Thursday, December 2, 2010

Gulf Oil Spill Pictures: Aerial Views Show Leak's Size

SOURCE

A boat sails through spilled crude oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf Oil Spill Worsens

Photograph by Chris Graythen, Getty Images

A boat makes its way through crude oil on the water's surface on Wednesday, about a week after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig sank into the Gulf of Mexico. Even now authorities can only guess at the size of the spill, because the ongoing leak is deep underwater.

Most large oil spills in history stemmed from tanker accidents, and their sizes could be reckoned based on the holding capacity of the wrecked vessels.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Russia’s Seven Wonders

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There are seven wonders of the world, but most of them were already destroyed either by the hands of humans or by the cruel passing of time. And last year a group of some Russian TV-channels, newspapers and radio stations hold an official opinion poll and discovered what kinds of real wonders Russia has. Anyone could participate in the poll taking votes via internet or SMS services. So, the seven best-looking and really fascinating places were chosen.

Epic Fails Part 2

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6fails2

Amazing Buildings Swallowed by the Desert

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The desert is one of the best landscapes for finding ancient buildings. The arid climate lends itself to preservation, and there is little danger of serious decay or damage from flooding. At the same time, the sand is an ever-shifting geographic feature that can swallow whole towns both quickly (as in a violent sandstorm) or slowly (as it shifts over time). The elements of one of the world’s harshest climates can wreak havoc on anything man-made, even while providing the perfect climate for it to be preserved.

Weird Furniture, More like Incredible....

SOURCE
October 19, 2010

Furniture of French artist Michel Haillard – can be said that it is unusual, interesting, a bit intimidating, luxurious, but most of all it is very authentic. Haillard does not stop only on the skin of crocodiles, zebras, ostrich… he inserts in his furniture other details such as animal horns, tusks and tails. Furniture is not completely made of natural fur, but it is combined with wood, bronze and silver. Enjoy.

Buzludzha - The Abandoned Communist Concrete Flying Saucer in Bulgaria

pictures sources : 8
text source : 2



G Auad, a reader of The Artificial owl nicely sent me some pictures of this incredible abandoned buildinglocated in the mountains of his country, Bulgaria. This is the first inclusion on AO of a reader's suggestion, and frankly I hope to get a lot more, because this one is great. Thanks G Auad!

Do You See the Difference?

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How much difference is between what we see in advertisements for various types of food and what we get to the plate? See for your self.

do you see the difference01

Sex, War & Beauty - Milo Manara’s History of Mankind Illustrated

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The evolution of man itself is a complex issue. So is also the history of mankind. It is so extensive, complex and filled with details that this is a nearly impossible task to explain. So here it is, the history of the human race, in pictures from the beginning to the present day.

The common features in all the stages, you’ll find, are: War, Women, Sex & Intrigue
(Caution: illustration may be explicit to some people).

Blurred Out: 51 Things You Aren't Allowed to See on Google Maps

Source

Depending on which feature you use, Google Maps offers a satellite view or a street-level view of tons of locations around the world. You can look up landmarks like the Pyramids of Egypt or the Great Wall of China, as well as more personal places, like your ex’s house. But for all of the places that Google Maps allows you to see, there are plenty of places that are off-limits. Whether it’s due to government restrictions, personal-privacy lawsuits or mistakes, Google Maps has slapped a "Prohibited" sign on the following 51 places.

Government and Military Sites

  1. The White House: Google Maps' images of the White House show a digitally erased version of the roof in order to obscure the air-defense and security assets that are in place. 
  2. The U.S. Capitol: The U.S. Capitol has been fuzzy ever since Google Maps launched. Current versions of Google Maps and Google Earth show these sites uncensored, though with old pictures. 
  3. Dick Cheney's House: The Vice President's digs at Number One Observatory Circle are obscured through pixelation in Google Earth and Google Maps at the behest of the U.S. government. However, high-resolution photos and aerial surveys of the property are readily available on other Web sites. 
  4. Soesterberg Air Base, in the Netherlands: This Dutch air-force base and former F-15 base for the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War can't be seen via Google Maps.

Wooden Church in the Village Paltoga Vologda Region

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Wooden church in the village Paltoga Vologda region, not far from Lake Onega, Russia. The church was built in 1733, and 19th century is edged with boards, covered with iron and painted with white paint. In 1810, a number of built brick Znamenskaya church.

The 10 Most Amazing Unexplained Artifacts

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Every once in a while archaeologists (and sometimes regular Joes) make some remarkable discoveries. Stunned, they are often unable to explain what it is they’ve found, how it came into existence, or ascertain its value. This is a comprehensive list of such artifacts; artifacts that many believe should have never existed given the discerned age/period of their creation.

THE LONDON HAMMER – A TOOL OLDER THAN HISTORY

35 Impossible Landscapes from Mars

Sources: 1 2 3

Are you tired of seeing landscapes from this planet? If you are, we have a treat for you. Thanks to NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) which has been orbiting Mars since 2006, currently circling approximately 300 km (187 mi) above the Martian surface. On board the MRO the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera has been photographing the planet for several years now at resolutions as fine as mere inches per pixel.


The Worlds Most Expensive Car - Maybach Exelero

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The Maybach Exelero was first introduced by German car manufacturer Maybach in 2005. This two-seater vehicle is said to be the fastest car in the world with a top speed of 351 km/hr. This luxury car is priced at a whopping $8,000,000 USD. At that price it can be safely assumed that you have to be unbelievably wealthy to even fathom buying this baby. If you just happen to win the lottery over and over and think that you can finally lay your hands on a Maybach, I’d suggest you spend that money in acquiring a vacation home in at least three continents along with a Mercedes S-class sedan to accessorize each home. But, if you happen to be P. Diddy, then nothing should stop you from buying this insanely expensive beauty for your 16 year old son’s birthday! However, you do not need to have any money to enjoy these beautiful photos of the Maybach Exelero and I’d suggest a good nap after to drive this dream car.

Nuclear Testing Turned All Our Teeth Radioactive

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Nuclear bomb testing in the 1950s has resulted in an unexpected occurrence: it has turned the teeth of all humans on the planet radioactive. Researchers discovered this phenomenon while trying to determine the age of deceased individuals. They have found that all our teeth are, in fact, radioactive clocks.

Scary Looking Wind Tunnel Tests Supersonic Planes

SOURCE

Check out this behemoth. Look’s scary, doesn’t it? This is a wind tunnel used for testing super and hypersonic aircrafts, located on Tennessee’s Arnold Air Force Base.



To echo our pals at Jalopnik: I definitely wouldn’t want to stand in that man’s shoes when someone flips the “on” switch. It is used to test “advanced hypersonic technologies such as wave-rider-type vehicles, scramjets and transatmospheric space planes.”

The Factual Metal Gear Robot

SOURCE

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is a story of giant robots, weapons and Cold War drama. It may be fantasy, but did you know that in the early 1960s, the US military actually had a giant robot like metal gear?


Meet the “Beetle”.

Built by Jered Industries in Detroit for General Electric’s ominous — and very Metal Gear-sounding — Nuclear Materials and Propulsion Operation division, the Beetle was a mechanical terror designed for the Air Force Special Weapons Centre, initially to service and maintain a planned fleet of atomic-powered Air Force bombers. According to declassified Air Force reports, work began on the “mech” in 1959, and it was completed in 1961.

25 Bizarre Buildings/Houses

SOURCE
25 Bizarre Buildings in photos:

1. The Basket House USA


Top 10 Creepy Aspects of Victorian Life

Source
by JFrater

My birthday is on Monday so today I am in a mood of recollecting that life is short and we should live it to the full. In honor of the “life is short” bit, I have come up with a slightly depressing list (don’t worry – I will post a happier one tomorrow). The Victorians were a special breed and this list looks at 10 aspects of life from the Victorian era that are creepy. Note that the focus is entirely on Victorian England. Be sure to post any we have missed in the comments.

10
Vignettes



The Victorian upper class (and later middle class) had no televisions to entertain them, so they entertained themselves. One of the popular forms of entertainment was for friends and family to dress up in outrageous costumes and pose for each other. This sounds innocent – but just think: can you imagine your grandmother dressing up as a greek wood nymph posing on a table in the living room while everyone applauds? No. You can’t. The idea is, in fact, creepy. But for the Victorians, this was perfectly normal and fun.

The Dumbest Inventions of the Twentieth Century

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The twentieth century was the century of inventions, and if we looked at the time line of historic developments and inventions, we’ll notice that our civilization achieved greater growth during that period in the field of science, technology, medicine, infrastructure, etc then in the whole course of human history. Technology, science, and inventions have progressed at an accelerated rate during the hundred years of the 20th century, more so than any other century.

We began the 20th century with the infancy of airplanes, automobiles, and radio, when those inventions dazzled us with their novelty and wonder. The expansion was from all points of the compass and besides all those great inventions some good, some bad that all had great impact on the whole human race, there were also a few not so successful ones.

Here is the list of the top ten dumbest and most useless inventions in the twentieth century. Have you ever thought about little umbrella over your cigarette that will make it easier to smoke in the rain? Or, what do you say about motorized surfboard? You name it, they’ve made it! I’m not all that surprised with the ideas, but I’m really surprised anyone actually built those crazy inventions.

1.


We’ll start with baby cage, built in 1937 and distributed in London. This “adorable” and not at all Nazi-like cage was suspended over the windows over a busy street so the baby could enjoy the fresh air.

7 Amazing Transparent Animals – Wonders of Nature

Source

Nature is fascinating and often weird, it surprises us when we least expect. Some creatures use the camouflage techniques as a hunting and defense mechanism, others show everything they have - liketransparent animals. Despite of what we are inclined to think, transparent and translucent animals live also on the ground, not only in the abyss of the ocean and we have visual proof of it. Nothing is photoshopped!

1. Transparent Frog


Wednesday, October 20, 2010

6 Creative Hotel Concepts

Source
April 7, 2009 by uphaa

1. Capsule Hotel



The Capsule Inn Akihabara is an unique hotel expereince only available in Japan.

8 Amazing Scale Building Models made from Ordinary Kitchen Matchsticks

Source
August 20, 2009 by uphaa

8 extraordinary models made from millions of matchsticks, some of which have been featured in Ripley’s ‘Believe It or Not.'

1. Minas Tirith, the City of Kings

6 Most Amazing Treasures Nobody Ever Found

Source:1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Source
November 5, 2008 by uphaa

1. The Ark of the Covenant



To the ancient Israelites, the Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred thing on Earth. The central and paramount object of the Hebrew nation, this ornate chest was, according to the Bible, designed by God.

Bad Drivers or Bad Luck?


You can only blame a sticky accelerator for so much...!

The Future Dubai?

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the future of dubai's waterfront
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duabi or dubai city is located on the northern tip of the united arab emeritus on the persian gulf. it has been ruled by the al maktoum dynasty since 1833 and has existed in its modern state since 1971. the current ruler is mohammed bin rashid al maktoum, who is also the prime minister and vice president of the united arab emirates. the rather small city has a population of 1.6 million people and a 37 billion USD economy based largely on trade, manufacturing and financial services. contrary to popular belief petrol and natural gas only make up a small percentage of revenues.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Oil Tax

http://www.tv.com/video/43659/60-minutes-full-episodes--60-minutes-01.11.09

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Friday, August 13, 2010

Massive Berry Bank in Russia One Step Closer to Demolition

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Scientists will likely be forced to say "Do svidaniya" to a massive cache of rare genetic samples.

World's Largest Tidal Turbine Unveiled in Scotland - Yes, It's Humongous

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photos: Atlantis Resources Corp.

Thailand Attempts to Solve Overfishing By Dumping Tanks, Trains and Trucks into Sea (Video)

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Thailand has decided to dump 27 army tanks, 273 old train carts, and 198 garbage trucks into the sea. It's a whole lot of scrap metal hitting the ocean floor, but it's all in an effort to create an artificial reef to solve the problem of overfishing. Government officials believe that by providing more habitat for species, the fishing industry can be sustained. While skeptical at first, locals are also latching on to the idea. Video report after the jump. Huffington Post Green points us to this news report from Al Jezeera:

Non-recyclable Cardboard Housing: The Next Strawbale?

SOURCE

Images: Auburn University Rural Studio

You've probably heard of strawbale construction -- but what about cardboard bale construction? We already know cardboard is pretty versatile and can be found anywhere from furniture, to ornaments, to mulch, to houses and earthquake resistant schools. But what can be done with non-recyclable waxed cardboard that usually ends up in some landfill? As a team of Auburn University students are showing in this experimental student housing project called Corucon, even the hard-to-recycle, waxed corrugated kind of cardboard can still be reclaimed and used instead as bales for building, much like strawbales.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The most damaging substances to delicate intestinal flora include - YoungLiving Newsletter


YoungLiving for you...

Renew You: Did You Know?

The most damaging substances to delicate intestinal flora include:

  • Treated city water
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Sugar consumption
  • Medications
  • Poor nutrition
  • Antibiotics

Monday, March 29, 2010

FW: Good Eggs!, Here are some ideas for your Easter Eggs

A little imagination and a marking pen can put a smile on your face. Enjoy!

I love the facial expressions!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

msnbc.com: Mystery white light worries Norway


10 Most Amazing Temples in the World

SOURCE
Alex Santoso • Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 12:01 AM

More than a quarter of all people in the world belong to Eastern religions, which include Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism. These people worship in temples, which are architecturally as diverse as the religions are different from each other. From the ancient ruins of Ankor Wat to the distinctly modern Wat Rong Khun, there are hundreds if not thousands of amazing temples in the world.

I have long been fascinated by the temples and sacred sites of Eastern religions. After doing an article on some amazing churches from around the world (10 Divinely Designed Churches), it's only right that we do a follow up on the ten most fascinating temples in Asia. Here they are, in no particular order:

Tiger's Nest Monastery

Tiger's Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of a 3,000-feet-high cliff in Paro Valley, is one of the holiest places in Bhutan. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche [wiki], the second Buddha, flew onto the cliff on the back of a tigress, and then meditated in a cave which now exists within the monastery walls.

The monastery, formally called Taktshang Goemba, was built in 1692 and reconstructed in 1998 after a fire. Now, the monastery is restricted to practicing Buddhists on religious retreats and is off-limits to ordinary tourists.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

5 Interesting Theories on World Creation - Road Tickle

SOURCE

For centuries, people have wondered how the world was created. We may never know how we came to be, but there are many different theories on the subject. From scientists to mathematicians to religious deities all have theories on how the world was created. What theory you choose to believe is up to you.

1. The Mayans

According to the Mayans, there were two people, Tepeu and Gucumatz. They would sit around and think about things and then those things would exist. They thought up the mountains, the earth, the oceans, the sky and the animals and once they did they appeared. They used clay to create people, which would fall apart when they got wet, so they made people at of wood. These people would cause trouble so the God created a flood and wiped them out. They were allowed to start over. This is how the Earth became what it is today.

Strangest Creature Found on Earth - Chill Out Point

SOURCE

I don’t think these photos requires any special comment. These are fantastic world news worthy of headlining any newspaper around the world. This creature, was found on Thailand, its strangely shaped body leaves a lot of mastery around it . The photographer has captured with his camera a truly unique and amazing moment, and got himself a fantastic photographs that make up a great story.

As all good mysteries it happens in far away from the technology wonders of the modern society in Thailand. You can see a lot of local folks in the background of these photos that seem to worship this creature they have “found”. The end result is an even more absurd and even humorous scene. They managed to get me even more amazed by this baby powder and juices they brought as a tribute to this creature. They have even brought a fan to keep it well preserved for the scientists.

Mesmerizing low-speed photography (17 photos) : theCHIVE

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Parents of The Year (25 photos) : theCHIVE

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Monster Sandstorm Smashes Saudi Capital (12 Photos + 1 video) : theCHIVE

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Residents of Saudi Arabia’s capital are cleaning up after a huge sandstorm blanketed Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a thick layer of yellow dust. In some areas, nearly a foot of sand covered cars and homes.

I Hate My Job, Worst Jobs On Earth : theCHIVE


These People Exist...! (20 Photos) : theCHIVE

SOURCE

Abandoned Moscow Tunnels | Wacky Owl - Strange and Weird Stuff


The abandoned Moscow tunnels are really scary and weird. The present picture of these tunnels scares us and represents fear factor. They are such long that if anybody goes in these tunnels will get scared. It seems like it is the way to go from one world to another. these tunnels need the maintenance and of course the person who will go to repair these tunnels will himself get scared of it. the strange condition of these tunnels force us to think about. With less effort we can make them again proper functioning. We have to repair the damages so that in future it should not become dangerous.

Moscow underground tunnels

The World's 5 Most Strangest Tunnels | Wacky Owl - Strange and Weird Stuff

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cu chi tunnel The Worlds 5 Most Strangest Tunnels

“Duga”, the Steel Giant Near Chernobyl

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Bodyshock: The Amazing Story behind the 256 Year-Old Man | Environmental Graffiti

SOURCE

By Chris Ingham Brooke – Chief Graffiti Artist
Li Ching-Yun
Photo:
Li Ching-Yun. Image from The People’s Republic of China
According to the 1933 obituaries in both Time Magazine and the New York Times, Li Ching-Yun was reported to have buried 23 wives and fostered 180 descendants by the time he died at the age of 256.

10 absolutely jaw dropping concept car designs

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English Russia » The World’s First Nuclear Power Plant

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Oldest Nuclear Power Plant 27

English Russia » Inserting a Reactor

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Atomic station construction 2

15 Strangest Musical Instruments - Road Tickle

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Underwater Church Reappears

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Top 10 Bizarre Feats of Architecture | Top 10 Lists | TopTenz.net

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Atomium

English Russia » Abandoned Prince’s House

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Abandoned Russian palace in Abkhazia 4

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 First Details Photo Gallery (sls-amg-gt3-exterior) | eMercedesBenz

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Mercedes-Benz SLS:

Possible Christmas Present........Idea!!

The Synthetic Kingdom on Vimeo

The Synthetic Kingdom on Vimeo

The Synthetic Kingdom from Daisy Ginsberg on Vimeo.

A Natural History of the Synthetic Future


Synthetic Biology is turning to the living kingdoms for its materials library. No more petrochemicals: instead, pick a feature from an existing organism, locate its DNA code and insert it into a biological chassis. From DIY hacked bacteria to entirely artificial, corporate life-forms, engineered life will compute, produce energy, clean up pollution, make self-healing materials, kill pathogens and even do the housework. Manufacturers will transcend biomimicry, engineering bacteria to secrete keratin for sustainable vacuum cleaner casings; synthesise biodegradable gaskets from abalone shell proteins and fill photocopier toner cartridges with photosensitive E. coli. Meanwhile, we’ll have to add an extra branch to the Tree of Life. The Synthetic Kingdom is part of our new nature.

Biotech promises us control over the natural world, but living machines need controlling. Biology doesn’t respect boundaries or patents. And in simplifying life to its molecular interactions, might we accidently degrade our sense of self? Are promises of sustainability and unparalleled good health seductive enough to accept such compromise?

Credits

Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg

Animation by Cath Elliot
http://www.littlegiantpictures.co.uk/

The Synthetic Kingdom
© Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg
Design Interactions Royal College of Art 2009
www.daisyginsberg.com

Macro Photos of Animal Eyes - Stella's Magazine

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