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| http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/wanderlust/top-5-odd-hotels-002632759.html Top 5 odd hotelsBy Lili Ladaga Seasoned road warriors know the drill: Indifferent hotel rooms decorated in various shades of drab, boring and sad. Just say "no" to re-circulated air and scratchy sheets, travelers. Change your reservations and check into one of these awesomely odd hotels: 5) Dog Bark Park Inn, Cottonwood, Idaho: Sometimes it's not such a bad thing to be in the dog house -- at least not in Cottonwood, Idaho. The owners take the definition of "dog lover" to new heights: The B&B was built in the shape of ... a beagle. Guests enter through the "belly" and sleep in the "head." There's also a cozy alcove in the "muzzle." Guests can commemorate their stay with a wooden replica of their favorite pooch, hand-carved by owners/artists, Dennis and Frances. 4) Wigwam Village, Holbrook, Arizona: Tired of boxy roadside motels? Go West, road trippers: In Holbrook, Arizona, you can sleep in a snug wigwam at the Wigwam Village Motel #6. Built in 1950, this motel is one of a series built around the U.S. The 15 free-standing wigwams/teepees come with either one or two double beds and feature cable TV and air-conditioning. There are no telephones, though, so you may want to brush up on your smoke-signal skills. 3) Liberty Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts: This luxury hotel has a dark past: It was formerly the Charles Street Jail, built in 1851. Luckily for today's guests, the former residents wouldn't recognize the joint: Jail cells were preserved and are now part of the snazzy hotel restaurant called "Clink." (Get it?) The former exercise yard is now a "private, beautifully landscaped courtyard," and the jail's atrium is now the airy, light-filled center of the hotel -- jailer catwalks included. 2) Quaker Square Inn, Akron, Ohio: There's nothing square about this Ohio inn. Literally. The former silo complex that used to house your favorite breakfast-cereal grains now house guests. But don't fear: The inn features all the modern amenities, including an elevator, so no sliding down a chute to get to the lobby. 1) Kokopelli's Cave Bed & Breakfast, Farmington, New Mexico: If you've ever had one of those days when you wish you could just crawl into a cave, then this B&B is for you. The single guestroom/cave sits 70 feet below the surface, carved into a cliff wall. It faces west, so you can enjoy sunset views of the Four Corners and the La Plata River Valley -- 250 below you. No caveman accommodations here: The Cave boasts a queen bed, waterfall shower, hot tub and a full kitchen.
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NOW HERE'S SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT...
These aircraft carriers look formidable and of ultra modern design. There are reports the 1st Chinese aircraft carrier is under construction and could enter service around 2015 or earlier. It won't be long before we see the real thing. Defense analysts are waiting; watching anxiously.
THIS IS QUANTUM LEAP ABOVE ANYTHING WE HAVE ON THE DRAWING BOARD. THEY HAVE THOUGHT " OUTSIDE THE BOX " ON THIS ONE. BETTER SPEED, LARGER CAPACITY, MUCH MORE STABLE, ETC. DEFINITELY A " BLUE-WATER " LONG REACH VESSEL. PLUS THEY CAN SERVICE THEIR NUKE SUB FLEET IN-BETWEEN THE TWIN HULLS ( SIGHT UNSEEN ) OR EVEN LAUNCH AMPHIBIOUS OPPS FROM SAME. IT WILL BE LAUNCHED IN HALF THE TIME IT TAKES THE USA AT JUST ONE-THIRD THE COST. ADD THE NEW CHINESE STEALTH FIGHTER BOMBER ( NAVAL VERSION ALREADY FLIGHT TESTING ) IN THE MIX AND YOU HAVE THE MAKINGS OF A FORMIDABLE WEAPONS SYSTEM INDEED.
ALSO LOOK AT THAT EXTRA ''PARKING AND READINESS'' STATION BETWEEN BOTH HULL STRUCTURES. AND OF COURSE THE LAUNCHING AND LANDING CAPABILITIES FROM THE UTILISATION OF TWIN FLIGHT DECKS AT ONCE
P.S. SOME THOUGHT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ADVISING YOUR GRANDCHILDREN TO LEARN TOSPEAK MANDARIN ( FORGET SPANISH ) MY " VERY, VERY BRIGHT " 15-YEAR OLD 3rd COUSIN HAS ALREADY BEEN ADVISED TO DO SO BY PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT SUCH THINGS. P.P.S SIX OF THESE VESSELS ( TWO PACIFIC, TWO ATLANTIC, ONE INDIAN OCEAN
AND ONE MED SEA ) WOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD DIPLOMATIC " BIG STICK ". NOTE:
THE CHINESE ARE ALREADY DRILLING FOR OIL OFF CUBA. BRAZIL AND VENEZUELA.
CAN THEY BUILD A FLEET OF THESE THINGS? A FEW FACTS: THE CHINESE HAVE COMPLETED THE WORLD'S BIGGEST DAM ( THREE GORGES ), THE WORLD'S LONGEST OVER-WATER BRIDGE ( 65 TIMES AS MUCH STEEL AS IN THE EIFFEL TOWER ), AND A 15,000' HIGH RAILROAD INTO TIBET (ALL CONSIDERED MAJOR ENGINEERING FEATS). THEY ARE THE ONLY NATION OTHER THAN RUSSIA THAT CAN LAUNCH MEN INTO OUTER SPACE ( OUR CAPABILITY ENDS WITH THE LAST SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH THIS MONTH ). THEY HAVE ALSO SHOT DOWN A SURVEILLANCE SATELLITE ( ONE OF THEIR OWN )
FROM THE GROUND. PLUS THEY " OWN OUR ASS " IN THE INTERNATIONAL DEBT GAME. CHINA'S NEW A/C CARRIER COULD BE TWICE AS FAST AS ANYTHING WE HAVE, PLUS THE STABILITY OF A CATAMARAN TYPE HULL WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE PITCHING, YAWING AND SWAYING COMMON TO OUR PRESENT DESIGNS.-- Always say what you mean ! !always mean what you say ! !NEVER COMPROMISE ........
FIGHT THE POWER!!! HAAAAHAHAHAHA
These skull-ful creations are turning heads across the globe.
Russian artist Dimitri Tsykalov uses an axe, saw and electrical drill to carve human skulls out of fresh fruit and vegetables.
The 48-year-old then uses a scalpel, pincers and cotton wool pads to add and smooth remarkable detail with 'surgical precision'.
Precise: Artist Dimitri Tsykalov uses an axe, saw and electrical drill to carve human skulls from vegetables, this skull is made from a cabbage
Dimitiri - who has carved skulls into an apple, melon, cabbage and aubergine - waits for his sculptures to rot and then photographs them.
He said: 'I enjoy working with my hands and prefer using meat, vegetables and fruits instead of marble, clay and wood.
'I carefully choose my materials on the basis of size, solidity and color. They can't be too ripe but not too hard either.
'The sculpting is a delicate and meticulous process that requires surgical precision.'
Melon: After carving the sculptures Dimitri Tsykalov uses a scalpel, pincers and cotton wool pads to add and smooth remarkable detail with 'surgical precision'
Hardcore: After doing his carvings artist Dimitri Tsykalov waits until the fruit or vegetables have rotted and then photographs his creations
Dimitiri, from Moscow, added: 'I use an electric drill, saw, axe, kitchen knives, spoons, scalpel, pincers and cotton wool pads.
'Once I have finished carving, I let oxidation do its work - leaving the sculpted piece of fruit to ripen in my studio over a few days.
'The flies let me know when it's ready and time to take a picture.'
Auber-genius: Oxidation must take place before the pieces are photographed -Dimitri Tsykalov said the flies let him know when the sculpture is ready
By Diane M. Miller
The telephone rang. It was my sister. She said, “Just thought I’d let you know I used your crayon story again.” My sister is the media specialist in an elementary school. Every now and then, she will tell my story to the students who visit her library.
Forty-odd years ago, I sat in my first-grade classroom. The classroom’s PA crackled to life, summoning me to the principal’s office. The PRINCIPAL’S office! As I walked to the office, my six-year-old little life flashed before my eyes. What did I do?
I was a shy kid. I did my best to blend into the background. I hated to be noticed or singled out. For me, being called to the principal’s office was my worst nightmare come to life. My black and white saddle shoes scuffed the floor as I walked ever so slowly to the office.
“Diane, the principal is not ready for you yet. Please have a seat,” said the school secretary.
I climbed up onto the leather sofa and sunk as low as I could into the cushion. I was praying that the cushion would swallow me whole.
The intercom buzzed on the secretary’s desk. “You can go in now,” she smiled.
I pushed open the heavy oak door. It was worse than I thought. Seated in front of the principal’s desk were my parents. The real reason why they were there, I wouldn’t learn until years later.
My father walked straight over to me. He held a stack of my drawings. “Why do you only use a black crayon when you draw?” he asked.
I couldn’t speak. All I could do was shrug my boney shoulders.
“Show me your desk,” said my father.
We returned to my classroom. It was recess time so all my classmates were out on the playground. I nervously pointed to my wooden desk.
My father pulled out my crayon box. He dumped the contents into his hand. A single nub of a crayon rested in his palm—it was black.
Puzzled, my father asked, “Where are the rest of your crayons?”
I quietly explained that I’d given all the other crayons to friends. I’d been sharing like my parents had taught me.
My father let out a deep controlled breath, “You were sharing.”
I nodded my head. I looked at my father, then at the principal—both their faces were red. The principal mumbled that I could join the rest of my classmates for recess. I waved goodbye to my parents. My mother waved back, but I couldn’t get my father’s attention; he was too busy glaring at the principal.
I learned years later that my father’s face was red due to anger and the principal’s was red due to embarrassment. The principal, on seeing all my artwork done in black crayon, assumed that I had deep emotional issues. To him my crayon choice reflected my “dark and depressed nature.” He had called my parents in to discuss “my problem” and to suggest some type of psychological counseling.
I was too afraid to admit that I only had one crayon. I was too timid to ask for my “shared” crayons back. Because I didn’t stand up for myself, others assumed the worst.
That night, my father talked to me about “sharing and giving,” and how the two are different. He also gave me a brand new box of crayons. He tapped the box and said, “These crayons are for you and you alone. I don’t want you sharing or giving these crayons to anyone else, understand?”
I clutched the new box and said, “Yes, Daddy.”
Today my sister tells her students, “Don’t be afraid to ask a question. Don’t be afraid to speak up. If you don’t—I just might make the wrong assumption. And that’s not a good thing. Let me tell a story about my sister, when she was around your age. It revolves around an assumption and a black crayon....”
