Interesting Fun Stuff to Cheer you up

Jerome Murat

2009-04-27T15:05:00.002+08:00

Rarely Seen Cloud Formations

2009-02-18T20:00:00.025+08:00

There seems to be no end to strange cloud formations! From Punch hole clouds
to cloud vortices, enjoy these rarely seen cloud formations!

Punch Hole Clouds may appears a circular or oval holes in a layer of supercooled clouds;
sometimes they assume a form of a perfect circle and persist for quite a long time,
drifting together with the cloud layer. One explanation seems to blame the air traffic
(the jet contrail intersections) combined with a thermal inversion (a circular motion
of a rising warm air). Here is one observed over the Gunnison Valley in Colorado.

Another strange hole in the cloud, reported from Mobile, Alabama, USA. Dec, 2003
(and covered by BBC news)

Photo taken in Melbourne, Australia in 2003.

It seems both rising and sinking air currents can create the same effect. Sometimes
a very stable, uniform layer of high-altitude clouds can get "punched through" by
a pocket of cold air, which sinks toward the ground - creating the circular hole formation.

These "cloud holes" can look like the footprints of some celestial being
or can be amazingly round, like this pair observed in Gallatin, Tennessee
by Wayne Carter.

NASA Terra Satellite equipped with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
(MODIS) has captured these images over Acadiana area in southern Louisiana - a splattering
of round holes actually stretched over several states: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and
Texas. Some were elongated, some appeared to have smaller clouds inside them.

Cloud Vortices: another "holey" sky phenomena..
Theodore von Karman's "Cloud Vortices" are something else, again : they form
when the wind encounters a barrier - such as the Aleutian islands , in this case -
and the flowing eddies of cloud create a weird pattern. The image you see below
was photographed from the International Space Station, and the animation shows
the double row of vortices, which rotate opposite from each other.

Extremely strong thunderstorm cloud brewing over northwest Calgary

Another supercell cloud in Alberta skies, this time over Edmonton.

"Mushroom"?

Another cloud "wave".....

Roll Clouds....get into a small plane and start surfing them....

A Cloud Angel

2 light-sabers get crossed in the sky

A fire breathing "rabbit-dragon" ...and a fantastic cloud edge..

A "Genie", coming out of a bottle...

Spectacular Lenticulars in the morning light.....

....and a whole "pancake" stack of them, over at mount Rainier in Washington

Stormy

An interesting Rainbow effect

Nacreous Clouds

Prepare to get squashed, Earthlings!

Pretty Clever

2009-02-17T20:00:00.001+08:00

This has got to be one of the best I've received in a while.
Someone out there is deadly at Scrabble.
(Wait till you see the last one)!

DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM

PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION: When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES: !
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE :
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER

Painted Bathroom Floor & Ceiling...

2009-02-16T20:00:00.001+08:00

This is a ceiling mural in a smoker's lounge.

Imagine you are at a party on the 10th floor of a high rise building.....
and then you have to visit the bathroom...
you open the door.....

Only In Pakistan

2009-02-13T20:00:00.011+08:00

Late for work...in Hong Kong.

2009-02-12T19:32:00.002+08:00

Budget Cuts...

2009-01-27T20:00:00.005+08:00

Due to Budget Cuts, this is your new cubicle...

Gong Xi Fa Cai...Happy Chinese New Year

2009-01-26T10:07:00.005+08:00

Guess What is this.....

2009-01-15T20:00:00.009+08:00

Mini Protection ' G LOVE'....

Guess what?

Take a look… Does it look familiar to you?

Open it… 2cm!

OMG … this is ….

Size?? Come on, SO SMALL???

LOL…this is PDA Screen Protection G love!
What were you thinking of?

LOL … Funny right???

I knew what you were thinking of, you naughty fellow.

Wonderful Creations 2

2009-01-14T20:00:00.008+08:00

Financial Planning - A lesson to learn

2009-01-13T20:00:00.002+08:00

VERY IMPORTANT FACTS from your Financial Adviser!!

Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business.

When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed a wife with which to share his fortune.

One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Her natural beauty took his breath away. "I may look like just an ordinary man," he said to her, but in just a few years, my father will die, and I'll inherit $200 million."

Impressed, the woman obtained his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.

Women are so much better at financial planning than men.

Sidewalk Pictures

2009-01-12T20:00:00.043+08:00

Hotel bill

2009-01-11T09:33:00.005+08:00

Next time you think your hotel bill is too high you might want to consider this...

A husband and wife are traveling by car from Brisbane to Melbourne .

After almost ten hours on the road, they're too tired to continue and they decide to stop for a rest. They stop at a nice hotel and take a room, but they only plan to sleep for four hours and then get back on the road.

When they check out four hours later, the desk clerk; hands them a bill for $450.00.

The man explodes and demands to know why the charge is so high. He tells the clerk although it's a nice hotel; the rooms certainly aren't worth $450.00.

When the clerk tells him $450.00 is the standard rate, the man insists on speaking to the Manager.

The Manager appears, listens to the man, and then explains that the hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference centre that were available for the husband and wife to use.

'But we didn't use them,' the man complains........

'Well, they are here, and you could have,' explains the Manager. He goes on to explain they could have taken in one of the shows for which the hotel is famous. 'The best entertainers from New York , Hollywood , and Las Vegas perform here,' the Manager says.

'But we didn't! go to any of those shows, 'complains the man again.
'Well, we have them, and you could have,' the Manager replies.

No matter what amenity the Manager mentions the man replies, 'But we didn't use it!'

The Manager is unmoved, and eventually the man gives up and agrees to pay.
He writes a cheque and gives it to the Manager.

The Manager is surprised when he looks at the cheque. 'But sir,' he says, 'this cheque is only made out for $50.00.'

'That's correct,' says the man. 'I charged you $400 for sleeping with my wife.'

'But I didn't!' exclaims the Manager.

'Well, too bad,' ! the man replies. 'She was here and you could have!'

Thailand Museum of Death

2009-01-08T21:19:00.025+08:00

SPEED Control in Denmark

2009-01-05T20:00:00.000+08:00

Employee/Employer communication on pay rise

2009-01-02T20:00:00.001+08:00

One day an employee sends a letter to his boss asking for an increase in his salary !!!

Dear Bo$$

In thi$ life, we all need $ome thing mo$t de$perately. I think you $hould be under$tanding the need$of u$.We are worker$who have given $o much $upport including $weat and $ervice to your company ..
I am $ure you will gue$$what I meant and re$pond $oon.

Your$$incerely,

The next day, the employee received this letter of reply:

Dear

I kNOw you have been working very hard. NOw a days, NOthing much has changed. You must haveNOticed that our company is NOt doing NOticably well . NOw the newspapers are saying the world's leading ecoNOmists are NOt sure if the United States may go into aNOther recession. After the NOvember presidential elections things may turn bad. I have NOthing more to add NOw. You kNOw what I mean .

---- Your Boss.

Top 10 Most Expensive Accidents in History

2008-12-31T20:00:00.013+08:00

Throughout history, humans have always been prone to accidents. Some, such as the exotic car crashes, can be very expensive but that's trivial compared to the truly expensive accidents. An accident is identified as "an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss". Our aim is to list the Top 10 most expensive accidents in the history of the world as measured in dollars.
This includes property damage and expenses incurred related to the accident such as cleanup and industry losses. Many of these accidents involved casualties which obviously cannot be measured in dollar terms. Each life lost is priceless and is not factored into the equation. Deliberate actions such as war or terrorism and natural disasters do not qualify as accidents and therefore are not included in this list.

No:10. Titanic - US$150 Million. The sinking of he Titanic is possibly the most famous accident in the world. But it barely makes our list of top 10 most expensive. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and was considered to be the most luxurious ocean liner ever built. Over 1500 people lost their lives when the ship ran into an iceberg and sunk in frigid waters. The ship cost $7 Million to built ($150 Million in today's dollars).

No:9. Tanker Truck vs Bridge - US$358 Million. On August 26, 2004, a car collided with a tanker truck containing 32000 liters of fuel on the Wiehltal Bridge in Germany. The tanker crashed through the guardrail and fell 90 feet off he A4 Autobahn resulting in a huge explosion and fire which destroyed the load-bearing ability of the bridge. Temporary repairs cost $40 Million and the cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $138 Million.

No:8. Metrolink Crash - US$500 Million. On September 12, 2008, in what was one of the worst train crashes in California history, 25 people were killed when a Metrolink comuter train crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train in Los Angeles. It is thought that the Metrolink train may have run a red signal while the conductor was busy text messaging. Wrongful deadth lawsuits are expected to cause $500 Million in losses for Metrolink.

No:7. B-2 Bomber Crash - US$1.4 Billion. Here we have our first Billion dollar accident (and we're only at No.7 on the list). This B-2 Stealth Bomber crashed shortly after taking off from an air base in Guam on february 23, 2008. Investigators blamed distorted data in the flight control computers caused by moisture in the system. This resulted in the aircraft making a sudden nose-up move which made the B-2 stall and crash. This was 1 of only 21 ever built and was the most expensive aviation accident in history. Both pilots were able to eject to safety.

No:6. Exxon Valdez - US$2.5 Billion. The Exxon Valdez oil spill was not a large one in relation to the world's biggest oil spills, but a costly one due to the remote location of Prince William Sound (accessible only by helicopter and boat). On March 24, 1989, 10.8 million gallons of oil was spilled when the ship's master, Joseph Hazelwood, left the controls and the ship crashed into a reef. The cleanup cost Exxon $2.5 Billion.

No:5. Piper Alpha Oil Rig - US$3.4 Billion. The world's worst off-shore oil disaster. At one time, it was the world's single largest oil producer, spewing out 317000 barrels of oil per day. On July 6, 1988, as part of routine maintenance, technicians removed and checked safety valves which were essential in preventing dangerous build-up of liquid gas. There were 100 identical safety valves which were checked. Unfortunately, he technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace one of them. At 10 pm that same night, a technician pressed a start button for the liquid gas pumps and the world's most expensive oil rig accident was set in motion. Within 2 hours, the 300 foot platform was engulfed in flames. It eventually collapsed, killing 167 workers and resulting in $3.4 Billion in damages.

No:4. Challenger Explosion - US$5.5 Billion. The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after takeoff due on January 28, 1986 due to a faulty O-ring. It failed to seal one joint, allowing pressurized gas to reach the outside. This in turn caused the external tank to dump its payload of liquid hydrogen causing a massive explosion. The cost of replacing the Space Shuttle was $2 Billion in 1986 ($4.5 Billion in today's dollars). The cost of investigation, problem correction, and replacement of lost equipment cost $450 Million from 1986 - 1987 ($1 Billion in today's dollars).

No:3. Prestige Oil Spill - US$12 Bilion. On November 13, 2002, the Prestige oil tanker was carrying 77000 tons of heavy fuel oil when one of its twelve tanks burst during a storm off Galicia, Spain. Fearing that the ship would sink, the captian called for help from Spanish rescue workers, expecting them to take the ship into harbor. However, pressure from local authorities forced the captain to steer the ship away from the coast. The captain tried to get help from the French and Portuguese authorities, but they too ordered he ship away from their shores. The storm eventually too its toll on the ship resulting in the tanker splitting in half and releasing 20 million gallons oil into the sea. According to a report by the Pontevedra Economist Board, the total cleanup cost $12 Billion.

No:2. Space Shuttle Columbia - US$13 Billion. The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space worthy shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. It was destroyed during re-entry over Texas on February 1, 2003 after a hole was punctured in one of he wings during launch 16 days earlier. The original cost of the shuttle was $2 Billion in 1978. That comes out to $6.3 Billion in today's dollars. $500 Million was spent on the investigation , making it the costliest aircraft accident investigation in history. The search and recovery of debris cost $300 Million. In the end, the total cost of the accident (not including replacement of the shuttle) came out to $13 Billion according to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

No:1. Chernobyl - US$200 Billion. On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed the costliest accident in history. The Chernobyl disaster has been called the biggest socio-economic catastrophe in peacetime history. 50% of the area of Ukraine is in some way contaminated. Over 200000 people had to be evacuated and resettled while 1.7 million people were directly affected by the disaster. The death attributed to Chernobyl, including people who died from cancer years later, is estimated at 125000. The total cost including cleanup, resettlement, and compensation to victims has been estimated to be roughly 200 billion. The cost of a new steel shelter for the Chernobyl nuclear plant will cost 2 billion alone. The accident was officially attributed to power plant operators who violated plant procedures and were ignorant of the safety requirements needed.

Amazing Aerial View

2008-12-30T20:00:00.016+08:00

Icebreaker Louis Saint Laurent in Resolute Bay, Nunavut Territory, Canada.

Workers resting on bales of cotton, Thonakaha, Korhogo, Ivory Coast. Cotton crops occupy approximately 335000 square kilometers worldwide, and use nearly one quarter of all pesticides sold.

Sand dune in the heart of vegetation on Fraser island, Queensland, Australia. Fraser Island, named after Eliza Fraser, who was shipwrecked on the island in 1836, is the world's largest sand island. On top of this rather infertile substanum, a humid tropical forest has developed in the midst of which wide dunes intrude, moving with the wind. Fraser Island has important water resources, including nearly 200 freshwater dune lakes, and has varied fauna such as marsupials, birds, and reptiles. Welcoming 200000 visitors a year without damaging the local fauna nad flora is a real challenge to sustainable development on the island, which was declared a World Heritage site by Unesco in 1992.

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix basilica in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. In 1983, Yamoussoukro replaced Abidjan as the official capital of Ivory Coast. President Felix Houphouet-Boigny, who died in 1993, made his native village into a modern city with a grid of wide avenues - which are almost deserted - and every modern facility: international airport, luxury hotels, golf course, prestigious universities, and so forth. Yamoussoukro also boasts the world's biggest basilica, Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix (Our Lady of Peace), consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1990. The former president, who donated this buiding to the Vatican, insisted that he had financed the basilica's cost out of his own personal fortune. This building was seen as a colossal waste by many Ivorians. It was highly controversial in a country that lacks schools and hospitals and has only nine doctors for every 100000 inhabitants (compared to 413 in Norway).

Flock of sheep, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. After the missionary period, between gold fever and the first drillings for oil, sheep-raising became the chief activity in the north of the main island, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. The local cabanas (sheep pastures) are huge sheep farms with 3.5 acres of land per head of livestock.

Tree of life, Tsavo national park, Kenya. This acacia is a symbol of life in the vast expanses of thorny savanna, where wild animals come to take advantage of its leaves or its shade. Tsavo National Park in southeastern Kenya, crossed by the Nairobi-Mombasa road and the railway axis, is the country's largest protected area (8200 square miles, or 21000 square kilometers) and was declared a national park in 1948.

Elephants in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The Okavango Delta is the world's largest inland delta, flooding seasonally, and is populated by five ethnic groups of people, sharing it with hundreds of species of animals.

Iraqi tank graveyard in the desert near Al Jahrah, Kuwait. This graveyard of tanks will bear witness for many years to the damages that war causes both to the environment and to human health. In 1991, during the first Gulf War, a milliom depleted uranium shells were fired at Iraqi forces, spreading toxic, radioactive dust for miles around. Such dust is known to have lasting effects on the environment and to cause various forms of cancer and other serious illnesses among humans.

Village in the Rheris Valley, Er Rachidia region, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco. Fortified villages are frequently seen along the valley of the Rheris, as they are on most rivers of southern Morocco, inspired by the Berber architecture buikt to protect against invaders. Today, with the threat of raids now gone, the close clustering of dwellings, small windows, and roofs covering houses and narrow streets serve the purpose of protecting occupants from heat and dust. The flat, connecting roofs also provide a place for drying crops.

The Athabasca Oil Sands, Alberta, Canada. These oil deposits make up the largest reservoir of crude bitumen in the world, and as recently as 2006, produced over 1 million barrels of crude oil per day.

Road interrupted by a sand dune, Nile Valley, Egypt. Dunes cover nearly one-third of the Sahara, and the highest, in linear form, can attain a height of almost 1000 feet (300m). Barchans are mobile, crescent-shaped dunes that move in the direction of the prevailing wind at rates as high as 33 feet (10m) pe year, sometimes even covering infrastructures such as this road in the Nile Valley.

Tea cultivation in Corrientes province, Argentina. The fertility of the red soil and the regular rains of the Corrientes region create the ideal conditions for the cultivation of tea. In an effort to protect the soil against erosion, tea is planred along curved terraces and protected from the wind by hedges. Unlike Asian and African countries, where the young sprouts are handpicked, in Argentina mechanical harvesting is the rule, done mainly with high-clearance tractors that are driven along the straight rows of tea bushes.

Icebergs and an Adelie penguin, Adelie Land, Antartica. Antartica, the sixth continent, is a unique observation point for atmospheric and climatic phenomena; its ancient ice, which trapped air when it was formed, contains evidence of he Earth's climate as it has changed and developed over the past millions of years.

American cemetery north of Verdun, Meuse, France. Covering some 40 hectares (100 acres) at Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, 40 kilimeters (25 miles) from Verdun, the American cemetery was dedicated in 1935 by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission was created in 1923 at the request of General Pershing, who had taken part in the American offensive of 1918. Its aim was to undertake architectual and landscape studues in ordr to restructure American cemeteries and commemorative monuments in Europe. Whereas the French army chose to build permanent cemetaries where temporary cemeteries had been made during the hostilities, the American army opted to create a single cemetery. Some 25000 American tombs scattered around Verdun were then brought together at Romagne where, afte almost half the bodies were repatriated to American soil, 14246 soldiers have lain ever since.

Islet in the Sulu Archipelago, Philippines. More than 6,000 of the 7100 Philippine Islands are uninhabited, like this islet in the Sulu Archipelago, a set of 500 islands that separate the Celebes and the Sulu seas. Their extraordinary biodiversity is under threat, not from distant industrial sites but from the effects of global pollution. These islands, which barely rise above the surface of he water, are among the first potential victims of global warming and are certain to dissapear when the sea level rises.

More nice & humorous pictures

2008-12-29T20:00:00.011+08:00

OK girls, just follow me...I won't let anything happen to you.

That was the funniest joke I ever heard!!!

Weeds and flowers thriving together..Gee whatta harmony..

Look me in the eye, and believe me when I say "I did not eat that mouse"

Who? Us?..We've been in the back of the truck the whole time....

OK, now on three...say "acorn".

To think they took a rocket to get there... It would have been so much easier by rail!

If you cross this line...Oh, will you be sorry!

Sights you may not see in a lifetime

2008-12-26T11:45:00.023+08:00

Christmas Trees...Around the World

2008-12-22T20:00:00.048+08:00

Before the Ball drops in Times Square...the Big Apple turns on its Holiday Charm with the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.

The Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington DC is decorated with 3000 ornaments that are the handiwork of US school children. Encircling evergreens in the 'Pathway of Peace' represent the 50 US States.

The world's largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes of Monte ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy's Umbria region. Composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire, the 'tree' is a modern marvel for an ancient city.

A Christmas tree befitting Tokyo's night time neon display is projectd onto the exterior of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka.

Illuminating the Gothic facades of Prague's Old Town Square, and casting its glow over the manger display of the famous Christmas market, it a grand tree cut in the Sumava mountains in the southern Czech Republic.

Venice's Murano Island renowned throughout the world for its quality glasswork is home to the tallest glass tree in the world. Sculpted by master glass blower Simone Cenedese, the artistic Christmas tree is a modern reflection of the holiday season.

Moscow celebrates Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox calendar on Jan. 7. For weeks beforehand, the city is alive with festivities in anticipation of Father Frost's arrival on his magical troika with the Snow Maiden. He and his helper deliver gifts under the New Year tree, or yolka, which is traditionally a fir.

The largest Christmas tree in Europe (more than 230 feet tall) can be found in the Praca do Comercio in Lisbon, Portugal. Thousands of lights adorn the tree, adding to the special enchantment of the city during the holiday season.

'Oh Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree'. Even in its humblest attire, aglow beside a tiny chapel in Germany's Karwendel mountains, a Christmas tree ia a wondrous sight.

Ooh la la Galeries Lafayette! In Paris, even the Christmas trees are chic. With its monumental, baroque dome, plus 10 stories of lights and high fashion, it's no surprise this show-stopping department store draws more visitors then the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

In addition to the Vatican's heavenly evergreen, St. Peter's Square in Rome hosts a larger-than-life nativity scene in front of the obelisk.

The Christmas tree that greets revelers at the Puerta del Sol is dressed for a party. Madrid's two-week celebration makes millionaires along with merrymakers. On Dec.22, a lucky citizen wil win El Gordo (the fat one), the world's biggest lottery.

A token of gratitude for Britian's aid during World War II, the Christmas tree in London's Trafalgar Square has been the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.

Drink a glass of gluhwein from the holiday market at the Romer Frankfurt's city hall since 1405 and enjoy a taste of Christmas past.

Against a backdrop of tall, shadowy firs, a rainbow trio of Christmas trees lights up the night (location unknown).

Only in Vietnam...!

2008-12-19T20:00:00.025+08:00

Delivering Hit Food

Dare Devils...going for the Guinness Book of Records?

Circus Training

Better than walking home or riding in the cage ...

Free Ride anyone?

Public transportation....no seat belts, just hold on to dear life

No helmet..no problem.I got what I need..the police won't notice the difference.

'Star Wars VII - Master Yoda is in town..with sword raised and ready for Battle

Public School Bus...Off to School

OX Ride..off he go..to be sold?

Delivering dogs...off they go..to the restaurant?

Pigs ride..off they go..to the slaughter house?

Ride home after a hard day's work....

Street vendor on a moped

Honey..please make sure you don't drop my goods!

Moving day

Carriage for 2?

Vegetable ride...as always, the goods gets the priority!

Single "OX Power" Engine

The Original Camry?

Orange Festival in Netherlands

2008-12-18T20:00:00.022+08:00

Blind Gifted Korean Girl

2008-12-17T20:00:00.002+08:00

Latest Internet Cafe At Shanghai

2008-12-16T20:00:00.000+08:00

Cheer Up...take a break

2008-12-15T20:00:00.000+08:00

Is this a coincidence?

Diet Rice...if you know what I mean...

The true meaning of "Don't let it go to waste..."

There is a traitor amongst us

Think Twice before parking near a Fire Hydrant

Not up to expectation

Sending email the conventional way....

Japanese Police Tow Truck

2008-12-12T20:00:00.005+08:00

Vending Machines in Japan

2008-12-11T10:55:00.025+08:00

Japan

is another world. Everything is available in vending machines everywhere..
Eggs

Umbrellas

Business Cards

Noodles/Ramen

Popcorn

Rice

Rice cleaner (mostly for farmers)

Even their Coke machines

are a lot better

Fishing line, fish hooks and even bait can be purchased here.

Kids' Toys

Toilet Paper

Flowers

Fried Foods (French fries, hot dogs, etc.)

Reverse Vending (In oth er words this is a recycling machine. Put your can in and get money back)

Film & disposable cameras

Ice cream

Batteries

Vending machines that sell kerosene can be found all around Japan. Much of the home heating is with kerosene s

pace heaters. One brings their own jugs and fills them here. The rate when this picture was taken was 756 yen for 18 liters.

Many supermarkets have machines that dispense dry ice to help keep your frozen goods cold until you get home!

Newspapers

Check out KLM - Fill a Plane - Promote your plane

2008-12-08T19:15:00.001+08:00

Hi,

I want you to take a look at : KLM - Fill a Plane - Promote your plane

A Fishy Story

2008-12-01T20:00:00.001+08:00

A guy who lives at Lake Conroe (50 miles north of Houston ) saw a ball bouncing around kind of strange in the lake and went to investigate.

It turned out to be a flathead catfish who had obviously tried to swallow a basketball which became stuck in its mouth!!

The fish was totally exhausted from trying to dive, but unable to because the ball would always bring him back up to the surface.

The guy tried numerous times to get the ball out, but was unsuccessful. He finally had his wife cut the ball in order to deflate it and release the hungry catfish.

You probably wouldn't have believed this, if you hadn't seen the following pictures...

Lifeguard with a Sense of Humor

2008-11-28T20:00:00.003+08:00

Atlantis Hotel in Dubai

2008-11-27T16:48:00.020+08:00

Wonders from oil money! ---- to make those attractions, and, to pay for the enjoyment.

1. Water world ... the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai , one of the world's most anticipated hotels, finally opens its doors on September 24. Situated on 113 acres of the Palm Jumeirah, the hotel boasts over 1539 rooms.

2. Water bed ... the Neptune and Poseidon Suites are exclusive to Atlantis, with both bedroom and bath views directly into the mesmerizing underwater world of the Ambassador Lagoon.

3. Sea view ... the Ambassador Lagoon is a window into the wonders of the ocean, and the center-piece of Atlantis, with over 250 species of fish and sea creatures.

4. Fish surprise ... keeping with the water theme, the Lost Chamber is a maze of underwater halls and tunnels under the Ambassador Lagoon with over 65,000 fish.

5. See sea food ... Ossiano is home to a three-star Michelin chef, and offers gourmet seafood with views of the exotic marine life of the Ambassador Lagoon.

6. Pleased to meet you ... Dolphin Bay is a four-and-a-half hectare lush tropical setting where you get the chance to meet the colorful characters in their natural habitat.

7. Big dipper ... Aquaventure is a 42-acre waterpark with the Zigguret Centerpiece that touts a 27.5m vertical drop.

8. Shark tank ... after the Ziggurat, you will emerge slowly through the lagoon at Shark Attack.

9. All washed up ... the Rapids is a 2.3km path of tidal river with one meter waves though a lush tropical landscape.

10. Shark proof ... you can also experience the Shark Tank from the dry, and more comfortable, viewing chamber.

11. Bar view ... sip cocktails in the oceanic space of Barazura and enjoy views overlooking Palm Jumeirah.

12. Grand view ... the Grand Lobby makes a colorful first impression.

13. Bath time ... the spa experience includes two hours of spa treatments, your own private time in a jetted tub and access to both indoor and outdoor relaxation areas

14. Spa service ... the Royal Spa Suite offers treatments designed to individual needs, and a spa menu delivered by private butler service.

15. Grand designs ... each of the 1373 spacious guest rooms and 166 suites is designed with subtle oceanic and Arabic influences.

USS Montana..

2008-11-21T20:00:00.002+08:00

Is this for real or in the movies.....

Cheer Up

2008-11-19T21:45:00.001+08:00

There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country. 'Is there anything breakable in here?' asked the postal clerk.
'Only the Ten Commandments. ' answered the lady.

========

'Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world.
There are those who wake up in the morning and say,
'Good morning, Lord,'
and there are those who wake up in the morning and say,
'Good Lord, it's morning.'

========

A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter. Then he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: 'I have circled the block 10 times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. Forgive us on our trespasses.'
When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note 'I've circled this block for 10 years. If I don't give you a ticket I'll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation.'

========

There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: 'I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets.'

========

A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump. 'Reverend,' said the young man, 'I'm so sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.' The minister chuckled, 'I know what you mean. It's the same in my business.'

========

People want the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention.

========

A father was approached by his small son who told him proudly, 'I know what the Bible means!' His father smiled and replied, 'What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible means?' The son replied, 'I do know!'
'Okay,' said his father. 'What does the Bible mean?'
'That's easy, Daddy.' the young boy replied excitedly, 'It stands for 'Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.''

========

Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. The daughter answered, 'Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt.'
Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about. He said 'Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming.'

========

VATICAN HUMOR

After getting all of Pope Benedict's luggage loaded into the limo, (and he doesn't travel light), the driver notices the Pope is still standing on the curb.

'Excuse me, Your Holiness,' says the driver, 'Would you please take your seat so we can leave?'

'Well, to tell you the truth,' says the Pope, 'they never let me drive at the Vatican when I was a cardinal, and I'd really like to drive today.'

'I'm sorry, Your Holiness, but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job!
What if something should happen?' protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning.

'Who's going to tell?' says the Pope with a smile?

Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 205 kph. (Remember, the Pope is German.)

'Please slow down, Your Holiness!' pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens.

'Oh, dear God, I'm going to lose my license -- and my job!' moans the driver.

The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio.

'I need to talk to the Chief,' he says to the dispatcher.

The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going 205 kph.

'So bust him,' says the Chief.

'I don't think we want to do that, he's really important,' said the cop.

The Chief exclaimed,' All the more reason!'

'No, I mean really important,' said the cop with abit of persistence.

The Chief then asked, 'Who do you have there, the mayor?'

Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: ' A senator?'

Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: 'The Prime Minister?'

Cop: 'Bigger.'

Well,' said the Chief, 'Who is it?'

Cop: 'I think it's God!'

The Chief is even more puzzled and curious, 'What makes you think it's God?'

Cop: 'His chauffeur is the Pope!'

Take a break..Have a latte...

2008-11-17T20:00:00.000+08:00

Lazy Men - Beware!

2008-11-14T20:00:00.003+08:00

Quick Thinking Pilot

2008-11-13T20:00:00.003+08:00

Why Do We Send Our Children to School?

2008-11-12T20:00:00.005+08:00

By Baruch Epstein

Why do we send our kids to school? Well, we parents all know the truth: as soon as the school bus pulls away, we ditch the business suits for bathing suits and head for the water park, careful to return home in time to change clothes before the kids return.

But why do the kids have go to school? Is it just to memorize facts and figures in hopes of giving them a chance for success in this dog-eat-dog world?

Kids have a right to know the objective of the hours they spend in school. Sadly, often the message they get is misleading.

You may recognize the scene. A well meaning pedagogue, complete with elbow patched tweed jacket (pipes are no longer "PC"), ascends the podium and, in his best attempt to be inspirational, encourages the students to dream bigger dreams, reach for the stars, picture where you want to be in ten years from now and then chart the course to arrive there. Exotic travel metaphors and occasional swashbuckler similes are common; dramatic gesturing is optional.

Dutifully, students begin to envision where they want to be (truth be told, most students envision when recess begins, but play along with me), mental pictures of vacation homes and fancy cars, the trappings of "success" dance in their mind. They get the message; if you want to get what you want, crack open the books and get down to business.

Herein lies the problem. The message boils down to this: determine what your heart wants and then apply your mind to chart the course to get it.

Bad news. This is backwards. Education must teach children how to make basic moral choices in life. The foundational three "R's" should empower them to be Righteous, Responsible and Reverent, as well as competitive in the market place.

A basic tenet of Chassidic thought is that the mind can and must direct one's passions, first to understand what is virtuous, and then to compel or (preferably) convince the emotional side to get excited about it too.

In his Tanya (chapter 9), the Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi describes the battle between the instinctual "animal soul" and the transcendent "Godly soul." They each claim a home base: the animal soul is most comfortably positioned in the reactive heart, easily persuaded by fad and attraction, willing to follow the next whim that appears. The Godly soul is based in the rational mind, finding purpose through rational process.

Not content to "live and let live," they each seek to conquer the body and so the battle is on. They are so single-minded they even attempt to infiltrate the opponent's home base. The animal soul is eager to commandeer the mind's cleverness to help realize its desires, while the Godly soul seeks to harness the heart's passion for more enthusiastic service of God and the betterment of humanity.

So how is one who's caught in the crossfire of these two combatants to determine if his impulse is Godly or self serving? Look to the source. If it originates in the intellect that's a clue that it's a Godly soul impulse; if the return address reads "heart," it's probably from the animal soul.

We must teach schoolchildren to pursue their studies in order to form a moral and ethical code, enabling them to make a genuine difference in the world, not just the next best mouse trap. Sharpen your mind in hopes of making it more resilient against the wiles of the animal soul.

When the administration recommends searching the hearts for "what you want" and then engage the mind to "figure out how to get it," they send the message that desire is king and intelligence its servant. God created humans with their head above their hearts reminding us that we must develop our emotional capacity under the tutelage of the mind to be of greater service to God and mankind.

The school bell will ring for the final time in every student's career, and the task of translating education into living will be thrust upon them. School must equip its charges with the tools to defend against the bombardment of temptation through mind-over-heart Godliness.

Now go out there and do some real good!

And parents hurry up and get toweled off; the kids will be home any minute...

Interesting News

2008-11-11T20:00:00.006+08:00

Man Almost Loses Penis Humping Steel Bench

In Hong Kong , the police received a disturbing call from a man in trouble. A 41 year-old man, was calling from LanTian park in the middle of the night. The lonely and disturbed man had apparently thought it would be fun to have sex with one of the steel sit-up benches around the park.
The bench has numerous small holes in it, which he used to attempt to satisfy himself . However, once he became aroused he found that he was stuck and could not get his penis out of the small hole.
He panicked and called the police to help him.

When police arrive they found him stuck face down where he had been stuck for some time.
When doctors arrived on the scene they tried to release some of the pressure by removing some of his blood, but the penis was so swollen that they ended up having to cut the entire bench free and take it, with him attached, to the hospital.

4 painful hours later, Doctors finally separated him from his bench.
Doctors stated that if he had been stuck for even an hour longer, they would have had to remove his penis.

Ferrari Motorbike

2008-11-10T20:00:00.000+08:00

Don't complain about your job

2008-11-08T20:00:00.002+08:00

Dolphins - Blowing Rings

2008-11-07T20:00:00.002+08:00

Deep Meditation

2008-11-06T20:00:00.004+08:00

Funny Cartoons

2008-11-05T20:00:00.000+08:00

A Mysterious Tree in NALGONDA --- Andra Pradesh ---India

2008-11-04T20:00:00.015+08:00

At a glance you may be confused the above tree with a massive trunk with a 'Baobab' tree (which is renowned to possess the largest tree trunks of the world) but, this is yet another unknown specie which is seen in the close proximity of a hermitage deep in the dense forest in 'Andra Pradesh' in India.

Now have a close look at the bark and experience the unbelievable figures of creatures engraved in the surface of the entire tree trunk!!

Absolutely real!!!

Room Rental in Japan

2008-11-03T09:11:00.000+08:00

De-Stress

2008-10-28T20:00:00.008+08:00

Bear at Old Donner Pass Highway

2008-10-27T20:00:00.000+08:00

This bridge is on the Old Donner Pass Highway. It has a spectacular view of Donner Lake and Donner Pass on Route 80.

A bear was walking across Rainbow Bridge (Old Hwy 40 at Donner Summit,
Truckee) on Saturday when two cars also crossing the bridge scared
the bear into jumping over the edge of the bridge. Somehow the bear caught the
ledge and was able to pull itself to safety. Authorities decided that nothing
could be done to help Saturday night so they returned Sunday morning to find the bear sound asleep on the edge.

There is a moral to this story you know; this old bear made a wrong move and found he was hanging by his nails. Somehow he was able to pull himself up onto the ledge where he saw he was in a very bad, impossible situation and what did he do? Yep, he took a nap and sure enough the situation took care of itself while he was asleep.
The moral is that when confronted with a bad situation sometimes the best solution is to take a nap. ..

A Polish Divorce

2008-10-26T20:00:00.000+08:00

A Polish man moved to the USA and married an American girl. Although his English was far from perfect, and they got along very well. One day he rushed into a lawyers office and asked him if he could arrange a divorce for him. The lawyer said that getting a divorce would depend on the circumstances, and asked him the following questions;

Have you any grounds?

Yes, an acre and a half and a nice little home.

No, I mean what is the foundation of this case?

It made of concrete.

I don't think you understand. Does either of you have a real grudge?

No we have a carport, and not need one.

I mean, What are your relations like?

All my relations still in Poland.

Is there any infidelity in your marriage?

We have hi-fidelity stereo and good DVD player.

Does your wife beat you up?

No, I always up before her.

Is your wife a nagger?

No, she white.

Why do you want this divorce?

She going to kill me.

What makes you think that?

I got proof.

What kind of proof?

She going to poison me. She buy a bottle at drugstore and put it on shelf in bathroom. I can read, and it say: Polish Remover.

The Hornman

2008-10-25T20:00:00.000+08:00

The TRUTH about PLASTIC !!!

2008-10-24T20:00:00.004+08:00

Did you ever drink from a plastic bottle and see a triangle symbol on the bottom with a number inside?

Do you know what the number stands for?
Did you guess that it's just for recycling?
Then you are WRONG !!!!!!
THE NUMBER TELLS YOU THE CHEMICAL MAKE UP OF THE PLASTIC.....

1) Polyethylene terephalate (PET)
2) High density polyethylene (HDPE)
3) Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) or Plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PPVC)
4) Low density polyethylene LDPE
5) Polypropylene (PP)
6) Polystyrene (PS) or Expandable polystyrene (EPS)
7) Other, including nylon and acrylic
What you aren't told is that many of the plastics used are toxic and the chemicals used to create a plastic can leach out of the plastic and into the food / drink.
Think about it, how many times have you or a friend said "I don't like this, it taste like the plastic bottle ..... "
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE TASTING THE PLASTIC
The WORST ONES are Nos: 3, 6, and 7 !!!

DO NOT USE THESE NUMBERS if stated at the bottom of the bottle) !!!

Check out this chart that breaks down the plastic, its uses and chemical makeup
(I find #7 a little scary)
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_plascod3.html

Reusing plastic bottles by refilling them is NOT a good idea.WATCH THIS VIDEO:
http://video.wnbc.com/player/?id=238518

Microwaving plastic containers affects the chemical make up of the plastic, allowing the chemical substances to destabilize and leach out more quickly into the food you are reheating. You can check out this article that ran in the Wall Street Journal:
http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Microwave-Health-Problems.htm

EVEN one of my favorite "RUMOR DEBUNKING" websites,URBANLEGENDS.ABOUT.COM

Lists the information as: overblown with a grain of TRUTH
READ the FULL 3 pages of the article!
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-microwave-dioxin.htm

AVOID re-using plastic bottles RIGHT AWAY !!!

APPRAISAL v RESIGNATION

2008-10-23T20:00:00.002+08:00

A newly-joined trainee engineer asks his boss " What is the meaning of appraisal? "

Boss : " Do you know the meaning of resignation ? "

Trainee : " Yes, I do. "

Boss : " So let me make you understand what an appraisal is by comparing it with resignation. "

Appraisal	Resignation
In an appraisal meeting they will speak only about your weakness, errors and failures.	In a resignation meeting they will speak only about your strengths, past achievements and success.
During an appraisal you may need to cry and beg for even a 10% pay hike.	In a resignation meeting you can easily demand ( or get more without asking ) more than 50-60% pay-hike !
During an appraisal, they will deny promotion saying that you did not meet the expectation, you don't have leadership qualities, and that you had several drawbacks in reaching objective/goal.	During resignation, they'll say you are the core member of the team; that you are the vision of the company, and so " How can you go ? "; you have to take the project on your shoulders and lead your juniors to success.
There is a 90% chance of not getting any significant incentives after appraisal.	There is a 90% chance of getting an immediate pay-hike after you put in your resignation.

Trainee : " Yes, boss, good enough. Now I know what to do.

When you are about to do my appraisal, I will resign. "

How quickly the years pass

2008-10-23T20:00:00.000+08:00

Life is short! Break the rules!

Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly!

Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably..

And never regret anything that made you smile.

English is a funny language

2008-10-22T20:00:00.000+08:00

Ponder on these imponderables for a minute:-

1. If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented?

2. If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

3. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?

4. If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

5. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

6. Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

7. When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?

8. Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a racing car not called a racist?

9. Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

10. Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

11. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

12. 'I am' is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that 'I do' is the longest sentence?

13. If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

14. What hair colour do they put on the driver's licences of bald men?

15. I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use? Toothpicks?

16. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the postmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

17. You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive. (my fav)

18. No one ever says, 'It's only a game' when their team is winning.

19. Ever wonder about those people who spend $2.00 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards: NAIVE

20. Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?

21. If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhoea, does that mean that one enjoys it?

22. Why if you send something by road it is called a shipment, but when you send it by sea it is called cargo?

23. If a convenience store is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, why are there locks on the door?

Anaconda Catcher

2008-10-21T20:00:00.000+08:00

USB Fridge

2008-10-20T20:00:00.000+08:00

Description:

· This USB Fridge is the only way to keep your drink cold while you're at your computer and it looks cool on any desktop.

· You can keep your beverage chilled and stay at your computer longer.

· Just minutes after plugging in the USB Fridge the cold plater chills to the perfect temperature for helping keep your beverage cool.

· Takes 5 minutes to bring the fridge down to 8°C (47°F).

· Blue LED lighting effects.

· Easy installation, no driver required, plug & play.

· Powered by USB with 4 feet of cable.

· Compatible with all platforms.

· Dimensions: 19.5 x 9 x 8cm

· Weight: 365gm

Golden Stingray Migration - Awesome!

2008-10-19T19:57:00.005+08:00

THEY REALLY ARE TREES !!!!!!

2008-10-15T22:35:00.004+08:00