Enter your zip code and find out all sort of fascinating things about where you live.
Who woulda thought that zero percent of us in Valencia would have an occupation in farm/fishing/forestry? Weird. Also, where’s my piece of that median income of $76,000? And finally, the answer to that burning Longitude question: -118.562148.
“No, you are not seeing two cars here. Take a good look at the license plate, it’s the same car… split in half.
Fortunately, the driver of this Audi RS6 was not hurt in this weird car crash apart from a few minor scratches”
(de la presurfer)
“Television news shows keep us informed of what is going on in the world around us. Could you imagine a day without any news?
Well, sometimes such a day occurs.
When there just is no news.”
(de la presurfer)
“That’s a jail cell in the F1 section of the Aranjuez prison in Spain, designed to let imprisoned parents to live with their children!
Welcome to a jail Spain says is the only the one in the world with cell units for families: Disney characters on the walls, a nursery, a playground for toddlers. The idea is for kids to bond with their imprisoned parents while young enough to be oblivious to their surroundings, and for inmates seeking rehabilitation to learn parenting skills. The prison in this town 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Madrid has 36 cell units for families, although now only 16 are occupied, most with Latin Americans. The units of the special F-1 section are known in jail jargon as ‘five-star cells’.”
(de la Neatorama)
“Showcasing his Space Ram noodles in front of reporters, Ando said: ‘I’m happy I’ve realised my dream that noodles can go into space.’”
Sydney Morning Herald :: Instant noodle inventor dies
(de la bbblog)
Uh, can anyone say DREAM COME TRUE? This totally just made my list of “Top 10 Things I Would Want To Happen If I Were Stranded On A Deserted Island Like Those People In That One Show ‘Lost’”.
“A cargo container fell off a ship and spilled its content of thousands of bags of Dorito chips on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Scavengers immediately took advantage of the situation (the chips are fresh thanks to their airtight packaging).” Link
(de la Neatorama)
When I was in high school, I was more appreciative of fire. My friends and I used to pour powdered creamer over a lighter or a lit match and watch the fireball slash “explosion” (approved by my parents, no less). When I went camping last month, I tried to explain this to my friends, and they didn’t really get it. We wanted to try it, but forgot before we left so didn’t get a chance.
I found an article about it here. Chemistry teacher Neil Dixon demonstrates how exciting and practical chemistry lessons can still be taught in the classroom.
I’m not kidding, I used to do this in my driveway while my parents watched.
(de la Neatorama via Factum)
“The Dallas County Detention Center in Missouri is being painted pink with blue teddy bears stencils. County sheriff Mike Rackley went for the decor change after inmates trashed the inside of the joint trying to escape. From the Associated Press:
“‘Basically, if they are going to act like children and commit a childish act, then we’ll make a childish atmosphere,’ he said. ‘And its a calming thing; Teddy bears are soothing. So we made it like a day care, and that’s kind of like what it is, a day care for adults who can’t control their behavior in public….’
“Researchers have documented the ability of certain colors to evoke emotional and physical responses.
“‘It’s certainly viable,’ said Mike Carlie, a professor of criminology at Missouri State University. ‘There have been positive findings that show that certain colors stimulate and excite, and other colors, I guess you would say ’soothe the soul.’
“One shade of pink, called Baker-Miller Pink, has been nicknamed ‘drunk-tank pink’ because of its use to calm violent prisoners.” Link
There was also a story last month about a pink jail. What IS this world coming to?
(de la boingboing)
What we all need, I think.
“Project Runway, indeed! The University of Tokyo recently hosted a spacewear fashion show with couture designed for weightless environments. You know how some raincoats are reversible, so you look as good in dry weather as you do in rain? So here, clothes must be directionally reversible, and look just as good up as they do down.
“The show was held by Rocketplane Kistler — a US company that plans to begin offering space tours in two years — and a group of Japanese fashion designers, as part of the Hyper Space Couture Design Contest. Winners of the contest, which is organized by Tokyo-based fashion designer Eri Matsui with the support of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and many others, will help design the clothes for use on Rocketplane’s space tourism flights set to begin in 2008.
“The 11 garments appearing in the show were selected from over 880 designs submitted by college students. The clothes incorporate a variety of features designed for zero gravity, such as ruffles that expand under weightless conditions or small air-jet propulsion systems in the sleeves to help you change direction while floating.”
(de la boingboing)
You KNOW this has to be true if it is coming from BBC News. They never (ever) have false information (or lies). And you can thank Adam for sending along this sweet gem.
From BBC News:
“The fight was called in only 12 minutes, after which 28 fighters were declared dead, while the other 14 suffered severe injuries including broken bones and lost limbs, rendering them unable to fight back. 
“Sihamoni was quoted before the fight stating that he felt since his fighters out-numbered the lion 42 to 1, that they ‘… could out-wit and out-muscle [it].’
“Unfortunately, he was wrong.”
Why, oh why, midgets?
Complete true story here.
Atheist uses little red rubber stamp to strike out “God” from paper bills.
And yes, this enrages me. Link
(de la boingboing)
“A 67-year-old woman of Rosdorf in Schleswig Holstein, Germany, accidentally sent her cat Felix in the mail, after the animal snuck inside the parcel she was sending to her nephew.
Edith Schonberg mailed the birthday parcel without realizing Felix was there. She said she believes the three-year-old cat must have entered the box while she was looking for some tape to seal the parcel. The error was realized only when a postman, at the central sorting office, heard the cat parcel and called police.
Schonberg said, ‘I had not even noticed Felix was missing until they called. I thought he was asleep.’”
(de la NothingToDoWithArbroath)
