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“ The Reverse of a Framed Painting was not intended to be hung on the wall, but to be placed against it,” writes Olaf Koerster. “The viewer would be deceived into trying to turn the picture around, only to see the reverse of an unframed painting: Gijsbrechts had created the paradoxical painting with two backs.” Douglas Eaton’s “storage apparatus for storing a necktie,” patented in 1993, winds your neckwear into a tidy cylinder when you’re not using it and dispenses it again at interview time. http://www.futilitycloset.com/

Futility Closet

Here's something that might be hard to believe at first. There is no difference in volume between the loudest part of a TV show and a loud commercial. But how can that be? TV ads are soooo much louder than the TV shows, right? Well, as WIRED reports , most ads actually never go above the FCC recommended volume limits. The difference is that the TV shows are well below that level, saving the peak volume part for that big explosion or gun fight, while TV ads are right at the limit the whole time .

This Is How TV Ads Are So Loud - The Consumerist

http://consumerist.com/2011/05/this-is-how-tv-ads-are-so-loud.html

mental_floss Blog » History of the U.S.: A Ridiculously Long and Incomplete List of Things Ben Franklin Invented

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/68599 We all remember Ben Franklin as a pretty bright guy who discovered some pretty important stuff. The real question is, what didn’t this polymath genius invent? 1742: Observing the wasteful use of firewood in inefficient colonial fireplaces, he designed the Franklin Stove, which used its iron body to diffuse a much larger proportion of the heat. The stove enabled poor families to save money and be warmer in the winter. 1749: Noticing that lightning was attracted to metal and tall objects, Franklin hit on the idea of attaching vertical metal rods to the tops of tall buildings to attract the lightning, thus sparing the roof a direct hit. 1752: To prove that lightning was static electricity, Franklin carried out his famous kite experiment with the help of his young son William (nobody ever said he was a responsible parent).

Introduction to Psychology | Yale Video Course

This lecture begins with the second half of the discussion on social psychology. Students will learn about several important factors influencing how we form impressions of others, including our ability to form rapid impressions about people. This discussion focuses heavily upon stereotypes, including a discussion of their utility, reliability, and the negative effects that even implicit stereotypes can incur. The second half of the lecture introduces students to two prominent mysteries in the field of psychology. First, students will learn what is known and unknown about sleep, including why we sleep, the different types of sleep, disorders, and of course, dreams, what they are about and why we have them. http://academicearth.org/courses/introduction-to-psychology

"Seven Blunders of the World" by Mahatma Gandhi

* Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, India. He led India's movement for independence from British rule and is one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of the 20th century. In 1948 he was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic who opposed his tolerance for all creeds and religions. Gandhi is honoured by his people as the father of the Indian nation and is called 'Mahatma' , which means Great Soul . http://www.doctorhugo.org/gandhi.html

Godchecker.com - Your Guide To The Gods

We have more Gods than you can shake a stick at! Our Mythology Encyclopedia features over 3,700 weird and wonderful Gods, Goddesses, Supreme Beings, Demons, Saints and Spirits... Browse the pantheons of the world, explore ancient myths, and discover Gods of everything from Fertility to Fluff with our Holy Database Of All Known Gods... Mythology Encyclopedia. Browse the pantheons of mythology and meet weird and wonderful Gods from around the world. http://www.godchecker.com/

20 Badass Famous Last Words

http://www.popcrunch.com/20-badass-famous-last-words/ Some of the grandest, most controversial men in history have ended their lives with a poignant, biting farewell. Some laugh at death, others laugh at their killers, still others offer a culminating statement of wisdom. These colorful individuals ensured their fateful last words eloquently summarized their existences. Caesar Augustus was the first ruler of the Roman Empire, leading Rome for 41 years.
Socrates is considered the first major western philosopher along with his pupil Plato. [1] Socrates lived a simple life in Athens, and after being both a stonemason and soldier, he became a philosopher. [2] Socrates invented the Socratic method of inquiry which sought to highlight people's ignorance, through questioning which lead to contradictions in their beliefs; however, this didn't go down well and Socrates was executed in 399 B.C.E. at the age of 71. [3]

How to Live Like Socrates - wikiHow

http://www.wikihow.com/Live-Like-Socrates