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interesting facts about gold

2008-12-28T10:26:00.000-08:00

Exactly what is that fascinating and beautifully rare metallic element, so highly venerated since the dawn of creation? Gold: everyone knows what it is, but not everyone knows how truly amazing it is. Did you know…?

Gold is so rare that the world pours more steel in an hour than it has poured gold since the beginning of time.

Gold is so rare, only 90,000 tons of it have been taken from the earth in recorded history.

Gold is so malleable and soft that one ounce can be stretched into a wire 50 miles long.

Gold is so malleable that one ounce can be hammered into a sheet so thin it would cover 100 square feet.

South Africa leads the world in gold production. Other countries leading world production are Russia, Canada, and the United States.

Gold is so heavy that one cubic foot of it weighs one half a ton.

A one ounce natural gold nugget is rarer than a 5 carat diamond

All the gold in the world could be compressed into an 18 yard cube.

Experts estimate that there are only 41,000 tons of gold left in the earth to mine.

Gold has been used by man for more than 66 centuries, In fact, the first nugget mined, now over 6,000 years old, probably exists in some form today because of its durability, considering the way gold is remelted and recast, that first nugget could be part of a ring, watch, or gold chain that you are wearing.

Gold can be fired into clays to produce incredibly stunning porcelain or glass.

here are gold mines in South Africa that are more than a mile deep!

Gold has the chemical symbol Au, short for the Latin word for gold, ‘Aurum”.

Interesting facts about oil

2008-12-28T10:21:00.000-08:00

Below you will find some interesting information on oil, gas and ocean environment. Click on the links provided to go directly to the source of information.

What is the future of oil production?
EIA estimates that, based on recent USGS estimates of the global oil resource base, worldwide oil production is likely to continue increasing for more than three decades.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/
presentations/2000/long_term_supply/sld020.htm

How much oil is there in the world?
In 1996 there were 1,047,200 million barrels of proven crude oil reserves, of which 76.6 per cent was in OPEC Member Countries.
(from OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin: 1996).
http://www.opec.org/faqs.htm

How much oil do the top oil producers produce a day?
Amount of oil produced per day:

Saudi Arabia* - 8.1 million barrels per day;
*Including share of production from the Neutral Zone

Former Soviet Union - 6.9 million barrels per day;

United States - 6.5 million barrels per day;

I.R. Iran - 3.6 million barrels per day;

China - 3.2 million barrels per day.

(from OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin: 1996).
http://www.opec.org/faqs.htm

Which countries use the most oil and gas?
The top oil user is the USA (17 million barrels per day) and top gas user is the former Soviet Union (23,000 billion cubic feet per year)
http://www.lib.kth.se/~lg/envsite.htm

How much oil does the world consume each day?
The total world consumption of crude oil in 1996 was 71.7 million barrels per day (there are 42 US gallons in a barrel, or 159 litres). OPEC estimates that total world oil consumption could reach around 100 million barrels per day by the year 2020.
(From OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin: 1996, OWEM Scenarios Report: 1998.)
http://www.opec.org/faqs.htm

How much oil enters the ocean?
The amount of petroleum products ending up in the ocean is estimated at 0.25% of world oil production: about 6 million tons per year.
http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN_DOCS/
OCDST/shuttle_oceanography_web/oss_122.html

How much oil enters the oceans with oil spills?
Oil spills account for only about five percent of the oil entering the oceans. The Coast Guard estimates that for United States waters sewage treatment plants discharge twice as much oil each year as tanker spills.
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/
education_threats.html
During the last decade, more than one billion gallons of oil spilled worldwide.
http://www.marinergroup.com, see also http://www.marinergroup.com/oil-spill-history.htm

What is 'the number one' oil spill in terms of damage to the environment?
The Exxon Valdez spill is widely considered the number one spill worldwide in terms of damage to the environment. It is also the largest ever spill in the United States, but ranks around 34th largest worldwide.
http://www.oilspill.state.ak.us/history/history.htm

What are the world largest oil spills?
The three world largest oil spills are:

26 January 1991; terminals, tankers; 8 sources total Sea Island installations; Kuwait; off coast in Persian Gulf and in Saudi Arabia (240.0 millions of gallons);

03 June 1979; exploratory well Ixtoc I well; Mexico; Gulf of Mexico, Bahia Del Campeche, 80 km NW of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche (140.0 millions of gallons);

02 March 1992; oil well; Uzbekistan; Fergana Valley (88.0 millions of gallons)

(from International Oil Spill Statistics: 1997)
http://www.cutter.com/osir/biglist.htm

How much oil was spilled during the Exxon Valdez?
The amount of spilled oil was 10.8 million gallons or 257,000 barrels or 38,800 metric tonnes. This amount of oil can fill up about 125 olympic-sized swimming pools.
http://www.oilspill.state.ak.us/history/history.htm

What are the most polluted ocean areas detected from space?
Widespread manmade pollution of the sea that can be detected by current spaceborne systems is concentrated in the Middle East, particularly in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN_DOCS/OCDST/
shuttle_oceanography_web/oss_122.html

What are the largest world oil ultimate recovery estimates?
The largest world oil ultimate recovery estimates are the newly released USGS estimates. The USGS 95 percent probable value is 2,248 billion barrels (meaning there is a 19 out of 20 chance that the value will be greater than 2,248 billion barrels). Similarly, the USGS says there is a 5 percent probability (1 chance out of 20) that the value will exceed 3,896 billion barrels. The USGS mean estimate (the expected value) is 3,003 billion barrels.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/
presentations/2000/long_term_supply/sld020.htm

Which countries have the world's largest proven crude oil reserves?
Countries that have the world's largest proven crude oil reserves are (1996):

Saudi Arabia (261,444 millions of barrels);

Iraq (112,000 millions of barrels);

United Arab Emirates (97,800 millions of barrels);

Kuwait (96,500 millions of barrels);

IR Iran (92,600 millions of barrels).

(From OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin: 1996).
http://www.opec.org/faqs.htm

What is the role of oil and natural gas in the economy of different countries?
Oil supplies the US with 30% of its energy, 50% for the UK, 10% for Japan, 22% for India and 90% for Nigeria
Natural gas supplies the US with 26% of its energy, 18% for the UK, 4% for India and 3% for Japan
http://www.lib.kth.se/~lg/envsite.htm

Will oil remain the most important source of energy?
Yes, OPEC forecasts that oil demand will continue to grow strongly and oil will remain the world's single most important source of energy for the foreseeable future. OPEC forecasts that oil's share of the worldwide energy market will fall from almost 40 per cent in 1995 to less than 37 per cent in 2020. But oil will still be the world's single largest source of energy. The reduction in oil's market share is largely due to the stronger growth enjoyed by other forms of energy, particularly gas. The amount of oil demanded worldwide is actually expected to rise, from around 70 million barrels per day in 1995 to about 100 million barrels per day in 2020.
http://www.opec.org/faqs.htm

What is the role of coastal areas for the US and world economy?
Although coastal areas comprise one-fifth of the land area of the contiguous 48 states, they account for more than a half of the nation's population and housing supply. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that America's coastal waters support 28.3 million jobs and generate $54 billion in goods and services every year. Over 180 million Americans visit US coasts every year. The commercial fish and shellfish industry contributes $45 billion to the economy every year, and recreational fishing contributes $30 billion.
http://www.coastalcoalition.org/facts/coastalregions.html

Within thirty years a billion more people will be living along the coasts than are alive today.
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/
education_threats.html

What are the US States with the longest coastline?
US States with the longest coastline are:

Alaska (33,904 miles);

Florida (8,436 miles); and

Louisiana (7,721 miles).

What are the US States with the largest population?
Coastal states with the largest population are:

California (21,859,530);

New York (15,026,340); and

Florida (12,356,550).

(Statistics compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
http://www.coastalcoalition.org/facts/statistics/stats.cstate.html

How deep is the ocean?
The depth of the ocean is remarkably variable, from the surf zones at the world's beaches to the deep ocean trenches. The deepest point in the ocean is generally believed to be in the Marianas Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean at approximately 36,160 feet [11,021 m], according to the Rand McNally Atlas of the Oceans (1977).
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-oceanfaq.html

Where is the Exxon Valdez now?
The Exxon Valdez was repaired and renamed the Sea River Mediterranean. It is used now to haul oil across the Atlantic. The ship is prohibited by law from returning to Prince William Sound.
http://www.oilspill.state.ak.us/history/history.htm

True facts about earthquake

2008-11-22T10:54:00.000-08:00

1. Earthquake: shaking and trembling at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity. An earthquake is a vibration or a shaking movement of the Earth’s surface. Earthquakes typically result from the movement of faults, quasi-planar zones of deformation within its uppermost layers.

2. Earthquakes can’t be prevented, but they can be mitigated.

3. Hypocenter is the point where the earthquake rupture begins, usually deep down on the fault.

4. Epicenter is the point on the surface directly above the hypocenter.

5. The Circum-Pacific belt is the zone in Pacific Ocean where about 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur.

6. The world’s deadliest recorded earthquake occurred in 1557 in central China (more than 830000 people were killed).

7. The Richter Scale is used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes, as determined by seismograph measurements of the height of ground oscillations during an earthquake. The Richter scale has no upper limit.

8. The Modified Mercalli Scale measures the intensity of an earthquake; it’s scale based on observable earthquake damage. This scale is composed of 12 increasing levels of intensity

9. Seismograph are device that detects and records the vibrations of an earthquake.

10. Most viewed video about earthquake at Youtube is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__r5J3ODNx0

facts about barack obama

2008-11-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama Facts

Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, to a black man and a white woman.
Barack Obama is the nominee of the democratic party in the 2008 presidential election.
At age six, Obama moved to Indonesia, where he lived for a few years.
Obama worked as a community organizer immediately after graduation.
He also worked as a university professor, political activist, and lawyer before serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004.
He was propelled to stardom by giving the 2004 democratic convention keynote speech.
Obama has sponsored bills ranging from lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, weapons control, nuclear terrorism, and better veterans care.
Obama had never had much of a relationship with ACORN.[more]
Obama has never run a foundation with Bill Ayers.[more]
hocolate
Top 10 Interesting Facts About Barack Obama
1.) He won a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Spoken Word Recording. It was for the audio version of his book Dreams From My Father.

2.) He and his wife bought a house in Chicago in 2005. Back then it cost $1.65 million. The house has 4 fireplaces.

Barack Obama's House In Chicago

3.) He doesn’t like ice-cream. He worked in Baskin-Robbins as a teenager. That’s where his distaste for ice-cream comes from.

4.) He loves playing Scrabble. He never commented on how good he is, though.

5.) He is bi-racial. He was born to a Kenyan father and a white American mother. In his book Dreams From My Father he writes that he barely noticed the racial difference between his mum and dad in his young age.

6.) He experimented with drugs. Back in his early years he tried marijuana and cocaine. According to his own words he is not proud of it and considers it a mistake as a young man.

7.) He smokes but wants to quit. After all, there is a non-smoking policy in the White House.

Barack Obama with a cigarette. He is trying to quit but

8.) He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii but went to live in Indonesia with his mum when the parents divorced. There he was introduced to dog meat, snake meat, and roasted grasshopper.

9.) According to his wife Michelle he is very romantic. He is not a door opener but he remembers every anniversary and brings her flowers all the time.

10.) Every night when he is at home he reads the Harry Potter books to his oldest daughter Malia.

Interesting 7 Brain Habits you Weird to know

2008-11-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

Brain is certainly the most amazing part of human body. It becomes more interesting when it does not work the way you expect it should. Psychology frequently establishes our intuitions about how human mind works, but it reveals a number of surprises as well…

Although some psychology students will have heard one or two of these before, here’s a list of brain habits you probably didn’t realize you had:

1) The maximum capacity of your short-term memory is seven.

Humans have basically three forms of memory: Sensory, Long-term and Short-term. Long-term memory is just like hard-drive space. Similarly, Short-term memory functions like a very small RAM. This Short-term memory is capable to hold only about five to nine (seven is an average) items at a time.

Retrieving information longer than this will need you to either pack it together into seven units or store it in Long-term memory. Have you observed that the most phone numbers have only seven digits?

2) The most visible color is Chartreuse.

Yellowish green, chartreuse, is naturally placed right in the middle of the frequencies of visible light. Human eyes have receptors for green, blue and red colors. Being placed in the middle, chartreuse actuates the most of these receptors to fire, making it distinct and easier to spot. For the same reason, in some metropolises, firetrucks have been modified from red to a yellowish green color to make them more visible and obvious to the eye.

3) Subconscious is smarter than you.

Subconscious is smarter than you. In other words, it is more powerful. In a recent study, a square was attributed to a location on a computer screen through a complex pattern. After watching it out, people began to get results better than the chance of recognizing where the square would crop up next. However, when they were inquired to consciously find out the pattern, even given a few hours, nobody really did it!

4) There are two nervous systems.

We have two sets of nervous systems. One controls excitation, while the other controls inhibition. If you hold out your hand, you might observe minor tremors. This is actually stimulated by slight, random differences in the amount each of the two systems are firing.

5) Brain is exceptionally bad at probability.

Your high-school math teacher might have told you about this one. Here what’s interesting isn’t that your brain is bad at probability. But how? In one study, recipients were asked:

Jessica is 31 years old, single, candid, and very promising. She graduated in philosophy. As a student, she was anxious about discrimination issues and social justice, and also took part in anti-nuclear demonstrations.

Assign a rank to the following statements from most probable to least probable: Jessica is a teacher in an elementary school.

Jessica works in a bookstore and takes Yoga classes.
Jessica is active in the feminist movement.
Jessica is a psychiatric social worker.
Jessica is a member of the League of Women Voters.
Jessica is a bank teller.
Jessica is an insurance salesperson.
Jessica is a bank teller and is active in the feminist movement.

Nearly 90% of students responded that #7 was more probable than #5. This is despite the fact that to be a bank teller and in the feminist movement is entirely contained within the set of #5 (just being a bank teller). It is observable that our minds like to think more details make events more probable, not less.

6) Memory isn’t great either.

Research has revealed that people are highly probable to misremember past events. Even worse, it is quite easy to suggest a memory that never happened. Due to this fact, so-called “repressed” memories should be given a lot of consideration. It is extremely easier to suggest a memory of a situation that never encountered, then it is to recover one that actually did.

7) Depth is perceivable with one eye.

It’s not quite true that depth perception is totally the result of having two eyes. Binocular vision does help in making a three-dimensional image. Still, most of your capability to perceive depth comes from inside your brain. It has been wired to look at angles and proportions to measure distance.

If you needed two eyes to perceive depth, then most optical illusions wouldn’t work and it would be extremely difficult to gather information from two-dimensional images. Not to mention a great number of one-eyed pirates walking overboard.

Paypal Alternatives

2008-07-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

A lot of people continuously bombard me with the questions as to who the best online payment processor is, from where can I get an online merchant account for their website to accept payments, is there an alternative of Paypal, How can I get a paypal account, etc.

So here is my condensed list. Over the days, I will slowly make public the reviews I had done on each and everyone of these payment processors / gateways, etc.

For now, be content with the list, hope it helps. If you know of any other, please do write it down in the comments section.

2CO
Alert Pay
Alter Gold
Authorize.net
Bank of America
Blue Pay
Cash U
CC Avenue
CC Bill
CC Now
CDG Commerce
C-Gold
Charge
Concorde FS Net
CyberBit
Dao Pay
Durango Merchant Services
eCharge
EBS (Processor for Indian companies only)
EC Suite
Echo Online
E-Gold
Elavon
Electracash
Entropay
ePassporte
Face Book Payment
Application
Fail Safe Payments
Fastspring
First Pay
Gate2Shop
GloBill
Go Real Time
Google Payments
iKobo
InstaBill
Internet Secure
iTransact
Liberty Reserve
Link Point
Miva Merchant
Money Bookers
Money Gram
Net Billing
No Chex
Pay Omo
Pay Pal
Pay Pay
Payoneer
Pecunix
Planet Payment
Plimus
Plug n Play
PS Bills
PSI Gate
RegNow
Revolution Money Exchange
Robo Xchange
RTWare
Safe Charge
Safe Pay Card
Safe Pay Solutions
Skip Jack
Trans First
Via Klix
Western Union
WM Transfer
World Pay
W-Pay
Xcoin
Xoom

Entries in Bold, needless to say are the most well-known ones.

Strange Business & Politics Facts

2008-07-23T12:25:00.000-07:00

American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad in first class.
There are 100 million internet users in China. Some of the sites they can't access are BBC news, Amnesty International and Dalailama.com.
The original name of Bank of America was Bank of Italy.
Topless saleswomen are legal in Liverpool, England, but only in tropical fish stores.
If the entire population of earth was reduced to exactly 100 people,50% of the world's currency would be held by 6 people.
Ninety percent of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.
Members of the armed forces and the police cannot vote in the Dominican Republic.
The Mall in Washington, D.C. is 1.4 times larger than Vatican City.
72% of people in Mali earn less than $1 per day.
More than 20% of the votes in the 2001 elections in Argentina were invalid.
You can be imprisoned for not voting in Fiji, Chile and Egypt - at least in theory.
Former enemies, America and Russia now have a great deal in common - they both lead the world in locking people up.
The word "politics" describes the process so well: "Poli" in Latin meaning "many" and "tics" meaning "bloodsucking creatures."
Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, and Dostoyevsky were all epileptics (aka brain disorder).
The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
The 3 most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.
The highest publicly reported amount of money paid for a domain name is $7.5 million! Paid for business.com.
A single individual, Dr. Lieven P. Van Neste, owns over 200,000 domain names!
Every 23 seconds a Tupperware party starts somewhere in the world.
The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system, employing over a million people!
The major air-polluting industries are iron, steel and cement.
Sweden is the largest spender on ketchup.
Adolf Hitler had only one testicle.
Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian.
A company, Warner Communications paid $28 million for the copyright to the song 'Happy Birthday'.
The 'save' icon on Microsoft Word shows a floppy disk, with the shutter on backwards.
More Monopoly money is printed yearly than real money throughout the world.

Nostradamus and World War III Predictions

2008-07-12T04:02:00.000-07:00

Internet discussion forums seems abuzz with talk that Nostradamus forecast the attack on the World Trade Center in New York. Thousands of people have received e-mails from known/unknown sources containing this prophecy, often with a second part forecasting that the attack on the twin towers will mark the beginning of World War III. Several versions are doing the rounds. This is one of many:

In the year of the new century and nine months,
from the sky will come a great king of terror...
the sky will burn at forty-ive degree.
fire approaches the great new city...

In the city of york there will be a great collapse,
2 twin brothers torn apart by chaos
while the fortress falls the great leader will succumb
third big war will begin when the city is burning.

The author of the first link came up with the following conclusions :

--2001 is the first year of the new century and this is the 9th month.

--New York is located at the 41st degree Latitude.

--Nostradamus also said that this would be the third World War and it would be bigger than the last two wars.

The author wrapped-up his posting by uttering his anxiety - "I hope he is wrong, but judging from his predictions of Hitler, Napoleon, and Pearl Harbor...."

Really a scary situation, indeed- if really happens, isn't it ? But as being a skeptic and rationalist, I have investigated the whole issue thoroughly, and I respectfully disagree with the above mentioned "wishful" prophecy. Before giving my reply to above-mentioned post, lets check the common FAQ about Nostradamus from a skeptic's point of view.

Michel Nostradamus was a 16th century French physician and astrologer. But his modern followers now a day consider him as a prophet. They found some magical quality in his prophecies: they are muddled and obscure before the predicted event, but become crystal clear after the event has occurred ! Nostradamus actually was educated as a physician in his early life and was noted for his work during the plagues of the 16th century. But in later years, he worked as an astrologer to clients who included the Queen of France.

Nostradamus wrote four-line verses (quatrains) in groups of 100 (Centuries). Nostradamus' methods of prophecy can be broken down into three techniques:

First, he takes past events and puts them in symbolic language (nowhere any real name, place or event used) which renders these events unrecognizable, then puts them in the future tense,

Second, he describes a series of well-chosen probabilities based on contemporary conditions, and also puts these events in the future tense,

and the Third technique for predicting the future is Nostradamus' series of random guesses.

An Unbiased study on Nostradamus and his famous prediction by the skeptics and rationalists proved that his prediction or prophecy is far from being a "miracle", but it is just a hoax. Skeptics consider the "prophecies" of Nostradamus to be mainly gibberish. Success of His "prediction" now a day entirely dependent on misleading and wishful translation of his supporters. The supporters of Nostradamus are very good at predicting events not before but AFTER THE FACT occurred, often relying on doubtful translations of the original French to bolster their case. But they have had absolutely NO SUCCESS at predicting the correct future. His prediction AFTER THE THINGS HAPPENED is just a hoax. His supporters ("believers") have attempted to show that some of Nostradamus's quatrains predict the career of Adolf Hitler, and even the Japanese aggression in 1941 in the same way that the apologists try to prove that Quran or Bible predicted Big Bang, Black hole or Red Star Nebula etc.

Up until a few years ago most Nostradamus books were predicting a nuclear war between America and the USSR. None of them could predict correctly the breakup of the Soviet block. They only started chaos after the things happened.

One of the great believers of Nostradamus, Erika Cheetham, believe that Nostradamus foresaw the invention of bombs, rockets, submarines, and airplanes. He predicted the Great Fire of London (1666) and the rise of Adolph Hitler and many other wonders.

Here I wish to quote the original French version of a verse of Nostradamus as an example:

Bestes farouches de faim fleuves tranner
Plus part du champ encore Hister sera
En caige de fer le grand sera traisner
Quand rien enfant de Germain observa.

Erica Cheetham Translated as :

Beasts wild with hunger will cross the rivers,
The greater part of the battle will be against Hitler.
He will cause great men to be dragged in a cage of iron,
When the son of Germany obeys no law.

Readers may see that Erica Cheetham wish fully used "Hitler" in his translation. There was no mention of Hitler in the original verse of Nostradamus. Yes, there is one word "Hister" (not Hitler). There is no relation at all between those two words- Hister and Hitler. It sounds as if someone interpreting "Erica Cheetham" as Erica Cheatingbaz (cheater).

Skeptics, such as James Randi, have rejected such interpretation of Nostradamus' quatrains. His translation of the above verse is -

Randi's translation:

Beasts mad with hunger will swim across rivers,
Most of the army will be against the Lower Danube.
The great one shall be dragged in an iron cage
When the child brother will observe nothing.

You see there is no Hitler in the above verse. "The great one shall be dragged in an iron cage" - if someone wish to give a humane face of "great one" - can easily interpret as Stalin, Lenin, Saddam Hussain, Muhammed, Hitler, Halaku khan or even Osma Bin Laden ! So you see it entirely depends upon translator's tricky interpretation.
Famous Bengali Rationalist Prabir Ghosh ( http://humanists.net/avijit/prabir/ ) and His son Peenakeey Ghosh documented some of the more spectacular (mis)interpretations of Nostradamus in their famous book "Alukik Noy, Loukik" (Nothing Supernatural- 4th part), and showed them to be completely bogus. Not content simply to showed the silliness of others, both Randi and Prabir Ghosh provides a few interpretations from the original French. They showed that the most famous 'predictions' are nothing but wishful translation of the translator.

Dear Readers, Have you forgot about the famous prediction of doomsday by Nostradamus just a year back ? Here is the report of the failure of his "famous" prediction.

Interpreters, including fashion designer Paco Rabanne, have said Nostradamus' writings had predicted doomsday for the solar eclipse Wednesday. Many were disappointed that the scene was far from apocalyptic.

Report from Paris: "SURVIVOR'S APERITIF"
-------------------------------------------------
A group called "F..k the apocalypse" invited fellow residents of the city to a "survivor's aperitif" on the solar eclipse day, in front of fashion designer Paco Rabanne's botique on the fashionable Rue du Cherche-Midi. As the city of lights did not disappear in the ball of
fire as predicted by Rabanne, the party began at 12.23 pm, exactly one minute after the predicted devastation.

Based on the predictions of the 16th century astrologer Nostradamus, Rabanne had written a book forecasting that the Russian space station Mir would tumble into Paris and destroy the city during the solar eclipse. Though the book sales went well and the forecast was taken seriously by some, Rabanne's prediction was good humour for many. The residents' association in the south-eastern city of Lyon had created a "provisional government of France without Paris", to "take control" of the country if Rabanne's prediction came true.

The problem is nobody wants to remind those failure stories or remembers them, because human beings have a tendency toward "confirmation bias", as psychologists call it - we remember events that confirm our beliefs but forget those that do not, which is probably why 69% of adults in a recent poll said they believe in miracles (Ref. http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/hunt_19_3.html article of Morton Hunt) .

Now let's discuss logically whether Nostradamus could really predict the recent New York attack. Many people actually do not want to investigate what actually written in Nostradamus's famous book -"The centuries". One of our Mukto-mona member (Free person Smith) have investigated the issue and found the following (Ref. Mukto-mona message # 2360)-

"I have received numerous emails about an alleged prophecy by the famous secret Jew and Kabbalist Nostradamus. The alleged prophecy supposedly predicted the destruction of the Twin Towers and a warning that WWIII will soon follow.

I was suspicious about this so-called prophecy because it did not quote a source in Nostradamus's book, "The Centuries."

I made contact with the world renown Nostradamus expert John Hogue, who confirmed for me that this so-called prophecy is indeed a hoax. Hogue calls it a "pretty clever fraud because it takes real lines from other Nostradamus prophecies and ties them to completely spurious insertions."

Whoever started this false prophecy has alarmed and frightened many. This is a grievous sin especially in light of recent events. Please advise everyone you know that this so-called prophecy is a definite fraud. (received by Rabbi Ariel bar Tzadok)"

Another member Nasima Khatun, after investigating the facts wrote in Mukto -mona (message #2352) :-

"This mail is with reference to the Nostradamus quote that is flying all over the net. I would like to tell to all that it is a hoax. Being Intrigued myself, I went to check Nostradamus' writing. What i found was that somebody had taken different words and sentences from different sections of his book and put it together to make out that it represented Tuesday incidents."

Dear Readers, If we think logically we would perceive that Nostradamus died in the year of 1566, so it's rather unlikely he wrote this passage in 1654. Most importantly, the quatrain which is fly in the Net to scare people is not to be found in his published oeuvre. It's a hoax.

I also personally investigated the whole issue. I found from a various sources from the Net that the text apparently originated on a Web page entitled "A Critical Analysis of Nostradamus," written several years ago by a student named Neil Marshall. Marshall made up the quatrain to demonstrate — quite ironically, in light of how it is now being misused — that the writings of Nostradamus are so cryptic that they can be interpreted to mean almost anything.

A Mukto-mona member Bulbul Amir made a very interesting comparison regarding the Nostradamus's prediction (message #2355) :

Take one A1 size paper sheet (may be of 1000mmX1000mm size) and draw many thousands of dot on it in an irregular fashion. Now you declare it is the N sheet that can predict any thing, will happen in future. But be sure always prove it once things are happened. How ? its simple, just join different dots of your sheet to draw a picture that resemble the happening want to be predicted.

NOSTRADAMUS prediction is also same, difference is, it uses alphabets instead of dots, and prove a prediction by showing words (or sentences) what you have to do it by a picture.

NOSTRADAMUS prediction, thus, is a HOAX.

So, dear readers, do not scared by so called flying prophecies in the Net, as we already found that -

"In the city of thunder/york there will be a great collapse,
2 twin brothers torn apart by chaos
while the fortress falls the great leader will succumb
third big war will begin when the city is burning."

This was NOT written by Nostradamus. It was written by a high school student in 1996 to illustrate how a "randomly made up" quatrain could be interpreted to mean almost anything.

Interested readers can check the following links:

http://fury.com/article/925.php http://www.ed.brocku.ca/~nmarshal/nostradamus.htm
http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa091101b.htm
http://www.nostradamus-repository.org/cityofgod.html
www.hippy.freeserve.co.uk/prophecy.htm

Interested readers can take a look of the two book (A good general "skeptic" reference) on Nostradamus:

The Mask of Nostradamus
James Randi
Charles Scribner's Sons
ISBN 0-684-19056-7
BF1815.N8R35 1990

Aloukik Noy, Loukik (in Bangla)
Probir Ghosh (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Part)
Dey'j Publication.

Regards,
Avijit

Interesting Olympic Facts

2008-06-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Official Olympic Flag
Created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914, the Olympic flag contains five interconnected rings on a white background. The five rings symbolize the five significant continents and are interconnected to symbolize the friendship to be gained from these international competitions. The rings, from left to right, are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. The colors were chosen because at least one of them appeared on the flag of every country in the world. The Olympic flag was first flown during the 1920 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Motto
In 1921, Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, borrowed a Latin phrase from his friend, Father Henri Didon, for the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius ("Swifter, Higher, Stronger").

The Olympic Oath
Pierre de Coubertin wrote an oath for the athletes to recite at each Olympic Games. During the opening ceremonies, one athlete recites the oath on behalf of all the athletes. The Olympic oath was first taken during the 1920 Olympic Games by Belgian fencer Victor Boin. The Olympic Oath states, "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."

The Olympic Creed
Pierre de Coubertin got the idea for this phrase from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot at a service for Olympic champions during the 1908 Olympic Games. The Olympic Creed reads: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

The Olympic Flame
The Olympic flame is a practice continued from the ancient Olympic Games. In Olympia (Greece), a flame was ignited by the sun and then kept burning until the closing of the Olympic Games. The flame first appeared in the modern Olympics at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. The flame itself represents a number of things, including purity and the endeavor for perfection. In 1936, the chairman of the organizing committee for the 1936 Olympic Games, Carl Diem, suggested what is now the modern Olympic Torch relay. The Olympic flame is lit at the ancient site of Olympia by women wearing ancient-style robes and using a curved mirror and the sun. The Olympic Torch is then passed from runner to runner from the ancient site of Olympia to the Olympic stadium in the hosting city. The flame is then kept alight until the Games have concluded. The Olympic Torch relay represents a continuation from the ancient Olympic Games to the modern Olympics.

The Olympic Hymn
The Olympic Hymn, played when the Olympic Flag is raised, was composed by Spyros Samaras and the words added by Kostis Palamas. The Olympic Hymn was first played at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens but wasn't declared the official hymn by the IOC until 1957.

Real Gold Medals
The last Olympic gold medals that were made entirely out of gold were awarded in 1912.

The Medals
The Olympic medals are designed especially for each individual Olympic Games by the host city's organizing committee. Each medal must be at least three millimeters thick and 60 millimeters in diameter. Also, the gold and silver Olympic medals must be made out of 92.5 percent silver, with the gold medal covered in six grams of gold.

The First Opening Ceremonies
The first opening ceremonies were held during the 1908 Olympic Games in London.

Opening Ceremony Procession Order
During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the procession of athletes is always led by the Greek team, followed by all the other teams in alphabetical order (in the language of the hosting country), except for the last team which is always the team of the hosting country.

A City, Not a Country
When choosing locations for the Olympic Games, the IOC specifically gives the honor of holding the Games to a city rather than a country.

IOC Diplomats
In order to make the IOC an independent organization, the members of the IOC are not considered diplomats from their countries to the IOC, but rather are diplomats from the IOC to their respective countries.

First Modern Champion
James B. Connolly (United States), winner of the hop, step, and jump (the first final event in the 1896 Olympics), was the first Olympic champion of the modern Olympic Games.

The First Marathon
In 490 BCE, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran from Marathon to Athens (about 25 miles) to inform the Athenians the outcome of the battle with invading Persians. The distance was filled with hills and other obstacles; thus Pheidippides arrived in Athens exhausted and with bleeding feet. After telling the townspeople of the Greeks' success in the battle, Pheidippides fell to the ground dead. In 1896, at the first modern Olympic Games, held a race of approximately the same length in commemoration of Pheidippides.

The Exact Length of a Marathon
During the first several modern Olympics, the marathon was always an approximate distance. In 1908, the British royal family requested that the marathon start at the Windsor Castle so that the royal children could witness its start. The distance from the Windsor Castle to the Olympic Stadium was 42,195 meters (or 26 miles and 385 yards). In 1924, this distance became the standardized length of a marathon.

Women
Women were first allowed to participate in 1900 at the second modern Olympic Games.

Winter Games Begun
The winter Olympic Games were first held in 1924, beginning a tradition of holding them a few months earlier and in a different city than the summer Olympic Games. Beginning in 1994, the winter Olympic Games were held in completely different years (two years apart) than the summer Games.

Cancelled Games
Because of World War I and World War II, there were no Olympic Games in 1916, 1940, or 1944.

Tennis Banned
Tennis was played at the Olympics until 1924, then reinstituted in 1988.

Walt Disney
In 1960, the Winter Olympic Games were held in Squaw Valley, California (United States).

In order to bedazzle and impress the spectators, Walt Disney was head of the committee that organized the opening day ceremonies. The 1960 Winter Games Opening Ceremony was filled with high school choirs and bands, releasing of thousands of balloons, fireworks, ice statues, releasing of 2,000 white doves, and national flags dropped by parachute.

Russia Not Present
Though Russia had sent a few athletes to compete in the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games, they did not compete again until the 1952 Games.

Motor Boating
Motor boating was an official sport at the 1908 Olympics.

Polo, an Olympic Sport
Polo was played at the Olympics in 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, and 1936.

Gymnasium
The word "gymnasium" comes from the Greek root "gymnos" meaning nude; the literal meaning of "gymnasium" is "school for naked exercise." Athletes in the ancient Olympic Games would participate in the nude.

Stadium
The first recorded ancient Olympic Games were held in 776 BCE with only one event - the stade. The stade was a unit of measurement (about 600 feet) that also became the name of the footrace because it was the distance run. Since the track for the stade (race) was a spade (length), the location of the race became the stadium.

Counting Olympiads
An Olympiad is a period of four successive years. The Olympic Games celebrate each Olympiad. For the modern Olympic Games, the first Olympiad celebration was in 1896. Every four years celebrates another Olympiad; thus, even the Games that were cancelled (1916, 1940, and 1944) count as Olympiads. The 2004 Olympic Games in Athens was called the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad.

The Importance of Bananas

2008-06-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Importance of Bananas

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas.He said the expression 'going bananas' is from
the effects of bananas on the brain.

Never put your banana in the refrigerator! !!
This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and
substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the
number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses
and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after
eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make
you relax, improve your mood and generally ma k e you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure.
So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability
to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating
bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can
assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem
without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the
stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing
relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many
people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and Work?
Studies at theInstituteofPsychologyinAustriafound pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and
chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report
concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate
foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the
only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation
by coating the lining of the stomach

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature
of expectant mothers. InThailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and
magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water
balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the
help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of
death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the
wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the
carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also
rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A
banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

For Maddy - Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the
INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.

God's Pharmacy!!! Amazing

2008-06-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

God's Pharmacy!!! Amazing !

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are als profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically targe bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolyti chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm cells to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Grapefruits, Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.
NOW.........GO EAT SOMETHING HEALTHY!!!!!!!!!!!

Weird Earthquake: Triangle of Life

2008-06-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

With the most recent earthquake in China taking thousands of lives I believe this is worthwhile reading and passing on to love ones.
FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON THE 'TRIANGLE OF LIFE'

My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.

I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries. I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years. I have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

In 1996 we made a film which proved my survival methodology to be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul , University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did 'duck and cover,' and ten mannequins I used in my 'triangle of life' survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results. The film, in which I practiced\my survival techniques under directly observable, scientific conditions, relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover. There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using my method of the 'triangle of life.' This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it was seen in the USA , Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under their desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time know that the children were told to hide under something.

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the 'triangle of life'. The larger the object, the stronger, and the less it will compact The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the 'triangles' you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.

TEN TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY:

1) Most everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' when buildings collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easilyescape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.

6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different 'moment of frequency' (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads horribly mutilated Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

8) Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly a cross them.

10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with lots of paper-- that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

Spread the word and save someone's life.

--
If we are ever to have real peace in this world

GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS

2008-06-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

FROM THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS

ENGINEERING FEATS

Basilica of our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro o.

Inside sitting capacity………..18,000 Outside overflow capacity….100, 000

WORLD'S BIGGEST INDOOR SWIMMING-POOL

World Water Park….. Edmonton , Albert , Canada…………..SIZE….5 Acres

WORLD'S BIGGEST OFFICE COMPLEX ………… CHICAGO

Chicago Merchandise Mart…..Illinois , USA

WORLD'S BIGGEST SHOPPING MALL

South China Mall, Dongguan, China ………892,000 meter-square

Shops on 6 floors

WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORT…………… NEW YORK

J.F.K International Airport , New York……………….. USA

WORLD'S WIDEST BRIDGE……… AUSTRALIA

Sydney harbor bridge, Australia ……..16 lanes of car traffic…..8 lanes in the upper floor, 8 in the lower floor

WORLD'S LONGEST BRIDGE…………… CHINA

Donghai Bridge , China ……………………32.5 kilo meters

WORLD'S BIGGEST PASSENGER-SHIP

MS Freedom of the Seas……4300 passenger Capacity Inside

WORLD'S BIGGEST PLANE…………… AIRBUS

Airbus A380………..555 Passenger s

WORLD'S BIGGEST BUS

Neoplan Jumbo -cruiser……..2 in 1 bus….double deck bus……170 passenger capacity

WORLD'S HIGHEST STATUE…………….BRAZIL

CHRIST THE REDEEMER STATUE…..RIO.D.J………BRAZIL

WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING ………DUBAI

Burj Dubai……….900 meters high. To be finally completed 2008

WORLD'S LARGEST PALACE………………… .ROMANIA

Palace of the Parliament….. Bucharest , Romania ………. more than 500 bedrooms, 55 kitchens,120 sitting rooms

WORLD'S BIGGEST STADIUM……… .BRAZIL

MARACANA STADIUM………… RIO D.J…………BRAZIL ……………CAPACITY…199,000

WORLD'S COSTLIEST STADIUM……… ENGLAND

New WEMBLEY STADIUM, London ….90, 000 capacities…………….cost…..$1.6 billion

MOST COMPLEX INTER-CHANGE………TEXAS

Interstate 10 Highways Interchange…… Houston , Texas .

WORLD'S BIGGEST EXCAVATOR

Built by KRUPP of Germany………….45,500 tons……95 meters high……215 meters long

WORLD'S LARGEST MOSQUE……………… PAKISTAN

Shah Feisal mosque….. Islamabad ……Pakistan

Inside hall capacity ….35, 000 outside overflow capacity…… 150,000

WORLD'S BIGGEST HOTEL……… LAS VEGAS

MGM Grand Hotel….Las Vegas….6, 276 rooms

WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE HOTEL … DUBAI… U.A.E

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai ….only 7 Star Hotel in the World

Cheapest room…$1000 per night.…..Royal suit…$28,000 per night

WORLD'S BIGGEST CHURCH BUILDING……… NIGERIA

Winners` C hapel…….Canaanland ………. Otta…..… Nigeria

Inside Sitting Capacity……50,000 Outside Overflow Capacity……250,000

WORLD'S BIGGEST ROMAN-CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL …………IVORY-COAST

Famous celebrity

How Important is your Credit score???

2008-06-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

In modern world of banking, to help banking and financial institutions to better evaluate the credit worthiness of a customer, Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited and Transunion Score launched the credit score solution. The CIBIL - Credit Information Bureau India Limited is accumulating all your card payments records and your defaults and maintaining records of all major banks.

How CIBIL works?

CIBIL evaluates the credit history of every customer on the basis of CREDIT SCORE. A credit score takes a snapshot of a consumer's credit report and through advanced analytics turns the information into three- digit number representing the amount of risk a consumer brings to a particular transaction. A credit score is a number between 300 and 900 that sums up a customer's credit record. This means that every time you pay late on your loan EMIs or your cheque bounces on loans, all this is getting recorded and deducting your scores. Any of the payments you don't make on Credit cards is making sure that you don't get a loan or Credit Card in future!

Your Credit Score reflects your credit History When you approach a credit grantor for credit, your application will be evaluated on the basis of your past payment history, existing credit lines and other factors such as income and security. In this case, a good Credit Information Report (CIR) is one of the best indicators of the level of risk you present to the credit grantor. A CIR that reflects a good past payment history may lead to credit being granted on better terms. On the other hand, a CIR, which indicates that a borrower has been delinquent on several occasions, could lead to denial of or extremely expensive credit.

Advantages of good Credit score?

• You will be required to furnish fewer credit documents • Turnaround time for your proposal will be faster • You would also get a lower rate of interest

How Can I improve my Credit score?

• Immediately establish a budget in order to control your cash outflows.

• Ensure that your income level permits an additional monthly outflow if you plan to take a loan.

• Investigate your options in order to reduce your interest and other credit related costs, e.g.,

refinance an outstanding loan at fixed interest rates if there is a significant drop in interest rates

or you discover a significantly cheaper option, etc.

• Use some of your savings to repay some of your debt.

• Understand why you have a bad credit score and work on fixing those specific problems • Always pay on time.

Lekha Washington History

2008-06-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

Lekha Washington is a VJ turned actress based in Chennai, india. She started her career as theater artist and made her film debut with Tamil film Kettavan. She is a qualified film-maker from NID, Ahmedabad, India. Her father is a Burmese-Italian-Punjabi and her mother is a Maharashtrian.

She is also a sculptor, having held her first solo exhibition at the age of 18.

She played a leading role in the English film Framed directed by independent director Chetan Shah.

Lekha is currently the host of IPL 2008 cricket tournament with co-commentator Ajay Jadeja which telecasts on Set Max India. She is also shooting for Tamil movie Jayamkondaan opposite south superstar Vinay Rai which is scheduled to be released on June 14.

crazy brain teasers

2008-06-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

Crazy Brain Teaser

(Answers at the end of the page, but don't peek)

1. Some months have 30 days, some have 31; how many months have 28 days?

2. A man gave one son 10 cents and another son was given 15 cents. What time is it?

3. If you had only one match and entered a room in which there was a kerosene lamp, an oil heater, and a wood burning stove, which would you light first?

4. There is a house with four walls. Each wall faces south. There is a window in each wall. A bear walks by one of the windows. What color is the bear?

5. Is half of two plus two equal to two or three?

6. Do they have a 4th of July in England?

7. How many animals of each species did Moses take aboard the Ark with him?

8. How far can a dog run into the woods?

9. What is the significance of the following: The year is 1978, thirty-four minutes past noon on May 6th.

10. Divide 30 by 1/2 and add ten. What is the answer?

11. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in the center field?

12. What is it that goes up and goes down but does not move?

13. I have in my hand only 2 U.S. coins which total 55 cents in value. One is not a nickel. What are the coins?

14. A farmer has 17 sheep. All but 9 died. How many did he have left?

15. Is it legal in India for a man to marry his widow's sister?

Answers

1. All 12 have 28 days

2. 1:45. The man gave away a total of 25 cents. He divided it between two people. Therefore, he gave a quarter to two.

3. Light the match first.

4. White. If all the walls face south, the house is at the North pole, and the bear, therefore, is a polar bear.

5. Three. Well, it seems that it could almost be either, but if you follow the mathematical orders of operation, division is performed before addition. So... half of two is one. Then add two, and the answer is three.

6. Yes, and a 5th, a 6th, ...

7. I thought Noah brought 2 of each animal, not Moses

8. Halfway, then he would be running out of the woods.

9. The time/month/date/ year of an American style calendar are 12:34, 5/6/78.

10. 70

11. One. If he combines all of his haystacks, they all become one big stack.

12. The temperature.

13. A half-dollar and a nickel. (Only one was not a nickel)

14. 9 sheep
15. No. You can't marry someone if you're dead!

Zorse - Zebra and Horse Cross Breed - weird Facts

2008-05-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

What happens when you cross a zebra with a horse? The result isn’t really a horse, it’s a zorse, of course! Meet Eclyse — a zebra / horse hybrid, born on a ranch in Germany. Not part from any fabled Frankenstein style story or science experiment gone bad — she’s the product of a holiday romance in designer breeding. Might make you think twice before dashing away on that little rendezvous yourself.

Typically, most zorses have stripes across their entire body, but Eclyse has only two blocks of stripes — on her face and her hind quarters.

Eclyse inherits her pure white markings from her mother, a horse named Eclipse. Eclipse’s owners sent her to a ranch in Italy for breeding, where she met a rugged, handsome young zebra named Ulysses.

One thing led to another as rendezvous’ often do. When she returned home to Germany, Eclipse surprised her keepers by producing a little half-horse, half-zebra with extraordinarily unusual markings.

Ranch spokesman Udo Richter commented: “You can tell she is a mix just by looking at her. But in temperament she can also exhibit characteristics from each parent.” reports Metro.

“She is usually relatively tame like a horse but occasionally shows the fiery temperament of a zebra, leaping around like one.”

Not convinced that zorses actually exist? Here’s more living proof for you.

Beaumont Ranch TX Photo 3PixelProRGB

Mount Kenya Safari Club Wildlife Sanctuary Photo Nickfraser

Photo Rudloff

Photo Phyllis

Photo Vall3ygurl

UPDATE: YouTube now has a clip of Eclyse for all doubters, proving that she does exist, and further validation of the existence of Zorses.

Horse + Zebra = Zorse
Eclyse is special as zorses, or zebroids as they are also known, are usually
born when a horse mare breeds with a zebra stallion.

11 Cool Science Fiction Posters

2008-05-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

Science Fiction movies are really awesome, even though, many people don't enjoy that kind of movie. But, one thing those people couldn't deny is the fact that Sci-Fi movie posters are pretty awesome, different from most of the regular movies... like drama, and others.

I've found this awesome site called "Scifi-Movies" (really clever, huh?) that has tons of posters, from movies I didn't even know that exist. Here are a few (only beginning with the letter 'A', just to measure how many posters there are) from the site. Hope you like it.

Girls Amazing Art

2008-05-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

This pictures are best for your romance gifts , so please feel free to forward or share these unique pictures link to your loved one.

12 Amazing Hand Drawn Web Designs

2008-05-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

26 Hand Drawn Websites

More and more we see designers creating websites that are typical web 2.0 looking sites. Designers are trying to break the mold everyday, trying to start the next big trend.

Hand Drawn elements have become more popular as with the ability to offer a more creative, and unique design. I personally really like when designers use this as a theme. I have compiled a list of Hand Drawn Websites, these sites feature elements that fit the category, and some are just all based on Hand Drawn doodles, and sketches.

Lund Facts you need to know

2008-05-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Facts About Lund

Lund, centrally situated in the attractive and expansive Öresund region, is built on a medieval network of streets and bears a cultural-historical identity provided by its old buildings and surroundings that have been preserved for centuries.
The university and students give the city a youthful and multicultural atmosphere, which has led to an active cultural life full of activities and entertainment.

Size

The City of Lund covers 442.7 km2, of which 22.9 km2 is densely populated.

The City of Lund is the twelfth largest municipality in Sweden.

Population

The City of Lund has 100 402 residents.

Multicultural identity 130 nationalities represented among the residents of the City.

Young population The age group 20-29 (21%) is remarkably higher than the national average (13%), due largely to the students at the university.

Average age 37 years; in all of Sweden 40 years.

Working part of the population 64.3% of the population between 20 and 64 years of age.

Commuting About 23 000 people commute to Lund, and about 14 000 people commute from Lund.

Education 58% of Lund's population between the ages of 25 and 64 have a university education. The total for Sweden as a whole is 29%.

Tokyo Weird Facts

2008-04-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is one of the 47 prefectures of the country. The mainland portion of Tokyo positions on the northwest of Tokyo Bay and stands girdled by the Chiba Prefecture borders to the east, Yamanashi to the west, Kanagawa to the south and Saitama to the north. One of the most developed areas in Japan; the tapestry of Tokyo laces itself with soaring skyscrapers, cosmopolitan industries, outsized shopping arcades and extravagant bars and lounges. Nevertheless, amid its modern flourishes, the city also espouses its time-honored tradition, in the form of its shrines, ryokans (guesthouses) and many museums. To know more about Tokyo, read on.

Car Announcement

1. Background FHI and GM agreed upon a strategic alliance and capital relationship allowing a high level of management autonomy to establish win-win situation to develop steady and further growth for the future on December 10, 1999. Since GM purchased about 20% of FHI shares and became the top shareholder of FHI in April 2000, both companies worked together for various synergic effects.

The joint efforts over the past 6 years period resulted in achievements such as global procurement, OEM business, technology exchanges, etc. However, the two companies concluded that mutually beneficial large joint projects are unlikely in future, and came to agree to terminate their strategic and affiliated company relationship.

2. Contents FHI and GM will discuss on the future direction of ongoing cooperative projects. As for the joint development project of a crossover vehicle between FHI and Saab Automobile AB, which was announced last year, FHI and GM have basically agreed to stop the development.

GM will sell FHI shares of 157, 262, 925, and 20.1% of outstanding common stock, that they own through General Motors of Canada Limited.

3. Outline of GM Company name: General Motors Corporation Headquarter: 300 Renaissance Center P.O. Box 300 Detroit, MI 48265-3000 United States of America Representative: Chairman and CEO G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. Business: Design, development, production and sales of automobiles, and auto related Finance & Insurance etc.

4. Effect to our financial conditions FHI has decided to record extraordinary loss of 5 billion yen, which is a part of the development cost, in this fiscal year.

Fun & Interesting Facts about Tokyo

Tokyo is the seat of the Japanese government, home of the Emperor of Japan and is the capital of the country.
Earlier, Tokyo was a small fishing village named ‘Edo’, meaning estuary. Later, when it became the imperial capital of Japan, in 1868, its name was changed to Tokyo.
The name ‘Tokyo’ literally translates to ‘Eastern Capital’.
The 23 wards of Tokyo collectively constitute the ‘City of Tokyo’, which is one of the largest cities in the world.
Tokyo is one of the three world finance ‘command centers’, apart from New York and London.
The Greater Tokyo Area that includes Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama, is the most densely populated metropolitan area in the world.
There are many remote islands in Tokyo, which extend as far as 1850 km from central Tokyo.
Tokyo has the largest metropolitan gross domestic product (GDP) in the whole world, for a city.
Tokyo is home to many of the world's most developed investment banks and insurance companies.
Tokyo serves as the nucleus of Japan's transportation, broadcasting and publishing industries.
Railways in Tokyo have the most extensive urban railway network in the whole world.
Tokyo was stuck by many historical tragedies, including the 1923 Kanto Earthquake, widespread devastation during World War II, the economic ‘bubble burst’ of 1989 and the 1995 nerve gas attack.
The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Tokyo as the most costly city in the whole world, for a period of 14 yrs, until 2006.
Popular Hollywood flicks like ‘The Fast and the Furious’, ‘Kill Bill’ and ‘Lost in Translation’ have been filmed in Tokyo.

Beijing Interesting Facts

2008-04-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Beijing is the capital of China and also its second largest city, after Shanghai. It is situated on the northern tip of the rough triangular North China Plain. The Great Wall of China stretches along the northern part of Beijing Municipality, which is the greatest tourist attraction for the visitors coming to the city. Another attraction in the city is the ‘Forbidden City’, which is centrally located in Beijing. It is the ancient imperial palace of the emperors of China and is famed to be the world’s largest surviving palace complex. Being walled on all sides, the complex area was called the Imperial City. Beijing is significant in a number of ways and attracts visitors from all over the world. To know some more interesting and fun facts about Beijing, read on.

Interesting and Fun Facts About Beijing

Beijing is the capital city of People’s Republic of China.
Beijing is the second largest city in China.
The Summer Olympics 2008 will be held in Beijing.
Beijing was known as Peking in Imperial China.
There are 16 districts and 2 counties in Beijing.
China Rose or Chrysanthemum is the city flower of Beijing.
The city tree of Beijing is Arborvitae or Chinese Scholar Tree.
Beijing is referred as the one of the ‘Four Great Ancient Capitals of China’.
Beijing is the major transportation hub of the country, as it houses many roads and railways.
Beijing is the political, cultural and educational nerve center of China.
Beijing is one of the four municipalities (equivalent to provinces in China's administrative structure) of the People’s Republic of China.
The term 'Beijing' literally means ‘Northern Capital’.
Beijing was renamed Beiping in 1928 (after the success of the Kuomintang (KMT)'s Northern Expedition), but given back its original name in 1937 (during Japanese occupation).
On an average day, the air pollution levels in Beijing are nearly five times above World Health Organization standards for safety.

London Historical Fun Facts

2008-04-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

London, capital of United Kingdom, is an exhilarating fusion of unyielding tradition and free-spirited avant-grade. With spellbinding attractions like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge and London Eye, it is a perfect tourism magnet. If royalty fails to entice you, the numerous catacombs of the creepy London Dungeon or the wax images of stars in the Madame Tussuad Museum will surely do the trick. Besides, London is second best to none, when it comes to modern pleasures and leisure. To find some more interesting and fun facts about London, read on.

Fun and Interesting Facts About London

London constancy people believe, ‘Big Ben’in Londonis not the name of the clock or the tower, but a 13-ton bell inside the clock. The tower is known as St. Stephen’s Tower.
The city of London is home to four World Heritage Sites - the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich and Kew Botanical Gardens.
Thames River in London is the longest river in England. It begins life as a trickle in a Gloucestershire meadow and flows for more than 135 miles, before reaching London.
The London Eye or Millennium Wheel of the city is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.
There are five international airports in London, with the Heathrow airport being the busiest airport in the world.
The London Underground, built in 1863, and popularly called ‘Tube’, is the first metro of the world.
The Canary Wharf Tower is the tallest building in London.
London is one of the three command centers for the world economy, and has the sixth largest city economy in the world after Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Paris.
Buckingham Palace, The Queen’s official residence built in 1702, was earlier the site of an infamous brothel.
The Great Fire of London in 1666 created widespread devastation, causing major reconstruction work all across the city.
London is a multi-ethnic city and domiciles people speaking over 300 languages.
Windsor Castle of London is the largest and oldest castle of the world that is still in use.
According to rumors, ghosts of King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, Mad King George, and Charles I still haunt the Windsor Castle.
There are more than 100 theaters in London. Moreover, about sixteen percent of the country’s restaurants and food joints are located in London.

Famous Words of Presidents

2008-04-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

Famous Words of Presidents

Dwight David Eisenhower.

There is nothing wrong with America that the faith,
love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her
citizens cannot cure....Dwight David Eisenhower.

Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first
come to pass in the heart of America....Dwight David Eisenhower.

What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight,
it's the size of the fight in the dog....Dwight David Eisenhower.

There are no victories at bargain
prices....Dwight David Eisenhower.

You don't lead by hitting people over the head --
that's assault, not leadership....Dwight David Eisenhower.

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to
the weak or the timid....Dwight David Eisenhower.

The quest for peace is the statesman's most exacting duty...practical
progress to lasting peace is his fondest hope....Dwight David Eisenhower.

Calvin Coolidge.

The nation which forgets its defenders
will be itself forgotten....Calvin Coolidge.

No nation ever had an army large enough to guarantee
it against attack in time of peace or insure it
victory in time of war....Calvin Coolidge.

Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking
out for yourself by looking out for your country.....Calvin Coolidge.

George Walker Bush.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest
beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. But no one
will keep that light from shining....George Walker Bush.

We want to be a Nation that serves
goals larger than self....George Walker Bush.

No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as
citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is
one nation under God....George Walker Bush.

Abraham Lincoln.

My great concern is not whether you have failed,
but whether you are content with your failure....Abraham Lincoln.

The best thing about the future is that it
only comes one day at a time....Abraham Lincoln.

I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever
given to man. All the good from the Savior of the
world is communicated through this book...All things
desirable to men are contained in the Bible....Abraham Lincoln.

We should be too big to take offense
and too noble to give it....Abraham Lincoln.

If I were two-faced, would I be
wearing this one?....Abraham Lincoln.

Surely God would not have created such a being as man,
with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a
day! No, no, man was made for immortality....Abraham Lincoln.

When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad,
I feel bad. That's my religion....Abraham Lincoln.

Ronald Wilson Reagan.

No arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the
world is so formidable as the will and moral
courage of free men and women.....Ronald Wilson Reagan.

Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single
authority of government as a monopoly on the truth, but
that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every
one of us put on this world has been put there for a reason
and has something to offer....Ronald Wilson Reagan.

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are,
"I'm from the government and I'm here to help"....Ronald Wilson Reagan.

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession.
I have come to to realize that it bears a very
close resemblance to the first....Ronald Wilson Reagan.

George Washington.

The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny
of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered
as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment
entrusted to the hands of the American people....George Washington.

Observe good faith and justice toward all nations.
Cultivate peace and harmony with all....George Washington.

I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to
maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles,
the character of an "Honest Man"....George Washington.

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be
well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship
is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks
of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation....George Washington.

When we assumed the Soldier, we did not
lay aside the Citizen....George Washington.

Thomas Jefferson.

I am captivated more by dreams of the future
than the history of the past....Thomas Jefferson.

I find that the harder I work, the more
luck I seem to have....Thomas Jefferson.

The happiest moments my heart knows are those in which it is pouring
forth its affections to a few esteemed characters....Thomas Jefferson.

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy,
and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it....Thomas Jefferson.

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the
sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things,
the greater part of life is sunshine....Thomas Jefferson.

Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the
world were watching....Thomas Jefferson.

Woodrow Wilson.

A conservative is a man who sits and
thinks, mostly sits....Woodrow Wilson.

Friendship is the only cement that will ever
hold the world together....Woodrow Wilson.

I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than
win in a cause that will some day lose!....Woodrow Wilson.

If you think about what you ought to do for other people,
your character will take care of itself....Woodrow Wilson.

Liberty has never come from government. Liberty has
always come from the subjects of government. The history
of liberty is the history of resistance....Woodrow Wilson.

Daring Greatly

It is not the critic who counts
Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled
Or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit goes to the man who is actually in the arena
Whose face is marred by dust and blood
Who strives valiantly
Who errs and comes short again and again.
Who knows great enthusiasms
The great devotions.
Who spends himself in a worthy cause
Who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement
And who at the worst, if he fails
At least fails while Daring Greatly
So that his place shall never be
With the timid souls
Who neither know victory or defeat....Theodore Roosevelt.

Top 5 Romance Movies Ever

2008-04-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

1. The Princess Bride

This movie is a fairy tale Adventure - Romance saga. I don’t think big macho boys will like this movie. But it’s a perfect romantic movie to watch with your partner.

A grandfather reads a bedtime like fable to his grandson. When lovely Buttercup is kidnapped by a gang; Dread Pirate Roberts, Westley comes to save her. He eventually dies but death is no barrier to true love and in the end it’s ok!
It got all the ingredients of a adventure movie, quicksand, 6 foot tall gaint, beasts. Rodents, chasing, escapes and sword fight!

Its’ an adaption of the fable written by William Goldman. The movie adds a smart charming flavour to a simple fairy tale. It has witty, funny dialogue. That’s the key to the liking the movie. If you find the dialogues funny and humorous, then you’ll prolly like the movie. The characters were extremely memorable as well.

A true ’80s classic movie!

Most Romantic Moment:“Since the invention of the kiss there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind. The End.” The quote of the grandfather alone with the passionate kissing is truly warm and romantic!
Romantic Quote:“You can’t hurt me. Westley and I are joined by the bonds of love. And you cannot track that, not with a thousand bloodhounds, and you cannot break it, not with a thousand swords. “

2. 50 First Dates

Even though I don’t like 50 First Dates very much, it’s a good watch with your Girlfriend/Boyfriend. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore star in this romantic-comedy which has many funny and witty moments. Drew Barrymore looks gorgeous as ever.

Adam Sandler tries to help Drew Barrymore who has a short-term memory loss and forgets anything the very next day. She goes through the same activity everyday. Adam Sandler tries different techniques to help her but it’s all vain. But in the end, he goes ahead and marries Drew Barrymore; and the obvious they-lived-happily-ever-after!

The end credits come with the song : “Every Breath You Take” by The Police, the song that I like very much and it has features in the 50 First Dates screenplay may be little “unbelievable”, but is a very enjoyable movie, and that what counts.

Most Romantic Moment:At the end, when Drew Barrymore wakes up from her sleep, watches the tape which shows about her wedding. She then see herself with her kid, Adam Sandler and her father in a boat following which is Every breath you take song with the end credits…
Romantic Quote: “Can I have one last first kiss? “

3. Sleepless in Seattle

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan act together for the next time after their Joe Versus the Volcano. No one can beat their on screen chemistry. Nora Ephron makes good touching romantic movies. She also directed You’ve Got Mail starring the same actors.

Sam Baldwin’s (Tom Hanks) son Jonah Baldwin (Ross Malinger) makes him talk to a radio talk show as Jonah thinks that his father needs a woman in order to get his life back in order. Hundreds of Women write to him, one of the women is Annie (Meg Ryan)

Meg Ryan is cute as ever. Tom Hanks is a great versatile actor, he plays a father. There is nothing new or notable in this flick, but it’s a warm and touching romantic comedies which is perfect to watch in a lazy day!

Most Romantic Moment:Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan holding hands and walking together on the top of the Empire State building.

4. You’ve Got Mail

Another romantic comdy from Nora Ephron. She has already made a movie with Tom and Ryan, Sleepless in Seattle. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have a great on screen chemistry and all their three movie together was a hit. I think they should act more movies together.

Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly talk, chat over the internet but they don’t know that are business rivals who hate each other. Joe puts Kathleen out of business by opening a chain store close to her little shop. Tom Hanks character comes across as the arrogant person who want to make money but when he is talking to Meg Ryan on the internet, we see another side of him. So he see two different levels, one is the internet chat and the other is hate of business rivals saga.

Meg Ryan is such a beautiful woman, so cute, so adorable and such a good actress for this kind of movie. The way she bounces; the way she walks when she is happy, with her head slightly bobbing back; forth like she is dancing to some wonderful music no one else hears, makes me very happy. He body language is perfect.

It’s got a little bit of romance, social commentary, literary references, great side characters. Hanks and Ryan are of the perfect chemistry. You’ve Got Mail has a more emotional ending , I would liked to see the movie extend, but anyway it was great movie. I just Love this movie! Love these people! Makes me feel so good! It just makes my day and puts me into good and cheerful mood.

Most Romantic Moment:The last scene where Meg Ryan wait for the person who has been mailing her, but she was in love with Tom Hanks, but in the end it turned out that the person who mailed was none other than Tom Hanks.
Romantic Quote: “Joe Fox: Don’t cry, Shopgirl. Don’t cry.
Kathleen Kelly: I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly. “

5. Shakespeare in Love

If Gwyneth Paltrow stars in any movie, then I am in it too! She is cute, beautiful and does act well too. She won a Oscar for the best actress for this movie. Don’t get fooled on the name of the movie,it’s supposed to be the Shakespeare adaptation but it’s not, and that’s worked out well and movie was good.

A young Shakespeare, out of ideas and short of cash, meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays. So we have two love stories one is the play itself and the other between the lead actors.

Shakespeare in Love is set in the 19th century (maybe even before, I don’t know fir sure) and we get to know more about the people and place at that time. The settings are damn good, in fact it won the Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration. This is a spectacular drama, it has a remarkable score, brilliant direction, wonderful performances from everyone involved, and an ingeniously written script and has Gwyneth Paltrow!

Most Romantic Moment: When the lead pair enact William Shakespeare and Viola De Lesseps as lovers and the famous giving up life for lady love scene…
Romantic Quote: “I love you, Will, beyond poetry.”

Trash and Garbage Weired Facts

2008-04-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

Trash or garbage is a major form of environmental pollutant, with many types taking hundreds of years to properly decompose when thrown away. The truth is shocking, yet it’s something we can all try and do something about. Here are 10 facts about trash to consider, plus some practical tips for ways of reducing your garbage, recycling it and helping the environment.

1. On average, American’s throw away about 3.5 pounds of trash each day.

2. Between Thanksgiving and the New Year, Americans throw up to 25% more trash, amounting to a massive five million tons extra. Of this, about four millions tons is believed to be made up of wrapping paper and shopping bags.

3. One third of all garbage thrown away by Americans is packaging. As lots of packaging takes years to fully decompose, it’s worth making the effort to try and cut down on the amount of packaging and bags you use.

4. Different types of rubbish take varying amounts of time to properly decompose. Top of the offenders are Styrofoam and plastic containers which take one million years to fully decompose. A disposable (spot the irony in the name) diaper takes 550 years and an aluminium can takes between 200-500 years. At the other end of the scale, a wool sock takes one year and a paper bag one month to decompose.

5. Estimates suggest that the average American office worker uses up to 500 disposable coffee cups each year.

6. About 200 million gallons of used motor oil is illegally dumped in the US each year.

7. Unwanted junk mail is frequently thrown away and up to 44% is ditched without even being opened.

8. We use more than 67 million tons of paper each year – which works out as about 580 pounds per person.

9. A large amount of garbage is either incinerated or buried in landfills. About a quarter is currently recycled, but if we were more careful and spent time sorting and separating different types of materials, we could significantly increase our recycling abilities.

10. The time taken for glass to break down isn’t known. However, as we’re still finding pieces of glass made over 3000 years ago, we can only assume it’s a long time!

Practical tips for reducing trash and helping the environment

Use ceramic mugs or cups and instead of plastic or Styrofoam cups.

Recycle your junk mail or get off the lists, by contacting the Direct Marketing Association.

Think about packaging – do you really need to put your fruit and vegetables in plastic bags? Recycle supermarket bags and take your own when you go shopping.

Take used motor oil to special Hazardous Waste facilities.

Cut down on wrapping paper by reusing gift bags or buying recycled gift wrap.

Reuse cardboard boxes.

Recycle aluminium cans – we’re doing well on this, as it’s one of America’s most recycled products.

Save on paper. Print on the back of printer paper, cut up used envelopes to make scrap paper and buy recycled paper. Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, three cubic yards of landfill space and 4,000 kilowatts of energy.

Think before you chuck your old mobile phone away. Mobiles contain substances that can be very dangerous, so look out for mobile collection schemes instead.

Estimates suggest that up to 90% of the contents of our bins could actually be reused or recycled. Have a look in your bin – what could you reuse (e.g. paper or cardboard) and what could you recycle? (e.g. plastic, cans, tins or bottles).

Don’t ignore the issue of trash – get creative and do something positive for the environment!

By Rachel Newcombe

Harry Potter Movie Interesting Facts

2008-04-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

Growing up can be such a pain in the ass but your problems and troubles growing up most likely are nothing compared to what awaits Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe). In the fourth film on the series of cinematic adaptations of author J.K. Rowling's immensely popular series of fantastic books, Harry faces off with the Dark Lord Voldemort himself. That is in addition to a scary dragon, malevolent underwater goblins, a maze and the most scariest prospect of all - - girls.

Daniel Radcliffe returns as Harry Potter as well as his best friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). They are reunited with their teachers Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), McGonagall (Maggie Smith), Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) and Snape (Alan Rickman). New to the faculty is the fourth in a rather long line of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Mad-Eye Moody (played by Brendan Gleeson).

Ralph Fiennes and Miranda Richardson add scares and laughs as Lord Voldemort and Rita Skeeter respectively. Both make the most out of their limited screen time. Newcomers are not only in front of the camera but behind the camera as well. Mike Newell, most famous for the romantic comedy "Four Weddings and a Funeral" is the first British director to helm the films.

This time around Harry and his Hogwarts schoolmates are joined by their fellow wizarding students from the other wizarding schools in Europe namely Beauxbatons from France and Durmstrang from Bulgaria. They are there to compete in the exciting, prestigous, but extremely dangerous Tri-Wizard Tournament. In an exciting turn of events, Harry Potter is inexplicably selected to be a fourth champion despite age restrictions and the one champion per school rule. He has no choice but to compete in three dangerous tasks and survive until the end credits.

Harry Potter fans around the world have been eager for the July 11th release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Is it really any wonder? Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was both action packed, darker than any other Harry Potter book, and the longest book in the Harry Potter series. The hype that surrounds this movie is unbelievable. Many fans only grew more anxious after seeing previews for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The previews were nothing more than teases for the hardcore fans who couldn't wait to get a glimpse of the miraculous film. Even the updates on the filming of this Harry Potter movie kept fans wanting to know more. Still, there are some little known facts that Harry Potter fans may not know about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Little Known Facts about the Movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: The Carpet in Professor Umbridge's Office Cost a Small Fortune

Sometimes it takes a lot of money to create a custom piece for a movie. For example, the carpet in Professor Umbridge's office cost a whopping 50,000 pounds to make. This really shouldn't have been a big issue for Warner's Brothers when you consider the fact that previous Harry Potter movies have made several million dollars.

Little Known Facts about the Movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Evanna Lynch Had Quite a Bit of Competition

An astounding 15,000 girls tried out for the part of Luna Lovegood. This is really shocking when you consider the fact that only 3,000 girls auditioned for the part of Cho Chang. You would think more girls would have been interested in being Harry's love interest. But then again, Harry and Luna do get quite close in a few scenes.

Little Known Facts about the Movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Image Metrics Technology Was Used

A new piece of technology that was used in the filming of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was Image Metrics. Grawp, who is Hagrid's half-brother who just happens to be a full-sized giant, was created using this technology. Image Metrics technology allows an actor's actions to be mapped onto any character in the film.

WWE Stars Facts

2008-04-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

Professional Wrestling is now one of the most popular, exciting, and highest paying sports in the world today. And with that popularity and high pay, there is a whole new generation of aspiring young people who are seriously interested in one day becoming a Professional Wrestling Superstar. Wrestlers are some of the most famous celebrities in the world, and they do make tons of money, and their lives are pretty exciting. But most aspiring wrestlers do not realize that the life of a pro wrestler involves tremendous work, dedication, constantly traveling, and frequent painful injuries. Being a pro wrestler may seem glamorous, but it’s anything but.

Most people only see wrestlers once or twice a week on television and think that’s all they do. What these people don’t get to see are all practices and rehearsals that are not televised. During these rehearsals and practice a wrestler is in the ring every day for hours at a time. And if you thing that’s not hard work, go to a wrestling school and go at it for about 15 minutes.

Here is a typical day on the road for a WWE Pro Wrestler: You wake up at 7:00 in the morning. You get to the airport at 8:30. You take a flight across the country and arrive at 11:00. After renting a car, checking into a hotel room, and something to eat, it’s 1:00. Time to go to a photo shoot. So you drive to a mall and sign autographs until 3:00. It’s time to head on over to the arena. Getting through traffic, you might make it by 4:30. After you eat something and do a short workout, it’s 5:30. At that time you go talk to one of the bookers and he goes over your match with you. If you can find the time, you and your opponent do a quick run down of what’s going to happen. By then it’s 7:00 and it’s time to go on. You wrestle a match and leave the arena at 10:00. You get to the hotel by 12:00 and get some sleep before you do it all over again in the morning. Now find time to workout and keep the marvelous body a wrestler has. And you want some sort of social life don’t you? Good luck.
You may get excited every Monday night when your favorite WWE stars wrestle in the ring, but how well do you know your WWE stars outside the ring? There is so much known about these wrestling superstars in the ring, but when it comes to their personal lives and interests, it's barely talked about. Don't you think it's time you learn some facts about your favorite wrestlers? Here are interesting facts about WWE stars, compiled from various sources, with facts including a wrestler in real estate and another one who collects antiques (and this wrestler likes to drink).

Current WWE wrestler Kane was born in Madrid, Spain. He graduated from Trumann State University with a Bachelor's Degree in English, and was a substitute teacher. He quit teaching to become a wrestler and considers teaching one of the hardest professions to be in.

Did you know? Another teacher is former WWE and ECW wrestler Spike Dudley. He was a 3rd grade teacher. Michelle McCool, a wrestler on the Smackdown brand, was formerly a 7th grade teacher.

Current WWE star Batista is Filipino and Greek. He grew up poor and his mother, who is Greek, is a lesbian.

Ric Flair is adopted. Due to a scandal at the hospital he was born in, he does not know his true birthplace or birth name. He is also a republican.

Rey Mysterio, who currently wrestles for the Smackdown brand, was born in 1974. He began wrestling professionally in 1989 at the age of 14, although he wasn't licensed. He began using his current name, Rey Mysterio, at the age of 18, when his uncle allowed him to do so.

Former WWF wrestler Chyna and current WWE wrestler Torrie Wilson both suffered from bulimia but are recovered. Bulimia is a serious eating disorder where a person consumes thousands of calories and purges it by vomiting, exercising, or using laxatives.

Brain Lee, who played the fake Undertaker in the early 90s, also played him in a Bollywood movie in 1996. He had a few speaking parts which were dubbed later on and carried the same mannerisms as The Undertaker. Also, he the best man at The Undertaker's wedding to his second wife, Sara.

Cars Strange Facts

2008-04-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

Facts About Modern Cars

In 1924 a Ford automobile cost $265.

Most American automobile horns beep in the key of F.

The Buick, first automobile manufactured by the General Motors Corporation, was actually built by a man named David Buick. Buick, a plumber by trade, also invented a process whereby porcelain could be annealed onto iron, hence making possible the production of the white porcelain bathtub.

No two-cycle engines are allowed in Singapore. The license fee for a new car is low, about $5.00, but as the vehicle gets older, this fee increases. When the automoblie reaches 8 years old, it is no longer allowed on the streets. This is opposite of the license-fee structure in the U.S. While strict, Singapore's auto law has virtually wiped out air pollution in the country.

For every 50 miles driven in an automobile, a person has a 1 in a million chance of being killed in a motoring accident.

In 1950 the United States had 70 percent of all the automobiles, buses, and trucks in the entire world.

The first automobile race ever seen in the United States was held in Chicago in 1895. The track ran from Chicago to Evanston. The winner was J. Frank Duryea, whose average speed was 71.5 miles per hour.

The price of the average American automobile doubled during the ten-year period between 1968 and 1978.

In 1906 a car known as the Autocar was manufactured in the United States with a new invention-headlights (they burned kerosene). The Autocar, however, lacked another important accessory, the steering wheel. The driver directed the vehicle by means of a stick-like shaft situated to the right of the driver's seat.

The high roofs of London taxicabs were originally designed to keep gentlemen from knocking off their top hats as they entered and left the vehicles.

In 1905 the Bosco Company of Akron, Ohio, marketed a "collapsible Rubber Automobile Driver." The figure, deflated and kept under the seat when not in use, was a kind of dummy intended to scare thieves away when the car was parked.

Facts About Antique Cars

Gangster John Dillinger looked for Fords when he was out to steal a car.

Snap-on fenders were introduced by Studebaker in 1934.

Chrysler was the third place automobile manufacturer in 1928.

Rearview mirrors became standard equipment on all cars in 1916.

The first speeding ticket ever written in the US was issued in 1902.

Ford exposed the horn for the last time in 1935.

Detroit prohibited gasoline pumps at the curb in 1914.

In 1908, the Model T Ford offered the largest automobile engine.

In 1937, Ford introduced a two piece windshield. It remained on their cars until 1952.

In 1929, the Buick was dubbed, “the 11/4 bulge that killed a car.”

Demountable tires were introduced in 1915.

In the song Deadman’s Curve, the Stingray had six taillights.

In 1921, nickel was used to plate radiators and lamps.

In 1926, Rickenbacker introduced laminated safety glass for automobiles.

Buick’s first car was the Model B.

In 1900, the first national automobile show was held in New York City.

In 1915, the American Red Cross chose to have Buicks as their ambulances.

The Model A Ford offered a sun visor on the outside of their cars in 1928.

In 1928, Canada had one million cars in operation.

In 1915, Oldsmobile offered “tops” as standard equipment.

In 1898, New York City’s finest chased speeders on bicycles.

In 1905, there was a hit tune called, In My Merry Oldsmobile.

In 1923, windshield wipers were introduced as standardized equipment.

In 1913, the Gulf Oil Company offered free road maps to all who wanted them.

In 1922, gas gauges were offered as standard equipment on cars.

The Franklin automobile had an air cooled engine.

In 1919, Templar Touring Roadster offered a camera and a compass as standard equipment.

Presidents Weird Facts About Their Cars

2008-04-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

William Howard Taft

Taft was not only the fattest President of the United States; in 1909 he became the first one to ride in an official presidential limousine. In fact there were four official presidential limos: a White Steamer, a Baker Electric, and two Pierce-Arrows. From this selection, it's obvious that Taft was an early proponent of no-fossil fuel vehicles (more than many subsequent occupants of the White House).

William McKinley

In 1899, McKinley was actually the first president to take a ride in a car, a steam-powered Locomobile.

Warren Harding

Harding was the first president who knew how to drive a car before taking office. He was also the first president to ride to his inauguration in a limo.

Calvin Coolidge

Typical of Calvin Coolidge's reputed stingy demeanor, he rented his presidential limousines to save money.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Roosevelt's official presidential limo was a Ford equipped with hand controls because he enjoyed driving despite his polio affliction. He only stopped driving himself after experiencing a 1933 assassination attempt in Chicago. From then on, his limousines were armor-plated.

An additional note: on December 8, 1941, one day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt rode to Congress to deliver his declaration of war in gangster Al Capone's armor-plated limo. The car was then owned by the Department of Treasury following Capone's tax evasion conviction.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower was the first president to have a Plexiglass bubble installed on the roof of his limousine in order to be seen by crowds even in bad weather.

John F. Kennedy

A sign of his times, JFK's Lincoln Continental was tricked-out and gadget-laden much like a James Bond vehicle. It had removable roof panels that could be configured in various ways, and the back seat could be raised more than 10 inches. The car also came with a two-way radio and a telephone.

It was leased to the White House for a mere $500.

Lyndon Johnson

After Kennedy's assassination, Lyndon Johnson had the presidential Lincoln overhauled, adding 1600 pounds of steel plating and bullet-proof glass, and a non-removable top.

50 Ways of Being Romantic With Little Money

2008-04-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

1. Write a poem.
2. Cook a romantic dinner.
3. Give a full-body massage.
4. Pack a sunset picnic.
5. Pick wildflowers on the way home.
6. Burn a CD with love songs.
7. Give dark chocolates.
8. Read poetry together.
9. Prepare strawberries with fondue chocolate.
10. Snuggle together on a rainy day.
11. Leave little love notes everywhere.
12. Send a love email every day.
13. Take a moonlit walk on the beach.
14. Snuggle together while watching romantic movies (Casablanca, Audrey Hepburn are my favs).
15. Get good wine, watch shooting stars.
16. Take a bath together (use bubbles!).
17. Bring home good coffee or a decadent sweet.
18. Take a walk down memory lane — visit some of the special places from your early days of dating.
19. Make warm chocolate cake for dessert.
20. Make a scrapbook with photos, mementos, and little notes from you lives together.
21. Kiss in the rain.
22. Ride a ferris wheel.
23. Sneak away from a party and make out.
24. Bring home great take-out, and light some candles.
25. Fix something or fix up the house just to make your partner happy.
26. Slow dance to romantic music.
27. Take a nap together.
28. Kiss slowly, touching his or her back and neck and nape — slowly.
29. Make a list of everything you love about him or her.
30. Write a love letter.
31. Clip or email things that make you think of him or her, every day.
32. Go to a movie, ignore the movie, and make out like teen-agers.
33. Groom yourself, and try to look good for your partner.
34. Take some quiet time and talk about your day.
35. Write little notes, one for each way he or she drives you crazy.
36. Feed each other grapes.
37. Recreate your partner’s favorite romantic movie scene.
38. Pretend you’re going on a first date — show up at the door with flowers, all dressed up, with your car washed and cleaned, looking spiffy. Recreate the first time.
39. Create a little box with a bunch of your partner’s favorite things inside.
40. Paint each other with flavored body paint. Be creative!
41. Try some sexy role-playing. Get dressed up, be daring, have fun.
42. Give a little token to your partner to wear, and say it’s to remind him or her all day that you love them.
43. Sing a favorite song to him or her. Only do this if you can sing fairly well.
44. Have dinner on the roof, with some candles. This doesn’t work if your roof slopes sharply.
45. Hold hands, and walk somewhere with lots of pretty lights.
46. Say I love you. In a different way, every day.
47. Blindfold your partner. Use a feather. Slowly.
48. Declare your love, very publicly.
49. Fruit or berries and freshly made whipped cream.
50. Play Sade. Do what comes naturally. Slowly.

Shemales Facts

2008-04-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

Transgender adults are not a new theory or issues in society. The fact of sex change operations and the rights of individuals that identify with the opposite sex, however is a new battle today. In past years individuals that were labeled one gender, but felt they belonged to the opposite gender were shunned and regarded as weird or abnormal. It is only recently that a term has been assigned, Gender Identity Disorder.

Many of the people living in the body of the wrong gender feel trapped and alone. Most are ashamed and afraid because of society’s harsh criticism and outcast techniques. There are many terms and names that have been assigned to transgender individuals, which can be considered derogatory, and for the use of exploitation in most cases. Transgender adults are considered an umbrella category in which there are many classes of individuals. One of the largest classes of trans gender individuals are shemales.

The term shemale refers to male-to-female transgender people who have breasts and other secondary sex characteristics typical of an adult female, but who have not undergone genital reassignment surgery. A shemale born a male but identifies with the female class and most often has characteristics of a female. Generally a shemale refers to a transwoman, which is a male with characteristics of a female that eventually begins to live as a woman. Most of the shemale’s have more feminine characteristics and sometimes will even have female genitalia as well.

In some cases the shemale will undergo hormone replacement therapy and a breast implant to help with their life as a woman. This has a drastic affect on the life of the shemale and they face many issues in society that can devastate their life. Society does not have a good understanding of these individuals and they are often targets of cruel and harsh punishment. There are many jokes and issues of poking fun and very subservient treatment to shemales.

Shemales are a hot topic in the pornography industry. Many people are curious and will subscribe to websites and magazines to see what a shemale is. This is a fantasy of many to be with an individual that exhibits characteristics of two different genders. Around the country there are also escort services that pride themselves in the specialty of shemale escorts. There is big money in the industry and many shemales fall prey to the lures of financial gain.

Here are some facts about shemales:

Shemales do not feel like they are only half-female or half person. Most are offended by the media portrayal of the incorrect lifestyle. These individuals are normal people that you would not recognize as a shemale if they did not tell you
Most shemales never go reconstructive genitalia surgery because they feel it is not necessary in their true identity
Contrary to popular belief most shemales are comfortable with the fact that they have male genitalia but live as a female
Shemales do not work any different or have lessened ability because they live in different clothes
Regardless of the movie industry and pornographic portrayal most of the shemales do not illicit illegal sexual acts or engage in fooling their partner
According to the American Psychological Association there are approximately 1 in 30,000 individuals in America that transition from male to female and 1 per 100,000 that transition from female to male
Shemales are not gay, they simply feel that they are in the wrong gender body

Cool History Facts and Trivia

2008-03-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

Elvis Had a Twin
Most people consider Elvis exceptional, unique, and one-of-a-kind. Yet, Elvis had a twin brother (Jesse Garon) who died at birth. What would the world have been like with both Elvis and his twin? Would Jesse have been anything like his brother? We are left only to wonder.

Gerald Ford's Real Name
Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States, was known for most of his life as Gerald "Jerry" Ford. However, Ford was not born with this name. Gerald Ford was born in 1913 as Leslie King Jr., named after his father. Unfortunately, his biological father was abusive and so his mother divorced Leslie King Sr. shortly after Ford's birth. Two years later, Ford's mother met and married Gerald Ford Sr. and Ford's family began to call him Gerald Ford Jr. rather than Leslie King Jr. Although from about age two Ford was known as Gerald Ford Jr., the name change was not made official until December 3, 1935, when Ford was 22 years old.

Tug-of-War
Personally, I haven't played the game of tug-of-war since I was in elementary school. Five students holding one end of a long rope and another five holding the other end. I'd like to proudly say that my team won, but I have distant memories of being dragged over the muddy center line. Today, tug-of-war is a game that most adults relegate to those still in their youth, but did you know that tug-of-war used to be an official Olympic Games event? Since tug-of-war has been a game played by adults for centuries, it became an official event at the second modern Olympic Games in 1900. However, it's time as an official Olympic event was short-lived and it was last played at the Olympics at the 1920 Games. Tug-of-war was not the only event to be added and then later removed from the Olympic Games; golf, lacrosse, rugby, and polo also shared its fate

Slinky's Name
Most toys are just fads that last for a few years and then go out of style. However, the Slinky toy has been a favorite since it first hit shelves in 1945. The advertising jingle ("It's Slinky, it's Slinky, for fun it's a wonderful toy. It's fun for a girl and a boy.") still resonates among young and old alike. But how did this simple and yet incredibly fun toy get its beginning? It all started one day in 1943 when engineer Richard James dropped a tension spring on the ground and saw how it moved. Thinking he might be on to something a bit more fun and universal than a tension spring, he took the spring home to his wife, Betty, and the two of them tried to come up with a name for this potential toy. After searching and searching, Betty found the word "slinky" in the dictionary which meant sinuous and stealthy. And since then, stairs have never been left alone.

On February 9, 1960, the very first star was awarded to actress Joanne Woodward. Within a year and half, over 1,500 of the stars were filled with names. Currently, over 2,300 of the stars have been awarded and two new stars are awarded each month.

Hoffa's Middle Name
Jimmy Hoffa, president of the Teamsters a labor union from 1957 until 1971, is best known in popular culture for his mysterious disappearance and presumed death in 1975. It's ironic, perhaps, that Hoffa's middle name was Riddle.

The First Star on the Walk of Fame
Designed by artist Oliver Weismuller, the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California consists of 2,500 stars embedded into the sidewalks along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Stars honored on the Walk of Fame must have made professional accomplishments in one of five categories: motion pictures, television, recording, live theater, or radio. (Under the name on each honoree, an icon depicts the category for which the star was awarded.)

WWII and M&M's
After Forrest Mars, Sr. witnessed soldiers eating bite-sized chocolates covered in a sugar coating during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, he brought the idea back to the United States and started manufacturing his own version, called M&M's. In 1941, M&M's were included in U.S. soldiers' rations during World War II because they "melt in your mouth, not in your hands" (the tagline didn't actually appear until 1954). Good in nearly any environment, including hot summers, M&M's became very popular. The little candies were sold in tubes until 1948, when the packaging changed to the brown bag that we still see today. The imprint of an "M" on the candies first occurred in 1950.

Ford Pardoned Lee
On August 5, 1975, President Gerald Ford pardoned General Robert E. Lee and restored his full rights of citizenship. After the American Civil War, General Lee believed that it was everyone's duty to work together to reestablish peace and harmony between the North and South. Lee wanted to set the example and petitioned then-President Andrew Johnson to reinstate his citizenship. Because of a clerical error, Lee's Oath of Allegiance (part of the citizenship requirement) was lost, so his application did not go through before his death. In 1970, Lee's Oath of Allegiance was found among other papers in the National Archives. When President Ford signed the bill that restored Lee's citizenship in 1975, Ford stated, "General Lee's character has been an example to succeeding generations, making the restoration of his citizenship an event in which every American can take pride."

Barbie's Full Name
The Barbie doll, which first appeared on the world-stage in 1959, was invented by Ruth Handler (co-founder of Mattel) after she realized that her daughter liked to play with paper dolls that resembled grown-ups. Handler suggested making a three-dimensional doll that looked like an adult rather than a child. The doll was named after Handler's daughter, Barbara, and is still produced by Mattel. The doll's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts

Strange Pick
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, dictator for nearly a quarter century and infamous for his use of police terror and the frequent mass murders of his own people, was Time's "Man of the Year" in 1939 and 1942.

Einstein Designed a Refrigerator
Twenty-one years after writing his theory of relativity, Albert Einstein invented a refrigerator that operated on alcohol gas. The refrigerator was patented in 1926 but never went into production because new technology made it unnecessary. Einstein invented the refrigerator because he read about a family that was poisoned by a sulphur dioxide-emitting refrigerator.

A Renamed Russian City
Did you know that in 1914, at the beginning of World War I, Russia renamed its capital city St. Petersburg to Petrograd because they thought the name sounded too German? This same city changed name again only ten years later when it was renamed Leningrad after the Russian Revolution. In 1991, the city regained its original name of St. Petersburg.

The Tiny Tub
U.S. President William Howard Taft, who weighed over 300 pounds, often got stuck in the White House's bathtub. To remedy this problem, Taft ordered a new one. The new bathtub was large enough to hold four grown men!

101 New Uses for Everyday Things

2008-03-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

10 New Uses for Lemon

“Lemon juice is the strongest food acid in our kitchens, strong enough to make life unbearable for most bacteria,” says Robert Wolke, professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh and the author of What Einstein Told His Cook 2: The Sequel, Further Adventures in Kitchen Science (W. W. Norton, $26).

Use Lemon to:

1. Sanitize a chopping block. Run a slice of lemon over the surface to disinfect.
2. Eliminate the browning that occurs when food sits out too long. Sprinkle apple or pear slices with lemon juice before serving, or squeeze a bit into guacamole and give it a stir.
3. Remove tough food stains from plastic and light-colored wooden cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze the juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with water.
4. Fade tea stains on cloth. Dilute lemon juice with an equal amount of water. Use an eyedropper or a Q-tip to make sure the juice targets the stain. Thoroughly flush with cool water.
5. Decorate on the cheap. Fill a glass bowl with lemons for a sunny centerpiece. Or display a row of them along a windowsill.
6. Relieve a sore throat. Cut a lemon in half. Skewer one half over a medium flame on a gas stove or an electric burner set on high and roast until the peel turns golden brown. Let cool slightly, then mix the juice with 1 teaspoon of honey. Swallow the mixture.
7. Whiten fingernails. Rub a wedge on the surface of your nails.
8. Shine the interior of copper cookware. Sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub.
9. Brighten laundry whites. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice to the wash cycle of a normal-size load.
10. Remove soft cheese or other sticky foods from a grater. Rub both sides of the grater with the pulp side of a cut lemon.

James Baigrie

10 New Uses for Newspaper

“Newspaper, by design, is a very absorbent product, because it has to absorb ink. But that also means it is equipped to absorb all sorts of moisture, including moisture and the resulting odors found in shoes, in vegetable drawers, and elsewhere,” says Chris Morrissey, vice president of marketing for Sun Chemical, in Northlake, Illinois, the world’s largest printing-ink manufacturer.

Use Newspaper to:

1. Deodorize food containers. Stuff a balled-up piece of newspaper into a lunch box or thermos, seal it, and let sit overnight.
2. Ripen tomatoes. Wrap them individually and leave them out at room temperature.
3. Pack delicate items.Wrap frames and figurines with several pieces of newspaper, then crumple the remaining sections to fill extra space in the box.
4. Wipe away tough streaks on glass. Use newspaper with cleaning fluid to clean mirrors and windows.
5. Preserve antique glass. Some older frames have finishes on the glass that can be damaged by cleaning solutions. Remove smudges by rubbing with newspaper dipped in a solution of one part white vinegar and one part warm water. Let air-dry.
6. Dry shoes. Place crumpled paper in them overnight.
7. Wrap gifts. Use the comics to wrap a child’s birthday gift, or try the wedding announcements for an engagement gift.
8. Create a home for slushy snow boots. During the winter, keep a pile of newspaper near the entryway. When your little snowmen and -women come home, they can toss their winter wear onto the newspaper instead of creating puddles on the floor.
9. Prepare a garden. In the fall, mow a patch of lawn to make room for a dedicated bed. Cover it with four layers of newspaper, then a four-inch layer of shredded leaves or bark mulch. Hose it down. Come spring, the compost blanket will have smothered the grass roots, and the bed will be primed for planting.
10. Keep the refrigerator vegetable drawer dry and free of smells. Line the bottom with newspaper.

James Baigrie

10 New Uses for Coffee Filters

About 100 years ago, a German housewife named Melitta Bentz punctured the bottom of a brass pot, lined it with blotting paper, and — voilà! — made the first coffee filter. Almost a century later, a perfected version of Bentz’s design is still used. “Coffee filters aren’t as likely to crumple or dissolve in water as typical paper because they have better ‘wet strength,’ thanks to longer fibers,” says Melinda McDonald, communications manager for Bunn, a beverage-equipment manufacturer. “Additionally, the fluted sides and cupcake shape allow substances to flow through the filter freely and prevent grains from flowing over the sides.”

Use Coffee Filters to:

1. Diffuse the flash on a camera. When you’re taking a close-up, soften the brightness by placing a coffee filter over the flash.
2. Strain wine from a bottle with a broken cork. Place the filter over a pitcher or a carafe and slowly pour the wine into it.
3. Serve popcorn or other snacks. The filters act as disposable bowls, so there’s no dishwashing.
4. Make yogurt dip. Use a rubber band to secure a paper coffee filter over the mouth of a deep cup or jar. Slowly pour 8 ounces of plain yogurt onto the filter. Let drain for one hour. In a bowl, mix the thickened yogurt with 1 small minced garlic clove, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crackers.
5. Heat up leftovers in the microwave. Use a filter as the protective covering over a bowl or a plate.
6. Prevent soil from draining out of flowerpots. When repotting, place a filter at the bottom, over the drainage hole, then add the soil.
7. Prevent scuffs and scratches on fine china. Use flattened coffee filters as spacers when you stack your dishes.
8. Protect hands from Popsicle drippage. Slide the wooden stick of an ice pop through a coffee filter so your hands stay mess-free.
9. Serve pita sandwiches. A circular filter is the perfect size for carrying a sandwich on the go.
10. Clean windows and glass when you’re out of paper towels. Coffee filters leave no lint or other residue.

James Baigrie

10 New Uses for Olive Oil

“Olive oil is a good lubricant because its molecules easily slide past one another, thereby helping solid objects to overcome friction,” says Wolke. “Its film also fills up microscopic rough spots in surfaces, making them look polished and shiny.”

Use Olive Oil to:

1. Shave. Olive oil can provide a closer shave when used in place of shaving cream.
2. Shine stainless steel. Many cleaning standbys, such as ammonia, can dull and even corrode chrome and stainless steel. Olive oil, however, is a safe and effective shining agent.
3. Remove eye makeup. Dab a little under the eyes and rinse off with a washcloth.
4. Prevent wax from sticking to a candle holder. Rub a thin coat on the base of the holder before inserting a candle. Dripped wax should peel away easily.
5. Care for your pet. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon to your cat’s food to help prevent hair balls.
6. Moisturize cuticles. Apply a small amount of olive oil to the nail beds.
7. Treat dry skin. Rub a thin layer over the skin after a shower or a waxing.
8. Unstick a zipper. Using a Q-tip, apply a drop to lubricate the teeth. (Avoid touching the fabric.) The zipper should move up and down freely.
9. Dust wooden furniture. Apply a bit of oil to a cloth and wipe.
10. Silence squeaky doors. Lubricate hinges by applying a small dab to a cloth, then wiping the top of the hinges so that the oil runs down the sides.

James Baigrie

10 New Uses for Dryer Sheets

Static builds up when fabrics rub together and exchange electrons,” says Behnam Pourdeyhimi, director of the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh. “Dryer sheets contain positively charged ingredients that are released by heat and movement, such as the tumbling motion of the dryer. These ingredients bond loosely to any negatively charged fabric surface, such as a piece of clothing with static cling, neutralizing the charge and acting as a lubricant.”

Use Dryer Sheets to:

1. Freshen smelly shoes. Insert a dryer sheet into the offending pair and let sit overnight.
2. Remove static from clothing, hair, TV screens, and computer monitors. Wipe the surface with a sheet.
3. Clean pet hair from the floor or furniture. Rub a dryer sheet over the spot where Fluffy left her fur.
4. Replace a sachet. Keep a dresser drawer smelling fresh and clean by placing a dryer sheet on the bottom of it.
5. Loosen caked-on food from a pan. Place a fresh sheet in the bottom of a dirty pan, fill with lukewarm tap water, and let sit in the sink overnight. The pan will be easier to clean in the morning.
6. Tackle suitcase and gym-bag odors. Place a dryer sheet in your suitcase or gym bag so your clean clothes won’t take on the odors of the dirty ones.
7. Prevent old books from smelling musty when in storage. Stick a dryer sheet between the pages of your beloved copy of Pride and Prejudice.
8. Wipe up sawdust after working in the garage. Rub a dryer sheet over the fine wood particles.
9. Prevent thread from tangling when sewing. Run a threaded needle through a dryer sheet right before you begin your handiwork.
10. Dust venetian blinds. Close the blinds, then wipe up and down with a dryer sheet.

James Baigrie

10 New Uses for Baking Soda

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, first hit the mass market in 1846, when Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight began selling their red-labeled soda packages. “Not only does baking soda neutralize odiferous fatty acids but it also attacks grease by turning it into — believe it or not — soap,” says the University of Pittsburgh’s Wolke. Fact: More than 100 tons of the refrigerator staple were used to clean the Statue of Liberty’s inner copper walls during its 1986 restoration.

Use Baking Soda to:

1. Exfoliate skin. Wash your face, then apply a soft paste made of three parts baking soda and one part water. Massage gently with a circular motion, avoiding the eye area; rinse clean.
2. Erase crayon, pencil, ink, and furniture scuffs from painted surfaces. Sprinkle soda on a damp sponge, rub clean, and rinse.
3. Unclog a drain. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar after it. Let sit for five minutes (covered, if possible). Follow with a gallon of boiling water.
4. Remove tough stains from enameled cast iron and stainless steel. Scrub enameled cast iron with a soft nylon brush and a thick paste of baking soda and water. Clean stainless steel with a soft cloth and 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of water. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
5. Scrub pans. Sprinkle soda on crusted casseroles and roasting pans and let sit for five minutes. Lightly scrub and rinse.
6. Brush teeth. Use a paste of baking soda and water.
7. Fight class-B fires (flammable liquids, such as gasoline, oil, and grease). Baking soda can be used to smother only a small flame.
8. Deodorize. Dust baking soda under your arms to absorb body odor.
9. Clean up minor oil and grease spills on a garage floor or driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.
10. Settle a stomach during occasional indigestion. Stir 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into 1/2 cup of water and drink for a safe and effective antacid.

James Baigrie

10 New Uses for Vinegar

“Vinegar is a strong preservative because its acetic acid kills the microbes and bacteria that could cause food to spoil,” says Michael Doyle, director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia, in Griffin. “It’s also a good deodorizer — the acid neutralizes basic compounds, such as those found in degrading meat, that can be volatile and unpleasant.”

Use White Vinegar to:

1. Pinch-hit for lemon in a savory recipe. Use 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar in place of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
2. Remove coffee or tea stains from the bottom of a cup. Swish 2 tablespoons of vinegar around in the cup, then wash as usual.
3. Treat oily hair. Vinegar is a good degreaser for oily hair because it helps adjust pH levels. Shampoo your hair as usual, rinse, then pour 1/4 cup over it and rinse again.
4. Wipe salt stains off boots. Dip a cloth or an old T-shirt into vinegar, then wipe away the white residue.
5. Make wool sweaters fluffier. Drop in a couple of capfuls of vinegar during the rinse cycle for an extra-soft feel.
6. Deodorize a garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through the drain.
7. Clean a teakettle or a coffeemaker. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in a teakettle, then wipe away the grime. Fill the reservoir of a coffeemaker with a mixture of vinegar and water and run it through a brewing cycle. Follow this with several cycles of water to rinse thoroughly.
8. Clean a dishwasher. Once a month, with the machine empty, run a cup of vinegar through an entire cycle to reduce soap buildup on the inner mechanisms and glassware.
9. Remove stubborn price tags or stickers. Paint them with several coats of vinegar, let the liquid soak in for five minutes, then wipe away the residue.
10. Kill weeds between cracks in paving stones and sidewalks. Fill a spray bottle with straight vinegar and spray multiple times. (Be careful not to get any on the surrounding grass, as it will kill that too.)

James Baigrie

10 New Uses for Ziploc Bags

In 1963 a unique bag with a plastic zipper seal was introduced at a packaging trade show. Most recently, the seal’s strength was demonstrated at a Riverton, Wyoming, school, where eighth-grade students discovered an uneaten sandwich in a Ziploc bag at the bottom of a locker. It had been there for months. Students were so impressed with the bag’s ability to seal in the odor (and mold growth) that they actually sent a thank-you letter (along with the sandwich) to the manufacturer, SC Johnson. In a letter back to the students, H. Fisk Johnson, the company chairman, called the locker “one of the toughest product test sites we’ve ever discovered.” Good thing Mom didn’t use wax paper.

Use Ziploc Bags to:

1. Knead dough. Place dough in a Ziploc bag so your fingers don’t get sticky. Or slip your hand into the bag and wear it like a glove. 2. Store panty hose. Nude, Tan, Nearly Naked — they look the same out of the package. Tear off the corner of the package listing the brand, size, and color, then slip it into a bag. Store each pair in its own bag to keep hose organized and prevent snags.
3. Remove chewing gum or candle wax from a tablecloth, a couch, or carpeting. Gently rub gum or wax with a Ziploc bag filled with ice cubes until the substance hardens. Shatter gum with a blunt object, then vacuum up the chips. Carefully peel off frozen wax with a plastic spatula.
4. Pipe frosting. Snip off a tiny corner to use a Ziploc as a pastry bag.
5. Store homemade soup. Fill up bags, then lay them flat in the freezer. When the bags of soup freeze flat, you’ll be able to pile them up like stacked books for easy, space-saving storage.
6. Protect precious cargo. No bubble wrap? Slip a straw into the top of a nearly closed Ziploc bag and inflate. Remove the straw and seal to make a cushion. (Heirlooms, however, should wait for that bubble wrap.)
7. Break up graham crackers or vanilla wafers to make a piecrust. Fill a bag with the cookies, then roll a rolling pin over it.
8. Prevent a handbag from turning into a snow globe. Store pressed powder and other compacts in Ziploc bags.
9. Gather herbs from the garden. Before winter frost sets in, wash, pat dry, and freeze the herbs in Ziploc bags.
10. Ice an injury. Fill a bag with ice cubes to create a cold compress.

James Baigrie

10 New Uses for Velcro

Velcro, whose name is a combination of the French words velour and crochet, was developed in the early 1940s, after Swiss inventor George de Mestral returned home from a walk with his dog and noticed that pesky cockleburs had stuck to his pants and his dog’s coat. Examining the burrs under a microscope, de Mestral found the basis for a unique two-sided fastener — one side with stiff hooks (like the burrs) and the other with soft loops (like the fabric of his pants).

Use Velcro to:

1. Hang pieces of art or photos on a wall. Stick several strips of Velcro to the wall and to the back of a lightweight frame.
2. Prevent a jacket or a blouse from gaping open. Sew small pieces of Velcro between the buttons to create a smooth surface.
3. Keep a rug in place. Stick pieces of Velcro to the floor and to the bottom of the rug.
4. Stop seat cushions from sliding off kitchen chairs. Place strips of Velcro on the chair and on the cushion.
5. Organize toys. Affix a Velcro strip to the wall and Velcro pieces to stuffed animals to make cleanup fun for toddlers.
6. Keep track of the remote. Use Velcro to attach the remote to the side of the TV when it’s not in use.
7. Remove pills from sweaters. Use the hook side of Velcro to pull off pesky balls.
8. Restrain wayward cords. Keep them in one place with a strip of Velcro.
9. Keep a pen or paper handy. Place a small piece of Velcro next to a desk calendar and on a pen so you can jot down to-dos ASAP. In the car, stick a notepad to the dashboard or the door of the glove compartment and you’ll always have paper for a brilliant thought or a last-minute errand.
10. Picnic in peace. Keep a tablecloth from flying away by applying Velcro to the underside of the cloth and to the picnic table.

James Baigrie

11 New Uses for Salt

Think twice before you toss that spilled salt over your shoulder — the flavor enhancer is incredibly useful. “Salt has an affinity to water and can draw moisture out of many foods,” says Wolke. “Grains of table salt are also very hard, which is why they act as a handy abrasive.”

Use Salt to:

1. Make eggs or cream whip up faster and higher. Add a pinch of salt before beating.
2. De-ice sidewalks. In a pinch, it can be used as a substitute for rock salt.
3. Keep chicken or turkey moist. Rub salt in the cavity of the bird before cooking.
4. Prevent sautés made with eggplant or zucchini from getting watery. Sprinkle salt on these vegetables before cooking. 5. Eliminate sticky residue from an iron. Run the hot iron (no steam) over plain paper sprinkled with salt.
6. Clean drains. Pour a hot, strong solution (1/2 cup salt for every quart of water) down the drain.
7. Remove dirt from leafy vegetables, such as spinach. Wash the vegetables in a bath of salt water.
8. Prevent frost from accumulating inside car windows. Rub the glass with a solution of 2 teaspoons of salt in 1 gallon of hot water. Wipe dry.
9. Remove sangria and red-wine stains from your washables. Stretch the fabric over a bowl, cover the stain with salt, and carefully pour boiling water over it.
10. Keep shells from cracking when boiling eggs. Add a few pinches of salt to the water.

+ one more

11. Chill a bottle of bubbly — fast. Place ice around its base in an ice bucket; sprinkle with a few tablespoons of salt. Layer salt and ice until they reach the neck. Fill with water. Wait 10 minutes; serve.

11 Own cartoon character creater websites

2008-03-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

If you are not comfortable using real photos to represent yourself in any online profiles and avatars, why not create a cartoon characters of yourself? It’ll definitely be fun and unique to others when you are representing yourself in a cartonized way in any online profiles and avatars, anywhere from Gravatar to MyBlogLog, blog profiles, Facebook, MySpace, Friendster, etc.

Thanks to many free web services, you don’t have to pay an artist for your cartoon illustrations. All you have to do is upload your photo, or perform some mix and match. Here’s 11 websites that allows you to create a cartoon character of yourself.

Portrait Illustration Maker

Portrait Illustration Maker is a service which provides character icons completely free of charge! They are available for your blog site or SNS. If you’d like to save the completed avatar, right-click on the icon. And then select "Save Picture As… " from the menu.
WeeWorld

Create an cartoon character to represent yourself in WeeWord games (WeeMee) or just export it for anywhere else.
Meez

Social entertainment website that allows users to create their own animated avatars, or "3D I.D." graphics, for the Web, to play casual games with their avatars, and to use them in customizable Rooms on social networks like Facebook.

Simpsonize Me

Turn yourself into a simpson character.
Yahoo! Avatars
BeFunky
Buscar Messenger
Cartoon Me

Cartoonize yourself as simple as uploading your photo, Cartoon Me will do the rest.
Joystiq Mii characters

Think of it as creating Mii characters, but online so you can use it anywhere.
MyPlay

By far, one of the most sophisticated cartoon character creating free service. However this Taiwanese site is only for those who are able to interpret chinese words.
South Park Studio

For south park fans, now you can become one of them.

10 Bizarre Sex Laws

2008-03-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

01. The penalty for masturbation in Indonesia is decapitation.

02. In Lebanon, men are legally allowed to have sex with animals, but the animals must be female. Having sexual relations with a male animal is punishable by death.

03. In Bahrain, a male doctor may legally examine a woman’s genitals, but is forbidden from looking directly at them during the examination. He may only see their reflection in a mirror.

04. Muslims are banned from looking at the genitals of a corpse. This also applies to undertakers; the sex organs of the deceased must be covered with a brick or piece of wood at all times.

05. Most Middle Eastern countries recognize the following Islamic law: “After having sexual relations with a lamb, it is a mortal sin to eat its flesh.”

06. There are men in Guam whose full-time job is to travel the countryside and deflower young virgins, who pay them for the privilege of having sex for the first time. Reason: under Guam law, it is expressly forbidden for virgins to marry.

07. In Cali, Colombia, a woman may only have sex with her husband, and the first time this happens her mother must be in the room to witness the act.

08. In Santa Cruz, Bolivia it is illegal for a man to have sex with a woman and her daughter at the same time.

09. In Maryland, it is illegal to sell condoms from vending machines with one exception: prophylactics may be dispensed from a vending machine only “in places where alcoholic beverages are sold for on the premises.”

10. In Hong Kong, a betrayed wife is legally allowed to kill her adulterous husband, but may only do so with her bare hands. (The husband’s lover, on the other hand, may be killed in any manner desired.)

Science Facts About Sex

2008-03-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

Sex is biochemically no different from eating large quantities of chocolate.

Males, on average, think about sex every 7 seconds.

Each day, there are over 120 million sexual intercourse taking place all over the world.

Topless saleswomen are legal in Liverpool, England - but only in tropical fish stores. (But of course!)

There are men in Guam whose job is to travel the countryside and deflower young virgins, who pay them for the privilege of having sex for the 1st time.

Sex burns 360 calories per hour!

Male and female rats may have sex twenty times a day.

22% of American women aged 20 gave birth while in their teens. In Switzerland and Japan, only 2% did so.

For every ‘normal’ webpage, there are five porn pages.

The penalty for masturbation in Indonesia is decapitation.

In india it is cheaper to have sex with a prostitue than buy a condom!

“Formicophilia” is the fetish for having small insects crawl on your genitals. Gross!!

“Ithyphallophobia” is a morbid fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis.

When swans go on a date, they’ll put their heads together. Then they stick together for life.

Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. It is 10 times more effective than valium!

Male bats have the highest rate of homosexuality of any mammal.

The average shelf-life of a latex condom is about two years.

The word “gymnasium” comes from the Greek word gymnazein which means “to exercise naked.”

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.

In Hong Kong, a betrayed wife is legally allowed to kill her adulterous husband, but may only do so with her bare hands.

85% of men who die of heartattacks during intercourse, are found to have been cheating on their wives.

An adulterous Greek male was sometimes punished by the removal of his pubic hair and the insertion of a large radish into his rectum.

The greatest recorded number of children one mother had was 69 children. Do the math!

The world’s youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time television were: Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

25% of women think money makes a man sexier.

Some lions mate over 50 times a day.

Snakes have two sex organs.

Women who read romance novels have sex twice as often as those who don’t.

The average person spends 2 weeks of its life kissing.

The Ramses brand condom is named after the great phaoroh Ramses II who fathered over 160 children.

A man’s beard grows fastest when he anticipates sex.

A pig’s orgasm lasts for 30 minutes.

Donald Duck comics were once banned from Finland because Donald doesn’t wear pants.

Truely Amazing Facts

2008-03-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

King Henry VIII slept with a gigantic axe.

Catfish are the only animals that naturally have an ODD number of whiskers.

Replying more than 100 times to the same piece of spam e-mail will overwhelm the sender's system and interfere with their ability to send any more spam.

The skin needed for elbow transplants must be taken from the scrotum of a cadaver.

The Boeing 747 is capable of flying upside-down if it weren't for the fact that the wings would shear off when trying to roll it over.

The trucking company Elvis Presley worked at as a young man was owned by Frank Sinatra.

The only golf course on the island of Tonga has 15 holes, and there's no penalty if a monkey steals your golf ball.

Calvin, of the "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip, was patterned after President Calvin Coolidge, who had a pet tiger as a boy.

SCUBA divers cannot pass gas at depths of 33 feet or below.

Because printed materials are being replaced by CD-ROM, microfiche and the Internet, libraries that previously sank into their foundations under the weight of their books are now in danger of collapsing in extremely high winds.

In 1843, a Parisian street mime got stuck in his imaginary box and consequently died of starvation.

The sport of jai alai originated from a game played by Incan priests who held cats by their tails and swung at leather balls. The cats would instinctively grab at the ball with their claws, thus enabling players to catch them.

The idea for "tribbles" in "Star Trek" came from gerbils, since some gerbils are actually born pregnant.

Male rhesus monkeys often hang from tree branches by their amazing prehensile penises.

Johnny Plessey batted .331 for the Cleveland Spiders in 1891, even though he spent the entire season batting with a rolled-up, lacquered copy of the Toledo Post-Dispatch.

Polar bears can eat as many as 86 penguins in a single sitting.

A cat's purr has the same romance-enhancing frequency as the voice of singer Barry White.

The typewriter was invented by Hungarian immigrant Qwert Yuiop, who left his "signature" on the keyboard.

The volume of water that the Giant Sequoia tree consumes in a 24-hour period contains enough suspended minerals to pave 17.3 feet of a 4-lane concrete freeway.

In the weightlessness of space a frozen pea will explode if it comes in contact with Pepsi.

Smearing a small amount of dog feces on an insect bite will relieve the itching and swelling.

Centuries ago, purchasing real estate often required having one or more limbs amputated in order to prevent the purchaser from running away to avoid repayment of the loan. Hence an expensive purchase was said to cost "an arm and a leg."

When Mahatma Gandhi died, an autopsy revealed five gold Krugerrands in his small intestine.

At the first World Cup championship in Uruguay, 1930, the soccer balls were actually monkey skulls wrapped in paper and leather.

Never hold your nose and cover your mouth when sneezing, as it can blow out your eyeballs.

Silly Putty was "discovered" as the residue left behind after the first latex condoms were produced. It's not widely publicized for obvious reasons.

When immersed in liquid, a dead sparrow will make a sound like a crying baby.

In WWII the US military planned to airdrop over France propaganda in the form of Playboy magazine, with coded messages hidden in the models' turn-ons and turn-offs. The plan was scrapped because of a staple shortage due to rationing of metal.

Although difficult, it's possible to start a fire by rapidly rubbing together two Cool Ranch Doritos.

Napoleon's favorite type of wood was knotty chestnut.

The world's smartest pig, owned by a mathematics teacher in Madison, WI, memorized the multiplication tables up to 12.

Due to the natural "momentum" of the ocean, saltwater fish cannot swim backwards.

In ancient Greece, children of wealthy families were dipped in olive oil at birth to keep them hairless throughout their lives.

It is nearly three miles farther to fly from Amarillo, Texas to Louisville, Kentucky than it is to return from Louisville to Amarillo.

The increased electricity used by modern appliances is causing a shift in the Earth's magnetic field. By the year 2327, the North Pole will be located in mid-Kansas, while the South Pole will be just off the coast of East Africa.

Every Labrador retriever dreams about bananas.

If you put a bee in a film canister for two hours, it will go blind and leave behind its weight in honey.

The first McDonald's restaurant opened for business in 1952 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and featured the McHaggis sandwich.

Seven out of every ten hockey-playing Canadians will lose a tooth during a game. For Canadians who don't play hockey, that figure drops to five out of ten.

A team of University of Virginia researchers released a study promoting the practice of picking one's nose, claiming that the health benefits of keeping nasal passages free from infectious blockages far outweigh the negative social connotations.

Among items left behind at Osama bin Laden's headquarters in Afghanistan were 27 issues of Mad Magazine. Al Qaeda members have admitted that bin Laden is reportedly an avid reader.

Urine from male cape water buffaloes is so flammable that some tribes use it for lantern fuel.

Interesting facts about Japan

2008-03-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

Wild monkeys don’t like to be looked at in the eye

The Japanese Prime Minister is elected by the legislature, not the people

Legend says that the Japanese monarchy began in the 7th Century BC

In Japan they eat squid, octopus, eel, all fish, crabs, prawns, etc…

A traditional Japanese breakfast consists of rice topped with natto (fermented soy beans)

The Japanese say that the Chinese will eat anything

Japan is 70% mountains

Japan is made up of over 6000 islands

Kris and Jessica live in Japan

There are wild monkeys in Japan

You don’t wear shoes in the house, you wear slippers

There are special slippers for the toilet

You don’t wear your slippers into a tatami mat room

In Japan, a night at the movies will cost you $18 per person

In Japan many people wear uniforms i.e. bank tellers, grocery store clerks, postal workers…

In Japan, most people say that they are Buddhist, but don’t believe in the Buddha

Aspiring young Japanese musicians play on street corners and in subway stations hoping to get discovered

The “WALK” lights on Japanese street corners make a chirping sound so that the blind can know when to cross the street

Japanese subways are very clean and safe

People sleep on their way home on the subway and the train

Japanese cars are mostly the same size as American cars

In Japan they drive on the left side

In Japan you get really good (annoying???) service when shopping

Japanese department stores are usually multiple stories, with a grocery store on the bottom, clothes and bedding in the middle, and restaurants on the top

Japanese pizza has mayonnaise, corn, and seaweed on it

Japanese salad has corn in it

The Japanese think that Americans eat corn and potatoes every day

Fruit is very expensive in Japan

Watermelons in Japan can cost up to $100

Peaches are $2.00 a piece

There are Japanese people in Japan

The second highest population is Chinese, followed by Korean, Brazilian, Peruvian…

There are very few public trashcans in Japan

A traditional Japanese toilet looks like a urinal lying on the floor

In Japan, they know more about Chinese food than Americans do

In Japan even local calls are charged by the minute

Golden Retrievers are the most popular pet

The Japanese use four different writing systems

In Japanese, the word for “wrong” and “different” are the same

American shows shown in Japan are: Ally McBeal, Dharma and Greg, Beverly Hills 90210, Full House, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Boy Meets World, Animal Rescue Kids

Everyone hangs their clothes outside to dry

Japan is the world’s largest consumer of tropical rainforest timber

Japan has 28 National Parks and 55 Quasi-National Parks

Japan is divided into nine large regions and further divided into 47 smaller prefectures

Japan has the seventh largest population in the world

You can catch a train to and from Nagoya every 15 minutes

You can catch a subway train every three minutes in Nagoya

The Shinkansen (bullet train) passes Kris and Jessica’s house every fifteen minutes

The Japanese know more about American politics than Americans do

Popular Japanese bands are: Glay, Smap, Hana Hana, Shingo Mama, The Yellow Monkey, Luna Sea, Whiteberry, Arc~en~Ceil, Da Pump, Kinki Kids, etc…

Popular Japanese music is terrible

Western celebrities in Japanese commercials are: Catherine Zeta-Jones for Lux Super Rich Shampoo, Cameron Diaz for Aeon Language School, Ewan McGregor for Aeon Language School, Nicholas Cage for Pachinko (what a dork), Brad Pitt for both Roots canned coffee and jeans, Tiger Woods for Wonda canned coffee, George Clooney for Toyota, Naomi Campbell for Lipton Canned Tea

In Japan you can buy canned coffee, hot or cold, in vending machines

In Japan, Pert shampoo is called Rejoy

In Japan, 20 capsules of cold medicine cost $15

Because Japan has a socialized medical system, if you get the tiniest bit sick people think you should go to the doctor so you can get your medicine for free instead of paying $15 for cold medicine

Kyoto and Nara were consciously spared from bombing during World War 2 because of the cultural significance of their architecture and way of life

In Japan, Ally Mc Beal is called “Ally My Love” because McBeal when said in a Japanese dialect sounds like McBeer

Junior High and High School students wear uniforms

Elementary school students wear yellow caps

In Japan, the teachers move from class to class and the students stay in one room

At McDonalds the hamburgers are the same size as in America, but the drink sizes are one size smaller

“McDonalds” in a Japanese dialect sounds lilke “Ma-ku-do-na-ru-do”

Japanese is hard (Nihongo wa muzukashi des)

In Japan it is not uncommon to see women wearing platform shoes that are 4 to 6 inches high

Instead of “Ohayo Gozaimasu” (good morning), Japanese youngsters often say “Oha!”

Christianity comprises less than 10% of the Japanese population

Normal Japanese kitchens don’t have ovens

The bathroom is not where the toilet is found in a Japanese home

In Japan, when you move into an apartment, you have to bring your own light fixtures

There’s no such thing as central heat and air in Japan

A futon is not what you think it is…

One US dollar is approximately 120 yen

In Japan you eat your soup with chopsticks

Japanese streets are very narrow

Streets in Japan don’t have names

Pokemon is not popular in Japan

Rice cookers are great and easy to use

In Japan, fair skin is regarded as beautiful

Many Japanese women dye their hair brown

Refrigerators in Japan are tiny

There are very few original castles in Japan because of bombing during WW2

Whale is a delicacy

The name “Tokyo” when broken down into kanji means “east” and “capital”

The name “Kyoto” when broken down into kanji means “capital” and “capital”

Noh, a type of Japanese theatre, can be up to eight hours long

In Japanese, languages all end in –go : Nihongo, Eigo, Spango, etc…

In Japanese, citizen terms end in –jin : Nihonjin, Amerikajin, Perujin, etc…

Movies Review of Top 5 Films

2008-03-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

There Will Be Blood (2007) - Movie Review

In a year of competitive films, the movies keep getting more competitive. In the last week, I have seen a slew of quality films, each unique in their own way and difficult to compare. The latest is There Will Be Blood, easily one of the best, if not the best, movies of 2007. There Will Be Blood stars Daniel Day-Lewis and is all but a complete masterpiece.

There Will Be Blood is one of those films where the stars align just right. Director Paul Thomas Anderson has flirted with excellence before, but never have we seen him on target so often. Daniel Day-Lewis turns in what could be the best of his prolific career, and if he doesn't win Best Actor, I will turn my back on the Oscars forever. The direction of Anderson, the mind blowing performance of Day-Lewis and the captivating story based on the Upton Sinclair novel "Oil!" make There Will Be Blood a heavy contender for the top prize, though admittedly this isn't the feel-good movie of the year that often appeal to voters.

Regardless of its actual chances, I'd have to say that There Will Be Blood is only second to Atonement, and it is a close race. I won't even begin to compare the drastically different dramas, so I will simply say that There Will Be Blood is unique, powerful, engaging, beautiful and ugly all at once. We begin with a man named Daniel Plainview, who has a small mine. No words are spoken for several minutes as this rugged man searches for something in the earth, has an accident, breaks his leg and drags himself back to town to get his findings evaluated. In this first sequence, we see the dedication and singular focus of Mr. Plainview. Jump ahead several years, and Plainview has become a true oil man, though his motives never seem to match the apparent sincerity in his words. Again, he is a man of singular focus, and that focus isn't to help others or find happiness; he is there to make money. Mr. Plainview is held in check by the bond with his adopted son; their bond cannot be called love, but simply a mutual understanding of how things are. His son brings him closer to humanity than anything else, but even then, Mr. Plainview is simply a greedy bastard.

The movie is dazzling. Intentionally slow at times and always methodical, Anderson lets his screenplay and actors do the work for him. While the film is a technical feat, at first glance it may appear simple and certainly understated; the camera often remains still, and Anderson is careful to capture both the emotion and physical nature of what's on screen, even if "nothing" is happening. Aided by a brilliantly subdued score that sometimes seems to disappear for long stretches and then returns in a captivating buzz, Anderson has achieved what I can only expect to be a lock for a Best Director nomination. Then again, in such a competitive year, it is hard to tell.

But even in a competitive year, I cannot imagine anyone but Daniel Day-Lewis walking up to the podium to accept his prize. This actor has turned in so many great performances, but never before have I been so engaged as I was here. This is perfection if I've ever seen it.

Talking about Oscars, young Paul Dano has delivered a star-making performance. His incarnation of a vibrant, intelligent and suspiciously "innocent" healer and preacher rivals Day-Lewis at time, and that is a feat in and of itself. Will he win? Only time will tell, but the Little Miss Sunshine actor will not have a lack of work anytime soon.

If I were to have a complaint, it'd be that the movie loses a slight bit of focus in a few later scenes as Anderson prepares us for the finale. These scenes in question are never dull, but they lack some of the exactness of the first half. Then again, the first half is so mesmerizing that it's probably unfair to expect Anderson not to stumble once or twice. Regardless, the film is a masterpiece, and Anderson caps it off with one of the most brilliantly conceived and extraordinary endings in cinematic history. Bold, brazen, funny, twisted and dark all at once, the ending is a piece of work and features both Day-Lewis and Dano taking things to yet another level. Anderson himself tricks the audience into letting its guard down, and then pummels them with the final moments. Wonderful stuff.

There Will Be Blood is by no means for everyone, but it is an incredible picture and the second best picture of 2007.

Juno (2007) - Movie Review

In a fascinating year of great action movies, quality dramas and hilarious comedies, the underrated Oscar contender of the year could be Juno, though ever since it opened to critical acclaim and now box office success, it's a bit unfair to refer to it as "underrated."

Juno is this year's Little Miss Sunshine, though it makes that movie look like an opening act. Featuring an Oscar-worthy performance from young Ellen Page (Hard Candy, X-Men 3) and an impressively sharp screenplay from Diablo Cody, Juno is a great comedy-drama that could give some of the more depressing films (No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood and Atonement, to name a few) a run for their money.

The movie is about a 16-year old girl named Juno (Page) who possesses amazing wit and sarcasm, and the stupidity to have sex without a condom. Now pregnant, she finds herself with the unfortunate choice of an abortion or taking a baby to term while still in high school, and she opts for the latter. With no interest of raising a baby at her age, however, she finds the seemingly perfect couple to adopt her baby, and they come in the form of Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner. As she grows larger, however, she begins to realize that this couple isn't as perfect as she once thought, and it makes her realize the truth about her relationship with her baby's father (Michael Cera).

Page turns in a terrific performance as the title character; she was impressive in Hard Candy, but Juno is her break-out film. Page matches the intensity of the script at every step, which is challenging considering just how fast and sharp the dialogue is. Cody and Page have concocted a great character in Juno; if she were my daughter, I would disown her just for being so sarcastic and annoying, but since she isn't, she's one of the most entertaining characters I've seen in a long time. Furthermore, while I normally wouldn't recommend a comedic performance for an Oscar, this year is so barren when it comes to powerful female performances that she could slip in with the win.

More importantly than the acting, though, Juno is just an all around entertaining picture. Funny and at times sweet, the movie will appeal to both genders equally. At times, the jokes fly so fast that you may be still be laughing at one and miss two more to follow. While Cody has to be credited with the dialogue that really makes the movie, director Jason Reitman, who plays off the screenplay with some creative physical comedy, also does an excellent job. The film has a realistic quirkiness to it that works just right, and Reitman has to be credited with a lot of that. The performances by Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons also help. Jennifer Garner, unfortunately, doesn't get much to do.

Juno is one of the best movies of 2007. Funny and smart, it's a refreshing change of pace.

Charlie Wilson's War (2007) - Movie Review

What happens when you take Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Aaron Sorkin, the creator of "The West Wing", and put them altogether? You get Charlie Wilson's War, an incredibly funny and entertaining drama-comedy about the U.S.'s secret involvement in the Russia-Afghanistan War.

Yes, the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980's is not your typical topic for a comedy, but when you have the backing of Sorkin's political writing skills, anything is possible. Charlie Wilson's War is somehow funny and serious simultaneously from nearly start to finish; there's rarely a scene where something "real" or meaningful isn't happening and you aren't cracking up at the same time. The witty dialogue and complex portrayal of Representative Wilson's covert funding during the '80's makes Charlie Wilson's War an easy candidate for Best Adapted Screenplay.

To enjoy the movie, you of course have to have a slight political interest, though Charlie Wilson's War works as both a political machine and simply as a drama-comedy. It's hard to compare it to anything else, because I really can't think of anything quite like it. It's funny, deep and smart, a rare feat these days. Furthermore, whether you're a Republican or Democrat, warmonger or peace activist, you'll find something to like here; surprisingly, the movie doesn't really take sides; while the ending hints at its intentions, you can make of it what you will.

The acting is also quite good. While no one is going to win awards here, Hanks turns in his best performance since 2002's Road to Perdition. The character of Charlie Wilson is completely different than anything he has played before, which is a double-edged sword. Some box office analysts have partially blamed the failure of Charlie Wilson's War on Hanks' casting as the womanizing, cocaine-snorting bachelor politician, and, admittedly, it is out of character for a man we've come to expect to deliver relatively wholesome personas. Nevertheless, Hanks does a great job here; there are few other actors who could have made this character as likable.

The show stealer, however, is Hoffman. Hoffman, who plays CIA agent Gust Avrakotos, is absolutely incredible, and one of my picks for Best Supporting Actor. Hoffman is crude, grubby and yet super intelligent, and his delivery is one of the funniest things I've seen in recent memory.

Roberts is pretty much wasted in a relatively small role. At least it's nice to see her sticking to the background when the story demands it.

I really wasn't expecting much from Charlie Wilson's War; the previews weren't very powerful or funny, and it looked like just another film. But the movie is terrific, funny and meaningful, and one of the year's best. The best? No, not even close. But still, Charlie Wilson's War comes highly recommended.

Cloverfield (2008) - Movie Review

Cloverfield is here. It has been a long and glorious wait, essentially six months worth of hype, anticipation, mystery and rumors. And you know what? Cloverfield lives up to the buzz.

Cloverfield, if you've been living in a cave, is the monster movie from producer J.J. Abrams. In reality, Abrams has been getting all the credit even though Matt Reeves, who really hasn't directed anything of significance other than a few episodes of "Felicity", is the credited director. Regardless, the movie is shot through some [very high quality] handheld cameras and follows a group of young people through Manhattan as they try to escape the island during an assault on the city by a gigantic, seemingly invincible creature. The movie doesn't try to explain where the creature came from and instead provides a snapshot of what ordinary citizens might experience if such a situation were to occur. In other words, Cloverfield is everything that Matthew Broderick's Godzilla should have been.

And let's get the record straight. Cloverfield is not about the Godzilla monster, despite some rumors to the contrary. The monster here is quite unique and pretty impressive. It's hard to pull off monsters without looking cheesy, but Cloverfield is particularly effective. The perspective of the film helps a lot, as the movie focuses entirely on its main characters and not on the monster itself. For much of the movie, you only see pieces of the creature from a distance or on the news. The result is a more believable feel to the film, not unlike what was seen in The Host last year (but a little more exciting).

Most importantly, Cloverfield is exciting. As soon as the monster first strikes, Cloverfield is a non-stop survival story. It moves at a breakneck pace and is consistently entertaining from beginning to end. The storytelling is relatively seamless, and basically it's just a blast. Whether the characters are trying to assess what's happening, rescue someone from a collapsed building, escape creatures in the subway system or are watching the military hit the monster with everything they have, Cloverfield is a thrilling good time.

As for the handheld camera approach, it's a mixed bag. If there's anything that could turn someone off Cloverfield, it's the camera work, though it's a matter of personal opinion. There are times where things get overly chaotic, and others where you really question why anyone would carry a camera around with them while running for their lives. Still, the handheld element compliments the film well enough. It isn't too distracting, and times plays to the film's benefit. I do wonder what Cloverfield would have been like with a more traditional approach, but that's not what we got.

Overall, Cloverfield defies expectations. I was worried the movie wouldn't live up to its hype, but it really does. Cloverfield is a lot of fun, and a pretty good movie to boot. This is definitely the way everyone wanted the 2008 movie year to begin.

Rambo (2008) - Movie Review

After many long years, John Rambo returns to the big screen, and with him he brings some of the nastiest, bloodiest action to ever be witnessed on the big screen. Sylvester Stallone's Rambo may be simplistic and designed only for his most ardent fans, but would you want it any other way?

It's been twenty years since Rambo last invaded a country, and nearly that long since Stallone has had a bona fide hit. That's not entirely true, as Stallone found that there was still demand for some of his old franchises with the mild success of Rocky Balboa, which, admittedly, was pretty decent. Unlike Rocky, which is much more limited by Stallone's age, the Rambo movies don't demand the same sense of realism. After all, how many commandos can take on the entire Russian army in Afghanistan single-handedly... and win? With Stallone fully endorsing HGH steroids, the man can continue to make Rambo movies well into his eighties, and that's just fine with me (unless the steroids cause a nervous breakdown or heart attack first).

This new Rambo film, titled, simply, Rambo, once again shows us that Stallone realizes his age and the decline of his career, but isn't willing to go down without a fight. Some people criticize Stallone for making sequels to his favorite franchises long after they were deemed dead, but I credit him with the ability to identify where demand is and to go with what he knows works, rather than scrape by on a bunch of forgettable direct-to-DVD projects. This new Rambo shows us that our title character now lives a peaceful life in Thailand, using his boat to fish and catch snakes for a local tourist attraction. He's as quiet as he has always been, and seems content - but not necessarily happy - with his life.

When a group of missionaries show up and ask him for his assistance to get them into war torn Burma, Rambo reluctantly decides to transport them to their own deaths, pretty much on the insistence of one beautiful but misguided woman who he is clearly attracted to. Those steroids can manipulate your mind and emotions, Mr. Rambo! When the ruthless army attacks that village where the missionaries are staying, however, Rambo and a team of mercenaries decide to take matters into their own hands. While the others consider Rambo a relic of the past, he proves to them that he is still as capable as ever - and will destroy anything that stands in his way.

The truth is, if you liked the old Rambo movies, you'll like this one. With exception to the first film, the movies have been pretty much about a scarred figure going to war with some kind of injustice, and fans have soaked them in as pure action movies. Those kinds of movies are hard to come by these days, though we have seen a resurgence of late with such films as Live Free and Die Hard, Terminator 3 and now Rambo. Rambo doesn't care about providing a complex plot or intriguing drama; the movie is here to give fans what we all secretly crave, a downright bloody massacre with Stallone taking on hundreds of people single handedly. He's not alone in this film, but he just as easily could have been.

Rambo truly is the goriest film I have seen in a decade, putting to shame films such as The Hills Have Eyes and countless others. The film is disturbing in the least and masochistic at its best; Stallone does not shy away from showing the bad guys inflicting genocide, rape, murder and torture on men, women and children. The movie's not for the faint of heart, as for an hour and a half you literally see people get blown apart, their insides ripped out, bodies cut in have by rail guns and more. According to IMDB, the movie features 236 killings, or, on average, 2.59 killings per minute. Sadly, this is exactly what I wanted to see, and Rambo delivers to the point.

Despite its simplicity, Rambo is a well conceived little picture. The story is basic, though Stallone does make some attempts to give his character substance. He might not quite pull it off, but the confines in which the title character has placed himself are believable. The movie itself is very dark and gritty, which adds to the appeal of the film. The killings are brutally gory and highly detailed, carefully avoiding the "cartoon" violence seen in such films as Kill Bill. Rambo does not make fun of itself or pay homage to past films, and, thankfully, the seriousness of the movies pays off.

My only real complaint about Rambo is that the main bad guy gets off way to easily. While he gets what he deserves, the ending comes so quickly and brutally that you don't even have time to catch your breath; I would have liked to see things drawn on a couple more minutes, just so that the villain could see what's coming to him. So yes, I actually wanted Rambo to be longer.

Rambo is a great film, as long as you're looking for an action-packed action movie. Fans of Rambo and those who miss the non-stop action films of old will take pleasure in this brutal sequel; of course, everyone else will avoid this film at all costs. As long as Stallone continues to make Rambo movies for Rambo fans, I will continue to watch them. And enjoy them.

Rambo Movie Review #2 (C+), by Robert Bell

Rambo is Sylvester Stallone's second attempt to revitalize a dying film career through recycling his successes in younger years. Perhaps a sequel to Stop, or my Mom will Shoot is in the cards. His comeback films appear to be successful as a result of a camp value associated with a modern sequel to the visceral Vietnam and Apartheid movies of the 80's. It's unlikely that this entry will reinvent the genre, or even keep Stallone on the map for more than his additional fifteen minutes.

The plot is simple. War Veteran John Rambo (Stallone) reluctantly assists and seeks out missing missionaries in Myanmar.

John Rambo symbolizes the action hero of yesteryear, men who existed in the shadows of unrealistic male Heroes constructed by Walt Whitman and John Wayne mythologies. These men are larger than life, tortured by the pain of the world, unaffected by emotional misgivings, and willing to risk their own life for the good of mankind. They clearly have a lot of time to dedicate to the gym, and invest a lot of money in baby oil for their chests.
As this mythic male image has long since died in a post Fight Club/ Marky Mark world, it makes the resurgence of this form of hero amusing and campy. As such, the film should succeed in amusing an educated audience, and likely placating the mechanic/tattoo artist crowd.

We're treated to some very thinly painted characters with diametrically opposed political views in order to set up a very basic conflict not dissimilar to the ones set up in the Anaconda films. The symbolism of traveling down the river towards a murky ideology altering fate is likely lost on no one.

The dialogue is typically male, and in attempting to be meaningful, comes across as laughably bad. It is ultimately the stoic Sylvester Stallone dialogue you've come to expect. "When pushed far enough, killing people becomes just as easy as breathing". Really Sly? Really?

The violence is gratuitous, which is essentially what a Rambo audience would expect. There are slow motion explosions, limbs getting blown off, people blowing up into chunks, small children getting shot, closeups of people getting shot through the head with arrows. It's all there, and unrelenting.

It would be difficult to argue that the direction and cinematography were unsuccessful in their efforts. Every frame of this movie is like a love-letter to the superior action films of two decades ago. However, suggesting that a film looks dated is rarely a compliment.

This is not a good movie. It is however, successful in being exactly what it attempts to be. A Rambo movie. And as such, it should please a Rambo fan.

Top 19 Horror Movies of 21st Century

2008-03-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

From 1999 to present day (October 31, 2007), there haven't been that many stand out horror movies, but here's a list of some that either really good, good enough for horror or just plain gruesome. Looking to rent a horror movie for Halloween? Choose from the list below...

1 Wolf Creek
One of the best movies on this list, Wolf Creek is scary, gory, suspenseful and, worst of all, realistic. Based on a true story, this one will make you nervous to visit Australia. The film follows several young people as they fall victim to a psychopathic killer in the Outback.

2The Descent
One of the best horror/monster movies ever, The Descent is about a group of women trapped a mile underground with a bunch of ferocious mutated creatures that like to eat flesh. Awesome film!

3 A Tale of Two Sisters
Hollywood is remaking this movie, unfortunately. The original, a Korean film I believe, is one of the best and scariest movies I have seen in a long time. Watch carefully, otherwise you'll be lost!

4 Dawn of the Dead (2004)
This is the film that rejuvenated the zombie genre for the modern age, and it definitely deserves the credit. Funny, exciting and gruesome all at the same time. The director went on to provide fans with 300.

5 28 Weeks Later
This zombie film is actually very, very exciting, and a bit scary. While some people hated this film, it's actually better than its predecessor, 28 Days Later.

6 Halloween (2007)
This movie isn't out on DVD yet, but is a very respectable remake of the John Carpenter classic.

7 Joy Ride
Yes, it stars Paul Walker, but this is one of my favorite thrillers. It's non-stop action and features a crazy truck driver who stalks three innocent young people all over the place (and tears off one guy's jaw).

8 Final Destination
One of the more original horror movies of all time, the film is surprisingly exciting considering the killer is completely invisible. And if you like Ali Larter on "Heroes", check her out here.

9 The Others
This Nicole Kidman ghost story was a surprising box office and critical hit, and has a great twist ending. This one was creepy enough to feature a spoof in one of the Scary Movies, played by a fake Michael Jackson.

10 The Ring/Ringu
The American and Japanese versions are so similar that I list them both together. If you saw the American version first, like I did, you'll probably like The Ring better, but those who saw the Japanese one initially will think the opposite. Either way, they have a neat concept and scary results. Too bad they spawned a slew of crappy Japanese remakes - and The Ring Two.

11 Signs
This M. Night Shyalaman movie isn't as scary the second time around, but I remember being on the edge of my seat at theaters. This was the last movie where his twist ending was halfway decent.

12 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Some people slam this film, but it features Jessica Biel looking super hot, tons of gore and an ultra creepy psychotic family. This was a great remake, yet doesn't take away from the original.

13 Deep Blue Sea
Sure, it's a cheesier version of Jaws, but this movie about genetically advanced sharks is surprisingly good. There are some scary moments, a few surprises (one big actor gets killed a lot earlier than expected) and... genetically advanced sharks!

14 The Host
This monster movie isn't very scary, but as far as monster movies go, it is one of the most well done flicks in years. It's funny and serious all at the same time.

15 High Tension
If you're looking for disturbing, look no further than this French film. The bad guy gives himself a blow job with a decapitated head at one point in the movie, and that's the soft part of the R-rating. Blood, blood and more blood is splattered on screen, and the movie even takes a very weird, controversial twist near the end.

16 Jeepers Creepers
Sure, it turns out that the killer is a flying creature from Hell, but up until that point, this hit horror film is amazingly suspenseful and disturbing. The sequel really, really sucked, though.

17 The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
This isn't a great film, and the original from Wes Craven is better overall, but this remake, from the director of High Tension no less, is one of the goriest, f**ked up movie ever. Nothing is sacred in this bloody picture.

18 What Lies Beneath
This Harrison Ford/Michelle Pfeiffer film wasn't perfect, but every time Pfeiffer would walk slowly into the bathroom, you knew a ghost was just waiting to grab her.

19 The Blair Witch Project
A classic in its own right, The Blair Witch Project put indie horror back on the map. If you watch it a second time it's just unbearably boring, but the first time was great. I actually watched this for a second time at Halloween with a bunch of people; it was definitely the lamest party I had ever hosted.

Facts Human Aging and Death

2008-03-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

Aging and Death

From the very young to the very old, aging is a necessary and unavoidable part of life. Learn about the process with these interesting, if somewhat strange facts.

The ashes of a cremated person average about 9 pounds. A big part of what gives the human body weight is the water trapped in our cells. Once cremated, that water and a majority of our tissues are destroyed, leaving little behind.
Nails and hair do not continue to grow after we die. They do appear longer when we die, however, as the skin dehydrates and pulls back from the nail beds and scalp.
By the age of 60, most people will have lost about half their taste buds. Perhaps you shouldn’t trust your grandma’s cooking as much as you do. Older individuals tend to lose their ability to taste, and many find that they need much more intense flavoring in order to be able to fully appreciate a dish.
Your eyes are always the same size from birth but your nose and ears never stop growing. When babies look up at you with those big eyes, they’re the same size that they’ll be carrying around in their bodies for the rest of their lives. Their ears and nose, however, will grow throughout their lives and research has shown that growth peaks in seven year cycles.
By 60 years of age, 60-percent of men and 40-percent of women will snore. If you’ve ever been kept awake by a snoring loved one you know the sound can be deafening. Normal snores average around 60 decibels, the noise level of normal speech, intense snores can reach more than 80 decibels, the approximate level caused by a jackhammer breaking up concrete.
A baby’s head is one-quarter of it’s total length, but by age 25 will only be one-eighth of its total length. As it turns out, our adorably oversized baby heads won’t change size as drastically as the rest of our body. The legs and torso will lengthen, but the head won’t get much longer.

Disease and Injury

Most of us will get injured or sick at some point in our lives. Here are some facts on how the human body reacts to the stresses and dangers from the outside world.

Monday is the day of the week when the risk of heart attack is greatest. Yet another reason to loathe Mondays! A ten year study in Scotland found that 20% more people die of heart attacks on Mondays than any other day of the week. Researchers theorize that it’s a combination of too much fun over the weekend with the stress of going back to work that causes the increase.
Humans can make do longer without food than sleep. While you might feel better prepared to stay up all night partying than to give up eating, that feeling will be relatively short lived. Provided there is water, the average human could survive a month to two months without food depending on their body fat and other factors. Sleep deprived people, however, start experiencing radical personality and psychological changes after only a few sleepless days. The longest recorded time anyone has ever gone without sleep is 11 days, at the end of which the experimenter was awake, but stumbled over words, hallucinated and frequently forgot what he was doing.
A simple, moderately severe sunburn damages the blood vessels extensively. How extensively? Studies have shown that it can take four to fifteen months for them to return to their normal condition. Consider that the next time you’re feeling too lazy to apply sunscreen before heading outside.
Over 90% of diseases are caused or complicated by stress. That high stress job you have could be doing more than just wearing you down each day. It could also be increasing your chances of having a variety of serious medical conditions like depression, high blood pressure and heart disease.
A human head remains conscious for about 15 to 20 seconds after it is been decapitated. While it might be gross to think about, the blood in the head may be enough to keep someone alive and conscious for a few seconds after the head has been separated from the body, though reports as to the accuracy of this are widely varying.

Muscles and Bones

Muscles and Bones provide the framework for our bodies and allow us to jump, run or just lie on the couch. Here are a few facts to ponder the next time you’re lying around.

It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown. Unless you’re trying to give your face a bit of a workout, smiling is a much easier option for most of us. Anyone who’s ever scowled, squinted or frowned for a long period of time knows how it tires out the face which doesn’t do a thing to improve your mood.
Babies are born with 300 bones, but by adulthood the number is reduced to 206. The reason for this is that many of the bones of children are composed of smaller component bones that are not yet fused like those in the skull. This makes it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal. The bones harden and fuse as the children grow.
We are about 1 cm taller in the morning than in the evening. The cartilage between our bones gets compressed by standing, sitting and other daily activities as the day goes on, making us just a little shorter at the end of the day than at the beginning.
The strongest muscle in the human body is the tongue. While you may not be able to bench press much with your tongue, it is in fact the strongest muscle in your body in proportion to its size. If you think about it, every time you eat, swallow or talk you use your tongue, ensuring it gets quite a workout throughout the day.
The hardest bone in the human body is the jawbone. The next time someone suggests you take it on the chin, you might be well advised to take their advice as the jawbone is one of the most durable and hard to break bones in the body.
You use 200 muscles to take one step. Depending on how you divide up muscle groups, just to take a single step you use somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 muscles. That’s a lot of work for the muscles considering most of us take about 10,000 steps a day.
The tooth is the only part of the human body that can’t repair itself. If you’ve ever chipped a tooth you know just how sadly true this one is. The outer layer of the tooth is enamel which is not a living tissue. Since it’s not alive, it can’t repair itself, leaving your dentist to do the work instead.
It takes twice as long to lose new muscle if you stop working out than it did to gain it. Lazy people out there shouldn’t use this as motivation to not work out, however. It’s relatively easy to build new muscle tissue and get your muscles in shape, so if anything, this fact should be motivation to get off the couch and get moving.
Bone is stronger than some steel. This doesn’t mean your bones can’t break of course, as they are much less dense than steel. Bone has been found to have a tensile strength of 20,000 psi while steel is much higher at 70,000 psi. Steel is much heavier than bone, however, and pound for pound bone is the stronger material.
The feet account for one quarter of all the human body’s bones. You may not give your feet much thought but they are home to more bones than any other part of your body. How many? Of the two hundred or so bones in the body, the feet contain a whopping 52 of them.

Microscopic Level

Much of what takes place in our bodies happens at a level that we simply can’t see with the naked eye. These facts will show you that sometimes that might be for the best.

About 32 million bacteria call every inch of your skin home. Germaphobes don’t need to worry however, as a majority of these are entirely harmless and some are even helpful in maintaining a healthy body.
Humans shed and regrow outer skin cells about every 27 days. Skin protects your delicate internal organs from the elements and as such, dries and flakes off completely about once a month so that it can maintain its strength. Chances are that last month’s skin is still hanging around your house in the form of the dust on your bookshelf or under the couch.
Three hundred million cells die in the human body every minute. While that sounds like a lot, it’s really just a small fraction of the cells that are in the human body. Estimates have placed the total number of cells in the body at 10-50 trillion so you can afford to lose a few hundred million without a hitch.
Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour. You may not think much about losing skin if yours isn’t dry or flaky or peeling from a sunburn, but your skin is constantly renewing itself and shedding dead cells.
Every day an adult body produces 300 billion new cells. Your body not only needs energy to keep your organs up and running but also to constantly repair and build new cells to form the building blocks of your body itself.
Every tongue print is unique. If you’re planning on committing a crime, don’t think you’ll get away with leaving a tongue print behind. Each tongue is different and yours could be unique enough to finger you as the culprit.
Your body has enough iron in it to make a nail 3 inches long. Anyone who has ever tasted blood knows that it has a slightly metallic taste. This is due to the high levels of iron in the blood. If you were to take all of this iron out of the body, you’d have enough to make a small nail and very severe anemia.
The most common blood type in the world is Type O. Blood banks find it valuable as it can be given to those with both type A and B blood. The rarest blood type, A-H or Bombay blood due to the location of its discovery, has been found in less than hundred people since it was discovered.
Human lips have a reddish color because of the great concentration of tiny capillaries just below the skin. The blood in these capillaries is normally highly oxygenated and therefore quite red. This explains why the lips appear pale when a person is anemic or has lost a great deal of blood. It also explains why the lips turn blue in very cold weather. Cold causes the capillaries to constrict, and the blood loses oxygen and changes to a darker color.

Miscellaneous

Here are a few things you might not have known about all different parts of your anatomy.

The colder the room you sleep in, the better the chances are that you’ll have a bad dream. It isn’t entirely clear to scientists why this is the case, but if you are opposed to having nightmares you might want to keep yourself a little toastier at night.
Tears and mucus contain an enzyme (lysozyme) that breaks down the cell wall of many bacteria. This is to your advantage, as the mucus that lines your nose and throat, as well as the tears that wet your eyes are helping to prevent bacteria from infecting those areas and making you sick.
Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil. If you’ve seen the Matrix you are aware of the energy potentially generated by the human body. Our bodies expend a large amount of calories keeping us at a steady 98.6 degrees, enough to boil water or even cook pasta.
Your ears secrete more earwax when you are afraid than when you aren’t. The chemicals and hormones released when you are afraid could be having unseen effects on your body in the form of earwax. Studies have suggested that fear causes the ears to produce more of the sticky substance, though the reasons are not yet clear.
It is not possible to tickle yourself. Even the most ticklish among us do not have the ability to tickle ourselves. The reason behind this is that your brain predicts the tickle from information it already has, like how your fingers are moving. Because it knows and can feel where the tickle is coming from, your brain doesn’t respond in the same way as it would if someone else was doing the tickling.
The width of your armspan stretched out is the length of your whole body. While not exact down to the last millimeter, your armspan is a pretty good estimator of your height.
Humans are the only animals to produce emotional tears. In the animal world, humans are the biggest crybabies, being the only animals who cry because they’ve had a bad day, lost a loved one, or just don’t feel good.
Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people do. This doesn’t have a genetic basis, but is largely due to the fact that a majority of the machines and tools we use on a daily basis are designed for those who are right handed, making them somewhat dangerous for lefties to use and resulting in thousands of accidents and deaths each year.
Women burn fat more slowly than men, by a rate of about 50 calories a day. Most men have a much easier time burning fat than women. Women, because of their reproductive role, generally require a higher basic body fat proportion than men, and as a result their bodies don’t get rid of excess fat at the same rate as men.
Koalas and primates are the only animals with unique fingerprints. Humans, apes and koalas are unique in the animal kingdom due to the tiny prints on the fingers of their hands. Studies on primates have suggested that even cloned individuals have unique fingerprints.
The indentation in the middle of the area between the nose and the upper lip has a name. It is called the philtrum. Scientists have yet to figure out what purpose this indentation serves, though the ancient Greeks thought it to be one of the most erogenous places on the body.

Weird Facts About Sex and Reproduction & Senses

2008-03-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sex and Reproduction

As taboo as it may be in some places, sex is an important part of human life as a facet of relationships and the means to reproduce. Here are a few things you might not have known.

On any given day, sexual intercourse takes place 120 million times on earth. Humans are a quickly proliferating species, and with about 4% of the world’s population having sex on any given day, it’s no wonder that birth rates continue to increase in many places all over the world.
The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm. While you can’t see skin cells or muscle cells, the ovum is typically large enough to be seen with the naked eye with a diameter of about a millimeter. The sperm cell, on the other hand, is tiny, consisting of little more than nucleus.
The three things pregnant women dream most of during their first trimester are frogs, worms and potted plants. Pregnancy hormones can cause mood swings, cravings and many other unexpected changes. Oddly enough, hormones can often affect the types of dreams women have and their vividness. The most common are these three types, but many women also dream of water, giving birth or even have violent or sexually charged dreams.
Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born. While few babies are born with teeth in place, the teeth that will eventually push through the gums of young children are formed long before the child even leaves the womb. At 9 to 12 weeks the fetus starts to form the teeth buds that will turn into baby teeth.
Babies are always born with blue eyes. The color of your eyes depends on the genes you get from your parents, but at birth most babies appear to have blue eyes. The reason behind this is the pigment melanin. The melanin in a newborn’s eyes often needs time after birth to be fully deposited or to be darkened by exposure to ultraviolet light, later revealing the baby’s true eye color.
Babies are, pound for pound, stronger than an ox. While a baby certainly couldn’t pull a covered wagon at its present size, if the child were the size of an oxen it just might very well be able to. Babies have especially strong and powerful legs for such tiny creatures, so watch out for those kicks.
One out of every 2,000 newborn infants has a tooth when they are born. Nursing mothers may cringe at this fact. Sometimes the tooth is a regular baby tooth that has already erupted and sometimes it is an extra tooth that will fall out before the other set of choppers comes in.
A fetus acquires fingerprints at the age of three months. When only a small fraction of the way through its development, a fetus will have already developed one of the most unique human traits: fingerprints. At only 6-13 weeks of development, the whorls of what will be fingerprints have already developed. Oddly enough, those fingerprints will not change throughout the person’s life and will be one of the last things to disappear after death.
Every human spent about half an hour as a single cell. All life has to begin somewhere, and even the largest humans spent a short part of their lives as a single celled organism when sperm and egg cells first combine. Shortly afterward, the cells begin rapidly dividing and begin forming the components of a tiny embryo.
Most men have erections every hour to hour and a half during sleep. Most people’s bodies and minds are much more active when they’re sleeping than they think. The combination of blood circulation and testosterone production can cause erections during sleep and they’re often a normal and necessary part of REM sleep.

Senses

The primary means by which we interact with the world around us is through our senses. Here are some interesting facts about these five sensory abilities.

After eating too much, your hearing is less sharp. If you’re heading to a concert or a musical after a big meal you may be doing yourself a disservice. Try eating a smaller meal if you need to keep your hearing pitch perfect.
About one third of the human race has 20-20 vision. Glasses and contact wearers are hardly alone in a world where two thirds of the population have less than perfect vision. The amount of people with perfect vision decreases further as they age.
If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it. In order for foods, or anything else, to have a taste, chemicals from the substance must be dissolved by saliva. If you don’t believe it, try drying off your tongue before tasting something.
Women are born better smellers than men and remain better smellers over life. Studies have shown that women are more able to correctly pinpoint just what a smell is. Women were better able to identify citrus, vanilla, cinnamon and coffee smells. While women are overall better smellers, there is an unfortunate 2% of the population with no sense of smell at all.
Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents. While a bloodhound’s nose may be a million times more sensitive than a human’s, that doesn’t mean that the human sense of smell is useless. Humans can identify a wide variety of scents and many are strongly tied to memories.
Even small noises cause the pupils of the eyes to dilate. It is believed that this is why surgeons, watchmakers and others who perform delicate manual operations are so bothered by uninvited noise. The sound causes their pupils to change focus and blur their vision, making it harder to do their job well.
Everyone has a unique smell, except for identical twins. Newborns are able to recognize the smell of their mothers and many of us can pinpoint the smell of our significant others and those we are close to. Part of that smell is determined by genetics, but it’s also largely do to environment, diet and personal hygiene products that create a unique chemistry for each person.

Weird Facts About Bodily Functions & Internal Organs

2008-03-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

Internal Organs

Though we may not give them much thought unless they’re bothering us, our internal organs are what allow us to go on eating, breathing and walking around. Here are some things to consider the next time you hear your stomach growl.

The largest internal organ is the small intestine. Despite being called the smaller of the two intestines, your small intestine is actually four times as long as the average adult is tall. If it weren’t looped back and forth upon itself it wouldn’t fit inside the abdominal cavity.
The human heart creates enough pressure to squirt blood 30 feet. No wonder you can feel your heartbeat so easily. Pumping blood through your body quickly and efficiently takes quite a bit of pressure resulting in the strong contractions of the heart and the thick walls of the ventricles which push blood to the body.
The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razorblades. While you certainly shouldn’t test the fortitude of your stomach by eating a razorblade or any other metal object for that matter, the acids that digest the food you eat aren’t to be taken lightly. Hydrochloric acid, the type found in your stomach, is not only good at dissolving the pizza you had for dinner but can also eat through many types of metal.
The human body is estimated to have 60,000 miles of blood vessels. To put that in perspective, the distance around the earth is about 25,000 miles, making the distance your blood vessels could travel if laid end to end more than two times around the earth.
You get a new stomach lining every three to four days. The mucus-like cells lining the walls of the stomach would soon dissolve due to the strong digestive acids in your stomach if they weren’t constantly replaced. Those with ulcers know how painful it can be when stomach acid takes its toll on the lining of your stomach.
The surface area of a human lung is equal to a tennis court. In order to more efficiently oxygenate the blood, the lungs are filled with thousands of branching bronchi and tiny, grape-like alveoli. These are filled with microscopic capillaries which oxygen and carbon dioxide. The large amount of surface area makes it easier for this exchange to take place, and makes sure you stay properly oxygenated at all times.
Women’s hearts beat faster than men’s.The main reason for this is simply that on average women tend to be smaller than men and have less mass to pump blood to. But women’s and men’s hearts can actually act quite differently, especially when experiencing trauma like a heart attack, and many treatments that work for men must be adjusted or changed entirely to work for women.
Scientists have counted over 500 different liver functions. You may not think much about your liver except after a long night of drinking, but the liver is one of the body’s hardest working, largest and busiest organs. Some of the functions your liver performs are: production of bile, decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, and detoxification.
The aorta is nearly the diameter of a garden hose. The average adult heart is about the size of two fists, making the size of the aorta quite impressive. The artery needs to be so large as it is the main supplier of rich, oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart. For most people, if they were asked to draw a picture of what the lungs look like they would draw both looking roughly the same size. While the lungs are fairly similar in size, the human heart, though located fairly centrally, is tilted slightly to the left making it take up more room on that side of the body and crowding out that poor left lung.
You could remove a large part of your internal organs and survive. The human body may appear fragile but it’s possible to survive even with the removal of the stomach, the spleen, 75 percent of the liver, 80 percent of the intestines, one kidney, one lung, and virtually every organ from the pelvic and groin area. You might not feel too great, but the missing organs wouldn’t kill you.
The adrenal glands change size throughout life. The adrenal glands, lying right above the kidneys, are responsible for releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. In the seventh month of a fetus’ development, the glands are roughly the same size as the kidneys. At birth, the glands have shrunk slightly and will continue to do so throughout life. In fact, by the time a person reaches old age, the glands are so small they can hardly be seen.

Bodily Functions

We may not always like to talk about them, but everyone has to deal with bodily functions on a daily basis. These are a few facts about the involuntary and sometimes unpleasant actions of our bodies.

Sneezes regularly exceed 100 mph. There’s a good reason why you can’t keep your eyes open when you sneeze–that sneeze is rocketing out of your body at close to 100 mph. This is, of course, a good reason to cover your mouth when you sneeze.
Coughs clock in at about 60 mph. Viruses and colds get spread around the office and the classroom quickly during cold and flu season. With 60 mph coughs spraying germs far and wide, it’s no wonder.
Women blink twice as many times as men do. That’s a lot of blinking every day. The average person, man or woman, blinks about 13 times a minute.
A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball. No wonder you have to run to bathroom when you feel the call of the wild. The average bladder holds about 400-800 cc of fluid but most people will feel the urge to go long before that at 250 to 300 cc.
Approximately 75% of human waste is made of water. While we might typically think that urine is the liquid part of human waste products, the truth is that what we consider solid waste is actually mostly water as well. You should be thankful that most waste is fairly water-filled, as drier harder stools are what cause constipation and are much harder and sometimes painful to pass.
Feet have 500,000 sweat glands and can produce more than a pint of sweat a day. With that kind of sweat-producing power it’s no wonder that your gym shoes have a stench that can peel paint. Additionally, men usually have much more active sweat glands than women.
During your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools. Saliva plays an important part in beginning the digestive process and keeping the mouth lubricated, and your mouth produces quite a bit of it on a daily basis.
The average person expels flatulence 14 times each day. Even if you’d like to think you’re too dignified to pass gas, the reality is that almost everyone will at least a few times a day. Digestion causes the body to release gases which can be painful if trapped in the abdomen and not released.
Earwax production is necessary for good ear health. While many people find earwax to be disgusting, it’s actually a very important part of your ear’s defense system. It protects the delicate inner ear from bacteria, fungus, dirt and even insects. It also cleans and lubricates the ear canal.

21 Weird Facts About Hair and Nails

2008-03-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hair and Nails

While they’re not a living part of your body, most people spend a good amount of time caring for their hair and nails. The next time you’re heading in for a haircut or manicure, think of these facts.

Facial hair grows faster than any other hair on the body. If you’ve ever had a covering of stubble on your face as you’re clocking out at 5 o’clock you’re probably pretty familiar with this. In fact, if the average man never shaved his beard it would grow to over 30 feet during his lifetime, longer than a killer whale.
Every day the average person loses 60-100 strands of hair. Unless you’re already bald, chances are good that you’re shedding pretty heavily on a daily basis. Your hair loss will vary in accordance with the season, pregnancy, illness, diet and age.
Women’s hair is about half the diameter of men’s hair. While it might sound strange, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that men’s hair should be coarser than that of women. Hair diameter also varies on average between races, making hair plugs on some men look especially obvious.
One human hair can support 3.5 ounces. That’s about the weight of two full size candy bars, and with hundreds of thousands of hairs on the human head, makes the tale of Rapunzel much more plausible.
The fastest growing nail is on the middle finger. And the nail on the middle finger of your dominant hand will grow the fastest of all. Why is not entirely known, but nail growth is related to the length of the finger, with the longest fingers growing nails the fastest and shortest the slowest.
There are as many hairs per square inch on your body as a chimpanzee. Humans are not quite the naked apes that we’re made out to be. We have lots of hair, but on most of us it’s not obvious as a majority of the hairs are too fine or light to be seen.
Blondes have more hair. They’re said to have more fun, and they definitely have more hair. Hair color determines how dense the hair on your head is. The average human has 100,000 hair follicles, each of which is capable of producing 20 individual hairs during a person’s lifetime. Blondes average 146,000 follicles while people with black hair tend to have about 110,000 follicles. Those with brown hair fit the average with 100,000 follicles and redheads have the least dense hair, with about 86,000 follicles.
Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails. If you notice that you’re trimming your fingernails much more frequently than your toenails you’re not just imagining it. The nails that get the most exposure and are used most frequently grow the fastest. On average, nails on both the toes and fingers grow about one-tenth of an inch each month.
The lifespan of a human hair is 3 to 7 years on average. While you quite a few hairs each day, your hairs actually have a pretty long life providing they aren’t subject to any trauma. Your hairs will likely get to see several different haircuts, styles, and even possibly decades before they fall out on their own.
You must lose over 50% of your scalp hairs before it is apparent to anyone. You lose hundreds of hairs a day but you’ll have to lose a lot more before you or anyone else will notice. Half of the hairs on your pretty little head will have to disappear before your impending baldness will become obvious to all those around you.
Human hair is virtually indestructible. Aside from it’s flammability, human hair decays at such a slow rate that it is practically non-disintegrative. If you’ve ever wondered how your how clogs up your pipes so quick consider this: hair cannot be destroyed by cold, change of climate, water, or other natural forces and it is resistant to many kinds of acids and corrosive chemicals.

10 Weird Facts About the Human Brain

2008-03-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

The Brain

The human brain is the most complex and least understood part of the human anatomy. There may be a lot we don’t know, but here are a few interesting facts that we’ve got covered.

Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles per hour. Ever wonder how you can react so fast to things around you or why that stubbed toe hurts right away? It’s due to the super-speedy movement of nerve impulses from your brain to the rest of your body and vice versa, bringing reactions at the speed of a high powered luxury sports car.

The brain operates on the same amount of power as 10-watt light bulb. The cartoon image of a light bulb over your head when a great thought occurs isn’t too far off the mark. Your brain generates as much energy as a small light bulb even when you’re sleeping.

The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica. Or any other encyclopedia for that matter. Scientists have yet to settle on a definitive amount, but the storage capacity of the brain in electronic terms is thought to be between 3 or even 1,000 terabytes. The National Archives of Britain, containing over 900 years of history, only takes up 70 terabytes, making your brain’s memory power pretty darn impressive.

Your brain uses 20% of the oxygen that enters your bloodstream. The brain only makes up about 2% of our body mass, yet consumes more oxygen than any other organ in the body, making it extremely susceptible to damage related to oxygen deprivation. So breathe deep to keep your brain happy and swimming in oxygenated cells.

The brain is much more active at night than during the day. Logically, you would think that all the moving around, complicated calculations and tasks and general interaction we do on a daily basis during our working hours would take a lot more brain power than, say, lying in bed. Turns out, the opposite is true. When you turn off your brain turns on. Scientists don’t yet know why this is but you can thank the hard work of your brain while you sleep for all those pleasant dreams.

Scientists say the higher your I.Q. the more you dream. While this may be true, don’t take it as a sign you’re mentally lacking if you can’t recall your dreams. Most of us don’t remember many of our dreams and the average length of most dreams is only 2-3 seconds–barely long enough to register.

Neurons continue to grow throughout human life. For years scientists and doctors thought that brain and neural tissue couldn’t grow or regenerate. While it doesn’t act in the same manner as tissues in many other parts of the body, neurons can and do grow throughout your life, adding a whole new dimension to the study of the brain and the illnesses that affect it.

Information travels at different speeds within different types of neurons. Not all neurons are the same. There are a few different types within the body and transmission along these different kinds can be as slow as 0.5 meters/sec or as fast as 120 meters/sec.

The brain itself cannot feel pain. While the brain might be the pain center when you cut your finger or burn yourself, the brain itself does not have pain receptors and cannot feel pain. That doesn’t mean your head can’t hurt. The brain is surrounded by loads of tissues, nerves and blood vessels that are plenty receptive to pain and can give you a pounding headache.

80% of the brain is water. Your brain isn’t the firm, gray mass you’ve seen on TV. Living brain tissue is a squishy, pink and jelly-like organ thanks to the loads of blood and high water content of the tissue. So the next time you’re feeling dehydrated get a drink to keep your brain hydrated.

Real Weird Laws of the US

2008-03-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

Laws of the US

These are real standing laws from around the United States of America.

Alabama:
1. It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.

California:
1. Community leaders passed an ordinance that makes it illegal for anyone to try and stop a child from playfully jumping over puddles of water.

Connecticut:
1. You can be stopped by the police for biking over 65 miles per hour.
2. You are not allowed to walk across a street on your hands.

Florida:
1. Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner.
2. A special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or she shall risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing.
3. If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.
4. Illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.
5. Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.

Illinois:
1. It is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats, and other domesticated animal kept as pets.

Indiana:
1. Bathing is prohibited during the winter.
2. Citizens are not allowed to attend a movie house or theater nor ride in a public streetcar within at least four hours after eating garlic.

Iowa:
1. Kisses may last for as much as, but no more than, five minutes.

Kentucky:
1. By law, anyone who has been drinking is "sober" until he or she "cannot hold onto the ground."
2. It is illegal to transport an ice cream cone in your pocket.

Louisiana:
1. It is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at the bank teller with a water pistol.
2. Biting someone with your natural teeth is "simple assault," while biting someone with your false teeth is "aggravated assault."

Massachusetts:
1. Mourners at a wake may not eat more than three sandwiches.
2. Snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked.
3. An old ordinance declares goatees illegal unless you first pay a special license fee for the privilege of wearing one in public.
4. Taxi drivers are prohibited from making love in the front seat of their taxi during their shifts.

Nebraska:
1. A parent can be arrested if his child cannot hold back a burp during a church service.

New Mexico:
1. Females are strictly forbidden to appear unshaven in public.

New York:
1. A fine of $25 can be levied for flirting. This old law specifically prohibits men from turning around on any city street and looking "at a woman in that way." A second conviction for a crime of this magnitude calls for the violating male to be forced to wear a "pair of horse-blinders" wherever and whenever he goes outside for a stroll.

North Dakota:
1. Beer & pretzels can't be served at the same time in any bar or restaurant.

Ohio:
1. Women are prohibited from wearing patent leather shoes in public.

Oklahoma:
1. Violators can be fined, arrested or jailed for making ugly faces at a dog.
2. Females are forbidden from doing their own hair without being licensed by the state.
3. Dogs must have a permit signed by the mayor in order to congregate in groups of three or more on private property.

Pennsylvania:
1. A special cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.
2. No man may purchase alcohol without written consent from his wife.

Texas:
1. A city ordinance states that a person cannot go barefoot without first obtaining a special five-dollar permit.
2. It is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.

Vermont:
1. Lawmakers made it obligatory for everybody to take at least one bath each week -- on Saturday night.

Washington:
1. All lollipops are banned.
2. A law to reduce crime states: "It is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town.

West Virginia:
1. No children may attend school with their breath smelling of "wild onions."

Top Ten Sexually Tilted Lines In Star Wars

2008-03-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

"Star Wars IV: A New Hope"

1. "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."
2. "Curse my metal body, I wasn't fast enough!"
3. "Look at the size of that thing!"
4. "Sorry about the mess..."
5. "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought."
6. "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"
7. "You've got something jammed in here real good."
8. "Put that thing away before you get us all killed!"
9. "Luke, at that speed do you think you'll be able to pull out in time?"
10. "Get in there you big furry oaf, I don't care *what* you smell!"

"Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back"

1. "And I thought they smelled bad...on the *outside*!"
2. "Possible he came in through the south entrance."
3. "I must've hit it pretty close to the mark to get her all riled up like that, huh, kid?"
4. "Hurry up, golden-rod..."
5. "That's okay, I'd like to keep it on manual control for a while."
6. "But now we must eat. Cum, good food, cummm..."
7. "Control, control! You must learn control!"
8. "There's an awful lot of moisture in here."
9. "Size matters not. Judge me by my size, do you?"
10. "I thought that hairy beast would be the end of me!"

"Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi"

1. "Rise, my friend."
2. "Open the back door!"
3. "Hey, point that thing somewhere else!"
4. "It's just a dead animal..."
5. "Not bad for a little furball."
6. "How can they be jamming us if they don't know we're coming?"
7. "Come here, I won't hurt you. You want something to eat?"
8. "Keep on that one, I'll take these two."
9. "I want you to take her. I mean it, take her!"
10. "I don't think the Empire had wookies in mind when they designed her, Chewie."

Top ten sexually tilted lines from the trilogy

10. "What could possibly have come over Master Luke?"
9. "Hey, point that thing someplace else."
8. "You're a jittery little thing, aren't you?"
7. "I never knew I had it in me."
6. "Someone must've told them about my little maneuver at the battle of Taanab."
5. "There is good in him, I've felt it."
4. "Grab me, Chewie. I'm slipping -- hold on. Grab it, almost...you almost got it. Gently now, all right, easy, easy, hold me, Chewie. Chewie!" (Han) with "A little higher, just a little higher."
3. "Short help's better than no help at all."
2. "Hey, Luke, thanks for coming after me -- now I owe you one."
1. "Back door, huh? Good idea!"

Funny Cultural Differences Explained

2008-03-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

Aussies: Dislike being mistaken for Pommies (Brits) when abroad.
Canadians: Are rather indignant about being mistaken for Americans when abroad.
Americans: Encourage being mistaken for Canadians when abroad.
Brits: Can't possibly be mistaken for anyone else when abroad.

Aussies: Believe you should look out for your mates.
Brits: Believe that you should look out for those people who belong to your club.
Americans: Believe that people should look out for & take care of themselves.
Canadians: Believe that that's the government's job.

Aussies: Are extremely patriotic to their beer.
Americans: Are flag-waving, anthem-singing, and obsessively patriotic to the point of blindness.
Canadians: Can't agree on the words to their anthem, when they can be bothered to sing them.
Brits: Do not sing at all but prefer a large brass band to perform the anthem.

Americans: Spend most of their lives glued to the idiot box.
Canadians: Don't, but only because they can't get more American channels.
Brits: Pay a tax just so they can watch four channels.
Aussies: Export all their crappy programs, which no-one there watches, to Britain, where everybody loves them.

Americans: Will jabber on incessantly about football, baseball, and basketball.
Brits: Will jabber on incessantly about cricket, soccer, and rugby.
Canadians: Will jabber on incessantly about hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, and how they beat the Americans twice, playing baseball.
Aussies: Will jabber on incessantly about how they beat the Poms in every sport they play them in.

Americans: Spell words differently, but still call it "English".
Brits: Pronounce their words differently, but still call it "English".
Canadians: Spell like the Brits, pronounce like Americans.
Aussies: Add "G'day", "mate" and a heavy accent to everything they say in an attempt to get laid.

Brits: Shop at home and have goods imported because they live on an island.
Aussies: Shop at home and have goods imported because they live on an island.
Americans: Cross the southern border for cheap shopping, gas, & liquor in a backwards country.
Canadians: Cross the southern border for cheap shopping, gas, & liquor in a backwards country.

Americans: Drink weak, pissy-tasting beer.
Canadians: Drink strong, pissy-tasting beer.
Brits: Drink warm, beery-tasting piss.
Aussies: Drink anything with alcohol in it.

Americans: Seem to think that poverty & failure are morally suspect.
Canadians: Seem to believe that wealth and success are morally suspect.
Brits: Seem to believe that wealth, poverty, success and failure are inherited things.
Aussies: Seem to think that none of this matters after several beers.

Weird You Hit Me, Babe

2008-03-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

You Hit Me, Babe

(A Duet for Sonny Bono and a Tree)

.SONNY: When I was young, I couldn't know
I'd be a ski bum and take a fatal blow
TREE: Well, all I know, is you can't ski
Cause you hit me and baby I'm a tree

BOTH: Babe!
TREE: You hit me, Babe!
SONNY: DOA, Babe

SONNY: What kind of fool is killed by a tree
While skiing a resort that's called Heavenly
TREE: Make no mistake, you're quite a dope
If I were you're age I'd take the bunny slope

BOTH: Babe!
TREE: You hit me, Babe!
SONNY: 86, Babe!

SONNY: I got a chainsaw with my things
TREE: If you'd lived, you'd see my rings
SONNY: Oh, I'm so mad, you're in the ground
TREE: I'm not to blame, you could have gone `round

SONNY: And some will say I'm like Kennedy
Don't follow his lead, cause death's no remedy
TREE: And when they put you in the ground
There ain't no arts endowment you can pound

BOTH: Babe!
TREE: You hit me, Babe!
SONNY: N.E.A., Babe?

TREE: You hit me, you're head is Spam
SONNY: I hit you, I'm Republican
TREE: You hit me, do I look like Cher?
SONNY: I hit you, haven't got a prayer
TREE: You hit me, while on a peak
SONNY: I hit you, call it Lesbian Chic
TREE: You hit me, you gotta go
SONNY: I hit you, I'm dead in snow
BOTH: I (You) hit you (me), babe!!!

Weird Inklish Signs

2008-03-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

In a Tokyo Hotel:
Is forbitten to steal hotel towels please. If you are not person to do such thing is please not to read notis.

In another Japanese hotel room:
Please to bathe inside the tub.

In a Bucharest hotel lobby:
The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

In a Leipzig elevator:
Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up.

In a Belgrade hotel elevator:
To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.

In a Paris hotel elevator:
Please leave your values at the front desk.

In a hotel in Athens:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

In a Yugoslavian hotel:
The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid.

In a Japanese hotel:
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery:
You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday.

In an Austrian hotel catering to skiers:
Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.

On the menu of a Polish hotel:
Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beet soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the country people's fashion.

In a Hong Kong supermarket:
For your convenience, we recommend courteous, efficient self-service.

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop:
Ladies may have a fit upstairs.

In a Rhodes tailor shop:
Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers in strict rotation.

Similarly, from the Soviet Weekly:
There will be a Moscow Exhibition of Aets by 15,000 Soviet Republic painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past two years.

In an East African newspaper:
A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the contractors have thrown in the bulk of their workers.

In a Vienna hotel:
In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the hotel porter.

A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest:
It is strictly forbidden on our black forest camping site that people of different sex, for instance, men and women, live together in one tent unless they are married with each other for that purpose.

In a Zurich hotel:
Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.

In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist:
Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.

A translated sentence from a Russian chess book:
A lot of water has been passed under the bridge since this variation has been played.

In a Rome laundry:
Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.

In a Czechoslovakian tourist agency:
Take one of our horse-driven city tours -- we guarantee no miscarriages.

Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand:
Would you like to ride on your own ass?

On the faucet in a Finnish washroom:
To stop the drip, turn cock to right.

In the window of a Swedish furrier:
Fur coats made for ladies from their own skin.

On the box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong:
Guaranteed to work throughout its useful life.

Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan: Stop:
Drive Sideways.

In a Swiss mountain inn:
Special today -- no ice cream.

In a Bangkok temple:
It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressed as a man.

In a Tokyo bar:
Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts.

In a Copenhagen airline ticket office:
We take your bags and send them in all directions.

On the door of a Moscow hotel room:
If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.

In a Norwegian cocktail lounge:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.

At a Budapest zoo:
Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.

In the office of a Roman doctor:
Specialist in women and other diseases.

In an Acapulco hotel:
The manager has personally passed all the water served here.

In a Tokyo shop:
Our nylons cost more than common, but you'll find they are best in the long run.

From a Japanese information booklet about using a hotel air conditioner:
Cooles and Heates: If you want just condition of warm in your room, please control yourself.

From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.

Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:
- English well talking.
- Here speeching American.

Strange Usenet Posts

2008-03-15T13:16:00.001-07:00

In article , Rich Handley wrote:

>Hmmmmm..... sure has been peaceful and fun on r.a.s.s.m. these days....

In the middle of Rich's sentence, a small waffle-shaped ship zooms through the picture, pursued by several Star Destroyers, one super Star Destroyer, a light attack carrier and its entire complement of A-Wings, and a partially finished Death Star. A wrinked and creased movie poster for Star Trek: the Motion Sickness flutters in the breeze behind the waffle-ship, and there is faint music heard, deepened by the Doppler effect...

"AAAAAAAAY, MACARENA!"

We now return you to your regularly scheduled post...

> wonder what could have happened.....

Ha, found another one, this one from alt.books.anne-rice:

rmccormi@... (Amy) wrote:

> > sniplash baron von snipenheimer snip> > > > snipid snipe snip snipy snin>

I *want* your thesaurus.

Erick.

Subject: Re: Raist a Transvestite & Tanis Bi-sexual?? From: dropdead@... (Styx) Newsgroups: alt.fan.dragonlance Les Muir wrote: >OK, I've heard all of this **** about Raistlin being a woman, but this! >this is sacrilege! Some of us happen to respect Raistlin, and we're >pissed off at people like you! Blah blah blah! Blah blah, blah blah blah.. blah. Blah blah blah blah, blah blah? BLAH! Blah, blah blah blah blah blah - blah blah blah. Blah *blah* blah blah? Blah blah BLAH blah. - Blah Subject: Re: *I* 7 spellings From: Richard Kettlewell Newsgroups: alt.fan.pratchett some bloke wrote: >Always did have a problem with typing that word. Eighth? Just doesn't look right for some reason. I need some sleep. I find that with sufficient study an awful lot of words fail to look or sound right... Subject: Re: Can i speak to a fucking vampire? From: ? Newsgroup: alt.books.anne-rice Of course not! 1. Anne's vamps don't fuck and 2. If they could why on earth would they stop in the middle of it to talk to you? Now if you wanted to speak to a *drinking* vampire or a *walking* vampire.... Subject: Re: Fwd: Dog for sale. From: gizzie@... (Coleen Sullivan-Baier) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Kevin_Glecoff@... (Kevin Glecoff) writes: > Pure bred Chow-Chow for sale. His name is Teddy and has just turned >four years old. Teddy is a male cream coloured Chow and was >purchased from a good breeder. He comes from champion stock. He is >very affectionate This is a good story, but you need to involve Scully and Mulder more. Subject: Re: What's the word for....? From: Truly Donovan Newsgroups: alt.usage.english Chris Malcolm wrote: > In article <330575a8.6e8@lunemere.com>, Truly Donovan writes: > > I have to observe that, if by any chance it is also a requirement that > > the word be widely known, "polymath" doesn't hack it. > > To forestall any objection from newcomers I should point out that Truly > is of course relying on this group's familiarity with her nationality to > carry the implication that she meant "widely known in the US". That's certainly true, although it could be argued that some countries aren't wide enough for anything to be widely known... but I wouldn't do that. Subject: Re: Is shit repulsive? [was: Re: How many subscribers to aue?] From: bjg@... (Brian J Goggin) Newsgroups: alt.usage.english ad841@... (Bob Cunningham) wrote: [...] >Where might I have been likely to come across 'the sufferings of the >damned'? Do you know any of Microsoft's customers? Subject: Re: JESUS IS THE LORD!!!!! From: remoore@... Newsgroups: alt.fan.dragonlance Will Grzanich wrote: > > Sam wrote: > > > > How about a special indicator in the subjectline of a post? You know, like > > "[JOKE] Re: JESUS IS THE LORD!!!!!" > > > > Then again, I can see that subjectline being rather offensive to those who > > didn't know the system... ;) > > True. I can imagine someone who's just started reading the Bible > shouting out, "Hey, dumbass! Ever heard of a "spoiler warning??" It's called the *New* Testament for a reason, damn you! We're still waiting for the book on his childhood to be released... ;-) Subject: Re: WARNING!! AGEPASS = RIP OFF From: trebor@... Newsgroups: news.admin.net-abuse.email sjsobol@... (Steve Sobol) wrote: >Frederi108 said: >>a.b.p.e?? > >alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.* > >Disclaimer: Not that I'd know for any reason other than I work for >an ISP. :) I read it for the articles. Subject: Re: A Day in the Life of Another Abuse Guy (long) [1] From: aburner@... (Afterburner) Newsgroups: news.admin.net-abuse.email aburner@... (Afterburner) wrote: >> heh. This sounds even more entertaining than the incident I had >>last week where I suspended a lady's account for sending death threats to >>herself. trebor@... sez: >Oh, c'mon, you can't just leave us hanging like that! Story goes along these lines (names have been changed to protect the innocent): Catherine is married to Walter. Walter meets Janet. Walter *meats* Janet. (If you know what I mean.) (And I think you do.) Walter subsequently discovers that Janet is a flaming head case. Walter runs (yea verily) back to Catherine, hat in hand, begging forgiveness. She agrees to give him a second chance. Months pass. During this time, Janet (who apparently has some issues regarding rejection) begins stalking Catherine. On Feb 9th, Janet sends herself a death threat which is supposedly from one of Catherine's friends. Janet then forwards said death threat to her new fianceé(!) and to Walter. Presumably to (A) cast Catherine in a bad light; and (B) garner sympathy, pity, and attention for herself. All the above landed in my lap last Wednesday around 2:30pm. Catherine called and explained the situation, and sent me a copy of the death threat (which indeed had been sent by Janet). Since this is a clear violation of our "False Pretenses" clause, I suspended the account. The next day, Janet's fianceé calls, demanding to know what's going on. Conversation went approximately thus: Me: "Her account was suspended because she was sending death threats--" Him (interrupting): "She was RECEIVING death threats!" Me: "You didn't let me finish. She was sending death threats to herself." Him: "What?" More conversation follows, during which he vows to "get to the bottom of this." I explain that, regardless, a signed letter will be necessary to reactivate the account. Time passes. He calls back. He informs me that he has indeed unearthed the truth of the matter after consulting with Janet. I indicate that I'm all ears. Him: "Someone broke into our house and hacked our computer. And while they were on-line they must have sent this email message." Me: "While you were home?" Him: "Uh, yes." Me: "So let me get this straight. Some person or persons with nefarious intent broke into your house shortly before 5:00am last Monday morning. They stayed online for an hour, logging off shortly before 6:00am. And just before they logged off, they sent a death threat to your fianceés email address from her own computer. Is that correct?" Him: "Uh. Yeah." Me: "I don't buy it." More conversation followed. Later on he called back: Him: "Uh, is there anything I can do to prevent this in the future?" Me (sardonically): "Yeah. Get a burglar alarm." Him: "Oh! Uh, yeah, well we discovered that it was really our roommate that did it. We've been trying to get rid of him for a while." Afterburner (Rolling eyes)

Weird 101 Reasons Why Fingers Are Better 2008-03-15T13:14:00.000-07:00 You don't have to smile at them afterwards You don't have to get out of bed to fetch them They don't get tired before you do... You always know where your fingers have been For variety, you have ten to choose from They are also useful *out* of bed You can stop if you want to Your fingers don't want to meet your family Your fingers don't get jealous Your fingers don't smell Your fingers won't just fall asleep afterwards Your fingers don't want you to meet *their* family You don't get jealous of your fingers Your fingers don't mind if you fall asleep afterwards Your fingers won't let you down (Snowwhite) Your fingers don't want to watch a football match instead Your mother won't critisize your fingers You can't get pregnant from your fingers Your fingers don't need batteries People aren't surprised to find you have them Fingers don't need adaptors to covert American plugs to English ones (I've heard this can be a problem.) They don't shrink afterwards (Snowwhite) You always have them with you You can chew on them when you are nervous (Snowwhite) You can use more than 1 at a time They are agile They'll never leave you (Snowwhite) You don't have to make your fingers coffee in the morning (Gideon) You can also use them to clean the wax out of your ears (Gideon) They want to when you want to They don't take up half the bed at night They are easy to clean If the ones you are using get tired, you can switch to some of the others They don't demand acrobatics in bed They don't want to try out stuff they heard from friends You can use them to try out stuff *you* heard from friends without worrying about it going horribly wrong They don't look worried when *you* want acrobatics in bed Your fingers don't give you bite-marks (Addition: unless you *like* bite-marks) You can share them with a friend Fingers don't cheat on you Fingers don't have hidden wifes/girlfriends/husbands/boyfriends/children Your fingers don't yelp when you give them bite marks For variety you can paint them any colour you want? It's not suspicious if you take them to the toilet with you Since they come on 2 hands, you can use them on 2 places at the same time They write your e-mail for you You can use them for netsex when company is required They're compatible with a wide range of leather goods and electrical appliances No one ever fell in love with their fingers They'll change the video channel for you You can use them to write down your fantasy and share it with people They won't ask: Am I the first? You can type with them (although I'd rather like to see a man... *whistle*) They won't be disgusted when you have your period They don't snore, fart, burp or have smelly breath They don't want you to swallow They don't whistle after other, better-looking women or men They don't care if your hair is a mess You don't have to tell them how you'd like it They don't brag how great they are They don't cost you time, money or patience They don't want to know where you were last eveing Your friends don't criticise them Their friends don't criticise you (fingers don't *have* friends) Afterwards, they won't ask: 'Did you come?' (Eva T.) They don't leave you to sleep in the wet spot (Eleni) They don't mind if you scream 'oh yes, *METHOS*!!' They're useful for scooping up nutella, chocolate, lube (take your pick) and smearing it in the appropriate places... (Claire) Fingers don't ask who you are fantasizing about (Cher) They don't have STDs (Mona) Fingers are more sensitive to what you are feeling (LP) Unlike zucchinis, you don't have to bring them to room temperature (tyree) You won't be crushed underneath them in bed (Che & Wes) They come in varing sizes - thumb to pinkie, or any combination thereof, it's up to you (Che & Wes) There're extremely gentlemanly - they'll open doors for you, pull your chair out, and even cook you dinner! (Che & Wes) They won't finish just before you reach orgasm (Eva T.) You don't have to worry wether or not they wont come back after a goodnight (Jessy)

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