also known as the dreaded Sock Hop} In the wholesome 1950’s where housewives cooked pot roasts while dressed in heels and pearls, a terrifying new sound hit the airwaves. Called the devil’s music, Rock and Roll was blamed for everything from destroying the moral fibre of the day’s youth to an increase in premarital sex and deviant behaviour. Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and other crooners sent the watchdogs of society into a frothing panic as white men performed music that made them “sound black” and shattered cultural divides that had existed for generations. Truly the world was about to come to an end to the tune of “Hound Dog”. Church and community leaders accused the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) of organizing this new music as a diabolical plot to corrupt the values of white youth. The Ed Sullivan show could only show Elvis from the waist up to avoid his sexually charged hip gyrations, Connecticut ordered Fats Domino’s concert cancelled to prevent the rioting that will surely take place if young people are permitted to attend and the Everly Brother’s song “Wake up Little Susie” is banned from Boston’s airwaves for its purportedly lewd content. To this day Rock & Roll and the musical genres that it spawned are still accused of the same terrible crimes as fifty years ago, including accusations and a lawsuit claiming that Heavy Metal rock band Metallica’s song Fade to Black caused at least one person to commit suicide. Fundamentalist Christian organizations commonly accused rock bands of backmasking, a process used to insert satanic messages into songs which could only be heard when played backwards. If you’ve ever tried to play a record backwards, you’ll know what you can hear is more akin to the mating call of a moose, filtered through a tub full of jello than a set of satanic commands.

Dungeons and Dragons

_{Here there be dragons, and psychosis.} D&D is a role playing game created in the 1970’s and made popular in the 1980s, and is still very popular with nerds, geeks and basement dwellers today. Throughout its history this game of imagination and adventure has been plagued with accusations that it encourages satanic worship, sorcery and witchcraft. Ask a non-gamer about D&D and you’ll likely also get told that it causes depression, suicidal thoughts and can lead to schizophrenia and psychotic breaks. Is any of this true? No. But thanks to a full scale moral panic, many still believe that too much imagination creates Satanists and serial killers. Several people have written extensively on the dangers of role playing games, including Patricia Pulling, who sued TSR, the company that distributed D&D, claiming they were responsible for the suicide of her son. When her suit failed she formed the very lamely named organization BADD, Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons. Proving she was truly bothered aboug this innocent role playing game, she began a personal crusade that would last the rest of her life, despite such inconvenient issues as not having any true understanding of either D&D or the occult forces she claimed D&D recruited for. James Dallas Egbert III was the inadvertent cause of another wave of moral panic when he disappeared from the utility tunnels under the Michigan State University. Despite the fact that Egbert had never played D&D in his life, the private detective hired to find the missing youth remarked to the media it was his belief that Egbert had been playing a live action version of D&D at the time of his disappearance. Though entirely wrong, the media reported this as fact and soon it was the accepted story. In actuality Egbert had attempted suicide, failed, and had gone into hiding for a month while he recovered. This story led to the writing and airing of the movie “Monsters and Mazes”, a thinly fictionalized account of the Egbert case where the protagonist suffered from a psychotic break while playing D&D and could not separate reality from his fantasies.

Video Games

From the first time siblings beat each other black and blue over a game of Pong, the overly vigilant watchdogs of the status quo declared video games to be training tools for violence, mayhem and murder. Every game from Asteroids to Zaxxon was cited as dangerous, encouraging the day’s youth to spend hours committing acts of violence and destruction without any repercussion except the blowing of their entire allowance on their arcade orgies. In 1983 a video game arcade set to open in that same open minded state that banned rock concerts for fear of dance induced rioting, Connecticut. The arcades opponents declared that the store owner “would mesmerize their youngsters, rob them of their lunch money, provide them with a center for illicit drug traffic and cause the downfall of youth baseball, music lessons and, yes, the very Scholastic Aptitude Test scores of the community" (New York Times 27 Apr. 1983). They managed to forget to mention Satanism, but I’m sure it was an accidental oversight. By 1993 first person shooter games and games that depicted live action for the first time made for a more realistic gaming experience, and parental panic rose quickly. Senator Joseph Lieberman, champion of moral outrage and sworn enemy of electronic fun in all forms, declared that these games were the equivalent of R rated movies and were being marketed to children. Senatorial hearings were called, and leading members of the electronic entertainment industry were called on to answer for their magical technology and its corrupting content. After the hearings the gaming industry adopted a self-imposed rating system using a number of rating levels to depict a variety of content including violence and sexuality, ensuring kids everywhere would yearn for those games with the highest violence ratings and the promise of digitized sexuality. In 1999 the Columbine killings triggered yet another level of panic, as parents learned that the suspects in those shootings spent a great deal of time playing first person shooter games like Doom and Quake. The media fanned the flames of fear, and soon parents, activists and government officials alike were all declaring the incident the fault of video games that were actually training their children to be killers. President Clinton requested a study be done by the Surgeon General on the effects of video games and other media on children. The results made it clear that media violence of any kind had little to no impact on children’s behaviour. In fact it ranked video games as the tenth most significant risk factor, far below such elements as poverty, substance abuse, natural aggression and a violent upbringing. Since the report was made public it has been almost universally ignored by those who still wave their torches and howl in protest at the dangers of video games, because everyone knows you can’t trust science, after all they created video games in the first place.

What Are Some Real Life Examples Of Irony?

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:35:08 +0100

Merriam-Webster’s defines Irony as an “incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result.” We encounter little moments of irony in our daily lives. If I were to make up some, I would say that a Firehouse burning down out be ironic. An Olympic swimmer drowning in a bath tub would certainly be ironic.

Those, as I said, were made up. But life is funny. In fact, there is an old saying that states, “Life is not without a sense of irony.” This old saying is oh-so very true. Here are some examples.

Noisy Crows

In 2002, the town of Woodstock, Ontario in Canada was experiencing a terrible problem. Their town had become overrun with crows. Big and nasty black crows. Sure, they would cause an all around massive mess with their sizable poops that rained from the skies in truly epic fashion. But the biggest problem came not from the poop, but from their shrieking “CAW!” The sound of this massive crow population at nearly all hours of the day forced the town’s people to do something about it. They eventually hired a group of people that brought in hawks and owls to frighten them away. This was actually their second plan to get rid of the noisy crows. They’re first? Setting off a huge barrage of extremely loud fireworks. Irony indeed.

Don’t Drink the Water

Arnold Bennett was a largely successful English novelist that wrote dozens of books between 1898 and 1931. Bennett lived in Paris. At the time, Paris’ water supply had come under fire for not being safe to drink. Bennett used his celebrity to try to quell peoples’ fears. He took a big swig of water in front a large crowd to prove that the water was just fine and that nobody had anything to worry about. The water was contaminated with typhoid and he died shortly thereafter.

Buttons

In an attempt to create greater public awareness for toy safety, in 1974 the Consumer Product Safety Commission had 80,000 buttons created and passed out with the slogan “For kids’ sake, think toy safety” printed on them. It wasn’t the catchiest slogan out there, but it gets to the point. Not long later, the buttons were recalled due to “sharp edges, parts a child could swallow, and were coated with toxic lead paint.”

Dangerous Vegetation

Way back in the old-timey time of 2000, a tree branch fell off of a tree in Nevada City, California. This branch hit a power line on the way down and cut off power to the whole town for more than 30 minutes. During this 30 minuet long power outage there was a courtroom trial going on. The trial centered around the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and how they failed to trim vegetation around power lines.

The Tattoo

Samuel Worlin Moore walked in to a convenience story to purchase some sundries. To pay, he accidentally placed $200 on the counter and walked away. Realizing his error, he immediately rushed back in to retrieve the money. A short time later that same day, Moore stormed in to a grocery store with a gun and demanded money from the cashier. When a customer came up behind him, Moore ran away. When the police asked the cashier if the assailant had any distinctive markings, the cashier mentioned that Moore had a very distinctive tattoo. When news of the attempted robbery broke, the convenience store clerk contacted the police and informed them that he may have seen a man with the same distinctive tattoo that was described in news reports in his store, and he his face was captured by the stores’ security camera. Moore was soon captured and pled Guilty. Oh, and that distinctive tattoo that Moore had was that of a gun that had the words “Not Guilty” written near it.

The Safety Film

We’ve all seen those ridiculously over the top safety films where the bad actors pretend they aren’t paying attention to their band saw, then they get their hand sliced off while they scream, and stage blood pours all over the place like the fountains at the Bellagio. But every once in a while you’ll see the videos that employ the usage of real footage and pictures of real, horrible accidents. These are the videos that make you squirm in your seat as you try to hold back either your vomit or your giggles of nervousness. According to Industrial Machinery News (a publication for what we assume is the world of Industrial Machinery), there was once a company that was a shining beacon of light in the dark and dangerous world of factory safety. This company was so safe that they had a five-year perfect safety record, and they were very proud of it. One day, this company decided to impart upon their employees the importance of proper eye-goggle protection. To show them how truly terrible some eye accidents could be, they choose to run a video that showed nothing but absolutely gruesome and graphic images of terrible eye accidents. Twenty-five people were injured as they ran out of the screening room, and 13 fainted – one of whom needed stitches when he fell out of his chair and cut hit head.

Court of Law

This example of irony goes waaaay back to 1871 when an attorney named Clement Vallandigham was attempting to explain to a jury that his client was innocent. His client was on trial for the murder of a man with a pistol. Clement argued that the now dead man may have shot himself due to the fact that he was in an awkward knelling position while he held a pistol in his pocket. To better illustrate this point to the jury, Clement elected to reenact this entire situation. Clement placed what he believed was an unloaded pistol in to his pocket and he knelt down. The pistol was loaded. It went off. Clement shot himself. He died soon after. Luckily for him, the jury believed that this was a pretty good bout of lawyering. Clement’s client was found not guilty.

What Films Are Due For Release In 2010?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:13:13 +0100

There are lots of big films that are being released in 2010, one of the main ones being the first part of the final Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which is due for release in late 2010.

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Other notable releases include “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, which will be a remake of the original 1984 film, “Alice in Wonderland” by Tim Burton, a “Clash of the Titans” remake, the fourth installment to the “Shrek” series and a third “Toy Story” film. There will also be a sequel to the first “Sex and the City” film, which was released in 2008. There will also be a third addition to the “Chronicles of Narnia” film series, which will be entitled “The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader”. Other sequels include an addition to the “Predator” films. “Spiderman 4” was also rumoured to be being released in 2010, but a 2011 release date is more likely.

How Do I Share Photos Online?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:14:20 +0100

There are a number of ways to share photos with friends and family online. You can either post your photos on Facebook (and send a link to the album to those who aren't on Facebook) or you can use a photo hosting site online such as Picasa which is linked with Google or Flickr which is linked with Yahoo!

Facebook

If you wish to post photos on FB go to your Profile page and click on 'Photos'.

This will take you to a page where you can create an album to organize your photos in. Add in whatever information you like, or none if you wish.

When you have finished click 'Create Album' and this will take you to the uploading page where there are options at the bottom to use 'Simple Uploader' or to download a Facebook Exporter that works well (and easily!) with iPhoto. There are also directions here telling you how to upload photos directly from your phone. Once your photos are uploaded you will see an option at the bottom of the page to "Share this album with anyone by sending them this public link". You can copy and paste this into an email to share your album with anyone who doesn't have a Facebook account.

Picasa

This is a good choice if you've already got a gmail account, but is also very easy to use especially if you want to upload a lot of photos at once from a Mac. Picasa also has it's own editing facility that you can use for free to make your photos even better! If you search for Picasa on Google it will take you to an introductory page. It will detect if you are using a Mac or PC and tailor the information to suit your computer.

Once you have signed up for Picasa you can go directly to Picasa Web Albums from the main page. Picasa Web Albums allows you to let friends and family easily upload your photos and let's you organize your photos into albums with comments and descriptions.

With Picasa you can check for duplicates, rotate the image, and do other simple editing. If you use iPhoto it will automatically sync when you launch the Picasa uploader. If there are photos that you don't want to share you simply choose not to import them when Picasa launches.

From your library you can email, print, or export. You can also make a collage/contact sheet of several photos and this can be uploaded as a single photo. There are auto editing options to help you straighten your photo or fix the contrast or add text.

Flickr

On Flickr you can register - if you don't already have one - for a Yahoo! Account.

Once you've done this you can import and organize your photos into sets to share with friends and family.

You can add tags, descriptions, and titles as well as rotate your photos under the Batch Organize tab. Here you can also sort permissions and add tags. You can also order prints. Once you've selected a photo (or more), click on 'Order Prints' and Flickr will let you set up printing preferences and direct you to printing services in your area.

Your photos can be shared by clicking 'Share this' and adding the appropriate email addresses. You can add a short message if you like.

If your friends or family are already on flickr you simply need to type in their screen name. You can also 'Send to a friend' (at the bottom of the page) if you want to email the link to one person directly and send a longer message or description of the photos.

What Are The Most Environmentally Friendly Cars?

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:30:06 +0100

The most environmentally friendly cars are electric, but these still aren’t viable for extended motorway driving or as an only family car due to low speeds and recharging times. However, your choice of car can still have a significant impact on the environment. If you choose wisely, you can still drive from A to Z with a relatively clear conscience. Many people forget that the more ‘green’ your car is, the lower your petrol bill will be. So, this is a good list for those looking for an economical car as well as those trying to be green while still owning a set of wheels! In the UK, the top green cars are:

Ford Focus ECOnectic

A diesel car with aerodynamics that lower CO2 emissions. It also features a bespoke transmission oil that reduces friction.

Toyota Prius

A major player in the hybrid market for the past 10 years. Now in it’s 3rd generation, Toyota have had plenty of time to refine this petrol electric car to further improve it’s high speed fuel consumption and performance. A good family car.

Honda Civic Hybrid

The only the only competitor for the Prius in the UK. Also in it’s 3rd generation, the Civic has better fuel consumption than diesels in it’s class and is reportedly much nicer to drive than previous models.

Ford Fiesta ECOnectic

A popular compact car in the UK. It has a turbodiesel engine that makes it peppy and with it’s lowered sports suspension, improved aerodynamics, and low CO2 output, it is an excellent contender.

Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion

A diesel car with very low CO2 emissions and is Volkswagens attempt to provide a green car without using hybrid technology. As it’s emissions are below 100 g/kg, the Polo is exempt from vehicle tax.

Mini Cooper D

BMW relaunched the Mini in 2001 with high hopes and 8 years later it has a turbodiesel engine that makes it incredibly punchy. It handles well and has low CO2 emissions and a diesel particulate filter.

Smart Fortwo

An instantly recognizable micro-sized car. Many say it is Tardis-like with its surprisingly accommodating interior. It emits only 88 g/kg of CO2 meaning it has the lowest production of any petrol or diesel car. It has a diesel particulate filter and has enough luggage space for two, comfortably seated people.

What Is Eggs Benedict?

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:31:23 +0100

Eggs Benedict is an American breakfast dish. It consists of Canadian bacon and poached eggs on top of an English muffin, all covered in Hollandaise sauce.

The dish is believed to have originated in New York. The story most often given is that Lemuel Benedict, a New York stockbroker from an elite family, asked to be brought the ingredients one day while breakfasting at the Waldorf hotel. He then prepared the dish himself. The maitre' D of the hotel is said to have been intrigued by Benedict's dish. He tried it out himself, liked it and named it after his customer. It then became a favourite in New York's top hotels. Lemuel Benedict's original version of the Eggs Benedict is said to have included toast and ham rather than a muffin and bacon but it is the muffin and bacon version which has stood the test of time.

How Many Species Are There In The World?

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:05:20 +0100

There has never been a comprehensive count of the number of species in existence.

audreyjm529

This was recognised as a serious deficiency and, in 2000, a project got underway to undertake a full accounting of the planet's species. The project is called the Catalogue of Life and you can visit the project's website at www.catalogueoflife.org The website allows you to search the accumulated data interactively, either through entering search terms or drilling down through a classification tree. To compile the data, experts in specific areas of biology from around the world collaborate. As of early 2007 just over 1 million species in total have been entered into the database. When the project is complete, which is expected to happen n 2011, it is anticipated that just under 2 million species will have been noted. The definition of species used for the project is extremely broad and even covers things such as viruses.

What Are The Most Dangerous Jobs?

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:06:13 +0100

At one time or another, most of us come to see the daily grind of commuting, coffee and cubicles to be mind numbingly dull. If you yearn for something that brings home the bacon with a side order of adrenaline, you could always try one of these careers. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Roofers

Sloping platforms, heights and rabid squirrels hiding in chimneys, is there any wonder why this gig is on the list of most dangerous ways to make a living? Injuries are common, ranging from backs thrown out lifting heavy stacks of shingles to hand and fingers hacked and slashed with the sharp edged tools of the trade. The injuries are not the reason the fellows fixing your leaky roof are on this list though. Gravity is behind this occupation’s danger rating. Not only is there the risk of falling off the roof you are working on, but there is also a chance you’ll plummet through the old roof you’re there to fix or even take the plunge through a skylight. Falling is a sure fire way to ruin your day, unless you’ve mastered the art of sprouting wings on short notice.

Drivers

From the pimple faced kid who delivers your pizza to the semis stuffed full of six-packs, drivers are one of the cornerstones of modern society. They fetch and carry like a 50’s housewife, making sure we don’t run out of all we need to make our materialistic little lives complete.

The greatest threat to those who drive for a living is sudden deceleration; the kind usually accompanied by screeching tires, screaming passengers and a loud crunching sound. Our highways and byways are a coast-to-coast demolition derby, and those that spend that much time behind the wheel are just a statistic waiting to happen.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Birds may use our electrical wiring as a roost without fear of being fried, but those who spend their days keeping the juice flowing have to have a healthy respect for the voltage that runs through those wires. This career choice is like playing one long game of Operation, only you’re both the surgeon and the patient. One wrong move and you get lit up like a neon sign as the juice intended to power someone’s X-box ends up making a break for freedom through your torso. Rain, sleet and snow add to the challenges of this occupation, because anyone who remembers their basic science classes can tell you that water and electricity are not the best combination. And best you not be afraid of heights, because you’ll be spending much of your life dangling from power poles, suspended by a harness coveted by dominatrix the world over, one safety strap away from an unhappy landing.

Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers

It makes perfect sense that a career that pits you against devious villains and gun wielding ganstas would make the list of most dangerous jobs. It’s only logical that the men and women standing between us and lawless anarchy are more likely to die than the guy peddling french fries at the local drive thru. What is surprising is why this career is dangerous. It’s not the bullets or the bad guys that bring down the most law officers, it’s the public. More specifically it’s the public with a license to drive. Police officers spend much of their time in cars and vans on patrol. Just like the transport and delivery drivers mentioned earlier in this list, the hours logged behind the wheel makes them statistically more likely to be caught in an involuntary deceleration maneuver. Add to that high speed chases, ticket stops, directing traffic and other tasks that require them to stand in the path of Joe Public during Friday night rush-hour with nothing more than a reflective vest and a flashlight to save them, and you have the reason why police officers die from bad drivers far more often than they do from guns.

Farming and Agricultural Work

Farming. The word conjures up cheerful images of haystacks, silos and weathered old men up early to listen to crop reports; praying for rain to come down and the price of pork bellies to go up. The reality is that those adorable livestock are vectors for a number of ailments, including anthrax and avian flu. The pesticides used to keep our future salad pest free can cause cancer, and those shiny tractors are John Deere green painted murder machines. Tractors alone cause approximately 300 fatalities each year, and a great many more injuries. Stephen King may think terror comes in the shape of a laundry folding machine, but any farmer will tell you, it’s the tractors that you have to watch out for.

Garbage and Recycle Collectors

Daily exposure to society’s refuse cannot be good for mind, body or soul, but every day there are those that heft, handle and sort everything we don’t want anymore. Contaminants, contagions and various hazardous materials are all part of the daily routine, and strains, cuts and diseases are an ever present risk. Despite the dangers, it is not these that claim the majority of lives in this polluted profession. Once again it is the lack of skill of other drivers that moves this career into the list of deadly professions. The vast majority of fatalities among collectors are caused by fast driven cars with slow witted drivers at the wheel.

Structural iron and steel workers

Working on the “high steel” is not for the faint of heart. Oh sure, the views are fantastic and you belong to one of the few groups that society allows to catcall and whistle at a pretty girl without slapping you with a sexual harassment suit, but its got its down side. When your job entails building the structures that will one day by bridges and skyscrapers, you don’t get such job perks as walls, floors or air conditioning. What you do get is the thrill of spending each day tethered to a tower of iron and steel, riveting, welding, and manhandling massive hunks of steel into place while trying to avoid falling off. The combination of heavy steel being moved, high winds, potentially bad weather and a marked lack of flooring makes this job one of the most dangerous in the world, with nearly three quarters of all deaths in this field coming from falls.

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

Now before anyone screams and swears they will never fly again, let me clarify the reason that pilots and flight engineers rank so high on this list. It’s not that 747’s have been dropping out of the sky and no one told you; it’s that the vast majority of airplane related deaths arise from bush pilots, crop dusters and other small scale aircraft having what is referred to in the industry as a “controlled flight into terrain”.

In most cases, it is pilot error brought on by fatigue or a moment’s distraction that causes perfectly good aircraft to leave the sky and bury themselves into the sides of mountains, fields and other bits of terra-firma. In Alaska, where there is an abundance of both mountains and bush pilots, pilots have a 1-8 chance of dying during a 30 year career.

Logging workers

What do you get when you mix men, chainsaws and a stretch of prime timber? Sawdust, testosterone and ludicrous levels of risk. Logging is ranked one of the three most dangerous professions in the world, combining the worst traits of many others on this list. Usually done in remote regions, this means your commute involves traversing steep, unpaved logging roads populated with speeding trucks weighed down with tonnes of trees bound for processing. The actual logging part involves scaling trees, hacking of branches with a chainsaw while tethered to the tree by a rope and a hope. The most common cause of death out for loggers doesn’t come from being flattened by a truck or falling out of a tree though, it comes from being hit by falling objects. Tree limbs the size of Christmas trees, tree tops that fall the wrong way, and equipment dropped by a fellow logger all make the list of things that might just fall out of the clear blue sky and wreck a lumberjack’s day.

Fishermen

The top spot in this grisly count down goes to those who sail the oceans to feed our need for seafood and fish sticks. Isolation, unpredictable weather and rigging that can crush a hand or drag a man overboard in seconds make even the most mundane of tasks a calculated risk. The most common death for fisherman is drowning, either after falling overboard or having the entire boat capsize, leaving you at the mercy of the ocean and its inhabitants, some of which you were just trying to capture and stuff in the ships hold. Crab fishing on the Bering Sea is the most deadly of all, harvesting crustaceans out of the icy depths while trying to avoid hypothermia and preventing ice from forming thick enough to capsize even the largest vessel. Vicious storms, an expanding ice pack and 24 hour days spent in the race to fill the holds in the 3-4 week season.

Why Did The Romans Invade Britain?

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:58:38 +0100

There is no definitive answer to this question, rather there are accepted theories based on the available evidence. A variety of factors are generally cited. Among these are: A) Britain was seen as the edge of the world. The acclaim and glory brought to the Roman general who could conquer Britain would enhance the prestige of the Republic, their family and their political prospects. B) Rome had recently conquered Gaul (except for a small village of indomitable Gauls which held out under their chief Vitalstatistics...) and the territory was not yet fully subdued. Britain contained related Celtic tribes such as the powerful Belgae and Trinovantes, which could offer potential support and allies for Gallic rebellion. C) Economic wealth... Britain had several valuable commodities; tin, slaves, silver and iron among them. D) Generally antipathy to the 'barbaric' Celtic tribes and their religious practices. E) a Roman expedition to Britain by Julius Caesar in 55 and later in 54 BC had pointed to the feasibility of invasion, and penetration/influence into Britain by Roman traders had made it possible to enact traditional Roman practices of dividing and conquering their targets F) the Romans lacked truly good Fish and Chips shops

What Are The Most Dangerous Animals On Earth?

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:52:58 +0100

The 10 most dangerous animals in the world based on the number of fatalities per year:

10. Bears: 5-10 fatalities per year

Habitat: Canada, North Pole, USA, Russia - and a few other isolated pockets globally.

Many of us had teddy bears as a child. Beautiful and cuddly in appearance, real-live bears - grizzly, polar, and black - are all beautiful but immensely strong, quick, and defensive creatures. The more humans encroach on their territory, the more aggressive they are forced to become. If faced with an angry bear who is snuffling or pawing the ground, back away slowly while throwing sticks and stones and shouting.

9. Sharks: About 100 fatalities per year

Habitat: waters around Florida, Australia, Hawaii, South Africa

Unlike bears, sharks have a solid reputation as killers thanks to the movie Jaws. This is not an entirely unfair representation because Snappy Bull sharks are very aggressive and Tiger, Great White, Oceanic Whitetip are known to be killers. There are a high number of shark attacks, but actual fatalities are quite low.

8. Jellyfish: About 100 fatalities per year

Habitat: Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam.

These fascinating and beautiful creatures can be tiny or very large. Jellyfish tentacles can paralyze a human and cause a heart attack. The Box Jellyfish is one of the most venomous ocean creatures in the world and it's sting can kill a human within minutes following a brush of contact. Swimming is banned during jellyfish season in many areas. If you are stung, get out of the water and apply vinegar to any stings left in the skin to remove the venom. Brush or lift off the sting using a credit card or anything else handy.

7. Hippopotamus: 100-150 fatalities per year

Habitat: African waters - lakes, rivers, wallows.

Hippos are highly aggressive animals who are often thought of as docile, lazy bathers. Their mouths can open to 4 feet and they will not hesitate to attack humans. Despite their stocky build, hippos are incredibly fast runners and can easily outrun a human on land. It is inadvisable to come between between a hippo and its calf or to block it off from deep water. Like bears, hippos do not react well to being surprised so making noise to alert them to your presence is wise.

6. Elephants: 300-500 fatalities per year

Habitat: Africa, India

Although many people associate elephants with the friendly giants they've seen in zoos, these creatures often attack without warning and have been known to kill zookeepers they have known for 15 years. Their sheer size combined with their massive, sharp tusks make them an almost unbeatable opponent. It is best to avoid startling an elephant and should it take charge, the best one can hope to do is make noise to put it off or find a large tree to climb.

5. Crocodiles: 600-800 fatalities per year

Habitat: Africa, Australia, Florida

It is no surprise that crocodiles have survived on the earth virtually unchanged for about 200 million years These are skilled predators who need one meal to keep them going for quite a long while. This means they have time to wait and plan for their next attack.

4. Big Cats: About 800 fatalities per year

Habitat: North America, Africa, India

Lions, tigers, and jaguars make up this category. It is no surprise that these incredibly fast, muscular animals are easily capable of killing if necessary. As big cats continue to lose their habitat and prey species to humans, their attacks on humans seem to be increasing in number. Mountain lions in North American parks account for about 5-7 deaths per year.

3. Scorpions: 800-2000 fatalities per year

Habitat: worldwide, but concentrated in Africa, the Americas, Central America

These creatures have a venomous sting that causes a large number of fatalities primarily because they tend to be found in isolated places. Although smaller in stature than most of the creatures listed 10 - 4, the scorpion is still quite intimidating to look at. Although there are about 1500 species of scorpion in the world, only about 150 of these are considered dangerous. Shake out any sleeping bags or bed clothing before climbing in and wear thick socks! If in Africa, beware the spitting scorpion that can launch its venom up to a metre.

2. Venomous Snakes: 50,000-125,000 fatalities per year

Habitat: Africa, Asia, North America

Most deadly snake attacks occur in Africa, Asia, and North America. There are 250 species of snake that can kill and there are over 450 species that are venomous. Many snakes are beautiful and others are just fascinating to watch, however most people who are attacked report that they were "moving closer for a better look" or trying to capture the offending snake. Snakes that feel threatened will attack. Some snakes can spit venom into your eye which sounds more unlikely than it is.

1. Mosquitoes: 2-3 million fatalities per year

Habitat: Worldwide, harmful in Africa, Asia, North America

These tiny pests are not only annoying, but they are incredibly efficient at spreading disease and so easily earn their spot at number one. Mossies spread malaria and elephantiasis, yellow fever, dengue fever, and West Nile virus. The latter was introduced to North America by the mosquito and is now prevalent throughout. Mosquito nets are the best way to protect yourself. One treated with DDT is most effective. In malaria zones, wear long, light-coloured clothing in the evening.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have Swine Flu?

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:03:32 +0100

What is Swine Flu?

Swine flu is a disease that pigs get that has been spreading among people. Although there are regular outbreaks of swine flu in pigs worldwide, it has usually only affected humans who work closely with pigs. The swine flu is a version of H1N1 sub-type that infects pigs. The virus mutated/changed so that it is now able to infect humans.

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What to do if you think you have Swine Flu

If you think you have swine flu the first thing you should do is consult the NHS website and go through the checklist of symptoms which include (and are very similar to seasonal flu): • Fever - a body temperature of 38 °C /100.4 °F or more
• Fatigue
• Lack of appetite
• Coughing Some people have also reported having a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea along with the above.

comedy_nose

After considering the checklist and determining that you have the symptoms listed you should immediately contact your GP if you: • Have a serious existing illness such as cancer • Are pregnant • Have a sick child under one year-old • Have a condition that gets suddenly much worse • Have a condition that is continuing to get worse after 7 days (5 for a child) If you are unsure how to take your temperature properly, the NHS website has instructions available.

Biology Big Brother

If you believe you have swine flu and do not fall into one of the above vulnerable categories, then you can take over-the-counter remedies for flu, colds, or coughs. Many people will start to recover within a week, but as with any flu how long it will last depends on many things. You should not go to your GP or A&E because this will help to spread the virus. You should stay home and rest. If you have a 'flu friend', let them bring you remedies and food etc. If you have a lot of questions, check this NHS site http://tinyurl.com/dlmkey to see if it has the answers you are looking for. There is a dedicated website http://tinyurl.com/lnncqs where you can get information and find links for self-assessment. If you do not have access to the internet there is a free phone line 0800 151 3100 or textphone 0800 151 3200.

What to do if you aren't getting better

If you have symptoms that have not improved after 7 days (or 5 days if you are under 16) then there are NHS numbers that you can ring: • England, NHS Direct: 0845 4647 • Scotland, NHS 24: 08454 242424 • Wales, NHS Direct Wales: 0845 4647 • Northern Ireland: Contact your local GP surgery or your local out-of-hours service.

Contraction and Prevention

The incubation period (or time it will take for you to get sick) for swine flu is usually 2 - 5 days but can be up to 7. People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms and can continue to spread the virus through coughs and sneezes for up to 5 days (7 days in children). As your symptoms decrease you become less contagious until you are feeling better when you are no longer considered infectious.

SouthernBreeze

The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours, and on a soft surface for about 20 minutes. Just like any cold or flu, swine flu virus spreads through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. If someone coughs or sneezes and does not cover it, those droplets and spread up to a metre (3ft). If you are close by to them, you might breath them in. If their sneeze droplets land on a surface (door handles, phones, hand rails, computer keyboards) and you touch that door handle and then touch your face or eat without washing your hands you can catch the virus or cold. If someone sneezes or coughs into their hands without using a tissue, everything they touch for the next 20 minutes can be infected.

What Are Some Of The Most Expensive Cocktails?

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:03:17 +0100

We’ve all been there; you’re at the bar, the music’s good, the company better, and the next thing you know the bar tab arrives with more zeros than you’ve seen since you failed calculus. Whatever the damage was that night, be glad that you were not drinking any of the cocktails on this list, whose price tags range from “ouch” to “I need a second mortgage”.

$500

The Ritz Side Car – The Bar Hemingway, Hotel Ritz - Paris

A very expensive version of the cocktail they invented at this very bar, the Ritz Sidecar is a blend of Cointreau, cognac and lemon juice. If you are wondering why it costs so much, the answer is in the cognac. The Bar Hemingway uses an extremely rare vintage, an 1830 Ritz Reserve that predates the cataclysmic destruction of many of France’s greatest vineyards. Only a few bottles now remain, and those with a passion for liquid history will happily pay the price to taste a bygone era.

$1000

King Richard’s Pride – Boa at Caesars – Las Vegas

What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas, but if you put one of these on your credit card, you might have some explaining to do when you get home. A supposedly sublime mixture of Hennessy Richard, Dom Perignon Rosé 1996, Chambord Liqueur Royale De France, this drink is served up with the juice of half a lime, a splash of cranberry juice and an orange twist. If the expensive ingredients aren’t enough of a reason to indulge, there’s a memento in it for you. The drink is presented in a Baccarat crystal cocktail glass that you get to take with you, a reminder of the night you spent more on your drink than most folks do on their rent.

$1000

Martini – Capital Grill

Served at the Capital Grille chain of restaurants, these martinis are served with love, luxury and a dash of the warm fuzzies. Each location has its own special mix and its own custom designed piece of Lagos jewelery. The Gotham is served in New York and comes with a string of pearls, the High Roller is, unsurprisingly served in Las Vegas, and is delivered with a diamond pavé ring. The Capital Grill donates all the profits of your largess to Share our Strength, a charity involved in ending world hunger.

$1000

Kentucky Derby Mint Julep - Churchill Downs – Louisville Kentucky

Since 2006 the Woodford Reserve has been involved in the crafting of the world’s most expensive Mint Julep. What else would you serve at the grandest race in the sport of kings, than a prince of a pricey drink? Each year the components are selected from a different part of the world, and have previously included hand crushed sugar cane from France, Turkish mint, crushed ice from the Arctic Circle, and other premium ingredients. The drink is served in a sterling silver cup plated in 24-karat gold and comes with a silver straw, reminiscent of the silver spoon most of the folks imbibing in this decadence were born with.

$1400

Mai Tai – Merchant Hotel - Belfast

Mai Tai’s in Ireland. Yes, yes, I know, Ireland is not the land of palm trees and pool side cocktails. It is however, the home of the drink that the Guinness Book of World Records proclaimed the most expensive cocktail in the world in 2007, though you’ll note its far from the #1 spot on this list. It does still rank as one of the rarest however, since this Mai Tai is made from 17 year old Wray and Nephew rum, the same run that trader Vic Bergeron used to create the original Mai Tai over sixty years ago. There are only 6 bottles of this rum left in the world, so if you want to taste a bit of rum flavoured history, best head to Belfast before the last drink is gone.

$1500

Platinum Passion - Duvet, New York City

The penultimate girly drink, this pink potion is concocted of L'ésprit de Courvoisier (a $6,000/bottle Cognac), Ruinart champagne and a specially crafted syrup of forest berries, passion fruit, wildflower honey and brown sugar. It is served in a delicately frosted champagne flute and garnished with a single perfect white orchid. Oh yes, one other thing about this very pricey cocktail? It’s served in bed. The Duvet is not just a restaurant, it’s a slumber party for the rich and adventurous.

$2,200

High Limit Kir Royale – The Teatro Euro Bar, MGM Grand Vegas

High Limits is what your credit card has to have if you are going to buy a round of this cocktail. It’s made with 140-year-old Hardy Perfection Cognac, Louis Roederer “Cristal” Rose Champagne, a dash of limited-edition Grand Marnier Cent Cinquantenaire and fresh raspberries. In the spirit of waste not, want not, after your cocktail is made, the remaining campagne is served to you along in its own flute as bubbly bonus.

$3000

Ménage a Trois –Wynn Hotel Vegas

Named for its delicious trio of costly ingredients (get your mind out of the gutter, I know what you were thinking.), this drink is made of Cristal Rosé champagne, Hennessy Ellipse and Grand Marnier Cent-cinquantenaire. To add a certain dazzle, 23 karat gold flakes and liquid gold syrup are used to garnish the glass, and it comes complete with a 9-point diamond studded golden straw to sip up every last drop.

$3000

Sapphire Martini - Mezz at Foxwoods Resort Casino

Feeling blue and need something to match your mood? Try a Sapphire Martini at the Foxwood Resort. Made with Blue Curacao, Bombay Sapphire Gin, a splash of dry vermouth and a glass rimmed with blue sugar, the drink itself is still just a martini. What makes it special? What’s a sapphire martini without sapphires? Every drink comes with a pair of custom made sapphire and diamond earrings set in sterling silver. If that doesn’t cheer you out of your blue funk, nothing will.

$4300

The Diamond - Piano Bar at the Sheraton Park Tower Hotel - London

A costly blend of Charles Heidsieck Vintage 2001 champagne, Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac with a dash of Angostura bitters and a sugar cube to sweeten the pain of the price tag. The standard version comes complete with the drink’s namesake, a .06 carat diamond, though for those trying to truly indulge, a range of gemstones are available up to a final price of $18,000.

$7500

The 27.321 – Skyview Bar at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai

There is no pretense when it comes to this drink, named rather unimaginatively for its price in dirham. Made from Macallan 55 year old single malt whiskey and flavoured with homemade passion fruit sugar, it is served over ice cubes made of water from the Macallan distillery in Scotland, along with an oak stirrer made from a Macallan Cask. To add to the glamour, the drink is presented in a Baccarat 18-karat gold glass, yours to keep as a momento of your visit to the one of the world’s most expensive hotels and imbibed in one of the most expensive cocktails ever created.

$10,000

Martini on the Rock – The Algonquin Hotel, New York City

If you are feeling the need to plan your extravagances, then the Algonquin Hotel may just have the drink for you. Preparations include 72 hours of notice and a visit to the hotel’s private jeweler, where you can select the diamond to be dropped into your drink. Unlike many of the cocktails on the menu, the ingredients are neither rare nor exotic, but the splash made by having a dazzling diamond instead of ice in your martini may very well be priceless.

$18,000

The Diamond Is Forever Martini - Tokyo Ritz-Carlton

Not to be outdone in the gemstone department, the Ritz-Carlton also has a diamond studded martini on the menu. Chilled Grey Goose Vodka is served with a hint of fresh lime juice, stirred or shaken to perfection, over a crystal clear one carat diamond. Not even 007 ever had a martini quite like this.

$50,000

The Dazzle – Harvy Nichols Department Store - Manchester England

This one is more of a A 50K investment in your lady love’s happiness than a cocktail. A blend of strawberry and lychee liqueurs are added to rosé champagne with a spritz of lemon juice and served in a chilled champagne flute. The pink cocktail comes complete with a pink cocktail ring, an 18-karat white-gold ring with pink tourmaline and diamond stones lies at the bottom of the glass.

$70,000

Flawless – Modiva Nightclub – London

Coming complete with its own security guards, this jaw dropping drink is made with a half bottle of Cristal Rose champagne, a healthy measure of Louis XII cognac, angostura bitters, brown sugar and is dressed up with a few flakes of 24-carat edible gold leaf. If that doesn’t sound like its worth 70k, you’re right. Flavour only goes so far, and the rest of the sky high price tag is due to the 11 carat, white gold ring that garnishes the glass.

How Do You Protect Your Privacy On Facebook?

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:08:23 +0100

There are a few basic steps you can take to protect your information on Facebook. If used correctly, Facebook settings allow you to be very private or very public with specific aspects of your profile and other information.

Separating work from pleasure

Click on ‘Friends’ at the top of the page (between ‘Profile’ and ‘Inbox’ on the blue bar); click on ‘Friends’ under the heading ‘Lists’ down the left-hand column. This will show all your friends with a button allowing you to ‘Create new list’ at the top.

You can also click on ‘+Create’ at the bottom of the lists list. Use this to separate your friends, family, and work colleagues. Among other things, this can be used to avoid your parents and/or colleagues from seeing conversations about your drunken antics over the bank holiday weekend.

Deciding who sees what

On the top blue bar, click on ‘Settings’. The best thing to do at this point is browse through all the tabs at the top (Settings, Networks etc) and all that they reveal. You can have a username that is different from your real full name. It is optional whether or not you allow people to search for you by your full name, or not. If you sign up to Facebook under a nickname, you can ensure that only those who know this private detail can find you in a search.

Under ‘Managing your privacy’ you will find options to decide who sees your profile page – for example, on a search for ‘Joe Bloggs’ you might see Joe’s full profile OR just his photo and an option to send him a message or befriend him. Do you want anyone who searches for your name to see what your friends have written on your wall recently? Your birth date? Your phone number and address? This is where you make these decisions. Remember, if you make your profile discoverable on a public search (see below), then anyone searching for someone with a similar name to yours will be able to find you and all the information you deem appropriate via these privacy settings.

Deciding who can find or discover you

Under ‘Privacy’ then ‘Search’ you can set your ‘Search Visibility’. This simply governs who will find you if they type your name or email address into ‘Search’ on Facebook. Your friends will always be able to find you (if they couldn’t, why befriend them?) but you can decide whether friends of friends can see you (if you chose ‘no’, your picture won’t appear on your friends’ pages on the left-hand side under ‘friends’ or ‘mutual friends’, if you prefer more privacy, you can be discoverable only to friends.

The latter means that if Joe Bloggs signs on to Facebook and remembers you from school, he can search for your exact name and he will NOT find you. It also means that if you want new friends, you will have to search for them yourself. Once you’ve decided who you are willing to allow to see you are on Facebook and possibly ‘friend request’ you, you can decide what your existing friends or friend lists can see. You can limit individuals or lists to seeing only your profile picture or only a link to add you as a friend etc.

News feed and wall

This includes all the information and conversations about you that are posted by Facebook. Here, you can choose whether people will know if you comment on a photo or whether your wall posts will be publicly visible – many people don’t know that your entire wall (all the discussions on your profile page) can be private. If you choose, none of your friends will be able to see the running conversations etc on your wall.

In short and etc

To guard your privacy and prevent i.d. Theft, there are a few basic rules of thumb. Don’t post your home phone number or address. Don’t post your full birth date.

Don’t post (on your wall or on someone else’s wall) the exact dates of your holiday. This information can be communicated to anyone you trust when necessary, but leaving it all discoverable in one place is unwise. Use the above information to start getting familiar with how you can control your privacy on Facebook so you can enjoy using it. Knowledge is power!

Why Do You Think Men Have Nipples ?

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:33:48 +0100

A distinguishing feature of mammals, this is a question that has provoked centuries of theories and explanations.

littledan77

As a foetus in the womb, we are all of the same template until around six weeks gestation. At this stage the male Y chromosome is triggered and determines the male characteristics by releasing testosterone which prevents the formation of further breast tissues. Men can however, still develop breast cancer and any unusual lumps should be immediately reported to the G.P. During times of hormonal change, particularly during the teenage years, boys can develop enlarged breasts, a condition called gynecomastia which your family doctor should be made aware of and appropriate treatment (in extreme cases, surgery) will be sought. It has no particular function, but many men derive sensual and sexual feelings from nipple stimulation. It also has the aesthetic effect of drawing the eye to the pectoral muscle when on display.

Why Are Yawns Contagious?

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:33:09 +0100

There are a number of theories about why yawning is contagious. It’s an involuntary action that everyone does and we start before we’re even born! Other creatures also yawn including reptiles, fish, and hippos.

Recent research suggests that yawning is actually a mechanism designed to keep our bodies awake rather than to usher in sleep. Scientists believe that yawning cools the brain allowing it to work more efficiently and keep you awake. So, instead of mimicking another person’s sleepiness by yawning, we are actually enacting an ancient ritual that our ancestors used to stay vigilant against threat. A professor at the University of Maryland observed that paratroopers yawn before jumping and this is believed to support the theory that yawning is linked to a heightened, rather than a relaxed, state. However, other scientists say that yawning is simply a type of herding behaviour: A simple way of communicating to the masses. Others have a similar theory that perhaps early humans used yawning to communicate their level of alertness so that sleeping times could be co-ordinated within a community. Scientists have isolated the parts of the brain responsible for the contagious yawn and it doesn’t seem to trigger any different chemical or physical reactions than a spontaneous yawn. Although many other creatures yawn, only humans and chimpanzees seem to experience contagious yawning. Contrary to popular belief, scientists claim that only ½ of adult humans seem prone to contagious yawning.

What Were The Worst Pandemics In History?

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:27:49 +0100

A pandemic is what happens when an epidemic gets a really good travel agent and starts to spread over a large region. The disease becomes as trendy and prevalent as the Macarena dance, affecting more of the population than was expected and spreading faster than experts expected. Throughout history mankind has been afflicted with a great many diseases, disorders and maladies that have made the jump to the big leagues and become pandemics, turning the other pathogens green with envy, or maybe that’s just gangrene.

Spanish Flu

March 1918 to June 1920 saw the devastating effects of what is known as the Spanish Flu pandemic, which spread as far as the Arctic and remote pacific islands thanks to increase in global travel. The flu was an extremely virulent and nasty form of Influenza Type A, and differed greatly from most common influenza viruses, the one that keeps us home every winter under a pile of blankets, subjected to hours of daytime TV. The Spanish Flu’s victims were mainly healthy young adults, and the handful of scientists who are crazy enough to dabble with samples of the deadly strain state that this vicious virus kills via a cytokine storm. No, that’s not an internal weather system with thunder and lightning, it means that the virus hijacks the host’s immune system and sends it into overdrive, killing the very body it was sworn to defend. Children, the elderly and infirm, having weaker immune systems, were far less likely to die when their own bodies went on a suicide run. The symptoms were much like the common flu, until the second wave hit and the newly mutated virus began to cause hemorrhaging from mucous membranes, specifically the nose, stomach and intestines. Now it had added Ebola like symptoms to its repertoire, the bug was even nastier. Most victims died of bacterial pneumonia, a complication of the flu, though some died directly from the virus as it caused massive hemorrhaging and edema of the lungs. During the outbreak, nearly a third of the world’s 1.6 billion people became infected, and 50-100 million died from the ravages of this flu bug from hell. That means that 3-6 percent of the world’s people went from walking, talking members of society to “the dearly departed” in just over two years. Once infected, 2-20% of the victims died, compared to the standard influenza’s mortality rate of .01%

Smallpox

First seen in human beings around 10,000 BC, Smallpox got its current name to differentiate it from the Great Pox, also known as syphilis. It’s a sure sign that you’re living in dark and difficult times when society has a need to categorize their poxes. With outbreaks that have spanned much of human history, the worst pandemic was in the 18th century, when this nasty disease with the cutesy name spread throughout the known world. Symptoms started with a high fever, aches and nausea, but soon the tell tale rash would appear in the mouth, spreading as the skin became covered in pustules that raised, crusted and scabbed, leaving a pitted scar on most survivors and leading to the creation of the word “pockmarked”. One can only pray that Pocky candy was inspired by something less horrific.

If you survived the infection, fevers and body wracking destruction, it would take weeks for the painful rash to completely heal. Other complications included blindness, severe scarring and limb deformation caused by arthritis or infections within the bones themselves. By the 18th century smallpox was present in every major European city, killing 5 regents, 400,000 people a year and was responsible for a third of all blindness in that time. The fatality rate was up to 60% for adults, and 80% for infected children. By the mid 18th century Smallpox was high on the list of things that would snuff out your life like a candle. It was prevalent everywhere but several isolated islands and Australia, suggesting that either kangaroos are magical pox repellents, or one of the world’s nastiest viruses didn’t want to go to a country where even the trees can kill you. Over the course of the 18th century, more than 60,000,000 people died of the disease. Smallpox has the singular honour of being the only disease so universally feared than mankind banded together long enough to come up with a vaccine and kick it to the curb like last month’s leftovers. The ones you left in the fridge, forgot about and had nearly gained sentience. The World Health Organization ruled that the disease had been eradicated in 1980, after a 13 year vaccination blitz that spanned the globe. Well, it is almost eradicated, because there are still samples of the virus carefully tucked away in two labs, just in case.

Cholera

An infection of the small bowel caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, this diseases started off in the Indian subcontinent, and it is believed that the River Ganges was its birthplace. Cholera can kill within hours, wreaking havoc on the host’s body with a speed normally reserved for sugar hyped toddlers and hummingbirds on Speed. One of the fastest killing illnesses known to man, its primary symptom is near continuous, exhaustive and literally draining bouts of diarrhea, which can cause the infected to lose nearly a liter of water an hour. Far beyond curative abilities of Pepto-Bismol’s magical pink powers, Cholera acts like an internal dehydrator, stripping vital fluids from the body faster than an ex-lax spiked chocolate cake at a birthday party. The transformation from person to raisin can lead to death by dehydration as the kidney’s shut down and the body’s organs fail. The untreated fatality rate is 50-60%, whereas it is 1% when medical attention can be promptly obtained. There have been seven pandemics of Cholera that have claimed millions of lives, five in the 19th century and two in the 20th century, the last one being 1961-1970. The third pandemic was the most brutal, claiming more than a million lives between 1852 and 1860 when it finally died out. In London alone 10,000 people died, and in Russia the death toll topped one million. Starting in India, this pandemic spread quickly and soon was wreaking havoc and misery in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.

Black Death

Now this is a disease with a good public relations team. No cute name, no hard to pronounce Latin, this killer had “just the facts ma’am” levels of description compacted down to two words. Believed to have started in Central Asia, by 1346 it was spreading via merchant ships to blanket all of the Mediterranean and Europe in a blanket of terror and death that peaked in 1348-1350 AD. During the pandemic, the Black Death killed between 30% and 50% of the population of Europe, taking down the world population by roughly one hundred million people by 1400 AD and creating unheard of opportunities for career advancement if you managed to avoid dying. Infrastructure collapsed, fear ran rampant and famine claimed many more lives as those who grew and sold the food fled for remote villages or died in their beds. The disease has several variations, demonstrating that Mother Nature is not only a bitch, but a bitch who likes to spice things up with a little variety. The most common form was the Bubonic plague which brought with it high fevers, aching joints, vomiting and headaches, along with the characteristic formation of buboes. These buboes were hot, hard lumps that appeared in the neck, armpits and groin and caused considerable pain as they bled and oozed more pus than your standard zombie slasher flick. Those who spend their time knee deep in gory descriptions of age old suffering believe that the name “Black Death” comes from the fact that before the victims died, their skin would turn a striking shade of purplish black from hemorrhages under the skin, while the extremities would darken from gangrene. Mortality rates for this version ranged from 30%-75%, meaning if you had to dance with the devil, this was the disease you wanted to see on your dance card. The Pneumonic plague was also part of the Black Death pandemic, and had a mortality rate of 90-95%. Instead of buboes, the plague was airborne and attacked the lungs, causing the victim to trade the whole breathing air option for the far less desirable option of drowning in your own blood until death freed you from this terrible suffering. Septicemic plague was the least prevalent form of the plague, but the most virulent. With an almost perfect kill ratio of 99% it occurred when the bacteria infected the bloodstream instead of the body or lungs, hitting fast with excessive bleeding, high fevers and death occurring before buboes could even form, though purple skin patches often appeared in the short time the victims lived. Septicemic plague can even kill before outward symptoms manifest, as internal organs fail from the massive blood based infection.

Sweating Sickness

To this day the identity of the contagion that caused this deadly ailment is unknown, as it passed out of the world and into history after a final outbreak in 1551, fading away like a washed up 80’s sitcom star. Sweating Sickness or the “English Sweate” first appeared in 1485 in the reign of Henry the VII, and appeared again in 1502, 1507 and 1517, each time killing large portions of the population of England. Symptoms were described as coming on swiftly, starting with a sense of apprehension and unease just to set the mood, and soon followed by cold shivers, giddiness, great exhaustion and severe pain in the neck, shoulders and limbs. The shivers could become quite violent, and the entire phase lasted 30 minutes to 3 hours. Once the cold shivers subsided, an equally unpleasant stage of heat and sweat began, accompanied by delirium, terrible thirst and heart palpitations. The victims would then collapse in exhaustion or succumb to a near irresistible urge to sleep from which many of them never awoke. Death usually took no more than 18 hours, and could come as quickly as 3 hours after the first symptoms appeared. As an added bonus, infection did not grant the survivors any immunity against the mystery malady, and many suffered through more than one infection. In 1528 the worst outbreak occurred, starting in London and over the course of the next year spreading across Eastern Europe, though it never appeared in France or Italy. Within two weeks, the infected area would see a peak in the disease, a large number of victims would perish, and then the illness would disappear. Though not on the same scale as the Black Death or Cholera, this pandemic did bring the workings of King Henry VIII’s country to a stand still as people fled in fear from London and other populated areas, including the King himself, who disbanded his court and moved residences constantly to avoid contracting the contagion. Agriculture stopped, and famine set in as people lived in terror of this fact acting and randomly appearing disease.

How Do You Plan A Romantic Weekend?

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:23:17 +0100

If this were an easy question, then there would be no conflict between men and women. Part of the difficulty lies in defining 'Romance'. Not only does this differ generally between the sexes, but each of us in turn is created differently. The essence of romance is to feel the full love of the person you care about. Starting with HOW your partner feels loved would be a good starting point. In his book "5 Languages of Love", Dr. Gary Chapman defines the different ways that people 'hear' and 'speak' love as: A) Words of Affirmation- saying things that let them know that you both love them, and accept them as who they are

viZZZual.com

B) Physical Touch- not 'sex' (though including sex), but also just a gentle touch, massage, stroking their hair, holding hands, etc. I might add that I've come to feel strongly that sex should be only within marriage. When you have sex with someone, you are in a real sense becoming 'one' with them, and this is not something to be taken lightly.

mikebaird

C) Acts of Service- doing things for the other person. This could be washing their dishes, helping them with homework, washing their car, or any other act to serve their needs

stacy michelle

D) Quality Time- spending time just with them. For some men, this can be just being in the same room, but with many people it involves not doing anything else, but focusing all your attention entirely on them.

Kenneth Hynek

E) Gifts- These don't need to be big, but they show that you have thought of them even when they are not there.

dezinerfolio

Think about how your partner expresses love for you, and these are probably their primary languages of love. When planning a romantic activity, think about speaking their language. If your partner expresses love through gifts, words, and time, then your romantic evening should include these. There are many possibilities on what to do... Focus on those that meet your partners heartfelt needs.

What Are The Most Haunted Buildings In The World?

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:38:24 +0100

There are a lot of places that are widely considered to be haunted. A few famous ones that you can visit are: The Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana, USA; the Tower of London in the UK; Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania; the Queen Mary, docked in California, USA; Raynham Hall in Norfolk, UK.

Myrtles Plantation

Myrtles Plantation was built in 1796 and is reportedly haunted by several ghosts. There have apparently been several murders committed in the house although only one has been verified. It is a beautiful house and the staff allow guests to wander the grounds to ghost hunt but will accompany anyone who wishes to wander about the house.

Tower of London

The Tower of London is a well-preserved historical building and holds regular paid tours. Due to the sheer number of executions, tortures, and murders carried out within it’s walls, it is easily considered one of the most haunted buildings in the world. Guards have reported seeing figures on top of the tower and there are regular sightings of various other victims throughout the property.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary was built in 1829 and once held upwards of 1700 prisoners. There are a number of ghosts and ghostly sounds that have been reported independently by various visitors and staff.

The Queen Mary

The Queen Mary is, according to visitors and staff, definitely haunted. It is a hotel now, but when it was in use a 17 year-old sailor was crushed to death whilst trying to escape a fire. The engine room where he perished is the most haunted area of the ship. Visitors claim to have seen a ‘lady in white’ at the front desk and there have been reports of a young girl haunting the pool. Furniture moves by itself and visitors often feel hands touching them or hear voices.

Norfolk’s Raynham Hall

Norfolk’s Raynham Hall is well known for its ‘Brown Lady’ whose first recorded sighting dates to Christmas 1835. In 1936 the Brown Lady was captured on film and remains one of few seemingly authentic ghost pictures ever taken.