Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Unusual coffin discovered at Grey Friars Church site


In February they found King Richard IIIs body beneath a parking lot at the site of the old Grey Friars Church.  You can see an earlier post about the find that has a link to the BBC story here.

They went back to the site recently and their efforts produced another interesting find.  The fully intact stone casket contained a lead coffin.  They think they might know whose grave they have found.  Read more about the recent find here.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Camel Convoy


Camels in the Xiangshawan Desert in the region of Inner Mongolia, China

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Giant redwood


The redwood "Mark Twain" that was cut down in 1892

Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Pixel Painter


Edit: At times the video shows up here embedded and at other times it has the message that I am not permitted to embed it here.  If you are unable to view the video just use this link instead:

Friday, July 26, 2013

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Gassing up


In a photo dated May 11, 1961, Mike Dreschler is shown having his motorised roller skate refueled near Hartford,  Connecticut.  The power skates used a one horsepower engine strapped to his back.  He holds a clutch, accelerator and a cut-off switch in his hand.

Refueling in today's self service stations would have been a problem for Mike.








Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Hanoi street barber


Eighty year old Mr. Man has been a street barber for more than 30 years.  Street barbers are a tradition in Hanoi that reaches back to the 18th century.  Many are ex-military personnel retired from service and barber in an effort to help cover family expenses.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Protective coloration


An orchid mantis blends with the surrounding flower to avoid predators.  Thomas Marent captured the image in Malaysia.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Fly Geyser


Fly Geyser is located about 20 miles north of Gerlach (Washoe County) Nevada.  It was accidentally created in 1916 during well drilling.  It started flowing water in the 1960's when a geothermally heated pack of water exploited a weak spot in the wall.  Dissolved minerals accumulated and created the mound from which water continually spews up to five feet into the air.

Fly Geyser is located on private property behind a locked gate and is seldom open to the public for viewing.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Staircases


The world has some pretty amazing staircases.  Click here to see some of the more spectacular.

Brighton swim club 1863


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Shake it all about



A selection of Carli Davidson's photos are compiled in a book called Shake.  See additional images by clicking here.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Atlas human powered helicopter

iPad users use this link

In 1980 the American Helicopter Society helped create the Igor I. Sirkorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition.  To win the prize a human powered helicopter would have to be built.  It would have to fly for 60 seconds and reach an altitude of 3 meters while remaining in a 10 meter square.

In 1989 students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo built Da Vinci III which flew for 7.1 seconds.  On June 13, 2013 the AeroVelo team from the University of Toronto flew the Atlas Human-Powered Helicopter for 64.1 seconds and reaching an altitude of 3.3 meters.

The Atlas has four rotors and measures 47 meters (154 feet) across, but only weighs 119 pounds.  The results have been verified and the AeroVelo team has been declared the winner of the $250,000 prize.

Read more about the AeroVelo team here.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Friday, July 12, 2013

Man reunited with arm after 47 years


Dr. Sam Axelrad saved Nguyen Quang Hung's life in 1966 by amputating his arm.  Hung was a North Vietnamese soldier wounded in an ambush set up by American soldiers.  He was captured and transported to a field hospital and treated by Dr. Axelrad.  Hung made a full recovery and spent the rest of the war working with the Americans.

The story might have ended there except for what became of Hung's arm.  Medical colleagues of Dr. Axelrad decided to keep the amputated arm "as a reminder of an enemy life saved in the war."  They removed the flesh and reassembled the bones before presenting it to Dr. Axelrad.  Dr. Axelrad and Hung's arm traveled back to Texas.  The arm sat in a cupboard for almost 50 years.

In 2011 Dr. Axelrad decided to open the bag containing the arm and it gave him thoughts of returning to Vietnam.  He and his family went to Vietnam last summer.  A Vietnamese journalist was fascinated by Dr. Axelrads story and his mission of returning Hung's arm.  An article the journalist wrote provided the information that was needed.

The two former enemy soldiers were reunited recently.  It must have been an awkward moment when Dr. Axelrad opened a cardboard box he had been carrying and presented Hung with his arm.  Hung said, "I can't believe that an American doctor took my infected arm, got rid of the flesh, dried it, took it home and kept it for more than 40 years."  He went on to say, "it is not the kind of keepsake that most people would like to own."

I have to agree with Mr. Hung 100%.  You can read the story and watch a video of the reunion here.

Paint


I'll send a car 'round for you....


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Gummy bear


A school janitor made this bear from gum that was scraped from under students' desks.

Haulin' grass

                                                       vectorimage

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Recycle/Reuse


Working in Glassboro, New Jersey, Sue Beatrice produces sculptures from old watch parts. See more of her creations on MyModernMet.

Just try it, you might like it....


Childrens' reactions to tasting new foods.  iPad users use this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PVVT9V2CM0

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Remi de Ligny

                                                                              
Remi de Ligny prints manipulated photo collages on large format canvas.  See additional examples here.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Planning to dangle


Jonathan Trappe is shown posed with the equipment he will use in an attempt to fly across the Atlantic from the US to Paris dangling from a cluster of balloons.  Good luck Jonathan.

Scarabaeid family


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Custom camel


David Bowie


Bowie and wife with daughter, Zowie, June 29, 1971

Monday, July 1, 2013

Gladys


Cincinnati Zoo's baby gorilla has been accepted by her surrogate mother.  At sixteen weeks Gladys is doing well.



Tablet visitors use this link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNfaf2Wvzis

Sleeping in the library





It was 1889 that British Prime Minister William Gladstone began moving his book collection from Hawarden Castle in Wales to a new building less than a mile away.  The new building is now known as Gladstone's Library.  His intention was to offer it as a "residential" library where patrons could stay overnight and take meals.  It still operates in that manner today.

You can read reviews on TripAdvisor and get additional information here.