Photographer Håkan Dahlström snapped this picture in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. He tilted his camera so that the building would be appear to be tipping over instead of lying on a steep incline.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Building on a San Francisco Hill
Photographer Håkan Dahlström snapped this picture in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. He tilted his camera so that the building would be appear to be tipping over instead of lying on a steep incline.
A House That Looks Like a Staircase
To allow sunlight into the house, there are a number of glass slits in-between the steps on the south side.The glass slits not only make them feel liberating but also keep their privacy at the same time.[...]
The outside structure links the garden to the rooftop, and the inside of the house links a private porch/reception/lounge area to the bedrooms. The windows are designed and situated to allow in as much sunlight as possible, whilst retaining privacy.
Sixteen Visually Impressive Towers From Around The World
The old game of 'mine is bigger than yours' is played out throughout our lives, whether it be with siblings, neighbors, or work colleagues. Towers and skyscrapers are the instrument of choice when sovereign states want to show of their financial and engineering prowess. As a result some of the worlds tallest and most visually stunning structures are built.
Here are some of the most impressive of these 'trophy' towers from around the world.
State Park Notice
In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear encounters, the Montana Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, backpackers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears.
We advise outdoorsmen to wear noisy little bells on their clothing so that the bears are not startled unexpectedly by a human's presence. We also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear.
It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear poop and grizzly bear poop. Black bear poop is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear poop smells like pepper and has little bells in it.
Mexico's Freeze Frame Falls
Hierve el Agua
Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca, Mexico looks like a beautiful waterfall, but it’s not moving. Ice? No, this illusion is actually a rock formation, made of minerals left behind by dripping water. The white that makes it look like water is calcium carbonate, just one of many minerals that make up Hierve el Agua, which means “the water boils”.
Read about how this happened and see many more pictures at Kuriositas.
Green 'fireball' UFO explained
A startling green sight in the Australian sky four years ago appears to have an explanation.
Also: Mind-blowing new star count
Previous star counts are dwarfed by the latest calculation of a mind-blowing 300 sextillion.
Also: Gold boat from the Broighter Hoard
The gold boat from the Broighter Hoard
The hoard was found near Lough Foyle in a field between Ballykelly and Limavady in County Londonderry. It was discovered by Thomas Nicholl and James Morrow while working as ploughmen for Joseph L. Gibson in February 1896. They found the hoard whilst double ploughing. That means that one plough would follow the other to gain extra depth. It was estimated that the finds were buried 14 inches (36 cm) deep and were in close proximity to each other.What boggles the mind is the delicacy of the work and the antiquity of the piece: The material probably dates from the first century BCE.
The find was taken to the farm where Maggie (later Mrs Nicholl) washed the items in a sink. At that time they did not realise they were made from gold. The hoard was eventually sold to the British Museum for six hundred pounds. It consisted of a miniature ship, complete with fittings and oars; two necklets, a bowl and a torc (or hollow collar). The find was described as a lump of mud when initially shown. Moreover the boat had been so badly damaged by the plough that it took a goldsmith to later work out its structure...
The boat was measured at 7.25 inches (18.4 cm) by 3 inches (7.6 cm) and weighed 3 ounces (85 g). It had benches, rowlocks, two rows of nine oarsmen and a paddle for steering. It also included tools for grappling, three forks, a yardarm and a spear.
Archaeology News
The seal on King Tut's tomb
Before it was broken by Howard Carter in 1922.
Cleopatra Not First Pharoah of Her Line
Queen Arsinoe II, an Olympian medalist, may have ruled Egypt 200 years before Cleopatra.
Unusual life form discovered
A bacterium found in a California lake is unlike any other living thing on Earth.
Also: Australian man dies after snake bite at computer
A 43-year-old Gingin man has died from a tiger snake bite after he was bitten on the toe as he sat at his computer. Michael Thorpe was sitting at his home computer when he was bitten by a tiger snake, believed to be just 30cm long.
It is believed that Mr Thorpe's six-year-old daughter was in the house at the time and instead of seeking immediate medical help, he put his daughter's safety ahead of his. Mr Thorpe died shortly after arriving at Joondalup Health Campus.
Gingin Police Sergeant Scott Gillis warned that as the weather has warmed up snakes have become more active and can seek out shelter inside dwellings. Sergeant Gillis also warned of delaying treatment if bitten.
"That allowed the venom to spread more that he didn't seek medical attention straight away," Sgt Gillis said. There have been 77 people treated for snake bite already this spring in WA.
It is believed that Mr Thorpe's six-year-old daughter was in the house at the time and instead of seeking immediate medical help, he put his daughter's safety ahead of his. Mr Thorpe died shortly after arriving at Joondalup Health Campus.
Gingin Police Sergeant Scott Gillis warned that as the weather has warmed up snakes have become more active and can seek out shelter inside dwellings. Sergeant Gillis also warned of delaying treatment if bitten.
"That allowed the venom to spread more that he didn't seek medical attention straight away," Sgt Gillis said. There have been 77 people treated for snake bite already this spring in WA.
Most numerous creatures
Elephants and whales are huge, but they can't match the collective weight of one species.
Also: Inside ocean 'twilight zones'
Previously uncharted areas reveal an abundance of marine life once thought to be endangered.
Also: World's oldest living things
A lobster named George and a pine tree that predates Stonehenge redefine longevity.
Also: Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:Cleaning and organizing still has you completely captivated.
You can't think of anything you'd rather do than alphabetize your CDs.
Once everything is exactly where you want it to be, though, you might want to at least try to turn your attention toward one other activity, just briefly.
Isn't there someone out there who's been trying for days now to entice you into spending a few minutes alone with them?
You've got a wonderfully clean nest to show off.
Invite them over.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Du Sol, Brazil
Vicenza, Veneto, Italy
Winterthur, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Dusseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Edithvale,Victoria, Australia
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
London, England, United Kingdom
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Quezon City, Manila, Philippines
Bilbao, Pais Vasco, Spain
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Isparta, Isparta, Turkey
Novara, Piemonte, Italy
as well as Serbia, Bangladesh, Greece, Scotland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Singapore, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, Pakistan, Romania, Korea, Netherlands, Argentina, Vietnam, Egypt, Russia, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Puerto Rico, Belgium, India and in cities across the United States such as St Louis, Mt Laural, Twin Falls, Costa Mesa and more.
Today is:
Today is Wednesday, December 1, the 335th day of 2010.
There are 30 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
There isn't one.
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
December is ...
Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month
Tomato and Winter Squash Month
Quince and Watermelon Month
(Is it just us or do we detect a food theme this month?)
Odds and Sods
NYC bees turn red from cherry juice
The Northern Lights by their very nature put on dazzling displays of color, but I think they outdid themselves earlier this month.
A bunch of Brooklyn bees have been coming home looking flushed. New York City beekeeper Cerise Mayo was puzzled when her bees started showing up with mysterious red coloring.
The Northern Lights by their very nature put on dazzling displays of color, but I think they outdid themselves earlier this month.
Drunk-to-keep-warm defense works in DUI
A southeast Missouri man has been acquitted of drunk driving after claiming that he consumed alcohol to keep warm after - but not before - he lost control of his vehicle on an icy road.
Army deploys new weapon
A high-tech device that can seek out hidden targets finally lands in soldiers' hands in Afghanistan.
Also: Leaks reveal North Korea surprises
Among other surprises, leaks show the regime's ties to close ally China are not what the world thought.
Also: Rio's Drug War
An estimated 500 to 600 drug traffickers were hiding in the Complexo do Alemão area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over several days last week, shootouts between police and gang members left at least 42 people dead and residents terrified. The Big Picture Blog has 40 photographs from the raids. Some may be disturbing.
Mexico Now Top Source for U.S. Methamphetamines
Mexico has more bad news at its doorstep, its drug cartels are the number one importers of cold medicine chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamines consumed in the U.S. The drug cartels, always looking for businesses to expand into, quickly figured out the demand for black market flu, cold and allergy pills that eventually get turned into meth.
Kochsucker Juddins: Only Propertied Classes Should Vote
It wasn’t you were just a citizen and you got to vote. Some of the restrictions, you know, you obviously would not think about today. But one of those was you had to be a property owner. And that makes a lot of sense, because if you’re a property owner you actually have a vested stake in the community.
From the head of Tea Party Nation in his own words. Only the propertied get to vote. How long before it's only White Christian men?
Repugicans bring the Xmas spirit
2 million Americans lose unemployment benefits
Repugicans are upset that Wall Street bonuses will probably be down this year and who can really live on $400,000 - $500,000 per year? (An average range, of course, but how can one live on such chump change?) If Wall Street is prepared to cut back, everyone else should be ready to cut back, right? Just imagine how rough it's going to be for Wall Street traders to provide proper holiday gifts with so little? At least we know that we're all in this together and the repugicans in Washington understand the situation.
Let them eat cake.
Extended unemployment benefits for nearly 2 million Americans begin to run out Wednesday, cutting off a steady stream of income and guaranteeing a dismal holiday season for people already struggling with bills they cannot pay.
Unless Congress changes its mind, benefits that had been extended up to 99 weeks will end this month.
That means Christmas is out of the question for Wayne Pittman, 46, of Lawrenceville, Ga., and his wife and 9-year-old son. The carpenter was working up to 80 hours a week at the beginning of the decade, but saw that gradually drop to 15 hours before it dried up completely. His last $297 check will go to necessities, not presents.
Graph of jobs lost in recessions since 1948
Kelsey C., a master’s student at the University of Colorado-Boulder, sent in this image from Calculated Risk showing the percent of jobs lost in each recession since 1948, relative to the peak of the pre-recession job market. In terms of the percent of jobs lost, the current recession is by far the worst we’ve seen since World War II
Why Gold Is the Ideal Metal for Currency
Of all of the elements on the periodic table, why did gold become the standard of economic value for so much of human history? NPR asked Sanat Kumar, a professor of chemical engineering at Columbia University. He explained that, ideally, the material used in currency should not be reactive, corrosive, radioactive, too common, or too rare. It also needed to have a low melting point so that it could be shaped into coins. Gold is the element that best matches these criteria:So we ask Sanat: If we could run the clock back and start history again, could things go a different way, or would gold emerge again as the element of choice?
“For the earth, with every parameter we have, gold is the sweet spot,” he says. “It would come out no other way.”
Steps to saving $1 million
Building that stash is easier than you may think, if you follow these rules.
Also: Cut your property taxes
Up to 60 percent of real estate is assessed too high, so make sure you're not overpaying.
Also: Towns where land is free
Rural communities are offering the lots to lure newcomers and boost local economies.
Also: Weird excuses for sick days
One in four employers reports a rise in bogus excuses, like mouth burns from pumpkin pie.
Also: Diabetic News
Researchers find link between sugar, diabetes and aggression
A spoonful of sugar may be enough to cool a hot temper, at least for a short time, according to new research.A study found that people who drank a glass of lemonade sweetened with sugar acted less aggressively toward a stranger a…
Full storyDiabetes may clamp down on cholesterol the brain needs
The brain contains more cholesterol than any other organ in the body, has to produce its own cholesterol and won’t function normally if it doesn’t churn out enough. Defects in cholesterol metabolism have been linked …Full story
During National Diabetes Awareness month, new report ties disease to shortened life expectancy
Despite medical advances enabling those with diabetes to live longer today than in the past, a 50-year-old with the disease still can expect to live 8.5 years fewer years, on average, than a 50-year-old without the disease.Full story
Landmark food-safety bill's impact
The most important U.S. food legislation in decades may mean higher costs for consumers.
Also: Natural sleep remedies
If you have trouble falling asleep but want to avoid medication, a well-timed bath can work wonders.
Also: More vitamin D not needed
A new Institute of Medicine report finds that most people get enough vitamin D and calcium from food.
Also: Culinary DeLites
Plant-based foods usually lack one or more essential amino acids.
Also:
15 Sandwiches From Around the World
Putting your meal between slices of bread is a trick people do all over the world -with slight differences from country to country. In Australia you may have a chance to try the yeast paste Vegemite. In Japan you can have your noodles in your sandwich. In Vietnam you might encounter the spicy Vietnamese bahn mi.A baguette stuffed to the brim with meat and pickled veggies, the banh mi is fusion food at its best. But be warned: it’s usually sprinkled with cilantro, so don’t be surprised by an herby kick when you take a bite.Find more sandwich styles from around the world at National Geographic Traveler.
Animal Camouflage
Nature is fascinating, and some of nature's best work is illustrated by a group of animals that have adapted to mimic leaves. Leaf mimics employ a heightened form of camouflage to evade detection from predators or prey.
These animals make use of extraordinary color patterns, in addition to modified exoskeletons, skin, scales, and behavior to take camouflage to another level.
Venus holds warning for Earth
A mysterious high-altitude layer of sulphur dioxide discovered by ESA’s Venus Express has been explained. As well as telling us more about Venus, it could be a warning against injecting our atmosphere with sulphur droplets to mitigate climate change …
Dramatic storm cloud images
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are the subject of amazing images taken around the world.
Also: Natural Disaster Hot Zones
Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions – it seems there’s no end to the hazards that threaten to befall us. What areas are most at risk of experiencing a natural disaster? By looking at a region’s history of disasters, fault lines and underground magma the io9 team has compiled a map of the world’s hot zones. Much to my relief the area that I call home around the Great Lakes in Canada looks relatively risk-free.
The Bearer of Bad News
A man goes on a two month business trip to Europe and leaves his cat, to whom he’s very attached, with his brother. Three days before his return he calls his brother.Brother 1: So how is my cat doing?
Brother 2: She's Dead
Brother 1: OMG she's dead? What do you mean she's dead! I loved that cat. Couldn't you think of a nicer way to tell me! I'm leaving in 3 days. You could have broken it to me a little more gently. You could have told me today that she got out of the house or something. Then when I called before I left you could have told me, well, we found her but she got up on the roof and we're having trouble getting her down. Then when I called you from the airport you could have told me the fire department was there with a net and scared her off the roof but she missed the net and unfortunately died instantly when she hit the ground.
Brother 2: I'm sorry...you're right...that was insensitive I won't let it happen again.
Brother 1: Alright, alright, forget about it. Anyway, how is Mom doing?
Brother 2: Well, Mom got up on the roof…
Offbeat Motorcycle Gangs
Want to join a motorcycle gang, but not sure where to look? Afraid that all gangs are violent and exclusive? Looking for a way to leverage your unique qualities into a patch of honor?
Are you a proud Jewish biker? Got a mean streak and hail from the great island nation of New Zealand? Love to do good deeds and can rattle off every entrée at The Olive Garden? Here are some motorcycle gangs you might want to join.
Socialite's gems make a splash
The American who wooed King Edward VIII from his throne left behind a trove of intriguing gems.
Also: The Seven Sutherland Sisters
They were America's first celebrity models. In the 1880s, fashion's era of bustles and puffs, they became one of the sexiest, most popular performing attractions in The Greatest Show on Earth... They came from the poverty of Cambria, New York, a rural farm community, and rode their dynamic singing talent and exotic looks to wealth and international fame, becoming global trendsetters, and even marrying into royalty.
As Gilded Age divas, they sang, played piano, modeled, and offered hair care and beauty advice to millions... They had hair magnetism; hair was their art, their source of power and eventual wealth. In the days when few people trusted physicians, when secret home-made remedies, quackery, and self-doctoring flourished, they helped set the standards by which models and celebrities would endorse and sell namesake beauty products...
Man fined for offending Muslims by yodelling
From the "Get over yourself why don't you" Department:
An Austrian man has been fined for yodeling while mowing his lawn. Helmut G. was told by a court in Graz, Styria, that his yodeling offended his next-door Muslim neighbors.
The men reportedly accused the 63-year-old of having tried to mock and imitate the call of the Muezzin. The man was fined 800 Euros after judges ruled he could have tried to offend them and ridicule their belief.
The Muslims, whose nationalities were not revealed, were right in the middle of a prayer when the Austrian started to yodel.
"It was not my intention to imitate or insult them. I simply started to yodel a few tunes because I was in such a good mood" he said.
An Austrian man has been fined for yodeling while mowing his lawn. Helmut G. was told by a court in Graz, Styria, that his yodeling offended his next-door Muslim neighbors.
The men reportedly accused the 63-year-old of having tried to mock and imitate the call of the Muezzin. The man was fined 800 Euros after judges ruled he could have tried to offend them and ridicule their belief.
The Muslims, whose nationalities were not revealed, were right in the middle of a prayer when the Austrian started to yodel.
"It was not my intention to imitate or insult them. I simply started to yodel a few tunes because I was in such a good mood" he said.
72-year-old Ghanaian grandmother burned to death for being a 'witch'
A grandmother has allegedly been tortured and burned to death by a five-strong group - one of whom is believed to be an evangelical pastor - who accused her of being a witch. Ama Hemmah, 72, suffered the horrific injuries when she was set upon by the mob, who claimed that she admitted to being a witch before drenching her in kerosene and setting her alight. Mrs Hemmah, who was from the port city of Tema, near the Ghanaian capital, Accra, was burned alive in nearby Tema Site 15.
She was rushed to Tema General Hospital but died within 24 hours and five people have been arrested in connection with her death. Newspaper pictures showing the woman's injuries have caused revulsion in Ghana, and the incident has been condemned by human rights and women's activists. The suspects deny the crime and claim that they were praying to exorcise the evil spirit from the dying woman, when the anointing oil they had applied to her body caught fire.
The suspects are Samuel Ghunney, a 50-year-old photographer, Pastor Samuel Fletcher Sagoe, 55, and Emelia Opoku, 37, Nancy Nana Ama Akrofie, 46, and Mary Sagoe, 52, who are all unemployed. According to the police commander, Mr Augustine Gyening, the suspects claimed that Mrs Hemmah was a known witch in the area and subjected her to severe torture, compelling her to confess to being a witch. He said after extracting the confession, Mr Ghunney asked Emelia for a gallon of kerosene and with the help of his accomplices, poured it all over the woman and set her ablaze.
Mr Gyening said a student-nurse, Deborah Pearl Adumoah, who chanced upon the barbaric act, rescued Mr Hemmah and sent her to the Community One Police Station, from where she was transferred to the Tema General Hospital, but she died the following day. In their caution statement, the suspects denied the offense and explained that they poured anointing oil on the old woman which caught fire when they offered prayers to exorcise the demon from her.
She was rushed to Tema General Hospital but died within 24 hours and five people have been arrested in connection with her death. Newspaper pictures showing the woman's injuries have caused revulsion in Ghana, and the incident has been condemned by human rights and women's activists. The suspects deny the crime and claim that they were praying to exorcise the evil spirit from the dying woman, when the anointing oil they had applied to her body caught fire.
The suspects are Samuel Ghunney, a 50-year-old photographer, Pastor Samuel Fletcher Sagoe, 55, and Emelia Opoku, 37, Nancy Nana Ama Akrofie, 46, and Mary Sagoe, 52, who are all unemployed. According to the police commander, Mr Augustine Gyening, the suspects claimed that Mrs Hemmah was a known witch in the area and subjected her to severe torture, compelling her to confess to being a witch. He said after extracting the confession, Mr Ghunney asked Emelia for a gallon of kerosene and with the help of his accomplices, poured it all over the woman and set her ablaze.
Mr Gyening said a student-nurse, Deborah Pearl Adumoah, who chanced upon the barbaric act, rescued Mr Hemmah and sent her to the Community One Police Station, from where she was transferred to the Tema General Hospital, but she died the following day. In their caution statement, the suspects denied the offense and explained that they poured anointing oil on the old woman which caught fire when they offered prayers to exorcise the demon from her.
Egyptian Archaeologist Says Pyramids Contain UFO Technology
The head of the Cairo University Archeology Department, Dr Ala Shaheen, has told an audience that there might be truth to the theory that aliens helped the ancient Egyptians build the oldest of pyramids, the Pyramids of Giza.
On being further questioned as to whether the pyramid might still contain alien technology or even a UFO within its structure, Dr Shaheen was vague and replied I can not confirm or deny this, but there is something inside the pyramid that is 'not of this world'.
Delegates to the conference on ancient Egyptian architecture were left shocked, however Dr Shaheen has refused to comment further or elaborate on his UFO and alien related statements.
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