Emile Munier pinturas / Enile Munier paintings

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From: albarracin

Giant Blue Cockerel In London

Giant 15ft blue cockerel rules the roost in Trafalgar Square as sculpture takes its place on fourth plinth

Sculpture called Hahn/Cock by Katharina Fritsch will stay up for 18 months

It was unveiled today by Fritsch and London mayor Boris Johnson

The rooster - a symbol of France - stands in shadow of Nelson's Column

By HELEN LAWSON

What would Lord Nelson say? A giant rooster - the symbol of France - has taken up a perch beneath the admiral's statue in Trafalgar Square, which celebrates Britain's 1805 defeat of Napoleon's armies.

The 15.4ft fibreglass artwork took its place on the vacant Fourth Plinth today and will stay up for 18 months.

London's mayor Boris Johnson unveiled the ultramarine blue sculpture, named Hahn/Cock, today alongside German artist Katharina Fritsch.

A 15.4ft giant blue cockerel is the latest sculpture to take its place on the vacant Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square

The sculpture, called Hahn/Cock, was unveiled by London mayor Boris Johnson, left, alongside its creator, German artists Katharina Fritsch, right

'I definitely never thought about the French thing. But it's a nice humorous side-effect to have something French in a place that celebrates victory over Napoleon,' Fritsch told The Guardian newspaper. 

She also said she hoped the double meaning in the work's name would appeal to the British sense of humour. 

'I know they like to play games with language,' Fritsch said, adding that her sculpture mocked male posturing in a square full of military statues.

Mr Johnson told BBC London: 'It is a ginormous blue Hahn Cock, as it's called.'

He also joked about David Cameron's plans to get internet providers to block pornography, saying: 'I think if you tried to Google it in the future, the Prime Minister would stop you from finding it.'

Local conservation group The Thorney Island Society objected to the sculpture and had tried to block its display.

'It is unrelated to the context of Trafalgar Square and adds nothing to it but a feeble distraction,' its members wrote in a letter to Westminster City Council.

The rooster is painted in ultramarine blue and made of fibreglass

Transparent house

Would you like to live in a completely transparent house ?

Located on a side-street in a hipper part of Tokyo sits this 914 sq-ft (85 sq-m) glass house. It is named the NA House and was designed by Sou Fujimoto Architects. The various levels are linked by an assortment of stairs and ladders in addition to short runs of fixed and movable wooden steps, which is unique, but let's be honest the main draw of the house is that it is almost completely made of glass.

I couldn't find the price of the house. Is the house's lack of privacy too much to overcome or would you ever consider making it your permanent residence??

Amazing Animal Camouflage

The Elusive Leopard A leopard takes camouflage to a whole new level. Can you spot it? Hint: It's near the base of the tree. This photo was taken in the wildlife of Kruger National Park, Transvaal, South Africa. American Pika The American pika is a small furry mammal that's distantly related to the rabbit. Now that you have that information, can you find it hiding here in the Cascade Mountain range in Washington? Cheetah The cheetah hides among sand and long grass, concealed from its unsuspecting prey. This photo was taken in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa. Giraffe Somewhere in this photo is a giraffe. We're still not sure where. Can you spot it? Now that's what we call brilliant camouflage.

Indian boy born with 34 fingers entered Record Book

Indian boy born with 34 fingers entered Record Book A one-year-old boy in India has broken a world record after being born with 34 fingers in total on hands and feet. Akshat Saxena had seven fingers on each hand and ten on each foot, according to a spokesman for Guinness World Records. The child, from Uttar Pradesh in northern India, has since had a series of surgeries to amputate the excess digits. Akshat was born last year without thumbs so doctors are working to reconstruct these out of the fingers they have removed.

Dolls, Figurines & Folklore In Japan

Located on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, Fukuoka is actually two cities – Fukuoka and Hakata – rolled into one. But when the two merged in 1889, the name Fukuoka was given to both.

Today, Hakata's memory lives on in one of Fukuoka's most iconic symbols, the Hakata doll, which takes centre stage every July during Fukuoka's spectacular Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, one of Japan's biggest celebrations.



Made from unglazed porcelain, many experts believe that Hakata dolls, or ningyo, originated during the 17th Century when the local daimyo (feudal lord) coordinated the efforts of the Hakata region's artisans. The clay dolls were presented as gifts to local Buddhist temples and Kuroda Nagamasa, the then-ruler of Hakata. However, recent archaeological excavations suggest that the dolls may have actually originated in China. 



"I remember the first doll I made when I was 17," said master ningyo craftsman Kuniaki Takeyoshi (pictured), as he lovingly applied the finishing touches to a samurai warrior. "From then on I was hooked. I'm as passionate about my work as I was 53 years ago, although hopefully my skills 

Blooming beautiful

This is the blooming marvellous sight of a house completely covered in a rainbow of summer flowers - and it's been a labour of love for 26 years.

Anne and Robin Strange, who devote every spare hour to their luscious house-garden, say they are still adding to the display almost three decades after they began.

The pair spend hundreds of pounds every year on seeds and plants, nurturing them inside a greenhouse before putting them on display in mid-June.

Colourful: Anne Strange amongst the thousands of rainbow coloured blooms almost covering her house in North Yorkshire

Mrs Strange, 65, said: 'We were in York one day looking at all the beautiful hanging baskets and we were inspired to create our own.

'We have been planting more and more flowers ever since.'

The couple, of Coniston Cold, North Yorkshire, have had an amazing response from motorists who drive past their multicoloured home.

Inspired: Motorists adore looking at the couple's home and one woman even sends a gift voucher every Christmas to express her appreciation of the spectacle

Bright and beautiful: Even back in 1988, the Strange's house looked stunning but over the years it's become even more beautiful

One woman even sends them a gift voucher every Christmas to express her appreciation of the spectacle.

Mrs Strange added: 'People think its great, we get cards from people we have never even met.'

Mr Strange, 65, who works for Tree Tops Forestry, spends every weekend and evening seeing to the garden.

Dedication: Mr and Mrs Strange spend hundreds of pounds every year planting seeds and nurturing the blooms inside a greenhouse

Mrs Strange said: 'I dread to think how much money goes on the garden, but it definitely all adds up.

'It is worth it though, we are both very pleased with what we have created.'

An irrigation system means the couple do not have to worry about the mammoth task of watering the flowers as it is done automatically.

Birth Of A Prince

It's a BOY! Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to healthy baby and future King weighing 8lb 6oz at 4.24pm with proud Prince William by her side

• Birth announced by a press release sent out from the palace at 8.30pm GMT
• Official announcement then placed on easel outside Buckingham Palace for the waiting crowds to see
• Duchess of Cambridge and her son are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight
• Queen and Duke of Edinburgh said to be 'delighted' at news of their great grandson's birth
• The Prime Minister, Archbishop of Canterbury and Leader of the Opposition all express their congratulations
• David Cameron says 'the whole country will celebrate' the birth of the new Royal baby
• Kate was admitted to hospital at around 5.30am and arrived in car with Prince William
• The 31-year-old planned to give birth to the royal baby naturally and she was not induced into labour
• Future king was born at the same hospital in Paddington where Princess Diana had Princes William and Harry
• Prince William was by his wife's side at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in London
• He will now take two weeks' paternity leave and accept the full entitlement of £136.78 per week
• The royal couple did not know the sex of the baby who will replace Harry as third in line to the throne
• Royal couple helped to St Mary's by protection officer who went with Prince Harry on infamous Vegas trip last year
• Police officer shows off his security briefing note in full view of hundreds of cameras this afternoon
• Royal Navy crew on HMS Lancaster and HMS Kent spelled out 'Boy' on deck as a tribute to royal couple

By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent and Martin Robinson

An overjoyed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are the proud parents of a 'beautiful' baby boy, as Britain celebrates the birth of a future king.

The couple's son was delivered at 4.24pm yesterday in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington weighing a bouncing 8lbs 6oz and with his proud father looking on.

The as yet unnamed baby will be given the title His Royal Highness and be known as Prince (Name) of Cambridge, after a decree by the Queen earlier this year.

The new prince is third in the line of succession, displacing Prince Harry to fourth and the Duke of York to fifth, although he may not become sovereign for half a century or more.

Recent legislation allowing female heirs to automatically accede to the throne if they are first born will clearly not affect the Cambridge's son, but will have a bearing on any of his children.

The big day has arrived: An easel stands in the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London to announce the birth of a baby boy, at 4.24pm to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at St Mary's Hospital

It's a boy: The message displayed outside the palace telling the world that there is a new prince in the British royal family

The Queen's Press Secretary Ailsa Anderson with Badar Azim, a footman, place the official document

Amazing Striped Icebergs

Amazing striped icebergs 

Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by layers of snow that react to different conditions.

Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with meltwater and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.

When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a green stripe.

Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.

HUMMINGBIRD LANE (AMAZING!)]

This woman lives in a Humming bird fly one. As they migrated, about 20 of them were in her yard. She took the little red dish, filled it with  sugar water and this is  the result. 

The woman is Abagail Alfano of Pine, Louisiana - she has been studying  them daily and one morning put the cup from the feeder, with water in it, in her hand;  as they had gotten used to her standing by the feeder they came over to her hand. She  says in touching they are as light as a feather. 

Abagail also said, 'if she had known her husband was taking pictures 

 she would have put on makeup.'  

 

Green Coke

Sure this is the real thing? GREEN Coke launched in Argentina with natural sweetener and fully recyclable bottle

Coca Cola has used their familiar and distinctive curved script since 1887. And since the 1920s their famous logo has been placed on a red background on the company's classic cola.

But the soda brand is now going green, at least in Argentina. The drinks giant has launched Coca Cola Life, which is sweetened with sugar and the naturally occurring, no-calorie sweetener stevia.

The new product features a striking green label and is packaged in the award-winning PlantBottle. This is made with 30 percent plant material and is fully recyclable.

Going green: Coca Cola has gone for a striking new look with a product just launched in Argentina

Turning tradition on its head: Coca Cola has long been associated with the classic logo on a red background, but the new drink has a different palette

Coca Cola says the bottle 'looks, functions and recycles just like traditional PET plastic, but does so with a lighter footprint on the planet and its scarce resources.'

The new drink has 108 calories in a 600 milliliter bottle - between classic Coke with 250 calories and the zero-calorie Diet Coke.

'Coca-Cola Life is the first soda from the Coca-Cola family that is naturally sweetened with sugar and Stevia, which adds to our portfolio a delicious taste with a proposed low in calories,' Coca-Cola stated on its Argentinean website.

The world's largest soda company has used stevia in 45 products, such as Vitaminwater Zero and Fanta Select, but never in its flagship cola.

Environmental credentials: The product comes in a new bottle which is partly made of plant material and fully recyclable

There is no date for introducing the product elsewhere. Company executives at a news conference in Buenos Aires likened the launch with the 2005 debut of Coca-Cola Zero, which was first introduced in Australia and later sold elsewhere.

Consumer Edge Research analyst Bill Pecoriello said a global roll out seemed likely because it would also preempt PepsiCo's sweetener innovation.

'A healthy dose of skepticism as to the long-term success potential is warranted, given past introductions,' he added.

There has been a recent wave of mid-calorie sodas such as Pepsi Next and Dr Pepper 10, but they have not maintained market share, Pecoriello said.

Middle ground: Coca Cola Life has 108 calories per 600ml, in between the classic product with 250 calories and Diet Coke with none

OMG-So Beautiful.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Say Hello To The World's Largest Known Virus

Say Hello To The World's Largest Known Virus

Hello, Pandoravirus Chantal Abergel and Jean-Michel Claverie

The viruses that we're most familiar with, like the influenza virus, are small and simple. Influenza is about 100 nanometers across, and has only 13 genes. But scientists are beginning to realize that there's no reason a virus needs to be that small or that simple--and in fact, there are "megaviruses" that can be much, much bigger and more complex than any virus you've seen before.

In a study published today in Science, researchers describe a newly-discovered megavirus that's the largest of its type ever seen. By volume, according to Carl Zimmer at the New York Times, it's 200 times larger than the flu, and has a whopping 2,556 genes. Even crazier, only 6 percent of those genes are familiar to us. The rest are completely new.

The researchers have decided to give the virus the genus name "pandoravirus," referring to the likelihood that the discovery will lead to all kinds of new knowledge about viruses. The first pandoravirus found, pictured above, turned up in a routine dig off the coast of Chile, and puzzled the researchers until they realized that it contained no bacterial DNA at all, and must in fact be a giant virus. But it's not one of a kind; shortly after, in an Australian pond, they found another. The researchers believe this indicates that pandoraviruses aren't rare at all, though much is still unknown about them (like, for example, why they're so much bigger than other viruses).

They might be huge, but the pandoraviruses discovered so far live only underwater and don't seem dangerous to humans. "This is not going to cause any kind of widespread and acute illness or epidemic or anything," said Eugene Koonin of the National Institutes of Health to NPR. So we won't be adding it to this list anytime soon. Hopefully.

[New York Times]

NASA - Astronomy Picture of the Day

Astronomy Picture of the Day

2013 July 15 

The Sombrero Galaxy from Hale 

2013 July 14 

The Pillars of Eagle Castle 

2013 July 13

Sunspot at Sunset 

World's Largest Miniature Airport Opens in Germany

World's Largest Miniature Airport Opens in Germany

The world's largest model airport has opened at Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany, which is also home to the world's largest model railway landscape.

The model airport is based off of Hamburg's Fuhlsbüttel International airport. It includes a whopping list of accessories, including 40 planes, 40,000 lights, 15,000 figurines, 500 cars, 10,000 trees, 50 trains, 1000 wagons, 100 signals, 200 switches and 300 buildings. The display took 7 years and roughly $4.8 million to build. 

  

 

  

Fotos HD / HD Photos

Spectacular Places of Mysterious India ( by Tony Chacko)

Spectacular Places of Mysterious India (by Tony Chacko)

I used to wonder about the lackadaisical approach by any government of India to market it as the most spectacular tourist spots

in the world. I just did a long search for unique picturesque places and I am stunned by my own ignorance of the beauty of our

poor but great country of resources. Tell me dear readers after you have seen these pictures, that you also not stunned ?????? 

THE TAJ MAHAL, AT AGRA.

THE SACRED GANGOTRI GLACIER, SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND ARE THE BHAGIRATHI PEAKS AT GANGOTRI, UTTARAKHAND

AMIDST THE NATURALLY GREEN SETTINGS OF TEA PLANTATIONS AT MUNNAR, KERALA -----TRULY A BREATHTAKING SIGHT.

                                                  PICTURESQUE MUNNAR----