From about 1956 until 1964, US aeronautics engineers and rocket scientists at the Langley Research Center developed a series of spherical satellite balloons called, awesomely enough, satelloons. Dubbed Project Echo, the 100-foot diameter aluminumized balloons were one of the inaugural projects for NASA, which was established in 1958.
Do you occasionally feel guilty about downloading music without paying for it? Most folks don’t care about the record companies, but what about the musicians? Darren Barefoot has the solution with a website called Dear Rockers. Write a letter to a musician, and mail it off with $5. The site has a database where you can find many addresses. Also, send a photo or scan of your letter to the website, and they’ll post it. You can clear your conscience, showcase your creativity, and thank a musician all at once! Link -via Metafilter
Find out which radio stations are already playing wall-to-wall Christmas music in your area, with this list from 100000watts.com. http://ftp.media.radcity.net/ZMST/Todays/Christmas.htm
Sooth your mind by watching jellyfish float around, without having to feed them! This jellyfish aquarium contains jellies made of silicone. They even change color! Link -via the Presurfer
Dave Downey of Perth, Australia has been crowned Father Christmas at the Snoyran Santa Games in Sweden. 30 Santas went nose-to-nose in five categories: chimney climbing, reindeer racing, kick sled racing, porridge eating, and Santa's Christmas Eve. Official event secretary Elizabeth Landby said:
"He was in third place during most of the time during the competition, but he impressed the judges during the chimney climbing and jumped to first place," Ms Landby said.
"He was popular among the children ... the children thought he was a good Santa."
Mr. Downey won a gold medal, a diploma, and a hand-made sculpture of Santa, in addition to the title. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22828677-401,00.html -via Arbroath
You’ve seen Dumbo, and you’ve heard the myth about elephants being afraid of mice, haven’t you? Mythbusters takes a look at what happens when an elephant encounters a mouse. No animals were harmed in this experiment. -via YesButNoButYes
He lost his leg when he was very young. She lost an arm in a car accident. But their ballet won a dance competition on a Chinese TV network, CCTV9. -via Phil’s Phun
29-year-old Ingrid Marie Rivera won the Miss Puerto Rico beauty pageant, despite the fact that someone had applied pepper spray to her gown and makeup!
Rivera was composed while appearing before cameras and judges throughout the competition. But once backstage, she had to strip off her clothes and apply ice bags to her face and body, which swelled and broke out in hives twice.
"We thought at first it was an allergic reaction, or maybe nerves," Rosario said. "But the second time, we knew it couldn't have been a coincidence."
Rivera's clothing and makeup later tested positive for pepper spray.
Rivera was the favorite going into the competition. She was also Miss World Caribbean in 2005. Now she will represent Puerto Rico in the Miss Universe pageant. Link -via Arbroath
Lucky charms, amulets, and talismans have been in use since prehistoric times all over the world. Stones, coins, and amulets with symbols are the most common. Others are taken from nature, such as the rabbit’s foot (which wasn’t so lucky for the rabbit), or are considered lucky because of their rarity, such as the four-leaf clover. But a few are just a bit odd.
1. Lucky Swastika
The swastika reminds us of Nazi Germany in the first half of the 20th century, but the symbol has been used for many purposes in many parts of the world. Swastika-shaped ornaments have been found dating as far back as the Neolithic period. Hindus use the swastika as a symbol of the elephant-headed god Ganesh. Jains use it as a symbol of the seventh saint, and begin and end religious services by making the swastika sign. The symbol is supposed to bring long life, good health, and good luck. In fact, the word swastika itself is derived from the Sanskit word svastika, which mean lucky charm.
2. Vulture Heads
Vultures have such great eyesight that they are said to be able to see into the future. South African lottery players would love to have that power, and have made vulture heads into lucky charms to help them win. A poacher can make up to $1,000 on one properly-dried vulture head, leading to a depletion in the vulture population.
3. Ship’s Figureheads
Ship’s figureheads were useful for identifying a ship and intimidating its enemies, but they were mostly charms to protect sailors from harm. A ship’s spirit, or klaboutermannikin, would inhabit the figurehead, and either protect sailors, or in the event of their deaths, would escort them to the proper afterlife. They were also sentimental symbols of one’s ship, to be fought for and protected. To damage an enemy’s figurehead was the ultimate insult. Carved figureheads date from as far back as ancient Egypt, where they resembled deities. About three hundred years ago, figureheads of women became popular because of the old legend that says a woman’s bare breasts will calm the seas. Each sailing era had it own fashions and types of figureheads, but they are all important to those who sail behind them.
4. Maneki Neko
(image credit: Searobin) Maneki Neko, or the Beckoning Cat, is a Japanese good luck charm. It was first documented in 1870, but its origins may go back much further. There is a theory that the cat became popular at the end of the Edo period, when western sensibilities caused phallic worship and prostitution to go underground. The beckoning cat became a euphemistic symbol of such activities. Businesses which displayed a Maneki Neko were quite profitable, so the symbol spread to other types of shops as a good luck charm. If the cat is raising its right paw, it will attract money. If it is raising its left paw, it will atract customers. Maneki Neko even has a fan club!
5. Bezoar
A bezoar is a “stone” retrieved from the gut of an animal. They are formed by animal secretions (as in pearls), or material consumed but not digested, such as hair, food fiber, or other material (as in hairballs). The word bezoar comes from a Persian word meaning “antidote to poison.” There is some evidence that bezoars made of hair will absorb small amounts of arsenic, but will have little effect on other poisons. Bezoars of all kinds are used for lucky charms and talismans, and for psychic healing, in addition to protection against poisons.
6. Jatukam Ramathep Amulets
Jatukam Ramathep amulets are all the rage these days. They are sold by Buddhist temples in Thailand. Earlier this year, the Thawee Kara Anant temple near Bangkok got into some hot water for making “special” Jatukam Ramathep amulets out of the cremated remains of infants who died from natural causes. Around 140,000 amulets were made from a combination of herbs and human ashes. The practice is not illegal, but the monks involved were reprimanded by religious leaders.
A raccoon penis bone, or baculum, is regarded as a lucky charm, especially for fertility or gambling. They are available alone or made into necklaces or earrings. These bones go by many names; one of the few that can be said in polite company is "Texas toothpick."
Any object can be a lucky charm if you believe in it. If it gives you confidence in your daily activities and decisions, then it is indeed "lucky".
See a collection of 38 pictures of cats caught in mid-pounce, just ripe for captioning. http://static.iftk.com.br/mt/2007/11/cats_can_fly_38_pics.html -via Cynical-C
Upload a picture of yourself, or any picture, and put it on the cover of a magazine! Choose from People, Rolling Stone, National Geographic, Fortune, Sports Illustrated, Time, Playboy, and Vogue (featuring Ursi on the cover here). Link -via Ursi’s Blog
A six-year-old cat named Baby fell from a third-storey window at her home in London and broke both her back legs. Veterinarians fitted her with metal implants to straighten the legs. But it wasn’t the first time. Baby had fallen from the same height as a kitten and already had metal implants in her front legs! Veterinary surgeon Jess Gower said,
"We were stunned to find it was the second time she had done it. Now she has metal implants in all four legs, staff decided to call her the 'bionic cat'.
"Amazingly, she has healed extremely well and can already move around very well. We hope that in around eight weeks, when we take off the frame, she will move as normal and you'd never know what happened to her."
