Everything for everyone

The School of Everything is a new web service that acts as a kind of eBay for people who have something to teach. Potential teachers list their areas of expertise (anything from knitting to programming to driving to yoga to TIG-welding to whatever) and potential students find teachers with a simple search that can be geography bounded (for in-person instruction) or not (for online instruction). It's one of those great, simple, smart ideas that make you want to smack your head and say, "Why didn't I think of that?"

The site makes money by skimming a small transaction fee for people who arrange payment through the service -- everything else is free.

Girl smashes world record as 25 snails slide across her face

There will be no need for a slow-motion replay to confirm this record-breaking feat.

Schoolgirl Tiana Walton has slithered into the record books - for having the most snails on her face at once.

Nine-year-old Tiana, who loves animals, bravely allowed 25 of the slimy creatures to cover her eyes, nose and mouth.

Can electric energy fill the void of human absence?

LightMates are soft anthropomorphic pillows and warming lamps. This awfully attractive creature heats, lights and provides company. Their different sizes answer to everyone's need of heat; a mate to hug or a huge companion you can lay on.
Click on the arrows in the top-right to see other pix.
Link to the artist's site

... and here's Muttley with the weather

Some of you may remember Muttley [ Wikipedia link ] and his famous laugh from the cartoon Wacky Races or the spin-off 'Dastardly and Muttley in their flying machines'. If you don't remember him, here is a link to some videos of his shows.

The weatherman in this video sounds like his live-action equivalent.

"Drive in," a soothing ambient video

This is a rather beautiful and relaxing video provided by BoingBoing with animation by Bill Barminski. Enjoy!

Deforestation of Amazon increased 69% last year

Amazon deforestation jumped 69% in the past 12 months — the first such increase in three years — as rising demand for soy and cattle pushes farmers and ranchers to raze trees, officials said Saturday.

Some 8,147 square kilometers of forest were destroyed between August 2007 and August 2008 — a 69 per cent increase over the 4,820 square kilometers felled in the previous 12 months, according to the National Institute for Space Research, or INPE, which monitors destruction of the Amazon.

... and this related story:

Brazil targets illegal cattle grazing in Amazon rainforest

Michael Moore to offer free download of his newest film

U.S. documentary maker Michael Moore plans to make his next film available online for free later this month.

Slacker Uprising, a 97-minute documentary about the 2004 U.S. elections, is an unabashed attempt to rally young voters for the coming presidential vote.

Moore said he plans to offer it as a free download for three weeks beginning Sept. 23.

Visit the movie's website by clicking on this link.