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The Turtle struggle with Anaconda for life

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Thu, 1 Nov 2012 05:02:00 -0700

This is the astonishing moment a tiny turtle snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after escaping the grasp of a giant anaconda.

It looked as though the turtle's fate was sealed when the large snake clapped eyes on its prey and wrapped itself around the much smaller creature.

But the courageous turtle managed to survive the struggle for several minutes before French photographer, Jean-Michel Labat, helped it to escape.

The 61-year-old was visiting Los Llanos in Venezuela when he stumbled across the extraordinary battle.

The anaconda had gripped its prey in the water, and was attempting to squeeze the air out of the turtle, which was able to cling to life because of its tough protective shell.

Mr Labat took pictures for a while before realising the turtle was in serious trouble and dropped his camera to help out.

He said: 'I found it all fascinating to watch at first but then I realised it was going to end badly for the turtle and I had to step in.

'The anaconda was trying to stifle the turtle but it came unstuck because of its hard shell.

'Even though it couldn't crush the turtle it became clear that it would drown if I didn't do something.

'It was a remarkable battle, I've never seen anything like this before and probably never will again.'

On average anacondas grow to more than 20 feet long and can weigh a staggering 21 stone.

The deadly snakes are not venomous but are known for hiding in shallow waters waiting to surprise their prey before killing them by either constricting them or drowning them.

Hurricane Sandy Sinks "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" ship - HMS Bounty

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 03:40:00 -0700

The HMS Bounty, a ship that was first built for the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty, which starred Marlin Brando, and has been featured in other movies, including Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest with Johnny Depp, late Tuesday sank off the coast of North Carolina after being hit by Hurricane Sandy.

The boat's captain was reported missing, and one of the 16 other crew members died as the storm toppled the boat, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Carol Everson, general manager of The Pier in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the vessel often docked, described the vessel "as a tremendous piece of history," the paper said. "It's devastating," she added.

Bounty crew member Claudene Christian, 42, was found "unresponsive" at sea and taken to a hospital following a dramatic rescue operation in the Atlantic Ocean, but her death was later confirmed by the hospital. The captain, identified as Robin Walbridge, 63, is still missing.

The ship had left Connecticut last week and was heading for Florida. Days before it sank, the 180 feet, three-mast vessel had changed its route in an attempt to avoid the brunt of Hurricane Sandy.

It was caught in 18 feet-high waves and 40 miles-per-hour winds, and it had taken on 10 feet of water before the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats, according to reports. The BBC showed pictures of the boat in latest news updates about Hurricane Sandy.

Crew members who made it to the lifeboats were rescued by U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crews.

The ship was a replica of the original British ship famous for the mutiny that took place near Tahiti in 1789.

Alicia Richman: Guinness World Records - Most Breastmilk Donated

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:23:00 -0700

Alicia Richman of Granbury, Texas has been declared the new Guinness World Record holder for "Most Breastmilk Donated," CBS DFW reports. Between June 2011 and March 2012, The 28-year-old mother of one donated 11,115 ounces -- or 694 pounds -- of breastmilk to charity, according to Guinness. By volume, that's about 87 gallons.

As noted by TexasMilkBank.org on its press release on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, Alicia Richman has donated 11,115 ounces (around 86.8 gallons) of her breastmilk from June 9, 2011 to March 28, 2012. She was awarded last month by the Guinness World Records for the most breastmilk donated, surpassing the earlier record of another American woman by more than 3,000 ounces.

According to the report, Richman, 28, who gave birth to her first son in March 2011, said she realized she had more than enough to feed her son when he was already 10 months old. Her two freezers were full of pumped breastmilk in plastic bags and bottles, and she has to decide on what to do with the excess milk.

"I'm so thankful that I'm able to help not only my own baby, Drake, but all of the little babies who need it and are sick," Richman told News 8. "It really feels amazing and I'm so thankful that I'm able to do it."

“I was so blessed to have more milk than I needed. I pumped at work, on vacations, in the car. And I never had to buy formula. I started searching the Internet to find out what I could do with these freezers full of milk, and that’s when I learned about the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas.” Richman was quoted in the report.

“Alicia‘s generous gift of human milk has fed hundreds, and more likely, thousands of premature babies across the United States. Three ounces of donor human milk could be as much as nine feedings for a premature baby.” Amy Vickers, executive director of the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas, said.

“We know that she’s changed lives all over Texas and beyond, and we are proud to see her earn this recognition from Guinness World Records.” Vickers added, with Richman noting that she still plans to donate her extra breastmilk when she gives birth again, and will try to break her own record.

Amazing: Liu Fei pushing snake in his nose

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:05:00 -0800

Liu Fei 53 years old man from east China's Jiangxi Province, has been performing the death-defying act for the past 30 years - what a charmer.

Sometimes, when he feels like it, the 53-year-old will even use two 3ft snakes instead of one.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing for the snake swallower though - Liu Fei has had several close calls with his writhing friends, the most serious being when he swallowed one accidentally.

Luckily for him, the serpent died in his stomach before it could cause any damage.

He does live a charmed life it seems.

VIDEO

Patrick Stull Amazing Photography of Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Fri, 7 Oct 2011 01:01:00 -0700

Artist Patrick Stull Features Amazing Photography of Pregnancy in Evolve, A Woman’s Journey

Talented artist and photographer Patrick Stull unveils his new book Evolve, A Woman’s Journey, featuring the journeys of 30 women through the transformation of pregnancy in all its joys and hardships.

The artist has shared several photos from the book to be featured below (most of these are safe for work or young eyes, but other images in the book’s collection might be NSFW- just an fyi!)

Touching on issues such as single motherhood and body image, the breathtaking Evolve (in hardback or for iPad) invites readers in to an honest conversation of embracing new life.

King Cobra Vs 6 month Child

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:16:00 -0700

This is amazing video of King Cobra Vs 6 month child.

Top 10 Unique Babies

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:34:00 -0700

Everyday, hundreds of thousands of babies are born and most of them are considered normal. Rarely, there are cases where that babies are some form of abnormalities. Some call them miracle babies and others call them genetic accidents. Here are some cases that are quite unique. You can decide whether they are accidents or miracles.

10. Baby with a Tail

The baby was born in India in 2001. His 10 inch tail was revealed to the world a year after his birth. A lot of Indians consider him to be a re-incarnation of god.

9. Baby with 16 Toes

This little boy born in China on November 5 2008, he has 8 toes on each foot and no thumbs on either hand.

8. 4 arms and 4 legs

This baby girl (Lakshmi Tatma) was born in India and was considered to be the re-incarnation of the hindu god vishnu

7. The two headed baby

In 2008, a baby was born in Bangladesh with two heads.

6. Mutated Baby

This baby was born in 2006 with a condition called anencephaly. Has something to do with improper or incomplete brain formation.

5. Baby with Harlequin-type ichthyosis

The baby born in Gilgit, Pakistan had tiger like skin in March 2010. There also seems to be something wrong with his hands, lips and eye lids. The baby passed away shortly after the birth.

4. World's smallest baby

Amillia Taylor is recorded to be the smallest baby ever to be born and luckily, just two weeks before the legal abortion limit

3. Inter-racial Twins

This is very interesting. Same parents, same date of birth, same womb but different races. Both kids (Kaydon and Layton Richardson) have just celebrated their birthday in July 2010

2. The pregnant one year old

The little baby girl was carrying her parasitic twin in her belly. She was recently operated on and is now well and normal.

1. Back from the dead - A true miracle baby

The biggest miracle of all. The premature baby was pronounced dead after birth but miraculously, two hours later the baby was well and alive.

Saddest Pictures in the World

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:50:00 -0700

“Tears keep falling…”

In the morning September 11, 2001, two hijacked passenger jets crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. This was no accident, but rather a series of attacks done by suicide bombers engaged with the Al-Qaeda terrorist group.

The attacks killed all the passengers on board the hijacked planes, and took away 2,974 innocent lives at the World Trade Center. More than 90 countries lost citizens in the attack, and the stock market was closed for a week.

Abu Ghraib:

Beginning in 2004, accounts of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including torture, rape, sodomy, and homicide of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq (also known as Baghdad Correctional Facility) came to public attention. These acts were committed by personnel of the 372nd Military Police Company of the United States Army together with additional US governmental agencies.

An Afghan Refugee Child Hides From a Dust Storm:

Bhopal India – Methyl Isocyanate Spill:

More than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate spilled from a Union Carbide-owned pesticide factory in Bhopal, India, in 1984, killing more than 20,000 people in the world’s worst chemical disaster.

After the spill, these skulls were researched, presumably for the specific effects the gas had on the brain, at the nearby Hamidia Hospital. The chemical injured not only the people who inhaled it, but also nearby animals (at least 2,000 of them) and trees, whose leaves went yellow and fell off within days.

Twenty-five years later, with people still claiming injury from the disaster yet little corrective action having been taken, the government of India has called for a study into the long-term effects of the spill.

Biafra:

When the Igbos of eastern Nigeria declared themselves independent in 1967, Nigeria blockaded their fledgling country-Biafra. In three years of war, more than one million people died, mainly of hunger. In famine, children who lack protein often get the disease kwashiorkor, which causes their muscles to waste away and their bellies to protrude.

Boston Fire:

On July 22, 1975, Stanley J. Forman was working in the newsroom of the Boston Herald American newspaper when a police scanner picked up an emergency: “Fire on Marlborough Street!” Forman rushed to the scene, where multiple fire crews were battling an intense blaze. There was a distress call for a ladder team to the rear of the building to help a stranded woman and child. Forman followed.

Buchenwald Camp:

In 1937, the Nazis constructed Buchenwald concentration camp, near Weimar, Germany. Placed over the camp’s main entrance gate, was the slogan Jedem das Seine (literally “to each his own”, but figuratively “everyone gets what he deserves”). The Nazis used Buchenwald until the camp’s liberation in 1945. From 1945 to 1950, the Soviet Union used the occupied camp as an NKVD special camp for Nazis and other Germans. On 6 January 1950, the Soviets handed over Buchenwald to the East German Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The SS left behind accounts of the number of prisoners and people coming to and leaving the camp, categorizing those leaving them by release, transfer, or death. These accounts are one of the sources of estimates for the number of deaths in Buchenwald. According to SS documents, 33,462 died in Buchenwald. These documents were not, however, necessarily accurate: Among those executed before 1944 many were listed as “transferred to the Gestapo”. Furthermore, from 1941 forward Soviet POWs were executed in mass killings. Arriving prisoners selected for execution were not entered into the camp register and therefore were not among the 33,462 dead listed in SS documents.

Burial Of an Unknown Child:

Burial of an unknown child. This picture shows the world’s worst industrial disaster, caused by the US multinational chemical company, Union Carbide.

Burning Monk:

As a protest to the This Monk slow and unreliable reforms in Vietnam, the Buddhist monks have resorted to immolation, such as this Mahayana Buddhist monk, He burned himself alive across the outskirts of Saigon, mainly because of the harshness done by the South Vietnam government to his fellow Buddhist monks.

He was re-cremated after he burned himself; his heart meanwhile remained in one piece, and because of this he was regarded as a Bodhisattva by the other Buddhist monks and followers. His act of self-immolation increased the pressure on the Di?m administration to implement their reform laws in South Vietnam.

Bushmeat:

Animals from primates to snakes are valuable commodities in the thriving, albeit illegal, worldwide trade of bushmeat, defined as wildlife killed either by commercial or subsistence hunters. With one million tons of bushmeat taken from African forests every year, the already endangered gorilla population-a primary victim of the trade-is in dire straits.

This photo shows a gorilla family in southeast Cameroon (minus the alpha male silverback, who managed to get away) that had been slaughtered in their nests by a bushmeat hunter early one morning.

Execution Of a Viet Cong Guerrilla:

This picture was shot by Eddie Adams who won the Pulitzer prize with it. The picture shows Nguyen Ngoc Loan, South Vietnam’s national police chief executing a prisoner who was said to be a Viet Cong captain. Once again the public opinion was turned against the war.

Hector Pieterson:

Hector Pieterson an icon of 1976 Soweto uprising in apartheid South Africa. Dying Hector being carried by a fellow student. He was killed at the age of 12 when the police opened fire on protesting students. For years, June 16 stood as a symbol of resistance to the brutality of the apartheid government. Today, it is known as National Youth Day – a day on which South Africans honour young people and bring attention to their needs.

Last Jew Of Vinnitsa:

Picture from an Einsatzgruppen soldier’s personal album, labelled on the back as “Last Jew of Vinnitsa, it shows a member of Einsatzgruppe D is just about to shoot a Jewish man kneeling before a filled mass grave in Vinnitsa, Ukraine, in 1941. All 28,000 Jews from Vinnitsa and its surrounding areas were massacred at the time.

Lynching Of Young Blacks:

This is a famous picture, taken in 1930, showing the young black men accused of raping a Caucasian woman and killing her boyfriend, hanged by a mob of 10,000 white men. The mob took them by force from the county jail house. Another black man was left behind and ended up being saved from lynching. Even if lynching photos were designed to boost white supremacy, the tortured bodies and grotesquely happy crowds ended up revolting many.

Nagasaki Hiroshima Masroon Clouds:

This is the picture of the “mushroom cloud” showing the enormous quantity of energy. The first atomic bomb was released on August 6 in Hiroshima (Japan) and killed about 80,000 people. On August 9 another bomb was released above Nagasaki. The effects of the second bomb were even more devastating – 150,000 people were killed or injured. But the powerful wind, the extremely high temperature and radiation caused enormous long term damage.

Napalm Girl:

The photo shows Phan Thi Kim Phúc (a Vietnamese-Canadian) at about age nine running naked on the street after being severely burned on her back by a South Vietnamese napalm attack.

Nile Perch in Lake:

One of the 100 most invasive species in the world the Nile perch was introduced to East Africa’s Lake Victoria in the 1950s, and has wreaked environmental havoc ever since. It’s illegal to possess or sell in some parts of the world, and is thought to have caused the extinction or endangering of hundreds of native species in Lake Victoria.

After the fish eliminated much of the algae-eating population, the lake became choked with algae. The perch has also increased local demand for firewood, because their higher fat content drives people to smoke them rather than dry them. Adult perch can grow to weigh more than 440 pounds, and are fierce predators that feed on insects, crustaceans, and other fish-even those of its own species.

Pictured here are dead Nile perch on a butcher table waiting for transport to local markets.

Nilgunyalcin Child Vulture:

Sudanese child being stalked by a vulture nearby. It is quite obvious that the child was starving to death, while the vulture was patiently waiting for the toddler to die so he can have a good meal.

Nobody knows what happened to the child, who crawled his way to a United Nations food camp. Photographer Kevin Carter won a Pulitzer Prize for this shocking picture, but he eventually committed suicide three months after he took the shot.

Palestine Father Saving Son:

Images from the video footage of 12-year-old Muhammad al-Durrah being shot dead in the Gaza Strip. The scene was filmed by a France 2 cameraman.

Palestinian Refugees:

World Press Photo of the Year: 1976 Françoise Demulder, France, Gamma. Beirut, Lebanon, January 1976. Palestinian refugees in the district La Quarantaine. About the image She was the first woman to win the World Press Photo, and did so on the 20th anniversary of the award. Demulder stated at the time that she hated war, but felt compelled to document how it’s always the innocent who suffer, while the powerful get richer and richer.

Palm Oil Deforestation:

Indonesia is home to the world’s third largest tropical forest, but it’s disappearing quickly. Though often illegal, the forests are cut down both for a booming pulp and paper industry as well as to clear land for oil palm plantations, which supply diverse industries from biofuel to soap to cosmetics.

Because of deforestation, Indonesia is also the world’s third largest greenhouse gas contributor, behind only the U.S. and China; after the forest is cut down, the carbon normally sequestered in the peatland soil is no longer shielded from being released into the atmosphere.

Pollution and Power Lines:

China’s economy has exploded in recent years; so has its pollution problem, leaving no aspect of the country’s environment unaffected. Solid waste often lacks proper disposal, waterways have been polluted, and the air quality has plummeted, largely due to the coal-fired power plants that serve as the country’s primary source of energy.

Environmental degradation has gotten so bad that the Chinese government, which doesn’t easily take-or allow-criticism, has admitted that birth defects in the country have increased as a direct result of it, particularly in coal-producing regions like the north, where this picture was taken.

Second Largest Oil Spill Ever:

The Ixtoc I exploratory well suffered a blowout on June 3, 1979, in Mexico’s Bay of Campeche, 600 miles south of Texas. The well was not brought under control until the next year, by which time 140 million gallons had spilled into the bay. The only larger spill occurred during the 1991 Gulf War, when Iraq dumped-deliberately-up to 462 million gallons of oil into the Persian Gulf.

Segregated water Fountains:

A segregated water fountain with a vastly larger and more desirable fountain for whites, and a small fountain for minorities.

Sludge Kingston Tennessee:

More than 1 billion gallons of toxic sludge were released into a Tennessee community when a dam collapsed last December, causing a massive coal-ash spill at the Kingston Fossil Plant, a coal-burning power plant owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Coal ash is known to contain dangerous elements including arsenic, lead, and selenium, yet the TVA refused at first to issue any health warnings about contamination from the spill. The agency, which weeks later admitted prior leak problems at the plant, also refused initially to declare as uninhabitable the houses in the area, like the one pictured here, that were physically relocated by all the sludge.

Starving Boy:

World Press Photo of the Year: 1980 Mike Wells, United Kingdom. Karamoja district, Uganda, April 1980. Starving boy and a missionary. About the image Wells felt indignant that the same publication that sat on his picture for five months without publishing it, while people were dying, entered it into a competition. He was embarrassed to win as he never entered the competition himself, and was against winning prizes with pictures of people starving to death.

The American Bison:

A product of U.S. Army-sanctioned mass slaughter of American bison in the 1800s, these bison skulls are waiting to be ground for fertilizer, most likely in the American midwest. The slaughter was so “effective” that the population of bison in the U.S. is estimated to have dropped from around 60 million in 1800 to as few as 750 in 1890.

Tsunami Dead Bodies:

The Boxing Day Tsunami that struck Thailand in 2004 caused approximately 350,000 deaths and many more injuries.

View of Floods:

An aerial view of floods caused by Tropical Storm Hanna is seen in Gonaives, Haiti on September 3, 2008. Haiti’s civil protection office said 37 of the 90 Hanna-related deaths had occurred in the port city of Gonaives.

Boy With Record 31 Fingers and Toes

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:07:00 -0700

A 6-year-old boy shows his hands: one with seven fingers and another with eight, in Shengjing Hospital in Shenyang, capital of northeast China’s Liaoning province, on March 22, 2010. Ready to undergo an operation, the boy has a total of 31 fingers and toes, which outnumber the current world record of 25.

An X-ray of the feet of the 6-year-old boy who has a total of 31 fingers and toes, which outnumber the current world record of 25.

8 Most Bizarre Body Modifications

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 05:01:00 -0700

1.Eyeball Tattoo
Corneal tattooing is not only possible, but it has been known and done now for over 2,000 years — it became almost commonplace in the late 19th century and into the 20th century to correct defects such as corneal scarring and leucomas. These days, it is done less often because contact lenses are very effective at covering these defects, and prosthetic technology is also more accessible. However, not everyone can wear contact lenses, and not everyone wants their eyeball popped out even if it is blind; hence cosmetic tattooing of the eye.

2.Scarification
Scarification is the creative and artistic application of scars in a controlled manner to achieve an aesthetically or spiritually pleasing result. In the process of body scarification, scars are formed by cutting the skin. Even though many people hold that scarification is no more painful than tattooing, it is somehow more "intense" to most of them.

3.3D-Art Implant
A 3D-Art implant is any object implanted fully under the skin for the purpose of affecting a sculptural change of the surface. The "invention" and popularization of implants as 3D-Art is credited primarily to Steve Haworth. Implants can be stretched just like piercings. A good example of this are horn implants—they start as smaller implants, and are then taken out when healed and replaced with slightly larger ones. This process is repeated to achieve the final size. There are some risks of irritation to the skin above the implant if this process is pushed too fast, as with all stretching.

4.Corset Piercings
One of the newest trends in body modification comes in the form of corset piercings. They are a series of surface piercings arranged up the back in two vertical columns. The piercing is located in the spot where the eyelets would be if one was wearing a corset. It is a symmetrical piercing with an equal number of holes on each side. As few as four holes can be used (two on each side) up to as many as the expanse of skin will allow.

5.Branding
The Human Branding is, perhaps, the most painful of all body modifications. In full-scale branding, the iron is heated hot enough and applied long enough that the resulting wound is a third degree burn, which destroys the nerve. These third-degree burns never regain sensitivity. It will make a silver scarred area in the shape of the third degree burn, due to destruction of the entire dermis layer of the skin. The surrounding skin will eventually fill in areas that haven’t been severely damaged, which takes years.

6.Body Suspension
Body suspension is the act of suspending the human body via temporary piercings made just before the suspension process. The body is then raised either partially or completely from the ground by especially modified fishing hooks.

7.Tongue bifurcation
One of the newest body modifications to hit the scene is tongue splitting, or tongue bifurcation. The process involves literally cutting the tongue in half directly down the center. Once the tongue is split it is possible to move both sections independently of one another.

8.Pointy Ears
New York plastic surgoen Dr. Lajos Nagy created a surgical procedure to make human ears pointed, like a mythological creature. According to the doc, "ears becoming pointed as a result of plastic surgery not only enhance the attractiveness of the face, but also improve the experience of listening to music."

Amazing Wax Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sun, 8 Aug 2010 13:20:00 -0700

Do u think only London and Paris have Wax Museums........Look at these amazing statues capturing village life in India ... Beat this!!

Location - Siddhagiri Museum , Kolhapur … it's on the outskirts of Kolhapur (Maharashtra), on the way to “ Belgaum “

Worth a watch….all statues are made out of wax !!!

A unique project, perhaps the only project in India situated at Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math, Kaneri, Tal. Karveer, Dist. Kolhapur. The place is near Kolhapur city on Pune Banglore Highway.

The main objective of the Project is to refresh the history of self sufficient village life before the invasion of Mughals in Maharashtra. There were 12 BALUTEDARS (12 main profession based casts i.e. Professions performed by generation by family members) and 18 ALUTEDARS, who provided equipments to all villagers useful in their day-to-day necessities of domestic as well as Agricultural life.

These Balutedars, Alutedars and others had a special characteristics with which they served society. The description of all 18 Alutedars, 12 balutedars and other people and there duties are vividly depicted in the museum.

The first phase of the museum spans over 7 Acres of area with almost 80 main scenes and around 300 statues. Several subtle village lifestyles are taken into consideration. There is a unique combination of expression, accuracy and liveliness in the whole village. Each sculpture has a multi dimensional effect and lifestyle theme which Swamiji very keenly arranged each and every scene to make a proper visual story. In the total cluster the village demonstrate a self sufficient machinery within village. Barter economy, Interpersonal healthy happy relationship among villagers is reflected. The Museum projects the entire village as a single family, and as single family members in a joint family. No adulteration, no cut thought practice, no mad Rat Race, No pollution, but Caring, and delightful atmosphere, no bitter feeling, but fertile land, clean water, clean air, quality food, maximum use of natural resources, cattle field, livestock, job satisfaction. All these things are reflecting the beauty, Joy, satisfaction of human race and oneness with nature. It advises us to get back to nature, without disturbing the equilibrium of nature and many other things which are beyond our imagination.

Amazing Soccer Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Fri, 6 Aug 2010 10:32:00 -0700

Top Ten Most Expensive Paintings

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:09:00 -0700

Hundreds of thousands — even millions — of dollars are spent every year by art patrons eager to own the world’s most sought-after paintings.

Find out a little more about this shortlist of Picasso’s, Van Gogh’s and more works from famous artists who still command the highest prices, what makes these paintings so special, and why they’re worth so very much…

1)1. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Gustav Klimt ($135,000,000)

This record breaking sale was enabled by a court order by the Austrian government to return the painting to the Artist’s rightful heir. The entire dispute lasted over a year and was necessary to return the painting that was looted by the Nazis during World War II.

Skillfully painted in 1907 by the art nouveau master Gustav Klimt, the painting was purchased by Ronald S. Lauder, the cosmetics heir, in 2006.

2. Garcon a la Pipe by Pablo Picasso ($104,100,000)

Created during the Rose Period, Garcon a la Pipe showcases Picasso’s exceptional use of cheerful orange and pink palatte.

The oil on canvas painting, measuring 100 ? 81.3 cm (slightly over 39 ? 32 inches), displays a Parisian boy holding a pipe in his left hand.

The record price auction at the time on May 4, 2004 in Sotheby’s was a bit of a surprise to the core art buyers, because it was painted in the style not usually associated with the pioneering Cubist artist.

" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaQXciLKfvBC2TWPk6Sz2nhKnWrZ0mW50xBQLb0Lu1ye2OM7UvrMZEIFnbGoH4frW9Na6HHmMKV5bgk2r864RKWj-aCDmbwjvBCGXdU3m3fY9hS5jc0-Icu5Yu-ZuCMzMj-i9KX-VR2A/s400/wwwsupiricom_21_2.jpg" alt="The oil on canvas painting, measuring 100 ? 81.3 cm (slightly over 39 ? 32 inches), displays a Parisian boy holding a pipe in his left hand." id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448584990311792978" border="0" />

3. Dora Maar with Cat by Pablo Picasso ($95,200,000)

Another enormous surprise followed in 2006, when this painting near doubled its inaccurate presale estimate and brought in new record $95,200,000 at auction at Sotheby’s on May 3, 2006.

Painted in 1941, Picasso’s controversial portrait (one of his last) is sometimes described as an unflattering depiction of his mistress, Dora Maar, who was an artist/photographer and mistress of Picasso whose relationship lasted ten years during the 1930s and 40s.

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4. Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh ($82,500,000)

This painting by the Dutch Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh suddenly became world-famous when Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito paid $82.5 million for it at auction in Christie’s, New York. Saito was so attached to the painting that he wanted it to be cremated with him when he died. Saito died in 1996 … but the painting was saved.

Vincent van Gogh actually painted two versions of Dr Gachet’s portrait. You can view the other version, with a slightly different color scheme, at Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

5. Bal Au Moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir ($78,000,000)

Bal au moulin de la Galette, Montmartre was painted by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1876. On May 17, 1990, it was sold for $ 78,000,000 at Sotheby’s in New York City to Ryoei Saito, who bought it together with the Portrait of Dr Gachet (see above).

6. Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens ($76,700,000)

This painting by Peter Paul Rubens, painted in 1611, is the only painting in this list which was not painted in the 19th or 20th century. It was sold to Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet for $ 76,700,000 at a 2002 Sotheby’s auction.

7. Portrait de l'Artiste sans Barbe by Vincent van Gogh ($71,500,000)

Portrait de l’artiste sans barbe (”Self-portrait without beard”) is one of many self-portraits by Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. He painted this one in Saint-R?my-de-Provence, France in September 1889. The painting is a oil painting on canvas and is 40 cm x 31 cm (16? x 13?).

This is an uncommon painting since his other self-portraits show him with a beard. The self-portrait became one of the most expensive paintings of all time when it was sold for $71.5 million in 1998 in New York.

8. Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier by Paul Cézanne ($60,500,000)

This painting by Paul Cézanne, painted in ca. 1893-1894, sold for $60,500,000 at Sotheby’s New York on May 10, 1999 to “The Whitneys”. Whitney, born into one of America’s wealthiest families, was a venture capitalist, publisher, Broadway show and Hollywood film producer, and philanthropist.

9. Femme aux Bras Croisés by Pablo Picasso ($55,000,000)

This work, painted in 1901, was a part of Picasso’s famous Blue Period, a dark, sad time in the artist’s life. The beautiful & various tones of blue are typical. The painting depicts a woman with her arms crossed staring at the endless nothing.

Femme aux Bras Croisés was sold for $55,000,000 November 8, 2000, at Christie’s Rockefeller in New York City.

10. Irises by Vincent Van Gogh ($53,900,000)

Vincent van Gogh painted this at Saint Paul-de-Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France in 1889, only one year before his death. In 1987, it became the most expensive painting to date. It was sold for $ 54,000,000 to Alan Bond and later resold to the Getty Museum.

New Titanic

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:49:00 -0700

MS Explorer of the Seas is one of five Voyager-class cruise ships from Royal Caribbean International. It can handle over 3100 guests, including scientists making use of a built-in atmospheric and oceanographic laboratory operated by the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Voyager-class ships are the third largest passenger ships in the world, after Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Royal Caribbean’s own Freedom Class.

Great Sand Sculpture Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:23:00 -0700

SAND ART :- In Orissa, a unique type of art form is developed at Puri . But it spreads all over the world . To carve a sand sculpture , the raw material is the only clean and fine grained sand mixed with water . With the help of this type of sand and with the blessings of God and by the magic of fingers , an artist can carve a beautiful and attractive sculpture on the beach.

There are very few people who leave their foot prints on sands. One of them is Sudarsan Pattnaik. He has magic fingers, with unlimited potentials and with immense heat to create some thing new on sand. He had always a dream that he would win a prize in an international level. For his excellent talent he travels many countries like London, France, Scotland, China, Holand, Singapore, Denmark and Italy. He is also appreciated by many for his attractive sand sculpture. Now he became an international artist. In the World Master's Sand Sculpture Championship held at Italy in July 2001 he represented India and got 3rd prize as first Indian . "Golden Sand Art Institute " which is an open air institute in Puri Beach behind Mayfair Hotel started in the year 1995. Around 50 students are taking training in this institute including tourists. Tourists can take basic 7-10 days familiarization course. Beautiful gallery on the beach can be observed in the beach in the afternoon from 4-6 P.M. The institute is run by Mr Sudarsan Patnaik, e-mail: sudarsansand@hotmail.com , Marichikote Lane, Puri-752001, Orissa, India

His works are mostly based on current world issues, ranging from climate change to world peace. “For last two years, everywhere I heard about the issues of global warming and climate change, so I started working on these issues,” he said.
He has produced several sand sculptures of US President Barack Obama. On November 2, 2008, he made a sand sculpture of US presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

Report by Orissadiary correspondent; Puri: It is the 1st anniversary of Mumbai Terror attacks. People from different part of India giving their tributes in different way to the victims of 26/11. Internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand image to tribute the innocent people and the National hero who were passed away on this sad event, at Golden sea beach of Orissa, with a massage to the world, "All Ideologies end up killing people" & "Stop terrorism".

People to gather at Puri beach to tribute near the sand image of hotel Taj to the innocent people who died on last year 26 Nov. We should stand together to fight against the terrorist, Pattnaik said. Before Sudarsan has also created many sand sculptures to condemn terrorist attacks.

Pattnaik created a 7ft high sand sculpture of Taj Hotel by using 6 tones of sand. Students of his sand art institute join hand with him to complete the sculpture.

Sudarsan has so far participated in more than 39 international sand sculpture championships across the world and won many awards for the country. In 2008 Sudarsan won the World champion title as a first Indian at Germany. He always tries to give message on social issues to World through his sand sculptures

Bhubaneswar, July 13 (IANS) Orissa based sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik was Monday announced as the winner of the people’s choice award at the world championship held in Berlin last month for his 15-feet-high image of Lord Buddha.
Pattnaik, who hails from Orissa’s beach city of Puri, 56 km from here is the first Indian to win the contest.

Last year he had won the jury prize in the same contest in Berlin for his sculpture that showed the famous polar bear Knut, which lives in the Berlin Zoo.

“The people’s choice award that I have won this time is the most prestigious award which is decided on the basis of votes given by the audience,” Pattnaik told IANS over phone from his home.

“The award was announced today (Monday) and the producer of the festival Anja Smolle has formally informed me by email,” he said.

“At least 12 artists from 12 countries participated in this competition,” he said.

While his sculpture got 1,383 votes, the second prize went to Gianni Schiumarini (Italy) with 439 votes, he said.

Pattnaik created the image of a sitting Buddha for the 2nd United Sand Festival (USF) World Solo Sand Sculpture Championship 2009 held June 4-11 in the German capital. The sculpture was on display from June 11-12.

Pattnaik has participated in more than 39 international sand sculpture festivals and competitions and won several prizes.

Pattnaik, who figured in the Limca Book of Records in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 editions for his work, will also find place in the 2009 edition for winning the United Sand Festivals (USF) World Double Championship held June 5.

World Record, Holds breath underwater for 19 minutes and 21 seconds.

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:42:00 -0800

A Swiss diver has broken the world record for holding his breath underwater - for 19 minutes and 21 seconds.

Freediver Peter Colat, 38, said the first 12 minutes without air were 'no problem' after plunging into a water tank at a holiday fair in St Gallen, Switzerland.

Mr Colat smashed the previous record held by Italian Nicola Putignano by 19 seconds.

Winner: Peter Colat broke the previous record held by Italian Nicola Putignano by 19 seconds

Under the rules for so-called 'static apnea' laid down by the Guinness World Records, Mr Colat was allowed to breath pure oxygen for ten minutes before the feat yesterday.

Breathless: Under the rules of the record, Peter Colat was permitted to breathe pure oxygen for ten minutes before the feat

He said afterwards: 'The first 12 minutes were not a problem and I felt the first need to breathe very late, but because of this it was even stronger.'

Magician David Blaine set a world record in 2008 when he held his breath for 17 minutes and 4 seconds, breaking Mr Colat's previous record of 16 minutes and 32 seconds on Oprah Winfrey's talk show.

According to the British Freediving Association, participants must 'enter a very relaxed state so as to minimise oxygen consumption.'

All Olympic Logos - Amazing

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 13:28:00 -0700

Hong Kong International Airport - World's Best Airport

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 13:21:00 -0700

Hong Kong International Airport - World's Best Airport - Amazing

7 Amazing Holes - Don't Dare to Miss this!

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 13:04:00 -0700

Looking at photos like these scares and fascinates me in equal doses. The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how tiny you are. Mirny Diamond Mine, Siberia. I'm pretty sure most people have seen this one. It's an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mine in the world, at 525 metres deep with a top diameter of 1200 metres there's even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters being sucked in.

The red arrow in the photo below is pointing to a huge truck.

Kimberley Big Hole - South Africa apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this 1097 metre deep mine yielded over 3 tonnes of diamonds before being closed in 1914.

The amount of earth removed by workers is estimated to total 22.5 million tonnes.

Glory Hole - Monticello Dam - A glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the resevoir.

This is the glory hole belonging to monticello dam in california and it's the largest in the world, its size enabling it to consume 14400 cubic feet of water every second.

The hole can be seen at the top middle of the photo above. if you were to jump in for some reason your slightly damp body would shoot out near the bottom of the dam (below).

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah, this is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit increasing in size constantly. in its current state the hole is 3/4 mile deep and 2.5 miles wide.

Great Blue Hole, Belize situated 60 miles off the mainland of belize is this incredible geographical phenomenon known as a blue hole. there are numerous blue holes around the world but none as stunning as this one.

at surface level the near perfectly circular hole is 1/4 mile wide, the depth in the middle reaching 145 metres. obviously the hole is a huge hit with divers. read more here.

Diavik Mine, Canada this incredible mine can be found 300km northeast of YellowKnife in Canada.

The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it even has its own airport with a runway large enough to accomodate a boeing 737. it also looks equally as cool when the surrounding water is frozen.

Sinkhole, Guatemala - a sinkhole is caused when water (usually rainwater or sewage) is soaked up by the earth on a large scale, resulting in the ground collapsing.

These photos are of a Sinkhole which occured early this year in Guatemala. The hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.

Officials blamed the monster of a hole on a ruptured sewage pipe.

Two Headed Snake - Amazing Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 12:58:00 -0700

This is a rare two headed snake found by a farmer in a village in Alicante, Spain. The chances of a two headed snake surviving in the wild is very slim as both would often fight over which head will swallow the prey as well as difficulty in deciding which direction to go.

Amazing Strange City in Greece

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 12:11:00 -0700

Amazing Strange City situated between rocks in Greece

The Oops Factor!

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 12:03:00 -0700

Things that make you say "Oh my......

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 11:56:00 -0700

TORNADO

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 11:51:00 -0700

Some of The Best Shooting

noreply@blogger.com (Anil P) — Sat, 3 Oct 2009 11:39:00 -0700