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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 18:15

 

Skyscraper Windows Cleaners

You need nerves of steel to be a window cleaner in Dubai. When this worker spotted a mark on an apartment window, he just had to pop out to give the glass a quick wipe with a squeegee. Nothing odd about that – except that the apartment was located 400ft up on the 34th floor of a tower block in Jumeirah Beach, Dubai. He stepped out on to the narrow ledge and, holding the frame, stretched across to wipe away the annoying smudge. As he takes his life into his hands, at least he has the sense to hold on to the window frame, even if it is by his fingertips, as he goes about his task. He was snapped making sure the windows were sparkling by a resident in a neighbouring apartment block. He didn't have a safety harnesses or cradles and helmets. He had nothing. When it comes to safety among its massive immigrant workforce, the Dubai authorities have a dubious record. Conditions in which immigrants are expected to work have been a subject of discussion in the United Arab Emirates for many years. Yet the majority of these employees have no voice, especially when it comes to their own safety. They are also aware that, if they are deported, there are thousands of others willing to take their place.

(Link)


Helicopter Linemen

The first time you see these guys over the power lines you may think it's fake. But linemen who work from helicopters are for real and they are considered a highly specialized area of line work; few linemen have the special training to perform it. Incredible as it seems, live high voltage transmission lines can be worked barehanded. The lineman must be isolated from the ground by using an insulated bucket truck or other method. The lineman wears special conductive clothing which is connected to the live power line, at which point the line and the lineman are at the same potential, allowing the lineman to handle the wire safely.
Live wire work is extremely common on low voltage distribution systems within the UK as all linesmen are trained to work 'live'. Live wire work on high voltage distribution systems within the UK is carried out by specialist teams. These teams are sometimes referred to as 'Hot Glove' teams.

(Link)


Crocodile Wrestlers

The daily grind at the office may not seem so bad after viewing these startling images.
For, no matter how grumpy your boss may be this morning, at least you aren't actually risking life and limb by sticking your head in his jaws.
But that is exactly what the crocodile wrestlers at a Thai zoo do on a daily basis. The men at the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo perform what may well be the world's most dangerous job. The wranglers have been performing the stunts at the zoo on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, since it was set up in 1985. During the hour-long shows they stick their head between the jaws of some of the zoo's biggest crocs, in the style of Krai Thong, a legendary Thai crocodile hunter. (Link)


Lion Trainers

Newlyweds from Montana, celebrating in Las Vegas were checking out the lion enclosure at the MGM Grand Hotel when they videotaped these images. The man was videotaping the male and female lions and their two trainers when all of a sudden the male took exception at something that was going on and made a lunge. A struggle ensued and a female also decided to join the fray but the trainer managed to break free with the help of his colleague and made a hasty escape from the enclosure with the male still appearing extremely agitated. There is no evidence of any blood being spilled, but the trainer is evidently in great pain during the attack. Soundproof glass muffled any noise, however. Jack Hanna appeared on GMA and he said the attack would be considered mild. The trainer was lucky it was the male getting over-excited as females launch much more devastating attacks.

(Link)





Miners

Gilberto Angulos does not need to say a word to tell the tale of working 30 years in Chile's mines. His broken body does all the talking for him. A jagged scar runs down his forehead. A metal plate keeps his fractured left forearm together. A bone never properly set juts from his left shoulder. The injuries are the remnants of a mine explosion that nearly killed him. In 2003, Angulos was driving excavation equipment in a large copper mine when he felt a rush of air. Instead of being killed, Angulos was taken 1,300 miles (2,092 km) south to Santiago, where he spent a year in the hospital. The damage to the miner was permanent. Now the San Jose mine collapse and got trapped 33 men in Chile. The owner and operator of that mine, the San Esteban Mining Co., did not complete promised improvements to the mine where the men were trapped for 70 days, 2,300 feet (701 meters) underground. Many of the 33 trapped miners and their peers had had numerous brushes with death in the depths of a mine. Mario Gomez had two fingers sliced off by falling rocks. Victor Segovia spent a year recovering after a rock slammed into his back. Franklin Lobos was trapped for three hours during a previous cave-in. Hector Avila worked 20 years in the mines and became close friends with several of the recently-trapped miners when he worked with them at the San Jose mine. A geologist was killed in the same 2007 accident, prompting the closure of the San Jose mine. But the mine was reopened soon after.

Since 2000, 374 miners have died practicing their trade in Chile, according to government statistics. That seems like a fun job, doesn't it? (Link)


Target Girls

Target girl is a term sometimes used in circus and vaudeville to denote a female assistant in "impalement" acts such as knife throwing, archery or sharpshooting. The assistant stands in front of a target board or is strapped to a moving board and the impalement artist throws knives or shoots projectiles so as to hit the board but miss the assistant. The presence of an assistant as a human target provides a powerful element of risk. Without assistants placing themselves in danger these acts would be simple demonstrations of accuracy, but with the potential for injury or death the show is much more dramatic. Where can I apply? (Link)


Loggers

Logging takes an annual toll like few other occupations. The biggest hazard, according to Roger Smith of RL Logging in Olympia, Wash., comes from logging mountain slopes. "You're working steep terrain with 70-degree, 80-degree grades with rocks and sliding logs," he says. About half the time, he's taking down 60- to 70-year-old trees with trunk diameters of 30 inches or more. If not felled correctly, these can go crashing down slopes, rolling over anyone in their paths. The old forest canopies often have those snags, which are big dead branches that break off and can fall erratically when the tree comes down. Loggers call them "widow makers." Even after the trees are cut, the job of loading them can be tough. "Somebody just got killed here recently," he says. "He was running a harvester and one of the teeth of the chain broke off and went right through the bulletproof glass window of his cab." (Link)


Fishermen

129 deaths per 100,000 people employed in the industry and 61 injuries per 100,000 for 2008, makes working in the Fishing Industry the number one most dangerous job in the world. A Cable TV show, Deadliest Catch, on the Discovery Network, shows real crab fishers in the Bering Sea. They make a living working many hours a day, 7 days a week, often in the dark, without a break for long stretches of time. They must perform the catch within the window of opportunity, or lose their income for the year. Freezing water and icy boat decks can lead to horrific accidents, and storms can swamp small fishing vessels, sometimes claiming entire crews. (Link)


Deminers

Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area. Manual demining is still the best system currently in use because it has been proven that the current generation of mine clearance machines can only clear up to an 80 percent certainty at best, whereas manual demining can give a 99.6 percent certainty. But this work can be very dangerous. Demining resulted in at least 500 deaths from 1996 to 2002. (Link)


Construction Worker

These are the people you see hoisting those giant steel beams to create the structural framework of office buildings and other large projects. The United Steelworkers union claims that deaths among structural construction workers are increasing as owners and managers try to cut costs. The most common cause of death among them, according to the BLS, is falling.
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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 18:13

 

App Magnets

Whatever you want to do... There's an app for that ($12.36). That's right. Whether you want to buy movie tickets, read the news, write a review, pay a tip, catch a taxi, or even train your dog, there's an app to help you out.

(Buy it here)


Ninja Shuriken Magnet

To the Taiwanese designer, Lee Weilang, the most impressive weapon that a ninja holds is definitely the mysterious "shuriken". Now you can enjoy throwing star magnets to your fridge or any metallic surface like the ninja from the old days, whenever you want to post a note or deliver a secret message ($17.99)! (Buy it here)


Sushi Magnets

The Sushi Magnet ($4.99) are great little items for your kitchen. (Buy it here)


Eternal Magnetic Calendar

This stylish magnetic calendar was created by designer Serhiy Chebotaryov, using magnets. This easy customizable calendar would look just great in any home; all you need to do is to put it on the fridge door. Also contains symbols such as going on holiday, arrival, departure, and various others. It won the Bronze at the Kiev International Advertising Festival '08.
(Link)





Star Wars Magnet

Feel the Force of the fridge! Decorate your refrigerator or other metal surfaces with Lego Star Wars magnets ($23.89) ! Set of fully posable minifigures includes Darth Vader, Chewbacca and Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Buy it here)


Digital Photo Frame Fridge Magnet

Digital Photo Frame Fridge Magnet ($33.71) is a mini photo frame combined with a fridge magnet. Cool and very creative. (Buy it here)


Michael Fish Retro Weather Forecast Fridge Magnets

Retro Weather Fridge Magnets ($10.61) is a fantastically funny set of magnets that looks just like the symbols Michael Fish used to push around his weather board. Thankfully, you also get a Michael Fish magnet to take control of those cold fronts and rainy spells! (Buy it here)


Frida Kahlo Finger Puppet Magnet

Release your inner ethno-surrealist with this Frida Kahlo finger puppet ($4.55)! On your finger, she's a puppet; on your fridge, she's a magnet! And she's still too good for Diego.
(Buy it here)


Japanese Traditional Food Fridge Magnets

This set of traditional Japanese food ($9,99) looks so tasty! Includes: tea pot magnet, tea cup magnet, bowl of rice magnet, bowl of miso soup magnet, chopsticks on a chopstick rest magnet, and shusi fish magnet. (Buy it here)


Blue Q Naked Men In Oven Mitts Magnet Set

This Blue Q magnet set ($10.99) might be just what your refrigerators' been looking for. Made extra thick to really stick. (Buy it here)
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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 18:07

The boss who beat his servant to death

Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud, a Saudi prince, beat and strangled his servant to death. A few weeks before, the prince was videotaped kicking and punching Bandar Adulaziz on an elevator at the Landmark Hotel, where the two were living. Bandar is seen cowering in the corner; three weeks later, his battered body was discovered in the prince's bed.

 

(Link | Photo)

Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud, a Saudi prince, beat and strangled his servant to death. A few weeks before, the prince was videotaped kicking and punching Bandar Adulaziz on an elevator at the Landmark Hotel, where the two were living. Bandar is seen cowering in the corner; three weeks later, his battered body was discovered in the prince's bed.

ss who fired his employee at the hospital because he would take too long to recover from a double by-pass

Murray Gardiner, 60, had a double by-pass after a week of chest pain, but as he recuperated, his boss visited to tell him he had been sacked from his job of 11 years. The reason? According to Julian Proctor, the boss, the operation had not been fully successful and return to full duties too soon "could kill Gardiner” he said. Mr. Gardiner told his boss he would be fit within three months but Mr. Proctor said he could not afford to wait that long.

(Link | Photo)


The supermodel who hit her assistant with her cell phone

Supermodel Naomi Campbell hit her assistant with a mobile phone. The assistant had needed four stitches to her head after being hit following a row. (Link)


The massage parlor owner who would force his employees to tattoo his birthday on their neck

Alex "Daddy" Campbell was the owner of a suburban massage parlor who forced his employees to engage in sex with him and threatened to publicize the video he took of them having sex with other women.

Furthermore many of the women working at the massage parlor were given horseshoe tattoos on their necks and some had the number "917" tattooed on them in reference to Campbell's Sept. 17 birthday. (Link | Photo)





The industrialist who created his own city with his own rules for his employees to live in

Pullman was a 19th century industrialist who created his own city for his employees to live in. Some 12,000 people lived in the town, which ran according to Pullman's rules. No liquor could be sold except at the Florence Hotel. Dissatisfaction with Pullman started because he paid low wages and charged high rents; furthermore he set up oppressive lease terms, and suppressive paternalistic control. Pullman also created his own money and employees only could use it at Pullman's town. (Link 1 | Link 2)


The chairman who fired his employee for not recognizing him

James Dolan, chairman of Madison Square Garden, had long cultivated a workplace rife with hostility and disdain for lowly employees. He fired one employee for serving him a glass of flat Coke, and another for failing to recognize him. He created a locker-room atmosphere in which the words "bitch" and "p----" were tossed around like dirty towels. (Link 1 | Link 2 | Photo)


The executive officer who crashed a company in 4 months leaving 20,000 people unemployed

Jeffrey Skilling was Enron's chief executive officer from February until August 2001, when he resigned. Less than four months later, Enron crashed into bankruptcy, and its stock plummeted in value. About 20,000 people lost their jobs and many of them also lost their life savings. (Link 1 | Link 2 | Photo)


The boss who fired a woman for unjustified absence, only she was in coma

At the Punt del Peix, a fish shop in Barcelona, a woman employee was fired for not turning up to work. Her boss fired her for repeated and unjustified absences since she went into a coma after a traffic accident. Nice boss! (Link | Photo)


The employer who decieved his employees to use their credit cards to pay for his private jet's fuel

Lenny "Nails" Dykstra, the ex-Mets star turned financial adviser who famously filed for bankruptcy in 2009, swindled employees into using their credit cards to pay for fuel for his private jets. (Link)


The boss who broke his employee's nose while trying to force her to kiss another worker

Richard "Mad Dog" Beckman allegedly smashed Carol Matthew's face into another woman's face, breaking Matthew's nose. Apparently the collision occurred when Beckman tried to get Matthew to kiss Emily Jahncke Davis, the mag's international fashion director. (Link)
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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 17:53

 

A violin for a hairdo, wow! This unique hair style was seen at a hair show in Budapest. (Link)




A tattoo combined with hair might be something, especially when you wear something like this. (Link)




Blue and red checker board. (Link)




Pink and black swirl. (Link)







Boom! Headshot. (Link)




Static is cool!




50/50. (Link)




This old guy must have a great personality. It is actually pretty awesome.
(Link)




Hair lip.




Punk. (Link)




Justice league in hair.




Crazy hair day. (Link)




Tetris inspired hair. (Link)
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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 17:45

 

Pink inside a bubble rolled over audience

‘Pink' rolled over a very excited crowd in her giant ball. The same way it did ‘Wayne Coyne' from the band ‘Flaming Lips'.




A man in wheelchair surfing at ‘Bad Religion' show

This is a new phenomenon that's been going on. Wheelchair users and people with paralysis that have been caught crowd surfing. That's right people who have been caught at shows riding the human wave despite their disability. The video here shows a paralyzed man at a Bad Religion show being passed from person to person while caring his manual wheelchair on his chest.

(Link)


‘Eddie Vedder' jumps from a TV-mast into the crowd

The ‘Pearl Jam' lead singer demonstrates his derring-do when he climbs aboard a TV crane and jumps into the crowd from a fairly scary height at a gig in Holland, 1992. In the 90's he participated in many stage diving as well as crowd surfing.




Beyonce Knowles crowd surfs in high heels

Wearing high heels Beyonce Knowles surprised her fans by jumping into the crowd during the finale. She didn't do anything spectacular, but those lucky enough to catch in a concert know the singer certainly puts on a show. Luckily for Beyonce, she was passed back to her stage in the round to finish off her show.

(Link)





‘Rich Aucoin' literally board surfing

He decided to literally surf on the crowd.





Juliette Lewis almost walked on the crowd

Actress and singer decided to dive almost walking into the crowd in the Lolapalloza 2007.




Singer of ‘Monotonix' surfing on a drum kit

Monotonix is known for performing on the floor among the crowd, setting instruments on fire and stealing drinks from audience members. When the members found themselves banned from most venues in their hometown Tel Aviv, they decided to take the show on the road.

(Link)


Courtney Love goes crazy

The rock singer and former frontwoman for the band ‘Hole' threw her guitar on the floor and dived off the stage. It was during the HFStival in 1995.




A nearly-naked ‘Lady Gaga'

Lady Gaga stunned fans at the recent Lollapalooza festival when she made a surprise appearance during the set of old friends 'Semi Precious Weapons', hours ahead of her scheduled performance. Wearing nude underwear and nipple pasties, the star played drums onstage before cavorting with lead singer ‘Justin Tranter' - then stage dived into the gobsmacked crowd.

(Link)


Katy Perry stage diving

Katy is renowned for her crazy stage antics and this is one example. She went wild jumping off on the crowd, during the band ‘3OH!3' were performing.




Rammstein's crowdsailing

‘Rammstein's concerts are famous for fire shows, but in this case the bassplayer Ollie Riedel (thanks, Francis) decided to use a floater to navigate on the crowd. Very funny!




Massive crowd surfing at ‘Five Finger Death Punch' show

Craziest and massive crowd surfing during the show of ‘Five Finger Death Punch'. It was an explosion of crowdsurfers!




Crowd surfing fail

As we saw stage diving is awesome –everyone can appreciate it. But a stage dive fail? Well, they're even more awesome, like the rapper ‘Method Man' whose surfing went wrong. They packed out but that cluster of crowd just all moved out the way!

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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 17:40


Unemployment Championship

The increasing ranks of the unemployed today aren't just sitting around the house feeling sorry for themselves. A group of the recently job-deprived gathered in New York City's East Village on Tuesday, March 31 2009, for an event described as the Unemployment Olympics. A laid-off computer programmer came up with the idea to lift spirits of the jobless. Some 20 contestants took part in events such as Pin The Blame On The Boss, Office Phone Skee-Ball, Office Phone Pinata, and the "You're Fired!" race to the cardboard Unemployment Office. Phone Skee-Ball, where an old office phone was tossed across the park for points, drew much fanfare and even had students from P.S. 34 cheering participants on. Phone Pinata, which involved hitting a pinata with an office phone, only took two strikes to burst. Unfortunately, the much anticipated Fax Toss, which reminded everyone of the infamous scene in Office Space, was canceled at the last moment due to Parks Department concerns over tossing large office equipment around.

(Link)


High Heel Marathon

High heel race is an unusual event, which is held in many cities, such as Sydney, Paris, Moscow and Amsterdam. But the citizens of Milan were lucky most of all – not every day the winner of such race gets a couple of delicious, lust luxury open-toe sandals from Manolo Blahnik.

Up to 300 girls took part at this competition who must overcome a distance of 80 m running on high heels. The heels should be a minimum 7 cm height and 1.5 cm in diameter. All these fashion sacrifices make only with the aim to get a pair of sandals from the shoe master Manolo Blanik. The winner in the Milan race was not single, but three which means that these three lucky women became the owner of the most elegant heels in the world.

(Link)


Wolf-whistle Contest

These days, any builder foolhardy enough to wolf-whistle at a passing woman is likely to get a slap in the face for his trouble - but not in County Fermanagh town. In 2009 Irvinestown played host to Ireland's first ever wolf-whistling championships, complete with scaffolding, hard hats, and plenty of women. The men of the town were more than eager to show their appreciation of the fairer sex, eagerly donning hard hats and lining up along the pavement to demonstrate their whistling skills.

They had a lot to whistle for. Part of the annual Lady of the Lake Festival, the parade through the streets was led by 2009 year's 'lady', beautician Claire Timlin. The politically incorrect competition was the work of festival organizer, and whistling devotee, Joe Mahon. Joe's years of experience stood him in good stead when asked to pick a winner out of the fine whistles in competition in Irvinestown.

Mahon chose a married man, local butcher Stephen Millar, as the champion wolf-whistler who, like Mahon, credits the technique for getting him a wife. (Link)


Hot Water Bottle Nose Bust Competition

In 2009 during a competition in Tbilisi, Georgia, 18-year-old Jemal Tkeshelashvili managed to burst three hot rubber bottles. One in 23 seconds, the second in 16 seconds, and his last bottle in only 13 seconds. He even blew one up while a man sat on top of it. He set a new record for the quickest burst at 13 seconds.

The previous record for blowing up a standard hot water bottle until it bursts was 51.98 seconds set by Brian Jackson from the United States in April 2006. (Link)





Gurning Competition

Gurning contests are a rural English tradition. By far the most notable that is held annually at the Egremont Crab Fair, which dates back to 1267 when King Henry III granted the fair a Royal Charter. The origins of the gurning competition itself are unclear, and may not be so old, although it was described as an ancient tradition by local newspaper the Cumberland Paquet in 1852. The competitions are held regularly in some villages, with contestants traditionally framing their faces through a horse collar — known as "gurnin' through a braffin'." The World Gurning Championship takes place annually at the same crab fair in Egremont, Cumbria. Those with the greatest gurn capabilities are often those with no teeth, as this provides greater room to move the jaw further up. In some cases, the elderly or otherwise toothless can be capable of spectacular gurns covering the entire nose.

Peter Jackman became England's best-known gurner, winning the world championship four times, beginning in 1998 with a face called the "Bela Lugosi." He had his teeth removed in 2000 to make his features easier to manoeuvre. Three years later, he died playing golf in Spain when a cliff face collapsed underneath him. 'Rubber Faced' Grant Owens then took the vacant crown by performing the unprecedented, and rarely seen, treble gurn. Owens states the reason for this is his extra large bottom lip which he used to be able to nestle polos in when he was a child. (Link | Via)


Toe Wrestling Competition

Going way back to 1976, the World Toe Wrestling Competition started at a pub in Wetton, Derbyshire, UK. The locals of 'Ye Olde Royal Oak Inn' thought it would be a great idea to hold a toe wrestling competition, where the contestants lock their big toes together, and attempt to force their opponent's foot to the ground. The organizers have big intentions for the sport, and applied in 1997 for its inclusion in the Olympic Games. Unfortunately for crazy sports fans it was not accepted.

Toe-wrestling doesn't sound much like a blood sport, though past participants will testify to the contrary - they've got the sprained ankles and broken toes to prove it. (Link 1 | Link 2)


Palm Tree Trunk Climbing Competition

No, cycling on top of a pole is not a new extreme sport. You may not agree with that until you watch Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations, which include climbing up a greased palm tree trunk. Sound difficult? It is, so much in fact that it requires a team of four, determination and months of strategizing.

Indonesia's Independence Day falls on August 17 and includes many traditions like the hoisting of the flag, decorating houses and offices in red and white, fireworks and other celebrations. Games are a big part of the day; for example, shrimp cakes eating contests, bike decorating competitions (Lomba Sepeda Hias), Tumpeng making competitions (a rice-based dish) and Panjat Pinang, the palm tree trunk climbing, are some of the most popular.

In Panjat Pinang, four people make up a team that has to devise the best strategy to help one person up the greased pole. Some form human ladders, climbing on each other's shoulders, with the last one trying to find a foothold wherever he or she can. At the top of the pole are the prizes – anything from towels, clothes and practical items to mountain bikes and money vouchers. According to the no pain, no gain principle, the higher the pole and therefore the gift, the higher its value. Oh, and should a team make it unexpectedly fast close to the top, the team members, spectators and the pole might just get hosed down with water so that they have to start again. The task is so difficult that opposing teams are known to cooperate to make it. And still, the competition can take anywhere between one and two hours or longer.

(Link)


World Egg Throwing Championship

Egg Throwing has been a sport enjoyed by millions of people since early humans discovered the delight of watching a failure of another to catch a tossed egg. Nowadays egg throwing is a serious sport played all over the world. The World Egg Throwing Competition is held annually in Swaton, England since 2006. The contest features four disciplines besides the egg trebuchet, including the "throw and catch", in which teams of two players try to propel and safely gather an egg over the greatest distance. Teams of 11 players can enter the "egg-static relay" and attempt to move 12 eggs 100 metres by throwing them between themselves as they stand along the route. And "egg Russian roulette" – which echoes a dramatic sequence from the film The Deer Hunter – involves contenders wearing bandannas selecting eggs one at a time and smashing them against their foreheads. The loser is the first to pick the single raw egg among the six otherwise hardboiled ones on offer.

(Link)


Mud Soccer Competition

In 2008, thousands of men and women alike flocked to bog-fields in the spirit of sportsmanship of dirty play, barely able to move an inch in the knee to waist-deep mud at the 10th annual Mud Soccer World Championships for what was more like mud carnival revelry in pig pens than a fundamental world cup outside the tiny town of Hyrynsalmi, Finland. A natural swamp was converted into 22 playing fields each measuring about 197 x 115 feet (60 x 35 meters) — marked out with little more than yellow tape and plastic drainpipes. The game lasts for 2 periods of 25 minutes each on the swampy grounds, with 340 teams of 6 players — 5 field players and a goal keeper — for 880 matches, each wading, crawling, and trudging through the soaking mud fields.

With shoes and socks taped with duct tape, teams of men in long dresses and white hospital gowns, Superman outfits, skimpy shorts, suits and ties, and blonde and pink wigs were common-sight, as were men dragging women through the mosquito-infested bog while they managed to play a game and swill beer simultaneously. Some wore oversized sunglasses which are also useful against the mud splatter. Standard soccer regulations allegedly apply, but the intensely chaotic and largely uncontrolled games seemed to have few if any rules — there's no offside, no definite penalty box and unlimited substitutions are made on the fly.

Not drinking water from the swamp and insurance protection were rules organizers emphasized most. A team member of Athletico Hucknall, England's sole representatives left the arena aboard an ambulance, nursing a suspected broken leg. Winning the trophy in the men's, women's, mixed or hobby category was secondary — at least for most. (Link)


Baby Crawling Marathon

600 kids were expected for Cali, Colombia's first "Maraton de Gateadores," [aka Crawlers Marathon] in 2005, but according to the municipal health ministry 1,122 showed up. The human equivalent of a frog jumping contest, the races pitted kids' ages 8-18 months against each other in a 5-meter straightline crawl. Unsurprisingly, very few completed the race, despite the entertainingly shameless motivational tactics of their parents. The race was part of the city's "Cali en movimiento!" campaign, and was spurred by an alarming drop in productivity among Cali baby drug mules at customs checkpoints in the US. It is hoped that by promoting health and athleticism in infants, Colombian babies will be able to boost their average smuggling load from 0.5kg to 1kg/diaper by 2007. (Link)
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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 17:38

 

Aviation geeks know Japan as the home of aircraft--like the one above--painted with Pokémon, a distinct Japanese cultural creation. (Link)




In 1997 British Airways adopted a new livery. One part of this was a newly stylized version of the British Airways "Speedbird" logo, but the major change was the introduction of tail-fin art. Also known as the Utopia or world image tailfins, they used art and designs from international artists and other sources to represent countries on BA's route network. The signature of the artist was carried near the design on the tail.

The new corporate logo was created by the London-based design agency Newell and Sorrell, who also oversaw the implementation of the tailfin designs.
(Link)




Air India Express Boeing 737-800. (Link)




African Airlines have always had a simple professional and elegant look but South African designers changed that with some really revolutionary livery like the Mango Airline. (Link)







Frontier Airlines, an airline based out of Denver, Colorado, have the company slogan “A Whole Different Animal,” each of their planes depicts a different animal. (Link)




Alaska Airlines 737-400 Combi Aircraft in Barrow, Alaska. (Link)




This plane is from GermanWings. It was photographed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. (Link)




When Southwest Airlines wanted to represent California on an airplane, it painted a big bear. But how do you represent the state of Illinois?
Well, they didn't paint a picture of a reclining Abraham Lincoln, which was my first thought. They instead painted an eagle with a shield.
(Link)




Disney characters on a themed Alaska Airlines jet called “Spirit of Disneyland II.” The plane is adorned with the faces of Disney's most recognized characters – Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto. (Link)




The Simpsons Jet, Western Pacific Air. (Link)




Taiwanese airline EVA has repainted one of its jets with giant Hello Kittys. Surprisingly, the plane's interior is much worse. (Link)




Southwest Airlines unveiled the newest addition to their fleet of aircraft: a Boeing 737 with a gigantic painting of swimsuit model Bar Rafaeli. (Link)




This is a great new infographic paint job on a Kulula Airlines (a South Africa airline) Boeing 737, informative and humorous. With labels detailing many of the plane's features, this looks like a a training plane. (Link)
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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 17:37

 

What's more awesome than superhero costumes for Halloween? How about these Cubeecraft'd Avengers (made for Dragon*Con 2010). (Link | Via)




Tom DePetrillo built a mechanized Avatar AMP suit. He spent 450 hours and $1,600 building it.

(Link | Via)




This hand-made Carnage was crafted head-to-toe by the owner, and only put him back a mere $500. (Link)




Everyone has already seen an iPhone costume, but these two iPhone fanboys have brought the idea to a whole different level.Using LCD TV's and car batteries they managed to create two brilliant (85 pounds heavy) iPhone costumes that will definitely make a killing. They had already approached the idea 2 years ago with a much less convincing version but it seems like this year they really mastered it.

(Link)







Heidi Klum is not only beautiful but she can surely pull out a nice Halloween costume. (Link)




(Link)




This Rubik's Cube costume will have your friends wondering when you will be “solved”. (Link)




Dead Pixel Halloween costume. (Link)




Steampunk Halloween Costume. (Link)




Jack and Sally from the Nightmare Before Christmas Halloween Costumes. Photo by Jesse Drape. (Link)




Cutest baby costume ever: Merili Carter and family turned their baby girl into a real live Cabbage Patch Doll complete with birth certificate. (Link)




Now if you are looking for the best Halloween costume for a couple, this lady giving birth is a winner. I don't know too many guys who wouldn't want to be where that guy is right now. (Link)




An artist from MAC Cosmetics painted a woman as a comic book character for Halloween — right down to the dot printing style of old comics books. (Link | Via)




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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 17:35

 

The tourist who was trying to take a picture from the shore and fell to her death down a cliff

A woman fell to her death in South Australia's south-east while trying to take a picture of the rocky shore at Cape Douglas, about 25 kilometres from Mount Gambier. The 30-year-old Victorian tourist's husband pulled her from the water after she fell 50 metres down a cliff face and into the ocean. Emergency services arrived to find the man attempting to resuscitate his wife. The woman and her husband were on holiday from Ouyen in western Victoria for a fishing competition. It is understood she was trying to take a photo of the shoreline at Cape Douglas, near the popular tourist spot Port MacDonnell, when she slipped and fell into the water. When Captain Grant Sensom arrived, an ambulance crew was trying to revive the woman. Mr. Sensom says the fall is a reminder to people to take extra care around rocky ledges."Take photos, but take them with care or even just looking around, rock climbing, whatever else - these accidents do happen whether you're a local or interstate traveler," he said.

(Link)


The couple who had three vacations ruined by terrorist attacks

Mr. Cairns-Lawrence is a sales manager and his wife is a dental laboratory assistant. That sounds as normal a couple as ever but as fate would have it, wherever they are, a big, well-planned terrorist attack takes place. They were holidaying in New York when 9/11 took place; they were roaming around in a double-decker bus in London when the London Underground bombings (referred to as 7/7) took place and, yes, they were there in the city when the Mumbai attacks that besieged the Indian metropolitan city with terror took place. This is definitely much more than just bad timing for this poor couple! (Link)


The teenager boy who was mistakenly diagnosed with cancer during his vacation in Hawaii

Bruce Bush's vacation in Hawaii started off perfectly. His family loved the sandy beaches, hot weather, and a tropical paradise they had never seen. But Bush, who had been sick for much of the vacation, was diagnosed with cancer in a Waikiki hospital three days before his family was scheduled to fly home. The doctors wanted to admit him right away and start treating him. But something didn't feel right about the situation. So Bush's parents (he was 17 at the time) declined treatment and decided to wait out the rest of the vacation and ask his regular physician about it when the family arrived home in Indiana. "By the time we went home, I'd already started feeling better," Bush said. The cancer diagnosis? A terrifying mistake. Bush had thought his illness was mononucleosis the entire time, and his doctor at home confirmed the diagnosis. Bush's parents didn't tell him about the cancer diagnosis until the family had returned home and his own doctor had refuted it. (Link)


The honeymooners who got stuck in Puerto Rico during a category 4 hurricane

Kelly Flores and her husband found themselves in the middle of a hurricane on their honeymoon. The couple was supposed to fly to St. Lucia, stopping briefly in Puerto Rico to change planes."Upon arriving in Puerto Rico, we discovered why our plane was not full and why our flight [to St. Lucia] had been cancelled," Flores wrote. Hurricane Georges, category four, was heading directly for Puerto Rico and would be there by nightfall. Despite trying immediately to leave -- "get us on the next flight anywhere," Flores remembers telling the airline staff -- the newlyweds were stuck. Flores, a Virginia Beach, Virginia, native, says even though she was used to hurricanes, this one was the worst.

"When you're not home, everything's different, and it was much scarier," she said. The hotel asked everyone to go to the ballroom. They could hear the steel shutters banging and hear the storm, and when they heard glass breaking, they got everybody into the older section of the building that was all concrete blocks.

After the storm passed, Flores and her husband made it to St. Lucia, where they stayed a few extra days. But the "coup de grace," as she put it, was on their flight home. They met a couple who flew out the same day, so they asked them if they got hit by the hurricane, and they said no. They were supposed to go through Puerto Rico, too, but their airline put them through Miami instead because of the storm. (Link)





The teenager who disappeared during a graduation trip to Aruba

In what has been one of the most highly televised disappearances, Natalee Holloway, just 18 at the time, disappeared when she and 124 other high school graduates went on a vacation trip to Aruba in May 2005. What was supposed to be a celebration and all around good time turned into a nightmare for Holloway's family- the day the graduates were supposed to fly back to the US, Natalee was nowhere to be found. Holloway was last seen the night before leaving a popular hot-spot, Carlos N Charlie's, with some locals she had met. Natalee's parents immediately flew to Aruba and started a massive hunt for the missing teen. Several people have been arrested and questioned, and some even re-arrested and released in her disappearance, but no one was charged and she has not been found. (Link)


The boy who lost three toes during his vacation in Panama

18 year old Frankie Fuller, of Alabaster, literally lost his toes in a freak accident. He and his friends were helping the man gain momentum as he tried to take to the air. Along the way, Fuller said he fell on his back and his foot went into the propeller. Doctors reattached his big toe and the toe next to it, but were unable to reattach the other three. Fuller said his doctor told him he can make a complete recovery. Fuller's mother, Joni Fuller, said his friends were quick to react and an off-duty nurse bandaged Fuller's foot until he was taken to a hospital.
Joni Fuller said while her son has been upbeat about the long recovery he faces -- he could still lose the two reattached toes to infection -- she and her husband have struggled with it. (Link)


The couple who thought they were having their vows renewed in the Maldives but were actually being abused

A hotel in the Maldives had to apologize to a Swiss couple who thought they were renewing their marriage vows, but were actually being subjected to a torrent of abuse. The couple thought the staff member who was presiding over the ceremony was delivering a blessing in the local language. But it later emerged that the celebrant was abusing them with insults such as "swine" and "infidel". Unaware of what was really happening, they smiled throughout the ceremony. The couple was only alerted to the prank when a clip from the ceremony was posted on YouTube and picked up by local media. (Link)


The woman who was on a romantic cruise with her boyfriend when she fell off the ship

A 46-year-old woman went missing after falling off the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship approximately 45 miles northeast of Atlantic City. Mindy Jordan, 46, of Pine Hill, N.J., fell off the Bermuda-bound ship around 8 p.m., and was never found. According to Jordan's sister, Julie August of Mt. Laurel, N.J., Jordan was "clowning around" at the time of the fall. The Norwegian Cruise Line says the woman may have been trying to climb from balcony to balcony on the outside of the vessel -- an extremely dangerous maneuver. Jordan fell off the Norwegian Dawn just hours after the ship pulled out of New York City on a one-week cruise to Bermuda. When people asked her boyfriend what he was going to do about the situation, he said, "well I guess I'm just going to have to go on to Bermuda.' So, he's continuing his trip as usual." (Link)


The 88 year old church going man who was arrested on pornography charges in Mexico for taking pictures of the Mexican culture

Edward Chrisman, a longtime resident of Arlington, was wintering in Yuma, Ariz., when he decided to take a quick trip across the border with his grandson, Gary Chrisman Jr. Mexican police arrested both men the same day, saying the pair tried to pay young girls to pose nude for photos.

The Chrisman family maintains the men are innocent. The family said Gary Chrisman Jr. stopped at a convenience store for a soda and, while there, asked a mother if he could take photos of her daughters. He'd been taking photos of Mexican culture all day with a new camera. The mother granted permission and he gave her $25. He snapped head shots of the two fully-clothed girls and left the store. Edward Chrisman never even went into the store. Family members were asked by an intermediary to pay $2,000 to the prosecuting attorney "to make the situation disappear". The payment was not made. The pair was held in a crowded Mexicali prison as their family members traveled across the border daily trying to get them released. They feared Edward Chrisman, who apparently had contracted pneumonia at the prison, wouldn't survive the ordeal.

Edward Chrisman was released after 65 days. Gary Chrisman Jr. remained jailed in Mexicali for 21 months. (Link)


The woman who went on vacations and when she came back her parrot kept repeating the words "Divorce" and "Be Patient"

In 2001, a Chinese woman launched divorce proceedings against her husband after the family's pet mynah bird reportedly spilled the beans on his marital indiscretions. The woman first suspected something was amiss when the bird began repeating words apparently picked up from her husband's secret telephone calls to his lover after she returned from a month-long visit to her parents. She said words such as "divorce", "I love you", and "be patient" had become an increasingly frequent feature of the feathered telltale's idle twitterings.

She took her case -- along with the bird -- to a local law office for consultation, hoping it would testify in court against her husband; lawyers however told her they were not optimistic that the bird's testimony would sway the court. The wife filed for divorce but, for some bizarre reason, evidence from a bird was apparently not admissible in Chinese courts. (Link)
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5 novembre 2010 5 05 /11 /novembre /2010 17:32

 

The Cycologists: a bicycle-themed band

The Cycologists are a three man bicycle band from Australia fronted by acclaimed instrument maker Linsey Pollak and also featuring Ric Halstead and Brendan Hook. For their impromptu, outdoor live performances, the band ride up on their bikes and remove the seats in unison to reveal modified clarinets made entirely of bicycle parts. After they've finished performing, they take a bow before hopping back on their clarinets and riding off into the sunset. The live show, Cycology, is a bit more complex. In addition to the bike seat clarinets, it features a wide array of other bicycically-made instruments like the Harmonic Handlebar, Water Bottle Foonki, and Bicycle Pump Panpipe.

(Link | Via)


The Zimmers: the rock band with the world's oldest members

Created as a feature in a 2007 BBC Television documentary, "The Zimmers" are a British band, thought to have the oldest members of any band in the world. The youngest member is 67; the lead singer, Alf Caretta, died on June 29, 2010 aged 93; and the oldest member, Buster, is 103.

The feature of forming the band and recording a single was intended to give a voice to the feelings of isolation and imprisonment suffered by the elderly. In September 2008, the band released its first full-length album 'Lust for Life', featuring cover versions of songs by Eric Clapton, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra.

(Link)


The Clever Hamsters: a hamster's jazz band

Drench launched a television and online advertising campaign featuring a jubilant quartet of Jazz playing clever hamsters. Many aspiring musical hamster hopefuls “queued” outside London's Jazz Cafe practicing and waiting for their chance to audition for a starring role in the ad for Drench spring water. The ad aims to demonstrate that the best performances come from being hydrated, and features the chosen stars ‘Miles' on the saxophone, ‘Fats' on the trumpet, ‘The Duke' on the harmonica, and ‘Dizzy' on the oboe. These were the lucky four hamsters selected to form the band ‘The Clever Hamsters.'

The Clever Hamsters campaign was developed at CHI & Partners by creatives Wayne Robinson and Matt Colier and agency producer Ben Clark.

(Link | Via)


All Girl Topless Band: a band from the 60's where all members would perform topless

They don't call Las Vegas the Entertainment Capital of the World for nothing, man. Where else in America do you think you could have seen five talented female musicians performing on stage, TOPLESS! And it was only 1967. This "All Girl Topless Band" that appeared with comedian Godfrey Cambridge at the Aladdin Hotel may not have gone on to fame and fortune, but would Madonna and MTV be what they are today without these brave women breaking ground? (Link)





Mini Kiss: an all midgets KISS cover band

Mini Kiss is a Kiss tribute band made up entirely of midgets. Members include band leader Joey Fatale (4' 4" - Mini Gene Simmons). It is one of the most popular little people tribute bands in existence. They made an appearance on the Game Show Network revival of I've Got a Secret. Because the band does not actually play their music, no recordings are available at this time. The band tours regularly playing venues rang in size from 100 to 1,000 seats. The band made a cameo on the television show Z Rock and had a cameo on one of the Dr Pepper Cherry TV commercials sharing the stage with their full-sized counter parts.

(Link | Via)


The Burqa Band: a band formed by Afghanistan women who use the burqa to protect their identity

The Burqa Band is an all-female indie rock band from Kabul, Afghanistan. They perform anonymously, all of the members wearing burqas in an apparent protest against the Taliban's rules regarding Islamic dress. They released a single, "Burqa Blue" and a self-titled album in 2002. The group has gained some popularity in Europe in the 2000s, and has toured in Germany, where a song of theirs was remixed by DJ Barbara Morgenstern.

The Burka Band is currently inactive due to the lead singer having to move to Pakistan to find singing work, but the drummer, still anonymous and living in Afghanistan, has expressed hope in playing again in the future.

(Link)


Imperial Stars: the band who played an illegal concert at a LA freeway causing massive traffic jam

A traffic jam in Los Angeles is nothing new. A traffic jam in Los Angeles because a rock band decided to play an impromptu concert atop a truck ... now that's giving a new meaning to a jam. The Los Angeles section of the 101 freeway was blocked up as a result of the three-man band's illegal antics. It took police over an hour to reach the site of the concert.

In what is believed to be an effort at promotion, members of a band called Imperial Stars blocked all but one lane of the southbound 101 with a large truck advertising the band. The band was, of course, singing their song "Traffic Jam 101." Witnesses said they saw members of the band singing and playing instruments on top of the truck. Three people were under arrest, and officials were trying to get all lanes of the southbound 101 open again. The traffic backup extended into the San Fernando Valley. The driver of the truck fled in another vehicle and took the keys to the vehicle with him.

The Imperial Stars are a self-described "hard core hip hop band" from Orange County whose latest song is "Traffic Jam 101." On its website, the band pledges that all the money earned from the song will be going to Homeless Children America. The website features the same truck used during the impromptu concert at LA. The band has played at the Viper Room and House of Blues.

(Link | Via)


Rudely Interrupted: a band formed by handicapped members

At first glance, Australia's Rudely Interrupted is just a better-than-average power-pop band with a vaguely '80ish vibe. Not that weird at all, right? Well, look a bit closer. Five out of six of Rudely Interrupted's members are physically and/or intellectually handicapped, some of them severely so. Lead singer Rory Burnside is blind and has Asperger's syndrome (but also has perfect pitch); keyboardist Marcus Stone has Asperger's and is 80% deaf; bassist Sam Beke has Down syndrome; drummer Josh Hogan is autistic and has some physical abnormalities; and percussionist Connie Kirkpatrick, aka “The Human Metronome,” has Down syndrome and is legally blind. The only “able bodied” member of the group is guitarist Rohan Brooks, a music therapist who came up with the idea of forming a band made up of some of his students.

Rudely Interrupted could've just been a sort of rock ‘n' roll Special Olympics, but the tunes are undeniably catchy and there's a raucous, joyous quality to their live shows a lot of hipster bands could learn from.

They had their documentary recently nominated for an AFI award.

(Link | Via)


Alestorm: a pirate themed band

In the recent past there have been folk metal CDs in subgenres like Tolkien metal (based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien) and forest metal. Now we can add the glorious subgenre of pirate metal! Fortified with plenty of liquid courage and featuring a keytar playing vocalist, the Scottish band Alestorm was ready to pillage the masses with their debut in 2008. Captain Morgan's Revenge is a rousing effort. The songs are upbeat tales of drinking, women, treasures, the typical subjects a pirate would sing about. Titles like "Wenches And Mead," and "Set Sail And Conquer" give you an idea of the lyrical inspirations. Along with folk metal, Alestorm amps up the intensity on some of the songs and throws in some thrash riffs and solos.

Influenced by groups like Korpiklaani, Captain Morgan's Revenge can be corny and cheesy, but it's also a lot of fun. Alestorm writes catchy songs, and despite the gimmicky pirate imagery, they are talented musicians. (Link)


Barnes and Barnes: a comedy rock duo

Barnes & Barnes, fictional twin brothers Art Et Barnes and Artie Et Bet Barnes (Bill Mumy and Robert Haimer, respectively), are a comedy rock duo based in "Lumania", a fictional mythological civilization). Most of their music is standard rock or pop with heavy comedic elements. They are best known for their 1978 song "Fish Heads. The duo brought a distinctly surrealist sensibility to their spazzy, New Wave-inspired comedy rock. And they were dark: Weird Al may have a twisted sense of humor, but he would never record a song called “Boogie Woogie Amputee.” Or name an album Sicks. Or, for that matter, sing a song about how when they took their fish head to the movies, they didn't have to buy it a ticket. You get the idea.

After an 18-year hiatus, Barnes and Barnes returned in 2009 with a new album, Opbopachop. The album addresses themes of entering middle age in such thoughtful tunes as “Life Is What You Do in Between Orgasms” and “Our Dead Dads.” Sounds like they haven't lost it!

(Link | Via)
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