A six-year-old Croatian boy has an apparent ability to attract metal to his body. Health professionals have investigated his special abilities and have not been able to find a scientific explanation for his unique gift.
Imagine a bakery where it suggests its customers pay what they can afford or deem reasonable for fresh baked goods. Would this business model work? Could the little bakery that could survive? Apparently so.
Panera Bread has adopted this model in three of its 1500 stores in the United States. During the first year, sixty percent of customers pay the suggested amount, twenty percent pay more and twenty percent pay less. One customer even paid $500 for a meal. Sometimes pay it forward really does work.
Legless Chinese man has planted 3,000 trees in 10 years
A retired veteran Chinese man has planted 3,000 trees in 10 years in northern China. Every morning, the 62-year-old rises at 5:00 am, puts on his prosthetic legs and climbs mountains and plants trees. Truly inspirational.
Wonderful animation featuring art with books by Maurice Gee.
Modular Apartment
Could you live in a tiny apartment? Christian Schallert lives in an apartment of 258 square feet in Barcelona. With some creative, innovative design, he has created all the necessities of city living in this small space.
Recently, I saw this censored Sesame Street segement with The Count. It is amazing how your brain fills in the omitted dialogue. I could not stop laughing while viewing it.
The Greenest House in Chicago is a Self-Sufficient Clean Tech Showcase
The Smart Home designed by Michelle Kaufmann was showcased at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The house features numerous environmental design initiatives including energy-efficient heated radiant subfloors, Low-E windows, mechanized shading, recycled flooring and tile, and a green roof.
When I saw the Smart Home in an online article a few years ago, I knew I wanted to eventual live in it. The only drawback is the real estate in Vancouver is exorbitant.
Designer Shinichiro Ogata of Wasara has created beautiful, compostable tableware out of tree-free biodegradable composite materials bamboo, reed pulp and bagasse (an agricultural waste byproduct). Starter kits start at $20.
Pantene is launching plant-based packaging in Western Europe. Len Sauers, Vice President of Sustainability, the new packaging is expected to cut the company's fossil-fuel consumption by 70 percent and reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions by 170 percent.
LEED Platinum Vancouver Convention Centre Takes Home Top Ten AIA COTE Award
The new Vancouver Convention Centre has won an AIA Cote Award for its LEED Platinum sustainable design integrating ecology, habitat restoration, energy efficiency, and integration into the urban environment. Bravo LMN Architects, Musson Cattell Mackey, DA Architects + Planners, the Province of British Columbia, and the City of Vancouver.
A Calgary teenager, who was born with a rare liver disease and became paralyzed three years ago, received some therapy through laughter. Two therapeutic clowns, Jumpa (Fif Fernandes) and Sparkle (Cheryl Oberg) at the Alberta Children's Hospital assisted Micaela in yoga laughter classes to help reduce pain and stress and increase oxygen intake through breathing and laughing. These exercises helped exercise slowly speak again and gain some mobility back. Laughter is indeed the best medicine.
Dog submerged herself in bathtub to survive raging fire
A Belgian Malinois named Mia survived a house fire for six hours by seeking refuge in a water-filled bathtub in the basement of a burning house. The Southern Carolinian family insists the dog had always been smart. The dog had learned to open doors and would have had to open four doors to get to the bathtub in the basement.
Factory workers forced to pledge not to commit suicide
At least 14 works in Apple's factor in China have committed suicide in the past sixteen months. This number does not include failed suicide attempts. Staff members are being forced to sign written promises to not commit suicide.
In addition, the staff members must also promise that if they did end their lives, their families would not seek damages beyond the legal minimum. One executive accused victims of committing suicide to win compensation payouts for relatives.
Several shelties were rescued from a radiation area in Minami Soma, Japan. The group of dogs were waiting for their breeder owner. A group of volunteers managed to rescue about twenty of the dogs and transport them to a veterinarian.
Few months old ocelot kitten, Evita, took its first steps close to its mother, Bella. She is slowly taking in her new surroundings. The Woodland Park Zoo has posted some wonderful photos on their blog.
In China, hundreds of dogs were saved from cooking pots by about 200 animal-rights activists. A truck transporting 430 to 520 dogs was forced to stop by a swerving motorist. Many of the dogs had been stolen from owners. After a 15-hour stand-off, the animal-protection group purchased the dogs for 115,000 yuan ($17,600).
Some Americans are in an uproar over a J. Crew ad in the new catalogue. Apparently, a photo showing the CEO and her son enjoying an afternoon painting their toe nails is promoting transgender children. Really what is wrong with a boy liking pink and nail polish? Can only girls like pink and nail polish?
I know growing up, I liked to wear pants and sneakers, ride my bmx bike, build tree forts and play with Legos. It is such a double-standard in North America for acceptance of females to be tomboyish, but males can never be feminine to any degree.
A recent study funded by the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming has revealed that meat and poultry tested throughout the United States is infected with drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. I do not understand why the average person tolerates and accepts these low standards for quality and assurance of their food supply. Yet, people wonder where cancer, disease and congenital defects arise from.
Ever since I was a young child, I have always been fascinated and frustrated how toys are marketed to be gender-specific. Anyone can easily divide and separate toys marketed to girls and boys.
The colours, the dolls vs. cars, the delicate vs. action, the nurture vs. creativity, the feminine vs. masculine. I loathe how advertising and toys directed at young girls portrays a stereotypical messages of being submissive, reining in personalities, being delicate and demure. Whereas, advertising and toys directed at young boys promotes stereotypes of strength, adventure, success and sports.
It is no wonder that girls and boys grow up to be such polar opposites of each other and do not know how to communicate or compliment each gender, not too mention that women are so submissive and insecure.
These word clouds by Crystal highlight these stark gender biases.
Cancer survivor Barrie Gardham, of Hornsea, believes he is alive because his cat detected his prostate cancer. Whiskey the cat had always been a rough animal, but one day he was cuddly and tender. Gardham decided to go see a doctor and, after testing, found out he had cancer. Since recovery, Whiskey has gone back to being his disdainful self.
A British Columbian search and rescue team rescued a Bernese Mountain Dog after it was lost for fifteen days in the North Shore mountains. A family had placed Hurley in a kennel service while away on vacation. The dog got lost on a daily hike in the woods. The kennel company was supposed to use a GPS collar, but neglected one that particular day. The rescue team air-lifted the dog out to safety to be reunited with his family.
I am a huge fan of Futurama and I am so happy that the tv show has been brought back from the dead. This is an animated hommage to the Season 2 episode The Lesser of Two Evils.
A miniature horse, in Texas, was born with only three legs. After being neglected by his original owner, the horse was close to being euthanized before being adopted by Ranch Hand Rescue. The organization fitted the horse with a prosthetic leg and the horse can now stand and run naturally.
A Cape Town baboon that has been terrorizing people by opening car doors and robbing tourists is to be killed. He is motivated to enact a crime when he sees food. The baboon prefers human food to a natural diet. In 2010, he physically attacked three individuals. The city has tried several attempts to deter his behaviour, but feel euthanisation is the only course of action.
Artists Matthew Laws and Hal Watts created an art installation to convey countries water use by 2030 using kitchen sponges. But can the planet support the Western world's increasing water usage, while other areas of the globe go dry?
Social psychologist Amy Cuddy, of Harvard Business School, and her colleagues in a study about warmth and competence discovered that people prefer warmth when assessing others, but choose competence when assessing ourselves.
Do you ever wonder what words are used most in dating profiles across the United States? I wonder more so what words are most popular and marketable in Canada, but this map by R. Luke DuBois is very interesting.
A Yellowstone Park fox stalks and listens to prey six feet beneath the snow before making move.
Australians Stealing Penguins For Pets
Poachers are scaling fences near Granite Island off of Adelaide to stealing penguins for pets. These penguins are endangered because only 146 exist compared to 1,500 only 10 years ago.
Granite Island Penguin Centre co-ordinator Dorothy Longden, who has worked for the centre for seven years, started a petition to close the causeway leading to the facility. However, she has only collected 1,000 signatures but hopes to have the required 2,000 to protect the birds.
The Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, celebrated the birth of an orange baby monkey to the Francois langur monkey family last month. Keo-co (pronounced Key-co) was born to mother Saigon and father Hanoi, is very curious, but stays very close to his mother. When he was born, his mother was afraid of him, but his fur will change to black in six months time.
You may have heard about the plastic island floating in the Pacific Ocean, but what about all the plastic debris marine animals ingest? I know when I see litter in parks, beaches or waterfront areas it makes me cringe. I always think: is an animal going to eat it thinking it is food?
Here is a sample of plastic items found in the stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal) tract of a juvenile sea turtle. The turtle had an obstruction and could not pass waste. In a period of one month, the turtle passed 74 foreign objects. Would we let a child eat a piece of plastic? I think not.
Michael, a silverback gorilla, learned sign language over ten years ago at age 27. In sign language, Michael recounts the horrifying witness of his mother killed by humans for bush meat.
Disabled Janitor Wins Against Abusive Collection Agency
A collection agency was ordered to pay $311,000 by a court for consistently harassing a disabled janitor for a $3,800 debt. Sometimes the good guy wins.
Matt Jillard, a poor chap, in England has had his home raided forty times in 18 months because the West Midlands Police confuse Repton Road, Birmingham with nearby Repton Grove.
Even after the financial crises in America, CEO salaries and bonuses are still untouchable. A CEO can slash budgets for a hospital in crisis-management, but do not every consider touching the CEO's salary or bonuses.
Two years ago, a children's playground in England was dismantled by a municipality to make way for a brand-new playground. Then, the city installed a brick wall.
There seems to be a trend with using your vagina as a purse. Scranton police have arrested a 27-year-old woman for hiding 54 bags of heroin, 31 empty bags, pills and money in her vagina.
A statue of Stan Laurel stolen from a Scottish hotel has been returned seven years later with a travel journal. The six-foot-tall statue was stolen in 2004. The owners put out a reward for its return, but were never successful in recovering the statue. Several years later, the statue showed up by the back door one day. The owners have no idea where the statue went or how the statue was returned.
Artist Stuart McMillen created an online comic about a small herd of reindeer introduced to an isolated island with natural resources and no prey. An interesting read if you are concerned about green living and the planet.
What do cats dream about? Eating fish, chasing mice or cuddling with their owners? Artist Theresa Knudson created a series of portraits with a sleeping cat.
Everything Important about London
Artist Nick Patchitt creates wonderful spherical wall prints with iconic images and symbols. I think I like the Animal one the best.
The Smithsonian has created an online database, http://www.siwild.si.edu), that presents more than 202,000 wildlife photos to the public. These photos were captured with camera traps--automated cameras with motion sensors.
In Louisiana, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries confiscated four monkeys from an autistic 64-year-old woman. The Department claims the primates are illegally owned. The woman likes to wear a pirate costume and also dress her "service monkeys" in pirate costumes. She claims the monkeys assist her with her disability.
I am a recent fan of Big Bang Theory. I am only starting Season 3, but I love the show, the characters, style and zany plots. I heard there was a crazy cat episode involving Sheldon (I have yet to see it).
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Hamster Mansion
Katja modified her Ikea expedit bookcase into a mansion for her hamster Fred.
Ecuador: court rules Chevron guilty of polluting the Amazon, fines oil giant $8 billion
Chervon was on of the top 10 biggest polluters of the 1990s. Now a court in Ecuador has ruled Chervon is guilty of polluting the Amazon and has fined Chervon $8 billion. Chevron (formerly Texaco) abandoned open toxic pits in the Ecuadorean Amazon rainforest near Lago Agrio.
Since the late 1960s, the Cofán people have suffered numerous health and environmental problems due to oil production on their lands. The health issues continue as the water and soil are polluted and the Cofán people have new illnesses and cancer.
Dave the rottweiler plays mother to orphaned bunnies, birds and kittens
One day, Amanda Collins brought home an abandoned French rabbit only to discover her 6-year-old rottweiler affectionately became its guardian. The Dave the dog continued to adopt a nursemaid role, when Collins also brought home ducklings, geese, rabbits, kittens and puppies. Dave came from an abusive home, his first owner chopped his tail with a cleaver, but continues to be a calm and loving guardian to stray animals.
Jenna, an out of work journalist and Earth lover, created a web site to showcase her journey into Thrift Stores around the United States. Her goal is to discover what Americans consume and throw away.
Imagine growing up in a small mining town only to have that town disappear. What happens to your childhood memories? Will the residents continue to have any sense of belonging? In a collaborative effort by Adbusters creative team Paul Shoebridge and Michael Simons with former resident Robert Cloutier, and funding from the NFB of Canada, produce an online interactive web site to bring the history and culture of Pine Pointers, a former small town in the Northwest Territories.
It is a beautiful and interactive documentary of Pine Point.
Klepto Kitty
This kitty likes to scavenge and collect items. Lots of different items including clothing, shoes and toes. This kitty looks like my kitty.
Friendly stingray slaughtered in front of screaming children
In Hamelin Bay, Australia (I have actually visited this Bay), a friendly stingray named Stumpy was hunted in front of screaming children. This stingray would approach children and tourists in the shallows of the Bay and allow itself to be petted.
Hunting stingrays is not illegal in this area of Australia, but it is shocking that it was done to this particular sea creature in front of children. Sad story indeed.
A bridge designed by Francesco Colarossi, Giovanna Saracino and Luisa Saracino to generate wind power is still on paper. But if constructed, it will generate 40 million kWh per year.
A stray dog in Siberia saved a young boy who was feeding ducks and had fallen into a frozen pond. The dogs barking alerted Tatiyana Balashov, a volunteer who feeds stray dogs, who alerted utility workers close by. The dog, Naida, has since been adopted by a loving family in a village nearby.
Researchers discovered a link between children eating processed foods aged three and under to lower Intelligence Quotient (IQ). These findings sounds reasonable because children development is so critical in the early years. I can not fathom feeding your little one garbage full of chemicals and additives.
I was a bit skeptical when I read this article, but apparently at Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat near Ontario (a family resort) children can swim next to polar bears separated by a 25 cm (10-inch-thick) glass wall. I only hope this bear habitat is a natural, eco-friendly habitat that is not merely a cheap, tourist attraction.
