My X New 's

In Israel a Same-Sex Marriage is Legalized

2012-06-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

Rabbi Committee of the Jewish laws and regulations defining the halachic rules for movement of Conservative Judaism, has legalized a same sex marriages. The decision was taken 13th votes with one abstention and no objections. Only 1.300 Conservative Rabbis now will be a single instruction for the conduct of such marriages.

Until now, the rabbis were not required, but it had the right combination of single-sex marriage. Now, once developed and institutionalized procedures for two marriages and divorces of gays and lesbians: a more traditional, the other - modern.

Little Known and Incredible Animal Facts (10 pics)

2012-06-02T01:47:00.002-07:00

With so many animal species on the planet it’s no wonder there are still many interesting factoids to learn.

The Most Inspiring Graduation Speeches (11 pics)

2012-06-02T01:18:00.000-07:00

You don't have to be a graduating senior to benefit from the inspiring words of commencement speakers. No matter how old you are, you can learn from the advice of these writers, thinkers, and leaders.

Weird And Wonderful Bras From Triumph Lingerie (25 pics)

2012-06-01T22:35:00.001-07:00

Luxurious undergarments and Japan's predilection for useless inventions, together at last. The Triumph Lingerie company is fond of unveiling novelty bras in Japan on a yearly basis, most of which

never get past the prototype phase. Here are but a few.

1. Modeled after a miniature fishbowl, this bra has gel material designed to take excess heat out of the body. Created so women can feel refreshed during summer. 2012.

2. Each bra and briefs pair are made from three and a half plastic bottles, 100 percent polyethylene terephthalate broken down into chips, chemically reprocessed into thread and then woven into fabric and lace. (Reuters / Eriko Sugita).

3. Made almost entirely of glass, with soda glass for the cups and braided glass beads for the straps, side panel and the center piece. 2002. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao).

4. Commemorated the 2002 FIFA World Cup. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao).

5. Crafted with 3,000 pearls and antique Belgian lace. (Reuters / Stinger).

6. Holds a capsule containing a lavender fragrance, which calms feelings of irritation while attempting to give up smoking and supposedly alters the taste of cigarettes into something unpleasant. 2003. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao).

7. Depicts a maiko, a traditional Japanese dancing girl, and shorts with a pattern of a castle. 2004. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao).

8. Haru-urara is a popular racing horse in Japan that has never won a single race, loved for her determination. Features a dye-technology that uses real carrots. 2004. (Reuters / Eriko Sugita).

9. Dedicated to the Hanshin Tigers baseball team, it comes with shorts and a detachable tiger's tail. 2003. (Reuters / Eriko Sugita).

10. Illustrates children supporting elderly women, created to increase awareness of the issue of a serious decline in Japan's population. 2006. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao).

11. The gloves are functional and can detach from the bra. (Reuters / Toshiyuki Aizawa).

12. Features embroidery depicting 400-year-old Edo castle on its cups and 38 crystalline pieces embedded across the straps. 2003. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao ).

13. Converts into a shopping bag, meant to raise awareness amongst customers to reduce the usage of plastics bags for the good of the environment. 2006. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao).

14. Japan's Prime Minister was striving to privatize Japan's Post Office, and Triumph wanted to express support for him. 2005. (Reuters / Toru Hanai).

15. Features a solar panel which can display messages, also equipped with pads designed to hold beverages to reduce usage of cans and plastic bottles. 2008.

16. Modeled after the actual ballot boxes used during elections in Japan. The characters on the brassiere reads "ballot box." 2007.

17. Has cups that join together to form a palm-sized green globe, made from environmentally-friendly materials such as corn, hemp and recycled paper. 2004. (Reuters / Eriko Sugita).

18. Decorated with the team's mascots Clutch and Clucchina, clutching the ball-shaped cups trimmed with a "V" for victory sign. 2005. (Reuters / Issei Kato).

19. Costing $1.9 million and completely hand-woven using only 24-karat gold thread with a 15-karat diamond resting in the front. 1999. (Reuters / Toshiyuki Aizawa).

20. Transforms into a rice growing kit, allowing the wearer to cultivate rice anytime, anywhere. 2010. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao).

21. Words of encouragement from 54 individuals in 36 countries and regions are printed along with corresponding flags on the bra corset and skirt, to bring hope to the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami. 2011. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao).

22. Konkatsu literally means "marriage hunting." Features a marriage countdown clock showing the marriage deadline set by the wearer. When an engagement ring is inserted between the cups the melody of "The Wedding March" is played. 2009. (Reuters / Yuriko Nakao).

23. Made from boa fiber, has long straps which can wrap around the neck and provide warmth. 2005. (Reuters / Issei Kato).

24. Comes with a pair of collapsible chopsticks. 2007.

25. Indicates danger from falling objects acknowledged by a sensor attached at a shoulder strap, inspired by Nostradamus' doomsday prophecy. (Reuters / Eriko Sugita).

‘Baby Gaga’ breast milk ice cream return with Holy Water and absinthe lolly (video)

2012-06-01T09:04:00.002-07:00

The makers of controversial breast milk ice cream have come up with a new 'bad taste' flavour - a mixture of Holy water and absinthe.

The gun-shaped Vice Lolly is made up of one part 80% alcohol absinthe and three parts Holy water from Lourdes.

The green lollipop costs a staggering £18.58 and is on sale at The Icecreamists shop in London's Covent Garden.

The price is after the year 1858 - the year when spring water from Lourdes was declared Holy by the Catholic church after a 14-year-old girl saw the Virgin Mary in a vision there.

Absinthe is so strong that it was blamed for Van Gogh cutting off his own ear. It was banned in Britain by the Victorians and did not go back on sale until 1998.
Icecreamists owner Matt O'Connor, 45, hit the headlines last year when he began selling ice cream made from breast milk and he hopes the Vice Lolly will be equally controversial.

"Being born into a Catholic family I wanted to make a statement about religion," said Mr O'Connor.
"I was looking at doing something that was a traditional children's ice lolly, but I turned this idea on its head. I went from something quite innocent to the most radically provocative concept possible.

"I have a source in France that bought the holy water for me in plastic bottles. After it was shipped over I spent a lot of time tasting it with absinthe and sugar to get the taste and balance just right.
"It tastes alcoholic with a touch of sweetness. After about three of these the average drinker would certainly be feeling the effects."

Epic camel with awesome bodyart: the Camel Festival

2012-06-01T08:03:00.002-07:00

If you thought your hairstylist was amazing, wait until you see what living masterpieces these Indian camel enthusiasts can create with just scissors and a lot of patience.

Every year, the desert city of Bikaner, in India’s state of Rajasthan, hosts one of the most colorful events in the world – the Bikaner Camel Festival. Home to the only camel breeding farm in India, and one of the largest such farms in all of Asia, it’s only natural this city should have a festival dedicated to the useful humped animal. The popular event takes place over two days, in January, and draws in camel breeders from all over Rajasthan, as well as tourists from all around the world. This homage to camels includes various events, from camel races and rides, to camel haircut competitions and even a camel beauty pageant.

Latest on the Baltic Sea UFO picked up on sonar by Swedish treasure hunters (video)

2012-06-01T06:20:00.002-07:00

The Ocean Explorer team will set out for the anomaly this Friday, 1 June, and maybe, hopefully, the event will be live broadcast on the web. Fox News reports today:

The Ocean Explorer crew includes 13 researchers, including a sonar expert, and a camera crew from Swedish TV that will document the event. Lindberg said he is in negotiations with Microsoft to see if the event can be carried live on the Internet, from the remote location in international waters via video streaming.

“We’re working with Microsoft on that, but nothing is final yet. Tell them we want to do a deal,” he joked.
Now that would be pretty interesting.

Last summer, a team of treasure hunters based in Stockholm found a strange disc-shaped object on the floor of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. Leading up to the object or formation is what looks like a churned-up track on the sea floor of about 300 meters.

Now, we might be a step closer to finding out what it was that they caught on sonar. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reports that the team plans to start diving in the end of May.

(What follows is a quick translation of the April 30 article, done here at the UFOEYES offices. Apologies for any weird wording.)
Treasure hunters get to the bottom of the UFO mystery
In May, the diving starts in the Baltic Sea

They’ve been showered with phone calls from journalists and scammers, and have even received death threats from Christian fundamentalists.
After divers Dennis Åsberg and Peter Lindberg found a giant circle formation in the Baltic Sea last summer, they have been contacted by thousands of people.
They will now try to get to the bottom of the matter – literally.

A UFO? An abandoned submarine base? When divers Dennis Åsberg and Peter Lindberg saw the giant circle on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, they could not imagine the enormous attention it would attract.

- I have received 110.000 emails. And 95 percent of those are from UFO buffs. They are convinced that we have found a UFO, Dennis Åsberg told Aftonbladet in January.
In-depth investigation
Now he and his colleague Peter Lindberg will try to shed light on the whole issue.
In the end of May, they will dive down and explore the formations that are located at a depth of 87 meters.

- First, we’ll take ground samples to see if there are any toxins, radioactive material or any other harmful substances present. Then, when we feel it’s safe, we’ll use a small, unmanned submarine that will film the formations and collect samples, said Dennis Åsberg.

Many of those who contacted the team were scammers wanting to make money off the discovery. But now, the treasure hunters from Åkersberga have found a serious financier.
- We’ve partnered up with a Swedish production company that will finance a big part of this. There will be a TV series that will be aired internationally, said Dennis Åsberg.

Methane ice or a Russian submarine base

To their help they have marine geologists and other scientists who all have their own theories about what’s down there.
- One geologist thinks it may be a gas deposit, perhaps methane ice from the ice age, said Dennis Åsberg.

So no UFO?

- 95% of the people we talk to think it comes from above. And even I, who have to try to keep a professional mindset, begins to question things. We have obviously found something unique, and now we need to figure out what it is. A meteor, a UFO, a Russian submarine base from the Cold War or something that was dumped? Now, we’re going to make a thorough investigation to find out what it is.

Now, a more troubling development is the team’s recently published short teaser video to what they call The Baltic Sea Anomaly 2012. Their website has also recently undergone a redesign and is now wholeheartedly focusing on the “anomaly”. I don’t know, come late May I guess we’ll find out if they’ve found anything of interest. And whether it will cost us $9.99 to behold.

April Britt, Massachusetts Woman, Finds Baby Bird With 2 Heads, 3 Beaks (pics)

2012-06-01T04:43:00.001-07:00

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- A Northampton woman made an unusual discovery in her yard – a deformed baby cardinal with two heads and three beaks.

April Britt says she found the bird near the base of a tree Monday and returned it to its nest.

A scientist for the Massachusetts Audubon Society says animals with such abnormalities rarely survive birth, making the find all the more unusual. He says the deformities could have been caused by genetic or environmental factors.

Video: Play-A-Grill Lets Playas Hear Music Through Their Teeth

2012-06-01T04:26:00.000-07:00

Now, wearing grillz is about more than a fashion statement. You can use it as an MP3 player, using bone conduction to play your block rockin’ beats through your teeth. Because why not.

The Play-A-Grill combines a digital music player and the grill, the bejeweled mouthpiece most often associated with hip-hop artists. This is the brainchild of artist Aisen Chacin, of Parsons The New School for Design in New York. New Scientist shares her lovely work today.

Like a rapper’s grillz, the Play-A-Grill draws inspiration from the hated retainer, in that it sticks on your mouth-roof and covers your teeth, but is totally removable. “This piece of jewelry presents a perfect opportunity to merge an arbitrary music fashion object and reintroduce it as the music player itself,” Chacin explains on her website.

She connected a vibrating motor to an MP3 player’s headphone jack and made a mold of her upper palate. The controls face downward, so you can click them with your tongue. The vibration is strong enough to hear the music through your skull, as seen here:

If it’s loud enough, others can hear sound coming from the wearer's mouth.
“Because the grill is worn over the teeth, sound can be transmitted using bone conduction hearing instead of outside speakers or headphones,” Chacin explains. She presented the work at a New Interfaces for Musical Expression conference last week.

The Most Enviable Wives And Brides In The World (20 pics)

2012-06-01T03:39:00.000-07:00

Behoold the most stunning women in world of football.
You can see many of them in the stadium during the European Championship.

Wife of Wesley Sneijder - Yolanda van Kasbergen Boar
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 100%

Adriana Sklenarikova, the wife of French soccer player Christian Karembeu (France midfielder
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 50%

Alena Seredova, the wife of the legendary Italian goalkeeper Buffon
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 100%

Sara Carbonero is dating Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper)
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 100%

Sarah Brandner is a girlfriend of German midfielder Schweinsteiger
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 100%

Malena Costa is a wife of a Spaniard Carlos Puyol
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 80%

Zaira Nara is beloved of Diego Forlan
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 0%

Nagori Alonso is Xabi Alonso's wife
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 100%

Shakira is a beloved of Gerard Pique
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 50%

СSylvie van der Vaartis a wife of Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart
Chance to see her in the stadium during the Euro: 100%

New Samsung Galaxy R Style with Android 4.0 ICS and LTE introduced in Korea

2012-05-31T07:40:00.002-07:00

Not long before releasing the Galaxy S III in South Korea (this should happen in June), Samsung has unveiled another new Galaxy there: the Galaxy R Style. Featuring a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED display, the R Style is obviously smaller than the Galaxy S III. It runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and comes with [...]

Featuring a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED display, the R Style is obviously smaller than the Galaxy S III. It runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and comes with LTE connectivity, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, T-DMB, 5MP rear camera, and 16GB of internal memory.

The Galaxy R Style will cost 700,000 KRW (about $594), and customers should be able to find it through all major Korean mobile carriers (SK telecom, KT, and LG U+). I don’t see any good reason for this handset’s existence – not with the S III also coming really soon. But maybe Samsung is thinking that a slightly cheaper alternative to the S III would be successful. ...

HTC One XXL: is a 5.4 Inch Concept Phone

2012-05-31T07:30:00.001-07:00

HTC is known for making beautiful looking phones, and I have no doubt that their version of the Note would look great. But thanks to a talented designer Hasan Kaymak, imagining what the HTC device might look like just got a lot easier. Introducing the HTC One XXL: HTC’s version of the Galaxy Note, and what it could POSSIBLY look like.

The model he designed has a 5.4 inch Full HD display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB internal memory, a microSD card slot, an Nvidia Penta core processor, a 2750 mAh Li-Ion battery (with wireless charging of course), and Android Jellybean running with a Sense 4.0 skin on top.

As amazing as these specs sound, they are certainly not far fetched, as most of the technology certainly exists ( I don’t believe Tegra 3 supports more than 1GB of RAM?). Hasan also added the feature of being able to slide from left to right along the bottom buttons to open the app drawer, which could also be pretty nice.

CPU Top Trumps Is The Ultimate Geeky Card Game

2012-05-31T07:08:00.000-07:00

CPU Wars Volume 1.0 has now been produced thanks to all the amazing people that backed this project. For all the latest news, updates and to get your own deck, go to http://www.cpuwarsthegame.com/.

Exclusively for kickstarter backers you will receive two more things:
1) Access to an invite only Facebook group, where you will be able to interact and shape CPU Wars, take part in giveaways, promotions and everything else I come up with.
2) Access to a password protected blog that will be documenting the CPU Wars journey. It's called "A Guy in a Bunny Suit" and it will be documenting everything about CPU Wars from tomorrow onwards (including pictures of proofs, the production facility etc.)
Thank you guys!

New backer reward! Even more exclusive decks.
To make every deck even more exclusive to kickstarter backers, every deck received will feature a hand-written number (x out of total) along with a stamp in the inside of the tuck box flap. All numbers will be recorded so I can guarantee its authenticity. My way of saying thank you for all the support!

$10k Passed! One week to go!
WOW! We passed $10k!!!! Thank you everyone for your support! Keeping to the set out goals, every backer will also receive an awesome set of badges. One with the CPU Wars logo, and another with the helmet. Picture of a prototype will be uploaded soon.

Important Update for Higher Pledges
I've decided to make a big change to the higher pledges. Anyone that pledges $150 or $600 (including current backers) will now get 5 decks instead of 1! I want you to be able to share the joy of CPU Wars with your friends and this is my thank you to you.

So thousands of people will know how awesome you are and that you helped this project become a reality.

United States: 1 in 3 is obese - even the homeless

2012-05-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

Obesity is a widespread epidemic, even among the homeless.
While the popularized image of a homeless individual is one of skin and bones, a new study shows the reality is not so. One in three (32.3%) homeless individuals in the United States is obese, highlighting a hunger-obesity paradox.

The paradox is that hunger and obesity can exist in the same person. And although a person may be overweight or obese, he or she can lack proper nutrition.
Nutrition is a daily challenge for homeless people, as the foods they manage to get are often full of preservatives and high in sodium, fats and sugars. They may not have access to healthier options like fresh fruits and vegetables.

“It’s the lowest socio-economic group who has the biggest obesity problem,” said Paul Montgomery, one of the authors of the study published in the Journal of Urban Health. “No one looked at the homeless problem before. What we found was this group has a significant obesity problem that wasn’t known.”

The obesity rate in a sample of 5,632 homeless adults seen at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program was similar to that seen in the general population.

“It just mirrors what Americans look like in general,” said Barbara Dipietro, policy director of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. “It follows the homeless in general. They are more economically driven. They are intact families and people who are coming into homelessness, who don’t come with behavioral health issues. When we look at the homeless population, we think they’re different, but they’re like everyone else.”

Two out of three homeless individuals were either overweight or obese. The study found that 32.6% were normal weight and that 1.6% was underweight.
“Although underweight has been traditionally associated with homelessness, this study suggests that obesity may have replaced underweight as the new malnutrition of the homeless,” the authors wrote.

The researchers found that 5.6% of this population were morbidly obese, meaning they had BMIs greater than 40. A 250-pound man who stands at 5 feet and 7 inches would have a BMI of 40. A BMI over 25 is considered overweight; a BMI over 30 is obese.
In further analyses, homeless women (42.8%) were more likely to be obese than homeless men (29.7%).

“Our results are in line with [the] hunger-obesity paradox,” said Montgomery. “People feel hungry. The body’s response is the higher calories, you store them and become obese, and you still feel hungry. It’s a circular problem.”

The human body might be hoarding calories, as an adaptive response when people do not consistently have enough to eat. The body’s response could contribute to obesity, by “becoming more efficient at storing more calories as fat,” according to the report. Also, people who are homeless are more likely to suffer from a lack of sleep and high stress, which contribute to obesity.

When it comes to food choices, they do not have many. Even if they had fresh vegetables and fruits, they have to way to store them or prepare them.

“Homeless people don’t have the ability to choose,” said Dipietro. “They eat what they’re given. When you’re moneyless, you don’t have a stove or fridge. You don’t have a place to store food or prepare it. Everything you buy is easy-to-go, that you can store in the bag for later - that’s high in preservatives like canned foods.”

The kinds of foods served at soup kitchens are designed to feed the masses at a cheap, low price, she added.
“Nutritious food is really expensive compared to other food choices,” she said. “If you’re living on food stamps, on disability or safety net, or living on nothing, that’s the food you’re going to have to get. A salad is not in the cards.”

Some people are inclined to buy a homeless person a meal rather than give them money. This obesity issue shouldn’t deter those people from reaching out, she said.

“If you want to take them to McDonald’s and buy them a Big Mac, that’s not the difference between obesity and health,” she said. “You can buy them a salad. There are even options at McDonald’s. If someone was willing to create a connection to take them a buy a cup of coffee, that connecting with someone is the important piece. At the individual level, you’re not making a difference in health in one meal.”

Source

Best of Richfiles

2012-05-31T06:12:00.000-07:00

Every moment is a moment of celebration in the world of uber-rich. Earlier, we have witnessed a flurry of activities in the world of the rich; from buying new mansions to putting up their existing properties on the market for sale, besides the wedding of the season- Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan. So, here is another dose of luxury from the world of super-rich. Enjoy!

1.) Mitt Romney orders a “Phantom Park” Car Elevator

Mitt Romney, the newly elected Republican nominee for the position of the President of United States, also the owner of some of the world’s most exciting rides has now ordered a one-of-its-kind Phantom park car elevator for transporting his cars to the basement garage. This $55,000 car elevator of this former governor of Massachusetts, also finds its place in other celebrity garages like that of actor Harrison Ford and singer Britney Spears.

2.) Roman Abramovich drives around in a small electric car GEM E4

Owner of the biggest luxury yacht in the world, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich surely knows how to make head turn. The Chelsea club owner was seen driving around in a small electric vehicle on the roads of Antibes, one of his favorite getaway. Further, a little diligent research revealed that the vehicle was the GEM E4 four-passenger electric vehicle.

3.) 'The Rock' Dwayne Johnson lists his Hidden Hills home

The American actor and professional wrestling superstar, also known by his ring name ‘The Rock’ have now listed his luxurious mansion for a handsome $4.995 million. Located in ultra-posh Beverly Hills, California, the property boasts remarkable features like a spectacular two-story gallery entry, luxurious guest bedrooms, exotic bathroom, an outdoor kitchen with cutting-edge barbeque, a movie theater and an outdoor swimming pool.

4.) Rent Leonardo Di Caprio’s Malibu pad for $75,000 per month

Those in love with Leonardo DiCaprio, now have a lifetime opportunity to taste the bit of his celebrated lifestyle, as the ‘Inception’ star is now leasing out his Carbon beach house, one of his three ocean front properties, for a generous $75,000 per month. But, for leases shorter than 6 months, renters have to pony up $150,000 per month. This recently renovated house was bought by Leonardo back in 2002 for $6 million.

5.) Oprah Winfrey lists her Chicago apartment for half the price she bought it for, $2.8 million

The most recent development in the celebrity real estate circles is Oprah Winfrey’s finally listing of her grand Chicago apartment for $2.8 million, half the price she paid for it six years ago. After putting it on rent for quite some time, Oprah has listed the property with Prudential Rubloff Properties. Built in 1913, this Beaux-Art mansion boasts two foyers, a solarium, wine room, and three bedrooms. The media mogul also owns another apartment in the same neighborhood along with a $50 Million house in Montecito, Callifornia.

Rare Photos Of Celebrities Of The Past (29 pics)

2012-05-29T11:18:00.007-07:00

Jodie Foster as a child and John Travolta

Elvis Presley with his father

Little Elvis Presley with his parents

Eric Clapton with his grandmother

Freddie Mercury with actress Jane Seymour

Harrison Ford in a strange pose with a stick

Iggy Pop, 1970

Jackson's Five came to visit Bob Marley

Jeremy Irons and Meryl Streep

Jim Morrison as a child standing on a bicycle saddle

Steve Martin and John Belushi, James Belushi's elder brother

John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Andy Warhol "cover" each other

John Travolta dancing with Princess Diana

Johnny Depp and his niece Megan

Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder

Johnny Depp and Kate Moss

Johnny Depp, Kate Moss and Iggy Pop

Kurt Cobain shows his daughter Frances a kitty

Lars Ulrich in his youth (the drummer of Metallica)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Pool Hustler

A Young, Cool Stephen Hawking, Standing With His Bride

Young Bill Clinton Wants to Crash on Your Sofa for a While

Happy Hitler

Young Joseph Stalin

Teenage Eminem With Alf Shirt and Birthday Cake

Kurt Cobain Eating an Entire Pizza

Albert Einstein Was Your Drunken Uncle on Vacation

Winston Churchill's Plainly Visible Dong

Just a Normal, Happy Family ...

John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla)

Barack Obama

Berlusconi Cilvio

Finding Bigfoot: Yowie Audio Captured, Maybe (video)

2012-05-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot was recently in an expedition that covered some deep-wooded areas in Queensland, Australia. According to a recent article, the team is claiming to have captured audio from the mythical Australian Yowie. Bigfoot’s cousin down under.
The Finding Bigfoot team claims that the sounds they recorded are of an unknown animal, hinting at the Yowie.

You know, you would think that with all this “compelling evidence” that is found –coincidently around the third season finale– these researchers would release it to the public domain immediately to get a collaborative analysis done.

The world's first smartphone with built-in dosimeter

2012-05-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sharp Company and SoftBank Japanese operator decided to give more attention to radiation safetyand have developed the world's first smartphone with built-in dosimeter. New feature called Pantone 5107SH.

This model is implemented in monoblock form factor with the thickness of the shell 12 mm. On its front panel is a button that launches a special application and activates the dosimeter. Measurement of radiation only takes about 10 seconds.

In other specifications, Pantone 5107SH is no different from the usual average smartphone. It is based on single-core processor with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz and runs on Android 4.0. This smartphone has a 3.7-inch display with a resolution of 854x480 pixels and a 4-mp camera. By the way, Pantone 5107SH has dustproof, waterproof case. New products will be available in several colors of summer.

The Japanese release of the smartphone is scheduled for July this year, the price of a smartphone yet unknown.

NASA spotted Gigantic Sphere near Sun while reflecting Solar Eruption -- May 25, 2012

2012-05-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

NASA spotted Gigantic Sphere near Sun while deflecting Solar Eruption The first introduction video shows the gigantic sphere. The sphere is similar to the remarkable sighting in March, 2012 The second video begins with an explanation about the newly discovered asteroid 2012 KP24 followed (at 4.44 minutes) with a possible explanation about the gigantic sphere.

Top 10 New Species - 2012

2012-05-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

In celebration of our 5th anniversary of the Top 10 New Species, the IISE presents some of the best species officially described in 2011.

a snub-nosed monkey from Myanmar (Burma) that sneezes when it rains

a banded box jelly that's so cool-looking that people exclaim "oh boy!" when they see it (or when they're stung!)

a nematode from one of earth's deepest gold mines that survives the temperatures and pressures of living almost a mile below the planet's surface

the first night-blooming orchid to be described and grows in a primeval tropical forest

a teensy wasp that attacks desert ants to lay its eggs in less than 0.05 seconds

a new mushroom that can be squeezed like a sponge with an uncanny resemblance to a popular cartoon character

a yellow poppy that blooms in the autumn monsoon season and can only be reached by hiking miles into the Himalayan wilderness

a millipede that's SO big it looks like a sausage

an ancient, spiny creature nicknamed the "walking cactus" that may have used its bristly legs to capture prey

a breathtakingly beautiful and blue tarantula that may be at risk due to habitat loss and exploitation by the pet trade

World's Most Popular Street Food (12 pics)

2012-05-28T10:58:00.001-07:00

If you only choose luxury and expensive restaurants for your meals whenever eating out, you will miss a golden chance to enjoy street food that is truly delicious but very cheap. Each region in different countries has typical street specialities, appealing anyone to taste them.

When you travel to Marrakech, Morocco in very hot days, for example, enjoy a glass filled to the rim with mint and a healthy amount of sugar. Or visiting Chilung's Miaokou Night Market means you can taste a wide range of traditional Taiwanese snack foods including savory noodle soups, tripe, oyster omelets, sticky rice and snails.
Let's take a look at some of the world’s most famous street foods.

1. Mint Tea, Morocco
Glasses filled to the rim with mint, and a healthy helping of sugar, stand ready for the preparation of Morocco’s distinctive green tea. The beverage refreshes the spirit on a hot day in Marrakech, but it’s far more than a thirst quencher. The tea’s preparation and enjoyment are an essential part of the Moroccan culture and a “must-try” experience for any visitor. (Cezary Wojtkowski)

2. Miaokou Night Market, Taiwan
Chilung's Miaokou Night Market has an old temple at its center, but the main focus here is feasting. The market’s yellow lanterns illuminate a mouthwatering array of traditional Taiwanese snack foods, including savory noodle soups, oyster omelets, snails, sticky rice, and tripe. Taiwanese and tourists alike say no visit is complete without a fruity “bubble ice” dessert—black plum is a local favorite. (Neil Wade)

3. Shanghai Dumplings, China
A Shanghai street vendor serves up a freshly fried helping of the city’s favorite snack—dumplings. The treats are ubiquitous in Shanghai, available in many flavors and combinations. (Justin Guariglia)

4. Noodles, Thailand
A strainer full of noodles, fresh off an open fire, commands the total concentration of a cook in Bangkok's Chinatown. The skill of such street chefs, and the aroma of their creations, proves irresistible to many passersby. (Dean McCartney)

5. Chicken Intestines, Philippines
Filipino food vendors created this heaping helping of isaw manok, skewered chicken intestines that are first marinated and later grilled or deep fried to perfection. The snack is typically served with sweet, sour, or spicy sauces. (Jun Aviles)

6. Beach Food, India When beachgoers in Goa need a break, tasty treats like these are always close at hand. Unlimited supplies of samosas, chicken, cool drinks and other favorite Indian fare are found at Anjuna Beach—a onetime hippie haven that still draws sun-loving, fun-loving travelers from around the world. (Anne Kohl)

7. Grasshoppers, China
Chinese street foods, like this “bouquet” of skewered grasshoppers, often raise Western eyebrows. But insect eating isn’t as unusual as you might imagine. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that more than 1,400 protein-rich insect species are regularly enjoyed by humans around the world. (Boaz Meiri)

8. Banh Mi Sandwiches, Vietnam
Serving with a smile, a Vietnamese vendor taps a colonial legacy to create an irresistible street cuisine. Banh mi sandwiches, like these in Nhatrang, feature French baguettes filled with a tasty variety of meats and vegetables. They are eagerly consumed across Vietnam, especially for breakfast or lunch. (Tim Hall/Photo Library)

9. Sausages, Germany
Only the best of the wurst are served at this German imbissstand. Merrymakers at this Sachsenhausen festival devour bratwurst, bockwurst, and other sausage delicacies while washing them down with beer. (Olivia Sari)

10. Ceviche, Peru A cook prepares ceviche in the seaside town of Máncora, Peru. Popular throughout Latin America, ceviche is made by using the juice of citrus, in this case limes, to pickle and "cook" a mix of raw fish and seafood. (Abraham Nowitz)

11. Roasted Pigs, Cambodia Visitors needn’t speak Khmer in order to understand the menu of this street-side food stand in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world. Austria eats the most per capita, followed by Spain and Denmark. (Mark Ikin)

Iranian Female Combat Unit "Ninja"

2012-05-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

In Iran, is formed combat unit "ninja", staffed by women. It consists of 3,500 women, ninjas, who not only possess all kinds of weapons, but they can also move silently, and to penetrate the enemy's rear.

Kunoichi call these women, they wear old clothes of Japanese ninja and learn mastery of many kinds of weapons.

Oxford-Lausanne Collateral Hominid Project Wants Your Bigfoot Hair Samples

2012-05-27T00:25:00.001-07:00

Oxford University and the Lausanne Museum of Zoology have collaborated on a Bigfoot project. They plan to use the latest genetic techniques to investigate organic remains that some have claimed belong to the Yeti, Bigfoot, Migoi, Sasquatch, Almasty, Orang Pendek, Yowie, Meh-Teh and other potentially lost hominid species. Professor Bryan Sykes, a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford, will lead the project with Michel Sartori, Director of the Lausanne Museum of Zoology.

The Oxford-Lausanne Collateral Hominid Project is inviting individuals with collections of cryptozoological material to submit details of the samples they hold, and then on request submit the samples themselves, particularly hair shafts, for rigorous genetic analysis. The results will then be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Sykes says, "Theories as to their species identification vary from surviving collateral hominid species, such as Homo neanderthalensis or Homo floresiensis, to large primates like Gigantopithecus widely thought to be extinct, to as yet unstudied primate species or local subspecies of black and brown bears. Mainstream science remains unconvinced by these reports both through lack of testable evidence and the scope for fraudulent claims. However, recent advances in the techniques of genetic analysis of organic remains provide a mechanism for genus and species identification that is unbiased, unambiguous and impervious to falsification."

Information about how to submit details about your mysterious Bigfoot hair can be found here.

Some of the submitted samples could turn out to belong to ancient Neanderthals or early hominids. Professor Sykes says, "It is possible that a scientific examination of these neglected specimens could tell us more about how Neanderthals and other early hominids interacted and spread around the world."

BB-mobile micrON-2: Bluetooth-headset in the form of micro cell phone

2012-05-26T06:37:00.003-07:00

BB-mobile begins sales the new Bluetooth-headset for smartphones, tablets and notebooks under the name "Minifon BB-mobile series micrON-2." Was previously released his first simplified version.

This model is like a mono and stereo Bluetooth-headset for listening to music. Also, the device can be used as a Bluetooth-adapter for the PC, and wireless headsets to communicate with the VoIP-telephony services. New product supports the search for contacts in your address book, you can adjust the volume of incoming calls, flexible configuration mode to control the sound, five-way navigational key and a removable battery. In his enclosure has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. The range of Bluetooth-headset has been increased from 10 to 20 meters.

Apple Running New Celebrity iPhone 4S/Siri TV Ads Featuring John Malkovich

2012-05-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

Apple has begun running a pair of new television ads for the iPhone 4S and Siri featuring actor John Malkovich. This comes after a pair of celebrity ads started running last month with Samuel L. Jackson and Zooey Deschanel.

Malkovich: Life.

Siri: Try and be nice to people. Avoid eating fat. Read a good book every now and then. Get some walking in. And try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.

Malkovich: That's pretty spectacular advice, actually. Thank you. I enjoyed this chat immensely. You are very eloquent.

Siri: That's nice of you to say.

The celebrity ads scored very well with viewers, registering higher scores from advertising tracking firm Ace Metrix than any other iPhone 4S ad released so far this year.

John Malkovich is well known for his unique acting style and his iPhone 4S ad reflects his somewhat peculiar persona. The query that Malkovich posits -- "Life"-- elicits a number of different responses from Siri, including:

"42"

"I Kant answer that. Ha ha!"

"It's nothing Nietzsche couldn't teach ya."

"Life: the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death."

"I don't know. But I think there's an app for that."

"I can't answer that now, but give me some time to write a very long play in which nothing happens."

"I find it odd that you would ask this of an inanimate object."

"That's easy... it's a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of life or existence in general."

"Life: a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings. I guess that includes me."

"A movie."

"I give up."

A second ad is airing as well, showcasing a bit more of Siri's talents: