AMAZOLITA

Brush with death: Girl with rare reaction to static electricity could die - if she simply combs her hair

2012-03-06T09:02:00.000-08:00

It is part of every teenager’s daily routine.

But one Scottish schoolgirl has been given a dire warning that she could die by simply brushing her hair.

Megan Stewart dices with death each time she combs her locks or touches balloons because of an extremely rare medical condition.

The 13-year-old suffers from Hair Brushing Syndrome, which was only discovered by her mother as she was getting her daughter ready for her first day at primary six.

Doctors at Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow, told her parents they had only ever heard of one other case of the syndrome which forces the youngster to avoid any kind of static as it triggers a potentially fatal reaction.

Last night, Megan’s mother Sharon described how she discovered her daughter’s illness.

She said: 'I was brushing her hair in the living room when she flopped over and her lips turned blue.

'I thought she was having a fit, which she has never had before, so we called the paramedics.

'It was really scary. We were really shocked because we didn’t know what was happening.

The 41-year-old added: 'We had never heard of this condition before and we have been told by doctors that they have only ever heard of one other case ever.'

Now, the teenager, from Wishaw, Lanarkshire has to have her hair brushed downwards over the side of her bed, and ensures it is damp so she can avoid another seizure.

Doctors have been left baffled by her condition which causes dizziness and can trigger a seizure.

The teenager, from Wishaw, Lanarkshire, was rushed to Wishaw General Hospital where it was diagnosed and it is thought the little-known illness may be a result of her birth complications.

Megan was born weighing just 2lb 5oz and fit in the palm of a man’s hand.

She had a diaphragmatic hernia, or a hole in her diaphragm.

This meant her stomach moved right up through and into her chest, only allowing space for one lung to grow.

But the bizarre condition means Megan now has to avoid static charges in her day-to-day life.

Mrs Stewart added: 'When we comb her hair we have to lay her down and cover her head with water to stop any static building up.

'She can’t rub balloons on her head at parties.'

The 41-year-old added: 'We had never heard of this condition before and we have been told by doctors that they have only ever heard of one other case ever.'

Now, the teenager, from Wishaw, Lanarkshire has to have her hair brushed downwards over the side of her bed, and ensures it is damp so she can avoid another seizure.

Doctors have been left baffled by her condition which causes dizziness and can trigger a seizure.

The teenager, from Wishaw, Lanarkshire, was rushed to Wishaw General Hospital where it was diagnosed and it is thought the little-known illness may be a result of her birth complications.

Megan was born weighing just 2lb 5oz and fit in the palm of a man’s hand.

She had a diaphragmatic hernia, or a hole in her diaphragm.

This meant her stomach moved right up through and into her chest, only allowing space for one lung to grow.

But the bizarre condition means Megan now has to avoid static charges in her day-to-day life.

Mrs Stewart added: 'When we comb her hair we have to lay her down and cover her head with water to stop any static building up.

'She can’t rub balloons on her head at parties.'

'So tiny': Megan, pictured here aged 3, was born with a hernia in her diaphragm, which may be related to the syndrome

Mrs Stewart had a difficult pregnancy and at six months was diagnosed with the potentially fatal condition pre-eclampsia.

The concerned mum-to-be was forced to have an emergency caesarean to save her child.

She said: 'I didn’t really know what it was but I knew I could die from it, so I was absolutely terrified.

'I was put on a lot of drugs and from then on I can’t remember anything, apparently I nearly died.'

But thanks to the skills of doctors at Bellshill Maternity Hospital, Lanarkshire, Mrs Stewart made a full recovery.

But tiny Megan spent the next 18 months in Glasgow’s Yorkhill Hospital.

And, while she has been left with a number of difficult health problems, her parents have been left baffled by her Hair Brushing Syndrome.

Megan, also suffers from asthma and a condition called dorsal stream dysfunction, which makes it difficult to see fast-moving objects, like footballs.

And while she faces further surgery in the future, her family said she is living life to the full.

And, she is even planning a charity fundraiser for Yorkhill on October 8.

Mrs Stewart added: 'She’s a very happy and lively young girl.

'When she was in hospital there were so many children in there that were dying and very ill so we are just glad that she is healthy and able to live her life.

'She really did defy all odds. She’s a little miracle.'

BEST OF 80'S METAL BAND HAIRSTYLES

2012-02-03T05:46:00.000-08:00

Wildside - Such smooth, soft, ladylike hair. I especially love the girl perm and cowboy hat on the far right.

Winger - From all the money they spent on hair products, the band only broke even financially.

TUFF - Nothing says tough like sweeping bangs, and the haircut of a 40 year old cosmetologist from Texas.

Tiger Tailz - Adding the 'z' on tails makes the name really tough, just like their hair.

Pretty Boy Floyd - Pretty indeed, pretty indeed.

BulletBoys (?) - Some truly gorgeous rocker hair.

Shotgun Messiah - I love the two Dianna Ross haircuts going on there. And are those dreads? I think so.

Ratt - It's a shame none of them had rat tails to go with their rockin' dues.

Queensryche - So many beautiful perms. Also, what's goin' on with the dude in the center? Seriously.

Poison - Nobody could work a can of aquanet, a blow dryer, and a pick, quite like Poison.

Poison - More gorgeous, fluffy Poison hair.

Nitro - When you can no longer see your eyes, you know you have some awesome hair. I have an overwhelming urge to pet them, and feed them a milkbone.

Motley Crue - Yeah, that's right, they rock.

Skid Row - Smooth, silky, well groomed. In a word, classy.

Britny Fox - Ahh, classic.

Hanoi Rocks - The blond has a Boy George thing going on there.

Enuff Z Nuff - Oh no, it's never enough when it comes to awesome rocker hair.

Cinderella - You are ready for the ball, sirs. Especially you, in the Tarzan leotard. You will be the prettiest one at the ball.

Cinderella - There hair isn't quite as magnificent here, but still quite stunning.

THE GREAT MOUSTACHES

2012-02-03T05:41:00.000-08:00

Real manly men have moustaches, that's not opinion, it's fact. Chuck Norris anyone? Burt Reynolds? Tom Selleck? It's not coincidence that the manliest men in the world have them, no, moustaches really make the man. The best part is, there are so many neat types of moustaches; from the majestic, to the super duper creepy. Enjoy these different moustaches and moustache types:

Natural – Moustache may be styled without aids. The hairs are allowed to start growing from up to a maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip.

Hungarian – Big and bushy, beginning from the middle of the upper lip and pulled to the side. The hairs are allowed to start growing from up to a maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip.

Dalí – narrow, long points bent or curved steeply upward; areas past the corner of the mouth must be shaved. Artificial styling aids needed. Named after Salvador Dalí who was known to paint with the tips of his moustache.

English – narrow, beginning at the middle of the upper lip the whiskers are very long and pulled to the side, slightly curled; the ends are pointed slightly upward; areas past the corner of the mouth usually shaved. Artificial styling may be needed.

Imperial – whiskers growing from both the upper lip and cheeks, curled upward (distinct from the royale, or impériale)

Freestyle – All moustaches that do not match other classes. The hairs are allowed to start growing from up to a maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip. Aids are allowed.

'Pancho Villa' moustache – similar to the Fu Manchu but thicker; also known as a "droopy moustache", generally much more so than that normally worn by the historical Pancho Villa.

Handlebar – bushy, with small upward pointing ends. See baseball pitcher Rollie Fingers. Also known as a "spaghetti moustache", because of its stereotypical association with Italian men.

Horseshoe – Often confused with the Fu Manchu style, the horseshoe was possibly popularized by modern cowboys and consists of a full moustache with vertical extensions from the corners of the lipsdown to the jawline and resembling an upside-down horseshoe. Also known as biker moustache.

Pencil moustache – narrow, straight and thin like a pencil, closely clipped, outlining the upper lip, with a wide shaven gap between the nose and moustache. Also known as a Mouthbrow, worn by John Waters.

Chevron - thick and wide, usually covering the top of the upper lip. NASCAR driver Richard Petty wears a narrow Chevron.

Toothbrush – thick, but shaved except for about an inch (2.5 cm) in the center; associated with Adolf Hitler, Charlie Chaplin, Oliver Hardy, and Robert Mugabe.

Walrus – bushy, hanging down over the lips, often entirely covering the mouth. Worn by Wilford Brimley and Jamie Hyneman

The GG – bushy hair grown only over the corners of the mouth, shaved in the middle. Named after musician and performing artist GG Allin, the most well-known wearer of the style. It is a shortened version of the one worn by Genghis Khan.

A Fu Manchu - the mustache is a full mustache that extends downward past the lips and on either side of the chin and might go all the way down to the toes. Often, the ends of the mustache will hang past the jaw, with pointed or tapered ends. The Fu Manchu is similar to the more common horseshoe (or "biker") moustache.

Other nifty moustaches:

CELEBRITY WITH BAD TEETH

2012-02-03T05:33:00.000-08:00

Let's be honest with ourselves, some people don't have great looking teeth. It doesn't mean you are a bad person, it just means your teeth aren't your greatest asset. You would think that celebrities would spend lots of money to fix their teeth, since in Hollywood image is everything, but some of them are happy with them just the way they are. Here are some celebrities with bad teeth, hope they make you smile:

Shane McGowan from the Pogues.

Kirsten Dunst has bad teeth. It's like she never got her big girl teeth, or she was cursed to wander the earth with the teeth of an elf.

Tom Cruise has bad teeth. His smile is all gummy, his gums are all red and irritated, his two front teethare like Chiclets, and they are off center.

Steve Buscemi has bad teeth, but he is a great actor. He has that one awful snaggle tooth. It's like that one tooth is British. The rest of his mouth isn't pretty, but that one makes me nauseous.

Mike Tyson has bad teeth. If you ever run into him, I hope you have had your tetanus shot.

Madonna has bad teeth. Madonna, it isn't cute, that gap is gross and unsettling. Grab some spackle and a trowel, and fill that sucker in.

John Heder has bad teeth. In Napoleon Dynamite the teeth fit the role perfectly, since then it is just distracting. Though perhaps it will distract people from how bad he is in every movie not called Napoleon Dynamite.

Hillary Duff has bad teeth. The worst part? These horse teeth are self inflicted. Duff used to have a nice, normal smile, until she capped them all.

Elliott Yamin from American Idol has bad teeth. Poor spacing, over sized, yellow, what isn't going wrong here?

Amy Winehouse has bad teeth. Yikes. She looks like a crazy person. Oh wait, she is.

Avril Lavigne has bad teeth. They would almost be nice, if she didn't have that one vampire fang.

Ricky Gervais has bad teeth. He is funny as hell, but his teeth aint helping him. Being British is no excuse, you still have to floss.

Morgan Freeman has bad teeth. It's like he has to inverse snaggle teeth. Instead of being big and sticking out, his incisors are tiny, and hidden. The orange hue isn't doing him any favors either.

Jewel has bad teeth. Is she super hot? Yes. But she looks better with her mouth closed.

Hillary has bad teeth. No explanation needed.

CAN YOU CONTROL UR TASTEBUDS??

2011-09-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

Woman with 700 cats

2011-08-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

Lynea Lattanzio, who is the founder and owner of California’s largest cat sanctuary. Can you imagine, 700 cats?!

Tune into Nat Geo Wild on Saturday, July 30 at 10pm ET/PT to see the full story. As always we are happy to share some sneak peeks with you!

Her own cat was all she wanted as a little girl. Her mother said, “No.” Now she has more than 700.

“I bet she’s sorry now!” says Lynea Lattanzio, referring to her mother’s forbiddance of felines in the house. Founder and owner of California’s largest no-cage, no-kill cat sanctuary, Lattanzio lives with more than 700 cats. Boxes of abandoned kittens, emergency CPR, meds for sick strays — each day brings a new set of challenges to her refuge on 12 acres in central California. In this new special, follow the struggles of Lattanzio and her passionate staff as they provide a safe haven to felines in all predicaments and work to place them in loving, permanent homes on Nat Geo WILD.

“Largest Cat Rescue on Earth” – It’s never a dull moment at the Cat House on the Kings, a sanctuary for abandoned cats in California where over 700 cats live without fear.

Lynea Lattanzio wanted her own cat when she was little, and her mother said "no." Now, she has more than 700:

"I bet she's sorry now!" says Lynea Lattanzio, referring to her mother's forbiddance of felines in the house. Founder and owner of California's largest no-cage, no-kill cat sanctuary, Lattanzio lives with more than 700 cats. Boxes of abandoned kittens, emergency CPR, meds for sick strays — each day brings a new set of challenges to her refuge on 12 acres in central California.

Nat Geo WILD has the story:

Link - Thanks Minjae!

SAMSUNG GALAXY SKIN - Unbelievable concept

2011-08-08T22:35:00.000-07:00

The concept is called Samsung Galaxy Skin, since it flexes, bends and adjusts to the task at hand. There are two fairly rigid sides, and a flexible screen in the middle, so that a number of shapes and poses variations are possible, depending whether you are listening to music, using the GPS in your car, or projecting images from the phone.

The Samsung Galaxy Skin is also meant to be super thin and to use a special version of Google's mobile OS, called Android Flexy, which adjusts the interface according to the phone's current position and the app it is running, as in the renders below:

Flexible transparent Li-Ion battery

Stanford university came out with a transparent Li-Ion battery that is also quite flexible, and will be perfect for placing into a phone like the Samsung Galaxy Skin one day.

The good part is that these flexible batteries retain capacity almost as good as the metal collector-based ones we use in our smnartphones now, and are not going to cost much more to manufacture either. Watch the transparent flexible batteries demo in the Stanford video below, and dream of the times we will have phones like the Samsung Galaxy Skin concept in our hands.

Sawfishes have Sixth Sense ??

2011-07-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

Sawfishes belong to a group of fishes called elasmobranchs that includes sharks, rays, and skates. All Elasmobranchs have a skeleton made of cartilage as opposed to a skeleton made of bone like other fishes such as red drum, snook, or tarpon. Sawfishes are actually a type of ray. Sawfishes all fit into one family known as Pristidae, derived from a Greek term meaning "saw". Sawfishes possess the characteristic long, flattened, toothed saw, a flattened head and trunk, and a shark-like appearance and manner of swimming.

They may not see dead people, but sawfish use a sixth sense based in their snouts to hunt and dismember prey, new research shows for the first time.

Previously scientists had suspected that sawfish—large ocean and freshwaterfish found throughout the tropics—use their saws to probe sand or mud for prey.

Now, preliminary experiments suggest that the fish's long, tooth-lined saw are full of pores that can detect movements or electric fields of passing prey—acting as a sort of "distant touch," Barbara Wueringer, a sensory neurobiologist at theUniversity of Queensland in Australia, said by email.

This skill is especially handy for nosing out dinner in murky or dark waters, Wueringer said.

The saw—a cartilaginous extension of the skull—also doubles as a weapon, the new research suggests. Lateral swipes can split smaller fish in half, she observed during experiments in the lab.

"We know so little about sawfish, even though these animals can grow really big"—up to 16 feet (5 meters). "To know that the saw acts like an antenna that can sense prey is amazing."

Making Sense of Sawfish

In addition to observing the animals, Wueringer dissected several sawfish that had been accidentally caught or died naturally.

She found that the sawfish's saws were full of tiny pores that signal the ability of an animal to detect the electric fields present in all living animals. Sharks and rays have these pores, as do some fish such as lungfish and even some mammals such as the echidna.

(See "Sharks Repelled by Metal That Creates Electric Field.")

By making "maps" of the skin of four species of rare sawfish, Wueringer pieced together where the pores are distributed on the saws. She then compared this data with pore placement on two species of shovelnose rays (shovelnose ray picture).

Determining where pores are most concentrated gives clues about animals' feeding behaviors, she said.

"For example, rays have their eyes on the upper side of their head, but the mouth is on the lower side. Pores that can detect electric fields around the mouth allow these animals to sense a fish when they are trying to ingest it— but cannot see it," she said.

In the sawfish, the pores were most concentrated on the upper sides of their saws, which should enable the predators to stalk fish in the space above their saws.

Sawfish Research May Help Rare Species

Overall, Wueringer hopes the research will help conservationists learn more about sawfish, especially the four species she studied, whose last stronghold is a remote bay of northern Australia.

In general, sawfish have dwindled dramatically in recent years, largely due to overfishing, both intentional and accidental—the sawfish's serrated snouts make the animals especially vulnerable to entanglement in fishing nets,according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

(See "Sawfish Is First Sea Fish on U.S. Endangered List.")

"In order to protect endangered species, we need to know as much as we can about them," she said.

"How a species catches its prey, and also which senses are involved in detecting the prey, is part of the basic understanding of a species."

RARE GIBBONS FOUND IN VIETNAM

2011-07-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

A male northern white-cheeked gibbon (left) and a mother carrying her baby hang out in a treetop in Vietnam's Pu Mat National Park in a recent picture.

The animals are part of a newfound population of more than 400 of the gibbons, which are deemed critically endangered in Vietnam and Laos by theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature. The gibbons, which have declined due to widespread hunting and logging of their habitat, are likely extinct in China.

Conservation International had been searching for the rare primates since 2008, finding only a few scattered groups—until now. New auditory sampling surveys—during which researchers record the calls of gibbon "families"—have revealed that Pu Mat is home to 130 gibbon groups, for an overall population of roughly 455 individuals.

Gibbons are among the 6 percent of primates that mate for life (pictured, a female gibbon grooms a male).

The new northern white-cheeked gibbon population in Pu Mat was found in dense, high-altitude forests far from human settlements. But new roads through the region are being planned to increase border patrols between Vietnam and Laos—which may also increase access for poachers or loggers.

(See pictures: "Rare Monkeys Spotted in Vietnam [2007].")

The discovery of such a large gibbon population may mean the species has a better chance of long-term survival, the scientists say.

Lone male gibbons—like the one pictured—make solo calls as they roam widely in search of a mate. The male's song is one of two types of calls recorded by researchers working in Pu Mat National Park, primatologist Luu Tuong Bach said via email.

The other call type is a duet between the male and female, sung once they've settled into a lifelong, monogamous bond, according to Luu, a Conservational International consultant who led the field surveys in Vietnam.

AMY WINEHOUSE REPORTED DEAD - REHAB STAR - OVERDOSED DRUGS

2011-07-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

According to several reports Amy Winehouse was found dead Saturday afternoon in her London apartment. She was 27 years old.

News that Amy Winehouse died Saturday afternoon has yet to be officially confirmed, though numerous outlets are reporting the loss of the young Rehab singer.
Sources have told the Sunday Mirror that an overdose of drink and drugs is the suspected cause of Amy Winehouse's death.
SheKnows spoke with Metropolitan police who are not namingAmy Winehouse as the deceased, but have issued the following press release in regards to an unexplained death Saturday afternoon:

"Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square NW1 shortly before 16.05hrs today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased.

On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained."

Amy Winehouse canceled her European tour after an embarassing performance in Serbia last month to continue to work on her long struggle with sobriety. A message on her web site to fans reads, "Amy Winehouse is withdrawing from all scheduled performances. Everyone involved wishes to do everything they can to help her return to her best and she will be given as long as it takes for this to happen."
Amy Winehouse visited rehab for treatment most recently in May of this year, but friends of the singer openly worried for her. "Her drinking is totally out of control. Amy is constantly out of control on vodka," they said. "She is rattling about at home in north London drinking herself into oblivion. Three times this week she has been so drunk she passed out."
Our thoughts go out to family and friends of the singer in wake of the news of Amy Winehouse's death.

Latest Space Launch - ATLANTIS Pictures | Last Spacewalk | Saturn Storm

2011-07-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

Astronaut Ron Garan stands affixed to the International Space Station's robotic arm as he moves a failed pump module from the station to the cargo bay of the space shuttle Atlantis on July 12 2011.

The launch plume of the space shuttle Atlantis towers over the Florida coast as seen from a NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) on July 8. Despite fears of bad weather, Atlantis lifted off almost on schedule for the final space shuttle mission.

Iridescent like an oil slick, clouds swirl in shades of teal, violet, and crimson in a false-color picture of a huge storm spied on Saturn by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The storm wraps around the planet, stretching 186,000 miles (300,000 kilometers) and spanning about 9,000 miles (15,000 kilometers).

A comet takes aim at the sun in a picture from NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory taken on July 5. The main body of the sun is hidden behind a dark circle in the SOHO picture so that scientists can study the sun's much fainter upper atmosphere, or corona.

During its lifetime, Atlantis traveled to the Russian space station Mir seven times, and it deployed the Magellan mission to Venus and the Galileo spacecraft to Jupiter, both in 1989

Live Video: Space Shuttle Atlantis Mission Feed

What is a Leopard Seal?

2011-07-21T04:07:00.000-07:00

The leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), also referred to as the sea leopard, is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic (after the southern elephant seal).

It is most common in the southern hemisphere along the coast of Antarctica and on most sub-Antarctic islands, but can also be found on the coasts of southern Australia, Tasmania, South Africa, New Zealand, Lord Howe Island, Tierra del Fuego, the Cook Islands, and the Atlantic coast of South America. It can live twenty-six years, possibly more. Orcas and large sharks are the only natural predators of leopard seals.

Along with all of the other earless seals, it belongs to the family Phocidae, and is the onlyspecies in the genus Hydrurga. The name hydrurga means "water worker" and leptonyx is the Greek for "small clawed".

The leopard seal lives in the cold waters surrounding Antarctica. During the summer months, it hunts among the pack ice surrounding the continent, spending almost all of its time in the water. In the winter, it ranges north to the sub-Antarctic islands.
The leopard seals share homologous features with its close relatives, the lobodontine seals. They all have dark fur on the tops of their bodies and lighter fur on their underbellies. Though the colours vary between these species of seals, the coloured fur serves the same function, which is for better camouflage against predators and as it stalks its prey.

The leopard seal is named for its black-spotted coat. The pattern is similar to that of the famous big cat, though the seal's coat is gray rather than golden in color. This seal is sometimes called the sea leopard, and the resemblance is more than skin deep. Like their feline namesakes, leopard seals are fierce predators. They are the most formidable hunters of all the seals and the only ones that feed on warm-blooded prey, such as other seals. Leopard seals use their powerful jaws and long teeth to kill smaller seals, fish, and squid.

Michael Jackson Death | Photos | Death story

2011-07-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson, defined in equal parts as the world’s greatest entertainer and perhaps its most enigmatic figure, was about to attempt one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Then his life was cut shockingly — and so far, mysteriously — short.

The 50-year-old musical superstar died Thursday, just as he was preparing for what would be a series of 50 concerts starting July 13 at London’s famed 02 arena. Jackson had been spending hours and hours toiling with a team of dancers for a performance he and his fans hoped would restore his tarnished legacy to its proper place in pop.

Michael jackson's kids ( Prince Michael Joseph Jackson, Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II)

Jackson arrived for rehearsal at Staples Center around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, according to a magician who was there. The singer complained of laryngitis and did not rehearse until 9 p.m. "He looked great and had great energy," the magician added. The rehearsal went past midnight. The next morning Jackson did not come out of his bedroom. According to the attorney of Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, Murray entered the room in the afternoon and found Jackson in bed and not breathing. Jackson had a weak pulse, and his body was still warm. Murray tried to revive Jackson for five to ten minutes, at which point he realized he needed to call for help. Murray stated that he was hindered because there was no landline in the house. Murray also stated that he could not use his cell phone to call 911because he did not know the exact address. Murray stated that he also phoned security, but did not get an answer. Finally Murray ran downstairs, yelled for help, and told a chef to bring security up to the room.By the time security called 911, Murray stated that only 30 minutes had passed.

Statements described Murray as using a non-standard CPR technique on Jackson. During the tape of the emergency call, released on June 26, the doctor was described as administering CPR on a bed, not on a hard surface such as a floor, which would be standard practice.The doctor's attorney said that Murray placed one hand underneath Jackson and used the other hand for chest compression, where the standard practice is to use both hands for compression. A Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) spokesperson said the 911 call came in at 12:21:04 p.m. PST (19:21:04 UTC). Paramedics reached Jackson at 12:26 p.m. and found that he was not breathing.

Paramedics performed CPR for 42 minutes at the house. Murray's attorney stated that Jackson had a pulse when he was taken out of the house and put in the ambulance.An LAFD official gave a different account, stating that paramedics found Jackson in "full cardiac arrest", and that they did not observe a change in Jackson's status en route to the hospital. LAFD transported Jackson to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.The ambulance arrived at the hospital at approximately 1:14 p.m. A team of medical personnel attempted to resuscitate Jackson for more than one hour. They were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m

The Fastest Bike | Four wheel Bike| Most Expensive | Iron Mike > THE TOMAHAWK

2011-07-19T04:25:00.000-07:00

The Tomahawk is still a bike but it seems to have four wheels under it. To carry this super heavy weight among the bikes that is pretty much a requirement. But that does not take away an iota of style or sheer intimidating appearance that the Tomahawk carries. This is pretty much the “Iron Mike’ among the bikes and is designed to deliver that early second round knock out. That does not mean that there is nothing pretty about this machine.

The Dodge Tomahawk is a Viper V-10 based motorcycle, a 500 horsepower engine with four wheels beneath it. Chrysler will be selling the original Tomahawk concept and nine replicas through Neiman Marcus, for up to $555,000 each. A Chrysler spokesman told Reuters they were meant as rolling sculptures. Rumors had the Tomahawk would be selling for under $200,000, most likely at a loss or break-even price, for publicity purposes - but still fully drivable. Wolfgang Bernhard, Chrysler’s not particularly respected first mate, was said to be enthusiastic about that project, so much so that hundreds were projected to be built at under $200,000 each. They reportedly cost Chrysler over $100,000 to build.

This super heavy weight is crafted to intimidate and destroy all competition. That does not mean that you can carry this on to the road as you would never be able to obtain a license for it. So they are nothing but rolling sculptures and that is a heavy price to pay for something that you can’t take out and flaunt. The bike, if needed to run, runs on 93 octane unleaded premium and has a 10-cylinder V-type engine. Reminds me so much of the days when I started to play ‘RoadRash’. Now this piece of automobile mastery is not for all and is not designed for daily use obviously. But if you want to just take a look at this super monster then you can visit the nearest auto show sporting it. With a top speed of well over 350 mph, this thing will blur everything around!

Spiking Living things

2011-07-18T22:19:00.000-07:00

Nature has given many species a built-in safeguard from their predators, and some have no protection at all. An earthworm, for example has no guard against the birds that would scoop them up and swallow them whole. A marigold flower was gifted with a bad odor to ward off many animals that would eat them, but is this odor enough of a defense to guard against all predators? No, it is not. There are some animals that would just hold their noses… and some were given no great smelling ability to begin with, so they would not care. There are some living things that have inoculations that will preserve them from being endangered. They will not be on the endangered list for a long, long time.

This gentle lizard lives in central Australia, an arid and sandy habitat. It feeds on ants and tarantulas and grows up to 8 inches long. You would think that something this small would be prime pickings for most other animals, but this thorny devil is covered with sharp, hard thorns. Not only does that deter predators, but the thorny devil also can camouflage itself by changing colors to imitate its surroundings. This animal knows another trick. It has a false head on the back of its neck so when a predator comes around the thorny devil will bury its real head in the sand for protection.

Fascinating animals that have spines surrounding their shell for protection, these animals do have a couple of predators that find their way around the spikes: humans and sea otters. There is not too much to eat on a sea urchin, but as typical humans, we will always find something to eat or a use for it. People actually collect them for decoration. One kind of urchin, the flower urchin, has venom on the tip of its spikes. Nobody wants to eat a poisonous pincushion! The sea urchin has hundreds of tiny tuber feet, which they use for traveling. They eat bits of plants and small animals by using their teeth. They grow five teeth in the middle of their backside, which they use to pull, tear and rip algae off rocks. They are about four inches and come in many different colors, purple and pink being the most common. The sea urchin can live and reproduce for up to 200 years.

The stunning lionfish is named for its fan-shaped fins and a spiky dorsal fin, which make them look like they have a huge lion’s mane. They have two predator defenses that come in handy. One is that their color allows them to be camouflaged in their habitat, and they also have venom in their dorsal spines. This poison will make a human sick and unable to breathe normally, but it is very seldom fatal. The lionfish will grow to be about a foot long, and people describe them as being ill tempered because the fish has nothing to fear thanks to its sharp and venomous spikes. It is considered one of the most poisonous fish in the world.

These interesting little swimmers are much like the puffer fish, only they have spines all over their skin. The fish grows to be around four feet or larger and instead of having venom in their spikes, the porcupine fish have a poison in their bodies, which if ingested could paralyze a person or even cause death. These fish have large beck-like teeth that never stop growing, so they like to live around coral to bite on and wear their teeth down. If they are threatened by another bigger fish, the porcupine will inflate its body, just like the puffer, and become too big for the predator to eat. These fish are great swimmers except, as you can imagine, when they are all puffed up.

These echidnas are sometimes called spiny anteaters. Their bodies are brownish black and covered with spines and coarse hair. The arms of the echidna are very strong with claws that are designed to dig. The snout on this animal is long and tubular which helps them smell their prey and eat it, too. The echidna’s snout also contains a sticky tongue that helps the animal catch their prey. They can stick their tongue in an ant hole and come out with hundreds of their favorite snack. Some even have spikes on their tongues. These spiny anteaters can live to be 40 or 50 years old.

This hedgehog has no tail so that more of its body can be covered with dense spines. When in danger, the hedgehog will roll up in a ball of spines to stick anything that wants to take a bite. They are little guys growing to only nine or ten and a half inches long. They love to eat small animals, worms, insects and spiders, but they will also try to find birds’ eggs to eat. This might be the European hedgehog’s downfall. They are eating so many eggs of ground nesting waders like Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank and Lapwing, that they are considered a pest in some areas.

Even though this little spider is noticeable because of its colors, it does not have anything strange or different going on with it otherwise. It does have a hard abdomen that can be white, orange, or yellow with red markings. And, oh, yes… there are thorns coming out of this abdomen that supposedly protect it from predators, but the spider is so small no other animal can see it to eat it. Other than that, it is a typical spider that weaves flat webs to catch flying bugs for its dinner. They are harmless and only come indoors if someone or something brings them inside.

This little caterpillar is very cute with its little yellow trees sticking out all over its body. You would probably want to pick it up to have a closer look. If you did, you would more than likely have either an itchy or a burning sensation or need medical assistance. Those little yellow tree-like structures are spines that are attached to poison glands and are meant for predators. Their bodies are pale green with yellow and red stripes growing to about two inches. Even though they catch your eye and are interesting to look at, you had better look at them from afar. These caterpillars turn into the most beautiful butterflies you have ever seen.

This is the craziest looking thing ever seen. It is related to the grasshopper and cricket, but this katydid must have been adopted. This insect is a bright beautiful green color with little thorns all over its body—even its legs. If you would touch one of the thorns, it would easily cut through your skin. Its head is bigger than a grasshopper’s head, and it has what looks like a crown on the top of it made out of thorns with a reddish hue.

Last but not least is a plant that has tremendous thorns growing all over it. The thorns can be long and straight or short and curved. These thorns deter any animal from climbing it to eat the leaves, but some animals, like giraffes, have leathery tongues and don’t feel the pain against either type of thorn. When this happens, the tree produces chemicals, which make the leaves taste bad. This acacia also has a deal worked out with cocktail ants. They chase off insects while the tree lets them live in the thorns and eat sweet sap the tree produces.

What is a Sea Parrot ( Puffin )?

2011-07-18T22:13:00.000-07:00

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a seabird species in the auk family. It is apelagic bird that feeds primarily by diving for fish, but also eats other sea creatures, such assquid and crustaceans. Its most obvious characteristic during the breeding season is its brightly coloured bill. Also known as the Common Puffin, it is the only puffin species which is found in the Atlantic Ocean. The curious appearance of the bird, with its colourful huge bill and its striking piebald plumage, has given rise to nicknames such as '"clown of the ocean" and "sea parrot"

The bright beaked Atlantic Puffin

The Atlantic puffin is a beautiful and brightly colored bird that reminds you a great deal of a Penguin, but has one massive difference. Atlantic puffins have a colorful beak that has helped them to gain the nickname of the “sea parrot.”

Conservation status

Adults in breeding plumage, Lunga (Treshnish Isles,Scotland)
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Alcidae
Genus:	Fratercula
Species:	F. arctica
Binomial name
*Fratercula arctica* (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Alca arctica Linnaeus, 1758

It is brilliant in coloration during the summer months, but tends to fade to a deep or olive colored gray during the winter, and bloom like a flower to the same bright colors in the spring. Scientists believe that it might be part of the mating attraction, and helps them to get a mate, since it changes with the seasons.

stay at sea most of their life, and when they are not swimming they ride the waves like a surfboard.

They are excellent swimmers, using their wings to stroke the water with a flying motion to propel them along.

They have large feel that they use to steer, rather like the rudders on a boat and can dive down to depths of 200 feet or more to get a meal. Although they usually stay underwater for only 20 or 30 seconds they hunt small fish like herring or sand eels.

Puffins, although they prefer to ride the waves are incredibly fast fliers, and can flap their wings up to 400 times a minute and reach speeds of about 55-60 miles per hours in the air.

Puffins land on the coasts of North America, and in islands to breed ever spring and summer. Iceland is the place where about 60% of all Puffins breed.

They choose rocky cliffs or tops of rocky hills to build the nests which are lined with soft feathers and grass.

The female lays just one egg, and it is well guarded and kept warm by both male and female, who also take turns feeding and caring for the young.

When a chick hatches, its parents take turns feeding it by carrying small fish back to the nest in their bills.

Puffin couples often reunite at the same burrow site each year and mate again although it is unknown how they know where to go. Some believe they use visual reference points, others the moon or stars for navigation.

Most Dangerous Sea Creatures

2011-07-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

As quiet as the sea may seem, you should keep in mind the dangers lurking beneath the surface. Here’s a look at the deadliest creatures living in the water.

Lionfish

Lionfish

Members of the Scorpaenidae fish family, the Lionfish are native to the Indian and Pacific oceans but various species can be found all over the world. Also known as the Turkey Fish or Dragon Fish, it has long poisonous spines that are deadly to many marine creatures. The Lionfish sting is not usually deadly to humans but it will cause severe pain, headaches and vomiting.

Lionfish don’t attack people unless provoked, but in case you get stung you should immediately soak the area in hot water and seek medical help.

Stonefish

Stonefish

The Stonefish is a master of camouflage, which makes it even more dangerous, as people often get to close without realizing it. They can be found on the sea bottom and around coral reefs, disguised as rocks. The Stonefish is the most poisonous fish in the world. It has 13 spikes on its back, all filled with extremely potent, protein-based venom. Depending on how deep the sting is, this venom can kill a person in a few hours unless he receives medical attention.

Getting stung by a Stonefish causes excruciating pain, shock and paralysis. Surviving victims of Stonefish encounters have been known to suffer nerve damage which leads to muscle atrophy.

Sea Urchins

Sea Urchin

No one in his right mind would get close to anything as spiny as a sea urchin, but walking in the water makes it easier for people to step on them. Sea Urchins have long sharp spines that penetrate very deep and sometimes break, causing severe pain and infection. In most sting cases, the spines have to be removed surgically.

Not all Sea Urchins are venomous but one of the most dangerous, the Flower urchins can be deadly. It looks like its body is covered by flowers instead of thorns, but they are in fact venomous and can cause paralysis or, even worse, death. There have been several reports of people killed by Flower Urchins around Japan.

Catfish

Catfish

They may look innocent and peaceful with their cute little whiskers, but Catfish are dangerous creatures if provoked. When it feels threatened, the Catfish pulls out three barbed spines from its back and side fins. They are venomous and cause severe pain. Although rare, throughout the years there have been cases when catfish attacks proved deadly.

Catfish venom remains active for several days after the fish dies so even refrigerated ones must be handled with care.

Box Jellyfish

Box Jellyfish

Often referred to as the Box of Death, the Box Jellyfish is indeed one of the deadliest sea-creatures on earth. It has up to 60 tentacles which can be even 5 meters long and have 5,000 million stinging cells. It’s enough for a full grown adult to come in contact with just 3 tentacles to risk death. Box Jellyfish are very fragile organisms, even a small fish could tear through it like butter, so it needs to kill aggressors and its food at first contact.

Box Jellyfish are so dangerous because they frequent a number of very popular beaches and because of their translucent bodies they are extremely hard to spot.

Sharks

Shark

Just like crocodiles, sharks are perfect killers in the water, just seeing them on television makes everyone’s heart beat a little faster. But, contrary to popular belief, sharks don’t usually attack unless provoked, most species don’t attack humans at all.

The best way to avoid a shark attack is to stay away from shallow waters where sharks are known to be feeding in, that’s the most common mistake people make, they ignore warnings and end up having their limbs bitten off or even worse.

Stingrays

Stingray

Not many people really knew how dangerous stingrays really were until the terrible accident in which Steve Irwin lost his life. The truth is stingrays kill a lot more people than sharks for example. They are not aggressive creatures and when attacked, most of the time they just flee, but when stepped on, stingrays whip their tail stinger.

A way to avoid getting pierced by this dangerous weapon is to slide your feet through the sand instead of actually stepping, this way the stingray detects you and runs away.

Awesome Ferrari Theme Park Abu Dhabi

2011-07-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Namely Abu Dhabi, the first theme park dedicated to the celebration, in the guise of an amusement park, the brand and the myth of the Horse rampant: the Ferrari World.

The picture of the structure under construction, we see after the green expanse unrealistic proposal from the rendering, we show a sprawling hall the size definitely sweeping, dominated by the largest Ferrari logo ever before.Many sites are planned, with the ambitious goal of providing “an intense multi-sensory experience, a must for all fans and their families: of these, the most spectacular is the world’s fastest roller coaster, which simulates the march of Ferrari cars touching the hyperbolic speed of 240 km / h.

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Unique Chandeliers

2011-07-06T05:08:00.000-07:00

I will never own a chandelier, a.) because I break things too easily, b.) because I have an uncontrollable compulsion to swing on things, and c.) I am poor. But, just because I'll never own one, doesn't mean I don't think they are cool. Here are 21 unique chandeliers.

Made with various kitchen utensils.

Made entirely of human bones.

Putting old liquor bottles to use.

Big brother has good taste.

For the gun enthusiast.

Made from hot glue.

Argh matey.

Old milk bottles.

This is made of paperclips.

Composed of tampons.

A bunch of shiny items, including pots and lanterns.

CD cases.

Hangers. I couldn't think of a "just 'hangin' around" joke.

The creepy kid in your neighborhood will love it!

Old party poppers.

Mmm, gummy bears.

Chickens? Nope, white rats.

Volivik Lamp by En Pieza. This one is made up of recycled bic pens. It’s available in clear and orange. These were only 30 made at a cost of $1000.

Carolina Fontoura’s Bicycle Chain Chandelier. This artist came up with the idea of turning bicycle chains and bicycle parts into these Victorian inspired chandeliers.

Stuart Haygarth’sTide Chandelier. It’s comprised of plastic waste such as water bottles and sunglasses found along the Kent coastline in Britain. It measures 5 feet in diameter.

Atelier Abigail Ahern’s Porcelain Chandelier. Each individual porcelain tile is hand crafted, and comes at a cost of £ 14,000.

SEA DRAGON

2011-06-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Leafy & Weedy Sea Dragon - Phycodurus eques

The leafy sea dragon or Glauerts Seadragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish in the family Syngnathidae, which also includes the seahorses. It is the only member of the genus Phycodurus. It is found along the southern and western coasts of Australia. The name is derived from the appearance, with long leaf-like protrusions coming from all over the body. These protrusions are not used for propulsion; they serve only as camouflage. The leafy sea dragon propels itself by means of a pectoral fin on the ridge of its neck and a dorsal fin on its back closer to the tail end. These small fins are almost completely transparent and difficult to see as they undulate minutely to move the creature sedately through the water, completing the illusion of floating seaweed.

Sea dragons are some of the most ornately camouflaged creatures on the planet. Adorned with gossamer, leaf-shaped appendages over their entire bodies, they are perfectly outfitted to blend in with the seaweed and kelp formations they live amongst.

Endemic to the waters off south and east Australia, leafy and weedy sea dragons are closely related to seahorses and pipefish. Leafies are generally brown to yellow in body color with spectacular olive-tinted appendages. Weedies have less flamboyant projections and are usually reddish in color with yellow spots.

Sea dragons have very long, thin snouts; slender trunks covered in bony rings; and thin tails which, unlike their seahorse cousins, cannot be used for gripping. They have small, transparent dorsal and pectoral fins that propel and steer them awkwardly through the water, but they seem quite content to tumble and drift in the current like seaweed. Leafies grow to a length of about 14 inches (35 centimeters), while the slightly larger weedies can grow up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) long.

As with sea horses, sea dragon males are responsible for childbearing. But instead of a pouch, like sea horses have, male sea dragons have a spongy brood patch on the underside of the tail where females deposit their bright-pink eggs during mating. The eggs are fertilized during the transfer from the female to the male. The males incubate the eggs and carry them to term, releasing miniature sea dragons into the water after about four to six weeks.

Sea dragons survive on tiny crustaceans such as mysids, or sea lice. It is not known if they are preyed upon by other animals. They are, however, frequently taken by divers seeking to keep them as pets. In fact, such takings shrank their numbers so critically by the early 1990s that the Australian government placed a complete protection on both species. Pollution and habitat loss have also hurt their numbers, and they are currently listed as near threatened.

Fast Facts about Leafy & Weedy Sea Dragon

Type: Fish

Diet: Omnivore

Size: Leafy, up to 13.8 in (35 cm), Weedy, up to 18 in (46 cm)

Did you know? : The tail of a male leafy sea dragon will turn bright yellow when he is ready to mate.

Courtesy : http://animals.nationalgeographic.com

Leafy & Weedy Sea Dragons Pictures

Delicious Cake Designs ( innovative and professional )

2011-06-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

The Royal Wedding - Prince Wiilams and Kate Middleton

2011-06-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

Royal Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton - 29 April 2011

The Royal Wedding 2011

The wedding of Prince William of Wales and Catherine "Kate" Middleton is scheduled to take place at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011 at 11am. Prince William, who is second in the line of succession to Queen Elizabeth II, first met Middleton in 2001, while both were students at the University of St Andrews. Their engagement, which began on 20 October 2010, was announced on 16 November 2010.

After the wedding, the couple intend to continue residing on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales, where Prince William is based as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot.

On 16 November 2010, Clarence House announced that Prince William, elder son of the Prince of Wales, was to marry his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton "in the Spring or Summer of 2011, in London". They were engaged in October 2010 while on a private holiday in Kenya; William gave Middleton the same engagement ring that his father had given to William's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales—an 18-carat white gold ring with a 12-carat oval sapphire and 14 round diamonds. It was announced at approximately the same time that, after their marriage, the couple will live on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, where Prince William is based with the Royal Air Force.

Prince William is the elder son of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. As such, he is second, behind his father, in the line of succession to the throne in 16 independent states known as the Commonwealth realms. William was educated at Ludgrove School, Eton College, and the University of St Andrews, after which he was commissioned as an officer from Sandhurst in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry. He later transferred to the RAF and went on to become a full-time pilot with the Search and Rescue Force at RAF Valley, Anglesey.

Catherine "Kate" Middleton is the eldest of three children born to Michael and Carole Middleton. She was educated at St Andrew's School in Pangbourne, Marlborough College, and the University of St Andrews. After graduating, she worked in retail and then as an accessories buyer/catalogue photographer at her parents' business. She is primarily of English descent, but with a few distant Scottish and French Huguenot ancestors. Her paternal family came from Leeds, West Yorkshire, while her mother's maternal family, the Harrisons, were working-class labourers and miners from County Durham.

The couple met while undergraduates at the University of St Andrews, where they both lived at St Salvator's Hall during their first year, after which they shared accommodation in the town for two years. They are fifteenth cousins—having Sir Thomas Fairfax and his wife, Agnes, as common ancestors—and are possibly twelfth cousins once removed, circumstantial evidence suggesting that they are both descended from Sir Thomas Leighton and Elizabeth Knollys.

Timings/Schedule of The Royal Wedding Day

At 6.00 am roads in and around the processional route close to traffic.
From 8.15 am, the main congregation, governors-general, prime ministers of Commonwealth realms, and diplomats, will all arrive at the Abbey.
Princes William and Harry are then due to leave Clarence House at 10.10 am, and arrive by 10.15 am, followed by representatives of foreign royal families, the Middleton family, and, lastly, the Prince's own family (the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice of York, Princess Eugenie of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall).
By tradition, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be the last members of the Royal Family to leave Buckingham Palace, arriving at the Abbey for 10.45 am.
The bridal party will then leave the Goring Hotel in the former Number one state Rolls-Royce Phantom VI at 10.50 am, in time for the service to begin at 11 am.
The service is to finish at 12.15 pm, after which the newly married couple will travel to Buckingham Palace in a procession consisting of other royal family members, the parents of the groom and bride, the best man, and the bridesmaids.
At 1.25 pm, the couple will appear at the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a fly-past consisting ofLancaster, Spitfire, and Hurricane aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, followed by two Typhoons and two Tornado GR4s.

Important Things and Information about The Royal Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton

Archbishop of Canterbury

Meet Dr. Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church of England who will officiate William and Kate's wedding. A published poet and Simpsons fan, Dr. Williams follows in a long line of archbishops (he's the 104th) who've traditionally married the monarchs-to-be. Another claim to fame: Dr. Williams shares a birthplace (Swansea, Wales) with an Oscar winner, Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Bucklebury

Once the royal manor of 11th-century king Edward the Confessor and a station for troops during World War II, the quaint but affluent village 55 miles west of London where Kate Middleton grew up last made headlines in 2008, when Prince William landed a helicopter there to visit his girlfriend. Watch a guided tour of the place Kate calls home – and meet some of the town folk, who weigh in on its most famous resident's upcoming wedding to the future king of England.

Catherine

Though she goes by Kate, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton shares a name with an illustrious group of women, including five previous queens of England! The name (meaning pure in Greek) gained popularity during the Crusades and since then, many great Kates have made their mark on history – among them Catherine de Medici, Catherine the Great and Catherine of Aragon, a wife of Henry the VIII.

Dukedom

If tradition is to be carried down, William will receive a new title on his wedding day – a royal protocol observed when his uncles married: Prince Andrew became Duke of York when he said "I do" to Fergie in 1986, while Prince Edward earned the title of Earl of Wessex when he wed Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. Many titles are still up for grabs – from the Dukedom of Sussex ( a front-runner) to the Duke of Cambridge – and it will be up to William's granny, Queen Elizabeth, to determine where he presides.

Ellen DeGeneres

With friends and hangers-on vying for an invite to what's to be sure the wedding of the year, the beloved talk show queen has a legitimate claim for an invitation: She's related to Kate Middleton! Sure, they are distant cousins – 15th! – but family is family, so says The New England Historic Genealogical Society, who traced their ties.

Fruitcake

The much-maligned dessert has a storied history, reportedly dating back to ancient Egypt, when it was placed on the tombs of loved ones going into the afterlife. Filled with fruits and nuts – symbols of fertility – it was even outlawed briefly in the 18th century for being sinfully rich, but the ban was short-lived as Victorian-era Britons demanded their cake during tea hour. Now, the sweet treat has become a wedding reception favorite among English couples, and Will and Kate could be the next to bite into it!

Good Luck Charms

Kate Middleton may be allergic to horses, but the princess-to-be could very well carry a horseshoe charm sewn onto the hem of her dress as a symbol of good luck – just as Diana had onto hers – when she weds Prince William. Or perhaps she'll carry a silver sixpence, as in "something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in your shoe," a practice that originated in Victorian times.

Harry

Now the most eligible royal bachelor on the market – and third in line to the British throne! – Prince Henry Charles Albert David Windsor is not only William's brother but also his best man. And he's been living up to both roles, in championing Kate Middleton ("I get a sister," he's said) and in continuing his late mother Diana's charitable works, all while serving his country as a lieutenant in the British Army.

Issa

The London-based designer of Kate Middleton's must-have, blue engagement dress has always maintained she designs clothes for real women – and apparently, for real-life princesses-to-be! Ten years after launching her label, Brazilian-born Daniella Helayel's signature draped jersey dresses have won over a Hollywood fan base that includes Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Scarlett Johansson. But it was Middleton's blue dress, which sold out almost instantly, that turned the label into an international household name.

Wedding Jewelry

Since the reign of Queen Victoria more than 160 years ago, Garrard has been the official crown jeweler. Though Queen Elizabeth distanced the royal family's ties to the esteemed London jewelry house in 2007, reportedly after being less than impressed with the company's racy new image, William and Kate could have their wedding rings made by jewelry house. After all, Garrard made the late Princess Diana's iconic sapphire engagement ring – the one that's now sparkling on Kate Middleton's finger.

Kenya

The country where William popped the question to Kate Middleton during a romantic fishing trip on Lake Rutundu is near and dear to the future king. "Africa is my second home," he has said of the continent where he spent his gap year and took his fiancée on safari early in their courtship.

Lady-in-Waiting

Traditionally friends or relatives, ladies-in-waiting serve as a right-hand woman to a royal, and for Kate, it seems her sister Pippa would be the perfect choice. The younger sibling, 27, will be Kate's maid of honor on the big day, but her responsibilities would expand once Kate becomes a princess, including traveling and attending official engagements with her. If Kate does secure Pippa as her lady-in-waiting, she'll be in good company: Both Princess Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles enlisted their sisters for help.

Mahiki

Will and Kate's favorite nightclub for Polynesian fun was once managed by the Prince's wingman Guy Pelly, who's also planning the royal bachelor party. But the Dover Street nightspot isn't the only exclusive London club frequented by the couple – they've partied till the wee hours at Chinawhite, Volstead and Boujis, the club in which the pair went on a secret date following their brief split in 2007.

North Wales

Instead of one of the many royal residences at his family's disposal, Prince William and Kate Middleton have made their home in a four-bedroom farmhouse in this quaint, sheep-laden region complete with a gastro pub and a Tesco supermarket where locals often catch a glimpse of the down-to-earth couple. And they'll be seeing more of the young newlyweds – the Prince has another two years to complete his duties as a helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force.

Bruce Oldfield

A front-runner to design Kate's wedding dress, Bruce Oldfield is an established name among the royal and high society set. Plus, the 60-year-old couturier to William's late mum Diana has been backed as the perfect choice to design Kate's gown by none other than Elizabeth Emanuel, who outfitted the Princess of Wales on her wedding day 30 years earlier. Further fueling rumors that Oldfield could be The One: Kate's mum Carole and sister Pippa were spotted at one of his stores.

Philip Treacy

For two decades, the Irish milliner has enchanted Hollywood and real-life royalty, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, Kate Middleton and Princess Beatrice, with his fanciful headpieces. While William and Kate will be the main event on April 29, the side show will most certainly be the parade of head-turning hats – from futuristic discs and a riot of floral toppers to a butterfly colony – adorning the heads of their wedding guests, a custom still observed by Britons for weddings and worship.

Queen Elizabeth II

At 84, she is Britain's oldest monarch, having ruled the throne since February 1952, when she was just 25 years old. But don’t be fooled, the octogenarian – who is known for her ingeniously discreet communication tactics – is very much in touch with modern times. You can find Her Majesty social networking on Flickr, YouTube, and yes, even Twitter.

The Royal Mint

Not invited to William and Kate's wedding? The average commoner can still celebrate the occasion – with the first-ever Royal Engagement coin issued by the Royal Mint to commemorate the young couple's betrothal. While critics argue the likeness of Kate Middleton on the £5 coin bears little resemblance to the actual princess-to-be, the design received the royal seal of approval from Prince William and Her Majesty the Queen. Luckily for Kate, it's a limited-edition coin.

St. Andrews

Known as the U.K.'s "top match-making university," is it a wonder the future king and queen fell in love there? The Scottish burgh is where they spent nights out at local pubs and a pizza joint, and also enjoyed dates under aliases at a boutique hotel restaurant. That occasion had Kate playing by the rules of many a college girl: Despite dating a British royal, when it came time for the check, the couple went dutch!

Tiara

When Kate Middleton walks down the aisle of Westminster Abbey to marry Prince William, she will certainly look the part of royalty. But no royal wedding attire is complete without a crown jewel befitting a princess-to-be. Queen Elizabeth and William's late mum Diana both wore stunning tiaras on their wedding days – and it's likely William's granny will at the very least loan (if not gift) one of the many glittering headpieces in the Windsor vault to his future wife.

Usher

Prince William has been an usher at some of his best friends' weddings, but sadly for them, they won't get the chance to return the favor. That's because the role of helping ceremony guests to their pews at Westminster Abbey will go to a 10-member group of paid Gentlemen Ushers, a tradition that dates back to the 15th century.

Vows

For the ultra-modern among us hoping for self-penned vows in which William and Kate utter intimate, personal promises to one another, there will be disappointment. The couple will pick one of two sets of traditional vows on their wedding day: old verses from the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 or the not-so-old ones in The Book of Common Worship, which is widely used today in the Protestant Church of England.

Westminster Abbey

The Abbey has held close ties with the British monarchy since the days of King Edward the Confessor, who founded the 11th-century Gothic church. It's been the site of many glorious royal coronations, burials and weddings, with the earliest dating back to 1100, when King Henry I married Princess Matilda of Scotland. Queen Elizabeth, her daughter Princess Anne and son Prince Andrew all married at Westminster, so it's fitting that her grandson, Prince William, will follow in Windsor suit.

Kiss Me Kate Beer

Xoxo! With the biggest royal wedding since Charles and Di taking over London, leave it to Nottingham, England's largest beer company, Castle Rock Brewery, to toast the happy occasion in its own way – with a new, limited-edition ale! The royal tipple is described as "elegant, tasteful and British to the core" – much like Will and Kate. We'll drink to that!

Your Majesty

Don't call her that! When Kate becomes an official royal on her wedding day, the proper way to refer to her will be Her Royal Highness, or HRH – a "style" that commonly precedes the names of princes and princesses in the British monarchy. So, as of April 29, Kate will take on a much longer name: HRH Princess William of Wales, while informally, she'll be Princess Catherine. Here's hoping she registers for some new stationery!

Zermatt

It was here that William and Kate debuted their PDA during a weeklong Swiss Alps ski vacation at the resort town Zermatt in March 2007 – but just a month later the couple split. Relive the pair's famously private courtship and brief public breakup and see how, eight years after meeting as coeds at St. Andrews University in Scotland, they're making it all official.

Courtesy: http://www.people.com, http://en.wikipedia.org

Photos of Royal wedding dignitaries and VIPs

Photos of the royal wedding crowds

Photos of the royal marriage ceremony

Photos of Royal Couple Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton

Liu Bolin - Invisible Man in Real Life, Amazing Body Painting Art, Mighty Optical Illusions

2011-06-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Liu Bolin is a Chinese artist known for taking photographs of himself, painted in order to blend in with the background. He graduated from the Sculpture Department of Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Liu Bolin, a young Beijing-based artist, has become known as the “invisible man” due to his ability to use his own body as an Art material.The chameleon paints on himself, appearing to blend in with the backdrop.

Liu Bolin, was born in Shandong in 1973, graduated from the Art Department of Shandong Arts Institute with a bachelor degree in 1995, and in the year of 2001, he graduated from the Sculpture department of Central Academy of Fine Arts

Liu Bolin’s main areas in sculpture, photography, painting, etc. when he is a student, he have had many Exhibitions for his own works before the idea of camouflage art.

Until in the year of 2005, Mr Liu decided to do some works to protest against the government, who shut down his art studio.

In 2008, a series works named “hiding in the city” shocked the world. Inspired by how some animals can blend into their environment, Liu Bolin uses camouflage principles to create amazing contemporary art. Bolin said his inspiration came from feeling like a social outcast: People In the community cannot find suitable position, without social relations, and no one care for your fate, in a period of time feel like they are redundant people; they are invisible to the society. Mr Liu says his work is also a protest against the government, who shut down his art studio in 2005.

Courtesy : http://ilearn-culture.com

Liu Bolin Art gallery

Most Amazing Bridges round the globe

2011-06-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

The Millau Viaduct - cable-stayed road-bridge, Tarn Valley

The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France. Designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest bridge in the world, with one mast's summit at 343.0 metres (1,125 ft). The viaduct is part of the A75-A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Montpellier. Construction cost was approximately €400 million. It was formally dedicated on 14 December 2004, inaugurated the day after and opened to traffic two days later. The bridge received the 2006 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.

Fehmarn Belt Bridge, Baltic Sea

The Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link is an immersed tunnel (in earlier design iterations a bridge) that is proposed to connect the German offshore island of Fehmarn with the Danish island of Lolland. This would cross over the Fehmarn Belt in the Baltic Sea – 18 km (11 mi) wide – hence providing adirect link by railroad and highway between northern Germany and the Danish island of Lolland, and thence to Zealand. This route is known in German as the Vogelfluglinie and in Danish as the Fugleflugtslinjen (literally, "bird flight line").

Fehmarn Island is already connected by bridge with the German mainland, and Lolland is already connected by bridge with Zealand. Furthermore, Zealand is already connected with the Swedish coast via the Øresund Bridge; the Fehmarn Belt fixed link would allow more direct transport between Germany and Sweden.

The Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link was tentatively expected to be completed in the year 2018, but the date has been changed to 2020. Originally conceived as a bridge, in December 2010 Femern A/S announced that a tunnel was preferable to a bridge as this would present fewer construction risks, although the financial cost would be broadly similar. Final approval is needed from the Danish government. This was reached by a large parliamentary majority in January 2011

Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Gateshead

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge spanning the River Tyne in England between Gateshead's Quays arts quarter on the south bank, and the Quayside of Newcastle upon Tyne on the north bank. The award-winning structure was conceived and designed by architects Wilkinson Eyre and structural engineers Gifford. The bridge is sometimes referred to as the 'Blinking Eye Bridge' or the 'Winking Eye Bridge' due to its shape and its tilting method. In terms of height, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge is slightly shorter than the neighbouring Tyne Bridge, and stands as the sixteenth tallest structure in the city.

Erasmusbrug Bridge, Rotterdam

The Erasmusbrug ("Erasmus Bridge") is a cable stayed bridge across the Nieuwe Maas (English: New Meuse) river, linking the northern and southern halves of the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Erasmusbrug was designed by Ben van Berkel and completed in 1996. The 802 metre long bridge has a 139 metre-high asymmetrical pylon, earning the bridge its nickname of "The Swan".

The southern span of the bridge has a 89 metre long bascule bridge for ships that cannot pass under the bridge. The bascule bridge is the largest and heaviest in West Europe and has the largest panel of its type in the world. The bridge was officially opened by Queen Beatrix on September 6, 1996, having cost 165 million Dutch guilders (about 75 million euro) to construct. Shortly after the bridge opened to traffic in October 1996, it was discovered the bridge would swing under particularly strong wind conditions. To reduce the trembling, stronger shock dampers were installed.

The bridge featured in the 1998 Jackie Chan film Who Am I?. In 2005 several planes flew underneath the bridge as part of the "Red Bull Air Race". In 2005, the bridge served as the backdrop for a performance by DJ Tiësto titled "Tiësto @ The Bridge, Rotterdam". The performance featured fire fighting ships spraying jets of water into the air in front of the bridge, a fireworks barge launching fireworks beside the bridge, and multi coloured spot/search lights attached to the bridge itself. The bridge was crossed during the prologue and the opening stage of the 2010 Tour de France.

Kintaikyo (The Kintai Bridge), Iwakuni

The Kintai Bridge is a historical wooden arch bridge, in the city of Iwakuni, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The bridge was built in 1673, spanning the beautiful Nishiki River in a series of five wooden arches, and the bridge is located on the foot of Mt.Yokoyama, at the top of which lies Iwakuni Castle. Declared a National Treasure in 1922, Kikkou Park, which includes the bridge and castle, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan, especially for the Cherry Blossom festival in the spring and the autumn color change of the Japanese Maples.

Kintaikyo is Possibly one of the most unlucky bridges in the world, Kintaikyo was reconstructed in the town of Iwakuni in 1673 after every other attempt to cross the Nishiki River via bridge had been foiled by seasonal flooding. Remarkably, the five wooden arches remained intact right up to 1950 when a typhoon finally destroyed them. However, intent on not being beaten, the bridge was again reconstructed three years later and is still crossable today!

Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Florence

The Ponte Vecchio is a Medieval bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy, noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewellers, art dealers and souvenir sellers. It has been described as Europe's oldest wholly stone, closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge, but there are far older segmental arch bridges such as Alconétar Bridge. The Ponte Vecchio's two neighbouring bridges are the Ponte Santa Trinità and the Ponte alle Grazie.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937, and has become one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and of the United States. Despite its span length being surpassed by eight other bridges since its completion, it still has the second longest suspension bridge main span in the United States, after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. It has been declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Frommers travel guide considers the Golden Gate Bridge "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world", although Frommers also bestows the most photographed honor on Tower Bridge in London, England.

Tower Bridge, London

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, which gives it its name. It has become an iconic symbol of London. The bridge consists of two towers which are tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways which are designed to withstand the horizontal forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical component of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers. The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower. The bridge's present colour dates from 1977 when it was painted red, white and blue for the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Originally it was painted a chocolate brown colour. Tower Bridge is sometimes mistakenly referred to as London Bridge,[citation needed] which is actually the next bridge upstream. The nearest London Underground station is Tower Hill on the Circle and District Lines, and the nearest Docklands Light Railway station is Tower Gateway.

Oresund Bridge, Oresund Strait

The Øresund or Oresund Bridge is a combined twin-track railway and dual carriageway bridge-tunnel across the Øresund strait. The bridge connects Sweden and Denmark, and it is the longest road and rail bridge in Europe. The Øresund Bridge also connects two major Metropolitan Areas: those of the Danish capital city of Copenhagen and the major Swedish city of Malmö. Furthermore, the Øresund Bridge connects the road network of Scandinavia with those of Central and Western Europe. The international European route E20 crosses this bridge-tunnel via the road, and the Öresund Railway Line uses the railway. The construction of the Great Belt Fixed Link – which connects Zealand to Funen and thence to the Jutland Peninsula – and the Øresund Bridge have connected Western and Central Europe to Scandinavia. The Øresund Bridge was designed by the Danish architectural practice Dissing+Weitling.

The purpose for the additional expenditure and complexity related to digging a tunnel for part of the way – rather than simply raising that section of the bridge – was to avoid interfering with airliners from the nearby Copenhagen International Airport, and also to provide a clear channel for ships in good weather or bad, and to prevent ice floes from blocking the strait. The Øresund Bridge crosses the border between Denmark and Sweden, but in accordance with the Schengen Agreement and the Nordic Passport Union, there are usually no passport inspections. There are random customs checks at the entrance toll booths for entering Sweden, but not for entering Denmark. The Øresund Bridge received the 2002 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.

Tsing Ma Bridge, Hong Kong

The Tsing Ma Bridge is a bridge in Hong Kong. It is the world's seventh-longest span suspension bridge, and was the second longest at time of completion. The bridge was named after two of the islands at its ends, namely Tsing Yi and Ma Wan . It has two decks and carries both road and rail traffic, which also makes it the largest suspension bridge of this type. The bridge has a main span of 1,377 metres (4,518 ft) and a height of 206 metres (676 ft). The span is the largest of all bridges in the world carrying rail traffic.

The 41 metres (135 ft) wide bridge deck carries six lanes of automobile traffic, with three lanes in each direction. The lower level contains two rail tracks. There are also two sheltered carriageways on the lower deck for maintenance access and as backup for traffic when particularly severe typhoons strike Hong Kong. Though road traffic would need to be closed in that case, trains could still get through in either direction.

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia. The bridge is locally nicknamed "The Coat Hanger" because of its arch-based design.

Under the directions of Dr J.J.C. Bradfield of the NSW Department of Public Works, the bridge was designed and built by English firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd of Middlesbrough, and opened in 1932. According to the Guinness World Records, it is the world's widest long-span bridge. It is also the fifth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world, and it is the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134 metres (440 ft) from top to water level. Until 1967 the Harbour Bridge was Sydney's tallest structure.

Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge, SE Asia

The in-construction Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is a series of bridges and tunnels that will connect the west side of Hong Kong to Macau and the Guangdong province city of Zhuhai, which are situated on the west side of the Pearl River Delta. The proposed 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) link is expected to cost USD $10.7 billion. With its length, it would become one of the landmarks within the area. Though overall length exceeds the Second Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in the United States, which is 38.4 kilometres (23.9 mi) long according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest bridge section (between the artificial islands containing the Macau exit of the tunnel and the Macau border facilities), which will include three cable-stayed spans with spans between 280 and 460 m, will be 22.8 kilometres (14.2 mi) long. Construction formally began on 15 December 2009. It is due to be completed in 2015-2016.

Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul

The Bosphorus Bridge, also called the First Bosphorus Bridge (Turkish: Bog(aziçi Köprüsü or 1. Bog(aziçi Köprüsü) is one of the two bridges in Istanbul, Turkey, spanning the Bosphorus strait (Turkish: Bog(aziçi) and thus connecting Europe and Asia (the other one is the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, which is called the Second Bosphorus Bridge.) The bridge is located between Ortaköy (on the European side) and Beylerbeyi (on the Asian side). It is a gravity anchored suspension bridge with steel pylons and inclined hangers. The aerodynamic deck is hanging on zigzag steel cables. It is 1,510 m (4,954 ft) long with a deck width of 39 m (128 ft). The distance between the towers (main span) is 1,074 m (3,524 ft) and their height over road level is 105 m (344 ft). The clearance of the bridge from sea level is 64 m (210 ft). The Bosphorus Bridge had the 4th longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1973, and the longest outside the United States. At present, it is the 16th longest suspension bridge span in the world.

San Diego-Coronado Bridge, San Diego

The San Diego-Coronado Bridge, locally referred to as the Coronado Bridge, is a "prestressed concrete/steel" girder bridge, crossing over San Diego Bay in the United States, linking San Diego with Coronado, California. The bridge is signed as part of State Route 75. The 11,179-foot-long (3,407 m or 2.1 mi) bridge ascends from Coronado at a 4.67 percent grade before curving 80 degrees toward San Diego. The span reaches a maximum height of 200 feet (61m), allowing the U.S. Navy ships which operate out of the nearby Naval Station San Diego to pass underneath it. The five-lane bridge featured the longest box girder in the world until it was surpassed by a bridge in Chongqing, China in 2008. The bridge doesn't form a direct path to Coronado, but rather has a curve. This was done so it would be high enough for all U.S. Navy ships to pass underneath but not too steep for vehicles to ascend and descend.

The San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge construction started in February 1967, and the bridge was opened to traffic on August 3, 1969, during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of San Diego Originally, the toll was $0.60 in each direction. Several years later, this was changed to a $1 toll collected for traffic going westbound to Coronado only. Although the bridge was supposed to become "toll-free" once the original bridge bond was paid (which occurred in 1986), the tolls continued for sixteen additional years. In 2002, it became the last toll bridge in Southern California to discontinue tolls. The original toll booths on the Coronado side remained intact for a short while, and were temporarily replaced with newer, more modern-looking toll booths for the filming of a car commercial in April 2007. The islands upon which the toll booths sat, as well as the canopy over the toll plaza area, are still intact, located at the western end of the bridge in the westbound lanes. Though tolls are no longer collected, beginning February 19, 2009 there was talk of resuming westbound toll collection.

Akashi-Kaikyo, Kobe-Naruto

The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, also known as the Pearl Bridge, has the longest central span of any suspension bridge, at 1,991 metres (6,532 ft). It is located in Japan and was completed in 1998. The bridge links the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshu- to Iwaya on Awaji Island by crossing the busy Akashi Strait. It carries part of the Honshu--Shikoku Highway. The bridge is one of the key links of the Honshu--Shikoku Bridge Project, which created three routes across the Inland Sea. The Akashi-Kaikyo bridge in Japan is the daddy of all suspension bridges, over 1,200ft longer than the 2nd place Great Belt Bridge in Denmark. Originally built to replace the dangerous Kobe-Iwaya ferry in 1998 which had suffered at the hands of numerous storms, the bridge crosses the Akashi Strait and cost around $4.5 billion to build. The statistics on this build are staggering; it took 2 million workers 10 years to build the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge. During that time they poured 1.4 million cubic meters of concrete, assembled 181,000 of structural steel, built 350,000 tonne anchor blocks at either end of the bridge and hooked up enough steel cable to circle the world 7 times!

Hangzhou Bay Bridge, Zhejiang

Hangzhou Bay Bridge is a long highway bridge with a cable-stayed portion across Hangzhou Bay in the eastern coastal region of China. It connects the municipalities of Jiaxing and Ningbo in Zhejiang province. At 35.673 km (22 mi) in length, Hangzhou Bay Bridge is the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world, but it does not have the longest cable-stayed main span. It is also second in the world in overall length, with the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in the United States being 2.8 kilometers longer. Construction of the bridge was completed on June 14, 2007, and an opening ceremony was held on June 26, 2007, to great domestic media fanfare. The bridge was not opened to public use until May 1, 2008, after a considerable period of testing and evaluation. The bridge shortened the highway travel distance between Ningbo and Shanghai from 400 km (249 mi) to 280 km (174 mi) and reduced travel time from 4 to 2.5 hours.

Magdeburg Water Bridge, Magdeburg

The Magdeburg Water Bridge (German: Wasserstraßenkreuz) is a navigable aqueduct in Germany, opened in October 2003. It connects the Elbe-Havel Canal to the Mittelland Canal, crossing over the Elbe River. It is notable for being the longest navigable aqueduct in the world, with a total length of 918 metres (3,012 ft). The Elbe-Havel and Mittelland canals had previously met near Magdeburg but on opposite sides of the Elbe. Ships moving between the two had to make a 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) detour, descending from the Mittelland Canal through the Rothensee boat lift into the Elbe, then sailing downstream on the river, before entering the Elbe-Havel Canal through Niegripp lock. Low water levels in the Elbe often prevented fully laden canal barges from making this crossing, requiring time-consuming off-loading of cargo.

Grand bridges from The Grand Canyon
Water Bridge In Germany

Folding Bridge : A folding bridge is a type of movable bridge.

Hörn Bridge, Kiel, Germany

The Hörn Bridge or Hörnbrücke is a folding bridge in the city of Kiel in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. One can describe it as a three-segment bascule bridge with a main span of 25.5 meters (84 ft) that folds in the shape of the letter N. The bridge was designed by Gerkan, Marg and Partners.The Hörn Bridge is a three-segment bascule bridge over the inner end of the Kiel Fjord (called Hörn) in the port of the German city of Kiel in Schleswig-Holstein. The bridge is a 25.5-meter-long, 5-meter-wide steel structure. This pedestrian bridge was built in 1997 and connects the city centre on the west bank of the Hörn with the Gaarden quarter and the Norwegenkai (Norway dock) on the east bank. It is one of the architectural and technical attractions of the city and is an important traffic route for pedestrians and cyclists. It was meant primarily as a route from the station to Norwegenkai for the passengers of the Oslo ferry line. The bridge construction cost 16 million DM, and its construction was viewed skeptically by many Kielians. There were repeated malfunctions of the mechanism upon startup, hence one of its nicknames, the "Klappt-Nix-Brücke" (Folds-not Bridge).

Pegasus Bridge, Normandy, France

Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge (a type of movable bridge), built in 1934, that crossed the Caen Canal, between Caen and Ouistreham, in Normandy, France. Also known as the Bénouville Bridge after the neighbouring village, it was, with the nearby Ranville Bridge over the river Orne, a major objective of Operation Deadstick past of Operation Tonga in the opening minutes of the invasion of Normandy. A gliderborne unit of the British 6th Airborne Division, commanded by Major John Howard was to land, take the bridges intact and hold them until relieved. The successful taking of the bridges played an important role in limiting the effectiveness of a German counter-attack in the days and weeks following the invasion. In 1944 it was renamed Pegasus Bridge in honour of the operation. The name is derived from the shoulder emblem worn by the British airborne forces, which is the flying horse Pegasus.

Burnside Bridge, Portland, Oregon

The Burnside Bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. Including approaches, the Burnside has a total length of 2,308 ft (703 m) and a 251 ft (77 m) center span. While lowered this span is normally 64 ft (20 m) above the river. The deck is made of concrete, which contributes to its being one of the heaviest bascule bridges in the United States. The counterweights, housed inside the two piers, weigh 1,700 short tons (1,518 long tons; 1,542 t). The lifting is normally controlled by the Hawthorne Bridge operator, but an operator staffs the west tower during high river levels. The bridge provides shelter for the initially unauthorized Burnside Skatepark under the east end, and the Portland Saturday Market was formerly held most weekends under the west end.

Submersible bridge

A submersible bridge is a type of movable bridge that lowers the bridge deck below the water level to permit waterborne traffic to use the waterway. This differs from a lift bridge or table bridge, which operate by raising the roadway. Two submersible bridges exist across the Corinth Canal, one at each end, in Isthmia and Corinth. They lower the centre span to 8 metres below water level when they give way to ships crossing the channel. The submersible bridge's primary advantage over the similar lift bridge is that there is no structure above the shipping channel and thus no height limitation on ship traffic. This is particularly important for sailing vessels. Additionally, the lack of an above-deck structure is considered aesthetically pleasing, a similarity shared with the Chicago-style bascule bridge and the table bridge. However, the presence of the submerged bridge structure limits the draft of vessels in the waterway. The term submersible bridge is also sometimes applied to a non-movable bridge that is designed to withstand submersion and high currents when the water level rises. Such a bridge is more properly called a low water bridge.

The Rolling Bridge, London, UK

The Rolling Bridge, A curling bridge is a type of movable bridge, of which the sole example shown here is The Rolling Bridge, built in 2004 as part of the Grand Union Canal office & retail development project at Paddington Basin, London. The bridge was conceived by British designer Thomas Heatherwick, designed by SKM Anthony Hunt with Packman Lucas, and built by Littlehampton Welding Ltd. The Hydraulic design and development was done by Primary Fluid Power Ltd in the North West. The bridge consists of eight triangular sections hinged at the walkway level and connected above by two-part links that can be collapsed towards the deck by hydraulic cylinders, which are concealed in vertical posts in the bridge parapets. When extended, it resembles a conventional steel and timber footbridge, and is 12 metres long. To allow the passage of boats, the hydraulic pistons are activated and the bridge curls up until its two ends join, to form an octagonal shape measuring one half of the waterway's width at that point.

Amazing Unusual Pictures around the world

2011-06-29T08:19:00.001-07:00