World’s Weirdest Museums You Cannot Imagine
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to encourage public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society. Traditionally, International Museum Day is organized around May 18. Here we highlight the most unusual museums around the world – from displays of toilets to the worst waxwork replicas.
This picture taken on Oct 3, 2012 shows sculptures put at the seabed off the coast of the West Indies and Mexico by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor. Taylor casts life-size statues from materials used to encourage reef growth and sinks them to the ocean floor. Continue reading »
What the World Eats By Peter Menzel And Faith D’Aluisio
A stunning photographic collection featuring portraits of people from 30 countries and the food they eat in one day. In this fascinating study of people and their diets, 80 profiles are organized by the total number of calories each person puts away in a day. Featuring a Japanese sumo wrestler, a Massai herdswoman, world-renowned Spanish chef Ferran Adria, an American competitive eater, and more, these compulsively readable personal stories also include demographic particulars, including age, activity level, height, and weight. Essays from Harvard primatologist Richard Wrangham, journalist Michael Pollan, and others discuss the implications of our modern diets for our health and for the planet. This compelling blend of photography and investigative reportage expands our understanding of the complex relationships among individuals, culture, and food.
Oswaldo Gutierrez, Chief of the PDVSA Oil Platform GP 19 in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela with his typical day’s worth of food. (From the book What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets.) The caloric value of his day’s worth of food on a day in December was 6000 kcals. He is 52 years of age; 5 feet, 7 inches tall; and 220 pounds. Gutierrez works on the platform for seven days then is off at home for seven days. While on the platform he jogs on its helipad, practices karate, lifts weights, and jumps rope to keep fit. His food for the seven days comes from the platform cafeteria which, though plagued with cockroaches, turns out food choices that run from healthful to greasy-fried. Fresh squeezed orange juice is on the menu as well and Gutierrez drinks three liters of it a day himself. His diet changed about ten years ago when he decided that he’d rather be more fit than fat like many of his platform colleagues. PDVSA is the state oil company of Venezuela.
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Female Street Artists set Guinness World Record for Largest Mural Painted by a Team
A female street art collective has set a new Guinness World Record to create the largest spray-painted mural by multiple artists. Over 100 international female street artists came together to create the continuous mural in south London’s Leake Street Tunnel, made famous by Banksy, on March 8, 2014. The record was broken as part of all-female street art event Femme Fierce, the largest of its kind in the UK, which aims to celebrate women street artists across the world. Continue reading »
300ft-Long ‘Airship’ Unveiled In Britain Is The World’s Longest Aircraft
Undated handout photo issued by Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd of the world’s largest aircraft known as the HAV304 – part plane, part airship and part helicopter – which has been unveiled in the UK in all its 300ft (91m) long glory. The giant aircraft has been displayed at Cardington in Bedfordshire in the only hangar big enough to accommodate the 113ft (34m) wide and 85ft (26m) high monster. Created by Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd and first flown in the USA, the ultra-green HAV304 project has just received a £2.5 million grant from the UK Government. See PA story AIR Airship. (Photo by Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd/PA Wire) Continue reading »
How The World’s Armies Are Fed In The Field
Germany
The German ration pack contains several sachets of grapefruit and exotic juice powder to add to water, and Italian biscotti, but also more familiar treats such as liver-sausage spread and rye bread, goulash with potatoes, and for breakfast sour cherry and apricot jams. Continue reading »
The Most Polluted River in the World
Heavy pollution of river water by household and industrial waste in the Indonesian province of West Java is threatening the health of at least five million people living on the riverbanks, say government officials and water experts.
Poor sanitation and hygiene cause 50,000 deaths annually in Indonesia, with untreated sewage resulting in over six million tons of human waste being released into inland water bodies, according to an ongoing study by the World Bank. Continue reading »
Rest in Peace. ‘World’s Angriest Cat’ Colonel Meow is Dead.
One of the most popular cats on an internet rife with felines has died. Colonel Meow, a Persian-Himalayan mix named for his authoritarian demeanor, was dubbed the ‘World’s Angriest Cat,’ but was beloved nonetheless. Colonel Meow was just two years old and died in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The cause of his death was not immediately released. Continue reading »
Kite Aerial by Seeing the World from New Heights
Kite Aerial photography (KAP) is a hobby and a type of photography. A camera is lifted using a kite and is triggered either remotely or automatically to take aerial photographs. The camera rigs can range from the extremely simple, consisting of a trigger mechanism with a disposable camera, to complex apparatus using radio control and digital cameras. On some occasions it can be a good alternative to other forms of aerial photography. Continue reading »
‘World’s Worst’ Waxworks Collection Sold
Louis Tussauds House of Wax in the English seaside town of Great Yarmouth had been quietly disappointing customers for over 50 years when it rose to prominence in 2008 after being labelled “the world’s worst waxworks.” The museum shut down last year after owners June and Peter Hayes retired, but this month the collection of unlife-like models of stars, athletes and royalty found a new home when they were snapped up by an anonymous buyer from the Czech Republic. The waxwork heads above, if you haven’t already guessed, are of ’70s heartthrobs and “Starsky and Hutch” actors Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul. Of course they are. (Rex Features: Albanpix Ltd) Continue reading »
The Flatmobile – World’s Lowest Street Legal Car
At 19 inches high, the Flatmobile is the world’s lowest street legal car. It just so happens to be a replica of the Batmobile and has a jet engine that shoots 20 foot flames out of the rear! Ground clearance is at a whopping 2 inches! You could probably park this thing under a large SUV at your local supermarket. Continue reading »
Indian Teenager has the World’s Biggest Collection of Pencils
Many are happy to collect stamps, coins or key rings – but not this stationery-mad teenager. Tushar Lakhanpal, 15, from New Delhi, India, claims to own more than 14,000 pencils in different shapes and sizes from 40 countries around the world. Included in his collection, which he believes could be world record breaking, is a gold-plated implement and two pencils, stored in an ornate box, thought to have been owned and used by Queen Elizabeth II.
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The Biggest Christmas Tree in the World
The biggest Christmas tree in the world is the one in Gubbio, Italy – a magical sight that will get anyone in the holiday spirit.
In 1981 the residents of the town in Umbria decided to take matters into their own hands. They set up a single tree that the whole town could enjoy. Ten years later, their tree – resting on the side of Mount Ingino – set the Guinness world record with its 450-meter base, 750 meters of height, and 130,000-square-meter surface (equivalent to thirty soccer fields). The tree is made of almost one thousand lights, wired to about eight kilometers of electrical cables. It lights up on the evening of December 7, the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and is left on until January 6, day of the Epiphany. Continue reading »
Inside the World’s Biggest Tree House by Horace Burgess
Located in Crossville, Tennessee, the Minister’s house is the world’s biggest tree house, and was built by Horace Burgess. It is 97 foot tall (3om), 10-story high, uses 6 trees as its foundations, and took over 14 years to be built. “I built it for everybody. It’s God’s treehouse. He keeps watch over it,” said Burgess, who got inspired in 1993 after a vision. “I was praying one day, and the Lord said, ‘If you build me a treehouse, I’ll see you never run out of material.” Cost of construction you might ask? $12,000! Let’s go live in the woods then! Hot water what? Continue reading »
Ice Alaska – World Ice Art Championships 2013
Every year in Fairbanks, Alaska, the World Ice Art Championships takes place, and it is no cute little side hobby. Praised as one of the world’s largest ice sculpting competitions and exhibitions, the World Ice Art Championships has grown into a month-long event featuring more than 70 teams from around the world. The works are stunning and often massive in both size and visual appeal. Continue reading »
At the End of the World
Photographer Amanda Camenish shot the Spring/Summer 2014 campaign for Swiss menswear designer Julian Zigerli. Marlen Keller provided the illustrations for the backgrounds. Continue reading »
Incredible Libraries from Around the World
1. Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland. Continue reading »
Most Beautiful Abandoned Places of the World
1. Mirny Mine is a former open pit diamond mine located in Mirny, Eastern Siberia, Russia. Continue reading »
The Most Beautiful River in the World
Caño Cristales is a river located in Serrania de la Marrakech in Colombia and is known worldwide because of the range of colors that it has in itself, so often described as “the most beautiful river in the world”, “the river of five colors” and “river which flows in heaven.” Why is this so, check out below!
Algae and the moss on the bottom of the river are the main “culprits” for the beautiful colors in the river. During the rainy seasons, Caño Cristales becomes deeper and flowing very strongly, thereby preventing sunlight to reach the algae. However, during dry periods, the river has no enough water for life. Still, between these two seasons, when conditions are perfect, Caño Cristales River becomes the most beautiful in the world.
Thousands shades of yellow, red, green, blue and black create a scene that leaves them breathless even indifferent bystanders. But the most beautiful part of the river, located in the desert, you can not just reach and to “paradise” parts can be reached only on foot or by horse, that the visit of the river turns into a kind of adventure. Continue reading »
2014 Sony World Photography Awards
“Abore Sandstorm”. This picture was taken in Omo Valley, Ethiopia. My guide and I reached an Arbore village and while we are speakng with the boss I looked to my right and i saw a brown tsunami coming to us. It was an incredible moment, women protecting of the storm with their cloths and I closed my eyes. When I thought the storm was over I opened my eyes and I saw this boy seating on an old tree, I ran to catch this Arbore portrait with the queue of the sandstorm in his backside. (Photo and caption by Carlos Duarte (Spain)/2014 Sony World Photography Awards) Continue reading »
Couple’s Creative Outfits for Wedding: World of Warcraft Costumes
A couple who got married in Taiwan made their wedding an all-out World of Warcraft extravaganza by forgoing the standard suit and white wedding dress for cosplay outfits. According to an article in Kotaku, the man, Craig, dressed up as King Varien Wrynn, while his wife, Zoe, cosplayed as Tyrande Whisperwind.
They reportedly tied the knot in these costumes and had some post-wedding shots taken in these outfits as well. Continue reading »
World Toilet Day 2013
While a vast majority of the world’s population has access to mobile phones, one third of humanity (2.5 billion people) do not have access to proper sanitation, including toilets or latrines, with dramatic consequences on human health, dignity and security, the environment, and social and economic development. To address these issues, the “Sanitation for All” Resolution was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in July 2013, designating 19 November as World Toilet Day
Indian social reform activist and founder of Sulabh Sanitation Bindeshwar Pathak (C) presents a 250-kilogram cake in the form of a squat toilet during a function to mark World Toilet Day In New Delhi on November 19, 2013. According to a 2011 census, some 131 million households in India have no latrine in their premises, with eight million using public facilities and 123 million defecating in the open. (Photo by Sajjad Hussain/AFP Photo) Continue reading »
Photographer Builds World’s Largest Camera
A woman poses for her husband alongside a giant camera Thursday, November 7, 2013 outside the Historic Green County Courthouse in Monroe, Wis. Chicago photographer Dennis Manarchy created what’s being called the world’s largest camera. It’s 35-feet long and 12-feet tall it’s a working replica of a vintage accordion-style camera that produces 16- by 24-foot prints, the equivalent of a two-story building. The giant camera is on display in Monroe through November 17 because a Monroe company manufactured the specially-built trailer. Manarchy plans to tow the camera around the country to shoot photos of indigenous cultures. (Photo by Mark Hoffman) Continue reading »
Russian Military Parade Honors World War II Red Army
Russian soldiers dressed in Red Army World War II uniforms paraded through Red Square in front of a backdrop of St. Basil Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013. Thousands of Russian soldiers and military cadets marched across Red Square to mark the 72nd anniversary of a historic World War II parade. The show honored the participants of the Nov. 7, 1941 parade who headed directly to the front lines to defend Moscow from the Nazi forces. The parade Thursday involved about 6,000 people, many of them dressed in World War II-era uniforms. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File) Continue reading »
Guinness World Records 2013
Harpie the goat from the USA who has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the farthest distance achieved by a goat on a skateboard going 36 meters (118ft) in 25 seconds. (Photo by PA Wire) Continue reading »
Julia Günthel aka Zlata – the World’s Bendiest Woman
For many of us, simply bending over to touch our toes can be a difficult. But it’s not a problem for the world’s bendiest woman Julia Günthel aka Zlata (27). Russian-born Zlata can twist herself like a snake into the most extreme poses imaginable – and has broken numerous world records for her flexibility. The former gymnast, who is 5ft 8in, is so flexible she can cram herself into a 50cm squared box. Photos by Barcroft Media. Continue reading »
