Jan 20, 2007

Day at the Beach

This photo is from Holland. You can thank me for putting in the little black box. This picture raises so many questions. Why is this guy at the beach? Couldn’t the photographer have found a different angle? Don’t Dutch swim suits have that netting that keep your privates, well private?

Mannequin boobs are getting bigger

According to the Metro UK Mannequins’ breasts are growing to cater for the number of women who now have plastic surgery (or men’s increased fondness for gigantic boobs). Shop mannequins with 40″ DD breasts are now being used. Given that breast augmentation surgery has increased by 700 per cent in America in the past 10 years this is no longer a niche market.

One thing to note is that instead of being designed for naturally big-breasted women the mannequins’ breasts are abnormally high up for their size suggesting they are modelled on women with implants (and/or designed my a man).

h/t: Spin Thicket

The top 10 unintentionally worst company URLs

Attn: Entrepreneurs

Everyone knows that if you are going to operate a business in today’s world you need a domain name. It is advisable to look at the domain name selected as other see it and not just as you think it looks. Failure to do this may result in situations such as the following (legitimate) companies who deal in everyday humdrum products and services but clearly didn’t give their domain names enough consideration:

1. A site called ‘Who Represents‘ where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name… wait for it… is
www.whorepresents.com

2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at
www.expertsexchange.com

3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at
www.penisland.net

4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at
www.therapistfinder.com

5. Then of course, there’s the Italian Power Generator company…
www.powergenitalia.com

6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales:
www.molestationnursery.com

7. If you’re looking for computer software, there’s always
www.ipanywhere.com

8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website is
www.cummingfirst.com

9. Then, of course, there’s these brainless art designers, and their whacky website:
www.speedofart.com

10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website at
www.gotahoe.com

Seeing the funny side of silly deaths

It's a time of the year when many people, and I shamefacedly count myself among them, take some guilty pleasure in the silly deaths that some people bring on themselves. Morally bankrupt? Possibly. Can I sleep at night? Yes. What am I talking about? The Darwin Awards.

How I tittered at the electrician from Belize who, after extending his kite's range with thin copper wire, flew it into a high tension electricity line. Fundamental physics quickly took over, and the poor chap was well and truly zapped.

The titter was followed by a chuckle, as I read of the Brazilian chap who tried to disassemble a Rocket Propelled Grenade by running it over in his car. Failing to break it into bits (possibly to sell it, and other munitions, as scrap, according to local police), he thought hitting it with a sledgehammer might help… He went out with a bang (sorry, couldn't resist).

Those two were the runners up. I was all set for a full-scale guffaw when I got to the "winner" (or "winners", in this case) but then my merriment fizzled.

The winners were two 21-year-old students who thought they'd have some fun with helium. Now, we've all done the Mickey Mouse voice after inhaling from a helium balloon, but this young man and woman took it a step further. They spotted and pulled down an advertising helium balloon 8 feet in diameter, and then climbed inside.

No doubt the first 30 seconds or so of squeaky chatter were hilarious for the young pair. That was before they collapsed and suffocated through lack of oxygen. I did not find anything to smile about in this tale.

For me, the Darwin Awards are at their best (and most appropriate) when their winners really really should have known better, and when those winners go against very common-sense safety standards to bring about their own demise.

The breathing of helium is a well-known jape the world over. And here two young people – and not necessarily completely daft young people – saw the opportunity to experience the mother of all helium-based japes. Well, it turned out the "joke" was on them. I've got to say, though, that try as I might, I cannot see the funny side.

I'm not sure if it's me losing my sense of humour, or the Darwin Awards. Which is it?

Sean O'Neill, Online Sub-Editor

Jan 16, 2007

Austrian Skier Loses Bet, Skis Naked

After losing a bet with his physiotherapist, Austrian World Cup skier Rainer Schoenfelder went on a naked ski run on Wednesday alongside the famed Lauberhorn downhill course.

The 29-year-old Austrian skier vowed to ski naked if his pains had lessened by Wednesday morning. Schoenfelder hurt his neck and back in a crash last week and lost the bet with his physiotherapist, who had been treating his injuries.

The two-time Olympic bronze medalist was also photographed wearing only yellow boots and an orange helmet and gloves.

According to AP reports, Schoenfelder said, "Somehow I didn't notice the photographer. It was an internal bet and of course the whole thing wasn't planned for the public."

"I am happy, though, that the pains have eased up and that it was not cold when I honored my debt," he added.

Giant Owl Terrorizing Community In England

A giant eagle owl is reported to be terrorizing residents in Middlesborough, England. With its 5-ft wingspan, the bird can easily pick up foxes, small dogs and deer.

Reports said the owl set up its home on the roof of the town's train station near the town center, in September. However, the bird suddenly become unruly since December launching itself off high roofs and swooping on passersby.

One of the bird's victims, Craig Smith told The Sun newspaper that the bird tried to attack him from behind as he was running through the station car park to catch a train ride.

He said, "I heard a loud woo-woo noise and looked over my shoulder to see this creature with silver wings, claws stretched out.

"I ran as fast as I could on to the platform and it flew away. On Christmas Eve I saw it go for a man coming out of a pub and chase him down the street."

Mark Fyett, 40 said he was also attacked by the giant bird. "I was leaving work when I heard a hoot and a whoosh and saw this big white face coming at me. I put my arm up and hit its wing and it fell on the floor, but got up again and flew off.

"I was really shaken up. It was like something out of Harry Potter - I thought it was going to pick me up! I went home and called police, but I think they thought I was drunk."

Rachael Stewart, of the Kirkleatham Owl Center in Redcar, North Yorks, said the owl may have escaped from a traveling show and seems to be attacking people when it was just hunting for food.

She said, "We think it must have escaped from a traveling show. Volunteers have tried to catch it a couple of times. It's not dangerous to people but it will have to hunt to survive. It could easily kill a cat or small dog."

British Man Surrenders After Stealing Urinal

A British man who was caught on a closed-circuit security TV stealing a urinal from a pub in Hampshire, England has surrendered himself to the police.

The unidentified 42-year-old man surrendered to the Salisbury police and returned the urinal.

The unusual case generated a lot of publicity in Britain when the man took the urinal from the Royal Oak pub in Southampton, England as a "souvenir."

The police returned the urinal to the pub and the owner was delighted to have it back.

Alan Dreja told the police he was happy to have the urinal back in his pub, although he is planning to put it on display instead of returning it to its original place.

He told the BBC, "The publicity which surrounded the theft seems to have flushed him out."

The police gave the man a warning and told him not to commit the same crime again.

More Stupid Quotes

On Tough Jobs that Involve Letters: “It’s not as easy as it looks, being on all the time. I mean, what happens if I’m in a bad mood?”

– Vanna White, “Wheel of Fortune” co-star

On Standards, the Mega-Richand: “I’d rather not talk about money. It’s kind of gross.”– Barbra Streisand, dodging a question aboutwhat she was paid to direct and star in The Mirror Has Two Faces

On Disco Music, Importanceof: “God had to create disco music so that I could be born and be successful.”
– Donna Summer, disco singer

On Giving It Your All: “Ithink we played hard, but it was a lackadaisical hard.”
– New Jersey Nets guard Otis Birdsong on whyhis team had lost an NBA contest

On Hostage-Taking, Fun ForAll: “[Being taken hostage is] an adventure for the tourist, because the tourist will endup learning about the customs of the tribes as well as their good hospitality.”
– Abdullah Ahmar, speaker of Yemeniparliament, on the practice of taking foreign visitors hostage

On Acting, Jean-Claude VanDamme’s Interesting Insights On: “In an action film you act in the action. If it’s adramatic film you act in the drama.”– Jean-Claude Van Damme, interviewed on“Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous”

On Segues, Unfortunate:“Speaking of animals, he married his wife, Suzanne, when he was in college.”
– Mike Leavitt, governor of Utah, introducingSenator Larry Craig

On Book Reviews, Cogent:“It’s a very good historical book about history.” — former vice president Dan Quayle, about PaulJohnson’s Modern Times

On Civics Lessons, VicePresidential: “There are lots more people in the House. I don’t know how manyexactly-I never counted but at least a couple hundred.”
– former vice president Dan Quayle, attemptingto explain the difference between the House and the Senate

On Earth, Where Found:“[It’s] time for the human race to enter the solar system.”
— former vice president Dan Quayle, on theconcept of a manned mission to Mars.

Meteorite Crashes In N.J. Bathroom

Scientists have confirmed that the strange, silvery rock that tore a hole in the roof and landed on the bathroom of the Nageswaran family more than a week ago had been a meteorite.

Although about 50 extraterrestrial rocks crash on Earth regularly, it rarely strikes homes.

"The fact that something from outer space hit our house ... it's overwhelming," Shankari Nageswaran said in an interview.

Shankari and her husband, Srinivasan Nageswaran, are from India and have been living in Freehold Township since 2003.

It was the night of Jan. 2, when Srinivasan went into his bathroom and saw the hole in the ceiling along with chunks of drywall and insulation scattered around the area.

After cleaning up the bathroom, Shankari had found a metallic sparkly rock about the size of a golf ball but heavier at 13 ounces.

Two geologists from Rutgers University and an independent metallurgist confirmed that the rock - tentatively called "Freehold Township" - was an iron meteorite.

"It could have done great damage and destruction," Srinivasan Nageswaran marveled. "It could have hurt our people."

Every meteorite serves as a "poor man's space probe," yielding information on how the solar system formed, said Tim McCoy, curator of the Smithsonian Institution's meteorite collection.

"There's been fewer than 5,000 meteorites found over the surface of the Earth in the recorded history of mankind," McCoy added. "Every time we get a new one, it's an important event."

Meteorites that land on buildings are priced at thousands of dollars.

The Nageswarans have not yet decided what to do with it. "There are other dimensions to it than just the absolute 'What is it worth?'" Shankari Nageswaran said.

Jan 15, 2007

Unique Video Glasses Offer Privacy To Porn Lovers

A Taiwanese company has unveiled its collection of sleek video glasses that turn film viewing into a private affair, at the world's biggest porn show on Wednesday.

The video glasses are a boon for porn lovers as they offer high level of privacy with complete viewing session in an inbuilt screen with audio through an ear piece.

AFP reports that the glasses were demonstrated at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo on Wednesday, shortly after their launch at the Consumer Electronics Show a short distance away in the Sands Exposition Center just a day earlier.

Victor Quitoriano of Body Care Resort coaxed said, "Our technology crosses over."

"The videos we showed there weren't porn, because we didn't want to offend anybody. Here, it's different. Imagine you can take your porn all over the place; in a plane or a train, but not in the car unless you are the passenger," Quitoriano added.

The video glasses are sold by California-based Body Care comes at a suggested retail price of $349 dollars but were discounted for many porn lovers.