Just Hot Pics

Creative Globes

2008-12-17T10:56:00.000-08:00

The Tiger Temple

2008-12-15T12:06:00.000-08:00

A place where tourists can pet tigers just like they do their cats, here’s something
you don’t see every day.

The Tiger Temple, or Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua is Theravada Buddhist forest temple,in Thailand. It has been a sanctuary for many endangered animals for quite some time now, including several tigers.
It was founded in 1994 as a forest monastery, where animals could find sanctuary and in 1999 they received their first tiger cub, which died soon after. But they kept receiving tiger cubs from the villagers who probably encountered them wondering through the forest after their mothers were killed by poachers. The Tiger has raised money over the years and can now accommodate 12 mature tigers and 4 cubs. they live in cages and once a day they are taken to a nearby quarry, where they can roam freely. Tourists may watch from 10 meters distance and sometimes they are allowed to pet these magnificent creatures. Only one serious attack took place in the history of the temple.
The priests at the Tiger Temple are now gathering funds to build a larger facility and create an almost natural environment for the animals, so they can one day be let out into the wild where they belong.
In case you’re wondering, yes this is the place featured on Animal Planet.

Amazing Plastic Bottle Sculptures

2008-12-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Pictures Of Moon

2008-12-05T09:29:00.000-08:00

Cityscope - Urban Kaleidoscope

2008-11-29T11:50:00.000-08:00

Cityscope, an installation in Cologne (Germany), is a very peculiar and interesting piece of art. It reflects fragmented views on the city and composes at the same time a three-dimensional image of the surrounding facades. The beholder becomes a part of the reflections as he moves around it. During the day the triangles covered with radiant foil reflect the surrounding cityscape in different colors (the color depends on the position of the beholder) At night the installation becomes transparent as it is lit from within. Cityscope lets people observe their surroundings in a different way. This is a pretty cool and very amusing installation.

Live Tables of Julie Winterhalter

2008-11-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

Design life tables Julia divided into two types:In the first case, the actor only visible head.Typically, it is that on a platter and zagrimirovana under any vegetable.Though sometimes it can make and under other circumstances be - for example, a box of gifts.Such boxes should be a very effective action at the tipsy and late.Especially if she Speaks no earlier than the guests decide podlozhit salatika.

Just Taken At right Time

2008-11-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

Mercedese SLR At An ExibitionIn Dubai

2008-10-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

Fattest Athlete in the World

2008-10-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

After 499-kg-heavy Jose Luis Garza died last week and countryman Manuel Uribe, who weighed 558 kg, lost 230kg and is still cutting down the pounds every day, Emanuel Yabrauh has become the new world’s fattest athlete. Yabrauh is also the world’s biggest and heaviest sumo wrestler, weighing almost 400 kg.

Japanese Creative Barcodes

2008-10-21T12:37:00.001-07:00

Barcodes, or UPC symbols, these ubiquitous emblems of our consumer civilisation, have received a radical makeover by a Japanese firm D-Barcode - and this time their ideas ended up on grocery products all over Japan.

The smallest - and cutest - creatures you will ever see

2008-10-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

As a 4.9 inch chihuahua is named the world's smallest dog, meet some more of the smallest - and quite frankly the most ridiculously cute - animals you will ever see.

Some Amazing Guinness Records

2008-10-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

Everybody would like to enter the Guinness books of records. Some of them will do that in any cause.

The Leaf Chapel

2008-10-12T12:00:00.001-07:00

Standard churches don’t usually look like this, but then again, Leaf Chapel isn’t an ordinary church. Designed by Klein-Dytham Architecture, at the special request of a Japanese hotel-owner, the Leaf Chapel is located inside a very popular resort in the Japanese Alps.

Its unusual design was cleverly thought through, because this chapel is as as much a business as it is a sacred place. People of all faiths come here to get married so the Leaf Chapel had to have an ecumenical design, with no identifying iconographies.

Risonare mountain resort has become even more popular after the addition of the 550-square foot Leaf Chapel.

Amazing Camouflage Art

2008-10-06T06:41:00.000-07:00

World Tallest SnowMan

2008-10-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

The town of Bethel, Maine, has beaten a nine-year record for the world's largest snowman - or more specifically - snow person.

The previous record was held by .... the town of Bethel Maine.

The 122ft and one inch creation, with eyelashes made from skis and painted red tyres for her lips, has been named after the state's senior Senator Olympia Snowe.

In a novel effort to recycle Christmas trees, the snowwoman's arms are two entire pine trees and she wears a six-foot snowflake pendant and a giant red hat.

She takes the crown of tallest snowperson from the previous incumbent, Angus, King of the mountain who brought the record to the US from Japan.

Ladies in the Armed Forces

2008-10-03T03:49:00.000-07:00

Soldiers are usually associated with men and muscles. But these ladies show that the armed forces can look beautiful and sexy too.

The Astonishing Eggs of Alien Nations

2008-09-23T03:47:00.000-07:00

We are not alone. There are alien nations among us and they are breeding, numbering in their billions. However, don’t be too alarmed as they are generally tiny and evolved on our little blue planet. They have not after all, arrived from some galaxy far far away. Their eggs come in a variety of shapes and sizes and reflect the diversity of their countless species. Here, thanks to some wonderful macrophotography, are the eggs of some of the insects with which we share the planet earth.

Big Banknote Building

2008-09-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

KAUNAS - They say that money doesn't grow on trees. Well, in Kaunas it grows on buildings. Earlier, if tourists ever bothered to visit Lithuania's dog-eared interwar capital at all, it was to see the Italian Baroque majesty of Pazaislis or quirky Old Town highlights such as the Thunder House and the White Swan. Now, however, a contender for the title of oddest Kaunas tourist attraction of 2008 is Office Center 1000.

A curvaceous, luminous, 10-floor office building designed in the form of a LTL 1,000 banknote, Office Center 1000 is being touted locally as one of the Baltic region's most daring and original construction projects. The exterior is virtually finished, but the interior will only be fully completed in June. That's when the lucky companies that have signed up for this Class A office space will be able to move in.

Anti-Bush graffiti in 24 countries

2008-09-22T04:01:00.000-07:00

Styria, Austria

Wroclaw, Poland

Belfast, Ireland

Victoria, Canada

Riga, Latvia

Belem, Palestine

Bangkok, Thailand

Israel

Joanesburg, South Africa

Mito, Japan

Rosario, Argentina

Melbourne, Australia

Rome, Italy

San José, Costa Rica

Gullbringusysla, Icelande

Wellington, New Zeland:

Durango, Mexico:

Colonia, Uruguai

Berlin, Germany

Sofia, Bulgaria:

London, UK:

Lisbon, Portugal:

Granada, Spain:

Curitiba, Brazil:

Ice sculpture exhibition in Moscow

2008-09-18T16:45:00.001-07:00

The Spoon Cadillac

2008-09-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

Uri Geller, one of the world’s most famous spoon-benders, also created one of the most unusual cars you’ve ever seen. Covered with over 5,000bent pieces of silverware, Geller’s Spoon Cadillac is a tribute to his extraordinary talent. 1000 spoons and forks were donated by children from Israel, India, Great Britain and others are collection items, touched or used by famous personalities.

If he were to drive his Spoon Cadillac, instead of keeping it on display at the Beaulieu National Museum, in England, Uri Geller would have some serious trouble getting it washed and waxed. Some of the pieces on this custom-built 1974 Cadillac were bent by Uri Geller himself, using his incredible brain-power, while the others were bent artificially by him and his friend Avi Pines, a famous Israeli sculptor.

Hurricanes – Beautiful from above

2008-09-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Ike just rolled across Cuba, and soaked parts of Haiti - both regions still reeling from recent Hurricane Gustav. Ike appears to be weakening now, but is headed tward the Gulf Coast of the U.S., and may yet strengthen.

The crew aboard the International Space Station was able to take a photo of Ike from 220 miles overhead last Thursday - one in a long series of great NASA photographs of hurricanes from space.

Venice from the Air

2008-09-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

The Campanile rises over St. Mark's Square in a view from the air during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The Campanile rises over St. Mark's Square in a view from the air during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

People use the beach during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The Campanile rises over St. Mark's Square in a view from the air during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

People walk past moored gondolas during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Boats are navigated through the city during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Boats are navigated through the city during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A ship cruises through Venice during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The Campanile rises over St. Mark's Square in a view from the air during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

St Mark's Campanile stands over St Mark's Square In Venice during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. The Domes of the Basilica can be seen above Doges Palace at Bottom right. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A general view of Venice during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A Venice resort during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The Costa Fortuna cruise ship makes its way through the Canale Della Giudecca during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A general view of the Venice lagoon during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The Costa Fortuna cruise ship makes its way through the Canale Della Giudecca during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The Church of San Simeon Piccolo sits behind St Mark's Square, surrounded by scaffolding during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A general view of Venice during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A view of San Michele Cemetery during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A general view of the Grand Canal in Venice during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The Costa Fortuna cruise ship makes its way through the Canale Della Giudecca during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A view of the red carpet during the 65th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2008 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

20 Masters of Logistics and Transport

2008-09-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

Great Ice Sculpture By Nature

2008-09-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

Fantastic Head Art

2008-09-03T05:15:00.000-07:00

Creative Book Art

2008-08-21T00:13:00.000-07:00

Faces Behind The Monsters

2008-08-13T05:18:00.000-07:00

Land Rover’s Car Sculpture

2008-07-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Land Rover celebrated its 60 years anniversary through a large car sculpture.

During the Festival of Speed held in Goodwood, between July 11 and July 13, Land Rover celebrated 60 years since the company was founded and they erected a 34-meters high sculpture that featured cars produced by the British manufacturer and the latest model, the Land Rover LRX on top. This Land Rover car sculpture is the work of acclaimed artist Gerry Judah.

Jason Hackenwerth Balloon Art

2008-07-27T04:09:00.000-07:00

Now this is a real eco-toilet

2008-07-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

You probably thought eco-toilets are those plastic boxes set in public spaces where you just go in and handle your business, huh? Well, no, you were wrong and these photos prove it. As you can see, apart from the toilet bowl, everything is natural. And before you say “this is just stupid” you might like to know people build bars in trees too and place restaurants on them. Incredible things trees, wouldn’t you say?

Weird Swimming Pool Installation

2008-07-23T07:46:00.001-07:00

This is swimming pool art installation in 21st Century Museum of Art of Kanazawa by artist Leandro Erlich which opened its doors in September 2004 as one of the three permanent installations. There are two clear acrylic glasses about a foot apart and water is filled inside. The top surface is also filled with about 4 to 5 inches of water so that it just looks like water. The people underneath the swimming pool can actually look above with realistic water effect on top of it.

Patrick Desmet Surreal Art

2008-07-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

Big Party! Longzhou Feast in China- 608 tables once

2008-07-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

After the dragon boat racing, the Chinese will hold a big party for this, here is the biggest part I ever seen in China

Romanian Tombstones

2008-07-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Merry Cemetery

The merry cemetery of Sapanta has been, for more than fifty years, the creation of sculptor Stan Patras, the successor of several generations of wood artists that bequeathed their trade from father to son.

In the beginning he sculpted about ten crosses a year. The method of work has been preserved unaltered to thisday. The oak wood is cut into beams that are then allowed to dry one or two years. Next they are hewn into 10-cm thick planks, 2.20 m long and 30-40 cm wide, ranged in stacks, and allowed to dry for some months more. Then the sculptor begins his work: first he draws the geometrical motifs and the bas-relief dedicated to the deceased, then he sculpts and paints the cross in blue - a symbol of hope and freedom.

The unusual feature of this cemetery is that it diverges from the prevalent belief, culturally shared within European societies — a belief that views death as something indelibly solemn. Connections with the local Dacian culture have been made, a culture whose philosophical tenets presumably vouched for the immortality of the soul and the belief that death was a moment filled with joy and anticipation for a better life.

The cemetery has its origin in some crosses sculpted by Ioan Stan Patras ,born 1908 - died 1977,his own grave will be seen here ,made by himself before dying. In 1935, Patras sculpted the first epitaph and since the 1960s, the whole cemetery was populated with over 800 such crosses, sculpted from oak wood, and it became an open-air museum and a tourist attraction.His work will be continued by one of his learners,by Dumitru Pop,restaurating now old and creating new tombstones.

Polystyrene Robot Sculptures

2008-07-05T03:43:00.000-07:00

Michael Salter, an associate professor of digital arts at the University of Oregon created these robot sculptures out of polystyrene (hence they are called styrobots) and his biggest creation stands at 22 feet tall. The smaller robots near its feet keep people from getting too close to it and accidentally knocking it over.

Salter took all winter to cut the pieces which are then glued together and his works are often destroyed at the end of showing. The styrobots may be short lived but they have gathered the audience attention at the shows.

Check out 10 more pics of the polystyrene robots after the jump.

Hot Gaming Tattoos

2008-07-04T01:47:00.000-07:00

The Golden Rock

2008-06-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

One of the most sacred places in Myanmar, the Kyaik-htiyo-pagoda is situated on the top of the Golden Rock, 1.100 m above Kyaikto in the Mon-state, approximately 60 km E of Bago.

The golden rock is a large boulder of granite, which is supported by an extremely small area of contact with the rock beneath. It seems to be just before falling down, but it has been lying there for hundreds of years already. The pagoda upon it is erected upon one hair of the Lord Buddha.

"Kyaik-htiyo" means "pagoda upon an hermit's head".

In 2001 the Golden Rock was newly gilded and the pagoda was renovated.
It is remarkable that they used scaffoldings made of steel pipes. Perhaps the advantage over bamboo was that the steel-scaffoldings need not lean against the Rock and so would not influence the stability.

Strange Houses On Unusual Places

2008-06-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

Mechanical Art

2008-06-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

Rose made from Maple Leaves

2008-06-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

Natalie creates this impressive work - the entire sequence of construction of such a wonderful bouquet - in photos.

Luxurious Swimming Pools On Earth

2008-06-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

One&Only Reethi Rah Resort, Maldives

One&Only Reethi Rah Resort: The Maldive Islands are a stunning destination which is perfect for relaxation because of the fact that the beautiful beaches offer plenty of activity on the water. However, you don't have to leave the luxury of your resort to have a terrific water experience since this place has an amazing infinity pool that can caress your body into relaxation. The massive pool is shaded by tropical trees and leads right out into the ocean so you can go adventuring or just lounge around and relax. A poolside bar adds to the fun.

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas

Wynn Hotel: There are several different pools to choose from at The Wynn and all of them are luxurious as you would expect from one of the best hotels in Las Vegas. But the best is the one that's only designed for high-rollers. These people spend a lot of money in the poolside casino while topless women swim around to provide Vegas-style entertainment.

Banyan Tree Hotel, Seychelles

Banyan Tree Hotel: Another astounding infinity pool that stretches its way right to the beach is the one located at this hotel in the stunning island nation of Seychelles. It's not often that you're going to get to relax in the wonderful waters of a beautiful pool that overlooks the Indian Ocean just steps away so don't neglect to take advantage of this opportunity if it ever comes along.

Four Seasons Resort Bali, Jimbaran Bay

Four Seasons Resort Bali: To get to the awe-inspiring infinity pool on the top floor of this resort hotel, you're going to need to cross a wooden bridge. From the pool, you'll be able to absorb the beauty of the surrounding Balinese jungle and over the beautiful Jimbaran Bay area.

Joule Hotel, Dallas

Joule Hotel: There have been rumours about this amazing hotel swimming pool for several years (originally under the name Elan Hotel) but the place hasn't actually opened to the public yet. It is due to open this year and crowds are sure to flock to it for the chance to check out the amazing opportunity to swim in the pool, which is located ten stories up and literally hangs off of the edge of the building. The end of it is made from glass so you can essentially swim off the side of the hotel to get a view of Dallas.

Intercontinental Hotel, Hong Kong

Intercontinental Hotel: The ideal way to enjoy the pool at this hotel is to book yourself a stay in The Presidential Suite which is 7,000 square feet in size and includes a 2,500 square foot terrace where the private pool is located. However, there are multiple pools to choose from at this hotel and all of them are amazing. There's a basic-but-beautiful outdoor pool inspired by the art of feng shui but what most people want to check out is the trio of infinity pools that are each heated to different temperatures to suit different people at different times.

Intercontinental Tahiti Resort, French Polynesia

Intercontinental Tahiti Resort: The only thing that can enhance the beauty of an already-idyllic location is a resort that has a truly beautiful pool that compliments and pays homage to the surrounding environment. If this part of the world could have gotten any better, it did so when the pools of this resort became an additional part of its landscape.

The Crater at Homestead Resort, Utah

The Crater at Homestead Resort: Utah is in the middle of the United States, nowhere near an ocean but you can enjoy all sorts of ocean-type activities (scuba diving, for example) in the underground pool at Homestead Resort. It's a natural attraction formed from a limestone wall that's filled with geothermal water. It's healing, relaxing and totally amazing to experience.

Perivolas Hotel, Santorini

Perivolas Hotel: It is difficult to tell where the pool ends and the waters of the Aegean Sea begin since the infinity pool at this Santorini hotel appear to stretch all the way to the horizon. The accommodation here are designed to rejuvenate you completely, aided by what is widely considered to be one of the best hotel pools in the world. What an idyllic place to spend a holiday!

Gran Hotel Central, Barcelona

Gran Hotel Central, Barcelona: Many of the world's infinity pools lead straight out into the ocean. This one is a totally urban infinity pool located on the rooftop of a hotel in the center of Barcelona. You'll feel like you're absolutely on top of the world at this place!

Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay, Oman

Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay: If you've never considered taking a trip to Oman then you probably didn't know that you could stay a place as luxurious as this! Since it has only been open since in 2008, you could be among the first visitors to take advantage of the opportunity. There are seventy nine different pool villas so you can really retreat into relaxation in a private area all your own. Yes, you read that correctly. Seventy nine pools.

Worlds Oldest Mother

2008-06-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

With her wrinkled features and frail form, she might be a great-grandmother taking her favourite granddaughter's little girl to the park.

But Adriana Iliescu, who celebrated her 70th birthday on Saturday, is actually a first time mum, proudly spending every waking moment with her three-year-old child.

She supports herself and daughter Eliza on her £250 a month pension and some extra money she makes from working part time as a university professor.

Adriana has no family or close friends left to help her - and there is just one person with an interest in Eliza's future welfare - her godfather, the IVF doctor who brought her into the world.

Now, speaking fully for the first time about her life, Adriana insists: "I'm fit and healthy and I've never had any illnesses.

"I don't smoke and I don't drink. If I live as long as my parents did, Eliza will be 20 by the time I pass away.

"I think I still have a lot to give her."

The frail pensioner shocked the world when she announced the birth of her IVF baby on January 16, 2005, when she was 66 years and 230 days old.

Now three years later, Adriana, who used a sperm donor, has gone back to her lonely life in Bucharest, Romania, where she lives alone with her daughter in a tiny high-rise flat.

She is proud of her place in the Guinness Book of Records for being the oldest mum to give birth, until being beaten by Spanish woman Carmela Bousada who had twins on December 29, 2006, at the age of 66 years and 358 days.

As Adriana walks the streets with Eliza on her way to the park, or market, groups of teenagers shout 'granny' at her.

But she seems not to notice and insists everyone she speaks to is positive and supportive of her decision.

"I have never suffered any prejudice," she said.

"Nothing unpleasant has happened, at least never to my face.

"In Romania, people who have children are very admired."

Adriana still goes to Bucharest University seven hours a week for lectures, plus extra tutorials and seminars, and Eliza goes to a local creche.

But the 70-year-old is already receiving extra dispensation from the local council to help her deal with being a mum.

A taxi is sent to her house in the mornings so she can take Eliza to creche and it comes back at 3pm to collect her again.

"The creche is a little way away and it's difficult to get the bus and a long way to walk," she said.

When she is not at work, Adriana has a few hours relaxation, sitting down quietly with a book, while her daughter is cared for by nursery staff.

"Right now it's hard to have time even to wash my hair," she admitted.

"When she sleeps, and I sleep, I'm still very focused on her."

For the first two years of her life, Eliza, whose twin died before her birth, would regularly wake in the night.

She has a chest complaint which would leave her coughing for hours on end.

"I had to keep her in my arms because when she always wanted to be very close to me," said her elderly mum.

Eliza, who is advanced for her age, can count, do simple sums, and loves reading and painting, even picking out her favourite artists.

"She is a child with a great personality," said her mum. If you put it negatively she is a bit stubborn."

The elderly woman had regular help from babysitters when her daughter was still a baby.

But now, she rarely sees anyone, and there are no family or real friends she can turn to in an emergency.

"It is quite sad, but there were misunderstandings in the family," she said.

"It was about some bits of land and property in the country. I didn't want to sell but they did and then conflicts arose."

In her younger years, Adriana had an abortion at the age of 20, shortly after her wedding to another student in Bucharest.

"It wasn't planned," she said. "I was in the third year at university and I also had just recovered from a bout of TB.

"The doctors advised me to not have the first child because they weren't sure that it would develop properly."

The couple divorced a short while after because of problems caused by political conflict during the harsh Communist years.

"I became a substitute teacher and then began working at the university and publishing my books," said Adriana.

"I always wanted a child, but I was so busy, I never had a partner. It's only in recent years that IVF became available in Romania."

Adriana has considered what will happen to Eliza when she dies.

"If my daughter is 16 by then, she will have the right to work," she said.

"If she is younger, my hope is in two things, the state child protection services, and my doctor Prof Bogdan Marinescu, who is her godfather.

"People can die at any time. Eliza's other godfather, who is a friend, died suddenly at the age of 49, leaving four children."

But she hopes Eliza will not repeat her mistakes.

"I would advise my daughter to have a child before she is 30," she said.

"Having a child is a wonderful thing. To think that you haven't live for nothing.

"If you have a child you don't have death. That's what Plato said: 'Happy is the person that has someone to bury him'."

Mini-Muscleman

2008-06-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

At just 2ft 9in, Indian muscleman Aditya 'Romeo' Dev is the world's smallest bodybuilder.

Pint-sized Romeo is well-known in his hometown of Phagwara, India - for his ability to lift 1.5kg dumbbells - despite his overall 9kg body weight.

Every day, crowds flock to the local gym to the see the mini-muscleman in training.

Mini muscleman: Romeo, pictured with his trainer Ranjeet Pal, weighs just 1 st 6 lbs

Unlike many dwarfs, Romeo is well proportioned, with a head circumference of 15in and a chest measurement of 20in.

Romeo said: "I've been training as a bodybuilder for the last two years and by now I think I must be the strongest dwarf in the world.

"I have always been fit but since I started working out, I have become famous for my strength.

"My size has never stopped me. I train with dumbbells and do aerobics and dance. People are always pleased to see me. I have been invited on TV shows and dance on stage."

Possibly the strongest dwarf in the world: Romeo and his 1.5kg dumbbells

Howzat: Romeo bats away any doubts about his sporting prowess prompted by his size

His trainer Ranjeet Pal spents hours helping his 19-year-old protege build his small muscles to perfection.

"Because of his small size, I don't assign him hard exercises. But Romeo trains more or less the same as anyone else and he's much more determined.

"When he first started, I insisted he did a month of basic exercises like aerobics, push-ups and basic gymnastics to prepare his body.

Big dreamer: Romeo hopes to become a famous star both in India and abroad

Weight lifter: Romeo lifts 1.5kg weights every day

Muscle man Romeo shows off his moves in the gym

Strange Illusions

2008-06-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

Some of the most interesting art illusions on the web.

Not The Usual Buses

2008-06-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

Upside Down Bus:

This piece of artwork was welded together, one upside down on top of the other from two yellow buses. It was an idea of Ben Cohen, & artist Stefan Sagmeister & it was car artist Tom Kennedy & group who made it a reality.

Painted Bus For National Geographic Channel:

This bus was specially painted with an ad for television program of National Geographic Channel.
Luxury Buses:

Pig Bus:

Firefox Bus:

Microsoft Office Bus: It's suggested that it's a 'Microsoft office bus' for employees to work while providing the conveyance to & from workplace. Can this be yet another work of 'Photoshop'.

Interesting Bus Ads: Here are some ads which have utilized the best of the structure of the buses to convey their message in a beautiful & creative way.

Cat Bus:

Dog Bus:

A Train + Bus:

Toyota & its truck-making subsidiary Hino Motors along with Japan Rail Hokkaido developed a dual-mode vehicle which can travel on roads & railways. The DMV has four rubber tyres & travels just like a bus on the road & has steel wheels for the tracks. It just takes about 15 seconds to convert using a hydraulic system. It seems the testing of these DMVs have started 18 months ago.

Interesting Garden Designs

2008-06-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the most interesting & contemporary garden designs. Many of these designs were shown at Chelsea 2004, 2006 & 2007, Ellerslie Flower Show 2005 & Hampton Court 2007.

An Australian entry which won the gold award at the Chelsea Flower Show 2006.

Cocoon design by Merlo

Small Office Garden Office (SOGO) garden designed by Lizzie Taylor & Dawn Isaac.

Interesting concept of portable garden:

Andy Sturgeon's garden, Chelsea 2006.

Garden by renowned pebble artist Janette Ireland, Chelsea Flower Show 2006.

The Laurent Perrier Garden, by Jinny Blom, Chelsea 2007.

Contemporary Garden, by Actual Landscapes.

This is a Garden Design (Chelsea 2006) by Andy Sturgeon who is in making contemporary external spaces for residential & corporate clients using modern design, natural materials & innovative planting.

A show garden, Chelsea 2006.

The 'view across the water'- Centrepoint Garden, Hampton Court 2007

Amazing Illusions

2008-06-02T05:26:00.000-07:00

Street car at Powell and Sutter San Francisco.

Fridge magnet telephone kiosk, London.

Decorative plate and the prater of "third man" fame.

Twin towers & b/w postcard November 1999.

Statue of Liberty, New York - medium size coffee cup from Staten Island ferry

Eiffel Tower, Paris-inflated polyurethane, colored, model kit.

Leaning tower of Pisa, Pisa-rainbow colored lollipop.

Golden gate bridge San Francisco-fridge magnet in the style of Van Gogh.

Period house from 1849, 3 East Battery, Charleston, South Carolina and 3D perspective creating.

Chromed plastic model .

Berlin, Brandenburg gate-cast resin model of "Brandenburg gate" with patina

Helsinki harbor with inflatable corporate plaything.

Lorelei, near mainz - color postcard of the miss Lorelei competition winner of 1998.

10 Clever Architectural Creations Using Cargo Containers: Shipping Container Homes and Offices

2008-06-02T02:18:00.000-07:00

This stunning home is almost like a piece of art that you can live in. Constructed using 12 recycled shipping containers, the 12 container home home has all of the modern conveniences of a traditionally built home but with a unique element of style as well. A modern kitchen, huge wide-open floor plan, and gigantic windows that bring in tons of natural lighting are just a few of the great features of this home – plus, construction costs were relatively inexpensive when compared to traditional construction

This 2,000 square foot home, built in 2001, is actually built around a smaller cottage-style house that has stood in that location for decades. The cottage house almost looks like a gigantic version of a dollhouse inside of the huge storage shed that forms the exterior of this innovative house. The 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home is also made from 5 large shipping containers – 3 on the bottom, and 2 stacked on top of those. This place also contains all of the modern features of a ‘normal’ home, but it’s supposedly built to last much longer. The creator of this innovative home is Adam Kalkin, and he’s actually selling these homes for as little as $76,000, or less than $100 per square foot – not a bad deal considering traditional construction of a new home averages about double that amount.

With the green theme growing in popularity across every stretch of the world, more and more people are looking for green alternatives for office, and even new home, construction. There are countless numbers of empty, unused shipping containers around the world just sitting on the shipping docks and taking up space. The reason for this is that it’s too expensive for a country to ship empty containers back to the their origin – in most cases, it’s just cheaper to buy new containers from Asia. The result is an extremely high surplus of empty shipping containers that are just waiting to become someone’s home or office.

This award-winning office design by Clive Wilkinson is made out of stacked shipping containers is the home office of Palotta TeamWorks, a US charity event company. The 47,000 square foot warehouse is filled with shipping containers that have been transformed into modern office spaces. This design layout saved the company a ton of money on construction costs, and it allowed the entire space to be more open and airy.

The world’s first hotel built from recycled shipping containers has popped-up in Uxbridge, West London. Each prefabricated container comes fully-equipped with fixtures, furniture, and windows from a factory in China. The company, called Travelodge, says that constructing a hotel this way is 25% faster and 10% cheaper than the more traditional construction methods. Also, construction is much quicker, because all that has to be done is to fit each container together like it was a giant Lego set. Rooms at this London hotel start at about ￡19 per night. The London area may see more these ‘portable hotels’ pop-up around the city as the 2012 Olympics approaches.

Opened in 1998, the Simon’s Town High School Hostel is constructed almost entirely of used shipping containers. This amazing place is constructed out of 40 large shipping containers to be exact, and it’s big enough to accommodate up to 120 boarders. The hostel manager gets his own 2 bedroom flat, while the other staff share 2 separate flatlets. Area residents were concerned that the project would prove to be an eyesore to the community since it was made from grungy old shipping containers, but the final result proved otherwise with a modern-looking structure that is incredibly durable and aesthetically pleasing at the same time.

This shipping container home from the so-called Zigloo Domestique project in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada is a residential home created by Keith Dewey. The home is built out of old shipping containers, and the owner chose to paint them with an industrial strength minty-green enamel, commonly found on shipping containers today, in order to maintain the container’s roots in the shipping business. While the exterior of the home may look a little rugged, due to the protruding containers, the 2,000 square foot interior of the house is quite comfortable and modern. The project cost about $150 per square foot, compared to a similar quality traditional construction project that can cost about $250 per square foot.

There are plenty of benefits of to the so-called shipping container architecture model. A few of these advantages include: they are plentiful, they are easily transported, they’re stackable, relatively inexpensive (as little as $900 for a used container), they can be prefabricated, and they’re extremely durable. Residential applications are also becoming a popular topic of conversation among green supporters. The first official 2-story shipping container home in the US was designed by Southern California architect Peter DeMaria in 2006. The only big obstacle that he encountered during construction of his shipping container pad was making sure that the house passed all of the strict guidelines of the Uniform Building Code (UBC).

This 3,000 square foot L.A. home features multiple storage containers in its design – each with its own purpose. There’s a storage container for the entertainment area, library, dining room/office space, master bedroom, and bathroom/laundry room. This place has plenty of large windows which provide plenty of natural lighting as well as awesome views of the garden and koi pond outside. Aside from using recycled storage containers, this home also uses recycled steel scraps in its construction which further adds to the green vibe that this home resonates – not to mention saved a ton of money on construction costs.

In other parts of the world, places like Odessa, Ukraine already have the the biggest shopping mall in all of Europe which uses stacked shipping containers to form alleys throughout the 170 acre site. In Asia, the Dordoy Bazaar in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan is almost entirely composed of empty shipping containers stacked two high and chock-full of inexpensive trinkets and toys. So, in other words, shipping container architecture is nothing new, but it is new when it comes to residential and office applications.

This great example of shipping container architecture was created by architects Pieter Peelings and Silvia Mertens of Sculp(IT). They live and work in these shipping containers which are stacked four high. The entire space is 2.4 meters wide by 5.5 meters deep by 12 meters high. The bottom floor is used for work, dining room is located on the second floor, relaxation room on the third, and spectacular rooftop views from the fourth – including a relaxing spa.

Source: weburbanist.com

Interesting Fountains From Around The World

2008-06-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

World's highest Fountain: King Fahd's Fountain located in the city Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is the world's highest fountain. 165 gallons of water per second is pumped by 3 huge pumps each through a 126 mm nozzle at an incredible speed of 233 mph & reaching the maximum height of 312m (1023ft) higher than the Eiffel tower (excluding its antenna).

These are few from Archibase which has a collection of some of the most unusual fountains in the world.

World's Largest Chocolate Fountain - At 27-feet tall, this chocolate fountain created by Jean-Philippe Maury is the world's largest. The fountain is filled with 2100 lb of dark, milk & white chocolate.
Water Vortex Sculpture: This water sculpture is the creation of by William Pye is called Charybdis, and it's located in Seaham Hall, Sunderland, UK.

Chewing Gum Installations

2008-05-28T02:36:00.000-07:00

Have a look at some installations in different corners of the world that praise such an essential part of our modern life as a chewing gum!