Oops: Reports that Fukushima radiation 10 million times above normal was mistake

Things were looking extremely bad at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant when officials said that radiation levels were spiking at 10 million times above normal on Sunday. This led to an evacuation of the workers at the plant. Turns out the reading was a mistake. Oops. 

MySpace loses 10 million unique visitors in a month

MySpace

In 2006, MySpace was the most popular social networking website in the the United States, likely the world. Now, they are barely clinging to life, hemorrhaging over 10 million unique users between January and February, according to Tech industry analysts comScore. Year over year the site has lost almost 50 million users, down from close to 110 million in February 2010. Rupert Murdoch must be cursing under his breath having bought MySpace for US$580 million in 2005, only to wake up and realize he bought the now defunct "Friendster" by accident. Remember them?

Made irrelevant by Facebook, MySpace decided in 2010 that is was not a social networking site competing with Facebook, but a music site targeting young people. BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield said, "Most investors have written off MySpace now."

It appears to be a case of too little, too late. With a new round of layoffs MySpace seems to be in a death spiral. I think the music focus is a great idea, albeit likely too late. Had they focused in this direction earlier, they may have pulled it off – there is a huge market for indie music but unfortunately a lot of competition for it now.

Do I have a MySpace page? Yes. When is the last time I accessed it? Can't remember.

Useless: Forget about designer vaginas – woman invents the camel toe guard

camel toe (Wikipedia)

I can't wait to see the infomercial got this product. A British woman invented a camel toe guard, that is essentially a small piece of plastic that goes into womens' underwear. The name of the product: "SmoothGroove". From the SmoothGoove website:

"Women can rejoice - our very last wardrobe malfunction has now been addressed! At last, there’s a product that sensibly alleviates the most embarrassing taboo there is for us girls – the crudely named Camel Toe. SmoothGroove is the brainchild of north east businesswoman Susan Laurie, whose love of wearing figure hugging clothes was often blighted by this imperfection.  After finding no credible solutions, Susan’s ongoing frustrations led her to determinedly produce a product that would finally improve the confidence of thousands of women like her.  After all research has shown that a staggering 55% of UK women, irrespective of age or weight, will suffer from Camel Toe at some point .... Many females in our increasingly image obsessed society have even gone to extreme lengths to rectify the problem, resorting to expensive and risky surgery to create a ‘designer vagina’."

"Proof of creation" dino drawing turns out to be mud stain

The pictogram at the Kachina Bridge formation in Natural Bridges Natural Monument

Image via Wikipedia

An ancient cave drawing on a rock formation in Utah has had creationists saying it's proof that man and dinosaurs lived together. Not so, say saner people –– namely scientists. The pictogram in Natural Bridges Natural Monument has drawn the curious for years. The image can be found on several creationist websites and is part of an exhibit at the Creation Museum. Many have said, it appears to be a hand-drawn plant-eating dino.

Phil Senter, a biology professor at Fayetteville State University, viewed the drawing for the first time two years ago. "We got there and I couldn't believe it," Senter said. "It looked just like a sauropod." Intrigued, Senter asked author and archaeologist Sally J. Cole to examine the drawing. She declared that it was actually a composite of two separate drawings, one being a snake or serpent. The dinosaur "legs" were actually natural mineral or mud stains.

Contacted by Discovery News, officials at the Creationist Museum criticized the report  noting that Cole examined the drawing with binoculars rather than getting close up.

The scientist failed to explain nearby drawings of Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble.

Read more on Discovery News.

Help wanted: Sex, booze and sleeping on the job

Image via Wikipedia

A small water park in Illinois allegedly became a playground for staff who drank, had sex and napped for hours at a time –– all while on the job. The events, as well as the theft of thousands of dollars in cash, were captured on video surveillance cameras. The cameras were installed in a pool office as part of a probe into theft at the Cermak Aquatic Center.

“This included surveillance video of employees consuming alcoholic beverages and providing the alcohol to minors, engaging in sexual relations, improper physical contact between supervisor and subordinate, employees lounging and/or sleeping for hours at a time,”  Patrick Blanchard wrote in his report to Cook County Board President.

My only question: Are they hiring?

Two students sentenced to make a YouTube video for making bomb

You've heard of the hanging judge – now there is the YouTube judge. Two university students decided to make a bomb to create an 'effect' with explosives and capture it on video for a school project. Humphries joked about it on YouTube in an "Antoine Dodson-style" song. Donald Richard Lorge, 20, and Christopher Humphries, 23, each pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct and one count of possession of a caustic substance.

The sentence:  Produce a YouTube video public safety message about the dangers of bomb making! Well, they also received jail terms of 12 months in jail for each count –– all of it suspended and a whopping 20 hours of community service. As well they were ordered to pay a total $6,035.64 in restitution to the City of Norfolk.

Looking forward to seeing that video boys!

Christopher Humphries (left) and Donald Lorge

Einstein theory proven correct - again

As if it needed further proof, NASA provided this information on two new studies proven Einstein right again:

"Two new studies have put Einstein's General Theory of Relativity to the test like never before, using observations of galaxy clusters to study the properties of gravity on cosmic scales. These results, made using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, show Einstein's theory is still the best game in town. Such studies are crucial for understanding the evolution of the universe, both in the past and the future, and for probing the nature of dark energy, one of the biggest mysteries in science."

But all that is really an excuse to use this stunning image!

Image Credit: X-ray (NASA/CXC/SAO/A. Vikhlinin; ROSAT), Optical (DSS), Radio (NSF/NRAO/VLA/IUCAA/J.Bagchi)

Criminals: Dumb and dumber

Osceola County Jail

A Florida mother served as the getaway driver when her 20-year-old son robbed a convenience store. Police in St. Cloud say Cindy M. Willison, 47, waited in the parking lot of a Cumberland Farms store and picked up her son, Angelo J. Palmieri, after he held up the shop.

Austin Police Dept.

 Johnathan Washburn, 23, allegedly hit a man on the head with a skateboard after he took a picture
of his bizarre Mohawk hairstyle.

Hernando County (Fla.) Sheriff’s

Police  in Florida arrested Thomas Gannon, left, and Tina Cash on charges of misdemeanor domestic battery after the couple allegedly got into a fight over Facebook. Gannon, 35, reportedly told police that the couple got into a physical altercation after his 31-year-old girlfriend “unfriended” him on Facebook and changed her relationship status.


More dumb criminals here on AOL.

Bomb sits for three weeks in lost and found in Detroit Federal building

Image via Wikipedia

McNamara Federal Building

You would think by now that when a security guard finds a suspicious package they would have a pretty good idea how to respond,  if from nothing more than from watching TV.

Not so with a guard at the McNamara Federal Building in Detroit. A guard found the package outside the building, and instead of alerting police, he brought it to the lost and found. There it sat for three weeks, until someone got the bright idea to x-ray the package. Behold, a pipe bomb!

 Detroit Police  bomb squad was finally called in to remove the device.

Related articles

• Michigan Man Arrested in Detroit Bomb Case (abcnews.go.com)
• Man Accused of Trying to Damage Federal Building (abcnews.go.com)

Pastor had sex with boys to cure them of their "homosexuality"

They usually blame the devil, but in this case the perv is blaming God.

Brent Girouex

Brent Girouex, 31, a former youth pastor in Iowa had a brainstorm: Have sex with boys and cure them of their "homosexuality". Or so claims Girouex. Police are looking at it a little differently. Girouex was arrested on 60 counts of suspicion of sexual exploitation.

Girouex told police that he had sexual contact with four young men in order to help them gain “sexual purity in the eyes of God.”

At least eight men have now come forward with complaints that Girouex molested them, reports the Wisconsin Gazette. "Girouex told investigators the most sexual contact he had was with one teen over a four-year period, starting when the boy was 14 years old. Calling the contact “mutual,” he said it had occurred between “25 and 50 times” during that period."

Girouex said during all of the incidents, it was only about “helping the victims gain sexual purity.” “When they would ejaculate, they would be getting rid of the evil thoughts in their mind.”


Amen.

Infographic: Global corruption

It's no surprise that the most corrupt countries in the world are the most unstable. Somalia is ranked as the most corrupt country in this survey an graphic  by graphic.is, with Iraq and Afghanistan following closely. North America (minus Mexico of course) , Western Europe and Australia are the least corrupt areas of the globe, as would be expected.There are some changes of note, however:
  

"One of them was the decrease in the score of the United States, from 7.5 to 7.1. Other countries that saw their scores decrease included Greece, Italy, and Niger. Chile, Ecuador, and Jamaica were among the countries whose scores improved. "

Click on graphic to go to graphic.is

Infographic: How Google has shaped the web

Click on graphic to go to full size version.

Infographic by SEO Book

Apple's original logo with Sir Isaac Newton looked more like a wine label

The original logo

The logo we all associate with Apple Computers was not the first log they used. This from OMG Facts:

"This first logo was designed by Ron Wayne, one of Apple's three co-founders, and was only used for the Apple I computer. More of a picture than a logo, it portrayed the famous scene in which Isaac Newton is pondering gravity beneath an apple tree. Less than a year later, Steve Jobs, another co-founder, requested a redesign because he felt it was too intellectual and far too intricate to be stamped on computers.

The newer logo, created by art designer Rob Janoff, was far more simplistic - it featured a partially bitten apple striped with the colors of the rainbow in the wrong order. This served as Apple's primary logo for 20 years until 1997 when Jobs decided to ditch the rainbow stripes for a solid-colored fruit."

 The first Apple products to feature the new logo were the PowerBook G3s in 1998. Below is the evolution of the famed logo, one of the most recognizable in the world.

Are you from Mars? Maybe.

You just may be a Martian.  Many planetary scientists conjecture that all life on Earth originally may have came from from organisms that originated on Mars and came to Earth by way of meteorites. Researchers at MIT and Harvard are developing and instrument to try and prove – or disprove this theory. The device would take samples from the Martian soil and attempt to isolate DNA and RNA.  Researchers estimate that it could take two more years to complete the design and testing of a prototype of the proposed device.

"It's a long shot," MIT research scientist Christopher Carr says, "but if we go to Mars and find life that's related to us, we could have originated on Mars. Or if it started here, it could have been transferred to Mars." ... "We could be related to life on Mars. So we should at least be looking for life on Mars that's related to us." 

Read the entire story on MIT NEWS. 

The perfect girlfriend gift: The Hello Kitty™ inlayed Sig P226 handgun

I must say I am impressed.  The Dark Hello Kitty™ inlayed  Sig P226 from TJ's Custom Gunwork creates a whole new vibe in the gun world. Designed for looks, ready for action. TJ's advertises "OLD WORLD MASTER CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH PRIDE AND HONOR" and I think on this baby they have delivered. 

TJ's reason for making this gun: 

"I know, the first question is 'WHY???'

The answer is simple, because THAT is what the gal ordered!
And TJ will make your custom gun dreams come true if you pay for it.


The next question I hear, is 'HOW MUCH???'

The gun was provided, so the custom work was around $2100, and nearly $500 of that was just for the grips & inlays."

Netta Marshall really, really, really wants to work at Instagram

Yes Netta Marshall wants to work at Instagram. So badly in fact that she created an entire website as her application. What can I say. Hire the woman!

Pole dancing for Jesus - in Texas of course!

Not much more I can say about this insanity. Just watch the video.

Video: "Stupid Orchestra" actually quite clever

It's been named “The Stupid Orchestra” but in fact it is very clever. Artist Michael Petermann created this piece using 200 vintage household appliances to create his mechanical symphony. You'll need to go the Hamburg, Germany to hear the full 35 minute symphony but watch the video below for a teaser.

Blödes Orchester from white tube on Vimeo.

Castle has help wanted for a "Dragonologist"

Are you an unemployed Dragonologist? Look no further. Monster.co.uk is advertising this position in Warwick, England:

JOB TITLE
Consultant Dragonologist


PURPOSE OF THE JOB
Following the launch of Warwick Castle’s new attraction, Merlin: The Dragon Tower in April, it will be the responsibility of the resident dragonologist to ensure all elements associated with the dragon onsite (from the attraction to associated press materials and Castle staff) measure up to the required standard.​


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Acting within the role of consultant – the resident dragonologist would be required to demonstrate their knowledge to ensure all elements of Merlin: The Dragon Tower (set to be opened to the public in April) reach the required level of authenticity
• Using their knowledge of dragons and associated mythology, it will be the job of the dragonologist to train all Castle members (including Castle characters) within the realm of dragonology and ensure all staff onsite have the basic foundational knowledge required.​
• It will be the duty of the dragonologist to respond to enquiries from staff and members of the public on any dragon-related issues on an ongoing basis from contract start date.​


CANDIDATE:
• Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge of dragon myth and legend, with particular reference to dragon summoning and dragon powers and riddles.​
• The desired candidate will have at least five years’ experience working with or in relation to mythology and folklore preferably dragons and sorcery, although this is not essential and enthusiasm to learn on the job will be noted.​


QUALIFICATIONS:
• The ideal candidate should hold a BA (Hons) degree in Mythology and Folklore to the level of classification Upper First Class Honours or higher.​
• An in-depth knowledge of mythology (specifically dragons, dungeons and sorcery) with accompanying practical experience will also be accepted.​


WORKING HOURS:
• Working on a consultative basis, the ideal candidate would be able to respond to all queries within 24 hours and be on call for a specified period of time each week.​
• Throughout bank holidays and the Castle’s busier footfall periods (such as Christmas and the Summer Holidays) the chosen candidate should be able to travel to the Castle at short notice to respond to demand if required.​


SALARY:
• Competitive (negotiable dependent on experience)


BENEFITS & PERKS:
• Full access to Warwick Castle and its accompanying grounds
• Family Entertainment Pass to enjoy all attractions within Merlin Entertainments Group (including the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, SEALife and Alton Towers).​

Alexander Graham Bell's sketchbook

"'Mr. Watson – come here – I want to see you," Alexander Graham Bell said to his assistant in his first phone call in 1876. Thankfully, voice mail didn't come for some time later and his assistant picked up. Bell was also a prolific sketcher, with a fairly wide range of interests. Here are a few of his sketches. See the rest on the Atlantic.com