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A nonsensical little story done in a clever style using popsicle sticks, from the Brothers McLeod. See more at their website. http://www.brothersmcleod.co.uk

see famous look-a-like faces
Totally Looks Like is a new blog from the folks who brought you I Can Has Cheezburger? in which celebrities are coupled with a picture of who (or what) they look like. The submissions range from spot on to embarrassing. Link -via Underwire

The words to song you hear (or maybe sing) at every baseball game, Take Me Out to the Ball Game were written 100 years ago by Jack Norworth, who had never been to a ball game! In fact, it was 32 years after he wrote the lyrics that Norworth attended his first major league game.

He was riding on the subway in New York, when he saw a sign advertising "Ballgame Today - Polo Grounds". The Polo Grounds were the name of the stadium used most notably by the New York (later San Francisco) Giants baseball team.

During the 30-minute subway ride, Norworth, an accomplished songwriter, dashed off the words to the song. Soon thereafter, he took the lyrics to composer Albert Von Tilzer who created the popular tune, which later that year, became a #1 hit.

Stamps of Distinction has the story of how the song became a tradition across America, leading to the issuance of a commemorative stamp released today. Link -Thanks, Tony!

I don't know how comfortable this elegantly-modded mouse would be to use, but it sure is pretty! The box made to house it is a work of art, too. http://66.196.80.202/babelfish/translate_url_content?.intl=no&lp=ru_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fforum.modding.ru%2fviewtopic.php%3ft%3d27791%26start%3d0%26p -Thanks, Lance R!

Speechable is an easy way to add speech balloons to your photos. Upload a photo, then select a balloon and add text. Use the buttons below to resize your font, and resize the balloon by clicking its lower right corner. Grab the top line of the balloon to move it. My daughter's cat Biscuit was happy to try it out. Link -Thanks, Ryan!

July is National Hot Dog Month, and the Lunchtime Quiz at mental_floss will test how much you know about hot dogs, the food and as a pop culture reference. I only scored 50% because I am a pop culture weinie. http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/16535

The Atomic Age began 63 years ago today, when the first atomic bomb was successfully detonated at the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range in a remote part of New Mexico.

The Trinity test, as it was known, was the culmination of the American effort to win the race against Germany (and, ultimately, the Soviet Union) in building an atomic bomb. A mere three weeks after the test, the United States used atomic bombs to destroy the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

But prior to the 16th, none of those involved in the project knew if they had built a devastating new weapon or a spectacular dud.

Even those who designed the bomb were moved by its performance. J. Robert Oppenheimer famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita:

"If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one. Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds."

More prosaically, Dr. Kenneth Bainbridge, site director of the Trinity test, said: "Now we are all sons-of-bitches."

Wired has the story and a photo gallery. Link

Be-A-Doll makes custom action figures that look like you! Or have one made for a gift, or modeled after a person you want to keep around (maybe to stick pins in). Link -via Dump Trumpet

Some parts of the town of Baarle-Hertog, Belgium belong to The Netherlands. Which part? For that, you'll need a map.

Baarle-Hertog borders the Netherlands – but, because of its unique history of political division, the town is sort of marbled with competing national loyalties. In other words, pockets of the town are Dutch; most of the town is Belgian. You can thus wander from country to country on an afternoon stroll, as if island-hopping between sovereignties.

There are no border guards between the neighborhoods, and passports aren't necessary to move between the two nations. Link -via Boing Boing

Grace Acosta makes steampunk jewelry from authentic vintage materials. Each is one-of-a-kind, like these magnified gear cufflinks.

Vintage lucite magnifying cabochons were set over old letters and genuine brass watch gears, and then sealed on the back with lacquer. Then everything was placed into gold framed cuffinks and the final effect is really stunning. Everything shifts and changes as you turn them back and forth.

She also has earrings, necklaces, brooches, and various other handmade steampunk items. Link -Thanks, Grace!

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Simon Tofield has a new animation featuring his irresistible cat. My personal cat does the same lap thing while I'm on the computer. Previously at Neatorama: Cat Man Do and Let Me In! Tofield is an animator at Tandem Films, where I found out that Cat Man Do won the prize for Best Comedy at the British Animation Awards. -via Metafilter

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If you enjoyed the ad for epMotion, you'll love this! I think this is an ad for Agilent Technologies' 6520 Accurate-Mass Q-TOF LC/MS. I have no idea what it's for. Link -Thanks, Navs!

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Watch Bee Boy do a hip-hop dance for his hive!

It is a fact of nature: When a honey bee returns to the hive after finding a good source of nectar, it will perform a unique dance for its hive mates, detailing the distance, quality and quantity of the new food supply.

Sadly, honey bees are mysteriously vanishing in staggering numbers - a crisis known as Colony Collapse disorder - which is alarming considering honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of our natural food supply.

Haagen-Dazs produced this video to raise awareness of Colony Collapse Disorder. They have a program you can join to learn more. Link

This little picture doesn't look like much, but it performs well. At the linked site, take the dark striped section at the right and move it slowly over the picture section. Here's a post that explains how this type of animation is made. Link -Thanks, Jon Jason!

(image credit: Rufus Butler Seder)

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The National Library of Belarus in Minsk is just a sample of 6 of the most illuminated buildings on earth. deputydog takes a closer look at the history and artistry of illuminated buildings from Belgium, France, Spain, and Austria as well. http://deputy-dog.com/2008/07/15/6-of-the-most-illuminated-buildings-on-earth/