Saturday, August 28, 2010

The Clashes of the Strongest

The Clashes of the Strongest

This post is full of jungle beasts in their natural habitat. Although they are beautiful in their own way, they are also ferocious. The law of the jungle is truly the survival of the fittest and only the strong survive.  The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest The Clashes of the Strongest

How to make a crocodile smile

How to make a crocodile smile


How to make a crocodile smile: Swim in a pool full of deadly salties with just a perspex cage for protection


Tourists to this unusual theme park are sure to get some holiday snaps with a difference.

Inspired by the popularity of cage shark-diving, a tourist attraction has opened that allows adrenalin junkies the chance to swim with killer crocodiles.

And, as these incredible pictures show, participants can get up close and personal with one of the worlds deadliest creatures.


Definitely no running, ducking bombing or petting in this pool: Face to face with one of the 125 stone monsters

All that separates thrill-seekers from the huge saltwater crocodiles is a five-inch thick perspex box that has, we are assured, undergone 'extensive' safety testing.

Fearless participants climb into the clear container - nicknamed the Cage of Death - which is suspended on a monorail track that runs above four crocodile enclosures.

Two grated doors lock into position on the top of the 10ft tall box which is then lowered into the water and comes to rest 2ft beneath the surface.

To ensure that the paying customers get their money's worth, chunks of meat are tied to the bottom of the cage. The crocodiles instantly drawn to it when it enters the water.

The results vary from the crocs 'eye-balling' the swimmer, rubbing against the cage or going into a full on 'aggressive attack' against it.


Snappy snaps: Holiday photos from this resort will be just a little different

Customers pay about £100 to spend 20 minutes swimming alongside the crocs; the largest of the beasts measures a whopping 18ft and weighs over 125 stone, 


One of the mighty reptiles at the Crocosaurus Cove park in Darwin, Australia, is named Burt. Film buffs might remember him from the first Crocodile Dundee movie - he's the one who nearly ate Linda Koslowski's character.

Sallie Gregory, spokeswoman for the park, said: 'Many people find the opportunity of getting to within a few inches from the jaws of these crocodiles exhilarating.'

'People often get activity ranging from an aggressive attack to a casual eye-balling and swim past where the crocs are so close that they rub against the cage.'

'Most of the women who take part say they are happy just to watch the crocodiles while guys tend to want the action and attack.' 


Smile please: Two thrill-seeking tourists get up close and personal with one of the saltwater crocodiles at the Crocosaurus Cove park in Darwin, Australia

She added: 'One of our directors who has extensive experience with crocodiles wanted a concept that allowed people to get up close to these ultimate predators in a safe environment.'

'The cage runs on a overhead monorail system, suspended over the enclosures and is lowered into up to four separate enclosures as part of the 20 minute experience.'

'The perspex is about 135mm thick and extensive testing in both the manufacturing and the way the crocodiles would react to the cage were carried out prior to the testing team entering the cage.'


The 'Cage Of Death' has been extensively tested for safety. With one of these prehistoric killers just inches away, one might hope so..

'The top of the cage has two grated doors to stop anything entering the cage and a back up motor and separate chain operates to ensure that in the event of a malfunction, the cage can continue to operate.'

'The cage generally allows about two feet from the surface of the water though this can be adjusted if people are not strong swimmers and would prefer to keep their head above water.' 


Among the crocodiles people can swim alongside are the mating pair of Houdini and Bess as well as Chopper, Denzel and of course movie star Burt.

But one of the most popular crocs is Wendell  - he's the biggest and is named after muscular Australian rugby star Wendell Sailor.

Crocodile attacks in the wild are quite rare these days. However, during the Japanese army's retreat from Ramree Island in February 1945, saltwater crocodiles are thought to have been responsible for the deaths of 400 Japanese soldiers.


British troops encircled the swampland through which the Japanese were retreating, resigning the Japanese to a night in a mangrove swamp which was home to thousands of saltwater crocodiles.


The Ramree crocodile attacks are listed as 'The Greatest Disaster Suffered from Animals' in The Guinness Book of Records

Saltwater crocodiles are the largest reptiles on the planet. Their main habitat is northern Australia and New Guinea, Indonesia and Borneo. They have been known to kill and eat horses, water buffalo, and even sharks as well as the occasional human.

Very Old Statue Looks Like Michael Jackson

Very Old Statue Looks Like Michael Jackson


Behold: A 3,000 year old Egyptian Limestone Bust of a woman, carved sometime between 1550 B.C. and 1050 B.C., that looks EXACTLY like Michael Jackson.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Independence Days Of Different Countries

 Independence Days Of Different Countries



The vast majority of the countries on earth became independent after 1800. Only 20 were independent before the start of the 19th century, a mere 10%. By 1900, only 49 or 25% of the world's countries of today were independent.

Many countries became independent following World War II when European powers granted independence to their vast colonial holdings, especially Africa.

Here are the independence days for every country, from the oldest to the youngest...







660 BCE - Japan

221 BCE - China

301 CE - San Marino

843 CE - France

976 CE - Austria

10th Century CE - Denmark

1001 - Hungary

1143 - Portugal

1206 - Mongolia

1238 - Thailand

1278 - Andorra

August 1, 1291 - Switzerland

1419 - Monaco

15th Century - Spain

1502 - Iran

June 6, 1523 - Sweden







January 23, 1579 - Netherlands

1650 - Oman

May 1, 1707 - United Kingdom

January 23, 1719 - Liechtenstein

1768 - Nepal

July 4, 1776 - United States of America

January 1, 1804 - Haiti

July 20, 1810 - Colombia

Sept. 16, 1810 - Mexico

Sept. 18, 1810 - Chile

May 14, 1811 - Paraguay

July 5, 1811 - Venezuela

July 9, 1816 - Argentina

July 28, 1821 - Peru

Sept. 15, 1821 - Costa Rica

Sept. 15, 1821 - El Salvador

Sept. 15, 1821 - Guatemala

Sept. 15, 1821 - Honduras

Sept. 15, 1821 - Nicaragua








May 24, 1822 - Ecuador

Sept. 7, 1822 - Brazil

August 6, 1825 - Bolivia

August 25, 1825 - Uruguay

1829 - Greece

October 4, 1830 - Belgium

1839 - Luxembourg

February 27, 1844 - Dominican Republic

July 26, 1847 - Liberia

March 17, 1861 - Italy

July 1, 1867 - Canada

January 18, 1871 - Germany

May 9, 1877 - Romania

March 3, 1878 - Bulgaria

1896 - Ethiopia







June 12, 1898 - Philippines

January 1, 1901 - Australia

May 20, 1902 - Cuba

November 3, 1903 - Panama

June 7, 1905 - Norway

Sept. 26, 1907 - New Zealand

May 31, 1910 - South Africa

November 28, 1912 - Albania

December 6, 1917 - Finland

November 11, 1918 - Poland

December 1, 1918 - Iceland

August 19, 1919 - Afghanistan

December 6, 1921 - Ireland

February 28, 1922 - Egypt

October 29, 1923 - Turkey








February 11, 1929 - Vatican City

Sept. 23, 1932 - Saudi Arabia

October 3, 1932 - Iraq

November 22, 1943 - Lebanon

August 15, 1945 - Korea, North

August 15, 1945 - Korea, South

August 17, 1945 - Indonesia

Sept. 2, 1945 - Vietnam

April 17, 1946 - Syria

May 25, 1946 - Jordan

August 14, 1947 - Pakistan

August 15, 1947 - India

January 4, 1948 - Burma








February 4, 1948 - Sri Lanka

May 14, 1948 - Israel

July 19, 1949 - Laos

August 8, 1949 - Bhutan

December 24, 1951 - Libya

November 9, 1953 - Cambodia

January 1, 1956 - Sudan

March 2, 1956 - Morocco

March 20, 1956 - Tunisia

March 6, 1957 - Ghana

August 31, 1957 - Malaysia

October 2, 1958 - Guinea

January 1, 1960 - Cameroon

April 4, 1960 - Senegal

May 27, 1960 - Togo

June 30, 1960 - Congo, Republic of the






July 1, 1960 - Somalia

July 26, 1960 - Madagascar

August 1, 1960 - Benin

August 3, 1960 - Niger

August 5, 1960 - Burkina Faso

August 7, 1960 - Cote d'Ivorie

August 11, 1960 - Chad

August 13, 1960 - Central African Republic

August 15, 1960 - Congo, Dem. Rep. of the

August 16, 1960 - Cyprus

August 17, 1960 - Gabon

Sept. 22, 1960 - Mali

October 1, 1960 - Nigeria

November 28, 1960 - Mauritania








April 27, 1961 - Sierra Leone

June 19, 1961 - Kuwait

January 1, 1962 - Samoa

July 1, 1962 - Burundi

July 1, 1962 - Rwanda

July 5, 1962 - Algeria

August 6, 1962 - Jamaica

August 31, 1962 - Trinidad and Tobago

October 9, 1962 - Uganda

December 12, 1963 - Kenya

April 26, 1964 - Tanzania

July 6, 1964 - Malawi

Sept. 21, 1964 - Malta

October 24, 1964 - Zambia

February 18, 1965 - Gambia, The

July 26, 1965 - Maldives

August 9, 1965 - Singapore

May 26, 1966 - Guyana

September 30, 1966 - Botswana




http://www.fotosearch.com/bthumb/VSL/VSL118/BIRD_01.jpg



October 4, 1966 - Lesotho

November 30, 1966 - Barbados

January 31, 1968 - Nauru

March 12, 1968 - Mauritius

Sept. 6, 1968 - Swaziland

October 12, 1968 - Equatorial

June 4, 1970 - Tonga

October 10, 1970 - Fiji

March 26, 1971 - Bangladesh

August 15, 1971 - Bahrain

Sept. 3, 1971 - Qatar

November 2, 1971 - United Arab Emirates

July 10, 1973 - Bahamas

Sept. 24, 1973 - Guinea-Bissau

February 7, 1974 - Grenada

June 25, 1975 - Mozambique

July 5, 1975 - Cape Verde

July 6, 1975 - Comoros

July 12, 1975 - Sao Tome and Principe





Sept. 16, 1975 - Papua New Guinea

November 11, 1975 - Angola

November 25, 1975 - Suriname

June 29, 1976 - Seychelles

June 27, 1977 - Djibouti

July 7, 1978 - Solomon Islands

October 1, 1978 - Tuvalu

November 3, 1978 - Dominica

February 22, 1979 - Saint Lucia

July 12, 1979 - Kiribati

October 27, 1979 - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

April 18, 1980 - Zimbabwe

July 30, 1980 - Vanuatu

January 11, 1981 - Antigua and Barbuda

Sept. 21, 1981 - Belize

Sept. 19, 1983 - Saint Kitts and Nevis

January 1, 1984 - Brunei






October 21, 1986 - Marshall Islands

November 3, 1986 - Micronesia, Federated States of

March 11, 1990 - Lithuania

March 21, 1990 - Namibia

May 22, 1990 - Yemen

April 9, 1991 - Georgia

June 25, 1991 - Croatia

June 25, 1991 - Slovenia

August 20, 1991 - Estonia

August 21, 1991 - Kyrgyzstan

August 24, 1991 - Russia

August 25, 1991 - Belarus






August 27, 1991 - Moldova

August 30, 1991 - Azerbaijan

Sept. 1, 1991 - Uzbekistan

Sept. 6, 1991 - Latvia

Sept. 8, 1991 - Macedonia

Sept. 9, 1991 - Tajikistan

Sept. 21, 1991 - Armenia

October 27, 1991 - Turkmenistan

November 24, 1991 - Ukraine

December 16, 1991 - Kazakhstan

March 3, 1992 - Bosnia and Herzegovina

January 1, 1993 - Czech Republic

January 1, 1993 - Slovakia

May 24, 1993 - Eritrea






October 1, 1994 - Palau

May 20, 2002 - East Timor

June 3, 2006 - Montenegro

June 5, 2006 - Serbia

February 17, 2008 - Kosovo









Friday, August 13, 2010

Melon Michelangelos

The melon Michelangelos: Amazing sculptures carved from fruit


With their green skins and a hint of red flesh, there is something familiar about these artworks.

A closer look reveals they are carved out of watermelons — and these photographs, capturing their intricate designs, are the latest sensation to sweep the internet.

The art form originated in the Far East 700 years ago when the carved fruit were often presented to royalty at banquets.




Sage: A godly figure in a fruit frame

Sage: A godly figure in a fruit frame


Fishing for compliments: A sea scene

Fishing for compliments: A sea scene





Mutant turtle: This reptile berries a juicy fruit salad beneath its shell

Mutant turtle: This reptile berries a juicy fruit salad beneath its shell


They used to take the form of legendary figures and flowers, but today anything goes, from waddling penguins to the Taj Mahal.

Many of these examples are the handiwork of hotel chef Takashi Itoh. Inspired by carvings he saw on holiday in Thailand in 2001, Itoh took three weeks to teach himself the skill — which usually takes years to perfect.



Using a tiny knife, he slices each portrait by hand. Simple designs can take as little as 20 minutes, while more detailed works require between 40 and 90 minutes to finish.




Melons

Melons

Blooming wonderful: Two delicate rose sculptures showcase Itoh's handiwork






Youre twisting my melon, man: This red-fleshed fella appears riled

You're twisting my melon, man: This red-fleshed fella appears riled




Taskashi, from Tokyo, admits that his is an unusual hobby.

'Watermelons are so colourful and as it is one of the bigger fruits I can make more powerful and interesting creations,’ he says. Each sculpture lasts two days, before the artist eats it.

The craft hasn’t yet caught on in Britain, but the first homegrown watermelons, from Staffordshire, are about to hit the shops.

Maybe this Halloween we’ll be carving ghoulish faces into watermelons instead of pumpkins.




Meloncholy: Tormented artist Vincent Van Gogh

Meloncholy: Tormented artist Vincent Van Gogh


Recycling: A green cyclist has pedal power

Recycling: A green cyclist has pedal power






Fruit fantasy: Mythical spirits are a traditional subject

Fruit fantasy: Mythical spirits are a traditional subject






Feathered friend: The melons oval shape lends itself to an owl figure

Melon mystery: Oh so skilful, but what is it?

Feathered friend: The melon's oval shape lends itself to an owl figure, left, and right, oh so skilful, but what is it?






Skinned alive: An evil spirit with a grimace

Skinned alive: An evil spirit with a grimace


Fruity frog: This amphibian gets ready to leap

Fruity frog: This amphibian gets ready to leap






Mouth watering: A jaw-dropping carving

Mouth watering: A jaw-dropping carving






Sydney scene: The famous Australian opera house

Sydney scene: The famous Australian opera house


Holy moly! Even the Taj Mahal can be sculpted

Holy moly! Even the Taj Mahal can be sculpted










Pick up a penguin: Waddling Antarctic birds

Pick up a penguin: Waddling Antarctic birds


Youre my honeydew: Two swans in love

You're my honeydew: Two swans in love

In The Eye Of The Storm

In The Eye Of The Storm

In the eye of the storm: The moment Mother Nature unleashes fury on Finland, injuring 40 people

These dramatic images were taken in the moments before a powerful thunderstorm struck parts of Finland.

The bad weather front is clearly visible as it approaches the skies above the capital Finland, moments before strong winds, heavy rain and lightning battered the city.

Forty people were injured in the storm, two of them seriously, as they enjoyed a heavy metal festival in the town of Pori.

Gale force: The storm damaged equipment belong to band Motley Crue and forced them to cancel their performance

Eye of the storm: This picture shows the moments before a powerful storm hit Helsinki



Calm: Revellers enjoy the Sonisphere festival as heavy rain can be seen falling from the storm front behind them

Calm: Revellers enjoy the Sonisphere festival as heavy rain can be seen falling from the storm front behind them





Eye of the storm: This picture shows the moments before a powerful storm hit Helsinki

Gale force: The storm damaged equipment belong to band Motley Crue and forced them to cancel their performance





Strong winds and lightning strikes badly damaged one of the stages at the Sonisphere Festival, and the equipment of several bands including Motley Crue was also ruined.


Organisers said in a statement: 'A severe thunderstorm hit (the) Sonisphere Festival in Pori, Finland. Strong freak wind gusts damaged the stages and knocked down tents and fences.

'Approximately 40 people were injured, two of them seriously.'


Casualties: Forty people were injured at the Sonisphere festival in Pori when the storm damaged stages and electrical equipment

Casualties: Forty people were injured at the Sonisphere festival in Pori when the storm damaged stages and electrical equipment




Powerful: An aeroplane lies on its side after its undercarriage was damaged during the storm in Pori

Powerful: An aeroplane lies on its side after its undercarriage was damaged during the storm in Pori




Sodden: Heavy metal fans were completely drenched as the sudden storm hit and one of the stages had to be abandoned

Sodden: Heavy metal fans were completely drenched as the sudden storm hit and one of the stages had to be abandoned



Downpour: The skies above the Finland capital turn an ugly black as the storm approaches

Downpour: The skies above the Finland capital turn an ugly black as the storm approaches




Black skies: The rain is on its way as the front moves above the city

Black skies: The rain is on its way as the front moves above the city



A spokesman for the Met Office said: 'Storms of this intensity only occur with large towering cumulonimbus clouds, and looking at the pictures this was a particularly large storm, known as a super cell.'

Silhouettes

Silhouettes


Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

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