Blog.FictionThis

21 Economic Models explained with Cows - 2008 update

2008-07-15T16:18:00.002+10:00

SOCIALISM
You have 2 cows.
You give one to your neighbour.

COMMUNISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and gives you some milk.

FASCISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and sells you some milk.

NAZISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and shoots you.

BUREAUCRATISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away...

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows.
You sell them and retire on the income.

SURREALISM
You have two giraffes.
The government requires you to take harmonica lessons

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
Later, you hire a consultant to analyse why the cow has dropped dead.

ENRON VENTURE CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States, leaving you with nine cows. No balance sheet provided with the release. The public then buys your bull.

A FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike, organise a riot, and block the roads, because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. You then create a clever cow cartoon image called 'Cowkimon' and market it worldwide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.
You decide to have lunch.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
You count them again and learn you have 2 cows.
You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A SWISS CORPORATION
You have 5000 cows. None of them belong to you.
You charge the owners for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim that you have full employment, and high bovine productivity.
You arrest the newsman who reported the real situation.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You worship them.

A BRITISH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Both are mad.

AN IRAQI CORPORATION
Everyone thinks you have lots of cows.
You tell them that you have none.
No-one believes you, so they bomb the **** out of you and invade your country.
You still have no cows, but at least now you are part of Democracy....

AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Business seems pretty good.
You close the office and go for a few beers to celebrate.

A NEW ZEALAND CORPORATION
You have two cows.
The one on the left looks very attractive.

Hot off the Press #1

2008-07-07T21:48:00.014+10:00

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Our Guinness World Record Attempt
Great news! We have been approved by Guinness World Records to go ahead with our Record attempt. We're ironing out the finer details, but we are incredibly excited about this great opportunity to literally write our way into history! Email your friends and invite them to be part of this attempt.

Selected Submissions
"Rodger Maverly has never really left Emporia. Never did he have a reason. Seems, though, that everyone he knows has found their way out." by Dinsky

"Charlie, chapped lips and loose teeth, got out of bed. He had big plans for the future, big plans indeed. Staring at his reflection, he couldn't help but smile. This ragged fellow before him, torn clothes, sunken eyes and hollowed cheeks would be gone soon." by bobbybluebabaloo

Link we Love
Wordscount will analyze up to 20 pages of your text to give you a great variety of useful and some not so useful statistics. As well as metrics such as total word count, number of sentences and syllables, it even gives you the percentage of demonstrative pronouns and a level of vagueness. The analysis also includes a readability index for your writing, links to an online glossary for each word appearing in the document and even a breakdown of the frequency of the use of each letter (Wordscount through The Writer's Technology Companion)

What do you think about the site? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below!

May the fiction be with you!

Woman's Week at the Gym

2008-06-14T21:10:00.003+10:00

Dear Diary,

For mother's day this year, my daughter Susan, (the dear)purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school cheerleader 50 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal
trained named Brad, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started!
The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Brad waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Brad gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skilful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!
Brad was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was
around.
This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!

TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Brad made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Brad's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.

WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals.
Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop.
Brad was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for early in
the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Brad put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators?
Brad told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.

THURSDAY :
Brad was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes.
Brad took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.

FRIDAY :
I hate that Brad more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Brad wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone
softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

SATURDAY :
Brad left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing him made me want to smash the machine with my planner.
However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.

SUNDAY :
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little shit) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy.

I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

Join our World Record Attempt!

2008-05-09T22:38:00.007+10:00

We have applied for and are being considered for a Guinness World Record(TM) attempt!
So please, put down your copy of “Dummies Guide to Eating Cockroaches while Dancing the Samba in 4ft Stilts,” you now have a much easier and less cockroach-eating way to reach the ranks of the worlds biggest freaks and most uniquely talented people. Fictionthis.com is under consideration, and we will be sure to keep you posted with any updates.

You Never Really Learn to Swear...

2008-05-09T09:12:00.005+10:00

Lonely Time Traveller: Let Me Bear Your Child

2008-05-09T09:10:00.003+10:00

Now You Can Sell Your Baby for FREE!!!

2008-05-03T00:27:00.002+10:00

The Chronicles of Extreme Future Part Five: Utopia

2008-05-03T00:02:00.003+10:00

Underwater cities have been a dream of futurists. Starting from Atlantis to the evasive Captain Nemo.

The first underwater built city in Dubai was a scientific breakthrough. Located just off the coast of the man made “World” islands, it was the first under water facility capable of sustaining prolonged life under water. It was built in the shallow waters, merely ten meters from the surface allowing plenty of natural light to seep through.

At first air was pumped from the outside until a new air harvesting technology called “air farming” was adopted in 2020. Air farming is literally a network of fields of sea plants, saturated with pumps and filtering systems, extracting and transporting air to the underwater city. The switch from external to internal air came in 2022 which introduced a new era of development under water. It was later discovered that air produced and extracted straight from the ocean was so beneficial to human health that the underwater cities quickly became the preferred choice for the rich and famous. Nicknamed “Utopia”, it became the centre of the scientific advancement.

By 2035 the city had quadrupled in size and more cities started to appear around the globe. By the year 2050 more then 20 million people permanently dwelled under water. Thanks to the progress of the underwater cities traveling between vast expanses of water became easy due to the vacuum tubes stretching for miles, ferrying modules in speeds of 500 miles per hour with virtually no sound. Funnily enough a new religion started to flourish lately taking over popular Scientology and renaming it “Cruiseology”.

Create your own fiction at fictionthis.com

The Chronicles of Extreme Future Part Four: Hackers Attack

2008-04-17T23:24:00.003+10:00

Breaking News – 9.35 AM
NASDAQ Trading house web service is down due to a non-confirm cyber attack. Stay tunned for more details.

Breaking News – 9.55 AM A cyber attack has been confirmed on NASDAQ trading house. FBI will hold a press conference at 10.30 AM

Breaking News – 10.15 AM
Worst fears of cyber attack confirmed. Billion of untraceable dollars feared missing.

The $1.5 billion scam was confirmed today by the FBI Director Malcolm Casey.
He stated that in the early hours of the morning, the carbon trading wing of the NASDAQ was hijacked and billions of dollars worth of transactions have been made on behalf of fake energy companies. The attack lasted for less than 10 minutes when the web security team picked up the intrusion. While more then a billion dollars have been recovered in reverse transactions, more then $250 million have been lost.

Director Casey has also stated that the notorious hacker community claimed responsibility for this latest attack, warning them that responsible parties will be found and brought to justice. Shortly after his speech a chain email circulated the globe with the simple message – “Crime Pays”.

The Chronicles of Extreme Future Part Three: The ID Card

2008-04-17T23:19:00.003+10:00

National ID cards were introduced in 2011.
At first they were simply embedded in passports, containing personal ID data. Second Generation ID Data chips were designed to have uploading capabilities and contained even more data, including criminal and medical records. Third generation ID Chips had an option to be inserted under your skin and gave access into your ID data base in any government institution, which made forgetting or losing your license or social security details a thing of the past.

For military personnel it was compulsory to have it inserted. Unauthorized access to military installations was simply non-existent from that moment on. Generation Four chip nicknamed “Quattro Access” became an instant hit with the younger generation. It allowed access to personal finance as well as personal storage space to share music, files and photos. Not long afterwards, Quattro Deluxe was released, with mobile phone connection ability and GPS. Subsidized by the government, it was an easy sell. In 2030 “CIMS” (Central Intelligence Management System) was launched. Accessed via voice recognition, the CIMS carried terabytes of memory and personal data. Equipped with mobile, GPS and wireless WI-FI, CIMS helped us keep in touch, never missed an appointment or meeting. CIMS was capable of delivering any information, movie or meeting on screen within your sunglasses. CIMS has also contributed to a new terrorist movement – Anti-CIMS, who nicknamed the device sheep-herder.

I think they may have been right, but it is too late now,
The late Anti-CIMS founder Bob Brown.

Our main site "fictionthis.com" is up!

2008-04-12T07:40:00.005+10:00

After months of coffee infused late night meetings, arguing semantics and time zones, we've finally got fictionthis.com up and running. A very thorough testing period (resulting in a short and utterly bizarre tale of the unique friendship between a blue man and a lima bean), we're pretty happy with the way it is. We are of course, completely open to any brilliant suggestions that you may have, so please spend some time navigating through the fictionthis.com, and give us your feedback.

The Chronicles of Extreme Future Part Two: the Stregth Suit

2008-04-08T20:20:00.005+10:00

It was the summer of 2022 and I was invited to go rock-climbing with some friends. I had never attempted this exercise before, so naturally, I was concerned. My friends simply dismissed my unease, saying “rock-climbing is not what it used to be”.

They were right.

Body line pressurized suits have been in use since 2012; first in NASA spacewalks and then were quickly introduced to the public. At first they were simply pressurized and used as a space suit based wrap. It increased mobility and decreased its size. Since then electronic fibers were introduced to manipulate the structure of the “smart” fabric thus magnifying the strength of movement while wearing the suit. Making the user of it, astoundingly stronger. I knew that hours in the gym would not be needed for what would be a grueling rock-climbing trip, because my hire suit enhanced my strength five fold. The trip turned out to be great, getting to the top was definitely worth the now-easy trip. Next month we will go kite surfing, I think I might need hire the suit again.

i can haz new emoticonz?

2008-04-08T20:12:00.008+10:00

this is true, momo, this is very true

Who said Feminism is dead?

2008-04-08T20:09:00.007+10:00

This graffiti near work used to say "Penis Envy?"
Not anymore...

An Open Letter to Ninja Mosquitos

2008-03-18T09:45:00.004+11:00

My mum's friend is a housekeeper at a hotel in Tasmania, and found this note in one of the rooms she was cleaning. This is definitely a sentiment that I can relate to.

Australian Humor

2008-03-06T15:06:00.004+11:00

The biggest Australian shopping center - Chadstone, has been redeveloped to make it even bigger or larger depending what you see in the aerial photo below.

10 Most Popular Digg Comments, Explained

2008-03-06T11:25:00.014+11:00

So you've just signed up to Digg, and are enjoying the continuous stream of information, entertainment and a veritable smorgasbord of "hacks." You probably want to get completely head over heels involved in the Digg community, but you are a little intimidated by the more experienced members, and don't want to make a complete dick of yourself. Well here is a handy little list of tips (or hacks, whatevs,) that can help you leave your conformist mark.

1. I see what you did there
This comment may have once been used in observation of a witty caption or title used to describe accompanying picture, but like many Digg comments has been used and abused to a point where much of its meaning has been lost. Recently, this has been used sarcastically in response to an overly obvious picture, such as a lolcat picture or any one of the Motivation series.

2. Pic or it didn't happen
This comment is the modern day slap of the glove - one digger is challenging another digger for proof of their claim. For example, for a story about a freakish tumour or disease, a weird sex change, the cure to cancer, etc. You may interchange pic with video.
Can also be used sarcastically; when picture is included, but you are still left unsatisfied.

3. Like diggers have girlfriends
Every now and then a story makes it to the front page with a subject along the lines of "Top tips to pleasing a woman" or "20 Romantic Valentine's Day Gifts", assuming that Diggers have girlfriends (or dare I even say it, wives) to practice this advice on.
However, it is accepted as general knowledge that diggers are male nerds whose only contact with the opposite sex involves a high speed internet connection (duh!) and a box of tissues.

4. I like the ninja on the left
According to urbandictionary.com, Ninja features include:

Ninja don't sweat.Bullets can't kill a ninja. Ninja invented skateboarding. Only a ninja can kill a ninja. Regular humans are useless. Ninja never wear headbands with the word "ninja" printed on them. Ninja can breath underwater anytime they want. Ninja can change clothes in less than 1 second. Ninja don't smoke, but they do use smoke bombs. Ninja always land on their feet. If they don't have feet they will land on their nubs. Ninja invented the internet. Ninja don't eat or drink very much, and they never have to go to the bathroom. Ninja always move to America when making a new start as a non-assassin. Ninja don't play sports. Unless killing is a sport. Ninja can crush golfballs with 2 fingers, any two fingers. Ninja have a bad temper when they lose at anything. They will usually cut off the winners head before they have time to gloat. Ninja lie all the time. Even when the truth serves better, ninja will lie anyway. Ninja swords are always straight with a square handle guard. Always. Curves are for girls. Wear headbands. Fight skillfully with any object. Can remove a spleen in one swift motion. Live in your house secretly for days. Can remove their shadow if needed. Can run 100 miles on their hands. Have cool words like Seppuku. Are masters of disguise. Can hover for hours. Flip out and kill everything. Split planks vertically with their nose. Kill people. Ninjas are the best guitar players. Ever. Ninjas do NOT wear spandex. If you see a ninja, he is NOT a ninja.

By very definition, ninja's can be anywhere, so feel free to use this comment with abandon. Also please note, you are NOT a ninja.

5. Oh, snap
This hella-versatile comment can be used to describe a whole range of emotions: surprise, disappointment, shock or happiness. However, this comment is actually sounds kind of gay and douchey, so use at your own risk.

6. Buried as inaccurate
Every now and then some smartass will either make something up or desperately copy a story from somewhere else and change the title to be more interesting, like "Girls fights off Pack of Hungry Bears using a toothpick and her shoe". In this situation, you could comment "Pic or it didn't happen" or simply bury. I'd bury. Then I'd go find the f*cker that put it up and beat him repeatedly with his copy of Little Red Riding Hood.

7. (topic/ subject) FTW!
Literally standing for "For the Win", this acronym can be stuck on the end of any topic, name, place or idea to indicate enthusiasm and support.
May also be used sarcastically.

8. FW: FW: FW: FW: FWD:
This is used for the story or picture that has simply been recycled from the same g-ddamn email you've received four times already. Like that Rabbi joke or the pictures of celebrities without make up (WHAT?!?)

9. I've got Linux
Many stories on Digg are about technology, and many of those are about Windows or Mac systems. While in "normal society" linux users are a tiny minority, Digg allows you to assert your Linux OS presence with a firm "I've got Linux" comment. This also allows other Diggers to know that you suffer not from pesky viruses, and are also heaps cooler for nonconforming in a conformist way.

10. Mirror?
Many websites are unable to cope with the huge number of people visiting their site from Digg, and will crash. Fast. This is annoying and inefficient. Digg users are far too busy and important, and need the information given to them ASAP. For this reason, whenever and wherever possible, if the content has been mirrored at another site, a friendly Digger will post the link for your viewing and Digging convenience.

The key tip to remeber when commenting on Digg is sarcasm. Use it or don't use it, but there is no in between.

Hoff Mail

2008-02-29T11:14:00.015+11:00

-----Original Message-----
From: Gabi [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 2:45 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: hoff

Att: The_Hoff_Loves_You

-----Original Message-----
From: Sluv [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 2:52 PM
To: Gabi
Subject: hoff

The next person that sends me a picture of Hoff will have a pole stuck up their anus so far that even Hoff himself will be impressed. Honestly ppl! 5 a day! Be more creative...send Pamela!!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Gabi [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 2:49 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: RE: hoff

Hey, dont you know,

The Hoff, Loves You

-----Original Message-----
From: Sluv [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 2:53 PM
To: Gabi
Subject: RE: hoff

lol....don't u know...i kill c**ts like u!

-----Original Message-----
From: Gabi [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 2:51 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: RE: hoff

sounds like someone needs a cuddle, from, the HOFF

-----Original Message-----
From: Sluv [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 2:55 PM
To: Gabi
Subject: RE: hoff

Hoff-you!

-----Original Message-----
From: Gabi [mailto: **************u]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 2:53 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: RE: hoff

Just what the hoff are you trying to say to me?

-----Original Message-----
From: Sluv [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 2:59 PM
To: Gabi
Subject: RE: hoff

don't u dare hoff me young lady! i've got so much hoff lined up for you the next time i see your hoffy face!

From: Gabi [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 2:57 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: RE: hoff

hey, you want to hoff this outside? I'll hoff your sorry ass from here to the other side of Hoffville, motherhoffer!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Sluv [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 3:02 PM
To: Gabi
Subject: RE: hoff

ok, lets not hoff over this anymore. Lets meet for a hoffachino and discuss our issues like mature hoffi-beings

-----Original Message-----
From: Gabi [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 3:04 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: RE: hoff

Listen man, i only hoff one man! got it! one hoff, and he's the hoff im going to hoff tonight, so just get any fancy ideas out of ur mind, bc as far as i care, you can go hoff yourself!

-----Original Message-----
From: Sluv [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 3:15 PM
To: Gabi
Subject: RE: hoff

Ur r such a hofftitute! First it was Jeremy Jackson, but he just wasn't hoff enough for you was he? Well i hope u hoff!

-----Original Message-----
From: Gabi [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 3:13 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: RE: hoff

Face it, you just cant handle all the Hoff i have to give. Your hoffaphobic, and ur going to end up a sad lonely old man, wishing u took the Hoff when u had the chance.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sluv [mailto: **************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 3:18 PM
To: Gabi
Subject: RE: hoff

I guess ur just too hoff for me. right then...off to wash the dishes i am. Make sure when u hoff ur man tonight...Lost is not on.
I hear hoff is the guest star ;)

-----Original Message-----
From: Gabi [mailto:**************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 3:17 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: RE: hoff

Thats the best way to hoff, man :)

-----Original Message-----
From: Sluv [mailto:***************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 3:35 PM
To: Gabi
Subject: RE: hoff

i'm swear man, i'm going to have hoffmares tonight

-----Original Message-----
From: Gabi [mailto:**************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 3:47 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: RE: hoff

Dont fight it. The hoff is with you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gabi [mailto:**************]
Sent: Tuesday, 12 July 2005 3:50 PM
To: Sluv
Subject: RE: hoff
Att: Hammehoff.gif

ITS HAMMERHOFF TIME!

The Chronicles of Extreme Future Part One: On Demand Medicine Year 2015

2008-02-24T21:58:00.004+11:00

Steve has had a long day. He is tired despite having taken the anti-fatigue pill “Alert” to get through the last web conference on the company’s newest video unit. A happy hour beer-fest at an Alfa lounge sounds tempting, but just after leaving the building; a sharp chest pain stops him mid step. The pain finally subsides, and he quickly speaks to his cell phone, activating his personal health record by uttering the word, “Emergency”.

Immediately, Steve is routed via the internet to his health plan’s Clinical emergency centre for diagnosis. This Involves answering a series of yes or no questions about the symptoms and vital signs asked by a Med-Tech on duty computer. Steve places a finger on the screen of his cell phone where his bio-signature converts his bio-scan signals and sends them instantly to the Emerg-Med Team via virtual Net Centre many time zones away.

The GE Cyberdoc decides that Steve’s condition maybe acute cardiac ischemia and dispatches a clinic mobile to his exact location. En route to the nearest emergency-care unit, a battery of tests, including another bio-scan, are performed and transmitted immediately through a wireless devise in real time to a lab for interpretation.

By the time the local emergency team reaches Steve, The doctor on duty has the results, along with the second opinion by a cardiac specialist on duty in Bangalore, India. Steve’s Personal health card has also provided his medical history and genetic predisposition to the on-duty doctor.
The doctor has authorized a several categories of treatment for the condition. On the split screen, the duty doctor shows Steve holographic 3-D colour images of the vessel blockage via a microscopic camera inserted into his bloodstream.

The doctor recommends injecting an army of nano-scrubbers to clean out the arteries. Steve is asked to rest a while the physician takes a virtual tour of his bloodstream to code in the correct markers for making a non-invasive procedure a success. Once deployed and completed with their mission, the nano-scrubbers dissolve harmlessly.

The actual operation takes only 8 minutes and Steve is discharged shortly afterward. Before leaving he’s given a customized holographic health disk with analysis of what dietary or lifestyle changes are needed for him to avoid another such episode. All info is uploaded to his virtual agent and his home doctors.

An always-on wireless internet accessible wristband will unobtrusively monitor Steve’s condition for the next couple of days but he feels fine as he strolls out of the neighborhood care unit. In fact, he still has time to make happy hour. He just has to watch what he orders. His updated personal health record may warm him from ordering beverages that are not on his diet. Steve may hear this message: “Light Nutri-beer suggested – and only two servings.

Destination Unknown

2008-02-24T21:12:00.003+11:00

Road sign I saw in Israel on one of the highways. This should be a commercial for TomTom.

Scientists capture giant Antarctic sea creatures

2008-02-21T10:00:00.001+11:00

Underwater creepy creatures, undiscovered species hidden away in the deep waters of the Antarctic.

Yes, I am talking about terrifyingly large deep water spiders.
A research fleet of 3 ships has returned this week to Australian shores with some never before seen creatures of the deep.

At the depth of 1000 meters or more Scientist and voyage leader Martin Riddle explains “Gigantism is very common in Antarctic waters — we have collected huge worms, giant crustaceans and sea spiders the size of dinner plates”. While spiders are familiar member of the marine environment, there are about 1000 known species around the world - most of them are 1-10 mm.

But these babies are about 90cm – that’s the size of an average nine year old!
So my fellow arachnophobians – we should probably stick to frolicking in the shallow waves and building sandcastles...
(see video...)

References:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=381490

How low can you go?

2008-02-16T21:14:00.002+11:00

Going by the beach on a Saturday night you see a lot of different cars: Ferrari, Audi, Ford but this car was absolutely amazing...so I had to a take a picture of it.

Incredible chalk drawings

2008-02-15T13:12:00.005+11:00

Julian Beever is an English artist, who is famous for his art on the pavement of England, France, Germany, USA, Australia and Belgium. Beever gives to his drawings an amazing 3D illusion.
This is some of his work.

Photos taken at the right time.

2008-02-07T19:25:00.001+11:00

Photos taken at the right time, makes the best impromptu ads.

Best Pepsi Ad: The blame game!

2008-02-07T14:59:00.000+11:00