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At a recent appearance in California, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking keeps relativity on a layman's level. -via b3ta

It's Friday and you are online reading blogs instead of working. This chart may hit a little close to home! Only a small portion is pictured here; you can see the entire chart at Project Sidewalk. Link -via Geek Like Me

An all-star gathering of legendary American astronauts appeared in Cleveland Aug. 29, 2008 to celebrate NASA's 50th anniversary. John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, Jim Lovell, veteran of two Apollo missions, and Kathryn Sullivan, the first woman to walk in space joined 15 other astronauts from Ohio.

Link -via Digg

(image credit: NASA)

NASA also has an interactive timeline about their 50 years in the space exploration business. Link

Check out this Flickr set of classic video games recreated in Lego! Pictured is NES Castlevania. Link -via b3ta

(image credit: skinny coder)

The problem: grilling a hot dog bun on a barbecue without ruining the hinge. The solution: build a gadget. Evil Mad Scientists Laboratories has step-by-step instructions for making you own bun jig. Link

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In a way only he could do it. -via Unique Daily

American artist James Powderly of Graffiti Research Lab went to Beijing during the Olympics last month to stage a demonstration about Tibet. He was arrested by Chinese authorities and sent to a local jail. In this ABC World News Webcast video, he talks about his experience. Link to Powderly segment. http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5727278
to full webcast.

Today's Lunchtime Quiz at mental_floss has to do with a character on The Simpsons.

It’s rare to meet a fan of The Simpsons who doesn’t have a hysterical Milhouse quote at the ready. “The ‘House” (as he has referred to himself) is the animated embodiment of the public’s love affair with the perennial underdog. Take our Milhouse quiz and show us how much you know about one of the most comically tormented characters in television history.

I didn't even try, since I'm not at all familiar with the character. I hope you can do better! http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18125

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This must be an ad for shoes, but the animation is interesting no matter what the product. -via Everlasting Blort

Update: Our readers have pointed out this is an ad for a coin counting service. Thanks!

It's a buyer's market in real estate these days -I know, I'm trying to sell one, too. A Michigan couple weren't having much luck selling their home when they came up with a gimmick that generated publicity if nothing else. Gerry and Cindy Mann are now throwing in their home for free, if you want to buy a miniature replica for $169,000!

Using a 1-foot-to-1-inch scale, Cadwell fashioned an exact replica of the Mann house about 15 years ago for the family's three (now-grown) children to enjoy.

The retired engineer toiled for more than a year on the structure, eschewing dollhouse kits for elbow grease. He cut the wooden swinging closet doors, trimmed the sandpaper shingles and wired the electric fixtures himself.

All in all, the Manns estimate, the dollhouse is worth a couple thousand dollars. Gerry and Cindy are hoping the digs will soften the blow of the $167,000 mark-up.

As consummate salespeople, the Manns would like to point out that the dollhouse is not an exact replica. The spacious pool, the cabana and the large backyard with a garden plot have not been captured by Cadwell's adroit hands.

Link -via Geek Like Me

(image credit: John Grap/Battle Creek Enquirer)

Cracked takes a look at certain types of commenters found on most popular internet sites that allow comments. Of course, none of these types exist at Neatorama, because all our commenters are kind and intelligent people who never post without considering the point of their contribution. Warning: some comments are offensive. As if you didn't know that. Link -via Digg

Victoriana has a collection of corset ads from the early 1900s. It's good to know that at one time, you could choose from rust-proof corsets, glove-fitting corsets, or even a "fairy bust form". Link -via Everlasting Blort

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The Great Gorilla Run will take place on September 27th in London. Every year, people dressed in gorilla suits run through the city, raising money to help protect the Mountain Gorilla.

The word on the street is that running in a gorilla suit is very cool. But that's not true - it's actually very, very warm, but there's nothing quite like being a part of our furry pack of runners.

Link -via Arbroath

The word “Me” appears in the titles of dozens of Hollywood feature films. In today’s Lunchtime Quiz at mental_floss, try to match 12 film titles with the 12 actors who portrayed the “Me” in each one. I scored 83% because I switched two movies I hadn't seen. http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18103

A curious heifer in Cornwall got more than she bargained for when she stuck her head inside an abandoned washing machine. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responded to a call and found the cow with the machine's drum completely encasing her head. RSPCA inspector David Hobbs freed the animal.

Mr Hobbs said: 'Most people hate to see fly-tipping as it is an ugly blight on the landscape, but incidents like these highlight that as well as the visual impact the rubbish can also endanger animals.

'The heifer was probably curious to see a new item dumped in the field and curiosity would have turned to panic once she got her head stuck in the drum and was unable to get it out.

'If people disposed of their rubbish properly many animals would be saved from injury and death.'

He added that a large proportion of the injuries the Society's inspectors, animal collection officers, vets and wildlife hospitals dealt with are usually caused by people who carelessly discarded rubbish.

According to Wikipedia, fly-tipping is "a British term for illegally dumping waste somewhere other than an authorised landfill." Link -via Unique Daily