Well, this should be effective.

Occasionally, even I run across a message, so clear and so profound, that design of the presentation would do little to make it any clearer.

Link -via Digg

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Jason at Hack A Day details an experiment using thermite to destroy a hard disk while still in a computer case. He also explains what thermite is and warns you not to try this. Link -Thanks, Jason!

Why Would You Knit That?! is a blog dedicated to the strange things that people have knitted. I personally like the Star Trek figurines, but I'm still scratching my head over the tissue box cover. Pictured is the Coat of Many Colors. You are invited to submit knitted projects you've seen ...or knitted yourself. Link -via Gorilla Mask

Blend Creations has a line of metal pendants featuring monsters illustrated by your favorite artists. Only 100 of each pendant is available, and $16 of the $81 price will go to UNICEF. Pre-orders are being taken now for sales that start October first. Pictured is Squid by Adam Koford (Apelad), Fart Monster by Anna Chambers, and Bunny Skull by Brian Taylor. Other artists are Jay Stephens, S. Britt, Stefan G. Bucher, John Martz, Jon Burgerman, Justin Hillgrove, and Blend Creations. Link -Thanks, Vivian!

This photo is so intriguing, Gizmodo is having a caption contest. Some of the lines in the comments are priceless! Link -Thanks, kid_icarus!

Military researchers have been hard at work developing mechanical suits that provide protection, strength, and endurance. A team at the University of West Florida's Institute for Human and Machine Cognition is also working on an undersea version that will give the wearer all the advantages of a penguin.

The team's concept is known as Performance Improving Self Contained Exoskeleton for Swimming ("PISCES"). They have looked at various bio-inspired systems that are based on animal propulsion, and borrowed design features from dolphins, sea turtles and, yes, penguins. They can't turn you into Michael Phelps, but they can certainly make a big difference improve speed and endurance.

The lower body of the suit works like normal swim fins with a power boost. The upper body design mimics the movements of a penguin -which is not natural for humans. They're still working on the details. http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/09/attack-of-the-u.html

The bomb squad responded to call about a suspicious package yesterday near the Columbia Heights Metro station in Washington, DC. Citizens had observed a polar bear rummaging in a trash can. They said he had been there for hours. The Metro station and the surrounding area were evacuated. Ambulances and fire trucks were on hand to respond.

Onlookers watched a bomb technician in a blast suit walk slowly toward the bear, then pounce and cut it open. He pulled out wads of newspaper until the big, white head flopped over.

The bear was a mannikin mannequin. Was it street art, a political statement, or both? Link

The DCist believes that the artist is Mark Jenkins. Link -via Arbroath

Western scientists first referred to the Mongolian Death Worm in 1926, although the information had come from locals, not direct observation.

Reported to be between two and five feet long, the deep-red coloured worm is said to resemble the intestines of a cow and sprays a yellow acidic saliva substance at its victims, who if they’re unlucky enough to be within touching distance also receive an electric shock powerful enough to kill a camel… or them.

In 2005, a group of scientists spent a month searching for the worm, but all they got were more stories from people who swear the worm exists.

Lead researcher, Richard Freeman, said: “Every eyewitness account and story we have heard describes exactly the same thing: a red-brown worm-like snake, approximately two feet long and two inches thick with no discernable head or back (tail).”

Environmental Graffiti has more. Link -via Digg

(image credit: Owlman)

Instructables has step-by-step directions for making an origami cube from six New York City Metro cards -or any other type of cards you may have. It might not be all that useful, but it could be a fun project or a way to display souvenirs. If street vendors aren't already selling these to tourists, they will be soon. Link -via Geek Like Me

Mandy Sellars weighs 285 pounds, but the top half of her body only accounts for around 70 pounds of that. The rest is in her gigantic legs and feet. Sellars has Proteus syndrome, a rare condition in which parts of the body grow faster and larger than others. The most famous victim of Proteus syndrome was Joseph Merrick, also known as the Elephant Man.

"This is a very rare disorder. Certainly, less than one in a million," said Dr. John Graham, director of clinical genetics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "Proteus syndrome is named for the Greek God who could change his form. And because it was such an apt description of how these individuals rapidly change form from appearing relatively normal as young children to this startling overgrowth, the name has remained with the disorder ever since then."

Sellars was born with a noticeable difference between her upper and lower body. As her body grew, her legs and feet grew twice as fast. No treatment could help.

Because her condition remained such a mystery, she often seemed to be on the edge of disaster. In college, she was once suddenly paralyzed because of a blood clot that required 10 weeks of hospitalization. When a plastic surgeon tried liposuction to reduce the bulk in her legs, more tissue grew back than had been removed.

"In my mind, the condition has a mind of its own," Sellars said, "because whatever you take away grows back bigger and bigger."

Link -Thanks, Cesar Partida!

(image credit: Caroline Borge/ABC News)

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This lizard does this every day and really seems to like it. Sometimes he gets thrown off and is right back up there again.

The Sabre Dance soundtrack makes it something special. -via Unique Daily

Chris saw this poster in a window on Ponsonby Road, Auckland, New Zealand yesterday morning. I have no doubts Murder Burger will fill all positions quickly, since this sounds like a really cool place to work! Link to Flickr page. Link to large version. -Thanks, Chris!

A transmitter tower is not, in itself, pretty. So phone companies put cell transmitters in existing structures, in natural heights such as trees, or build towers that look like something else. Weird News Files has a roundup of some places you never suspected a cell phone transmitter to be, such as this church tower. http://weirdnewsfiles.com/weird-photos/weird-stealth-cell-phone-towers-in-a-tree-near-you/ -Thanks, Drew Waters!

57-year-old Jim Litz was riding his bicycle to work in Missoula, Montana when he came over a rise and saw a 300-pound black bear right in front of him! He didn't even have time to brake, and ran right into the bear. The two tumbled over together before the bear ran away. The weight of the bear had cracked Litz' helmet, and he had claw scratches over his torso.

Litz's wife drove by soon after and took her husband to Community Medical Center, and he immediately called Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to report the unusual collision. Game wardens told him they didn't think the animal was seriously injured, but was more likely suffering from some bruised ribs - just like Litz.

Link -Thanks, chris tackett!

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This video takes the long way around to answer a simple question, but it's an enjoyable trip! -via Swiss Miss