Most people in the U.S. have been practicing Daylight
Savings Time for as long as they can remember. More summer light and
theoretically less power consumption. But the sleep adjustment to the time
change can cause dips in production and health hazards as a result of fatigue.

It took nearly 200,000 years to reach a population of one billion in 1805. Over the past 200 years, beginning around the time of the Industrial Revolution, that population has undergone a sevenfold increase.  When I was born there were 2.7 billion and now there are more than double that.

Very soon, the world’s 7 billionth person will be born. And with the world population growing by more than 200,000 people a day, it’s hard to know exactly where you fit in.  But by clicking on the link below, you can enter your birthday below to find your number in the world population.  Among the 7 billion, where are you?

This incredible video was created from photos taken by the International Space Station during the night time.

Recycled soda bottles can be turned into lights that are cheap and energy efficient.  And they are letting daylight into homes that previously never saw it.

Is seeing really believing? In this optical illusion, the impossible appears to be a trick – but is it?

A survey shows that 18 percent of married couples kiss less than once a week.

Dave Evans is Cisco’s chief futurist, and the chief technologist for the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group.  He outlined what he believed to be 10 technological trends that will change the world in 10 years. Here are some of them:

The Internet of Things:  There are now more things are connected to the Internet than people. By 2020, the number of Internet-connected things could be more than six devices for every person on Earth.

The Data Flood:  About 5 exabytes of unique information were created in 2008 — the equivalent of billion DVDs.  In 2011, it will be 1.2 zettabytes (one zettabyte equals 1,024 exabytes.)

The World Gets Smaller:  With always-on connectivity, social influences will continue to move rapidly between cultures. A smaller world also means faster information dissemination.

The Power of Power:  As the human population also continues to grow, more efficient methods to provide power are becoming a necessity, particularly solar energy.

Another Family Tree:  Virtual humans, both physical (robots) and online avatars will be added to the workforce.  By 2025, the robot population could surpass the number of humans in the developed world. By 2035, robots could completely replace humans in the workforce.

To read the rest, you can click on the link below.

This amazing commercial from Google Video about the Isuzu Gemini is more than 30 years old and will delight and surprise you. These cars perform amazing crazy stunts and this is not animated. These cars are really flying through the air!

This video should win some type of award. The music has a powerful dance beat that makes you just want to get up and start dancing with the cars. I enjoyed it so much, I played the video several times just to listen to the music and watch how the cars were choreographed.

This amazing arc of color isn’t trick photography — it’s a moonbow, a rare lunar rainbow that can only be seen a few places on earth.

This puppy is precious, and also matches the bathroom décor!

This puppy started to fall asleep at the table.

This five week old Abyssinian kitten family is enjoying time with mom!

A musical birthday card did not go over very well with this cat.

A seagull stole a video camera in Cannes France. The intrepid owner climbed a castle wall to get it back.

A pride of British Shorthairs are feeling the beat.

Gold has retained value throughout history.  It is still an attractive alternative to cash today — investors, central banks and the astute are buying gold.

The cat finds the gum horrible, but just can’t resist investigating.

It slips again and again from my grasp!

It slips again and again from my grasp!

Here’s a dog who knows the best way to enjoy a pool on a hot day.

Here’s a dog who knows the best way to enjoy a pool on a hot day.

A remote control spider takes a kitten for a ride.

A remote control spider takes a kitten for a ride.

A remote control spider takes a kitten for a ride.

Cats navigate the mysterious noise-making floor.

He’s tired at the end of a long day.

Everyone wants to age gracefully.  But whether or not you do is largely based on your own choices.  Planet Green has assembled some tips on how to stay healthy as you age.  Here are a few of them:

Cultivate Happiness: Happiness boosts your immune system and reduces stress.

Seek Out Novelty: Your brain loves new experiences and sensations, which help it continue to build neural connections throughout your life.

Exercise: Exercising regularly makes you less likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, dementia, osteoarthritis, depression and obesity.

To see the rest of their suggestions, click on the link below.

Watch this dog zip up a tree with speed, dexterity, and grace.

The images below come from the book ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’ by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluision. Their portraits feature pictures of families around the world, each with a week’s worth of food purchases. It becomes rapidly apparent that diet is determined by largely uncontrollable forces like poverty, conflict and globalization, which can bring change with startling speed.

Mexico

Germany

California, USA

Japan

Kuwait

Mali

Chad

To see more of the images, you can click on the link below.

An impossibly adorable assortment.