The Amazing Flipping SHip

clipped from fogonazos.blogspot.com The FLIP research vessel (Floating Instrument Platform) is the only ship in the world having the ability to flip from a horizontal position to a vertical position while at sea. The FLIP ship is designed to study wave height, acoustic signals, water temperature and density, and for the collection of meteorological data. During the flip, the crew stand on the outside decks. Scientists and crewmembers literally walk up the walls to stay upright. Suddenly, the aft side of the barge becomes its floor. That makes for some ingenious engineering feats in equipping its bridge, galley, crew quarters and scientific laboratory. Even its head, or bathroom, had to be constructed to operate in a vertical and horizontal position. clipped from fogonazos.blogspot.com clipped from fogonazos.blogspot.com When it reaches the desired location, the "tail" is flooded until the nose sticks straight up into the air, taking about twenty-eight minutes to reach vertical position".

World's most corrupt and least corrupt nations

clipped from www.gulfnews.com Corruption watchdog Transparency International has released a list of the world’s most and least corrupt nations The report comes ahead of a conference in Bali this week where more than 100 countries are expected to gather for a United Nations anti-corruption conference The lower the CPI of a country, the higher corruption is, with 0 being the most corrupt and 10 being very clean Most corrupt country and CPI score Somalia: 1.4        Myanmar: 1.4        Iraq: 1.5        Haiti: 1.6        Uzbekistan: 1.7        Tonga: 1.7        Sudan: 1.8        Chad: 1.8        Afghanistan: 1.8        Laos: 1.9        Norway: 8.7 Least corrupt country and CPI score Denmark: 9.4 Finland: 9.4 New Zealand: 9.4 Singapore: 9.3 Sweden: 9.3 Iceland: 9.2 Netherlands: 9.0 Switzerland: 9.0 Canada: 8.7

Photoshop tip - remove the background

clipped from graphicssoft.about.com The magnetic lasso tool detects and snaps to the edge of an object as you to trace along its outline. The Magnetic lasso tool options used for this image are shown to the right. The lasso width controls how close the edge you need to stay as you trace the image. Frequency controls how often points are laid down, and edge contrast helps you fine tune the edge detection. As you drag along the edge of an object, the tool drops fastening points to anchor the selection. clipped from graphicssoft.about.com Here's the final image with a new background. Additional refinements can be made along the edge of the leaf layer using the eraser tool.

start your price comparison for books and dvd here (USA)

clipped from www.booksprice.com Compare Book Prices and Save Money! Find the best price for new & used books and textbooks at the major online Stores. Our Book Price Comparison is free, objective & easy-to-use: find book | dvd | cd | more Title Author ISBN UK Book Search|Advanced Search Browse by Category Arts & Photography|Biographie & Memoirs|Business & Investing|Calendars 2008 Children's Books|Comics & Graphic|Computers & Internet|Cooking, Food & Wine Entertainment|History|Home & Garden|Law|Literature & Fiction|Medicine Mystery & Thrillers|Nonfiction|Outdoors & Nature|Parenting & Families Poetry|Professional & Technical|Reference|Religion & Spirituality |Romance Science | Science Fiction & Fantasy|Sports|Teens|Travel

Beautiful - sculptures.. melting

clipped from www.darkroastedblend.com The beauty of these sculptures will melt your heart; the sculptures themselves will melt soon after Fairy tale carriages prove to be very popular with ice sculptors: Lake Placid, NY Ice Festival: Chinese Ice Art exhibition: "Magic Ice 2005" at Madurodam: sculpted gallery with the Chinese lanterns (and a crocodile inside) - "Old Man and Dragon", "Dancers", "Pianist" - all marvelously creative pieces: "Frozen Butterflies" - Harbin, China, ice sculpture competition features some delicate and beautiful entries, like these ones: huge replica of Soviet Kremlin-like towers: The other world-famous competition is in Alberta, Canada - Banff & Lake Louise Ice Magic: "Cool Jazz" - Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Fair, Snow Phoenix: Another favorite: "Face Off" Ice creatively used for a street art installation: Other sources: National Ice Carving Association, Krystal Dreams (see more snow sculptures here) See more of the Harbin Ice Lantern party, 2007 - here