Dirty Harry Potter Flirting with Emma Watson

After Hairy Potter, it's time to see cheeky Harry Potter /Attuworld via

Star Jones had gastric bypass surgery for dramatic weight loss /WP

Lindsay Lohan Bikini candids - Boost Mobile Party - HQ x 10 /Phun

Britney Spears' boobs bursting out of blue bra candids in Pasadena /Phun

17-year-old Hayden Panettiere is Bottom Feeder! /TMZ

Headline News' Adrianna Costa Leaves CNN /CNN Observations

Noelia, the victim of sex video with her ex-boyfriend /RC

Kids Only Thing Keeping Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Together /TNL

Eva Longoria looks damn hot after getting married to Tony Parker /Mclady

"Little People, Big World" star Matthew Roloff Arrested for DUI/TMZ

Britney Spears' Pole Dancing Photos

Wearing little more than fishnet stockings and a minuscule black leather vest, Britney Spears flaunted her bod to her new track "Get Back". Apparently, the Los Angeles video shoot was reportedly ended in shambles--things only got worse when she took to the stage after toilet breaks and attempted to pole-dance like a pro. Link

More photos of Britney Spears Pole Dancing at theSuperficial

Brian Valentine's Amazing Photography of Flowers in Raindrops

The amazing photos showing the incredible beauty of flowers reflected in dewdrops and raindrops in a garden in Worthing of Sussex were taken by British amateur photographer Brian Valentine!

Link

Heidi Cullen, USA's Only Ph.D. Climatologist

Read a fantastic NYT article of Claudia Dreifus to know more about this academia-turned-weather-TV-programme host Dr. Heidi Cullen, the only climatologist with a Ph.D. in the USA.

The Simple Life Ends for Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie

In the last escapade of the Simple Life to be aired on E! channel Sunday August 5, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are said to write their own play in tribute to their decades-long friendship while highlighting the help of celebrity counselor Sally Kirkland.

Last week, Richie, 25, was sentenced to 90 hours in jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of drugs. Richie, who is rumored to be pregnant but has refused to comment, must complete her jail time by Sept. 28.

While Paris Hilton has spent 23 days in jail for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case. Link

Angel Kitty's USB Bra Keyboard

At a cost of costs ¥15,750 (about $130) plus shipping, the Wonderbra powered USB keyboard can be the must-have costume for every self-respecting geek's girlfriend. Link

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline Officially Divorced!

Britney Spears's marriage to the self-claimed America’s Most Hated Kevin Federline, officially ended on July 30, 2007. On the day, the court commissioner of Los Angeles Superior Court Scott Gordon signed orders for dissolution of marriage, an alimony agreement and the child custody of their sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. Link

Chicken Claw Paintings

Chinese painter Xiao Hu makes unique chicken claw paintings by letting the birds to walk on the white paper after their claws were painted with ink. link

Robin Roberts Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

The ABC's Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts disclosed the bad news in an article of 'I have Breast Cancer' on the GMA section on the ABC website.

I never thought I'd be writing this. … I have breast cancer.

It all started a few weeks ago. We had gotten the news that our dear colleague and friend Joel Siegel had passed away and we began preparing for our special tribute show for him. I did a piece about Joel's courageous battle with cancer, reporting on the way my friend had lived his life and been such a successful advocate for the importance of early cancer screenings.

That very night when I went to bed, I did a self breast exam and found something that women everywhere fear: I found a lump.

At first I thought, "This can't be. I am a young, healthy woman." Nevertheless, I faced my fear head on and made an appointment to see the doctor. Much as I was hoping the doctor would say it was nothing, she did a biopsy and confirmed that the lump I'd found was indeed an early form of breast cancer.

We at RC wish Robin will recover as soon as possible once after having surgery in the coming months.

Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney Spears' Little Sister, Wasn't Pregnant!

Jamie Lynn Spears looks like a miniature version of her big sister Britney Spears, and actually she’s starting to act like her too. The 16-year-old Jamie Lynn recently suspected that she was pregnant since the young starlet and 19-year-old boyfriend Casey Aldridge have been engaging in sexual intercourse for quite some time. Worried about her future, Jamie Lynn turned to Britney for help. But apparently, Spears' mother Lynne wanna take Jamie Lynn out of Britney’s influence and back to Louisiana where the 2007 Kid's Choice Awards nominee took several pregnancy tests. Thanks to God, the results all turned out negative!

In June, Jamie Lynn and Casey Aldridge were seen searching for an apartment in Valencia California.

 Links: Bosh & Ninjadude

Talk Show Host Tom Snyder Dies of Leukemia

The legendary talk show host Tom Snyder was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia as early as in 2005. After a two-year's struggle, the 71-year-old Tomorrow host died in San Francisco from complications associated with the blood disease. R.I.P, Sneider! Link

Google Quilt Shop in Venezuela!

The bogus Google shop specially selling quilts in Venezuela photographed by Flickr user Gerswin Pineda using his Nokia N73 on July 28. Not like those fashion shops/internet cafes previously posted on RC, this Venezuelan shop even steals the TM. aside from the complete Google Logo.

Scroll down for two more pictures.  Link via Googlified

Miss Arab World 2007

Miss Bahrain, Wafa Yaqoop, has been crowned the winner of this without-a-bikini-in-sight upmarket beauty pageant Miss Arab World  2007 held in Cairo. Link

Iraq Wins Asian Cup Final!

I am so touched by the Iraqi players! Actually when they beat South Korea in the semi-final, I already began betting Iraq will win!

Iraq delivered an inspirational victory Sunday [July 29] by winning the Asian Cup with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, a beacon of hope for a nation divided by war.

It was an extraordinary triumph for a team drawn together from all parts of the Gulf and with its players straddling bitter and violent ethnic divides.

Iraq scored on a 71st-minute header by Younis Mahmoud and dominated the final against heavily favored Saudi Arabia, a three-time Asian Cup champion. This was Iraq's first Asian Cup title.

Mahmoud, the Iraqi captain, met Hawar Mulla Mohammed's corner kick at the far post. Saudi goalkeeper Al Mosailem came for the ball and flapped at it without making any contact, presenting an easy chance for an unmarked Mahmoud with a goal that will long live in Iraqi folklore.

At the final whistle, Mahmoud sprinted across the field with his elated teammates in pursuit before they collapsed into a pile, overwhelmed with their achievement.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office announced that each player on the Iraqi team would receive $10,000.

The jubilation over the team known as the "Lions of the Two Rivers" gave Iraqis a rare respite from the daily violence. The victorious run sent men of all ages cheering and dancing in the streets in what politicians said was a show of unity that proved Iraqi factions could come together.

They deserves victory!

Funnyman Steve Martin, 61, Weds Writer Anne Stringfield, 35

Actor Steve Martin married girlfriend Anne Stringfield in a surprise ceremony at his Los Angeles home, July 28.

Former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, a friend of Martin's, presided over Saturday's ceremony. Lorne Michaels, creator of the U.S. television comedy show "Saturday Night Live," was Martin's best man. Anne's sister served as maid of honor.

The distinguished guests including actors Tom Hanks, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy and Carl Reiner — were not told that he and Stringfield would wed when they were invited to his home for a "party".

Martin, 61, was previously married to British actress Victoria Tennant, whom he divorced in 1994 after about eight years together. It is learned that he has been dating Anne Stringfield since December, 2002

It was the first marriage for Kristin Davis look-alike Stringfield, 35, a writer and former staffer for The New Yorker magazine.

At the time the wedding photos of the duo are being waited to be published, here you can have a look first at those photos showing Steve Martin and the then girlfriend bikini-clad Anne Stringfield who were enjoying sea waves in an unknown beach sometime last year.

Sources: ET & FOXNews & Popsugar & Completesteve

Iapetus: the Saturn's Walnut-Shaped Moon

The unique Saturn's walnut-shaped moon, Iapetus, got its nutty shape from a super-fast spin that was frozen into place early in the solar system's formation. Unlike any other moon in the solar system, the 4.564 billion-year-old Iapetus is the same shape today as it was when it was just a few hundred million years old. It's a well-preserved relic from the time when the solar system was young. The distinctive mountain ridge along its equator is 808 miles (1,300 kilometers) long and 12 miles (19 kilometers) high. Sources: Space, Skyandtelescope & Sciencemode

Video: Stunt Plane Crashes at Ohio Dayton Air Show

The award-winning stunt pilot Jim LeRoy was killed when his biplane crashed at a runway of Dayton International Airport in front of thousands of people at Vectren Dayton Air Show in Dayton, Ohio. LeRoy, 46, of Billings, Montana, was then in one of two planes making loop-to-loops with smoke trailing at the show. His S2S Bulldog biplane slammed into the runway across a field from spectators and caught fire. Now the airshow organizers asked on-spot spectators to submit any video of the crash for an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. This is the third plane crash accident after two news helicopters crashed in Central Phoenix and another two single-engine war planes went down in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Sources: Raw Video: Dayton Air Show Crash & CNN

Cute Cartoons Painted on Bellies of Pregnant Women

Mostly born in the late 1970s or the early 1980s, these [Chinese] women have never missed an opportunity to show off their natural beauty, even when they're pregnant. Link

Two News Helicopters Crashed in Indian Steele Park of Central Phoenix

The accident happened at noon 0f July 27 when two single-engine Aerospatiale helicopters respectively belonging to KNXV and KTVK TV stations were covering a live news report that police were chasing carjacker Christopher Jones. Both choppers went down in the Indian Steele Park of Central Phoenix, killing Craig Smith and Rick Krolak of Channel 3 (KTVK), Scott Bowerbank  and Jim Cox of Channel 15 (KNXV).

Later on the same day, two war planes P-51 Mustangs also collided (see pictures below) when landing at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture show held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, killing one of the pilots and injuring the other.

Sources: USA Today & WP

Nicole Richie Sentenced Four Days in Jail for DUI

Reality TV star Nicole Richie was sentenced on July 27 to four days in jail after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of drugs, a sentence that comes just weeks after her TV The Simple Life show co-star Paris Hilton was released from jail. Richie, 25, the daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie, was subdued and sombre as she was lectured by the court commissioner Steven K. Lubell about driving down the wrong way on on a Burbank, California, freeway early on Dec. 11, 2007. At the time when police found her Mercedes-Benz sports utility vehicle parked in a carpool lane, Richie said she had smoked marijuana and taken the prescription painkiller Vicodin before getting behind the wheel. Lubell, who also sentenced her, said she was lucky no-one was killed during the incident.

Richie - who entered courthouse on the arm of boyfriend, Good Charlotte frontman, Joel Madden, got credit for six hours she had earlier served in jail, reducing the time she must spend behind bars to 90 hours. She was also given three years' probation and fined US$2,048.

She must complete her 90-hour sentence by September 28. She can serve it in either a city or a county jail.

As to whether to suspend Richie's driver's license, Mr. Lubell let the Californian Department of Motor Vehicles to decide.

Sources: WP & theAge

Video: iPhone Popcorn Trick

Another iPhone magic! This time Rustybrick makes popcorn out of his iPhone. Darn cool!

Hello Kitty ‘Maneki Neko’ Doll

The 62,000 Swarovski crystals studded Hello Kitty Maneki Neko Doll is currently sold at 8 million yen, equaling to US$66,115, in Hello Kitty Selection event of Mitsukoshi Department Store in Tokyo. Maneki Neko is a good money fortune symbol in Japan. Link

Video: Beyonce Falls at Orlando Concert

Beyonce tumbled down stairs when she was in the middle of performing "Ring The Alarm" at a concert in Orlando, Florida on July 24. The bravery that stood up again and continued her super performance by merely missing one beat won a huge audience's admiration. Links: SN & Spanish Dancer

Californian Mojave Desert Air and Space Port Explosion

The deadly explosion happened at the rocket-testing facilities of Mojave Desert Air and Space Port, killing three of six employees of Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites were testing components of a new rocket motor for SpaceShipTwo, a spaceship being built for Sir Richard Branson's space tourism company Virgin Galactic. The blast occurred during a 'cold fire' test involving nitrous oxide flowing through fuel injectors.

Mojave Desert Air and Space Port is an important part of the unincorporated community of about 4,000 people. The airport employs about 1,500 people, and is the USA's first inland spaceport certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The airport has been a popular location of movie and television production. Part of "Speed" was filmed at the airport — a Boeing 707 was blown up in a scene that was supposed to be Los Angeles International Airport.

Scroll down for more after-explosion pictures.

Sources: CNN & Chinadaily & SFGate

Kim Jong-Il's Favorite Stuntwoman Seriously Injured by Swords during Performance

Japanese magician Princess Tenko, who has once been gifted a rare dog by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, was seriously injured when metal swords trapped her in a box during a performance in the central Japanese city of Sabae recently.

During "the spike illusion in the face of death" show, the doll-looking magician was supposed to escape from the box on the moment it was spiked with 10 fake metal swords, but instead they trapped her inside and broke her right cheek and ribs. Link

Jessica Alba Dumped Cash Warren

Regularly voted into "hottest women in the world" lists, the 26-year-old brunette beauty Jessica Alba simply dumped her 28-year-old boyfriend film producer Cash Warren over the phone by telling him "I'm not in love with you anymore." Link

Zhang Wei, the Most Common Name on China Mainland

There is altogether 290,607 people sharing this most common name on the Chinese mainland. It was followed closely by Wang Wei (王伟, 281,568), Wang Fang (王芳,268,268), Li Wei (李伟, 260,980) and Wang Xiuying (李秀英, 246,737) among others.

p.s. Wang (王), is the most popular family name in China. There are almost 93 million people using this surname. Link

Indonesian Maid Jailed for Serving Boss With Urine

It only happened in Hong Kong!

The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of "administering poison or other destructive or noxious substance with intent to injure," but insisted she had used the urine to treat a skin condition and its appearance in her employer's cup was a mistake.

Her boss, Szeto Ching-han, smelled the urine after asking for a cup of water, and then asked the maid to drink it - which she did. Szeto, however, kept the liquid to have it tested in a lab, the South China Morning Post said.

The defense argued that the maid's employer had not drunk the urine and the substance was not poisonous.

"The only contact the former employer had with the so-called poisonous mixture was the smell," her lawyer was quoted as telling the court.

The magistrate who heard the case said there was no evidence that the maid had suffered any harm after drinking from the cup, but still gave the maid a six-day jail sentence, saying the court "must send a message to the public."

Heartbroken Chinese Man Swallows Diamond Ring

Chongqing resident Mr. Liu loved her girlfriend so much and eagerly to proposed the marriage to her by preparing sumptuous home-cooked dinner, decorated his apartment with roses and purchased a 3,000 yuan (US$396) diamond ring. But things didn't go to as he plan, he was so heartbroken when the woman refused his marriage proposal for citing numerous reasons. After he drank two bottles of red wine and one bottle of hard liquor, he swallowed the diamond ring in rage. In the end, he had to call for emergency medical help and let doctors remove the ring from his stomach. :-) Source: CRI & Picture at Canadian Diamonds Wholesale

Bikini-Clad Models Showing Body Painting Ads

Mr Liu, the owner of a beauty parlor in Changchun City of China, chose so-called 'creative' ads by painting the advertising info on bikini-clad models to promote his cosmetic products. Apparently not everyone likes, as one witness said, "This form of promotion is clearly in poor taste". Link

Nude German Woman Buys Cigarettes in Gas Station, Leaves in Ferrari

From Autoblog

A gas station in Dömitz, Germany got some publicity in the German tabloids this week after a woman strolled in to buy cigarettes. Now, that in itself is not newsworthy. What is, however, is that the blond, tattooed woman was buck-freaking-naked, save for a pair of gold stiletto heels and a bracelet. After casually going about her business inside the station's convenience store, she walked back out, climbed into the passenger seat of a waiting Ferrari F430, and drove off. The employee inside the shop was unfazed, telling reporters, "I wasn't surprised. She's come in naked before. She's a very nice woman." Her birthday-suit shopping trip was caught on camera by another customer at the filling station.

Oprah Winfrey is The Highest Paid TV Star!

In a list compiled by TV Guide magazine, Oprah Winfrey (do you know she has a sixth toe on her left foot?), host and supervising producer of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," ranks the No.1 among the highest-paid television stars in the United States by earning an estimated $260 million a year! With $45 million for his role on the Fox network's hit talent show and other projects, 'American Idol' judge Simon Cowell placed a distant second to the Queen of Talkshow! Link

Hairy Potter!

From SeaAngels:

The cute Potter is no longer the little boy he used to be. He is now a young, handsome man, lethal enough to "poison" women of all ages and break a thousand hearts. Go Harry Potter!!

p.s. AP reported that hundreds of copies of Scholastic Inc.'s new-released "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" are found missing pages.

Aussie Crowns Miss Bikini

Miss Australia Amy Jane Sutton won the title of Miss Bikini during the finals of Miss Tourism Queen International competition held in Nanyang, central China’s Henan Province, July 23, 2007. Link

Extreme Hairstyle Makeup

I am wondering how much weight of this extravaganza hairstyle makeup recently seen on the 13th China International Cosmetics Expo in Beijing. Link

Eat Crocodile Feet in Singapore!

A Singaporean western food stall named Yishun offers exotic dishes in the form of crocodile steaks and crocodile feet since this April. Crocodile meat is actually very delicious even though it looks frightening. A crocodile steak costs SGD18 (approx. US$12), while a crocodile foot costs SGD35 (approx. US$23). If you are in Singapore and wanna pay a visit the food eatry, don't forget to take the rough skin and nails of the crocodile foot back home as a souvenir after the meal. Link

World's Most Expensive McDonald Sandwich

The McDonald sandwich named after its creator Scott McDonald, the chef at London's Selfridges store, is the world's most expensive sandwich, which is sold at £85 per each.

It contains Japanese Wagyu beef, fresh lobe foie gras, black truffle mayonnaise, brie de meaux cheese, rocket, red pepper, mustard confit and English plum tomatoes. Link

Nigerian Schoolchildren Browse Porn Sites on $100 Laptop

"Efforts to promote learning with laptops in a primary school in Abuja have gone awry as the pupils freely browse adult sites with explicit sexual materials [on the OLPC laptops]"! Link

Video: Philippino Inmates Imitating Michael Jackson's Thriller

In the Philippines, the prison life is not boring at all!

1500+ inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Cebu City, Philippines, do a lot more than just languish in a cell. They have livelihood programs and personal savings accounts, allowing them to earn and save money for legal fees or the families they left behind. Perhaps even more impressive is what they do with the rest of their time: rehearse and perform elaborate parades and dance numbers, like the recreation of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” seen here.

The choreography, the coordination, and the precision are insane.

Source: OMFG-WTF.net

Vivid Human Goldfish

A beautiful picture shows two performers are swimming like goldfish in a large fish tank. The performance is a preview of the Muscle Musical to be convened at a Tokyo theater. link

Video: Heaviest Weight Lifted With Tongue by UK's Thomas Blackthorne

On the set of Guinness World Records: 50 Years, 50 Records in London on 11 September 2004,  UK's Thomas Blackthorne lifted a 11.025 kg weight which was hooked through his tongue, the heaviest weight lifted with a human tongue ever! Link

Chinese Professor Held Lavish (US$13,310) Funeral for Pet Dog

 From Chinadaily

A funeral home in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu recently received a big contract -- preparing a 100,680-yuan (US$13,310) funeral -- for a deceased dog.

On Sunday [July 22] before the two-day funeral began, Lin, the dog's owner in his late seventies, signed his name on the agreement which details every expense of the amount, the local West China City Daily reported.

According to the contract, Lin will pay 4,000 yuan each day for renting the funeral space and another 4,000 yuan for workers. On Monday, a luxury Cadillac will take the dog to its final resting place -- rental of the car will cost 10,000 yuan.

A senior staff member of the funeral home was quoted in the report as saying that at first they refused to arrange such a luxurious funeral for a dog, but were later moved by Lin's story.

The report says that the retired professor met the stray dog three months ago when he came to live in Chengdu alone from the northeastern city of Dalian. Lin suffers from high blood pressure and is a frequent visitor to the hospital. His children are all busy with their work, and the widower's only companion was the dog.

The lavish pet funeral inevitably raised eyebrows among locals, many of whom complained it was unnecessary.

However, Lin told the reporter that the dog, which died of an unknown disease, was a sympathetic and loyal friend, and that all he is trying to do is express his great grief over its passing.

10 Pound Big Bad Bubba's Doublewide Hamburger

Eatery shop Hillbilly Hotdogs of Huntington in West Virginia has made history July 20, 2007 by making the massive 10 lb. hamburgers called Big Bad Bubba's Doublewideon menu. The burger was named by Dave Lavender of The Herald-Dispatch.

It comes with two heads of lettuce, at least two pounds of pickles, six tomatoes, three onions and 25 slices of cheese.

The burger costs $31.95.

Scroll down for the video shows those hearty hamburger appetite tasting the unique burger.

Sources:Huntington News & Liveleak via Arbroath

Former Afghanistan king Mohammed Zahir Shah, 92, Dies

The former/last King of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah, has died at the age of 92 following a long illness.

 Zahir Shah was deposed in 1973 by a coup led by his cousin Mohammad Daoud Khan when he was in Italy receiving medical treatment for an eye condition. Since then he went into exile in Italy, and only returned to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taleban in 2002.

Many Afghans had a deep love and respect for Zahir Shah, whose lengthy reign was associated with peace, security and modest political reform. His 40-year reign saw women receiving education and voting in elections, and a free press. Sources: BBC & Wikipedia

The Burj Dubai-World's Tallest Building

The under-constructing Burj Dubai has reached to the 141st story, with a height of 512 meters, it has overtaken Taiwan's 508-meter-tall Taipei 101 and become the world's tallest building. The Burj Dubai sets to be the Symbol of Dubai by standing at more than 693 meters once it completes in the oil rich Gulf state of Dubai at the end of 2008.  Link

Fabulous Hello Kitty Robot

This robot sports a voice recognition microphone, CMOS sensor camera, ultrasonic sensor, lift-up sensor, two speakers and numerous LEDs with different functions. The robot's head and four arms are movable. The 390*333*520 mm robot weighs at 6.2 kg altogether with lithium-ion battery.

It can communicate with one using the Hello Kitty's voice. It can chat in three different modes: 1) As a close friend; 2) With the family; 3) Guessing game. Hello Kitty Robo is a perfect robot for whoever does not have a lot time to stay with child. It was sold at Dreamkitty with a pre-order price tag of $6,299.99.

Pratibha Patil Elected as India's First Woman President

A lawyer by training, Pratibha Patil won the last presidential election, held on July 19, 2007 defeating her nearest rival by over 300,000 votes. She will take office as India's first female president on July 25, succeeding Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Ms. Patil was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, representing Edlabad constituency in Jalgaon District from 1962 to 1985. From 1986 to 1988, she held the post of deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. As a member of parliament, she represented Amravati in the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996. She later became the 24th Governor of Rajasthan and, notably, was the first female governor of this state.

While some see her victory as an important step towards gender equality in India, many view it as only a symbolic gesture.

Millions of women in India face discrimination and poverty often linked to age-old traditions which require the parents of a bride to pay a large dowry to the family of her eventual husband.

Source: BBC & Wikipedia & Bio-data of Pratibha Patil

Jennifer Garner's Overlapping Fifth Toe On Right Foot

The anomaly of pinky toe on the right foot of the former Alias star Jennifer Garner was revealed when she went to have lunch at Brentwood’s Japanese eatery Katsuya in West Hollywood with a mystery male friend on the afternoon of July 20. Link via Utube Laughter

God's Email Box

(Click the picture to enlarge it)

God is a Mac user and His email box has been stuffed billions of email! Link

Video: Hot Horses' Kiss

WoW! How sweet!

British Woman Reads Harry Potter--the Deathly Hallows in Just 47 Minutes

In possibly a world record-breaking 4244 words-per-minute, six-time world speed reading champion Anne Jones has read the final installment of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows in just 47 minutes and 1 second on the day when the new 759-page book was launched in UK. Source: theSun

Kayi Cheung Crowned Miss Hong Kong 2007

Kayi Cheung Ga-Yi (張嘉兒) was crowned Miss Hong Kong 2007 on the night of July 20. Kayi Cheung, the 23-year-old college student from Vancouver, Canada won her title by virtue of average and steady scores.

Grace Wong (L) from New York of the United States placed second and Loretta Chow (R) came in third. link

Wisconsin Pet Dog Pepper Ann Eats Almost $1000

Debbie Hulleman's pet dog Pepper Ann likes to chew many things, like lipstick canisters, shampoo bottles, ball point pens, and toothpaste. During a recent visit to Grandma's place, Pepper Ann chewed up nearly $1000 and spit it out all over the place. After drying, matching, and taping together as much currency as she could retrieve from Pepper's poo and vomit, Hulleman, of Menomonie, Wisconsin traded in more than $700 worth at a local bank, even though the family still lost at least $100. Link

After-bath Photos of Xu Jinglei

Xu Jing-lei is a Chinese actress-turned-director. The Chinese media has claimed that she became "the world's most widely read blogger" when her blog logged the 100 millionth page view on July 12 within about 600 days.

Not like some other celebrities who may blog about sex or providing a catalogue of kiss-and-tell stories,  pretty Xu, who has a reputation for a high intellect and integrity, has done it only focusing on her work and day-to-day life.

Pictures shown here are so-called after-bath photos of Xu Jing-lei which are prevailed on the Chinese portal websites these days.

A Public Toilet Designed by Women for Women

Do those ladies who are pissing on such toilet bowls feel so comfortable? I think, possibly not. Link

Britney Spears in Pink Lingerie Splashes at Malibu Beach

From Chinadaily

Britney Spears is nothing if not spontaneous. The former popstar was spotted taking an impromptu swim at Malibu in just a hot pink bra and skimpy knickers.

After a day of house hunting, she decided to strip off and escape the California heat, squealing with delight as she cooled off in the waves.

Scroll down for more pictures.

Link

Banned El Jueves Spanish Prince Felipe Cartoon

The cartoon which is deemed to have insulted the Spanish royal family depicting Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Letizia Ortiz having sex were published on Spanish weekly satirical magazine El Jueves. 

The cartoonists of the magazine were possibly objecting to the plan that the government will pay couples 2,500 EUR, or nearly $3,500 for each new baby born.

Juan del Olmo, judge from the Spanish National Court, has ordered to identify the author of the cartoon and confiscate all the copies of 18-24 July, 2007  issue of the popular comic magazine from the newsstands and other selling points in Spain.

Sources: BBC & El Cau del Drac & SÍ A LA LLIBERTAT D'EXPRESSIÓ

Omnibot17u i-SOBOT: the World's Smallest Humanoid Robot

From the website

Japanese toymaker Tomy Company's 'Omnibot17u i-SOBOT', listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's smallest humanoid robot in production, dances during a news conference in Tokyo July 20, 2007. The 16.5 cm (6.496 inches)-tall robot, powered by Sanyo Electric's eneloop nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries, is able to talk about 180 vocabularies and has about 200 different types of action patterns. The robot will go on sale in Japan for a price of 29,800 yen (about $243), the company said.

Scroll down for more pictures

Link

Ten Thousand Years Old Mummified Baby Mammoth

The perfectly mummified woolly mammoth, a female who died at the age of six months, was named "Lyuba" after the wife of reindeer breeder and hunter Yuri Khudi who found her in Russia's Arctic Yamalo-Nenetsk region.

Weighing 50 kg (110 lb), and measuring 85 centimeters high and 130 centimeters from trunk to tail, Lyuba who died at least 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age,  is roughly the same size as a large dog. 

Lyuba will be shipped to School of Medicine, Jikei University in Japan to undergo three-dimensional computer mapping of her body. The mammoth will then return to St Petersburg for an autopsy before being put on display in Salekhard.

The discovery of the baby mammoth preserved in the Russian permafrost gives researchers their best chance yet to build a genetic map of a species extinct since the Ice Age.

Sources: Dailymail & Reuters

Golden iPod Shuffle

This shining iPod Shuffle is made out of 18 carat gold and offered by German company Xexoo. It was sold at about 14,000 EUR or 19,343 USD. If the glitches it will encounter deters you buy one, don't worry at all, you can get a 24/7/365 service by calling the company. To your further relief, you can get a brand new one if your golden Shuffle drops into the water . The iPod will be delivered in a beautiful wooden box in Piano style. Source: iPod Shuffle Luxury Flavor of Web Squirrel

Malaysian Female College Student Depends on Viagra to Survive!

It reminds us that viagra was initially introduced for hypertension but not for erectile dysfunction.  

For the past one year, Florentina Usun George (right in the picture above) has been taking Viagra daily one year, not for the wrong reason but to treat her ASD Pulmonary Hypertension ailment on the right side of her heart. 

The 21-year-old student of Cosmopoint College in Penang needs two Viagra tablets, at RM40 each [around US$11.8], daily to keep her going. 

Florentina’s former lecturer Farah Nuzaily Zakaria, 27, said she had taken her to the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur and Island Hospital in Penang, and again was told Florentina had to take Viagra to live. 

“We were told that Viagra was the cheapest medication that could help improve her condition,” she said during a press conference.

As Florentina is not rich, now she needs donations. Those who wish to help her can send out their cheques made payable to Biro Pengaduan Umno, Tingkat 2, Bangunan Mahkamah Munisipal MPSP, Lorong Kg Jawa, Jalan Bagan Luar, 12000 Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. They should write Florentina’s name on the back of their cheques.  Source: theStar

Sony Ericsson Gem SO704i Handphone

On July 19, NTT DoCoMo,the predominant mobile phone operator in Japan, launched new Sony Ericsson SO704i mobile phones in Tokyo. The handphone above displayed by the model  is set with several gems, priced at 3 million yen (approximately 25,000 USD). Sony Ericsson SO704i features a 2.7-inch 16:9 LCD display, a 2 Megapixel camera, a 0.1 Megapixel secondary camera, a 1.1-inch 128×36 secondary display. It measures 105×47×18.7mm and weighs at 105g. Source: People & Dpinsight

US Soldier Carrying Upside Down US Flag

"There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people." Oh, dude, didn't expect that you are in so distressed a mood for serving your country! Link

Video: Kim Kardashian Photoshoot

We don't know Kim Kardashian well, but in a post on Gone Hollywood, Puerto Rican pop singer Noelia who has been battling for an alleged sex video in the past month was likened to Kardashian.

Long-haired Girls Combing Hair in Guangxi

Several girls from Huangluohong Yao Village in Longsheng, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, showed their skills of combing long hair in a bid to promote tourism. The village is wellknown for for long-haired women, where more than 20% of the population keep long hair. Link

Video: 3D Mailbox Trailer

A sexy anime from 3D Mailbox

 3D Mailbox delivers a fantastic, smarter e-mail experience. Immerse yourself in 3-D as you read and write your mail. Relax to the sounds of the ocean, seagulls, and cool tunes. Hang with your mail poolside, or feed your spam to the sharks! Deleting spam is so much fun, you may wish you had more!

Picture of Britney Spears Throughout The Years

 Since 1999, she has become uglier and uglier! Link

Chinese Old Man Claps as Loud as Helicopter Din

70 -year-old Chongqing resident Zhang Quan can clap so loud that local environmental protection officials monitor his clapping. The claps he makes can be measured 107 decibels - only slightly lower than helicopter blades which measure 110 decibels. So when he is clapping, even his own ears feels painful! Link

Prithviraj Patil, an Indian Boy with Hair Growing on the Face

11-year-old Indian boy Prithviraj Patil, pictured above, suffers from a rare medical anomaly called hairy nevus or hirsutism. Hair grows all over his face and body, yet there is no itch or rash on the skin or any bad odour accompanying his dermatological problem. Doctors say that laser treatment or plastic surgery is the only way out for Prithviraj Patil to be a normal person. Link via Uniquedaily

Eight-wheeled Police Car

The eight-wheel machine newly put in use on the streets of  city Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian province is an amphibious vehicle. On the land it can run at 50 kilometers an hour, while in water it moves like a boat. It's designed especially for flood emergencies, which are familiar to coastal areas in east China in summer time. Link

Volcano-like Steam Pipe Explosion Rocks midtown Manhattan in New York

A steam-pipe installed under the ground of New York in 1925 blew up near Grand Central Terminal at about 6 p.m. July 18. The explosion, believed to be caused by cold water in the 24-inch pipe, sparked panic among commuters and sent a geyser of mud, steam and scalding water into the air on 41st Street. White steam clouds rose as high as the nearby 77-story Chrysler Building. It was reported that 20 people were injured and one person died from a heart attack.

It took utility crews about an hour to shut down the pipe. The explosion was not a plotted 911 like terrorism attack. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said there was no reason to believe "this is anything other than a failure of our infrastructure".

Scroll down for video and more on-spot pictures.

Links: Xinhua & Palladium

Video: Conjoined Sisters Learn to Maneuver Themselves

The girls have an affectionate nickname Crabgirls. Link to Youtube

The World's Top-Earning Models

According to estimated earnings over the past 12 months, Forbes compiled this year's list of  The World's 15 Top-Earning Models. With raking in $33 million, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, the ex-girlfriend of Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has become the top paid model in 2007. Her earnings are more than triple the $9 million banked by Kate Moss, who came in second.

Giant Leather Shoe

The 3.28-meter long, 1.18-meter wide, and 198-kilogram heavy giant leather shoe attracts many eyeballs at a shopping center in Kaifeng, central China's Henan Province. It takes 8 technicians 1,168 hours to finish the 280,000-yuan (about US$37,000) worth of shoe with 6 pieces of imported high quality cattle hide. Link

Sister Beds of Qing Dynasty

A pair of sister beds was found in Zigui County, central China's Hubei Province, July 17. The beds with elegant patterns carved on was made in the reign of Emperor Xianfeng (1851-1862) of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) for a couple of twin girls. Link

Video: Blend iPhone!

The remains of the blended iPhone together with a Blendtec Total Blender of $400 value is currently auctioned on eBay. After 52 bids, the price has reached US$1126!

Chinese Woman With Hair of 2.2 Meters

 Jin Shunzi, a 36 year old woman of Korean ethnic group in Huichun City of northeast China's Jilin Province maintains her super long hair at some 2.2 meters. She once declined an offer of 5000 Yuan by a Korean for the hair that has never suffered from split-ends or malting.

The 1.63-metre-tall woman, has never had a single hair cut since she was 18. She usually spends at least 40 minutes washing it, and over 10 minutes brushing her hair.

Even though the long hair at times made her life inconvenient, she has no plan to cut her hair and will continue keeping it. Link

Crazy Overloads

Link

NEC N704i, World's Thinnest 3G Handphone

With a mere thickness of 11.4mm and a light weight of 90g, the  handphone N704i from NEC is currently the world's thinnest 3G handset. Link

World's Largest Carp Caught in Thailand

On July 2, Thai angling guide Kik (R) caught what is believed to be the largest carp ever caught in the history of sport fishing. The giant Siamese carp he caught on the Bung Sam Lan Lake in Thailand using the newly custom-built fishing rod weighed 256 pounds or 120kg, even heavier than ex-British Deputy prime minister John Prescott!

Kik's boss, Jean-Francois Helias, who runs Fishing Adventures Thailand, said: "He hooked the catch of a lifetime that some anglers would sell their soul to the devil for."

Scroll down for one more picture.

Links Fish & Fly & theSun

Video: British Singer Lilly Allen Revealed That She Has Three Nipples!

On a recent British Television game show, the UK version of "Saturday Night Live", Lilly Allen revealed that she was blessed with a third nipple! In the video above, the Smile singer cupped her left breast, lifted it up out of her dress and proceeded to show off the said nipple. Links: Utube Laughter &TMZ & Youtube

Video: Theory Of Bra Size

A funny video unofficially explains the theory of bra size!

• Almost Boobs
• Barely Boobs
• Can't complain
• Dang
• Double Dang!
• Enormous
• Fake
• Get a reduction
• Help me.

via Geeker

Tags: bra size, funny video

A Big Carat Yellow Diamond Sold in China

A large yellow diamond, worth 10.88 million yuan, or over 1 million US dollars, is put on sale at the Paris Spring Plaza shopping mall in Qingdao, a port city in east China's Shangdong Province since July 16.

The diamond was crafted from 138-carat material extracted in the Congo, and was cut into sixty-one facets by an American diamond master cutter after three-month of laborious work.

The 20.58 carat precious yellow diamond is the largest currently on offer in China. Source: Chinanews

Tags: yellow diamond, china, qingdao, shandong, carat

Colombian Passenger Jet Slids Off Runway to Caribbean Sea

An Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Aero Republica  is seen after an emergency landing at Simon Bolivar airport in Santa Marta, about 1286 Km (800 miles) north of Bogota, Colombia July 17. The flight originating in Cali, slid halfway into the waters of Caribbean Sea when landing on the wet runway. The accident caused no mortality but injured at least 7 passengers. Link

Video: I'm Not There Movie Clip

This is a clip from the new Bob Dylan movie. It stars Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan and David Cross as Allen Ginsberg. I'm not There is expected to be premiered in September in USA. Source: Youtube

Tags: bob dylan, funny youtube video

Big-Eyed Guy Glazastik, The New Russian Internet Hero

From the website:

During the press conference of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, that took place on G8 summit, some young man started to throw out propaganda leaflets. This incident became very popular in the Russian part of the Internet. The reason of such popularity is neither the actions of the young activist, nor the smart reaction of the Mr. President. The reason was the man sitting in the conference hall (you can see him on the picture above). They called him Glazastik (Big-Eyed Guy). Below you can see the short video of this incident - see the guy with strange eyes behind the guy with leaflets, clear at 00.58 of the video. After the video was spread around Russian Internet many photoshopped versions of him appeared.

Check out the remaining hilarious pictures on English Russian. Previously, we featured Xiao Pang, a Chinese teenager who gains interenet celebrity status in the similar incident of photoshopped pictures, will possibly star in a Hollywood film.

Tags: glazastik, g8, putin, internet, photoshop, big-eyed guy

Video: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie Review

Link

Tags: harry potter, order of the Phoenix, movie review

Lewis Gordon Pugh, The First Person Swims at North Pole

On July 15, the 36-year-old Londoner and maritime lawyer Lewis Gordon Pugh became the first (British) person to swim at geographic North Pole. He swam a full kilometre in 18 minutes and 50 seconds at minus 1.8 Celcius degree - the coldest waters a human has ever swum in. When responding to the media interview, Pugh, dubbed as Human Polar Bear, said the swim was a triumph but it was a tragedy that it's possible to swim at the North Pole.

Scroll down for more pictures. ;Source: Dailymail via Utube Laughter

Tags: lewis gordon pugh, north pole, swim, global warming

Japanese Matsumoto Castle Replica Built With Old Money Notes

 From Japan Probe

Some folks at the Nagano branch of the Bank of Japan have created a 1/70 scale replica of Matsumoto Castle out of paper money. About 100 million yen [818,000 US dollars] of out of circulation 5,000 and 10,000 yen bills were used in its construction. The 70 centimeter tall replica was build to commerate the 100th anniversary of the creation of Matsumoto City.

Tags: matsumoto castle, japan, paper money

Diamond Star

BPM 37093 - a crystallised white dwarf in the constellation Centaurus is a diamond star which weighs 10 billion trillion trillion carats (approximately 1.1 times of the Sun's mass). This chunk of crystallised carbon is 4,000 km across and some 50 light-years from the Earth. It was named "Lucy" after the Beatles song, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Link

Tags: diamond, lucy, star, constellation, crystallised carbon

Transformers Movie Props: Allspark Cube Auctioned on eBay

As of 5:38am, July 16, the Allspark cube used in the film Transformers was bid for US$40,800 on eBay. Since still two days to close the auction, the final price is expected to grow higher. Link

Tags: transformers, allspark cube, ebay, auction

South China Tigers Trained in South Africa

Four-year-old South China tiger 327 (left), known only by his breeding registry number, meets Cathy for the first time July 12 at the David Tang Tiger Breeding Center in Philippolis outside Bloemfontein, South Africa. The tigers are two of four that were brought into the 33,000-hectare (81,540-acre) Laohu Valley Reserve in South Africa's Free State province since September 2003 to mix in a wild environment, breed and brush up on their hunting skills before being returned to their native habitat in China.

Source: Chinadaily

Tags: south china tiger, china, south africa

Panasonic's 261-centimetre Plasma TV

It's the world's largest plasma screen, 261 centimetres diagonally (2.4 metres by 1.4 metres), weighing 220 kilograms and costing $105,000 (excluding installation). Source: Smh via SN

Tags: panasonic, plasma tv, luxury

Giant Squid Washed Up in Australian Beach

A giant two-meter squid recently washed up on the shores of Tasmania's Ocean Beach. The picture shows the curator from Tasmanian Museum was then holding the squid carcass. Link

Video: Armless Dawn Larson Driving With Her Feet

Dawn Larson, an armless woman doesn't let her disability get in the way of succeeding in life, she drives without her hands but with her two feet. Sadly, the Illinois resident was once refused to be served by a drive-thru of McDonald in Rockford, USA.

Tags: armless woman, dawn larson, driving, feet

Japanese Human-faced Watermelon

The lifelike human-faced watermelon in Japan was produced by using the patented process. The farmers first make a frame and put a small watermelon in it, just like pouring metal in a mold. The watermelon fills the given shape as it grows. The similar way seems to have been used to produce the watermelons with olympic mascots Fuwa in China. Source: Pingmag

Tags: japan, watermelon

Meet Tina, World's Tallest Horse

Born to the extremely tall parents, the horse Tina  on a working farm named Springbrook Inn in Niota of Tennessee comes by her height naturally, which measures 20.1 hands, or nearly 7 feet at the shoulder. The 1,600-pound horse has already ousted the record held by Goliath, who measures 19 hands and lives on a working farm in Mount Pleasant, Texas.  Tina will be officially recognised as world's tallest horse after measured by representatives of the Guinness World Records on July 28. Source: Knbc

Tags: tina, tallest horse, guinness world records

Usher and Fiancee Tameka Foster to Marry

The R&B singer Usher and pregnant fiancee Tameka Foster is reportedly to wed in a secret ceremony at the end of this month. Link

World Tallest Living Man Bao Xi-shun Got Married!

This post should be my last post on world's tallest living man Bao Xi-shun's wedding after we have already featured five posts before. Xi-shun, 56, is a 2.36-metre (7 ft, 7 inches) herdsman officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the tallest living man in the world. His bride, Xia Shu-juan, is 29 years old and 1.68 metres (5 ft., 5 inches) tall. Their traditional Erdos Wedding Ceremony of minority Mongolian ethnic was held at Genghis Khan's Mausoleum, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region today.

Scroll down for more pictures.

Source: Xinhua & Chinadaily & Dailymail

Tags: bao xishun, wedding, xia shujuan, china, inner mongolia, world's tallest man

Comparison of Gas Consumption Per Day of US to Other Countries

(Click to enlarge the picture)

MyBabyMan writes in his recommendation of this graph on Economist to Digg

For anyone still confused about global politics, this pretty much sums it up.

So that's the reason why Bush wanted to Invade Iraq.

Tags: gas consumption, usa, gasoline

Actress Chen Hao Selected As Most Beautiful Woman in China

Mainland China actress Chen Hao has been chosen as the most beautiful woman in China in an online poll on Sina.com featuring more than one million voters.

The actress shot to fame for her role in TV series "Pink Ladies", which was adapted from Taiwan cartoonist Zhu Deyong's comic book. Chen Hao played one of the leading roles in "Pink Ladies" as a sexy and adorable lady that manipulates the guys. The drama later turned out to be a super hit all across Asia's Chinese community. 

It's my seven-year-old nephew who lets me got to know Chen Hao earlier this year when he told me that he 'loves' Chen Hao. =.=  Source: CRI

Tags: chen hao, china, actress, online poll, woman, sina

Bao Xi-shun Rehearses Erdos Wedding Ceremony

Bao Xi-shun, listed by the Guinness World Records as the tallest living man, took participation in a traditional Erdos Wedding Ceremony rehearsal at the Genghis Khan's Mausoleum on the outskirts of Erdos in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region July 10, 2007. Some days ago, the herdsman and his bride Xia Shu-juan were offered free wedding furniture.

Scroll down for more pictures.

Tags: bao xishun, tallest living man, erdos wedding, inner mongolia, china

China's Halfman Peng Shui-lin Now Walks With Prosthetic Legs

Doctors who treated the footless "basketball girl" Qian Hong-yan at the China Rehabilitation Research Centre in Beijing now again made miracles, their efforts have let halfman Peng Shui-lin be able to walk with two bionic legs that are attached to a sophisticated egg cup-like casing. What an indigenous way!

Peng was cut in two by a lorry in 1995, which caused him to have only 78cm (2ft 6in) tall upper body. It was little short of a medical miracle that he lived.

Link

Read also two other moved stories on Chinese armless woman Ren Ji-mei (video) and Japanese armless and feetless schoolteacher Hirotada Ototake.

Tags: china, halfman, peng shuilin, bionic leg, prosthetic leg

Xinjiang Electric Man Zhang Deke

Don't try like Mr. Zhang at your home!

Zhang Deke, 71, is a retired highway maintainer from Altay city of China’s westernmost Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He often charges himself with a 220-V electricity to run through his body as an “exercise” to keep fit. His body can conduct and control an electric current. The current after running through his body can bake a live fish in 2 minutes. He often helps his friends and relatives treat rheumatism, arthritis and lumbago, and it turned out to be quite effective.

On the evening of July 6, Zhang charged six 13-watt bulbs placed on his head and ears, with both of his hands grasping the live wire and naught wire and switched onto electricity. All the bulbs lit up, and he could also control their brightness. Zhang uses the current running through his body to help treat a friend of his with lumbago.

Scroll down for one more picture

Tags: zhang deke, xinjiang, electric current, china, lumbago

Runaway Wrecking Ball Rolls Into Student's Car Trunk

A  rare accident!

A runaway 1,500-pound wrecking ball barreled out of control for nearly a mile, causing damage and injury, reports CBS station KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.

The ball broke loose in Meadville, Pa., about 100 miles north of Pittsburgh, at the top of a hill where part of a library at Allegheny College was being demolished.

“The cable just snapped,” Meadville police officer Brian Joseph said. “It just so happened that it snapped at a point and time when the ball was outside the wall.”

The out of control ball hit parked cars and even bounced off the curb, before it rolled into the trunk of a student's car, ramming it into cars in front of it.

Alex Habay, the student at Allegheny College, tells KDKA-TV he has pain in his head, neck and back. He and two other people were released from the hospital.

Source & Video: CBS

Tags: wrecking ball, accident, pittsburgh, car trunk

Beijing Water Football Competition

Beijing football enthusiasts have a different way of beating the summer heat by playing water football matches within fountains within a 200-square-meter field at the ongoing water festival in Ditan Park.. While enjoying the cool brought by the water, they can also win a 10,000 yuan (US$1,319) reward. Source: CRI

Tags: beijing, water football competition, china, ditan park

Marilyn-Einstein Hybrid Picture

When you move five meters away from this page while still looking at the picture, you will find Marilyn Monroe behind Albert Einstein. The amazing picture, nicknamed Marilyn Einstein, is known as a hybrid image and was developed by neuroscientists Aude Oliva and Philippe Schyns at the University of Glasgow. It uses sharp and rough details to trick the brain.

Tags: marilyn Monroe, albert einstein, hybrid picture

Underwater Kissing Competition in Italian Resort

An underwater kissing competition was held in the Italian Adriatic resort town of Riccione on July 8. Claudia Petazzoni (L) and Fidel Rios in the above picture won the title. Quite like the idea to stay cool in a hot summer!

Scroll down for one more picture.

Source: Xinhua

Tags: underwater kiss, italy, riccione, stay cool, summer

Condom Suit Show in Beijing

A condom suit show will be presented at the upcoming 4th China Reproductive Health New Technologies and Products Expo on Wednesday July 11 in Beijing's Exhibition Center.

The show, the first ever such fashion show by China's largest condom manufacturer, Guilin Latex Factory, will feature wedding gowns, evening dresses, and bikinis among around 70 condom artworks made by the company's employees.

The condom maker hopes the exhibition will promote the use of condoms for the purpose of HIV/AIDS prevention in China.

Scroll down for three more pictures. 

Source: CRI

Tags: condom, exhibition, reproductive health, hiv/aids prevention

Euro Notes Falls from Sky in Small German Town

This rare scene happened on July 5 in a small western German town called Worms on July 5.

A German motorist surprised by euro notes swirling in the air around her car hit the brakes and collected a "substantial amount of money" before turning it over to police, authorities in Worms said on Thursday.

A police spokesman in the small western town said the 24-year-old woman saw the money flying through the air in her rear view mirror late on Wednesday. She pulled over and tried to collect all the notes, unsuccessfully.

When police went with her to the scene they could not find any more cash.

A spokesman at Worms city hall said police were withholding details on the exact sum and location of the find in the hope of learning more about the money's origin.

Sources: People & SMH

Tags: german, small town, euro notes, worms, fall

Man Walks While Balancing Basketball and Water on Head

Gong Haitao, a 40-year-old man from south China's Hunan province, has developed an amazing ability: walking for a long distance with a basketball plus 25 glasses of water on top of his head.

It was reported that Mr. Gong picked up the unique training when he was eight. At the very beginning, he would only carry one glass of water on the basketball on his head. Now he can carry the ball plus 25 glasses of water on his head and walk around a downtown park for at least 4 to 5 rounds.

The man is currently preparing to apply that skill of his for a Guinness World Record. Source: CRI

Tags: gong haitao, hunan, stunt, china, basketball, water cup

Hong Kong Issues Ten Dollar Polymer Notes

Hong Kong government formally launched 50 million Hong Kong ten dollar polymer notes on Monday, July 9, 2007.

It is reported the new note is cleaner, more durable, more secure and environmentally-friendly than the existing legal tender notes.

The first ever polymer bill in Hong Kong is supposed to be cleaner than paper bill, since the polymer substrate is much less porous than paper. Also, the polymer can be recycled after use.

While retaining some of the security features of the existing purple $10 paper note, the new note incorporates four newly visible security features specific to polymer notes:

• A Clear window with a numeral 10;
• A watermark-like image of the bauhinia flower, integrated into the clear window;
• A watermark-like image of the numeral 10, which is visible when viewed with background light;
• The image of a ribbon on the clear window, whose color changes between pink and purple when the note is tilted.

It is Hong Kong's Monetary Authority who have printed the new 10-Hong Kong-dollar bill while HSBC Hong Kong is in charge of distributing them to other banks throughout the city.

The new bill will circulate alongside the existing paper notes and coins, both of which will remain legal tender.

Financial Secretary Henry Tang said that the issue of polymer notes with different values will be considered if the new bill is accepted by the public. Source: CRI

Tags: hong kong, polymer, paper money note, HSBC

Samsung P318 Gold Cellphone for Beijing Olympics

From Akihabara

The special edition P318+ is cased in 18k gold to reflect all of the winners at the 2008 Olympics. If you decide to pick one of these hefty phones up, you can expect some Olympics wallpapers, ringtones and video clips... In terms of specs, check out the Samsung P310 -- it's basically the same thing with gold.

Tags: samsung, p318, gold cellphone, beijing olympics, luxury

Video: Estonian Win Wife-Carrying Crown

In the world wife-carrying championships held in the the Finnish town of Sonkajarvi,  Estonians took gold and silver in the competition.

The race, the 12th time this year, is intended to evoke the spirit of a legendary Finnish brigand, Rosvo-Ronkainen, who made those who wanted to join his gang run through a forest carrying heavy sacks on their backs.

In the modern version, couples race along a 250m track, tackling a pool and several hurdles, with the men carrying the women on their backs.

Estonian Madis Uusorg finished first, in a time of 61.7 seconds, despite having Inga Klauson on his back upside-down with her legs around his neck.

The winning couple received plasma televisions and Klauson's weight, 49 kg, in beer. 

Source: News Australia & Live Leak via Uniquedaily

Tags: wife-carrying, finland, estonian

World's Tallest Man Bao Xi-shun Gets Free Wedding Bed

We already have three posts about the wedding of world's tallest man, Bao Xi-shun and her wife Xia Shu-jian. The lastest news is that the couple was offered free wedding furniture from Quan'U (全友家私) a furniture company based in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia. The first and third picture in this post were secretively taken by some a journalist when he/she was then visiting the company for the report. The remaining pictures show either the sketch of Xi-shun's other weddding furniture, or the Quan'U company was delivering the items.

Bao Xishun, 56, 7ft 9ins tall, of Inner Mongolia, China, is to marry 5ft 6ins tall Xia Shujuan, 29, July 12.

But they feared they would not be able to live together as they couldn't find furniture big enough for their new apartment, reports Zhejiang Online.

"After an exhaustive search and with the help of friends, a furniture company finally agreed to make us a whole set of furniture," says Bao happily.

"The most important piece is the bed, since I broke two beds before, and some people started to call me 'Break two beds'."

The new bed is 9ft long and 7ft wide: "I hope I won't break this one also," added Bao.

Source: Ananova & Bao Xi-shun Blog

Tags: bao xishun, xia shujuan, wedding furniture, bed, inner mongolia, china

Roger Federer Wins Fifth Wimbledon Title

He beat three-time French Open champion Spaniard Rafael Nadal 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-2 for his 54th straight victory on the grass court.

After Federer finally overcame Rafael Nadal in the five-set epic July 8 to win his fifth consecutive championship at the All England Club and 11th Grand Slam title overall, he tied Bjorn Borg on both counts. Source: Philly & Chinadaily

Tags: roger federer, rafael nadal, wimbledon, tennis, bjorn borg

Jack Allen Falkner Is A 7+7+7+7+7 Lucky Baby

From Forbes

The son of Dan and Leslie Falkner was born July 7, 2007, considered by many the luckiest day of the century.

But Jack's luck didn't stop there. The infant weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

The number seven is considered lucky by gamblers, numerologists and the slew of couples who chose Saturday as their wedding date. If the string of sevens in that date makes for auspicious associations, the extra digits in his weight could bode that much better for the infant.

"He's doing very well," said his father, a diesel technician at Eau Claire Machine and Volvo.

Picture source: www.wittydomainname.com

Tags: 7, lucky baby, numerology, seven

Video: Sexy French Maids - How to Barter Online

The Funny but Smoking Hot Girls of French Maid TV explain how to trade your old DVD’s and CD’s in for ones you do want.

Tags: funny video, french maids, dvd, cd

Louis Palmer Starts World Journey With Solartaxi

Swiss adventurer Louis Palmer arrives with his solartaxi in Berlin July 9, 2007. Palmer started for his 50,000 km (31,068.56 miles) journey, which will go through 50 countries and five continents, on June 2 in Lucerne, Switzerland. The solartaxi, which can travel at a maximum speed of 90 km/h (55 mph) on its three wheels, is powered 100 percent by solar energy obtained through the vehicle, which includes a trailer on the back with solar cells.

Though the 35-year-old schoolteacher's motivation was not to make the vehicle commercially viable, he does want people tp think about their energy use and look at sustainable ways of transportation.

Scroll down for three pictures.

Sources: The Age & Solartaxi

Tags: solartaxi, louis palmer, global warming, solar energy

Cars Form Olympic Rings

107 cars form an Olympic logo and the numerals of "2008" in Haidian District, Beijing on July 7, 2007, like those who formed the logo in Kumtaq Desert, to welcome the forthcoming Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Update: Known from Chinadaily, the car is Chinese automaker Chery's QQ: a car that dances to fashion beats. It is like you: young, peppy and cool. Wherever you are heading, QQ oozes personality and sparkle. It is just for loads of fun!

Tags: beijing 2008, olympic logo, car, china

Woman Dies After Falling into Nyiragongo Volcano Crater

Zheng Zhaoyin (郑兆茵, Passport No. HA 9105536) , 34, a tourist from China's Hong Kong, fell into the crater of Volcano Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo at the afternoon of July 7. 

The UN mission in Congo (MONUC) sent a rescue team by helicopter right after the incident, but they couldn't find her because of the lack of visibility.

On July 8, the MONUC team discovered the body of Zheng, which was some 200 meters below the crater, much higher than the originally thought 1200-meter-deep molten lava lake.

An official of Chinese Embassy in DRC pledged full efforts to help the victim's family and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in dealing with the accident's aftermath.

Nyiragongo, with an elevation of 3,469 meters, is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Africa. It last erupted in 2002.

So, please be more careful if you are travelling in the same area.

Sources: Xinhua & Sh'aidaily & ABC

Tags: Hong Kong, tourist, Nyiragongo Volcano, congo, accident

Tian Chua's Najib-Razak-Altantuya Shaariibuu Satirical Photomontage

Malaysian opposition party Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information head Tian Chua doctored the picture above showing the country's deputy prime minister Najib Razak having dinner together with the political advisor Abdul Razak Baginda and his Mongolian mistress Altantuya Shaariibuu. 

Altantuya was allegedly murdered and exploded using C4 explosives by two elite police bodyguards who had protected Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak under remand of Baginda in October, 2006 .

The murder trial has undergone more than 2 weeks in Malaysia, and Najib denied any involvement of the incidents. The picture is based on the statement of Burmaa Oyunchimeg who testified in court that she had seen a photo of Najib and Abdul Razak Baginda having dinner with her cousin Altantuya. Link

Tags: Malaysia Altantuya Shaariibuu, Abdul Razak Baginda, Najib Razak

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Aircraft Rolled Out

Today Boeing unveiled its first fully assembled 787 Dreamliner to an audience of more than 15, 000 who packed into its widebody assembly plant in Everett, near Seattle of Washington State for the plane's extravagantly orchestrated premiere .

The Dreamliner, Boeing's first new model in 13 years, takes advantage of the huge advances made in aviation technology in the past decade, was designed using high-tech plastic composites instead of aluminum and is capable of flying long-haul routes using up to 20 percent less fuel.

Up to 50 percent of the primary structure of the plane -- including the fuselage and wing -- are made of composites such as carbon-fiber, which reduce the weight of the planes.

The first 787 test flight is expected to take place between late August and late September.

The plane is set to enter commercial service next May after Japan's All Nippon Airways receives the first of the 50 Dreamliners it has ordered.

The 787-8, the first of three 787 models Boeing has committed to making, has an average list price of $US162 million ($A189 million), though customers typically negotiate discounts on bulk orders.

Scroll down for more pictures.

Source: SMH CRI Boeing China

Tags: boeing 787, dreamliner, green, eco-friendly, feuel efficiency

What Not to Do in the Public Restroom

The picture says it all! via Digg

Tags: cool picture, toilet manner

World's First Bikini Hair Salon Opens in Virginia

World's first bikini hair salon called Heaven opens in Virginia since 10 October, 2006. All the hairdressers in the salon are pretty young women in bikini. It must have attracted huge male customers!

Scroll down for more pictures.

Source: Netease via uniquedaily & funny pictures

Tags: bikini, hair salon, young woman, vigirnia

Taiwan Chef Serves Deep Fried Twitching Fish

As I still remembered, when I was only a teenager in the earlier of 90s, China's CCTV cooking program once featured an episode on how to make such yin yang dish. Wow, don't expect that even until now this dish is still popular in Taiwan and China .

The chef [in the southern city of Chiayi] presents the carp with its body cooked and covered with sweet and sour sauce, the newspaper United Daily News said.

"When eaters pick the fresh meat with their chopsticks, they can watch the fish's stirring mouth," the paper continued.

Tags: yin yang fish, carp, taiwan, china, chef, cuisine

Switzerland Recreated from LEGO Bricks

At first glance, I believe the buildings are just parts of an amusement park, but there are not.

The brick masters are at it again, and this time, they've recreated Switzerland in LEGO.

Check out more photos at TechEblog

Tags: lego, switzerland, brick master

Venus Williams Claims 4th Wimbledon Title

 The rank of 31 didn't hamper the determination of Venus Williams to beat her competitors with higher ranks in Center Court. So she has won every game using her golden racket she can win and became the lowest-seeded woman in Wimbledon history (23rd) to lift up the champion's trophy.

In defeating unlikely finalist Marion Bartoli of France, 6-4, 6-1, Venus Williams won her fourth Wimbledon title. And in doing so, she joined Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf as the only women to have won the sport's most prestigious title four times.

She earned another distinction in the process, becoming the first woman in Wimbledon history to earn prize money equal to the men's champion.

Congrats! Venus!

Links: WP & Photo: Reuters

Intercourse Village in Pensylvania

Never anticipate there is a village having so weird a name!

Intercourse, Pennsylvania (pop. roughly 1,000) is an unincorporated village in Leacock Township, Lancaster County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The village is located within the 17534 ZIP code, 717 area code, and 768 local phone code.

As with the nearby towns of Blue Ball and Paradise, Pennsylvania, Intercourse is a popular site for tourists on account of its name, which in modern times has acquired sexual connotations. Sign posts for the town are frequently targeted by thieves.

Besides its name, Intercourse is also famous for its Amish communities. For this reason the movie Witness was filmed in Intercourse and For Richer or Poorer was set there, though not filmed in Intercourse.

Tags: intercourse village, pennsylvania, usa, weird

Schwarzenegger Super Cows

The most muscled cow I ever see.

Belgian Blue Beef are famous for their "double muscling" due to a gene that suppresses the production of Myostatin.

Myostatin is a protein that normally inhibits muscle growth after a certain point of development. Pure Belgian Blue carry two copies of the gene.

Scientists have already inhibited the Myostatin Gene in mice and are working on blocking the gene in humans in order to treat muscle wasting diseases.

See more photos on Built Report

Tags: belgian blue beef, bovine, cow, myostatin gene

46 Words Women Might Say, Men Probably Wouldn't

From BBC

Researchers in the US have laid waste to the long-held belief that women talk more than men.

But the survey did find that female subjects get through an average of 16,215 words a day, compared with their male counterparts' 15,669, a difference of 546.

So what might those words be? The Magazine has consulted a handful of females, and come up with a few suggestions of words - 46 to be precise (listed below).

• Book club: A female dominated affair, perhaps because women read more fiction, or perhaps because men aren't very good at talking about it
• Accessorise: If men were ever to use this word it would only be in the context of cars
• Body image
• Empowering: Men never use this word, perhaps because for the 200,000 years humans have been on the planet, men have had all the power
• Burlesque: Something involving strip-tease that can apparently involve the above
• Size zero
• Home birth
• Pilates: Men in the UK, particularly, seem to have no interest in building up their core strength
• Pomegranate: Men seem ill-equipped to understand the significance and full range of superfoods
• Cellulite
• Absolutely beautiful: The words women often use to describe friends who are not
• Conventionally attractive: Preceded by "well I suppose she is...", a phrase women often use to describe those who actually are
• Jesse Metcalfe: A walking Athena poster, see above
• Footless tights: Strange idea, strangely popular
• Breastfeeding
• Emotional intelligence: Something that men usually do not possess, instead preferring the kind of intelligence that involves dates of battles
• Kitten heels: Or indeed heels of any other kind
• What are you thinking?: The classic female condition check
• Feminism: If even veteran feminists can't agree on what this means then it's probably best avoided by men
• Afghanistan: A place where the debate is rather starker
• Agony aunt: When men seek answers to life-changing problems in magazines, it tends to be under the headline "plasma or LCD?"
• Airbrushing: The process by which magazine picture editors oppress women in an underhand way
• Flexible working
• Handbagging: As in new Commons leader Harriet Harman's request to Theresa May not to savage her every Thursday
• Beefeater: The first female one made her debut this year
• Babies
• Superwoman
• Ms: Extraordinarily, the battle continues for women to be allowed to avoid definition by their marital status
• Middleton: As in Kate. Style icon or harassed paparazzo target?
• Concealer
• Why: As in "why do you never call?"

Tags: word, woman, man, vocabulary

Unique Wheel Computer

Cool! A fully-functional computer in the shape of a wheel completes with LEDs and CD-ROM drive. Link

Tags: computer, wheel

Video: World First Cellphone Ad

World's first cellphone advertisement is the one aired in 1989 for Centel (now a subsidiary of Sprint) with the theme of "Where People Connect". Ummm, at the time the handphone is as large as a brick!

Tags: advertisment, cellphone, youtube video

Pure Gold Hello Kitty Name Card