Saturday, December 31, 2005
Xylocarpus granatum
Puzzles do not normally grow on trees - but this one is the exception! The proper name for the tree that the nut comes from is Xylocarpus granatum, but it is also known as the Patience Tree or the Cannonball Mangrove. It is found in East Africa and Southeast Asia, and the wood is used locally for making canoes and also for the production of charcoal. The fruit can be the size of a large orange, or even bigger, and in the middle is a woody capsule containing a number of seeds.
The number of seeds can vary apparently, with anything up to 16. However the particular interest for us is the fact that they interlock so beautifully. However putting the pieces back together is not so easy! Another name for this is the Monkey Puzzle Nut, or I suppose you could think of it as nature's own Rubik Cube.
With video.
The number of seeds can vary apparently, with anything up to 16. However the particular interest for us is the fact that they interlock so beautifully. However putting the pieces back together is not so easy! Another name for this is the Monkey Puzzle Nut, or I suppose you could think of it as nature's own Rubik Cube.
With video.
Man unaware he was shot in head
He woke up and found his head bleeding, drove to work and left a note for his boss before going to the hospital to find he had a bullet lodged in his brain.
Arise Sir Tom Jones
Why, why, why? Delilah.
There's a list of people who have declined a British Honour here.
I thought there'd be more.
There's a list of people who have declined a British Honour here.
I thought there'd be more.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Schoolteacher arrested standing naked in the snow
"No, I am ... crazy, and I need a menthol cigarette".
Then he was pepper sprayed.
"'Jesus' is now blind".
Then he was pepper sprayed.
"'Jesus' is now blind".
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Needies Need You
Needies are interactive plush dolls inspired by codependent, high-maintenance relationships.
Totally attention-starved, they compete with each other for human affection -- or, getting touch, as they like to say.
When you give Needies touch (by hugging and squeezing them), they will return your kindness with songs and shameless flattery.
But remember that Needies always know when other Needies are getting touch! If one Needie is getting touch while others are neglected, the unloved Needies will conspire to take its place.
Aaagh.
Totally attention-starved, they compete with each other for human affection -- or, getting touch, as they like to say.
When you give Needies touch (by hugging and squeezing them), they will return your kindness with songs and shameless flattery.
But remember that Needies always know when other Needies are getting touch! If one Needie is getting touch while others are neglected, the unloved Needies will conspire to take its place.
Aaagh.
Does my bum look big in this?
Researchers at a Scottish university are aiming to answer the question.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
What About Bones
Hi, my name is Bones and I am a Redbone Coonhound.
I would like to tell you my story on how I met my best friend Jesus and what all he has done for me.
I would like to tell you my story on how I met my best friend Jesus and what all he has done for me.
British man on his hands and knees for love
British man is giving a whole new meaning to begging to be loved as he set off on a 55-mile (88.5 kilometres) crawl on his hands and knees to find a partner.
Unsurprisingly, he is single.
Unsurprisingly, he is single.
To boost turnout, church service to give away a house
"It encourages people to come to the service and it helps keep people off the street with all that revelry going on".
Whole of the door gang
A bizarre New York crime wave that leaves car owners doorless has investigators clueless.
9 year-old girl sent to wrong country in flight mix-up
"I got some nice food. They were kind and I was never scared".
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
The truth about Santa
A woman explains to a little girl why Santa can't exist.
Awww.
Opens with windows media player or right click and Save Target As.
Awww.
Opens with windows media player or right click and Save Target As.
The Z machine
The Z machine is the largest X-ray generator in the world and is designed to test materials in conditions of extreme temperature and pressure.
Take a look at this thing.
Take a look at this thing.
Japan's latest innovation: Remote-control roaches are plagued by spammers
"We had an incident last week where we sent a roach into an duct to test for an air leak, when we asked the roach to turn right, it responded by asking for our email addresses and offered to send us viagra in return".
31 hours of non-stop drinking
New Years revellers are being urged to join in a 31-hour drinking marathon at the Cube nightclub in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.
The bevvy session will last from 6pm on Hogmanay to 1.30am on January 2.
Boozers will be encouraged to drink cheap shots around the clock and prizes will be handed out for those who can stay standing throughout the promotion.
Responsible? My arse.
The bevvy session will last from 6pm on Hogmanay to 1.30am on January 2.
Boozers will be encouraged to drink cheap shots around the clock and prizes will be handed out for those who can stay standing throughout the promotion.
Responsible? My arse.
Man wins $46-million Florida lottery
Gives the winning ticket to his daughter "because of her fairness".
She divvies out the money between her 4 siblings and her mother.
She divvies out the money between her 4 siblings and her mother.
Tsunami was God's revenge for your wicked ways, women told
Religious extremists are using last year’s storm to oppress the survivors.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Judge Lets Man Change Name to Jesus Christ
This was not done for any reason other than I am that person. You're dealing with the real deal".
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Ye Cannae Stop The Chavalry
I forgot to post this.
It's an mp3 parody of the Jona Lewie Christmas hit Stop The Cavalry.
Right, I'm away again. Hope you're having a great Christmas.
Update: The original link has died so for you people searching via Google and the like, I've uploaded the mp3 here.
There's a bit of farting around involved with downloading it but it seems to work okay.
It's an mp3 parody of the Jona Lewie Christmas hit Stop The Cavalry.
Right, I'm away again. Hope you're having a great Christmas.
Update: The original link has died so for you people searching via Google and the like, I've uploaded the mp3 here.
There's a bit of farting around involved with downloading it but it seems to work okay.