We might as well carry on today's theme of violence (pretend of course) with this mocked up advert for a certain snack food on the market at the moment.  Doritos UK is running a competition among amateur ad makers to see who comes up with the best.  This isn't the winner (that has yet to be announced but you can see the other entrants and the final three which you can vote for here) but it has a certain claim to fame.  At first it was accepted among the finalist - then Doritos withdrew it because it was deemed too violent. Then it was reinstated - tada!  It's our favourite too - surely they could put it on the TV after the watershed?

You might accuse us of being a little bloodthirsty today b but we had to draw your attention to this amazing set of stationary.  It's just a shame that hardly anyone sends letters anymore, but there are plenty more ideas here too.

The set is designed by Jacques Pense for a German TV company that shows horror shows 24-7.  We think it does the trick really nicely, especially this envelope which has a normal head on it - at first. 

Once you open it the man's face is instantly splattered.  Gorishly fiendish good fun!

If you have a child who is more geared towards the action packed life rather than sitting down and learning their ABCs then help may be at hand.  Instead of the traditional books, why not use this one - which will introduce your mucky little pup to all of the letters of the alphabet in an interesting and (potentially) violent way.  Although there is nothing NSFW in there at all, it has all the right element to keep your little angel's imagination working - and hopefully enough to learn the alphabet too!

The Most Badass Alphabet Ever

Have you ever wondered how people create photographs of drops of water splashing up from the surface, or a bubble caught in a moment of time?  If you have you should really take a look at this entry in to a digital photography competition which takes you through the process one step at a time.  The results are unbelievable!  Click on the pic to see the whole thing.
Tribute to James Cameron's "The abyss" - How'd They Do That?

An amazing young talent was seen on British TV screens for the first time this evening. Liam McNally is an ordinary looking boy with a simply astounding voice. Plus, as Simon Cowell said so rightly on tonight's show he does not look like your run of the mill spoiled stage brat - he looks like he really means it when he is singing.  Is it too early or can we already say that this year's competition already has a winner?

At first I thought his rendition of Danny Boy was a choice that would be labelled by the judges as very old fashioned but then, as it got properly underway, the crowd really got behind him and the lad's voice simply soared.  And soared.  The audience were left simply gobsmacked - until Liam hit a really high note and then they just went simply crazy.

Simon Cowell then did one of his lttle tricks.. "I wouldn't call you a good singer", he said to the boos of the audience.  Then he paused and added, "I would call you a great singer".  Piers Morgan added that he was a serious contended to win this year's Britain's Got Talent competition.  The lass who sits in the middle of them just looked dazed.  No change there then.

This was truly one of those Susan Boyle moments if you know what I mean.  Something quite special happened on our TV screens tonight - the birth of a new star?  Perhaps - and although it may have been churlish (just a little!) for Simon Cowell to point out the obvious, Liam McNally can only take advantage of his wonderful voice for a short time before the inevitable happens and his voice breaks.

I wouldn't expect very high odds on him at William Hill tomorrow, put it that way!

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Yes, you read it correctly - Rihanna's Umbrella is given a little fifties rock'n'roll touch by The Baseballs. Despite their obviously American name and influences these boys all come from Germany!

They have already had a hit with this in many European countries and now they are looking to take the rest of the world by storm. Their first step - to breach the charts in the UK.

Whether they are simply a gimmick act or last any longer than that is, we guess, up to the CD buying public. What do you think of them?

There is fishing and then there is .  If you want your adrenaline pumped up to the max and an experience in safe hands, then you should visit this website and see how you could be fishing off Maui before you know it.

If you have ever wanted to go after the big fish, then this is just about the most perfect place in the world to do it.

Plus, with you will get an opportunity to catch a big fish and then eat it too. 

After all, why bother going to an expensive restaurant when you can literally eat your own?

Where did the nerd originate, both as a word an individual and, possibly, a species?

What were the original societal perceptions of the nerd? How have these changed over the decades?

Enter the world of the nerd and discover for yourself this fascinating and light hearted illustrated history of the origin of the species.

Darwin, eat your heart out.

| digg story

With the news that Internet Explorer has now slumped below fifty percent of the marketplace for web browsers, many people are looking to alternatives.  We think we have found our perfct solution - and not just recently either (we are old converts here at Webphemera towers).  The answer?  Firefox (is that an of course we hear?).  we love it for so many different reasons - one of them being the addons that you can get.  Free, gratis - for nothing. We ain't talking iPad land here.  Take a look at ten of the coolest.
10 Firefox Add-ons I Can't Live Without - Borntechie

I know a few people who have taken to fixing up their old eyeglasses with tape after they have broken. To be honest they end up looking like Grandma Walton on a bad day – a really bad day. Bless her. OK, so we are in a recession, times are hard – but will they believe me that they can get a new pair of eyeglasses for as little as eight dollars?

No. Quite right they are too – I mean, those prices are just plain stupid – aren’t they? Well, you should think again because Zenni Optical does just that. Plus if you aren’t feeling particularly hit by the hard times (or want to pretend that you are not) then there are lots of frames for eyeglasses and sunglasses to be had at this site that your friends will think you paid a lot more for.

You don’t have to give in to the economy and forego looking great in your eyeglasses because you think you can’t afford them or that you will have to buy a pair that will make you look like Wilma on prom night. Take a look at the fantastic deals at Zenni Optical. We are pretty sure that you will be impressed It’s up to you whether you let your friend know, but can you honestly keep a secret as good as this?

We all have problems with car insurance, so much that it is almost a fact of life. It doesn’t matter what sort of car you drive, there always seems to be one sort of impediment or another in the way of you getting a good and fair deal when it comes to car insurance.

Take a look at netquote.com if you feel that you have not got the deal that you want. In just a few minutes you can get multiple quotes on your car, whether it is new, used, family or boy/girl about town.

You can also find out about how to compare the quotes with netquote.com – which is something that lots of people find difficult. Take a look – this site makes it easy.

These guys look as if they should really not be messed about with - but to be fair they are pretty harmless on the whole.  However, when we think of crabs most of us think about things that are much, much smaller that these particular crustaceans.  Mind you, as harmless as they are they can still be a nuisance to their human cohabitors.  Perhaps, though, we should leave well alone and go live somewhere you can't catch crabs this size - literally and metaphorically!

Oscar Wilde once remarked through one of his fictional characters that One should always have something interesting to read on the train.

As such, what is there more interesting than reading something about yourself?

If that piqued your interest then ask yourself this question too. Have you ever wanted to find out more about creating unity in the team that you manage?

That is a good question, especially if you are someone who is striving to attain a higher ability to manage and influence others in the workplace.

If this is the case then perhaps you should consider a myers briggs course. If you need any introduction, then Myers Briggs is a tool that can be used – after careful training – to improve performance in the workplace and to help you to understand others - where they are coming from in other words.

At thinktd.co.uk there are two courses you can choose to pursue in this intriguing area. One is an introduction to the psychological tool itself and the second is for those already aware of the tools that Myers Briggs helps you to use. So, if you are looking to approach the management of conflict in the workplace with new tools then you should visit this site now.

One of the keys to coping with stress in the workplace is the ability to understand yourself and others. If you feel that you need to know more about this area of twenty first century working life, think about thinktd.co.uk. There are many benefits to be had, including a personalised report which always makes for interesting reading on the train!

These should really be made in to movies!  The favourite here is the story of the Prince of Poyais, but there are nine more that you might not believe.

Gregor MacGregor started out as a soldier of fortune in Latin America, at turns fighting both for and against the armies of Portugal and Spain in Central America and Florida. When he returned to Europe in 1820, MacGregor launched an audacious moneymaking scheme by announcing that while in the tropics he had been put in control of a small (and absolutely fictional) country he referred to as Poyais. He claimed the nation to be quite modern and friendly to Europeans and even produced hand-drawn maps and a copy of their constitution to back up his story. 

Top 10 True Stories That Oughta Be Movies | Top 10 Lists | TopTenz.net

Very unusual list - I had only heard of a few of these people (but I have lived a sheltered life).

However, although we know about the Man in the Iron Mask which has been made in to movies countless times, the others could get the Hollywood treatment tomorrow!

For example, there are any number of mysterious men on this list - I love the one who looks as if he has been transported Star Trek style from one continent to another.

My personal favourite, however, has to be the green children.  How very peculiar!  Were they aliens?  It all comes across as something of a thirteenth century Roswell!

Top 10 Mysterious People - Listverse

Mozambique has not had an easy time over the last twenty five years. The results of colonialism, civil war and general poverty have produced a troubled country – and when a country is in such trouble, so are its children.

Imagining Mozambique is a collaborative work by a number of world renowned artists. A travelling art show, as it were, the collection is inspired by Mozambique’s children and their daily struggle to survive.

This great flash driven website showcases the work of the artists involved and is a truly interactive experience. As well as learning about the plight of the children of Mozambique you will be experiencing cutting edge web design at the same time.

They are a talented lot at Cadburys.  Just when you think you have seen the best eyebrow twitching, gorilla jumpring, lorry racing advert they will ever produce, along comes another classic.

This time its the turn of the nerds who make the chocolate the way it is.  Fortunately for us, the science behind the chocolate is so much fun to watch you might want to apply for a job in the factory!

Take a look -- you are almost guaranteed to love this!

Kayden Kross on Blake Logan

Britain's Got Talent looks very much as if they have found the latest boy band sensation with a group of boys who call themselves Connected.  Well, we always want you to judge for yourself, so we went and asked our old friend what she thought.  Click or on the picture of the boys above to find out how she rates this new teen sensation and have a look at the band on film too.

The decade of Super Gran and Postman Pat may have a lot to answer for in the way that many adults now treat old ladies and postal workers, but a trip down memory lane is always worthwhile.

If you would like to see the top ten kid's TV series of the nineteen eighties, take a look at this article by Alistair Briggs.

Personally, my own favourite from that time has to be SuperTed which I remember in the original Welsh on the newly formed channel S4C.  Spotty Man (I think he may have been called Sbotyn originally) was the best character! Very cool!

If you are a fan of a little flutter, one of the most annoying things about online casinos is the fact that they all seem to charge some sort of deposit before you can play.

We thought we would tip you about this No deposit casino where you can play without paying a deposit.

There isn’t any catch – this site has been operating for over three years so you can play casino – and lose nothing.

What would you cut in order to alleviate the deficit?  Want to make those hard choices?  Take a look at this brilliant online game which gives you the opportunity to decide that fate of the nation!

With the recent example of Greece in our minds we all know that to spend too much money as a country will always end in tears.  You probably (like me) sat in front of the news wondering just how an industrialised country like Greece got itself in to so much of a mess.  Well, now if your chance to find out if you can do any better getting a country out of another fine mess.

Channel 4 in the UK has just released a great online game called - and it gives you the opportunity to decide what you are going to financially chop in order to restore the balance sheets of the UK.  It is really good fun - and not as easy as you may think!  Some of the choices you are faced with are difficult to say the least - you may find out more about yourself than you suspect!

In California there is a different approach to drug rehab for young people that is fast gaining ground.  You may think of rehab in terms of being in a hospital, looked after by nurses who can be as crazy as the lady in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.  Think again.

Sober College is quite an extraordinary approach to rehab that models the institution on an educational level.  In other words, this rehab center looks, feels and to all intents and purposes like a college and is open to people in the 17-25 age range.

Any young adults in need of a sober environment are considered as long as the desire is there to work on their process of recovery.  Take a look at their website – it really is quite a special place.