Sunday, February 13, 2011

Google’s Top 10 Hidden Treasures


While you are still hunting down Christmas presents, we here at MakeUseOf are already getting into the mood for Easter.
No, not really! But during this stressful pre-holiday season I thought it would be a good idea to spread some laughter.
Since Google is a source for quite a bit of entertainment, I compiled a list of the coolest Google treasures. Here are April Fool’s Day jokes, Easter Eggs, bombs and more in no particular order:

1. Search Google with MentalPlex

google easter egg
Of course this was an April Fool’s Day joke.

2. Search better with Google Gulp

This beta beverage will quench your thirst for knowledge!
It comes in four different flavors: Glutamate Grape, Sugar-Free Radical, Beta Carroty and Sero-Tonic Water.
Since the Google search algorithm cannot be improved, Google released this series of fruity and refreshing smart drinks with auto-drink technology. They are designed to maximize its users surfing experience by making them more intelligent and less thirsty.
Yes, this was an April Fool’s Day joke as well.

3. Search Google for Once in a Blue Moon

Google’s got humor. This is a classic calculator Easter Egg.
google easter egg 2

4. Search Google for the Answer to Life the Universe and Everything

Even funnier, Google calculates MUCH faster than Deep Thought.
google easter egg 4

5. Search Google for the Number of Horns on a Unicorn

google fun facts
Now what I would like to know is how many unicorns are there on Earth? Unfortunately, Google doesn’t calculate THAT.

6. Look at Googleplex Charleston Road in street view mode.

google
Google employees organized their 15 minutes of fame. Browse around the area for more sights.

7. Look at Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh in street view mode.

This street view was created in cooperation with Google for the Street With A View project.

8. Type about:internets into Google Chrome’s address bar

This will only work with Windows XP as Google Chrome launches the pipes screensaver inside the tab.
The following commands will also work for other operating systems:
about:stats
about:memory
about:network
about:histograms
about:dns
about:cache
about:plugins
about:version

9. Click [CTRL] + [ALT] + [A] in Google Earth to launch a Flight Simulator

Google has released the full keyboard controls for the Flight Simulator here.

10. Type “french military victories” into the search field and click “I’m feeling lucky

This is a Google bomb where the creator of the above seen results page takes advantage of Google’s ranking system.
Sadly, the well-known Google bombs Failure and Chuck Norris don’t seem to work anymore. And Google also fixed its translator. But there are still lots of hilarious Google-related out there, see what we got for Google on MakeUseOf Geeky Fun.
Do you know of any other Google hidden treasures and easter eggs?

Friday, February 11, 2011

The Most Incredible Miniature Pencil Art [20 pics]




elvis-carved-onto-tip-of-pencil
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News


Dalton Ghetti is a 49-year old carpenter from Bridgeport, Connecticut, and he has been carving the most incredible miniature sculptures for over 25 years without the aid of a magnifying glass. His canvas? The tiny tip of a lead pencil.


smallest-saw-ever
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
incredible-pencil-art
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News


Dalton started carving tree bark when he was a child and experimented with everything from soap to chalk before settling on graphite. It’s second nature now, and for 90 percent of his work, all he needs is a sewing needle, a razor blade, a sculpting knife and a carpenter’s or No. 2 pencil.


carving-a-lead-pencil-tip
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
smallest-hammer-ever
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News


“The pencil tip is great; it’s like a pure, very homogenous material,” he said. “It cuts in the same direction, not like wood, which has a grain. But when I tell people how long it takes, that’s when they don’t believe it. That’s what amazes people more, the patience. Because everything nowadays has to be fast, fast, fast.”


tiniest-key-ever-dalton-ghetti
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
screw-carved-into-lead-of-a-pencil
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News


Mr. Ghetti often takes years to complete pieces, especially since pencil carving is only a hobby. A standard figure will take several months however the alphabet carvings below took about 2.5 years!


alphabet-carved-into-pencils
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
pencil-nnmchucks-dalton-ghetti
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News


Mr. Ghetti has never sold any of his work, and has only given it away to friends. “It’s hard to explain but for me it’s like a sort of meditation. I’m alone with no music on in my studio and in a deep state of concentration, it’s like another mind state I float about in.”
art-on-tip-of-a-pencil
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
amazing-lead-carving
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News


“I use the sewing needle to make holes or dig into the graphite. I scratch and create lines and turn the graphite around slowly in my hand. Also, I never buy the pencils, my friends are always giving me them to sculpt or sometimes I use ones I find in the street.”


mini-pencil-art-carving
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
miniature-pencil-sculpture
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News


Dalton, who is originally from Brazil, has a box full of more than 100 sculptures that have broken while working on them that he affectionately calls ‘the cemetery collection’. Some of them he displays on a Styrofoam bed to remind him of the time spent on this almost finished works (below):


miniature-art
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News


Mr Ghetti has made about 100 carvings, and is currently on an epic piece inspired by the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
“When September 11 happened I was in tears all day and couldn’t do much for a while. I decided to make a teardrop pencil carving for each of the people who died in the attack, about 3,000. Since 2002 I have carved one every day, it takes me under an hour. When I’m done they will form one big tear drop. It will take me about 10 years but it will be worth it.”


art-carving-on-tip-of-lead-pencil
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
miniature-carving-dalton-ghetti
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News


SOURCES
The New York Times
The Telegraph
The Daily Mail


pencil-tip-sculptures
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
amazing-miniature-sculptures-on-tip-of-pencil
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
miniature-sculptures-using-pencil-lead
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News
dalton-ghetti-miniature-sculptures-carving
Photograph by Dalton Ghetti / Solent News

25 Stunning Infinity Pools Around the World


Visually stunning and always situated on a gorgeous backdrop, Infinity pools are surely the most beautiful man-made pools in existence. Sit back, relax, and take a trip around the world through the lens of the infinity pool with these 25 incredible pictures.


An infinity edge pool (also named negative edge, zero edge, disappearing edge or vanishing edge pool) is a swimming or reflecting pool which produces a visual effect of water extending to the horizon, vanishing, or extending to “infinity”. They are often seen at fancy or exotic resorts, exclusive estates, and in advertisements. The infinity pool design concept is said to have originated in Bali, Indonesia, where its inspiration came directly from observing the dramatic effect created by the ubiquitous terraced rice paddies, known locally as sawah, for which the island is famous.
- Source: Wikipedia



1. Golden Triangle Resort - Chiang Rai, Thailand

nicest-infinity-pool-ever-anantara-golden-triangle-resort
Photograph by I Prahin

2. Murni’s Villa - Ubud, Bali

murnis-villa-ubud-bali-infinity-pool
Photograph by Murnis in Bali

3. Lake Manyara Serena Lodge - Tanzania, Africa

lake-manyara-serena-lodge-tanzania-infinity-pool
Photograph by badlyricpolice

4. Kandalama Hotel - Dambulla, Sri Lanka

kandalama-hotel-dambulla-sri-lanka-infinity-pool
Photograph by adametrnal

5. Tuscany, Italy

infinity-pool-in-the-hills-of-tuscany-italy
Photograph by waveovrwave

6. Tat Kuang Si Waterfall - Luang Prabang, Laos (natural)

natural-infinity-pool-tat-kuang-si-waterfall-luang-prabang-in-laos
Photograph by babelbabel

7. Alila Ubud Hotel - Bali, Indonesia

infinity-pool-aerial-shot-alila-ubud-bali
Photograph by Sean McGrath

8. Sheraton Waikiki - Hawaii

sheraton-waikiki-infinity-pool-hawaii
Photograph by Scott Sharick

9. Hotel Villa Mahal - Turkey

infinity-pool-reflecting-the-sky-hotel-villa-mahal-in-turkey
Photograph by Cloudzilla

10. Rangali Island - Maldives

rangali-island-infinity-pool
Photograph by KTA Public Relations

11. Kempinski Hotel Ishtar - Dead Sea, Jordan

kempinski-hotel-ishtar-dead-sea-jordan-infinity-pool
Photograph by Marantzer

12. Divi Little Bay Beach Resort - St. Maarten

infinity-pool-sunset
Photograph by Erikogan

13. Phuket, Thailand

amazing-infinity-pool-by-the-sea
Photograph by a hobby

14. Los Cabos, Mexico

beautiful-reflection-infinity-pool
Photograph by Marquis Los Cabos

15. North Narrabeen Tidal Pool - Sydney, Australia (natural)

incredible-infinity-pool-on-the-water
Photograph by Peter Anthony

16. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

infinity-pool-puerto-vallarta-mexico
Photograph by bpverdoorn

17. Intercontinental Hotel - Fiji

intercontinental-fiji-resort-infinity-pool
Photograph by amorphity

18. Dreams Resort - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

infinity-pool-dreams-resort-puerto-vallarta-mexico
Photograph by demelzastudio

19. Unknown

incredibe-view-from-infinity-pool
Photograph by rocketChips

20. Turkey

infinity-pool-in-turkey-resort-amazing
Photograph by NeilWhelan

21. Mes Amis Resort

infinity-pool-at-mes-amis
Photograph by Jeremy Wilbur

22. Ubud Hanging Gardens - Bali, Indonesia

double-infinity-pool-hanging-gardens-ubud-bali
Photograph by Busyman Bicycles

23. Infinity Falls (natural)

infinity-pool-surrounded-by-nature
Photograph by Angus Clyne

24. Unknown

brilliant-reflection-infinity-pool
Photograph by Greg Marshall

25. Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino - Singapore

skypark-marina-bay-sands-hotel-macau-infinity-pool
Photograph by Andrew JK Tan

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Facebook Averaged Almost 8 New Registrations Per Second In 2010


Candytech, a Czech company that helps companies create and measure Facebook marketing campaigns, has gathered a wealth of Facebook-specific data over the years via its statistics portal SocialBakers.
The company has put together this great infographic, offering an overview of Facebook’s growth and population throughout 2010. Some key stats:
- Facebook ballooned from 337 million to 585 million users in 2010
- That means roughly 7.9 new users signed up every second of the year, on average
- USA and the UK are in the top 3 countries, but Indonesia is second with 32.1 million users
- The top 10 countries make up nearly 60% of all users
- The large majority of users is between 18 and 34 years old
- … but the fastest growing age group is 65+ (+124%)
- Three food brands (Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Oreo) make up the top 3 brands on Facebook
- Michael Jackson may have passed away, but his legacy is strong: 26.2 million fans