Jim Corbett was a renowned tiger hunter who was born in India in 1875. Through many amazing kills and several close calls, he developed a profound respect for the big cats, including maneaters.

In a time when a hunter was measured for how many fearsome animals he could kill, Corbett exuded pride at never having killed a large cat for sport or financial gain. He refused even to hunt leopards which were often regarded as vermin at the time. "Those who have never seen a leopard," he said, "can have no conception of the grace of movement, and beauty of colouring of this the most graceful and the most beautiful in our Indian jungles. Nor are his attractions limited to outward appearances, for pound for pound, his strength is second to none, and in courage he lacks nothing." Corbett began lectures in various schools and nature societies with a message to protect the vanishing tiger and leopard populations. He referred to his youth as "days when there were ten tigers to every one that now survives."

Corbett knew tigers better than anyone. His conservation efforts went against the grain of the times, but his legacy lives on in a national park named after him, and a tiger species named Panthera tigris corbetti. Read his fascinating story at Damn Interesting. Link

Two NCAA Division II schools were playing softball. Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky had never hit a home run in her college career, but with the score tied 0-0, she hit one out of the park. Two players on base ran home, and Tucholsky ran toward first base, missed it, then turned around. Her knee suddenly gave out and she collapsed. Tucholsky could not reach first base.

If she received any help from her coach or teammates, she would be out. The coach could replace her with another runner and keep a two-run single, but that would rob Tucholsky of her only possible collegiate homer.

That’s when the opposing team stepped in. Central Washington senior and scoring leader Mallory Holtman asked if she and her teammates could carry Tucholsky to each base.

"Honestly, it's one of those things that I hope anyone would do it for me," Holtman said. "She hit the ball over her fence. She's a senior; it's her last year. … I don't know, it's just one of those things I guess that maybe because compared to everyone on the field at the time, I had been playing longer and knew we could touch her, it was my idea first. But I think anyone who knew that we could touch her would have offered to do it, just because it's the right thing to do. She was obviously in agony."

Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace lifted Tucholsky off the ground and supported her weight between them as they began a slow trip around the bases, stopping at each one so Tucholsky's left foot could secure her passage onward. Even with Tucholsky feeling the pain of what trainers subsequently came to believe was a torn ACL (she was scheduled for tests to confirm the injury on Monday), the surreal quality of perhaps the longest and most crowded home run trot in the game's history hit all three players.

After that, does it really matter who won the game? You can read the entire story at ESPN. Link -via Metafilter

(image credit: Stephen Katin/WOU)

Update: See a picture of Tucholsky "running the bases" in this story.

Which is your favorite movie robot?

The time when our TV and cinema screens were full of clunky dustbins and oversized toasters just happy to help has long gone.

Now robots look more like supermodels and want to wipe us out. In fact, some of them are more hard-on than hard disc. Well, that’s progress for you. But we still love them, right? Despite the fact they want to kill us.

Whether you agree with the rankings or not, you can relive some memories with this list, with video clips for each robot. Link -via Digg

19-year-old Broderick Laswell was arrested in Benton County, Arkansas last September on a murder charge. He weighed 413 pounds at the time. Since then, he has lost 105 pounds, and is now suing his jailers for starving him.

According to the U.S. District Court complaint, an excerpt of which you'll find here, Laswell contends that he is being provided with so few calories that, about an hour after every meal, "my stomach starts to hurt and growl. I feel hungry again." This purported "lack of nutrition," Laswell claims, is reflected in miniscule biscuits and cake sizes, the small amount of chips accompanying sandwiches, and the occasional provision of "2 small cookies." And just in case anyone thought he was only concerned about junk food, the accused killer also complains about the "drizzle of dressing" placed on his "small side of lettuce."

Authorities report the jail food provides 2300-3000 calories a day. The Smoking Gun has a series of mug shots showing Laswell’s weight loss. Link

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I think the point is that you can get a lot of people in the vehicle. The Ford Ka is manufactured in Spain and Brazil. -via Digg

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If I had one of these, I’d never get anything done because I’d spend all my time fidgeting with it! http://www.shop.theneocube.com/category.sc;jsessionid=D97C4CB0460924556B16348FD7E7C1BC.qscstrfrnt03?categoryId=3 -via reddit

Today lunchtime quiz at mental_floss is on the fads of the 80s. Do you remember these? I scored a horrible 50%. Although I was around in the 80s, the questions seem to be aimed toward people who were very young in the 80s. http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/14451

A motorcycle with one wheel? No, it just looks that way. The Uno has two wheels, side by side. It runs on electricity and is controlled by body language. The only controls are an on-off switch. To go forward, you lean forward. Lean further to go faster. The Uno was invented by 18-year-old Ben J. Poss Gulak. Motorcycle Mojo has the story of how the Canadian engineering prodigy built the prototype Uno. http://www.motorcyclemojo.com/articles/the-uno/

It’s a pity that marvelous old architecture is left to rot, often due to lack of funds for repairs. But there’s beauty to be found in the ruins, as you’ll see in this collection of abandoned hotels from all over. The stories these walls could tell! Pictured is the Bokor Palace Hotel and Casino in Cambodia. Link -Thanks, Andy!

This image was found at WTF?!urls, where it is followed by a rousing discussion on the definition of irony. http://wtfurls.com/pics-images/130/wtf-how-ironic -via reddit

Photographer Joshua Hoffline stages his photos like small movie sets. The results are ever so creepy!

I believe that the horror story is ultimately concerned with the imminence and randomness of death, and the implication that there is no certainty to existence. The experience of horror resides in this confrontation with uncertainty. Horror tells us that our belief in security is delusional, and that the monsters are all around us.

This gallery may bring back memories of nightmares, but they are beautiful in their own ghastly way. Link -via reddit

Open your beer with the starship Enterprise! This item should be in stock by the end of June, but you can preorder now. http://www.red5.co.uk/Star-Trek-Enterprise-Bottle-Opener-pr-534.html -via Gizmodo

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Sorry, we don’t know how many times the dog tried to run up the slide because the cameraman lost it. -via Arbroath

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Maybe the tow truck driver wanted to be paid up front and wasn’t. Spotted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. -via Arbroath

Why should Wheaties boxes only showcase football, basketball, and Olympics stars when there are so many other sports? In an article from mental_floss magazine, you’ll find the fascinating stories of ten sports heroes who gave their all in sports that don’t make the headlines, such as sumo wrestling, elephant polo, bullfighting, and tug-of-war. Then you’re invited to leave a comment to sign a petition to get these athletes on a box of Wheaties. Link