Cool

11 Words With No English Translation (12 photo)

The relationship between words and their meaning is a fascinating one, and linguists have spent countless years deconstructing it, taking it apart letter by letter, and trying to figure out why there are so many feelings and ideas that we cannot even put words to, and that our languages cannot identify. The idea that words cannot always say everything has been written about extensively - as Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Words are but symbols for the relations of things to one another and to us; nowhere do they touch upon the absolute truth.

The relationship between words and their meaning is a fascinating one, and linguists have spent countless years deconstructing it, taking it apart letter by letter, ...

Photos of Albanian Women Who Have Lived Their Lives As Men (10 photo)

Photographer Jill Peters presents a unique phenomenon of “burneshas” – Albanian women, who swear themselves, or are sworn into virginity by their families and assume the roles of men for the rest of their lives. What used to be a commonplace tradition back in the 15th century, is still around in the some rural areas in Northern Albania. Jill explains:

Photographer Jill Peters presents a unique phenomenon of “burneshas” – Albanian women, who swear themselves, ...

Cu Chi Tunnels (37 photo)

The tunnels of Cu Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Củ Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Cu Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tet Offensive in 1968.

The tunnels of Cu Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Củ Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, ...

What If Dexter Writers Wrote Breaking Bad? (2 photo)

n yesterday’s next day Breaking Bad discussion a lot of you voiced your confusion and calls of bullsh*t as to how and when the light finally turned on for Jesse with regards to the ricin theft/Brock poisoning/Huell’s delicate hot dog fingers. Even Anderson Cooper didn’t know what the hell was going on. I personally felt like the groundwork had been sufficiently laid down and it made for a better reveal that they didn’t hold our hand through it. But, you know, I’m cursed with ridiculous perception skills and high cheek bones. We can agree to disagree if you feel differently, but we should also agree that given some perspective as to how it probably would have been handled by other, much hack-ier writing teams, Breaking Bad’s version of divisive writing is still superior to everything else on its best day. To really hammer this home one Redditor created the below graphic to remind us all why we’re so damn lucky.

n yesterday’s next day Breaking Bad discussion a lot of you voiced your confusion and calls of bullsh*t as to how and when the light finally turned on for Jesse with regards to the ricin...

'Justified's' Walton Goggins Is Developing A New Drama For Fox (5 photo)

Okay, good news and bad news. GOOD NEWS: Walton Goggins — the man behind the well-read, meth-slinging, gun-toting, evangelizing, lightning-strike-hair-having, ex-sister-in-law-marrying, Harlan County felony aficionado Boyd Crowder — is currently developing a new cop drama for Fox titled “Gringo” that will “revolve around an American cop who moves south of the border with his Mexican wife and ends up caught in the middle of the cartel wars.” BAD NEWS: Despite “an American cop who moves south of the border with his Mexican wife and ends up caught in the middle of the cartel wars” sounding like a terrific role for Walton Goggins, there is no word yet whether he will be playing the titular gringo. All we know so far is that he and Adam Fierro (a former executive producer on The Shield) will be teaming up to executive produce, and that the two of them co-wrote the story. BUT: If he does end up starring in a big network drama like this, it would probably cut significantly into his availability for Justified, and we just can’t have that at all. BUUUUUUUT: SHERIFF BOYD CROWDER PATROLLING THE STREETS OF JUAREZ??????? I have no idea how to feel about this.

Okay, good news and bad news. GOOD NEWS: Walton Goggins — the man behind the well-read, meth-slinging, gun-toting, evangelizing, lightning-strike-hair-having, ex-sister-in-law-marrying, ...

A Supercut Of 'Thomas The Tank Engine' Crashes Set To 'Bodies' (1 photo + 1 video)

I suppose, in the interest of being as accurate and responsible as possible, I should point out a couple things. First, this supercut of crashes from Thomas the Tank Engine set to “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” was posted on YouTube over two years ago, and it already has close to 150,000 views, so it’s not exactly the hippest, freshest thing we’ve ever posted here. But I just saw it for the first time a few minutes ago on Laughing Squid and it cracked me up a little, so here we are. Second, technically speaking, the title of the show is actually Thomas & Friends, not Thomas the Tank Engine, and the title of the Drowning Pool song in question is just “Bodies,” which makes my headline inaccurate at best and willfully ignorant at worst. But anyway, with all that out of the way, I’d like to get to my real point here, which is LET THE ENGINES HIT THE FLOOR LET THE ENGINES HIT THE FLOOR. LET THE ENGINES HIT THE FLOOR LET THE ENGINES HIT THE FLOOR.

I suppose, in the interest of being as accurate and responsible as possible, I should point out a couple things.

Revisiting First 'Madden NFL' Soundtrack From 2003 (1 photo + 11 video)

HAPPY MADDEN RELEASE DAY EVERYONE. It's a big event for the video game and sports industries alike, as well as for people who own $250 DeShaun Foster jerseys and aren't above going to Walmart at midnight to pick up a copy (guilty). Our own Dan Seitz already wrote his defense of Madden NFL 25, but I want to take a look and listen to something that's much tougher to defend: the first Madden EA Trax soundtrack. It came back in 2002, when Marshall Faulk graced the cover of Madden 2003, and I'm already sorry for all future Audiovent references. For everyone who hasn't Eternal Sunshine'd Audiovent, though, let's go the tape.

HAPPY MADDEN RELEASE DAY EVERYONE. It's a big event for the video game and sports industries alike, as well as for people who own $250 DeShaun Foster jerseys and aren't above going to Walmart at...

'The Dark Notebook Rises', A Mashup Video Of Batman And 'The Notebook' (1 photo + 1 video)

Did you think The Dark Knight Rises could have used more romance, and perhaps some voiceover by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams? Maybe not, but can we agree The Notebook could have used more punching? This mashup video, The Dark Notebook Rises, gives us exactly that. Sure. Why not? At least we can understand what Bane’s saying.

Did you think The Dark Knight Rises could have used more romance, and perhaps some voiceover by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams? Maybe not, but can we agree The Notebook could have used more punching?

Wife Carries Legless Marine Husband In Photo (1 photo + 1 video)

Rarely do our interests intersect with those of Good Morning America‘s (we hate good things and despise mornings), but this is too good, too dare-I-say heartwarming to not pass along. In 2008, while serving in Afghanistan with the Marines, Jesse Cottle stepped on an IED and lost both of his legs. After returning to the States, Cottle spent months painfully recovering in a hospital and was eventually given prosthetic legs. Then love came a-calling: "After [time] in the hospital, Jesse met his future wife Kelly, 24, in San Diego at a swim meet during one of his first outings with his new prosthetic legs. “His personality and who he is just outweighs his injuries by so much that you forget about it after a while,” Kelly explained." They got married in August of last year. To celebrate, Jesse and Kelly recently visited her family in Boise, Idaho, where they took a series of family portraits, some of which show Jesse carrying her happy husband on her back. One photo, taken by ShutterHappy’s Sarah Ledford, has nearly 11,000 Likes on Facebook because Jesse Cottle is the opposite of mornings, in that: people like him.

Rarely do our interests intersect with those of Good Morning America‘s (we hate good things and despise mornings), but this is too good, too dare-I-say heartwarming to not pass along.

The 10 Highest Earning Celebrities Of 2013 (11 photo)

Were there any justice in this world, or at least if people had better taste, the 10 highest earning celebrities of 2013 would go something like: Louis C.K.

‘Eastbound & Down’: 15 GIFs & Quotes For Season 4 (15 photo + 1 video)

‘Eastbound & Down’ season 4 premieres September 29th on HBO. Are we excited? Most definitely. Are we crying about it? No. Those aren’t tears, Dustin. It’s just this stupid pollen. It’s in my eyes and making them water. Just go away from me, Dustin. To celebrate season 4 of ‘Eastbound & Down’ and the awesomeness that is Kenny Powers, we’ve collected some of our favorite moments from the past three season.

‘Eastbound & Down’ season 4 premieres September 29th on HBO. Are we excited? Most definitely. Are we crying about it? No. Those aren’t tears, Dustin. It’s just this stupid pollen.

Miley Cyrus Looked Just Like a Giraffe at the VMAs (9 photo)

People are comparing Miley Cyrus‘ appearance at the VMAs last night to a lot of things — an uncooked chicken, an old Jim Carey character, naked Hank Hill, etc. But nobody is comparing her to what she really looked like — a giraffe with its tongue sticking out. After telling mom and anybody else who would listen, we decided to make MORE proof! Here are some pictures where we’ve replaced Miley’s head with the head of a giraffe. You can barely tell the difference.

People are comparing Miley Cyrus‘ appearance at the VMAs last night to a lot of things — an uncooked chicken, an old Jim Carey character, naked Hank Hill, etc.

The first names of famous rock bands (7 photo)

Pink Floyd - Tea Set

Grumpy Cat Meets Disney In Hilariously Depressing Art (3 photo)

Besides being the Web’s funniest downer, Grumpy Cat has also been a source of artistic inspiration ever since he claimed fame. How Tarter Sauce so effortlessly gains a huge fanbase, we have no idea, nor are we questioning. The famous kitty just has some sort of magical ‘oomph’ to him, which is why these Disney-meets-Grumpy-Cat pictures are so fitting. User TsaoShin on DeviantArt created what could be one of the most genius varieties of fan art to date. Basically, the grump master replaces key Disney characters in famous movie scenes, and the result is hilariously depressing. Honestly, who even wants to be the Lion King or ride on a magic carpet? BORING. Check ‘em out below:

Besides being the Web’s funniest downer, Grumpy Cat has also been a source of artistic inspiration ever since he claimed fame.

34 Misleading Vintage Ads Promoting The Benefits Of Smoking (34 photo)

Quaint though they may be, we’ve come a long way from this hellishly misleading smoking advertisements from yesteryear. Actor Edmund Lowe once proudly declared: “It’s that delightful taste after a cup of coffee that makes Luckies a hit with me. And naturally I protect my voice with Luckies. No harsh irritants for me…..I reach for Lucky instead. Congratulations on your improved Cellophane wrapped. I can open it.” Even US President Ronald Reagan, paid off by big tobacco, willingly promoting the fact he loved to send cigarettes to all his friends at Christmas. Put it down to clever marketing or being genuine naive, this collection of vintage adverts promoting the health benefits of inhaling over 4,000 chemicals were all the rage 40 years ago. Of those 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, around 69 of those same chemicals are known to cause cancer. Today, we’re better informed and more aware of the dangers and hazards associated with smoking. And whilst your local doctor might still have a crafty cigarette during his lunch break, you’d be hard pressed to find them willingly endorsing an expensive & addictive product, that ultimately kills you. Progress it seems, has been made.

Quaint though they may be, we’ve come a long way from this hellishly misleading smoking advertisements from yesteryear.

Infographic: 8 Of The Biggest Design Fails In History (1 photo)

It’s hard to believe that some of the most ambitious architectural designs of the modern era, also proved to be significantly flawed when it came to their final execution. Despite all the funding, approvals, meetings, planning, scoping, documentation and individuals involved in constructing these impressive feats of human ingenuity, somewhere, somehow it all went wrong. The New School of Architecture and Design have created an infographic titled ‘Failure by Design‘ which highlights some of the most notable failures of architectural design from eight famous buildings from around the world. The errors range from significantly under estimating the weight of structures, to failing to accommodate the surrounding geological hazards to even erecting a building on unstable marshland. You’ll be amazed and confounded as to how any of these structures past the planning stage let alone ended up being built!

It’s hard to believe that some of the most ambitious architectural designs of the modern era, also proved to be significantly flawed when it came to their final execution.

Extraordinarily Odd Photographs From A 1972 Rothschild Party (20 photo)

There have been few dinners parties quite like it. It’s December 12 1972, the night at which Marie-Hélène de Rothschild held her famous Surrealist Ball at Ferrières. As you can probably guess by her surname, she was a member of the ultra-wealthy Rothschild banking family. Few made the guest-list but if you did, it was the ultimate seal of approval from Parisian high-society. The requirements for the evening were “Black tie, long dresses & Surrealists heads” nothing more, nothing less. In keeping with the theme, the invitation which she sent was actually written backwards – to read the invite you had to hold it up to a mirror. Now when money is no object, the only limit is ones imagination and it’s fair to say that Marie-Hélène certainly had plenty in supply. Firstly she insisted the iconic Château where the party was to be housed, be floodlight with sweeping amber lights, designed to create the illusion the building was on fire. Once instead, she made sure the entire staircase was filled with servants and footmen dressed as cats – all in various poses of sleep. And once you’d overcome that initial shock, guests were then forced to enter a hellish labyrinthine maze – where should you get lost, one of the “cats” would rescue you and whisk you away where you’d be formally greeted by Marie-Hélène herself. On this particular night, she was wearing a ginormous giant’s head that was crying tears of diamonds. Naturally.

There have been few dinners parties quite like it. It’s December 12 1972, the night at which Marie-Hélène de Rothschild held her famous Surrealist Ball at Ferrières.

Impressive Portrait Of Yao Ming Painted Using A Basketballd (3 photo + 1 video)

If you haven’t already guessed, we’re big fans of portrait art here on SBSG, but we have to admit it’s not every day you see artwork painted using merely a basketball! But that’s precisely the tool Malaysian artist Hong Yi used to create her portrayal of Chinese basketball player Yao Ming. Below is a time-lapse video of her bouncing the ball and bringing her creation to life using nothing more than red paint. Quite how she achieved such an impressive feat is still somewhat of a mystery, but then again that’s half the fun isn’t it? In her own words “I love to paint, but not with a paintbrush.”, she’s true to her word too. You can see the full range of her artistic experiments via redhongyi.com, there’s not a brush in sight.

If you haven’t already guessed, we’re big fans of portrait art here on SBSG, but we have to admit it’s not every day you see artwork painted using merely a basketball!

Finland's 'Magic Forest' Is Actually A Place You'll Want To Avoid (20 photo)

If (like many) you found Singapore’s Frightening Theme Park Dedicated To Chinese Mythology a little too confronting, but still want to seek out the unusual and strange, you could always pay a visit to the “Magic Forest” in Imatra, Finland. Whether by choice or just bad design, it’s a forest littered with unsettling stone mannequins whose’s expressions are almost as creepy as the scenarios they’re placed in. How about a moustached made in a sharp blue seat, handcuffing a teenager to a tree and beating him with a cane? Or maybe you’d be more interested in a tall lanky local flasher? There’s even a few religious characters floating around, including The Grim Reaper himself, who certainly looks quite healthy. In short, it’s the perfect place to go anytime, day or night, if you want to give yourself nightmares for eternity.

If (like many) you found Singapore’s Frightening Theme Park Dedicated To Chinese Mythology a little too confronting, but still want to seek out the unusual and strange, ...

Did You Know About The Abandoned Island In The Centre Of NYC? (22 photo)

Rewind to 1885 and it’s during that era that North Brother Island was used a busy hospital complex primarily designed to quarantine members of the public who had been infected with smallpox or the debilitating typhoid fever. It’s situated between the Bronx and Riker’s Island, New York City and later on in its life, the centre become a rehab clinic. As new developments with easier access have risen up, North Brother Island slowly fell into a state of disrepair eventually becoming abandoned in around 1963. This is what it looks like today, it’s now a bird sanctuary.

Rewind to 1885 and it’s during that era that North Brother Island was used a busy hospital complex primarily designed to quarantine members of the public who had been infected with smallpox or the...

17 Soldiers Collapsing Due To Exhaustion At Military Ceremonies (17 photo + 1 video)

Choosing a career of military service can certainly be a dangerous occupation. Aside from potentially being sent into foreign lands only to be bombard with enemy fire, even the day-to-day ceremonies can be hazardous. It’s not uncommon for soldiers to suddenly faint after standing at attention for a prolonged period. Is it because they are utterly overwhelmed by being in the presence of royalty or heads of state?

Choosing a career of military service can certainly be a dangerous occupation. Aside from potentially being sent into foreign lands only to be bombard with enemy fire, ...

Slanegirl Shows The Internet At Its Worst (4 photo + 1 video)

Each Monday, I publish something called the Breaking Bad Power Rankings. It’s pretty self-explanatory: I rank the show’s characters, from Walt to Skyler to This Guy, by how badass they are. Today, I’m tweaking the formula for an entirely different story, one involving a blowjob at an Eminem concert. Here is: the Humanity Power Rankings. In last place…oh. THERE’S A TIE. Let’s meet everyone, shall we?

Each Monday, I publish something called the Breaking Bad Power Rankings. It’s pretty self-explanatory: I rank the show’s characters, from Walt to Skyler to This Guy, by how badass they are.

Shocking News: Jon 'Bones' Jones Wants To Be A Famous Actor (1 photo)

A few years ago, Strikeforce Women’s Middleweight Championship challenger Gina Carano figured out that she was pretty and people liked her, so she stopped getting punched in the face for a living and started doing MMA fight scenes in movies like Haywire. UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey’s is currently going through the same thing, starring alongside 40 60-year old men in The Expendables 3. One of the many conspiracy theories about Chris Weidman’s Middleweight Championship victory is that Anderson Silva threw the fight so he’d have more free time to make horrible-looking MMA movies. Hell, even Ken Shamrock was in Champions back in the day. MMA has proven to be a surprisingly-easy springboard into mainstream movie stardom, so it shouldn’t surprise you that UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones suddenly wants to be an actor. Or that he wants to be like The Rock, who is in, like, 65 of the 67 movies released this year. “I’d like to model my acting career on Dwayne Johnson, the way he came out of [WWE] and started off tough guy roles and then moved over to doing ‘Tooth Fairy,’” the 24-year-old Jones told MMAjunkie.com during an appearance at the UFC’s “World Tour” in Los Angeles. “That’s when you really saw that he could act, and he’s the one I admire and respect a lot, so I know I’d love to model my acting career after (him).” Yes, we all really saw The Rock’s acting chops in Tooth Fairy, because being tough and wearing a tutu means “acting.” We saw Hulk Hogan’s acting ability in Mr. Nanny. But don’t think it’s all tough guy roles and then ballerina costumes for Bones. He’s going to ply his craft!

A few years ago, Strikeforce Women’s Middleweight Championship challenger Gina Carano figured out that she was pretty and people liked her, ...

Internet Parodies Drake's 'Nothing Was The Same' Cover (14 photo)

We've had nearly 24 hours to sit and think about the album cover for Drake's Nothing Was the Same, and it's still no less funny and ridiculous and it looks like wrapping paper than it was yesterday. In that sense, it's so perfectly Drake, and if it's not airbrushed on the side of 17 vans by the end of the week, I will be sorely disappointed. Some people don't respect its imperfect perfections, though; they've decided to redo the cover, using Photoshops and llamas, which is also the name of my They Might Be Giants cover band. Here are some of the best parodies.

We've had nearly 24 hours to sit and think about the album cover for Drake's Nothing Was the Same, and it's still no less funny and ridiculous and it looks like wrapping paper than it was yesterday.

Photo of the Day: Woman journalist in Iran (1 photo)

Internet Browsers Transformed Into Fashion Models (6 photo)

California-based photographer Viktorija Pashuta has transformed a variety of web browser icons into trendy fashion statements. The Latvian fashion photographer has always wondered What if girls were internet browsers?, and so, the project brings that vision to life through a creative interpretation of the notable logos.

California-based photographer Viktorija Pashuta has transformed a variety of web browser icons into trendy fashion statements.

Dancers Among Us: Photographs Inspire Us to Appreciate Each Moment (16 photo)

“BE passionate joyful euphoric intense angry present ALIVE” – that’s the advice from world renowned photographer Jordan Matter. His project Dancers Among Us carries that spirit with it, transforming everyday situations into dynamic, and often nearly unbelievable scenes that capture the human body ALIVE. From the graceful, to the comical, to the intense, Matter has photographed dancers of all sorts in locations around the world – but especially in his home New York. Each image is an encouraging treasure, one that calls us to enjoy the beauty of life in each moment.

“BE passionate joyful euphoric intense angry present ALIVE” – that’s the advice from world renowned photographer Jordan Matter.