Japan’s Crystal Brick House

Architects are often societal renegades with their own private visions and concepts of design. Close your eyes and picture rugged individualist Gary Cooper in the classic film The Fountainhead that was popular in the last century. After all, architecture is a statement of human progress, achievement and technology.

In keeping with usual visions and perspectives, consider this magnificent Japanese crystal brick structure that comes as close as any building can be to a custom-made, magical design that aims to please those who are paying for it.

Japanese architect, Yasuhiro Yamashita (Atelier Tekuto) aims to please his clients and loves the challenge of working with diverse people, materials and environments. This house was constructed with the idea that it would be as sunny and bright as the many crystals the client amassed as a hobby.

The glass blocks comprise the primary structure, which in itself is positively amazing. The actualization of this novel concept was the end result of collaboration with structural engineers, university experiments, construction companies and diverse manufacturing interests.

His thinking revolves around the concept of masonry; that is, architecture that stifles individuality and achieves totality by stacking identical objects on top of each other on the proposed structure. Glass block is not one of the more common elements used in masonry. More popular materials include: marble, granite, travertine, limestone, concrete block and tile.

Yamashita’s architecture conveys three concepts: society, the environment and function. In an effort to do his part in reducing the carbon footprint, he has become increasingly reliant on natural resources such as wood, soil and brick.

“I …create my architecture based on the system of society, the environment, the function, and the collaboration with people from various fields. … I now also focus on the relationship with other countries and regions. Recently I increasingly care for the environment by using natural resources… I continue to create new visions of architecture in different circumstances and places for the future”, says Yamashita.

Einstein, the world's smallest horse

The three-day old pinto stallion, called Einstein, is just 14 inches high and weighs only an incredible 6lbs.

If baby animals are "cute," then how does one describe Einstein the newborn pinto stallion? Weighing in at just six pounds, the New Hampshire-born foal may be the world's smallest horse. Dr. Rachel Wagner, Einstein's co-owner, says the Guinness record for the smallest newborn horse is 9 pounds. Wagner notes Einstein shows no signs of dwarfism, unlike the current record holder.

Pint-sized: Einstein the pinto stallion weighed just 6lbs when he was born on Friday in Barnstead, New Hampshire

Simple tips that'll keep your voice young

DRINK MORE FLUID

'Moisture for the larynx is like grease for a ball-bearing. You need it for the vocal folds to vibrate well,' says John Rubin, an ENT surgeon and president elect of the British Voice Association.

No liquids touch the vocal cords, but they are lubricated by a salivalike fluid made by nearby glands.

The body must be kept hydrated enough to make this lubrication. Sipping 1.5 litres of water a day at intervals of 15 minutes is vital, says speech therapist Dr Epstein.

AVOID SPICY FOOD

We may not feel or taste it, but a common cause of damage to the voice is acid reflux.

It irritates and dries out the throat, says Mr Rubin. The vagus nerve in the neck also reacts to the acid by making the lubricating saliva more sticky, meaning it is harder for the vocal cords to vibrate.

Signs of silent reflux are throat clearing, a croaky lower voice in the morning and the feeling of having a lump in the throat.

Mr Rubin advises avoiding foods with an irritating effect on the stomach, such as onions, chilli, fizzy drinks and chocolate: 'Avoid eating two hours before bed to allow time for digestion.'

TALK REGULARLY

Simply staying sociable and using your voice is vital.

"Baby-Cry Sumo" Competition

Sumo wrestling students hold babies as they try to make them cry during the Crying Sumo competition at Sensoji Temple on April 25, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. The first baby to cry wins the competition. The ceremony takes place in Japan to wish for the good health of the child as it is said that crying is good for the health of babies.

Colorful carp streamers are are waving in the spring wind during the Crying Sumo competition at Sensoji Temple on April 25, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. The first baby to cry wins the competition. The ceremony takes place in Japan to wish for the good health of the child as it is said that crying is good for the health of babies.

I Use My Breast Milk For My Recipes

Abi tastes her milk

Abi Blake, 30, also uses it in other recipes to create a complete breast milk menu, which includes tarts, smoothies and even lasagne.

A Bristol mother has revealed how she uses her own breast milk in recipes for cakes, smoothies and even lasagne.

Abi Blake, 30, from Clifton, uses a breast pump to express and collect excess milk after eight-month-old daughter Tily is full.

She says: "I am the Nigella Lawson of breast milk cookery. Although the idea of eating something made out of someone else's breast milk may make some people's stomachs turn, it is full of vitamins that can never be found in cow's milk.

"And why would you prefer to drink milk from a dirty cow over a clean, healthy woman? I have managed to convert all my family who now adore my breast milk recipes and they all agree it tastes better."

The idea of cooking with breast milk first came to Mrs Blake when she spent some time in India, where women regularly use it in their cooking. After experimenting with various dishes, she invited her close friends for afternoon tea.

She recalls: "After producing plates of butterfly cakes with cream, chocolate tart and coffee swirl cake - and receiving compliments on how delicious they all were - I dropped the bombshell that they had been made with my own milk.

"At first they were shocked, but then they remarked on how much better the food tasted than when made with cow's milk. Breast milk is sweeter and slightly oily - it actually tastes of goodness, whereas cows milk just tastes of chemicals."

Mrs Blake, married to Jonathan, 37, is so proud of her cooking that she has even sold her breast milk cupcakes at food festivals.

She says: "Many customers were intrigued and thought it was a novelty. But what most people don't know is that breast milk contains nutrients that can help the immune system and even treat cancer."

Would you dare to eat it that is made from someone breast's milk?

Man Married Dead Bride

A 26-year-old Chinese man Zhuang Huagui married his dead girlfriend Lu Yan E, 21, who was murdered 8 days before.

The couple originally planned to get married on February 4, but on January 27, one week before their wedding, the girl was stabbed to death by two robbers.

With all the pain, lost and love, the man still decided to marry his dead girlfriend on January 28.


The Chinese couple’s wedding ceremony was held at a funeral parlor in Zhangzhou, Fujian, China, and family from both sides witnessed their wedding.

The bride was dressed with beautiful wedding gown and lying in a crystal coffin.

Zhuang Huagui held his wife’s wedding photo in front of the funeral parlor to welcome the guests for coming to the wedding.

Towards the end of the ceremony, the groom placed a wedding ring on his dead wife.

This is what true love is all about...

Girl aged 5 hits hole in one

A golfer aged five could have swung into the record books as the youngest girl to hit a hole in one.

At five years old, Eleanor Gamble has become one of the youngest golfers to achieve every player's lifetime ambition of sinking a hole in one.

The 3ft 5in youngster managed to drive her ball 86 yards over a lake, round a bunker and straight into a cup on the par three hole - to rapturous applause from fellow golfers.
She was playing in a juniors contest with her brother Jacob, ten, at Cambridge Lakes golf course on Thursday.

‘She got the ball over the water and then it hopped over a bunker and someone shouted that she had got it in,’ said her 34-year-old father, David.

‘We were all quite speechless really. I think she might have broken a record because the youngest female hole-in-one golfer listed on the Guinness World Records website is an eight-year-old from America.’

Bob Barnes, who owns the course in Cambridge, said: ‘This is the first time anything like this has happened.’

World's First Full Face Transplant

He accidentally blew most of his face off, including his nose and jaw, with a gun five years ago.

Nine earlier surgical attempts to rebuild his face had failed.

A handful of partial transplants have been carried out since Isabelle Dinoire had her face repaired by French surgeons in 2005.

But until now, no one has had the skill or courage to replace an entire face.

The 24-hour operation involved 30 surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and other medical experts at the Vall d’Hebron hospital in Barcelona.

The man, who has not been named, received new facial muscles, skin, nose, lips, jaw, teeth, palate and cheekbones.

Man on top of train!!

Migraine leaves British woman with Chinese accent

A WOMAN, 35, has picked up a Chinese accent after being treated in hospital for a migraine attack.

The Mirror reports Sarah Colwill's West Country accent has switched to a Chinese accent.

She told the paper yesterday: "I have never been to China. It is very frustrating and I just want my own voice back but I don't know if I ever will.

"I moved to Plymouth aged 18 months so I have always spoken like a local. But when I had my attack last month an ambulance crew told me that I sounded Chinese.

"Since then I've had friends hang up on me as they think I'm a hoax caller. I speak in a much higher tone, my voice is all squeaky. I'm having speech therapy but don’t know if the Chinese accent will ever go away."

The Mirror said Mrs Colwill was treated in hospital after last month's attack and diagnosed with foreign accent syndrome. There have been only 60 recorded cases since it was identified in the 1940s.

That's surprisingly. Unheard of such conditions...

Sheep? No, it's a furry pig!

It look like a sheep at first glance, but if you look carefully it's actually a pig.

This rare breed is one of three curly coated Mangalitza pigs which have been delivered from Austria to a zoo in the United Kingdom, according to the Daily Mail.

Originating from Austria and Hungary, the Mangalitza is similar to the native Lincolnshire curly coat breed which died out in Britain 40 years ago. Three years ago a small number of the breed were brought back to create a herd in Britain, the report said.

"At first sight, people think they are sheep," Denise Cox, education co-ordinator, at Tropical Wings, said.

"It is not until they turn around and you see their faces and snouts you realize they are in fact pigs," he added.

"The woolly coat makes them very hardy and helps them to survive in the harsh winters in their native Austria and Hungary."

They are worth around US$1,500, five times the value of an ordinary pig and are fond of fruit and the odd tipple.

Most expensive letter from Titanic

A letter, dated April 10, 1912, from a first class passenger onboard the Titanic (written by passenger George Graham of Harriston of Canada, a sales manager for the Eaton's department store company, to a business colleague in Berlin, Germany) was sold at auction by Spink Smythe in New York City for $16,100-setting the world record for the most expensive letter from Titanic.

George Graham wrote: "I am sorry that I neglected to send you a wire on the first of April but I forgot all about it until Tuesday, you see.
I arrived in London Late Sunday and I was very busy all day Monday and I forgot all about it however, I hope that you will accept my good wishes now even if they are a bit late.
I hope to see you next year and that you and your good wife will enjoy good health."

Second page folds closed to form a postal cover with White Star's logo on verso of cover and a 2-1/2 penny stamp on the address leaf. Uneven toning to first page and address page from prior display.

Four plastic tape remnants on verso of first page and five on recto of second page, all at edges and none affecting readability.
Otherwise VG. Mr. Graham joined the Titanic at Southampton with first-class ticket 112053 and was berthed in cabin B-52.

On her maiden voyage the Titanic struck a North Atlantic iceberg and sank within hours early on the morning of April 14, 1912.

The letter in the auction was placed in the mail from Southhampton, England just prior to the ship's departure on April 10 for its never-completed trans-Atlantic crossing to New York City. (enlarge photo)

Graham did not survive the sinking.
"Hours before the ship struck an iceberg, Graham wired his wife back in Canada saying he was well and indicating he would be in New York City on Wednesday.
She received the wire on Tuesday morning, when news of the disaster was on everyone's lips, and mistakenly took it to mean her husband survived," explained Litzenberger.

"Days later she was informed his body had been recovered from the North Atlantic."

Letters written aboard the Titanic are among the most scarce and desirable articles connected with the tragedy.

Source:World Record Academy

Taiwan Betel Nut Girl Vs Cop

A TAIWANESE betel nut sales girl who was roughed up by a police officer and thrown to the ground while being arrested, has whipped up a media storm over the incident.

Betel nut girl, Yen Ju-yu, arguing with 37-year-old police officer, Luan Cheng, at her betel nut stall before their struggle by the roadside.

After shouting and swearing at each other, Luan is caught on camera for slamming the 19-year-old girl onto the ground outside her stall. Her right eye was bruised and her fingers on her left hand were injured.

The officer has since been removed from his current post.

Publicity stunt?

This incident has led some netizens to wonder if all this is but a publicity stunt on Yen's part in order for her to "gain entry" into the entertainment industry.

During an interview with the Taiwanese press, Yen said that because her father had died and her mother had ran away, she had no choice but to support her younger brothers and started working since she was 14 years old.

Besides selling betel nuts, she also pursued a modelling career and was featured on the cover of a magazine.

In response to the claims of a publicity stunt, Yen has refuted them.

"I never thought of it (entering the entertainment industry).

"I only want to seek justice for myself," said the betel nut salesgirl.

Ever since this incident was reported, Yen's blog has garnered hundreds comments - while some readers left words of encouragement, others told her off for "playing it up".

Police officer speaks up

Luan told the media that he had initially approached Yen to persuade her to behave herself after he caught her soliciting male customers to patronize her betel nut stand on Zhongzheng Road in Chungho City.

He tried persuading Yen to behave herself after seeing her squatting on the sidewalk, exposing her underwear beneath her mini skirt.

Luan felt that her behaviour was inappropriate and advised her for undermining public decency. This was when they started quarrelling.

Footage from security cameras showed the two exchanging crude comments. Yen even threatened the police officer by saying: "Hit me if you have the guts!"

During the heated argument, Yen then pulled down the metal gate of her stall and went inside.

This was when Luan allegedly charged at her and threw her on the ground.

He justified his actions by saying that if he had not taken action, he would have been locked inside the stall.

A passerby who witnessed the incident told Luan not to be too forceful as he was afraid he would break Yen's arm, and Luan's reply was: "That's not my business."

Taiwanese authorities who are aware of this incident said that the way Luan had handled the situation was "appropriate".

However, media reports said that Luan has since regretted using force on Yen. He is likely to be switched to another location.

Bottle Walls

Taiwan has begun converting 1.5 million recycled plastic bottles into a nine-storey building which will be the venue for an international event on the island.

The 300 million Taiwan dollar construction is the world's first large-scale building made from recycled bottles and can resist earthquakes, according to its sponsor.

The pavilion is to host fashion and environmental protection shows at the Taipei International Floral Exposition in November.

"The bottles are processed to make bricks that can resist earthquakes and powerful winds to build the world's first exhibition hall of its kind," said Rachel Chen, from the Far Eastern Group, which is sponsoring the pavilion.

Work on the building is due to be completed by the end of the month, the group said.

Taiwan is keen to promote green technology and architecture as it seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Source: AFP

Bomb-Proof Glass Yachts on the High Seas

Mr Starck says that while most megayachts are "vulgar" statement of wealth and power, "A" was designed to be in harmony with sea and nature.
"This boat has elegance and intelligence, it is not trying to show the money," Mr Starck says.

Read on...

Joke - Family Problem

Two men, one American and an Indian were sitting in a bar drinking shot after shot.

The Indian man said to the American, 'You know my parents are forcing me to get married to this so called homely girl from a village whom I haven't even met once.' We call this arranged marriage. I don't want to marry a woman whom I don't love.... I told them that openly and now have a hell lot of family problems.'

The American said, 'talking about love marriages... I'll tell you my story.
I married a widow whom I deeply loved and dated for 3 years. 'After a couple of years, my father fell in love with my step-daughter and married her, so my father became my son-in-law and I became my father's father-in-law.

Legally now my daughter is my mother and my wife my grandmother. More problems occurred when I had a son. My son is my father's brother and so he is my uncle.

Situations turned worse when my father had a son. Now my father's son, my brother is my grandson. Ultimately, I have become my own grand father and I am my own grandson.. And you say you have family problems...'


The Indian just fainted…. . . . . . .

Husband And Wife After Wedding

I think the video is funny but don't you think it actually reflect in our real life?

Husband After Wedding


Wife AFter Wedding

Prostitutes sign confuses motorists

Road sign near Treviso, Italy, warning motorists to watch out for prostitutes

The sign states 'Attenzione Prostitute' - seemingly warning people of prostitutes in the area.

Motorists and pedestrians have complained that the sign is 'confusing', saying they don't know if it means to watch out for crossing hookers or if it means prostitutes operate in the area.

One local Dino Vezino, 34, said: "I was driving in to work and saw this sign and had to slow down to get a proper look.

"I couldn't believe it - the woman has a mini-skirt and high heels on and very big breasts.

"I just couldn't work out what it was for?

"Does it mean I have to look out for prostitutes crossing or that they are available around here?"

Hajime Restaurant - Bangkok's first Japanese robot restaurant

The Hajime Restaurant in Bangkok located at Monopoly Park is Thailand’s first Japanese robot restaurant, where all the serving waiters are robots.

Customers order their food on a touchscreen display and their robotic waiter will whizz into action. The friendly robots will also dance to entertain as they work and go out to collect empty dishes at the customers’ table.

The owner of the Hajime Japanese restaurant, Lapassarad Thanaphant, said she spent 30 million baht on the restaurant including the purchase of four robots from Japan.

The WHY Yacht - Luxurious 58x38 Yacht from Wally Hermès

Designed by luxury fashion company Hermes and ship-builder Wally, the $160 million WHY 58x38 is more floating mansion than yacht. Those figures stand for its peculiar 58 by 38 meter dimensions, which is unlike any other vessel in the world. It features solar panels that will save 200 tons of diesel fuel per year, as well as 3,229 square feet of windows designed to bathe its interior with natural light.

A famous French shipbuilder ship company and one of Monaco joined hands together to build this yacht with enormous dimensions: the WHY 58x38. (58meter long and 38 meter wide) After the first pictures of this project.

The yacht, an area of 3400 m2 with seating for 12 passengers and 20 crew.

This is a "green" yacht.

Wally et Hermès use green energy to 20 to 30% fuel savings and 40 to 50% electricity consumption on board. Therefore there are 900 m2 equipped with solar panels, producing a daily output of 500 kW.
equipment:

Three decks, a 25 meter pool, a spa helicopterpad a 100m2 with hammam, sauna, gym and massage room, a promenade of 130 meter, a music room, a dining room, a cinema, sun decks, suites, terraces, a lounge, a bibi . The luxury is at the rendez-vous.
The decks are connected by stairs but there is also an elevator.
The suite of the owner:

With an area of 200m2 and completely covers the third deck. (This is the bedroom) The sea view is great and there is a private terrace of 25 meter long.

A sea of light.

The yacht has the shape of a horseshoe and has a roof so everything is bathed in a sea of light.

The spacious lounge.

On the lower deck are the common premises, such as lounge, piano bar and dining area .....

Dining Room

The dining room opens onto the sea view.

Suites for the guests

For the guests, 5 suites with sea views (on the middendek). There is also a reading room equipped.