Sunday, 26 April 2009

Trashy Novel Covers of Yesteryear

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Let us take a trip down memory lane when books were books and the female of the species was well and truly respected on their pages. Hardly, but trash was trash and you have to respect it for that. Brazen women abounded and the front covers of these novels helped draw attention to the, er, social issues that were contained within. It is almost shameful to think of the trash produced these days when, to be honest, they did it far, far better in the way back when.



Shocking! If only to instill in the youth of today that drugs are bad but, hell, they didn’t invent them, all teenagers reading this are referred to the above tale of moral downfall. You too could end up like this poor unfortunate girl if you keep on smoking that naughty stuff!



This one was a real shocker! Who would have thought that paving stones could be at the heart of a story? Those girls must have developed shocking piles!



Desperate Housewives was only a dream in its maker’s mind when this book was published. Probably the series; founder was only a glint in his father’s eye when the public was caught unaware by this splendid read. Eat your heart out, DH Lawrence!



Have you ever read such a brilliant title for a book? That alone should have gotten this one on Oprah! Well, maybe not but it leaves you in no doubt that this book has its tongue firmly in its cheek. No? You mean it was serious?



Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it does! Why the devil anyone would want to read this is anyone’s guess but the name certainly is tantalizing! Perhaps this was a kind of precursor to “Reaper”. No such thing as new ideas, so they say!



Here’s a girl who knows what she wants and how to get it too! Modern readers may find it almost implausible that people would read this sort of rubbish. I have one word for you. Mills and Boon. Oh, sorry, that was three.



Any book that has the words ‘feverish’, ‘thrills’ and ‘jaded’ on the front must be taking the moral high ground, right? This book was obviously written for plain straightforward educational reasons and not for any kind of second hand prurient voyeurism. Right.



And no one has ever taken the subject of lesbianism and treated it as titillation for the heterosexual (male) masses, have they? This angsty novel must surely have led to a whole generation of young men respecting the same sex partnerships of some of their girl buddies. Absolutely.



These aren’t bad girls really; they’re just drawn that way. A long way before the films of the eighties portrayed the sorority in all its vivid glory, none college goers were devouring this beautifully written literature and believing every word of this. College grads out there, you knew girls just like these, yes?



‘She made men pay for what they wanted’ – so goes the byline on the cover of this page-turner. Isn’t there a word for that?


Things To Do With Nettles Without Getting Stung

Normally, nettles are associated with that nasty sting that they give you should you be foolhardy enough to examine them with bare hands or unfortunate enough to have a brother or sister willful enough to want to push you in to them. However, they have many more uses than a tool in the escalation in to nastiness of sibling rivalry. So, what exactly can you do with nettles when you are bored?

Read More Here

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Rare and Unusual Guineau Pigs


OK, hands up who had a Guinea Pig when they were a child? Chances are, though, that it was unlikely that you had one of these strange and fascinating breeds. gives us a guided tour of these remarkable looking beasties. Beautiful or ugly - you be the judge.

From the article
Guinea pigs were domesticated as early as 5000 years BCE and there are many breeds have been developed since then. Unique and beautiful breeds have been developed that makes these little creatures appealing as pets. Here are some of the more unusual breeds.

read more | digg story

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You Don't Know Squat About Toilets

When it comes to toilets we would dare suggest that the majority of people like more than a little privacy with a chunk (wrong word maybe) of comfort thrown in for good measure. takes a look at some toilets that may not immediately strike you as including a desire for either in their construction, public positioning or the methods of expulsion we are expected to adopt to use them. Strike a pose, now, there's nothing to it....

From the article:
Sometimes your private business may not be so private. A look at different toilets.

read more | digg story

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Britain's Oddest Prison Ever

Lawks, blimey and luvaduck, looks like we've been well and truly grassed up to the bizzies - or at least to the denizens of the interweb. OK, so every country has moments it isn't terribly pleased with but here in Blighty we like to think we have a few less than some others we could mention. So, thanks for highlighting the occasionally odd way we dealt with our law breakers in the past! Cheers, mate.

From the article:
Britain is known for some very strange things, Bubble and Squeak, and Mushy Peas, being two of those things. Another thing they were known for was a rather interesting way of dealing with criminals.

read more | digg story

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Why Men Should Keep Their Clothes on [PICS]

Oh dear, we never learn, do we? Men, that is. Decade after decade we have had the proof in front of us (photographically, biologically. you name it) that we really, really shouldn't take our clothes off in public? Why? Because someone will inevitably put an article like this together and stick it up on the internet. Ouch!

From the article:
Many men need little reason to shed their clothing. A little sunshine and whoosh! However, they do not realize - in many cases - that their semi-nudity can sometimes engender not quite the emotions that they supposed. They may feel that it's worth it but here are a few ‘becauses' - together with photographic proof - that beg to differ.

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Friday, 24 April 2009

Liquid Locavore Luxury

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Are you a locavore? If you are not acquainted with the term, it is used to describe people who wish to only consume produce from a small circumference around their own locality. In fact, it goes a little deeper than that – and the trend is catching on. The French designer Mathieu Lehanneur has come up with something for the loaded locavore that he calls Local River.

And it is just about as local as you can get!


The ultimate locavore not only wants to build collaborative and self-reliant food economies in their own area – they also wish to integrate this further. Sustainability is really the key word, with food production, processing as well as distribution and consumption integrated together. The hope is that, if this can happen, the particular place which adopts this system will be enhanced socially, environmentally and economically.


Lehanneur takes this concept to its – some might say ridiculous – extreme by offering people a way to farm fish from the comfort of their domicile. Not only that, by purchasing one of his designs you also get the chance to grow your own vegetables to have with that fishy dinner.


For those who like to have that decorative “TV aquarium” in their lounge then this particular idea is fabulously “decus et tutamen”. To borrow from the Latin (and the British pound coin) it is both decorative and useful. You get your fish – and your vegetables – for the cost of the unit. The price - don’t ask!


So, how does it work? It is based on the principles of aquaponics, which is when plants and animals are cultivated side by side in a form of forced symbiosis. As such it is an integration of aquaculture (a system in which fish may be grown) and hydroponics (which allows plants to be grown in water).



As the fish in the closed tank system release their effluence, there is the danger that they will die. So, plants are grown nearby so they that can soak up the nutrients in the water (which are toxic to the fish). This is where the recirculation comes in – the water is now returned to the water as it is now clean. In this way the system neither exchanges or discharges water and the relationship between the plants and the animals maintain the environment.



These systems are not new and have been used in the East where waste from fish has, by tradition, been used to keep rice paddies productive. So, this is not a new idea, but to take it in to the living areas of your average suburbanite? Will that ever catch on? You can certainly 'grow' any number of fish species in the tanks - including eel, trout and carp. With stocks dwindling, who knows what the insides of our houses will look like in the future.



Certainly, if you want your food fresh and is one hundred percent traceable to source, then a Local River may be just for you. The price may be a little Brad and Angelina for comfort, but at least you will guarantee that the food that you serve is completely fresh.



You can find out more about this fantastic piece of green design – and other mind boggling ideas put in to practice - at the home page of Mathieu Lehanneur



10 Winning Websites with Which to Waste Time at Work

Bored, listless and stressed at work? Perhaps it is time to divert your attention away from that for which you are getting paid and develop a few new strategies around passing the time between nine and five. With these ten websites you will hopefully discover a host of time wasting ways to prevaricate. Enjoy - and don't get fired!

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The Songs The Beatles Gave Away


The Beatles, famous for their trademark sound, gave many original songs away to other artists. The best, we at Webphemera Towers believe, they kept for themselves. However, some of the songs listed here in an article by are quite a revelation. Who would have known, apart from die-hard fans?

From the article:
A look at some of the songs Lennon/McCartney penned and gave away to other artists. This does not include cover versions by other bands, only songs that were truly given to other artists (although in some cases the Beatles did record their own version of it, but not for general release at the time).

| digg story

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Thursday, 23 April 2009

Disappearing Vultures are Amazingly Useful

Vultures are not everyone's cup of tea. Why, even the boys and girls over at Disney couldn't cutify them sufficiently for us to forget about what they really do for a living. However, there is an upside to their habits which make us grimace. gets down and dirty with the vultures and finds there is more to them than meets the eye.


From the article
Vultures are generally seen as unpleasant, disgusting birds that eat dead flesh but they do a very useful job.



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An Idiot's Guide to the Most Beautiful Demonstration of Relativity, The Einstein Ring


Never ones to shirk serious science, we were fascinated by this article written by about the phenomena known as The Einstein Ring. If you are impressed by tricks of the light then this one will knock your cotton socks off.

From the article

The Einstein ring is possibly one of the most bizarre things that can be done to light. It’s the most dramatic example of relativity to date. As light passes past an object with a lot of mass (Like a galaxy or a really big black hole)- it actually curves and bends, creating a strange halo around the object.


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Wednesday, 22 April 2009

The Strange Case of the Sea Monkeys, the X-Ray Specs and the Ku Klux Krabs

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Any man-cub growing up in the UK of the early nineteen seventies had, by sheer species specific need, several (if not hundreds) of imported US comics in their lair. There, amongst the muscle-growing techniques advertised by bewilderingly middle-aged looking men wearing something approximating the man-cub’s mother’s girdle, there would be something that could, would and did excite the curiosity of the pre-teen amateur biologist. The Sea Monkey.

Trained? Trained my a**e! They would follow a light around, somewhat aimlessly. Tricks? The blond one with the pretty red bow never pulled any in my tank.



Marketed in the US from the 1950s the Sea Monkey advertisement looked suspiciously seductive, what with the tails laid delicately across the genitals and the nuclear family in microcosm, who could possibly fall for something so obviously fake? This particular mug for sure, who sent a British Postal Order across the pond, quite generously forsaking the then stupendously generous pound-dollar exchange rate. Amazingly, the Sea Monkeys arrived – and scarily quickly (as if some aqua-based Wonka dude was anticipating my every need) and following the in depth destructions, sorry instructions, the seeds of life were sown in suburbia, where Jacques Cousteau was worshipped but Onan ruled.


Spot the difference... long tail, check, three eyes, check (well, when adult, tho mine never got that far), cute smile and cheeky demeanor, check, check, bloody cheek.


Imagine the disappointment that prevailed when said Sea Monkeys which should have looked like (A) actually looked like (B). Fortunately, the pater familias was able to come to the rescue. The brine shrimp that grew in the stead of the promised monkeys of the sea were introduced to a much bigger tank. Those seventies favorites, the tropical fish (pre-Nemo, we didn’t know they had feelings then) were always inquisitive when new companions were introduced to the tank. Especially when they were hungry. Glee ensued. Sea Monkey slaughter on a grand, almost Roman scale became the hobby of the day. Teenage Nero was born but this phase passed as quickly as the monkeys (bless them) through the intestinal guts of their marine nemisis-is (answers, please, on a postcard).


The next clever marketing ploy I fell for. Look, it was a small, small town. And I was horny and twelve and something of an idiot. Well, one thing has changed at least.


This particular dissatisfied customer swore off mail order animals from that day on. Of course, this did not signify the end of the mail or the order and fairly soon after the SMD (Sea Monkey Debacle) a pair of X-Ray specs landed in the mailbox of this particular pubescent patsy. What could go wrong – after all, they would do what the advert said they would, surely?


Not.

Although we have yet to introduce him, the guy who brought you Sea Monkeys and X-Ray Specs also brought you these hair-raising monsters. Ta da.


And so the years passed and childish things were put away, replaced by things normally labeled adult (but when considered at length, or perhaps not even for that long, usually have a streak of ‘kid’ in them a mile long). A sudden fit of nostalgia and a quick google (verb, noun, adjective, whatever) and the truth dawned. Despite the finest left-wing upbringing on the planet (in my home, ‘pinko’ was a compliment) I was, quite possibly, the unwitting teenage funder of extreme right wing political ideologies.


The ‘inventor’, marketer and creator of both the X-Ray specs (so longingly awaited so quickly assigned to the trash can) and the Sea Monkey (and we all know their fate already) was none other than Harold von Braunhut. The name itself suggests some sort of harmless nutty professor, but this guy was no Jerry Lewis. Were it not for his politics, his life would be ripe for a Hollywood film.


With an amazing 156 patents to his name, Braunhut (he added the ‘von’ later in life – he was actually born in Memphis in 1926) learned that through a quirk of nature the brine shrimp could survive for many years in a state close to suspended animation. When added to water, they would spring to life (to the astonippointment of a million teenagers). The first marketing ploy – ‘Instant Life’ worked but not sufficiently to fulfill those dreams of avarice filling his head and bothering the boys at the Patent Office. Coining the term ‘Sea Monkeys’ brought the product a whole new lease of life.


Although he would never engage with questions about his politics, it has been widely reported that von Braunhaut was a member of both the Aryan Nations and the Ku Klux Klan. What makes this even more bewildering (I mean, you ‘invent’ the Sea Monkeys and you want to lynch black people? Shame!) his relatives insist, to this day, that he was of roundly and soundly Jewish origins. Que pasa?

Yeah, he did these too... Inevitably, here they come... the Ku Klux Krabs. Come on, six out of ten for the article title, surely?



But there is more. Not only responsible for my temporary teenage impecunity and financial dalliance with politics of which I was only vaguely aware, this chap (replace with the noun of your choice) was also responsible for Invisible Goldfish (not even I fell for that one), Amazing Hair-Raising Monsters and Crazy Crabs (all of which were suspiciously dissimilar to the speel).


Whether Jewish or not, whether a lynch-em-up card-carrying KKK member, there is one thing that has to be admitted. This man had chutzpah – or just plain old fashioned balls if you prefer the Anglo-Saxon.



But I still want my money back.


For those of you who find this story a little incredulous, try his Wikipedia page as a good start to investigate the lives and times of Harold von Braunhut.

History Goes Green

From the article

Vegetarians are a bunch of leaf-obsessed, nut-munching, tree-kissing hippies, right? Or maybe it is just a fad- another diet designed to reduce women to anorexic bean poles. The truth is that vegetarianism is an old practice - and some of history's best and brightest decided to Just Say No to pork chops and beef steaks.



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Watch Out for the Mother of Satan

No, we're not getting all religious here at Webphemera, but this is a question that needs to be asked when the 'Mother of Satan' has been responsible for a growing number of deaths around the world. looks in to this nefarious substance and comes up with some facts that may surrpise you.

From the article:

Can the mother of Satan affect your life? To find out, you need to ask the right question. You will be misled if you go on a religious track. The name has less to do with religion but much more to do with with misled people harming innocent people. “Who is the mother of Satan?” – is the wrong question. The right question to ask is, “What is the mother of Satan?”

read more digg story



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Marmore Falls: Rome's Beautiful Gift to the World

So, what did the Romans ever do for you? At the risk of getting a little too Pythonesque, quite a lot really. All things said and done the Romans left quite a legacy behind them - and that includes the excuisite a little known Marmora Falls. shows us what we have been missing.

From the article:

Marmore Falls are the largest man-made waterfalls in the world and were built by
the Romans in 271 BC.

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Friday, 17 April 2009

Robotic Fish: Art, Environmentalism and Cutting Edge Robotics

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in to the water... along comes something that won't have you for dinner. This robot fish has to be seen to be believed. One question, though. Why didn't Skynet think up something like this in The Sarah Connor Chronicles? Only fiction? Well, excuse me. is your guide.

From the article:
Scientists and engineers from the University of Essex and BMT Group Ltd in England are forming a unique blend of robotics and artistry to form a new form of environmental sensor in the form of beautiful robotic fish.
read more | digg story

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17 Things to Love About the British

You might be forgiven for thinking that Webphemera is an American blog, but you would be wrong - it is British - even though it is true that the majority of its readership derives from that quaint little (ex) colony of ours over the Atlantic. Before you dash off in disgust, that was an example of British humour (please note the correct spelling). Just as well then, that is at hand to give us a run down of 17 things that to love about the denizens of dear old 'Blighty'.

Please don't be confused by the flag either. The Welsh dragon has not suddenly been given centre (note correct spelling again) stage all of a sudden. It's just another example of typical 'Britishness' - that we leave out of the Union Jack the best bloody bit of any flag in the United Kingdom (or possibly the world). After all this 'rabbit', please don't forget to take a look at Stephanie's article - link below!

From the article:
Our neighbors from across the pond are all that and a cup of tea. Despite all their quirks, eccentricities and attempts to enslave us with taxation- we still can't live without them. Here are 17 things to love about the British.
| digg story

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Amazing Boobies

There is nothing we like more here at Webphemera than a double entendre, unless of course it's a triple entendre. You may have thought, just for a second, that we had gone all R Rated on you, but fear not, Webphemera remains family friendly. Addams family friendly, albeit. Take a look at these enormous big boobies. Go on, you know you want to...

From the article:
Boobies are native to the coasts of South America, but over half of the worlds population of Blue Footed Boobies call the Galapagos Islands home. The Blue Footed Booby got its name from Spanish sailors calling it stupid. Bobo is Spanish for stupid/clown or fool. But the Blue Footed Booby is far from stupid.
read more | digg story

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Thursday, 16 April 2009

10 Full on Full Screen Stickman Stories

The Stickman, ultraviolent and underdrawn master of malevolence, has a special place in the hearts of many and rightly so. Often though, his true awesomeness is hidden in tiny windows. Here, take a look at ten full screen episodes of murder, mayhem and marauding stickmen.

read more | digg story

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Deadly But Beautiful Hail and Ice Storms

Goodness, gracious, great balls of - well - ice. An interesting look at the effects that weather can have, in this particular case hail and ice storms. Wrap up warm and take a look at the article, written by the ever investigative .

From the article:
Hailstones, or ice storms are common all over the world. Their severity depends on climate and season but their effects can be very damaging.
read more | digg story

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FDR, Eleanor and Lucy Mercer


It would be in the press these days within after the first date, but FDR and Lucy Mercer conducted a relationship which spanned historical events of enormous magnitude. How did FDR's wife cope with it? By becoming one of the best remembered women of the twentieth century. recounts their tale.

From the article:
FDR was associated with Lucy Mercer for decades and Eleanor went her own way to become a powerful voice for those who had no voice.
read more | digg story

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Wednesday, 15 April 2009

Mysteries of the Valley of Gold: Orval

Forget the DaVinci Code, this place has the material for about five novels. To top it all, the action takes place in Belgium, long reputed to be the least interesting of places in Europe. These Belgians have been hiding dark and mysterious secrets from us for hundreds of years, or so it seems! If you like a meaty read, will be your guide.

From the article:
The abbey of Orval, in Belgium's Ardennes Forest, is a place of mystery. Orval means Valley of Gold, Nostradamus seems to have written some of his prophecies here, and it's possible that there were 2 treasures hidden: the Treasure of the Knights Templar and the War Chest of Louis XVI.

read more | digg story

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Near Earth Pinball

Listed under the category 'things that are scary enough to make you lose sleep if you just think about them for long enough', this article deals with the very real problem of all those bits and pieces of satellites that are circling our wondrous little blue spot in the heavens. Some are tiny, but if they were to hit an astronaut doing a space walk that would be the end of that... scary!

From the article:
For the first four billion years of this planet’s history, the moon was the sole object in regular earth orbit. Today, if you are camping out away from the city glare, you will frequently observe tiny points of light crawling across the night sky; each is part of the near-earth population of man made orbital devices.
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Why some people get creeped out when you stare at them

There are many phobias out there and Scopophobia is one of them. To be honest, before we read this article we hadn't heard of the condition and it is one that deserves the extra air of publicity we hope we can give it.

From the article
The fear of being stared at, an anxiety disorder known as Scopophobia. Many people suffer from this condition in this modern "look at me age." What is it? How does it happen? Take a look at this disorder through the eyes of someone who has suffered from it.
read more | digg story

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The Devil's Sites

No, no, we're not getting all religious, and if we were, then I doubt very much whether we would tell you where to find 'The Devil's Sites' on the internet. This fascinating article by is all about those places in the world named after the gut from downstairs. The first is the Victoria Falls.

Image Credit

From the article:
A natural pool was formed near the edge of the waterfall and during the dry months of September and December, the river flow is at a safe level that people can swim as close as possible to the edge of the falls within the pool area. A natural rock wall keeps them from falling into the 360 feet gorge. It is safe enough that some people actually let their kids join the experience of a lifetime.

| digg story

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Tuesday, 14 April 2009

From Portugal to POTUS: The Truth About the President's Pooch



Until the announcement on the 11 April 2009 about the breed of dog that President Obama and his family were to welcome in to the White House little was known about the Portuguese Water Dog. Behind the shaggy good looks there lies a remarkable story of species survival. By the 1930s the dog was on the verge of extinction. Bo and his breed almost didn't make it at all.

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Monday, 13 April 2009

First Contact: Vulcan Mind Melds with President Obama - Photographic Proof

Here is one for all of you conspiracy theorists out there. Evidence always seems to be the one thing is lacking when it comes to such things... however not this time. Clear photographic proof that not only the administration but POTUS himself may have been accommodated by alien forces long thought to be, well, fictional. You will have to click on the read more link below to see the picture though!

From the article:
Baby's First Vulcan Mind Meld. Infant Vulcan mind melds with President Obama. Logic ensues.

| digg story

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Mysterious Underwater Pyramid

Do the Japanese have their own version of Atlantis? It certainly looks like it on first inspection.

From the article:
A mysterious undersea pyramid structure off the coast of Japan causes controversy - is this a natural geological phenomena or a man-made structure which changes the history books as we know them?
read more | digg story

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