There is always something strange in the newspapers, and here is something you don't get to hear everyday. There is a small population on an Island in the Pacific that believes that one day an American GI by the name of "John Frum" will bring them wealth and happiness - their own version of the Christian Jesus. Read for yourselves.
At the base of a sacred volcano in an isolated corner of the South Pacific young men play the "Star Spangled Banner" on bamboo flutes. Every February they parade in old US army uniforms with wooden weapons. Others go bare-chested with the letters "USA" painted in bright red letters on their bodies.
Nearby, a giant Stars and Stripes flutters in the breeze from the main flagpole. This is the heart of John Frum country on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. Villagers at Sulphur Bay worship a mystical figure who they believe will one day bring them wealth and happiness.[...]
We love seeing great new tech, but there's also a side of us that takes delight in seeing the other end of the technological spectrum. Like with a bad movie that achieves cult status because it's just that bad, we love to hate something about these unlucky 13 products and downloadable duds from the past three months. Keep in mind, each of the items listed below has its share of redeeming qualities. But each of them also stands out for all the wrong reasons. In no particular order, here are some recent tech turkeys. And if you want to catch up on the entire year's most worthless gear, read our roundup of the worst tech of the first quarter. Compiled by CNET Reviews.
1. Worst new sport: Segway polo
Hmm, if only there were a way to combine the dorkiness of riding a Segway with the snobbery of a polo match. It seems Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak's next venture is to popularize the game of Segway polo, once he's done finding ways of cheating in it and forcing them to rewrite the rules every week. When Woz isn't busy annoying everyone on the Segway polo grounds with "tactics" such as throwing his mallet and clubbing shots over their heads, he's busy braining passersby with errant shots. See all this and more in our incredibly uncomfortable video. [...]
Not too long ago, I first read about a small tribe of people called the "Kalash" who reside in the valleys of Hindu Kush, Pakistan. By the looks, it would be difficult for one to determine the origin of this intriguing civilization. Some claim they are descendants of Alexander the Great himself, however, DNA testing has shown little contribution from the Greeks and it seems as though they are an aboriginal people. When I first read about them and heard about their pagan culture, I was highly impressed. A small population with such contrasting identities to their host nation have found a piece of heaven for themselves and have survived for centuries. Here are a few pictures of the Kalash people and some of their handicrafts. It will give the reader an idea of how colorful their culture is.
This is simply amazing. I used to watch the cartoons when I was a kid. Can't wait for this one to come out, along with 300
Some of these machines are simply mind-blowing. Pay particular attention to the movement of the 'snake robot' and the 'helix'.
This is pretty cool! They even sell bracelets, etc at their website located at http://dynomighty.com. Do check it out. Enjoy!
Kazakhstan has unveiled a new architectural project for its capital Astana - a giant transparent tent that will contain an indoor city.
The 150m-high (500ft) dome, designed by UK architect Norman Foster, will be built in just over a year. The tent is being made from special material that absorbs sunlight to create the effect of summer inside. Astana lies in the very heart of the Central Asian steppe. Temperatures there often drop to -30C in the winter.
'Difficult project'
The final shape of the world's biggest tent was revealed in a 3D model by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Underneath, in an area larger than 10 football stadiums, will be a city with squares and cobbled streets, canals, shopping centres and golf courses. The idea is to recreate summer, so that when the outside temperature is -30C, the residents of the Kazakh capital can play outdoor tennis, take boat rides or sip coffee on the pavement cafes.
Called Khan Shatyry, the project is designed by Lord Foster, who has recently built a giant glass pyramid in Astana. "Nothing of the sort has been done before, and from the engineering point of view it's an extremely difficult project," says Fettah Tamince, the head of Turkey's development company Sembol that is building the tent. Mr Tamince is nevertheless confident the company can complete the construction in just 12 months. [...]
Every now and then, we hear one person say: "He/she is beautiful". In response, we'll hear someone say: "No way, he/she is ugly". There's nothing wrong with either person's remark, because I think the definition of beauty stems from one's perspective. However, at times you will come across people arguing about another person's looks, about how he/she is or isn't beautiful. I think that argument is ridiculous, because as I stated earlier, what one person may find attractive, may be equally repulsive to another.
There seems to be a vague, yet generally accepted definition of beauty for both men and women, the classic: "Tall, dark and handsome" for men, and "Tall, thin and blonde". When we get into details, there seem to be widely different conceptions of beauty. People in the West generally seem to find darker skin, darker hair and darker eye color more attractive, whereas in the East, people find lighter, blonde hair, and lighter eye colors a sign of beauty. It seems that that old saying: "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" holds when it comes to describing beauty as well.
Verdict: What you may deem ugly, may be beautiful to another, so respect the preference of other people by accepting their idea of beauty rather than indulging in a long, fruitless argument about how they could possibly find something or someone attractive to the senses.
