See this at: mint.com| Added on 12/09/09

Retiring to Boca Raton might might appeal to some aging Baby Boomers, but what about those planning to retire early - due to sound investments, for instance - or, those who are looking for a little post-career adventure? Whatever your age, retirement... See more

Retiring to Boca Raton might might appeal to some aging Baby Boomers, but what about those planning to retire early - due to sound investments, for instance - or, those who are looking for a little post-career adventure? Whatever your age, retirement should be an opportunity to do all the things that you always wanted to do, but were too busy to try. Perhaps you'll pursue a neglected hobby or even launch another business but this time from a more exotic locale. From changes in scenery to endless recreation, business tax breaks to huge exchange rate benefits, a number of international locations are well-worth consideration as retirement destinations. For those not yet looking to retire, they make good vacation getaways as well. See less

See this at: kensinger.blogspot.c...| Added on 12/07/09

Thanks Meghan! yeah, I believe the urban legend is that Houdini died after being punched unexpectedly... don't know what the real story is. Lady Dancer - thank you so much for you comments! I'll try to keep those Christmas presents coming! Bluestar -... See more

Thanks Meghan! yeah, I believe the urban legend is that Houdini died after being punched unexpectedly... don't know what the real story is. Lady Dancer - thank you so much for you comments! I'll try to keep those Christmas presents coming! Bluestar - apparently, the cemetery has fallen on some hard times, and the office has been abandoned for years... its difficult work keeping a cemetery running, especially when you start to run out of gravesites to sell. Machpelah is a fairly small cemetery - it can't have much income. See less

See this at: contemporist.com| Added on 10/28/09

Ferrari Factory Store of Serravalle Scrivia, entirely designed by Iosa Ghini Associates, is located outside McArthur Glen Outlet in Serravalle Scrivia. For the first time in the history of Ferrari Stores an entire building has been designed to... See more

Ferrari Factory Store of Serravalle Scrivia, entirely designed by Iosa Ghini Associates, is located outside McArthur Glen Outlet in Serravalle Scrivia. For the first time in the history of Ferrari Stores an entire building has been designed to accommodate the store. The building enjoys a privileged position as one of the first structures of the Outlet visible from the main parking area and access roads, for this reason it was designed with an exterior that immediately identifies it at ‘Ferrari space” The building of approximately 370 sqm is characterized by a large glass gallery that recalls the image and feel of Formula One box, immediately projecting visitors in the Ferrari world. From a technical point of view the glass gallery is highly innovative with a curved face without mounting posts and bars that permit total visibility inward and outward. The curved glass panels are assembled using a frameless anchor system, i.e. without mounting supports but with ultra light and clips that... See less

See this at: atlasobscura.com| Added on 10/16/09

The Austria artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser is said to have once called straight lines "the devil's tools." Hundertwasser designed many buildings throughout Austria and Germany, but the Waldspirale is a loud testament to... See more

The Austria artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser is said to have once called straight lines "the devil's tools." Hundertwasser designed many buildings throughout Austria and Germany, but the Waldspirale is a loud testament to Hundertwasser's hatred of straight lines and his allegiance to nature. Waldspirale translates to "wooded spiral," and that is exactly what it is. The large spiraled building is topped with an incredible forest - beech, maple and lime trees grow on the undulating, twisting roof. Completed in 2000 -- the same year Hundertwasser died -- the Waldspirale has 105 apartments and more than 1000 windows. Not one of these windows are shaped the same in this "out of line" building, and many have "tree tenants" growing right through them. At the highest point the building has 12 floors. You can climb to the wooded spiral roof, which includes a cafe and a bar. Hundertwasser's aversion to the "devil's tools" is carried to the interior as well; the corners between... See less

See this at: atlasobscura.com| Added on 10/16/09

Weaving live saplings together to form a kind of domed cathedral space, architect Marcel Kalberer and his group Sanfte Strukturen are re-envisioning the way living building materials and techniques can be used to design modern spaces. Constructed in... See more

Weaving live saplings together to form a kind of domed cathedral space, architect Marcel Kalberer and his group Sanfte Strukturen are re-envisioning the way living building materials and techniques can be used to design modern spaces. Constructed in 1998, the Auerworld Palace in Aeurstedt, Germany was their first "willow palace' project, taking the efforts of 300 volunteers to build. The palace is now 10 years old - their techniques, however, are ancient. The Sumerian reed houses of Mesopotamia were famous for their construction of tightly bound reeds, and in Europe smaller outbuildings have been made of woven plants and trees for hundreds of years. Most of these are built from green branches, though. In this case the whole tree is woven in place to form a living structure. Kalberer began his first construction in 1984 and since then has built more than 70 structures around Europe. He has also shared and explained his technique to others, and according to Kalberer, there are now more... See less

See this at: atlasobscura.com| Added on 10/16/09

Axel Erlandson never intended to create a new genre of sculpture or become the father of an art movement. He just wanted to entertain his family. As young boy, the Swedish born Erlandson's family settled in California. Axel grew up become a bean... See more

Axel Erlandson never intended to create a new genre of sculpture or become the father of an art movement. He just wanted to entertain his family. As young boy, the Swedish born Erlandson's family settled in California. Axel grew up become a bean farmer, married his wife Leona in 1914 and had a daughter. That might have been the end of the story, had Erlandson not noticed the curious property of trees to naturally graft themselves together. Known as inosculation, it occurs when one tree bonds to another. This gave Erlandson an idea and he began creating plans for a series of trees that were purposely grafted together to create pleasing shapes. It wasn't fast, taking many years to gently shape, graft and prune the trees, but it was satisfying and the odd trees amused his friends and family. His first creation was the "Four Legged Giant," four trees which he grew combine into a single truck creating a kind tree-gazebo. In 1945, twenty years after Erlandson had begun his hobby, his... See less

See this at: atlasobscura.com| Added on 10/16/09

On Lake Titicaca, one ancient people, the Uros, live on islands made of living reeds that float around the lake. The Uros people have been living on the lake for hundreds of years—they were forced to take up residence on the floating islands when the... See more

On Lake Titicaca, one ancient people, the Uros, live on islands made of living reeds that float around the lake. The Uros people have been living on the lake for hundreds of years—they were forced to take up residence on the floating islands when the Incas expanded onto their land. In the shadow of the Andes, on the world’s highest navigable lake, they make their living from fishing and from selling their reed handicrafts to tourists. The Uros use the totora reed, which is plentiful along the edges of the lake, to make their homes, their furniture, their boats, and the islands they live on. Their boats, which are shaped like canoes, but with animal heads at the prow, are used for fishing and to bring visitors out to the islands, which are usually moored to the bottom of the lake, but can be moved if necessary. As reeds disintegrate from the bottom of the islands, which are four to eight feet thick, residents must add more to the surface, which is soft and occasionally spongy. Each... See less

See this at: atlasobscura.com| Added on 10/16/09

One of Japan's three "hidden" valleys, west Iya valley is home to the kind of misty gorges, clear rivers and thatch-roofed houses that one imagines from a Japan of 100 years ago. Remote and difficult to enter, the valley was a favored hideout of... See more

One of Japan's three "hidden" valleys, west Iya valley is home to the kind of misty gorges, clear rivers and thatch-roofed houses that one imagines from a Japan of 100 years ago. Remote and difficult to enter, the valley was a favored hideout of refugees, bandits and disgraced warriors. To get across the Iya river that splits the rough valley terrain these bandits, warriors and locals created a very special, if unsteady, type of bridge - a vine bridge. Two Wisteria vines -- a particularly aggressive and tough vine that climbs around any host -- were grown to extraordinary lengths from either side of the river. Once the vines had reached a sufficient length they were woven together and planking was woven into them at 8 to 12 inches apart. The bridge had no sides and a Japanese historical source relates that the original vine bridge were so unstable, that when those who were not used to it attempted to cross, the bridge would start to sway and bounce wildly causing the poor soul to... See less

See this at: atlasobscura.com| Added on 10/16/09

In the depths of northeastern India, in one of the wettest places on earth, bridges aren't built - they're grown. The southern Khasi and Jaintia hills are humid and warm, crisscrossed by swift-flowing rivers and mountain streams. On the slopes of... See more

In the depths of northeastern India, in one of the wettest places on earth, bridges aren't built - they're grown. The southern Khasi and Jaintia hills are humid and warm, crisscrossed by swift-flowing rivers and mountain streams. On the slopes of these hills, a species of Indian rubber tree with an incredibly strong root system thrives and flourishes. The Ficus elastica produces a series of secondary roots from higher up its trunk and can comfortably perch atop huge boulders along the riverbanks, or even in the middle of the rivers themselves. The War-Khasis, a tribe in Meghalaya, long ago noticed this tree and saw in its powerful roots an opportunity to easily cross the area's many rivers. Now, whenever and wherever the need arises, they simply grow their bridges. In order to make a rubber tree's roots grow in the right direction - say, over a river - the Khasis use betel nut trunks, sliced down the middle and hollowed out, to create root-guidance systems: The thin, tender roots of... See less

See this at: darkroastedblend.com| Added on 10/16/09

Halloween Reigns Underground In the dark misty depths and tunnels of Seoul's subway an explosion of colors and decoration is taking place. It starts with obligatory pumpkins and veggies, but certainly does not stop there: There are discussions... See more

Halloween Reigns Underground In the dark misty depths and tunnels of Seoul's subway an explosion of colors and decoration is taking place. It starts with obligatory pumpkins and veggies, but certainly does not stop there: There are discussions underway to make a similar display in Hong Kong subway, as well. These cities are no strangers to viral campaigns. The commuters there have already enjoyed the hardwood floors in subway cars: See less

See this at: koti.phnet.fi| Added on 10/16/09

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See this at: en.wikipedia.org| Added on 10/16/09

This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details may not fully reflect the modified file.

This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details may not fully reflect the modified file. See less

See this at: atoptics.co.uk| Added on 10/16/09

Nacreous clouds, sometimes called mother-of-pearl clouds, are rare but once seen are never forgotten. They are mostly visible within two hours after sunset or before dawn when they blaze unbelievably bright with vivid and slowly shifting iridescent... See more

Nacreous clouds, sometimes called mother-of-pearl clouds, are rare but once seen are never forgotten. They are mostly visible within two hours after sunset or before dawn when they blaze unbelievably bright with vivid and slowly shifting iridescent colours. They are filmy sheets slowly curling and uncurling, stretching and contracting in the semi-dark sky. Compared with dark scudding low altitude clouds that might be present, nacreous clouds stand majestically in almost the same place - an indicator of their great height. They need the very frigid regions of the lower stratosphere some 15 - 25 km (9 -16 mile) high and well above tropospheric clouds. They are so bright after sunset and before dawn because at those heights they are still sunlit. They are seen mostly during winter at high latitudes like Scandinavia, Iceland, Alaska and Northern Canada. Sometimes, however, they occur as far south as England. They can be less rare downwind of mountain ranges. Elsewhere their appearance is... See less

See this at: lh6.ggpht.com| Added on 10/16/09

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See this at: apartmenttherapy.com| Added on 10/15/09

Did you know that there are 34 islands a short ferry ride from downtown Boston? Now that the rains seem to have ceased, maybe you're looking for a...

See this at: apartmenttherapy.com| Added on 10/15/09

We realize that not everyone (or anyone?) has 7 million dollars to throw at a fixer-upper historic castle these days, but … well, we can look can’t...

See this at: apartmenttherapy.com| Added on 10/15/09

A Venetian palazzo right near the Back Bay Fens, The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a beautiful and inspiring place. Built in Boston out of new...

See this at: apartmenttherapy.com| Added on 10/15/09

For some reason, fall, not summer, increases our fascination with treehouses. Did you ever cozy up in a treehouse and smell the crisp fall air?...

See this at: apartmenttherapy.com| Added on 10/15/09

While we’re big on supporting local businesses, it’s not always easy when you’re counting every penny. We just stumbled on a great list of 35 places...

See this at: apartmenttherapy.com| Added on 10/15/09

Based on historic photographs of The Providence Athenaeum, an independent membership library, the space doesn’t look much different than it did in...

See this at: yankodesign.com| Added on 05/09/09

Perhaps you’ve been? London is a home to many, many fine shops, quite a few of them dedicated to one single brand. Lots of them are the kind of brand that has a couple shops and that’s it! Ferrari. What do you think of when you think of this brand?... See more

Perhaps you’ve been? London is a home to many, many fine shops, quite a few of them dedicated to one single brand. Lots of them are the kind of brand that has a couple shops and that’s it! Ferrari. What do you think of when you think of this brand? Exclusivity? The patented red + yellow? Crazy conceptual works? Better wear sunglasses in here. Made by the lovely folks at Massimo Iosa Ghini. This is the London Ferrari Store. Surely your eyes and pocketbooks will be taken hostage. Yellow bands! Each different area of the store is a slightly different concept, with features like transparent glass floors and the lacquered finish of walls to tie the whole experience into one single Italian fantasy. Designer: Massimo Iosa Ghini If you liked this design, you would also be interested in: * Ferrari “we give up, you do it…” * 100% Design London 2008 Recap * Form London - the Design Art Fair * London Brick Ashtray by Tom Morgan & Kim Thome * Wind-powered London by Marks Barfield Keep up with the... See less

See this at: yankodesign.com| Added on 06/12/09

* KwangErn said: "Cool~ Is it for sale, or still a prototype?" regarding Pimp Your Doorbell * chris said: "Ian’s right. Some people are actually concerned about safety. Ill stick with my over sized American Chevy truck that can haul a lot more,... See more

* KwangErn said: "Cool~ Is it for sale, or still a prototype?" regarding Pimp Your Doorbell * chris said: "Ian’s right. Some people are actually concerned about safety. Ill stick with my over sized American Chevy truck that can haul a lot more, and..." regarding Petite Cargo Pickup Plays Transformer * Michael Hoskins said: "What? No video of it in action? Boo!" regarding Pimp Your Doorbell * Andy C said: "A fantastic design and a worthy idea to bring housing to a much deprived area of our modern world. Perhaps solar panels with 12v battery packs could be added to the..." regarding Affordable Home See less

See this at: uncrate.com| Added on 08/01/09

Soar through the air and navigate the seas aboard the Antilles Seaplanes G-21 Super Goose ($TBA). A remake of the legendary Grumman Goose that ferried the likes of Hemingway and MacArthur in a long-ago era, the new Super Goose was built using the... See more

Soar through the air and navigate the seas aboard the Antilles Seaplanes G-21 Super Goose ($TBA). A remake of the legendary Grumman Goose that ferried the likes of Hemingway and MacArthur in a long-ago era, the new Super Goose was built using the original Goose's FAA type certificates, engineer's drawings and blueprints, melding classic construction with modern technologies. Whether you're island-hopping or making your way to your favorite isolated fishing hole, the Super Goose will get you there like nothing else. See less

See this at: uncrate.com| Added on 07/27/09

Looking for more excitement than the local lake or fishing hole has to offer? Head up to Nimmo Bay. Located northwest of Vancouver in picturesque British Columbia, Canada, this resort/adventure destination offers world-class lodging and cuisine,... See more

Looking for more excitement than the local lake or fishing hole has to offer? Head up to Nimmo Bay. Located northwest of Vancouver in picturesque British Columbia, Canada, this resort/adventure destination offers world-class lodging and cuisine, along with a wide variety of outdoor activities, including heli-fishing , white-water rafting, and helicopter tours. Perfect for a rustic romantic getaway or manly corporate retreat, it's sure to offer days of exhilarating fun that will leave you with life-lasting memories. [Thanks, Fraser] See less

See this at: designboom.com| Added on 07/15/09

frank gehry has officially been replaced by dutch firm west 8 for the miami lincoln park project. gehry and the city were at odds after he could not stick to budget. the project will still ahve to be approved by the city of miami before it's... See more

frank gehry has officially been replaced by dutch firm west 8 for the miami lincoln park project. gehry and the city were at odds after he could not stick to budget. the project will still ahve to be approved by the city of miami before it's finalized. the firm specializes in contemporary landscape architecture and has designed projects including governor's island new york, bridges parque lineal de manzanares, madrid and most recently the simcoe wavedeck in toronto. the 2.5 acre park will serve as an entrance to the gehry designed new world symphony scheduled to open in january 2011. it will also provide an outdoor venue for concerts and expansive green space. See less

See this at: live.topgear.com| Added on 07/10/09

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See this at: uncrate.com| Added on 07/07/09

You probably didn't wake up this morning thinking how awesome it would be to ride around in a giant mechanical elephant. But we bet you are now. Les Machines de L'ile ($9 per ride) are huge robotic animals, imagined by François Delarozière and Pierre... See more

You probably didn't wake up this morning thinking how awesome it would be to ride around in a giant mechanical elephant. But we bet you are now. Les Machines de L'ile ($9 per ride) are huge robotic animals, imagined by François Delarozière and Pierre Oreficee, that are on display in Nantes, France. While you can take a ride in the 40-foot tall elephant, there's also a mechanical squid, manta ray and other monsters that you can get inside and control. [via | via] See less

See this at: uncrate.com| Added on 07/07/09

Get caught up on all the recent movie buzz with an all-day showing of the 2008 Best Picture Oscar nominees. On Saturday, Feb. 23, the AMC Best Picture Showcase ($30) will let you waste your entire day watching all five nominees — Michael Clayton,... See more

Get caught up on all the recent movie buzz with an all-day showing of the 2008 Best Picture Oscar nominees. On Saturday, Feb. 23, the AMC Best Picture Showcase ($30) will let you waste your entire day watching all five nominees — Michael Clayton, There Will Be Blood, Atonement, Juno and No Country for Old Men — back-to-back at 81 select AMC theaters. The admission also includes a free large popcorn with unlimited refills all day. See less

See this at: uncrate.com| Added on 07/07/09

South by Southwest 2008 (SXSW) kicks off today, and for the next 10 days, it'll serve as the center of the universe for music, film and the web. The yearly event ranks very near the top of that "things everyone should go to before they die" list. For... See more

South by Southwest 2008 (SXSW) kicks off today, and for the next 10 days, it'll serve as the center of the universe for music, film and the web. The yearly event ranks very near the top of that "things everyone should go to before they die" list. For first timers, however, it can be a bit overwhelming, so for those of you converging on Austin, and those of you already there, here's a down-and-dirty Uncrate guide to getting-down at SXSW 2008. [Read More] It stands to reason that more than a few of you are attending the Interactive conference. SXSWi is one of the single most important events in the world of New Media. It's also one of the few events where many of the panels actually don't suck, so pay attention. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg is delivering a keynote Sunday and Frank Warren from Post Secret will be there on Monday the 10th. Top parties: People Powered Party, IMEEM Smash-up Party, The Conversation Party and The Official Rock Band Party. The Film portion of the event runs... See less

See this at: uncrate.com| Added on 07/07/09

If you'd rather see Porsche, Ferrari, and Audi supercars battle it out instead of domestic family rides turning left all day, head down to Florida this weekend for the 56th annual 12 Hours of Sebring ($80-$500). Besides the main event sports-car... See more

If you'd rather see Porsche, Ferrari, and Audi supercars battle it out instead of domestic family rides turning left all day, head down to Florida this weekend for the 56th annual 12 Hours of Sebring ($80-$500). Besides the main event sports-car enduro, which runs through Saturday, there are a bunch of off-track activities you can check out, including a Party Zone with live entertainment and the Hawaiian Tropic bikini contest. See less