No place like home: amazing imaginations produce unique abodes

 Klima Hotel (Bella Vista) (left), the semi-submerged underground hotel in Bozen, Italy.

Peeking out from underneath bumpy layers of greenery, this Swiss estate looks more like something out of a fairy tale than real life. Designed by Vetsch Architektur, the structure was built using earth house construction, resulting in an insulating blanket that protects it from rain, low temperatures, wind and natural abrasion.
For more amazing underground abodes, view the entire list at Inhabitat.

Modern designs meets cave-dwelling with this eye-popping home (right) nestled inside of a 15,000-square foot sandstone cave in Festus, Missouri.

Built by Curt and Deborah Sleeper, the underground abode features smart examples of energy-efficient architecture like geothermal heating and passive design that keep the interior comfortable while completely eliminating the need for a furnace or air conditioning.

No insects left: another sign of the tough times we all live in

Fred the Frog was spotted on Central Avenue in McKinleyville displaying this sign yesterday. I stopped and asked him what was up and he croaked “All the damn insect sprays around town have wiped out my food supply!

I can’t even find a fly!”

Alarmed at his predicament, I gave him a ride out into the countryside where there were no humans killing off his meals. Hopefully that will solve his problem. He certainly was happy when I dropped him off by a riverbank engulfed in insects. And that’s your “ribbiting” tale for today! 

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Tattoo’s that fly off you for a Tuesday - and thoughts on the subject

Nearly everyone has a tattoo these days. Once the exclusive art of sailors, soldiers, Marines, and Bikers (in America), tattoos went mainstream in the last decade.

My wife has a tattoo of a frog and turtle hugging on her ankle. It’s in color and looks like a Disney rendering.

All three of my sons have tattoos.  Each of them have multiple tats on arms, back, and chest.

I don’t have a tattoo. I had plenty of chances to get one in the military when I was young, but never let the ink get under my skin...so to speak.

I’m not sure why. I have nothing against tattoos. I think they look cool….on someone else. 

Go here to look up 100s of tat’s at tattooFinder.com

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Livermore scientists are busy building a 'miniature star on earth'

It may look like any average building but behind closed doors could lie the answer to safe renewable energy of the future.  

Here at the National Ignition Facility in Livermore California, scientists are aiming to build the world's first sustainable fusion reactor by 'creating a miniature star on Earth'.

Following a series of key experiments over the last few weeks, the $2.2 billion project has inched a little closer to its goal of igniting a workable fusion reaction by 2012.

According to the National Ignition Facility (NIF) team in Livermore, on November 2 they fired up the 192 lasers beams at the center of the reactor and aimed them at a glass target containing tritium and deuterium gas. Read more here

Public Scandal: Did PBS cut Tina Fey's Palin jokes? You betcha

Et tu PBS? I’m shocked and degusted at the same time.

Censoring Fey’s best lines in her acceptance speech speaks of a Conservative conspiracy among the producers. Everyone involved seems to be a bobble-head doll with a recording – “I don’t know what happened.” Or, “It was not a political decision…” Blah blah blah.

Comedian ripped former Alaska governor in humor prize acceptance speech

Scum slapping: Rangel found guilty of violating 11 House rules

A House ethics panel has found Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York guilty on 11 counts of breaking House rules.

This is just another example of how career politicians think they are above the law. Rangel has been getting away with his underhanded dealings for 50 years now…it’s about time someone did something.

The thing that bothers me the most? The worst he’s going to get is a slap on the wrist and then it’s back to business as usual. He’s not going to change his habits after this official mockery of justice. Why should he? If he’s not the poster child for term limits then I’d like to know who else is?

As the suns sets upon another day, it’s glory slowly goes away

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Climbers of the Holy Rocks: Meteora offers more than 50 rocky towers

Here’s a place for hard core climbers. If I was forty years younger (in my twenties), I would love to climb in this area.

Photographer’s Note:

“Apart from the huge cultural, religious and natural interest of Meteora, it is also one of the best regions in Greece for climbing. More than 50 rocky towers are waiting for those who like this sport. The history of climbing in this place dates back from the ancient times, when the ihnabitants of ancient Aeginio found shelter here, in order to avoid attacks from bandits.”

Photo By Hercules Milas

If you want to read more about the history of climbing at Meteora, just check THIS PAGE.

Kayaking the Thumb – A Field Report on the Experience

Kayaking the Thumb

Kayaking the Thumb, Port Austin, Michigan: Photos & Trip Report (2009)

As It Stands: celebrating a quarter million readers in two years

Here’s a big shout out to my Budapest, Hungary viewer. You are my 250,000th reader. Thanks for stopping by today!

Budapest (pronounced /ˈbuːdəpɛst/, also /ˈbʊdəpɛst/, /ˈbjuːdəpɛst/; Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈbudɒpɛʃt] ( listen); names in other languages) is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2010, Budapest had 1,721,556 inhabitants, down from 1980 peak of 2.06 million. The Budapest Commuter Area is home to 3,271,110 people. The city covers an area of 525 square kilometres (202.7 sq mi) within the city limits. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of right (west)-bank Buda and Óbuda with left (east)-bank Pest.

Historically, Aquincum, originally a Celtic settlement,was the direct ancestor of Budapest, becoming the Roman capital of Lower Pannonia. Magyars arrived in the territory in the 9th century. Their first settlement was pillaged by the Mongols in 1241-42. The re-established town became one of the centres of Renaissance humanist culture in the 15th century. Following the Battle of Mohács and nearly 150 years of Ottoman rule, development of the region entered a new age of prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Budapest became a global city after the 1873 unification. It also became the second capital of Austria-Hungary, a great power that dissolved in 1918. Budapest was the focal point of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the Hungarian Soviet Republic of 1919, Operation Panzerfaust in 1944, the Battle of Budapest of 1945, and the Revolution of 1956.