Stranger World | Luxury Hotel | Optical Illusions

5 Amazing restaurants and geek bars

2011-08-06T04:09:00.000-07:00

1. Miracle of Science (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Opened in 1991, Miracle of Science stands strong as the leader in geek-chic. Its menu is hand written onto the wall and it was one of the first restaurants to employ the open floor concept. This place is always packed with artists, musicians, geo physicists and computer gurus who know they don't have to go anywhere else looking for a good time.

2. Hajime Restaurant (Thailand)

The Hajime Restaurant in Bangkok is Thailand's first Japanese robot restaurant, where all the serving waiters are robots.

Customers order their food on a touchscreen display and their robotic waiter will whizz into action. The friendly robots will also dance to entertain as they work and go out to collect empty dishes at the customers' table. The owner of the Hajime Japanese restaurant, Lapassarad Thanaphant, said she spent 30 million baht ($927,600) on the restaurant including the purchase of four robots from Japan.

3. Barcade Bar (Brooklyn, NY)

In 2004, five friends came together and opened their own bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Each had been working in either film/TV or graphic design in New York and four of them had attended Syracuse University together. They were enthusiastic about American craft beer and had grown up in the 1980's playing classic arcade games. Looking to start their own business, they decided to take a chance and combine the two passions. Barcade bar with a dual focus; an endless rotation of American craft beer and an equally eclectic lineup of classic arcade games.

4. World of Warcraft Restaurant (China)

A World of Warcraft themed restaurant in central Beijing, serving WoW inspired food under Azeroth-themed murals. The food remains a mystery - if any readers want to translate the menu please do - but there do seem to be PCs there so we suspect a slight LAN party ambience. Maybe not the ideal venue for that anniversary dinner you promised your significant other.

5. Mundo Tapas Bar (Sydney)

Mundo Tapas in North Sydney provides an iPad as the menu for customers to browse and order from. Diners can now see a picture of what each dish looks like and view tasting notes before making that all important decision of what to order. So come on in and spice up your senses and be part of the new way to dine

Creative necklaces art | Necklaces made from human hair

2011-07-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

Kerry howley, a creative necklaces art student, from cambridge, england, is creating quite a buzz in the art world, with her collection of delicate necklaces made from human hair.

The idea of creating jewelry from human hair was inspired by people’s aversion to cut hair. Hair is usually regarded as a very important part of the human body and is worn with pride, but once its connection to the body has been severed, it’s viewed as slightly disgusting. Through her art, the young middlesex student “hoped to create a delicate balance between the viewer/wearer’s feelings of aversion and attraction.” She wanted to see if she could make cut hair attractive again.

The main material for howley’s masterpieces was provided by one of her mother’s friends, a japanese woman with hair down to her waist. She only cuts it once every five years, and when she had 30 cm cut off the bottom, she gave it all to kerry. The 23-year-old art student used broken saw blades to cut and weave the strands of hair into abstract shapes inspired by wallpaper patterns, and spent over 60 hours working on each of the five hair necklaces she has created so far.

kerry howley’s collection of unique human hair necklaces has already won an award, and will on display at the business design center, in london, from june 29 until july 2nd.

Huge shopping malls | Mega malls | Shopping center in the world

2011-05-31T05:19:00.000-07:00

10: Siam Paragon (3.22 million sq ft)
Large shopping malls provide a one-stop shopping for anything imaginable. Our list of largest malls in the world is based on the amount of “Gross Leasable Area”.

This is the number of square feet the property has for revenue-generating activities like retail, dining and amusements. The building boom in Asia, where land is cheap and labor costs are low has produced the largest shopping malls. Only two shopping malls on this list are located outside Asia.

Siam Paragon in Bangkok is one of the largest shopping malls in Thailand. Only the nearby Central World is larger. It includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theater, the Siam Ocean World aquarium, the Thai Art Gallery and an opera concert hall. It also has a large bowling alley and karaoke center.

9: Berjaya Times Square (3.44 million sq ft)
Located in Kuala Lumpur, Berjaya Times Square is a twin tower complex containing a shopping center and two five star hotels. With 7.5 million square feet (700,000 m²) of built up floor area it is currently the fifth largest building in the world.

It includes more than 1,000 retail shops, 65 food outlets and several entertainment attractions such as Asia’s largest indoor theme park, Cosmo’s World and Malaysia’s first-ever IMAX 2D & 3D theatre which is located on the 10th Floor.

8: Istanbul Cevahir (3.47 million sq ft)
Located on the European side of Istanbul, the Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Center opened its doors in 2005. It is the largest shopping mall in Europe.

There are 343 shops, 34 fast food restaurants and 14 exclusive restaurants in the shopping centre. Other facilities include a large stage for events, 12 cinemas, a bowling hall, a small roller coaster and several other entertainment facilities.

7: SM Mega mall (3.6 million sq ft)
Opened in 1991, SM Mega mall in Metro Manila is one of the largest shopping malls in Philippines. The mall attracts a daily foot traffic of 800,000 people with a maximum capacity of 4 million people.

The mall has two main buildings. Building A features cinemas, a bowling alley, food courts and the Toy Kingdom. Building B features the retail shops. The bridge-way connecting the two main buildings of the mall contains several eateries.
SM Mega mall is currently under major renovation and expansion. When finished, it will be able to claim the ultimate title of largest shopping mall in the Philippines.

6: West Edmonton Mall (3.77 million sq ft)
The West Edmonton Mall in Alberta was the largest shopping mall from 1981 until 2004 and is currently the largest mall in the America.

Beside 800 stores and services the mall includes the largest indoor amusement park in the world, the largest indoor water park in the world and Ice Palace (a scaled down version of a NHL regulation sized ice rink, so not the largest in the world). Other attractions include an 18-hole miniature golf course, a movie theater and a bowling alley.

5: Dubai Mall (3.77 million sq ft)
The Dubai Mall is part of the Burj Khalifa complex, the tallest man-made structure ever built. At over 12 million square feet (equivalent in size to more than 50 soccer fields), the Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world based on total area but about the same size as the West Edmonton Mall if based on leasable space.

The mall contains more than 1,200 shops including the world’s largest candy store, an ice rink, a SEGA game center (featuring a 3D bowling game), a 5 star luxury hotel, 22 cinema screens plus 120 restaurants and cafes. The mall also contains one of the largest aquariums in the world.

4: SM Mall of Asia (4.2 million sq ft)
The SM Mall of Asia in Metro Manila, opened in 2006, consists of four buildings interconnected by walkways. It features a 20-seater tram which takes shoppers around the mall grounds.

One of the mall’s main attractions is an IMAX theater with one of the world’s biggest 3D screens. The mall also features an Olympic-sized ice skating rink. It can accommodate both recreational and competitive figure skating, as well as ice hockey.

3: Central World (4.62 million sq ft)
Opened in 1990, the eight-story Central World is the largest shopping mall in Thailand. It marketed itself as a middle class shopping center, opposed to the upper class-marketed Siam Paragon.

On 19th May of this year, Central World was one of the many properties set on fire by anti-government protesters. The fire raged for two days and the Zen department store collapsed in the fire.
After months of repair works, the shopping complex reopened on 28th September with 80% of its retail space open for business.

2: Golden Resources Mall (6.0 million sq ft)
At 1.5 times the size of the Mall of America, Golden Resources Mall was the world’s largest shopping mall from 2004 to 2005. Although the developer of the mall initially estimated that the mall would have 50,000 shoppers a day, as of 2004 the actual number was far smaller, as few as 20 in an hour.

One problem was that prices of most items sold were far beyond the purchasing ability of most ordinary Chinese. Another barrier was the inaccessibility of Golden Resources Shopping Mall to foreign consumers due to its location outside the heart of Beijing.

1: New South China Mall (6.46 million sq ft)
New South China Mall in Dongguan is the largest mall in the world based on gross leasable area. The mall features seven zones modeled on international cities including a replica of the Arc de Triomphe and a canal with gondolas.

It also has an indoor-outdoor roller coaster. What is doesn’t have is customers. Since its opening in 2005, the mall has suffered from a severe lack of occupants.
Much of the retail space has remained empty,

Beautiful santorini | Island of santorini greece | Luxury hotels

2011-05-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

This is the beautiful santorini island luxury hotel, which is located in greece on the island of santorini. the hotel has more than twenty rooms. it is a little slice of heaven right here on earth and would make a wonderful place to stay while on vacation.

Ark hotel designed by Russian | World’s new most unique hotel

2011-02-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

The Ark hotel project was designed by Russian firm Remi-studio with the assistance of the International Union of Architects’ program Architecture for Disasters Relief. The dome-shaped hotel is constructed with wooden arches, steel cables and a “self-cleaning” plastic layer instead of glass. The slinky-like Ark hotel can be adapted to suit both land and water. It is built to stay afloat in the event of floods or rising seas. The 14,000 square meter shell-like construction of arches and cables distributes the weight evenly, meaning it can withstand earthquakes. Daylight is filtered through to internal rooms due to the hotel’s see-through structure, reducing the need for lighting. 09 More images after the break...

Designed as: “an integrated energy system with an uninterpretable power supply using alternative energy sources”, the hotel uses solar panels and a rainwater collection system to provide inhabitants with power and water. It would be built around a central pillar connecting to roof-top wind generators and heat pumps, as well as to energy storage and thermal conversion units below.There will also be a “tornado” energy generating spiral at the top of the pillar.

Take iron and folic acid foods for smarter kids in pregnancy

2011-01-04T01:05:00.000-08:00

A study by Parul Christian, Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, shows that mothers who are given iron and folic acid supplements during pregnancy have kids who are smarter, more organized and had better fine motor skills than children whose mothers did not get them. The study was conducted in rural Nepal which involved studying 676 school-age children whose mothers had been in a clinical trial in which some got iron and folic acid supplements and other nutrients while they were pregnant. About 80 % of those children were enrolled in school.

"Iron is essential for the development of the central nervous system," said Parul Christian, an expert in international health at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, whose study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"We had the opportunity to follow the offspring of women who had participated in a randomized trial of iron and folic acid and other micronutrients to assess neurocognitive function and outcomes," Christian said in a telephone interview.

"What we showed is prenatal iron and folic acid supplementation had a significant impact on the offspring's intellectual level and motor ability and ability during school age, which was a very exciting finding," she said.

"It had an impact across a range of function, including intellectual function, executive function and fine motor function," factors that could affect a child's later academic success, Christian said.

Photo from archives | Greatest photographs of world war II

2010-12-30T00:42:00.000-08:00

Censored for days, this picture was finally published in the Mail. Now, 70 years on, by Max Hastings reveals the dramatic story behind THE iconic image of the Blitz.

Today is the anniversary of one of the greatest photographs of World War II being taken — and of a defining moment in British history. On the night of December 29, 1940, Daily Mail chief photographer Herbert Mason was firewatching on the roof of the newspaper’s offices between Fleet Street and the Thames.

The Luftwaffe’s blitz on London was at its height: after a brief pause decreed by Hitler on Christmas Day, Goering’s bombers had resumed their almost nightly pounding of the capital. A brief attack on December 27 inflicted 600 casualties, more than 50 of them in a single public shelter in Southwark which received a direct hit.

Symbol in the smoke: Herbert Mason's iconic photograph of St Paul's dome emerging from the smoke of raging fires in surrounding streets was taken 70 years ago this week

When darkness fell on December 29, the Heinkel and Dornier planes came again to launch their 125th attack since the campaign began — which inflicted unparalleled devastation on the old City of London. Barely 30 minutes into the raid, Luftwaffe aircrew counted 54 major fires beneath them; in three hours of early evening bombing, 120 tons of explosive and 22,000 incendiaries fell, inflicting appalling damage.

Capturing history: Daily Mail chief photographer Herbert Mason took the photograph from the roof of the newspaper's office in Carmelite Street

Hundreds of buildings in the heart of the financial district were set ablaze; eight Christopher Wren churches were destroyed and the 15th-century Guildhall was set on fire. One bomb landed near the Monument, erected by Wren to commemorate the 1666 Great Fire of London.

A middle-aged spinster named Vere Hodgson, who worked in a charity shop in Notting Hill, kept a wonderful diary of the war years, especially of the Blitz. ‘Terrible fires in London,’ she wrote of that night. ‘We went up on the roof to look. At Shepherd’s Bush, flames were leaping, and towards the City they were gigantic. As I walked up the road I could see the smoke.

‘A great red glow filled the sky — I had no need of a torch — I could see every step I took and could have read a book if I had wished.

‘The police said it was Waterloo station, but a taxi man told my friend Miss Mowes that the City was on fire, and they were trying to save St Paul’s. These were her first words to me, and I shall never forget the horror of them.’

On the roof of the Mail’s office at Northcliffe House, Carmelite Street, Herbert Mason gazed on the inferno around the cathedral, less than half a mile from where he stood — and raised his camera.

‘I focused at intervals as the great dome loomed up through the smoke,’ he later said. ‘The glare of many fires and sweeping clouds of smoke kept hiding the shape. Then a wind sprang up. Suddenly, the shining cross, dome and towers stood out like a symbol in the inferno. The scene was unbelievable. In that moment or two, I released my shutter.’

Mason knew nothing of the extraordinary drama taking place in St Paul’s, even as he took the picture that became the transcendent image of the Blitz.

Devastation: This was the view from St Paul's on January 3, 1941, showing the destruction to the streets surrounding the Cathedral

Falling rubble had blocked emergency services from getting through the streets and an abnormally low tide in the Thames caused hydrants on which firemen’s pumps depended to run dry. When a fire broke out in the cathedral’s library aisle, there was no mains water to fight it — the blaze was eventually suppressed with stirrup pumps, buckets and sand.

The War's greatest picture: The Daily Mail of 31 December 1940 sums up Herbert Mason's picture in perfect style.

Then, soon after 6.30pm, an incendiary bomb — one of 29 to fall on and around St Paul’s that night — pierced the lead roof of the dome and lodged in its timbers. Molten lead began to drip into the nave below. The aged wood of the choir stalls and organ screen, carved by the great sculptor Grinling Gibbons, was at mortal risk, while smoke from the blazing buildings surrounding the cathedral enveloped it.

American reporter Ed Murrow pronounced the great building’s obituary in a live broadcast to the U.S.: ‘The church that means most to London is gone. St Paul’s Cathedral is burning to the ground as I talk to you now.’

His valediction was premature: as he spoke, two teams of specialist fire watchers recruited from the Royal Institute of British Architects — and hand-picked because they had heads for heights — were crawling along the wooden beams with hand pumps to reach the blazing section.

But suddenly the incendiary bomb, having burnt through the wood, fell far, far to the nave below, where it was easily put out. Though almost every building around St Paul’s perished, the cathedral survived.

More than 160 people died in that night’s raid, including 16 firemen, and 500 were injured.

Eight of the firemen perished in a single incident when a wall collapsed on them as they fought a blaze near Fleet Street and 250 of their comrades suffered injuries during the night.

The next morning, it was bitterly cold. There was a light scattering of snow as office worker Dorothy Barton emerged from London Bridge station on her commute.

She gazed in horror at the acres of smoking and still burning ruins —then her heart lifted as she looked up at St Paul’s, towering over the scene. ‘I felt a lump in my throat because, like so many people, I felt that while St Paul’s survived, so would we,’ she said.

London's burning: Ruins of a building in the shadow of St Paul's still smoulder a week after the Blitz on the city in December 1940

But mild, gentle Miss Vere Hodgson looked on the devastation and wrote bitterly: ‘I shall never bother with Germans or foreigners again. It makes you want to give other people a taste of what we have had.’

Herbert Mason’s photograph went unpublished for two days while censors considered whether it would serve Britain’s cause; others — for example, one of Bank underground.

Beautiful winter drawings arts (10 pics)

2010-12-27T23:23:00.001-08:00

Romantic scene of some beautiful winter drawing arts

Beautiful wedding gowns | Pink wedding dress | Beautiful dress offers

2010-12-23T23:54:00.000-08:00

Astonishing New Beautiful Wedding Gowns

Elegant appearance on this wedding dress, you will seem beauty when you wearing this dress, if you look the great design from wedding dress, you will interested to choose this dress as the best for your . on the front view you can see a beautiful bread that replaced on the breast and belt, yellow color cross in the middle of dress make life this dress when it wearing and the back also. This beautiful dress offers in US$ 305.00 with color option ivory. Go to the boutique now and bring this dress at home.

Beautiful Strapless pink wedding dress embellished by sequins at top of corset bodice. this beautiful pink wedding dress expanse at lower part floor length skirt. this Mori Lee Bridal wedding gown suitable for wedding standing party. Pink color for wedding dress become popular among young girl today they will choose a wedding dress in pink than white color,why because white as common color for wedding dress.

Pink color for wedding dress may look like strange sound but today pink for wedding dress become popular cause every one think if white has scare color but that faith blur by age. pink color become popular among young girl who want to get married. two wedding dress in pink color below designed really really very unique and stylish. you able to colorize you hair in pink too for your wedding event. Pink Wedding Dress embellished by corset bodice closure, medium skirt size not as in white wedding dress as common in pink wedding dress for once designed so sophisticated and beautiful

Christmas gift cards for loved ones | Christmas gift cards 2011

2010-12-22T23:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas is approaching fast and you still have not decided anything about the Christmas gifts. Christmas Gifts are one of the major attractions for everyone, as all of us loves to receive gifts. Moreover, these Christmas Gifts symbolize love and unity. In case, you are unable to buy Christmas Gifts for your loved ones, there is no need to bother.

There is another option for make them smile and realize that you are concerned about them. Simply give Christmas gift cards to your loved ones.

Christmas gift cards are getting immensely popular among people. They are trendy as well as easy to use. Christmas gift cards are usually gift certificates and they serve the purpose of cash card. Christmas gift cards are usually made up of plastic and incorporate one magnetic strip. The cashier with the help of machine swipes this magnetic strip. There is one logo on the Christmas Gift Cards. On the front of Christmas Gift Cards, there is an illustration of sponsoring business.

Value of Christmas Gift Cards keep on changing and is quite flexible. These cards are getting immensely popular and are preferred more as compare to the paper gift certificates.

Bizarre looking animal hair hats

2010-12-22T02:47:00.001-08:00

Incredible animal hair styles | Bizarre animal hair hats

These bizarre looking hair set is the creation of Japanese designer, Nagi Noda, which created them in her typical eccentric style. During her short life, she created ads for Nike and Coca-Cola, however, she is probably most famous for her hair hats. Everyone seemed to know who she was after she created a hair hat for Lady Gaga. I put a selection of her other hair hats below for your enjoyment.

She used animals as her inspiration, and as you see, these hats sport a rabbit, poodle, owls and even an elephant which is my favorite.

Christmas tree made with 80,000 plastic spoons

2010-12-22T02:14:00.000-08:00

A team of young taiwanese students as created an impressive christmas tree out of 80,000 plastic spoons, in taichung city.

In their quest to deliver a message about the environment, this christmas, a team of six students from taiwan’s trans world university have created a unique christmas tree out of 80,000 plastic spoons. The young environmentalists entered a competition for the best christmas tree made of recyclable materials, and their original idea came up on top.

The 80,000 plastic spoons used in the making of the tree were provided by the taiwanese branch of kfc, who was probably looking for a way of improving its overall image. After the holiday season, the spoons will be taken to a recycling facility and used to create something useful. Impressed by the feat of these young students, mayor jason hu felt the need to send an environmental message of his own: “christmas must be celebrated in an Eco-friendly way, and it is the same when we choose clothing or when we take a shower.”

Sweden woman awoke to find stranger's tongue on her arm

2010-12-21T01:43:00.000-08:00

A woman in eastern sweden awoke with a start recently to find stranger's tongue on her arm, man lying next to her in bed.

The young woman was asleep beside her boyfriend at the time of the stranger's unexpected visit. Upon discovering the strange man’s tongue pressed against the inside of her elbow, the woman first woke up her boyfriend to ask if he knew who the stranger was.

The couple’s initial attempts to force the unknown intruder out of the house were met with angry rebuttals from the man, who demanded to know who the couple was and what they were doing there.

The arm-tasting bandit has now been charged with sexual molestation, breaking and entering, as well as drug crimes, the newspaper reports.

In defending his actions, the 22-year-old man told police he was drunk at the time and has no recollection of entering the couple’s home or licking the woman’s arm.

The incident, which took place two months ago, is reminiscent of a similar incident from October involving a drunken student from skane in southern Sweden.

Following a party with his university classmates, the student broke into a home he thought was his own, but in fact belonged to a family who were startled by the strangers’ abrupt entrance.

The mother at first thought the drunken student was her son, but upon realising she instead had an intruder in her home, she called police and waited outside with her family in the pouring rain until five squad cars arrived in response to the call.

The student was given a suspended sentence, fined, and ordered to pay to replace the window he broke to enter the house.

Abu dhabi luxury hotel | Million dollar christmas tree

2010-12-20T02:12:00.000-08:00

An Abu Dhabi luxury hotel that boasted an $11 million Christmas tree decorated with gold and gems admitted Sunday it may have taken the holiday spirit a bit too far.

A statement from the Emirates Palace hotel said it regretted "attempts to overload" the Christmas tree tradition by adorning it with premium bling including gold, rubies, diamonds and other precious stones from a hotel jeweler.

The statement was a rare bit of reflection on the Gulf's ethos of excess. The tree was unveiled last week with full fanfare in a hotel that features its own gold bar vending machine and a one-week $1 million package that includes private jet jaunts around the Middle East.

But the hotel management apparently had second thoughts after questions arose about whether the opulent tree was innocent good cheer or unfortunate bad taste.

The hotel regrets "attempts to overload the tradition followed by most hotels in the country with meanings and connotations that do not fall in line with the (hotel's) professional standards," said a statement carried on the state-run news agency WAM.

The hotel even tried to distance itself from the 43-foot (13-meter) faux fir in one of its rotundas, saying a hotel-based jeweler was solely responsible for creating and decorating the tree.

"The hotel is just a venue for exhibiting the tree," the statement said.

The hotel also claimed the tree was not a stunt, but rather an effort to boost the holiday mood for its guests based on the United Arab Emirates' "values of openness and tolerance."

Although officially Muslim, the UAE features many signs of Christmas for its huge foreign population. Lights, carolers and Santas are fixtures in nearly every mall.

Christmas lights house | Outdoor christmas | Decorating house

2010-12-14T04:41:00.000-08:00

Family christmas lights | Magic christmas | Xmas lights house

Decorating house with Christmas lights is always wake up great memories of childhood. So many people continue to do that through the years. Here are some of the biggest outdoor house decorations with christmas lights. They are mentioned in not particular order and of them are awesome and show how to celebrate Christmas with style.

The Faucher family House

Faucher Family Christmas Lights Extravaganza
The Faucher family has been putting up their Christmas light extravaganza outside their Delaware home for 23 years. And if you think 1,000 lights are a lot, imagine what 1,000,000 would look like. The family’s enormous endeavor lights up the neighborhood and slows traffic for miles around as folks stop by for a look at this holiday marvel.

Alex Goodwind 30000 GBP Christmas Lights

Alex Goodwind Christmas Lights for 30000 GBP
Alex Goodwind’s house is situated in Melksham, England. He starts planning lights in July and has spent 3,000 GBP this 2008 year alone on the lights that are now estimated to be worth 30,000 GBP. Last year the bill for electricity was 700 GBP.

Dominic Luberto’s House
Boston's House of Dominic Luberto

250,000 christmas lights on Dominic Luberto 8,500-square-foot house exterior. Dominic’s idea is to show about 47,000 people who drive by his home each day that Christmas should be celebrated in style. The house is one of the biggest single-family homes in Boston with 11 fireplaces.

Dick Norton’s Winter Wonderland
Dick Norton christmas outdoor decorations

Norton started creating his own family displays nearly 30 years ago. His house situated in Burbank, California. Nowadays Winter Wonderland display draws around 5,000 visitors each year. There are 10,000 lights involved in the display, but the animated elements are really what make it special.

Smith’s Xmas Lights House

Smith's House with Xmas Lights

Fiedler House

Christmas lights on Fiedler House
The house is situated in Ellicott City, Maryland. It’s owned by Fiedler family and photos are taken by jon.

Christmas lights on Miami House

Clot family Xmas Holiday Lights
For more than 30 years, the Clot family has brought a little piece of the North Pole to tropical southern Florida. This year there are more than 600,000 lights and 100 animated displays. Their monthly electricity bill is about $4,000.

Christmas lights on house in Philippines

Christmas lights on house in Philippines
House covered in Christmas lights in Mandaluyong City, eastern Manila. The Philippines has earned the distinction of celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season. Christmas carols are heard as early as September and the season lasts right up until Epiphany. Photos by EPA.

Brooklyn Dyker Heights enclave

Dyker Heights House in Brooklyn
The comfortable, old-fashioned Italian-American enclave of Dyker Heights. It’s famouse for the whole Brooklyn for its Christmas lights decorations.

Monkhouse Magic Christmas

Magic Christmas Display
Walter and Jackie Monkhouse are serious when it comes to holiday lights. They decorate their house for 12 years and last year it has over 100,000 lights.

Birds of America | Most expensive book in the world

2010-12-14T01:53:00.000-08:00

Birds of America most expensive book in the world

A rare copy of "the most expensive book in the world" Fah Franco-American ornithologist John James Audubon and goes back to the nineteenth century recorded on Tuesday evening in London, a new record price, Which sold more than eight million euros, on the auction house said, "Sotheby's". More images after the break...

The sale of the book "Birds of America" (Birds of America) in exchange for 7.3 million pounds (8,6 million euros), a new world record price for the printed work is sold at auction, it said, "Sotheby's".
The estimated book value of between four and six million pounds.
The new owner is a dealer old books.

And return to the previous record price another version of "Birds of America" were sold in New York in 2000 to meet with seven million euros. There is no longer only about a hundred copies of the book "Birds of America." Large book size (length of 90 cm and of 60 cm) collected fees birds such as flamingos and Swan.

Jean-Jacques Audubon, known by his English John James Audubon, is the world of birds and the world of physics was born in Haiti the year 1785, the French colonial days of French and religion. And then received U.S. citizenship.

Most luxurious airlines in 2010 | World's top 10 airlines

2010-12-10T01:39:00.000-08:00

Emirates | British Airways | Eos Airlines | Cathay Pacific Airways | Japan Airlines | Lufthansa Airlines | Singapore Airlines | Swiss International Air Lines | Virgin Atlantic | Thai Airways International...

Do you have any idea which international airlines offer the plushest service and the most perks in first class? I’ve done the dirty work and present to you some of the best air accouterments short of a private plane. So the next time you plan for an air travel you might want to consider to have some luxurious time in one of these fabulous cabins.
So here are some of the most luxurious airlines in the world. I hope you will like them. I may have missed out some so do add your recommendations in comment section. Thanks

EMIRATES

As a passenger, you’ll feel like a million dollars too. And while we’re throwing numbers at you, 500-channel entertainment systems have been introduced. The best is yet to come, and you’d better believe it’ll be fine: A full shower with dressing area in your private cabin.

British Airways
Rolls-Royce aircraft engines are legendary, and you’d swear the company had an influence on British Airways’ cabins. BA’s luxurious first-class “demi cabins” multitask to serve as workspaces, dens, and even places to stretch and sleep.

Eos Airlines
21 square feet of space per passenger is unheard of, but it’s a reality on Eos. Score one for the personal space lover. Eos Airlines has room for 220 on its 757s, but it only allows 48 lucky souls aboard. Each passenger’s multifunctional seat is a joy to occupy across the Atlantic.

Cathay Pacific Airways
If you’re flying first-class on Cathay Pacific you’ll surely wish the flight was longer. In 2006 Air Transport World magazine’s Airline of the Year honors went to Cathay.

Japan Airlines
JAL has been a leader in first-class comfort, and apparently for a long time now. They equip you with adjustable headrests and side cushions, down pillows and comforters and you can also enjoy the built-in massage feature in the seats.

Lufthansa Airlines
Adjustable privacy screens between seats, generous room to stretch. Chefs and sommeliers continuously update their onboard cuisine and wine selection. Luxury is all they got.

Singapore Airlines
It has Bvlgari toiletry kits and Givenchy-designed sleeper suits. There is also a “Book the Cook” service which allows a meal selection in advance. One gets the feeling of being in a big Bentley with wings rather than a plane.

Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss has a longstanding reputation for courtesy and efficiency, and so far their reputation remains solid. All the expected luxury appointments and services are present. Btw two onboard cameras let you watch the world in front of the aircraft as well as below it.

Virgin Atlantic
Considering Sir Richard Branson is at the company’s helm, you’re going to get your money’s worth and then some. You’ll love the pampering, including the surprisingly roomy beds, which convert from your seat.

Thai Airways International
40 consecutive years of profit that’s no small feat in the corporate world, and it’s even more noteworthy in the sky biz. You’ll become quite familiar with “best” during your flight.

Moscow new google office | New York google office

2010-12-10T00:33:00.000-08:00

HQ of google office moscow. looks like a great place to work in.

Google office in new york

Christmas decoration | Lighting candles | Christmas candles

2010-12-06T01:21:00.000-08:00

In christmas traditions of many countries is a significant prevalence of christmas candles. The lighting of candles which signifies the birth of jesus and the revival and renewed life force that inspire millions of people to start a fresh holy life. Christmas candle tradition stands for purity, right path that should be followed in life. Candles is like an emblem of christmas. They are everywhere during the season.

Christmas candles could come in variety of forms. They could be used in fireplace, table, tree, windows and other things decoration. They could become a beautiful light addition to your holidays decor. They can become glowing greetings message if you hung up it on the house door when guests should arrive. Anyway there are plenty variants of using candles in christmas decoration.

Christmas candles desktop background

Christmas decoration candles wallpaper

Eye of the storm | Images of enormous clouds

2010-12-04T02:28:00.000-08:00

Eye of the storm: The jaw-dropping Images of enormous clouds 'supercell'
It looks like something from the film Independence Day.

But although it may seem like an alien mothership, this incredible picture is actually an impressive thunderstorm cloud known as a supercell.

Windswept dust and rain dominate the storm's centre while rings of jagged clouds surround the edge.

A flimsy tree in the foreground looks like a toy next to the magnificent natural phenomenon.

Awe: This massive supercell shows a column of rain in the centre of thick clouds

The photograph is just one image from the portfolio of electrician Sean Heavey. The supercell cloud was photographed in July west of Glasgow, Montana, USA.

Mr Heavey, 34, an amateur photographer, created the jaw-dropping panoramic image by stitching together three photos from the 400 frames he took of the violent scene he witnessed in July

It caused minor damage, and lasted several hours before moving on. Massive storm systems like this centre on mesocyclones -- rotating updrafts that deliver torrential rain and high winds.

The dangerous outbreak of weather raged for several hours and caused minor damage to local communities - while watchful Mr Heavey captured all its devastating beauty from a distance.

Taking photographs of storms for the past seven years, this year Mr Heavey and his masterpiece are up for a prestigious award from National Geographic.

Called the 'Mothership', because of the striking image's similarity to an alien space ship, the photograph was actually four years in the making.

'I have two storm chasing friends I met through my wife Toni and they've been badgering me to go out with them for that long,' explained Sean.

'I' normally rely on simply being in the right place at the right time for my photography, while I'm out working. But in July I finally decided to do it and thankfully this picture was the result. We don't usually get weather like this out in Montana, it felt like the perfect storm.
'The power was awe inspiring.'

A super cell thunder storm crosses a path and continues unabated across the plains on July 28th

A storm descends in July 2007 over the sleepy town of Glasgow, Montana

'I felt that if you could walk inside the rain and the wind right into the centre of the storm and stare up, then it would have been like looking into God's eye.'
Known as the 'mother of tornadoes', a mesocyclone can be up to six miles wide and can produce as many as 60 tornadoes.

These severe thunderstorms form where cold dry air meets warm moist tropical air.
The wind coming into the storm starts to swirl and forms a funnel. The air in the funnel spins faster and faster and creates a very low pressure area which sucks more air - and objects - into it.

If the cyclone runs out of wet, warm surface air, it dies out. If it does not run out of this fuel, however, the rotating cloud stretches toward the ground and may become a giant tornado.

Mr Heavey, 34, is an electrician, working in the west of the American state in a town named Glasgow.

Taking photographs of storms for the past seven years, this year Sean and his masterpiece are up for a prestigious award from National Geographic.

The super-cell storm begins to build - before unleashing a powerful torrent of rain down onto a Montana field

The belly of the thunderstorm as it begins to wreak havoc

Photographer Sean Heavey, who has spent the last four years taking beautiful and striking storm pictures, and an image of a lightning bolt in the middle of the storm

'The 'Mothership' picture is a super-cell storm that was around five to ten miles in diameter with hurling winds of around 85 mph,' said Mr Heavey, who moved from bustling Seattle to sleepy Montana for a quiet life four years ago.

'I photographed it for over two hours as it traveled between Glasgow and the town of Hinsdale.

'I can honestly say that the photograph does not do it justice. I caught the shot just as the sun was setting which brought out the colours so vividly.

'I felt that if you could walk inside the rain and the wind right into the centre of the storm and stare up, then you would be able to see God's eye.'

As an amateur photographer, storms have been Mr Heavey's obsession since he was caught under a huge thunder cloud on a visit to relatives in Ohio, which is part of America's famous 'tornado alley'.

'I felt the sheer power of that storm as a young boy and I am not ashamed to admit that it scared the living daylights out of me,' he said.

'Since I moved to Glasgow I travel a lot in my job as a electrician. The clients that I visit are well aware that I carry my camera with me over the state and they are more than happy to help point out gathering storms on the horizon which they think will be great subjects for me.'

A shelf cloud passes overhead as the super cell storm looms ominously in the sky

Rain feathers dancing across the western prairie in August 2010, in Glasgow, Montana

Like scenes of the apocalypse these incredible images are the stunning results of one man's mission to capture stormy skies on camera

Luxurious weekend in warm weather

2010-12-02T00:34:00.000-08:00

Drop a pin on a map and track a 90 minute flight - where can one escape? I'm on a quest for short flights yielding long luxurious weekend in warm weather.

Phoenix weather is significantly warmer than the cold bay area. Premier golf courses are dotted all about Scottsdale and Phoenix
(I have access to ALL the courses, including private members only courses).

Local restaurants with celebrity chefs are becoming nationally recognized, luxury hotels abound, and a quick flight from the bay area makes Phoenix a very inviting escape. Imagine 70 degree temperatures in November!

Arriving to toasty sunny temperatures, on my drive to the hotel, I was amazed by the date palms dripping with golden succulent fruit. A delightful mini paradise. An escape from the cold, luxury hotels, sophisticated spas, divine dining, art museums and great art galleries.

Another serendipitous encounter at a recent fund raising event - my dinner partner shared that her sister, a writer and restaurant reviewer, lives in Phoenix. Voila, a few emails, and Pam Swartz and I became quick friends. Pam is the author of Arizona Getaways for the Incurably Romantic and Dine Out Phoenix: Where to Eat From Chic to Unique. Pam is widely recognized as an expert on Arizona's dining scene and getaways. I LOVE experts!

Pam, besides writing, organizes many food inspired events: Artist in Residence brunch with well known artists; Dine Out With the Chefs, a benefit for the Scottsdale Performing Arts; Artist in Residence Dinner Series with acclaimed musicians, the list of opportunities designed around culture and dining is very impressive.

Dine at Four Diamond Lon's at The Hermosa Inn, a historic adobe building in the middle of a beautiful desert garden. Private wine cellar available for intimate dining, cozy library for small groups, wonderful patio for lunch or dinner. Chef Jeremy Pacheco stars in this recently remodeled space. Originally the home of cowboy artist Alonzo “Lon” Megargee, the sprawling ranch property has been restored to its original charm. Furnished to reflect a 1930's Southwestern ambiance, much like it was during Megargee's days. Prints and originals of Megargee's artwork and photographs of him hang on the walls.

Dining with Pam is like dining with the Queen - amuse bouche, additional delicacies delivered from the chef, several desserts... Chef Jeremy drops by to visit. I did return for Thanksgiving dinner, an attentive staff, I was remembered and treated to champagne!

A few yummy suggestions:
Hermosa Salad
Arizona baby greens, pecan brittle, smoky blue cheese, mixed berries, berry vinaigrette

Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Breast
Duck confit cannelloni, blackberry mole

Loup de Mer Loup de Mer roasted acorn squash, local tepary beans, smoked fennel sausage, tuscan kale, Santa Barbara mussels

More to come...sunshine is as abundant as is great dining!

Worlds amazing young photographer

2010-11-26T01:03:00.000-08:00

Julia is rapidly developing a reputation as one of the leading young photographers in the country. She has won a large number of awards, and her images have been hung in the National Portrait Gallery, London, at Paris-Photo, at Photo-London, and shown at Arles. She has also had solo exhibitions in London, and contributed to a group show in New York. She has also been profiled in many professional and popular photographic magazines.

Julia was born in Bremen, Germany to a German mother and an English father. The family then moved to the United States, and back to Germany, before moving to England in 1986. Julia now lives in London.

After graduating with a Diploma in photography from Berkshire College of Art and Design, Julia spent five years as a freelance assistant. During this time, the shoots covered a wide variety of different fields - car advertisement, still-life, fashion, food, location shots, etc. She was able to hone her knowledge and skills, and at the same time begin to develop her own unique style.

Uniquely, for these shoots, Julia deliberately select girls who are not proffesional models. Once she has the idea for the shoot, she street casts the models. This produces a slight awkwardness in the posture of the models that enhances the unusual surroundings. Another difference is Julia's use of studio lighting to supplement daylight/ She may use as many as seven or eight lash heads to achieve the impression that she wants. This combination of eye for the content of an image, the naturalness of the models, the unusual surroundings, the effect of the lighting all combine to yield a style that identifies her pictures.

Strange facts about your eyes | 10 strange & wonderful eyes

2010-11-24T00:57:00.000-08:00

Few people could argue that without our 5 senses life would be pretty dull. All our senses are extremely important but I think if you asked most people which sense would they least like to lose they would probably say their vision. As with most of our abilities, our vision is something that many of us take for granted. If you stop and think for a moment, you will realize that just about everything we do in our day to day life involves our vision. During this article I am going to try and see if I can get you to start thinking a little bit more about your eyes. Listed below is my top 10 list of strange and wonderful things you didn’t know about your eyes

10. Everyone needs reading glasses as they get older
This is assuming that you already have perfect distance vision. If you are currently reading this article and are under 40 years of age with perfect distance vision, I can say with absolute certainty that you will need reading glasses at some point in the future. For about 99% of the population the age that you will first start needing reading glasses is between 43 and 50 years old. This is because the lens in your eye slowly loses its focusing ability with age. In order to focus things near to you, your lens has to change from a flat to a more spherical shape and it loses the ability to do this as you get older. As you get to around 45 years old you will start to hold things further away from you to keep them focus.

9. The lens in your eye is quicker than any camera lens
Just behind the pupil sits the eyes natural lens, whose function is to focus on the object you are looking at. Just take a minute to glance around the room and think about how many different distances you are focusing at. Every time you do this, the lens in your eye is instantly changing focus without you even being aware of it! Compare that with a camera lens which takes a few seconds to focus between one distance and another. Just be thankful that the lens in your eye is as quick as it is, otherwise things would be continually going in and out of focus.

8. Your eyes are fully developed by the age of 7 years old
By the age of 7 years old our eyes are fully developed and are physiologically the same as adult’s eyes. It is for this reason that it is vitally important to pick up a lazy eye before we reach this age. The earlier a lazy eye is diagnosed, the greater the chance it will respond to treatment, as the eyes are still developing and capable of an improvement in vision. Beyond 7 years old no amount of treatment will result in any improvement in vision.

7. You blink approximately 15,000 times each day
Blinking is a semi- involuntary function meaning we do it automatically, but can also choose to blink if we so require. Blinking is an extremely important function of your eyes as it helps remove any debris on the surface of your eye, by spreading fresh tears over them. These tears help to nourish your eyes with oxygen and also have important anti bacterial properties. You can think of the function of blinking as being similar to the action of the windscreen wipers on your car, cleaning and removing everything to keep you seeing clearly.

6. Everyone gets cataracts as they get older
People don’t realize that cataracts are just a normal consequence of getting older and everyone gets them at some point in their life. You can think of cataracts as being similar to getting grey hair, in that it is just a normal natural age change. The average age people first get cataracts is about aged 70 years old and by 80 years old you are guaranteed to have cataracts. In the same way that you could not find any aged 80 years old without grey hair, it would be equally impossible to find anyone over 80 years old without cataracts. Cataracts refer to a gradual clouding of the lens in your eye and typically take about ten years from onset to them needing treatment.

5. Diabetes is often first detected during an eye test
People who suffer from type 2 diabetes (the type you develop later in life) are often symptom free, meaning they often don’t even know that they have it. This type of diabetes is commonly picked up during an eye test as it can be seen as tiny hemorrhages from leaking blood vessels at the back of your eye. This certainly is good reason to get your eyes tested regularly.

4. You see with your brain and not your eyes
The function of your eyes is to collect all the required information about the object you are looking at. This information is then passed from your eye to the brain via the optic nerve. It is the brain (visual cortex) where all this information is analyzed to enable you to ‘see’ the object in its finished form. This is not to say that your eyes don’t play an important role as they certainly do.

3. Your eyes can adapt to blind spots in your vision

Certain eye conditions such as Glaucoma and certain general health conditions such as having a stroke, can lead to you developing blind spots in your vision. This would be extremely debilitating if it wasn’t for your brain and your eyes ability to adapt to make these blind spots disappear. It does this by suppressing the blind spot in your affected eye and letting your other good eye ‘fill in the gaps’. It is adaptation like this that makes your eyes so resilient.

2. 20:20 vision is not the best vision you can have
When people hear the phrase 20:20 vision they assume that this is the best vision possible. However this is not true as 20:20 vision refers to what the average adult should be able to see. If you imagine a typical eye test chart the 20:20 vision is probably only the line second from the bottom. The line below it is even smaller than 20:20 vision and would mean you have 20:16 vision. So don’t be so impressed next time someone tells you they have 20:20 vision!

1. Your eyes water when they are dry
I know this might sound crazy but this is one of strange facts about your eyes. Your tears are made up of 3 different components and they are water, mucus and fat. If these 3 components are not in exactly the right quantities, your eyes can become dry as a consequence. Your brain responds to this dryness by producing extra water and hence your eyes water.

A man won beauty contest

2010-11-22T04:18:00.000-08:00

This guy from Russian province Yakutia decided to take part in the beauty contest "Miss Yakutia".
He went to stylists, rented some nice dresses and after that made a portfolio at a professional photographer.
Afterwards he posted the pictures on the "Miss Yakutia" website and made it to the finals.
Unfortunately, a couple of days later he was disqualified because somebody told the contest authorities that he was not a woman.
Take a look at the photos.

Horse boxing | Stallion horse | Wild horses

2010-11-16T03:18:00.000-08:00

Horse boxing is the dramatic moment two proud stallions faced off in a bloody fight for dominance and mating rights in a herd of wild horses.

The Koniks, or Polish primitive horses, reared up on their hind legs with their teeth bared during the ferocious attack.

Photographer Henri Ton, 41, captured the fight over females at a nature reserve in Loevenstein, The Netherlands.

Stallions rear up on their hind legs as they fight for dominance in a herd of Koniks in The Netherlands

Fierce: One of the male horses lands a thudding blow with its hoof as the fight turns bloody

One stallion could be seen chasing a mare while others fought among themselves.

Mr Ton, who works as an electronic engineer, spends several hours a week observing the herd of 36 horses to better understand their behaviour.

He said: 'The Koniks were put in a nature reserve and left to fend for themselves.

'The public are told to keep their distance and not to feed them so they can remain wild.

'I go looking for them about once a week and have done for over a year now.

'I try to avoid attracting their attention so their behaviour in my pictures is as natural as possible.'

Dominance: Teeth bared, the two horses continue to fight as other members of the herd watch in the background

The battle among the Koniks, or Polish primitive horses, took place at a nature reserve in Loevenstein, The Netherlands

He said the herd is formed from a mix of bachelor groups - young stallions who have been abandoned or rejected and need to play to build up their strength before returning - and harem groups which feature one stallion, around six mares and foals.

There is one lead stallion horse in the herd, which is the only male allowed to breed.

'Fights with the lead stallion can be very rough and if he is injured the other stallions try to take over.

'Sometimes it is playful, almost like an act or dance, but it can also be very aggressive with bloody injuries.

'The Konik horse is one of the few types of horses able to survive in the wild. They are wild but they have never been aggressive towards me.'

Grant luxury hotel, US

2010-11-15T05:18:00.000-08:00

The smoke free US Grant Luxury Hotel offers opulence, grandeur, and gracious hospitality in the heart of the city. Specially commissioned Native American artwork is exhibited throughout the public areas and in guestrooms. The resplendent lobby itself is a work of art: white Italian Carrara-marble floors with gray veining, hand-milled carpets, hand-carved ceilings, and polished mahogany woodwork.

Capsule hotel in japan

2010-11-11T04:30:00.000-08:00

A capsule hotel in japan is a hotel system of extremely dense occupancy. Guest space is reduced in size to a modular plastic or fibreglass block roughly 2 m by 1 m by 1.25 m, providing room to sleep and little more, although facilities usually include a television and other electronic entertainment. These capsules are then grouped and stacked, two units high. Luggage is usually stored in a locker away from the capsule. Privacy is maintained by a curtain at the open end of the capsule but noise pollution can be high. Washing facilities are communal and there are often restaurants, or at least vending machines, and other entertainment facilities.

The benefit of these hotels is convenience and price, usually around $25-$ 34 a night
This style of hotel accommodation was developed in Japan and has not gained acceptance outside of the country. The Japanese capsule hotels vary widely in size, some having only fifty or so capsules and others over 700. They are often used primarily by men. There are also capsule hotels with separate male and female sleeping quarters.

The first capsule hotel was the Capsule Inn Osaka, designed by Kisho Kurokawa and located in the Umeda district of Osaka.

These rooms can be seen in the movies The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Gung Ho. They were also used as a basis for sets in the film The Fifth Element.

Each capsule has a little control panel. There is an alarm clock, TV/Radio speaker, light and TV on/off switch, volume knob, and some panic button

OYC hotel in guangdong province, china

2010-11-11T04:15:00.000-08:00

OYC Hotel is located by the Seven Star Crags Lake in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province, China. The hotel boasts of its lush vegetation and fresh air,which is well known for high density of oxygen. That's why OYC have got an award for being a 'Wonderland on the Earth'.

The whole hotel takes around 120,000 square meters, combined with one convention centre and 55 convention rooms, and 750 luxurious guestrooms and suites. Each room equipped with the latest technology such as high-speed broadband internet and complete room amenities. Guests also have a wide selection of F&B outlets to choose from, including Chinese, Japanese, Italian and other western cuisine.

OYC Hotel holds the world's largest indoor hot springs, laying special bottom depth of 3,000 meters from the sand. For more information visit oychotel.com

Huge family with 18 children | Big family | Large family

2010-11-11T01:47:00.000-08:00

The family with 18 children that prays together... gets bigger and bigger: Meet devoutly Christian Mr and Mrs Bates and their EIGHTEEN children

Super-parents Gil and Kelly Bates love babies so much, they can't stop having them.

The couple, from Tennessee, U.S., celebrated the birth of their 18th child a month ago and are already praying for more.

The Bates look set to become the big family in the world one day, and are one baby behind the Duggars of Arkansas, who have 19.

'We will have many more children if God allows it,' said proud dad Gil, 45, a tree surgeon.
Truly blessed: The Bates family (from left to right) Ellie, Addallee, Isaiah, Warden, Jackson, Katie, Josie, Carlin, Trace, Tori, Alyssa, Nathan, Lawson, Erin, Michaella, Kelly holding Judson Wyatt and Gil holding Callie-Anna

'Children are a blessing and God has blessed us many, many times.'

Devoted mum Kelly, 43, said: 'We just love children and every baby brings extra joy to our family. The most exciting time is when a new baby comes.

'We all wonder are the boys going to be ahead, or are the girls going to be ahead?'

The couple married 23 years ago, and Kelly has been pregnant for almost every year.

Their massive brood range includes Zach, 21, Michaela, 20, Erin, 18, Lawson, 17, Nathan, 16, Alyssa, 15, Tori, 14, Trace, 13, Carlin, 12, Josie, 11, Katie, 10, Jackson, 8, Warden, 7, Isaiah, 5, Addallee, 4, Ellie, 3, Callie-Anna, 1, and Judson Wyatt, one month.
Feeding the five thousand: The family fill up half a restaurant when they go out on in Lake city, Tennessee - and their own dining table is so large Dad Gil says he can't hear what's going on at the far end

Dad Gil is busy extending their home which already has five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, two kitchens, a huge dining room with a 14ft table and its own nursery and a schoolroom.

The Bateses make many of their own clothes and refuse to have a TV in the house, spending their spare time playing games, singing and playing instruments.

At weekends they go out singing together at old people's homes to spread goodwill.
Expanding home: Gil, a tree surgeon, is currently extending their five-bedroom, eight-bathroom property in Lake City to make more space

Gil runs a tree surgery business with some of his older sons while Kelly, a housewife, teaches all the younger children at home.

The family gets through a massive amount of food each week - polishing off 48 eggs, four packs of bacon, 40 scones and two large loaves of bread each breakfast time.
Most recent additions: Gil and Kelly met at college in 1986, married in 1987 and she fell pregnant soon after. Here they are holding Callie-Anna, one, and month-old Judson Wyatt

'The dining table is so big I can't really hear the people at the far end,' said Gil.

The house has four huge washing machines and two industrial dryers to cope with the seven loads of washing that needs to be done every day.

'The kids are very responsible and caring of each other,' said Kelly.

'I hardly even cook these days.'

Gil and Kelly met at college in South Carolina in 1986.

They married in 1987 and Kelly fell pregnant soon after.

'I didn't want any children at all when I was younger,' said Kelly. 'I wanted to be a career woman. I didn't enjoy babysitting. But over time God changed my heart.'

After Gil finished college, the babies came thick and fast. For the first 15 years Kelly was pregnant every single year.

'I was pregnant more than I wasn't pregnant,' said Kelly.

'I always loved having lots of brothers and sisters,' said Zach, the eldest, 21, who is a volunteer fire fighter, as well as working for his dad.

'There's always someone to play with. There's always a friend. I don't know what being lonely feels like.'

After the couple's 16th child, Ellie, now three, Kelly suffered two miscarriages.

'That was one of the hardest times in our lives,' said Gil, who has delivered 11 of his children.

Doctors told Kelly that the miscarriages were caused by low progesterone levels so, after some hormone replacement, she fell pregnant yet again.
Spreading goodwill: At weekends, the family go out singing at old people's homes. 'We wouldn't change our family for the world,' says Nathan, 17

Baby number 17, Callie-Anna Bates, was born on August 2, 2009.

On September 15, 2010 Judson Wyatt, the family's eighth boy and 18th child was born.

The brothers and sisters sometimes argue but the Bates' say they are usually one big happy family.

Nathan, 17, said: 'None of us would change our family for the world.

'It's currently eight boys and ten girls.

'We've got a bit of a race going and Mom needs to have two more boys to settle it.'

Bridal wedding dresses | Strange | Wedding fashion | Designer

2010-11-09T01:48:00.000-08:00

Vajoliroja, johny depp's luxury yacht built in turkey

2010-11-08T02:59:00.000-08:00

This is Vajoliroja. Johny Depp's Luxury Yacht. It's named for the first letters of the names of his family (longtime girlfriend Vanessa, Johnny, daughter Lily Rose and son Jack). Vajoliroja was built in 2001 in Turkey. It's 156 ft (47.6 m) long, has 2 Caterpillar 480 hp engines. Yaht's max speed is 14 knots. There are 5.5m Ranieri Soverato tender with 115hp engine, 4.9m Nautica tender with 60hp engine, 2 x kayaks (double single), 2 x windsurfers, waterskis, wakeboard tows, and snorkelling gear.

New innovative creations by dinesh vora

2010-11-08T00:02:00.001-08:00

NEW INNOVATIVE CREATIONS

1. Bladeless Fan

Dyson fans use Air Multiplier technology to draw in air and amplify it. With no blades or grille, they are safe and easy to clean.

2. Two Way Toothpaste

Two way toothpaste is ideal for those who get angry with their partner for squeezing the toothpaste from the front.

3. Infinite USB

Innovative USB plug designed to act as a USB hub when plugged in.

4. Sixpack Bottle Carrier

It can safely transport up to six beer, soft drink, or water bottles.

5. Greenbo Rail Planter

Simply place your Greenbo planter on your railing, deck or fence. State of the art unique design assures its secure fit and stability.

6. Innovative Sewing Needle

With a bit of pressure, the loop eye of Big Eye Needle expands to the size of a button hole -
making threading a cinch!

7. Butter Stick

Butter on a stick from Japan will make
a great addition to any kitchen.

8. Upstanding Toothbrush

When the toothbrush is set down, it will sway momentarily until it reaches a balanced position - just like a tumble doll.

Chun wei-yi woman plans to marry herself

2010-11-04T06:06:00.000-07:00

30-year-old Chun wei-yi woman plans to marry herself, on November 6.

The young Taiwanese from Taipei has been dreaming about getting married ever since she was just a little girl. Now that she’s all grown up, she’s ready to put on the traditional white dress and veil and finally tie the knot…with herself. Like many other Asian women, Chen Wei-yih focused most of her attention on her career and hasn’t been able to find a suitable partner. While other girls go as far as stripping in public to find husbands, Chen decided it’s more important to first love herself before she loves others, and asked her own hand in marriage.

The wedding ceremony is set to take place on November 6, when Chen Wei-yih will put on her wedding dress and go out for a gourmet meal with family members and 30 of her closest friends. After the wedding, Chen and her beloved self will leave on a romantic honeymoon to Autralia.

Chen-Wei-yih courage to challenge social perception in such an original way has inspired many, and her Facebook wall has been assaulted with messages of encouragement and appreciation, sent mostly by young Asian women like herself.

Designer lehenga choli | Wedding lehenga | Bridal lehenga

2010-11-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

Lehenga choli is most popular Indian wedding dress which is also worn at KARWA CHAUTH. bridal lehenga, wedding lehnga cholis are gifted to bride by the maternal uncle in Indian weddings. The Indian designers use heavy zardosi embroidery in bridal lehenga to gives beautiful look. Choli stands for short, tight fitted blouse, same as the one worn under sari. Utsav Sarees gives the latest and the largest bridal lehnga catalog from the Indian fashion including wedding lehnga, bridal lehenga and other indian wedding dresses for marriages and wedding.

Top 10 houseboats show

2010-11-04T02:19:00.000-07:00

People have always had a love of the water, and these top 10 houseboats show us exactly how crazy people can get when they design a houseboat for fun and pleasure.

10. Boat Houses at Ellis Boat Harbor

June 2008, the boat houses from Ellis boat harbor and other debris get smashed against the railroad bridge near Timecheck in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

9. Childs House Boat Playhouse

Why should adults have all the fun!

8. Oldenberg, Germany

This boat is called the “silberfisch” which means silverfish. It is creating quite a stir for his modern look and unique shape.

7. Flood Or Houseboat?

You make the call on this one. It could go either way!

6. Luxury Houseboat

This is a gorgeous example of a relaxing housebat. This one is called a Kerala House Boats and believe it or not they are created without using a single nail in the actual boat. Now that is amazing!

5. Not Amazing, but it Floats!

Everyone can have a houseboat, just look at that!

4. Luxury Houseboat in St. Paul

This lady sold everything she owned to purchase and possess this gorgeous houseboat.

3. Who said you needed water for a houseboat?

These beached boats are homes and they are boats, so they are houseboats. These house boats were created in 1925 and were a hotel and bath spa. They can now be found in Encinitas, Ca.

2. Submarine

This guy decided to have a sub house, but hey it is a water going vessel.

1. Adur Shoreham is full of unusual and interesting houseboats

This is just one of the many interesting house boat finds in the water.

Shirts made by leaves

2010-11-04T01:15:00.000-07:00

Shirts made by leaves click here to see more patent clothes made of leaves and flowers....

Victoria’s secret models | Victoria’s secret angels pictures

2010-10-30T00:28:00.000-07:00

Victoria's Secret Angels - “Bombshell” Fragrance Launch in SoHo
Some of the Victoria’s Secret Hottest beauties were spotted in SoHo in New York City on 24th Sep 2010. Candice, Lily and Erin all opted for the same little black dress and heels while Adriana went for a different look in a pink get-up paired with a black belt.

Enjoy the pictures of Victoria's Secret Models at the Bombshell Launch.

Crocodile grabbed elephant | How the elephant got his trunk

2010-10-29T23:40:00.000-07:00

How the elephant got his trunk......
This is the shocking moment a crocodile grabbed the trunk of a baby elephant, hoping to get lunch. The scene was captured by amateur photographer Johan Opperman while taking pictures of a family of African elephants grazing by a water hole in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Hearing the calf's distress calls, the herd of elephants immediately came to its rescue, scaring the croc off

After sex change operations

2010-10-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but all these women were born as men.
I remember that I was shocked when I was told that the beautiful Israeli singer Dana International who won the Eurovision Song Contest in the 90's used to be a man.
Let's see the other pics after sex change operations.

Dana International

Singer, Entertainer April Ashley

Model, Entertainer, Socialite Melanie Anne Phillips

TS Support-Site Authoress Jan Morris

Writer Sister Mary Elizabeth

Episcopal Nun Nong Tum

Thai kick-boxing instructor Leona Lo

Writer Harisu

Model, Entertainer Madeleine Williams

Systems Engineer Cindy Thai Tai

Singer, songwriter, make-up artist Yasmene Jabar

Homemaker Nong Poy

Actress, model Caroline 'Tula' Cossey

Actress Leslie Townsend

Model, Comedienne, Author Sara Kristine Becker

Family Physician, Gender Counselor Donna Rose

IT Project Manager Kate Kira

Biologist Christine Beatty

Software engineer, writer Kelly Van De Veer

Singer, Actress Terry Noel

Showgirl Sohini Bagchi

Artist and textile designer Anna Taylor

A woman in stealth

Christine Jorgensen
Famous Transsexual Pioneer Canary Conn

Writer, composer, singer Phoebe Smith

Transsexual pioneer Veronique Renard

Writer, Free-Tibet Activist Jenny Hiloudaki

Model, Actress Roberta Close

Model, Actress Aleshia Brevard

Actress Ha-Ri-Su

Model, Recording Artist

A white elephant | Rare albino elephant

2010-10-28T04:57:00.001-07:00

A white elephant

Rare albino elephant

Damn city made with eggs

2010-10-28T02:53:00.000-07:00

If you find it difficult to make a house of cards that you would make a whole damn city made with eggs? This talented young man below, using little more than five thousand eggs – chicken and quail – made a huge sculpture of about 6m x 4m. The city of eggs, which depicts a Chinese empire, was established in an exhibition at the Groninger Museum, Netherlands.

Mehndi designs for hands | Arabic mehndi designs | Bridal mehndi

2010-10-26T02:44:00.000-07:00

A collection of arabic mehndi designs, bridal mehndi and mehndi designs for hands etc.

World's top 10 richest tennis players

2010-10-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

World's 10 richest tennis players
Welcome to the rating of the richest tennis player of the planet. Revenues consist of athletes of different sources. For example, Maria Sharapova, mainly the "rich" by advertising products known corporations, such as «Canon», «Colgate-Palmolive», «Motorola», «Nike», «Tiffany» and «Land Rover». Only on the promotion of dandruff shampoo company «Unilever» tennis player receives more than $ 2 million in the same time, revenue Roger Federer is mainly composed of bonus payments for tournaments.

01. Roger Federer (Switzerland) - $ 35 million. The picture shows Roger Federer sends the ball to Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) in the first set final match US Open in New York on 14 September 2009.

02. Maria Sharapova (Russia) - $ 26 million on the photo: Maria Sharapova in 3 Sete match with Melanie Udine US Open tournament on Sept. 4, 2009. Udine won the match 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

03. Rafel Nadal (Spain) - $ 18 million Rafael Nadal beats Fernando filing Gosnalesa (Chile) in the third set the match in the tournament chetvertfinalnogo US Open 12 sentbrya 2009. Nadal won 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 (UPI / Monika Graff)

04. Andy Roddick (USA) - $ 15 million Andy Roddick beats blow Swede Robin Soderling in the semi-final match of the tournament BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California March 20, 2010. Roddick won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 and reached the final.

05. Serena Williams (USA) - $ 15 million US Open winner Serena Williams in a match with Alexa Glatch. Playing the first round of US Open August 31, 2009 in New York.

06. Venus Williams (USA) - $ 15 million Venus Williams beats starting Magdalena Rybarikovoy (Slovakia) in the first set match on US Open September 4, 2009 in New York.

07. Justine Henin (Belgium) - $ 10 million first scattering Justine Henin in the quarterfinal match against Serena Williams at the French Open Roland Garros in Paris June 5, 2007. Henin won 6-4, 6-3.

08. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) - $ 9.5 million by turnstile count third rank number ATP Novak Djokovic takes the ball to David Ferrer (Spain) in the final of Men's Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday, February 28, 2009. Djokovic won the match 7-5, 6-3.

09. Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) - $ 8 million first scattering Anna Ivanovich against Vera Dusheninoy (Russia) in the first set match in the tournament US Open August 26, 2008 in New York.

10. James Blake (USA) - 7.5 million. In the photo, James Blake in a match against Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo in the tournament US Open August 31, 2009 in New York.

Strange couple pics | Funny and entertaining

2010-10-25T03:55:00.000-07:00

Funny and entertaining pics of Strange couple

World’s most scariest restaurant in belgium

2010-10-25T02:01:00.000-07:00

This is a very spooky restaurant in Belgium. It is called T’Spookhuys Restaurant-Bar is known as an occult bar and the house of 1,000 Ghosts. The restaurant was abandoned in 2008. After looking at these photos, you’ll believe in haunted houses.

Giant piranha caught in congo river africa

2010-10-21T05:10:00.000-07:00

British angler Jeremy Wade looks understandably anxious as he grapples with this ferocious-looking 'giant piranha'.

The 52-year-old caught the aptly-named goliath tigerfish during a fishing expedition up the Congo River in Africa.

The brave fisherman was forced to hold the fish at arms-length for fear of being bitten by its razor-sharp teeth while posing with it for the camera.
Careful: Jeremy Wade bravely poses with the 5ft long goliath tigerfish caught during an expedition up the River Congo in Africa

The goliath tigerfish is one of the most fearsome freshwater fish in the world and said to be a much bigger and deadlier version of the piranha.

The giant fish has 32 teeth that are of similar size to those of a great white shark and has been known to attack humans and even crocodiles.

It has only ever been caught by a handful of fishermen due to the danger it poses and the fact its habitat is notoriously hard to reach.

Wade, the host of ITV's River Monsters show, said he took extra care when reeling in this specimen, which weighed more than 100lbs and was 5ft long.

The TV programme looks into mythical reports from around the world of humans being attacked by unknown monsters from the deep before the British host sets out to find and catch the suspect.

Commenting on the goliath tigerfish, Wade said: 'This fish is no tench. It is, for all intents and purposes, a giant piranha. It is quite a beast.

Open wide: The ferocious 'giant piranha' was caught during the filiming of ITV's River Monsters

Wade spent eight days trying to land the fish and said he returned it to the river soon afterwards

'The teeth on it are incredibly sharp and are about the same length as a great white shark.

'It also has an extremely powerful bite and has been known to consume prey the same size as itself, attack people and take pieces out of crocodiles.

'It is thought that these fish attack in a reflex response to a sudden movement or splash.

'It is very rare to catch one, especially by an outsider because they are found in such a remote and difficult location to get to. There are no guides or lodges on that part of the Congo River.'

Wade revealed he used a sizable catfish as bait for the tigerfish and a 200lbs rod and line.

He said he also took care to stand back from it until it was safely in his landing net.

'It is a very dangerous fish to handle. If you aren't careful it could easily take your finger off or worse,' he added.

Wade, who spent eight days trying to land the fish, said he returned it to the river soon afterwards.

Arch bridge in dubai by 2012

2010-10-20T23:48:00.000-07:00

If any real city on our planet can claim an active stake in creating the urban landscape of the future, it's probably Dubai. Artificial islands arranged in the shape of the world? Check. The world's only seven-star hotel? Check. And in 2012, it will also become home to the largest, tallest arch bridge ever.

- It's one mile long and 670 feet tall.
- It will have 12 lanes for traffic.
- It will cost 817 million dollars.
- The design has Sheikh Mohammed's official stamp of approval.
- The bridge will carry more than 2,000 vehicles per hour in each direction.
- A metro line will run across the middle.
- Construction begins in March, with a slated completion date of 2012.
Images by Fxfowle

Crocodile Man | Crocodile hunter | Large crocodile attacks

2010-10-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

This guy from Costa Rica entertains the tourists swimming and fooling around with a large crocodile.
It took years before he could do it without a fear of being eaten.

Weird health rituals | Dangerous tradition in india

2010-10-20T02:39:00.000-07:00

In what has got to be on of the most vile and disturbing things ever put to print, a man in eastern India was arrested for his unconventional and downright insane method of curing the common cold in children.

50-year old Jamun Yadav, who considers himself to be a demigod of the Hindu faith, believes he can channel and transfer divine energy through his feet, which has lead to him standing on the necks and throats of young children suffering from your average run-of-the-mill cold.

Santosh Singh, who served as a spokesman for the police on the case, stated that the parents who allowed this self-described holy man were most likely unaware of his methods. When asked about them, the guru claimed that he was merely speaking for God, and as such needs no other defense.

Although an isolated incident, it serves as a grim reminder of the dangerous religious traditions observed by many Hindus in India, many of which are done so for the health of their children. One such ritual involves throwing infants off of a fifty foot tower, a tradition thought to bring good health and luck to the child throughout his or her life.

The children are tossed from the tower onto a tightly stretched sheet below, where they seemingly bounce safely and are then handed to their mothers. This bizarre and dangerous ritual, which has been practiced for 500 years, has yet to count any fatalities, but that hasn’t stopped critics from deriding it as unsafe.

The ritual is typically performed by Hindus and Muslims alike in the Indian district of Solapur, which is located in Maharashtra, as well as smaller outlying villages. Before the event happens, the parents of the babies being take a vow at a temple.

A more recent incident highlights the case of Nek Singh, an Indian guru who employs brutal beatings to "cure any ailment," including cancer. Oddly enough, all of his "patients" were women. The treatment involved savage kicks and punches, and even standing on the head of the individual. The guru proclaimed that the goddess Kali possessed him, enabling him with the power to heal through physical violence.

Based out of the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh in India, police eventually raided the village, but the self-proclaimed spiritual healer managed to evade capture. Although his whereabouts are unknown, I would be surprised if he and his neck stompin’ buddy are enjoying a cold beer somewhere in hiding.

Another similarly disturbing tradition is the practice of burying disabled children alive up to their necks for six hours during a solar eclipse for approximately six hours. This is seemingly done to offset the negative effects that are thought to be caused by a prior solar eclipse.

Although genuine testing has been done to test the relationship between mud therapy and the eclipse, no conclusions have been drawn, despite many mothers stating their children have experienced improved mobility after undergoing the terrifying ritual.

World’s shortest man has died in rome at the age of 21

2010-10-20T01:54:00.000-07:00

The world's shortest man — 2 feet, 5.37 inches tall — has died in Rome, the BBC reports. He was 21 years old.

He Pingping of China was recognized as the shortest man in March 2008 by Guinness World Records. He died Saturday after being hospitalized the past two weeks following complaints of chest pains while filming an episode for a TV show. His cause of death was not announced.

"From the moment I laid on eyes on him, I knew he was someone special," Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records editor-in-chief, told the BBC. "He had such a cheeky smile and mischievous personality, you couldn't help but be charmed by him. For such a small man, he made a huge impact around the world."

New motion optical illusions

2010-10-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

New Motion Optical Illusions seeing things with moving images

This one gives the initial impression of boiling liquid or solution

Visual illusion of tilted squares

2010-10-19T05:12:00.000-07:00

Visual illusion of tilted squares leaning inside squares

Visual illusions of moving patterns

2010-10-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

Visual illusions of moving patterns
These patterns seem to move...

The most expensive dinner in history of cleopatra

2010-10-18T04:07:00.000-07:00

The value of this meal totals ten million sesterces. Consulted some references (1,2) To calculate the equivalent in euros, the dinner in question amount to about 15 million euros. And the other issue is the number of diners in this case would only be one Cleopatra VII.

Mark Antony, Caesar's friend and his most expensive avenger, requested the support of Cleopatra, which agreed even with his country to the brink of ruin. After a sensual encounter in Tarsus, in his lavish royal trireme, Cleopatra demanded the execution of his sister Arsinoe as a prerequisite to assist it to Antonio, who agreed to his proposal. At that meeting, they fell in love passionately. Cleopatra, trying to impress his lover, gambled that he could get "under his belt," a dinner of ten million sesterces. Logically, Marco Antonio accepted.

On the day in question, dinner was served with the finest delicacies and, of course, expensive (to learn how to be a dinner at the time you can see it here) But not unusual in view of Marco Antonio. Cleopatra came to the event with an impressive two beautiful pearl necklace, addressed Planco, elected judge of the contest, and asked how it could be worth every one of the pearls:At least five million sesterces"Replied the judge.

Following this "appraisal" Cleopatra threw a pearl in a cup and filled it with vinegar (remember that pearls are mainly composed of calcium carbonate react with calcium and CO2 clear vinegar) to dissolve the pearl to drink. As he was being repeated with the second pearl, to "spend" ten million, Antony gave up.

Shortest man khagendra thapa magar seeks world record

2010-10-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

Khagendra Thapa Magar (born October 14, 1992 in Nepal), son of Rup Bahadur and Dhana Maya Thapa Magar, was the shortest teenager in the world, measuring 0.56 m (1 ft 10 in). Magar took the title of shortest man from Edward Nino Hernandez when he turned 18 on October 14, 2010.

Born on Asoj 18, 2049 in the Nepali calendar, or October 14, 1992,[1] Magar is from the Baglung District of Nepal and is dubbed as a "little Buddha" by the villagers.

Twin sisters gave birth to their first child on same day

2010-10-13T00:08:00.000-07:00

Two South Florida Twin sisters gave birth to their first child on same day. As fraternal twins, Cristina and Alexandra Lima have always been very close. "It's fun, we haven't ever known anything different. It's a built-in best friend," said Alexandra.

When Alexandra and her husband moved across the country to California, and then Las Vegas, it was very difficult for these twins to be apart. "So hard, so we ended up texting and blackberry messaging 27 times a day," said Alexandra. Everyone was taken by surprise at just how close these twins were connected. "I think it really shows the amazing power of sisterhood," said Dr. Randy Fink who delivered both babies.

"Well, I found out first," said Cristina. A week after Cristina learned of her pregnancy, Alexandra found out she was also pregnant. Both with girls with due dates only one day apart. Alexandra knew she had to be with her twin sister during this special time, so she and her husband moved back to South Florida. On Wednesday, the two who already share so much became new mothers on the same day, delivering at Baptist Hospital in Kendall. "They probably would have conceived within 72 hours of each other, across the country, which is very unusual," said Dr. Fink.

Ava was delivered by C-section and weighed 9 pounds 8 ounces, and Olivia, who was delivered naturally, was 8 pounds 5 ounces. "Even to us, it's bizarre," said Alexandra. "We have so many similarities being twins, but we could never have predicted or asked for something as special as this. We are really blessed." The twins said even though the two beautiful baby girls are not technically twins, they will probably grow up feeling like they are. "We'd like them to grow up close like we did. like sisters. and if we dress them the same on any given day. that's the bonus," said Cristina.

Egg shell art by laser | Amazing art of eggshell carving

2010-10-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

This gives a pretty good idea about what can be done with a laser beam. Incredible what can be done with an eggshell and a laser beam! Below are some really intricate designs carved out on egg shells.

30 mind blowing old pc ads

2010-10-11T05:42:00.000-07:00

Article on mind blowing old pc ads

My dad used told me that he had worked on Apple Lisa in the 80′s of the 20th century which cost him around $10,000 and i used to laugh at that because now we can have computer 100 times more powerful than Apple Lisa with much cheaper price. Today i stumbled upon some old PC ads that will make you laugh and possibly appreciate what you have.

10 MB Drive for $3398.00
Today you can get a 1TB drive for $85.00
1TB is around 100,000 times larger than 10 MB

This is an early laptop with 64k of memory
Today Laptops have 2 to 4 Gigs of memory
4Gb is about 64,000 times larger than 64k

Here are two disk systems, 80 MB for $12K and 300 MB for $20K
Today you can get a DVD that holds 4 Gigs for $0.75 each
A 4 GB DVD is about 14 times larger than 300MB disk

Here is a 16K ram Memory Card, $495.00
Today you can get 4 GB RAM for $99.00
4GB RAM is about 256,000 times larger than 16K

This is an Early Modem Delivering 48000 BPS
Modems today deliver 56K
56K is around 12 times faster

This early PC is offering Dual Floppy drives and 128K of RAM
Today PCs have 2 to 4 GB of RAM
4GB RAM is about 32,000 times larger than 128K

Yes this was my first video game system. Yes those are the joy sticks. Today game systems are far more advance in graphics, controllers etc.

Here is another early Laptop, this one can expand up to 640 KB RAM Today Laptops have 2 to 4 GB or RAM.

Checkout this Amiga. Promoting the quality of graphics it can produce.

Apple dose it again, 5Mhz with 1MB RAM
Today PCs are more than 3Ghz with 4GB RAM
3Ghz is 600 Times faster and 4GB RAM is 4000 times faster than 1MB RAM

This Atari Computer have 48K of RAM and offers 128 colors.
Today PC’s have 4GB RAm and offer 32 Bit Color which is 4.2 Billion Colors

The TRS-80 was produced in the Late 70′s and the early 80′s with 1.7 Mhz processor and 4KB RAM

This early PC offered a 13″ screen for just $3,300.

Not sure about the specs but the shapes makes it look like a typewriter

The Price is coming down, This PC offers 4KB of RAM for only $249.00

The ACE 1000 offers 64K RAM and includes upper and lower case keys, Plus num lock.
Today PC’s offer 4GB RAM and all include shift keys and num lock

This PC offered 4K RAM and a cassette player.
Cassette players are almost obsolete now.

This was the latest and greatest design

The TRS-80 was produced in the Late 70′s and early 80′s with1.7 Mhz processor and 4KB RAM.

This computer has 10MB of Hard Drive for $3,495.00
today you can get a 1TB Hard Drive for $85.00

one of Mac’s early computer offering 32 Bit Processor

This one has 15Mb hard drive for $2,495.00

This tandy 5000 offers a blazing 20 Mhz processor and 2MB of RAM

Here is a PC in Briefcase, complete with modem and 5″ Monitor.

Checkout the joystick and other options that come with this PC.

Produced in early 80′s, The VIC-20 came with 5 KB RAM

For only $999.0 you can get this PC that offers 384K RAM and 20M Hard Drive Case.

Here is a basic PC that offered 4K RAM that you had to hookup to a TV

Another personal PC that offers 4K RAM for under $199.99, but didn’t come with a monitor

The ZX81 offered 1K RAM but extended up to 16 K RAM and could hookup to any TV.

World's oldest hotel japan | Luxury hotel

2010-10-11T01:02:00.000-07:00

The world oldest hotel build in 717 in the Awazu Onsen area of Komatsu, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

Hoshi is a ryokan (Japanese traditional inn) in the Awazu Onsen area of Komatsu, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 717, it is the world's oldest hotel still in operation according to the Guinness World Records and the world's oldest continuously operating company after the liquidation of Kongo Gumi in 2006.

Let's go to this World's Oldest Hotel in the Awazu Onsen area of Komatsu, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

Taj krishna hotel hyderabad | Taj luxury hotel resorts

2010-10-07T02:08:00.000-07:00

Taj Krishna, Hyderabad is positioned in the hub of the business center of Hyderabad in Banjara Hills. Exquisite dining experience, state of the art conference facilities and plush accommodation make it one of the most hunted hotels in Hyderabad. It is apt both for business travelers and leisure tourists.

Accommodation :
The 258 rooms are well decorated and spacious. The décor of the interiors speak of the handiwork of a master interior. All modern facilities are available in the rooms. Data cable connectivity and Wi Fi zone makes it possible for a business traveler to work from the inner recesses of the rooms. The Presidential suite boasts of a private swimming pool. The upholstery, bathroom fittings, and room equipments are of international standards.

Dining :
Dining in Taj Krishna, Hyderabad is more aesthetically inclined rather than just the dining experience.
The presentation, preparation and services speak oodles about the international class of the hotel. Some of the restaurants in Taj Krishna Hyderabad are :
Encounters : Multi cuisine restaurant
Season's Bar and Lounge : The in house bar
Firdaus : Indian Cuisine
T2 : Disc
Golden Dragon : Pan Asian cuisines

Business :
Taj Krishna, Hyderabad has one of the biggest conference rooms in the whole of Hyderabad. The Grand Ballroom has a seating capacity of 650 people while The Deccan can accommodate 1000 delegates at a time. The halls are equipped with the latest automation technology.

Recreation :
Tennis Court
Fitness center
State of the art spa
Ayurvedic Massage
Lawn Tennis Souvenir Shop
Golf
Sight Seeing Assistance
Use of Executive Lounge
Outdoor Swimming Pool

Other Facilities :
Baby Sitting
Car Hire Services
Currency Exchange
Doctor on Call Laundry / Dry cleaning
Florist
Shopping Arcade

Luxury oberoi vanyavilas hotel in ranthambore

2010-10-07T01:26:00.000-07:00

Sprawled over 20 acres of lush green land, the Oberoi Vanyavilas, is one of the most renowned and sought after hotels in Ranthambore.

Accommodation :
The Oberoi Vanyavilas offers 25 spacious and comfortable tents, luxuriously equipped with state of the art amenities for its guests. Modern facilities like DVD player and mini-bar are also provided in each tent. The tents are air-conditioned and the Aravali Mountains in the backdrop offer a relief from life in the concrete jungles of the city.

Dining :
Meals are served in the Dining Room and Inner Courtyard. Made with fresh ingredients from the kitchen garden, the gourmet delights are simply delectable. Wines and spirits can be enjoyed at the Library Bar and dinner in winters is enjoyed around the bonfire.

Recreation :
For your recreation at The Oberoi Vanyavilas, there is a spa. Set amidst the fountain and courtyard, it provides a perfect recluse from the din and bustle of city life. There is also a vast swimming pool and bar with a favorable stock of foreign liquors. There is also a travel desk to assist you in exploring the National Park.

Other Facilities :
The other facilities at The Oberoi Vanyavilas are: library with rich collection of books on wildlife
Laundry Services
Travel Desk
Doctor on Call Foreign Exchange
24-hr Room Service

Twinkle dwivedi | The girl who cries blood | Strange bleeding

2010-10-01T04:50:00.000-07:00

For the last three years, doctors have been trying to figure out what makes Twinkle Dwivedi body ooze blood through her eyes, feet and even her head, but she remains a medical mystery.

When Twinkle’s case first appeared in the international media, many hurried to call her a fake, but after countless tests and procedures, including blood transfusions, doctors are still baffled by her strange bleeding. A group of medical specialists, led by dr. George Buchanan, recently traveled to North India to investigate the 14-year-old Twinkle, but all they have been able to say was that “she really suffers from a condition we have never seen before.”
The young teen remembers her disorder first appeared when she was just 11, and her classmates started mocking her and calling her disgusting. Although her bleeding didn’t hurt at all, she felt scared and alone, because no one would come near her. At first she would cry when she saw her clothes soaked with blood, but now she just keeps quiet, and prays she will eventually get better.
Despite her parents efforts, who took her to see the best doctors, Twinkle Dwivedi still bleeds from her eyes and pores, up to 14 times a day.

Most expensive fish | Aquarium fish | Strange fish

2010-10-01T04:34:00.000-07:00

The most expensive aquarium fish in the world, perhaps, is - a rare platinum Arawana. It is 40 centimeters graceful...

The most expensive aquarium fish in the world, perhaps, is - a rare platinum Arawana. It is 40 centimeters graceful creation belongs to the Singapore breeder Aro Dynasty. But why this fish has such an incredible price? All because of its flawless body color fish without a single blemish. Namely, the rarest of colors makes platinum satisfy participants the most expensive in the world of aquarium fish.
His unique coloring platinum Arawana acquired as a result of natural mutations. This kind of South American Arawana called Osteoglossum. She is the pride of the owners of elite aquariums. So prized only representatives of this species, other species Aravan, usually cost much less. All expensive aquarium fish, one way or another, are exclusive.

Most of the uniqueness has to pay a lot of money, and, despite this, many people prefer to buy expensive exclusive copies of only certain dealers. It sometimes happens that a particular mutation makes them the rarest of rare. In this case the price is just above the clouds.
It is a unique mutation made platinum satisfy participants most expensive aquarium fish in the world. She has a perfect monochromatic white color, even in the back, which is not typical for Aravan. Several years ago, the British importers, this fish was offered at 200 000, but this megatsena was rejected by them.

Rare species of platinum Arawana extraordinarily beautiful and graceful. Deterred from its acquisition can not even defect of the right eye, which mows down a bit. This common flaw Arawana acquired from the content of them in captivity, where food swims by in the water column, and not located at the top of its surface. In nature, these fish with surprising grace jump out of the water to catch a live feed. They say that owners of expensive Aravan exposed fish cosmetic surgery, corrected this defect is acquired.
Incredibly, the owner of the most Aravan, breeder seahorses, was proposed price for the fish in 80 000 $, but he refused to sell it. Dino Dynasty stated that the rare fish is now generally not for sale. This unique Arawana unique not only in Singapore but throughout the world. Collectors of rare species of fish are very concerned about this statement, because to see the unique platinum satisfy participants in among their living exhibits would many, in spite of its high cost.
Like works of art, this fish is expensive, and if to some collector still be able to get exclusive satisfy participants, then its value will rise immediately. Such a copy would be definitely proud of and a favorite of even the most unique collection. Naturally, the owner of rare Arawana would instantly become famous worldwide among the elite of collection.

Amazing paper art | Strange things with paper | Weird paper art

2010-09-28T05:41:00.000-07:00

Rare golden pearls produced on the island of palawan

2010-09-27T02:48:00.000-07:00

Golden Pearl
On the island of Palawan in south western Philippines, the only living person in the world, who revealed the secret production of a rare form of jewelry and gold pearls. Go to the fragile natural pearls are treated like royal jewelry. Each oyster takes 5 years to produce one such gem, and the slightest jolt could kill it.

35 Strange facts you never heard of

2010-09-27T02:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some strange facts for you:

1. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

2. Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

3. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

4. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

5. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

6. There are more chickens than people in the world.

7. Two-thirds of the world's eggplant is grown in New Jersey.

8. The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched."

9. On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.

10. All of the clocks in the movie "Pulp Fiction" are stuck on 4:20.

11. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

12. "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".

13. All 50 States are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.

14. Almonds are a member of the peach family.

15. Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

16. Maine is the only State whose name is just one syllable.

17. There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

18. The characters "Bert" and "Ernie" on Sesame Street were named after "Bert the cop" and "Ernie the taxi driver" in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life."

19. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

20. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

21. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

22. In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10.

23. Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.

24. Los Angeles' full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula."

25. A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.

26. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

27. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.

28. It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

29. The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world.

30. In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.

31. The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

32. Mr. Rogers is an ordained minister.

33. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

34. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.

35. "Stewardesses" is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.

Strange facts | Teenage girls create a beard of bees

2010-09-27T01:32:00.001-07:00

Most teenage girls like to create a buzz with their fashion statements. But Nellie Odam-Wilson went for an accessory with a real sting in its tail.

The 16-year-old modelled a ‘beard’ of bees at Quince Honey Farm in Devon, achieving her look by placing the Queen Bee on her face and waiting for a swarm to follow.

She escaped without a single sting after the stunt, which raised £400 towards a charity trip to Africa. Nellie, from South Molton in Devon, said: ‘It felt like they were everywhere.’

The £390 she raised from sponsors will help to underwrite her trip to Uganda, where she plans to do voluntary work in an orphanage.

Nellie said: 'It was a bit scary having all the bees on me, but it was worth it because it's for such a good cause.'

The plucky teenager endured a faceful of the buzzing creatures for seven minutes, remaining as quiet and still as possible to avoid being stung.

Empty milk carton castle in guinness book of records

2010-09-27T00:24:00.000-07:00

Built back in May, during an event that took place in Granada, Spain, this recycled castle was made of 50,000 empty milk cartons.
Designed by the students of the Facultad de Arquitectura de Granada (Granada’s Architectural College), the milk carton castle of Granada was built exclusively out of tens of thousands of empty milk cartons, gathered by over 5,000 primary school children. The three schools that gathered the most number of milk cartons had the privilege to attend the unveiling ceremony and see the end result of their efforts.
The 29-meters-long, 14.07-meter wide and 7-meter-high milk carton castle was acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest sculpture ever made with recycled materials.

Quilling art of turning paper strips | Amazing paper artworks

2010-09-24T04:29:00.001-07:00

Quilling has been around for hundreds of years, but it’s still as impressive and popular now as it was during the Renaissance.

The art of quilling first became popular during the Renaissance, when nuns and monks would use it to roll gold-gilded paper and decorate religious objects, as an alternative to the expensive gold filigree. Later, during the 18th and 19th centuries, it became a favorite pass-time of English ladies who created wonderful decorations for their furniture and candles, through quilling.
Basically, the quilling process consists of cutting strips of paper, and rolling them with a special tool. It sounds simple enough, but special skill is required to create more advanced shapes like marquises, arrowheads or holly leaves. All through the years, the art of quilling has remained almost unchanged, but new specialty supplies now allow quilling masters to create anything from detailed 3-D figures to wall-sized museum installations.

Because it requires so few supplies, quilling is available to anyone with enough patience to give it a try, and with a little bit of practice you’ll be creating some pretty amazing paper artworks, just like iron-maiden-art, whose works I think show the beauty of quilling.

Expensive dog house | Luxury dog houses | Paris hilton's dog

2010-09-23T00:36:00.000-07:00

Luxury Dog Houses
You may remember the new dog house of Paris Hilton's dogs.
That one cost $250,000. But I still doubt that price.
Let's see what you can buy for your dog for much less money.
These houses start at $7,200.
You can choose between different types of roofs and floors, heating and lighting systems and even order extra furniture.
I'm not sure I'm ready to spend this money for a new home for my dog, but I must admit the houses look amazing.

10 most expensive and luxury hotel rooms in the world

2010-09-20T23:12:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dreamed of spending a relaxing night at a luxury hotel? Or maybe planning a romantic evening or a honeymoon where you want to impress your beloved? What would you want included? A gorgeous view? A large comfy bed? A Jacuzzi? A personal butler?

Did you know that prices at the best hotel suites have gone up 10% this year? Are you ready to drop about $30,000 for one night? Would you be willg to spend that kind of money on a hotel room? And by the way, none of the nightly room rates includes tax so be prepared to add another 10 – 17% to your bill at checkout.

Here are the 10 most expensive hotel rooms in the world from the last year.

10. The Penthouse Suite, The Martinez Hotel, Cannes

Nightly Rate: $18,000

This is the biggest, most expensive, and the only terraced penthouse suite on the Cote d’Azur. Both of the two suites has a Jacuzzi, plasma screen televisions, DVD library, kitchen, open bar, private butler on call 24/7 (ditto for a limousine), and an option to join both suites into one big apartment. The luxury has no limit here – the design is kept in the Art Deco style, with streamlined furniture, silk curtains and teak parquet floors.

The wraparound terrace is 2,000 square feet with the views of the Lerins Islands as well as the entire Bay of Cannes and can comfortably hold 100 people. One Saudi sheik liked the suite so much he wanted to rent it for five years. The hotel said no. What else can you say? Tres magnifique!

9. Ritz-Carlton Suite, Ritz-Carlton Moscow

Nightly Rate: $18.200

The floor-to-ceiling windows in the Ritz-Carlton Suite will give you the most beautiful views of the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Christ the Savior Cathedral. The furnishings are in a Classic Russian Imperial style. The 2,500 square-foot suite comes with a spacious living room, dining area, library, office room and boardroom, grand piano, and heated floor.

You will get to enjoy five meals a day and their very own KGB-approved autonomous energy supply system and secure telecommunications array.

8. Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Nightly Rate: $19.000

The two-story, 8,400-square-foot suite features views over the Arabian sea, marble flooring, a rotating four-poster bed in the master bedroom, dining area, and a private cinema and elevator between the split-level rooms.

The marble bath comes fully stocked with full-sized products from Hermes. Guests are met by a chauffeur driven Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (or, for a bit extra, by a helicopter). A personal butler stands 24/7 at the ready to fulfill every wish. The Royal Suite is the last word in luxury with a marble and gold staircase, leopard print tufted carpets and Versace linens.

What you can also enjoy is a submarine ride to an underwater restaurant complete with shark-infested aquarium.

7. Imperial Suite, Park Hyatt, Vendome, Paris

Nightly Rate: $20.000

This pricey suite is located on the 5th floor and takes 200-sq.-meters. A 60-sq.-meter balcony is overlooking the Rue de la Paix, with an outstanding view of the Vendôme column. The Imperial Suite has high ceilings, a dining room, kitchenette, bar, and a mansard roof. It also includes in-suite spa with whirlpool bath, steam room shower and a built-in massage table. Also included are high-speed Internet access and a computer with flat screen monitor, multi-line telephones, and a separate work area to help you enjoy the work process.

6. The Bridge Suite, The Atlantis, Bahamas

Nightly Rate: $22.000

The Bridge Suite is located on top of a bridge that connects the two Royal Towers buildings, so it overlooks the entire resort and marina. An 800 square foot balcony and 12-foot high ceilings throughout with full length windows allow you to enjoy a 360 view of the water, lagoons and pools in Paradise Island. We can make a guess that most of the price is paid for the location of the suite. Forbes reports the suite has hosted guests including Oprah, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, and Bill Gates.

The suite has 10 rooms that are decorated in black, red and gold (including a 22-karat gold chandelier in the dining room). The living room is a 1,250-square-foot room with grand piano and twin entertainment centers. The master bedroom has a sitting area, his-and-hers closets so large that you can park your car there, and hand-painted linens. The kitchen also has its own entrance, so a permanent staff of seven, including a butler and a cook can access the rooms without bothering you.

5. Presidential Suite, Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo

Nightly Rate: $25.000

The suite is located on the 53rd floor above Tokyo with spectacular views that include the Imperial Palace outer gardens and Roppongi Hills.

In the suite’s 3300 sq ft you get pure luxury with a stunning four poster bed in the master bedroom, personal concierge, connected living room/dining room, an oversized marble bathroom with Sony BRAVIA 20 inch flat screen television, and access to indoor pool and fitness studio.

4. Villa La Capula Suite, Westin Excelsior, Rome

Nightly Rate: $29.000

The suite is located on the fifth and sixth floor underneath the cupola of the hotel which was made famous by Fellini’s movies. It covers 6,099 square feet and has an additional 1,808 square feet of balconies and terraces. While it only has two bedrooms, five more can be joined to it. The entire suite was just remodeled in 1998 for a cost of around $7 million. So now you will have all things Roman and excessive – a cupola, a Pompeii-style Jacuzzi pool, frescoes (the painted horizons on the frescoes were designed to match perfectly with the real Roman one), stained glass windows, and almost 2,000 feet of balcony space including a sun deck overlooking the Via Veneto district.

The downstairs also has a private kitchen, and the dining room features an antique Murano glass chandelier, a private wine cabinet with over 150 wines to choose from and a study/library covered in hand-carved wood. And what really makes this suite over the top is a private cinema with Dolby surround sound.

Now that’s living la dolce vita.

3. Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons Hotel, New York

Nightly Rate: $34.000

The $50 million Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons in NY was designed by legendary architect I.M. Pei, Peter Marino and hotel owner Ty Warner.

The nine-room suite has walls inlaid with mother of pearl, gold and platinum-woven fabrics. The suite is located on the 52nd floor of New York’s tallest hotel with floor-to-ceiling bay windows offering a breathtaking 360 degree view of the City. If that is not relaxing enough you can enjoy a waterfall in the Zen Room, play the grand piano in the library or soak in a tub overlooking Central Park. Full spa treatments, a personal trainer and a 24/7 butler are all included, and if you still find a will to leave, you can choose to be chauffeured in a Rolls Royce or Maybach, and you’re always guaranteed a table at the hotel’s renowned L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon restaurant.

2. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas

Nightly Rate: $40.000

If anyone knows how to vacation in Las Vegas, that will be Hugh Hefner. Even though he is known as a homebody he has spent a few nights away from the mansion at the Sky Villa. The suite itself was built to model the original playboy mansion; it also incorporates elements derived from a vintage Playboy magazine article about the ultimate bachelor pad. The suite cost roughly $10 million to build but the high-rollers can rent it for a small $40,000 a night. Everything screams S-E-X-Y at the Sky Villa. The two-story 9,000 square foot Villa includes a glass elevator, a rotating bed set beneath a mirrored ceiling, and a glass wall Jacuzzi that extends out over the hotel and offers amazing Strip views, around-the-clock butler service, massage and spa rooms, work-out room and poker table, fireplace, three bedrooms, and pop-up plasma TVs.
Sorry, Bunnies not included.

1. Royal Penthouse Suite, President Wilson Hotel, Geneva

Nightly Rate: $53.000

The Imperial Suite, which is actually an entire top floor of the hotel, is reached via a private elevator and has four bedrooms, six bathrooms with mosaic marble floor, a cocktail lounge and a terrace with a dramatic view through the bulletproof windows over the city, Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc — all of which overlook Lake Geneva. The suite is decorated in a contemporary style, with marble and hardwood floors. The living room has a billiards table, a library and a cocktail lounge with a view of the water fountain, and can accommodate 40 people. The dining room seats 26 people around an oval mahogany table.

The hotel’s staff reassures guests that the security in the Imperial Suite is among the best in the world, ideal for celebrities or traveling heads of state who visit the United Nations headquarters next door at the Palais Wilson.

16 luxurious celebrity homes on the market

2010-09-20T02:19:00.000-07:00

Celeb homes as if you need more proof they don't live like us

Extravagance knows no limits for most celebrities when it comes to real estate. From Malibu mansions to Italian villas, they buy it everywhere — and aren't afraid to spend amounts the rest of us can only dream of. Here, in the name of the sin of envy, are some incredible celebrity homes — and just to torture you some more, most of them we've chosen are for sale. Happy house-hunting!

Bargains on dream homes

Glenn Beck

It's perhaps only fitting that Fox News commentator Glenn Beck lives in that most patriotic-sounding of homes, the Colonial. Beck's home in New Canaan, Conn., is for sale — and if anyone doubts he's done well these last few years, check out the asking price for this six-bedroom, 8,700-square-foot manse: a cool $3.99 million. But for a guy who part of America thinks is full of hot air, Beck sure gets chilly: The home has — count 'em — five fireplaces.

Glenn Beck angry at rich people

Mel Gibson

"Mad Max" Mel Gibson has been lying low after his bizarre outburst and alleged domestic assault against his girlfriend made the news, but apparently he won't be hiding out at one of his spectacular homes in Malibu, Calif., if he can help it. Too bad — it's a swanky place. The spectacular 2.75-acre Lavender Hill Farm, with its orchards, tennis courts, pool, guest houses and a 5,400-square-foot main house, is on the block for a reported $14.5 million.

Schwarzenegger pokes fun at Mel Gibson

Britney Spears

Envy her — but maybe pity her, too: Britney Spears is taking a bath on her Beverly Hills, Calif., home. Spears bought this gorgeous Mediterranean-style villa in early 2007, during the height of her freak-out phase, for a reported $6.75 million. It's now on the market for $4.8 million — a bargain! What do you get? A gated property with a 16,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home, a backyard with a pool and spa and plenty of privacy for your own private meltdowns.

Britney Spears to appear on 'Glee'

Farrah Fawcett

As befitting the most famous of the "Charlie's Angels," the Los Angeles home of Farrah Fawcett is one heavenly pad. For sale for $6.49 million, the 1950s home was remodeled and expanded last year after her death from cancer. Among the other amenities: a big yard that leads to an infinity pool and a small vineyard. (So that's what the large wine cellar inside is for.)

Dennis Hopper

Actor Dennis Hopper, who died in May of prostate cancer, was a well-known collector of modern art. So it's only fitting that his compound in Venice, Calif. — now for sale for $6.24 million — is cool and artistic. The spread includes a 4,800-square-foot main house designed by architect Brian Murphy and three two-story condos designed by architect Frank Gehry.

Scott Baio

You loved him in "Happy Days." Now you can own his home. That's right, America: Scott Baio is selling his four-bedroom Los Angeles abode for $2.69 million. Baio has done well for himself: His 4,400-square-foot home has a tennis court, a backyard pool and koi pond and a huge outdoor gazebo with a fireplace. Not bad for a star you haven't heard much of since "Joanie Loves Chachi."

Pete Sampras

In March, tennis great Pete Sampras and his wife, actress/model, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, put their home on the block. But in case you're interested, you'd better get your credit checked. The asking price for the year-old home is $25 million. You do get a lot for your money: The seven-bedroom home sits on 20 acres on a hilltop in Thousand Oaks, Calif. In addition to the 16,000-square-foot contemporary main house, there's a 1,200-square-foot guest house; a detached, 2,000-square foot gym; and, natch, a tennis court.

Rob Schneider

You may remember comedian Rob Schneider from his stint on "Saturday Night Live" or his recent film, "Grown Ups." (Then again, we wouldn't blame you for forgetting his film "Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo.") Now Schneider is selling his 4,600-square-foot Los Angeles home for $3 million. The four-bedroom French Normandy-style home, with its dormer windows, exposed beams and wisteria growing over the front entryway, looks a bit like a fairy-tale cottage. There's also a saltwater swimming pool out back. All in all, nothing to laugh about.

Jesse James

Oh, Jesse James, your fortunes just keep plummeting — but we can still covet your home. The disgraced, cheating ex-husband of film star Sandra Bullock has put this beachfront Sunset Beach, Calif., home on the market — lowering the asking price recently by $1.7 million, to $4.99 million. It's a pretty sweet pad for a family man: The 3,600-square-foot, Mediterranean villa-style home, completely refurbished in 2002, has four bedrooms, a huge kitchen for those family meals and a rooftop pool with a waterfall for the kiddies — a great place to sunbathe. Although Sandra likely doesn't miss Jesse, she's gotta miss that.

The home where Michael Jackson died

Own a piece of (slightly macabre) history. The Holmby Hills, Calif., mansion where Michael Jackson died last summer is for sale for $28.99 million. The massive, 17,000-square-foot home, in the French Chateau style, has plenty of hardwood floors upon which to practice your Moon Walk. There's also a home theater (perfect for special screenings of Jacko's "Captain Eo"); a wine cellar and tasting room; and seven bedrooms — more than enough to house a pet chimp named Bubbles.

George Clooney's former home

You may not be a two-time winner of People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" — but you can pretend you're George Clooney if you can afford his former house. Clooney's former five-bedroom home in the hills of Studio City, Calif., is for sale for $1.25 million. The 3,300-square-foot, Spanish-style home is hidden behind a gate, with great views of Los Angeles and the mountains from a tiled backyard patio with a spa and waterfall.

The world according to George Clooney

Josh Groban

You can't sing like golden-throated Josh Groban. And here's another kick to your ego: You can't afford his house, either. But at least you can rubberneck, right? The singer, whose albums include "Noel" and "Awake," is selling his Malibu home for $5.95 million. The 6,100-square-foot home sits on Point Dume, a headland that forms the northern part of Santa Monica Bay. For your $6 million, you get not only a guest house, but a gated community with private beach rights — which is nice when those paparazzi come slinking around.

Nick Lachey

What ever happened to Nick Lachey, former "98 Degrees" singer and ex-hubbie of Jessica Simpson? Well, you may not have heard from him lately, but he's still richer than you. And he's selling his Bel-Air, Calif., estate for $6.8 million. Lachey bought the home in 2006 from Heidi Klum and Seal, according to Big Time Listings. The contemporary, four-bedroom home sits on a knoll, with wraparound views of Los Angeles, its mountains and the ocean. Who knows? Maybe Lachey is trading up: He reportedly has a new single coming out in August.

Joey Fatone

Joey Fatone is looking to move to a more family-oriented neighborhood. The former singer for the boy band 'N Sync and "Dancing with the Stars" finalist has been trying unsuccessfully to sell his gargantuan, 12,700-square-foot mansion in Orlando, Fla., for more than six months, for $6.5 million. Now he's going to put it up for auction, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Maybe Fatone is simply getting tired of walking around the place: At 3,800 square feet, the Sentinel reports, the master bedroom is larger than most Orlando homes — and Fatone reportedly cuts through his 700-square-foot closet to get to the bathroom

Ozzy Osbourne home for rent

The Malibu home of heavy-metal legend Ozzy Osbourne and his wife, Sharon, is back on the rental market. Want to sleep where the man who once bit the head off of bats once slept? It can be yours for $40,000 a month, according to RealEstalker. The couple reportedly bought the 4,500-square-foot, five-bedroom home in 2003 for $5.1 million. The master suite stretches the entire length of the second floor, offering huge views of the Pacific Ocean. But don't fear for the Osbournes' welfare: They sold another one of their homes to singer Christina Aguilera in 2007 for $11.5 million.

Ozzy poses as wax figure, scares fans

Lisa Marie Presley home

The only daughter of the King — that's right, good ol' hip-shakin', peanut-butter-and-banana-sandwich-eatin' Elvis — is selling her handsome Los Angeles estate. And for those who think they might be in the market for an exclusive, very private home, Lisa Marie Presley has recently lowered the price by $2 million, to $6.99 million. Graceland this isn't: The country-style estate in Los Angeles’ celebrity-studded Hidden Hills neighborhood has tasteful wood-beam ceilings and hardwood floors; there's even a stable on the three-acre property. No word on whether Danny Keough — the first of Presley's four husbands, who reportedly lives in a guest house on the property — comes with the sale.

White temple | City of chiang rai | Buddhist temple

2010-09-20T00:13:00.000-07:00

The city of Chiang Rai in northernmost Thailand is one of the remaining areas where traditional Thai art and culture flourish. Located near the city of Chiang Rai, about 5 kilometers to the south, is the beautiful Wat Rong Khun or White Temple. The White Temple of Northern Thailand has become a national landmark and, as one of the most recognizable temples in the country, attracts an increasingly large number of visitors every year.
This trip is not my first time visiting the White Temple but its striking white radiance always brings an overwhelming feeling to me once I arrive and step out of the vehicle.

Wat Rong Khun is unique from other temples in that it has been constructed entirely in a radiant white color with sparking reflections from mirrored glass mosaics embedded in the white plaster. The temple is the idea of Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat, one of Thailand’s most renowned artists, who wanted to build a temple all in white to signify the purity of Lord Buddha. The artist continues to puts his religious belief and desire to enrich Buddhism in Thailand into his contemporary art design. The construction of the White Temple is Khun Chalemchai’s master work, which he refers to as an offering to Lord Buddha and his beloved country.

To approach the main entrance to the main chapel, I assume must signify a kind of passage to enlightenment because this is how I feel approaching the temple. The passage is flanked by two tremendous man-like giants who somehow frighten me until I have to lower my eyes. But this doesn’t help me at all, as those grasping hands near the floor shake my nerves again. The hands are in assorted array, outstretched and seem to be pleading. I realize that this piece of art must symbolize hell and how people in hell will suffer from their bad karma.

While climbing the bridge to the main hall, I notice that I am surrounded by a huge pond containing white fishes and fountains that spout up every now and then. The pond, to me, perhaps signifies the river – Si Tarndon – that divides the mundane world from heaven. As I get closer to the main building I think that this must be a representation of heaven.

Wat Rong Khun is still a work in progress and will be for years to come. It is planned to comprise nine buildings including the ubosot (chapel), pagoda, hermitage, crematorium, monastery hall, preaching hall, museum, pavilion, and rest room facilities which will be built on an area of 7 rai (about 3 acres).

Girl plays with deadly python snakes

2010-09-18T04:27:00.000-07:00

It’s not everyday that you get to see a six-months-old girl playing with full frown pythons, but for Sidhi Siddharth Sinune this kind of snakes are everyday toys.
Because he can’t afford to buy his young daughter any toys, Sidhi’s farmer father, who tries to make ends meet as a snake catcher, admits he brings the dangerous reptiles home and lets her play with them. So while he and his wife are working in the fields, Sidhi spends her days in the lovely company of a creature that could kill her by constriction, or by swallowing her whole.

Sidhi’s father says she develops an unusual bond with the snakes, and that the reptiles love to play with her just as much as she loves playing with them. They let her squeeze them and even bithe on their tails with her gums .
While I completely understand how costly children’s toys can be, couldn’t this man carve or make something for his young daughter, instead of leaving her with a deadly python?