This incredible video shows a pod or orca, aka killer whales, chasing the boat like playful dolphins.

I’m not clear why orca would act this way. They’re smart enough to have fun and enjoy a race so perhaps that’s all that was going on. In any case the video does a great job at showing these majestic but dangerous swimmers in the wild.

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What are your views about keeping killer whales aquariums and places like Sea World? Is it necessary for research, learning about the animals and for looking after those whales who wouldn’t survive if put back to sea?

This time-lapse was filmed from the icebreaker Nathaniel B. Palmer as it travelled through the Ross Sea in Antartica. It is narrated by Cassandra Brooks with a superbly engaging voice, a perfect narration for the footage shown.

You’ll see the ship trying to cope as the ice circles tight. You’ll see amused penguins watching from the sides. All the while Cassandra sounds calm and engaged.

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Do you think you could stay aboard a bleak icebreaker for months at time?

Caldera is a wonderfully animated short film. It’s dark and surreal but tells the story of one young woman and her battle with mental illness. The film explores the issues around medications, how they are intended to help but also are a battle in themselves.

Directed by Evan Viera, Caldera pulls on very personal inspiration.

CALDERA is inspired by my father’s struggle with schizoaffective disorder. In states of delusion, my father has danced on the rings of Saturn, spoken with angels, and fled from his demons. He has lived both a fantastical and haunting life, but one that’s invisible to the most of us. In our differing understanding of reality, we blindly mandate his medication, assimilate him to our marginalizing culture, and entirely misinterpret him for all he is worth. CALDERA aims to not only venerate my father, but all brilliant minds forged in the haunted depths of psychosis.

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What does Caldera mean to you?

History of Fountainhall

(also known as Woodhead or Penkaet)

Originally known as Woodhead, the property was home to the family of Sir George Cockburn of Ormiston. Legend has it that a relative of Sir George, John Cockburn, killed another relative, John Seton. In 1635 Sir George took the decision to sell the mansion.

It was later granted to Lord Fountainhall and took on the family name. A direct descendent, Sir Andrew Lauder, became the new owner in 1695 and the property was retained by the family until 1922.

When Professor Ian Holbourn, an author, acquired the home he promptly renamed it Penkaet Castle, although later owners decided it should revert back to Fountainhall House. Like any self-respecting centuries-old home, Penkaet Castle seems to have trapped the tortured spirits of a few of its past residents or callers.

Hauntings at Penkaet House

Probably the most talked about ghost is that of Alexander Hamilton, who begged for food and shelter from the Ormiston family. On being denied and roughly removed from the property, he screamed out a curse upon them all.

Only a few days later, Lady Ormiston and her daughter suddenly and mysteriously died. Hamilton was arrested and after admitting to tying some blue thread to the doors of the castle, he was put on trial for witchcraft and subsequently hanged at Edinburgh Castle. His ghost has reportedly been seen hovering at the main doors on many occasions.

John Cockburn’s murderous spirit is also said to frequent a cupboard in the mansion from which it sometimes emerges to walk the length of the room and exit through a wall.

The most illustrious ghost is apparently that of Charles I whose bed, complete with death mask, was a gift to the mansion’s most recent owner, Prof. Holbourn. The former sovereign still appears to have the occasional nap here, as the bed is often found in unexplained disarray.

Tales such as these will ensure that Penkaet Castle remains of great interest to many future generations.

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It’s not unusual for buildings to change their names but have you ever known a home to have had three different names that are still vying for influence?

Have you any more stories of hauntings or notes of history for Penkaet Castle?

Image credit: Clan Pringle, Pringle’s of Woodhead.

This incredible video from Latvia shows a whirlpoo devouring a whole river. It’s not just water that vanishes down into the darkness but sheets of ice, boulders and uprooted trees.

The destructive power of the whirlpoor is equally impressive as it is scary. It looks like some sort of plug had been removed from the lake bed but more typically this sort of event is due to irregularities in the bottom of lake bed although this one rather looks like an underwater sinkhole opened up.

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What do you think caused the whirlpool? Mole, sinkhole or something else?

April the 22^nd was picked for Earth Day as some believe it marks the start of the modern environmental movement. The profile of the event has grown over the years and today many large companies will take part. You can take part yourself via the official site.

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What are you doing to mark Earth Day? If you can’t do anything else why not find other blogs covering the event and share, retweet and Google+ their posts to spread the message?

Picture credits: via /r/pics and Imgur.

Here are seven scenes of wonderful water. Which is your favourite?

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Do you know of an equally wonderful water scene? Why not share the link in the comments below?

Pictures via /r/pictures and Imgur.

Shave it from 3DAR on Vimeo.

This fun animation is the story of a monkey who finds a shaver, makes himself look human and moves to the big city. It’s the story about deforestation.

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Do you have any sympathies with Mr Monkey? Or is he just the baddie in this short animation?

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This picture was posted on April 1st – also known as April Fools.

These delightful carved eggs are created by the American sculptor Beth Ann Magnuson. They’re far more attractive the most of the tacky commerical Easter egg designs that I’ve seen this year.

Magnuson uses a high speed drill to hard-carve these turkey, chicken, duck, partridge and even phesant eggs.

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Seen any good Easter eggs this year? Drop us a link in the comment box below!