Monday 26 July 2010

Why Hollywood?

The film industry’s move to Hollywood, early on in the 20th century, was not entirely an accident.

Out west, good weather was more constant, the light better and the scenery more varied than on the East Coast.

Hollywood, then still a sleepy hamlet 10 miles north of Los Angeles, was conveniently central between the bustling city and the natural splendour further afield.

See more at http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/465-scene-to-be-believed-california-as-the-world/

Saturday 24 July 2010

The world’s largest printed atlas of the sky

The Great Atlas of the Sky, Jubilee Edition, is the world’s largest printed atlas of the entire sky, available on the market. It comprises of 296 maps, each covering the area of 15°x10°. The size of the maps is 24x17 inches (61x43 cm), and their scale is 1.38 inch/° (35 mm/°).

A total of 2,430,768 stars, up to the stellar magnitude of 12, are plotted on the maps of the Atlas, in addition to over 70,000 galaxies, clusters and nebulae.

Maps are inserted in the special binding allowing for easy removal of the maps. Once placed in the dedicated protective film, the map can be used outdoors, without risking damage to the map. The Atlas is supplied with a grid film that facilitates the finding of precise coordinates of every point on the map and to plot objects of known coordinates, e.g. current position of comets taken from ephemerides.

From http://www.greatskyatlas.com/

Friday 16 July 2010

Bogan, Chav, Ned, etc

The term bogan (rhymes with "slogan") is Australian and New Zealand English slang, usually pejorative or self-deprecating, for a person who is perceived to be from a lower class background or someone whose limited education, speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour exemplifies such a background.

Similar slang terms and concepts exist in other countries, including:

  • chav in England; 
  • ned in Scotland; 
  • scanger in Ireland; 
  • zef in South Africa; 
  • tokkie in Holland; 
  • Proll in Germany; 
  • red neck in North America;
  • Ars in Israel; and 
  • Gopnik in Russia.

A derivation of the term is "cashed-up bogan" (CUB) which emerged during the economic boom of the early 21st century.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogan

Monday 12 July 2010

Anatidaephobia

Symptoms of Anatidaephobia can include:
* A Dry Mouth
* Gasping or Shortness of Breath
* Muscle Tension
* Overall Trembling
* Hyperventilation
* Feeling Out of Control
* Feeling Trapped and Unable to Escape
* Overwhelming Feeling of Impending Disaster


What is it, you ask? Fear of being watched by a duck!.

from http://tinyurl.com/yk6edqo

Friday 9 July 2010

The Great ...

Alexander the Great
Alfred the Great, the king of Wessex
Canute the Great
Cyrus the Great
Llywelyn the Great
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Comet of 1882
The Great Exhibition
The Great Lakes Storm of 1913
The Great Masticator, Fletcher
The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927
The Great Plague of 1665
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Red Spot
The Great Rift Valley
The Great Salt Lake
The Great Wall of China
The Great White Shark

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Types of Hats

Balmoral

A balmoral is a traditional Scottish hat that features a pompom on the top and a checkered band.

Baseball Cap

A baseball cap is a popular casual hat worn by people of all ages.

Beanie

A beanie is also known as a knit cap, skully or stocking cap. Whatever you call it, a beanie is a popular choice in hats in the winter.

Beret

A beret is a round hat that is usually made of soft wool.

Boonie Hat

A boonie hat normally features camouflage print fabric and has a stiff, wide brim.

Bowler Hat

The bowler hat is also known as a "derby" in the United States.

Bucket Hat

Gilligan isn't the only one who wears a bucket hat. Bucket hats are popular among men and women as a casual hat that offers sun protection.

Capuchon

You probably have seen the capuchon hat worn at Mardi Gras. This party hat is decorated using vibrant colors, designs and textures.

Cloche Hat

Popular in the 1920s, the cloche hat has become fashionable again in recent years.

Cowboy Hat

The cowboy hat is a fashionable and functional hat. Many men and women wear cowboy or western hats on a regular basis.

Fedora

You may associate the fedora with Indiana Jones or gangsters. However, these soft felt hats are a popular choice among many men.

Fez

A fez is a hat that is the shape of an abridged cone. Of Greek origins, this hat is not commonly worn today.

Newsboy Cap

Newsboy caps, also known as baker boy caps, were popular around the turn of the century. They have made a return back into style in recent years.

Panama Hat

The Panama hat is traditionally made using the Toquilla straw plant.

Porkpie Hat

The porkpie hat is part of the classic attire of American jazz and blues musicians. It has a short, indented top and sometimes has a band.

Top Hat

Abraham Lincoln was the first American to popularize the top hat and it later became popular among many men in the 19th and early 20th century.

Trilby Hat

Celebrities from Michael Jackson to Justin Timberlake have popularized the trilby hat in modern times.

From http://accessories.about.com/od/hatglossary/Hat_Glossary_Hat_Styles.htm

Monday 5 July 2010

How to Get a Drink at a Busy Bar

1. Always, always, tip.

2. Know what you’re going to order before you start yelling for service.

3. Don't call the bartender Chief, Boss, Bro, Scout, Partner, Dude…

4. Don’t stand at the server station.

5. Be a regular.

See full article at http://artofmanliness.com/2010/04/08/how-to-get-a-drink-at-a-busy-bar/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheArtOfManliness+%28The+Art+of+Manliness%29

Sunday 4 July 2010

3 pigs

This is a true story, indicating how fascinating the mind of a six year old is. They think so logically.

A teacher was reading the story of the Three Little Pigs to her class. She came to the part of the story where the first pig was trying to gather the building materials for his home.

She read, "... and so the pig went up to the man with the wheelbarrow full of straw and said, 'Pardon me sir, but may I have some of that straw to build my house?'"

The teacher paused...... then asked the class, "And what do you think the man said?"

One little boy raised his hand and said very matter-of-factly "I think the man would have said, 'Well, f**k me! A talking pig!'"

The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes.