The customs of dealing with earthly remains of the departed vary widely around the world. Most are rites handed down over hundreds or even thousands of years. Brave New Traveler takes a look at ten cultures and their funeral and burial practices. Link -via Digg

(image credit: aarrgh)

Chase is a cat with no face. She was in an accident that left her without a nose, cheek skin, or eyelids. She also lost one leg.

I was in an accident when I was 4 wks, I became disfigured. I have a Furry Will to survive and I am completely healed now at age 3. I require medication during the day to keep my eyes moist. I will always look different but I am in NO PAIN! I have seen 10 vets and they can attest to that! I'm a happy kitty and hope to help other humans (especially those disfigured) thru my work as a therapy cat feel just as great about themselves and realize that not everyone looks perfect and that is OK.

Now Chase has her own blog called Daily Tails of Chase. Some images may be disturbing to the sensitive. Link to story. Link to blog. -via Arbroath

Photographer Andrew Bush mounted a camera in his car to catch drivers in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the southwest between 1989 and 1997. Then he posted the 66 most interesting ones. Link -via Metafilter

Once upon a time, public executions were a form of entertainment. The executioners were the stars, especially since they could return again, whereas the condemned could not.

[Richard] Brandon was one of the most famous Common Hangmen of London and became the yardstick against which other English executioners (even Albert Pierrepoint) were measured. He was extremely proud of his ability to sever a head with a single blow, something that was very popular with the crowds - and appreciated by people getting executed - since it generally took a few chops for the average executioner to get through. He refined this skill after years of practice on cats and dogs.

Brandon is one of seven executioners featured at ty.rannosaur.us Link

This world map is composed of 1001 web 2.0 logos. Click on the link, then run your mouseover the map to see each logo in easy-to-read form. I was amazed at how many sites I've never heard of. Link -via the Presurfer

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This is pretty neat! Using the principle of the old Zoetropes, this guy built his own 3D discs and rotated them with turntables.

In March 2007 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London we hosted an evening of animation related events which I took as an opportunity to make some more examples of my Phonographantasmascope, an extension of the Zoetrope principle.

It is all live action and works by using the shutter speed of the camera rather than the rather irritating stroboscope methods other 3D Zoetropes use.

The music is "In the Lost and Found" by Elliot Smith. (via Arbroath)

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Imagine living in a place where your view changes constantly! The Rotating Technology Tower Company plans to build skyscrapers with floors that will rotate independently of each other. It's not just for looks; the rotation will generate power. David Fisher is the architect behind the idea.

"Today's life is dynamic, so the space we are living in should be dynamic as well," Mr Fisher said.

"Buildings will follow the rhythms of nature. They will change direction and shape from spring to summer, from sunrise to sunset, and adjust themselves to the weather. Buildings will be alive."

The rotating floors will be made up from prefabricated apartments that spin around a concrete core.

Owners who buy an entire floor will be able to voice activate rotation commands to choose their view, Mr Fisher said at the launch in New York.

The towers are expected to generate enough electricity for themselves and other nearby buildings from solar panels and up to 79 wind turbines fitted horizontally between each floor.

However, questions remain, How will the rotation be powered? And how will plumbing and other utilities be provided to apartments? I tried the company's website, but didn't find the answers. Two such buildings are planned for Dubai and Moscow, to be completed in 2010. Link -via Unique Daily

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The Silver Swan is an automaton built in 1773. Now housed at the Bowes Museum, it finds and eats a fish every day at noon and 3PM.

The swan is life-size and is controlled by three separate clockwork mechanisms. The Silver Swan rests on a stream made of twisted glass rods interspersed with silver fish. When the mechanism is wound up, the glass rods rotate, the music begins, and the Swan twists its head to the left and right and appears to preen its back. It then appears to sight a fish in the water below and bends down to catch it, which it then swallows as the music stops and it resumes its upright position. This performance lasts approximately 40 seconds.

I wonder if the robots being built now will still work in 235 years. http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/collections/swan/ -via Metafilter

Lego’s newest and coolest set is a 3,800 piece diorama of the Death Star from Star Wars. It builds 14 scenes and comes with 21 mini-figs. The finished size is 16 inches tall. You can pre-order this set beginning July 1st, and it will be in stores in September. The price is $399.99. Gizmodo has more details. Link

The cola wars of the late 20th century were waged with as much strategy, secrecy, and technology as many conventional wars. When Coke was threatened by the Pepsi Challenge, they responded ten years later with Merchandise 7X-100, which we came to know as New Coke. It was the first major formula change since 1903, when cocaine was taken out of the recipe. Although tests showed that people liked the taste of New Coke, the product fell flat on its face. The original Coke formula, new relabeled Coke Classic, returned to the shelves only 79 days after New Coke was introduced.

Coca-Cola then became, and has since remained, the most profitable soft drink in the world. The "marketing blunder of the century" was so successful, in fact, that some people are convinced that New Coke Was an Inside Job– a delicately engineered gambit to revitalize the brand. As Coca-Cola president Donald Keough put it, "Some critics will say Coca-Cola made a marketing mistake. Some cynics will say we planned the whole thing. The truth is we are not that dumb and we are not that smart." Coca-Cola truthers have also suggested that New Coke was a disposable facade intended to mask the transition from sugar to HFCS.

There are several psychological explanations for the failure of New Coke, which are explored in this article at Damn Interesting. Link

Any Dr. Who fan should check out the Dalek Project. See Daleks of all kinds, learn how to build your own Dalek, and network with other Dalek fans.

We like Daleks, here at Project Dalek. We like them a lot. We want more Daleks in this world. We don't really care what size they are - scale models or full-size Daleks. We don't care if they are 'real' or CG renders. So long as they are Daleks we are happy.

Are you ready to take the plunge and create a Dalek of your very own? If so, Project Dalek is the place for you. Project Dalek is the home of the 'Dalek Builder's Workshop Manual', the Dalek builder's bible. It contains everything you need to know about how to construct a full size Dalek of your very own.

We also have Dalek plans for every major Dalek variant. These are free to download, once you have become part of the Project.

Link -via Metafilter

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I have no idea what product this ad is for, but I had to laugh at the fat cat. -via b3ta

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The folks at My Home and Verizon Vios gutted a Teddy Ruxpin and modded it to Twitter. You can listen to your Twitter feeds just by listening to the bear! But the best part is that this particular bear will be sold on eBay to benefit the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. It’s easier than making your own. http://2pointhome.com/teddy to Twittering Teddy. Link to eBay auction. -via YesButNoButYes

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Would you like a floor show with your ice cream? Ayden the treatmonger has some fun with the tourists in Istanbul. -via Arbroath

If you can afford to ride around a golf course in your own cart, you can afford to make it look the way you want. In some places, it’s legal for these electric carts to cruise the neighborhood, and you don’t have to gas up! Jalopnik has seven golf cart mods that will put a smile on your face. Link -via Fark