jueves, 31 de marzo de 2011

Most expensive cars of modern society.



Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport (© ChinaFotoPress/ZUMApress.com)

Bugatti Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a rear mid-engined supercar. It is the most expensive modern car in the world at $2,600,000. The Super Sport version is the fastest road-legal car in the world, with a top speed of 431.07 km/h (267.85 mph). The original version has a top speed of 408.00 km/h (253.52 mph).
Designed and developed by the German Volkswagen Group and produced by Bugatti Automobiles SAS at their headquarters in Château St. Jean in Molsheim (Alsace, France), the Veyron's chief designer was Hartmut Warkuss, and the exterior was designed by Jozef Kabaň of Volkswagen, with much of the engineering work being conducted under the guidance of former Peterbilt engineer and now Bugatti Engineering chief Wolfgang Schreiber



Ferrari Enzo (© Jerod Harris/ZUMApress.com)
 
Ferrari Enzo

The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite disc brakes. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics and traction control. After a downforce of 775 kg (1,709 lb) is reached at 355.6 km/h (221 mph) the rear wing is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.
The Enzo Ferrari typically trades above $1,000,000 (£800,000) at auction.



Lamborghini Reventon Roadster (© Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images)
 
Lamborghini Reventon


The Lamborghini Reventón is a mid-engine sports carthat debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is the most expensive Lamborghini road car to date, costing one million euros (~US$1.31 million, or ~£840,000). Its top recorded speed was recorded in Los Angeles, California at 340 kilometres per hour (211.3 mph). The official press release stated that only 20 vehicles would be sold to the public, with one additional car (marked as 0/20) produced for the Lamborghini Museum. Although early rumors indicated the total number would actually be 100, each Reventón is clearly stamped with its number in the sequence of 20 between the driver's and passenger's seats.




Maybach 62S Landaulet (© Sandro Campardo/Keystone/AP)
 
Maybach Landaulet

The Maybach Landaulet, based on the Maybach 62S, revives the classic landaulet car body style, which was popular in the 1920s and 30s. Powered by the 62S's 612 horsepower (456 kW) biturbo V12, the Landaulet's front seats are fully enclosed and separated from the rear passenger compartment by a power divider window. Back seat passengers get a sliding soft roof that lets them take in the sun from the comfort of the back seats. The chauffeur's area is finished in black leather, while the rear is done in all white with piano black and gold-flecked black granite inserts. Also, the opacity of the glass partition separating the driver from the passengers can be electronically controlled.
Maybach automobiles are priced to directly compete with Rolls-Royce. As of early 2008, European and United States prices were, Maybach Landaulet - € 900,000 / $ 1,350,000




Koenigsegg Trevita (© Koenigsegg)
 
Koenigsegg Trevita

The Koenigsegg Trevita is a special edition car of which only three were made. The Trevita, which translates into "three whites" in Swedish, has a body made entirely out of Koenigsegg's proprietary material consisting of diamond-colored carbon fiber. The Trevita is based on the Koenigsegg CCXR, and therefore produces 1,018 hp (759 kW) when running on biofuel. The Trevita features a Koenigsegg proprietary glittering silvery white carbon composite fabric. Apart from the unique composite material and the partially painted wheels it has the specification as the Special Edition CCXR.




SSC Ultimate Aero (© Shelby Supercars)
 
SSC Ultimate Aero

The SSC Ultimate Aero is an American-built mid-engine supercar by Shelby SuperCars. The higher-performance limited production version, the SSC Ultimate Aero TT produces more emissions-legal horsepower than any other production automobile in the world and previously held the Guinness Book of World Records record for being the fastest production car in the world (succeeded by the 2010 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport), with a recorded speed of 412.28 km/h (256.18 mph).This speed was achieved during tests on September 13, 2007 West Richland, Washington, United States and verified by Guinness World Records on October 9, 2007. This speed however does not reflect the Ultimate Aero TT's full potential. SSC estimates that the newer, more powerful and lighter weight 2009 Ultimate Aero TT is capable of a top speed of over 270 mph (430 km/h). The SSC Ultimate Aero does not have electronic aids such as ABS brakes or traction control because (to quote Jerod Shelby) "Early design philosophy on the car was to make it a drivers car. I wanted a car that you not only throttled with your right foot but at times you could steer with your right foot.".
Ultimate Aero is still in production with an MSRP of around $650,000



McLaren F1 (© McLaren)
 
McLaren F1

The McLaren F1 is a super car designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car. On 31 March 1998, it set the record for the fastest road car in the world, 240 mph (386 km/h). As of Jan 2011, the F1 is still the fastest naturally aspirated road car in the world.
Up until 1998, when McLaren produced and sold the standard F1 models, they had a price tag of around 970,000 USD. Today the cars can sell for up to nearly twice that of the original price, due to the performance and exclusivity of the machine. They are expected to further increase in value over time.


Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster (© Imago/ZUMApress.com)
 
Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster
The Roadster will have specs as the Cinque Coupé, and will likely maintain the same rigidity or more, as it was for the Roadster F and F Coupé. Like the Coupé from which it derives, only 5 units are built, with a price of £1.3-million/US$2 million plus local taxes.
And, without considering other One Offs, like the Tricolore, the PS and other special Zondas which will be built, makes this and the coupè the rarest Zondas. It goes from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in only 3.4 seconds and it has a top speed of 217 mph (349 km/h).


Leblanc Mirabeau (© Leblanc cars)
 
Leblanc Mirabeau
The Mirabeau is an open street legal race car with an rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, designed to the specifications of the FIA/Le Mans standards. The engine outputs approximately 700 horsepower (520 kW) and 850 N·m (630 ft·lbf) from a 4700 cc supercharged engine. The Mirabeau has a top speed of 370 km/h and a price tag of $650,000.


 
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Egyptian man named daughter 'Facebook'





An Egyptian man in his early twenties has named his newborn daughter 'Facebook' following the 2011 Egyptian Revolution which was almost solely organized on the social-networking site Facebook. The father, Gamal Ibrahim, told the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram that he gave his child the name to "express his joy at the achievements made by the January 25 youth."
The protests, which were largely organized on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, began on January 25 and led to the end of Hosni Mubarak's 30-year reign as president of Egypt.

The Al-Ahram report stated that, "The girl’s family, friends, and neighbors in the Ibrahimya region gathered around the new born to express their continuing support for the revolution that started on Facebook. 'Facebook' received many gifts from the youth who were overjoyed by her arrival and the new name. A name that shocked the entire world."

The Egyptian spelling of 'Facebook' is فيس بوك.

miércoles, 30 de marzo de 2011

Worldwide weird: International Pillow Fight Day




Feathers will fly this Saturday, 2 April, as citizens of the world take up down-filled arms to celebrate International Pillow Fight Day.

With events organised from Caracas to Cincinnati, these flash-mob style fights have been held worldwide since 2008, with more than 100 cities joining in the fun this year.

The light-hearted pillow fights, which the website says were initiated by the decentralised "urban playground movement", aim to turn cities into "urban living rooms" where public spaces can be reclaimed for social and spontaneous use.

The New York City event, with 5,000 participants, was the world's largest last year, and the Facebook pages of other organising cities currently show hundreds and even thousands of attendees. While the basics of the fight are consistent from city to city, some cities add their own flair, whether by asking participants to wear pyjamas (like London) or rush in at the designated time screaming "PILLOW FIGHT!" (in Vancouver).

To keep any of the events from getting out of hand, most organisers set a few ground rules on their events page, such as: "Don't hit people with cameras or people without pillows" and "Swing lightly" Some of the larger events ask fighters to bring non-feather pillows to mitigate the mess.

The fighting starts when a signal such as an air horn or whistle blows, and can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Once everyone is tired out, organisers like Newmindspace in New York collect pillows to donate to no-kill animal shelters and remind participants to clean up any mess.

Want to participate in the pillow-flinging action? Check out pillowfightday.com to find your city, or sign up to host your own

martes, 29 de marzo de 2011

Crazy, Weird, Odd, Bizarre and Incredible looking arcitechture (p3)


21. The Ufo House (Sanjhih, Taiwan)

The Ufo House (Sanjhih, Taiwan)Image via: cypherone @ Taiwan

22. The Hole House (Texas, United States)

The Hole House (Texas, United States)Image via: melinnis

23. Ryugyong Hotel (Pyongyang, North Korea)

Ryugyong Hotel (Pyongyang, North Korea)Image via: Pricey

24. The National Library (Minsk, Belarus)

The National Library (Minsk, Belarus)Image via: ledsmagazine.com

25. Grand Lisboa (Macao)

Grand Lisboa (Macao)Image via: Michael McDonough

26. Wall House (Groningen, Netherlands)

Wall House (Groningen, Netherlands)Image via: Liao Yusheng

27. Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao, Spain)

Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao, Spain)Image via: disgustipado

28. Bahá’í House of Worship a.k.a Lotus Temple (Delhi, India)

Bahá'í House of Worship a.k.a Lotus Temple (Delhi, India)Image via: MACSURAK

29. Container City (London, UK)

Container City (London, UK)Image via: y Fin Fahey

30. Erwin Wurm: House Attack (Viena, Austria)

Erwin Wurm: House Attack (Viena, Austria)Image via: Dom Dada

<<< PART 2                                                                                                              PART 4 >>>

Crazy, Weird, Odd, Bizarre and Incredible looking arcitechture (p4)


31. Wooden Gagster House (Archangelsk, Russia)

Wooden Gagster House (Archangelsk, Russia)Image via: deputy-dog.com

32. Air Force Academy Chapel (Colorado, United States)

Air Force Academy Chapel (Colorado, United States)Image via: dbking

33. Solar Furnace (Odeillo, France)

Solar Furnace (Odeillo, France)Image via: f2g2

34. Dome House (Florida, United States)

Dome House (Florida, United States)Image via: easement

35. Beijing National Stadium (Beijing, China)

Beijing National Stadium (Beijing, China)Image via: littlemalt

36. Fashion Show Mall (Las Vegas, United States)

Fashion Show Mall (Las Vegas, United States)Image via: b2tse

37. Luxor Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas, United States)

Luxor Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas, United States)Image via: wallyg

38. Zenith Europe (Strasbourg, France)

Zenith Europe (Strasbourg, France)Image via: Edouard55

39. Civic Center (Santa Monica)

Civic Center (Santa Monica)Image via: karenchu121

40. Mammy’s Cupboard (Natchez, MS, United States)

Mammy's Cupboard (Natchez, MS, United States)Image via: Live Simply

lunes, 28 de marzo de 2011

Crazy, Weird, Odd, Bizarre and Incredible looking arcitechture (p2)


11. Chapel in the Rock (Arizona, United States)

Chapel in the Rock (Arizona, United States)Image via: santanartist

12. Dancing Building (Prague, Czech Republic)

Dancing Building (Prague, Czech Republic)Image via: jemil75

13. Calakmul building a.k.a La Lavadora a.k.a The Washing Mashine (Mexico, Mexico)

Calakmul building a.k.a La Lavadora a.k.a The Washing Mashine (Mexico, Mexico)Image via: marj k

14. Kettle House (Texas, United States)

Kettle House (Texas, United States)Image via: y luckyfukr

15. Manchester Civil Justice Centre (Manchester, UK)

Manchester Civil Justice Centre (Manchester, UK)Image via: tj.blackwell

16. Nakagin Capsule Tower (Tokyo, Japan)

Nakagin Capsule Tower (Tokyo, Japan)Image via: pict_u_re

17. Mind House (Barcelona, Spain)

Mind House (Barcelona, Spain)Image via: angelocesare

18. Stone House (Guimarães, Portugal)

Stone House (Guimarães, Portugal)image via: Jsome1

19. Shoe House (Pennsylvania, United States)

Shoe House (Pennsylvania, United States)Image via: James Gordon

20. Weird House in Alps

Weird House in AlpsImage via: nicolasnova

Crazy, Weird, Odd, Bizarre and Incredible looking arcitechture



1. The Crooked House (Sopot, Poland)

Construction of the building started in in January 2003 and in December 2003 it was finished. House architecture is based on Jan Marcin Szancer (famous Polish artist and child books illustrator) and Per Dahlberg (Swedish painter living in Sopot) pictures and paintings.
The Crooked HouseImage via: brocha



2. Forest Spiral – Hundertwasser Building (Darmstadt, Germany)

The Hundertwasser house “Waldspirale” (”Forest Spiral”) was built in Darmstadt between 1998 and 2000. Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the famous Austrian architect and painter, is widely renowned for his revolutionary, colourful architectural designs which incorporate irregular, organic forms, e.g. onion-shaped domes.
The structure with 105 apartments wraps around a landscaped courtyard with a running stream. Up in the turret at the southeast corner, there is a restaurant, including a cocktail bar.
Forest Spiral - Hundertwasser Building (Darmstadt, Germany)Image via: Kikos Dad


3. The Torre Galatea Figueras (Spain)

The Torre Galatea Figueras (Spain)Image via: manuelfloresv


4. Ferdinand Cheval Palace a.k.a Ideal Palace (France)

Ferdinand Cheval Palace a.k.a Ideal Palace (France)Image via: Mélisande*


5. The Basket Building (Ohio, United States)

The Longaberger Basket Company building in Newark, Ohio might just be a strangest office building in the world. The 180,000-square-foot building, a replica of the company’s famous market basket, cost $30 million and took two years to complete. Many experts tried to persuade Dave Longaberger to alter his plans, but he wanted an exact replica of the real thing.
The Basket Building (Ohio, United States)Image via: addicted Eyes


6. Kansas City Public Library (Missouri, United States)

This project, located in the heart of Kansas City, represents one of the pioneer projects behind the revitalization of downtown.
The people of Kansas City were asked to help pick highly influential books that represent Kansas City. Those titles were included as ‘bookbindings’ in the innovative design of the parking garage exterior, to inspire people to utilize the downtown Central Library.
Kansas City Public Library (Missouri, United States)Image via: jonathan_moreau


7. Wonderworks (Pigeon Forge, TN, United States)

Wonderworks (Florida, United States)


8. Habitat 67 (Montreal, Canada)

Expo 67, one of the world’s largest universal expositions was held in Montreal. Housing was one of the main themes of Expo 67.
The cube is the base, the mean and the finality of Habitat 67. In its material  sense, the cube is a symbol of stability. As for its mystic meaning, the cube is symbol of wisdom, truth, moral perfection, at the origin itself of our civilization.
354 cubes of a magnificent grey-beige build up one on the other to form 146 residences nestled between sky and earth, between city and river, between greenery and light.
Habitat 67 (Montreal, Canada)Image via: ken ratcliff


9. Cubic Houses (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

The original idea of these cubic houses came about in the 1970s. Piet Blom has developed a couple of these cubic houses that were built in Helmond.
The city of Rotterdam asked him to design housing on top of a pedestrian bridge and he decided to use the cubic houses idea. The concept behind these houses is that he tries to create a forest by each cube representing an abstract tree; therefore the whole village becomes a forest.
Cubic Houses (Rotterdam, Netherlands)Image via: vpzone


10. Hang Nga Guesthouse a.k.a Crazy House (Vietnam)

The house is owned by the daughter of the ex-president of Vietnam, who studied architecture in Moscow.
It does not comply with any convention about house building, has unexpected twists and turns, roofs and rooms. It looks like a fairy tale castle, it has enormous “animals” like a giraffe and a spider, no window is rectangular or round, and it can be visited like a museum.