Usain Bolt Tells The Secret Of How To Run One Hundred Meters in 9.79 Seconds...

Usain Bolt is the world's fastest runner.
On August 23 at the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing the twenty nine year old Jamaican won the men's 100m final of the World Athletics Championship in a time of 9.79 seconds.
It wasn't as fast as his seriously fast 9.69 second win in 2008 but hey, it's still really quite speedy.
Having a drink with him after the race I asked him the secret to running so fast.
Lowering his voice he leaned forward in an almost conspiratorial manner, looked me in the eye and said Keith, you have to move your feet very very quickly.
Wow! Such a simple concept.
A secret of the universe was now revealed.
All I could do was nod slowly,...

Ever Wonder Why Some Pharmaceuticals Are So Very Expensive...

These extravagant interiors with their fully carved wood corridors, gold foil inlays, crystal chandelier and massive marble columns are part of the offices of the state owned Harbin Pharmaceutical Group in China's Heilongjiang Provence.
Said to be built on the pain of millions of suffering patients, it's a distasteful reminder of why the Chinese people can't afford to go to the doctor for prescription medicines.
A bitter pill to swallow...

The Good News Is A Giant Asteroid Will Not Hit Planet Earth Next Week...

NASA has denied viral internet claims that an asteroid will crash into Earth next week.
The predictions were first made by biblical theorists who claimed a space rock will wipe out parts of North and South America
some time next month.
NASA's Paul Chodas, manager of the space agency in Pasadena California especially contacted The Flying Tortoise to allay fears and say there's no scientific basis let alone any shred of evidence that an asteroid or any other celestial will destroy parts of our planet
in September.
He didn't mention October though...

The Little Neighbourhood Of Las Palmitas Has Become Mexico's Biggest Piece of Graffiti Art...

It used to be that the little neighbourhood of Las Palmitas in Pachuca, a hundred or so miles from Mexico City was known only as a poor and violent community.
But now, thanks to the efforts of the local and national government bodies, organised graffiti artists have executed the biggest mural in Mexico and restored some pride back to the folk of the now very colourful community.
We painted two hundred and nine homes said the project director Enrique Gomez. It's been a community effort as each household participated in some way.
Way to go Las Palmitas.
If you can dream it, you can do it...

Ok We Won't Shoot You...

Ok, we won't shoot you.
How civilised. The North and South Korean officials agree, for now at least, not to have their people kill each other. Isn't that nice.
If only the rest of the world could sort out their differences over a table and a cup of tea...

Strutting Their Stuff...

Friends since the 1970's,
these New York women enjoy strutting their stuff.
Good on you ladies.
If you've got it, flaunt it...

Did You Know That Under The Amazing Easter Island Heads, There Are Bodies...

Easter Island is one of the most remote but inhabited islands in the world some two thousand miles off the coast of Chile.
For years their amazing ancient Moai statues which were carved by the Rapu Nai people many years ago have fascinated all who've actually seen them close up and most who have only seen photographic images.
Thought to be only heads somehow positioned on the ground, scientists discovered a couple of years ago that the heads actually have bodies.
The largest is seventy feet tall and evidently weighs two hundred and seventy tons.
If you didn't know, you do now...

A Chicago Church With Beautiful Stained Glass Windows Is Given A New Life As An Amazing Modern Home...

An unused Chicago church with the most beautiful stained glass windows has gone through some sort of spiritual change and been converted or resurrected from a place of worship into a very amazing modern home.
You're able to bear witness to the stunning transformation here.
The new owners with three young children will no doubt be praying the windows will stay intact. Otherwise they'll be taking the plate around...

I Have Apps To Control You...

You are under my power.
You will do as you're told.
I have ways to control you.
You are my servant.
Scary stuff and much too close
to the truth Mr Leunig...

Would You Go And Get Chipped...

More and more humans are getting 'chipped'.
They realise how wonderful life will be by having one simple tiny chip implant without having to carry around keys, credit cards, buying things in a store just by being there, doors opening automatically for them.
And when they get old, not needing to remember where they are. Or who they are...

Dugald Semple. Scottish Philosopher, Early Freedom Camper, Gypsy And A Man Who Lived Simply...

One of my favourite blogs, Paleotool's, recently featured a story on Dugald Semple, a Scottish Henry David Thoreau type character.
Dugald was a philosopher, an early freedom camper, a gypsy and an advocate of simple living. He lived though with a lot more style than Thoreau, marrying a wealthy woman and not, like Henry David, taking his laundry home for his mother to do. But I digress...

Church Mice...

The Hutte Hut. A Very Different Tiny Teardrop Trailer...

Husband and wife Brian and Katrina Manzo developed this very different and appealing tiny teardrop camper.
Constructed in timber The Hutte Hut features a canvas roof and a side with two large doors.
Can you imagine a space all to yourself by the side of a lake, the sun rising and the birds singing. Breakfast cooking on an open fire and the aroma of fresh coffee...