Adrenaline

11 Most Bizarre Cargo Spills

2012-02-17T12:11:00.001+01:00

I guess transporting goods by truck comes with it’s own unique hazards – and accidents that lead to a cargo spillage must be pretty high up the list.

Whether it’s animals, beer or food the truck is loaded with at some point it’s all going to go wrong and the result could be live poultry flapping about a motorway or a road covered in beer just like you’ll see in the gallery below.

2,184 cases of Beer

Highway 401 in Mississaugua was closed on May 11, 2005 after an accident that spilled 2,184 cases of Grolsch beer. A woman driving a car swerved out of her lane and into the path of a Molson beer truck, causing the truck to roll over and the car to flip. One officer described the scene as "a sea of beer". The woman's life was most likely saved by her seatbelt and airbag. The beer was a goner.
NOTE: According to our reader Ken, the accident ocurred in the Netherlands.
Below is the article translated by our lovely reader kh:
An accident involving two freight trucks has ensured that the N36 between Mariënberg and Hardenberg had to be closed for several hours to all traffic. For over a hundred meters, the wayside (or the road) was littered with broken glass, beer crates and bottles, police said.
The reason was two cars collided around one o'clock. One of the trucks was transporting beer and swerved. Despite this, the driver was unharmed. The other driver took off and continued to drive his truck away. He later was stopped in Almelo.
The cleanup activities took several hours. The road was reopened to all traffic an hour ago. (Link 1 | Link 2)

6 tons of fresh Chicken for grilling

This truck spill is all about chickens, yep, tons of chickens spilled from an overturned truck… too bad it was raining and not hot out, could have been time for a road side barbecue, I hear the black asphalt gets hot enough to cook eggs on. ewww ( Link )

Doughnuts

In October 2011, in Illinois, a truck carrying frozen baked goods and bratwurst was involved in an accident, causing its cargo to spill all over I-74. The results were delicious. The accident left 20 tons of food, including chocolate cake, doughnuts and cinnamon rolls, strewn all over the highway. Authorities were forced to close the road for seven-and-a-half hours while crews cleaned up the gooey mess.

Two people were reportedly taken to the hospital, but their injuries were not life-threatening. However, doctors did diagnose them with a case of “full stomach syndrome.” (Via)

A Ton of Cocaine

We are not talking about the coke we enjoy to quench our thirst. This is the Class A drug. A ton of the stuff ended up on a road in Bogota, Colombia in 2007, after a drug gang's truck overturned. The cocaine was hidden in the walls and roof. (Link)

Tons of Mackerel

A truck full of fish overturned and dumped its load into Northern Ireland farmer, Gordon Flinn's, field in January 2012. The tons of mackerel were piled two feet deep in places. The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital, but was not seriously injured and was able to return to the scene. The truck was removed and the road opened later that night, but the Flinns may have to put up with a fishy smell for some time. (Link | Via)

40,000 lbs of Ice Cream

In December 2011, 18,000 kilograms (40,000 pounds) of ice cream spilled from a semitrailer in the state of Indiana, closing two lanes of an interstate highway. The truck was trying to enter the interstate from a ramp when it tipped, spilling cartons of vanilla, caramel praline crunch, and other flavors of Edy's ice cream, onto the interstate.
The spill was expected to take as long as six hours to clean up completely. Oddee's editor would have been glad to help. (Link)

14 Million Bees

Cleanup crews in Idaho had to clean up honey, and an estimated 14 million bees, that got loose after a delivery truck overturned on a highway. Several workers were stung during the first few hours of the cleanup. And some observers told about seeing a strange black cloud and roaring noise above the spill area, before realizing it was a massive swarm of bees.
A truck was hauling the bees from California to North Dakota when the driver veered off onto the shoulder, tipping more than 400 hive boxes and honey. Crews worked for two days before removing all the honey from the roadway, although deputies say a significant amount of bees were still buzzing.
That's what I call a sticky situation.
(Link)

Not a good day for the chickens

n October 12, 2007, 3,000 chickens were being transported on the A-80, one of Scotland's busiest roads. The lorry jack-knifed near Castlecary, spilling chickens everywhere. The driver was treated for back injuries. 400 chickens d*ed in the accident, or later from their injuries. Traffic backed-up for five miles and the A-80 was closed for hours.

Thousands of chickens escaped from their crates and flocked on the road and nearby. Feathers were everywhere. Police spent five hours trying to catch the birds. Officers also took down the license numbers of drivers that were using their cell phones to take photos of them as they chased the chickens. They reported that 20 drivers will be charged with using a cell phone while driving.

Chicken Handlers from Noble Foods and Veterinarians arrived to help. One Vet estimated that she had to put down about 80 chickens with broken wings and legs. (Link)

Shoes

On January 2, 2009, shortly before 8:00 a.m., thousands of shoes mysteriously appeared on a Miami highway. Who spilled the shoes? Nobody knows. But they disrupted traffic on the Palmetto Expressway for hours. There was no sign of a crash and no one has claimed them.
They were a strange mix of shoes... work boots, slippers, sneakers, sandals, even roller blades. A private contractor was hired to pick up the shoes and dump them in an empty field (weird). Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization, was expected to pick them up and distribute them, probably in Haiti. If anyone does come forward they will be charged for the cleanup.
The shoes had, what seemed to be, yard sale price tags on them. (Link)

$80,000 of Bull Semen

It's not often a huge load of steaming bull semen spills across a highway- but that's exactly what happened when four vats fell from a bus and shut down an American interstate in Nashville, Tennessee. The wayward canisters containing the cattle sperm were first reported to police at five a.m., after motorists driving on the downtown Nashville interstate caught a whiff of a foul odor wafting across their vehicles.
A Greyhound bus ticket found near the vats alerted emergency crews as to who was responsible for their transportation, and it's understood the bus carrying the canisters was totally unaware of its lost cargo. Experts in cattle breeding and artificial insemination estimated that the four canisters were worth up to $80,000 US (£48,000). (Link)

Two million Euros in Coins

Cash-grabbing motorists brought a road to a standstill after an Italian lorry carrying Euros overturned and spilled two million of them - in coins. The truck overturned in Foggia, southern Italy, in July 2010, shedding its contents all over the highway and leading motorists to hit the brakes and dig in.
Local police said that it was impossible to establish how much money had been stolen, as many of the €1 and €2 coins remained in piles on the highway. But motorists acting quickly before police arrived made off with at least € 10,000. The truck's driver and one passenger had suffered minor injuries. The truck was carrying the money from the Italian mint to local banks. (Link)

source

10 Hottest Sports Reporters on Earth

2012-02-14T12:32:00.001+01:00

Ah, female sports reporters – there shouldn’t be any other kind. What with the all too testosterone soaked frenzy of competitiveness that is professional sports, audiences don’t need another male telling them what’s going on (unless it’s the faceless voice of a has-been hidden away up in the commentary box).

No, what viewers really want to see roving around putting their microphones in all the wrong places are smokin’ hot babes there to remind us what we’d really choose to watch if push came to shove. So let’s go down pitch side and enjoy the action as we bring you the 10 hottest sports reporters on Earth.

Erin Andrews

When she's not nibbling on poker chips or doing the tango on Dancing with the Stars the ever sexy Erin Andrews can be seen reporting on sidelines for ESPN. In 2008 she was named "sexiest sports reporter" by Playboy Magazine. We here at Heavy concur.

Jamie Little

Could there be a hotter use of a paint can? The answer is clearly no. Jamie Little is a pit reporter for NASCAR Nation Wide Series and Sprint Cup Series on ABC. No wonder it's the most watched sport in the US.

Kirsty Gallacher

Another entry from the other side of the Atlantic, Kirsty Gallacher is generally acknowledged as the queen of English soccer reporting. Having appeared on Sky Sports News and Soccer AM – both essential parts of any self-respecting soccer fan’s hungover Saturday spent on the couch – Kirsty makes it all better for you with her brunette sophistication and D-Cup puppies.

Ashley Russell

In addition to filling out a bikini top perfectly, Ashley Russell is a corespondent for Yahoo Sports. The girl has been all over the place, MTV, TLC, E Entertainment. I'd like to be all over her at my place.

Erin Bates

Everybody loves X-games. What’s not to love? Throw Erin Bates into the picture and there really is no excuse not to be glued to the television. Commentating on motorsports since 2003, she ain’t just a pretty face. She can ride the bikes too, having been an avid motorhead since she was small. An all terrain high-octane chassis wrapped in a stunning body… insert your own adrenaline pun here.

Sara Carbonero

Sara Carbonero Arévalo is a Spanish TV presenter for Telecinco and sports journalist. She was born on 3^rd February, 1984 in Corral de Almaguer, Toledo. In 2009 she was voted sexiest reporter in the world.

Charissa Thompson

Charissa Thompson has spent time chatting up NFL players on the sideline for Fox Sports and is now doing the same for Yahoo Sports at the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Represent, Charissa!

Jenn Sterger

Even if you hate the NY Jets with every bone in your body, you still gotta admit this is a hot photo. Jenn Sterger is the in-stadium host for the Jets home games and hosted a series of webisodes for Sports Illustrated called The Jen-X Road Show.

Ines Sainz

The top spot goes to Ines Sainz. The Mexican hottie has an impeccable track record in gaining interviews which might otherwise have been refused. Combine this with her equally impeccable body and you have the perfect female sports personality. Spot on reporting, prevalent pitch-side antics, an almost-went-to-court sexual harassment locker-room accusation and an ass you could set your watch to. This woman was sent from heaven to tell men about sports.

Leeann Tweeden

Virginian born patriot Leeann Tweeden is a graduate of Hooters and has graced the cover of FHM and Playboy in the past. Previously a correspondent on Fox Sport Net’s Best Damn Sport Show Period, she currently hosts NBC’s Poker After Dark, and has yams you could park your boat between. Poker has never, ever looked this sexy.

source, source1, source2

Does Valentine's Day Rocks or Sucks [Infographic]

2012-02-09T15:03:00.001+01:00

Are you one of those people who considers Valentines Day one of their favorite holidays? Do you love sending cards out to your loved ones, having a romantic dinner with your sweetheart, and decorating your house with conversation hearts? Even though you are single, you still love the holiday so much because you get to watch cheesy chick flicks with all your best girl friends and eat lots of chocolate?

That may be true for some people, but there are also a great deal of individuals out there who truly despise this so-called “Hallmark holiday”. Whether you have been dumped before on a previous V-day, start to feel very lonely and/or depressed, or you just can’t stand the fact you feel obligated to buy your spouse gifts to prove you love them (even though you tell them daily)- there is something about this day that irks you.

source

When Professionals are Transported

2012-02-08T11:11:00.001+01:00

source

5 Cruise Ship Disasters That Changed Travel

2012-02-07T10:05:00.001+01:00

Some good may yet come of Italy's Costa Concordia wreck. At least since Titanic, cruise accidents have sparked new safety standards.

Costa Concordia

The cruise ship Costa Concordia lies partially sunk just a few hundred yards from the rocky coast of the Italian island of Giglio on Monday. Though the fallout from the disaster remains unclear, past luxury liner accidents—the Titanic shipwreck being the most infamous—have sparked new measures for keeping passengers safe and dry.

The Costa Cruises-run ship's hull was ripped after the liner ran aground Friday. Capt. Francesco Schettino had steered the 126,000-ton vessel dangerously close to shore, purportedly to salute people on the island.

Eleven people are confirmed dead from the accident, and 23 people are still missing. Accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, and abandoning ship, Schettino is now under house arrest.

R.M.S. Titanic

"Rusticles" coat the railing of the sunken R.M.S. Titanic (file picture), which sank in the North Atlantic during the ship's maiden voyage from Southampton, U.K., to New York City on April 15, 1912.

More than 1,500 people died in the disaster, largely because the White Star cruise line outfitted the ship with only enough lifeboats for about half the people aboard.

"That was extremely ill advisable," said Maxtone-Graham, author of the new book Titanic Tragedy: A New Look at the Lost Liner, due in March.

To make matters worse, no lifeboat drill involving passengers was performed before the Titanic set out, and many of the oars in the available lifeboats were so new that they were still tied with twine.

"When people got in the boat that night, some of them had a hard time getting the oars rigged," said Maxtone-Graham.

As a result of the Titanic disaster, modern cruise liners now must carry enough lifeboats for all of the passengers on board.

Star Princess

Charred, the cruise ship Star Princess heads into port in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in March 2006.

The Star Princess fire, begun on a private balcony, was likely the victim of a cigarette burn gone very wrong. "The rubber matting that covered the balconies was fabricated from crude oil, and it was flammable," Maxtone-Graham said.

"What was amazing was that the fire spread the length of the deck, jumped from balcony to balcony, and then up two more decks."

The fire was eventually put out, and the Star Princess was repaired. The ship now has sprinklers on all of its balconies—and the UN's International Maritime Organization has since adopted a new code requiring more fire-resistant cabin balconies.

S.S. Morro Castle

A barge sprays tons of water to douse the S.S. Morro Castle cruise ship after it caught fire in the early morning hours of September 8, 1934.

A coastal cruiser, the Morro Castle was sailing from New York City to Havana, Cuba, when it caught fire. The ship eventually made it to Asbury Park, New Jersey, where the vessel was beached.

In a scene eerily like the Costa Concordia accident, the Morro Castle "was a wreck in plain sight from shore," Maxtone-Graham said.

The cause of the fire is unclear, but most experts agree that lax crew discipline was partly to blame.

"Some said she caught fire because of unhappy or vengeful crewmen," Maxtone-Graham said. "There was a story—and I can't say this was true—that there was a fire in a wastebasket and a crewman put it in a closet, shut the door, and went about his business."

As a result of the Morro Castle disaster, cruise companies later placed a higher emphasis on crew discipline, he added.

In addition, the International Maritime Organization adopted standards encouraging noncombustible materials in ship construction.

M/S Explorer

The M/S Explorer became the first purpose-built cruise ship ever to sail the frigid waters of the Antarctic waters in 1969. The vessel was also the first to sink there—as pictured after hitting an iceberg in November 2007. (See "Special Report: The Sinking of the Explorer.")

All of the Explorer's 154 passengers and crew survived, but the accident caused several international shipping and cruise organizations to take a closer look at their rules and guidelines governing Antarctic voyages. (See video on the Antarctic Ocean.)

For example, the United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) accelerated discussions that are intended to lead to the development of a comprehensive "Polar Code" that would govern everything from the type of equipment ships can carry, the types of hulls they can have, the experience levels of the people on their bridges, and more.

"There are IMO guidelines for passenger ships in ice-covered waters currently in place, but they're just that—guidelines," said Steve Wellmeier, the executive director of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.

"Since the Explorer sinking, there's been a greater urgency to beef up the Polar Code and to make parts of it mandatory."

R.M.S. Empress of Ireland

The R.M.S. Empress of Ireland sinks in the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City, Canada, in 1914.

While sailing out of the port of Montreal on the foggy morning of May 29, 1914, the ocean liner was struck amidships by a Norwegian ship, the S.S. Storstad. The Empress sank very quickly and claimed 1,012 lives.

"The boat turned over on its port side and went to the bottom like a stone," Maxtone-Graham said.

According to Maxtone-Graham, the Empress's primary weakness, and the reason it sank so fast, was bad compartmentalization. That is, the design of the ship's rooms and compartments were not built with barriers to prevent widespread flooding in the case of a hull breach.

source

8 Most Extreme Tourist Attractions

2012-02-03T09:35:00.001+01:00

The Extreme Crocodile Cage (Australia)

Without the cage you wouldn't stand a chance swimming with a massive saltwater crocodile. But for brave punters who still want to get cozy with a feisty croc, a new Australian tourist attraction is offering the chance for a close encounter in the safety of a clear acrylic box dubbed the 'cage of death.'

Just 4cm of acrylic, a pair of goggles and a swimsuit, separate thrill seekers from the jaws of Choppa, a saltwater crocodile. The cage has no bars, unlike cages used in shark dives, which prevent the reptiles from gripping on, but deep tooth scratches are visible on the sides, deterring some hesitant participants. Top End tourists climb into the clear box before being lowered into Choppa's lair. They then spend 15 minutes inside the 9ft high cage and watch Choppa, who lost both front feet while fighting other crocodiles, try to take a bite out of them.

The attraction at Crocosaurus Cove, in the heart of the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory, has been given high marks by adrenaline junkies. (Link | Via)

Cliff Base Jumping (Norway)

Norway has absolutely beautiful landscapes, including crazy cliffs that call to people to climb them and then BASE jump off the top. Here's a look at some of those incredible cliffs, as well as some insanely dangerous switchback roads to get to them in Norway. Thrill seekers, photographers, hikers and climbers take in these majestic views of nature. And then, there's BASE jumpers who have a much more extreme need for adrenaline. Charles Lindbergh once said of his adrenaline rush, “It is the greatest shot of adrenaline to be doing what you have wanted to do so badly. You almost feel like you could fly without the plane.” Here in Norway, as if they've turned into Superman, some adrenaline junkies do fly without a plane. (Link)

Iguazu Boat Ride (Argentina & Brazil)

Taller than Niagara Falls and twice as wide, the Iguazu cataracts are one of the most impressive sites that you will ever see in your travels around the world. 275 waterfalls cascade through the Argentine and Brazilian parks and once you see the Devil's Throat you won't regret the trip.

For 15 USD you can take an Iguazu boat ride that will allow you to thumb your nose at the visitors in both countries, as you motor right into the fury of the monstruous falls. Not only will you get absolutely soaked and feel, up close, the power of the falls, but you also get bragging rights, because no matter how you phrase it, the fact that you took a small boat and motored into the dump zone to receive a sheet of water from some of the biggest falls in the world, is undeniably sweet.

Note: In 2011, two US tourists were killed and five people were injured when one of the boats overturned. Seven tourists from the US, Germany and Colombia were sightseeing at Iguazu Falls in northern Argentina with a crew of three when their boat hit rocks and flipped over.

(Link 1 | Link 2)

CN Tower Edge Walking (Toronto, Canada)

The CN Tower holds a Guinness World Record for its EdgeWalk attraction — the highest external walk on a building. The attraction allows people to walk hands free along a 1.5-metre-wide ledge that surrounds the top of the tower's main pod.

Walkers who venture out in groups of six are secured with a harness during their 150-metre stroll. The walk opened to the public on Aug. 1 2011 and officials say it has attracted thrill seekers from age 13 to 90. (Via)

Volcano Bungee (Chile)

If throwing yourself off a platform with nothing but a bouncy cord tied to your feet is a bit too lame for you, then you're a candidate for the wildest bungee jump we've ever heard of: the Volcano Bungee near Pucón, Chile. Basically you get flown up to an active volcano--yes, we mean a bubbly, smokin' volcano--and then you have to bungee jump off the helicopter into the caldera towards the molten lava. Are these people insane?

Anyone thinking that throwing themselves into a volcano sounds fun also needs to be fairly well off. You can do this bungee jump as part of a six-day package for $9,995, including accommodations and other (slightly less crazy) activities. (Link)

El Caminito Del Rey Trekking (Spain)

Adrenaline junkies have been flocking to southern Spain to experience the 110-year-old El Caminito Del Rey. And you don't need to be an experienced climber either; the only requirements are that walkers should be at least twelve years old and have a good head for heights. The trail, also known as the King's Pathway, was originally built in 1905 for workers to travel between two hydroelectric power plants but was closed-off in 2000 after two walkers fell to their deaths. (Link)

Kayaking with Whales (Alaska)

While combining canoeing with bird watching or fishing is certainly a reason some people paddle, it is becoming increasingly popular to kayak and paddleboard in search of bigger more elusive life. The rise of the internet, which has publicized these encounters between kayakers and paddleboarders with sharks and whales, is adding to the allure of this endeavor.

While Alaskan sea kayakers have long owned the rights to cool photos of themselves in kayaks with breathtaking panoramas in the background and whale tales in the foreground, this phenomenon is increasing with greater frequency in other parts of the U.S. and the world. What is cooler after all than kayaking with a whale? It is almost becoming predictable as to when kayakers will be able to share in this experience, as whale experts are increasingly able to predict the feeding patterns of these truly beautiful marine mammals. While it is quite uncommon for whales to do any damage to humans, it is not out of the question. Their sheer size and weight make an encounter with these gentle giants a dangerous proposition. (Link)

Zorbing (New Zeland)

This is an extreme sport which allows adrenaline junkies to roll down a hill in a giant inflatable ball. Adventure company Have You Got The Ball Ltd from Bryn Coch Farm, Whitford, near Holywell, offers an experience called sphereing, also known as zorbing.
Zorbing is generally performed on a gentle slope, but can also be done on a level surface, permitting more rider control. In the absence of hills some operators have constructed inflatable, wooden or metal ramps.
NOTE: Zorbing was first established in Rotorua New Zealand and has since branched off into different countries like Wales. (Link)

source

Coulrophobia – Are You Afraid of Clowns?

2012-02-01T15:59:00.001+01:00

Did you find Heath Ledger as The Joker scary? Then perhaps you suffer from coulrophobia, the abnormal fear of clowns. Join a self-confessed coulrophobic for a look at these guys and see if you are too. Like you don’t already know!

Image Credit Flickr User SilentMind8

Image Credit Flickr User Robby Ryke

Why do so many people find clowns scary? Only a few years the Bestival Festival on the Isle of Wight in the UK had to rethink its plans. Each year there is a theme and they thought they would follow up their successful cowboy theme with one based around clowns. They had so many phone calls from adult ticket holders complaining that they would no longer be able to come because of their fear of clowns that the organizers had to rethink the theme.

Image Credit Flickr User Shane omac

So why is it that so many people are afraid of clowns? I am certainly no exception. One of my earliest memories is a visit to the circus where – sat on the ringside row, I watched the clowns make their entrance. They circled around the ring, laughing and jolly and one made a beeline for me, eager it seemed to shake my hands. The resulting hysteria almost, so my mother maintained for years, brought the house down. It seems that I was pretty much the most entertaining feature of the show.

Image Credit Flickr User Capt Tim

Image Credit Flickr User Alyssa L Miller

Maternal lack of sympathy aside – as well as a lasting embarrassment throughout my childhood and teen years - why did I as a toddler find clowning about so terrifying? Was it that my burgeoning ability to process the facial features of others was put in to a form of panic-struck overdrive by the sight of so many exaggerated and colorful beings? Was it that the skin tone and facial appearance of the clowns threw me off kilter and – at some primal level at least – made me do the only thing I could which was, of course, to scream my head off?

Image Credit Flickr User Joanne Lummy

Bring in the clowns? Blame the buggers! Even before psychology was an ‘ology’ people instinctively knew what made others tick. The clowning tradition did not evolve purely with entertainment in mind and so it might not be any surprise that a lot of adults as well as children find the distorted features of clowns more than a little disturbing. Many people even form an early fear of that arch-clown, Santa Claus. The thrill of fear can leave lasting memories and performers have been quick to use this through the centuries. However, when does a simple aversion become a phobia?

Image Credit Flickr User Neil Krug

Image Credit Flickr User Sister72

Why fear these harmless entertainers? I wasn’t a particularly sensitive child (unless it suited me, so I am told). Was it because I saw myself in their anarchic actions? Did they represent, however subconsciously, unreason and an out of control nature which I somehow recognized? Was I afraid of their casual violence towards each other and fearful that it would extend to me? Were they a mirror to my soul? Or was I just a wee wuss?

Image Credit Flickr User Funky64

However you look at it, by the nineteen eighties the condition was so widespread that a word had to be coined for it – and what an odd word it is. Like all phobias it has its origins in Greek and the ‘coul’ part comes from the Greek for limb. It is a rather odd choice of words but the Greeks themselves had no equivalent to a clown so the real origin of the word comes from kolobathristes which is a stilt walker. Strange, but true.

Image Credit Flickr User loufi

Image Credit Flickr User joisheyshowa

When something is taken out of its usual context it can sometimes create a reaction that others may feel is disproportionate? I was lucky in many ways that McDonalds did not open one of its ‘restaurants’ in my home town until I was in my mid-teens. With all the rationality associated with teenage boys I found the presence of a certain Ronald McDonald completely unnerving. My mother had always told me not to talk to strange men and this man was, indeed, most peculiar.

Image Credit Flickr User Darwin Bell

Seeing the clown outside of a circus could have been what predicated by pubescent panic. Lon Chaney, famous for his portrayal of The Phantom of The Opera among others said ‘There is nothing funny about a clown in the moonlight’ and I for one am inclined to agree with that sentiment. So, when a clown is seen where it simply doesn’t belong it is, perhaps, quite human to have a negative reaction. After all, if Lon Chaney was spooked by them, who can blame me?

Image Credit Flickr User Diogo A Figuiera

Image Credit Flickr User Sergio Bajar

Significantly, a study at a UK hospital has gone some way to prove this theory. Around two hundred and fifty children were polled and all of them said that they found the visual representations of clowns around the hospital were scary. Yes, that’s right; every single respondent said that they were unhappy with the presence of clown images in the institution. Rather than encouraging a happy space the clowns were actually frightening the children.

Image Credit Flickr User D.Begley

Image Credit
The Joker - Flickr User Mikl Oliver

source

Impressive Tattoos and Piercings Decorate Faces at a Festival in Venezuela

2012-01-30T16:17:00.001+01:00

Mexican Mary Jose Cristerna aka 'The Vampire Woman' poses during the Venezuela Expo Tattoo 2012 in Caracas, on January 28, 2012. Over 200 tattoo artists from countries such as Venezuela, Argentina and Mexico gather in Caracas to show this art, which also uses implants in the face and cuts in the skin.

Inked!

A man shows his tattoos as he attends Venezuela Expo Tattoo in Caracas, Venezuela. Artists gather in Caracas to show this art, which also uses implants in the face and cuts in the skin. AP/Ariana Cubillos

Venezuelan Juaquin De Lima poses during the Venezuela Expo Tattoo 2012 in Caracas. Over 200 tattoo artists from countries such as Venezuela, Argentina and Mexico set out in Caracas this art, which also uses implants in the face and cuts in the skin. AFP/Leo Ramirez

Argentinan Gabriela Peralta poses during the Venezuela Expo Tattoo 2012 in Caracas.

Argentinan Victor Peralta gestures during the Venezuela Expo Tattoo 2012 in Caracas.

Venezuelan Emilio Gonzalez poses during the Venezuela Expo Tattoo 2012 in Caracas.

Constantino Quintero from Venezuela poses during a tattoo exhibition in Caracas on Friday.

Victor Peralta from Uruguay poses during a tattoo exhibition in Caracas on Friday.

A man is suspended in the air hanging from hooks from his skin during the Venezuela Expo Tattoo 2012 in Caracas, on January 28, 2012.

source 1, 2, 3

2011 Sturgis Biker Babes

2012-01-27T10:36:00.001+01:00

For the past 71 years the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota has been a huge gathering point for biker culture. And of course wherever there’s a bunch of guys with motorcycles (along with a massive half million people strong party), there’s going to be lots of hot, half naked women. Here are some of our favorites from the 72nd Sturgis Rally held this summer.

source

13 of the Best SOPA's Protests and Memes

2012-01-23T10:33:00.001+01:00

I agree, soooooooooooo pathetic! (Link)

Nitrozac and Snaggy from The Joy of Tech made a comic to cover the site during the internet strike. See, there are things to do that aren't on the web! (Link | Via)

SOPA vs. Soup, PIPA vs. Pippa

Miss Celania's own selection. (Link | Via)

Google.com blacked-out the Google logo in a way that sustained the site's basic functionality but made their point very, very clear. (Link)

TheOatmeal.com's protest: do it for the kittens.

See next the animated GIF:

(Link)

LOL, Cats don't like SOPA either.

Not Even Hipsters Deserve to Be Censored, by GoCryEmoKid.com. (Link)

Wikipedia came late to the party but deserves huge credit for being the largest website brave enough to block access for a full 24 hours.

NOTE: what most people didn't know was that "if you clicked at the "Learn more..." link, you would've been shown A FAQ. There it says that you can continue to use Wikipedia by simply disabling it's Javascript in your browser". (thanks Ilija, A.)

Nedroid's protest. (Link)

(Link)

Meanwhile in Prison...

Orthodox Christians Celebrate the Feast of Epiphany by Jumping Into Freezing Water

2012-01-19T16:17:00.001+01:00

According to believers, the Epiphany marks the baptism of Jesus in the Orthodox Church. On this day water becomes holy and churchgoers cut holes in the ice of lakes and rivers to bathe in the freezing water.

Moscow, Russia: People gather around a frozen pond in Kolomenskoe park

Tyarlevo, Russia: A woman emerges from the icy water

Veliky Novgorod, Russia: Orthodox church faithful marking Epiphany by plunging into the ice cold water of the Veryazha River

Novoiyerusalimsky, Russia: An Orthodox priest blesses the Istra river by dipping a cross in the water

Moscow, Russia: A man crosses himself before taking a dip in the ice hole of the pond in Kolomenskoe park

Sosnovka, Kyrgyzstan: Believers take part in Orthodox Epiphany celebrations on the river Kara-Balta

Moscow, Russia: A man crosses himself as he emerges from the water of a lake

Novoiyerusalimsky, Russia: A man takes a dip in the icy waters of the Istra river

Almaty, Kazakhstan: Orthodox priests conduct a service on the banks of the Bolshaya Almatinka river

Almaty, Kazakhstan: A man crosses himself after taking a dip in the icy water of the Bolshaya Almatinka river as an emergency rescuer looks on

Pukhovichi, Belarus: Soldiers plunge into ice cold water to mark Orthodox Epiphany

Belgrade, Serbia: Marko Tomasevic lifts up a wooden cross, after being the first to reach it in a traditional event in which local men fish the cross from the Danube river

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos takes part in a ceremony at Qasr el-Yahud near Jericho

A man plunges into ice cold water at a lake in Minsk, Belarus, to celebrate Orthodox Epiphany

Shiver: Two Russian girls react in shock as they climb into the freezing water of Natashinsky park in Lyubertsy, near Moscow

Believers: Orthodox priests bless the water in ponds and rivers before followers climb in and dip themselves three times on January 19 - marking the baptism of Jesus

Chilly: Women wearing clothing more suitable for the beach prepare to swim in a hole cut into the Sea of Japan in Amur Bay, Vladivostock

Brave: This man swims in an ice hole alongside flip-flops that appear to have been dropped in the water

source, source1, source2

Crazy People With Real Super Powers

2012-01-18T15:45:00.001+01:00

Everyone’s mother tells them they’re special growing up, but a lot of those mothers are liars. We’re basically all the same. Despite all the false hype, there are some rare and special people out there. They might not get the recognition (or the paycheck) of a famous Quarterback, but their powers are far more impressive. People with super powers really exist, and live their lives without costumes or crazy explosions. Here are 21 of the realest people with limitless powers!

Uber-Boy

Uber-Boy was born in Germany with “bulging and well defined” muscles out of the womb. By the age of 4, he could lift more than six times the weight of a normal kid. His name was never released to the public.

The Human Garbage Disposal

Michel Lotito can eat and digest metal, glass and even toxic material with no problem. The man has pooped a plane.

Zamora the Torture King

Tim Cridland is impervious to pain, and once slept on a bed of nails with a Toyota on top of him.

Incredible Brain

Daniel Tammet is a genius and a savant, but his true power is for visualizing any number. He can literally see calculations as landscapes, even able to paint the essence of numbers or fractions such as Pi.

King Tooth

Rathakrishnan Velu pulls trains with his teeth. He just bites down on a string and pulls a train. No biggie.

The Magnetic Man

Liew Thow Lin is a corny Magneto. Metal sticks to his skin, but he can’t control magnetic fields like a real G.

Electro Man

Rajmohan Nair can be shocked by electricity 30 times the amount that would k*ll a normal man.

Timo Kaukonen

In the vein of masochistic powers, Kaukonen can withstand near-boiling temperatures. His competitor in the 1999 World Sauna Championships died during the competition.

Jyothi Rai

Basically Spiderman-Lite, Rai can scale walls with incredible speed and agility.

Human Wolf

Not sure if this counts as a superpower, but it is awesome: Shaun Ellis of England lives and communicates with wolves. And may have a wolf girlfriend.

Bee Man

Dr. Norman Gary can summon and control swarms of bees….sounds like quite the supervillain doesn’t he? Norman Gary? Who can trust a name like that?! AND THE BEES!

Rubber Band Man

Unlike Rubberboy, Rubber Band Man is no contortionist. Garry “Stretch” Turner has the World’s stretchiest skin.

Unbreakable

Like the movie, but for real. Kuala Lumpur, a Shaolin monk has an unbreakable body which can resist spears to his throat and metal drills to his head.

Shark Master

Mike Rutzen from South Africa is able to control sharks and make them do his evil bidding.

Ice Man

Wim Hof ran a half marathon 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. While it was -20 degrees. Without a shirt or shoes.

source

10 Odd Sports Around the World

2012-01-16T15:58:00.001+01:00

The world’s weirdest games, from the fancy to the fiery.

People can find competition in almost anything, including art. The goofier the sport, the more it makes some people nostalgic for long-gone gym classes.

Below, we present just ten of the many odd competitions that have popped up around the world. Some are deeply ingrained in their respective societies, and some have gone from tongue-in-cheek to serious stuff. They all look fun and slightly dangerous, which is really what sports are about.

Brompton Bike Competition, England

The makers of these lightweight, foldable commuter bikes sponsor the annual Brompton World Championships, and this year's will be on October 3rd in Oxfordshire, England. Jackets and ties are required.

Cheese Rolling, England

Every spring, the citizens of Gloucestershire throw a wheel of cheese down Cooper Hill and chase after it. The winner of the race gets to keep the cheese. Due to the hill's steepness, the wheel can reach speeds up to 70mph, injuring many racers along the way. Safety concerns like this led the 2010 race to be cancelled.

Korfball, Netherlands

This is a Dutch version of basketball that's also played throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. As one of the few mixed-gender ball games, it was a demonstration sport in the 1920 Olympics in Belgium. There's a beach version of the game too.

Iceboating, United States (Great Lakes)

Similar to sailboats, but fitted with skis and runners, traditional iceboats were used to ship goods across frozen lakes in the 19th century. Iceboats are now more often used for recreation and racing. To me, they look more beautiful than odd against their frozen backdrops.

Camel Racing, Middle East

Though popular in the Middle East and India, the most notable camel racing event occurs in Alice Springs, Australia. While the sport has a questionable number of children as jockeys, there is a growing trend to hire adult racers. Regardless, camels are just plain funny, so I can see why the sport draws crowds.

Kickball, United States

For many of us, this sport serves as a reminder of a time when all we had to worry about was whether we could kick a rubber ball that was never inflated enough. Many adults are taking up the sport again, and teams with no sense of irony appearing all over the US. Unlike the Brompton race above, tube socks and pigtails are strongly encouraged.

Chessboxing

We've covered it before, and we'll cover it again. This is like beer pong for nerds.

Toe Wrestling, England

The World Championships started in 1976 in Derbyshire, UK. The object is to lock big toes and force your opponent's foot to the ground. Not a game for the foot-phobic.

Fire Jumping, Middle East

While this fire jumping shot was taken as part of an urban race in California, the sport has roots in a Persian New Year ritual that dates back the Zoroastrian era. Meant to symbolize rebirth--or in these guys' case, bromance--it's pretty exciting too.

Snowmobile Racing, United States

This sport, popularized in places with lots of space and snow such as the American Midwest, Alaska, and Scandinavia, can be grueling, with some races going as long as 500 miles. While probably the least eco-friendly of all these sports, the photos are lovely.

source

10 More of the World's Strangest Conventions

2012-01-13T11:35:00.001+01:00

Fur-Con

A furry convention (also furry-con or fur-con) is a formal gathering of members of furry fandom — people who are interested in the concept of fictional non-human characters with human characteristics. These conventions provide a place for fans to meet, exchange ideas, transact business, and engage in entertainment and recreation centered around this concept. Originating in California, USA during the mid-1980s, there are now over 40 annual furry conventions worldwide, mostly in North America and Europe. (Link | Via | Photo)

RedHead Day

Every summer in the city of Breda in The Netherlands, thousands of redheads gather for a free festival to celebrate having naturally red hair. The festival includes lectures, workshops and demonstrations geared towards gingers, as well as art collections focusing on the color red. Roughly 4,000 redheads from over 50 countries gather at the convention each year. (Link | Photo)

High Times Cannabis Cup

2012 marks the 24th year for the annual High Times magazine event, The High Times Cannabis Cup. Held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, every November, thousands of people attend this event to sample and rate various varieties of marijuana and smoking paraphernalia. Judges rate categories such as Coffeeshop, Nederhash, Import Hash, Seed Company, Glass, Booth, and Product. (Link | Photo)

TattooFest

TattooFest is an annual convention held in Tampa Bay, Florida, every Spring. The four-day festival features seminars, exhibits, vendors, tattoo artists from all over the world, tattoo competitions, on-the-spot tattooing, body piercing, and much more. (Link | Photo)

Sideshow Convention

Every year in Wilkes-Barre, PA the world's only sideshow convention is held. According to their website:
"Over the course of three days, many of today's best sideshow performers will walk on glass, swallow swords, eat light bulbs, put hooks in their eyes, attempt to break a world record for the largest simultaneous ten-in-one sideshow, and otherwise risk bodily harm for the sake of twisted entertainment. The Sideshow Gathering is the premier networking event for performers, fans, collectors, and historians." (Link | Via | Photo)

Parkes Elvis Festival

At the Parkes Elvis Festival in Australia, the King is alive and well! Well, not really; but Elvis Presley's memory and music live on at this annual event held in early January each year. What started as a one-night performance in 1993 blossomed into a five-day festival celebrating everything Elvis and drawing upwards of 8,000 fans and countless Elvis impersonators and musical acts. (Link | Photo)

LEGO World

Every Autumn in IJsselhallen-Zwolle, The Netherlands, over 20,000 people of all ages gather to celebrate and play with LEGOS® toys.

The week-long conference features giant Lego models, games, building competitions, prizes, and countless attempts to beat the current times for Lego construction world records.
There is also the BrickCon Exhibition in Seattle, WA, which is a hobbyist event geared specifically towards adults. (Link | Photo)

Lebowski Fest

Lebowski Fest is a gathering of fans of the cult film/pop culture phenomenon, The Big Lebowski. The festival has been held for ten years in as many cities, and The Dude himself (actor Jeff Bridges) attended the Los Angeles Lebowski Fest in 2005. According to their website:

"Lebowski Fest is a celebration of all things related to The Big Lebowski, including: Unlimited Bowling, Costume & Trivia Contests, White Russians & Oat Sodas, Massive Movie Screening, Special Guests and Performers, and What-Have-You." (Link | Photo)

The Office Convention

Scranton, PA is the city in which the Emmy Award-winning TV show The Office is based, which is why it became the unlikely location of a yearly convention. Over the past several years, cast members and writers for the show, plus over 15,000 fans, attended the three-day convention to celebrate their favorite show and its unique characters.

Above, actress Melora Hardin, who plays Jan on the show, poses with fans in front of the iconic sign pictured in the show's opening credits. (Link 1 | Link 2 | Photo)

source

Hard As They Say They Are – China’s Bodyguards

2012-01-10T14:47:00.001+01:00

Dressed in skimpy bikinis, these Chinese women could be going for a day out at the beach.

But these trainees are in fact being put through a gruelling regime in Sanya, Hainan province, on the road to become female bodyguards.

Twenty women, most of them college graduates, were kicked, dunked, near-drowned and forced to carry a heavy log between them during a tough boot camp run by professional bodyguards on Sunday.

Best foot forward: Two bikini-clad trainees are kicked and hit with pads as they crawl on the beach during a bodyguard training session in Sanya, China

Lucrative: The trainees grab on to each others' ankles during an exercise supervised by an expert from Tianjiao Special Guard Consultant Ltd

The four-week programme is run by trainers from Tianjiao Special Guard Consultant Ltd - the first open group training for female bodyguards in China.

Each trainee goes through 10 months of instruction to develop their skills in reconnaissance, anti-terrorism training, martial arts and business etiquette.

The best individual from the class is also invited to study further at the International Security Academy in Israel.

Put through their paces: A trainer dunks the head of one of the would-be bodyguards in the sea

No let up: The woman is then doused in sea water as she comes up for air

In demand: The trainees carry a heavy log on their shoulders as they walk through the sea

With the booming economy in China and increasing wealth sparked by high demand for Chinese goods and materials, demand for bodyguard services had risen dramatically on the Chinese mainland.

Graduates of bodyguard courses can look forward to a well-paid career if they are recruited by wealthy businessmen.

That is especially the case for women, because they are less visible than their male counterparts and because they can assume roles such as secretary or nanny, they are in high demand.

Glamorous: The women, many of them college graduates, line up before the start of the training session. Demand for female bodyguards has risen sharply in China as they booming economy as made wealthy business people look to their own security

Not quite Baywatch: Splashing through the surf, the trainees are driven hard by their instructors

No pain, no gain: This trainee walks over her colleagues' stomachs as they wince in pain

Female bodyguards are often paid far better than male counterparts - up to $100 a day - too because they can adopt different roles. The average annual wage in China is just $1,500.

The boom in China has also seen a rise in the growth of wealthy women, who prefer female bodyguards because their presence does not raise questions of potential relationships.

Instruction: A trainer uses a megaphone to get his point across as the women prepare to complete another exercise

Splash down: The women shout as they carry a log on their shoulders. Because they can adopt roles including as a secretary, female bodyguards are in high demand in China

source

New Year's Winter Swim Around the World

2012-01-06T11:30:00.001+01:00

Swimmers around the world take part in a traditional New Year's Day dip

Thousands of people across Europe, America and Asia celebrated the arrival of the New Year by jumping into chilly seas, rivers and lakes.

People take part in the traditional New Year's day swim at Lageveld Lake near Wierden, The Netherlands

A record number of 10,000 people took the plunge in this year's traditional New Year's dip in the icy waters of the North Sea near The Hague in Netherland. The high turnout was attributed to the mild weather with a sea temperature of 8 degrees compared to 4 degrees last year. In Italy, several people dived into the River Tiber in a New Year's tradition that stretches back to 1946.

People take part in a traditional sea swim at Malo-Les-Bains beach in Dunkirk, northern France

In Scotland, over 1000 New Year revelers, many in fancy dress, braved freezing conditions in the River Forth in front of the Forth Rail Bridge during the annual Loony Dook Swim on January 1, 2012 in South Queensferry.

People take part in the traditional New Year's day swim at Scheveningen beach near The Hague, The Netherlands

In New York, two groups belonging to the winter bathing organization ‘Coney Island Polar Bear Club’ and the ‘Ice Breakers’ took their annual New Year's dips into the Atlantic Ocean off Brooklyn Sunday afternoon. A similar event was organized by YPAAC (Young Professionals Alzheimer's Association of Colorado) in Colarado. About seven hundred brave souls ran into the cold waters of the Boulder reservoir. The event was driven by the noble purpose of raising funds for Alzheimer research.

Athletes dressed as Santa Claus jump into the Mediterranean sea as they take part in the Copa Nadal in the Spanish port of Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, Dec. 25. The Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) is a traditional swimming competition that takes place in Barcelona every December 25th, where participants swim 200 meters in the open sea in the port of Barcelona.

Thousands celebrate the New Year by jumping into the North Sea at the beach resort of Scheveningen, near The Hague, Netherlands

A winter swimmer jumps with a mop into the icy water of the Songhua River in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China on Dec. 26, 2011.

Members of the 'Berlin Seals' club swim in the Oranke Lake with a water temperature of three degrees Celsius, wearing Christmas costumes in Berlin, Germany, on December 25. The winter swimmers traditionally meet on Christmas Day to take a swim together.

Despite temperatures of around 52 degrees Fahrenheit, thousands of people celebrate the New Year by running into the North Sea at Scheveningen, near The Hague, Netherlands.

New Year revelers, many in fancy dress, braved freezing conditions in the River Forth in front of the Forth Rail Bridge during the annual "Loony Dook" swim Sunday.

Over 1000 New Year revellers, many in fancy dress, braved freezing conditions in the River Forth in front of the Forth Rail Bridge during the annual Loony Dook Swim on January 1, 2012 in South Queensferry, Scotland.

Swimmers pose with Scottish flags during the Looney Dook swim at South Queensferry in Scotland

29th annual Polar Plunge at the Boulder Reservoir

Over 1,000 New Year revellers, many in fancy dress, braved freezing conditions in the River Forth during the annual Loony Dook Swim in South Queensferry, Scotland

Maurizio Palmulli of Italy dives into the Tiber river from the Cavour bridge, Rome

Angela McClements from Ballymena makes a graceful entrance at the traditional New Year's Day swim at Carnlough Harbour, County Antrim

People wearing costumes pose in the water in Malo-les-Bains, northern France

A woman emerges from the Firth of Forth after taking part in the New Year's Day Looney Dook swim at South Queensferry, Scotland January 1, 2012.

Swimmers in Malo-les-Baines

source, source1, source2, source3

Screw the New Years Eve party I’m going Surfing!

2012-01-04T18:10:00.001+01:00

10 Weirdest Necks

2012-01-03T08:25:00.001+01:00

NFL's Paul Posluszny, linebacker, Jacksonville Jaguars (Link)

Ethnic neck. (Link)

Weird neck mugshot. (Link)

Tattooed neck.

Celebrity weird neck: Victoria Beckham (Link)

Fat neck (Link)

Pierced neck. (Link)

NFL's Roman Harper has a neck wider than his head. (Link)

Really long and thin neck (Link)

No neck

source

News Heterochromia People

2011-12-29T15:09:00.001+01:00

The uniqueness of different colored eyes in the same person explained.

Photo: Xavier Nájera

One of the many fascinating variations that exist among humans (and other animals) is heterochromia iridis, or heterochromia iridum – terms used to describe different colored eyes in the same person. Caused by an excess or lack of melanin, heterochromia can occur as a result of genetics, disease or injury. Yet, whatever its underlying cause, heterochromia is almost always eye-catching!

Photo: Noura mohammad.

There are three types of heterochromia of the eye: complete, sectoral and central. Complete is when both eyes are of different colors – for example, a brown eye and a blue eye – and is perhaps the most striking and widely-known of the three.

Photo: Clavecin

Sectoral heterochromia occurs when there are two different colors in the same iris – a splash of a second color that’s different from the dominant hue.

Photo: Greg A L

Central heterochromia is when the iris itself has two or more complete sets of color – for example, blue with a gold ring closer to the pupil or a purplish ring around the outside.

Photo: Ron Isarin

People with central heterochromia are sometimes said to have ‘cat eyes’, but all forms of heterochromia are unique to the individual and are fascinating to see.

Photo: Look Into My Eyes

Interestingly, there are only three pigment colors that make up the appearance of the iris: blue, brown and yellow. The varying amounts of each determine one’s final eye color – although heterochromia is something different: as suggested, it’s an unusually light or dark coloration of all or part of one eye.

Photo: Sara Kross

Heterochromia is relatively rare – it affects around 11 in every 1,000 people in America – but it can develop over time. It can be inherited from one’s parents and come about as a result of various conditions – both genetic and acquired. In spite of this, it is not necessarily a sign of underlying health issues.

Photo: Lina Hayes

Heterochromia may be uncommon but many celebrities have it, among them Kate Bosworth, Jane Seymour, Mila Kunis, and Michael Flatley. Perhaps the dissimilarity helps such famous faces to stand out in a crowd.

Photo: Jessica Joan Wilson

Animals can also be born with or develop heterochromia; huskies and cats – especially white cats – are particularly well known for it.

Photo: Rakesh Ahuja, MD

Eyes affected by heterochromia are some of the most beautiful in the world – surprising, and to some, full of mystery. That said, those with any of the different forms of heterochromia are really very much like the next person: there is more than meets the eye to everyone.

source

The 10 Grossest Things That Can Grow On Your Body

2011-12-27T09:11:00.001+01:00

Warning: the following shocking, graphic images make H1N1 look like a case of the sniffles. These are truly the 10 most gruesome and gory things that can happen to the human body. Bonus points if you make it past picture #5 without puking at least a little bit.

Elephantitis

Actually, it's spelled Elephantiasis.
Caused by a parasitic infection from round worms, the lymphatic system is virtually shut down, thereby making it impossible for tissue to shed fluid.
The fluid builds up, inflaming the tissue and causing you to swell up like a...wait for it.....an elephant!
This disease is commonly found in underdeveloped regions of South America, Central Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean.
Long-term infection a buildup of fluid in the s*****m, and elephantiasis of the legs, s*****m, arms, penis, b*****s, and vulvae.
Before you start envisioning a huge penis or massive jugs on your girl, just remember it's extremely painful and it means you have SEVERAL WORMS mutating in your body.

Flesh Eating Disease

Hey, it's a real disease. Even Hagrid refers to it in Harry Potter 3.
Basically, bacteria attacks the soft tissue and the fascia, which is a sheath of tissue covering the muscle.
NF can occur in an extremity following a minor trauma, or after some other type of opportunity for the bacteria to enter the body such as surgery.
So if you went in for that tummy tuck and came out with half a leg, you'll know who to sue.
(Once treated, the bacteria is eradicated from the body. During treatment, surgical sites are left open for a sufficient period of time to be sure that the remaining tissue is no longer being destroyed. When the infection has been stopped, the wounds are closed, typically with skin grafting.)

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the inflammation and infection of the gum tissue surrounding the teeth.
It is a very common condition and is often the result of poor dental hygiene or ill-fitting dental appliances.
Other causes may include poor eating habits, poor tooth alignment, heavy plaque deposits, blood disorders, drug reactions and vitamin deficiencies.
And while you're at the dentist, you can ask for a dental dam.
Highly complex method for preventing it: BRUSH & FLOSS.

Skin Shedding

Harlequin Ichthyosis.
A severe genetic disorder that mainly affects the skin and only affects infants.
The most common cause of death is systemic infection and sufferers rarely survived for more than a few days.
However, there have been improvements in care, most notably the drug Isotretinoin (Isotrex). Some patients have survived into adolescence and, in very rare cases, lived to adulthood.
I refuse to make a joke about this. Except for this: http://www.sparkplugging.com/the-man-page/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/squeeze_toys.jpg
Moving on...

Liver Disease

Cirrhosis of the Liver.
Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver slowly deteriorates and malfunctions due to chronic injury. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, partially blocking the flow of blood.
In the United States, heavy alcohol consumption and chronic hepatitis C have been the most common causes of cirrhosis.
Obesity is becoming a common cause of cirrhosis, either as the sole cause or in combination with alcohol, hepatitis C, or both.
But hey, don't dump out your Stroh and In & Out just yet. It takes YEARS of heavy eating and drinking to get to this point.

Tapeworm

Cestoda.
Tapeworm infection of the intestine occurs when people eat raw, contaminated pork, beef, or freshwater fish.
See, I knew there was a reason why I don't eat sushi. If it's "cool" to get worms up your butt, then I'll happily stay square.
The pork and beef tapeworms are large, flat worms that live in the intestine and can grow 15 to 30 feet in length.
Once located in the body, doctors use the old fashioned method of cutting you open and removing the parasite, hand over hand.
(Fact: back in the day, horse jockey's used to swallow a capsule containing a tapeworm, in order to lose weight. When the worm had consumed enough food, the jockey had it removed.)

Herpes

It's time for Sex Ed 101 - were YOU paying attention in the fifth grade?
Genital Herpes is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) which is from the same family of viruses that cause cold sores.
When transmitted through oral sex, a herpes infection can be passed both ways - from mouth to genitals, or from genitals to mouth.
Use condoms and dental dams for protection during -- wait, dental dam? Oh, man....ahem...
A dental dam is a piece of latex that you spread over your face, tucking it under your lips, so that only your teeth are exposed.
Yeah, that'll set the mood.
"Oh wait, honey, while I get a condom and a dental dam. Oh, you don't mind if it slather antibacterial cream on you, do you?"
Dentists use them, so if you go asking for one, they're gonna know what your up to!!!

Leprosy

AKA Hansen's Disease. (No, not the drink)
Chronic bacterial disease of the skin and nerves in the hands and feet and, in some cases, the lining of the nose.
Contrary to popular belief, leprosy does not directly cause body parts to fall off on their own accord; instead they become disfigured or amputated as a result of the disease.
Leprosy is treatable but the words on Wikipedia are just too big for me to understand.

Trachoma

Basically, it's a chronic infection of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that covers the outer surface of the eye and the inside lining of the eyelids.
Trachoma is caused by infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and is highly infectious, usually spread by contact with eye or nose discharge from an infected person. It is also transmitted by flies and gnats that are attracted to eyes and runny noses.
This disease is highly concentrated in third-world countries and communities lacking basic sanitation.
While it is treatable, most cases are too extreme to reverse. Since the eyelid is inflamed and enlarged, the eyelashes turn inward and scratch the surface of the eye, causing blindness.
Preventative: wash your face and hands.

Ringworm

Ringworm is not caused by a worm. It is caused by a fungus.
The kinds of fungi that cause ringworm live and spread on the top layer of the skin and on the hair. They grow best in warm, moist areas, such as locker rooms and swimming pools, and in skin folds.
Ringworm is contagious. It spreads when you have skin-to-skin contact with a person or animal that has it. It can also spread when you share things like towels, clothing, or sports gear.
OK, now I need a shower and no, you may not use my towel.

source

Alternative Christmas holidays

2011-12-23T10:21:00.001+01:00

Junkaroo Festival, Bahamas

The colourful Junkanoo festival in the Bahamas takes place every year on 26 December. The carnival includes music and dancing and an enormous parade in Nassau that runs from 2am to 8am! And better yet, they repeat the whole thing again on New Year's Eve.

Are you on the hunt for other unique escapes this festive season? Read on...

Winter solstice at Stonehenge

Join the druids and visit Stonehenge on the winter solstice, 22 December, when the ancient stone circle in Wiltshire, South West England, is open to the public. The pagan celebration is marked at sunrise so get their early to witness the spectacle. Nearby Avebury circle in Wiltshire, which dates back to 2800BC, is open for visits on Christmas Day.

Take a dip

As temperatures dip below zero, members of the Berlin Seals swimming club brave the icy waters of Orankesee Lake for their traditional Christmas Day swim, which they claim improves circulation and sets them up for the year ahead. Christmas Day plunges have become an annual ritual at several frosty locations around the world including Exmouth Beach on the UK coast, where around 500 swimmers, many dressed in Santa suits, brave the cold waters each year. We dare you...

Nashville

Nashville lays claim to 'the most Christmassy hotel in the nation', the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Each festive season, the hotel is draped in two million lights and becomes the home for the famous New York dance troupe the Radio City Rockettes. Get there early in the month to see the traditional Christmas parade through the city. And if it all gets a bit too much, Nashville's famous country and western music halls are a short stroll away.

Bondi Beach, Sydney

It's become a tradition for backpackers in Australia who are more used to a wintery wonderland to descend on Bondi Beach for a hot summer's Christmas Day. Hundreds of Europeans and Americans congregate at the famous beach for BBQs, beers and sunbathing, and the volunteer lifesavers make it as festive an experience as possible with Christmas trees dotted across the sand.

Santa Claus, Indiana

Where better to spend the festive holiday than at the city of Santa Claus in Indiana, in the north-eastern corner of the United States? The town lives up to its name with numerous festive-themed attractions including Santa's Candy Castle with the world's largest selection of candy canes. It's the only place in the world with a real 'Santa Claus' postmark, so your postcards home will be extra special. And a visit to Lake Rudolph is a must...

The Great Santa Run

The Great Santa Run takes place in various locations across the world including Las Vegas, Scotland, Ireland, Hungary, Australia and Canada. But our favourite is the 5km North Texas Great Santa Run in Plano, Texas, which takes place on 10 December 2011 and is also a world record attempt for the largest Santa Claus gathering. Better yet, registration includes a free Santa suit!

Northern Lights

The best time to visit the Northern Lights, nature's very own light show, is from November to March. If you want the full festive experience, there are numerous traditional Norwegian Christmas cruises to choose from, but for an alternative vacation, shun the festivities and opt for a five-star stay at the chintz-free Hotel Ranga in Iceland where, with any luck, you can view the aurora borealis from your own outdoor hot tub.

Morning mass in Venezuela

In the week leading up to Christmas, locals in Venezuela attend an early morning mass (Misa de Aguinaldo) via a special mode of transport - they roller skate! In the capital city of Caracus, the streets are closed to traffic until 8am and onlookers line the routes to wave on the early risers. Another tradition is for children to go to bed with a piece of string tied around their big toe, with the other end dangling out the window, which the roller skaters tug as they whizz by the next morning to wake them in time for church. See the spectacle on the streets of the capital every morning from 16-24 December.

Communist pilgrimage

On 24 December, North Koreans make a journey of homage - but not in search of the baby Jesus. Instead, they celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong-suk, first wife of the Great Leader Kim Il-sung, and mother of the nation's current ruler Kim Jong-il. In the atheist dictatorship, religion in frowned upon and Christians can be arrested for celebrating Christmas. But last year, North Koreans did get to see a Christmas tree, raised on the other side of the Demilitarised Zone in South Korea. The 30-metre tree was topped with a glowing cross and guarded by soldiers against any threat from the North.

Bathing monkeys

Lots of tourists visit Japan in winter to enjoy the powder snow and onsen, or hot springs. But humans aren't the only ones who have discovered the pleasures of soaking in these steaming, open-air pools. At the town of Yamanouchi in Nagano prefecture, watch hundreds of monkeys relax and play in the hot springs. And if you've had enough of the wildlife, stay in a traditional ryokan or hit the slopes of Shiga Kogen, the ski field used for the 1998 Winter Olympics.

source

The Weirdest Stories of 2011

2011-12-20T12:53:00.001+01:00

The past year has borne witness to an array of bizarre events from the antics of an American vying to be the world's fattest woman ever to an Italian man who survived a gunshot wound to the head only to sneeze out the bullet through his nostril.

1. 52st mother eats 20,000 calories per day in quest to become world's fattest woman ever

Susanne Eman claims she stays active by doing simple exercises and having regular health checks

In August, American Susanne Eman stunned readers by declaring her ambition to become the world's fattest woman ever. Already tipping the scales at 52st, the mother-of-two said she hoped to hit the 115st mark by her forties by consuming enough food each week to fill six supermarket trolleys.

2. Guy Gibson: ghost of Dambusters dog 'found' at airbase

The Dambusters with Guy Gibson (Richard Todd) and Nigger

A team of paranormal investigators claimed in November that they had made contact with the "spirit" of the dog owned by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, the heroic pilot who led the Dambusters raids during the Second World War. Wing Commander Gibson led the Dambusters raid in 1943 from his base at RAF Scampton, near Lincoln, just hours after his black labrador, called Nigger, was run over and killed. A legend sprung up around Nigger after there were several reported sightings of a black dog seen around the base following his death. A team of experts given special permission to stake out the operational RAF base, have claimed that the spectre of the dog's spirit may have tried to speak to them as they have picked up activity on their electronic detection equipment.

3. World's hottest chilli contest leaves two in hospital

Competitors taking part in the chilli eating competition at Kismot Restaurant on St Leonards Place, Edinburgh

A 'world's hottest chilli' competition at a curry restaurant left two people in hospital in October. Emergency services were called to Kismot Restaurant's curry-eating challenge, on St Leonards Place, Edinburgh, after competitors started writhing on the floor in agony, vomiting and fainting during the contest. One participant, Curie Kim was so ill after sampling the "Kismot Killer" that she had to be taken by ambulance to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary twice in a matter of hours.

4. Daredevil 'Jetman' soars over Alps in latest stunt

The Swiss adventurer Yves Rossy dons a jet suit and flies in formation with two Albatross jets over the Swiss Alps.

We ought to be used to the antics of Yves Rossy by now, but the Swiss adventurer recently shocked the world yet again when he donned a jet suit and flew in formation with two Albatross jets over the Alps.

5. Italian black cat becomes a fat cat after inheriting 10 million euros

A black cat in Italy lived up to its reputation for good luck after inheriting 10 million euros (£8.5 million) from his adoptive owner, a widowed heiress. Four-year-old Tommaso, who was saved from a hardscrabble existence on the mean streets of Rome, Italy, as a kitten, is now the proud owner of cash, shares and a property empire which includes flats and houses in Rome and Milan and land in Calabria.

6. Man finds drunken Moose in apple tree

What was I thinking? The moose was eventually freed from the tree and allowed to wander back to its native woods to sober up.

A moose in Sweden hit headlines in September by becoming stuck in a tree after getting drunk from eating fermented apples. Per Johansson, who helped free the animal, described the experience as 'terrifying'.

7. Breast milk ice cream banned from London shop

Breast Milk Ice Cream Banned

An ice cream parlour in London was been forced to stop selling its "Baby Gaga" flavour dessert in March, because it was made with human breast milk. Matt O'Connor, the founder and owner of The Icecreamists, where the frozen delicacy was sold, said the ice cream proved to be popular with the customers. However, Westminster Council officials took away samples for testing and later sent a letter to Mr O'Connor ordering him to stop selling the dish.

8. Electrician 'inflated' by pressurised air which 'shot up his bottom' in bizarre factory accident

Gareth Durrant

It emerged in August that electrician Gareth Durrant narrowly escaped death in a horrific and bizarre work accident when he was "inflated" by a pressurised air line which went up his backside. The 26-year-old was wiring a caravan at the factory where he worked when the large pipe – carrying compressed air at around 300lbs per square inch – shot up his bottom. He was rushed to hospital where scans revealed a six-inch tear in his bowel and severe damage to his intestines. He then faced hours of emergency surgery to save his life .

9. Italian man shot in head sneezes out bullet

The bullet went through the right side of Darco Sangermano's head

Italian Darco Sangermano made a remarkable recovery in January after being shot in the head with a rifle by sneezing out the bullet. The 28-year-old was hit in the temple by the .22 calibre bullet while wandering with his girlfriend through Naples – a city in Italy notorious for its rowdy New Year celebrations, often involving firearms and powerful fireworks. The bullet went through the right side of his head, behind his eye socket and lodged in his nasal passage but miraculously did no serious damage. Bleeding heavily, he was taken to hospital in an ambulance shortly after midnight, but while waiting to be seen by doctors he sneezed and the bullet shot out of his right nostril.

source

8 Unbelievable Stories of Surviving Amazing Stabbing Wounds

2011-12-19T12:19:00.001+01:00

Being stabbed with a 15cm knife is not necessarily a death sentence. Meet 8 people who survived the impossible.

The teenager who survived accidental sword stabbing

Zhang Bin, a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed in the head with a large sword, has miraculously survived. The teenager had invited school friends to his house, but one guest brought the dangerous weapon. Measuring 50cm, it's not known exactly how the sword penetrated 5cm deep into Zhang's forehead. However, he was lucky to be alive after doctors at a local hospital refused to operate – citing inexperience. ‘Three classmates came to visit me at home and one of them brought a sword. He stood 7-9 feet away from me,' explained Zhang as he recovered in bed. ‘I don't know how the sword could fly to me and stab into my head. ‘I felt sharp pains and a large amount of blood streamed down.' After being turned away by local doctors, the boy was then faced with a four-hour drive the nearest hospital in Changsha where surgeons delicately removed the object. (Link | Via)

The woman who was stabbed with 15cm knife and didn't notice

This mugging victim had a six inch knife plunged deep into her back — and she didn't even feel it. The shocking picture shows the blade sticking out just above Julia Popova's shoulders and blood pouring from the wound. Incredibly the 22-year-old, who was knifed by a mugger on her way home from work, failed to notice the appalling injury and managed to calmly stroll to safety. The office worker had grappled with her attacker when he snatched her handbag as she walked to her parents' house in the Russian capital Moscow. But she was so shocked by the ordeal she didn't know that the thug had buried a kitchen knife in her neck just fractions of an inch from her spinal cord.

When she got home her horrified parents rushed her to hospital where surgeons managed to remove the blade without damaging Julia's spine. One medic said: "Shock had kicked in and her body prevented her from feeling any pain. She simply walked home without feeling the knife in her back." (Link)

The soldier who survived a stab-wound to head

A soldier survived being knifed in the forehead by an insurgent. Doctors estimate that at least four inches of the knife was plunged into his head. The attack occurred at a cordoned-off blast site. What saved him was medical know-how, great logistics and quite a lot of teamwork. (Link)

The duck who survived a stabbing attack in a park

A female mallard found stabbed in the back in a city park was recovering after being treated at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center. Center officials nicknamed the duck "Lucky," and offered a $1,000 reward for information about the stabbing. The mallard was spotted in Huntington Beach Central Park near the Breakfast in the Park restaurant with a large pocketknife stuck in her upper-right back.

The mallard was taken to an emergency animal clinic, where the blade was removed and the wound treated for infection. Center veterinarians noticed the blade came within a centimeter on either side of vital organs, prompting them to name the duck "Lucky." Huntington Beach police and California Department of Fish and Game officers are investigating the incident. Federal and state laws protect birds throughout the county, with punishments including steep fines and jail time. Volunteers at the center suspect the stabbing might have been the work of a teenager or child, but say they want to confirm why the duck was injured and seek the appropriate penalty. The duck, a juvenile with very limited flying ability, was probably easier to target and catch. (Link)

The teenager who survived stabbing himself in the head with a pair of scissors

A 19-year old man from the Russian city of Yekaterinburg has survived after stabbing himself in the head with a pair of scissors. The man, Mark Makarenkov, was having an argument with his girlfriend and after she left, he suddenly grabbed the scissors and stabbed himself in the temple. Makarenkov's mother called for an ambulance and he was taken to hospital. The surgeons carried out an operation to remove the scissors which was embedded 5 centimeters into his skull, but luckily did not damage his brain or eye.
After learning of the brutal incident, his girlfriend rushed to the hospital and begged for forgiveness, with reasons undisclosed. (Link)

The teenager who survived a kitchen knife attack

This harrowing picture shows an x-ray of a 15-year-old boy's skull after a five inch knife was plunged into his head. Amazingly the teenager survived the stabbing and ten months on from the attack has enrolled in college. The boy and two other youngsters were attacked when they tried to stop a friend being robbed at a bus stop in London. The muggers used a kitchen knife to stab one boy in the forehead, another twice in the back and a third in the shoulder. He survived because he was rushed to hospital with the knife still sticking out of his head and doctors managed to operate in time. Surgeons said if anyone had tried to take it out he would have died. (Link)

The man who survived having a sword being stabbed to his eye socket

A 23-year-old man has survived an operation after he was thrust into his left orbit with a sword. Bui Ngoc Tuan, from the central province of Thanh Hoa, had a row with two cab drivers over the taxi fares after they had taken him together with 10 other people back to their hotel in Dong Hoi City of the central province of Quang Binh. The ten are part of a group comprising 30 people, also from Thanh Hoa, who dropped by Dong Hoi on their way home after travelling with Tuan to Da Nang and Quang Tri Provinces in central Vietnam.

The cab drivers, after a while, called in a gang who then rushed to attack the passengers with sticks, knives, and swords. One of them suddenly thrust a 50-centimeter sword into Tuan's left eye socket. The others were slightly hurt. Tuan was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, and then sent to Hue central hospital in Thua Thien Hue Province as local doctors said the wound was truly serious. He survived the operation at the latter hospital though the sword penetrated almost 10 cm deep inside the orbit.

His eye was luckily not damaged and neither was any part of his brain, doctors at Hue hospital confirmed. (Link)

The dog that survived being stabbed to the head during a burglary

This brave German Shepherd sits calmly with her owner - just minutes after burglars stabbed an eight inch blade into her skull. The six-year-old family pet, named Bella, needed emergency surgery to remove the protruding knife after the horrific incident. This shocking picture shows how the robbers narrowly missed the animal's eyes as they plunged the deadly blade into her forehead.

Bella's owner Vernon Swart said he feared the worst when he saw the knife sticking out of her skull following the attack at his home in South Africa. He said: 'I was in the house when the neighbors called to say our dog was running around in the street with a massive knife in her head. 'I didn't believe them but when I went outside I saw it for myself. 'The neighbors said they had caught intruders trying to enter their home and they must have then tried to get into my place when Bella attacked them in our garden. 'I feared the worst and assumed she was going to die, but incredibly she was running around as if nothing had happened.'

>Mr Swart, a professional artist from Stellenbosch near Cape Town, said he rushed Bella to the vet for surgery after the stabbing. The vet couldn't believe what he was seeing and said he had no idea how Bella had survived. The eight inch diver's knife was later handed to the police as evidence after the surgery. Meanwhile Bella was recovering at home after her ordeal. (Link)

source

New World's Shortest Woman Crowned

2011-12-16T16:15:00.001+01:00

Celebrating your 18th birthday is a momentous occasion for anyone, but for tiny Jyoti Amge the milestone is even bigger news.

The 2ft teenager is already a mini celebrity in her hometown of Nagpur, India, but is now set for a huge record when she is officially declared the world's smallest woman.

And despite her miniature stature, 61.95cm-tall Jyoti hopes to celebrate being crowned the world's shortest woman by launching a Bollywood movie career.

Big news: Jyoti is measured at 61.95cm on her 18th birthday by Guinness World Record officials, making her the world's shortest woman

Awarded official recognition

The 18-year-old sits at home in Nagpur, India, in front of a pink teddy bear which looms over her tiny frame

She took the Guinness World Record from 2ft 3in American Bridgette Jordan, and celebrated her birthday with a teddy bear which loomed over her tiny 24.4in frame.

She also blew out candles on a birthday cake which was comfortably bigger than her.

Telegraph

Jyoti reads a newspaper at home

Even the Guinness World Records book at the ceremony came up to Jyoti's waist.

Jyoti weighs just 12lbs (5.5kg) - only 9lbs more than she did at birth - and has a form of dwarfism call achondroplasia, which stopped her growing after her first birthday.

She has brittle bones and is likely to need care for the rest of her life, but that has not stopped her tall ambitions of cracking the movie industry.

Acting dreams: Jyoti is set to feature in two Bollywood films next year

Jyoti has many utensils and pieces of furniture specially-made to fit her miniature frame

Pint-sized: Jyoti weighs just 12lbs, only 9lbs more than she did when she was born

Telegraph

Jyoti prepares for a press conference with Guinness World Records

Telegraph

Jyoti Amge wipes her tears after getting the title of the Shortest Woman of the World

Budding actress Jyoti, who is set to appear in two Bollywood films next year, told The Sun: 'I want to make people happy.'

As a teenager at school in Nagpur, Jyoti had her own small desk and chair, but said the other students didn't treat her any differently.

She also has to sleep in a specially-made bed and uses utensils that are smaller than average.

Jyoti holds the hand of her sister's five-year-old son Vishatej, as she prepares herself for the Guinness World Records ceremony

Jyoti, pictured in 2009, attended school with her classmates, who she says didn't treat her any differently

Jyoti with a family friend two years ago - who, at 13 months, is already bigger than she is

Telegraph

Jyoti Amge poses for a photograph with a bottle of soft drink

Telegraph

Jyoti Amge, 18, poses for a picture with a teddy bear – source

Christmas Traditions Around the World

2011-12-15T16:08:00.001+01:00

Weird and wonderful seasonal practices from across the globe.

EPS | Rex Features

Despite all the growing similarities in the ways different countries celebrate Christmas, there are still all manner of quirky ways individual nations and regions mark the big day around the globe.

Perhaps the children in your family quake in fear at the thought of Santa's monstrous Austrian sidekick, or maybe you own one of Catalonia's many pooping Christmas ornaments.

Whatever your household does, MSN's international festive investigators have been able to scour the planet to find the most interesting seasonal practices around. Click through to see our favourites...

Norway: Hiding brooms

Carson Ganci/Design Pics Inc./Rex Features

Norwegian legend has it that when Christmas Eve comes, it brings with it all manner of evil spirits and witches. As such, it's customary for households in Norway to hide all their brooms before bedtime lest any hags get their gnarled hands on them. Meanwhile, the gallant men in the family will bravely venture outside to fire a shotgun into the air to ward off the spirits.

Catalonia: Caganer

Agencia EFE/Rex Features

In many cultures, it's perfectly normal to have a nativity scene on display in the family home. However, people in Catalonia (as well as parts of Italy, Andorra, Portugal and the rest of Spain) take this custom an unlikely step further. They hide a caganer, otherwise known as a 'pooping man', among the baby Jesus' entourage. This figure is portrayed with his pants down, squatting and defecating on the floor, usually in a discreet corner of the scene, allowing children to have fun trying to spot him.

There are many theories as to why the caganer has found his way into an otherwise holy tableau, and many believe his actions represent fertilizing the earth and bringing about a good harvest.

Caganers used to be non-descript men in traditional dress. However, more recently they seem to have taken the form of celebrities and public figures, such as the caganer above image depicting Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Catalonia: Caga Tió

graficart.net/Alamy

Yet another coprophilic Catalan Christmas custom for you, this time involving the Caga Tió, also known as the 'pooping log' . In simple terms, Caga Tió is a yule log with a happy face and a red hat with an unusual propensity to 'poop' sweets on Christmas Eve.

The Caga Tió makes his first appearance in a Catalan household just over two weeks before Christmas, and from thereon in he is 'fed' every day with a variety of festive treats - such as sweets and nuts - before being covered with a blanket to keep warm. On Christmas Eve, children will hit him with sticks while loudly singing a traditional (yet threatening) song demanding that he 'poops' some delicious gifts for them.

After the beating is complete, the blanket is removed to reveal the state of the log's digestion and, if all has gone to plan, Caga Tió should have magically deposited what he has been fed over the previous fortnight, which is then communally shared by the children. The end of the log's 'bowel movement' is signified when he lets out something decidedly less tasty than sweets, usually an onion or a salt herring.

Austria: The Krampus

AP Photo/Kerstin Joenssen

No, this scary beast isn't an extra from Lord of The Rings. He's called the Krampus, and in Austria he's the unlikely evil sidekick of that relentlessly generous bringer of Christmas cheer, Santa Claus. While Santa rewards good children by delivering gifts to them, the nightmarish Krampus threatens and punishes the bad ones, and is often depicted carrying unruly kiddies away in his basket ready to dump them into the fiery depths of hell.

Venezuela: Roller skating to Mass

Caroline Schiff/Getty Images

In the Venezuelan capital Caracas, it is customary for the entire city to get to early morning Christmas Mass using an unusual method of transport - roller skates. Vehicular access to the city is blocked off in many areas before 8am to allow this unconventional commute to take place, and the night before, children will tie one end of string to their big toe and hang the other out of the window - allowing the passing roller skaters to offer a friendly tug as they pass in the morning.

Ukraine: Spiders and webs

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

In Ukraine, Christmas trees are decorated with all the standard ornaments you'd expect, along with one unusual addition. A traditional folk tale says that a poor widow who was unable to afford decorations for her family awoke to find a spider had beautified her Christmas tree with its web, which helped make for a happy and prosperous Christmas. As such, amid all the baubles and lights, Ukrainian trees have an artificial spider and web hidden on them, bringing good luck to whoever is fortunate enough to find them.

Czech Republic: Shoe throwing

Patrick Ryan/Getty Images

On Christmas Eve, single Czech women take part in a traditional fortune-telling practice that supposedly helps predict their marital status for the coming year. They remove a shoe, stand with their back to a door and throw it over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with its toe facing the door, then the thrower is said to be destined to marry in the coming year. Those whose shoe lands with its heal to the door will have to wait at least another 12 months before they get a wedding ring on their finger.

Italy: La Befana

EPS/Rex Features

While most nations have a Santa Claus figure delivering presents at Christmas time, folklore in Italy states that it is a kindly old witch called La Befana who dispatches children's gifts during the festive season.

Christian legend states that the three wise men approached La Befana for directions on the way to visiting Christ. She was unable to help them, but was so hospitable that they invited her on their journey. She declined, claiming she had too much housework to do. However, she was later said to have regretted her decision and has since wandered the planet in search of the wise men and the baby Jesus, leaving gifts in the houses she passes on her way

UK: Stirring the pudding

Kevin Summers/Getty Images

If you're in a traditional British household and you want your Christmas dreams to come true, why not carry out the custom of making a wish while stirring the pudding mix before it's cooked? For those unfamiliar with the dish, a Christmas pudding is made with a heavy mix of dried fruit, nuts and suet before being doused in alcohol and dramatically flambéed in a darkened room. Sometimes, small silver coins are baked into it and can be kept for luck by whoever's serving contains one.

The Netherlands: Zwarte Piet

AP Photo/Petar Petrov

Sometimes, tradition is very much at odds with modern political correctness. The Dutch Santa Claus (known as Sinterklaas), for example, has a helper who is seen by some as an unfortunate throwback to the nation's colonial past. Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) is Sintaklaas' slave assistant. Children are told that, if they don't behave, Zwarte Piet will come and take them back to Spain - where the Dutch Santa has traditionally lived - in his sack.

Many Dutch people have downplayed the racist aspects of Zwarte Piet in recent years, and some versions of his story now describe him as a chimney sweep in order to explain his blackface make-up.

source

The World of Sport : in Pictures

2011-12-15T11:19:00.001+01:00

In pics: the best sporting images from around the globe.

Home turf: Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg protects his goal during his side's game with Juventus

Quick as a flash: runners speed past the Tower of David during the Jerusalem Night Run

Yellow fever: Thorsten Kinhoefer cautions a player during the Eintracht Frankfurt v Greuther Fuerth game

Bad move: Layth Hasan of Iraq falls off the pommel horse at the Arab Games in Doha

Round the bend: Natalie Geisenberger speeds round the course at the Luge World Cup Luge in Whistler

Downhill from here: Erik Fisher launches himself down the mountain at the Alpine Ski World Cup in Val Gardena, Italy

Trot along: horses race during the Hong Kong Cup at Shatin race track in Hong Kong

Back in action: Jonny Wilkinson turned out for Toulon after the fly-half announced his England retirement

Follow my lead: a conductor leads the Washington Redskins's marching band in Landover, Maryland

Fired up: Grasshoppers supporters illuminate the night sky ahead of their game with Lausanne-Sport

Dress to impress: a spectator at the NFL game between Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons stands out

It's behind you: Sumyah Ali of Yemen drops her weights at the Arab Games in Doha

Testing times: rowers from Oxford University pass under Barnes Bridge during their eights trials

Got you: Chicago Bears cornerback Zackary Bowman takes down Denver Broncos's Demaryius Thomas

Name that player: the ball hides the face of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba during their game with Manchester City

On the ball: Al-Mohannadi of Qatar appears the picture of concentration at the Arab Games

Aerial challenge: two taekwondo players go at each other during their men's under 54kg match at the Arab Games

Let there be light: sunlight pierces thorogh the clouds during the ISAF Sailing World Championships

Leaving his mark: clubs signed by Ian Poulter are lined up on the driving range before the Australian Masters

Novak Djokovic Defeats Tsonga to Make Wimbledon Final, Receives No. 1 Ranking

source

11 Hilarious Videos of People Tripping and Falling

2011-12-14T16:24:00.001+01:00

1. Catwalk fall

What's better than one model falling on the catwalk? Seeing 3 models falling at the same event. Naomi Campbell's charity fashion show in Cannes doesn't go exactly to plan for some of the models.

2. Pole dance fall

After buying a new pole, she sets up the pole in her spare room and decides to give it a whirl. She's a little unsure of the strength of the pole, but decides to test it out with the encouragement of the cameraman. She eventually finds out how strong the pole is. Pole dancing girl takes a tumble with the pole. Comes crashing down hard, and almost smashes her laptop.

3. Political fall

John Howard, the ex - prime minister of Australia has a moment of unbalance and trips, falling over. Just 2 days before his 68th birthday, on his way to a radio interview, perhaps this was an indicator of what was to come in the 2007 elections.

4. Royal Guard fall

Policeman trips during the Royal Wedding and then makes fun of himself.

5. Bowling fall

Because bowling is only for pros.

6. Diving fall

Try watching this video and not laughing.

7. Webcam fall

Whatever she had planned to do, this was way funnier.

8. Grape stomping fall

As seen on time magazine dot com this is known as one of the funniest videos in internet video history. Watch as a news reporter falls off the stage during a quick grape stomping contest. She is now infamously called the grape lady. So sit back and watch the grape lady fall!

9. Treadmill fall

A man loses it in front of everybody. Level 10 treadmill accident = 24 seconds of Epic Fail!

10. Graduation fall

This guy trips and falls in his own graduation.

11. 'Drunk and driving' fall

Baby fails breathalyzer test.

source

Strange Santa Claus Sightings: Swimming With Sharks, Dressed Like A Zombie, At The Optometrist (PHOTOS)

2011-12-12T09:56:00.001+01:00

This is supposed to be Santa's busy season, but from the looks of it, he gets around.

Whether he's posing with gun lovers in Arizona, swimming with whale sharks in Japan or being a zombie in Mexico City, Santa has been spotted in some strange places this year -- like the optometrist's office?

No word on when he goes back to the North Pole, but if the reindeer see those pictures of him hanging around sheep in South Korea, they might be a little jealous.

Santa Bungee Jumps

A bungee jumper dressed as Santa Claus leaps from a platform above Kuta beach in Denpasar on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on Dec. 2, 2011.

Santa Directs Traffic

Philippine traffic enforcer Ramiro Hinojas, wearing a Santa Claus costume, directs traffic along a major road in Manila on December 6, 2011. Popularly known as the 'dancing traffic cop', the barely five-foot Hinojas, 55, is one of thousands of traffic enforcers who struggle daily to keep Manila's notorious road traffic from moving, despite insults from some impatient motorists and health dangers posed by pollution.

Santa Feeds A Shark

A diver dressed like Santa feeds a 15-foot long whale shark named 'Hachibei' at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2011. Christmas attractions started at the aquarium and will be held throughout until Christmas Day.

Santa Is A Zombie

A man dressed up as a zombie Santa Claus takes part in a "Zombie Walk" at the Revolution Monument in Mexico City on Nov. 26, 2011. Organizers say 9,600 people took part in the event in an attempt to set a new Guinness record.

Santa Skis

One of the 250 Santas participating in a fundraising event takes a run at Sunday River Ski Resort, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Newry, Maine. To qualify for a free lift ticket each Santa had to wear a full red Santa costume, complete with beard, and donate at least $10 to the Bethel Rotary Club's annual drive to provide gifts for the area's needy children.

Santa Swims

A worker dressed as Santa Claus swims during an aquarium show in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, Dec. 2, 2011.

Santa Walks Sheep

An amusement park employee dressed as Santa Claus walks sheep in the same costumes at the Everland amusement park during an event to celebrate Christmas in Yongin, South Korea, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011. Christmas is one of the biggest holidays celebrated in the country with over half the population being Christians.

Santa Operates A Gondola

Instead of serenading couples with Italian love songs, Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego has a Santa Gondolier singing Christmas carols as they cruise through the canals and waterways.

Santa Shoots Some Guns

The Scottsdale Gun Club allows people to pose with Santa Claus and several guns. Ron Kennedy, general manager of the Arizona club, says the business got the idea for the photo op last year when a club member happened to come in dressed as Santa and other members wanted their picture taken while they were holding their guns. He says people have used the photos for Christmas cards and Facebook posts.

source

World’s Strongest and Strangest Beers

2011-12-08T17:12:00.001+01:00

When you go to the market to pick up a case of beer, you’re usually thinking about the taste you like and the price you’re willing to pay for it. In some instances however, these considerations are extended to which beer will get you drunk quickest, and which specialty beer has the weirdest ingredients. Today we take a look at these strongest and weirdest beers from around the world. Remember to indulge in moderation.

Via: Term Life Insurance

9 Craziest Christmas Tattoos

2011-12-07T10:38:00.001+01:00

(Link)

Tattooed by Lenny Renken. (Link)

The Grinch.

Santa Yoda. (Link)

(Link)

Bill ‘the Southern Grizzly' Porter at the Lewes tattoo shop Tough Luck Tattoo getting a Toys for Tots tattoo by Kris Dilworth on his left arm. (Link)

(Link)

source

Adrenaline

11 Most Bizarre Cargo Spills

10 Hottest Sports Reporters on Earth

Does Valentine's Day Rocks or Sucks [Infographic]

When Professionals are Transported

5 Cruise Ship Disasters That Changed Travel

8 Most Extreme Tourist Attractions

Coulrophobia – Are You Afraid of Clowns?

Impressive Tattoos and Piercings Decorate Faces at a Festival in Venezuela

Inked! A man shows his tattoos as he attends Venezuela Expo Tattoo in Caracas, Venezuela. Artists gather in Caracas to show this art, which also uses implants in the face and cuts in the skin. AP/Ariana Cubillos

2011 Sturgis Biker Babes

13 of the Best SOPA's Protests and Memes

Orthodox Christians Celebrate the Feast of Epiphany by Jumping Into Freezing Water

Crazy People With Real Super Powers

10 Odd Sports Around the World

10 More of the World's Strangest Conventions

Hard As They Say They Are – China’s Bodyguards

New Year's Winter Swim Around the World

Screw the New Years Eve party I’m going Surfing!

10 Weirdest Necks

News Heterochromia People

The 10 Grossest Things That Can Grow On Your Body

Alternative Christmas holidays

The Weirdest Stories of 2011

8 Unbelievable Stories of Surviving Amazing Stabbing Wounds

New World's Shortest Woman Crowned

Christmas Traditions Around the World

The World of Sport : in Pictures

11 Hilarious Videos of People Tripping and Falling

11. 'Drunk and driving' fall

Strange Santa Claus Sightings: Swimming With Sharks, Dressed Like A Zombie, At The Optometrist (PHOTOS)

World’s Strongest and Strangest Beers

9 Craziest Christmas Tattoos

Inked!

A man shows his tattoos as he attends Venezuela Expo Tattoo in Caracas, Venezuela. Artists gather in Caracas to show this art, which also uses implants in the face and cuts in the skin. AP/Ariana Cubillos