Paternoster, A Cyclic Elevator

A paternoster is a passenger elevator which consists of a chain of open compartments that move slowly in a loop up and down inside a building without stopping. Passengers can step on or off at any floor they like. As a result of safety issues, many such lifts have been shut down.

First built in 1884 by the Dartford, England engineering firm of J & E Hall Ltd as the Cyclic Elevator, the name paternoster was originally applied to the device because the elevator is in the form of a loop and is thus similar to rosary beads used as an aid in reciting prayers.

LINK, Via: Youtube, Via: Blog on a Toothpick

Gorilla walks like a man!

This is Ambam, a bachelor Western Lowland gorilla at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent, England. He loves to walk around like this!
The video was taken by Johanna Watson whilst she was working for a project on great ape locomotion. LINK, Via: Youtube

Golden Pheasants Fighting

Golden Pheasants hissing and fighting at Kew Gardens, London England. LINK: Youtube

Otters back from the verge of extinction

Otters, which nearly died out in the 1970s, have been found in all but one of the counties in England. LINK: Youtube

10 Incredible Castles Around The World

image credit

Everyone knows about the Palace of Versailles in France, the Tower of London in England and the Forbidden City in China. These famous estates are awe-inspiring works of architectural mastery, not to mention historical goldmines.

Although these sites are some of the most famous, they're not the only destinations deserving recognition. Look past the tried-and-true and you may find other amazing structures. From Dracula's Castle in Romania to the Hearst Castle in California, here are 10 palatial spaces that are sure to inspire. LINK: The Presurfer

USA vs England in Lego

(YouTube link)

The short version of last week’s World Cup game between the US and England features only the best parts -both goals, with instant replays. In LEGO! This video was created by the folks at Lego Fussball, who have Lego versions of many games. English translation by The Guardian. -Via: Laughing Squid, Via: Neatorama

Musical Stones of Skiddaw in North Cumbria, England

For centuries, man had made music out of nature. The Musical Stones of Skiddaw are one such example, where there the ringing of the rocks creates the most melodious of sounds. Over the years, the rocks have been incorporated into a large musical instrument, that for some of us, mimics the xylophones we used to play in some of our first music classes as children.

According to the Musical Stones of Skiddaw Blog, the updated instrument is a 14 foot-long 1.5 ton stone xylophone made in 1827 by Keswick stonemason Joseph Richardson out of rare 'hornfels' rock found between the mountains Skiddaw and Blencathra in North Cumbria, UK.

Link, Via: Neatorama

Urban Foxes

You would expect a fox to steer clear of humans whenever possible, but here are six stories of foxes who are just fine moving into human territory, or even with humans themselves!

The closest most of us get to a fox is when we spot one under the garden shed or rummaging in our bins. Steve Edgington, however, has a daily brush with one – because it has moved into his home. The vixen, Miss Snooks, was taken into Mr Edgington’s pet shop as a ten-day-old cub after being found seemingly abandoned by her family six years ago. Since then, she has resisted all attempts to reintroduce her to the wild, returning through the catflap, and is instead content to live in Mr Edgington’s one-bedroom flat above the shop in Ditchling, East Sussex. LINK, Via: Neatorama

Armchair Car Delux

British engineer Andy Archer from England built this custom armchair in 4 weeks.

Now there is no need to ever get off the sofa... LINK: Youtube

Incredible Giant Hill Figures in England

"Kilburn White Horse – 318 ft long"
Moving away from Wiltshire to North Yorkshire, the Kilburn White Horse is said to be Britain’s largest in surface area and the most northerly in England. It was as created in 1857.

There’s something down there: Kilburn White Horse from the air.

Even with a hill figure this recent, there are differing accounts about its origins: some claim it was created by school master John Hodgson and his pupils alongside local volunteers; others give Uffington White Horse-inspired businessman Thomas Taylor credit as the main mover and director of the men who cut the figure and whitened the rock. The steep and unstable surface makes the horse hard to maintain. LINK

Glass Harmonica

Benjamin Franklin invented a radically new arrangement of the glasses in 1761 after seeing water-filled wine glasses played by Edmund Delaval at Cambridge in England in 1758.[6] Franklin, who called his invention the “armonica” after the Italian word for harmony, worked with London glassblower Charles James to build one, and it had its world premiere in early 1762, played by Marianne Davies.

In Franklin’s treadle operated version 37 bowls were mounted horizontally on an iron spindle. The whole spindle turned by means of a foot pedal. The sound was produced by touching the rims of the bowls with moistened fingers. Rims were painted different colors according to the pitch of the note.

Franklin also advocated the use of a small amount of powdered chalk on the fingers which helped produce a clear tone in the same way rosin is applied to the bows of string instruments. LINK

Try it yourself.
There’s a keyboard interface on the site.
Weird and lovely!

http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/musician/virtualarmonica.html

Projections

The Dark Room TV, a boutique motion graphics studio, was invited to do some video mapping projections at a secret festival in the North East of England. The theme and logo of the party was the heart. After spending a couple of weeks in the studio, they opened the party with this amazing show. My favorite part? Pac-Man, of course! (See 3:47).LINK, Via: Youtube

Old School 70s Skateboard Tricks

Old school tricks from a skateboard competition in England, 1978. LINK: Youtube

Nothing like they can do now a days.

The FlatMobile - World’s Lowest Street Legal Car

Officially in the Guinness World Record for lowest street legal car, the Flatmobile stands at just 19 inch or 48 cm tall. You can check the build progress of the FlatMoble at the FlatMobile website. The car is rear mounted with a 875cc engine for propulsion. Obviously inspired from Batmobile, Perry Watkins from England is the proud owner of the FlatMobile. LINK



Flatmobile on BBC news May 2nd 2008. LINK: Youtube

Have You Seen Andrew Paul Gosden ?

Please Note Andrews Appearance will have changed since this photo was taken in Aug 2007. LINK

"BBC Appeal for missing Andrew Gosden" LINK


Mother of missing Andrew Gosden, speaks about the search for her son, as she hands out missing posters on the streets of London. Also interviewed is CEO of Missing People Paul Tuohy.

"Missing: Andrew Gosden" LINK


Andrew Paul Gosden is missing since 14 September 2007, England.

I know these videos are old. But with the chance to help this family find a Loved one is a chance for hope. I don't know what I would've done if this had ever happened to one of my children. My prayers are with all the families with missing children. I am hoping and praying they find some answers soon.

Lego Pharaoh on the Thames

One of the largest Lego creations ever constructed is a 16-ft-tall model of an Egyptian pharaoh that looks suspiciously like King Tut.

The giant pharaoh is currently floating down the River Thames on its way to Legoland in Windsor, England, where it will be the centerpiece of Legoland’s Kingdom of the Pharaohs, which is set to open March 21.

This is the final leg in its 1,395-mile journey by truck and boat from the Czech Republic, where it was constructed.

The pharaoh required more than 200,000 Lego bricks and weighs one ton.

Link, Via: Neatorama

Corpus Clock

The Corpus Clock is a mechanical spring-driven clock modelled after John Harrison’s “Grasshopper Escapement” of 1725, and is a tribute to that great 18th-century clockmaker who solved the longitude problem that had kept Galilei, Halley, Newton and others busy for so long. Though the inside works like traditional clockwork, it incorporates six new patented inventions. The clock is wound up by an electric motor that it is said will last for the next 25 years. LINK



For those who really can’t get enough of the Corpus Clock, here is a five-minute video, narrated by Dr. Taylor himself, which explains the clock’s many mechanisms. And don’t forget – after watching the video, the Corpus Clock will have been accurate only twice. Repeated viewing recommended! LINK: Youtube

Ancient brain found in England

Scientists discovered a brain in northern England that is at least 2,000 years old. The brain was found inside the, er, skull of its owner at an archaeological site at York University.

They believe the skull, which was found on its own in a muddy pit, may have been a ritual offering.

Rachel Cubitt, who was taking part in the dig, described how she felt something move inside the cranium as she cleaned the soil-covered skull's outer surface. Peering through the base of the skull, she spotted an unusual yellow substance.

"Britan's oldest human brain unearthed". LINK

Guitar Machine

A busker in Bath, England plays the fiddle and accompanies himself on a guitar controlled with his feet! Check out the marvelous contraption that makes it possible. LINK, Via: Arbroath, Via: Youtube

Statue Of Liberty Maze

“A British farmer has created a maze in the shape of the Statue of Liberty in northern England. Tom Pearcy says he cut the maze’s outline in a field near the city of York and used more than a million maize plants to create the intricate pattern within. The maze’s outline is 1,300 feet long — 10 times the size of the iconic statue.” LINK