Archaeologists were surprised to find it and three others at a castle in Austria because the invention of the bra is thought to date back little over a century:

Fashion experts describe the find as surprising because the bra had commonly been thought to be only little more than 100 years old as women abandoned the tight corset.

Instead, it appears the bra came first, followed by the corset, followed by the reinvented bra.

One specimen in particular “looks exactly like a (modern) brassiere,” says Hilary Davidson, fashion curator for the London Museum. “These are amazing finds.”

“Four linen textiles resemble modern-time bras” with distinct cups and one in particular looks like today’s version, it said, with “two broad shoulder straps and a possible back strap, not preserved but indicated by partially torn edges of the cups onto which it was attached.”

And the lingerie was not only functional.

The bras were intricately decorated with lace and other ornamentation, the statement said, suggesting they were also meant to please a suitor.

Link -via io9 | Photo: University of Innsbruck

At the heart of the Magic Kingdom is a fortress popularly known as the Cinderella Castle. He who controls it controls the Magic Kingdom, and is thus in a strong position to rule over all of Disney World. How would you take it? Jonathan Kirk Davis of the United States Marine Corps has laid out a complete strategic plan with maps. Below you can see a diagram of the second phase of his plan, which calls for securing Mainstreet USA and Tomorrowland. Read the rest at the link.

Link -via VA Viper | Photo: Jason Pratt

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Go Team Humanity! Whale sharks, which are filter feeders, sometimes get caught in lift nets in Indonesia's Cendrawasih Bay. These scientists in scuba gear found one and pulled the net open so it could escape.

-via The Presurfer

This is a great fondue idea, assuming that you haven't already shoved the entire muffin down your throat, as I probably would. Miit, a French design firm, made this muffin for My Little Lyon 2010, which appears to be an annual food and design festival in Lyon, France.

Link (Google Translate) -via Tasteologie

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Steve St. Bernard, a bus driver in New York City, saw a 7-year old girl standing on a window air conditioner. He positioned himself right below her and, when she fell, caught her:

The incident occurred Monday afternoon and was captured on amateur video, which soon surfaced online. It shows the girl, who neighbors said is a special-needs child, standing and apparently dancing on the air-conditioner, losing her balance and falling. One of at least two people standing on the sidewalk beneath her reaches out and catches her before she hits the ground.

"It felt like a ton of bricks ... like a whole back of rocks on me," St. Bernard said. "We went down. She touched the floor but the impact wasn't on her. It was me and her going down. I guess I absorbed the blow."

Bernard and the girl were treated at a local hospital and released. Bernard hurt his arm and is now wearing a sling and can't go to work.

Link -via Blame It on the Voices

Redditor dowlingstudios carved this stunning dragon's head from a piece of driftwood. But other redditors prudently question if s/he has accurately depicted dragon skin. What do you think?

Link

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To promote its upcoming Batman: The Animated Series marathon, The Hub recreated the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises using just footage from the cartoon. I'm amazed that they were able to match the dialogue. Do you think they added a few lines with the help of the cartoon's voice actors?

-via Kotaku

The Sketchy Design Studio's Andromeda project is a lamp that looks like a modern rifle. It features three Picantinny rails which are not only stylish, but functional. They can be used to adjust the height or attach accessories, such as a scope or a bayonet.

Link -via Everyday, No Days Off

For fifteen years--almost his entire life--Stubbs the cat has had a lock on the mayoralty of Talkeetna, Alaska:

Fifteen years ago, the citizens of Talkeetna (pop. 800) didn’t like the looks of their candidates for mayor. Around that same time resident Lauri Stec, manager of Nagley’s General Store, saw a box of kittens and decided to adopt one. She named him Stubbs because he didn’t have a tail and soon the whole town was in love with him.

So smitten were they with this kitten, in fact, that they wrote him in for mayor instead of deciding on one of the two lesser candidates. Mayor Stubbs has held his position ever since.

According to local citizens, he's an effective leader:

Many citizens are genuinely happy to allow a kitteh to rule the roost. “He doesn’t raise our taxes—we have no sales tax. He doesn’t interfere with business. He’s honest,” said Stec, who converted her store into a part-time mayor’s office when Stubbs claimed victory. Not even the dogs seem to take issue with their new boss, even though there are reportedly more canines in Talkeetna than there are people. “I’ve never seen a dog mess with him,” a local business owner said.

Link -via The Agitator | Photo: Nagley's General Store

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It's a simple concept, but Conrad Slater makes it work really well. A vast assortment of Doctor Who action figures sings Lou Reed's 1972 hit "Perfect Day." They're persuasive: I've been hard on Davros in the past, but now I've seen his sensitive side. Maybe he's not such a bad fellow.

-via Nerdcore

Etsy seller Graeme Abraham found a great use for an old Nintendo 64 controller. Now it has a USB extension and places for your pens and paper clips. And, apparently, crayons.

I want to work in an office where having crayons nearby is a necessity.

Link -via Bit Rebels

It's an alternate ending to Alien 3. You may have missed it. If the series wasn't weird enough already, artist Jska Priebe took it in an even wilder direction with this painting.

Artist's Website -via Blame It on the Voices

Vincent Gabriel Kirouac of Quebec recently arrived in Saskatchewan on horseback and in armor. He doesn't hold an official knighthood, but he is making his knightly journey across Canada to promote chivalrous conduct:

He said he believes it is possible for people to behave with chivalry, even in hectic times.

Kirouac insists he has not only donned a knight's costume but has taken the role to heart.

"I am a knight," he said. "I'm trying to be that symbol of something that is incorruptible... and never to fail my duty, which is to be a knight and be good and be an example."

He said he hopes people who hear his message will adopt some of what he is espousing in their own lives.

"It's all about love," he added.

People who have met Kirouac on his journey have responded positively:

He explained that finding a place to stay has been as simple as riding into a farm yard and knocking on a door.

"You ask for the hospitality and they say 'yes' all the time," he said, adding the encounter usually begins with the person who answered the door giving him a quizzical look.

Link -via Oddity Central | Photo: CBC

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We've seen Jeremiah McDonald have a conversation with a younger version of himself. But what wasn't clear is that his idea wasn't original. It had already been done a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. When he was 12 years old, Anakin Skywalker made a video to talk to himself later in life. It's kind of awkward.

-via Nerd Bastards

If you want to succeed in life, then you'd better get into the right sorority. Make it your primary focus for the first few months of college, because that's when you have to impress girls three years older than yourself. Their opinions of your body, intellect, personality and values matter. Make the best impression with the help of professionals who coach young ladies through the process of rushing a sorority:

Naming themselves the Rushbiddies, they opened shop in 2009 after hearing about the rush misfortunes of their daughters’ friends. About 50 mothers and their “chicks,” as the Biddies affectionately call them, attended one of their two-day workshops in April ($100 a couple), complete with mock rush party, wardrobe hints and paperwork prep.

And there is a mound of it. The smart rushee, the Biddies advise, will have a résumé stressing community service, leadership, academics and teamwork, letters of recommendation from alumnae of each chapter, preferably on the campus in question, and reference letters.

With the help of Ms. Foster and Ms. Grant, who wears a pink feather boa during workshops, Mrs. King asked alumnae of about 10 chapters, several from U.Va., to write her daughter’s recommendations. To guide their plaudits, she sent them packets with a professional photograph, transcript and résumé. To thank them, she dropped off a bottle of rosé in their mailboxes.

Link -via Marginal Revolution | Photo (unrelated) via ttarasiuk