Brentwood International

Wood density is the key to Stradivarius unique sound

2008-07-02T19:55:44-05:00

Researchers using a medical scanner have worked out why a Stradivarius violin sounds so good -- it is because of the remarkably even density of the wood. For the past 300 years, musicians and scientists have puzzled over the unparalleled quality of classical Cremonese violins made by Italian masters like Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu. Now a Dutch doctor and a violin maker from Arkansas think they have cracked the mystery after comparing five classical and eight modern violins in a computed tomography (CT) scanner normally used to examine patients.

Using an adaptation of a computer program developed to calculate lung densities in people with emphysema, they were able to analyze the physical properties of violins without risking damage to instruments worth millions of dollars.

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Stunning Hostage Rescue in Colombia

2008-07-02T19:42:10-05:00

Betancourt, U.S. contractors rescued from FARC

In a secret operation a U.S. official called "brilliant," the Colombian military infiltrated rebel group FARC and deceived its members into giving up 15 hostages including former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. The Colombian military had infiltrated the FARC leadership and arranged for the hostages to be taken to the south of the country, where they were to be picked up by helicopters that the rebels believed were controlled by another group.

The Colombian military helicopters flew the 15 away without violence. Betancourt says she had a strange feeling because the helicopters were painted white and the hostages were not expecting the rebels to mobilize in helicopters. The Colombian military members were dressed as FARC rebels wearing T-shirts and FARC uniforms. Betancourt described being frightened as she and the other hostages' feet and hands were bound. When they were secured, she said, the military officers yelled, "This is the Army. You are free."

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There's Ice!

2008-06-26T10:46:07-05:00

Mars Phoenix Tweets: "We Have ICE!" There is water ice on Mars within reach of the Mars Phoenix Lander, NASA scientists announced Thursday.
Photographic evidence settles the debate over the nature of the white material seen in photographs sent back by the craft. As seen in lower left of this image, chunks of the ice sublimed (changed directly from solid to gas) over the course of four days, after the lander's digging exposed them."It must be ice," said the Phoenix Lander's lead investigator, Peter Smith. "These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it's ice."

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Malaysian city urges women not to wear lipstick or high heels

2008-06-25T19:49:25-05:00

The council spokesman for Kota Baru, the capital of Kelantan state which is controlled by the Islamic Party, said the suggestion aimed to protect rape and protect women’s dignity and morals.He denied reports that the code was compulsory or that women would be fined for breaking it.
"We just distribute pamphlets. Our minimum guideline is they must wear headscarves," said Azman Mohd Daham. "The rest is up to them. If they want to follow the 100 percent Islamic way, it’s up to them."
The guidelines were distributed to shops and businesses last month.

"We do not advocate tight clothes, too much lipstick or thick make-up, and even the headscarf should not be too transparent," said Mr Azman.

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Italian soldiers floored by 77-year-old Japanese woman

2008-06-25T19:44:49-05:00

Martial arts expert Keiko Wakabayshi, nicknamed the "Samurai Granny", has been hired by the country's military to train recruits in hand-to-hand combat.Miss Wakabayshi, who stands exactly 5ft tall, looks tiny compared to her charges who are mostly over 6ft.

But the pensioner is a trained master in an array of martial arts disciplines including jujitsu, jojitso, kenjitso, judo, kendo and karate. Miss Wakabayshi trained for many years to achieve her level of expertise and believes she can carry on defeating brawny soldiers for years to come.

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Floating House

2008-06-25T11:04:36-05:00

"A spectacular" house finds new home up north!

Tuesday, it took little more than 20 minutes to roll the two-story, tudor-style house onto a barge and set sail for Vancouver Island. Crowds of people stood near the shores of Cozy Cove in Hunts Point on Tuesday to watch as a 3,360-square-foot house was rolled onto the barge that will carry it this week to Fanny Bay near Nanaimo, B.C., on Vancouver Island.After weeks of preparation, it took little more than 20 minutes to roll the two-story, tudor-style house onto the barge. The former owners bought the entire property for $9.4 million according to the public fillings, but just wanted the 44,000-square-foot plot to build more developments.

The owners wanted to save the house from going to landfill, so they contacted the Nickel Brothers House Moving USA Inc. They put the house up for sale at $335,000, which included moving the entire thing. Ms. O’Farrell saw the ad and decided to take it, due to the house’s style and affordable price.

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Tortoise-Pigeon-Dog

2008-06-25T10:52:21-05:00

The Amazing Story behind the 256 Year-Old Man! “Keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a pigeon and sleep like a dog.” These were the words of advice Li gave to Wu Pei-fu, the warlord, who took Li into his house to learn the secret of extremely long life. Reported to Have Buried 23 Wives and Had 180 Descendants and Sold Herbs for First 100 Years. According to the 1933 obituaries in both Time Magazine and the New York Times, Li Ching-Yun was reported to have buried 23 wives and fostered 180 descendants by the time he died at the age of 256.Was he really that old? By his own admission he was born in 1736 and had lived 197 years. However, in 1930 a professor and dean at Minkuo University by the name of Wu Chung-chien, found records “proving” that Li was born in 1677. Records allegedly showed that the Imperial Chinese Government congratulated him on his 150th and 200th Birthdays.

So the question is, had he forgotten his own birthday? Was this even the same Li Ching-Yun?

Looking at all of this from a medical and documented perspective: Jeanne Louise Calment, a French woman who died in 1997 so far holds the title for the person who has roamed the earth the longest: 122 years, which is a phenomenal length of time.

That means, that if the records discovered by Wu Chung-chien were accurate, Li Ching-Yun’s age would surpass the official record by more than 130 years. Is this even medically possible? The detail, which seems to prove both arguments and debunk them at the same time, is Li’s youthful appearance, noted in a 1928 article from the New York Times. Visually and physically, he appeared to look like a typical 60 year-old. Does this therefore signify a superhuman body capable of lasting one quarter of a millennium, or is the story of Li Ching-Yun based on a series of half-truths, lies or exaggerations?

Unfortunately, we may never know. You may draw your own logical conclusions.

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Things You Didn't Know About Benjamin Franklin

2008-06-23T10:51:52-05:00

He never once sought public office. Benjamin Franklin was well-known and could have certainly achieved public office, but he never once ran for a political office.He is related to the famous Folger's Coffee family. Ben's maternal grandfather (his mother's father), Peter Folger, was the ancestor to the founder of Folger's coffee, one of the best-known brands of coffee in the world.
He coined electrical terms still used today. The terms positive and negative, which signify the electric charge, which is another word he defined. He also gave us the word battery.

He invented bifocal glasses. Frustrated with having to switch between two pairs of glasses to correct his vision, Franklin cut two sets of lenses in half and mounted them together, creating the world's first bifocals.

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Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest

2008-06-23T10:46:48-05:00

Contestants used only toilet paper, glue, and/or tape to create gowns and headpieces with ruffles, faux embroidery, pleats and even lace effects.

Katrina Chalifoux of Rockford, Illinois spent two weeks creating a sheath dress with a raised flower pattern from molded toilet paper. She took home a $1,000 gift card for her creation.

Amazing Birthday Cake

2008-06-18T11:02:45-05:00

Professional baker, Mark Randazzo made this amazing R2D2 cake in NYC.
Whether you're a Star Wars enthusiast or simply a lover of cake, you have to see the pictures of the making...

And here are the pictures of the party!...