10 Weird and Strange Syndromes

When we get ill, majority of us think this is the worst illness we’re going through RIGHT? I used to think this way too before finding about many of the weird syndromes that have to live with throughout their lives. And the sad part is that most of the syndromes have NO CURE AT ALL!

Is everything made of numbers?

when Albert Einstein finally completed his general theory of relativity in 1916, he looked down at the equations and discovered an unexpected message: the universe is expanding.

10 Ways to Lose Calories without Exercising

Infomercials bombard us every day with techniques to lose weight fast . But many of us actually shun the idea of losing weight without much effort. However there are ways of losing weight without being a total gym bunny. All you have to do is make a few changes in your lifestyle.

Top 10 Creepy Girls in Fiction

A recent trend in media is the idea that children are scary or creepy. Girls seem to be particularly popular – from pale-faced, stringy-haired ghosts to demonically possessed victims, creepy girls are becoming a common feature in horror films and other genres. This list covers ten creepy girls who have appeared in films, TV and video games in the past thirty or so years, to frighten or fascinate audiences. Most can be terrifying but have a sense of sympathy to them, or some are just unstoppable creatures of evil wanting to rip the world apart.

10 Tragic Prison and Asylum Fires

While fire is something that has proven to be something very useful to mankind over the years being one of the greatest discoveries, it is potentially a hazard. It’s like a caged demon waiting to be set free so it can render everything to dust and ashes. There have been many dangerous fires throughout our history and has taken many lives but that’s just because of carelessness and well, nature did have a role in forest fires too. Anyway, this list talks about cruel fires in different prisons and asylums throughout the world. Tragic as it may sound, it still holds true. I hope this particular list proves useful and educative to you folks.

Friday, October 5, 2012

10 Undeciphered Codes and Texts


10. The Codex Seraphinianus


The Codex Seraphinianus is a book written and illustrated by the Italian artist, architect and industrial designer Luigi Serafini during thirty months, from 1976 to 1978. The book is approximately 360 pages long (depending on edition), and appears to be a visual encyclopedia of an unknown world, written in one of its languages, a thus-far undeciphered alphabetic writing. The illustrations are often surreal parodies of things in our world: bleeding fruit; a plant that grows into roughly the shape of a chair and is subsequently made into one; a lovemaking couple that metamorphoses into an alligator; etc. Others depict odd, apparently senseless machines, often with a delicate appearance, kept together by tiny filaments. There are also illustrations readily recognizable, as maps or human faces. On the other hand, especially in the “physics” chapter, many images look almost completely abstract. Practically all figures are brightly coloured and rich in detail. The whole Codex is composed in a bizarre alphabet that has still yet to be translated even after intense study by linguists. Since the text itself is unreadable, the Codex has become most famous for Serafini’s artwork, which ranges from the surreal and beautiful to the downright disturbing.

9. Indus Script

The term Indus script (also Harappan script) refers to short strings of symbols associated with the Indus Valley Civilization, in use during the Mature Harappan period, between the 26th and 20th centuries BC. In spite of many attempts at decipherments and claims, it is as yet undeciphered. The underlying language has not been able to be identified, primarily due to the lack of a bilingual inscription. Over the years, numerous decipherments have been proposed, but none has been accepted by the scientific community at large. The topic is popular among amateur researchers, and there have been various (mutually exclusive) decipherment claims. None of these suggestions has found academic recognition.

8. Dispilio Tablet

The Dispilio Tablet (also known as the Dispilio Scripture or the Dispilio Disk) is a wooden tablet bearing inscribed markings (charagmata), unearthed during George Hourmouziadis’s excavations of Dispilio in Greece and carbon 14-dated to about 7300 BP (5260 BC). It was discovered in 1993 in a Neolithic lakeshore settlement that occupied an artificial island near the modern village of Dispilio on Lake Kastoria in Kastoria Prefecture, Greece. The site appears to have been occupied over a long period, from the final stages of the Middle Neolithic (5600-5000 BC) to the Final Neolithic (3000 BC). A number of items were found, including ceramics, wooden structural elements, seeds, bones, figurines, personal ornaments, flutes (one of them dating back to the 6th millennium BCE, the oldest ever found in Europe) and what appears to be the most significant finding, the inscribed Dispilio Tablet which could not be deciphered by symbologists till date.

7. Vinča Script

In 1875, archaeological excavations led by the Hungarian archeologist Zsófia Torma at Tordos, Hungary (today Turdaş, Romania) unearthed a cache of objects inscribed with previously unknown symbols. In 1908, a similar cache was found during excavations conducted by Miloje Vasic  in Vinča, a suburb of Belgrade (Serbia). Later, more such fragments were found in Banjica, another part of Belgrade. Since, over one hundred and fifty Vinča sites have been identified in Serbia alone, but many, including Vinča itself, have not been fully excavated. Thus, the culture of the whole area is called the Vinča culture, and the script is often called the Vinča-Tordos script. The nature and purpose of the symbols is a mystery. It is dubious that they constitute a writing system. If they do, it is not known whether they represent an alphabet, syllabary, ideograms or some other form of writing. Although attempts have been made to decipher the symbols, there is no generally accepted translation or agreement as to what they mean. At first it was thought that the symbols were simply used as property marks, with no more meaning than “this belongs to X”; a prominent holder of this view is archaeologist Peter Biehl. This theory is now mostly abandoned, as same symbols have been repeatedly found on the whole territory of Vinča culture, on locations hundreds of kilometers and years away from each other. The prevailing theory is that the symbols were used for religious purposes in a traditional agricultural society. If so, the fact that the same symbols were used for centuries with little change suggests that the ritual meaning and culture represented by the symbols likewise remained constant for a very long time, with no need for further development. The use of the symbols appears to have been abandoned (along with the objects on which they appear) at the start of the Bronze Age, suggesting that the new technology brought with it significant changes in social organization and beliefs.

6. Singapore Stone

The Singapore Stone is a fragment of a large sandstone slab which originally stood at the mouth of the Singapore River. The slab, which is believed to date back to at least the 13th century and possibly as early as the 10th or 11th century, bore an undeciphered inscription. Recent theories suggest that the inscription is either in Old Javanese or Sanskrit. It is likely that the person who commissioned the inscription was Sumatran. The slab was blown up in 1843 to clear and widen the passageway at the river mouth to make space for a fort and the quarters of its commander. The slab may be linked to the legendary story of the 14th-century strongman Badang, who is said to have thrown a massive stone to the mouth of the Singapore River. On Badang’s death, the Rajah sent two stone pillars to be raised over his grave “at the point of the straits of Singhapura”. The Stone, now displayed at the National Museum of Singapore, was designated by the museum as one of 11 “national treasures” in January 2006, and by the National Heritage Board as one of the top 12 artifacts held in the collections of its museums.

5. Voynich Manuscript

The Voynich manuscript is a handwritten book thought to have been written in the early 15th century and comprising about 240 vellum pages, most with illustrations. Although many possible authors have been proposed, the author, script, and language remain unknown. It has been described as “the world’s most mysterious manuscript”. Generally presumed to be some kind of ciphertext, the Voynich manuscript has been studied by many professional and amateur cryptographers, including American and British codebreakers from both World War I and World War II. Yet it has defied all decipherment attempts, becoming a historical cryptology cause célèbre. The mystery surrounding it has excited the popular imagination, making the manuscript a subject of both fanciful theories and novels. In 2009, University of Arizona researchers performed C14 dating on the manuscript’s vellum, which they assert (with 95% confidence) was made between 1404 and 1438. In addition, the McCrone Research Institute in Chicago found that much of the ink was added not long afterwards, confirming that the manuscript is an authentic medieval document.

4. Byblos Syllabary

The Byblos syllabary, also known as the Pseudo-hieroglyphic script, Proto-Byblian, Proto-Byblic, or Byblic, is officially an undeciphered writing system, known from ten inscriptions found in Byblos. The inscriptions are engraved on bronze plates and spatulas, and carved in stone. They were excavated by Maurice Dunand, from 1928 to 1932, and published in 1945 in his monograph Byblia Grammata. The inscriptions are conventionally dated to the second millennium BC, probably between the 18th and 15th centuries BC.

3. Beale Ciphers

The Beale ciphers are a set of three ciphertexts, one of which allegedly states the location of a buried treasure of gold, silver and jewels estimated to be worth over USD$65 million as of 2010. The other two ciphertexts allegedly describe the content of the treasure, and list the names of the treasure’s owners’ next of kin, respectively. The story of the three ciphertexts originates from an 1885 pamphlet detailing treasure being buried by a man named Thomas Jefferson Beale in a secret location in Bedford County, Virginia, in 1820. Beale entrusted the box containing the encrypted messages with a local innkeeper named Robert Morriss and then disappeared, never to be seen again. The innkeeper gave the three encrypted ciphertexts to a friend before he died. The friend then spent the next twenty years of his life trying to decode the messages, and was able to solve only one of them which gave details of the treasure buried and the general location of the treasure. He published all three ciphertexts in a pamphlet, although most of the originals were destroyed in a warehouse fire. Since the publication of the pamphlet, a number of attempts have been made to decode the two remaining ciphertexts and to find the treasure, but all have resulted in failure.

2.Khitan Scripts

The Khitan scripts were the writing systems for the now-extinct Khitan language, used in the 10th-12th century by the Khitan people. who had created the Liao Empire in north-eastern China. There were two scripts, known as the large script and the small script. These were functionally independent and appear to have been used simultaneously. The Khitan scripts continued to be in use to some extent by the Jurchens for several decades after the fall of the Liao Dynasty, until the Jurchens fully switched to a script of their own. Examples of the scripts appeared most often on epitaphs and monuments, although other fragments sometimes surface. Many scholars recognize that the Khitan scripts have not been fully deciphered, and that more research and discoveries would be necessary for a proficient understanding of them. Our knowledge of the Khitan language, which was written by the Khitan script, is quite limited as well. Although there are several clues to its origins, which might point in different directions.

1. Cascajal Block

The Cascajal Block is a writing tablet-sized serpentinite slab which has been dated to the early first millennium BCE incised with hitherto unknown characters that may represent the earliest writing system in the New World. Archaeologist Stephen D. Houston of Brown University said that this discovery helps to “link the Olmec civilization to literacy, document an unsuspected writing system, and reveal a new complexity to [the Olmec] civilization.” The block holds a total of 62 glyphs, some of which resemble plants such as corn and ananas, or animals such as insects and fish. Many of the symbols are more abstract boxes or blobs. The symbols on the Cascajal block are unlike those of any other writing system in Mesoamerica, such as in Mayan languages or Isthmian, another extinct Mesoamerican script. The Cascajal block is also unusual because the symbols apparently run in horizontal rows and “there is no strong evidence of overall organization. The sequences appear to be conceived as independent units of information”. All other known Mesoamerican scripts typically use vertical rows.


10 Fun Facts About The Brain


Fact 1: Most of the brain's weight is water. The solid part is made up of fat

Most people think the brain is completely solid but this isn't true at all. 
75% of the brain is actually made up of water!

The "solid" part of the brain is actually made up of fat and is about 10-12% 
of the brain. The rest of the brain is made of proteins, carbohydrates and salts.  


Fact 2. There are 100,000 miles of blood vessels inside the brain.

This means that if you put all of your brain's blood vessels in a straight line, you 
could wrap them around the whole earth four times! Amazing!


Fact 3: Your brain generates between 10-23 watts of power.


This is enough to power a light bulb! 

Most of the energy of the brain is used for brain cells to communicate with one another.


Fact 4: Eating non processed foods raises IQ scores
According to a New York study, if you eat a lunch that doesn't have any artificial
flavors or preservatives you can score 14% better on IQ tests! Amazing!


Fact 5: Every thought you have creates new neuron connections in your brain



The brain is incredibly flexible and more supple than people realise. 

If you think new thoughts, you create new neuron connections right away! 


Fact 6: The average person has 70,000 thoughts per day

You are thinking all the time. By changing your thoughts, you can totally change
the wiring of your brain from the inside out!


Fact 7: Laughing is a complex task involving 5 areas of the brain


Laughing is no laughing matter, as it involves a lot of the brain. This is a good way to 
stimulate your mind and also helps to release happy chemicals into your system. 

Research has shown that laughing for several minutes every day can help to 
boost your mood and overall happiness. 


Fact 8: Juggling causes rapid brain changes
Juggling or learning any new complex thing has a very positive effect on the brain. 

Juggling causes certain areas of the brain to grow, so you have more connections 
in your brain. Any complex task will give similar results!


Fact 9: The brain cannot feel pain
There are literally no pain receptors in the brain. So, though the brain can process
pain coming from other parts of your body, it can't feel it itself!


Fact 10: The average human brain is only 9.3cm high
The brain is actually smaller than most people realise. It is 16cm long and 14cm wide. 
This gives the brain a total weight of about 1.3kg.

That 1.3kg has over 200 billion neurons! Amazing!




Source: geniusintelligence.com

10 Scariest Rides in the World


How many of you have been to amusement parks and love them? How many of you like to be scared by mere rides? How many of you are into thrill? I am sure most of you out there are complete fans of amusement parks as am I. It is summer ladies and gentlemen and there is no better way to blow of some steam than taking a trip to an amusement park and have your mind blown. Listed below are ten of the scariest rides in the world. Of course, if you live in the United States you are lucky because majority of the rides discussed are located there. You can share you experiences with us in the comments and let us know if we missed any. Enjoy the read.

10. SUPERMAN RIDE OF STEEL, SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND AGAWAM, MASSACHUSETTS


The first one is the Superman Ride of Steel. There are around three different versions of this particular ride in all of United States and this particular one is the best of all. It drops you off into a tunnel from a height of 221 feet at speeds exceeding 77 miles an hour. There are two bunny hills, ten seconds of zero gravity and three camel backs. The ride has won several awards so you better just try this one.

9. MAVERICK, CEDAR POINT AMUSEMENT PARK SANDUSKY, OHIO

LA TR.0527.Maverick.1.jpg
Cedar Point is the self-proclaimed home of the rollercoasters. I would vouch for it because it offers around 17 different rollercoaster rides. Maverick was built in the year 2007. It might not be the highest or the fastest but it definitely is one of the best. The total trip takes around 2.5 minutes (which is more than enough) and if offers several twists and turns. There is also a surprise element about this one, but I am not going to mention it. It is a surprise for a reason right?

8. EXPEDITION GEFORCE, HOLIDAY PARK HABLOCH, RHINELAND-PALATINATE, GERMANY

Expedition GeForce - Ten Scariest Rides in the World
This happens to be one of the largest rollercoasters in all of Europe. It offers a lot of satisfaction as well because the track is quite long. It takes you to a height of 203 feet and lets you go at speeds exceeding 74 miles an hour. This ride offers seven moments where you feel you are flying and that your weight has vanished; zero gravity. I was in Germany a few months back and experienced this one. It is a bad, bad ride. You’ll love it.

7. TOWER OF TERROR, DREAMWORLD GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA

Tower of Terror - Ten Scariest Rides in the World
Yeah, I know it is far away but I am not suggesting you to actually go to Australia just to experience this ride. There’s plenty more in the world. This is the fourth fastest ride in the world at around 100 miles an hour. It takes you to a height of 38 stories and then you are in for a zero gravity drop. The drop takes around 6.5 seconds. You know the moment when it is most scary is the second it reaches the top, because you know that THIS IS IT!

6. EEJANAIKA, FUJI-Q HIGHLAND FUJIYOSHIA, JAPAN

Eejanaika - Ten Scariest Rides in the World
This particular name should translate into something like ‘Hey, What the Hell?’. This is the second fourth-dimensional coaster in the world (the first one is discussed below). There are a few differences though, the track is longer and the height is a wee bit taller at 250 feet. When it comes to height, this ride is the seventh in standing. You can also grab a quick and short view of Mount Fuji once you reach the top, but that will not last for long. Enjoy it while you can.

5. KINGDA KA, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE JACKSON, NEW JERSEY

Kingda Ka - Ten Scariest Rides in the World
This happens to be the father of all the roller coasters in the world. You are taken up around 456 feet; that is about 45 stories of a building. How you go to that height is another exciting story. You are launched by a catapult which accelerates the coaster to 128 miles an hour in just 3.5 seconds. Your heart stops once you reach the top. While going down, there is a 270 foot spiral as well. Imagine the thrust it would produce. You will experience both negative and positive G Force so brace yourselves.

4. COLOSSUS, THORPE PARK, CHERTSEY, SURREY, UNITED KINGDOM

Colossus - Ten Scariest Rides in the World
This is perhaps the scariest ride in all of United Kingdom. It was built in the year 2002 and it holds the record for the number of inversions which amounts to a total of ten. An exact replica of this ride was built in China in the year 2006 so if you are in China, you can still enjoy this ride. You will not be able to feel your head after you sit this one out; there’s too much spinning you would say. I am sure the picture is a better explanation of the ride.

3. INSANITY STRATOSPHERE HOTEL AND CASINO, LAS VEGAS

Insanity - Ten Scariest Rides in the World
If you think that for a ride to be scary, it has to be a rollercoaster, boy you are wrong like anything. Go to the top of the tower and take this ride; it will blow you away. It extends around 64 feet over the north edge and it spins at around 40 miles an hour. You sit in a couple and you face the ground at an angle of 70 degrees. That’s not scary? Well, you should know that you are 900 feet above the ground. It might not sound that scary but you have to sit the ride and then say it. For the people who are afraid of heights, you better stay away from this bad boy.

2. FAHRENHEIT HERSHEYPARK HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA

Fahrenheit - Ten Scariest Rides in the World
This particular ride opened up in the May of 2008. The place is known as the sweetest place on Earth; I am sure you guessed that by the name. But this ride is everything but sweet. It takes you up around 121 feet and then drops you off at a 97 degree angle. That’s not all this ride has to offer. After the initial drop, you will have to bear the 107-foot inverted loop, corkscrew roll, cobra element, airborne S-roll and another corkscrew. The ride still doesn’t finish. The funny thing is that it happens in a mere 85 seconds and those seconds are as thrilling as you can possibly imagine.

1. SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN

Six Flags Magic Mountain - Ten Scariest Rides in the World
At the number one spot we have the Magic Mountain. This particular ride opened up in the year 2002 and it claimed to be the world’s first fourth-dimensional ride as well. The seats rotate a full 360 degree and it gives you facedown and headfirst drops. The ride closed down in 2007 and it re-opened in May later. It has become scarier than ever. There really is no explaining what the ride can do to you but it is definitely not for the faint hearted. You may find video views from the seats of this ride on YouTube. Watch them and try this ride out if you dare.



Ondrej Pakan - Part V