Monday, November 7, 2011

Green River



Canada's Goldstream River failed to live up to its name when its waters bizarrely started flowing a fluorescent Luminous green.

The river, which runs through the city of Langford in British Columbia, looked like the result of a radioactive disaster and an investigation was launched immediately.

What caused the river to change colour was a mystery at first, but investigators swiftly discovered an organic compound used as a dye to test water systems was to blame.

Colourful: The Goldstream River started flowing fluorescent green after hoaxers added an organic dye to the water

But as no tests were being conducted on the day the Goldstream River turned green, officials immediately pointed the finger at pranksters.

Tyson Elder was hiking along the river with friends photographing Bald Eagles when he saw the fluorescent green water on December 29.

Tyson, 24, from Victoria, British Columbia, said: 'In the distance all I could see was bright neon green - it looked like coolant.

'To see something so bright and unexpected was kind of unnerving, especially because it is a popular tourist destination.

'In the winter the Bald Eagles mate and nest there so we were worried about what it would do to the animals. Luckily tests showed it was not toxic.'

News of the neon-green waters spread fast after Tyson posted images on his Twitter site.

'Everyone was shocked by what they saw,' he said. 'It was big news. It was picked up by radio stations and people were flooding to the park.

'No-one seemed to know what was going on. It was quite an interesting day.'

Tyson, a photographer who also works in mediation, said the water ran green over a stretch of 400 metres for about three hours.

His friend had a camcorder and the video on YouTube has been viewed around 550,000 times.

Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett blamed the greening of the river on unidentified pranksters.

'In all likelihood it's a hoax, but it's unfortunate we had to utilise all sorts of resources to investigate this,' he said.

Fluorescein, which is also used as a tracer in medical procedures, can cause allergic reactions, according to Vancouver Island Health Authority officials.

'It does not have a high toxicity, but it can cause allergic reactions,' said medical health officer Murray Fyfe.

Local resident Bruce Bradley, 27, said: 'It looked like the result of a radioactive disaster. I was half expecting to see two headed fish swimming about.

'It was quite incredible to see, it was really bright. A few guys were spooked by it all at first. It was bizarre.'

The substance is not believed to have affected fish populations, and according to the Montreal Gazette, the river turned back to its regular colour within an hour.





Watch Video

Fly Geyser (Rare)



Fly Geyser is a small geothermal geyser that is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of Gerlach, in Washoe County, Nevada. The Geyser is located in Hualapai Flat less than a mile from State Route 34. The Geyser is about 1/3 miles from the road and is large enough to be seen from the road.

Fly Geyser is located on the private Fly Ranch and is accessible only by a small private dirt road. The ranch is currently owned by Todd Jaksick. There is a high fence and a locked gate with several metal spokes on the top to keep trespassers out, but despite the booby traps, many people still prefer to jump the fence to get a better look. Several organizations have tried to purchase the land for conservation, and make it open to the public, but have been denied.

Fly Geyser is a very little known tourist attraction, even to Nevada residents. It is located right near the edge of Fly Reservoir and is only about 5 feet (1.5 m) high, (12 feet (3.7 m) if you count the mound on which it sits). The Geyser is not an entirely natural phenomenon, and was accidentally created in 1916 during the drilling of a well. The well functioned normally for several decades, but then in the 1960s geothermally heated water found a weak spot in the wall and began escaping to the surface. Dissolved minerals started rising and piling up, creating the mount on which the geyser sits, which is still growing to date. Today, water is constantly squirting out reaching 5 feet (1.5 m) in the air. The geyser contains several terraces discharging water into 30 to 40 pools over an area of 30 hectares (74 acres). The geyser is made up of a series of different minerals, including sulfur dioxide, which gives it its magnificent coloration.

There are two additional geysers in the area that were created in a similar way as Fly Geyser. The first geyser is approximately 3 feet high and is shaped like a miniature volcano. The second geyser is cone shaped and is of the same approximate size as Fly Geyser. Like Fly Geyser, these geysers are continually growing.






























Dark White Chocolate Design


White chocolate is a confection of sugar, cocoa butter, and milk solids with a pale yellow or ivory appearance. The melting point of cocoa butter is high enough to keep white chocolate solid at room temperature, yet low enough to allow white chocolate to melt in the mouth.

As one of Italy's most famous famous chocolatiers, Mirco Della Vecchia knew he had to come up with a pretty sweet idea for his next project.

And he's had audiences licking their lips with anticipation with his latest set of white chocolate sculptures.


A tasty Triomphe: Mirco Della Vecchia poses with his chocolate sculpture of Paris' famous Arc de Triomphe

The artist went around the world with white chocolate, whipping up the tasty treats to form Paris' Arc de Triomphe, Greece's Parthenon, Italy's leaning Tower of Pisa and Colosseum, the Egyptian temples Abu Simbel and England's famous Stonehenge.

The iconic landmarks were crafted as part of his 'Chocolate World Heritage' currently being exhibited in Hong Kong.

Painstaking patience - not to mention admirable self-restraint - were used to create the milky white wonders, which might tempt chocolaholics to skip visiting the real thing in favour of a close-up of Vecchia's work.

He carved Rome's ancient amphitheatre from a huge chunk of chocolate, even capturing the crumbling facade of the monument.

The replica of Nubia's Abu Smibel, which was originally built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, as a monument to himself and his queen Nefertari, have been created with incredible detail, even carving out the lines in the pharoah's beards.

His sturdy Parthenon and its columns have been intricately carved, with a poster showing the intense look of concentration on the artist's face as he shaves off chocolate curls from his work.

He has captured Stonehenge's worn look with no stone left untouched and his Arc de Triomphe is so big he can peek through its delectable arch.

His towering Pisa is perhaps the most impressive, as the model defies gravity by precariously leaning, just like its real life inspiration.

Vecchia showed that he had a sweet tooth from the age of 13, when he says he started working as a confectioner and says he 'knew his future would lay in the cafe' business.

In 1996 he started entering a series of regional competitions dedicated to the gentle art, quickly gaining numerous awards for his chocolate pistachio, praline, pastry and icecream.

He currently holds the Guinness World Record title for making the largest chocolate sculpture in the world.

Together with a team of artists, Vecchia created a white chocolate replica of the Dome of Milan which is 1.5 meters tall, 2.5 meters long and weighed and impressive 5.37 tons - setting the new world record for the largest chocolate sculpture.


Even their feet look good enough to eat: An incredible amount of attention went into this sculpture of Egypt's Abu Simbel, with even the Pharaohs' toes and beards being carved out of chocolate




Stone me: Stonehenge inspired the sweet-toothed chocolatier to replicate it with white chocolate


A colossal Colosseum: The chocolatier even captured the crumbling state of the Roman building... or did he just end up nibbling on his work?


The milk chocolate kid: Italian chocolatier Mirco Della Vecchia with his chocolate sculpture of the Parthenon for the exhibition

Largest Dam of the World


This dam was built near the village of the same name. The lake, which she formed covers an area of ??nearly 900 square miles. Dam height of 200 meters.

Inguri dam

Located in Georgia. Despite the fact that the construction of the dam began in the 60s of last century, it was put into operation only 15 years ago. This dam is the highest arched concrete dam in the world, its height reaches 270 meters.

Dam Dworshak (USA)

This work of architects was built in just 6 years old. It is considered one of the highest dams in the western hemisphere - its height is 290 meters.

Karun dam
One of the most famous dams in the world. It is in Iran. The width of the dam - 160 meters, height - 205 meters.

Dam Grande Dixence (Switzerland)
Unique in that it retains water to form a small stream flowing into the lake Lac des Dix, itself, the lake is huge and contains millions of cubic meters of water. The height of the lake above the sea level is 2364 meters.

Hoover Dam

This is a hydroelectric power plant, located in Black Canyon, on the border of Arizona and Nevada, 48 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Named in honor of Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president, played a significant role in its construction.

Amazing Suspension Bridge made of Grass

Qeswachaka, the hanging bridge located at the southern province of Canas in Cuzco, Peru. It is hand-woven from a local grass called "Qoya". It is 120 feet long and is rebuilt every year by a local community.


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Babies born 8/8/08 at 8:08; 8 lbs., 8 oz

Two lucky newborns inspire hospital workers to buy lottery tickets
Xander Riniker, surrounded by sister Chloe Shumacher, 11, and father Chad Riniker, was born at 8:08 a.m. on August 8, 2008 and weighs 8 pounds, 8 ounces.
Meet Hailey Jo Hauer and Xander Jace Riniker, both born at 8:08 a.m. on 8/8/08, weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces, in neighboring states.
Xander, born at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is the eighth grandchild for his mother’s parents. And he’s not the only one in his family with an unusual birthday: His 2-year-old brother, Kael, was born on 4/5/06.
Lindsey Hauer thought staff at Lake Region Hospital in Minnesota were joking when they told her the time of her daughter’s birth. And then she got a call from the birthing suite noting Hailey’s weight.
Nurse Jenny Harstad joked that she tried to shrink the baby to 18 inches from her actual 19.5 inches.
Several hospital staff members in Minnesota pledged to buy lottery tickets. And Chad Riniker, Xander’s father, said that eight hadn’t been his lucky number before, but that now he was thinking about buying a lottery ticket.
“I just might,” he said. “If nothing else, with four children I should probably play the lottery.”