You kidding me !?

The saddest and most shocking images in the history of photography

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:30:00 +0000

"Tears are still falling ..."

On 11th September 2001 in the morning two hijacked passenger planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. This was not a coincidence but a series of terrorist attacks organized by the terrorist organization Al Qaeda. The attack killed all the passengers in the abducted planes and 2,974 innocent victims who were in buildings. More than 90 countries lost some of its citizens and the stock market was closed for a week.

Abu Ghraib

In 2004 a story was released which includes physical, mental and sexual abuse, torture, rape, sodomy and murder of prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison. These atrocities were committed by members of the 372nd Military Police Brigade, Army of the United States in cooperation with additional government agencies.

Afghan refugee child hides from a dust storm

Bhopal, India - The flood of Methyl Isocyanate

In 1984, the largest chemical disaster in the world happened in the town of Bhopal in India. More than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate was spilled from the pesticide plant owned by Carbide Junion, and on that occasion more than 20,000 people were killed. Soon, the skulls of people were found and they were immediately tested in a nearby hospital to determine the effects the gas has on the brain. The disaster injured people and animals as well as the surrounding trees where the leaves began to decline after a few days. Even today, 25 years after the horrible event, it is said say that people die as a result of this event.

Biafra

When Lgbosi from eastern Nigeria declared independence in 1967, Nigeria immediately blocked the newly formed state which was called Biafra. During the three-year war, more than one million people died, mainly of hunger. In those years of famine, children didn’t have the opportunity to eat enough protein, so their stomach muscles literally dried.

The Boston fire

On 22nd July 1975, Stanley J. Forman worked in a newsroom called "Boston Herald", when she heard a voice over police radios saying: "fire at Marlboro." Forman immediately went to the scene where numerous fire crews fought the blaze. Then the call for help came from the rear of the building. The call was from mothers who had their children with them. Forman ran there instantly...

Concentration camp Buchenwald

In 1937, near Weimar in Germany, the Nazis built the infamous Buchenwald concentration camp. Above the main entrance, there was a board with the slogan: "Everyone gets what he deserves." The Nazis used it until the fall of the Reich in 1945. From 1945 to 1950, The Soviets put Germans and Nazis into the camp. On 6th January 1950, the camp was taken over by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of East Germany. SS recorded all the people who came into the camp and who “got out”. The last two words are in quotes because most people died there and that was their way out. According to these records, approximately 33,462 people were executed. These documents, of course, do not have to be accurate. Those who were executed before 1944 were labeled as "transferred to the Gestapo." In 1941, the Soviet prisoners of war were executed in a mass murder. Prisoners who r came to the camp in the last years of the Reich were not recorded, and therefore there were more than 33,462 people executed in the camp.

The funeral of an unknown child

This picture shows one of the worst chemical disasters in history, which was caused by the multinational chemical company called Junion Carbide.

A monarch in flames

Due to slow and unreliable reforms in Vietnam, Mahayana Buddhist monks showed their frustration by sacrificing themselves in the outskirts of Saigon. In this picture, the Monarch sets himself on fire. He was later cremated. However, his heart has remained intact and the other monarchs declared him to be a Budisatva because of that fact. His act increased the pressure on the government to pur the laws and the reform into action.

An execution of a Viet Cong guerrilla

This photo was taken by Eddie Adams and he received the Pulitzer Prize for it. This image shows South Vietnamese police chief, Nguyen Loan Ngok, who executes a prisoner believed to be a guerrilla captain. Once again, public strongly opposed the war.

Hector Peterson

Hector Peterson is an icon of Soweto uprising in South Africa in 1976. Hector is seen here dying in the arms of his friend. He died at the age of 12 when police opened fire on the protesters. For years, the 16th June remains the symbol of the brutality of the apartheid government. Today it is known as the Youth Day - the day when South Africans pay tribute to young people and take care of their needs.

The Last Jew in Vinitsa

The picture is from the personal album named "The Last Jew in Vinitsa", and it shows one of the soldiers preparing to shoot a kneeling Jew. In front of him there is a mass grave where many have already lost their lives. The scene is Vinitsa in Ukraine, 1941. All 28,000 Jews from Vinitsa and surrounding areas were massacred at the time.

The Lynching of young African American people

This is the famous picture that was taken in 1930 two years and shows two young African American men who were hanged before a group of more than 10,000 white people. They were accused of raping women and killing their husbands. Another African American was scheduled to be hanged, but fortunately he was saved. Although these photographs were intended to increase the superiority of white people, the tortured bodies and grotesquely smiling faces of the crowd revolted many people against racism.

Atomic mushroom cloud over Hiroshima and Nagasaki

This image or nuclear "mushroom cloud" shows the tremendous amount of energy released. The first atomic bomb was dropped on 6 August on Hiroshima and on this occasion it killed about 80,000 people. On 9th August, the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The consequences of the second bomb were much bigger - 150,000 people were killed or injured. The strong wind, the extremely high temperatures, and radiation have made those long-term consequences much worse.

Napalm girl

This image shows a girl, Kim Fan Ti Fuk, running naked down the street after her back was horribly burned in napalm attacks by South Vietnam. She was only 9 years old.

The child and the vulture

This picture shows a vulture watching a Sudanese child who apparently died of starvation. No one knows what happened to the child. Photographer Kevin Carter won the Pulitzer Prize for this shocking picture, but after only three months he committed suicide.

Palestinian father rescues son

This photo was taken from the video footage that shows the murder of 12-year-old Mohammed Al-Duraha in the Gaza Strip. The video was recorded by a cameraman from the French television, France 2

Palestinian refugees

This image was declared as the picture of the year by World Wide Press. Photographer: Francoise Demulder, France. Location: Beirut, Lebanon, January 1976. These are Palestinian refugees in the area of La Quarantine. Francoise was the first woman to receive this recognition and it happened on the 20th anniversary of the World Wide Press prizes. She said she hated war, but had to document how the innocent suffer and the aggressors’ just get richer.

Separate drinking fountains

The photograph shows a bigger and tidier tap for white people, and a small fountain for all other races except white.

The dying boy

The image of the year by World Wide Press. Photographer: Mike Wells, United Kingdom. Location: Karamoja District, Uganda, April 1980. Wells was bitter because his newspaper did not publish this photograph for five months, while people and children kept dying. Later his picture even won in some contest, but he refused to accept the award. He was against rewarding photographs where people are seen starving to death.

American bison

This is the consequence of the mass murder of American bison during the 1800s. These skulls were waiting to be fertilized and then sent to the American Midwest. The slaughter was so effective that the number of bison in the United States declined from 60 million to only 750 individuals during the period of 1800 - 1890.

The victims of the tsunami

Tsunami that struck Thailand in 2004 caused the death of approximately 350,000 people and a much larger number of injuries.

Images source: topstrange.com

Audi TT - Extreme tuning

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Many people think that the Audi TT represents a landmark in the history of automotive design. It was first introduced as a concept car in 1995. Its production began in 1998. Its design was described as brave, innovative and revolutionary. The new design has some elements from the previous models, but still many people consider the overall design as unique.

Because of its smoothly round shape, it does not have a revolutionary drag coefficient - moreover, it is relatively high - 0.35. The success and popularity of the TT designs has given a lot of opportunities to many car designers to experiment with this model. Its influence can be seen on many models that were presented after the TT.

With this model, Audi remains among greats such as BMW and Mercedes.

images source: carautos.info

Chernobyl – The Lost City...

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:10:00 +0000

Chernobyl is about 80 miles north-west of Kiev, Ukraine's capital and the third largest city of the former Soviet Union.

The worst ever nuclear disaster occurred in Chernobyl and at the time it sent radioactive clouds across neighboring Belarus, Poland and the Baltic republics all the way to Scandinavia.

Within a few days, the winds carried the radioactive cloud almost over whole of Europe, causing anxiety and fear.

The worst disaster was in Ukraine and Belarus where large doses of radiation went by, and unfortunately stayed there the longest, so the economy of the countries also suffered. In addition, the radioactive compound passed through the territory of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia and many Western European countries.

To this day, the land there is abandoned. Thousands of homes and hectares of land ... everything is the same as 20 years ago.

Nowadays there are organized tours of the area. These photographs were made by Alexander Vikulov while he was on one of those tours.

This is a Soviet sign you see when you come into Chernobyl. Many of these signs are still intact since Soviet Union existed.

This is also the sign of the Soviet era on a building in Chernobyl. Life is slowly beginning to grow in Chernobyl and some people have decided to return despite the dangers of radiation. Some of the participants on the tours noticed that one building was completely renovated.

The main square in the center of Chernobyl

This is a monument to people who were involved in the termination of nuclear power plants immediately after the incident. Almost all died - some immediately, some later.

This is the infamous nuclear power plant. Even now, people work there. They are building a special cover on the top of the destroyed reactor in order to stop further radiation. They are allowed to work only two minutes a day in special clothes, and they receive a salary of $ 1000 which is 5 times the average salary in the region. Many people are trying to set up their instruments so that they show a lower dose of radiation. They want to work more and earn more money.

It says: "Brave"

This was the hotel.

Interior of the school. Just look at how many gas masks ... !

Look at the nuclear power plant ...

Other images from Chernobyl today

The Olympic Tower in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics. How will it look like?

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000

This vertical structure will be placed on the island of Cotonduba. It also represents a great vantage point and a welcome sign for any visitors who come either by plane or by a ship to Rio de Janeiro, the city which will host the Olympic Games in 2016.

The project was created in Zurich and the structure uses solar energy which it collects during the day using powerful solar panels. That energy is used to pump sea water over the structure as you can see in the picture.

That water movement will start the turbines and the system will be able to work even at night. In the building itself, there will be an amphitheater, reception halls, shops, etc. Elevators will transport visitors to the top where they can enjoy the spectacular view of the city. There will also be a special platform for bungee-jumping.

Forever together

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Archaeologists in Italy found two skeletons which are actually hugging. They are believed to be 5-6,000 years old. Love is eternal...

image source: ebaumnation.com

Creepy Island of the Dolls in Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 +0000

This island is known in Spanish language as "La Isla de la Muñecas". This Puppet Island is perhaps the most terrifying tourist attraction in Mexico. Located within an extensive network of canals south of Mexico City, the island if full of mystery and superstition.

Almost every tree on the island is "decorated" with old, mutilated dolls that give the impression that someone is always watching. The story of the began when Don Julian Santana moved there. Although he was married, he decided to live the last 50 years alone.

Don Julian used to say he was haunted by the ghost of the little girl who had drowned in one of the canals around the island. Some say he used to fish the dolls from the water because he thought they were real children. The truth was that he was collecting and placing them around his home as a shrine for the ghost that tormented him. At one point he even traded home grown fruit and vegetables for old dolls.

Ironically, in 2001, Don Julian Santana was found dead by his nephew, in the same canal that he said the little girl drowned in. Now his Island of the Dolls is one of the world’s weirdest tourist attractions. Some tourists who visited this place claim the dolls whisper and you must offer them a gift when you arrive on the island, just to appease their spirits.

images source: odditycentral.com

Langkawi Sky Bridge - Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Langkawi Sky Bridge is located at 2300 feet above sea level. This unique, curved pedestrian bridge stands at 410 feet above a spectacular gorge. The view from the bridge is simply breathtaking. You can see Andaman Sea and Thai island of Tarutao from it.

The bridge is 6 feet wide and it has 11- feet- wide triangular platforms. When you stand on other bridges you always see the same things generally, but this arched bridge provides different views of land and sea. You can sit, relax and admire the spectacular nature and incredible engineering enterprise from the convenient triangular platforms which are located at both ends of the bridge.

The Sky Bridge is safe. Considerable efforts have been made to ensure that the visitors fell secure on this construction. It has a double layer steel fence and the safety net which was placed under the bridge.

images source: img03.picoodle.com, panoramio.com/photos/original/5628259.jpg and flickr users: amirms, anil_r, hilabean, dylwalters and ihtatho

Spain - Living on the edge

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Many people will always associate Spain with beautiful beaches and shores, and those are basically the places where most tourists go. However, there are other, very different, sides of this great Iberian Peninsula. This is Spain on the edge...

Our first stop is Malaga and the town Ronda which dates from the Neolithic times. It is a city with over 30,000 inhabitants that was built on two sides of a steep gorge. There are three bridges that connect the two parts of the city. The first is the Puente Romano, or the Roman Bridge, the second one is Puente Viejo or the Old Bridge, and the third one is Puente Nuevo, or the New Bridge which got that name because it was the last one built in 1793.

Puente Nuevo is located about 393 feet from the bottom of a gorge and it is one of the major sights of the city - it's hard to visit Rondo and forget about the bridge and this beautiful sight. Throughout history, many people who were sentenced to death were thrown from this cliff.

Through millenniums, the river Guadalevin carved the canyon El Tajo, which in its deepest part reaches 328 feet. The town itself is high in the mountains at 2,460 feet above the sea level and is located at the top of the canyon. It is unlikely that its inhabitants suffer from vertigo...

However, Ronda isn't the only place in Spain where people are living on the edge of an abyss. If we move near the French border, you'll see the Catalan city of Castellfollit de la Rocha.

Many, many years ago, there was a volcanic eruption. Two streams of lava overlapped and made a ridge around 170 feet high. Is there a more secure place to live then on the places which are so high on the ridge that you can see everything for miles around?

City is situated in the province of Girona. The town itself is extremely small - it was built on an area that covers less than one square mile.

Now we will turn around and move away from the populated areas. Spaniards are not afraid of heights, and by now we know that. But still, they probably shudder when see El Caminito del Rey - The King's little pathway, which is just like Ronda, located in Malaga.

A power station was built near the waterfall at the beginning of the 20th century. It caused problems in delivering building materials. This "pathway" was originally created as a platform for viewing the channel and the immediate vicinity of the plant. After four years, in 1905, the power plant was finally built and put into operation, and this platform became a real world attraction because it was quite a feat of engineering in that time.

However, only a few very bold and daring people attempt to cross this platform today.

Sometimes it makes sense to establish a settlement at the top of the gorge, but dig into it is another thing. This is Setenil de las Bodegas in Andalucia, which represents a modern village that dates back from the fifteenth century, although there is evidence that people lived here thousand years ago.

People come to visit this village because something like this cannot be seen everywhere else. It looks like a scene from a science fiction novel. People dug places in the foothills of the mountain and on one side of the gorge and they lived there.

The village is also on the river Trejo and is it has more than 3,000 inhabitants.

To get a better view of the size (and height) of Spain, our next stop is Cuenca. It is a mountain town in the Cuenca province. Province itself is quite big - almost like Slovenia.

During Roman times there was no settlement here. Arabs, who invaded this territory in the eighth century, saw the strategic importance of this place and built a fort which they called Cuenca. Cuenca later became a prosperous city and a center of local agriculture and textile industry.

There are many beautiful locations in the city and its surroundings, but our focus will be on the famous hanging houses - Las Casas Colgadas which date from the fifteenth century.

Today, this is a restaurant and museum of abstract art.

City Sorbas in Almeria province also has similar "hanging houses" - they also stand on the edge of an abyss.

The Historic Centre of Sorbas is located on Cape Amesetado, and the city witnessed all the cultures that have settled on the peninsula over the centuries.

The last city on this tour is in the south of the country and it is called Arcos de la Frontera. It is located in Cadiz. The reef, on which the city was built, is not the product of volcanic activity; it was formed from limestone and is located on the river Guadalete.

Spaniards and Moors have fought very long to gain control over the land. The town was always the border between the two conflicted sides and that is how it got its name.

It was an independent Moors Principality during the eleventh century. However, in 1252, King Alfonso the Wise conquered it. He was responsible for the exodus of Moors from Spain and he built a cathedral on a top of the hill. The cathedral is famous because of its 10 bells.

As we can see, Spain is not just sand and sea. It is land is rich in geographic diversity and we hope that we managed to show that in full color.

images source: kuriositas.com

Incredibly large worms

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

The term worm is used to describe many different cylindrical and legless animals.

They often have a cylindrical, flattened or leafy body shape, and in most cases they have not got any limbs. Instead, they have bristles or fins that allow them to move. Their size varies from 1 millimeter even up to 100 feet which makes them very interesting. On the following pictures we can see some of these "long" worms...

images source: rgbpicture.com

Kamchatka - Russian Magnificent Far East

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:30:00 +0000

Kamchatka is a 776 miles long peninsula in the Russian Far East. It has an area of 182,356 square miles. It lies between the Pacific Ocean in the east and the Okhotsk Sea in west. Near the coast of the peninsula along the Pacific Ocean we can find a 34,448 feet deep Kuril-Kamchatka trench.

There are 402,500 inhabitants and most of them are Russians, but there are about 13,000 Korjaks. More than half of the entire population lives in Petrovopavlovsk Kamchatsky (192,028 inhabitants) and Jelizov (41,533).

images source: kamtravel.abdesign.ru

The most interesting bridges in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

1. Piazza San Marco - Venice

Piazza San Marco is famous, but the Ponte di Rialto is a real gem of Venice. The bridge was built in only three years, between 1588 and 1591, as a permanent replacement for the ferry which people used to cross the Grand Canal in the 12th century. This was the only way to cross the Grand Canal until the Accademia Bridge was built in 1854. This arched bridge is designed so galleys can pass under it, and the bridge itself is supported by 12,000 wooden pillars which hold the bridge for over 400 years. The architect Antonio da Ponte competed against eminent designers such as Michelangelo and Palladio to get this job.

2. Old bridge - Mostar

"Stari Most" or Old Bridge is a bridge over the Neretva River in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina and it connects two parts of the city. The bridge was destroyed by the Croatian army during the war in Bosnia on 9th November 1993. After the war, the reconstruction of the bridge began, and a new bridge was opened on 23rd July 2004. The bridge is located on the Neretva River in Mostar and it was named after the city. Mostar is the fourth largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the unofficial capital of Herzegovina. It is 13 feet wide, 98 feet long and 78 feet high. There are also two towers which are known as "Bridge Keepers": Helebija on the northeast and Tara on the southwest. The arch was built of stones which are abundant in that area; they are better known by the name tenelija stones.

3. Gateshead Millennium Bridge - England

This bridge is located on the river Tyne as the last in a series of magnificent bridges. The bridge connects the cities of Gateshead and Newcastle. That was the reason why the bridge was built, but apart from that it attracts many tourists from around the world. In 1996, Gateshead government made a project to build a bridge that will connect the two sides, but also fit among six bridges that already exist on the River Tyne. More than 150 projects were gathered. The inhabitants chose the bridge that still stands today.

Mayor of Gateshead, Mick Henry said: "When we decided on the design of the new bridge we knew it will be special. Numerous awards for design and construction which the bridge received prove that we were right. But, although we knew how innovative it is, we didn’t expect the worldwide popularity. "

4. The longest arched bridge in the world - Lupu Bridge in China

Lupu Bridge is the longest arched bridge in the world. It is over 1,800 feet long and it stands on the magnificent Huangpu River in China. However, there was a large discrepancy in its construction. There was a need for a bridge that will connect Luvana district on the north bank and Pudong on the south bank, but it was supposed to be its purpose. When the mayor decided that bridge must set a world record in length, there was an argument, mostly because of large funds that were needed to for its construction. Nevertheless, the bridge was built and it also set a world record. It was opened in 2003. It is 2, 42 miles long and 94 feet wide.

5. Suspension Bridge Hangzao - China

Hangzao is a suspension bridge on the Hangzao bay in the east of China. Its construction was completed on 14 June 2007, and it connects the municipality of Shanghai and Ningbo in Zhejiang Province. The opening ceremony was held on 26 June 2007, and both local and international media were present. The bridge itself was opened for traffic in mid-2008.

Construction began on 8th June 2003. Bridge itself is 22 miles long, with 6 highway lanes running in both directions, making it the second longest bridge in the world right after the bridge in Louisiana. Speed limit on it is 62 miles per hour and it is predicted that it will last about 100 years. The construction cost about $ 1.4 billion.

6. Spiral bridge Kawazu-Nanadaru

Many innovations occur when there are very specific and unusual needs for it. This bridge is one such example: How to build a bridge over the cliff, where the slope is so steep that it is impossible to build roads? Simple, just make a spiral bridge on which cars will climb 147 feet in order to reach the opposite road. Some stats: it is 0.68 miles long, it has a diameter of 262 feet, and the speed limit is 18 miles per hour. Driving over this bridge is a very pleasant and interesting experience. It was completed in 1982 and it became a popular feature on the Road 414 that leads from Tokyo to the Izu Peninsula resorts.

7. Oresund Bridge

Oresund Bridge is on the Oresund Gulf and it has two railway tracks and four lanes for road traffic. This bridge-tunnel is the longest railway bridge in the world and connects the two metropolitan areas of Oresund region: The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmo. The international highway E20 passes on this bridge.

The total length of the bridge is 4.87 miles. Bridge only is 1.607 feet long, while the highest point of pillars is on 669 feet. The bridge ends on an artificial island Paberholm, where we can find a tunnel leading to the Danish coast.

images source: wikipedia and flickr users: mitko, dariva, garethjmsaunders, pricey, randyzhang, altus, brian_worsley

Knok Nuis - the largest super-tanker in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Ship Knok Nuis is the largest super-tanker in the world. It has a capacity of 565,000 tons and it is 1,502 feet long. However, there was a desire to increase the load of the ship and make it a symbol of sea transportation as well as the largest ship ever built. So it was renovated. When it first appeared outside the shipyard, we could clearly see that its capacity increased by 87,000 tons and that its name was changed to Jahre Viking. However, this boat is extremely difficult to steer since it can enter only in a few ports in the world. It cannot pass through the Suez and Panama Canals. It was anchored in the Persian Gulf and it serves as a storage tank for crude oil. Current capacity is a whopping 647,955 tons or 4.1 million barrels of oil. To get the idea how big it is, we can say that one delivery of that tanker can keep the entire world economy running on fuel for two whole days! That's why many super-tankers are used in the world, but at the same time they are a huge risk to the environment.

images source: indonesia-hits.com

Spectacular polar lights in the sky over Norway

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

This spectacular picture was taken above the skies of Northern Europe after NASA reported a possible solar storm that is approaching Earth. This is beautiful Aurora Borealis (which is another name for the Northern Light).

This was caused by magnetic activity which produced a series of explosions above the sunspot. It was labeled as 1105 and it was recorded by NASA's observatories. The very explosion sent a huge amount of charged particles towards the earth at a speed of 217 miles per second.
This fantastic aurora was created by a series of reactions between atoms and molecules in Earth's atmosphere.

This image was taken by an amateur astronomer Ojstein Ingvaldsen Lunde who took it in the city called Bo in the north of Norway. "I was getting ready to sleep when I saw this extraordinary phenomenon through the window. I grabbed my camera in a second and left the house to find the ideal position to take some pictures of that phenomenon."

Scientists say the northern lights phenomenon is difficult to predict because the direction of the solar storms is extremely unpredictable. Also, a number of different factors need to come together in order to see it in all its glory.

images source: telegraph.co.uk

Snow in the Sahara !

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:20:00 +0000

This phenomenon can rarely be seen in the most famous desert in the world. In the Algerian province of Besar snow fell in mid-last week, and it even spread to some parts of Morocco.

These unreal scenes have been witnessed in Africa; the palm trees are bent under snow and large sand dunes now look like alpine ski resorts.

African media say that this unusual phenomenon can have many favorable effects. Cold weather will kill pests in the trees and the snow will increase the amount of ground water so the desert oasis will be able to survive, and of course the children are surely happy.

Snow has fallen in Western Sahara in mid last week. The storm that lasted nearly 24 hours brought snow and cold weather across the whole region. Strong wind created snowdrifts in the Besar province and the people who live in the region once again stressed the importance of the cold weather.

Mariana Trench - the deepest place in the ocean

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Mariana Trench is the deepest known oceanic trench. It reaches a maximum depth of about 6, 8 miles and it is the deepest place on the surface of the Earth. It is located in western part of North Pacific, east of Marion Island, near the island of Guam.

Trench represents a boundary between two tectonic plates, the Pacific and Philippine. The first one fell under the second one. The bottom of the trench is furher below sea level than Mount Everest is above it. At the bottom the pressure reaches 108.6 Mega Pascals, which is over a thousand times greater than the pressure at sea level.

The trench was first discovered in 1951 by the ship Challenger. The ship belongs to the British Navy and they called their discovery the Challenger’s trench. By using echo, it measured the depth of the trench at 35 761 feet at 11 ° 19'N, 142 ° 15'E coordinates.

In 1957, SOVIET Union ship reported a depth of 36200 feet and called it the Marian cave. (This was claimed by the Soviet Union, although no one repeated the research in this area with modern equipment).

In 1962, the ship M.V. Spencer F. Beird recorded a depth of 35810 feet using precision gauges as a measurement tool.

In 1984, Japan sent a highly specialized ship Takuji to research the trench. It used a narrow, high-frequency echo sounder and it the recorded a depth of 35,839 feet.

In January 1960, The U.S. Navy sent a bathyscaphe called Trist to the bottom of the trench and it reached it on 23rd January at 1:06 in the afternoon. Bathyscaphe recorded a depth of 37,798 feet, but this was later corrected to 35,813.

Most accurate measurement was committed by the Japanese Kaiki probe, which descended to the bottom on 24th March 1995 and recorded a depth of 35,797 feet.

images source: wikipedia.org and abc.net.au

Zimbabwe - pay $ 100 billion for the three eggs !

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:30:00 +0000

The following story is about the economy in Zimbabwe:

This is the how things stand there...

(25 million Zimbabwean dollars is worth as one American dollar because the inflation is at 231 million % a year)

Following pictures look funny, but in fact the things are really sad at the moment...

Shopping at a local store!

Pocket money...

Great prices...

Paying in a restaurant...

And of course the check...

$ 100 billion bill and the amount of eggs that can be bought it...

Recently a bill of 100 trillion dollars was introduced !

So, if you want to feel like a billionaire, go to Zimbabwe for a while...

The current situation - one trillion Zimbabwean dollars = 33 US dollar

And finally to point out that in 1980, a One ZMD (Zimbabwean dollar) was worth 1 British pound! And what about now.....

images source: usfunny.info

The shortest man in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Edward Nino Hernandez was officially declared as the shortest man in the world by the book Guinness World Records on 4th September 2010. Hernandez is 24 years old year, and he is just 27 inches tall and weighs just 22 pounds! He currently lives in Bogota, Colombia.

images source: expirationchug.com

5 beautiful places to go swimming

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Swimming pools and the places that are about to be described represent some of the most beautiful places on our planet. "Endless" swimming pools are those that give the visual effect of water connecting with the horizon. It has an absolutely breathtaking effect and gives these photographs much charm. What could be more refreshing than swimming in cold and clean water on some hidden lakes in the heat of a summer day? And what can be more exciting than diving into the hidden waterfall? Imagine a summer vacation with a lot of swimming, marine research, discovering secret beaches and sandy coves, caves and deep lagoons...

1. Golden Triangle Resort, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Situated in the hills of Myanmar and Laos, the Golden Triangle is as enchanting as the region where it is located. You can explore the surrounding forests on an elephant ride. You can spend a day in the revitalizing Anantara Spa. This resort offers you an unforgettable taste of the natural beauty of South East Asia, and all of that is mixed with a high dose of luxury. This is exactly what resort Golden Triangle can offer you.

2. Serena Resort on the shores of Lake Maniar, Tanzania, Africa

This resort is located high on steep cliffs and from it you can see the beautiful alkaline Maniar lake. You can enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the volcanic formations known as the Great Rift Valley.

3. Hotel Kandalama - Dambula, Sri Lanka

Hotel Kandalama gives the impression that it originated from the surrounding rocks together with the lush vegetation that covers its walls. Five-star hotel is perfectly situated in the area of your dreams. You can relax in the swimming pool with sapphire blue water which comes from Lake Kandalama, the place that looks like time has stopped 2000 years ago. You can just wander through its corridors and paths which are filled with cheerful chirping of birds. You can even hang out with the monkeys. The experience is enhanced with the endless beautiful forests and meadows. It also offers you the magnificent view of the Sigiriya rock fortress which you can enjoy from your balcony. Fill yourself with the magic of Kandalama: forget t time and reality...

4. Tat Kuang Si Waterfall - Luan Prabang, Laos

Situated between the villages of Hmong and Kham in the midst of green forests, this 98 feet high waterfall is one of the most picturesque and beautiful in the region as it has lots of levels and natural pools between them.

5. Sheraton Waikiki - Hawaii

Of all the hotels on the coast Waikiki this one stands out from the rest ... Sheraton Hotel is a modern monument where you will be received by traditional Hawaiian hospitality. This hotel, located on the island of Oahu, is perfect for families who want to experience the real life in Hawaii, for couples looking for romantic experiences, or for tired travelers just looking for a place to rejuvenate. Sheraton Hotel is your gateway to Hawaii's favorite playground - Waikiki Beach.

images source: evilreligion.com

A ghost town - Hashima Island, Gunkanjima, Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Hashima Island ("Border Island"), or better known as Gunkanjima (or "battleship island"), is one of 550 uninhabited islands in Nagasaki Prefecture, around 9 miles from Nagasaki itself. The island was inhabited in between 1887 - 1974 and during this period an intensive exploitation of coal occurred there.

Nickname of this island - "Battleship" comes from its apparent similarity with a military ship as well as its high walls on the coast. It is also known as Ghost Island. Mitsubishi Company bought the island in 1890 and they started the project of coal exploitation from the bottom of the sea. In 1916, a large complex of buildings was built where the growing number of workers used to live. The great wall was also built in this period; it surrounds the island as protection from possible typhoons. In 1959, the population density was 334 people per acre on the entire island and in the housing sector the density was even higher - 556 per acre, and that was the biggest population density ever recorded in the world. As the oil slowly began to replace coal, in the '60 of the last century, the mines were slowly beginning to close and Gunkanjima was no exception. Mitsubishi officially announced the closure in 1974 and today the place is deserted and empty. That is why it is called the Ghost Island. Visiting it is prohibited.

images source: flickr users: origamikid, stuartfrisby, christophklemmt, beat8682 and elbauldejosete.files.wordpress.com, wikimedia.org, hipogrifos.files.wordpress.com

Real "Milka" Cow in Serbia! Purple calf born near Cacak

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:03:00 +0000

This calf was born in a village near town of Cacak and local villagers said that they had never seen something like this. Calf has become a major topic of conversation in the town and it is incredibly popular among children who rushed to the barn where the unusual animal lives.

The calf is perfectly healthy and vets say that the purple color is probably caused by genetics.

"We were incredibly surprised when we saw it. This is, so far, the first purple calf in the world" - says the owner.

But the" Milka Cow" is not the only cow that has drawn the attention of the world to Serbia these days. In fact, a six-year old cow called "Baby" brought four calves into the world last month. It happened in the village Sljivic. Cows usually give birth to only one calf so the previously mentioned case is extremely rare.

"After we saw the first calf, neighbors told me that there might be another" - says the owner Dragan Pavlovic. "Then came the second, third, fourth ... and they are all males."

New York - the city that never sleeps

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Last week, the Wall Street Journal sent a bunch of photographers to take some pictures of what is happening on the streets of New York deep into the night while almost the whole town is asleep. But even at those hours, some parts of the city were filled with activity - people were delivering newspapers, police officers were patrolling the streets, night birds were coming out of bars and some street vendors were setting up their stands. This gallery shows people who are awake when most citizens are not.

Delivery guy Ric Lupsa carries a pile of newspapers for sale in Wall Street - 5:57 am.

Leslie Shannon, 24, and Brandon Holley, 29, exchanged kisses on the corner of I-27 Street and Broadway.

Man working on his laptop in front of Apple's stores in 14th Street - 4:46am.

Dance club Enid in Brooklyn.

Masi Redman, in a black hat, is taking orders in his trailer on the corner of 27-Me and 5-E streets.

Italian tourists are sitting on the road on the corner of 9th and14th street after leaving the bar - 4:58am.

Two couples share intimate moments on A Avenue.

Man buys Wall Street Journal at the traffic in Wall Street - 5:54 am.

Young man vomits on the corner of Second and A Avenue.

Police officers at Madison Square - 5:04am

Officer crossing the road in Wall Street - 6:47am

Sanitation workers clean the stairs in front of Wall Street - 6:25am

Once again, the last drink before bedtime, at Union Square - 5:30am

Fast food salesman is walking along 11th Street near the intersection with 47th

images source: amusingplanet.com

4 most unusual plants in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Nature can be very strange and sometimes its creations can be simply amazing. Please, do not give this plant to your girlfriend for Valentine's Day ...

Dracunculus Vulgaris

The Dracunculus Vulgaris has a smell of rotting bodies; it has Burgundy colors and a black, large pestle in the middle.

Rafflesia Arnoldii

This parasitic plant has the biggest flower among all known plant species which can grow to a whopping 1 meter. The flower is flesh-colored with dots which look like acne on the skin. The plant smells incredibly bad and has a big hole in the middle. It has no leaves, stems or roots.

Hydnora Africana

Another unusual parasitic plant; it has color of the skin and it attacks the nearby roots in arid deserts of South Africa. Its flowers smell and that is what attracts vulture bugs.

Amorphophallus

Amorphophallus literally means: "penis form" and its name comes from the shape of his black tuck.

images source: chilloutpoint.com

Friends + a bunch of alcohol = a dangerous combination

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:30:00 +0000

This is what alcohol can do ... You are among a bunch of friends, partying, alcohol, and eventually … a joke comes up, right? Here are some pictures of young drunk people in funny situations... :) Enjoy...

images source: chilloutpoint.com

The most expensive tea in the world grows in the feces of the Chinese panda

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Chinese entrepreneur An Jansi believes that he has found the key ingredient for the production of the most expensive tea in the world - panda excrement. Former calligraphy teacher bought 11 tons of manure from a breeding center for pandas. He fertilized the crops of tea on the slopes a mountain in Sichuan province in southwest China. An stated that the first harvest of the tea will be in spring and it will be "the most expensive tea in the world" with a price tag of $ 35,000 for 500 grams. Chinese experts say that the first harvest, which is done in early spring, gives the highest quality tea. Therefore it is not surprising that there are types on the market which cost up to $ 3,500 for 500 grams, but to have a tea which costs ten times as much is completely insane.

The 41-year-old An is very passionate about the new project; he even gives interviews dressed in a costume of the black and white bear. He was often the ridiculed during last few weeks because of his extravagant claims about the potential health benefits of the tea. But he was deadly serious and he left his job at the University of Sichuan to devote himself entirely to this project.

Besides his hopes to earn an exceptional amount of money for the tea, which was planted on an area of just over one hectare, he wants to persuade the world to protect the environment and replace the chemical fertilizers with the natural ones. The tea lover got the idea last year after attending a seminar.

His claim that the green tea he produces will help people lose weight and protect them against radiation has already been repeatedly ridiculed on the large Chinese websites where there are doubts about the alleged health benefits of the tea as well as its high price.

The biggest pool in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Ivica Miskovic) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

In order to describe how the world’s largest swimming pool looks like, we can use just one word - awesome! This pool is located in San Alfonso del Mar in Chile. It is over 2,950 feet long and it covers an area of 860,000 square feet. The deepest place in the pool is 115 feet and it has 64 million gallons of water in it! It's so large that its guests use a kayak to move around in it. Computer-controlled water filtration system continuously fills the pool with pure sea water. Water is pumped in at one end of the pool and pumped out in another.

images source: yourmindblown.com