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Superhero Jewelry (3 photo)

This is a collection of Superhero Jewelry sold over at Etsy shop WhatsYourPassion. What’s my passion? Thanks for asking. I’ll tell you: Pizza. Plus beer. The shop’s got rings inspired by Batman, Spiderman, Green Lantern, and more! So many more. Okay, actually just like two or three more. If that. But who cares? It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality. Quality and also, finding someone who will buy this stuff for you. Because I sure as hell can’t afford it myself! I’d have to cut back on my pizza and beer intake and that is just not an option. Don’t ask me to sacrifice my passion — what are you, some kind of monster?

This is a collection of Superhero Jewelry sold over at Etsy shop WhatsYourPassion. What’s my passion? Thanks for asking. I’ll tell you: Pizza. Plus beer.

These Fun Illustrations Will Help You Read Chinese In Record Time (9 photo + 1 video)

The Chinese language is a fascinating and expansive beast. The general rule is that if you recognize around 200 characters, that will allow you to understand around 40% of what you see – from menus, to street signs, through to newspapers and television commercials. That’s enough for most tourists to travel around the country quite easily. If you want to get lost in a chunky novel, you’re going to need to be familiar with around 1000 different characters. And finally, if you’re planning on being an astrophysicist in China, you’re going to have to broaden your range to around 20,000 characters.

The Chinese language is a fascinating and expansive beast. The general rule is that if you recognize around 200 characters, ...

Magical Underwater Photos of Freely Flowing Figures (8 photo)

Finnish photographer Susanna Majuri presents a dreamy escape where the human form flows freely. The fine art photographer's portfolio boasts a number of imaginative scenes, all taking place underwater. There's a painterly quality about her work that makes the viewer question whether they're actually looking at a photograph or an oil painting. Despite having to hold their breath while being submerged in water, the characters in each frame seem unaffected by their confinement. They float through the translucent density with an ease in their motion as they bathe in their surroundings. The artistic photographer even manages to present her subjects in surreal scenes, each with their own magical narratives.

Finnish photographer Susanna Majuri presents a dreamy escape where the human form flows freely. The fine art photographer's portfolio boasts a number of imaginative scenes, ...

Foodscapes: Stunning Landscapes Made of Food by Carl Warner (25 photo)

Food posts are always a special treat for the eyes, but this selection of Foodscapes by London-based photographer Carl Warner is definitely something different. Yes, that’s right – all of the pictures below are actually created out of fresh foods! Artist uses a wide variety of different ingredients, such as deli meats, fresh fish, fruit, vegetables and bread, and builds entire worlds that look unbelievably realistic. His food art include ships sailing off into the horizon or battling stormy seas, the Great Wall of China, forests and mountains, and Carl demonstrates an amazing eye for even the smallest details. Carl has been working in advertising and shooting still lives for over 25 years, and has been developing his Foodscapes idea for the past 10 years already. His know-how about shooting table-top pictures and usage of artificial light has undoubtedly aided in making the food pictures look so realistic. For the most time, you can’t even tell that the miniature food models aren’t actually landscape photographs. The Foodscapes received international recognition back in 2008, and Carl has been coming up with new pieces ever since. Besides food, this artist also uses other medium to imitate landscapes. His sensual Bodyscapes project featured intricately tangled human bodies, which make you tilt your head a little with each picture.

Food posts are always a special treat for the eyes, but this selection of Foodscapes by London-based photographer Carl Warner is definitely something different.

Incredible Ballerina Performs En Pointe with Knife Shoes (7 photo)

En Puntas is a video installation by artist Javier Pérez featuring ballerina Amélie Ségarra performing an incredible dance atop a grand piano, entirely en pointe, wearing a customized set of pointe shoes that extend beyond the toe box with a pair of sharp kitchen knives. As if dancing on the tips of your toes for an extended period of time isn't enough, Ségarra has the added pressure of balancing on a thinner platform, from an even greater height. The thought of someone even managing to stand on the potentially dangerous footwear is absolutely astounding. The fact that Ségarra maintains her balance and even leaves her mark as she purposely scrapes the sharp-edged blades across the piano is both exhilarating and frightening to watch. The intense performance is made all the more gripping as the elegant dancer tiptoes closer to the edge, making it difficult to avert one's eyes.

En Puntas is a video installation by artist Javier Pérez featuring ballerina Amélie Ségarra performing an incredible dance atop a grand piano, entirely en pointe, ...

A Playful Pirate-Themed CT Scanner for Kids (9 photo)

This New York Hospital makes being sick a little less scary for their younger patients by installing this fun CT scanner.

This New York Hospital makes being sick a little less scary for their younger patients by installing this fun CT scanner.

Portraits of Quirky Characters from an Alternate Universe (14 photo)

Travis Louie is the master of developing odd little characters who convey quirky personalities. His illustrated figures boast antlers and fangs and strangely shaped heads, and he pairs each unique portrait with a creative story in order to provide a bit of background about each imaginative character. To achieve the dramatic, old-fashioned feel to his illustrations, Louie creates monochromatic images with acrylic paints over graphite drawings on smooth illustration board or wood panels. He merges supernatural, alien features with human qualities to create the unique beings of his own imaginary world, a world that he says is "inhabited by human oddities, mythical beings, and otherworldly characters who appear to have had their formal portraits taken to mark their existence and place in society."

Travis Louie is the master of developing odd little characters who convey quirky personalities. His illustrated figures boast antlers and fangs and strangely shaped heads, ...

Rentokil Celebrates 85 Years in Business with a “Creepy-Crawly” Lunch (34 photo)

People were treated to the most unusual free lunch ever by corporate giant, Rentokil who are celebrating 85 years in business.

People were treated to the most unusual free lunch ever by corporate giant, Rentokil who are celebrating 85 years in business.

Spectacular Shots of Japan's Summertime Fireworks Festivals (10 photo)

While many of us have to wait for special holidays like New Years or the 4th of July to see a spectacular fireworks show, those living in Japan get to enjoy them almost every weekend throughout the summer (though most are held in July and August). The signature summer event in Japan is called Hanabi, which means "flowers of fire" in Japanese. It's easy to see why as these incredible fireworks shows involves fireworks that appear like blooming flower arrangements. As Japan Monthly Web Magazine states, "The creation of fireworks is to arrange flowers, so to speak. The timing in which they are launched displays the craftsmanship behind them, making the fire flowers bloom in perfect intervals." Hundreds of thousands of spectators come out to see some of the main fireworks shows where experts bring out the most advanced pyrotechnics and synchronize them in stunning fashion. Here are ten of our favorite shots that show just how breathtaking it can get.

While many of us have to wait for special holidays like New Years or the 4th of July to see a spectacular fireworks show, ...

Spectacular Shots of This Year's Perseid Meteor Shower (7 photo)

A spectacular light show is put on at night for stargazers every year as Perseid meteors streak through the sky. For a few nights, the annual event is captured by photographers from around the world, resulting in a stunning collection of images of our atmosphere being lit up by showering meteors. Yahoo! News has curated a number of shots from this year's event into a dazzling Flickr gallery. Each image offers a scenic view of the naturally occurring cosmic show as Earth passes through debris left by the Swift-Tuttle comet (causing said comet's dust to enter through our atmosphere at approximately 132,000 mph). It's said that there can be up to 100 meteors per hour in these few days with the promise of "fireball" meteors that can be as bright as Venus.

A spectacular light show is put on at night for stargazers every year as Perseid meteors streak through the sky.

Abandoned Western Sets (23 photo)

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Once Upon A Time in the West and For A Few More Dollars which were all filmed on this site in Spain's hostile Tabernas Desert, Almeria. Now it stands abandoned.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Once Upon A Time in the West and For A Few More Dollars which were all filmed on this site in Spain's hostile Tabernas Desert, Almeria. Now it stands abandoned.

Students Painting a Live Body (11 photo)

In the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) students learn anatomy by painting a live body.

In the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) students learn anatomy by painting a live body.

Strong Girl Julia Vins (21 photo)

Julia Vins has the face of a cute girl and the body of a man. Hot or not?

Julia Vins has the face of a cute girl and the body of a man. Hot or not?

Fox News Reports On Own Rap Music Story (1 photo + 1 video)

On Monday, the always delightful Juan Williams, who lost his job at NPR after telling Bill O’Reilly he gets “nervous” when he’s on airplanes with Muslims, vomited out some words in the Wall Street Journal about the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Or more specifically, about the dangers of The Rap Music.

On Monday, the always delightful Juan Williams, who lost his job at NPR after telling Bill O’Reilly he gets “nervous” when he’s on airplanes with Muslims, ...

Nick Jonas Posted A Shirtless Selfie To Instagram (2 photo)

As if it wasn’t bad enough for us guys that Parks and Recreation actor Chris Pratt was out there, bragging about how shredded he looks for his leading role in Guardians of the Galaxy, now we’ve got former teen heart throb and current 20-year old heart throb, Nick Jonas, posting his own shirtless selfie on Instagram, all in the name of “fitness.” The youngest Jonas Brother prefaced his photo with the caveat, “I never do this but…” to which Huma Abedin rolled her eyes and said, “Heard that one before.” But Nick is actually an inspiring idol, as he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 13-years old, and he has done a great deal of work to raise awareness for the disease, both through his own Change for the Children Foundation and with a variety of other organizations. Maybe next he can start a foundation for insecure bloggers who swim in their t-shirts. For other people, I mean. Not me. I’m ripped, too. Shut up.

As if it wasn’t bad enough for us guys that Parks and Recreation actor Chris Pratt was out there, bragging about how shredded he looks for his leading role in Guardians of the Galaxy, ...

'Selfies At Serious Places' Shames Photographers (11 photo)

In the near future, all photos will be selfies. It's best to accept this inevitability now. The front page of the New York Times. A picture of Barack Obama taking a selfie with Karolos Papoulias? Sports photojournalists will be obsolete, having been replaced by athletes whipping out their cellphones and snapping a quick shot while running for a touchdown. It's sad, but it's true, and already, the negative effects of the selfie are being chronicled on "Selfies at Serious Places," which aims to shame the kind of people who, well, see above. THUMBS UP FOR GENOCIDE.

In the near future, all photos will be selfies. It's best to accept this inevitability now. The front page of the New York Times.

The Incredible Monsters & Machines Of The Isle Of Nantes (21 photo + 1 video)

When it comes to tourism, many countries highlight their unique landmarks (Sydney Opera House in Australia, The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy) or cultural celebrations (or the Rio Carnival in Brazil & Running Of The Bulls in Spain) as a reason to visit. But Nantes, the 6th largest city in France has an entirely different proposition to lure tourists to their region. Tucked inside several warehouses that were formerly used as shipyards, sits an exhibition titled ‘Machines of the Isle‘ (or if you’re a local Les Machines de l’Île de Nantes) that will genuinely blow your mind. Since it’s inception in 2007 it has captured the imagination of thousands of tourists visiting the area. But what is it exactly? It’s the creation of two artists François Delarozière & Pierre Orefice, their vision is based upon “Visualising a travel-through-time world at the crossroads of the “imaginary worlds” of Jules Verne and the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci.” and if that sounds as ambitious as it does exciting you’d be right. Over the past 6 years, together they’ve built 3 major machines, ‘The Great Elephant’ back in 2007, ‘The Marine Worlds Carrousel’ in 2012 and ‘The Heron Tree’ which will be available to the public in 2014. Of the three, most famous is ‘The Great Elephant’ and it’s not hard to see why. Standing 12M high and stretching 8M wide it’s a structure built from a staggering 45 tons of timber and steel. But what is truly remarkable about the machine, is that was it was designed to actually move and carry members of the public. 49 to be exact and it can do so easily without any issues for around 45min. But it doesn’t end there, Delarozière & Orefice have brought other creatures to life, giant spiders, deadly venus fly traps, pterodactylus and even fish that could swallow you whole all make an appearance as you wind your away around their world. So next time you’re in Europe and what to experience something different away from the hordes and cramped cobble streets of Europe’s tourist traps – why not head over to Nantes? It’s a place where the past and future truly do collide.

When it comes to tourism, many countries highlight their unique landmarks (Sydney Opera House in Australia, ...

Hilarious Photographs From The First Cat Meme In History (20 photo)

Now you might think our fascination and general obsession with cats first came about with rise of the internet and a certain LOLcats meme, but you’d be more than a little mistaken. The original creator of the cat meme and those funny kitty photos which we all love, was in fact an American photographer called Harry Whittier Frees (1879–1953). He was dressing up & photographing his two felines (Rags & Fluff) long before the rise of animated GIFs and Tumblr streams. His mother was the creator of all the tiny outfits, aprons, pyjamas and jackets that the pair wore, whilst Harry was the individual patiently waiting behind the lens (exactly like Ren Netherland) ready to capture the perfect moment. But what was that magic moment of inspiration that compelled both her and his mother to create these hilarious scenes? Apparently his fascination with dressing up animals started back in 1906 at a birthday party. During the course of the celebrations a paper hat randomly ended up on the pet cat’s head – causing outbursts of laughing and merriment. From there he knew the formula and the rest as they say his history. During his lifetime, his animal photographs became wildly popular (some things never change!), so much so that they appeared on book covers, calendars and even post cards. Occasionally he even included a story with each photo which was then published in popular magazines around the world. Today our love of cats in silly hats and all the millions of kitty memes are still going strong, but it was Harry Whittier Frees who started the fur ball rolling.

Now you might think our fascination and general obsession with cats first came about with rise of the internet and a certain LOLcats meme, but you’d be more than a little mistaken.

Fantastic Manipulations Performed Before The Golden Age Of Photoshop (23 photo)

You’ll rarely see a photo today that hasn’t been manipulated, generously enhanced or overlayed with dozens of filters, but in truth this has been happening since the dawn of photography itself – its just that the process of manipulation has evolved. In the early 1800s and even through to the 1900s, if you wanted to alter your photo to create an illusion it was an incredibly labor intensive process. There was combination printing, photomontages and even overpainting – all took time and all had significant drawbacks. Which makes the following collection of fun and somewhat illusory photographs all the more impressive. They were created during an era where you genuinely had to be measured and considered in how you were adapting the film negative itself. There was no magical ‘undo’ button, just lots of trial and error and trying to adapt the technology as best you could. But its safe to say, thanks to the creativity of those involved, all of these images bear little resemblance to their original photographs – it’s amazing what a little magic can do isn’t it?

You’ll rarely see a photo today that hasn’t been manipulated, generously enhanced or overlayed with dozens of filters, ...

Stoned Patrick Stewart Explains 'Quadruple Take' (1 photo + 1 video)

Sir Patrick Stewart, the only knighted actor to ever give a master ACTING course on an animated show starring an alien and a talking goldfish, is now offering private lessons to his girlfriend, Sunny Ozell. Last night, she uploaded a video of one such lesson, apparently filmed in a tree house after firing up a doob, in which Stewart explains the complexities of the “quadruple take” using my new security answer for everything, “Her buns ARE the best.” My acting experience is limited to not screaming when I’m told “how great CSI was,” but I’d pay good money to have Stewart teach me all of the finest sitcom tropes. The spit take, the jaw drop, the scheduling two dates on the same night across the street from one another. Throw in a animal reaction shot exercise with Spot, and I’d start today.

Sir Patrick Stewart, the only knighted actor to ever give a master ACTING course on an animated show starring an alien and a talking goldfish, is now offering private lessons to his girlfriend, ...

Watch Drunk Alexander Skarsgård At Soccer Match (1 photo + 1 video)

I’m not entirely sure of the specifics in the video below, but I do know that it shows peen-flaunter Alexander Skarsgård at a soccer match cheering on his beloved Hammarby Fotboll and that he’s really drunk and seems really pissed. According to a helpful translation provided by from someone on Oh No They Didn’t: alex: all of you can go to hell, [some name on S I think] look at me you f*cking p*ssy random person: look at his magical f*cking hairdo alex: who’s the best team? (and then a couple of more similar questions that I can’t make out) crowd: hammarby (the name of the team) alex and crowd: we’re the hottest we’re the best we’re the ones who win the most…hammarby…clapping. “Magical f*cking hairdo”? Is that what they’re calling penises in Sweden now?

I’m not entirely sure of the specifics in the video below, but I do know that it shows peen-flaunter Alexander Skarsgård at a soccer match cheering on his beloved Hammarby Fotboll and that he’s...

When Is The 'Breaking Bad' Series Finale? That's A Big Night Of TV (1 photo + 1 video)

Sunday, September 29 is most notable for our purposes because it is the date of the series finale of Breaking Bad. That is, provided we all survive until then and don’t just start vibrating at such a high frequency from the intensity and breakneck pace of the episodes leading up to it that we burst into a billion zillion little particles and eventually settle back down to the earth as a fine, sand-like sediment layer on the crust. (Scientists thousands of years from now will refer to this as the Heisenberg layer. It will be totally devoid of nutrients, but if you put your ear very close to it, you will hear it ramble on and on about its feelings about Skyler and what it thinks Walt did with the ricin.) But that’s not the only thing on television that night. Far from it. Sunday, September 29 also features a primetime football game on NBC (always a ratings juggernaut), an episode of Boardwalk Empire on HBO, and a SLEW of premieres, including: Homeland; the final season of Eastbound & Down; The Good Wife; The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, and the rest of Fox’s animation block; The Amazing Race for reality TV fans; and the series premiere of both Lizzy Caplan’s Masters of Sex and Stephen Merchant’s Hello Ladies. Now, none of this is to say that anything in that paragraph should prevent you from watching the series finale of one of the best television dramas of the past decade or so. But I did want to give you a month of notice in case you want to send your DVR off to some martial arts master for an intense training program to help it prepare. I’ve seen it work before....

Sunday, September 29 is most notable for our purposes because it is the date of the series finale of Breaking Bad.

'Iron Man 3' Animatics Give The Mandarin A Proper Explosive Finale (1 photo + 3 video)

Federico D'Alessandro is the bad ass who decided to do an Avenger's animation, and as it turns out, he also did animatics for Iron Man 3, and he's posted some clips that show how the movie's climatic action scene was originally supposed to go down. Hit the jump to check 'em out... via io9 First off, we have Rhodes in a short action-packed scene we didn't get in the movie.

Federico D'Alessandro is the bad ass who decided to do an Avenger's animation, and as it turns out, he also did animatics for Iron Man 3, ...

Listen To Jon Lajoie's Miley Cyrus Song (1 photo + 1 video)

I don’t hate Miley Cyrus. THERE I SAID IT. I’d much rather have a shameless pop star that I can’t look away from than the one who’s as stuffy and boring as whatever a Austin Mahone is. They’re radio-ready machines; their main cultural purpose is to make us feel bad for loving their music and being fascinated by them. What Miley Cyrus did at the VMAs wasn’t important or even good (it DEFINITELY wasn’t good), but her dancing around in her underwear while raping a bunch of stuffed bears is far more entertaining Lady Gaga’s latest art-fart project. In response to those like MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski who called Miley a disruptive slut, basically, Jon Lajoie, best known as Taco from The League, recorded a song called “Miley, You’re a Good Girl.” Sample lyric: “We want topless women in our music videos/We want pop stars acting like they’re in a porno/You know we want it and get what we asked for/But then Miley does it, we say OH MY GOD NO.” Lajoie’s also working on a strain called Twerkin’ Tush.

I don’t hate Miley Cyrus. THERE I SAID IT. I’d much rather have a shameless pop star that I can’t look away from than the one who’s as stuffy and boring as whatever a Austin Mahone is.

A Reddit User Predicted Every Aspect Of Walter White's Confession (3 photo)

Now that you’ve wiped the tears from your eyes after seeing Hank and Marie’s response to Miley Cyrus’s VMAs performance, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that someone essentially predicted everything that happened in Walt’s confession — a scene I termed “one of the more diabolically brilliant plot twists I’ve ever seen on a TV show” in my recap/discussion post earlier — five days ago on Reddit.

Now that you’ve wiped the tears from your eyes after seeing Hank and Marie’s response to Miley Cyrus’s VMAs performance, ...

Ice Cream Monster Truck (3 photo)

Czech car manufacturer ŠKODA, best known for bringing us The Manliest Stroller EVAR, is back to jack up something new — an ice cream truck. Enter The World’s Biggest Ice Cream Van (EVAR!!!!), a 5 1/2 ton, 21 foot tall monster truck with 5 foot wheels that serves ice cream. Well this certainly beats the hell out of my neighborhood ice cream truck. A, it’s not even a truck, it’s just a van with all the seats taken out. B, they play Christmas music all year round. Do you know how it feels to hear Jingle Bells blasting over some shitty speakers while you’re sweating in your own apartment, but you’re too lazy to peel yourself off the sofa and go get an ice cream? Hell. It feels like hell. And a little bit like irony, but in the Alanis Morsette sort of way.

Czech car manufacturer ŠKODA, best known for bringing us The Manliest Stroller EVAR, is back to jack up something new — an ice cream truck.

Emotionally Charged Portraits of Faceless Shadows (6 photo)

Paris-based photographer Alexandre Bordereau (aka aRe-y0u-iN) features silhouettes of anonymous people artistically adorned with splashes of white paint for his B&W Portrait series. The unidentified individuals in the self-taught photographer's ongoing collection are all faceless shadows that manage to evoke different emotions through body language and carefully placed embellishments that makes each portraiture seem like its own universe.

Paris-based photographer Alexandre Bordereau (aka aRe-y0u-iN) features silhouettes of anonymous people artistically adorned with splashes of white paint for his B&W Portrait series.

An Important Life Lesson Inspired by Calvin and Hobbes (2 photo)

This fantastic illustrated story is a heartwarming reminder to never give up on what makes us happy in life, even if obstacles and social expectations get in the way. It was created by Australia-based freelance artist Gavin Aung Than of Zen Pencils, a cartoon blog featuring inspirational quotes adapted in the form of playful comic stories. The project, entitled Bill Watterson: A cartoonist's advice, is a hand-drawn tale based off a speech given by Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes. Than chose Watterson's words because he says, "To me, Calvin and Hobbes is cartooning perfection—that rare strip that has both exquisite writing AND gorgeous artwork. A strip that managed to convey the joy of childhood, absurdity of humanity and power of imagination all through the relationship between a boy and his stuffed tiger. And most importantly, a strip that was consistently laugh-out-loud funny." In Watterson's creative style, Than translated the thought-provoking message into this playful, lighthearted comic that basically tells the story of events from his own life.

This fantastic illustrated story is a heartwarming reminder to never give up on what makes us happy in life, even if obstacles and social expectations get in the way.

The Incredible Monsters & Machines Of The Isle Of Nantes (21 photo + 1 video)

When it comes to tourism, many countries highlight their unique landmarks (Sydney Opera House in Australia, The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy) or cultural celebrations (or the Rio Carnival in Brazil & Running Of The Bulls in Spain) as a reason to visit. But Nantes, the 6th largest city in France has an entirely different proposition to lure tourists to their region. Tucked inside several warehouses that were formerly used as shipyards, sits an exhibition titled ‘Machines of the Isle‘ (or if you’re a local Les Machines de l’Île de Nantes) that will genuinely blow your mind. Since it’s inception in 2007 it has captured the imagination of thousands of tourists visiting the area. But what is it exactly?

When it comes to tourism, many countries highlight their unique landmarks (Sydney Opera House in Australia, ...

Enormous Forest Fires Devastate Yosemite National Park (20 photo)

For 10 days, California firefighters have been hard at work battling the largest ever forest fire in Yosemite National Park. Here are some of the action shots from the scene.

For 10 days, California firefighters have been hard at work battling the largest ever forest fire in Yosemite National Park. Here are some of the action shots from the scene.

Hilarious and Sexist Dating Tips From 1938 (13 photo)

Many of us must be familiar with the feeling when our parents tried giving us dating advice, and would make every single person in the room feel awkward. Besides, how many of those did you actually ever find useful? Well here’s a dating guide that might seem ridiculously outdated at first – given that the Parade Magazine published it back in 1938- but don’t be too quick to judge! Sure, some of the advice might sound a bit sexist at times, but most of them could actually be regarded as universally acknowledged guidelines of good behavior.

Many of us must be familiar with the feeling when our parents tried giving us dating advice, and would make every single person in the room feel awkward.

Kowloon City (13 photo)

Kowloon Walled City was a densely populated, largely ungoverned settlement in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Originally a Chinese military fort, the Walled City became an enclave after the New Territories were leased to Britain in 1898. Its population increased dramatically following the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. In 1987, the Walled City contained 33,000 residents within its 6.5-acre (0.026 km2; 0.0102 sq mi) borders. From the 1950s to the 1970s, it was controlled by Triads and had high rates of prostitution, gambling, and drug use. In January 1987, the Hong Kong government announced plans to demolish the Walled City. After an arduous eviction process, demolition began in March 1993 and was completed in April 1994. Kowloon Walled City Park opened in December 1995 and occupies the area of the former Walled City. Some historical artifacts from the Walled City, including its yamen building and remnants of its South Gate, have been preserved there.

Kowloon Walled City was a densely populated, largely ungoverned settlement in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Originally a Chinese military fort, ...

Music Fans Leave Behind a Mass of Mess in Reading (7 photo)

This is what it looked like in Reading, England, after 90,000 music fans had gathered together for a festival.

This is what it looked like in Reading, England, after 90,000 music fans had gathered together for a festival.

The Most Unusual Mayor in the World (39 photo)

Jón Gnarr is the current mayor of Iceland's capital city Reykjavík and there is a lot about him that makes him different from normal politicians.

Jón Gnarr is the current mayor of Iceland's capital city Reykjavík and there is a lot about him that makes him different from normal politicians.