Vaguely Interesting stuff. Here's two to get you started:
Calling from the grave - If you ever felt slightly claustrophobic using a traditional BT telephone kiosk, this might be down to its unique architectural history – the design of the UK’s world famous red telephone boxes was inspired by a nineteenth century tomb.
Mass trespass - The Duke of Devonshire’s gamekeepers were on high alert. A left-wing group had been agitating in the Derbyshire village of Hayfield, threatening to “take action to open up the fine country at present denied us.” Their target was Kinder Scout, part of the Duke’s extensive moorland estate in the Peak District. But if they wanted to trespass on His Grace’s land, they would have to get past the gamekeepers.
posted by unliteral
on Dec 5, 2012 -
6 comments
It is worth overcoming your hatred of lists, your dislike of the word "lifehack," and your distaste of ugly tumblr sites to scroll through the rather revelatory
99 Life Hacks. Highlights include:
using a dustpan to fill containers, dental floss to
cut cheese and cake, using
drink tabs to hold straws,
charging phones at hotels using the TV,
filtering for spam the easy way, keeping your
zipper up on your pants,
filtering microwave popcorn, and the
secret to locating highway exits. I can't believe I never knew that one...
posted by blahblahblah
on Oct 19, 2012 -
174 comments
Did you know that two guys once flew a Cessna for 64 days, without landing? They
apparently refuelled from a moving pickup truck
with a hose. Did you also know of the monks from Mt. Hiei, Japan who run 900 marathons in 6 years? To qualify, they do 30 km. a day for 100 consecutive
days. I did not know these things when I woke up on Friday, but
Now I Know.
[more inside]
posted by Cobalt
on Sep 19, 2011 -
27 comments
Bus SLYT There isn't really much else to say... a game, a city bus simulator game. Peaceful and scary...
posted by HuronBob
on Nov 21, 2009 -
46 comments
Positive self-deception is a normal In 1988, psychologists Shelly Taylor and Jonathon Brown published an article making the somewhat disturbing claim that positive self-deception is a normal and beneficial part of most people’s everyday outlook.
posted by punkfloyd
on Jun 19, 2007 -
71 comments
Spanish Castle Magic. Stare at the dot in the center of the image for 30 seconds, then mouseover the picture. Don't shift your glance, because until you do the picture will appear to be in color, despite the fact that it's in black & white.
posted by jonson
on Jun 7, 2006 -
67 comments
Food Art Very interesting pictures of food represented as something else - pie tins as ice skating rinks, donut cycling rings, and mining for watermelon seeds.
posted by divabat
on Feb 9, 2006 -
36 comments
Meet the Robocoaster - The Robocoaster is a variation on the robot arms which are used in factories to build cars. By adding seats, designers have turned a functional machine into the fastest, most unpredictable ride you'll ever take. It can be self programmed to travel in millions of movement combinations. No ride will ever be the same. Video (Flash)
1,
2 and
3. Via
Beyond Tomorrow.
posted by sjvilla79
on Jul 27, 2005 -
36 comments
Imagine rocking down to the shops on this thing. The Wheelsurf is a motorised monocycle powered by a chainsaw engine. Designed by Brazilian engineer Tito Lucas Ott, the rider sits inside the turning wheel, and steers by leaning the whole machine into corners – hence 'surfing'. The wheelsurfer takes practice to master and you need to be relatively well coordinated. Weight distribution, body balancing and throttle all play a part in a successful ride.
See images. Via
Beyond Tomorrow.
posted by sjvilla79
on Jun 15, 2005 -
37 comments
How Culture Molds Habits is a fascinating article. Read this article, tally another point for nurture. I've long thought this was true, but Nisbett's supposedly gathered rather a lot of data proving it is so. The article raises some interesting parts of the study, but I think the ramifications bear some considering. I'd be interested in reading the full study when it's published, but I haven't a clue where to get the Psychological Review.
And can you imagine what the advertising execs will do with this stuff? Ads tailored to the way you think. Wheee. It does, of course, raise some fun questions about religion and politics.
posted by fable
on Aug 8, 2000 -
4 comments
