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Thursday, 6 June 2013

7 MIGHTY MACHINES TO TAME ANY LAWN

7 Mighty Machines to Tame Any Lawn
By John Brandon, Popular Mechanics, 5 June 2013.

Yes, mulching and trimming need to get done, but not all lawn maintenance must be so ordinary. Given a bottomless bank account, we'd be cruising the backyard in a lawn tractor so tall, people would think we'd started farming, or eradicating all traces of the brush pile with a pull-behind chipper.

1. John Deere X739 Signature Series

Price: US$13,000
Use it for: Cutting your lawn in 20 minutes, not an hour

Sitting 45.9 inches off the ground (or almost 4 feet), this mower gives you a wide survey of your entire lawn. The John Deere X739 lawn tractor is the king of lawn maintenance, with a 25.5-hp engine, a 54-inch cutting deck, and hydraulic power steering. The deck is controlled by a hydrostatic lift for precise levelling. (There are even hydraulic couplets you can use to attach a woodcutter or for controlling a snow blade.) The bigger engine and wide cutting deck mean trimming something else: your mowing time (although you might be sad to spend less time on this rig).

2. NorthStar Brush Chipper

Price: US$16,000
Use it for: Turning that dead tree into sawdust

Ready to eviscerate some brush? The pull-behind NorthStar Brush Chipper runs on a 35-hp Briggs & Stratton engine. The 12-inch-diameter in-feed supports large logs up to 6 inches in width. The feed rate cranks up to 150 feet per minute, and the discharger can be rotated to any angle. The 2500 psi system pressure means you can load entire shrubs, multiple thin trees, leaves, or anything else that grows in the yard.

3. Honda Rear-Tine Tiller FRC800

Price: US$2699
Use it for: Transforming a 30-foot patch of lawn into a garden

Many tillers are made for light cultivating in a small garden. Not the Honda FRC800 - this is what you want for destroying a patch of lawn and unearthing dirt. The 12-inch tines dig deep to prepare the soil for planting, and the 20-inch width makes the job faster and easier. The tiller has three forward speeds, plus reverse. It weighs 275 pounds, has a tine speed of 219 rpm, and uses an air filter system that requires less maintenance than others, according to Honda.

4. Craftsman 32cc 4-Cycle Straight Shaft Weedwacker Gas Trimmer

Price: US$237.49
Use it for: Decapitating weeds at high rpm

Craftsman's beefiest edge trimmer, this pro-grade model features its highest-rated engine size - 32cc - to provide some serious torque. Because it's a four-cycle, you won't waste time mixing gas and oil - and you might not scare as many cats with the piercing engine whine. The Craftsman has perks, including a start system that requires only a quick pull on the start cord to get it going. The handle rotates a full 360 degrees so you can get the perfect grip.

5. 2013 Polaris Brutus UTV

Price: US$15,199
Use it for: Loading up all the newly created sawdust from the chipper

For serious yard work, you need to go big. The Brutus has a 24-hp diesel engine and a hydrostatic transmission that provides plenty of stump-pulling power and traction. An optional front-mounted mower attachment, which uses power directly from the engine, has a 66-inch cutting width. The Polaris can tow up to a 2000-pound load (say, your camper) and load up to 1250 pounds of debris.

6. Yamaha 700 4x4 Stealth Edition Grizzly

Price: US$10,099
Use it for: Pulling out a stump with 4x4 power

This powerful ATV has a 686-cc liquid-cooled four-stroke engine. The 700 can tow more than 1300 pounds. For yard work, the front and rear cargo rack can haul mulch bags, flower crates, and bags of debris - up to 99 pounds of it in the front and 187 pounds in the rear. There's also a turf-saving 2WD mode to prevent you from destroying your lawn. The best part: a quick thrill ride each time you bring a bag of leaves out to the front curb.

7. Generac LP5500 Portable Generator

Price: US$799
Use it for: Powering up a leaf blower for an all-afternoon windstorm

For corded weed and hedge trimmers, chain saws, and electric mowers, nothing beats a portable generator. This 5500-watt model can power just about anything you use in the yard for approximately 5 hours using one 20- or 30-pound propane tank. Head out to the back acreage for some log-splitting fun and still have power left over. There's an easy-to-read dial for priming, starting, and shutting down the generator.

2. Comparison Test: 9 Lawn Tractors

3. Comparison Test - 5 Garden Tractors

4. How to Pick the Right Mower for Your Lawn

5. How to Mulch Leaves With a Lawn Mower

6. Backyard Battle: Gas vs. Electric Lawn Tools

7. A Year-Round Plan for the Perfect Lawn

8. Mower Testing

9. How to Mow a Lawn : Rows or Spirals?

10. Riding Mowers

[Source: Popular Mechanics. Edited.]

10 INTERNATIONAL CITIES WITH STUNNING SKYLINES

10 international cities with stunning skylines
By Mother Nature Network, 5 June 2013.

The view from above

There is something special about looking out at the skyline of a large city - something magical about seeing the buzzing streets, bright lights and beautiful architecture from afar.

Most major cities have a few urban overlooks and skyscraper-top observation decks, but there are a handful of metropolises where you could make a full itinerary of overlook points, observation towers, revolving restaurants, rooftops and sky bars.

Here are 10 cities with the most accessible views and the most beautiful skylines. (Text: Josh Lew)

1. Shanghai

Photo: Bret Arnett/flickr

Shanghai has become one of the world's most-populous cities (and one of the most economically important). From a skyline standpoint, the metropolis has it all. The famous Bund building is still characterized by the type of grand historic buildings that dominated the city during the 1920s, when it was a cultural and economic hub for all of East Asia. Look in another direction, however, and you will be confronted with a forest of modern skyscrapers.

The Bund can be seen from the Lujiazui area in the Pudong District, which itself has an impressively modern skyline that can be viewed from the water-front promenade on the Bund. A ferry service connects Pudong with the Bund, making it possible to grab a snapshot of both the modern and historic faces of Shanghai in one afternoon. To view the city from on high, the three observation decks on the top of the Shanghai World Financial Centre can't be beat. The 100th floor deck is currently the tallest observation deck in the world, standing more than 1600 feet above the street.

2. Hong Kong

Photo: Ed Coyle/flickr

Hong Kong is famous for its skyline, which is densely populated with modern and classic buildings. The best place to see this legendary urban panorama is Victoria Peak, which can be reached on a tram that climbs the steep slopes that frame the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island.

Great views are also possible from sea level on the shores of Victoria Harbour either on the island side or Kowloon side (or by taking a Star Ferry across the harbour to get a view from both vantage points). The Intercontinental Hotel's Lobby Lounge, on the Kowloon waterfront, features panoramic views of the skyline which are unbeatable (if you don't mind springing for a US$10-plus cocktail).

3. Tokyo

Photo: Yusuke Morimoto/flickr

Tokyo's skyline can seem endless. There is not one headlining urban overlook that all tourists flock to, but rather a full menu of options, viewing platforms and rooftop venues. One of the best places to see the skyline is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The observation deck here can be reached via a high-speed express elevator that travels up the 45 floors in only a few seconds. You can see a number of Tokyo skyscrapers and the famous Tokyo Tower from this vantage point. On a clear day, Mount Fuji is visible on the horizon.

Another option is an observation area on the 40th floor of Tokyo's World Trade Centre building. Of course, sometimes Tokyo is most impressive when you are at street level, surrounded by neon. The Shibuya Crossing, clogged with foot traffic in the evening, is a great place to feel this Japanese city's urban buzz.

4. Chicago

Photo: ifmuth/flickr

Blessed with some of the best architecture in the country, Chicago's downtown area is a popular destination for design enthusiasts and urban sightseers. The ultimate Windy City panorama can be experienced at the top of the John Hancock Centre. The 95th floor observatory offers a 365-degree view of the heart of Chicago. If you don't mind swinging for expensive drinks (or an even more expensive meal) the Signature Room, above the Observatory, is a great place for some after-dark skyline-viewing.

The famous Navy Pier, on the shore of Lake Michigan, offers some wonderful lake-level views, as does the less-crowded Montrose Point, a natural Uptown area that is also popular with birders. If you want a little bit of a rush, you can head to Navy Pier's Aero Balloon Rides. The balloons stay tethered to the ground, but rise to more over 300 feet above lake level, providing outstanding views of the city.

5. New York

Photo: Andrew Mace/flickr

The Big Apple, specifically the borough of Manhattan, has one of the most easily recognizable skylines in the world. Countless movies and television shows begin with shots of the skyline from across New York Harbour or from an aircraft's point of view, looking down over the rooftops.

If you are in Manhattan itself, a trip to the top of the famous Empire State Building will lead to some amazing views. This historic skyscraper has two observation decks, on the 86th floor and 102nd floor. Another famous landmark, Rockefeller Centre, has its own observation area, which has both indoor and outdoor sections that sit more than 800 feet above street level. The major advantage of Rockefeller is that viewers can see the famous Empire State Building, as well as Central Park.

If you want food and drink to accompany the Big Apple panoramas, the View, a restaurant on the 47th floor of the Marriott Marquis, is a good option. The Brooklyn Bridge Park, meanwhile, offers some great views from ground level, while Liberty State Park is one of the best spots to see Manhattan from the Jersey side of the harbour.

6. Sydney

Photo: Corey Leopold/flickr

Sydney might not have the densest concentration of skyscrapers, but it certainly has one of the world's most easily recognizable skylines, thanks to its distinctive harbour and unique buildings like the Sydney Opera House. Sydney also has a diverse selection of easily accessible ground-level lookout spots. The Balls Head and Larkin Street Lookouts provide uncrowded vantage points for viewing the harbour and the downtown skyline.

For people who want to focus on the famous Sydney Bridge and the Opera House, the best place to take some postcard-worthy snapshots is Mrs. Macquarie's Point. For those seeking a little more altitude, the Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck provides 365-degree views of this Australian city's skyline. For people without a fear of heights, there is also a 45-minute tethered “skywalk” around the turret of the Sydney Tower.

7. Paris

Photo: Jim Trodel/flickr

While every city on this list can make a claim for having the most famous skyline, Paris, thanks to its unmistakable landmarks, is certainly tops when it comes to overall recognition. The minute people see the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe, even those who have never set foot in Europe know that they are looking at Paris. The famed tower, with three observation decks and two restaurants, is a great place to see the surrounding urban landscapes.

The Parc de Belleville, which sits on the top of a 300-foot hill, offers the chance to view the skyline from amidst natural surroundings (the gardens here are worth visiting even if you aren't interested in the city views). Tourists can also head to the Sacre Coeur Basilica, in the hilly Montmartre District, for another angle, while the bridges of the Seine River provide some great views at night-time, when Paris earns its name as the City of Lights.

8. London

Photo: hazy.eyes/flickr

Not every skyline is characterized by a high density of towering buildings. Take London, for example. The understated skyline, which has only a few skyscrapers, highlights London's classic charms. Much of the city was constructed before high-rises were in vogue. Nonetheless, London's landmarks match those of Paris in terms of notoriety. Big Ben, the London and Tower bridges, and more modern sites like the London Eye give sightseers plenty to look out for.

A ride on the Eye itself is a great way to get your bearings. The 30-minute ride on the giant Ferris-wheel structure provides a glimpse of many London's landmarks, as well as some great views of the River Thames. People who don't want to spring for the pricey (but worthwhile) ride can climb the Primrose Hill in Regent's Park or Parliament Hill, which sits on the edge of the spacious Hampstead Heath. Both these vantage points offer great views of London's rooftops.

9. Rio de Janeiro

Photo: Justin_vidamo/flickr

No skyline is affected by geography as much as Rio de Janeiro's. The Atlantic coastline, steeply sloping hills and landmarks like the mountain-top “Cristo Redentor” statue make for a very distinctive set of urban panoramas. One of the best places to see the skyline is from Sugarloaf Mountain. This not-to-be-missed landmark rises up to a height of more than 1,200 feet. The views from the top are wonderful, but the best part of the experience is the trip to the summit on a glass-panelled cable car, which provides the perfect vantage point to see this storied Brazilian city.

Another towering peak is Corcovado, which is topped by the famous “Cristo Redentor” statue (aka the Rio Jesus statue). It is possible to see the entire city spread out before you from the grounds where the statue sits. The Skylab Bar, on the 30th floor of the Rio Othon Palace near the famed Copacabana Beach, offers skyline seekers a chance to enjoy the views of Rio with a cocktail in hand.

10. Kuala Lumpur

Photo: kallenboo/flickr

Kuala Lumpur's skyline might not be as dense as, say, Tokyo's, but it does have more greenery than most other major Asian mega-cities. Few buildings in the world dominate a city's skyline like Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers. A skybridge that stretches between the two towers is an unusual (and slightly thrilling) place to catch glimpses of the surrounding urban/tropical landscapes. An observation deck on the 82nd floor can also be on the agenda of a visit to these side-by-side skyscrapers. Of course, the biggest drawback is that you can't see towers themselves when you are standing on or in between them.

The KL Tower is another Malaysian landmark. Though it is not as tall as the Petronas Towers, it sits on a hill and actually offers a more panoramic view of the city. The Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park features some great vantage points from which to see the skyline at ground level. With green surroundings and a fountain that is illuminated at night, this park is one of the more pleasant places in the city, even without panoramic views.

Top image: View of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak. Photo: skinnydiver/flickr.

[Source: Mother Nature Network. Edited.]

VIDEO: THE SEA'S STRANGEST CREATURES

Between the Indonesian island of Lembeh and mainland Sulawesi lies the sea's strangest square mile, home of the strangest creatures on earth. Watch the video to find out…

Top image: The sea's strangest square mile (left) and giant bobbit worm (right) (screen-captured from video)

Source: YouTube

7 VEHICULAR WONDERS OF THE WORLD

Record Breakers: 7 Vehicular Wonders of the World
By Steph, Web Urbanist, 5 June 2013.

Destroying lesser vehicles in more ways than one, these seven record-smashing cars and trucks are stronger, longer, faster, narrower, more fuel-efficient and way more expensive than the average vehicle. In most cases, you have to be a millionaire to afford one, but if you’ve got the cash, going over 460 miles per hour and crashing through buildings would make the indulgent purchase worth the dent in your bank account. This list includes only vehicles that are produced by civilians or available to the public, eliminating military and construction vehicles.

1. World’s Most Expensive Car: Bugatti Veyron

At a price tag of US$2.4 million, the Bugatti Veyron SuperSport is the world’s most expensive car - and accordingly, only thirty of them have been produced. The Veyron SuperSport is powered with an 8-litre, W16 quad-turbocharged engine for a total of 1200 horsepower, and it’s made of lightweight materials like carbon fibre and aluminium. The Veyron 16.4 is the last version of this particular model that will ever be made. Is it worth the money? Sure, if achieving insane speeds of up to 267.81mph is important to you; no other car available to the general public and legal on the streets can go this fast.

The Bugatti Veyron held the title of the world’s fastest car for a while, until it was revealed that a speed limiter was switched off during tests. The title was stripped, and no other has been awarded. However, even nearly 270mph doesn’t reach the speeds that the actual world’s fastest car can achieve.

2. World’s Fastest Land Speed Car: Speed Demon Streamliner

This car definitely won’t be appearing on the highways anytime soon; it’s a one-off produced by George Poteet and Ron Main in an attempt to smash speed records, and that it did. The Speed Demon is the world’s fastest wheel-driven, piston-powered car, and it clocked an astonishing 439.562mph in a test at the 2012 Bonneville Speed Week.

The shell is part of what makes the steam-powered Speed Demon so fast; it’s incredibly aerodynamic. The car boasts a Kenny Duttwiler 368-cubic-inch twin-turbo V8 engine.

3. World’s Largest Pick-Up Truck: Modified 1950s Dodge Power Wagon

Said to be the largest car or truck in the world, this 1950s Dodge Power Wagon was made by oil billionaire Seikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates in the mid 1990s. Looking to be at least five times as large as a standard Dodge Power Wagon, this model is more than just a cab on wheels - it holds four air conditioned bedrooms, a living room and a bathroom, with a motorized tailgate that drops down to become a terrace.

Hamad is a bit of an eccentric, obsessed with collecting oversized vehicles; he also has a giant replica of the Willys WWII Jeep and two jeeps welded together into a double-wide vehicle. He also holds a number of Guinness World Records for things like the biggest graffiti tag on the planet.

4. World’s Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicle: VW XL1

The world’s most fuel-efficient car will achieve 261 miles per gallon - beat that with your Prius. The XL1 is a two-seat diesel plug-in hybrid with a driving range of a little over 30 miles; the limited range is part of what makes it such a miserly gas sipper. Small, low to the ground and aerodynamic, the XL1 was built for fuel efficiency, if not for speed; it will take 12.7 seconds for the car to get from zero to 62 miles per hour. The car’s narrow profile means the passenger seat has to be set back slightly from the driver’s seat so each person in the car has a little bit of elbow room. It’s intended to be a production car, but VW says it plans to use “handcrafting-like production methods” to build it at its facility in Germany.

5. World’s Most Narrow Car: Commuter Cars Tango

The Tango fits in just half a lane, so that two of these commuter cars can fit where only one standard car can. Ideal for people who commute to work alone, taking up a significant amount of road space with three to four empty seats in their vehicles, the Tango could potentially increase freeway lane capacity from 2,000 to 4,400 cars per hour. Just three feet wide, this ultra-narrow vehicle has superior manoeuvrability skills; Consumer Reports confirmed that it’s got the fastest time recorded through the emergency lane change manoeuvre. It’s 8’6″ long, less than the width of a truck, so it can be parked perpendicular to the curb.

6. World’s Toughest Vehicle: Paramount Maurader

Like a roided-up version of a Hummer, the Paramount Marauder is a consumer incarnation of a vehicle meant for military purposes, and it can take a serious beating. Made by Africa’s largest privately-held defense and aerospace company, the Marauder is typically used by the military, police and special forces. The company says “it has a deliberately non-aggressive appearance - making it perfect for police, peacekeepers and special forces operating in sensitive environments.” That’s probably less true with the versions that come equipped with weaponry fixed to the roof.

The 15-ton Marauder can withstand mine blasts, survive 7kg of plastic explosives, stand up to heavy gunfire and drive through buildings (watch it smash an H3 Hummer in the video above.) It’s twenty feet long, eight feet wide and nine feet tall. Though its top speed is just 70 miles per gallon, speed probably isn’t the most important feature of a vehicle like this. The civilian version costs a whopping US$650,000, downright affordable compared to the Bugatti Veyron.

7. World’s Longest Limousine

The longest car in the world is a custom-built limousine stretching 100 feet (30.48 meters), with two driver’s cabins and 26 wheels. That’s right, two specially trained drivers are required to manoeuvre this thing on the road, and it’s not exactly street legal - it’s mostly used just for special events. Inside you’ll find a heated Jacuzzi, swimming pool, king-sized bed and a sun deck. It’s even got a helipad on the back.

[Source: Web Urbanist. Edited.]

THIS 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL READS 875 BOOKS IN A YEAR!

Sophia Moss, 5-Year-Old, Reads 875 Books In A Single School Year (VIDEO)
By The Huffington Post, 30 May 2013.

As the school year comes to a close, and kids and parents embark on summer reading adventures, what better example to hold before them than 5-year-old Louisiana kindergartner Sophia Moss?

Photo via KPLCtv.com

Moss, the subject of a recent profile by local news station KPLC, has read 875 books in the past school year - basically exhausting the kindergarten and first grade sections of her school's library, to the evident delight of school librarian Mary Lanier.

Photo via KPLCtv.com

"I just like reading," Sophia explained to KPLC before showing off two reading awards; her proud dad, Carl, corroborated that fact by noting that she often reads at night when she's supposed to be asleep.

In fact, where reading is concerned, this kindergartner reminds us of no one more than Roald Dahl's Matilda - but she clearly has a whole lot more parental support.

Video: 5-Year-Old Reads 875 Books

Hat tip: Jezebel

Top image via Jezebel

[Source: The Huffington Post. Edited. Some images added.]

PEARL RIVER TOWER: THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT SKYSCRAPER

Pearl River Tower: The Most Energy Efficient Skyscraper
By Kaushik, Amusing Planet, 5 June 2013.

While many buildings claim to being green by incorporating a single eco-friendly technology into their design, the Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou City, China, is one that architects call the most energy-efficient skyscrapers in the world. Designed by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the design team’s original goal was to construct a “net zero-energy” building that would sell its excess power to the local electrical grid. But SOM’s high dreams remained unattainable. The completed structure still consume energy, but nearly 60% less than a traditional building of similar size.

Pearl River Tower’s reduced energy demand is achieved through its 309-meter high sculpted faces, which redirect wind to four openings at its mechanical floors. Here, the wind is drawn through the building’s body and into a series of turbines, which generate electricity for the offices within. In addition to driving turbines, the wind that is pulled in is also routed throughout the tower’s ventilation system. The building uses double wall with mechanized blinds on the northern and southern facades, and triply glazed facades on the eastern and western sides of the structure that keeps heat out, thereby reducing cooling requirements.

Photo credit

Large scale solar panels are installed on the building’s façade to generate energy from sunlight. Use of natural lighting is maximized via controls that respond to light and are integrated into a system of automated blinds. The blinds themselves are equipped with photovoltaic cells, so even when they are closed, the Sun’s energy is still being efficiently harvested.

The 71-storey building was completed in March 2011.