Neatorama

Flooding in Venice Posted: 02 Dec 2008 07:40 AM PST What’s it like when a canal city has a flood? Venice, Italy is undergoing its worst flooding in 22 years as water has risen five feet above normal levels. Venice's lagoon often rises to 40 inches above its normal level during ‘acqua alta' or high tides, particularly in autumn and winter. But anything above 50 inches risks flooding the city and causing chaos for its 60,000 permanent residents and the tens of thousands of tourists who descend on it each day. The worst flood in modern times was in 1966, when the lagoon rose more than six feet and caused widespread damage. Experts say the severity and frequency of floods is becoming worse due to silt deposits raising the floor of the lagoon and a rise in sea levels caused by global warming Flood control barriers under construction are not expected to be operational until 2012. Link -Thanks, Freshome!

Mario Kart Love Song Posted: 02 Dec 2008 07:38 AM PST (YouTube link) YouTube member blinktwice4y wrote a song about Mario Kart and love. The lyrics are available at the YouTube page. My younger daughter will adore this! She recently traded in ALL her Nintendo DS games to get Mario Kart. I didn’t realize that my older daughter didn’t have any games of her own until every game cartridge in the house was suddenly gone! -via Viral Video Chart

Sara the Musical Walrus Posted: 02 Dec 2008 07:36 AM PST Walruses can be cute -if they can play the saxophone like Sara! The flippered, whiskered creature is delighting audiences with her human-like skills, playing the saxophone, blowing a whistle, or simply adopting the universal expression for ‘I’m bored, get me out of here’. When handed the brass instrument she gripped it with her flippers and simulated an energetic jazz performance to some backing music. Sara is one of the star attractions at the Istanbul Dolphinarium in Istanbul, Turkey. See more pictures and a video at the Mail Online. Link -via Unique Daily

How Physicists Make Lunch Posted: 02 Dec 2008 07:33 AM PST For coffee, a pot just won’t do. Neither will a microwave oven. How about a YAG laser beam? For hot dogs, forget the grill or toaster oven. Cook them with a 10-foot tall Tesla coil! See videos of both procedures at Talk Like A Physicist. Link -via Dark Roasted Blend

The Chainsaw Bayonet Posted: 01 Dec 2008 06:58 PM PST I’m not a fan of chainsaws as anti-zombie weapons, despite their use by the great Ash. But this variant of the chainsaw intrigues me. It’s a small chainsaw mounted on a semi-automatic rifle as a bayonet. It would make the rifle absurdly heavy, but it would also provide some safety in the event that a zombie gets within four or five feet — when the rifle would become ineffective. (Video Link) I’m rethinking the Max Brooks-endorsed M1 carbine as my anti-zombie weapon of choice. .30 carbine ammo is rather unusual, and in the event of a Stage 4 zombie apocalypse, I wouldn’t want to be scrounging around for it in vain. Neatorama readers, what is your preferred anti-zombie weapon? Via Confederate Yankee

Love Letters … From a Stranger! Posted: 01 Dec 2008 05:24 PM PST Psst - you’ve got a secret admirer. Well, actually not yet … but you will, if Jake Bronstein of Zoomdoggle has his ways. The always-fun Jake (who came up with ideas-so-wacky-they’re-brilliant like the Fun-O-Meter and randomly thanking customer service reps posted previously on Neatorama) wants to write you a love letter. All you have to do is give him an address (name optional) and he’ll take care of the rest: When was the last time you got a love letter? Get ready to reset the counter, cause Zoomdoggle & Co. wants to send you one. Really. Hand written, and one of kind too. Just send an address, name optional, to loveletters at zoomdoggle dot com, or post it in the comments section, then keep an eye on the mailbox. It’s coming. And, if you’re anything like us, you’d be surprised how good it’s going to feel. Even coming from a stranger. Link - Thanks Jake!

Yahoo! 2008 Year in Review Posted: 01 Dec 2008 05:23 PM PST Can you believe it, 2008 is almost over! Yahoo! Buzz takes a look back at 2008 (well, so far anyways) in terms of what people are most interested in searching. Taking number 1 spot is Britney Spears (no surprise there, she’s been at the top search for both Yahoo! and Google for years). The list changed somewhat from the top searches of 2007, though besides Britney, four search terms remained constant (WWE, RuneScape - an online game, Jessica Alba, Naruto - a Japanese manga series, and Lindsay Lohan). Take a look at the entire list: Link - Thanks Jason Khoury!

A Freeway Runs Through It Posted: 01 Dec 2008 03:19 PM PST This cool building in Osaka, Japan actually has a freeway going through it. Link

Oldest LOL Cat Revealed Posted: 01 Dec 2008 03:02 PM PST A fan of I Can Has Cheezburger sent them this delightful postcard he found in an antique store. The print is from 1905.  The grammar may have been nicer back then, but those poor LOL Kitties are have been being denied food for over 100 years. What a shame. I think someone needs to start a charity organization to get kitties cheezburgers once and for all. Link

Make Your Own Squid Hat Posted: 01 Dec 2008 01:48 PM PST Ever wish a squid could sit on your head all day? Well, here’s your chance. It’s even better than a real squid, since it won’t make you stink and doesn’t feel slimy. Instructables has all the details you need to create your own squid hat. Link

“Breathing” books by Edith Kollath Posted: 01 Dec 2008 11:55 AM PST Things - Edith Kollath Creates Books that Breathe from Bre Pettis on Vimeo. Breathing books by Edith Kollath. How long until someone makes a functional Monster Book of Monsters? Via Bre Pettis.

Who Was President? Posted: 01 Dec 2008 08:40 AM PST Today’s Lunchtime Quiz at mental_floss will tell how well you really know your American history. Who was president at the time these events occurred? Not easy! I scored 77%, but that’s only because I’m old enough to remember the events as they happened! Link

The Ethics of American Youth Posted: 01 Dec 2008 06:40 AM PST The Josephson Institute Center for Youth Ethics surveyed 29,760 American high school students about their ethics and activities. The results are disturbing. *a total of 30 percent overall — admitted stealing from a store within the past year. *More than two of five (42 percent) said that they sometimes lie to save money. *A substantial majority (64 percent) cheated on a test during the past year *More than one in four (26 percent) confessed they lied on at least one or two questions on the survey. *A whopping 93 percent said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character The report released yesterday covered honesty and integrity. A later report will have survey results on drug use and violence. Link -Thanks, Geekazoid!

Truffle Brings $200K Posted: 01 Dec 2008 06:38 AM PST That’s one expensive chunk of fungus! A 1.08 kilogram white truffle was sold at an auction Saturday for $200,000. A total of $284,000 was raised for charity at the auction held simultaneously in Abu Dhabi, Macau, London and Rome. Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho was the highest bidder for the 1.08-kg white truffle. The tycoon was also the highest bidder for last year's largest truffle, a 1.5-kg piece that fetched a record $330,000. Truffle is a precious ingredient in Italian and French gourmet for its pungent aroma and taste. White truffle is considered the best truffle; a kilogram of normal size white truffle could cost over $5000. Link (with video) -Thanks, Jee! (image credit: Xinhuanet)

The Most Remote Place on Earth Posted: 01 Dec 2008 06:35 AM PST There are places more remote, but Tristan Da Cunha is inhabited, even though the 270 residents only see a mail ship once a year! When Napoleon was sent to St. Helena by the British, they annexed the closest chain of islands to prevent the French from attempting to rescue him. After all, who wouldn’t travel a mere 2430 km over rough and hostile seas in order to rescue the Emperor himself? Yes, that’s right, the islands of Tristan Da Cunha closest neighboring land mass, the island of St. Helena, is 2430 km away. Tristan Da Cunha has a radio station, a convenience store, beautiful wildlife, and an active volcano! Link

Krampus: The Sinister Sidekick of Santa Posted: 01 Dec 2008 06:33 AM PST Think of Krampus as the “anti-Santa”, the demon who comes to punish children who misbehave during the year. Krampus Night is celebrated on the eve of St. Nicholas Day in Europe, particularly in Austria. The Krampus tradition, whilst once done with a modicum of sobriety is now used as an enormously great excuse to get completely inebriated. Think of it as an old Europe version of Spring Break but, alcohol aside, with slightly different preoccupations and - of course - at a different time of year. Very well, just think of it as an excuse for young people to behave badly. Read about the origins of Krampus and see more depictions from history at Socyberty. Link -Thanks, RJ! (image credit: riptheskull)

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