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  • Top 10 Popular World Festivals

    Being at a festival is like standing inside of an entire culture. These cultures have created rituals and public spectacles that range from intimate to extremely open. Either way, one thing can be said for sure: festivals are fun, unique, and exciting. Below, we are going to talk about the top 10 popular world festivals.

     

    10. Mardi Gras, United States

    Every year in New Orleans around January, a two-week festival takes place and it parades “queens” and “kings” who dress in garish floats that are called “krewes”. These krewes will throw trinkets into large crowds, usually for the women who show their bodies. The idea behind Mardi Gras is to let loose and release your inhibitions. The day after is called “Ash Wednesday and the day after that “Fat Tuesday”.

     

    9. Carnaval, Brazil


    In Rio De Janerio in early February every year, millions of people come to witness and be a part of Carnaval. It is basically a four-day long event that has festivities and involves groups trying to see who can beat each other and earn the title of “best samba school”. At this festival, you’ll usually see a fair share of women and flashy boats. The “Masquerade Ball” is breathtaking and this is where you dress to impress.

     

    8. Kanamara Matsuri, Japan

    March 31st through April 1st every year in Japan transforms into a country that they normally don’t act like.

     

    7. Semana Santa, Guatemala

    Imagine statues of Jesus being paraded through the streets that are laid with pines, fruits, and flowers. Also imagine that this street is almost a mile long and re-enacts the actually walking that was believed to have been taken by Jesus Christ himself. While it may seem like an odd tradition, it is something that takes place every year in Guatemala. The amount of passion during these meeting’s would even make an atheist’s jaw drop.

     

    6. ll Palio, Italy

    Every year in July and August in Italy, this heart-stopping event occurs in Italy and even involves a huge horse race. This race typically lasts around 90 seconds and most of the other days are packed with major-league carousing. The races typically involve a horse being represented by 17 different neighborhoods and you will often see riders falling to the ground- so don’t be surprised when this happens. But it doesn’t matter who wins because the festival is filled with food and alcohol and everybody has fun who attends.

     

     

    5. La Tomatina, Spain


    On the last Wednesday in August every year, Spain hosts a festival that lasts for a week and brings in approximately 200,000 pounds of tomatoes? Why you ask would there but such a need for so many of these? Well, they are used for diving into as well as hurling at each other once everyone has worked up a good buzz. At the end of the festival, you’ll usually see a street that is painted red and left with the remains of hundreds of thousands of tomatoes.

     

    4. Burning Man, United States

    Every year in Nevada around August or September, a week-long spectacle called Burning Man will attract up to 30,000 people for an event that is like no other. What is Burning Man? It can really be difficult to put a label on it but this “City of Art” has a unique theme that often attracts very weird gizmos and gadgets. You are not allowed to sell anything at this event except for the special outlets that focus on selling food and beverages. Friendly bartering between these things is recommended here and for about $300, you can become a part of it. The entire ceremony ends with the burning of a giant Wicker Man.

     

    3. Diwali, India

    On October or November of every year, a five-day festival known as Diwali occurs. It invites all religions and creeds and is basically an event that is designed to celebrate the triumph over evil. Homes are sprayed with cleaners, people purchase new sets of clothes, and a large amount of firecrackers are periodically set off without warning. On top of it all, sweets are exchanged as the noise-levels dramatically rise throughout this period.

     

    2. Dia De Muertos, Mexico

    On November 1st and 2nd of every year, Mexico hosts an event which is known as “The Day of the Dead” in English. The two days associated with this festival involves tons of food and drinks, people in skeleton suites, and non-stop parties with bands performing near gravesites. Sure it may sound disrespectful, but Dia De Muertos has been around for a long time and destroys taboos all around the earth as it celebrates death and focus on life after it. It is a rare festival and a must-see for unique event goers.

     

    1. Noche De Los Rabanos, Mexico


    And finally, on December 23rd of every year, Mexico hosts another popular event that is called “The Night of the Radishes”. As funny as the name sounds, it is a huge festival that attracts millions of people. It was originally brought around in the 16th century and has been around ever since. Today, this event incorporates all kinds of contests and the rewards are what you may guess: radishes. In some cases, cash prizes as well as respect is awarded too.

  • 10 Clever Art Heists from the History

    This list compiles few of the most amazing heists that occurred during the history and applause to their evil mind for most of them who committed these still haven’t been caught.

     

     10.  Stardust Heist

     

    The Stardust Heist was in a Resort cum Casino. The robbery took place in September 1992. A person named Bill Brennan was the cashier of the casino at that time and at the right time, he loaded up the bag with all the cash and never returned back. The best part of this heist was that there was no group work rather he did everything himself and without any proper planning. Hereafter, nobody knew where he went and so he was never caught. The way he tackled the security of the casino was something never done before in their history.

     

    9.  Gardner Heist


    The Gardner Heist was the best-known event of 1990 which occurred at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum located at Boston. This museum was known for a collection of 2500 pieces of art. On March 18, thieves disguised as police in officers’ uniform handcuffed the two security guards, stole thirteen works of art worth of $500 million and walked away with one of the largest art thefts that happened in American history. This theft took place on St. Patrick’s Day festival. Even after twenty years still those frames lay empty in the museum storage, whereas the thieves are free and roaming.

     

    8. Dar Es Salaam Bank Heist:


    This robbery was the least publicized which occurred at Iraq’s Dar Es Salaam Bank. It was in the year 2007, after the Saddam episode when the bank’s three security guards went out the building with a looted amount of $146 million (170.75 billion Iraqi Dinar) in cash. This case was never solved by anyone neither a single penny recovered. One of the main reasons being that it happened at the worst of the times when Iraq was facing a deadly war.

     

    7. Central Bank of Iraq Heist


    In Iraq, this was one of the biggest thefts of all times since the largest bank of Iraq was looted. It happened to take place just before the U.S bombing of Iraq started in 2003 and some theories suggest that Saddam Hussein conducted the job. The looted amount was stated as approximately one billion dollars and given to his son with a statement that it was done to protect the money from the Americans. Later six hundred and fifty million dollars were recovered from the brick walls of Saddam’s palace when the American army invaded it and remaining was never recovered and remained a mystery. When it comes to this crime, Saddam was never caught but later hanged for other political reasons.

     

    6. Carlos Hector‘s ABN Amro Bank Heist


    The robbery took place in ABN Amro Bank in Antwerp. In March 2007, Carlos Hector Stole diamonds of worth $28 million from the Bank. He was a regular customer for about a year and provided an Argentinean name there. Authorities confess that the man used a fake identity there and also rented a security box with the same name and had a fake passport. Even after four years his true identity has never been found nor are the diamonds recovered.

     

    5. Pink Panthers Harry Winston Heist


    The Harry Winston Heist took place on 4th December 2008 in which four men barged into Paris’s most expensive jewelry store which is known worldwide. The thieves were armed and disguised themselves as women, looted hundred and eight million dollars in jewelry and walked away. While committing the act, they suddenly cornered all the customers and employees, filled their suitcase with all the precious gems from the display area, and made their escape. The group was found to be nicknamed “The Pink Panthers” but no arrest was ever made as the bounty on their heads were $ 1 million dollars if anyone provided information regarding these people.

     

    4. The School of Turin’s Antwerp Diamond Center Heist.


    On 16 February 2003, The Antwerp Diamond Center became the target of the thieves and out of 160 vaults, 123 vaults were thrashed and gems worth above hundred million dollars stolen. No one actually had an answer for the security breach, which was extremely high tech. Following day, when the workers hovered in that area, they figured out that this robbery was filled with precious metals like gold, paper money, along with cut and uncut jewels. After the investigation, the DNA was attained from the vault, along with a half-consumed sandwich, which was recovered from the site. Finally, the group named as “The School of Turin” was traced. Among them, one of the robbers worked at the diamond market. Even though they were traced and police arrested the group, they could never recover the stolen gems.

     

    3. The Great Train Robbery by Robber Ronnie Biggs


    The Great Train Robbery was one the most famous heists as it was one of the biggest robberies that man ever witnessed. It took place in 1963 in Bucking Hampshire, England when a train transporting millions of pounds was ran over by 15 robbers headed by Robber Ronnie Biggs. The group of robbers had such a master plan that the team used fake signals to stop the train and then locked all the workers present inside the train in the first two carriages. They then took all the bags which approximately had 2.6 million pounds, loaded them in cars and escaped. Some of the robbers were captured later by the Scotland Yard amongst which two of them again escaped and fled from the country.

     

    2. Hijacking Schiphol Airport Truck by anonymous thieves


    In this high jacking which took place on 25th February, 2005 the thieves took over an armored truck which carried diamonds and jewelry. The incident took place at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport and estimated loot was of one hundred and eighteen million dollars. It is said that the thieves were well equipped with a KLM truck and uniforms and made the drivers lie down on ground, emptied the truck and took off. None of the thieves were ever caught or the stock found. The funny thing is they still do not know who the thieves were.

     

    1. The DB Cooper Hijacking


    This was a US aircraft high jacking which happened on 24 November 1971 and still remains as an unsolved case. This was a northwest orient flight which was flying from Portland to Seattle. A person named Cooper sent a written note to the flight attended who claimed that the note stated there was a bomb in Cooper’s briefcase and for this, he asked for two hundred thousand dollars and a couple of parachutes. The money was delivered to him on arrival to the Seattle airport after which the plane took off for Reno during which Cooper jumped out of the plane leaving behind two parachutes, a tie and its clip. After long search for Cooper he was nowhere to be found. In the following years of investigation only $5,880 bill was found on the Bank of Columbian River and his whereabouts or the identity could not be revealed.

     

  • Greatest Hip-Hop Battles

    While I am on the topic of battles I decided to give it an interesting spin. I am sure most of our readers enjoy hip-hop and therefore I bring you ten of the greatest hip-hop battles ever. Most of these names will be known to you even if you are not a hip-hop fan. Most of you would probably be heartbroken when you find out who won the battle. I am not that big a fan of hip-hop, though I do enjoy it at times. I have heard each and every one of the singers mentioned below. The interesting bit is that my favorites won all the battles. I hope it is the same for you. Enjoy the read.

     

    10. KOOL MOE DEE VS. BUSY BEE

    Kool Moe Dee - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    This happens to be the most awesome of hip-hop battles to have ever been fought and to compile a list without mentioning this particular, is absurd. It happened in 1981 and this battle was the pioneer of what we now know as a ‘battle rap’. Busy Bee was a good rapper and he entertained the audience with his skills. Kool Moe Dee however, was better. His lyrics were mean, cruel and ruthless. He butchered Kool Moe Dee and stood out as the winner.

     

    9. EMINEM VS. ‘THE SOURCE’

    Eminem - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    This was a weird battle. Eminem started off his career on the pages of The Source. But that happy relationship ended when the co-founder of the magazine started dissing Eminem. Slim Shady had no real music with him, although his rhyming skills were a winner. He came back with a barrage of insults that included ‘Nail in the Coffin’ and ‘The Sauce’ because of which the magazine lost the readership and Eminem stood as a proud winner.

     

    8. EAZY-E VS. DR. DRE

    Dr. Dre - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    These guys used to be partners in NWA. Both of them insulted each other like crazy. Dre came up with ‘Dre’s Day’ and it looked like that was it. But then Eazy-E fought with ‘Real Muthaf***** G’s’. He ridiculed Dre and Snoop. It looked like Eazy-E was owning Dr. Dre, but that changed. The winner of the battle was easily Dr. Dre and he deserved it. You should listen to this battle, it’s pretty amazing and kind of funny.

     

    7. CANIBUS VS. LL COOL J

    Canibus - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    LL Cool J was at his prime during this battle. Canibus was a very famous ‘fighter’. Between these two the odds were against Canibus. LL Cool J was a legend. The battle was fierce but LL Cool J was KO’d with Canibus’s ‘Second Round KO’. The song featured Mike Tyson; beat that. The lyrics to the song were an inspiration to many. Canibus came out as a winner, surprised considering the strong adversary.

     

    6. COMMON VS. WESTSIDE CONNECTION

    Common - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    You blame an MC for the demise of hip-hop and it is on. The same happened between Soulja Boy and Ice T back in the year 2009 and the same happened between these two. Ice Cube claimed that Common’s lyrics to ‘I use to love H.E.R’ were a diss to the West Coast and that’s when it all started. Common destroyed the Westside Connection with ‘The B***h in Yoo’. It was a clear victory for Common. Before you enter into a battle, one must know what he is up for.

    5. ICE CUBE VS. N.W.A.

    Ice Cube - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    NWA somehow managed to piss Ice Cube off which is why the battle took place in the first place. NWA used to be his allies before but that had drastically changed. Ice Cube was no longer cool, he was breathing fire. He came up with ‘No Vaseline’ and annihilated NWA. He destroyed the entire group at once. Such had never been seen nor has it ever been seen. The clear winner of the battle was Ice Cube.

     

    4. KOOL MOE DEE VS. LL COOL J

    LL Cool J - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    Kool Moe Dee earlier destroyed Busy Bee and this time around the enemy was bigger and much better. It was LL Cool J. Kool Moe Dee claimed that LL Cool stole his style and started with ‘How ya Like me Now’. LL came back with ‘To da Breakadawn’ and then again with ‘Let’s go’. He hit him again with ‘Jack the Ripper’ and made fun of his Star Trek shades. Kool Moe Dee returned with ‘Death Blow’ but it was already too late. LL Cool J was the clear winner of this battle and he knew it before he even won it.

     

    3. BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS VS. JUICE CREW

    Boogie Down Productions - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    Both the parties liked to brag and that finally led to a battle. It was the two houses of New York against each other. BDP hit Shan with ‘South Bronx’; it was raw and it was pure dis. Shan came back with ‘Kill That Noise’. Little did he know that that was what BDP wanted. They struck back with ‘The Bridge is Over’ and that was the end of it. The winner of the battle was the much proud Boogie Down Productions.

     

    2. 2PAC VS. BIGGIE

    2Pac - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    This was a unique battle. 2Pac kept his insults very aggressive. Biggie however, was a little subtle with whatever he sang; they were more subliminal and delivered with poise. Without a doubt, this particular battle was the most influential hip-hop battle every fought. It changed lives, destroyed relationships and affected many artists. The winner was obviously 2Pac (May he rest in peace). You can find all these battles online by the way.

     

    1. JAY-Z VS. NAS

    Nas - Ten Greatest Hip-Hop Battles
    These two guys used to be big time rivals. There are many theories as to why this battle actually took place. Jay was a commercial hit, was Nas jealous? Did ‘is that your chick’ by Jay dis Nas? They used to insult each other a lot and finally found themselves in a battle. You should know that this is where the two tracks ‘Takeover – Jay Z’ and ‘Ether – Nas’ came from. Takeover was better musically while Ether was lyrically stronger. The winner of this battle was Nas. Hat’s off!

    Did we miss any particular battle out? If so, we would like you to let us know in the comments. Also, many battles were fought but the war was won by Hip-Hop. You don’t get to hear many good battles these days, so if you have time, explore YouTube, look for these battles and enjoy.

  • 40 Coolest USB Flash Drives – Page 2 of 2

     

     

    21. Sushi USB Flash Drive


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    22. 14k Gold with Diamonds USB Flash Drive


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    23. USB Flash Drive Fingers


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    24. Wooden USB Oooms


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    25. Sperm USB Flash Drive



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    26.  Humping Dog USB Flash Drive


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    27. Heart USB Flash Drive


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    28. Mario USB Flash Drive


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    29. Bullet USB Flash Drive


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    30. Robot USB Flash Drive


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    31. Guitar USB Flash Drive


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    32. Bomb USB Flash Drive


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    33. Sponge Bob USB Flash Drive


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    34. Coins USB Flash Drive


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    35. Glasses USB Flash Drive


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    36. Chain Saw USB Flash Drive


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    37. Women Handbag USB Flash Drive


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    38. Cockroach USB Flash Drive


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    39. Car USB Flash Drive


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    40. Diamond Engagement Ring USB Flash Drive


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  • Top 10 Ways to Eliminate Acne

    People suffer from acne for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s hereditary. For others, it is the environment that they spend their time in and maybe the mix of poor hygiene habits. Either way, it is safe to say that a lot of people get acne at some point in their lives. Below, we are going to talk about the top 10 ways to remove it as well as lessen the chance of developing acne in the first place.

     

    10. Cleanse

    Whether or not you already have acne, it is important that you keep your face as clean as possible throughout the day. Doing this will help remove dead skin cells as well as any excess oils that are often responsible for acne. When cleaning your face, make sure that you’re using warm water and a facial cleanser. A lot of people like to use hot water but this can be damaging to your skin. Avoid scrubbing too harshly with the washcloth. Finally, make sure that you rinse well and dry off completely.

     

    9. Moisturize

    Another way to remove acne is to moisturize your face. One reason why your face may be breaking out in the first place is because you have dry skin. Taking a gel-based moisturizer should help lessen this problem and keep your skin healthy. You should even throw in a hydration cream along with your moisturizing cream. This will help fill your skin with water before you moisturize it. For those who are ill on terminology, it basically means that your face will be much better off.

     

    8. Over-The-Counter Products

    A lot of topical skin care products contain ingredients that will help get rid of the bacteria that forms of the skin. When trying an over the counter product, make sure that you try a small amount first. This way, you can know whether or not it works. From that point forward, increase or decrease the dosage until you find the ideal amount. As a general rule of thumb when dealing with ointments, always use caution if you have sensitive skin- especially at first. And also make sure not to get it on clothes or hair because it can bleach them.

     

    7. Use Less Makeup

    If you’re someone who uses a lot of makeup then consider using it less often. Especially during a bad breakout, wearing makeup can clog pores and cause even worse acne. If you are going to wear makeup, be sure to follow the above tips and wash them out at the end of each day. There are oil-free cosmetics out there that you should look into. They don’t have added chemicals or dyes and are a lot healthier for your skin. Water based makeup is also an option. Just make sure to read all ingredients before buying.

     

    6. Hair Care Matters


    The reason you want to watch out what you’re putting into your hair is because sometimes harsh chemicals can fall from it onto your face. Even if you were to wipe them off once they hit your face, some of the ingredients could get into your skin and block your pores. This would cause irritation and in some cases, acne. Also keep in mind that oily hair can lead to an oily face so make sure that you’re using a good conditioner and shampoo to take care of your head. Finally, if your hair is long, keep it away from your face.

    5. Stop Touching Your Face

    This is one of the more important tips on the list mainly because so many people are guilty of it. Whenever you touch your face, you spread around germs and bacteria that normally would not have been there. Plus, doing this can cause an already inflamed face to break out even more. Also, don’t pick at your pimples or pop them with your hands. Not only is this unhealthy, but it can and often does lead to scarring and infection.

     

    4. Find Shade


    The sun can be harmful to your face’s skin and the ultraviolet rays can cause redness and inflammation. Furthermore, if you’re going to be spending time in the sun then try to use a topical acne medication that is designed to prevent the rays from harming your skin. Always apply your sun block at least a half hour before you go out. Read the ingredients before buying and try to wear a hat that covers your face.

     

    3. Eat Right

    Most experts would agree that when you eat unhealthy foods, your body will typically react with an outbreak in the face and other areas. To reverse the effect, start feeding your body the right things. Eat a lot of greens as well as whole grains. Studies have shown that foods that contain vitamin A boost your immunity as well as the health of your skin. To be more specific, try eating sweet potatoes, apricots, kale, and spinach. Feed your body the right things and it will reward you with less acne.

     

    2. Exercise

    Regular exercise is good for the body and is a good way to remove acne. Your skin is the body’s largest organ and it reacts to a good workout. Getting a good run in for example can reduce anxiety and promote healthy blood flow throughout your body. While exercising, avoid clothes that are going to rub on your skin and make them irritated. Likewise, avoid goggles or helmets because they can collect bacteria that can transfer over onto your skin.

     

    1. Relax

    That’s right. The best thing you can do is control your emotional state and relax. When you reduce physical and mental tension, your body stops releasing stress signals from the brain. As a result, you’ll have less acne. The tip above should certainly help with reducing stress but simply making the decision to be happy can work wonders as well. Above everything, take all of the tips on this top-ten list to fully eliminate acne from your life forever.

  • Top 10 Most Disappointing Follow-Ups

    Isn’t it amazing when a talented new writer/musician/director etc bursts into the public eye with a project that’s so dazzling, so well-crafted and so inspired that it will forever be regarded as a classic? It truly is a great thing when the years that someone has worked to hone their craft come to fruition with their debut. But what happens next? A retreat from public life to work on that difficult second album/book/sculpture. A piece which, when it comes out, can be met with anything from relief to indifference to horror. And it’s often the negative end of the scale, as it’s so difficult to follow up an earth-shattering start. Find out who stumbled at the second post in our Top 10 Most Disappointing Follow-Ups.

     

    10. Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows

    The first Blair Witch Project movie was scary. It was pant-wettingly scary. The whole point of it was that no-one knew for sure whether this film actually had been found in the woods or whether it was all faked.The truth was somewhere in between – yes, it was faked but the terror in it was authentic. The unknown actors camped in the woods while the directors tried to freak them out by making strange noises and leaving tiny wooden voodoo dolls about the place. In fact, lead actress Heather Donohue was so mistrustful of the whole set-up that she carried a hunting knife with her on the set. The result was a raw, shaky, structureless film that really captured the feeling of being lost and scared in the woods.

    It wasn’t a film that needed a sequel. But one popped up just a year later. Filmed in the slick, boring style of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and a thousand other teen horrors, it was wooden and stilted and had little to do with the original. No wonder it has a rating of just 3.9/10 on IMDb!

     

    9. Room on Fire

    2001 was a grim time for music. The Britpop and grunge years were long gone, and a clutch of bland soulful indie groups (e.g. Travis and The Stereophonics) had reigned for the last few years. And then, in the summer of 2001, a new wave hit. At its forefront were the White Stripes and The Strokes – unashamedly retro-sounding bands that mixed things up, fuzzed up their sound and got the crowds dancing again. The Strokes’ debut album “Is This It?” was a corker – the lyrics may have been indecipherable, but the Velvet Underground-tinged tunes were brilliant. It was a fresh, new sound.

    Unfortunately, the second album “Room on Fire” wasn’t fresh or new. Recycling some of the tricks from the first album but in a less catchy way, it received fairly positive reviews and sales, but fans didn’t like it. Their next albums “First Impressions of Earth” fared less well still, and the band never quite hit the creative heights of “Is This It?” again.

     

    8. Andy Roddick

    There aren’t many fields in which a star can rise and crash so fast as in the world of sport. And Andy Roddick certainly felt the full force of that, when he was dubbed the savior of American tennis. He made a huge impact to start with, winning the 2003 US Open, but a spate of bad luck and injuries meant he could never follow up on the initial success. In 2004, he lost in the quarter final and the title was won by Roger Federer. Roddick never won an Open title again and eventually retired in 2012. He now commentates and says that he has no regrets about retiring at just 30.

     

    7. The Casual Vacancy

    Of all the people on the list, few had such expectations resting on their shoulders as JK Rowling. After creating the magical world of Harry Potter, which turned into a multi-billion pound industry, where could she go next? Her decision was surprising – adult fiction.

    The novel itself “The Casual Vacancy” was sadly unsurprising. Like all people who start their careers working with children, JK obviously felt she had to prove herself as a credible adult writer. So, she threw every adult theme you can think of at the book – drug use, swearing, sex, incest, violence, death – and it came across as trying a little too hard to impress, like a kid at school who thinks it’s big to use the F-word. Sales were good but it’s unlikely to ever be known as a classics, unlike her earlier works.

     

    6. Pinkerton

    Weezer, on the other hand, never set themselves huge expectations. An unassuming garage rock band that formed in 1992, they released their first album “Weezer” two years later and were probably as surprised as anyone when it went triple platinum. So, the normal thing to do would be to rush out a follow-up as soon as possible. Instead, frontman Rivers Cuomo went to Harvard, and the experimental next album, “Pinkerton”, was writing around his studies.

    On release, sales were mediocre, and it only went to number 19 on the Billboard charts. Rolling Stone named it as the 3rd worst record of 1996. 5 years later, Rivers would describe it as ” A hideous record… It was such a hugely painful mistake”, but by then they were on their way back to chart success with their new album called….”Weezer”. “Pinkerton” later became something of a cult classic, but the band are still keen to disown it.

    5. Kimbo Slice

    As anyone with a passing knowledge of “Friends” knows, The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a no-holds-barred, brutal fighting challenge. You don’t just have to be tough to win a fight, you have to be near-indestructible. And so it was remarkable when the wonderfully-named Kimbo Slice burst onto the UFC scene in 2009, beating Houston Alexander in three rounds. For a moment there, it seemed like UFC had a new star, but it wasn’t meant to last. His second fight saw him knocked out by Matt Mitrione in the second round, and he was dropped from the league shortly afterwards. He later became a professional boxer, but has never quite lived up to his initial hype.

     

    4. Cars 2

    “Cars” was never the best Pixar film, lacking the laugh-out-loud moments of its predecessors. But its story of friendship and racing appealed to small children – especially boys – and they bought Lightning McQueen pyjamas and lunchboxes by the truckload.

    It’s bemusing then, that Pixar decided to mess with a winning formula for the sequel. The second movie was carried by Mater – who was essentially a one-note character – and the James Bond-esque plot was so complicated that even parents failed to follow it. Also, it wasn’t very funny and went on for way too long. Still, it shifted a load more merchandise, so there’s probably no-one at Disney-owned Pixar sobbing into their pillows about the loss of their artistic integrity.

     

    3. Sam’s Town

    Another debut album glittering with potential, the Las-Vegas based band Killers, released “Hot Fuss” in 2004 and with it came…a lot of fuss. It reached number 7 in the US charts and number 1 in the UK charts where it eventually became 6-times platinum. Critics hailed it as the best debut album of all time. So how to follow that up?

    With “Sam’s Town”. Unlike the British-tinged debut album, Sam’s Town was American to its core, with songs about Grandma Dixie and a brother who was born on the 4th of July. And fans bought it, it did well in the charts but the overall feeling was one of indifference. It just wasn’t as good as “Hot Fuss”. Even Rolling Stone, who had lauded the first album, described the album as full of “unfortunate big-rock bombast”. Another band that peaked too soon.

     

    2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

    When the first “Pirates” film came out in 2003, no-one was expecting much. A film based on a theme-park ride – how exciting could that possibly be? So it was a pleasant surprise when it turned out to be not only full of swashbuckling grandeur but also a lot of sharp and witty humor, mostly courtesy of the now-iconic Jack Sparrow. It grossed $654,264,015 worldwide, far exceeding its budget.

    A sequel was inevitable and it arrived three years later. But it somehow lacked the spark of the first one. While the money still rolled in, the reviews took a turn for the worse, with Rotten Tomatoes scoring it just 54%, compared to 79% for the first one. By the next film , that would sink to 44%, then 34% for the fourth. However, as long as they keep making money, the films will keep coming!

     

    1. Heroes Series 2

    However bad things have got in the lower reaches of the list, there is nothing that quite matches the car-crash that was the second series of “Heroes”. The first series had been snappy, plot-arc driven and cool. Everything had been working towards a point, and the finale was explosive. The second series was rambling, sappy and pointless. But what makes it exceptional? The fact that the writers of the show apologised for just how bad it was. In an unprecedented move, creator Tim Kring issued an apology for the slowness of the season saying that, among other mistakes they made, ” I don’t think romance is a natural fit for us.” A follow-up so disappointing that it comes with an official apology? A fitting winner of the number one slot!

  • Top 10 Places to Visit Before they Disappear

    The world is changing. You can’t have failed to notice that – global warming, ice caps melting, habitats disappearing…the world we hand down to our children and their children might be very different.

    As a result, there are places that you should probably put on your list to visit in the next few years, before they disappear or are irreversibly changed. Some of these places are culturally significant, some are examples of outstanding natural beauty but they’re all under threat. Start planning your trip while you can!

     

    10. The Malaysian Coastline

    Malaysia is often cited as a Place to Visit, due to its sunny climate and miles of beautiful beaches, but now there’s another reason to visit – those beaches may not be around too much longer. A report in 2010 said that 1,300km of Malaysian coastline was under threat from erosion – that’s 29% of the coast. Combined with the threat of raised sea levels as the ice caps melt, there’s a chance that the kind of beaches shown here won’t be there in the future.

     

    9. Blackgang Chine, the Isle of Wight

    From the tropical to the tepid, the next item on our list comes from the sedate island just off the coast of England, known as the Isle of Wight. It’s a haven for pensioners and holiday makers in search of peace and quiet, but it also boasts a quite remarkable amusement park. Blackgang Chine has been entertaining visitors since 1843, and is slowly slipping into the sea. Perched on the edge of a crumbling cliff (at a rate of 3.5m a year), it has lost large sections of its land in landslides in 1921, 1968 and 1994 and no-one knows when the next major landfall will be. But be assured that the management are prepared – they’ve had lo ts of experience moving rides and exhibits further away from the cliff edge.

    It’s no Disneyland, but this eccentric attraction is worth visiting before it entirely collapses into the sea!

     

    8. Yangtze River, China

    The Yangtze River is the 3rd longest river in the world, but also one that’s under threat from dramatic changes in the last 50 years. One of the pressures faced by the region is the deforestation and aggressive agriculture that impose on the natural habitats along the river – even nature reserves face being destroyed for agricultural reasons. That means that species like the snow leopard and the giant panda are threatened too, as their habitats disappear.

    Another threat is the urbanization that’s taken place along the river -the population has doubled in the last 50 years and with that has come rapid industrialization and heavily populated cities. There are also a number of hydroelectric projects planned, which interfere with the natural flow of the river and destroy ecosystems. So, a river once famed for its beauty is disappearing under the strain of human progress, taking its wildlife with it. Visit before it becomes unrecognizable.

     

    7. Timbuktu, Mali

    You may not know that this is a real place (I’m not judging – I’m sure I thought it was made up for a long time), but not only is it real it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site, due to the sacred tombs and mosques there. Unfortunately, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage in Danger site, as climate changes threatens to turn the whole area into desert. But that’s not the only threat to Timbuktu – last year, the city was taken over by two armed groups (MLNA and Ansar Dine) and the subsequent looting and violence has raised real concerns about the future of the ancient monuments.

    Ansar Dine described the shrines at Timbuktu as “idolatrous and un-Islamic” and reports suggested that three sacred tombs had been destroyed. So, be cautious – this may not be the most calming place to visit for a holiday, but the ancients tombs are certainly worth seeing.

     

    6. The Alps

    Another area under threat from climate change now . The Alps are famous for their beautiful glaciers, but they are disappearing rapidly as temperatures rise. Since the 1880s, temperatures have risen by twice as much as the global average and will continue to increase by 0.72F every 10 years. That might not sound like a lot, but it has a massive effect on the rivers of ice. Since the 1980s, the glaciers have lost 20% of their size, and may disappear entirely by 2050.  In America, the National Glacier Park is suffering in a similar way and only has 27 glaciers left, compared to 150 just 100 years ago. In other words, if you want to see a real glacier go and visit quickly because they may all disappear this century.

     

    5. Portobelo, Panama

    Another from the list of UNESCO World Heritage in Danger sites, this coastal fort is considered to be a fine example of Panamanian military architecture, but it’s also crumbling. UNESCO described it as “deteriorating at a rate which could undermine the outstanding universal value for which it was inscribed” and called for the Panamians to urgently plan for its maintenance. A mix of neglect and erosion from the sea has endangered the fort and without some drastic action, it could well join the list of “things you should have seen while they were still there”.

     

    4. Greenland

    Another icy place that is suffering under global warming, Greenland is losing ice at an unprecedented rate. It now loses 5 times as much ice per year as it did in 1992, so the land mass is quite literally disappearing. A report released last year by a combination of polar research teams tracked the ice loss so far, but did not attempt to forecast what was coming next. It doesn’t take a great deal of specialist knowledge to realize that the future looks pretty grim, though. One estimate says that a global temperature rise of 3C would cause the melting of the entire Greenland ice sheet, and this is not unlikely given that the 1990s were the warmest decade in the Arctic since records began, and most models predict a 5-7C increase over the 21st Century. So, to see what Greenland has to offer – including the famous Aurora Borealis  – it’s best advised to head there pretty soon!

     

    3. Great Barrier Reef

    Another place that always gets into the list of places to visit because of its spectacular beauty and abundant colorful fish. It’s one of the most impressive sights in the world, but it is also in danger of disappearing altogether, thanks to pollution in the water. The ocean is becoming increasingly acidic, and increasing in temperature, which causes coral bleaching. The local cyclones also don’t help!

    It’s estimated that 80% of the world’s coral will be lost by 2030, which is not very far away really! The Great Barrier Reef is estimated to have 100 years before it disappears, but for something 8,000 years old it’s a pretty bad life expectancy. So, it may last your lifetime, but it probably won’t last your grandchildren’s. Take them on a visit while you can.

     

    2. The Maldives

    A lot of countries have areas under threat, but it’s unusual for an entire country to be under threat. But that’s exactly what The Maldives are facing, with rising sea levels threatening to overwhelm the low-lying land. At only 2.3m above sea level in some parts, it’s highly likely to be submerged should the ocean levels rise significantly – in fact, after the tsunami in 2004, up to 40% of the Maldives were covered in water.

    There have been a number of reactions to this impending catastrophe, from the President leading an underwater cabinet meeting in scuba gear, to the construction of a floating golf course. More seriously, there are also plans to start evacuating one of the most densely populated islands – Kandholhudhoo – and 60% of residents have volunteered to leave in the next 15 years. The government have also started buying land in other countries to house potential displaced residents.

    In terms of tourism, it seems that the potential for visiting may be severely limited. Estimates say that there is another 100 years until the Maldives becomes uninhabitable, but that’s not considering the possibility of another major disaster. Book now, and get some rock-solid travel insurance.

     

    1. Venice

    Venice is one of the world’s most iconic cities – the city of love, of art and of stunning architecture. But all that might be gone very soon, as Venice continues to sink. It has sunk 9 inches in the last 100 years,  and the sea level is rising by 4-6mm a year. In 2000, St Mark’s Square flooded 60 times, compared with less than 10 in 1900. Whichever way you look at it, the future doesn’t seem very bright. It could be gone in as little as 70 years.

    There seemed to be hope in the early 2000s, when it was suggested that the subsidence was being caused by extracting water from below ground all the time. There was a brief time when stopping this seemed to help, but the decline continues. So, if you’re planing the ultimate romantic proposal, on a gondola during the Venetian night…you only have 70 years to organize it. Better get started!

     

  • 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls Around the World

    Waterfalls are a gift of God to earth, making the land spectacular and enchantingly beautiful. They create a divine, miraculous and heaven-sent vision. It’s thick foamy water splashing down the cliffs partitions the land and the water fumes and droplets spread in air while producing amazing sounds. This list takes the readers on a tour to breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls around the globe.

     

    10. Ramona Falls, Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon, USA

    Ramona Falls, Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon, USA
    Ramona Falls, Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon, USA
    Ramona Falls Oregon
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    Ramona Falls is in Mount Hood Wilderness in Oregon, USA. This 120-foot long fall drapes across a stair-stepped cliff of columnar basalt. The amazing shape of the columnar basalt was formed due to eruption of lava. It is a renowned tourist spot and a famous hiking venue. 7.1 mile loop to the fall gains 1000 ft of elevation.

     

    9. Duden Waterfalls, Turkey

    Duden Waterfall
    Duden Waterfalls, Turkey
    Duden Waterfalls are a group of waterfalls on the Duden River  in the province of Antalya, Turkey. The water of the Lower Duden waterfall falls gracefully into the Mediterranean sea after sliding across a rocky cliff. It is a famous tourist attraction at a small distance of 10 Km from the beaches in the South East of Antalya.

     

    8. Jog Fall/ Gerusoppe falls/ Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi, India

    Jog Falls, India
    Jog Falls, India
    Gerusoppe falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi Jog Fall India
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    Jog Fall is the highest waterfall in India. It is created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 meters. The waterfall is a famous tourist attraction as well as a source of energy. A power station is operational since 1948 using the water of this waterfall. With a capacity of 120 MW, it is one of the largest hydro-electric stations in India.

     

    7. Yosemite Firefall or Horsetail Falls

    Yosemite Fall, USA
    Yosemite Fall, USA
    Yosemite Falls
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    Last-Light-Horsetail-Falls-Yosemite-National-Park-California
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    Horsetail Falls, Yosemite Firefall, America
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    Yosemite Firefall or horsetail firefall in Yosemite village, Mariposa County, is a divine, miraculous and heaven-sent vision, a sight which must be relished once in a lifetime. Under perfect conditions, it gives the vision of 1500 ft long firefall flowing down the cliff. In reality it is not lava or fire but water marvelously flowing down. This firefall finds it’s explanation in science which supports it’s formation. This waterfall in Yosemite looks like a firefall if it meets two conditions. Firstly, it should be the end of winters and the ice should be melting. The weather should be all misty and cloudy. Secondly, the sun must set at a perfect angle. Once the conditions are met, the waterfall glows like fire. It seems that the water suddenly transformed into fire or the cliff is on fire. All these conditions are met in the last two weeks of February when the snow melts and sun sets at the desired angle. Curious nature loving tourists and photographers come from all over  the world to have a look at this remarkable sight. It is best viewed from a picnic area along Northside Drive.
     

    6. Godafoss, Iceland

    Godafoss, Iceland
    Godafoss, Iceland
    Frozen Godafoss Iceland
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    Godafoss waterfall or the waterfall of gods is the most beautiful waterfall of Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters spreading to a width of 30 meters.  It has a very interesting story behind it’s name. In 999 Christianity was made the official religion of Iceland. At this point Þorgeir threw his Norse gods into the river. This act of his gave the fall it’s name, Waterfall of gods. An Icelandic ship was named after the fall, which was sunk by a German U-Boat in World War II. This caused great loss of life.

     

  • Top Ten Pieces of Literature to Read in Your Lifetime

    There are some books that hit the market and make a huge impact that fizzles out within a few years, and others that barely hit the market at all. Whether you read these books or not is a matter of personal taste and likely won’t make much of a difference in your life. There are other books, however, that make such a lasting impression on the world that everyone should read them at some point in their lives—and some of them should be read several times at different points in your life because of the incredible impact that they can make. While there are hundreds of such pieces of literature, here are ten of the pieces that no one should miss reading.

     

    10. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    This classic by Mark Twain is one of the iconic pieces of American literature that spurs so many debates and heated feelings that it has long been listed on the Banned Books registries, and though it was once a regular part of most middle or high school curriculums, many schools have phased it out due to social tensions. So why read this book? This story of a young boy coming of age in 1800’s Mississippi opened the minds of writers and created a new age of artistic expression. Rather than writing only with the highest language, this book initiated the era of writing realistically. The dialogue is written to reflect the tone and dialect of each character, even to the detriment of grammar, spelling and formality. The story of the novel also brings into the public attention the concepts of virtue, tolerance and individual morals and responsibility.

     

    9. Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl

    This book resonates deeply with people today despite having been written nearly 80 years ago. Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl growing up in Nazi Germany. This book is her diary, which she referred to as Kitty. Within the pages of musings of the typical thirteen year old girl were incredible insights into humanity. Through Kitty Anne was given an outlet through which she discussed her perspective of the genocide that was happening around her. Even after going into hiding, Anne continued to write. For the two and a half years she spent in the Secret Annex, Anne wrote of her growing interest in love, her thoughts on the world outside and her plans for when the war ended. Her final thought before the group was betrayed and sent to the concentration camps is at once uplifting and chilling—“I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are still truly good at heart”.

     

    8. Lord of the Rings

    A departure from the other pieces of literature in the list, this trilogy is a truly epic journey that sweeps readers into an adventure that they will never forget. It is not just the journey, however, that makes it worth reading these thousands of pages. It is the incredibly beautiful language and the lessons of morality, personal responsibility, accountability, friendship and love that fuel the fantasy. Readers learn about the world around them and themselves as they follow a quest of truly incredible proportions.

     

    7. The Blithedale Romance

    Nathaniel Hawthorne graced the world with many great pieces of literature, and this is one of the most astonishing. In a culture that was beginning to obsess with the concept of Utopian societies, many believed that this type of arrangement was an idyllic, farm-based life where everyone cooperated and loved each other. Hawthorne presents a difference concept of Utopia, setting the cooperative society in a “modern” environment and developing a variety of personalities that had chosen to take part in the social experiment. These personalities converge to illustrate humanity and what cooperation really means.

     

    6. Catcher in the Rye

    This is the ultimate of all coming of age stories. It has been noted that several murderers have chosen this book as their pseudo-manifesto, but the book has nothing to do with murder or hatred. In fact, the strongest theme in the book is that there isn’t really a theme at all. This book is about one young man and his efforts to navigate the fifties while coping with tragedy in his life and his mistrust yet interest in the world around him.

     

    5. Dracula

    If you think that you know Dracula because you have seen a movie, you need to pretend you have never even heard the name before you start this book. Dracula is the masterful work of Bram Stoker, a true masterpiece that is about much more than just vampires. This book is about facing fears, embracing personal challenges and understanding what compels human nature.

     

    4. Night

    Another piece of literature that is not fictional, Night is the gut-wrenching telling of one man’s experience with the Holocaust. Through the eyes of a survivor readers are given deeper insight into what the horrific experience was like on a variety of levels. One of the most poignant and painful images is of the chanting of the prayer for the dead and how so many were dying that it was impossible to say the prayer for everyone. Night is a horrible, yet beautiful, reminder of what humans are capable of doing to one another and how unimaginable pain can be translated into strength.

     

    3. The Butter Battle Book

    Told in conjunction with another story The Sneetches, the Butter Battle Book is about how arbitrary hatred is and how when we really examine ourselves we realize that we are not all that different. The Sneetches wage war over two concepts: whether butter goes on the top or bottom of bread, and whether the Sneetch has a star on his belly or not. As the war progresses the lines begin to blur and the Sneetches have problems remembering why they hated each other. This book was written by the master of children’s writers Dr. Seuss, but speaks to the struggles of adults just as much.

     

    2. The Scarlet Letter

    Nathaniel Hawthorne came from a painful ancestry that included incredible persecution of Quaker women and participation in the Salem Witch Trials. The beginning of this, his masterpiece, Hawthorne mentions this past and brings the reader back in time to the years of Puritanical control and incredible oppression. This story follows a Puritan woman named Hester Prynne and her relationship with her lover, a man whose identity she refuses to divulge even after giving birth to an illegitimate child and being ostracized from society. As the story progresses Hester learns to turn her trials into triumph, strength and freedom.

     

    1. The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe

    The Complete Works, also referred to by great lovers of the dark master of writing as the Corpus, features dozens of stories and poems that cover the years of Poe’s career. Reading these stories is a glimpse of real fear. It is not about blood or startling, but about the worries, fears and torment that lingers in the back of the human mind. These stories and poems also speak of incredible love and longing, exploration of the self and investigation of the world around you.

     

  • Top 10 Nuclear / Radioactive Accidents

    Nuclear power is often billed as the cleaner, more productive future of energy. In theory this claim holds true. However, the human dynamic dictates that accidents will happen. Since the generation of nuclear energy produces waste that can affect human populations and natural environments for centuries, this is a scary proposition. Nuclear devices have changed pop culture globally and irreversibly. Listed here are ten events that demonstrate the harmful potential of this harnessed energy source.

    10. Lucens Reactor Partial Meltdown

    Luckily, the world has yet to experience enough nuclear accidents to push this incident off of the list. The partial meltdown of Sweden’s Lucens reactor is in fact a tale of proper caution when dealing with nuclear materials. Unlike most of the perpetrators that come later, the facility that served to pilot Sweden’s nuclear power program was built in a cavern. A fault in the coolant system (something you might notice as being a recurring trend) resulted in the partial meltdown of the reactor core. The Swedes sealed the cavern and later decontaminated it. No casualties were reported. This accident is the best that it gets for nuclear accidents as our list becomes increasingly fatal.

    9. Three Mile Island

    In terms of health effects and overall impact, the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island ranks rather low. It makes the list because its fame put it here. This accident is the worst that an American nuclear power plant has experienced to date. Its fame derives not from solely what and where it happened, but just as much from what might have happened. The Three Mile Island nuclear accident serves as a stark reminder about how close some of these plants are to populated areas and how easily a stroke of luck could affect us in a big way. The plant itself is named “Three Mile Island” because it is a mere three miles downriver from Middletown, Pennsylvania. There are also three cities (York, Harrisburg, and Lancaster) within 25 miles of the location. All of these areas could have been potentially radioactively poisoned and/over evacuated. These fears were largely incited through the Chernobyl Incident we will read about soon enough.

    8. Soviet Submarine K-19 Nuclear Accident

    If Captain Ahab donned a Russian accent and lived during the age of submarines, then it is likely his name would be Nikolai Vladimirovich Zateyev. Zateyev was the commander of K-19 during the time of its major crisis. K-19 was conducting drills in the Northern Atlantic when there was a malfunction in the nuclear reactor’s coolant system. What followed was one of the longest sail of shames in history. Zateyev refused help from the nearby American warships he was training to possibly destroy. When his crew grew displeased with being forced into a radioactive setting, their commander confiscated and threw all of their weapons overboard. The K-19 pill of pollution was dragged back home by a diesel powered sub where it fouled the waters. The sub was considered such a mechanical disaster that it was nicknamed “Hiroshima” by Soviet navy men.

    7. Sinking of the USS Thresher

    The USS Thresher was a nuclear powered submarine jam-packed with cutting edge technology. Sadly, the manufacturers overlooked one minor detail—ensuring that she’d stay afloat. She was launched in 1960 and endured a series of tests through the Caribbean and along the Atlantic coast of the United States. The first problem with the Thresher was in 1961 when she had to get a jump start from a World War II era, diesel-powered sub (the USS Cavalla). Plagued by mechanical injuries, the Thresher was eventually brought north for extensive overhauls. The vessel sank during its first test drive after its renovation. Days later, it was formally announced that all 129 passengers were considered deceased.

    6. The Windscale Fire

    The post-World War II arms race was in full force and the UK didn’t want to be left in the wind. In an effort to develop their first atomic bombs, the British built two reactors: Windscale Pile No. 1 and Windscale Pile No. 2. In October 1957, sometime during a failed three-day process of annealing, a fire erupted in the reactor of Pile No. 1. Overall the amounts of casualties are estimated between 200-240 cases of cancer resulting from the fire and subsequent radioactive release. The first attempts at dowsing the flames came in the form of turning the plant’s fans full blast (which served to fan the flames) and the dropping of liquid carbon dioxide. Water drops followed to no avail. Finally, the engineers realized that starving the fire of oxygen was the only route to success.

    5. Brazil’s Goiânia Accident

    Sometimes humans get creative with how we spread our radioactive contamination. A radiotherapy medical institute, “Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia”, left one site for another in 1985.  The problem is that they left some radiological equipment behind at their old place of business. A canister of highly radioactive material made its way out of the defunct premises and into the black market where it was repeatedly handled and pawned. Eventually, the device made its way to a scrapyard. Four people who handled the device repeatedly perished. At least 249 others tested positive for radioactive exposure. Due to how radioactivity is dispersed, the Goiana accident is perhaps the most unique of the world’s nuclear disasters.

    4. Radiotherapy Accident in Zaragoza, Spain

    Another mishap in the radio-therapeutic field, a number of cancer patients were cooked by an overpowered electron accelerator at the Clinic of Zaragova in 1990. Eleven patients met an early demise and at least 16 more were wounded. Symptoms included burnt skin, organs, and bone marrow. Exasperating the problem was a bad stroke of luck- namely, the delay of the annually scheduled safety board inspection. The accident was certainly not as widespread as the Goiânia accident, but it proved to be more fatal to those afflicted.

    3. Kyshtym Disaster

    Obviously outclassed in nuclear technology by their post-World War II American rivals, the Soviet Union became desperate to catch up. One of the end results was a closed city named Ozyorsk (Soviets loved having classified towns and cities) that enshrouded a nuclear facility by the name of Mayak. Radioactive sludge was subsequently pumped directly into the Techa River (from there to the Ob River and ultimately the Arctic Ocean) and later stored at Lake Karachay (largely considered the most densely polluted area in the world). As if this facility wasn’t a disaster already, there was an explosion on September 29, 1957. Over a half million people were affected by differing levels of radiation. Many of the towns along the Techa River, who had already been drinking deliberately contaminated water, were evacuated around a week later. Discretion, as usual, was the Soviets’ chief concern. By the time they were warned off, many of these inhabitants had skin falling off of their faces and other mysterious ailments.

    2. Fukushima Daiichi

    For whatever reason, the Japanese thought it was a good idea to place a nuclear power plant along shores frequented by earthquakes and subsequent tsunamis. It is amazing that the plant, commissioned since 1971, hadn’t experienced a disaster earlier. Not surprisingly, a ridiculously large quake and tsunami hit on March 11, 2011. Nature knocked Fukushima Daichi (Fukushima I), one of the 15 largest power plants in the world, out of business. Once cooling systems were flooded out and power low, radioactivity spewed forth. Reactors overheated while a hold was put on using seawater to prevent an imminent meltdown. By the time the red tape cleared to do permanent harm to the nuclear apparatus with the sea water, it was too late to prevent the meltdowns. The end result is a 20 square km restricted zone surrounding the area. Luckily geographical features prevented the need for a larger Chernobyl-sized zone. While this disaster currently ranks #2 on our list, future discoveries concerning the health of nearby Japanese citizens might easily push the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster past our current champion.

    1. Chernobyl

    Ever since 1986, the disaster in Chernobyl has influenced popular myths and realities alike.  A zone of 19 miles (30 km) was subsequently cleared of people and remains mostly unoccupied to this day. Chernobyl itself was a small town of medieval origin, but even more famous is the now vacant city of Pripyat. An increasing amount of tourists and photojournalists have visited the city’s iconic locations, such as the Ferris wheel and the amusement park. The accident at Chernobyl stands as a symbol of the diabolical nature of a Soviet regime who was more concerned with trying to cover up the accident than getting its people the help they needed. Mythically, Chernobyl has been tied to the Russian movie S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (1979) due to the similarities between the forbidden zones in the movie and in the real world. Such a huge amount of folklore and mythology surrounds the zone that a series of games and movies have explored concepts from artifact hunters that delve into radioactive areas to mutant creatures lurking among the old ruins. Even the concrete structure used to contain the melted down reactor is called a sarcophagus, like it is holding the corpse of a dormant beast. Not to be lost among the tales surrounding Chernobyl are the sacrifices made by the firefighters and other workers on that first day that helped prevent even more widespread damage.