1. Viagra
Men being treated for erectile dysfunction should salute the working stiffs of Merthyr Tydfil, the Welsh hamlet where, in 1992 trials, the gravity-defying side effects of a new angina drug first popped up. Previously, the blue-collar town was known for producing a different kind of iron.
2. LSD
Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann took the world's first acid hit in 1943, when he touched a smidge of lysergic acid diethylamide, a chemical he had researched for inducing childbirth. He later tried a bigger dose and made another discovery: the bad trip.
3. X-rays
Several 19th-century scientists toyed with the penetrating rays emitted when electrons strike a metal target. But the x-ray wasn't discovered until 1895, when German egghead Wilhelm R�ntgen tried sticking various objects in front of the radiation - and saw the bones of his hand projected on a wall.
4. Penicillin
Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming was researching the flu in 1928 when he noticed that a blue-green mold had infected one of his petri dishes - and killed the staphylococcus bacteria growing in it. All hail sloppy lab work!
5. Artificial Sweeteners
Speaking of botched lab jobs, three leading pseudo-sugars reached human lips only because scientists forgot to wash their hands. Cyclamate (1937) and aspartame (1965) are byproducts of medical research, and saccharin (1879) appeared during a project on coal tar derivatives. Yummy.
6. Microwave Ovens
Microwave emitters (or magnetrons) powered Allied radar in WWII. The leap from detecting Nazis to nuking nachos came in 1946, after a magnetron melted a candy bar in Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer's pocket.
7. Brandy
Medieval wine merchants used to boil the H20 out of wine so their delicate cargo would keep better and take up less space at sea. Before long, some intrepid soul - our money's on a sailor - decided to bypass the reconstitution stage, and brandy was born. Pass the Courvoisier!
8. Vulcanized Rubber
Rubber rots badly and smells worse, unless it's vulcanized. Ancient Mesoamericans had their own version of the process, but Charles Goodyear rediscovered it in 1839 when he unintentionally (well, at least according to most accounts) dropped a rubber-sulfur compound onto a hot stove.
9. Silly Putty
In the early 1940s, General Electric scientist James Wright was working on artificial rubber for the war effort when he mixed boric acid and silicon oil. V-J Day didn't come any sooner, but comic strip image-stretching practically became a national pastime.
10. Potato Chips
Chef George Crum concocted the perfect sandwich complement in 1853 when - to spite a customer who complained that his fries were cut too thick - he sliced a potato paper-thin and fried it to a crisp. Needless to say, the diner couldn't eat just one.
Showing posts with label Top10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top10. Show all posts
Monday, October 5, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Top 10 Latest Inventions of July 2009
1. Water-Efficient Washing Machine
This invention was developed by Xeros (not to be confused with Xerox). Its washing machine uses nylon beads and thus is able to save up to 90 percent of water compared to traditional washers. Thus the washing machine has two main advantages: it saves you money and is environmentally friendly.
2. Technology that Scans User's Ear to Avoid Theft
This technology can protect iPods and other mobile devices from theft. The ears of every person have individual "acoustic fingerprint". The technology analyzes the distinctive sounds of the ear chamber and then decides whether the device belongs to the owner or not. It is worth mentioning that such invention could be widely used to improve safety measures of bank accounts and passports.
3. System that Converts Boot Force into Electricity
This invention could become very popular among soldiers. It uses the energy accumulated from tramping feet to power a wide range of portable devices. With its help soldiers' backpacks would be lighter by up to 10 kilograms, because it would exclude the necessity of wearing heavy batteries. The invention could also be used in everyday life. For example when a person does jogging they can power their MP3 player
4. Portable Microscope Attached to Mobile Phone to Identify and Track Diseases
This invention could be widely used by scientists to identify dangerous diseases like malaria and tuberculosis and transmit the data to health centers for research. It could be used in Africa to track the spread of diseases, take pictures of cell samples and covey via Internet the information to European specialists for additional studies.
5. Cloak that Changes the Direction of Seismic Waves
The invention is not developed yet, but there are premises for its creation. Earthquakes produce body and surface waves. Using concentric rings the cloak will have the ability to control the dangerous surface waves and redirect them to avoid the destruction of buildings.
6. Device that Helps Dogs' Owners Understand Their Language
The name of the invention is Bowlingual. It analyzes the dog's bark and attempts to identify the pet's emotions. It features a unit with a speech synthesizer that informs the owner about what their pet wants to say. Everything is displayed on the gadget's screen.
7. Technology that Lets Users Operate Animated Characters Using Own Movements
OpenSTAGE platform is the technology that makes it possible for people to operate with virtual characters by moving own body parts. There is no need to wear any additional devices that in other inventions track the body movement - a person simply stands in front of a monitor and the technology tracks every movement and transfers the information to the computer, thus bringing an animated character to life. Such technology can be used in medicine, sports and entertainment.
8. Synthetic Tree that Captures CO2
The artificial tree is the latest invention of scientists from Columbia University. The technology allows to capture CO2 a thousands times faster compared to a real tree, which is crucial for tacking global warming. The tree gathers carbon dioxide emitted from cars and airplanes just like a sponge and then filters it. In 24 hours the tree can absorb about a ton of CO2, which is almost the amount of gas emitted by 20 cars.
9. 3D Sensors that Allow Users to Interact with Various Devices Without Touch
This invention allows users to interact with computers and other devices just like the main character in "Minority Report" did, i.e. without touch. The technology could be widely used in gaming. In addition, the 3D sensors could replace weight detectors in cars, thus be able to signal, for example, whether a child is in a seat.
10. Robot that Writes Prescriptions and Distributes Drugs to Patients
The number one robotic nation is Japan and one of its latest inventions in the field was developed by Panasonic. The company claims that its robot is able to write prescriptions and distribute drugs to patients. The robot will be able to do the job in just 2 hours in a hospital with 400 beds (twice as fast as a skilled pharmacist).
This invention was developed by Xeros (not to be confused with Xerox). Its washing machine uses nylon beads and thus is able to save up to 90 percent of water compared to traditional washers. Thus the washing machine has two main advantages: it saves you money and is environmentally friendly.
2. Technology that Scans User's Ear to Avoid Theft
This technology can protect iPods and other mobile devices from theft. The ears of every person have individual "acoustic fingerprint". The technology analyzes the distinctive sounds of the ear chamber and then decides whether the device belongs to the owner or not. It is worth mentioning that such invention could be widely used to improve safety measures of bank accounts and passports.
3. System that Converts Boot Force into Electricity
This invention could become very popular among soldiers. It uses the energy accumulated from tramping feet to power a wide range of portable devices. With its help soldiers' backpacks would be lighter by up to 10 kilograms, because it would exclude the necessity of wearing heavy batteries. The invention could also be used in everyday life. For example when a person does jogging they can power their MP3 player
4. Portable Microscope Attached to Mobile Phone to Identify and Track Diseases
This invention could be widely used by scientists to identify dangerous diseases like malaria and tuberculosis and transmit the data to health centers for research. It could be used in Africa to track the spread of diseases, take pictures of cell samples and covey via Internet the information to European specialists for additional studies.
5. Cloak that Changes the Direction of Seismic Waves
The invention is not developed yet, but there are premises for its creation. Earthquakes produce body and surface waves. Using concentric rings the cloak will have the ability to control the dangerous surface waves and redirect them to avoid the destruction of buildings.
6. Device that Helps Dogs' Owners Understand Their Language
The name of the invention is Bowlingual. It analyzes the dog's bark and attempts to identify the pet's emotions. It features a unit with a speech synthesizer that informs the owner about what their pet wants to say. Everything is displayed on the gadget's screen.
7. Technology that Lets Users Operate Animated Characters Using Own Movements
OpenSTAGE platform is the technology that makes it possible for people to operate with virtual characters by moving own body parts. There is no need to wear any additional devices that in other inventions track the body movement - a person simply stands in front of a monitor and the technology tracks every movement and transfers the information to the computer, thus bringing an animated character to life. Such technology can be used in medicine, sports and entertainment.
8. Synthetic Tree that Captures CO2
The artificial tree is the latest invention of scientists from Columbia University. The technology allows to capture CO2 a thousands times faster compared to a real tree, which is crucial for tacking global warming. The tree gathers carbon dioxide emitted from cars and airplanes just like a sponge and then filters it. In 24 hours the tree can absorb about a ton of CO2, which is almost the amount of gas emitted by 20 cars.
9. 3D Sensors that Allow Users to Interact with Various Devices Without Touch
This invention allows users to interact with computers and other devices just like the main character in "Minority Report" did, i.e. without touch. The technology could be widely used in gaming. In addition, the 3D sensors could replace weight detectors in cars, thus be able to signal, for example, whether a child is in a seat.
10. Robot that Writes Prescriptions and Distributes Drugs to Patients
The number one robotic nation is Japan and one of its latest inventions in the field was developed by Panasonic. The company claims that its robot is able to write prescriptions and distribute drugs to patients. The robot will be able to do the job in just 2 hours in a hospital with 400 beds (twice as fast as a skilled pharmacist).
Monday, September 28, 2009
Top 10 Most Overlooked Mysteries in History (Ten great unsolved mysteries of science)
Here are ten great unsolved mysteries of science. Do you have a theory that might solve one of these mysteries? If so, tell us in the comments!
While many people know of the Moai of Easter Island, not that many people know of the other mystery associated with Easter Island. ‘Rongorongo’ is the hieroglyphic written language of the region’s earlier inhabitants.
Rongorongo is strange in that no other neighbouring oceanic people used a written language. It appeared around the 1700s, though was unfortunately lost after the early European colonizers banned it because of its ties to the native islanders’ pagan roots.
In the late 2nd century AD, the Greek writer Pausanias wrote an account of how (4-500 years earlier?) in one night a powerful earthquake destroyed the great city of Helike, with a Tsunami washing away what remained of the once-flourishing metropolis. The city, capital of the Achaean League, was a worship centre devoted to the ancient god Poseidon, god of the sea. There was no trace of the legendary society mentioned outside of the ancient Greek writings until 1861, when an archeologist found some loot thought to have come from Helike – a bronze coin with the unmistakable head of Poseidon
pair of archeologists managed to locate the ruins of Helike beneath the mud and gravel of the coast, and are currently trying to peice together the rise and sudden fall of what has been called the “real” Atlantis.
This mystery may even be a problem for those legendary investigators from CSI and the like! The bog bodies are hundreds of ancient corpses found buried around the northern bogs and wetlands of Northern Europe.
These bodies are remarkably well preserved, some dating back 2,000 years. Many of these bodies have tell-tale signs of torture and other medieval “fun”, which have made some researchers postulating that these unfortunate victims were the result of ritual sacrifices.
The Minoans are best known for the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, but it is in fact the demise of this once-great civilisation that is more interesting. While many historians concentrate on the fall of the Roman Empire, the fall of the Minoans, who resided on the island of Crete, is an equal, if not greater mystery. Three and a half thousand years ago the island was shaken by a huge volcanic eruption on the neighbouring Thera Island.
another 50 years after the eruption, before finally folding. Theories of what finally ended them have ranged from volcanic ash covering the island and devastating harvests to the weakened society eventually getting taken over by invading Greeks
Everyone has heard of Stonehenge, but few know the Carnac Stones. These are 3,000 megalithic stones arranged in perfect lines over a distance of 12 kilometers on the coast of Brittany in the North-West of France. Mythology surrounding the stones says that each stone is a soldier in a Roman legion that Merlin the Wizard turned in to stone.
Scientific attempts at an explanation suggests that the stones are most likely an elaborate earthquake detector. The identity of the Neolithic people who built them is unknown
The historical search for the legendary thief Robin Hood has turned up masses of possible names. One candidate includes the Yorkshire fugitive Robert Hod, also known as Hobbehod or Robert Hood of Wakefield. The large number of suspects is complicated further as the name Robin Hood became a common term for an outlaw.
As literature began to add new characters to the tale such as Prince John and Richard the Lionheart the trail became more obscure. To this day no one knows who this criminal really was.
After the Parthians defeated underachieving Roman General Crassus’ army, legend has it that a small band of the POWs wandered through the desert and were eventually rounded up by the Han military 17 years later. First century Chinese historian Ban Gu wrote an account of a confrontation with a strange army of about a hundred men fighting in a “fish-scale formation” unique to Roman forces.
An Oxford historian who compared ancient records claims that the lost roman legion founded a small town near the Gobi desert named Liqian, which in Chinese translates to Rome. DNA tests are being conducted to answer that claim and hopefully explain some of the residents’ green eyes, blonde hair, and fondness of bullfighting.
The Voynich Manuscript is a medieval document written in an unknown script and in an unknown language. For over one hundred years people have tried to break the code to no avail. The overall impression given by the surviving leaves of the manuscript suggests that it was meant to serve as a pharmacopoeia or to address topics in medieval or early modern medicine. However, the puzzling details of illustrations have fueled many theories about the book’s origins, the contents of its text, and the purpose for which it was intended.
The document contains illustrations that suggest the book is in six parts: Herbal, Astronomical, Biological, Cosmological, Pharmaceutical, and recipes.
An amazing discovery of 2,000 year old mummies in the Tarim basin of Western China occurred in the early 90s. But more amazing than the discovery itself was the astonishing fact that the mummies were blond haired and long nosed. In 1993, Victor Mayer a college professor collected DNA from the mummies and his tests verified that the bodies were all of European genetic stock.
Ancient Chinese texts from as early as the first millennium BC do mention groups of far-east dwelling caucasian people referred to as the Bai, Yeuzhi, and Tocharians. None, though, fully reveal how or why these people ended up there.
The ancient Indus Valley people, India’s oldest known civilization had a culture that stretched from Western India to Afghanistan and a populace of over 5 million. le—India’s oldest known civilization—were an impressive and apparently sanitary bronze-age bunch. The scale of their baffling and abrupt collapse rivals that of the great Mayan decline. They were a hygienically advanced culture with a highly sophisticated sewage drainage system, and immaculately constructed baths.
There is to date no archaeological evidence of armies, slaves, conflicts, or other aspects of ancient societies. No one knows where this civilization went.
10. Rongorongo
While many people know of the Moai of Easter Island, not that many people know of the other mystery associated with Easter Island. ‘Rongorongo’ is the hieroglyphic written language of the region’s earlier inhabitants.
9. Lost City of Helike
In the late 2nd century AD, the Greek writer Pausanias wrote an account of how (4-500 years earlier?) in one night a powerful earthquake destroyed the great city of Helike, with a Tsunami washing away what remained of the once-flourishing metropolis. The city, capital of the Achaean League, was a worship centre devoted to the ancient god Poseidon, god of the sea. There was no trace of the legendary society mentioned outside of the ancient Greek writings until 1861, when an archeologist found some loot thought to have come from Helike – a bronze coin with the unmistakable head of Poseidon
8. The Bog Bodies
This mystery may even be a problem for those legendary investigators from CSI and the like! The bog bodies are hundreds of ancient corpses found buried around the northern bogs and wetlands of Northern Europe.
7. Fall of the Minoans
6. The Carnac Stones
5. Who Was Robin Hood?
As literature began to add new characters to the tale such as Prince John and Richard the Lionheart the trail became more obscure. To this day no one knows who this criminal really was.
4. The Lost Roman Legion
After the Parthians defeated underachieving Roman General Crassus’ army, legend has it that a small band of the POWs wandered through the desert and were eventually rounded up by the Han military 17 years later. First century Chinese historian Ban Gu wrote an account of a confrontation with a strange army of about a hundred men fighting in a “fish-scale formation” unique to Roman forces.
3. The Voynich Manuscript
The document contains illustrations that suggest the book is in six parts: Herbal, Astronomical, Biological, Cosmological, Pharmaceutical, and recipes.
2. The Tarim Mummies
Ancient Chinese texts from as early as the first millennium BC do mention groups of far-east dwelling caucasian people referred to as the Bai, Yeuzhi, and Tocharians. None, though, fully reveal how or why these people ended up there.
1. Disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Arundhati Roy's New Book Tops Bestseller's List
The top 10 in each section are:
Non-fiction Books Top Sellers
1. Listening To Grass Hoppers: Field Notes on Democracy
Author: Arundhati Roy
Publisher: Penguin Books
Price: Rs.499.00
2. Branding India: An Incredible Story
Author: Amitabh Kant
Publisher: Collins Business
Price: Rs.499.00
3. The Caged Phoenix: Can India Fly?
Author: Dipankar Gupta
Publisher: Penguin Viking
Price: Rs.550.00
4. Stranger to History
Author: Aatish Taseer
Publisher: Picador India
Price: Rs.495.00
5. Descent into Chaos: How the War against Islamic Extremism is being lost in Pak...
Author: Ahmed Rashid
Publisher: Allen Lane
Price: Rs.495.00
6. The Great Divide: India and Pakistan
Author: Ira Pande
Publisher: Harper Collins
Price: Rs.495.00
7. GovernMint in India - An Inside View
Author: T.S.R. Subramanian
Publisher: Rupa
Price: Rs.395.00
8. D-Day: The Battle for Normandy
Author: Antony Beevor
Publisher: Penguin Viking
Price: Rs.499.00
9. A Better India A Better World
Author: N.R. Narayana Murthy
Publisher: Penguin Allen Lane
Price: Rs.499.00
10. Imagining India: Ideas for the New Century
Author: Nandan Nilekani
Publisher: Penguin Allen Lane
Price: Rs.699
Fiction Books Top Sellers
1. The Wish Maker: A Novel
Author: Ali Sethi
Publisher: Penguin Books
Price: Rs.499.00
2. Family Planning
Author: Karan Mahajan
Publisher: Rupa
Price: Rs.395.00
3. Swimsuit
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Century
Price: Rs.475
4. Gone Tomorrow
Author: Lee Child
Publisher: Bantam Press
Price: Rs.475
5. First Family
Author: David Baldacci
Publisher: Macmillan
Price: Rs.475
6. The Winner Stands Alone
Author: Paulo Coelho
Publisher: Harper Collins
Price: Rs.325.00
7. Paths of Glory
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Publisher: Macmillan
Price: Rs.275
8. Sidney Sheldon's Mistress of The Game
Author: Tilly Bagshawe
Publisher: Harper
Price: Rs.250.00
9. The Girl Who Played with Fire
Author: Stieg Larsson
Publisher: Quercus
Price: Rs.299.00
10. The Genesis Secret
Author: Tom Knox
Publisher: Harper
Price: Rs.325.00
(Source: Bahri Sons, New Delhi, www.booksatbahri.com. All the books listed above are available online)
Content Source: ibnlive.in.com
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Top 10: Socially Acceptable Tattoos
No.10 - Cover-up Tattoos
As the old adage goes, to err is human and to forgive is divine. Admitting to the error of a large calf tattoo portraying your love of soccer and fire (or an amalgam of both) is the first step toward forgiveness; the second step is getting a talented tattoo artist to conceal the “art.” Then again, sometimes a tattoo is necessary to turn your flaming Dr. Pepper leg burn into a spot on a pretty kitty cat. This is also acceptable, so long as that “kitty” is actually a “bulldog” or other such manly dog.
No.9 - Prison Tattoo
Whereas prison tattoos may not be acceptable in “general” society, multiple teardrops beside one’s eye, certain key gang symbols or any messaging with the intent to intimidate can often serve a functional purpose in places where the assertion of one’s dominance is essential for survival. Such places include prison, prison camps, prison gyms, prison cafeterias, prison shower rooms, and mid-‘90s movies about inner-city high schools.
No.8 - Heritage Tattoo
Size limits are very much in effect on this one, but small, well-drawn tattoos that highlight certain widely embraced symbols of one’s cultural heritage are acceptable. Examples could include shamrocks for an Irishman or a yin and yang for a person of Japanese descent (although this is a bit cliched). Unacceptable examples include anything that propagates negative cultural stereotypes such as drunken Irish leprechauns, Italian pizza pies or Colombian kilos of cocaine.
No.7 - Religious Tattoos
In many religions, tattoos can hold a deep significance and are often thought of as a vehicle upon which to become closer to one’s personal deity. Hinduism, for example, is the source of countless tattoo designs depicting popular gods such as Shiva, Ganesha and Kali or sacred symbols like "Om." For Hindus and members of countless other religions, tattoos are thought of as tangible symbols of the peoples’ strong spirit and concern with faith and survival.
No.6 - Original Tattoo (a design you created yourself)
In the event that you have some semblance of artistic talent, some of the best and most meaningful designs could very well be those you come up with yourself. Our advice is to seek opinions of your design from at least one good friend and one family member before you start shopping your “El Capitan Awesome” emblem around to tattoo artists.
No.5 - Personal-Mantra Tattoo
Frankly, this can be left up to your best judgment. What qualifies as a “personal mantra” differs from person to person. Our advice is to skip the profanity unless absolutely necessary and keep the font size relatively small, neat and clean.
No.4 - Military Tattoo
Everyone seems to have an old uncle who loves nothing more than to show off his World War II tattoo on his left bicep as he engages you in an impromptu pushup contest during Christmas dinner. What may have been overlooked during this unnecessary feat-of-strength competition is that tattoos signifying a tour of duty are not only pretty badass, but also serve as a timeless sign of respect for the armed forces that guard our country each and every day.
No.3 - Memorial Tattoos
It’s unfortunate, but the passing of an immediate family member gives you free reign to get a tattoo of pretty much anything you want, as long as it is a sign of respect and not a convenient excuse to get that “uber-cool” tribal arm band you have had your eye on for a while. Simple text is preferable with memorial tattoos, but if you do go with an image of someone special make sure you spend enough money to ensure that it's a good portrait.
No.2 - Passion/Profession Tattoos
Unless you are a professional athlete, a football signifying “sports” is unacceptable. On the other hand, a lawyer getting a small tattoo of the scales of justice on his shoulder is acceptable.
No.1 - Offspring Tattoo
A tattooed portrait (or their name and date of birth) of your son or daughter is a great way to immortalize them and is a reminder you can take anywhere -- even to prison!
As the old adage goes, to err is human and to forgive is divine. Admitting to the error of a large calf tattoo portraying your love of soccer and fire (or an amalgam of both) is the first step toward forgiveness; the second step is getting a talented tattoo artist to conceal the “art.” Then again, sometimes a tattoo is necessary to turn your flaming Dr. Pepper leg burn into a spot on a pretty kitty cat. This is also acceptable, so long as that “kitty” is actually a “bulldog” or other such manly dog.
No.9 - Prison Tattoo
Whereas prison tattoos may not be acceptable in “general” society, multiple teardrops beside one’s eye, certain key gang symbols or any messaging with the intent to intimidate can often serve a functional purpose in places where the assertion of one’s dominance is essential for survival. Such places include prison, prison camps, prison gyms, prison cafeterias, prison shower rooms, and mid-‘90s movies about inner-city high schools.
No.8 - Heritage Tattoo
Size limits are very much in effect on this one, but small, well-drawn tattoos that highlight certain widely embraced symbols of one’s cultural heritage are acceptable. Examples could include shamrocks for an Irishman or a yin and yang for a person of Japanese descent (although this is a bit cliched). Unacceptable examples include anything that propagates negative cultural stereotypes such as drunken Irish leprechauns, Italian pizza pies or Colombian kilos of cocaine.
No.7 - Religious Tattoos
In many religions, tattoos can hold a deep significance and are often thought of as a vehicle upon which to become closer to one’s personal deity. Hinduism, for example, is the source of countless tattoo designs depicting popular gods such as Shiva, Ganesha and Kali or sacred symbols like "Om." For Hindus and members of countless other religions, tattoos are thought of as tangible symbols of the peoples’ strong spirit and concern with faith and survival.
No.6 - Original Tattoo (a design you created yourself)
In the event that you have some semblance of artistic talent, some of the best and most meaningful designs could very well be those you come up with yourself. Our advice is to seek opinions of your design from at least one good friend and one family member before you start shopping your “El Capitan Awesome” emblem around to tattoo artists.
No.5 - Personal-Mantra Tattoo
Frankly, this can be left up to your best judgment. What qualifies as a “personal mantra” differs from person to person. Our advice is to skip the profanity unless absolutely necessary and keep the font size relatively small, neat and clean.
No.4 - Military Tattoo
Everyone seems to have an old uncle who loves nothing more than to show off his World War II tattoo on his left bicep as he engages you in an impromptu pushup contest during Christmas dinner. What may have been overlooked during this unnecessary feat-of-strength competition is that tattoos signifying a tour of duty are not only pretty badass, but also serve as a timeless sign of respect for the armed forces that guard our country each and every day.
No.3 - Memorial Tattoos
It’s unfortunate, but the passing of an immediate family member gives you free reign to get a tattoo of pretty much anything you want, as long as it is a sign of respect and not a convenient excuse to get that “uber-cool” tribal arm band you have had your eye on for a while. Simple text is preferable with memorial tattoos, but if you do go with an image of someone special make sure you spend enough money to ensure that it's a good portrait.
No.2 - Passion/Profession Tattoos
Unless you are a professional athlete, a football signifying “sports” is unacceptable. On the other hand, a lawyer getting a small tattoo of the scales of justice on his shoulder is acceptable.
No.1 - Offspring Tattoo
A tattooed portrait (or their name and date of birth) of your son or daughter is a great way to immortalize them and is a reminder you can take anywhere -- even to prison!
Top 10: Embarrassing Jobs
No.10 - Actor
An incredibly small portion of this field actually works and earns money. The odds are laughable, and the self-love people need to even pursue acting is sad. When a person proclaims that they're an actor and others don’t recognize their face, they are looked at like a child stating he’s an astronaut.
Sole perk to the profession: There is no need to wake up early because the unemployment check doesn’t arrive in the mail until noon.
You should tell people you're a: Freelance dramatist.
No.9 - Garbage Man
As a child, riding on the back of a huge, smelly truck might have sounded like fun, but as adults it indicates a serious misstep in life. Often beginning in the very early morning, workers spend their days in clothes that smell like death and pick up the vomit-inducing waste of society.
Sole perk to the profession: Finding rare items that can be taken on Antiques Roadshow and pretending to be Emilio Estevez or Charlie Sheen in Men at Work.
You should tell people you're a: Sanitation engineer
No.8 - Porn Retail
A serious love of masturbation and a serious lack of human contact lead men to become clerks at adult shops. These guys work for minimum wage, sell porn to guys too dumb to download it from the internet, and help giggling bachelorette parties buy penis straws. Let’s not even get into to the clean-up responsibilities in stores with private booths.
Sole perk to the profession: Free pornography and a plethora of interesting stories about customers.
You should tell people you're an: Adult entertainment technical support personnel
No.7 - Street Performer
Why can’t outgoing personalities just let people look at the ground and listen to their iPods? A world where we don’t have to interact has been created for a reason. People don’t want to see magic tricks or hear Sarah McLachlan covers accosting them while they're just trying to get to work. That’s what YouTube is for while we’re at work.
Sole perk to the profession: Checking "entertainer" on tax returns and writing off acoustic guitar strings.
You should tell people you're an: Alfresco entertainer
No.6 - Carny
This job is a punch line in today’s society. Only vagrants, ex-hookers, drug addicts, and ex-cons work in ramshackle traveling carnivals. It allows them to move around without the accusing stares they get when staying still for too long. When your job description reads “teeth optional,” something seriously wrong has happened in life.
Sole perk to the profession: Living a “rock star” lifestyle without any kind of talent with endless drugs, dirty one-night stands with addicts, drinking on the job, and constantly waking up in a new town.
You should tell people you're a: Mobile entertainment specialist
No.5 - Meter Maid
Each day the guppies of the police force drive around (often in miniature cars) and piss off car owners by ticketing minor offenses like parking too close to a fire hydrant or going 30 seconds over the meter. One of the most hated professions in the world, British meter maids have been issued cotton swabs to take DNA samples when people spit on them for later prosecution.
Sole perk to the profession: Humming “Lovely Rita (Meter Maid)” while power-tripping across a parking lot. Also, sometimes they get to carry guns or at least pepper spray.
You should tell people you're: Anything else but a meter maid. Lie. A lot.
No.4 - Walking billboard
When a business cannot afford a real billboard, they hire a person to hold a sign. If an inanimate object can do a job more effectively and for longer, the person’s intellect really comes into question. These people are usually positioned on busy streets, forcing them to breathe constant car exhaust and dodge projectiles thrown by teenagers. Apocalypse freaks also work in this field pro bono by wearing sandwich boards with “The End is Near.”
Sole perk to the profession: It takes zero brainpower and Bret from The Flight of the Conchords worked this job on their TV series.
You should tell people you're an: Advertising technician
No.3 - Telemarketer
This is the next most hated profession after meter maid. People get a little excited when the phone rings. Anyone could be calling. There are infinite possibilities: a new job offer, the woman you met Saturday night or maybe a long lost friend. Instead, it’s a telemarketer trying to sell knives we don’t want.
Sole perk to the profession: Not having to deal with people face-to-face.
You should tell people you're a: Telecommunication service expert
No.2 - Fast food manager
This profession screams "arrested development." These people have obviously worked the same job since high school and now have a very low position of "power." They get to scream at teenagers who are in their first job and ex-cons who are in their first job out of prison. No matter how well-groomed these managers try to be, after an hour in the store they have a thin layer of grease covering their bodies.
Sole perk to the profession: Free burgers, getting todate barely legal girls and working in a job where it is completely appropriate to grow a pencil-thin mustache.
You should tell people you're in: Franchise management
No.1 - Dish washer
Being at the low end of food service is truly the lowest end. This is the first job many teenagers or illegal immigrants get. People who cannot control their acne or do not understand English are just as effective as an American adult. Anyone fluent in English and over 18 should only take this job if Gisele is the busgirl.
Sole perk to the profession: Free food -- if one considers half-eaten food edible.
You should tell people you're a: Crockery sanitation artisan
If you have one of these horrible jobs, you might want to check out AM's advice on How To Survive A Job You Hate, and if you're looking to avoid any other horrible employment opportunities make sure you stay away from these Top 10: Horrible Jobs.
An incredibly small portion of this field actually works and earns money. The odds are laughable, and the self-love people need to even pursue acting is sad. When a person proclaims that they're an actor and others don’t recognize their face, they are looked at like a child stating he’s an astronaut.
Sole perk to the profession: There is no need to wake up early because the unemployment check doesn’t arrive in the mail until noon.
You should tell people you're a: Freelance dramatist.
No.9 - Garbage Man
As a child, riding on the back of a huge, smelly truck might have sounded like fun, but as adults it indicates a serious misstep in life. Often beginning in the very early morning, workers spend their days in clothes that smell like death and pick up the vomit-inducing waste of society.
Sole perk to the profession: Finding rare items that can be taken on Antiques Roadshow and pretending to be Emilio Estevez or Charlie Sheen in Men at Work.
You should tell people you're a: Sanitation engineer
No.8 - Porn Retail
A serious love of masturbation and a serious lack of human contact lead men to become clerks at adult shops. These guys work for minimum wage, sell porn to guys too dumb to download it from the internet, and help giggling bachelorette parties buy penis straws. Let’s not even get into to the clean-up responsibilities in stores with private booths.
Sole perk to the profession: Free pornography and a plethora of interesting stories about customers.
You should tell people you're an: Adult entertainment technical support personnel
No.7 - Street Performer
Why can’t outgoing personalities just let people look at the ground and listen to their iPods? A world where we don’t have to interact has been created for a reason. People don’t want to see magic tricks or hear Sarah McLachlan covers accosting them while they're just trying to get to work. That’s what YouTube is for while we’re at work.
Sole perk to the profession: Checking "entertainer" on tax returns and writing off acoustic guitar strings.
You should tell people you're an: Alfresco entertainer
No.6 - Carny
This job is a punch line in today’s society. Only vagrants, ex-hookers, drug addicts, and ex-cons work in ramshackle traveling carnivals. It allows them to move around without the accusing stares they get when staying still for too long. When your job description reads “teeth optional,” something seriously wrong has happened in life.
Sole perk to the profession: Living a “rock star” lifestyle without any kind of talent with endless drugs, dirty one-night stands with addicts, drinking on the job, and constantly waking up in a new town.
You should tell people you're a: Mobile entertainment specialist
No.5 - Meter Maid
Each day the guppies of the police force drive around (often in miniature cars) and piss off car owners by ticketing minor offenses like parking too close to a fire hydrant or going 30 seconds over the meter. One of the most hated professions in the world, British meter maids have been issued cotton swabs to take DNA samples when people spit on them for later prosecution.
Sole perk to the profession: Humming “Lovely Rita (Meter Maid)” while power-tripping across a parking lot. Also, sometimes they get to carry guns or at least pepper spray.
You should tell people you're: Anything else but a meter maid. Lie. A lot.
No.4 - Walking billboard
When a business cannot afford a real billboard, they hire a person to hold a sign. If an inanimate object can do a job more effectively and for longer, the person’s intellect really comes into question. These people are usually positioned on busy streets, forcing them to breathe constant car exhaust and dodge projectiles thrown by teenagers. Apocalypse freaks also work in this field pro bono by wearing sandwich boards with “The End is Near.”
Sole perk to the profession: It takes zero brainpower and Bret from The Flight of the Conchords worked this job on their TV series.
You should tell people you're an: Advertising technician
No.3 - Telemarketer
This is the next most hated profession after meter maid. People get a little excited when the phone rings. Anyone could be calling. There are infinite possibilities: a new job offer, the woman you met Saturday night or maybe a long lost friend. Instead, it’s a telemarketer trying to sell knives we don’t want.
Sole perk to the profession: Not having to deal with people face-to-face.
You should tell people you're a: Telecommunication service expert
No.2 - Fast food manager
This profession screams "arrested development." These people have obviously worked the same job since high school and now have a very low position of "power." They get to scream at teenagers who are in their first job and ex-cons who are in their first job out of prison. No matter how well-groomed these managers try to be, after an hour in the store they have a thin layer of grease covering their bodies.
Sole perk to the profession: Free burgers, getting todate barely legal girls and working in a job where it is completely appropriate to grow a pencil-thin mustache.
You should tell people you're in: Franchise management
No.1 - Dish washer
Sole perk to the profession: Free food -- if one considers half-eaten food edible.
You should tell people you're a: Crockery sanitation artisan
If you have one of these horrible jobs, you might want to check out AM's advice on How To Survive A Job You Hate, and if you're looking to avoid any other horrible employment opportunities make sure you stay away from these Top 10: Horrible Jobs.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Top 10: Unknown Serial Killers
Unfortunately, these nicknames describe truly horrible human beings. Often, nicknames aren’t necessary when the crimes are so gruesome and the killer’s given name becomes synonymous with ultimate horror. Dahmer and Bundy come to mind, but few know that serial killers have been a scourge on humanity for centuries and their numbers are in the hundreds.
And so, here are the Top 10 Unknown Serial Killers. This is not a chronicle of praise or endorsement. At the very least, it is a grisly read through the human bizarre and at most a cautionary tale refuting the cheery notion that we’re all decent people at heart. In fact, it seems some of us are inhuman abominations.
If a killer has made this list, he (or she) satisfied the following criteria.
As of 2007 he is good and dead.
He faced some form of earthly justice, whether through arrest, conviction, execution or mob rule.
His acts of violence were so totally incompatible with civilized human society that he was entirely unfit for life within it.
Number 10
Gilles de Rais
The Sadistic Aristocrat
Despite a staggering 80 to 600 body count, the man regarded by many as the prototype of today’s serial killer barely cracks the top ten. This is because historical records are unreliable and Gilles de Rais’ murderous statistics cannot be proven.
De Rais was a wealthy and powerful 15th century French nobleman who once fought side by side with Joan of Arc. De Rais had a sick obsession with young boys and preferred victims who resembled himself as a child. The Sadistic Aristocrat, as he came to be known, lured blond-haired, blue-eyed peasant boys to his stately home where he and a few assumed accomplices raped, tortured and mutilated them.
In 1440 the ecclesiastical court in Nantes hanged the monster before torching his body -- just to be on the safe side
Seriously psychotic: De Rais would sit on the stomach of his dying victim and pleasure himself.
Number 9
Carl Panzram
Rage Personified
Many serial killers often rely on charm to seduce their victims into their clutches, but very few had Panzram’s qualities: a sense of humor and a sense -- albeit sparse -- of some regret.
Panzram’s commitment to mayhem was as disturbing as it was frank and unapologetic. After being sentenced to death for killing a man in prison, he threatened to kill anyone who tried to have his verdict overturned. In his autobiography, Panzram: A Journal of Murder, he employed a matter-of-fact tone in confessing to 21 murders and the rape of 1,000 boys, adding, “for all these things I am not the least bit sorry.” However, Panzram did express regret for one thing: being born. Since childhood, he considered himself so incessantly angry that he called himself Rage Personified.
Seriously psychotic: After raping and killing a boy Panzram claimed, "His brains were coming out of his ears when I left him. I am not sorry. My conscience doesn’t bother me. I sleep sound and have sweet dreams.”
Number 8
Bender Family
The Bloody Benders
Be it ever so humble, the Kansas shack that the Benders called home in 1872 was still a busy, inviting place open to the public as an Inn for weary travelers. Wealthy-looking guests were always seated at the head of their modest dinner table, conveniently placed in front of a hanging canvas. John Bender’s beautiful and charming daughter Kate was effective bait and often told the guests their fortunes as her father, sneaking behind the large curtain, prepared to slam a hammer into their heads. Later, The Bloody Benders would strip the body of all valuables and bury the remains in their orchard.
This family affair functioned with great efficiency for approximately one year before people caught on. However, it is said that the Bender clan got away and never actually faced justice. In fact, the family became almost mythical, and stories of various members popping up all over the US persisted for many years.
Seriously psychotic: As if a hammer in the skull weren’t enough, John Bender slit his victim’s throats for good measure.
Number 7
Hélène Jegado
The Pious Poisoner
Jegado, a domestic servant in 19th century France, must have been an impatient woman: If someone irked her, she didn’t give them many opportunities to apologize.
From 1833 to 1841, at least 36 people -- the vast majority of them employers or boarders who had the poor judgment to reprimand her -- wound up dead from arsenic poisoning. Because of her devout and sincere nature, authorities routinely ruled The Pious Poisoner out as a suspect. In 1851, when she hastily declared her innocence without actually being accused, The Pious Poisoner was arrested and convicted of at least three murders. A year later Jegado’s neck met the guillotine.
Seriously psychotic: Jegado’s first victims included a priest and her own sister.
Number 6
Andrei Chikatilo
The Rostov Ripper
Poor little Andrei Chikatilo; his mother beat him every time he wet the bed, but it’s hard to blame her when you consider that she had to share the bed with him.
The Rostov Ripper’s killing spree began in 1978 with the murder of a 9-year-old girl and continued unabated through 52 more victims across 12 brutal years. The Soviet government did their part by covering up the crimes they considered embarrassing and preventing parents from taking protective measures for their children. When word finally did get out, locals feared a werewolf was on the loose.
Finally caught in 1990, Chikatilo spent the duration of his trial locked in a cage for his own safety. After receiving 52 death sentences he addressed the court, placing much of the blame for his crimes on the shoulders of the Soviet Regime.
On February 15, 1994, The Rostov Ripper’s death penalty was fulfilled with a bullet behind his right ear.
Seriously psychotic: Chikatilo ejaculated while stabbing his first victim, making him realize just how aroused he was by the prospect of murder -- hence the 12-year killing spree.
Number 5
Gerard John Schaefer
The Florida Sex Beast
By definition, serial killers are loathsome folks, but Gerard John Schaefer was just downright despicable.
As a boy, Schaefer’s hobbies included killing animals, wearing panties and peeping through windows. Despite his strange childhood activities, he eventually became a Florida cop. While on patrol, The Florida Sex Beast used his badge to abduct two teenage girls, but they escaped before he could rape and murder them. Claiming he was trying to teach the girls not to hitchhike he called his sergeant to say he’d done “something foolish.” Schaefer was fired and arrested, but while out on bail he raped and killed two other teenage girls. Police put the two incidents together and Schaefer was given two life sentences.
A search of Schaefer’s home -- which he shared with his mom -- found evidence linking him to the disappearance of at least eight other girls. Ultimately, authorities believed they could tie him to as much as 30 murders, but Schaefer maintained his innocence. In prison, he kept busy filing frivolous lawsuits; he even tried to sue a writer for suggesting he was fat.
As a former cop, a sex offender and a jailhouse snitch, it should come as no surprise that The Florida Sex Beast was stabbed to death in prison.
Seriously psychotic: Committing the “ultimate betrayal” by using the Badge is about as low as you can go.
Number 4
Elizabeth Báthory
The Bloody Lady of Cachtice
The Bloody Lady of Cachtice, a sadistic 16th century countess, is still the most infamous serial killer in the history of Hungary and Slovakia.
Inside her own Hungarian castle, Elizabeth Báthory functioned with virtual impunity. She lured peasant girls to work as maids and enticed the daughters of lower nobility with lessons on etiquette, snaring her victims under false pretenses. With the help of a handful of accomplices, Báthory enjoyed starving, freezing, and torturing her victims. The Bloody Lady racked up a significant body count -- estimated to be from 36 to as many as 200.
The majority of her accomplices were put to death, but Báthory’s wealth and influence earned her the 16th century’s version of aristocratic house arrest: imprisonment in her own castle.
Seriously psychotic: Elizabeth Báthory’s favorite pastime included burning, biting and mutilating the genitalia of her victims.
Number 3
Freidrich (Fritz) Haarmann
The Butcher from Hanover
Fritz Haarmann, an unassuming and sympathetic-looking man, used his friendly manner to serve him well as both a police informant and a sexual sadist. Over six years he murdered at least 24 vagrants and male prostitutes -- killings he considered an act of love. Haarman only wanted to bring peace to his victims. It all came to an end when the discarded skulls of his victims began washing up on the shore of the river Leine.
The Butcher from Hanover had a strict preference for boys he found handsome. In fact in 1925, while in prison awaiting his execution (by beheading), he was shown a photo of a missing boy whom the police believed Haarmann had killed. After one look at the ugly boy’s picture he scoffed at the idea of killing such an ungainly kid.
Seriously psychotic: Haarmann insisted he was “driven by beauty and sensuality.” Instead of letting a young boy’s allure bring him to tears, he would bite his victim’s Adam’s apple and chew through his throat.
Number 2
Karl Denke
The Ziębice Cannibal
Everyone knew and seemed to like Karl Denke. He was a good Christian who played the organ at church. Denke supported himself with a small business selling a variety of goods door to door, from leather belts and shoelaces to boneless pork. He was held in such high regard that he was known affectionately as Papa Denke. But this was all before he jumped off the deep end.
In December of 1924, a man stumbled into police headquarters claiming Denke had attacked him with an axe. Although police initially found this impossible to believe, Denke was arrested and put in jail. As authorities went to search his home, he committed suicide. This should have been their first clue to Ziebice Cannibal’s murderous history.
The body count, composed mostly of beggars and journeyman extended the courtesy of a place to stay, reached anywhere from 20 to 40.
Seriously psychotic: Inside Danke’s home authorities found belts and snaps made of human skin, shoelaces made from human hair, and jars of pickled human flesh -- his famous “boneless pork.”
Number 1
Javed Iqbal
The Boy Hunter
Hailing from Punjab, Pakistan, Javed Iqbal could well be one of the most detested men in history.
Iqbal went to great lengths to surround himself with young boys. He opened video arcades, schools, aquariums, and gyms. He also married the older sister of one boy to keep him close by, and he married off his own sister to another boy to keep him close by. Iqbal was arrested a number of times on charges of sodomy, but his father’s money always got him off.
In his eventual confession, The Boy Hunter claimed to have killed 100 boys in only five months, preferring to drug, rape, strangle, then chop them into pieces. Iqbal would then either store the bodies in a vat of acid near his house or dump them into the sewer.
When the judge sentenced Iqbal to death in 2000, it was suggested that he be strangled in front of the victims’ families, his body chopped to bits and finally, stored in a vat of acid just as he’d done to his victims. Officially, he committed suicide while in prison, but an autopsy suggested he may have been murdered. It was irrelevant to his family who refused to collect his remains, claiming that he had died to them the day he confessed.
Seriously psychotic: The Boy Hunter was said to have declared in his confession, “I am not ashamed of my actions… I have no regrets. I killed 100 children… It cost me 120 rupees ($2 USD) to erase each victim.”
What’s in a name?
It is easy to see why some people are obsessed with serial killers; their behavior, their actions and their thought processes are so beyond the norm that they inspire great morbid fascination as well as some catchy nicknames. Sadly, history reveals that the serial killer is much like the Lernaean Hydra; cutting off one of their heads is not a cause for celebration, but an unequivocal implication that another is on the way.
Resources:
http://wikipedia.org/
http://www.crimelibrary.com/
http://www.denke.org/
http://www.dawn.com/
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