If you're looking to escape the possibility of disaster, it might be time to move to Estonia.In the wake of recent natural disasters in Japan and New Zealand and recalling as far back as Haiti and New Orleans, statistics gathered by EM-DAT are suddenly very important to people wondering if it's possible to escape the earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes.
The EM-DAT database, established in 1988, is run by Belgium's Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disaster and includes records of over 11,000 major natural disasters.
EM-DAT's records have no mention of any fatal floods, droughts, earthquakes or severe storms in the following countries between the years of 1900 and 2009:
- Estonia
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- United Arab Emirates
- Andorra
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Estonia: The safest country in the world
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
First Celebrity Contestant Eliminated On 'Dancing With The Stars'
It turns out one "Dancing with the Stars" celebrity contestant was indeed too racy for TV.
"Loveline" radio host Mike Catherwood became the first star eliminated on Season 12 of "Dancing with the Stars" on Tuesday night, taking his sexy, but not quite rhythm-friendly hip gyrations, and definitely PG-13 rated promotional show interviews, out of the ballroom.
PLAY IT NOW: Mike Catherwood On His ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Debut: ‘Dancing’s Terrible!’
"To be mentioned alongside the names [David] Hasselhoff and [Kenny] Mayne, it puts me on the Mount Rushmore of terrible dancers," Mike said of being of being the first to get the boot in his season, an honor he now shares with the former "Knight Rider" star and ESPN journalist who both were axed first in their own seasons.
"It feels good, [Tom] Bergeron," Mike added. "It feels good."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 12 Cast: Then & Now
Best known in Los Angeles for his work on KROQ radio, where he hosts the syndicated "Loveline" advice show alongside Dr. Drew Pinsky, and his work on the "Kevin & Bean" morning show, Mike wasn't a hugely familiar face to national television audiences.
via ca.tv.yahoo.com
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Elizabeth Taylor: Violet-eyed movie queen
Elizabeth Taylor, who has died at the age of 79, was the archetypal Hollywood movie queen, a violet-eyed beauty known equally for her stormy romances and eight marriages as her Oscar-winning performances.Over a five-decade career she won two Academy Awards for best actress, including in the 1966 classic "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" one of many films where she played opposite her two-times husband Richard Burton.
In later years as her health failed she retired from the public gaze, although she notably attended the 2009 funeral of her long-time friend Michael Jackson, while she remained active in raising funds to battle AIDS/HIV.
Born in London February 27, 1932, she was evacuated to California with her American parents in 1939, where she was soon discovered at her father's art gallery by the fiancee of the chairman of Universal Studios.
She debuted in 1942 in "There's One Born Every Minute," and by 1944 had become a child star with "National Velvet," the story of a girl who rides her horse to victory at the Grand National disguised as a boy.
"Before men, my great love was for animals, which I still have," Taylor would later say.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
'Dancing With The Stars' Kicks Off Season 12 Strong
Wax on... wax off!
In an unexpected show of skills, 49-year-old former "Karate Kid" Ralph Macchio led the pack during the Season 12 kick-off to ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."
PLAY IT NOW: ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Returns To ABC (March 21, 2011)
Yet, it was 60-year-old larger-than-life personality Kirstie Alley who was nipping at his heels with the second highest score of the night.
There was no shortage of excitement on the dance floor as celebrities across the board turned in surprisingly strong first week dances and scores.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 12 Rehearsals
CLICK HERE to VOTE for which celebrity you think should be first eliminated on "Dancing with the Stars"
Notable celebrities in the audience on night one included Dana Delaney, Kelly Preston (supporting close friend, Kirstie) and Hugh Hefner, who set next to Hank Baskett, the husband of his former "Girl Next Door" Kendra Wilkinson.
First up was Disney Channel star Chelsea Kane and her partner Mark Ballas. The young starlet explained that she wanted to do the show because she was home schooled growing up and never had that chance to attend her high school prom.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: ‘Dancing With The Stars,’ Season 12 Cast Photos!
They dazzled the audience with their season kick-off fox trot set to the sounds of Sara Bareilles' "King of Anything."
"Overall you did a very good job," judge Len Goodman said.
via ca.tv.yahoo.com
Monday, March 21, 2011
5 Jobs that Pay Over $50 K a Year Without a College or University
By Mark SwartzMonster Senior Contributing WriterMaybe you graduated from high school and didn’t have a chance to go to college or university. You’re looking around you and lots of those people who went on to higher education are now making pretty good money. Does your lack of a formal degree really leave you frozen out of higher paying positions?Not if you’re willing to do some legwork and put your nose to the grindstone. There are more than a few occupations you could go after. Usually you have to learn a trade or study for some other credential, but not always.Five $50K+ Careers To ConsiderYou may have been thinking that higher paying jobs only go to those who have a post-secondary diploma or university degree. In fact, just over half of Canadians between the ages of 25 and 65 have this type of education. Which means that a big chunk of our workforce doesn’t.Here are just a few of the careers that can pay over $50k a year without college or university:
Sunday, March 20, 2011
5 Amazingly Useful Kitchen Tools You Probably Don't Have
1. A Splatter Screen
Cooking can be tons of fun, but cleanup—not so much. But a splatter screen ($49-$59 at Williams-Sonoma)—the ingenious mesh cover that prevents food from splattering on your stove while still allowing steam to escape—all but eliminates the need to clean the stovetop. Genius!
31 Guinness Goodies for a Great St. Patrick’s Day!
2. A Splatter-proof Cookbook Stand
It’s hard to keep cookbooks clean while consult your recipe as you go. Not so with this clever cookbook stand ($32 from the Shelving Store)! Also featuring a handy acrylic shield, it allows you to easily read your next steps and keep the pages clean at the same time!
Decorate a Room Inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany's!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
TV's Biggest Moneymakers
"Two and a Half Men"Warner Bros.When it comes to selling ads, it's pretty hard to beat "American Idol." Every year, three times per week, the show attracts millions of fans who sit glued to their televisions, watching and judging in real time. This isn't the kind of show you can watch two days later.
And that's why it earns the big bucks. In 2010, "American Idol" brought in $7.11 million for News Corp.'s Fox network every half hour. That was actually down 12% from 2009, but it was enough to land the show at the top of our annual list of TV's Biggest Moneymakers, way ahead of the closest competition.
Last year was a rough one for the show. New judge Ellen DeGeneres didn't do much to stem criticism that the show was going downhill. Simon Cowell seemed positively giddy to take off. Impressively, "American Idol" didn't completely fall apart when Cowell left. New judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are holding their own. The show can still attract 24 million viewers, according to The Nielsen Company.
via ca.tv.yahoo.com
Friday, March 18, 2011
Dog Health and Nutrition
London, Mar 16 (ANI): A red Tibetan mastiff has become the world's most expensive dog after it was sold for 10 million Chinese yuan, or 945,000 pounds.The dog, named Big Splash, or Hong Dong in Chinese, was bought by a coal baron from the north of China.And the hefty price tag does not include Big Splash's food, which comprises of enough chicken and beef to fill a growing 180lb dog, along with Chinese delicacies such as sea cucumber and abalone.
According to breeder Lu Liang, Big Splash is a "perfect specimen" and the extravagant price for the 11-month-old is completely justified.
"We have spent a lot of money raising this dog, and we have the salaries of plenty of staff to pay," the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.
He added that the new owner could charge almost 10,000 pounds a time for Big Splash to breed with a female.
His owner will need a big house too, as adult Tibetan mastiffs have been known to weigh as much as 286lb - the same as a sizeable rugby player.
The high price paid for the dog is a sign that the red Tibetan mastiff has become a status symbol in China, as the animal is thought not only to be holy, but also a blessing to their owners' health and security.
Tibetans believe the dogs have the souls of monks and nuns who were not good enough to be reincarnated as humans or into Shambhala, the heavenly realm.
These days there are only around 300 Tibetan mastiffs in the UK, and puppies sell for a more reasonable 850 pounds to 1,000 pounds.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
6 Ways To Tell You're About To Get Dumped
Things with your guy feel a little off lately? Uh-oh, he may be ready to call it quits.By Kelly Thore
Guys aren’t known for initiating relationship conversations — which is why when they do break things off, it often seems like the bomb was dropped out of the blue. But experts say dudes actually do give away certain clues when they’re not feeling it anymore. Pay attention:
1) He overloads at work. When a relationship seems to be heading south, guys often tend to take on more on the job to compensate; it gives his ego a boost since he’s likely upset that things with you are floundering. Plus, if he needs space, work is the one place you’re guaranteed not to be.
2) He’s stops inviting you to hang with his friends. When you first became a twosome, he wanted his bros to meet you (and be jealous that he scored such a hot chick). But if he’s thinking you and he aren’t meant to be, he’ll start having more boys’ nights sans you so his pals know that you’re on the outs and will support him when the breakup backlash hits.
Related: 4 Signs He's Hiding Something
3) He keeps convos neutral. Notice you’re discussing things like the news and the weather a lot more lately? These topics aren’t intimate, and they’re a sign he may be distancing himself to have less of a bond with you, so his feelings aren’t murky when he does the deed and it’ll make for a cleaner break for him.
4) He boxes you out. Say you’re watching a movie together on the couch and his body is angled away from you—he’s sending you the message that he doesn’t feel intimate. At all. A guy who’s super into you will want to touch and engage you when you’re hanging out. If he’s not? His body language essentially takes over, blocking you out to convey that he’s feeling miles apart.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Japan’s earthquake shifted balance of the planet
Last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan has actually moved the island closer to the United States and shifted the planet's axis.
The quake caused a rift 24 kilometres below the sea floor that stretched nearly 300 kilometres long and 150 kilometres wide, according to the AP. The areas closest to the epicenter of the quake jumped a full 13 feet closer to the United States, geophysicist Ross Stein at the United States Geological Survey told The New York Times.
The world's fifth-largest, 8.8 magnitude quake was caused when the Pacific tectonic plate dived under the North American plate, which shifted Eastern Japan towards North America by about 13 feet (see NASA's before and after photos at right). The quake also shifted the earth's axis by 6.5 inches, shortened the day by 1.6 microseconds, and sunk Japan downward by about two feet. As Japan's eastern coastline sunk, the tsunami's waves rolled in.coast shifted
Why did the quake shorten the day? The earth's mass shifted towards the center, spurring the planet to spin a bit faster. Last year's massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile also shortened the day, but by an even smaller fraction of a second. The 2004 Sumatra quake knocked a whopping 6.8 micro-seconds off the day.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Beckham spokesman says couple expecting baby girl
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Team Beckham is adding a girl to its roster.
David Beckham, left, and his wife Victoria are expecting their fourth child, and a spokesman said Sunday that the couple has learned that it will be a girl.
(Chris Pizzello/AP Photo)Soccer great David Beckham and wife Victoria are expecting their fourth child, and a spokesman said Sunday that the couple has learned that it will be a girl.
In January the former England captain announced via Facebook that his wife was due this summer.
The pair, who married in 1999, already has three boys: 11-year-old Brooklyn, eight-year-old Romeo, and five-year-old Cruz.
The 35-year-old Beckham captained England’s national team from 2000 to 2006. He played for Manchester United and Real Madrid before joining Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Meet Alvin Wong, the happiest man in America
The happiest man in America has gone viral.
For three years, Gallup surveyed 1,000 adults a day, quizzing them on their quality of life, plugging the gathered statistics into a good-life formula. The New York Times asked for a statistical composite of the perhaps-hypothetical "happiest person in America."
Gallup returned with this insight: "[H]e's a tall, Asian-American, observant Jew who is at least 65 and married, has children, lives in Hawaii, runs his own business and has a household income of more than $120,000 a year."
The search was on. And it didn't take long to find Alvin Wong, referred to The Times by his local synagogue in Honolulu. Here's The Times' description.
"Meet Alvin Wong. He is a 5-foot-10, 69-year-old, Chinese-American, Kosher-observing Jew, who's married with children and lives in Honolulu. He runs his own health care management business and earns more than $120,000 a year."
Wong, after confirming that the interest in his life wasn't a practical joke, said this to The Times regarding his new title: "My life philosophy is, if you can't laugh at yourself, life is going to be pretty terrible for you."
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Moscow is now the billionaire capital of the world
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian oligarchs are back with a bang, making Moscow the billionaire capital of the world.Profiting from a boom in commodities, the number of billionaires in Russia, most of whom built their empires during the country's anarchic 1990s, grew to 101 from 62 last year, Forbes said in its annual list of the world's richest people.
Moscow is home to 79 of Russia's billionaires, more than any other city in the world.
Russia accounts for a third of Europe's 300 billionaires, and 15 of the world's 100 richest people, more than all the other so-called BRIC countries combined (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and more than Saudi Arabia.
Leading Russia's billionaires is steel baron Vladimir Lisin. His estimated personal wealth of $24 billion has increased by some $10 billion since last year, moving him up 18 notches to place 14th among the richest.
Lisin's worth, and that of many other Russians on the list, has reflected increases and declines in commodity stock valuations and Russia's economy. Oil, metals and other natural resources account for most of the country's budget revenue.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Photos of Hitler’s Wife Stir the Web
Adolf Hitler is one of the darkest figures of the 20th century. But less is known about his girlfriend, Eva Braun, who he kept secret from Nazi Germany for years.Recently released photographs from Eva Braun's personal picture albums reveal new dimensions of the woman who …
Pictures of the girlfriend and then wife have recently surfaced through Life Magazine, brought to light through collector and curator Reinhard Schulz.
The cache of photos from the young model's personal album was confiscated in 1945 by the American army. The newly released pictures have caused searches on the Web for "eva braun" to rise over 300% in one day.
So who was the woman by Hitler's side? Young Eva first met Hitler in 1929 when he was a rising star in the Nazi party. He was introduced to the 17-year-old as Herr Wolff, while she modeled for the official Nazi photographer Heinrich Hoffmann in Munich.
The Bavarian became Hitler's companion, despite being kept hidden from the public and often left alone. A depressive, she attempted suicide twice, but still remained loyal to Hitler to the end.
After learning about the failed plot to kill Hitler, Braun wrote him, "From our first meeting I swore to follow you anywhere even unto death. I live only for your love."
In the last days of the war, just before they ended their lives, she became his wife. Braun committed suicide with Hitler at the age of 33.
Friday, March 11, 2011
New era of plastic money to start with $100 bills in November: BoC - Yahoo! News
OTTAWA - Canadians will soon be able to start using plastic money for real.The Bank of Canada says it will start circulating new $100 bill made from a special polymer in November, with a $50 note to follow next March.
The more commonly used $20, $10 and $5 notes won't be out until the end of 2013, however.
Canadian bills are currently made from 100 per cent cotton paper.
The central bank says the new bills will have innovative security features that make it easier to detect forgery.
And they will be cheaper because they are expected to last at least 2.5 times longer than paper money.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A cautionary tale: How to go from billionaire to broke
, On Tuesday March 8, 2011, 11:10 am EST
Damn those credit cards are easy. You just wave one in front of the cashier and poof! The thigh-high Sigerson Morrison boots are yours, hon! Just like that. And then one day you open your statement, expecting the worst, only to find, poof! They've increased your credit limit! Just like that.
Or, you go to the bank just to see what kind of mortgage you might qualify for. You walk out armed with a license to spend more money than you've ever dreamed of earning. Are you the Princess of Purchasing Power? Or a debt disaster waiting to happen?
Let's consider this story of a woman who was blessed with a lot of spending power. In 1990, Patricia Kluge of Virginia divorced her husband, American media billionaire John Kluge. Her divorce settlement was rumoured to be more than $1 billion. At the time, the interest on this would have generated around $1.6 million per week.
Ms. Kluge became known in the media as the "world's wealthiest divorcée." She was later eclipsed in this category by Anna Murdoch, who received a $1.7 billion settlement in 1999, and Slavica Ecclestone, whose divorce settlement in 2009 is said to be more than one billion and less than four. But that's another story.
The newly single Ms. Kluge spent her fortune grandly: on real estate, antique furnishings, spectacular jewels, foxes and hounds, the yoozh (that would be 'the usual' for those of you less refined). Week after million-dollar week, she must have felt invincible.
But pretty things can get boring and Ms. Kluge wanted to do something more meaningful with her wealth. She thought Virginia ought to have a world-renowned wine region and she had just the kind of energy, connections and bankroll to make it happen.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Cut back, save big
You probably get tired of hearing people say, "Skip lunch and you can save $10 a day, or $50 a week. That's $2,600 a year." Who wants to skip lunch every day? Besides if I skip lunch for a month and save $200, and then turn around and buy two tickets to see Jersey Boys, I'll blow through my lunch savings in one sweep of the credit card … k'ching! Which is exactly the problem people have "saving" money.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard some version of, "Yeah, I can give up eating lunch out and save $25 a week, but what's that really going to get me?"
How about a $30,000 savings on your mortgage. Interested?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
N.Z. quake boulder raises $44,000 for charity
A 25-tonne boulder that crashed into a home in the Christchurch earthquake has raised NZ$60,000 ($44,000) in an online charity auction.
"Rocky" the giant rock smashed through the walls of Phil Johnson's hillside home in the February 22 tremor, coming to rest in his hallway.
Johnson put the boulder up for sale on auction website www.trademe.co.nz, attracting more than 300,000 hits and turning his unwanted house guest into an online celebrity.
"For sale, 1 owner, 25-30 tonne landscape feature (answers to the name Rocky)," read his listing for the auction, which ended Monday.
"He is in pristine condition (just a little bit of concrete dust). Suitable for garden feature, or as in our case, a magnificent addition to your living area... Rocky will enhance your 'indoor outdoor' flow considerably."
The winning bidder, a New Zealand ski company, paid NZ$50,000 for "Rocky". Chief executive James Coddington said the firm planned to display the boulder at its Mount Hutt ski resort.
With Johnson donating all proceeds from the sale to a relief fund for quake victims, the second-highest bidder said she would still pay NZ$10,000 because it was going to a good cause, the www.trademe.co.nz operators said.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Heidi Klum reveals her beauty secret
London, Mar 5 (ANI): Supermodel Heidi Klum has revealed the ultimate beauty secret for a woman who is getting older-'don't be too thin!'The 37-year-old admitted that she loves to eat fatty chips and burgers.
The blonde German-born mother-of-four also confessed that she rarely exercises, yet still manages not to pile on the pounds.
"Sometimes I'll have a Big Mac - I love them, and I love chips." But she did, at least, admit that she enjoys lots of healthy salads too," the Daily Express quoted Klum as telling Easy Living magazine.
"The ultimate beauty secret for a woman getting older is, don't be too thin!" she said.
"It is always better to have a little meat on your bones. When you are just muscle you end up being gaunt in the face and that makes you look older by five or 10 years.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Lady Gaga's Catwalk Caper
Standing tall on towering 24-inch boots, Lady Gaga made her triumphant debut on the runway during the Thierry Mugler fall/winter 2011 fashion show in Paris on Wednesday.
As with all things Gaga, her appearance let the clothes horse showcase her many talents. In addition to modeling, Gaga did double duty as the show's musical director, and premiered her new song, "Government Hooker," as the attention-grabbing collection made its way down the catwalk.
Putting the seasoned pros to shame with her confident struttin' (at least one of the models was spotted staggering in her ridiculously high heels), The Lady made her first appearance of the night in a sheer black top paired with a long pencil skirt, waist-length blond pigtails, and a chic black hat, before returning at the end of the show in a fabulous all-white ensemble.
As her current hit single "Born This Way" blasted over the speakers at the conclusion, Gaga navigated the stairs at the end of the runway to greet the show's creative director -- and Gaga's top fashion collaborator -- Nicola Formichetti, who was presenting his first collection under the Thierry Mugler label.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Virus experts warn the next big threat is on mobile phones and attacks beginning
Related Content
Enlarge Photo
A Blackberry user thumbs through the security options in Ottawa on Tuesday Oct. 5, …
TORONTO - Virus experts are warning that the next big security threat is on mobile phones and that the attacks have begun in earnest.
For months, security researchers have been tracking how hackers were trying to take their exploits to a new platform and infect smartphones with malware that could remotely control the devices.
Earlier this week, Symantec released a report about the spread of an infected app called "Steamy Windows" on Google's Android platform. The simple but popular app makes it look like your screen is covered with steam, which can be cleared off with finger swipes.
Unknown hackers created a copycat version of the app, secretly loaded it with malicious commands, and released it to the web on unofficial app download sites.
It's not the first time such a threat has been detected, said Symantec's principal security response manager Vikram Thakur, but it's far more sophisticated — and successful — than what was previously spotted in circulation.
"It definitely had a lot more features than we've been seeing with Android threats in the past few months," said Thakur, noting the malware enabled a hacker to retrieve data from an infected phone, send out premium rate text messages, show advertisements, and launch any website.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Lady Gaga hits stage with Winnipeg girl
Ten-year-old singing sensation Maria Aragon of Winnipeg performed with her idol, outrageous chart-topping singer Lady Gaga, during a sold-out concert in Toronto on Thursday night.
The grade-school student, who caught Gaga's attention after posting a cover of Born This Way online, sang the American pop star's hit single with her about an hour into the show at the Air Canada Centre.
Maria strode out dressed in shiny black pants, a pink shirt and a white hat.
"I'm really excited that Maria is here today, because Maria represents what this song is all about," Gaga said .
"It's all about the next generation and the future, and no more divisiveness."
The 10-year-old sat on her idol's lap at the piano and the pair performed to a roaring, cheering crowd.
Gaga, who called Aragon "Lady Maria from Winnipeg," was in tears after the young performer left the stage.
"Lady Maria really belted it out," CBC reporter Sheila North Wilson said from the concert, which started more than an hour late. "The crowd loves her."
After the duet, Maria thanked her family and friends for their support before heading offstage.
"I'm just really grateful to all of you."
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Shopping carts found to be dirtier than public toilets
Most people touch shopping cart handles every time they go to the grocery store, but a new study may have you wiping them down first.New research from the University of Arizona showed that 72 per cent of the 85 carts examined had a marker for fecal matter. They also found that half of 36 carts examined contained E. coli along with other bacteria.
"That's more than you find in a supermarket's restroom," said lead researcher Dr. Charles Gerba in an MSNBC story. "That's because they use disinfecting cleaners in the restrooms. Nobody routinely cleans and disinfects shopping carts."
Researchers swabbed cart handles in four states looking for bacterial contamination.
Gerba also said these results may explain other research that shows kids who ride in carts are at a higher risk of developing infections caused by bacteria.Canadian entrepreneur Sergeo Hristovski came close to solving this problem. He invented a machine called the 'Pristine Cart' that sanitizes carts as you push them through. After investing $120,000 of his own money, he took his invention to CBC's Dragons' Den in October of 2008.
The Dragons initially seemed interested, but when they asked if any retailers were on board, Hristovski said they were "extra cautious". Due to a lack of interest from retailers and the price tag of $6,000 per machine, none of the Dragons made a deal.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Baby gets gifts from grieving strangers
When Trey Brown was born last week at a Windsor, Ont., hospital, his parents, Lisa Kampf and Grant Brown, had no idea a family they had never met would make their baby's birth so special.
The Mamo family lost their 14-year-old son Bryce on Feb. 22 last year to cancer, and they decided to keep his memory alive by giving a gift to the first son born on the first anniversary of Bryce's death. That boy turned out to be Trey Brown.
At first, the parents didn't accept the gift bag filled with baby outfits. They hadn't announced to anyone that Trey had been born, and they thought the gift was meant for someone else. They didn't recognize the name on the card, but the hospital nurse explained the gesture, and they were touched.
"It was definitely a conversation stopper," said Kampf. "It just put a whole lot more meaning into him arriving, and to know that the unfortunate thing of losing a son, but we're gaining one — hopefully, Bryce is watching over our son, and we're very thankful to have him."
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Space shuttle seen from above
On Thursday, the space shuttle Discovery blasted into space for its final mission. People around the world watched the liftoff, but only a lucky few got to see the shuttle from the skies.
Passengers on a flight from Orlando, Florida to Richmond, Virginia were treated to an unexpected kind of entertainment when they saw the Shuttle off of the left side of the plane.
One quick-thinking man named Neil Monday captured the experience on his iPhone. After he uploaded the two-minute clip to the Web, searches shot into the stratosphere. The video has been featured by multiple blogs and news agencies, including MSNBC.
Monday almost never got the chance. The flight he was on was scheduled to leave two hours earlier, but a delay kept it grounded. It's probably the first time in history passengers were happy about being delayed.
The video, which you can watch below, is, of course, visually stunning, but it also contains a pretty good joke, if you listen hard enough. While Neil records the shuttle's launch, the captain can be heard over the loudspeaker saying, "Those on the right side can see the space shuttle. Those on the left side can probably see the people on the right side looking at the space shuttle."
You gotta love airplane humor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)