Half cooked or half raw lobster?

For 20 years, Alan Robinson of Steuben, Maine, has been catching lobsters but first time in his life saw something he never did in his entire life. The lobster that caught his attention is obviously different from the others.

In one of his catch in 2006 near the town of Bar Harbor, Maine, US, he noticed that one of the lobsters has two toned color! On one half, it looks like any regular lobsters. But on the other, it has bright orange that similar to the color lobsters turned after they've been cooked.

"I thought someone was playing a trick on me. Once I saw what it was, it was worth seeing". Alan wanted others to see it, too, so he donated his unusual catch to Maine's Mount Desert Oceanarium, where experts were able to shed some light on the find. Two-toned lobsters, they explain, are rare but not unheard of.

The shells of American, or Maine, lobsters usually sport a combination of yellow, red, and blue pigments. But the animals grow symmetrically, with each half of the body developing independently of the other. In the case of Robinson's catch, half of the Crustacean's shell was lacking the blue pigment, giving it the appearance of having been cooked to a turn.

All this makes Robinson's fifty-fifty find one for the record books, the Oceanarium's staffers say. The aquarium has received only three two-toned lobsters in the last 35 years, they note, and the odds of finding one that's exactly half and half is about 1 in 50 million.

Source : nationalgeographic.com

Tags : Alan Robinson Crustacean lobster two face two toned two colors Mount Desert Oceanarium

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Dead priest image appeared on a book about him

A "spooky" image of a priest executed for treason over the Gunpowder Plot has appeared on a 17th century book thought to be bound in his skin, it is claimed. Auctioneers said the face of Father Henry Garnet could be seen peering from the cover of the "rare and macabre" book about the Jesuit priest's death.

The item will go under the hammer at Wilkinson's Auctioneers in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, on Sunday. Garnet, was hanged in May 1606 for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. Sid Wilkinson, from Wilkinson's Auctioneers, said: "It's a little bit spooky because the front of the book looks like it has the face of a man on it, which is presumed to be the victim's face."

The book, called A True and Perfect Relation of the Whole Proceedings Against the Late Most Barbarous Traitors, Garnet, a Jesuit and his Confederates, was published in 1606 just after his execution. The lot is considered so unusual there is no reserve price attached to it. Garnet's involvement in the plot to kill King James I was controversial. He claimed he knew about the conspiracy but was not involved.

Some scholars now believe he had been trying to prevent the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament rather than conspiring to kill the King. According to legend, a piece of bloodstained straw found at the scene of his execution started to develop an exact image of the priest's face.

Source : BBC News

Tags : Father Henry Garnet A True and Perfect Relation of the Whole Proceedings Against the Late Most Barbarous Traitors King James I Gunpowder Plot conspiracy Jesuit image priest book 1606 executed

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Uninhabited town sold for $3 mil on E-bay

A small, uninhabited town in Texas has been sold on the internet auction site, eBay, to a buyer in Italy for a little over $3m. The town, called Albert, is about 100km (62 miles) outside San Antonio and features a schoolhouse, a dancehall and a bar.

Albert, a 13-acre town about 50 miles north of San Antonio with a resident population of four, is in the Texas Hill Country. The town's current owner, Bobby Cave, said he was checking the identity of the buyer, to confirm the deal. He added he had several other serious bids should the sale fall through.

Mr Cave, 47, an estate agent, said he sold the land after three-and-a-half years as he was ready to move on to his next project. "I bought it with the intention of creating a little family camping venue where people could come out and drink and enjoy local live music," he told PA news agency.

He said the town's population consisted of himself and groundsman at weekends. The winning buyer will take over an icehouse created from the frame of the old general store, a pavilion, an 85-year-old dance hall, a tractor shed and a three-bedroom house, together with peach and pecan orchards.

Source : BBC News
Source : alberttexas.com

Tags : Albert Texas sold e-bay 3 million Bobby Cave Texas Hill Country San Antonio

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Shark is not the top predators

The North Pacific Giant Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) is a large cephalopod belonging to the genus Enteroctopus. It can be found in the coastal Pacific Northwest, usually around the depth of 65 meters (about 213 ft.). It can, however, live in much shallower or much deeper waters. It is arguably the largest octopus species, based on a scientific record of a 71 kg (156.5 lb) individual weighed live.

Octopuses are thought to be one of the most intelligent invertebrates and can change the color and texture of their skin to blend in with rocks, algae, or coral to avoid predators. Some species of octopus have been reported to unscrew jar lids to retrieve food and mimic the behaviors of other octopuses and also other sea creatures such as sea snakes and lion fish. Giant Pacific Octopuses are capable of solving complex puzzles. This species of octopus commonly preys upon shrimp, crabs, scallops, abalones, clams, and fish. It procures food with its suckers, which is then crushed with its tough "beaks" of chitin.

The Giant Octopus is extremely calm and they held a regular spot on display at the Seattle aquarium over the years. Then the keepers decided to move one of the Giant Octopus in to a large tank filled with sharks and other big fish. They purposely picked a larger octopus fearing that it'll get killed by predators like shark. They assumed that the octopus strength and camouflage would keep it safe. As it turns out, they were tragically mistaken.

Since then, each week keepers were finding shark carcasses in the bottom of the tank. The 3-4 foot sharks kept vanishing at an alarming rate. Curious by the fact that the so called top of the food chain was defeated by an unknown predator, the keepers decided to stay up and film the culprit. To their surprise, the predator is none other than the Giant Octopus! They learned some thing about this species they never imagine. It was a big surprise to find out that sharks were taken by octopus, a mere invertebrate. Now school books might need to re-categorize top predators.

Source : marine.alaskapacific.edu
Watch Video at nationalgeographic.com

Tags : North Pacific Giant Octopus Pacific Northwest shark predator prey eaten Seattle aquarium

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Swimsuit that you'll never wear to swim

We've heard of diamond-studded lingerie and gold brassieres, now it's time for the swimsuit turn with the latest gold-weave swimsuit from Tokyo, Japan. Ginza Tanaka, the designer popular for his Midas touch, created these gold-thread-woven swimsuits that were on display at his Jewelry store in Tokyo on July 4, 2007.


The method used to make the outfits is more than 1,300 years old. The swimsuits are hand-woven with 500 grams of a thread that was twined with 6 wires of 90-micron-thin gold (K24) in 32 days. Also available is a golden long dress woven with 1,500 grams of a thread that was twined with 4 wires. The gold-weave swimsuit weighs 500g and is on sale at a price tag of 10 million yen (USD 92,000). The dress weighs 1.1kg and costs 30 million yen (USD277,000).

A spokeswoman for the store said "The dress and swimsuit can be worn normally like any other clothes but should be treated as jewelry, and so shouldn't be washed in the washing machine". But I doubt anyone would wear such expensive swimsuit just to go for a swim.

Source : taipeitimes.com

Tags : swimsuit gold golden weave woven long dress Ginza Tanaka tokyo Japan hand-woven

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Man with tree roots limbs

Dede, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, has become an outcast where he lives in the village of Tanjung Jaya, about 150 km south of the capital Jakarta. As a teenager, he first noticed warts growing on his body after he cut his knee. The 35-year-old was sacked from his job and deserted by his wife after wart roots started to grow from his hands and feet.

Now known as "Tree Man", his incredibly long warts on his hands and feet that resemble tree roots is baffling many experts about the cause of his condition, and believed to be a life-threatening. An US expert now believes that Dede may be cured from the condition. According to reports, Dr Anthony Gaspari from the University of Maryland, after testing his blood and found that the growths are the result of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

The Indonesian man says he is unable to work or travel anywhere and is forced to stay at his parent's home because his hands and feet are so heavy and cumbersome due to the growths. He said "First it felt itchy and some warts appeared on my feet. I neglected it and then growths started appearing quickly, covering my whole body". Dr. Gaspari has proposed a treatment plan for Dede and hopes to clear up the condition with daily doses of a synthetic form of Vitamin A.

Source : telegraph.co.uk

Tags : Dede Indonesia Indonesian Tanjung Jaya Jakarta Tree Man Human Papilloma Virus HPV Anthony Gaspari

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Largest nail & toothpick mosaic

Albanian artist Saimir Strati used tens of thousands of nails to create a portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, making it the world's biggest nail mosaic. Strati was named in the Guinness Book of World Records on Monday (4 September) for his nail mosaic, which measures 8 square meters. Saimir Strati shows the portrait of Leonardo Da Vinci he created with industrial nails at the International Centre of Culture in Tirana, Albania. Strati, 40, were recognised by Guinness World Record officials for having created the world's largest nail mosaic with about 500,000 industrial nails.

But that's not the only world record he created. Alongside the nail mosaic, there's an image of a horse created with more than half a million toothpicks in homage to Antoni Gaudi has earned him a second entry in the Guinness Records. Ms. Andrea Banfi, an adjudicator for Guinness World Records, told a cheering crowd after checking that the mosaic followed the guidelines agreed with Guinness, "I've measured it; it is a new Guinness World Record". The Largest Toothpick's Mosaic is 8 meter square using approximately 1.5 milion of toothpicks.

Strati spent 13 hours a day for 40 days on the mosaic measuring 2m by 4m in a technique resembling digital camera pixels, using either sharpened or blunt ends of oak, poplar and bamboo toothpicks. He said the idea to produce the mosaic came to him while he tried to explain to a friend what La Sagrada Familia, the unfinished Barcelona cathedral of Spanish architect and artist Antoni Gaudi, looked like. He took some toothpicks from the table and opened them to show him how it looked like. The horse is named 'Reinless Spirit' to honour Gaudi's flight of genius. The mosaic was shown to the public in the round hall of Tirana's pyramid-shaped culture centre.

Source : www.news.com.au
Source : www.mosaicart-sast.com

Tags : Saimir Strati Albania Guinness World of Records Guinness Book of Records Leonardo Da Vinci nail art Reinless Spirit toothpick art art mosaic International Centre of Culture tirana

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Transforming luxury car to a super luxury car

Turning from this luxury car

To this super luxury car!

On January 2007, Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. unveiled its new show car at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The car, which started life as a Mercedes Benz R500, was transformed into a show-stopping, elegant, rolling IMPRINT sound system demonstration.

Designed and built by Alpine’s in-house Advanced Application R & D team of Steve Brown, Gary Bell, Brent Davison and Glen Swackhamer from Alpine of Canada, the IMPRINT RLS is the newest creation to emerge from Alpine’s North American headquarters in Torrance, Calif.

The goal of the Alpine team was to build a great-sounding show car that was sleek and sophisticated, yet with custom work that would make it one-of-a-kind. The striking shape of the RLS was created entirely by hand, using only the original roof from the R500. The front, rear and sides of the RLS were shaped from fiberglass to give the car a sophisticated, flowing shape. The RLS differs from recent Alpine show cars which had bold custom airbrush paint designs. Instead, the RLS was sprayed with an elegant custom-mixed BASF R-M Carizzma Candy Cherry Cola Brown hue, which accentuates the shape of the car. The details and shadows on the external door panels, which have curves that undulate into the depths of the door, become more prominent depending on how light reflects off of the one-of-a-kind paint.

One of the most striking elements about the RLS is that it has two doors, rather than the four doors that it began with. It is also a center-drive car, a characteristic that is reminiscent of previous Alpine show cars. But upon further inspection inside the RLS, one would wonder how it could be center drive if there are two front seats. The answer lies in that the RLS can be driven from either the left or right front seat. The custom-cut aluminum and leather steering wheel is located in the center console next to the shifter, and gas/brake pedals were provided for both front seats. The driver can enter the RLS from either the left or right door. Each door is actually connected to a seat, and each door/seat module is on a motorized rotating platform that automatically rotates the seat outward -- and the door inward -- to allow the driver access to the completely custom-made interior. Once two lucky passengers are inside, they are in for the ultimate sound quality experience thanks to Alpine’s new IMPRINT sound technology.

The strategy behind building a two-seater, center drive car was not just for eye-candy. The RLS’ interior and audio system were specifically designed to showcase the capabilities of the IMPRINT sound architecture. IMPRINT allows the listener to experience music the way the artist intended. Using the CDA-9887 CD/MP3/WMA/AAC receiver and its IMPRINT Sound Manager software kit, the build team was able to easily – and automatically -- tune and calibrate the RLS’ sound system. A specially designed microphone measures the acoustic environment of the car’s interior, analyzing acoustical problems. The software then applies advanced acoustical corrections to ensure that the signal that the speakers are being fed are exactly what the artist had intended. The entire automated tuning process takes approximately 20 minutes, which is light-years faster than traditional sound tuning procedures.

For the Alpine team, it was a good thing that the system could be tuned so quickly, so that they could concentrate on other aspects of the RLS. An iPod® loaded with Apple Lossless-encoded music supplements the CDA-9887’s AM/FM/CD sources and is connected via the KCE-422i Full Speed Connection for iPod cable. A SIRIUS® Satellite Radio Sportster 4 also adds an endless amount of music and entertainment sources, and is connected through the KCA-SC100 SIRIUS satellite radio interface.

Two PDX-4.150 amplifiers power the front and rear speakers. The front soundstage consists of the first PDX-4.150 running four 6.5-inch mids from the SPX-17REF component set, along with channels 1 and 2 of the second PDX-4.150 running two tweeters from the SPX-17REF component set. The rear sound comes from channels 3 and 4 of the second PDX-4.150, running an SPX-17REF component set.

To get impressive bass impact in the front of the car, the team installed four SWX-1043D 10-inch subwoofers in a sealed enclosure built into the custom-made dash. Each of these woofers is powered by one PDX-1.1000 amplifier for maximum dynamic response.

All of the PDX amplifiers are showcased on a handmade motorized cylindrical amplifier display that emerges from the back of the vehicle. The amplifier display is embellished with a custom-made aluminum,11-inch diameter, CNC-machined Mercedes Benz emblem. At the touch of a button, the display travels 27 inches out the back of the RLS while simultaneously rotating 360 degrees.

The RLS began as a glimmer in the eyes of the Alpine team, and Roybal Designs helped with the vehicle rendering to get the RLS on the path to reality. With support from Mercedes Benz, the RLS project began its 3.5-month long transformation. Monster Cable wiring is used throughout the RLS, while Kinetik batteries supply power to the car and the audio system. The RLS rides on one-off TIS Wheels (26-inch in the front, 30-inch in the rear) and Pirelli tires, with massive stopping power from Brembo brakes. Custom interior lighting was provide by Pilot, to complement the custom leather upholstery work and airbrushed wood grain panels. Indie Beach Productions supplied editing for the video content that plays in the monitors in the front and rear of the RLS as well as on the free-standing external LCD monitors that will flank the RLS at shows.

“The IMPRINT RLS takes Alpine back to its roots by showcasing excellent sound quality,” said Stephen Witt, vice president, Marketing, Alpine Electronics. “Beneath the RLS’ custom interior and exterior fabrication lies the heart of the sound system -- the IMPRINT sound architecture – which can be easily and automatically tuned for optimal sound reproduction in any vehicle.”

The IMPRINT RLS will be on display at trade and consumer events throughout 2007.

Source : www.alpine-usa.com
Source : www.allcarnews.com

Tags : Alpine Electronics Mercedes Benz R500 RLS IMPRINT RLS two-seater center drive PDX-4.150 SWX-1043D subwoofer amplifiers emblem

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Solving crimes by hearing only

Sacha Van Loo is not your typical cop. Although he is not entitled to carry a gun on the job or to make arrests, he is one of only six people in a special police force in Belgium. Van Loo is one of Europe's newest weapons in the global fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime. A blind Sherlock Holmes whose disability allows him to pick up clues sighted detectives does not see.

Van Loo, 36, who has been blind since birth, is one of six blind police officers in a pioneering unit specializing in transcribing and analyzing surveillance recordings in criminal investigations. He also speaks seven languages, including Russian and Arabic.

The blind police unit, which became operational in June, originated after Van Thielen heard about a blind police officer in the Netherlands. Van Thielen was looking for ways to improve community outreach, and he hoped that blind people would prove more adept than the sighted at listening to surveillance recordings and interpreting them.

But his sense of hearing is so acute that Paul Van Thielen, a director at the Belgian Federal Police, compared his powers of observation to those of a superhero. When the police eavesdrop on a suspected terrorist making a phone call, Van Loo can identify the number instantly by listening to the tones. By hearing the sound of a voice echoing off a wall, he can deduce whether a suspect is speaking from an airport lounge or a crowded restaurant. And from the purr of an engine on a wiretap, he can discern whether a suspect is driving a Peugeot, a Honda or a Mercedes.

"I have had to train my ear to know where I am," Van Loo said. "It is a matter of survival to cross the street or get on a train. Some people can get lost in background noise, but as a blind man I divide hearing into different channels. It is these details that can be the difference between solving and not solving a crime."

"Being blind has forced me to develop my other senses, and my power as a detective rests in my ears," he said from his office at the Belgian Federal Police, where a bullet-riddled piece of paper from a recent target-shooting session was proudly displayed on the wall. "Being blind also requires recognizing your limitations," he added with a smile, noting that a sighted trainer guided his hands during target practice "to make sure no one got wounded."

Grappling with his blindness, he says, has also given him the thick emotional skin necessary for dealing with the job's stresses. "I have overheard criminals plotting to commit murder, drug dealers making plans to drop off drugs, men beating each other up," Van Loo said. "Being blind helps not to let it get to me, because I have to be tough."

To accommodate the new blind officers in the police station, they've installed elevators with voice-activated buttons and issued each blind officer a special computer equipped with a Braille keyboard and a system that translates images on the screen into sound. When Van Loo goes outside, he carries a compact police-issued global positioning system device with a voice that directs him to his destination, street by street.

Source : abcnews.go.com

Tags : Sacha Van Loo blind Sherlock Holmes blind police unit Belgium police officer blind

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Thieves stole entire railway stop

In Kelantan, East Coast of Malaysia, usual train passengers were shocked to discover that the shelter at the train stop station that they frequented has disappeared entirely! Suddenly they found themselves exposed to the elements when the metal thieves had carted off the entire railway stop at Pekan Tok Uban, near Pasir Mas, Kelantan.

Confirming this, KTMB east coast manager Ibrahim Sulaiman said that two weeks ago thieves, keen on extracting the steel components, removed a store and stop sign that indicated the stopping point for trains in Pekan Tok Uban. He said the company was deeply concerned over the growing theft of its equipment. It had lodged a police report since.

In recent years, as the cost of steel rises, the number of theft in the country has increased dramatically. They will striped down power plant, telephone booth together with the copper wires, parking meters, street signs, window frames from abandoned building and scout around any other source that has metals.

Because of ineffectiveness and insufficient support from the police forces, every year government loses millions of RM (approx. US$1 = RM 3.40) just to repair and replace the stolen items, and wait to be stolen again. Ibrahim appealed to villagers to keep a lookout for the thieves. He hoped that a comprehensive plan must be in place to tackle these problems as soon as possible as one day the thieves might be bold enough to cut away the entire railway tracks, thus causing not only financial losses, but putting thousands of lives in danger.

Source : thestar.com.my

Tags : Malaysia Kelantan East Coast railway stop steal stolen strip thief thieves Pekan Tok Uban

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Man targets to have 100 child by 2015

A one-legged father from UAE of 78 is lining up his next two wives in a bid to reach his target of 100 children by 2015. Daad Mohammed Murad Abdul Rahman, 60, has already had 15 brides although he has to divorce them as he goes along to remain within the legal limit of four wives at a time.

"In 2015 I will be 68 years old and will have 100 children," the local tabloid quoted Abdul Rahman as saying. "After that I will stop marrying. I have to have at least three more marriages to hit the century."

The United Arab Emirates newspaper splashed its front page with a picture of Abdul Rahman surrounded by his children, the eldest of whom is 36 years old and the youngest of whom is 20 days old. Two of his current three wives are also pregnant.

Abdul Rahman said his large family lived in 15 houses. He supports them with his military pension and the help of the government of Ajman, one of seven emirates that comprise the UAE, which includes the Gulf trade and tourism hub of Dubai. Islam allows men to marry up to four women at a time, though most marry only one. The UAE is a Muslim country but is home to migrants from around the world.

Source : dailymail.co.uk

Tags : Abdul Rahman UAE United Arab Emirates 78 kids 100 22

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I now pronounce you man and bitch

15 years ago, P. Selvakumar was a healthy young man, but everything changes since he stoned 2 dogs to death and hanged their bodies to a tree. Since then, he said that he has been curse since after the killing, he suffered paralysis and the loss of hearing in one ear. He tried every cure for his ailment but could not be rid of his disability.

Many attempts throughout the years to get rid of the curse failed. P. Selvakumar, now a 33-year-old farm laborer from the southern state of Tamil Nadu finally seeks advice from an astrologer. The astrologer told Selvakumar the only way to atone for his actions is to marry a bitch! He heeded the advice, and the wedding took place at a Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu state. The "bride" named Selvi wore an orange sari with a flower garland.

A reception attended by some 200 guests was held for the newlyweds in the groom's house during which Selvi grew restless and ran away. However the run away bride was subsequently recaptured and returned to her husband who gave her milk and a bun to celebrate. A relative of the groom who attended the wedding said he hoped Mr Selvakumar would now be cured.


Source : BBC News

Tags : P. Selvakumar Tamil Nadu marries married dog bitch Selvi husband wife


For more bizarre marriage, check out the previous article on Married to a doll

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WWII Aircraft discovered at popular beach after 65 years

For 65 years, beach strollers, sunbathers and swimmers often frolicked the beach in Wales. Unaware to them, there's a large fighter aircraft lies just a few feet beneath their favorite swimming spot. The aircraft was finally surfaced after unusual weather caused the sand to shift and erode.

In the summer of 2007, a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft, with its distinctive twin-boom design presumed to be USAAF serial number 41-7677, emerged from the sand of a beach in Wales where it crash landed in 1942. The aircraft, largely intact and remarkably free of corrosion, is one of the most significant WWII-related archaeological discoveries in recent history

Upon learning of the discovery in September, Richard Gillespie, executive director of The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) alerted curators at the UK national aviation museums (Imperial War Museum, Royal Air Force Museum, and Fleet Air Arm Museum). Interest in the discovery was keen and, as a service to the national museums, Gillespie mobilized a seven person TIGHAR archaeological survey team to assess the aircraft’s condition, describe and record the wreck site, and collect data that will be useful in recovery operations planned for the spring of 2008. TIGHAR also notified the United States Air Force Federal Preservation Officer.

Based on its serial number and other records, "the fighter is arguably the oldest P-38 in existence, and the oldest surviving 8th Air Force combat aircraft of any type," said Ric Gillespie, who heads a U.S.-based nonprofit group dedicated to preserving historic aircraft. "In that respect it's a major find, of exceptional interest to British and American aviation historians."


Source : www.tighar.org

Tags : Lockheed P-38 Wales USAAF WWII, aircraft archaeology Royal Air Force Museum dicover discovery TIGHAR

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Girl hailed as Hindu Goddess

When Shambhu's daughter was born in a rural Indian family, villagers in the remote settlement of Rampur Kodar Katti in the northern state of Bihar believed she was sacred. Her parents, Shambhu and Poonam Tatma, named the girl Lakshmi after the Hindu goddess of wealth who has four arms. Believe it or not, Lakshmi Tatma the little girl did born with 4 arms and legs!

As the news of her birth spread, locals and neighboring town people waited in line just to get a blessing from the baby. However, her parents were forced to keep her in hiding after they were approached by men trying to buy their daughter to put her in a circus. Children born with deformities in deeply traditional rural parts of India, like where Lakshmi is borned, are often viewed as reincarnated gods. This young girl is no different as she is named after the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth.

In scientific terms Lakshmi case is called "parasitic twin", the twins that stopped developing in her mother's womb. The surviving fetus absorbed the limbs, kidneys and other body parts of the undeveloped fetus. The two spines are merged, she has four kidneys, entangled nerves, two stomach cavities, an extra torso and limbs but no head. She cannot stand up or walk. It was joined to Lakshmi at the pelvis.

To let her live a normal life again, surgery is needed to remove the extra body parts and unfused Lakshmi's spine from her twin's. But the cost of the surgery is not cheap, with the total cost of $625,000, it's far too great for the Lakshmi's family to afford as the couple only earns just $1 a day as casual laborers. Fortunately, after Dr. Sharan Patil visited the girl in her village from Narayana Health City hospital in Bangalore, the hospital's foundation agreed to fund the operation.

On November 2007, More than 30 surgeons took 27 hours to not only remove two of Lakshmi's arms and two of her legs but also to rebuild much of her body and save her organs. They say the chances of death were as high as 25 percent. The operation went well and Lakshmi has made steady progress. Later, she was taken off a respirator and her parents were allowed to visit.

Many villagers, however, remain opposed to surgery and are planning to erect a temple to Lakshmi, who they still revere as sacred. Dr. Patil said Lakshmi's parents are "very practical" and knew the risks of the medical treatment. Asked about the belief she is a reincarnation of the goddess, he said, "She's a very charming young girl, and I'm sure she'll grow up and be something special."

Source : www.cnn.com

Tags : Lakshmi Tatma Shambhu Bihar Lakshmi Hindu goddess parasitic twin surgeons surgery Dr. Sharan Patil India


A special thanks to Joyce from moviestvreviews.blogspot.com for bringing this story to my attention.

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Pregnant at the age of 5!

In 1939, a man from a small village in the Andes Mountains carried his five-year-old daughter into a hospital in the town of Pisco, Peru. He indicated to the doctors there that the shamans in his village had been unable to cure the large tumor that was developing in his daughter's abdomen that caused her stomach to bloat. But upon examination, the doctors learned that the swelling was not a tumor.

The father told Dr. Gérado Lozada that her daughter strangely having regular periods since age three, but they had stopped about 7 1/2 months prior to the visit. Dr. Gérado listened to the young girl's abdomen with a stethoscope, and heard a tiny second heartbeat. An X-Ray was also performed, after which there could be no doubt… to the doctors' astonishment, five-year-old Lina Medina was about seven months pregnant!



Dr. Gérado Lozada
together with Lina
Medina and her
son Gerardo.
Soon she was transferred to a hospital in the city of Lima, where specialists confirmed the pregnancy. Lina's father was arrested on suspicion of incest, but due to lack of evidence, he was released. On Mother's Day in 1939, when Lina was just under 5 years and 8 months old, her baby was delivered by cesarean section. It was a healthy 6 pound baby boy, and was named Gerardo after the doctor who originally diagnosed Lina's pregnancy, Dr. Gérado Lozada.

Further research into the case was done by Dr. Edmundo Escomel, one of Peru's preeminent physician-researchers at the time. He discovered that Lina's menstruations had actually begun when she was only eight months old, much sooner than her father had originally reported. Escomel also documented the results of a test which indicated that Lina had the ovaries of a fully mature woman. He concluded that the reason for the early development of her reproductive system must have been from a pituitary hormonal disorder. But the identity of Gerardo's father was never determined.

For a long time, Gerardo was raised in the Medina household as though he were Lina's baby brother. Two years after Gerardo was born, American child psychologist Mrs. Paul Kosak was permitted to speak with Lina at some length. As quoted in the New York Times in 1941, Mrs. Kosak said, "Lina is above normal in intelligence and the baby, a boy, is perfectly normal and is physically better developed than the average Mestiza (Spanish Indian) child. She thinks of the child as a baby brother and so does the rest of the family."

Gerardo grew up believing that Lina was his sister until he was aged ten years, when taunting by schoolmates led him to discover the truth. In 1972, when he was 33 years old, his younger brother was born. His mother Lina had married, and had a child with her new husband. Gerardo died seven years later at age 40 from a bone marrow infection, but Lina and her husband still live in Peru, and their son currently lives in Mexico.

The case of Lina Medina has often been alleged to be a hoax, but the story has been confirmed many times over the years by physicians in Peru and in the U.S. Sufficient evidence was gathered that there is little room for doubt, including photos, X-Rays, biopsies, and thorough documentation by a number of doctors.

Lina's story was documented by Edmundo Escomel, published in "La Presse Medicale" reports in 1939. The U.S. press was also interested in this curious and disturbing story, published it in the Los Angeles Times on 16 May 1939. Six months later, the New York Times reported that an American public health official had also verified Lina's remarkable story.

Tags : Dr. Gérado Lozada Lina Medina Peru Pisco Dr. Edmundo Escomel pregnant 5 years old

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The real egghead boy

Petero Byakatonda, a 13-year-old boy from a remote village in Uganda, suffers from a genetic disorder called Crouzon’s syndrome. The illness affects around one in 10,000 newborns and is normally treated within a few months of birth. But because of Petero’s isolation, he was diagnosed only recently, and it is incredible that he is still alive.

In Crouzon’s syndrome, the bones of the skull are fused together permanently so the head cannot expand normally as the brain grows. The brain is therefore forced to grow in the direction of least resistance. This, as leading craniofacial surgeon Dr Kenneth Salyer explains, can lead to constriction “to the point of herniation of the base of the brain, and death.” In altering the structure of Petero’s skull, Salyer and his team may be able to give the boy some self-confidence, restore his sight and save his life. But in order for Petero’s surgery to be successful, says Salyer, there is a “major need for him to be treated immediately.”

All his life, Petero’s misshapen head and bulging eyes have meant that he has been feared and tormented by other children in his village. “They used to bully me all the time,” he says. His mother, Dorothea, explains that kids used to throw stones at Petero every time he walked to the well. He was treated like a person at home but an animal everywhere else. Now, however, a Dallas-based surgical team offers hope.

Petero first came to the attention of Kenneth Salyer when a Ugandan social worker was visiting Petero’s village. She took a photograph of Petero and showed it to a doctor friend who then showed it to Salyer. Though he is based in America, Salyer was interested in Petero in his capacity as head of a charity called the World Craniofacial Foundation. With money donated by this foundation, Petero, having never left his village before, now finds himself leaving his family to travel across the world for a series of life-threatening operations.

As he arrives in the US, Petero is fascinated by everything he sees. “There are so many lights,” he reflects as a taxi takes him and social worker Immaculate to the house that will be their home for the near future. “There is no darkness anywhere”. But it is not just an alien culture to which Petero must become accustomed – over the next seven months, he will spend a great deal of time in hospital as he undergoes a series of operations to completely rebuild his head.

After weeks of tests and medical examinations, Petero is deemed ready for surgery and is wheeled into the operating theatre, clutching his new toy phone. In this first operation, Salyer and his team will reconstruct the top of the skull and take the pressure off the brain and the optic nerve. The surgery is incredibly complex. As surgeons make an incision in Petero’s scalp, they discover a venous plexus, an abnormal collection of blood vessels which increases the chances of bleeding. They must then peel the skin back over Petero’s face, before drilling a series of holes in his skull and moving his brain away from the bone. As they remove a large piece of skull, the pressure on Petero’s brain is eased and his sight is effectively saved. But now the hard work of restructuring the head and face begins.

Two months after his first operation, the change in Petero is hard to believe. His head now looks normal, but perhaps the most amazing transformation is in his personality. Whereas he used to be a shy, reclusive boy, ashamed to show his face in public, he is now playful, excited and outgoing. But with two more operations and many months of recovery yet to go, Petero still has a long journey ahead of him.

Source : mymultiplesclerosis.co.uk
Source : www.tvthrong.co.uk

Tags : Petero Byakatonda disorder Crouzon’s syndrome Dr Kenneth Salyer Uganda genetic surgery surgeon

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Outrages protester act

Mark McGowan is a UK-based performance artist currently working at the Camberwell College of Arts. He grew up in Peckham, on the North Peckham Estate, and has a degree in Fine Art from Camberwell College of Art, and an MA from Goldsmiths College. But neither his artistic skill nor his academics that caught the media's attention. He entered the news a number of times for his unconventional approach to public protest and demonstration. Listed are his history of performing outrages art and protests.

MONKEY NUT (2003)
Mark pushed a monkey nut along the road for 7 miles with his nose, starting at Goldsmiths College in South London and ending at Number 10 Downing Street where he handed his nut in, he was protesting against student fees.

YOU TURKEY (2003)
Mark walked backwards for 11miles with a 27lb turkey on top of his head shouting at fat people along the way through a homemade loud hailer, it was a piece about the obesity pandemic.




SAUSAGE CHIPS AND BEANS (2003)
Mark sat in a bath of beans with two chips stuck up his nose and 48 sausages strapped to his head for two weeks, he was advocating the consumption of the much maligned Great British breakfast.

OCEAN WAVE II (2003/4)
On December 28th 2003 Mark set out from Peckham in South East London and attempted to sail 400 miles to Glasgow in Scotland in a shopping trolley, along the way he collected gifts from English people intending to hand them out to the people of Scotland as a reconciliation for the William Wallace thing. He failed in his attempt after 17 days and 65 miles, due to bad weather conditions and poor equipment.

ARTIST KEYS CARS (2004)
In another controversial performance, Mark wandered the streets of Glasgow and South East London randomly keying cars, a practice involving the scratching of cars using a key. The performance/event was for a show called Glasgow International and was featured on several news programmes. But the London performance artist has since admitted the cars were already "keyed" and the photos were "staged".

AUTUMN LEAVES PROTEST (2005)
Mark nailed his feet to the gallery wall protesting against autumn leaves.



100,00 KISSES FOR TONY BLAIR (2005)
On Election Day, May 5th 2005, Mark successfully kissed an A4 color laminated photograph of Tony Blair 100, 000 times, the performance took place outside 10 Downing Street. He said that he was unsure at the beginning where to kiss the Prime Minister, on the forehead would be like kissing a baby, on the cheek would be like kissing my mum and on the lips just seemed gay. In the end he kissed him on the lips saying I’m not gay, Tony's not gay and everyone knows that. After 100,000 kisses things did get a bit weird towards the end.

EARLESS (2005)
Mark pulled a television along the road with his ear for six miles from Milan central train station to Silvio Burlesconi's house, protesting against politicians control of the media.





PEGGING (2005)
The intention was to attach 17,200 multi colored clothes pegs onto an alcoholic called Barry. In the end the alcoholics pegged Mark, but they got bored quite quickly and some friends pegged Mark instead, only managing 4,500.

RUNNING TAP (2005)
In an extraordinary protest against private control of water in the UK, He turned on a cold water tap in the House Gallery in Camberwell, London and planned to leave it running for one year, wasting 15 million liters of water. Due to the intervention of Thames Water, he had to turn it off again after one month. McGowan said, ‘Basically it was an art piece for people to come and look at and enjoy aesthetically, it was also a comment on a social and environment issue.'

A CANTERBURY TALE (2005/6)
Mark McGowan crawled on his hands and knees from London bridge to Canterbury with a rose clenched between his teeth 18 boxes of chocolates tied around his wrists and ankles and a triangular sign on his back saying could you love me. Mark McGowan started from London Bridge on the 26th December 2005 and finished at Canterbury Cathedral on 6th January 2006.

DEAD SOLDIER (2006)
The artist Mark McGowan dressed up in British army camouflage fatigues, with commando boots wearing a red beret, he then lay down in New Street, in Birmingham City Centre, curled up in a ball for one week. The performance was called Dead Soldier 2006 and was neither anti-war nor pro-military, put an artistic comment on current times.

ARTIST EATS SWAN (2007)
Mark McGowan ate a swan in a protest against the monarchy, the rich and the upper classes, outside the Guy Hilton Gallery in East London.


KICK GEORGE BUSH IN THE ASS (2007)
Crawling on his hands and knees Mark McGowan wandered the streets of New York with a George Bush mask on and a sign on his posterior saying 'KICK MY ASS'.


ARTIST EATS A CORGI (2007)
Mark ate a small corgi dog in a protest against the RSPCA's inability to prosecute Prince Phillip over the beating to death and shooting of a fox. The event happened live on the Bob and Roberta Smith radio show on Resonance FM.


ARTIST TO SET FIRE TO HIMSELF (5th November 2007)
In an extra ordinary art performance anti war protestor, Mark McGowan intended to set fire to himself in Parliament Square outside the Houses of Parliament which is Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes night in the UK, at 6pm in a protest against the war in Iraq. The event is part of an exhibition by Andy Hunt, the curater at the Chelsea Space which is part of Chelsea College of Art and opens on Tuesday 6th November. This event never took place as when he arrived there was a massive riot police presence, armed with fire extinguishers. They gave him warning earlier that he'll be arrested if he would to continue on with his act.

Source : markmcgowan.org

Tags : Mark McGowan monkey nut you turkey, sausage chips and beans Ocean wave Artist keys car Autumn leaves protest 100,000 kisses for Tony Blair earless pegging running tap a canterbury tale dead soldier artist eats swan kick George Bush in the ass artist eats a Corgi Artist to set fire to himself

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From poo to paper

So, you think the paper you're using for writing and wrapping is processed out from the tree? Would you be surprised if I told you that there is paper made of elephant poo? An elephant can produce about 1 ton of droppings per week and a smart company is taking advantage of this excessive amount of elephant dung. The concept of elephant dung paper seems farfetched, but an enterprising Thai man combined science and conservation to make the poo paper a reality.

The man behind the paper is Mr. Wanchai. On his way home from work he used to pass a natural paper factory and was impressed at the simplicity of the process that used natural tree fibers to make high quality hand made paper. He then took a trip to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang Northern Thailand and saw piles and piles of dung. He looked at the dung and noticed that the dung was very fibrous. This was the birth of the idea.

The next step was to take home a carload of dung to his house. His wife was amused and at this stage very patient. But when he started using the family food processor to cut the long fibers to a shorter length – his wife finally lost her patience. Not only was he bringing home dung but using the food processor was one step too far. She gave him two choices. The first was to stop bringing home dung and concentrate on his job. The second was to make the dung paper full time. Either way, she wanted a new food processor!

Now being done in the factory, the process started from collecting, washing and straining the dung for its fibrous matter. Then it is boiled for 5 hours and bleached. Once it is cleaned, it is then dried and made into pulp. The sheets that result from this process are brown, unless they've added coloring to make more varieties. This concept has attracted worldwide attention, and now many are trying to create paper out of poo from sheeps, horses, kangaroos and other animals as well.

Mr. Wanchai still has the old food processor as a reminder and lesson to him and his children that – in life many people may think you are mad or crazy but if you have the courage to try and try then you will succeed. If he had listened to the laughs then he would not successful as he does now. Mr. Wanchai is philosophical about his journey “Thai elephants have helped many generations of Thais and they continue to provide many jobs for the ordinary people like me. It might be just plain dung to most but to me every time a ball drops it is another opportunity to help them – one man's or elephant's trash is another's treasure – where there is muck there is money'.

Source : elephantdungpaper.com

Tags : elephant dung poo droppings excrement paper wrapper thailand wanchai sheeps horses kangaroos animals process

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Dubai's tranformation

Dubai, UAE situated in Southwest Asia was once a small and unknown piece of land to most. Since 19th century, this small town has started to flourished due to lucrative pearling in the region. But the industry did not last long and soon, during the late 1920s it collapsed when World War 1 began, and later it turned from bad to worst with economic depression and followed by the invention of cultured pearls by the Japanese.

Despite their economic downturn, they manage to turn attention to other sources in search of revenue. Oil was discovered in Dubai, after which the town granted concessions to international oil companies. Dubai continued to grow from revenues generated from oil and trade. Even though there was a large increment in oil prices after the Persian Gulf War, Dubai started to concentrate on its infrastructure and focus on free trade and tourism. They realized they can't put all their attention in the oil industry as their reserve is limited. Because of their smart planning, 90% of their revenue generated are from other sources. A glance at the city's some of the largest building projects completed or under construction makes it clear just how fast the place is still expanding.

Dubai World Central International Airport is a colossal new airport under construction near Jebel Ali, South of Dubai. World Central is the world's first truly integrated logistics platform, with all transport modes, logistics and value added services, including manufacturing and assembly, in a single bonded and Free Zone environment. The airport will have an annual cargo capacity of 12 million tons, more than three times that of Memphis, today's largest cargo hub, and a passenger capacity of more than 120 million - almost 30% more than Atlanta, currently the world's busiest passenger airport. Built for the future, it has been designed to handle all next-generation aircraft, including the A380 super-jumbo. Up to four aircraft will be able to land simultaneously, 24 hours a day, minimizing in-air queuing. Construction has begun on the first runway, which is scheduled to open in 2007. The project is expected to be fully built-out and operational by 2017.

The Burj Al Arab, completed in 1999 is a luxury 5-star hotel managed by the Jumeirah Group and built by Said Khalil. It was designed by Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC. At 321 meters (1,053 ft), it is the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel. However, the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, which has already topped Burj Al Arab's height, will soon take away this title upon its completion in 2007. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 meters (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the billowing sail of a boat.

The Hydropolis Underwater Hotel and Resort is a planned hotel which will be the world's first underwater luxury resort. It's situated 66 feet below the surface of the Persian Gulf, just off Jumeira Beach in Dubai. Reinforced by concrete and steel, its Plexiglas walls and bubble-shaped dome ceilings will enable guests to see fish and other sea creatures. It is basically divided into three sections: the land station, where guests will be welcomed; the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel; and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure complex. It will cover an area of 260 hectares, about the size of London's Hyde Park, and will cost an estimated £300 million. It is self-acclaimed to be a 10-star hotel. The hotel was scheduled to open in 2009.

The World Island is a man-made archipelago of 300 islands in the shape of a world map currently being built off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The World is one of a series of artificial island projects in Dubai, along with the Palm Islands, and like the other islands The World is being built primarily using sand dredged from the sea. The World is the brainchild of Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. So far 45% of the islands had been sold. The first island to be developed is none other than the one owned by former Formula 1 race car driver Michael Schumacher. The $7 million dollar island was actually not purchased by Schumacher. Instead, it was a gift by Sheikh Mohammed.

Each island ranges from 5.7 – 21 acres in size, with 50–100 m of water between each island. The development will cover an area of 9 km in length and 6 km in width, surrounded by an oval breakwater. Prices for the islands will range from $15-45 million (USD). Dredging started in 2004 and as of March of 2007 The World is around 90% completed. According to the National Geographic Channel (The Best of Megastructures) the overall price for the World is $14 Billion US Dollars.

Ski Dubai is claimed to be one of the largest indoor ski resorts in the world, with 22,500-square meters of indoor ski area. It is a part of the Mall of the Emirates, which is one of the largest malls in the world. An extremely efficient insulation system is the key to maintain the temperature of -1 degrees Celsius during the day and -6 degrees during the night when the snow is produced. Ski Dubai has 5 runs of varying difficulties, the longest being 400m.

Scheduled for occupancy in September 2009, Burj Dubai is a supertall skyscraper currently under constructions. But even it is not completed yet, it is already the tallest free standing structure in the world according to its developers, surpassing the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada which previously held the record for 32 years. Once completed, it'll hold the title of tallest man-made structure in the world, by any measure.

The Palm Jumeirah is in the shape of a palm tree. It consists of a trunk, a crown with 17 fronds, and a surrounding crescent island that forms an 11 kilometer-long breakwater. The island is 5 kilometers by 5 kilometers and its total area is larger than 800 football pitches. The crown is connected to the mainland by a 300-metre bridge and the crescent is connected to the top of the palm by a sub sea tunnel. Over the next 2 to 3 years, as the tourism phases develop, The Palm Jumeirah is touted as soon to be one of the world’s premier resorts. Over 30 beachfront hotels will be opened by the end of 2009. This is just the beginning of the project. They’re 2 more bigger and better island planned. The Palm Jebel Ali and The Palm Deira. The Palm Deira, which will be almost as large in size as Paris, with an area of 80 square kilometers. It's the largest of 3 islands. Construction expected to be complete by 2015.

The Dubai Mall is an enormous mall. It will be the largest mall in the world when completed. It will cover a total area of 12.1 million sq ft. Featured attractions include the world's largest gold souk, world's largest aquariums, an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, Oasis Fountain Waterfall, WaterFront Atrium, a view of the world's tallest building, Burj Dubai. The mall has already won a total five awards, with two awards from the Retail Future Project Awards at MAPIC. It is expected to be completed in late 2008.

The history of Dubai is not over yet. With it’s massive growth despite how this place began as a small, quiet place shows nothing can stop this little small city to be one of the most recognizable in the world.

Tags : Dubai Dubai World Central International Airport Burj Al Arab Hydropolis Underwater Hotel World Island Ski Dubai Palm Jumeirah Palm Jebel Ali Palm Deira Dubai Mall Burj Dubai UAE transformation rags to riches

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