Posts about Perseverance

Close-up of a colourful motor bike: The Ig Nobel Prize is awarded to the world's weirdest inventions.

TED Talk. Ig – a science award that makes you laugh

16.11.2014

Marc Abrahams talking about truly weird brainchildren

Revolutionary or at least useful inventions have been made in the course of history – starting with the kindling of fire and the more or less smoothly turning wheel around the 4th century B.C. Electricity, the automobile, the rotating toothbrush and innumerable objects of questionable relevance have been creeping out of busy brains relentlessly. Some contraptions could make it into our daily lives, others most likely won’t. Luxuries like the duck-billed muzzle for dogs, the mobile fishbowl with handles, the crocheted sweater for apples, the space-saving square melon or the mask protecting hair and clothes during absent-minded noodle-slurpings, for instance.

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Grilled sausages: Herman ze German restaurants are London's sausage dorado.

German Voorst-appeal entices ze Londoners

5.11.2014

No Carbs, Fräulein?

It is an undeniable fact: The common sausage is not a stunner to look at – nor does it photograph well. No matter the species, a regular Wurst’s mere shape and colour are giving food stylists a hard time: There is absolutely no way to let it shine. Yet, once thrown on to the grill and noisily sizzling, its distinct aroma promptly exerts its wondrous magnetism and lures entranced workers and bankers, housewives and business women, young, old or canine straight into places such as Herman ze German’s. London’s cosmopolitan denizens, its native population and tourists alike seem to succumb to the multiple stimuli exuded by the authentic German sausage … if the verifiable afflux accounts for anything. The Bratwurst (pork & veal), Bockwurst (smoked pork) or the Chilli Beef Wurst (pork & beef) on the menu all are eligible for ennoblement, thus crowned the sausage of sausages: the legendary Currywurst.

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USA/Florida: A Dolphin’s Fingerprint

8.10.2014

The 10,000 Island Dolphin Project

Naples, Marco Island & the Everglades are known as Florida’s Paradise Coast. In 2014, the destination facing the Gulf of Mexico, was assigned theTripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Islands Award, as being the Top Island in the US of A – and the fourth on the prime list worldwide. Local dedication to a special mission may well have influenced the jury’s decision.

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Blazing colours against the light: The Hot Air Ballon World Championship 2014 in Brazil.

Brazil. From Soccer to Ballooning

14.08.2014

An entire state was thoroughly infested by the futbol bug inexorably crawling into every nook and cranny of the exotic South American nation between June 10th and July 13th, 2014 – albeit accompanied by the countrywide controversy as to more reasonable ways for the government to spend its financial resources. In the end, 16,7 million passengers had arrived at 21 airports to reach twelve seething arenas, in order to witness countless matches of varying excitement fought by eager international teams. Even Lord Jesus in his capacity as a much-revered monument in stone rising high into the Rio de Janeiro skies, was humorously kicked to life by digital camera tricks, enabling him to playfully propel an occasional footie during the World Soccer Championship in Brazil this summer. Televised globally, the games verifiably turned into a huge success.

Another sports event later in July – on a more moderate scale but by no means less impressive – was the colourful 21. FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship 2014, carried out in the Federal State of Sao Paulo – and for the first time on South American soil. Yudai Fujita from Japan became the celebrated aerial victor.

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A group of youngsters in the city: each with a different body language.

TED Talk. Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are

16.06.2014

Body language (Kinesics) is a remarkable means of communication that tells our environment a great deal about ourselves. But how to interpret the signs of this nonverbal behaviour? Arms or legs are crossed, backs hunched or extremities sprawled, hands rest upon hips, hair is twirled around fingers or clothes are being preened (imaginary lint brushed off) awkwardly. What do those signals and postures, that largely depend on an individual’s emotional state, express? Or give away…? In her talk, social psychologist Amy Cuddy explains the implications of power posing – how standing in a posture of confidence, even when we are feeling small – can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain. Body language not only affects other people’s perceptions about us. It may even influence our body chemistry and change our own view upon ourselves. Amy Cuddy’s Talk was viewed by more than 18 million people.

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