A Zen's Dog Praying

a dog at southern japan trying to mimic his master, a zen monk, in southern japan temple.

The one and half year old chihuahua named conan as on the image above try to follow his master praying position by uniting its hand's palm in front of its face and maintain it.

His master said that it only took a few days for him to learn the motion. Tourists flock into the temple after these news was spread across the nation.

Now, his master tried to let the dog learn how to meditate but, of course not to put his leg crossing which is impossible, only sitting still while his master meditate.

Source : http://theuniquenews.blogspot.com/2008/03/zens-dog-praying.html

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World's Most Unusual Houses - Home Sweet Home

Our homes are very close to our hearts and a pivotal part of our lives. However while many of us love our homes and depend on them greatly, the majority of houses still follow a fairly mundane design. This is not true of all homes however, as this list of some of the world's most unusual houses proves. Read on...

Bart Prince Homes: Bart Prince is an architect who is well known for his unusual structures. These include many unusual homes that break the mould of the box-shaped buildings we all drew as children and are some of the world's most unusual houses. Each home revolves around a central theme, and is designed from the 'inside out'. Bart Prince's own home is of course a testament to this original and quirky design – some kind of metallic snake-like looking building that is suspended in the air and features unusual looking antennae along with some other mysterious features.

Dal al Hajar: Dal al Hajar in Yemen is one of the world's most unusual houses for sure but it quite different from those designs of Bart Prince. This is really more of a palace than a house per-se, but was designed to be a summer home. Cut straight into the rock that forms its base it is highly tall and narrow in its design and made up from many different layers and levels.

Bubble House: The bubble house in Tourettes-su-Loup, France is listed as a historic monument despite being designed in the 70s and being as-yet incomplete. The design is highly futuristic and you might expect from the name it is made up from several 'bubble' shapes give it round ceilings and walls – which is reflected in the curved convex windows and doors too. It also features a range of round pools and waterfalls and if that wasn't enough it's situated on a volcanic terrain.

Upside Down House: Situated in Szymbark in Poland, the upside down house is essentially exactly what it sounds like – a house that is completely upside down. Looking like any other wooden home apart from that rather distinguishing feature, it was designed to be a statement on 'communism and the end of the world' (whatever that means...). Apparently just standing inside the building can make you feel dizzy and seasick. One of the world's most unusual houses and apparently one of the most sickening and disorientating as well!

Toilet Shaped House: Again this is a house that is adequately described by its title – the toilet shaped house is a house that is shaped like a toilet, or more accurately a toilet seat with a distinct lack of cistern at the back. The windows are glass around the outside making for a very spacious and light interior. This masterpiece can be found in Suweon, South Korea.

Floating House: The floating house is one of the world's most unusual houses and also one of the most striking. Here the name is slightly misleading – of course the house does not actually float, it just appears to be floating as the result of some very clever design work that enables it to be held up by just one point. Found allegedly in the Ukraine there are some claims that it may be a hoax.

Crooked House: The crooked house is Poland's second entry into the world's most unusual houses and is less 'crooked' than wavy, looking like its morphing and warping along the vertical edges and inducing quite a headache. Apparently inspired by the paintings of the Polish artist 'Jan Marcin Szancer' it can be found in Sopot. Unfortunately it is a contentious entry into any list of the world's most unusual houses as it is actually a shopping mall more than a home.

Shoe House: Surely inspired by the nursery rhyme (about the old lady who lived in a shoe) it seems like someone decided to turn it into a reality. That someone was the artist-come-hotelier Ron Van Zyl who built a shoe shaped house for his wife in South Africa.

source : http://www.worldsmostunique.com/worlds-most-unusual-houses.html

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Worlds Fastest Computer

 

Roadrunner - Roadrunner is miles ahead of the competition
     

On the dawn of 25 May 2008, IBM unveiled their gentle giant- the ‘roadrunner’. Do not mistake it with the cute little cartoon character that your children enjoy watching on TV, the roadrunner is actually the worlds fastest computer at present, and it is capable of processing 1.7 petaflops. On May 25th, the computer had achieved 1.06 petaflops, making it the worlds fastest computer. This lean and hungry machine is not a child’s toy and it is priced at an eye-popping amount of $133 million.

Built by IBM at the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, this is truly a one of its kind supercomputer, primarily because of the fact that this machine is built mostly on commodity parts, available off the shelf at any hardware store.  The worlds fastest computer boasts of some great design techniques, which have made it one of the marvels of modern engineering and computer architecture.

Built for the National nuclear security administration department, this computer has 12,960 IBM powerXcell 8i CPUs in conglomeration with 6,480 AMD opteron microprocessor systems. These systems are connected via a new technique of CPU-Processor connection, known as the infiniband, using blade server architecture. Running on Fedora and Red hat enterprise editions, the worlds fastest computer is as easy to work with as any other computing device. Designed to predict the vulnerability and the safety of America’s ageing nuclear weapons, the worlds fastest computer computes the reaction of nuclear components and ingredients as time progresses. The roadrunner is a massive machine, and occupies almost 550 square meters of space.

The main area where the worlds fasts computer differs from a lot of other super computers is the fact that it uses a combination of two architectures wherein each AMD 64 opteron processor is combined in a hybrid architecture with a ‘cell’, manufactured by IBM using its patented ‘power architecture’ technology.

The building process of the roadrunner was divided into three broad phases. The first phase was concerned with the development of a cluster, on a smaller scale, of the AMD 64- Cell combination and to check its feasibility on a larger scale. The second phase was primarily concerned with building a prototype using the clusters developed in the first phase. The third phase was dedicated to reach a peak performance, which was aimed to be measured in petaflops. Additional clusters, architectural enhancements and some additional powerXcell systems were arranged in order to breach the petaflops limit. Thus the worlds fastest computer was born on May 25th, 2008.

Containing two different kinds of processors, one being for calculations and the other for performing normal computer functions (such as bootstrapping, process scheduling and memory management), the worlds fastest computer is an architectural marvel. The two cores of computations in the worlds fastest computer are the AMD opteron and the IBM powerXcell. While the Opteron runs at 1.8 GHz, the PowerXcell runs at 3.2 GHz. The roadrunner utilizes a total of 122,400 cores, with roughly 6,000 coming from the Opteron and the rest coming from the PowerXcell.The computational unit of the roadrunner is the ‘triblade’, which consists of two dual core opterons with 16 GB of RAM and four powerXcells, containing their own additional 16 GB of RAM. The complete CU or the computational unit is the main unit of computation in the roadrunner and consists of 180 such triblades, with each of these triblades connected to a 288 port Voltaire infiband switch. The Panasas file system is implemented through twelve system servers. Each triblade, therefore, has to pass though one of these servers to access the Panasas files system.

The overall structure which emerges out as the complete roadrunner model consists of eighteen CUs, or connected units, which are connected through a second infiniband switch. The whole architecture is a mammoth structure and is testimony to the huge computing potential of the worlds fastest computer, setting it far apart from the rest of the competition. 

source : http://www.worldsmostunique.com/worldsfastestcomputer.html

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Worlds Biggest Dog

Hercules - The Largest Pooch in The World
     
Over the past two odd decades, there have been many dogs which have been featured in the Guinness book of world records for their extremities. Leading the list of such hounds is Hercules, an English Mastiff, which was inducted in the Guinness book of world records back in 2001 for being the worlds biggest dog, weighing 282 pounds and having a 39 inch broad neck, back then. Hercules was three years of age at that time, and the story of its induction is a dramatic one indeed. Before moving on to some of the personal aspects associated with the worlds largest dog and its owners, we shall take a look at some of the other dogs which were included in the Guinness book due to similar reasons.

Kell, another English Mastiff is the heaviest dog. The reason why Kell didn’t get the title of being the worlds largest dog is that even though it weighed 286 pounds in 2001, its neck was 32 inches broad, which was a good 6 inches smaller that Hercules. Another English Mastiff named Zorba has been rendered immortal in the books and is by far the heaviest dog in the history of mankind. Weighed in 1989, Zorba was the worlds biggest dog back then, weighing 343 pounds. It was only after Zorba’s death that Hercules got inducted into the Guinness book in a rather strange way. It was on a day when a child in the neighborhood of Hercules was browsing to check for the heaviest dog in the world. He gave the idea to Hercules’ owners- Flynn and his wife Wendy, residing in Massachusetts back then. When Flynn filed an application for the record with the Guinness book of world records, it became clear that Hercules was apt to become the worlds biggest dog.

Coming back to Hercules, it is said that Hercules has paws that are the size of a softball. After getting up-close and personal with the owners of the worlds biggest dog, one can not stop adoring the gentle nature of this otherwise huge dog. He is huge, but is very well-behaved, explains Flynn, who himself happens to be a power-lifter and weighs more than 270 pounds. As a puppy, according to Flynn, Hercules was large, but they didn’t think that he would go on to become the worlds biggest dog. As far as diet is concerned, Flynn maintains categorically that he has never served Hercules with anything extraordinary and that Hercules’ size is totally natural. They have fed him what they would have otherwise fed any normal dog. The reason why Flynn got Hercules in the first place was because Wendy, his wife, wanted a dog that was larger than their already existing two year old dog, which was a Bull-Mastiff. According the Flynn, it was the playfulness of the puppy in Hercules that had got him excited and roaring to make Hercules a part of his family’s lives.

Hercules is a dog that enjoys the limelight. It was back then in 2001, when Hercules was adjudged as being the worlds biggest dog that Flynn came to know about the limelight-loving nature of his pooch. Hercules would go wagging to the interviewers and in front of the cameras, which made him a lovable animal. He was featured on many news and daily shows, and was even featured in a few commercial ads. Whatever it was, the worlds biggest dog was willing to try out new things, much to the surprise and approval of its owners. The Flynns themselves have two children, who were two and seven years old respectively back then, and according to the Flynns, Hercules got along really well with them. Later on, due to his loving nature, the world largest dog was doing shows and was booked for various birthday parties. He was also allowed to meet and get photos shot with children who came to see him from around the world.

Hercules, in true sense, stands as a testimony to the phrase- “the gentle giant”.

Source : http://www.worldsmostunique.com/worldsbiggestdog.html

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Popular Baby Names

 

     
The most popular baby names -This is where it starts

     

Choosing a baby name for the new born child is one of the most cumbersome tasks. One has to ensure that the baby name is not only one of the most popular baby names of the baby's time, but also that the baby doesn't, at any point of time during his life, feel ashamed of his or her name. We will be taking a look at some of the most popular baby names, as per statistics, in the past decade or so. We shall also be taking a look at some baby name ideas. You will find a compiled list of some of the most popular baby names that have ruled the roost in the past few years.

The most popular baby names have had their origins in various languages in the recent past- from Hebrew, English and Polish to Welsh and Irish. Noah, Ethan and Jacob have been three of the most popular baby names of all time. While Noah represents peace, Ethan is the term used to refer to strength and Jacob is synonymous with supplanter. Jaden is another one out of some of the most popular baby names. It has an Irish descent and is said to be a mixture of two words- Aidan and Jay. While Aidan is an Irish word meaning small fire, Jay is a Latin word referring to someone out of the crow family.

The name Dylan has a British descent and is used to refer to the son of the sea Some of the other most popular baby names having their origins in the British Isles include Braden and Kaden. While Braden means someone coming from a wide valley, the word Kaden (which has its origins in the British-American community) means fighter. Michael and John are two of the most popular baby names having traditional origins. Having descended from Hebrew, both of these names are used to refer to God and its entities in one way or the other. While Michael refers to a rhetoric asking who on this earth is like God, the word John refers to “God is gracious”. Other popular baby names include Mark and Stephen. While the former is of a Latin origin, the former is of a Greek origin. Mark means to be warlike, while Stephen is used to refer to a crown. Robert, Richard, Matt/Matthew and Will/William are some of the other names which have earned a spot in our list of most popular baby names. Matt means a gift of god and William is used to refer to a warrior of unparalleled strength and warring skills.

The above mentioned names are suitable for naming male children. We take a closer look at some of the most popular baby names for daughters. Isabella, Eva and Chloe are three of the most popular baby names for daughters as per statistics of 2008. While Isabella is an Italian name and means “Oath of the God”, Ava and Chloe are names of Greek origin meaning “bird like” and “blooming” respectively. Olivia, Abigail and Madeline are three other names that have forced their way into our list of most popular baby names for daughters. Abigail has origins of Hebrew nature and is used to refer to someone who is a father's blessing. Mary, Grace, Elizabeth and Victoria are some of the most popular baby names having a subtle traditional appeal to them.
On the whole, the most common trend being experienced when it comes to baby names is that most of the traditional baby names have originated from Hebrew or British Isles and the modern clan of names have their origins in Greek and Latin cultures.

Source : http://www.worldsmostunique.com/themostpopularbabynames.html

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Worlds Healthiest Foods

     

Healthy foods for a better tomorrow

     
With more and more people getting health conscious these days, a lot of research is being done in the field of food technology. A lot of health experts feel that our fitness levels depend more on the kind of food we consume as compared to the workout regime we follow. Food and related issues shape up to 75% of our fitness levels, and workout contributes only 25% to it. So then, which food items are the worlds healthiest food items? Undoubtedly, whole foods, including fruits, green vegetables and grains are said to be the worlds healthiest foods and are recommended by more than 90% of dieticians throughout the world.

Whole foods are not only responsible for keeping the digestive tracts working, they are also considered to be good cleansers of the body, have high nutritional values and contain the least amount of calories. Whole foods influence our hormonal structuring and therefore, are very essential for growing children. We will be discussing some of the worlds healthiest foods in this write-up and the reader is advised to adopt to similar food items, according to geographic availability of that item.

Cucumbers and carrots top my list of the worlds healthiest foods because of one major reason- they are easily available throughout the world, and therefore, you won’t have to go places to get your hands on a carrot or a cucumber. The crunch and the sweetness of carrots is one thing that makes them a favorite among children and adults, alike. Carrots are just as great if served raw with salad, or if boiled. Parsnips, Dill and Cumin are other members of the carrot family, and are characterized by the fleshy and thick underground roots. This family of vegetables has a low-calorific content and a very high nutritional value, especially when it comes to the volumes of Vitamin-A. Carrots have been scientifically proven beneficial in curing cancer and providing relief in heart and cardiovascular diseases. It is due to so many health-oriented benefits that we proclaim the carrot family as one of the worlds healthiest foods.

The cucumber family of fruits and vegetables is also one of my favorite health foods. Most beneficial in warm months, cucumber, watermelon and pumpkin belong to the same family and are known as natural coolants of the human body. Cucumber is also very soothing to the eyes and is therefore, used often to give a soothing effect to the eye by placing it over the eyelids. Vitamin C and caffeic acid are the main ingredients of cucumber and are responsible for having anti-inflammatory properties, making cucumber one of the world healthiest foods. The high silica content in cucumber enhances the radiance on the skin, making cucumber one of the favorite natural remedies for dermatologists all over the world.

Almost every one of us has heard the expression “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”. It is for a valid reason that apple is such a medically revered fruit and considered a “good” food all around the world. Be it the crisp, sweet taste or the numerous health benefits associated with the apple, there are a lot of reasons for considering apple as one of the worlds healthiest foods. The flavonoids, fiber and a good amount of natural fructose, coupled with the fact that apple contains merely 81 calories, make it one of the most apt health foods all over the world. Apple is medically proven to be helpful in cardiovascular diseases because of the heart-healing fiber content, which is also needed for proper functioning of the digestive system.

We will be ending this discussion about the worlds healthiest foods by mentioning some properties of corn, which is one of the healthiest grains today. Synonymous with the onset of summer, corn has Vitamin B1, Vitamin B5, manganese, phosphorus, dietary fiber and Vitamin C, which make it an all round winner when it comes to the list of the worlds healthiest foods.
Remember, what you eat can go a long way in determining the kind of life you would live some years down the line from now, therefore, it becomes all the more important to switch to healthier food options.

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The Worlds Fastest Car

The Worlds Fastest Car - SSC Ultimate Aero TT

Tested by the Guiness Book of World Records in March of 2007, the SSC Ultimate Aero TT is still the worlds fastest car for the 2009-2010 year. With a top speed of 257 miles per hour it has surpassed the previous worlds fastest car, the Bugatti Veyron.

The SSC Ultimate Aero’s base price is $654,400 US, and it is well worth the 0-60 miles per hour in 2.7 seconds produced by the 1,183 horses running wild under the hood. The worlds fastest car is manufactured by Shelby SuperCars, who released an even more powerful 2009 edition of the SSC Ultimate Aero. With a few tweaks here and there Shelby SuperCars was able to squeeze 15 percent more horsepower out of the Twin Turbo V8 engine. With an output of 1,287 horses the worlds fastest car, surpasses its closest competitor the Bugatti Veyron by two-hundred and eighty-six horses.

The 2009 model of the SSC Ultimate Aero has an increased speed of 270 miles per hour. To add the worlds fastest car stopping power the AeroBrakeTM system has been introduced. The AeroBrakeTM, is a rear spoiler that works much like flaps on an airplane. When the brake is applied the rear spoiler raises according to the amount of brake pressure, bring the car to a stop far sooner than brakes alone could.

The second worlds fastest car is the Bugatii Veyron, clocked at 253 miles per hour by the Guiness Book of Word Records. The Bugatti Veyron can go 0-60 in 2.5 seconds, the world record for acceleration in a production car. The worlds fastest car operates off of the Narrow Angle W16 Engine, which boasts 1001 horsepower. Named after the Bugatti race car driver Pierre Veyron, this 16 cylinder engine, has four banks of four cylinders. If that’s not enough, the W16 engine also has not one, not two, but 4 turbochargers!

The worlds fastest cars run hard and hot, the Bugatti Veyron accounts for this also with ten radiators, ensuring the entire W16 engine stays cool. The Bugatti is capable of going faster, much faster in fact, but it is governed at 253 miles per hour in order to prevent tire damage. Due to the 16 cylinder engine, this car gulps 5 gallons of fuel every mile (5 miles per gallon – highway) and approximately 12 miles per gallon in city traffic. Only the worlds richest and most prestigious can afford the second worlds fastest car due to its price tag of $1,700,000 US.

Placing in third is the Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo, priced at 550,000 US. The Saleen S7 is powered by a Twin-Turbo V8 Engine, capable of producing 750 horsepower. The third worlds fastest car is capable of speeds upwards to 448 miles per hour. The Saleen S7 can reach 60 miles per hour in approximately 3.2 seconds and speeds of 100 miles per hour in less than 7 seconds.

The fourth fastest car is a Swedish production car, the Koenigsegg CCX. Producing 806 horsepower the 90 Degree V8 Engine can accelerate this car from 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds. It may not be the fastest car in the world but boasting top speeds of 245 miles per hour is not bad. The CCX in the Koenigsegg’s name stands for “Competition Coupe X” and it was launched as part of the 10th Anniversary Celbration of Koenigsegg. With 50mm headroom space, this car has become the most spacious of the worlds fastest cars. The price tag on the Koenigsegg CCX is $545,568 US.

The McLaren F1 was the worlds fastest car until the Bugatti Veyron was introduced. The McLaren F1 reaches a top speed of 240 miles per hour and is powered by the BMW 6 Liter V12 Engine. This engine has an output of 627 horsepower and also has an option for Imperial Horsepower. Many different versions of the McLaren F1, the fourth worlds fastest car, including sixty-five street versions, five LMs (built for their victory at Le Mans in 1995), three are road versions of their race car and 28 GTRs for the road.

The McLaren F1 concept came from Chief Engineer Gordon Murray, who introduced the use of carbon, titanium, and gold for the carbon fiber monocoque chassis. The price tag on the fourth worlds fastest car was $970,000 US, when it was still being produced. Whereas the McLaren F1 is no longer manufactured the current price tag is probably far greater.

Source : http://www.worldsmostunique.com/worldsfastestcar.html

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