Archive for February 6th, 2008




Urbana Money

Posted by gail in Money & Finance on February 6, 2008 at 8:41 pm

According to a City of Urbana (IL) website, in 1933


When Illinois [closed] its  banks in the depths of the Great Depression,
the Urbana Association of Commerce [issued] "Urbana money," which [was] used
for a month and [kept] the local economy alive.

Apparently local merchants guaranteed that when the banks reopened, the "Urbana" money could be exchanged for the real thing.  My daughter learned about this in school. As she says, the money was orange and "looked like Monopoly money."

Image from DepressionScrip.com, a site chock-full of the wonderfully cheesy funny-money that kept many a community afloat during those dark days, with thanks to Jonathan for the research.

 
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The Muppet Presidential Candidates

Posted by John Farrier in Politics, Video Clips on February 6, 2008 at 4:34 pm


[YouTube Link]

A slideshow lining up the Democratic and Republican Presidential candidates with their respective Muppet identities, set to the tune of the Muppet theme music. 1 minutes, 5 seconds long.

Via Ironic Catholic

 
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Wilkinson Sword Advertisement Trailer

Posted by Algonkin in Advertising, Everything Else, Flash Games on February 6, 2008 at 2:36 pm

wilkinson.jpg

wilkinson2.jpg

This has got to be one of the funniest advertisement trailer I’ve seen in a while. Notice of the baby’s facial expressions. Hilarious!

Link: Wilkinson.com

 
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The ABCs of Love

Posted by Miss Cellania in Music, Video Clips on February 6, 2008 at 12:51 pm


(YouTube link)

A personal Valentine from Phil Hansen (featured previously at Neatorama). He posted the lyrics and the elaborate process of writing the song and making the video at Goodbye Art. Link

 
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All-in-One Chicken Nugget and Soda Cup

Posted by Miss Cellania in Food & Drinks, Gadget on February 6, 2008 at 10:50 am

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Korean fast food chain BBQ Chicken has introduced the Col-Pop, a cup that holds both food and drink. The lower part of the cup holds soda, with an attached straw. The upper part holds chicken nuggets (and other foods in South Korean restaurants). This innovation could make eating while walking or driving easier, if not safer. BBQ Chicken has outlets in New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina. Link -via Geek Like Me

 
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Have You Seen This Person?

Posted by Robert Birming in Pictures on February 6, 2008 at 10:47 am

The Royal Thai Police have released this sketch of a suspected bank robber. With a sketch like that, it shouldn’t take too long before he or she gets caught.

According to a report on the newsclip.be Japanese language Thai news site, this sketch is based on the recollections of eyewitnesses, who say the suspect wore a motorcycle helmet at the time of the robbery.

Link

 
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World's Strangest Tanks

Posted by Algonkin in Car & Vehicle, Pictures, Weapons & War on February 6, 2008 at 10:21 am

Here is a huge list of some of the world’s largest and strangest tanks ever built. You’ll need to scroll down a bit to see them all.

Link: Ramugita (deleted – shame on this blog for copying)

Original Links: Part 1 and Part 2 at Dark Roasted Blend

 
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Neat Paper Toy

Posted by Algonkin in Everything Else, Video Clips on February 6, 2008 at 9:45 am



Just Piece Of Paper . Crazy Paper Toy. – video powered by Metacafe

This is really neat. I tried it myself (takes a while the first time) and the more you use it the better it gets due to the paper being folded often. The kids just love it.

Link: Superpunch

 
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Today is the Day

Posted by onelargeprawn in Pictures on February 6, 2008 at 8:49 am

A bizarre story told in pictures.

Link -via The Presurfer

 
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Deep-sea Shark

Posted by gail in Animal on February 6, 2008 at 8:35 am


This six-gill shark (Hexanchus) was filmed during a submersible dive off the northeast coast of Molokai at a depth of 1000m (3280ft). The 2 red laser dots are 6 inches apart, resulting in a length of about 18 ft for the shark. Great ecstatic live commentary by University of Hawaii Oceanography Professor Jeff Drazen!

Via Deep Sea News

 
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Predator LEGO

Posted by Alex in Arts & Crafts, Pictures, Toy & Video Games on February 6, 2008 at 4:05 am

Behold the coolest LEGO creation you’ll see today: the insanely cool head of Predator space hunter by Brickshelf user MisterZumbi. The details are amazing: check out the dribble of green blood …

Link – via the always inspiring The Brothers Brick blog

 
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Trivia: Teddy Roosevelt Sworn In Without a Bible

Posted by Alex in Daily Trivia, Politics on February 6, 2008 at 4:04 am

Teddy RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt was the only U.S. President sworn in without a Bible.

Ansley Wilcox, who owned the Wilcox Mansion where Roosevelt was inaugurated, wrote: "According to my best recollection no Bible was used, but President Roosevelt was sworn in with uplifted hand." (The Presidents and Their Wives)

Franklin Pierce was the only president who affirmed the oath of office, and was not sworn in at all. (More Presidential Inauguration Trivia here: Link)

 
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Skelewags: Clever Urban Art

Posted by Alex in Arts & Crafts, Pictures on February 6, 2008 at 4:03 am

To ConceptArt Forum user chewie, the cracks in the pavement and discolorations in the concrete are but background to this fantastic series of urban artwork Skelewags [under construction, but it's promising] Now, if all graffiti can be this creative!

Link – via Baekdal

Previously on Neatorama: Storm Drain Street Art

 
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The Downside of Living in Ireland

Posted by Alex in Travel & Places on February 6, 2008 at 4:02 am

Christian Gehrke of I Spy … blog is an American living in rural Ireland.

As such, he has a unique perspective on how things are in the land of Éire that Irish people may not see:

1. Farmers rule the road and they know it. Whether it be with a very slow tractor or heard of sheep and cattle, they do what they like, when they like and don’t care if you need to get to work.

2. Worrying sheep is against the law. I really don’t know what worrying a sheep consists of but they take it seriously in these parts. Don’t blow your horn or you might worry something or someone.

6. Say no to Craic. Yes we have Crack here too but it means gossip and everyone wants to know what the “criac” is. If you do ANYTHING out of the ordinary everyone will know about it. Gossip is king in these parts.

8. Bureaucracy is king. The Irish love their forms and boy do they use them. To do anything you must fill out at least 10 forms and jump through a minimum of 3 hoops.

To give you an example. We recycle and it means dropping off our recycling ourselves. This I can live with but before we can go to the drop off point we must first buy stamps. The number of stamps depends on how much you have to recycle, usually one stamp per “car” load. These stamps must be bought at a local gas station or shop not the recycling center. If one shop has run out you must find one that still has some left. If you buy too many stamps you’ve wasted money and if you don’t buy enough you will be forced to go back and buy more before you can drop off your stuff. This is enough to put anyone off doing it all together.

It’s amazing that they’ll make recycling actually hard to do! Link

 
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How To Vampirize Gwen Stefani and Other Horror Photoshop Tricks

Posted by Alex in Arts & Crafts on February 6, 2008 at 4:01 am


Original photo: The Sweet Escape Photos by Jill Greenberg

The Photoshop Roadmap has a, excellent list of 70 Horror, Blood and Gore Photoshop Effects and Brushes. Included is this tutorial on how to Vampirize Gwen Stefani in 5 easy steps.

Link: Photoshop Roadmap’s 70 Tips | How to Vampirize Gwen Stefani – by The Art of Darkness

 
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Happy Day Cake

Posted by Alex in Food & Drinks, Pictures on February 6, 2008 at 4:01 am

You don’t need any excuse to eat cake, just get one that says "Happy Day!" Found at The Sledgehammer – Version 2.0

 
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Quote: William James on Common Sense and Sense of Humor

Posted by Alex in Quote-a-Day on February 6, 2008 at 4:00 am

"Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing."

– William James, American psychologist and philosopher (1842 – 1910)
via Tombo’s Blog

 
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