Dutch artist Paul Veroude carefully suspended 3,200 parts of Honda Formula 1 race cars to reproduce a "live" 3D technical exploded diagram of the sportscar for the London Motor Show.

Link [Cellar IoTD] | Link [AutoBlog]

From the website:

The reason the Hic-Cup works is that it reliably interrupts the Hiccup Reflexive Arc by naturally influencing the superficially coursing Vagus and Phrenetic nerves. These nerves are known to be involved in the root cause of hiccups. Through the use of natural galvanic action, a mild ionic flow is created that initiates a sub-sensory bio-electric therapy. This means that the “hiccup” nerves are “re-set” by a natural electric current that you cannot feel, and that this reliably ends the distressing spasms.

Hm…. I just open my electric bill – and lo, my hiccup’s gone! But maybe you need this: Link – via Arbroath

Neatorama reader Robert Chunn wrote about his painting blog, where he showcased paintings done in a single session (or "alla prima" – I learn something new everyday):

Whether they’re items cluttered on a tabletop, a dead bird, or a cityscape, I usually take a documentary approach to my subjects and paint them as they are without consciously composing them. Mostly, these paintings are done in a single session (alla prima) that lasts six to twelve hours.( Paintings that take over ten hours nearly kill me.)

I like this one, titled Tin Car Jacking.

Link – Thanks Robert!

Photo: Brian Kersey / AP

Tom Benson’s Laundromat in a Chicago suburb has 153 washers and 148 dryers, with hot water powered by solar energy:

Benson’s boast about having the largest coin-operated laundry on Earth might be open to debate. At least one laundry in Denver claims to have a few more washers and dryers — though Benson hastens to add that it seems to have less floor space than his.

What’s not in doubt is that his $150,000 hot water system has become a darling of environmentalists and officials smitten with the solar promise, heralded as a prime example of how sun energy is practical, simple and cost-wise.

"The World’s Largest Laundromat has served as a role model," said Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a vocal solar advocate. "It’s shown that solar can work in the Midwest climate, in the heartland."

Link

Photo: Michael Nelson

The Nubians [wiki], who live in near the border of Sudan and Egypt, really like to decorate their colorful homes with beautifully painted patterns of animals and plants – sort of like desert chic.

This one has a chicken and shrub motif, which is probably all the rage there…

An interesting article from Saudi Aramco World, a magazine from the oil giant (!) : Link – Thanks Ann F!

Cecil Dill played "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" using only his hands – he certainly elevated hand-fart into an art form, undoubtedly an indispensable skill to entertain young children!

Hit Play or go to Link [YouTube] – via Jaf Project

Meet Midge, short for Midget, a Chihuahua Terrier mix and the smallest drug-sniffing dog in the US:

There seems to be a trend towards smaller dogs for police use. Trainer Dave Blosser compares dogs like Midge favourably to larger breeds. "Size-wise, endurance-wise, they last longer," he says. And there are other advantages to smaller dogs, says Bob Eden, who trains police dogs and handlers.

On the other hand, dogs that are too small may not be able to get around obstacles, and there could be a credibility problem, Mr Eden says.

"A Jack Russell terrier may make an extremely capable narcotics dog," he says, "yet some agencies would shy away from such a breed simply because the dog doesn’t have the same respect from the public as a Lab or shepherd might."

Link – via Arbroath

Jonathan den Breejen and Marenka Deenstra built a weird contraption that allows them to capture a grayscale image using colored ping pong balls as pixels!

Link – Thanks Yayo!

Western Carolina University plans to open a "body farm," only the second in the US:

The 6.5-horsepower wood chipper sitting in the middle of John Williams’ forensic anthropology lab run is no macabre joke. Yes, a wood chipper did figure in the bloody climax of the 1996 film "Fargo." And yes, the professor at Western Carolina University has run human bones through this particular Briggs & Stratton model.

But Williams, of course, isn’t trying to dispose of any dead bodies. Rather, he’s a student of how the human body decomposes.

Link

From the website:

The Fietscafe is a mobile pub, for groups up to 17 people per bike, who can transport themselves by moving the pedals.

Not all guests do have to cycle; the Fietscafe® is provided with 10 freewheels, so you can change seats from time to time.

You need a sober driver and of course, the best bartender looks after the beer and drinks.

Link – Thanks Alec!

Ah, the French and their troglodytic dwellings … I can just imagine the conversation when someone first said "look at this troglodyte cave, it’s kind of cozy. I wonder if I can build my house here":

In France there are a lot of troglodytic dwellings, most of them carved back into the soft limestone cliffs. It may have started when they dug cellars for storing wine and produce, and noticed how comfortable it was on a hot day. Somebody said "Why not just move in here?" and a trend was born.

Link | Troglodytes of Doué | Troglyodyte village Rochmenier – Thanks MvT Cracker!

Haha.nu has a neat posting of photos of objects and places that look like faces – just our anthromorphosizing brain working to grasp patterns whereever they may be. Still, quite neat! This one above is probably one of the subtler photo they’ve got.

Link

When they get angry, some lunatics rant and rave like this guy – but not Marvin Heemeyer of Grunbee Grandby Granby (third time’s the charm!), Colorado:

52 year old welder Marvin Heemeyer lived in Grunbee Colorado fixing vehicle mufflers. His small repair shop was located near a concrete factory called Mountain Park. To Marvin and his neigbors’ horrors, the owners of Mountain Park decided to expand the factory, forcing the people living near-by to sell their land to Mountain Park.

Sooner or later the factory’s neigbhors gave up, except for Marvin. Having tried every way possible, the owners of the factory failed to acquire his land. However all the surrounding land was now owned by the factory, which resulted in Marvin’s shop getting cut off from the rest of the world.

Marvin tried everything in his powers to restore justice. Obviously, the city council and other politicians of the state were on the factory owners’ evil capitalist side. …

On the 4th of June, 2004 during a rainy day Marvin rolled out into town on a bulldozer reinforced with metal sheets. He started with the concrete factory, destroying building after building, until the factory was demolished. Then it was the city council’s turn followed by the town hall, then the bank, the public library, the fire station, a warehouse, the local paper and other buildings belonging to the mayor.

Having tried to stop Heemeyer, the police finally understood that Marvin’s bulldozer was unstoppable. More than 200 bullets were fired at the vehicle, causing no harm at all. The police force then decided to battle the titan with hand grenades. Once again their efforts were useless. Later a vehicle rigged with explosives was put in Marvin’s path to destruction, it also had little luck in stopping him.

Link | Killdozer [wiki] | Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] – via A Welsh View

Hanan of the irrisistibly addictive grow-a-brain blog is celebrating his 5 million hits (congrats!), and I just found out!

Anyhow, he will give $100 to a random person who comments on his blog – but if he gets 500 or more comments in 30 days. Time’s running out, so go say hello: Link

Wally Pacholka of AstroPics took this breathtaking photo of the Milky Way Galaxy over Capitol Reef National Park in Utah – something us city folks just don’t get to see…

Link [Astronomy Picture of the Day]