23 Breathtaking Moments And Ideas Captured By Photographers

Stop Motion by Carnisch

Greet the Morning by =phatpuppy 


helter skelter by latoday



Liquid Bites by =Eibo-Jeddah


Siting Girl by ~TrinityItachi


Perfect hit by Espen André Steinsvik



k _w _hh_ by `gnato


Dreamy waters by Willy Marthinussen


Im falling by dwityo


Im going to tell you a secret by =fhrankee


Should I stay or should I go? by Gabor Wavrik


360 by Shazeen Samad


if i am the storm … by =mr-twingo


Plunge by *Hengki24



Cloud Dancer by lovethelight


London Eye by ~cryptic-fable


Flying by Franco Farina


Stairways to Heaven by Anton Chekalin


touch the sky by ~NusiaxD


meh by ~TigerEye-Noxera


Summer Nights by =Heleneee


Ulula by Francesco Renzi

Painted sunset by Willy Marthinussen

Most Extreme Places on Earth

Lut Desert (Iran): hottest place on Earth at 159 °F (71 °C)

There is a big discussion about the hottest spot on Earth. Many believe it is in Al Azizyah, Libya, with a recorded temperature of 136 degrees Fahrenheit (57.8 Celsius), and the second hottest place being in Death Valley, California, USA, where it got up to 134 Fahrenheit in 1913. But according to other sites, a NASA satellite recorded surface temperatures as high as 71 °C (159 °F) in the Lut desert of Iran, supposedly the hottest temperature ever recorded on the surface of Earth. This region, which covers an area of about 480 kilometers, is called Gandom Beriyan (the toasted wheat).


 Mt. Chimborazo (Ecuador): highest point on Earth at 29,028 feet (8,848 mt) above sea level

Almost everyone knows that Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Climbers from everywhere travel to Everest hoping to earn the distinction of climbing the "World's Highest". The peak of Mount Everest is 8,848 meters (29,028 feet) above sea level. This high elevation gives Mount Everest the distinction of being the mountain with the highest altitude.

But not many people know about Mt Chimborazo in Ecuador with an altitude of 6,310 meters (20,703 feet), which is less than Mount Everest; however, Chimborazo has the distinction of being the highest mountain above Earth's center. This is because Earth is not a sphere - it is an oblate spheroid. As an oblate spheroid, Earth is widest at its equator. Chimborazo is just one degree south of Earth's equator and at that location it is 6,384 kilometers from Earth's center or about 2 kilometers farther from Earth's center than Mount Everest.

Ecuadorians find pride in this interesting fact. Nonetheless, Chimborazo cannot compare in difficulty, lack of oxygen, nor in fame, to Mount Everest.


Tristan de Cunha (UK): most remote inhabited archipelago on Earth at 2,000 miles from the nearest continent

The most remote inhabited island group in the world, Tristan de Cunha in the southern Atlantic Ocean, is so tiny its main island has no airstrip. Home to 272 people sharing just 8 surnames, inhabitants suffer from hereditary complaints like asthma and glaucoma. Annexed by the United Kingdom in the 1800s, the island's inhabitants have a British postal code and, while they can order things online, it takes a very long time for their orders to arrive. But then, that's the trade off for having your own island settlement some 2,000 miles from the nearest continent. 



 Angels Falls (Venezuela): Earth's highest waterfall with 3230 feet (984 mt) in height 

Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) in Venezuela is the highest waterfall in the world. The falls are 3230 feet in height with an uninterrupted drop of 2647 feet. Angel Falls are located on a tributary of the Rio Caroni. The falls are formed when the tributary stream falls from the top of Auyantepui (a tepui is a flat-topped structure surrounded by cliffs - similar to a mesa).




 Oymyakon (Russia): coldest inhabited place on Earth at -96.2 °F (-71.2 °C)

Oymyakon is a village in Oymyakonsky Ulus of the Sakha Republic, Russia, located along the Indigirka River, 30 kilometers (20 mi) northwest of Tomtor on the Kolyma Highway. The population is 800 people. Oymyakon is known as one of the candidates for the Northern Pole of Cold, because on January 26, 1926, a temperature of -71.2 °C (-96.2 °F) was recorded there. This is the lowest recorded temperature for any permanently inhabited location on Earth. It is also the lowest temperature recorded in the Northern hemisphere.

The lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was -129 °F in 1983, at the Russian Base Vostok in Antarctica.

The Dry Valleys (Antarctica): driest place on Earth

One interior region of the Antarctic is known as The Dry Valleys. These valleys have not seen rainfall in over two million years. With the exception of one valley, whose lakes are briefly filled with water by inland flowing rivers during the summer, the Dry Valleys contain no moisture (water, ice, or snow). The reasons why the Dry Valleys exist are the 200 mph Katabatic down winds which evaporate all moisture. The dry valleys are strange: except for a few steep rocks they are the only continental part of Antarctica devoid of ice. Located in the Trans-Antarctic Range, they correspond to a mountain area where evaporation (or rather, sublimation) is more important than snowfall, thus all the ice disappears, leaving dry barren land.

Another driest place is the Atacama Desert in Chile, some parts of which have received absolutely zero precipitation in centuries. Parts of the Atacama Desert may actually exceed the dryness of most of Antarctica, though data from the latter is insufficient to tell. 



 Marianas Trench (Indonesia and Japan): lowest point on Earth at 35,840 feet (10,924 mt) below sea level

Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench (or Marianas Trench) is the deepest point in Earth's oceans. The bottom there is 10,924 meters (35,840 feet) below sea level. If Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, were placed at this location it would be covered by over one mile of water. The only people to have ever explored this trench were Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh. At the bottom they were seven miles down and all around them eight tons of pressure. They observed fish, shrimp and other creatures living on the bottom of the sea floor.



Lloro (Columbia): wettest place on Earth

Lloro, Columbia, gets an average of 40 feet of rain a year. The people who live there make money by cutting down the trees in the nearby forest where you can count on its raining every day. Again, there is a discussion about this fact. Cherrapunji, North-Eastern India was thought for many years to be the wettest place in the world. Here 10,820mm rain falls on average in a year, well short of the amount from Lloro. Unlike Columbia where the rain falls throughout the whole year, Cherrapunji gets most of its rain during the 'south-west monsoon', or wet season, between June and August. Cherrapunji does hold the record for the wettest month on record, recording 9,296mm in July 1861. Actually, between 1860 and 1862 Cherrapunji was incredibly wet; between August 1st 1860 and July 31st 1861 (which overlaps parts of 2 wet seasons) 26,467mm rain fell. In the calendar year 1861 22,987mm rain fell, of which 22,454 fell between April and September.

So, which is wetter? It really depends on measurement practice and procedures and the period being measured!


Mount Thor (Canada): Earth's greatest vertical drop

Mount Thor, in Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, presents a 4,100 foot pure vertical drop. Mt. Thor is Canada's most famous peak, and it's made of pure granite. It's a favorite of thrill seekers and climbers. Mount Thor was first climbed in 1953 by an Arctic Institute of North America team. There have been a few recent rappel expeditions, with one fatality in 2006. 



Dead Sea (Jordan): Earth's lowest elevation at 1,385 ft (422 mt) below sea level

The Dead Sea is the lowest elevation on Earth's surface on dry land, its surface and shores are 422 meters (1,385 ft) below sea level. On the border of Jordan and Israel, the road around the Dead Sea also happens to be the lowest road on Earth. Famous for its salinity (over ten times that of the Mediterranean Sea), the Dead Sea is said to be home of the first health retreat. Because of the extreme salt content, no life can survive in the sea, hence the name.

15 Epic Water and Ice Formations and Phenomena

We all know that the Earth’s surface is covered mostly in water and ice, but what is truly astonishing is how many forms this amazing life-giving element can take. From stunning glaciers and roaring waterfalls as high as a skyscraper to jagged mountainside beds of icy spikes as tall as a man, the myriad beautiful water formations and phenomena found on our planet rival the aesthetic power of human art. Here are 15 ice, glaciers, fjords, waterfalls, unusual lakes, and other stunning examples of nature’s finest water and ice art.

Frozen Water: Small-Scale Ice Formations

Whether on a massive scale or smaller than the tip of your finger, from icicles to ice stars, the planet’s many ice formations like its bizarre and amazing land phenomena are truly as varied as snowflakes.

From the snowflake to the icicle, few things on earth are as gorgeous as frozen formations. Ice ribbons are perhaps one of the most intriguing of ice formations, seemingly resembling frosting squeezed from a baker’s press. Here you see icicles, ribbons, a rare ice star, ice columns and encased grass. The odd picture is certainly a curiosity – how did it form?

Mountain Ice Spikes

Chile is home to the rugged mountain terrain of the Andes and the severe weather extremes at different altitudes make for some stunning ice formations. The above remarkable ice field looks like daggers, but one brave climber makes his way through the Ojos del Salado.

This peak in Valle Frances is studded with distinct ice formations that resemble large boulders. Wind and fluctuating temperatures create unusual ice shapes in this famous national park called the Torres del Paine (it’s an eco-tourism hot spot).

Ice Shelves

The photographer caught this fascinating ice formation shot in Huseby, Sweden. Ice takes on all sorts of interesting asymmetrical and geometric shapes, from the icy platelets above to the incredible parallel ice shelves of the Arctic. Ellesmere Island is famous for its ice shelves, but unfortunately they are diminishing rapidly in the face of global warming. Climate change caused alarming losses in summer of 2008, and scientists are concerned that this special ecosystem may soon be lost forever.

Ice Caves

Hard to believe, but those luscious sculptured waves are completely natural – and on the ceiling. A cave in Bavaria, Germany features this unusual ice. Ice caves are common throughout the world, but some of the largest are the massive, twisting Eisriesenwelt Caves in Austria (shown above right).

Icebergs

Icebergs are fast melting along with the polar ice caps and glaciers. It’s a shame; not only are they ecologically valuable, they’re amazing displays of nature’s artistry. Here are images of a variety of some stunning shapes and beautiful bergs. Note the tabular iceberg (table-shaped) and the artistic marbled iceberg.

Iceberg B-15

The world’s most famous iceberg, known as B-15, was originally part of the Ross Shelf but broke off (or “calved”) in 2000. It then broke up into three still-massive chunks, one of them – B-15A – being the largest floating object in the world at 17×76 miles in size. It continued to sail on, breaking up further and engaging in several collisions along the way. It lodged in McMurdo Sound in 2005, and its presence was significant enough to prevent proper ocean current action that normally breaks up sea ice in McMurdo. In 2006, a powerful wave traveling all the way from Alaska broke up B-15A into further smaller pieces and it was hailed as “the death” of the world’s most famous iceberg.

Glaciers

Glaciers are simply accumulated snow, packed densely into ice over thousands, even millions, of years. Glaciers serve an important function as ecosystem regulators and water suppliers (they are the largest single source of fresh water), and the heating of the planet has led to major glacier shrinkage around the world in the last decade. Some of the most famous glaciers are located in the Himalayas and Alaska, but glaciers can be found in many places around the globe. These rivers of ice are so powerful, they create a “glacial” effect, and visible signs of glacial carving can be seen throughout the world.

Rivers

Pictured at left is the Mississippi River, which travels some 2,340 miles of the continental United States. (Trivia: its tributary, the Missouri River, is actually longer.) It’s the fourth longest and tenth largest (by discharge) river in the world. Regardless of its invaluable economic and ecological service, it is simply beautiful to see. Pictured next are the Niger Delta from space – a magnificently beautiful water system – as well as the Ganges in stunning hi-res and the Okavango (one of the world’s biggest inland water systems). It floods annually, making life possible in an otherwise arid region for the rest of the year. And finally, the brilliant contrast of the iconic Amazon river and its emerald tropical rainforests.

Waterfalls

Some of the most famous waterfalls in the world are shown here. Angel Falls in Venezuela, the tallest waterfall in the world, dives some 979 meters (over 2,000 feet) into the rocks below. Tugela Falls in South Africa is nearly as high, at 947 meters and boasts 5 beautiful cascades.

And of course, the famous Niagara Falls of North America. Niagara once froze in a freak weather occurrence in 1911 – or so the myth and the single photo indicate. Even Snopes can’t determine if it’s an urban legend or if it really happened.

Fjords

Though the fjords of Norway are famous, that’s not the only place where you can see these magnificent chiseled carvings of Mother Nature as artist. Chile is home to gorgeous fjords, as are several other spots around the world. A fjord is simply a narrow water inlet with high, steep land on either side – however, they are unique because they are created through glacier activity. The images above are of fjords in Alaska (the boldness of the blue is amazing), Iceland (lobster claws?), Norway (almost other-worldly), and Chile (once again the Torres del Paine).

Lakes Seen From Above

Rounding out the tour, here are some of the quirky and artfully abstract shapes of lakes when seen from the aerial view. A playground of the rich and famous, Lake Como in Italy is famously known as the Y Shaped lake, while this lesser known Horseshoe Lake in Arkansas is endearing. But it’s this dragon lake in China that’s most striking.

Stunning Sand Art

This amazing artwork is done by San Francisco artist Andres Amador.
He usually patiently waits for a full or new moon to be sure that low tides would prepare for him a perfect “canvas” to do his work. 
Sadly enough, but within several hours these masterpieces are wiped out by the ocean…

And this is another artist Jim Denevan who’s doing the same passion for art on the beach.

Zwarte Cross Festival 2009

Zwarte Cross Festival is the largest music festival of eastern Netherlands and the largest motocross event of Western Europe. On the thirteenth edition of the three-day festival this year, over 132,000 visitors came there.

Earthen Architecture: 15 Mud And Dirt Buildings

Earthen buildings come in a vast variety of shapes and sizes, made from materials like fired clay, compressed dirt and a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water. People have been using various forms of earth to build structures for centuries, from the traditional thatched cottages in Devon, England to the pueblo villages of the American west. The ancient ‘rammed earth’ building technique has been used in Neolithic architecture sites and modern cathedrals alike.Here are 15 diverse examples of structures made from earthen materials.

Great Mosque, the World’s Largest Earthen Building

There’s no earthen building in the world larger than the Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali, Africa. Considered by many architects to be the pinnacle of Sudano-Sahelian architectural style, this mosque is one of the most famous landmarks in Africa and was built in 1907 (an earlier structure on this site was built in the 13th century). Bundles of deleb palm wood are embedded into the walls both for decoration and for use as scaffolding for annual repairs.

Cob House on Mayne Island, Canada


This adorable little cob cabin mimics the style often seen in England but is actually located in Mayne Island, Canada. It features the smooth surfaces, curved walls and archways so typical of cob architecture. Some modern elements are included as well, such as the pre-fab windows.

Rammed Earth Chapel of Reconciliation in Berlin


The minimalist Chapel of Reconciliation in Berlin stands as a symbol of the reunion of East Germany and West Germany, standing on a spot that was once a “deadly no-man’s land”. It’s Berlin’s first public building and only church constructed of rammed earth, and is among the most modern examples of this building technique in the world. Use of the rammed earth style of building involves compressing a damp mixture of earth containing sand, gravel and clay into an externally supported frame that molds the shape of the wall section, creating a solid wall of earth.

Rammed Earth Home by Paul Weiner


While rammed earth fell out of vogue for a while during the 20th century, it’s experiencing a resurgence as a green building material since it’s natural, low-cost and provides good thermal mass. It’s also fireproof, soundproof and avoids the dilemma of deforestation and toxic materials. These photos show a modern rammed earth home made by architect Paul Weiner.

Fired Ceramic ‘Geltaftan’ Buildings


The remarkable ‘Geltaftan’ system of building uses an earth mixture high in clay which is then fired to become ceramic. This technique was developed by Iranian architect Nader Khalili, whose research into creating ceramic houses was based on his idea that permanent, water-resistant and earthquake-resistant houses could be built with the implementation of the four elements. Earth and water are used to create the buildings, and fire and air finish them. Entire rooms are fired from the inside, reaching temperatures of at least 1,830°F. After the firing, only the ceiling flues are opened to allow cooling.

Mali ‘Ginna’ Earthen Dwelling for Spiritual Leaders


In Dogon Country, Mali, each village has a large family dwelling made from earth that is reserved for the spiritual leader of the community. These ‘ginnas’ have a raised living area reached by a ladder carved from a tree trunk, and the 80 niches on the front of the building represent the original ancestors and their descendents.

People’s Co-op, Portland, Oregon



One of the advantages of cob is the malleability of the mud as it’s drying on the exterior and interior walls – it can be sculpted into beautiful relief designs, as seen here at the People’s Co-Op of Portland, Oregon. Cob was used as infill for two walls of the building as well as for the benches inside and outside the store.

Devon, England Traditional Cob Cottages


Nowhere are cob homes more common than in Devon, England. These picturesque cottages are quintessentially British, with a look that just screams ‘English countryside’. Cob certainly isn’t a passing trend or a ‘weird new thing’ here – these cute cob cottages with their whitewashed exteriors and thatched roofs have been the norm in this area for centuries. This particular example is incredibly old – the date plate reads 1539.

Modern Rammed Earth Napa Valley Home


Tatwina and Richard Lee’s hilltop Napa Valley property is a beautiful example of modern rammed-earth architecture that blends in with its natural surroundings. The house is technically a line of four one-story buildings made of earth, concrete and steel designed by the Lees’ own son and daughter-in-law, Eliot Lee and Eun Sun Chun.

Sustainable Hobbit House


Looking like something straight off the Lord of the Rings set, this cozy hobbit hole of a home was built in Wales from stone, mud and remnant wood from nearby forests, resulting in a cost of just $10 per square foot. Natural light streams in from a skylight at the top of the earthen, grass-covered dome. The use of materials from the construction site and the way the home was designed give it that truly unique, eco-friendly character that can only be found in earthen homes.

Taos, New Mexico Pueblo Villages


The Taos Pueblo is a historical adobe village in Taos, New Mexico – multi-storied buildings that have been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. It was probably built between 1000 and 1450 A.D., and as of 2006 it had 150 inhabitants. Adobe is a natural building material made out of sand, clay, water and a fibrous organic material like sticks, straw or dung. It’s similar to cob, and is commonly used in hot desert climates.

Sun Ray Cob Yoga Studio


The Sun Ray yoga studio is a great example of how cob can be used to create sculptural forms. This unusual structure defies the typical boxy silhouette that cob houses tend to have – it’s round with an almost chapel-like entryway. The diamond-shaped windows are testament to how creative cob builders can get when designing these kinds of earthen buildings.

Rammed Earth Home in Westlake Hills, Texas



This beautiful Westlake Hills, Texas home is testament to how versatile rammed earth really is. Designed by architect Lou Kimball, this 5,000-square-foot home has 2-foot-thick walls that make the building so energy efficient, it received a 5-star energy rating from the City of Austin Green Building Program.

Hakka Houses of China


The Hakka dwellings of China are earthen buildings were built by the Hakka people, who began immigrating to southern China from the northern part of the country in the 17th century. These round rammed earth buildings were designed for defensive purposes, with only one entrance and no windows at ground level. The largest Hakka houses covered up to 40,000 meters and most of the ones still standing today cover around 10,000 meters. The Hakka style of earthen architecture is largely unique to China.

Offbeat Eco-Village of Earthen Huts


For five years, a group of people lived undisturbed in a hidden eco-village in the Preseli mountains of west Wales – until a pilot flying over the area saw a glint of sunlight reflecting off a solar panel on the main building. The inhabitants of this village of earthen huts then spent a decade fighting to keep their homes, which had been built without government permission, from being bulldozed. Happily, the village has finally been given planning approval, so the community can now return to living in sustainable peace and growing their own green furniture.

Remarkable Religious Structures Reclaimed by Nature

Some historic, religious structures, like Angkor Wat in Cambodia or the pyramids in Egypt, draw hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Other temples, tombs and mosques, no less spectacular than their tourist-heavy peers, have been reclaimed by nature, turning from architectural marvels into man-made shells covered with trees, plants, vines, or sand. Despite being aged and broken down, the unique hybrid of man-made elements and natural ones makes the ruins below as spectacular as when they were newly constructed.

Beng Mealea, Cambodia


Angkor Wat, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is one of Southeast Asia’s biggest tourist draws. The most intact and spectacular group of temples is instantly recognizable because of their tall towers and intricate carvings. Most people forget about the other temples scattered in a hundred km radius of the main complex. Beng Mealea (about 60 clicks from Angkor) is most unrestored, but impressively large, structure with trees and vines thriving all over the grounds.

Ta Phrom


This has become one of Cambodia’s most famous temples, partially because it was featured in one of the Tomb Raider movies. Visitors line up for their chance to snap the obligatory “roots hugging ruins” shot. It is hardly the wild experience that those pix might suggest, but impressive nonetheless.

Cham Ruins, Vietnam


The Cham ruins found in central Vietnam date back to pre-Buddhist times. There is a strong Hindu influence in these nearly completely unrestored structures. Unfortunately, some of the temples were destroyed during heavy fighting in the 1960s.

Nepal


Roadside shrines are a regular feature of the geography of Nepal. Some have mysterious histories and are the sources of almost mythical stories. Others simply sit quietly on the hillsides, seemingly at peace with their ever encroaching surroundings.

Bali


Bali’s Hindu temples have an otherworldly vibe. The vertical, ancient structures are decorated with dramatic statues and carvings. Bali is one of Indonesia’s greenest islands, and nature finds its way into everything, even these storied religious monuments.

East Africa


East Africa is home to some of the oldest religious buildings in the world. Temples, mosques and churches from a thousand years ago (or more) are found throughout Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia and Eritrea. Some, like the Gedi Mosque (at left), were recently excavated. Many more remain mostly untouched by anything except nature.

Middle East


The Middle East is home to numerous abandoned religious structures. Some have simply fallen into disuse because of their sheer age. Such was the case for the mosque, at left, in Egypt.

Mosques in the disputed Golan Heights are recent ruin: the result of years of conflict between the major religious groups in the area. The structures are simply left to the desert because it is not possible to safely return them to their former glory.

Churches


Abandoned churches can be found throughout the U.S., especially in rural areas. The lack of funding and religious leadership have caused some of these churches, like the one is rural Minnesota above, to close their doors.

India’s Best Archaeological Site


The recently discovered Talakadu temples were hidden for years under the sand near the Indian city of Bangalore. The relative remoteness of this collection of temples (most devoted to Shiva) makes up for the feeling that the temple lacks the “undiscovered” vibe of many of the other sites on this list.

Tombs of the Kings, Central Vietnam


The tombs of Vietnam’s ancient kings line the Perfume River, near the city of Hue in Central Vietnam. Tourists can get to these sites by boat, though a hike is sometimes necessary for some of the older sites. Some of these tombs are cleared, though you still have to watch your step, lest you walk on a snake or get lost among tangled vines.

Babri Mosque


The Babri Mosque was one of the most notable religious structures in India prior to its 1992 demolition. Its history was disputed, and no one is exactly sure of the exact truth. The temple was destroyed by a group of Hindu nationalists after years of arguments and conflict between Hindu, Muslim and Jainist groups.

The View Through The Eyes Of A Pilote

The world's happiest nations

 Children laugh during Muineira's Day (day of dancing) in Pontevedra, Spain.

Do you want to live a long, happy and meaningful life? In the process, would you also like to ensure you are not abusing the Earth's resources? Then, you might want to make plans to move to Latin America.

According to the Happy Planet Index, published recently by the New Economics Foundation, Latin American countries have high scores when it comes to happiness.


The new index is based on improved data for 143 countries around the world, representing 99 per cent of the world's population.


The HPI environmental impact with well-being to measure the environmental efficiency with which people live long and happy lives.

So find out which are the world's happiest countries, according to the New Economics Foundation. . .

A Costa Rican child touches a mask at the start of the mask festival in Barva de Heredia, near the capital San Jose.

Costa Rica


Costa Rica tops the Happy Planet Index 2.0. 


Costa Ricans report the highest life satisfaction in the world, have the second-highest average life expectancy of the Americas (second only to Canada) and have an ecological footprint that means that the country only narrowly fails to achieve the goal of 'one-planet living': consuming its fair share of the Earth's natural resources.

Dominican Republic revellers take part during the end of the national carnival in Santo Domingo.

Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is the second-largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba). According to the Happiness Index, its people have a high sense of well-being, even if their consumption levels don't match the global standards.

Britain's Prince Charles laughs with a Jamaican drum player during a tour the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston.

Jamaica


Jamaica, an island nation of the Greater Antilles, is situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is the third most populous English-speaking country in North America, after the United States and Canada. It remains a Commonwealth nation, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. 

Many of the countries that have scored well on the Happiness Index are composed of small islands.

A woman dances to celebrate the founding of the tiny port town of Livingston, Gautemala

Guatemala

A biodiversity hotspot, Gautemala is located in Central America. Transportation, communications, business, politics and most of the relevant urban activity takes place in its capital, Guatemala City. 

There is only one highway that traverses the greater communities of the country. Some coastal towns are accessible only through the coast by boats.

A farmer tends to peach blossom trees in her garden.

 Vietnam

Officially known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, this is the 13th most populous country in the world. 

A single party state, it is known for the Vietnam War in which it battled the most powerful nation in the world, America. The economy of this historically agricultural civilization, based on wet rice cultivating, was destroyed by the war.
After many decades of hard work, Vietnam is today one of Asia's most open economies: two-way trade is around 160 per cent of the GDP, more than twice the ratio for China and over four times India's.

 An artist in Colombia

 Colombia


The Republic of Colombia, located in northwestern South America, has a long tradition of constitutional government and is the fourth largest economy in South America. 


It is very ethnically diverse, and the interaction between the descendants of the original native inhabitants, Spanish colonists, African slaves and twentieth-century immigrants from Europe and the Middle East has produced a rich cultural heritage. 


Ecologically, Colombia is one of the world's 18 megadiverse countries.

A man walks out of a building adorned with a portrait of Che Guevara and the word 'revolution' in Old Havana.

Cuba

An island country in the Caribbean, the Republic of Cuba adheres to socialist principles in organising its largely state-controlled planned economy.

Historically, Cuba has ranked high in numbers of medical personnel and has made significant contributions to world health since the 19th century. Today, it has universal free health care and, though it suffers shortages of medical supplies, there is no shortage of medical personnel.

According to the UN, the life expectancy in Cuba is 78.3 years. This ranks Cuba 37th in the world, just ahead of the United States. 

A Salvadoran child poses for photographs beside an image of the virgin of Guadalupe outside the Basilica of Guadalupe in San Salvador.

El Salvador


El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. 


It has the third largest economy in the region (behind Costa Rica and Panama) when comparing nominal Gross Domestic Product and purchasing power GDP. Though its economy has been hampered by natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, it currently has a steadily growing economy.


El Salvador has one of the lowest tax burdens in the American continent (around 11 per cent of GDP). Its inflation rate is amongst the lowest in the region.

Revellers of Viradouro samba school dance atop a float during the second night of the Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome.

 Brazil

The highest-ranking G20 country in the Happiness Index. the Federative Republic of Brazil is also the fifth most populous country in the world. Located in South America, it is also the fifth largest country by geographical area.

Brazil is the world's tenth largest economy at market exchange rates and the ninth largest by purchasing power parity. Brazil is one of the four emerging economies, called BRIC. 

Brazilian exports are booming, creating a new generation of tycoons.

A young man crafts a drum in the community of Sambo Creek on the northern coast of Honduras.

Honduras

Honduras, a democratic republic in Central America, is a biodiversity hotspot. 

Its conomic growth in the last few years has averaged 7 per cent per year which has been one of the most successful growths in Latin America.

People get drenched by a large wave during high tide at Mumbai's seafront.

Here are some more infobytes:


No single country achieves an overall 'high' score on the index, and no country does well on all three indicators -- life expectancy, life satisfaction and ecological foot print.


India, the United States of America and China were all 'greener and happier' 20 years ago than today.


India ranks No. 35 on the list, while China is ranked at No. 20. Australia is listed at No. 102.


The United Kingdom comes 74th, and the USA 114th out of 143 nations surveyed.

Awful Library Books

8 Very Hairy People

Hypertrichosis is a rare genetic condition that results in extreme hairiness. It is sometimes referred to as “werewolf syndrome”. Only about 50 cases in history have been documented. There is some speculation that Esau, son of Isaac and twin brother of Jacob, may have had hypertrichosis. He was described in the Old Testament as born covered in red hair, and was referred to as a hairy man by his brother as an adult. Here are several more cases.

Petrus Gonzales


Petrus Gonzales was born in the Canary Islands around 1556 and taken to be presented to French King Henri II due to his unusual appearance. As a member of the court, he was educated and showed great intelligence. He married and produced five hairy children, three daughters and two sons. A grandchild was also reported with hypertrichosis, and possibly more descendants were affected.

Julia Pastrana


Julia Pastrana was born in Mexico in 1834 with hypertrichosis terminalis, meaning her entire body was covered with hair several inches long. She also had a deformed mouth with huge teeth, leading one doctor of the day to declare that she was ‘a hybrid between human and orangutan’. Pastrana was only four and a half feet tall but had a womanly figure. She began a career in freak shows at age 20, and was “managed” by several other handlers before she met exhibitor Theodor Lent, who eventually married her. At venues all over Europe, she was billed as part human, part animal but charmed audiences with her intelligence and grace. Pastrana spoke three languages and sang and danced on stage. At age 26, Pastrana gave birth in Moscow to a son who was also covered with hair, and who died within two days. Julia herself died five days later. Pastrana’s body was traded around for exhibit and is profiled in the post 6 Restless Corpses.

Shaolin Grand Master Tai Djin


Tai Djin was born in Fukien, China in 1849. His parents, not knowing what caused their baby’s hairiness, abandoned him in a forest. Tai was found by a monk who took him to the Shaolin Temple where he was cared for by the Shaolin Masters. Tai grew up to be highly educated, knowing he wouldn’t have much of a life outside the temple. He threw himself into learning martial arts -not just one discipline, but all of them! Tai achieved the title of Grand Master and is known from that point on as Su Kong Tai Djin. He was revered by his many students until (and even after) his death in 1928.

Fedor Jeftichew


Fedor Jeftichew was billed as Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1868 to a father, Adrian Jeftichew who also had hypertrichosis. The father and son appeared in sideshows together until P.T. Barnum brought the younger Jeftichew to the US in 1894. The sideshow story was that Jo-Jo was raised in the wild and captured by hunters. Although Fedor could speak three languages, he played his part and barked for the audience. In his time, Jeftichew was one of the highest-paid sideshow attractions in the world. He died in Turkey in 1904.

Stephan Bibrowski


Lionel, the Lion-faced Man was born Stephan Bibrowski in Poland in 1891. Rejected by his mother as an “abomination”, he was taken in by a German sideshow exhibitor when he was four years old. Bibrowski was a very intelligent man who spoke five languages and once aspired to become a dentist. His side show act included gymnastic tricks. Bibrowski appeared with Barnum and Bailey’s Circus in the early part of the century, and at Dreamland Circus in Coney Island in the 1920s. He moved to Germany upon retiring from show business, and died of a heart attack in 1932. He was only 40 years old.

Percilla Bejano


Percilla Lauther Bejano was born in 1911 in Puerto Rico, the only one of five children to be born with excessive hair. Her mother consulted with doctors, but could find no treatment for her. Percilla was adopted by exhibitor Karl L. Lauther after her own father was killed and she toured with the Johnny J. Jones Exposition. She was educated and articulate, and sang and danced in her exhibit. Percilla fell in love with another sideshow exhibit named Emmitt Bejano, who suffered from ichthyosis and was billed as the Alligator-Skinned Man. The two married in 1938 and remained madly in love until Emmitt’s death in 1995. They were billed as “The World’s Strangest Married Couple” when they toured with Ringling Brothers. Percilla and Emmitt appeared in the 1980 film Carny. Percilla was introduced to a new generation of admirers when she appeared clean shaven on The Jerry Springer Show in 1997. Percilla passed away in 2001 at age 89.

The Ramos Gomez Brothers


Larry and Danny Ramos Gomez are brothers born in Mexico, both with hypertrichosis. They were exhibited in a sideshow from infancy. They later joined a circus and learned to perform as magicians, acrobats, and trapeze artists. Their siblings and about 20 members of the extended family are affected by hypertrichosis. Danny’s daughter is affected, but Larry’s son is not. A production company is working on a reality TV show featuring Larry Ramos Gomez, who is divorced, in which he will look for a new love.


Times have changed, although there is still no cure for hypertrichosis. Pruthviraj Patil of India and Supatra Sasuphan of Thailand are accepted by their peers despite their hairy appearance, and hope to live normal lives with everyday occupations. Other stories of hairy people include Barbara Urslerin, Shwe-Maong of Burma, and Alice Dougherty the Minnesota Wooly Baby, among others.

One Of The Most Awesome Hobbies!

Everyone must have a hobby! Peter Michel, for example, is famous for making small working copies of real aircrafts. What an awesome hobby! Here are some of his works:

Macro Photography

Portraits Of Iconic People Of All Time

Today we bring you a great collection of portraits of the most iconic people throughout history.

Portraits explore the relationship between the subject and the photographer or artist and usually continue to impress the viewer years after they have been created.

Jesus Christ

This 1940 painting has been reproduced over 500 million times, making it one of the most popular works of art in history. Date: 1940. Artist: Warner Sallman.

Pope John Paul II

John Paul II was known not only as a religious leader but as a proponent of world peace during the delicate days of the Cold War. He is credited with having a heavy hand in ending communism in his native Poland and throughout Eastern Europe. He was Pope for 27 years, the second longest papacy in history. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Unknown.

Mother Teresa

At the time of her death in 1997, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity organization was running 610 missions in 123 countries. Date: 1986. Photographer: Túrelio.

His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama

The current Dalai Lama was exiled from his seat of power, Tibet by Chinese forces. He is an incarnate god on earth for Tibetan Buddhists. Date: 2007. Photographer: Luca Galuzzi.

Afghan Girl

This photo was taken as part of the National Geographic “Green Eyes” project, tracking the genetic trait of green eyes passed down through the Mongols of Genghis Khan’s time. The subject was Sharbat Gula and a retrospective on her life done by National Geographic can be found here. Date: 1985. Photographer: Steve McCurry, National Geographic.

Buzz Aldrin

This image was captured in 1969, the day that the Eagle lunar lander made the first touchdown on the moon, by Neil Armstrong of fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Date: 1969. Photographer: Neil Armstrong.

Muhammad Ali

Ali was a three-time heavyweight World Champion in boxing. Born Cassius Clay, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali after joining the Nation of Islam. Date: 1967. Photographer: Ira Rosenberg.

Woody Allen

Allen is a celebrated movie director, playwright, and comedy writer who was responsible for such great movies as “Annie Hall”. Equally infamous for having a relationship with his stepdaughter, Soon-Yi Previn, who he is still with as of 2009. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Marie Antoinette

Antoinette was the last Queen of France and one of the more famous victims of the guillotine during the French Revolution. Antoinette was famous for her excess in a time of extreme economic hardship for her country. Date: 1769. Artist: Joseph Ducreux

Joan of Arc

Jeanne d’Arc, her name in the original French, was responsible for both repelling English invaders from her homeland and assisting Charles VII in succeeding to the throne of France. She is a Catholic saint. The only known portrait that she sat for was destroyed, so all we have are renditions. Date: 1876. Artist: Eugene Thirion.

 

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong was a jazz musician that sang vocals and played various instruments, including the trumpet as pictured. He performed solo and with other performers right up until his accidental death in 1971. Satchmo’s image was immortalized in this photo. Date: 1953. Photographer: World-Telegram staff photographer.

Neil Armstrong

An American aviator and a former astronaut, test pilot, university professor, and United States Naval Aviator. He was the first person to set foot on the Moon. Date: 1969. Photographer: NASA/Edwin E. Aldrin Jr.

Fred Astaire

Astaire starred in many musical films, ten of which were with Ginger Rogers. Astaire acted until 1981, amazing considering that he got his start in vaudeville. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. He was a crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most acclaimed and influential of all composers. Date: 1820. Painter: Joseph Karl Stiele.

Alexander Graham Bell

An eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone. Date: 1904. Photographer: Unknown - Print from Library of Congress.

Marlon Brando

Brando starred in a host of movies including “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Wild One”. Date: 1954. Photographer: Publicity Photo for “The Wild One”, used on the poster for the movie.

Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi was responsible for getting the British to allow India to form its own government through his technique of satyagraha, or non-violence. Date: 1930’s. Photographer: Unknown.

Humphrey Bogart

Best known for “The Maltese Falcon” and “Casablanca”, Bogart was a mega-star in the golden age of Hollywood. The photographer who took this shot, George Hurrell, was responsible for many of the “glamour shots” in Hollywood in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Only in later years would his work be recognized as art. Date: 1938-1939. Photographer: George Hurrell.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon arranged a coup d’etat which brought him to power in 1799. Five years after that he crowned himself as Emperor of France. He led successful military campaigns in Italy and Egypt that bolstered his reputation. His Napoleonic Code is still being used as a basis for law in many countries. Date: 1802. Painter: Antoine-Jean Gros.

Bono

Bono’s real name is Paul Hewson. He acquired the now-famous nickname from his friend Gavin Friday, who dubbed him “Bono Vox”. Bono didn’t like the name until he found out it translated loosely to “good voice”. Bono is not only known for being the front man for the rock band U2, but as a tireless and effective political activist for causes such as world hunger, apartheid, and AIDS. Date: 2006. Photographer: Ricardo Stuckert

Al Capone

The gangster was one of the the most famous people in the US. Loved for running booze during the Prohibition and hated for his murderous tactics to maintain a stranglehold on his business. Pictured here with his omnipresent cigar. Date: Unknown
Photographer: Unknown.

Fidel Castro

The former head of government of Cuba, a position that he held for 50 years. Castro overthrew the US-backed dictator Batista to seize power, and only let go of it by passing it on to his brother. Castro has been alternately reviled and praised for measures that he took with the country as dictator. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Charlie Chaplin

This powerful actor not only helped to found United Artists, but set the stage for what most of us consider “comedy” to be today. Date: 1915. Photographer: Studio Photographer, Chaplin as “The Tramp”.

Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill was the British Prime Minister during World War II. He was widely credited with being one of the strategic masterminds that made the Allied victory possible. Churchill was also a prolific writer and won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

This shot was snapped in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Canada after the photographer had annoyed Churchill by taking away his cigar. Widely considered one of the most famous portrait photos ever taken. Date: 1941. Photographer: Yousuf Karsh.

Kurt Cobain

An American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of grunge band Nirvana. On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle, the victim of what was officially ruled a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. The circumstances of his death have become a topic of fascination and debate. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Mark Seliger.

Christopher Columbus

A Genoese navigator, colonizer and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean—funded by Queen Isabella of Spain—led to general European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere.

Marie Curie

Curie was a physicist and chemist, and the first person to receive two Nobel prizes. She coined the term “radioactivity”, pioneered radiation therapy for cancer, and discovered two new elements. This shot is often cropped to remove Pierre Curie, the famous chemist’s husband. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Unknown.

 

Salvador Dali

Dali was a Surrealist artist that produced a huge volume of works that spanned film, sculpture and paintings. He also worked with Hitchcock on a dream sequence for his film “Spellbound”, which both the artist and the director hated. The artist’s famous mustache is captured perfectly in this 1942 photo. Date: 1942. Photographer: Philippe Halsman.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Da Vinci defined the “Renaissance Man” with his inventions, art and scientific theories. This self-portrait of the famous artist and inventor was composed in red chalk. Date: 1512-1515. Artist: Leonardo da Vinci.

Charles Darwin

Darwin’s “Origin of the Species” set off a powderkeg when it appeared to scientifically establish that humans evolved from apes. Years later, Darwin is still celebrated in the scientific and broader community as a visionary that held out against religious interests in order to advance the cause of science. Date: 1883 copy of 1881 original. Artist: John Collier

Bette Davis

Bette Davis was not only a famous screen actress, but the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Miles Davis

Davis played tirelessly from his teenage years right on up until his death in 1991. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 1991. Davis was not just a pioneer of jazz, but one of the major influencers in the jazz fusion movement. President Obama describes listening to the music of Miles Davis as a spiritual experience in this interview. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Anton Corbijn

Charles De Gaulle

De Gaulle led the Free French Forces, or French Resistance, during the Nazi occupation of France. He founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President for 10 years. Date: 1942. Photographer: Office of War Information, Overseas Picture Division.

James Dean

James Dean is considered to be one of the greatest actors of all time. His handsome good looks were only enhanced by an unmistakable screen presence in such films as “Giant” and “A Rebel Without a Cause”. Date: 1955. Photographer: Publicity shot for Schlitz Playhouse of Stars.

Princess Diana

Princess Diana married Prince Charles and found herself divorced from him just a few years afterwards due to his persistent philandering with his current wife, Camilla Parker Bowles. Tireless in her humanitarian efforts, Diana continued to win the hearts of the British people and indeed people all over the world up until her death. Patrick Demarchelier was Princess Diana’s favourite photographer. This image he took of her was featured on the cover of People magazine after her death in 1997 and it instantly became iconic. Date: 1990. Photographer: Patrick Dermarchelier.

Charles Dickens

The most popular English novelist of the Victorian era. He was a vigorous social campaigner, both in his own personal endeavours as well as through the recurrent themes of his literary enterprise. Date: 1858. Artist: Charles Baugniet.

Marlene Dietrich

Dietrich rose from German cabaret acts to film stardom in the pre-war US. She left her native Germany for the US even after being invited back by the Nazi party prior to the outbreak of World War II due to her distaste for their policies. Date: 1951
Photographer: Publicity Shot for “No Highway in the Sky”.

Walt Disney

Walt Disney founded Walt Disney Corp. from humble beginnings as an animator. His studio produced some of the most timeless children’s movies ever and still continues to do so. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Bob Dylan

Dylan wrote the soundtrack to the American civil unrest of the 1960’s. Winning a number of awards for his music including an honourary Pulitzer, Dylan created some controversy for his fans when he switched from acoustic guitar to electric midway through his career. One of his most famous songs, “All Along The Watchtower”, was used as a key plot device in the 2003 incarnation of the science fiction series Battlestar Galactica. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Amelia Earhart

Earhart was the first female pilot to fly solo over the Atlantic. Earhart disappeared in a circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937 near Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean. Date: 1932. Photographer: Unknown.

Thomas Edison

This photo of a young Edison was taken with the phonograph that he invented. He was most famous for inventing a long-lasting, practical lightbulb. Date: 1877-1878. Photographer: Levin C. Handy.

Albert Einstein

Einstein is another father of modern science. While his most famous theory is his theory of relativity, he put forward a number of new theories that formed the foundation of modern physics and paved the way for the Atomic Age. Date: 1947. Photographer: Oren Jack Turner. Second photo: Date: 1951. Photographer: Arthur Sasse.


General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower was the chief general in charge of the US forces during World War II, and later went on to be President. This photo was taken a year after victory over Axis forces in WWII. Karsh would go on to photograph Eisenhower as President and in his retirement, where he delighted in showing Karsh the oil painting that he was working on of Churchill for which he used Karsh’s portrait as a source. Date: 1946. Photographer: Yousuf Karsh.

Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth’s reign is famous for a number of historical events, including a Spanish invasion of England that was foiled by bad weather. After a couple of potentially politically disastrous marriage alliances were put forward to her, Elizabeth dubbed herself “The Virgin Queen”, and stated that “If I follow the inclination of my nature, it is this: beggar-woman and single, far rather than queen and married”.

Date: 1575. Artist: Unknown, perhaps Federico Zuccaro (see Sir Roy Strong, The English Icon, 1969). This entry is known as the “Darnley Portrait.

HRM Queen Elizabeth II

There have been many iconic photos of the Queen, but this one taken by famous photographer Annie Leibovitz conveys her regality while presenting her in a state of contemplation accented by the eternally inclement English weather. Taken in Buckingham Palace, the shot caused a furor in the British tabloid press when Leibovitz asked the Queen to remove her crown. Date: 2007. Photographer: Annie Leibovitz.


Federico Fellini

Fellini was one of the most iconic filmmakers of the 20th century, with an enigmatic style that blended fantasy with Baroque art. Date: 1965. Photographer: Walter Albertin.

Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis with her family in Amsterdam and wrote an account of it in her diary. “The Diary of Anne Frank” is universally read by schoolchildren all over the world as an account of the Holocaust. This portrait was taken just a few months after Frank and her family went into hiding on October 10, 1942. Date: 1942. Photographer: Unknown.

Benjamin Franklin

One of the founding fathers of the United States, Franklin served in many positions to further the independence of the United States, including a few posts as foreign ambassador in order to raise funds for the formation of the new country. This portrait of Ben Franklin by Duplessis was immortalized on the American one hundred dollar bill. Date: Unknown. Artist: Joseph Siffred Duplessis.

Sigmund Freud

Freud is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind and the defense mechanism of repression and for creating the clinical practice of psychoanalysis for curing psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Date: 1920. Photographer: Unknown.

Clark Gable

The “King of Hollywood” in his day, most remember Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind. Date: 1938. Photographer: Publicity Shot for “It Happened One Night”.

Yuri Gagarin

Gagarin was the first human in outer space and the first to orbit the earth. He died in a training flight in 1968 and was buried within the walls of the Kremlin in Moscow. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Unknown.

Galileo Galilei

The father of modern observational astronomy, Galileo invented improvements to the telescope and supported the theory put forward by Copernicus that the Earth orbited the Sun, and not the other way around. He was also a pioneer in the field of physics. Galileo spent the latter part of his life under house arrest for heresy against the Catholic Church. Date:1605. Artist: Domenico Robusti.


Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American actress that starred in a number of movies from the silent film era to the “Golden Age” of Hollywood. Best known for “Camille” and “Ninotchka”. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Jerry Garcia

The lead singer of the Grateful Dead, Garcia was an icon to the counterculture movement of the 1970’s. They toured into the 1990’s, until Garcia succumbed to a heart attack in 1995. Date: 1998. Photographer: Unknown.

Judy Garland

While Garland had a successful film career, no appearance of hers could even come close to “The Wizard of Oz”. Before the days of instant content access, kids would camp out in front of the TV for this feature film extravaganza, which still felt modern right on up until the 1980’s, mostly due to Garland’s masterful acting of what would have otherwise been a very two-dimensional character. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Publicity shot for “The Wizard of Oz”

Bill Gates

The founder of Microsoft and a primary benefactor of the largest charitable foundation in the world, Bill Gates was one of the first tech visionaries. Date and photographer: Unknown.

 

Cary Grant

Grant, born Archibald Alec Leach, starred in a number of movies spanning from the 1930’s to the 1970’s. He was one of Hitchock’s favourite actors. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Che Guevara

Ernesto “Che” Guevara Havannassa at the La Coubre Memorial Service in 1960. Che traveled around Latin America as a young medical student and came to the conclusion that the only solution for the poverty that he saw was world revolution. He was instrumental in Castro’s takeover of Cuba and was later assassinated by Bolivian forces who were assisted by the CIA. Date: 1960. Photographer: Alberto Korda.

Dr. Stephen Hawking

Dr. Hawking achieved fame in academic circles as a theoretical physicist, and introduced his theories to mainstream society through his book “The Brief History of Time”. There are many images of the distinguished physicist, but it is telling that this one is featured on the front page of his website. Date: April 26, 2007. Photographer: Zero Gravity Corp.

Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway wrote many memorable novels, including “The Old Man and the Sea”, “The Sun Also Rises”, and “A Farewell to Arms”. His life is almost more colourful than one of his novels, full of trips all over the world and the popularization of the daiquiri. Date: 1957. Photographer: Yousuf Karsh.

Jimi Hendrix

Widely considered to be the best electric guitarist in history, Hendrix is known for “Are You Experienced”, his rendition of “All Along the Watchtower” by Dylan, and his version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”, along with many others. Hendrix was also one of the first artists to add effects to his music in the studio. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Unknown.

Henry VIII

Henry VIII was one of the most infamous kings in English history. He formed what is now known as the Anglican church in order to divorce his first wife when the Pope would not grant him a dispensation to do so. He also fostered humanist learning and was key in getting the Royal Navy off to a good start with great investments in shipbuilding. Hans Holbein The Younger was a court painter to Henry VIII and was not only responsible for portraits of Henry VIII, but most of his wives as well. Many portraits were painted of Henry VIII based on Holbein’s portraits, and some are mistakenly attributed to him. Date: 1536. Artist: Hans Holbein The Younger.

Audrey Hepburn

This press shot from Breakfast at Tiffany’s is probably the most famous photo of Audrey Hepburn. Hepburn was plucked from a ballet lineup to play the leading role in Gigi on Broadway in 1951. She became only the third actor to be paid $1 million for her role in My Fair Lady. Date: 1961. Photographer: John Kobal.

Alfred Hitchcock

Hitchcock was a director responsible for practically inventing the thriller. Classics such as “Rear Window” and “Vertigo” used advanced cinematography techniques to shock and scare his audiences. This image was taken on the set of Psycho, widely considered to be the greatest horror movie of all time. Date: Jan 29, 1960. Photographer: Hulton Archive/Getty Images.

Adolf Hitler

Hitler gained absolute political power in Germany through an election and subsequent political and military manoeuvres that established him as the Fuhrer of Germany. His vision of a unified Germany appealed to the wider German electorate, but the darker side of Hitler’s views and the subsequent World War II brought about a decimated Germany and his own downfall. Date: Around 1932. Photographer: Unknown.

Buddy Holly

A pioneer of rock and roll and an inspiration to the legends who came after him such as The Beatles and Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly’s death was even turned into a hit song; “American Pie” by Don McLean. Date: 1950’s. Photographer: Associated Press.

Houdini

A Hungarian-American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer, as well as a skeptic and investigator of spiritualists. He became world-renowned for his stunts and feats of escapology even more than for his magical illusions. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was in over 70 movies, including a number of comedies with Doris Day. He was one of the first celebrities to die from an AIDS-related illness. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Michael Hutchence

Hutchence was the lead singer of INXS, who produced a string of musical hits throughout the 90’s. Hutchence committed suicide in 1997. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Michael Jackson

Micheal Jackson is just as famous for his many commercial musical successes as he is for his odd and outlandish lifestyle. Date: 1992. Photographer: Unknown.

Mick Jagger

A Golden Globe and Grammy Award winning English singer, songwriter and occasional actor, best known for his work as lead vocalist of The Rolling Stones. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs founded Apple, left it to start NEXT, and returned to catapult Apple into superstardom with the iMac, iBook, iPod and iPhone. Jobs will always be best remembered visually for making his historic announcements about the next Apple milestone at Macworld conferences. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Janis Joplin

An American singer, songwriter, and music arranger, from Port Arthur, Texas. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company, and later as a solo artist. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Joplin number 46 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and number 28 on its 2008 list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Michael Jordan

Jordan is known as one of the best defensive players in basketball. He helped to popularize the NBA through the 1980’s and 1990’s through his participation in various marketing campaigns both for the NBA and for various corporations. Date: 2006. Photographer: Joshua Massel.

Andy Kaufman

Kaufman was an eccentric entertainer best known for his work on Saturday Night Live in the 1970’s. He was famous for his off-centre comedic style. Date: 1983. Photographer: David McGough.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller was not born blind and deaf; it was not until she was nineteen months old that she contracted an illness described by doctors as “an acute congestion of the stomach and the brain,” which could possibly have been scarlet fever or meningitis. The illness did not last for a particularly long time, but it left her deaf and blind. She was a prolific author and tireless advocate for humanitarian causes. Also the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor’s degree. This image depicts a young Helen Keller. Date: 1904. Photographer: Unknown.

Grace Kelly

Kelly was one of the most prolific actresses of her day. A favourite of Hitchock, she appeared in a few of his films including “To Catch a Thief” and “Rear Window”. She became Princess Grace upon her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco, and retired from professional acting after her marriage. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Loomis Dean.

John F. Kennedy

The 35th President of the United States. JFK presided over the Cuban Missile Crisis and established NASA to put America on the moon. His assassination was controversial and untimely. Date: 1961. Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt.

Martin Luther King

King was famous for his civil rights actions to bring about equality for African-Americans, including his famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered at the March on Washington in 1963. Date: 1960. Photographer: Howard Sochure.

Stanley Kubrick

Kubrick was one of the greatest directors of the 20th Century. A perfectionist when it came to lighting, sound, acting and all other aspects of his movies, his triumphs included movies on diverse subject matter such as “Spartacus”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, and “A Clockwork Orange”. Date: Late 1940’s for LOOK Magazine. Photographer: Stanley Kubrick.

Heath Ledger

Ledger was a film actor that died of a drug overdose in 2008, shortly after completing his iconic role as The Joker in “The Dark Knight”. This insightful painted portrait of Heath Ledger won the People’s Choice Archibald Prize for 2008. The artist and Ledger were friends for a number of years. Date: 2008. Artist: Vincent Fantauzzo.

Bruce Lee

Scenes involving Bruce Lee’s fists and legs actually had to be slowed down through the process of shooting the film at a higher framerate in order for audiences to be able to watch him fight in some of his movies. Lee was an icon of the Chinese martial arts, particularly Kung Fu and Wing Chun. Date: Unknown. Artist: Columbia Pictures.

Vladimir Lenin

Lenin was instrumental in the Russian Revolution of 1917 and was elected Chairman of the Soviet Union in that same year. His particular brand of Marxist theory was branded “Leninism”. Date: 1920. Photographer: L. Léonido.

John Lennon

The lead singer for the Beatles enjoyed a successful solo career after the Beatles disbanded before his untimely assassination. He campaigned for the end of the Vietnam War and for peace between the US and Russia during the Cold War. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Andy Warhol

 

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and was responsible for abolishing slavery in the United States through the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. He also held the dubious honour of being the first president to be assassinated.

This photo was taken by one of Lincoln’s best-known photographers, Alexander Gardner. Date: Nov. 8 1863. Photographer: Alexander Gardner.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was elected the first African President of South Africa in 1994, officially ending a long tradition of apartheid in South Africa. Mandela had been jailed for speaking out against apartheid until it was abolished in 1990. Date: 1994
Photographer: African National Congress.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley and the Wailers are the best known performers of reggae music. Marley was also a key proponent of the Rastafarian movement, bringing it into popular culture. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Mona Lisa

No collection of portraits would be complete without this one. There is little to be said about this painting that hasn’t been said already, so we’ll direct you to Wikipedia if you want to know more. Date: 1503-1506. Artist: Leonardo da Vinci.

Sophia Loren

Loren’s career has spanned film, television, and even music. One of the most successful Italian actresses of all time. Date: 1986. Photographer: Anne Clifford.

Freddie Mercury

Born Farrokh Bulsara, this icon fronted one of the great “supergroups” of the 1970’s, Queen. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Michelangelo

An Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer. Despite making few forays beyond the arts, his versatility in the disciplines he took up was of such a high order that he is often considered a contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man, along with his rival and fellow Italian Leonardo da Vinci. Date: 16th Century
Artist: Jacopo del Conte.

Migrant Mother

This photo of Florence Owens Thompson and her children was taken in February or March of 1936 in Nipomo, California. In addition to being an iconic photo of the Great Depression, it influenced Steinbeck in his writing of The Grapes of Wrath. Date: 1936. Photographer: Dorothea Lange. 
 

Jim Morrison

Morrison was the frontman for the Doors and is collectively responsible with his bandmates for godfathering the alternative rock movement. Iggy Pop used one of Morrison’s poems as the basis for his successful song “The Passenger”. Date: 1967.
Photographer: Joel Brodsky.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart composed over 600 works of music, including “The Magic Flute”. He began composing at the age of five. Date: 1819. Artist: Barbara Krafft.

Paul Newman

Before he put his name on salad dressing, Newman was an Academy Award-winning actor that appeared in dozens of movies. His food company, Newman’s Own, is famous for donating all of their profits to charity. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Sir Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton is considered, amongst other things, to be one of the fathers of modern science. Universal gravitation and the three laws of motion are just two of his many theories. He also invented the first reflecting telescope. Date: 15th/16th Century. Artist: Sir Godfrey Kneller.

Jack Nicholson

Nicholson is best known for portraying psychopathic characters in various movies throughout his career, including “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “The Shining”. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Arthur Schatz.

Robert De Niro

De Niro has been a critically acclaimed actor since the 1970’s, appearing in a wide range of movies. Known principally for his method acting. DeNiro has also tried his hand at directing successfully with such films as “The Good Shepherd”. Date: 2008. Photographer: Petr Novák, Wikipedia.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Jacqueline Kennedy was America’s best-loved first lady, wife of John F. Kennedy. After JFK’s death, she married shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis to the shock of the entire nation. While many photos were taken of Jacqueline Kennedy, this was her first official portrait as First Lady and the one most will remember. Date: 1961. Photographer: Mark Shaw.

Al Pacino

From Godfather to Scarface to Scent of a Woman, Pacino has consistently wowed audiences with animated and heartfelt performances. Date: Unknown. Photographer: Unknown.

Louis Pasteur

He is best known for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes and prevention of disease. He created the first vaccine for rabies. He was best known to the general public for inventing a method to stop milk and wine from causing sickness, a process came to be called Pasteurization. Date: Prior to 1895. Photographer: Felix Nadar.

 

Evita Peron

Eva Peron, or Evita as she was known to the people of Argentina, was a supporter of women’s and workers rights. She died of cancer at the age of 33. Date: 1950. Photographer: Unknown.

Pablo Picasso

Picasso was one of the pre-eminent artists of the 20th century and a major proponent of the Cubist movement. While being shot for this portrait, Picasso could view himself in the wide angle lens of the camera and instinctively moved to place himself where he needed to be for the shot. Date: 1954. Photographer: Yousuf Karsh.

Plato & Artistotle

This commonly cropped part of The School of Athens by Raffaello Sanzio features the two famous philosophers, presumably arguing about philosophy. Aristotle was Plato’s student. Date: 1509. Artist: Raffaello Sanzio.

Edgar Allan Poe

Poe was an eccentric and prolific author that published some of the best horror fiction ever known. He also coined “Poe’s Law”, which was that poems should be short enough to read in a single sitting. Date: 1848. Photographer: W.S. Hartshorn.

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley popularized a more sexually charged style of music called “Rock and Roll” that was the delight of younger people of his generation and the bane of parents who credited his style of music with demoralizing a generation.

Grigorij Rasputin

This photo of Russia’s “Mad Monk” showcases his piercing eyes. Rasputin was an unstable monk that the Russian royal family took in to heal their son, believing that he had a supernatural ability to heal the boy. Russian nobles decided to oust him through a legendary execution. Date: 1914-1916. Photographer: Unknown.

Ronald Reagan

Reagan’s administration is credited with helping to bring about the end of the Cold War. While he got his start as a famous film actor, Reagan always had anti-communist political leanings. Date: 1981. Photographer: Official White House Photograph.

Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, more commonly known as Rembrandt, is considered to be the most important painter in Dutch history and one of the most important painters in European art history. Date: 1661. Artist: Rembrandt.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt was an advocate for civil and woman’s rights. She also founded the UN Association of the United States in order to foster American support for the United Nations. Date: July 20 1933. Photographer: Unknown

The Scream

Portrait or not? Many interpretations of this work by Edvard Munch see the central figure as the artist trying to block out the outside world, or the “Scream” of nature, as the artist entitled the work in German (Der Schrei der Natur). One thing is for sure - it had insurance companies screaming after it was stolen twice. Date: 1893. Artist: Edvard Munch.

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare produced a huge folio of work as both a playwright and a poet. There are ongoing debates as to which portraits of Shakespeare are “real”, if any. The Chandos Portrait, pictured below, is the most famous of them all.Date: Early 1600’s. Artist: John Taylor.

Frank Sinatra

Sinatra was a popular musician and film actor that was the recipient of 11 Grammy awards. During the latter part of his career he once again made a name for himself as one of the foremost acts in Las Vegas. Date: Unknown. Photographer: John Domini.

Josef Stalin

Stalin seized power in Communist Russia following Lenin’s death in 1924 and held onto it until his death in 1953. Stalin frequently had Soviet censors edit images of himself, cropping out political enemies. Date: 1922-1940. Photographer: Office of War Information.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor

Taylor’s famous violet eyes are hard to miss in this photo. She was the first actress to be paid $1 Million for her title role in the movie “Cleopatra”. Since retiring from her film career, Taylor has worked to further humanitarian causes, most notably being an AIDS advocate at a time when many other celebrities shied away from the cause. Date: 1951. Photographer: Unknown.

 

Nicola Tesla

Tesla was best known for his inventions which formed the basis for alternating current power, which is the kind of electric current that powers homes today. He also invented wireless radio and was known for countless other inventions. After making numerous improvements at the Edison company, he was denied a promised bonus and raise, at which point he left to focus on his own work. Date: Unknown but prior to 1896. Artist/Photographer: Photographed by Napoleon Sarony and engraved by T. Johnson.

Harriet Tubman

Tubman was a powerhouse; she helped over seventy slaves escape through the Underground Railroad, she acted as a Union spy, and she was an activist for women’s suffrage. Date: 1850-1900. Photographer: H. B. Lindsley

Mark Twain

An American author and humorist. Twain is most noted for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which has since been called the Great American Novel and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. He is extensively quoted. Date: 1907. Photographer: Unknown.

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh is responsible for creating some of the most famous works of art, including “Starry Night”. Van Gogh also created many self-portraits throughout his lifetime. One of his other self-portraits, Self-portrait without beard, sold for $71.5 million. Date: September 1889. Artist: Vincent Van Gogh.

Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken is a great example of a celebrity that was made even more popular through the internet in the 21st Century. While he has been in a string of movies, he is more famous throughout the Intertubes for his Saturday Night Live skit in which he demands “more cowbell”. Date: April 2003. Photographer: Mark Seliger.

Andy Warhol

Warhol was a prolific photographer and artist who produced many works of art, photos, and films. Warhol took many self-portraits throughout his life, as well as creating pop-culture portraits of famous people. This one is housed in the Tate in London. Date: 1986. Photographer: Andy Warhol.

George Washington

Washington was the first President of the United States. Prior to that, he led key battles as a general for the rebellion that ousted the British from American soil. Date: Unknown. Artists: Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828), Rembrandt Peale (1778–1860).

John Wayne

Wayne’s rugged masculinity landed him a number of lead film roles in westerns. 142 of his roles were as the lead actor. Date: 1957. Photographer: Loomis Dean.

Orson Welles

Welles worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio. His best known feat is his radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds” that was so realistic that audiences actually believed it was happening. Date: 1937. Photographer: Carl Van Vechten.

Mae West

An American actress, playwright, screenwriter, and sex symbol. Known for her bawdy double entendres, West made a name for herself in Vaudeville and on the stage in New York before moving to Hollywood to become a comedienne, actress and writer in the motion picture industry. One of the more controversial stars of her day, West encountered many problems including censorship. Date and photographer: Unknown.

Whistler’s Mother

This painting, Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter’s Mother, was the pinnacle of James Whistler’s career. It was purchased by France and is now in the Musee D’Orsay in Paris. Date: 1871. Artist: James Whistler.

Malcolm X

Born as Malcolm Little, he changed his surname to “X” when he joined the Nation of Islam, a common practice among members. He fought for civil rights, sometimes using violent methods to do so. He denounced leaders of the civil rights movement as being “stooges” for the establishment. Date: 1964. Photographer: Marion S. Trikosko.

Animal Kingdom's Odd Couples

When Florida farm owner Jim Favreau looked out his window July 20, 2009, during a typical summer downpour, he was mortified to see a litter of day-old piglets struggling to stave off the storm's rising waters in Lee County. After bringing the piglets inside to dry off, Favreau was astounded anew: His dog, a Rottweiler-pit bull mix, was nursing the house's newest denizens, ABC affiliate WZVN reported. "It's amazing, it's awesome," Angel Roman, Favreau's friend, told WZVN. "It's good to see, though. It's good to see good things in life and this is one of them."

Perhaps maternity is species-blind, or so recent events would suggest. After a red panda unexpectedly gave birth to two cubs at the Taiyuan Zoo in northern China, and then promptly abandoned them, zoo officials called on a recently pregnant dog to step in as surrogate mother, China's state news agency reported. The cubs, who have grown to a length of 8 inches since their June 25, 2009, birth, join a dwindling population. Wildlife experts estimate there are fewer than 2,500 adult red pandas in the world.

Three-month-old Asian camel Ldinka bends over a fence to nuzzle an adult Vietnamese miniature pig at the Royev Ruchey Zoo in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, June 2, 2009.

Nimra, a 1-year-old cat, plays with chicks in Amman, May 13, 2007. Nimra took care of seven chicks after their mother's death a month before the photo was taken.

A donkey carrying a lamb in its saddlebag is led by nomads as they head back to their village from summer pastures near the town of Cizre, in southeast Turkey, Oct. 16, 2007.

BoonLua, a long-tailed macaque, lives with Toby, a rabbit, in the Ayutthaya province, about 50 miles north of Bangkok. This Sept. 6, 2008, photo shows BoonLua at age 6. BoonLua lost both legs and one arm during a dog attack three years earlier. He dragged himself to a nearby temple where he received medical treatment and survived. He now lives in a custom built enclosure with the rabbit.

A wolf and a donkey share a cage in the town of Patok, in northwestern Albania, about 25 miles from the capital city Tirana. This May 9, 2007, photo shows the donkey and wolf together. The donkey initially was meant to be fed to the wolf, which was caught in the northern Albanian mountains. But the animals became attached to each other, cohabitating in the cage and attracting curious villagers and local media.

Auan, a 7-year-old female cat, shares a meal with Jeena, a 3-year-old male mouse, at a farmer's house in the central province of Phichit, 281 miles north of Bangkok, Aug. 7, 2002. The animals' owners say Auan found Jeena three years earlier and afterward became his playmate and protector. They said Auan warded off dogs.

It was puppy love for a duck and puppy in China. The Chinese family had a pet duck, and when they took in an abandoned pup, the two became fast friends. They play together, they nap together, and they are rarely out of each other's sight.

A farm worker holds a piglet and two of three tiger cubs rejected by their mother at a zoo in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, on Sept. 24. A pig at a farm in eastern Ukraine is nursing the three newborn tigers along with a dozen of its own piglets.

Three-month-old tiger cub Zoya, rejected by her mother, plays with Alsatian puppy Frida, who's the same age, in a special enclosure at the Warsaw Zoo Aug. 13, 2008. The dog, owned by a zoo employee, was introduced to the tiger so that she could have a companion for the next few months.

Isabella, a yellow lab at the Safari Zoological Park east of Caney, Kan., has adopted three white tiger cubs that were abandoned by their mother in this July 30, 2008, photo.

A Paper Craft Castle On the Ocean

Wonderful paper craft art installation by a genius of the name of Wataru Itou a young student of a major art university here in Tokyo. The installation is hand made over four years of hard work, complete with electrical lights and a moving train, all made of paper! Clearly, this man must have created one of the most stunning examples of Paper Craft in the world? At the exhibition you will also have the chance to see a video showing Mr. Itou at work in his studio, cutting and folding piece by piece. The exhibition is called Umi no Ue no Oshiro (A Castle On the Ocean ),It is exhibited at Umihotaru, a place which in itself is a major attraction: a service area in the middle of the ocean, right between Tokyo City and Chiba Prefecture.

Model Of Oil Rig Out Of Four Billion Matchsticks

Former Oil Rig Worker Spent 15 Years Making Model Of Oil Rig Out Of Four Billion Matchsticks

Skilled Creatures that Aid Humans in Unusual Ways

Animals have been domesticated and put to work for centuries. Some, like certain species of dog, have been bred with a specific task in mind. However, there are other species that retain some or all of their wildness while still performing tasks that benefit humans. These creatures – pest killers, food producers and cleaners – are simply being themselves. The benefit that people reap is no more than a happy side effect of these natural habits.

Barn Owls: Deadly Rodent Hunters

Some farms in Europe and North America have installed nesting areas in their barns for these nocturnal predators. That is because they are prolific hunters of rodents. It is a mutually beneficial relationship, the birds eat their fill and live in safety while the farm’s pest population is kept under control.

Spiders: Snagging Pests

Though they are often tagged as the most ugly and menacing creatures in the bug world, spiders actually catch and eat more harmful insects. Mosquitoes, termites and bees find their way into webs more often than they end up on the business end of a fly-swatter.

Bats, Cormorants, and Dragonflies

Bats and dragon flies are two more animals whose diets consist of mosquitoes. Certain species of bats can consume hundreds of the disease-carrying insects per night. Though dragonflies are not as prolific, they can help control a mosquito population, especially during summer months.

In the past, cormorants have been used by fisherman to catch fish on China’s Lijiang River. Though the practice is less popular now, some birds can still be seen catching fish with great skill.

Striped Hyena: Canine Garbage Disposal

Unlike its more predatory kin, the spotted hyena, this subspecies does not often kill its own meat. Rather, it feasts on the decaying flesh of animals that have already been killed or died naturally. This helps prevent the spread of disease and disease carrying insects.

Coconut-Picking Monkeys

Monkeys in Thailand and Malaysia are used to help farmers collect coconuts. The domesticated macaques are at home in the trees and can pick 10 times more coconuts than a human laborer – sometimes more than 1,000 per day.

King Snake: Farmer’s Slithering Helper

The King Snake is a constrictor, but its colorfully patterned body sometimes leads people to mistake it for a poisonous species. Because it is immune to many types of venom, this serpent is a natural predator of poisonous snakes. It also consumes rodents and other pests that sometimes harm farmers’ crops. In addition, King Snakes are quite sociable and make good pets when domesticated.

Civet Cat and Earthworm:

Sometimes, animals can be helpful by simply digesting. Earthworms are a welcome species in many organic gardens because the help aerate the soil and their waste is beneficial as a fertilizer.

Luwak coffee is considered a delicacy. The beans for this coffee are fermented in the digestive system of the civet cat. The beans are collected from the cat’s waste and sold for high prices.

Falcons and Passenger Pigeon

Falconry is a traditional method of hunting that is not often used today, except as a sport. These naturally swift, sharp-eyed predators have been trained to take their kill back to their owner.

Another traditionally used bird is the passenger pigeon. Before the advent of more advanced communication devices, pigeons were used to send messages over long distances. Like falconry, this is mainly a hobby today.

Bacteria that Eat Garbage

Certain species of microscopic bacteria have been used in garbage dumps, compost sites and sewage treatment plants because of their ability to consume these types of waste and change them from harmful to harmless (or at least less harmful). Scientists are even studying ways that the bacteria’s waste can be used for energy.

Elephants: Muscle and Meat

Elephants have been trained to do heavy lifting in Southeast and South Asia, as well as in some places in Africa. These creatures are the largest domesticated animal on earth. Unfortunately their wild kin are often being hunted in poorer parts of Africa, not for their ivory, but for their meat.

Algae: Oil Producer of the Future

Algae cells have been found to produce extremely high amounts of oil. These tiny organisms may hold the key to a renewable energy revolution. Scientists and energy companies are studying this type of energy as a viable alternative to gas and diesel.

UFO Houses In Sanjhih

The 10 Craziest Competitive Eating Moments

These ladies and gentlemen (and bear) are TRUE radical eaters. They will not allow themselves to be confined by quaint, outdated notions such as cutlery, location, or “quantity,” when it comes to pursuing their passion. This list showcases the finest moments of the greatest, most inspirational eaters that the world has ever seen.


1. Joey Chestnut Vs. Hot Dogs
 


Joey Chestnut eats 68 hot dogs in Coney Island to beat Kobayashi himself. One of the greatest feats of hot-dog eating ever recorded. Stay fierce, Joey Chestnut. You are a hero to all of us who fight for unconventional eating.
2. Cookie Jarvis Vs. Sweet Corn
 


Cookie Jarvis holds the records for grapes, cannoli, ham and potatoes, sour pickles, and ice cream, among other stuff he's eaten the most of. He is also a true American. But what I like best about Cookie Jarvis (apart from the fact that he's named after the original Cookie Crisp mascot - before the burglar!) is that he's not afraid to eat outside the box. Check out his unconventional sweet corn eating technique. Brilliant!
3. Joey Chestnut Vs. French Fries
 


You can never have enough Joey Chestnut. Watch him obliterate the French-fry-eating competition at Bikini's in Austin. The music is so inspirational! It makes me want to order an extra large fries and rub them all over my body. Wait, did I say that out loud?
4. The Black Widow Vs. Mince Pies
 


Sonya Thomas, The Black Widow, is one of the world's greatest eaters. Among her many records, she has eaten more mince pies in less time than anyone else. Here she goes - 46 mince pies in 10 minutes, and she's dancing the whole time.
5. Crazy Legs Conti Vs. Watermelons
 


Crazy Legs' Conti claimed the competitive watermelon eating title in 2008. Crazy Legs is a true master of his art. He is like the Shakespeare of watermelon consumption.
6. Patrick Bertoletti Vs. Jalapenos
 


Patrick Bartoletti holds 23 competitive eating records. He is a master of chocolate, waffles, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And even The Black Widow is no match for his ninja-style eating technique, when it comes to Jalapenos. Watch him eat 127 of the things! I bet that stings a bit.
7. Crazy Legs Conti Vs. Birthday Cake
 


Crazy Legs Conti is back for the birthday cake challenge. Now this is the way birthday cake should be eaten - with enthusiasm, creativity, and lust for life. The man is an inspiration to us all.
8. Joey Chestnut Vs. A Gallon of Milk
 


Joey Chestnut is nothing if not versatile. We've seen him devour hot dogs, French fries, and now an entire gallon of milk. In just 41 seconds!
9. Patrick Bertoletti Vs. Pizzas
 


This is a twofer. Watch a chef make 3 whole pizzas in 40 seconds, followed by Patrick Bertoletti taking on 17 slices of pizza in just five minutes!
10. Kobayashi Vs. A GIANT BEAR
 


No competitive eating list would be complete without a mention of the legend, Takeru Kobayashi. In 2006, Kobayashi went up against a GIANT BEAR in a hot-dog eating competition. He lost. But wow.

Top 10 Medieval Urban Legends

Prester John



The legends of Prester John, popular in Europe from the 12th through the 17th centuries, told of a Christian patriarch and king said to rule over a Christian nation lost amidst the Muslims and pagans in the Orient. Written accounts of this kingdom are variegated collections of medieval popular fantasy. Reportedly a descendant of one of the Three Magi, Prester John was said to be a generous ruler and a virtuous man, presiding over a realm full of riches and strange creatures, in which the Patriarch of the Saint Thomas Christians resided. His kingdom contained such marvels as the Gates of Alexander and the Fountain of Youth, and even bordered the Earthly Paradise. Among his treasures was a mirror through which every province could be seen, the fabled original from which derived the “speculum literature” of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, in which the prince’s realms were surveyed and his duties laid out. Despite the non-existence of Prester John, the medieval belief in the legend affected several hundred years of European and world history, directly and indirectly, by encouraging Europe’s explorers, missionaries, scholars and treasure hunters.

The Holy Grail



According to Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers. The connection of Joseph of Arimathea with the Grail legend dates from Robert de Boron’s Joseph d’Arimathie (late 12th century) in which Joseph receives the Grail from an apparition of Jesus and sends it with his followers to Great Britain. The development of the Grail legend has been traced in detail by cultural historians: It is a legend which first came together in the form of written romances, deriving perhaps from some pre-Christian folklore hints, in the later 12th and early 13th centuries. The early Grail romances centered on Percival and were woven into the more general Arthurian fabric. Some of the Grail legend is interwoven with legends of the Holy Chalice.

Pope Joan



Pope Joan (also called La Papessa) is the name of a legendary female pope who supposedly reigned for less than three years in the 850s, between the papacies of Leo IV and Benedict III (though there were only two months between the two reigns). She is known primarily from a legend that circulated in the Middle Ages. Pope Joan is regarded by most modern historians and religious scholars as fictitious, possibly originating as an anti-papal satire. The story of Pope Joan is known mainly from the 13th century chronicler Martin of Opava – writing 500 years after the alleged Popess. Most scholars dismiss Pope Joan as a medieval legend. The Oxford Dictionary of Popes acknowledges that this legend was widely believed for centuries, even among Catholic circles, but declares that there is “no contemporary evidence for a female pope at any of the dates suggested for her reign,” and goes on to say that “the known facts of the respective periods make it impossible to fit [a female pope] in”. For those who are wondering what would happen if this were true (or were to ever be true): nothing; a female is not able to be a priest and a Pope cannot be crowned unless he is a priest first.

Fountain of Youth



The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. Florida (ironically) is often said to be its location, and stories of the fountain are some of the most persistent associated with the state. Eternal youth is a gift frequently sought in myth and legend, and stories of things such as the philosopher’s stone, universal panaceas, and the elixir of life are common throughout Eurasia and elsewhere. Unfortunately, earlier native versions of the legend (from before the Old World became old) are not known outside of what snippets Spanish chroniclers managed to preserve of what is sure to have been a rich tradition.

Incubus and Sucubus



An incubus is a demon in male form supposed to lie upon sleepers, especially women, in order to have sexual intercourse with them, according to a number of mythological and legendary traditions. Its female counterpart is the succubus. An incubus may pursue sexual relations with a woman in order to father a child, as in the legend of Merlin, and some sources indicate that it may be identified by its unnaturally cold penis. Religious tradition holds that repeated intercourse with an incubus or succubus may result in the deterioration of health, or even death. A number of secular explanations have been offered for the origin of the incubus legends. They involve the medieval preoccupation with sin, especially sexual sins of women. Victims may have been experiencing waking dreams or sleep paralysis.

The Lost Tribes



The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel refers to the ancient Tribes of Israel that disappeared from the Biblical account after the Kingdom of Israel was destroyed, enslaved and exiled by ancient Assyria. Many groups of Jews have doctrines concerning the continued hidden existence or future public return of these tribes. This is a subject that is partially based upon authenticated and documented historical fact, partially upon written religious tradition and partially upon speculation. There is a vast amount of literature on the Lost Tribes and no specific source can be relied upon for a complete answer. Some scientists have researched the topic, and at various times some have made claims of empirical evidence of the Ten Lost Tribes. However, religious and scriptural sources remain the main sources of the belief that the Ten Lost Tribes have some continuing, though hidden, identity somewhere. It should be noted that the Book of Mormon suggests that the Native Americans are from two of the lost tribes.

The Wandering Jew



The Wandering Jew is a figure from medieval Christian folklore whose legend began to spread in Europe in the thirteenth century and became a fixture of Christian mythology, and, later, of Romanticism. The legend concerns a Jew who taunted Jesus on the way to the Crucifixion and was then cursed to walk the earth until the Second Coming. The exact nature of the wanderer’s indiscretion varies in different versions of the tale, as do aspects of his character; sometimes he is said to be a shoemaker or other tradesman, sometimes he is the doorman at Pontius Pilate’s estate. The origins of the legend are debatable; perhaps one element is the story in Genesis of Cain, who is issued with a similar punishment — to wander over the earth, never reaping a harvest again, but scavenging.

Robin Hood



Robin Hood is an archetypal figure in English folklore, whose story originates from medieval times, but who remains significant in popular culture where he is known for “stealing from the rich and giving to the poor” and fighting against injustice and tyranny. His band includes a “three score” group of fellow outlawed yeomen – called his “Merry Men.” The origin of the legend is claimed by some to have stemmed from actual outlaws, or from tales of outlaws, such as Hereward the Wake, Eustace the Monk, Fulk FitzWarin, and William Wallace. There are a number of theories that attempt to identify a historical Robin Hood, but for various reasons (such as the popularity of the name in the Middle Ages), it is unlikely to ever come up with any evidence that suggests he is not just a legend.

King Arthur



King Arthur is a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against the Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur’s story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians. The historical basis for the King Arthur legend has long been debated by scholars. One school of thought, citing entries in the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons) and Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals), sees Arthur as a genuine historical figure, a Romano-British leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons sometime in the late 5th to early 6th century, but the lack of convincing early evidence is the reason many recent historians exclude Arthur from their accounts of post-Roman Britain.

The Children’s Crusade



The Children’s Crusade is the name given to a variety of fictional and factual events which happened in 1212 that combine some or all of these elements: visions by a French or German boy; an intention to peacefully convert Muslims in the Holy Land to Christianity; bands of children marching to Italy; and children being sold into slavery. A study published in 1977 cast doubt on the existence of these events and many historians now believe that they were not (or not primarily) children but multiple bands of “wandering poor” in Germany and France, some of whom tried to reach the Holy Land and others who never intended to do so. Early versions of events, of which there are many variations told over the centuries, are largely apocryphal. Recent research suggests the participants were not children, at least not the very young. The confusion started because later chroniclers, who were not witness to the events of 1212 and who were writing 30 years or more later, began to translate the original accounts and misunderstood the Latin word pueri, meaning “boys”, to mean literally “children”. The original accounts did use the term pueri but it had a slang meaning, similar to how the term “country bumpkins” is used as a derogatory term in the rural United States.

10 Weird Uses for Vodka

Why Not Just Drink It?

Vodka has been enjoyed since at least the early Middle Ages, and is well known as one of the world's most popular spirits. Its versatility in mixing and high alcohol content have made it extremely popular in cocktails, and it is still widely enjoyed 'neat' (straight up) in much of Eastern and Northern Europe.

Vodka also has a long history of use as medicine, having been sold by druggists to cure everything from infertility to colic and the plague. While some of those historic promoters were half-cocked, it's true that vodka has a wide range of potential uses beyond serving as a relaxer and social lubricant. 

Why would you want to do anything else with vodka but drink it? It is widely available, effective and less toxic than many of the chemical alternatives you might use for these tasks.



Treat Poison Ivy

For many, one of the hazards of enjoying the great outdoors is an encounter with poison ivy, oak or sumac. It can lead to a nasty, long-lasting rash. Unfortunately, the poison ivy is spreading thanks to global warming. 

To avoid the uncomfortable reaction, immediately pour vodka on skin that has come into contact with poison ivy, and the alcohol will wash away the itchy culprit, urushiol oil. Some have said that the vodka needs to be at least 100 proof to work. 

Others have argued that straight rubbing alcohol works better, but we're guessing you may not have that as handy if you are on your average picnic.


Freshen Laundry

The only people I know who like doing laundry have OCD. If you find the task calming, that's great. But the rest of us would prefer to wear clothes as much as possible without having to count quarters or lug baskets up and down stairs. 

You can keep your clothes smelling fresher with vodka -- really! Simply spritz your duds with the stuff, then hang to dry in a well-ventilated area. (Do a spot-test first to be safe.) Vodka kills odor-causing bacteria, but doesn't leave a scent when dry.


Shine Your Fixtures

It's easy to get your chrome, glass and porcelain fixtures shining like the top of the Chrysler Building. Guess what does the trick? 

Moisten a soft, clean cloth with vodka, then apply a little elbow grease.


Preserve Flowers

If vodka can help you find love, then it can also help you preserve it -- or at least the symbols of it. 

Add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to the water in your flower vase. It should help keep your flowers fresh longer. Change out the mixture with fresh ingredients daily.


Repel Insects

Unless you are intent on proving how hard-core you are, or you have a bizarre fetish, you probably don't enjoy getting feasted on by insects. But you've read media reports questioning the safety of DEET-based repellents, and you are pretty sure you don't want to take the risk of spraying yourself in the face with poisonous bug killers. 

Who knew that vodka can kill pesky insects, as well as nagging doubts at the bar? Pour a little of the saucy spirit in a spray bottle and squirt on the little buggers, or yourself as a repellent. But please don't take aim at any beneficial bees!


Soothe Jellyfish Stings

Jellyfish are fascinating, beautiful sea creatures. But their stingers can pack a powerful, painful punch. 

For vegetarians and others who don't travel with meat tenderizer (or who don't feel comfortable asking friends to, um, relieve the pain), take heart. Vodka can also disinfect and alleviate some of the bite of a jellyfish sting.


Get Great, Shiny Hair

Vodka doesn't just make you think people look prettier. It actually can make people prettier. How? 

Try this remedy for healthier, lush hair: Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo.

Tell Billy Madison that vodka is better than both shampoo and conditioner.


Clean Away Mold

Got mold? The stuff spreads easily and can severely diminish indoor air quality. Unless you are shacking up with the Crypt Keeper, who wants to look at those grimy dark stains that build up on caulking (sometimes even on mold-resistant varieties)? 

But instead of harsh chemical sprays, try filling a recycled spray bottle with some bottom-shelf vodka. Spritz on, then let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub away with an old toothbrush (please don't use your sister's).


 Make a Soothing Lavender Tincture

Do you find the scent of lavender soothing? Did you know that herbalists have used it for generations to naturally ease aches and pains? Here's a fun DIY tip: 

Fill a clean glass jar with fresh lavender flowers, then top off with vodka. Seal the lid tightly and place in the sun for three days (same idea as making sun tea!). Strain the resulting liquid through a coffee filter, and poof! You have a homemade tincture to rub into aches and pains. You can pour into smaller bottles, decorate them and give them as unique gifts.



Ease a Toothache

Got a toothache? Your first priority should be to see a dentist. But sometimes you can't get an appointment right away, or the professionals tell you it will just have to heal on its own. 

In that case, try swishing a shot of vodka over the affected area. It can help disinfect, and should numb some of the pain in your gums. Just beware that your honey may accuse you of smelling like a saloon.

8 Of World's Most Inspirational People

 Liz Murray: from Homeless To Harvard

Elizabeth "Liz" Murray was born September 23, 1980 the Bronx, New York, to poor, drug-addicted, HIV-infected parents. She became homeless just after she turned 15, when her mother died of AIDS, and her father moved to a homeless shelter. Murray's life turned around when she began attending the Humanities Preparatory Academy in Chelsea, Manhattan. Though she started high school later than most students, and remained without a stable home while supporting herself and her sister, Murray graduated in only two years. She was awarded a New York Times scholarship for needy students and accepted into Harvard University, matriculating in the fall semester of 2000. She left Harvard in 2003 to care for her sick father; she resumed her education at Columbia University to be closer to him until 2006 when he died of AIDS. As of May 2008, she was back at Harvard working towards her degree with plans to graduate with a degree in psychology in June 2009.

Her life became a movie in 2003 and she now works as a professional speaker, represented by the Washington Speakers Bureau. That same gutsy strength that pulled her from the streets now transforms the lives of others, from student groups to business audiences in need of inspiration to overcome their own obstacles. 


 Nick Vujicic: a man with no limbs who teaches people how to get up

Nick Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia with the rare Tetra-amelia disorder: limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and having one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh. Despite the absence of limbs, he is doing surf and swimming, and playing golf and soccer. Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. He began his travels as a motivational speaker, focusing on the topics that today's teenagers face.






Nando Parrado: survived airplane crash and 72 days in the Andes

72 - Days of ordeal, Nando Parrado and other survivors of a plane crash in Andes had to endure before being rescued. Flying over the mountains on a Friday the 13th, the young men and their families who boarded the charter plane joked about the unlucky day when the plane's wing hit the slope of the mountain and crashed. On impact, 13 passengers were instantly dead while 32 others were badly wounded. Hoping to be rescued, the survivors waited in the freezing -37C temperature, melting snow for drinks and sleeping side by side to keep themselves warm. Food was so scarce, everyone had to pool whatever food they can find for a rationed pool.

9 days after the crash, due to dire desperation and hunger, the survivors called for an important meeting. One member proposed that they eat the dead. The 2 hours meeting ended with a conclusion. If any of them died in Andes, the rest had the permission to use the corpse as food. After 2 weeks, their hope of being found dashed when they found out via their radio transistor that the rescue effort was called off. 

On the 60th day after the crash, Nando Parrado and 2 other friends decided to walk through the icy wilderness for help. By the time they left, Nando Parrado said, the crash site was “.. an awful place, soaked in urine, smelling of death, littered with ragged bits of human bone and qristle”. Wearing 3 pairs of jeans and 3 sweaters over a polo shirt, he and his friends trekked the mountains with human flesh as their ration.

Knowing that they must search for rescue, the team endured frozen snow, exhaustion and starvation, walking and climbing for 10 days before finding their way to the bottom of the mountain. The team was finally helped by Chilean farmer who called the police for help. Parrado then guided the rescue team via a helicopter to the crash site.
On the 22nd December 1972, after enduring 72 brutal days, the world founds out that there were 16 survivors who cheated death, in the mountain of Andes. 8 of the initial survivors died when an avalanche cascaded down on them as they slept in the fuselage.

During the ordeal, Nando Parrado lost 40 kg of his weight. He lost half his family in the crash. He is now a motivational speaker.





Jessica Cox: became the first pilot with no arms, proving you don't need 'wings' to fly

Jessica Cox suffered a rare birth defect and was born without any arms. None of the prenatal tests her mother took showed there was anything wrong with her. And yet she was born with this rare congenital disease, but also with a great spirit. The psychology graduate can write, type, drive a car, brush her hair and talk on her phone simply using her feet. Ms Cox, from Tuscon, Arizona, USA, is also a former dancer and double black belt in Tai Kwon-Do. She has a no-restrictions driving license, she flies planes and she can type 25 words a minute.

The plane she is flying is called an Ercoupe and it is one of the few airplanes to be made and certified without pedals. Without rudder pedals Jessica is free to use her feet as hands. She took three years instead of the usual six months to complete her lightweight aircraft licence, had three flying instructors and practiced 89 hours of flying, becoming the first pilot with no arms.





Sean Swarner: 1st cancer survivor to complete the 7-summits, the highest peaks of the 7 continents

The 29,035-foot giant known as Mount Everest tortures its challengers with life-threatening conditions such as 100 mph winds, the dramatic loss of oxygen, snowstorms, and deadly avalanches. Climbers of Everest are faced with incredible dangers, but for Sean Swarner the obstacles he overcame prior to his summiting make his story even more compelling.

Sean isn't just a cancer survivor; he is truly a medical marvel. He is the only person in the world ever to have been diagnosed with both Hodgkin's disease and Askin's sarcoma. He was diagnosed in the fourth and final stage of Hodgkin's disease at the age of thirteen, when doctors expected him to live for no more than three months. He overcame his illness only to be stricken a second time when a deadly golf ball-sized tumor attacked his right lung. After removal of the Askin's tumor, Sean was expected to live for less than two weeks. A decade later and with only partial use of his lungs, Sean became famous for being the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest.

After the summit of Everest, Sean had a desire and dream to continue moving forward and reaching people around the world. Climbing the highest mountain on each continent became his next goal. Proving to others that anything is possible, Sean successfully summited Mt. McKinley, to be the first cancer survivor to complete the seven summits.





Randy Pausch: inspired thousands of people with his dying speech

Randolph Frederick "Randy" Pausch (October 23, 1960 – July 25, 2008) was an American professor of computer science and human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pausch learned that he had pancreatic cancer, a terminal illness, in September of 2006. He gave an upbeat lecture entitled "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" on September 18, 2007 at Carnegie Mellon, which became a popular YouTube video and led to other media appearances. He then co-authored a book called The Last Lecture on the same theme, which became a New York Times best-seller. Pausch died of complications from pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008.

In his famous speech, Pausch showed a list of his childhood dreams, and explained how he achieved each of them. His dreams were being in zero gravity, playing in the National Football League, being the author of a World Book Encyclopedia article, meeting and being Captain Kirk, being "one of the guys who won the big stuffed animals in the amusement park", and becoming a Disney Imagineer.

He was given 3 months of life, he lived 3 more years.





Ben Underwood: the boy who could “see” with his ears

Ben Underwood was a remarkable teenager, who loved to skateboard, ride his bicycle and play football and basketball. For the most part, the Californian 14-year-old was just like other kids his age. What made Underwood remarkable was his ability to master these activities despite the fact that he is blind. Underwood had both eyes removed after being diagnosed with retinal cancer at age two. To most people's amazement upon meeting him, he seems completely unfazed by his lack of sight, defying common stereotypes about blindness as a disability. So how does he do it? The answer is echolocation: the sonar navigation technique used by bats, dolphins, several other mammals and some birds. As Underwood moved about, he habitually made clicking noises with his tongue; these sounds bounce off surfaces and, with each return, add to Underwood's perception of his surroundings. 

He's so good at it that he could tell the difference between a fire hydrant and a rubbish bin, distinguish between parked cars and trucks, and — if you took him to a house he's never been to before — he would tell you he could 'see' a staircase in that corner and a kitchen in the other. He could even distinguish between different materials. 

An unflinching faith in God guided Ben and his mother his last few months as cancer spread to Ben's brain and spine. He finally died on January 2009 at the age of 16.




 Patrick Henry Hughes: born blind and crippled, now "marches" in the Louisville marching band

Patrick is a remarkable young man who was born without eyes and without the ability to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk. Additionally, two steel rods were 
surgically attached to Patrick's spine to correct scoliosis.

Despite circumstances, Patrick has overcome these physical issues to excel as a musician and student. Patrick started playing the piano at the age of only nine months, and also plays the trumpet and sings. He even participates in the University of Louisville School of Music Marching and Pep Bands with help from his father (Patrick John Hughes), who tirelessly maneuvers his wheel chair through the formations with the other 220+ members of the 
Cardinal Marching Band. 

A virtuoso pianist, vocalist and trumpet player, Patrick has won numerous competitions, as well as winning awards acknowledging the circumstances he has overcome to achieve these heights. He has been featured on ESPN, ABC-TV, Oprah, CBS-TV, The Ellen Show, Extreme Make Over Home Edition, FOX-TV, CSTV, NBC-TV, Million Dollar Round Table, The Grand Ole Opry, People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Star Magazine, and many, many others.

Guinness World Records

Anandita Dutta Tamuly smears ghost chilies, the world's spiciest, in her eyes before gobbling them up during an attempt to enter the Guinness World Records books, in Jorhat, India, April 9. British chef Gordon Ramsay is beside her. Organizers said the 28-year-old Indian woman ate 51 fire-hot chilies in two minutes.



Guinness World Records named Canadian Dave Devall the world's longest-serving TV weatherman after 48 years, two months and 27 days of forecasting. Devall retired April 3 from CTV Toronto. When the station surprised him with the news of his record, Devall asked, "Will that get me a glass of Guinness?" 



Linda Wolfe, 68, of Anderson, Ind., shows off photos of a few of her ex-husbands. Wolfe, who has been married 23 times and holds the title of world's most married person, said in February that she's lonely and would love to walk down the aisle again, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.




Mexico City became the new smooching capital on Valentine's Day. Carlos Martinez of Guinness World Records confirmed that 39,897 people entered a gated area in the city's Zocalo square Saturday to lock lips. The Mexican capital broke the previous record, set by the English town of Weston-super-Mare in 2007.


Lee Redmond's record-length fingernails were broken in a car accident Feb. 10. The Utah woman's nails, which hadn't been cut since 1979, totaled more than 28 feet in length during a 2008 measurement. The longest nail, on her right thumb, was 2 feet, 11 inches. 



Eric Hahn holds the record of world's tallest mohawk at 27 inches.



Previously, Aaron Studham of Massachusetts set a record for highest hair, at 24 inches.


Suresh Joachim broke his own Guinness record for nonstop broadcast-television watching by sitting in front of the tube for 72 hours. Here, the Sri Lankan native is seen setting his previous record -- 69 hours and 48 minutes -- three years ago in New York as Kelly Ripa and Regis Philbin watch.



Cindy Jackson, 52, holds the record for having had 47 cosmetic surgeries, the most in the world. She's shown above in 2004.


Hot on Jackson's heels is Brazilian model and lingerie designer Angela Bismarchi, who had 42 cosmetic surgeries last time we checked.



Khalil Semhat holds a giant potato he found on his farm near Tyre, Lebanon, for photographers on Dec. 6. He said he hopes the nearly 25-pounder will be a Guinness World Record.



Peruvian chefs, elbow deep in 6.8 tons of square-cut fish, onion and lime, won the the Guinness World Record for the largest batch of ceviche. The classic dish includes raw fish and a spicy citrus sauce that "cooks" it.



Russia's Svetlana Pankratova, the world's leggiest woman, poses with China's He Pingping, the world's smallest man, in London in September. Pankratova's legs are 4 feet, 4 inches long. He stands at 2 feet and 5.37 inches tall.



Last August, China's Bao Xishun reclaimed the title of the world's tallest man after Leonid Stadnik of Ukraine refused to be measured under new guidelines from Guinness World Records. Bao is 7 feet, 8.95 inches.



Sandy Allen, who was known as the world's tallest woman at 7 feet 7.25 inches tall, died Aug. 13 at a nursing home in Indiana. Before her death, Allen had been hospitalized for several ailments. She was 53.


In January 2008, Tantric meditation master Wim Hof beat his own record for immersing his body in ice. Hof stood on a Manhattan street in a clear container filled with ice for an hour and 12 minutes -- four minutes longer than the record he set in 2004.



George Bell, a sheriff's deputy in Norfolk, Va., stands at 7 feet 8 inches tall. Guinness World Records named the 50-year-old the tallest man in the United States.



Jackie Bibby of Texas earned a Guinness title for sitting in a bathtub with 87 rattlesnakes. Bibby broke his previous record by 12 snakes.



Switzerland's Marco Hort can fit 264 straws in his mouth, more than anyone else.



C. Manoharan of India first set a record for swallowing 200 earthworms in 30 seconds. He also tried to set a record by flossing two snakes through one nostril.



Elaine Davidson, a Brazilian who lives in Scotland, set the record for most body piercings at 4,250.



Turkey's Mehmet Ozyurek set the record for the world's longest nose, measuring nearly 3-1/2 inches.



Tran Van Hay of Vietnam is thought to have the world's longest hair, measuring over 20 feet, but it is unverified. He hasn't had a haircut in more than 30 years.



China's Li Jianhua set the world record for pulling a car the longest distance with an ear.



Jianhua once held the record for lifting the most weight with an ear, but he was surpassed by Pakistan's Zafar Gill. Guinness recognizes Gill for picking up a 135.7 pound weight with his ear in 2007. (Sources: AP, Guinness Book of World Records)

The Master Of Miniature

Nikolai Aldunin is called the master of miniatures. 
He put horseshoes on a flea as well as saddle and stirrups, he also put 7 camels in the eye of a needle and a replica of a Russian samovar that is smaller than a grain of sugar, he made a tank on a sliced apple seed - it is almost impossible to believe. 
Nevertheless, it is real and everything is crafted out of gold. Like many other artists who make miniature sculptures, Nikolai crafts between the beats of the heart that allows him to reduce the shaking of hands. This is very interesting to see.

The 10 Most Eccentric Items Ever Auctioned Online

You’ve heard the stories of weird and wacky things sold on the internet, everyone has. Here are the top 10 weirdest things sold on the internet ever.


These crazy ten things that were either put up for sale or sold will blow you away and will leave you wide eyed and astonished. The following ten objects are in no specific order and are all considered to be pretty weird.

A Serial Killer’s Fingernails

One of the weirdest things ever sold was a serial killer’s cut fingernails. In 1979, two men named Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris rode through southern California on a killing spree that resulted in at least five victims.

Years later Roy Norris, the man in the mug shot above had his fingernail shavings that had been taped to the back of a Christmas card sold on the net. His fingernails only sold for $9.99 but still stand as one of the scariest and weirdest things ever sold on the internet.


A Person’s Soul


In late 2007, an American man tried to sell his soul for $1 million dollars on the net. He said that the reason for selling his soul was to raise money for the Christmas season. He also said that the proud owner would be allowed to take the soul home in a glass jar along with a contract relinquishing ownership. The image above is a picture of the man who actually looks a little bit scary. 

The following is a quote that the man had said about his soul,” I’m not really using it lately - and selling it on the internet is better than letting the Devil have it.” The soul never sold although it doesn’t appear to be still up for grabs. FYI: In the past somebody’s soul was successfully sold for $400.


A Liver


Another crazy item that was put up for sale on the net was someone’s liver, which is the body part in the picture above. A guy from Florida tried to sell part of his liver for a possible organ transplant. The price for his liver reached $5.7 million dollars before being eventually pulled from the website it was being sold on. It was removed because it is illegal to sell body parts over the internet.


Haunted Rubber Ducky


Another very odd item sold on the internet was a haunted rubber ducky. In 2004, a man sold a so-called haunted rubber ducky, resembling the one above. He said his one and a half year old son had been telling weird and scary stories about fights that he and the duck had had. Also he said that his child had been bitten by the duck, making the child mean and vicious, and causing him to throw the duck across the room. After only 7 days on the site the rubber duck sold for the price of $107.50.

 Jesus Toast

The seller of the product in the picture above had accidentally burnt his toast in a toaster. Before throwing the piece of toast away, he suddenly noticed the face of Jesus on his toast as if by some type of miracle. He put the odd piece of toast up for auction with the starting bid of $.99, although this piece of toast never ended up selling.


Justin Timberlake’s French Toast


In March 2000, a leftover piece of French toast, half-eaten Justin Timberlake of N*SYNC was sold on a website. The entire group of N*SYNC was on the Z-Morning Zoo, some sort of TV show, on March 9th. On the show, Justin only ate one bite of his French toast! The seller said that the buyer would get Justin’s half-eaten French toast, the fork he used, and the plate…complete with extra syrup! After a total of 40 bids and not even two days on the internet, the French toast was sold for a total of $3,154 dollars.


Rights to Name a Woman’s Baby


In April 2005, a 33 year old woman named Melissa Heuschkel auctioned the rights to name her baby on the internet. After not being able to decide what to name her fourth child, Melissa decided to turn to an online bidding site. The rights for naming her child sold for a whopping $15,100 dollars. The online casino site named GoldenPalace.com bought the right of naming her baby. The casino website decided to name the child GoldenPalace.com. The image above is a picture of newly born GoldenPalace.com. Melissa said that the money received would go towards caring needs and toys for the new born baby.


Imaginary Friend


Another odd thing sold on the net was a guy’s imaginary friend named Jon Malipieman. The image above is a picture of this imaginary friend Jon Malipieman, and as you can see he is imaginary. The man that sold Jon lived in the UK and said that he was selling Jon because he felt like he had grown out of him. 

In the listings for the product the seller stated the following: “My imaginary friend Jon Malipieman is getting too old for me now. I am now 27 and I feel I am growing out of him. He is very friendly. Along with him, I will send you what he likes and dislikes along with his favorite things to do and his personal self portrait.” His self portrait is the picture you see above. Amazingly Jon Malipieman got 31 bids and ended up selling for over $3,000 dollars. Now that is Wacky. 


Ghost Cane


In 2004 a so called Ghost Cane was sold on a bidding site. A woman in Indiana her dead husband’s metal walking cane up for sale in hopes that her scared grandson would think that his grandfather’s spirit would leave their house when the cane was sold. 

The image seen above is actually a picture of the dead grandfather who is to the left, along with the scared grandson who is in the ladies arms. Her six year old grandson son thought that the grandfathers’ spirit was haunting their home, causing him to be scared of everything. The cane received over 132 bids and sold for the price of $65,000 dollars. The buyers of the cane actually ended up being GoldenPalace.com.


Giant Cheetoh


In 2003 the worlds largest Cheetoh was put up for sale. The Cheetoh weighed more then a half an ounce and was as big as a kiwi. The image above is a picture of the giant Cheetoh and as you can see it is huge. The man who discovered the Cheetoh was Mike Evans. Before the Cheetoh could be sold it was taken off line and donated to a small town as a tourist attraction. Before being taken offlin

5 Manly Sports That Will Seriously Kick Your Ass#

Mainstream sport can be pretty tame. Although there are some big hits in American football, the players have more padding than a teenage girl in a training bra. In Europe, soccer players will collapse to the floor in apparent agony at the slightest hint of physical contact. Here at Just A Guy Thing, we like to see sports that challenge men to push themselves beyond the mental, emotional, and physical boundaries of these rather soft sporting occasions.

With this in mind we have scoured the four corners of the globe to find our favorite manly sports that will literally kick your ass. (Technically, some of these are not actually sports but the headline 5 Manly Physical Activities That Will Seriously Kick Your Ass just doesn’t have the same ring to it.)


Sepik War Canoe Racing in Papua New Guinea



What is it?

Exactly what it says. Competitors have to race 14km upstream while standing in a canoe in the finale to the War Canoe & Kundu Festival. In terms of flow, the Sepik River is one of the largest in the world, just to make it a bit more challenging.

Why is it so manly?

Forget for a second about the crocodiles and other dangerous creatures lurking in the river and focus on the race itself. Have you ever tried standing up in a canoe? It’s not as easy as it looks to keep your balance! Add that to the fact that you’ve then got to row yourself almost 9 miles against a very strong current and you’re looking at a very grueling afternoons work ahead of you. To complete the race you’ll need balance, stamina and the mental strength to continue when you really don’t want to.


Nguni Stick Fighting in South Africa



What is it?

This is a martial art practiced by young men in South Africa. Combatants are armed with two long sticks. One is used for defending blows and the other is used to whack your opponent without mercy until they bleed or give up from the pain.

Why is it so manly?

Didn’t you hear what we just said? You hit your opponent with unrelenting fury until they either bleed in copious amounts or give up due to the extreme pain of being repeatedly battered across the shins with a long stick. The Zulu guys are hardcore. They wear no armor or protective padding. They are also looking to develop this into a recognized martial art with rules and competitions so look out for an Nguni stick fighting school near you soon.


Laamb Wrestling in Senegal



What is it?

It’s a Senegalese martial art that combines orthodox wrestling with bare-knuckle boxing. Traditionally, young men fought to prove their manliness, court the ladies and bring honor to their village. Nowadays, they fight for money.

Why is it so manly?

Well, aside from the funny dancing the competitors perform prior to the fight, it’s a true display of strength and courage. You have to beat your opponent down so that both knees or his back are touching the ground. This is done by punching them constantly with bare-knuckles and then flinging them around like a rag doll in the hands of a devilish 6 year-old girl. Proper macho mano-a-mano alpha male type shenanigans.


Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race in Jamaica



What is it?

Well it’s a 3,100 mile race around a track in Queens, Jamaica of course. What were you expecting from that title?

Why is it so manly?

Strictly speaking, it could be womanly too – seeing as more than one woman has completed the course. Regardless, it’s manly because runners must complete 5,649 laps of a .5488 of a mile course in a mere 51 days. That equates to about 61 miles a day, every day, for almost two months. You’ll need tremendous courage, physical stamina, concentration and the capacity to endure fatigue and boredom. You might also need to rest your feet for a while before going back to your 9-to-5.


The Tough Guy Survival Course in England



What is it?

It’s an endurance race based just 30 minutes from our HQ (that we had never heard of until researching for this article) that involves an eight-mile cross country run before being faced with an obstacle course requiring ‘the athletes‘ to crawl under barbed wire, run over burning bales of hay, swim in underwater tunnels full of icy water and negotiate their way through underground pipes.

Why is it so manly?

You mean besides the regular broken legs and bouts of hypothermia? Well, according to the Tough Guy organizer Billy Wilson, there is no other one day survival course as grueling as his. The closest, he says, is the Navy S.E.A.L’s ‘Grinder’ Assault Course but even that pales in comparison to the Tough Guy circuit. Don’t believe it? Check out the website and decide for yourself.

If you’ve uncovered a sport or physical activity more brutal than these then please let us know in the comments. We enjoy nothing more than seeing grown men beating each other to death or weeping from exhaustion and dehydration. Sadistic, we know.

10 Of The World’s Smallest Things

World's smallest gun that fires deadly 270mph bullets



The SwissMiniGun is the size of a key fob but fires tiny 270mph bullets powerful enough to kill at close range.
Officially the world's smallest working revolver, the gun is being marketed as a collector's item and measures just 2.16 inches long (5.5cm). It can fire real 4.53 bullets up to a range of 367ft (112m).
The stainless steel gun costs £3,000 although the manufacturers also produce extravagant, made-to-order versions made out of 18-carat gold with customised diamond studs which sell for up to £30,000.


World’s Smallest Fish



The world’s smallest fish has been discovered in the peat swamps of the Indonesian Island of Sumatra. The picture on the right shows its size against a thumb. At maturity, the fish can be about 7.9 mm in length. 


 World’s Smallest Teddy Bear



At 5mm tall, this teddy bear by German artist Bettina Kaminski is the World’s Smallest Teddy Bear. Definitely one teddy bear that every little girl wishes for.


World’s Smallest Horse



Thumbelina, officially the world’s smallest horse stands at an astounding 17 inches tall. She was born on a farm in America to a couple specialising in breeding miniature horses. Thumbelina was a dwarf among the dwarves, which her owner calls it a complete fluke. Normal horses lives to about 35 years while she is only likely to live for 17 years.


World’s Smallest Dog



Tiny Pinnochio is possibly the world’s smallest dog weighing at one pound and only the size of a coke can. She had been on Oprah’s show in the past and rose to stardom. However she is not alive anymore where her owner found her dead after overeating herself to death. Here is the rant of mudpiglet regarding the ordeal of the dog.



World’s Smallest Burger



This is a real edible cheeseburger made with real miniature buns and complete with a micro portion of fries… 


World’s Smallest Baby



Meet Amillia Taylor - or what she looked like on October 24th 2006 , when she was born as the world's youngest surviving premature baby. Amillia was born at a Miami hospital after less than 22 weeks of development. Is there nothing more amazing than those teeny tiny translucent feet. Hold your own hand out in front of you, and imagine those feet poking through your fingers. She was 10 OUNCES when born (280 grams), and 9.5 inches (240 cm). That's just longer than the length of your hand.


Smallest Teapot In The World



The world’s smallest teapot made of ceramic is created by 73 year old Chinese renowned pottery master, Wu Ruishen. Weighing at just 1.4 grams this is no easy feat since clay would not be easy to mold at such scale and has to be functional as a teapot as well.


World's smallest known lizard



The world's smallest known lizard, the Jaragua Sphaero or dwarf gecko, measures only 0.6in from the base of its tail to its snout. This endangered species lives in Jaragua National Park in the Dominican Republic and on Beata Island off the southern coast of Hispaniola.

World's smallest and most wondrous works of art

Born in 1957 in Birmingham, Willard Wigan MBE began his artistic life at a tender age. Suffering from dyslexia and learning difficulties, he struggled at school, finding solace in creating art of such minute proportions that it virtually could not be seen with the naked eye.
He’s sculptures are so small they can rest on the head of a pin or in the eye of a needle, like his Statue of Liberty sculpture