SmashingLists

Month: July 2013

  • Top 10 Silent Comedians

    The kids of today probably hasn’t even heard about the silent era of comedy. But people like me who were born in 80s and 90s might have heard a bit about some silent comedians. Those people were the best entertainers because amusing people without uttering a single word is what’s actually harder. Following is the list of top 10 silent comedians of their time, some of them might be heard of whereas others have been forgotten in time.

    10. Larry Semon

    Larry is listed amongst the forgotten stars of the century. He was born in Mississippi in 1889 and had been working for a newspaper as a cartoonist.  Soon he was approached to write and direct a few films and within 3 months he was starring in them as well. His appearance in his films was verily appreciated, he appeared in films as a white-faced, derby hat wearing klutz who would stumble into a scene and cause all kinds of chaos.  After his films received a great success he was allowed to make the films as accordingly as he liked which caused Larry being bankrupt just before his end of time which was in 1928.

     

    9.Ben Turpin


    Turpin was born in 1869 in New Orleans. Like most other stars he started his career in very early stages. In the year 1907, when cinemas came to life he got work at the Essanay studios as an actor and also as the janitor. But within few years his scribbling the floor days were far over. He became an established actor. The most famous thing about Turpin was his crossed eyes. The attention he got was not only because of the jokes but also because of his appearance. A publicity stunt was reported about Turpin that he had insured his eyes for $25,000. He retired early but still had appeared in some shows as a guest. He died on July 1, 1940 due to a heart attack.

     

    8.Mabel Normond


    After seeing her face if anyone is having the impression of a young innocent girl, I’m sorry to say that you sir/mam are thinking totally opposite of what she really was. Her abilities included directing, producing and acting. But the star’s life was full of scandals and drug addiction. She had played a very important role in cinematography and also in the career development of the infamous Chaplin. Chaplin’s character made its first ever appearance in Mable’s film. In Normond’s early twenties problems started arousing because of the fact that she was involved in drugs and was also counted as a suspect in the mysterious murder of her close friend. She carried on making a few more movies while ignoring her health which caused her an early death in 1930, her cause of death was TB.

     

    7.Mary Pickford


    Mary, who was born as Gladys Marie Smith in 1982 was a very talented and one of few silent female comedians of the silent era. She was the first super star who had control over things, either onscreen or off-screen. She had been doing a little this a little that in the beginning but by 1913, she had been hired by a director for $500 per week. Her success rate was so fast that within 3 years she was earning ten thousand dollars. Her cause of popularity was based around her innocent looks. She had played the roles of teenagers in her adulthood. Mary was considered to be the most famous woman in the world by 1920s. Due to some inside problems she retired early in 1933.

     

    6.Fatty Arbuckle


    Fatty Arbuckle is yet another forgotten comedian. In his time he was considered to be the only one who could stand next to Chaplin in terms of box office receipts and worldwide fame. His rate of success can be concluded by the fact that he rose from a plumber’s assistant to a million dollar a year movie star. However he was never as ambitious a Chaplin but still his art of making people laugh can’t be forgotten, even though his life was filled with scandals. Arbuckle was Chaplin’s mentor. The star had to face 3 trials for a scandal hit of killing Virginia Rappe after raping her. He was shortly acquitted by the jury, but the damage had been done and his career went to ruins. In 1932 he appeared in a couple of short films. He was forgiven by the public and was ready to make a full-fledged comeback, he even signed a contract with Warner in 1933, but as he said it was the best day of his life he died of a heart attack on the very same night.

    5.Harold Lloyd


    Harold Lloyd is one of those who lived to see cinema talk but was not able to be a part of it. He was considered to be one of the biggest stars of the day; he replaced Arbuckle and started to step up with Chaplin. His big break was in 1913 when he was working with Hal Roach. Lloyd became the comic character of Roach’s famous comic. He had appeared in more than sixty one reel comedies during the time period from 1915-1917. He went on doing big projects, with films like Girl Shy, The Freshman and Speedy were all big success. He was on the path of much greater success until the talkies arrived. He took a back seat in filming and was dealing with depression and other problems. He died in 1971 from a prostate cancer.

    4. Oliver Hardy


    Oliver is the one-half of the cinema’s best comedy duo ever to live. Oliver had already entered film industry at a very early age. He often worked as a projectionist, ticket taker, janitor and manager of his local nickelodeon in Georgia. His first appearance as an actor was in 1914 and within the next ten years he had made over 200 shorts often featuring Larry Semon before the original duo united in 1927. The duo started making shorts at an amazing rate that featured most of the unique stuff such as the most amazing pie fight in the history of films etc. Hardy and his partner were a few of those people who successfully stepped into sound and made their name permanent because they are still very well recognized, even now. And I can bet that most people have watched their movies more than other silent comedians.

    3. Stan Laurel


    Stan is the second-half of the cinema’s best comedy duo to ever live. Onscreen Stan was always the fall guy but off screen, he was the brains behind the success of the duo. Stan was born in England in 1880. He joined Fred Karno’s troupe of actors in 1910. In 1926, he joined the Hal Roach studio and started directing his own films. His intentions were to only direct and write films till the day he met Oliver Hardy in 1927. Hal Roach noticed the stars in them and made their dreams into reality. Their success on the sound cinema was as much as they had in the silent era. Their performance on any screen was always welcomed.  Their careers started to wade off after the 40s when both of them started having health issues and finally in 1957 Ollie died. Stan, his best buddy followed him in the arms of death on January 1965.

    2.Buster Keaton


    Keaton was born in 1895 to a lower class family. He gained his education from his father who would no doubt use his own son as a servant rather than a human being at the only age of five. Arbuckle showed Keaton the way into filming industry and when he got his recognition and confidence he went out on his own in the 20s and never once looked back. He had been doing films for quite some time and had performed his own dangerous stunts without any protections. Soon after he discovered that MGM was going to take away his freedom by claiming him to do their films he lost his spirit, became an alcoholic and never reclaimed his past glories. He was lucky enough to be cheered for in the 60s and finally getting credit for all his work. But that credit came late as he died soon on Feb 1, 1966 due to lung cancer.

    1. Charlie Chaplin


    No one in the silent comedy era is more widely known than Charlie Chaplin. Even the people who have never seen a silent film can recognize the Chaplin silhouette, the shabby suit, and the bowler hat. Chaplin was born in England on 1889. Before the arrival of Chaplin in the industry, the film comics were usually based firmly in the realm of cartoonish slapstick. Chaplin’s film making genius and storytelling instincts changed all that. In 1915, his film The Tramp was released. In the film whenever his character gets hurt he is not seen standing up again and continuing the shots, in fact he is seen in hospital beds as to show more reality than fiction. Once he got a leap to the feature films he got even more ambitious. More than 3 or 4 movies of his have been ranked to top 250 movies of all time. Chaplin has made a name that can never be removed from the history of this world. In the late 60s, his health began to fall slowly. Chaplin died in 1977 in his sleep.

     

  • Top 10 Restaurants in America You've Never Eaten At – Page 2 of 2

    5. Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowder House (Chowder)

    Iggy's Doughboys & Chowder House
    Address: 889 Oakland Beach Ave, Warwick, RI 02889-9616
    Phone: (401) 737-9459
    Website: www.iggysdoughboys.com
    This place is absolutely phenomenal. From the view, to the food, to the prices. They’re known for their doughboys (basically fried dough with sugar), clam cakes & clam chowder. The clam cakes are delicious, not overly greasy and not too heavy. The doughboys are amazing too (sugar, cinnamon sugar & powdered sugar). But if that weren’t enough, where they really shine is their chowder. It is so simple, cream, potatoes and clams but my goodness is it delicious. It will be the best bowl of chowder you’ve ever experienced.

     

    4. Juan in a Million (Breakfast Taco)

    Juan in a Million
    Address:     2300 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX‎, 78702
    Phone: (512) 472-3872‎
    Website: www.juaninamillion.com

    You may have to wait a little to get a seat but it will be worth it. Make sure to order the Juan in a Million breakfast taco. It is loaded with the perfect blend of eggs, cheese, bacon and potatoes all piled high on a warm flour tortilla. The quality and freshness is unrivaled. Word to the wise, order a few extra tortillas as the filling from one taco can actually make three. The chips and salsa served beforehand are extremely delicious as well. Be sure to come here with an empty stomach as you will leave with it filled to the brim.

     

    3. Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles (Southern Food)

    Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles
    Address: 10 W Yuma St, Phoenix, AZ‎ 85003
    Phone: (602) 340-1304
    Website: www.loloschickenandwaffles.com
    Lo-Lo’s is a Phoenix institution. It was started by Mrs. White and is currently run by her son Larry White. They are known mainly for their chicken & waffles and this is what you should be going there for. Their list of sides is daunting but you can’t go wrong with anything here, whether it be the mac & cheese, the fried okra, the mashed potatoes & gravy or their cornbread. And the same goes for the desserts especially the red velvet cake (if they’re still got any left for the day). Don’t forget to get a glass of their endless Red Kool-Aid too.

     

    2. Al’s Place (Burger & Fries)

    Al's Place
    Address:     13943 Main St, Walnut Grove, CA 95690
    Phone: (916) 776-1800‎
    Website: N/A
    Walking in here you’ll have to let your eyes adjust, it’s dark and dingy, almost like a cave but don’t let that stop you. They’re known for a few things here, their steak, burgers, peanut butter & marmalade. The menu doesn’t stretch much beyond that but that’s all you need at Al’s as they make those few items as good as anyone. The portions are huge and the tasty as all get out. Each table is set with a jar of peanut butter & marmalade to be applied to the thick slab of gridded toast they’ll serve you. This is a treat you won’t find anywhere else and something that sets Al’s apart.

     

    1. Hoover’s Cooking & Catering (Comfort Food)

    Hoover's Cooking & Catering
    Address: 2002 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78722
    Phone: (512) 479-0889
    Website: www.hooverscooking.com
    From the Cajun coleslaw to the garlic grits, home-made French fries and mac & cheese to the fried catfish or the pulled pork sandwiches, not to mention the jalapeno cornbread or sweet potato rolls served at every table, there is something here to please everyone. The only thing you’ll wish for here is that you had a bigger stomach, because they give you so much food you’ll be bringing home a doggy bag. Be sure to ask for their home-made Jerk BBQ sauce and try it on all their delicious entrees.

  • Top 10 Movie Cameos

     

     

    5. Drew Barrymore – Scream (1996)

    Perhaps the most iconic scene from this movie; or even the franchise as an entirety- the first (and best) Scream opens with the classic ‘what’s your favourite scary movie’ phone call. Everyone knows it, but what many people (or maybe it was just me) fail to realize is that the unfortunate recipient of the call is portrayed by Drew Barrymore. Originally in line to take up the role as main character Sidney Prescott, Barrymore’s schedule would not allow the time- so instead she agreed to take the smaller role of first victim Casey Becker.

     

    4. Charlton Heston – Waynes World 2 (1992)

    The second part in Mike Myers early triumph ‘Wayne’s World’ still holds its place as an extremely important comedy, even after almost 20 years since its release. The cast list is impressive on its own, even without the long list of cameo appearances which dwarfs it completely. The likes of Jay Leno, Tim Meadows and Steven Tyler all make appearances in the flick- however the standout cameo moment comes from the unmistakable Charlton Heston. After stopping to ask for directions from a gas station attendant- a disgruntled Wayne (Myers) stops to ask the camera if the actor playing the attendant is the best they (the movies producers) can do, having been unimpressed by his performance. Heston then takes centre stage for the most emotive dialogue in the entire movie, bringing Wayne to tears.

     

    3. Tom Cruise – Tropic Thunder (2008)

    Not really known for his ability to be gut-achingly funny, Mr Tom Cruise shocked the world in 08’ when he appeared as part of Ben Stiller’s all-star funny-man cast in the action packed ‘Tropic Thunder’. Appearing alongside Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and Steve Coogan- Cruise takes up the role of an overweight, over hairy talent agent under the impression that his top actor has been poached by a rival agency, when in reality he has been poached by a group of guerrilla militants. In a plot so jammed up with comics being varyingly hilarious, Cruise does well to step away from his usually more serious nature and shines through as being on-par with his co-stars.

     

    2. Christopher Walken – Pulp Fiction (1994)

    Regularly championed as being one of the greatest movies ever released, Tarantino’s sophomore masterpiece features an all-star cast including John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis- however the scene that sticks with me most is the one and only featuring the raw capabilities of Christopher Walken. Filling the role of a Vietnam veteran telling a young Butch (Willis’s character) a story highlighting the importance of a particular family heirloom, Walken is flawless in every aspect of his performance.

     

    1. Martin Scorsese – Taxi Driver (1976)

    In a movie full of erratic characters and dark subplots, director Martin Scorsese makes an appearance as one of Travis Bickles (Robert DeNiro) many strange fares. A bearded Scorsese in his 30’s takes the role of an unsettling man seeking revenge on his cheating wife, via way of a 44. Magnum, in a brief yet intense scene. After having a wary and silent Bickle pull up outside an apartment block, Scorsese goes on to explain what they are doing there- and more specifically what he intends to do about it. I won’t go into detail at risk of ruining it for those who haven’t seen it/causing mass offence to many people- however the clip can, unsurprisingly, be tracked down on YouTube.

     

     

     

    9.

  • Top Ten Professional Sports Rivalries

    Sports were designed for rivalries. In sports you have so much of what makes us human: tribalism, passion, the good guy the bad guy and much more. Throughout human history sports have evoked passion in both the competitors and the spectators. What is it about a sport that fires our passions so much? Is it the competition? Is it the chance to watch our hero match against another? Whatever it is there is no doubt that there have been some great sports rivalries throughout history. While the amateur ranks of collegiate sports has its fair share there has to be a way to narrow the list of great sports rivalries so this one focuses n professional rivalries. Admitted two Olympic competitors are on this list but they are professionals for all intents and purposes.

     

    10. Broncos vs. Raiders


    While NFL rivalries have lost some of their intensity because of the effects of free agency this still remains one of the classic rivalries in sports. This rivalry began back in the days of the AFL and was very much a David vs. Goliath match up. The Raiders were one of the dominant teams in not only the AFL but eventually the NFL as well while the Broncos struggled in obscurity for the first decade of their existence. This rivalry became much more prominent in the seventies when the Broncos became a legitimate contender, and it became a common thing for both teams to leave the benches and fall into a massive melee in the middle of the field. Times have changed and you don’t see the players as involved in it, but the fans rivalry between these two teams is still very alive.

     

    9. Navratilova vs. Evert


    For our next rivalry we look into the world of women’s tennis. Navratilova vs. Evert is not so much a rivalry between players (though they were fierce competitors) as it is a rivalry between images. Evert was pretty and girly and the face of women’s tennis while Navratilova was almost the exact opposite. Because these two were so different in image a rivalry was bound to be developed by the powers that be. This rivalry probably wouldn’t have been half what it was if both women were beautiful and that says something about our culture that should make us all examine ourselves a little bit.

     

    8. Young vs. Montana


    This is not so much a rivalry between two teams as it is between two men on the same team. Joe Montana was the three time super bowl MVP and Steve Young was the former first round pick who was considered by many to be a bust. This rivalry may have never developed had it not been for Montana getting injured and Young coming in and wowing the coaches. What happened next was a quarterback controversy that was only fueled by the two men themselves. Neither Montana nor Young tried to hide the fact that they thought they should be the starter and from an outsiders view they didn’t seem to like each other much either. Eventually Young won the starting job and Montana was traded to another team and the rivalry continued.

     

    7. Thorpe vs. Phelps


    Ian Thorpe vs. Michael Phelps was more than a rivalry between two very gifted athletes, it was definitive of the rivalry between the U.S. and Australian international swim teams. Thorpe was the Australian who had dominated his event for years. Phelps was the up and coming star of the American swim team. While Phelps was the better all-around competitor, Thorpe was the king of the freestyle race. This rivalry first began in the summer Olympics of 2000 and continued into 2004 as well. Phelps did eventually beat Thorpe and the rivalry no longer exists because Thorpe retired long before Phelps’ dominating performance in the 2008 summer Olympics. Yet it will stand out as one of the top sporting rivalries of all time.

     

    6. Frazier vs. Ali


    Joe Frazier and Mohammed Ali were two of the greatest boxers to ever exist. The fact that both of them existed at the near peak of their careers at the same time is simply amazing. Frazier and Ali were destined to eventually face each other in the ring, but what makes this rivalry worthy of this list is their final fight. Termed the Thrilla in Manila this fight between two of the greatest boxers in history was everything it should be. It was a brutal match between two men who virtually hated one another. Both Frazier and Ali tore into each other mercilessly for fourteen rounds neither giving an inch to the other. While Ali did win the fight by TKO the Thrilla in Manila will go down in history as one of the greatest sporting events ever.

    5. Celtics vs. Lakers


    Without a doubt the rivalry between the Celtic and Lakers is the single biggest rivalry in NBA history. During this rivalry these two teams have met in the NBA championship a total of twelve times which is more than any other two teams have met in a championship of any kind in professional American sports history. While there have been certain times this rivalry was more heated then others it stands out so strongly because of the way it has carried out over such a long period of time.

     

    4. Canadiens vs. Bruins


    There is not liking the other team and then there is hatred. The Canadiens and Bruins have hated each other passionately since the teams first met and that rivalry continues strong to this very day. What makes this rivalry so long lasting is the fact that when you combine both regular season and playoff matches these two teams have faced each other more than any other two teams in NHL history. Over the span of this rivalry so many sporting moments have happened that it’s impossible to nail down a single one as definitive and that is what makes this rivalry so special.

     

    3. Brady vs. Manning


    Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are two of the greatest NFL quarterbacks to ever play the game. These two players have come to signify the argument of what makes a quarterback great. Manning has all the gaudy stats while Brady has all the championship appearances and wins. What really makes this rivalry unique though is that its more about two men in a team sport more than it is about their teams. In the day of player movement between teams in the NFL it makes since that our new rivalries are much more focused on individual players than the teams they play for.

     

    2. Yankees vs. Red Sox


    The rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox is not as much about baseball as it is about the fierce pride each fan base takes in their city. While the two teams are a big part of this rivalry and have been known to get in the occasional brawl with one another during a game or two, it’s also about culture and old fashion us versus them mentalities. However despite the strife between these two teams they always shake hands and congratulate each other at the end of the day.

     

    1. Bears vs. Packers


    The Bears vs. Packers rivalry is the epitome of everything rivalries are about. From the beginning of their history these two teams have been at each other in every way imaginable. This rivalry exists between the team owners, the coaches, the players themselves and the fan base. There are teams that hate each other more but these two teams have hated each other for so long that it’s become a part of our culture. Someday another rivalry may replace this one as the greatest of all time but right now the Bears and Packers hold the top spot on this list.

  • Top 10 Asteroid Impact Sites on Earth

    With the recent galactic impact which occurred in Siberia still fresh in the minds of most, the unfathomably supersonic power of these rarely interfered with projectiles seems a fitting subject for a Top 10 list. Widely believed as the cause of the close of the Jurassic age, asteroid impacts pose a threat both constant and serious to the inhabitants of Earth, or for that matter any planet. Sheer momentum gives even the smallest of asteroids a force capable of extinguishing civilizations in an instant. Aside from the damage enacted on the planet’s surface at the moment of impact, asteroids can cause a whole host of separate issues in the nearby atmosphere, making them a very real, very dangerous menace indeed. To put the recent impact in central Russia into a little more perspective, the asteroid was considered by experts as ‘minimal’ in size and density, yet caused reverberations which seriously injured over 1,000 people, not to mention smashed every window within a 100 mile radius. With this, not only can we be thankful for the projectiles comparative small size, but for the fact that its visit signifies likelihood of a moderate length of time before we are gifted with another. Here are some of the most notable Asteroid Impact Sites which scar our oh so vulnerable planet’s surface currently.

     

    10. Chesapeake Bay

    Making its way through the Galaxy to collide with the Eastern Shore of the North American continent some 35 million years ago, the asteroid which landed at Chesapeake Bay in the Eocene Epoch created a long lasting scar on the surrounding landscape. Smashing into the same coastline which is now home to Western Virginia, the moderately sized bolide responsible for the impact vaporized almost instantly as a result of the immense speed at which it was travelling. Back then, the geography of the impact area was far different than it is today, with soft tropical rain-forest as opposed to sturdy continental shelf resulting in a crater that is not only over 30 kilometers wide, but also astonishingly deep.

     

    9. Kara-Kul Lake

    One of the most recently discovered impact sites of its kind on the planet, Kara-Kul sits majestically 13,000 feet above sea-level in the Pamir mountains, which border Tajikistan with China. At 25 kilometers wide, the lake is the result of a moderately powerful meteorite impact which is estimated to have taken place some 5 million years ago. As its location is so desolate, the lake itself has only been widely known about for a few decades. On top of this, the nature of its creation was only determined several years ago via satellite imagery technology. With a maximum depth measurement of 750ft, the lake is living evidence of the power to change entire landscapes held by meteors and asteroids.

     

    8. Barringer Crater

    Located in Northern Arizona, the Barringer Crater is named after the Pennsylvanian mining engineer who first claimed the cause for the craters existence. Believed to be around 50,000 years old, the Barringer crater is an example of an exposed crater and was first come across by European New World settlers in the 19th century. Originally thought to be the result of volcanic activity, a fair assessment given the locality of the San Francisco Volcanic fields, Daniel Barringer’s theory was initially met with little hospitality. Widely considered to be the most well preserved impact site of its kind on the planet, the Barringer crater is around 4,000ft in diameter and 570ft deep.

     

    7. Deep Bay

    Dating from the Cretaceous Period, Deep Bay is the result of a particularly huge meteorite impact. Located in the South Western corner of Reindeer Lake in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, Deep Bay was first discovered as a result of its irregular depth in an otherwise moderate lake. At 220m deep, the crater is the deepest body of water in Saskatchewan, and also one of the widest at 13km. Given the size and characteristics of the impact crater, as well as the fact that it managed to completely overhaul the geography of an already large open water body, the projectile which caused it undoubtedly caused chaos in the surrounding atmosphere.

     

    6. Manacouagan Crater

    The Manicouagan Crater lies in the North Western part of Canada, Quebec to be precise. With an estimated age of between 213 and 215 million years, it is one of the oldest known craters of its kind on the planet. Situated 300km to the North of the city of Baie-Comeau, the Manicouagan Crater is not just one of the oldest, but one of the largest astroblemes on our planet. Measuring in at 100km across, the crater is believed to have been caused by an asteroid no smaller than 5 kilometers in diameter. Associated for a considerable amount of time by many as the site of impact of the asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs, the Manicouagan Crater is the subject of widespread study to this day.

     

    5. Gosses Bluff

    Situated in almost the dead-centre of the Australian continent, Gosses Bluff crater lies some 100 miles from Alice Springs in the East and 130 miles from Uluru in the South West. Believed to be the result of an asteroid or comet impact which occurred sometime during the late Jurassic/early Cretaceous boundary, time has slowly but surely ensured the craters camouflage within its surroundings. Only considered as being the result of an intergalactic impact from the 1960’s onwards, Gosses Bluffs size has shrunk from an estimated 22km to a mere 5km in the millions of years since its creation. An exposed crater, the site holds much cultural significance with the Australian people, particularly the native Aborigines, who know it as ‘Tnorala’.

     

    4. Chicxulub Crater

    Buried under the Yucatan Peninsula in Central Mexico, the Chicxulub crater is a Prehistoric asteroid impact site over 180kilometres in diameter. Estimated to have been infinitely carved into the landscape 65 million years ago by a bolide around six miles wide, the force with which the crater was created is believed to have been the equivalent of 100 teratons of TNT. When the asteroid hit, a mega-tsunamis of unfathomable size would have engulfed every coastline within several thousand miles, a thick layer of superheated ash and dust would have filled the environment for a period of months if not years, and a series of coordinated volcanic eruptions and earthquakes would have caused surface chaos all over the planet. No wonder this impact is widely attributed to bringing about the end of the Dinosaurs.

     

    3. Mistastin Lake

    With a diameter of around 16kilometers, the crater which acts to host Mistastin Lake is far from being the largest impact site of its kind; however is an intriguing area of our planet nonetheless. Dating from the ‘Eocene’ epoch (56-34 million years ago), the original size of the crater is believed to be a more substantial 28km, however time, and indeed geography has taken its toll. Located in the most Western Canadian province of Newfoundland, Mistastin Lake boasts a picturesque quality, enhanced more-so by the addition of ‘Horseshoe Island’ in the centre.

     

    2. Lake Bosumtwi

    Yet another site which has transformed into a Lake during the time since impact, Lake Bosumtwi, or rather the impact crater in which it sits, was created just over one million years ago. At 8.6 kilometres wide and 265ft deep, the crater is far from being one of the largest, however is undoubtedly one of the more important impact craters on Earth; culturally and geographically speaking. Situated in Southern Ghana, the Lake is surrounded on all sides by thick, difficult and uncompromising rainforest. Whilst this fact poses serious problems for the geologists and surveyors seeking to learn more about the Lakes history, the state of preservation serves to drastically enhance the existence of the thousands of neighbouring tribes people, to whom it is a vital source of water, not to mention an extremely important spiritual landmark.

     

    1. Aorounga Crater

    Another of the many prominent asteroid impact craters which scar the African continent, the Aorounga Impact Crater is situated in Chad. The crater is exposed and measures at 12.6km in diameter, with an estimated age of some 345 million years. Given the sheer age of the blemish, as well as the geography of the land surrounding it, there is still a lot to be learned about it. One theory relating to the crater however, is that it belongs to a larger chain which extends in a Northward direction. Through the use of satellite imaging, many experts see some truth in this, referring to the Aorounga Crater as ‘Aorounga South’.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_impact_craters_on_Earth
    http://geology.com/meteor-impact-craters.shtml
    http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/10-greatest-major-impact-craters-on-earth/1403

  • 10 Amazing Street Art Paintings – Page 2 of 2

    5. Reebook Crossfit, London, Docklands


    Joe and Max made one of the world’s largest and longest 3D street artwork. The really very huge 3D street art measures 1160 meters square and is 106 meters long, which broke the record of the biggest street 3D painting. The work of art was painted in London’s West India Quays. This 3D painting is biggest 3D street painting in Guinness World Records as biggest 3D painting.

     

    4. Central Shopping Center, Macau, China


    Qi Xinghua made a 3D street painting in Macau, China which is very long 3D painting. This is really master piece of 3D Street in Macau, China. The 3D picture was 120m long and created to celebrate the second anniversary of the Central Shopping Centre in Macau. Qi Xinghua is expecting world record 2012 in Guinness Book of World Records longest 3D painting.

     

    3. Brandon Trust bridge, Bristol, England


    This 3D street painting was a symbol that supports Brandon trust, Brandon Trust bridge 3D painting was painted during the Brandon Trust Awareness Week in November 2010:

     

    2. Ice Abyss.


    It is another master piece of renowned German painter, Edgar Muller who painted this piece of art in the “Festival of World Culture” held from 21st to 24th august 2008. It is an absolutely breath taking 3D street painting which he made to continued his series of large size 3D street art.

     

    1. Anti-AIDS Campaign, Oslo, Norway


    Norwegian artist Manfred Stader painted 3D painting in Oslo during the campaign against the Aids/HIV. This campaign was also supported by the Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Mari The crown princess Mette-Mari, who has also works as a special envoy for the UN’s AIDS project.

  • Top 10 Surf Spots Worldwide

    5. Manu Bay, New Zealand

    Featured in seminal 1966 surf movie ‘The Endless Summer’, during which original surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August embark on a round-the-world trip in pursuit of year-round summer surf, Manu Bay has since become a world famous spot amongst surf enthusiasts. Providing modest yet entirely reliable swells of anywhere between one and four meters, the Bay even throws out the occasional barrel. Aside from workable and mild surf, the community itself is the embodiment of cool- built pretty much entirely around the activity; it’s well worth a visit if you’re ever on the North Island.

     

    4. Superbanks, Australia

    Of all the legendary surfing locations on the Australian sub-continent, many of the best are situated along the eastern coast. Warm, solid and unbelievably surf-able, Superbanks lies marginally south of the city of Gold Coast, on the unmistakably beautiful Queensland coast. Isolated and completely tropical, this break has been a favourite of many surfers, both native and touring, for a very long time indeed. From tubes to solid walls, nine days out of ten Superbanks will give you something to shout about- just watch out for the sharks.

     

    3. Mavericks, USA

    Situated some 50 miles up-coast from the trendy settings of Malibu’s Surfrider, Mavericks is an entirely different beast altogether. Lying on the coast adjacent to Northern California’s Bay Area, the region produces some of the USA’s most formidable waves, constructed by an abundance of off-shore storms blowing in from the north Pacific. Mavericks is a serious surf-spot reserved only for the most sure of experts, frequently playing host to waves of up to 25 meters in height. While only usually surf-able with the assistance of a jet ski tow line, the spot has remained extremely popular with big-wave junkies for the best part of three decades. Admittedly, visitor numbers were quelled slightly when in 1994 Hawaiian pro-surfer Mark Foo drowned under a wave here.

     

    2. Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa

    Another spot to be featured in ‘The Endless Summer’, this location is Popular with professionals from all over the world on account of its vast range of surf options. Jeffrey’s Bay, or ‘J-Bay’, has risen to become one of the planets most famed spots over recent years. Supplying enthused visitors with ‘Kitchen Windows’, ‘Magna Tubes’, ‘Boneyards’ and the most notable of all ‘Super Tubes’ (which are said to stretch over 300m), Jeffrey’s Bay is an intense break reserved for those surfers seeking the extreme. Situated directly on South Africa’s southern tip, surf here prevails all year long and temperatures are often more than pleasant.

     

    1. Pipeline, Hawaii

    As the internationally recognised heartland of surfing, it will probably come as little surprise too many of you that Hawaii is to play host to today’s top-spot location. The offshore US state is in many ways responsible for pioneering the modern sport- and still maintains a prominent location for many top surfers. The pipeline; or ‘Banzai pipeline’ as it is known by some, is a reef break notorious worldwide on account of the sheer danger it poses to those who dare to surf it. The perfectly formed tubes that are consistently produced here are done so as a result of the ocean meeting a shallow offshore reef. While conditions are perfect for surfing, with the air temperature as well as the water temperature high all year round, the dangers held by the combination of a shallow break + sharp reef seabed make it a prospect far too daunting for most surfers. In the last ten years alone, five people have died on the pipeline.