Grain Britain! Japanese pays Olympic tribute to the best of Blighty with incredible sand sculptures

MydeaMedia

The artists look proud of their work - and it's under-sand-able.

These stunning sand sculptures have been created by a Japanese attraction that's gone against the grain to celebrate the best of British for the Olympics.

Using some of our most famous figures and landmarks, a team 15 artists from around the world created everything from the Tower of London to the inside of a Great British pub at the world's first museum dedicated to sand in Tottori.

To beach or not to beach: A sand replica titled British Literature William Shakespeare at the Sand Museum in Tottori, Japan

Taxi! Leonardo Ugolini finishes a Olympics-inspired sand replica titled Big Ben in Westminster

The sculptures go on show on April 14 until January next year and are inspired by the 2012 Games in London.
Other creations include a rainy London street scene with a black cab, Queen Elizabeth I, the present Queen, William Shakespeare, the Palace of Westminster and Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton.

Italian artist Leonardo Ugolini worked on sculptures of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster using around 3,000 tons of sand.
He said: 'This is my first time creating a sand sculpture indoors, and it's rather nice not have to worry about the weather.'

Grain Britain: UK artist Nicola Wood with her creation Imperial Guards In Front of The Palace

The exhibition hosted by the world's first ever sand museum is focusing on the theme of Great Britain as the nation celebrates it's hosting of the London 2012 Olympic Games

Fourteen foreign sculptors have creating structures based on British themes such as the British Empire, Modern London and landmarks of London

Dan Belcher, from the U.S., sculpted the scene of happy sailors drinking at a pub.
He added: 'I hope the visitors can enjoy the sand sculptures as if they’ve travelled to England.'
The sand museum, based near Tottori's spectacular dunes, has previously produced sand replicas of Italian Renaissance icons as well as Asian UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Great Wall of China.
Organisers say the art pieces appear even more spectacular when lit up in the evening.

A team 15 artists from around the world created everything from the Tower of London to the inside of a Great British pub

The sculptors created structures based on British themes such as the British empire, modern London and landmarks of London

The Sand Museum is located in the Tottori Dune and has had four exhibitions before this one

Dan Belcher, who sculpted this scene of happy sailors drinking at a pub, hopes it will give his audience a feel for London

MydeaMedia

Live: 8.9 magnitude quake rocks Indonesia, tsunami warning issued

Mydea Media :Showking Flash News

Aceh (Aceh Darussalam, to give it its full name) was the closest land point to the epicenter of the quake of December 26, 2004 that triggered what has since come to be known as the Boxing Day Tsunami. It manifested as a series of massive waves, some over 30 meters (98 feet) high, that devastated land masses bordering the Indian Ocean. Worst hit was Indonesia, followed by Sri Lanka, India and Thailand; the toll recorded in the quake and tsunami totaled over 230,000, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.

2:13 pm: 8th largest earthquake in 100 years - Times Now

2:12 pm: So far, no reports of damage reported in Indonesia.

2:10 pm: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami watch was in effect for Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Maldives and other Indian Ocean islands, Malaysia, Pakistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Bangladesh, Kenya, South Africa and Singapore.

Deadly earthquakes that registered a magnitude of at least 8.5

2:57 pm: I felt it In Guwahati and it lasted for almost 2 minutes...Says Manoj, a Yahoo! user from  Guwahati

2:55 pm:The quake triggered a tsunami warning across the Indian Ocean region, BBC reports

10 Biggest Recorded Earthquakes
They've caused death and destruction across the globe, these are the 10 biggest recorded earthquakes.

2:50 pm:The tremor is a result of a major underwater earthquake off the coast of Sumatra

2:49 pm: The wall of APG's office in Kolkata's business area cracked due to the premise.

2:42 pm: Tsunami warning issued in 28 nations.

2:41 pm: People on Twitter said tremors were felt in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and India. High-rise apartments and offices on Malaysia's west coast shook for at least a minute.

2:40 pm: Tremors felt in Bangalore, Ooty and Bhubaneshwar as well.

DID YOU FEEL IT? COMMENT BELOW

2:36 pm: The U.S. Geological Survey said the powerful quake was centered 20 miles (33 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor around 308 miles (495 kilometers) from Aceh's provincial capital.

 

2:35 pm: According to USGS, at 1:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time on April 11, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 8.7 occurred off the west coast of northern Sumatera, Indonesia .

2:30 pm: Mild tremors felt in Chennai, Kolkata and Guwahati after earthquake in Indonesia

2:20 pm: Tsunami warning issued 

2:15 pm: 8.9 magnitude quake rocks Indonesia

Mydea Media :Showking Flash News

Mydea Media :Showking Flash News

Mydea Media :Showking Flash News

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg hands over $1billion to buy Instagram... and makes its 26-year-old creators VERY rich

MydeaMedia

• 15-month old company was co-founded by Stanford classmates
• Deal comes eight years co-founder Kevin Systrom turned down Zuckerberg's offer to join Facebook in 2004 before it shot to success
• One venture capital firm that invested early will get hundreds of millions of dollars

By Julian Gavaghan and Lydia Warren

Facebook will hand over $1 billion to buy the photo-sharing software company Instagram, owner Mark Zuckerberg announced today.

The app, which allows users to alter and post images on their smartphones and tablets, will be paid for in cash and Facebook stock. Facebook will complete its initial public offering of stock next month.

The service - used by 30 million people, including celebrities Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore and Jessica Alba - is increasingly becoming a rival for Facebook, which also relies on people posting pictures.

Big spender: Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg, far left, paid Instagram co-founders, Kevin Systrom (pictured right) and Mike Krieger (next to him) $1 billion for their popular photo-sharing app

In demand: Instagram allows users to give images different filters before posting them online

The deal comes just days after the service began offering a version for Android phones in addition to its popular Apple app.

Interestingly, it also comes eight years after one of the service's co-founders, Kevin Systrom, turned down Mark Zuckerberg's offer to join the Facebook team in 2004 - before it shot to success.

They first met after Zuckerberg moved to Silicon Valley in San Fransisco, near to where Systrom went to university at Stanford, he said in a 2011 interview with Fast Company.

  

Systrom, who was working on a photo sharing tool, said: 'When I met Adam and Mark, they were like, "Yeah, we're working on some photo stuff too, why don't you come talk to us about Facebook?"'

He added: 'Unfortunately, I decided I wanted to stay in school, and that's one of those decisions that I look back at - I would've loved to have been part of Facebook's growth over the years.'

But it appears he hasn't been too hurt by the decision to finish his studies; he is now revelling in his own success, along with fellow founder Mike Krieger.

Taste for finer things: CEO and food lover Kevin Systrom with British chef Jamie Oliver. Systrom admitted on Facebook that he loves desserts and champagne - and now he'll be able to afford a few extra bottles

Famous fans: Co-founder Mike Krieger takes a photo of himself and Michelle Obama using an Instagram filter

'Everyone has their Facebook story, so I won't say that's necessarily unique,' Systrom continued.

'But being at Stanford, I was given the opportunity to be in the middle of a ton of innovation, and meet some of the smartest people... When I finally did it [myself], it just felt so right.'

Mr Zuckerberg said he would keep Instagram running separately and users will still be able to use it on rival social networks, such as Twitter - yet experts predict the deal could be the death of the app.

THE RISE OF INSTAGRAM AND ITS 26-YEAR-OLD FOUNDERS

If you’ve ever wondered why so many Polaroid-style sepia picture of your friends on Twitter or Facebook, it’s because of Instagram.

You may never have heard of it but the photo-sharing smart-phone application has been downloaded by 27million people since it began life October 2010.

Users, including a hot of celebrities, use it to add stylistic filters, frames, and effects to photos, which can - by tapping one of 16 options - turn a straightforward snapshot of a housecat into what looks like a weathered Polaroid time-capsuled from 1977.

Its creators, the 26-year-old Stanford graduates Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger (pictured above in their own Instagram creation) now stand to share the best part of $1billion that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg paid for their creation. 

The pair, who never met at university, sparked up an acquaintance when Systromm, who formerly worked on Google's Gmail and corporate development, spent his weekends building an app that allowed location-aware photo and note-sharing, dubbing it Burbn.

Krieger was an enthusiastic early Burbn user.
Despite that the fact they didn’t know each other, the pair had a lot in common.

Both participated in Stanford University's Mayfield Fellows program, which educates students in successful and failed start-ups, and gives them internships with an established company and a start-up of their choice.

Now they have another thing in common: incredible wealth.

Facebook has had a tendency to buy small startups and integrate the technology - or shut it down altogether.

One thing is certain, Instagram's 26-year-old co-founders, Kevin Systrom and and Mike Krieger, have now joined the leagues of the super-rich.

Both are Stanford graduates, yet did not meet at university. Instead, their paths crossed after Systromm, who had worked for Google's Gmail and a start-up that went on to become Twitter, created a photo sharing app called Burbn.

Krieger was an early Burbn user and reached out to the creator.

As the CEO, Systrom is the more vocal of the duo, appearing as the face of the company to laud the application's simplicity and sociability.

Throughout university, he developed two main interests - food and photography - with his Facebook profile boasting evidence of both.

Yet it was the photography angle he chose to develop, creating services that made photo sharking easier, even as just an 18-year-old undergraduate.

But he has not entirely abandoned his love of food, taking photographs of long cooking sessions, enjoying a recent dinner with British chef Jamie Oliver, and admitting on Facebook that 'champagne' is one of his favourite things (and he'll be able to afford a few extra bottles now).

Both men's profiles hint that they enjoy the finer things in life - Systrom, who was in fraternity Sigma Nu while at university, listing bowties and corduroy among his interests, while Krieger is pictured alongside vintage cars - and during a recent meeting with Michelle Obama.

And now the co-founders will be able treat themselves - as will the venture capital firm Benchmark Capital who invested early and now owns an extremely lucrative portion of the company.

The Stanford graduates met each when Systrom, then working for Google, set up a photo sharing service Burbn. Krieger was a fan. Fifteen months ago they founded Instagram.

On the company blog, Systrom wrote how he and his team are 'psyched' about the deal.

He also reassured users that Facebook would not stop the Instagram app - instead it will continue to exist independently of Facebook.

'Instagram is not going away,' he wrote. 'We’ll be working with Facebook to evolve Instagram and build the network.

'We’ll continue to add new features to the product and find new ways to create a better mobile photos experience. The Instagram app will still be the same one you know and love.

'We’re psyched to be joining Facebook and are excited to build a better Instagram for everyone.'

Celebrity favourite: Singers Rihanna and Selena Gomez regularly use the polaroid-esque photo app

In the money: Krieger and Systrom met after Systrom created an app. Krieger was an enthusiastic early user

The duo will be sharing their windfall with a few key investors. According to the Wall Street Journal, in early 2011 the start up raised $7million from venture capital firm Benchmark Capital, which valued the company at about $25 million.

That means Benchmark roughly owned a quarter on Instagram. Benchmark also has a firm member on the Instagram board that approved the sale to Facebook. The VC firm has invested in other tech companies like Twitter and GrubHub.

Instagram also raised about $500,000 in early seed money from Baseline Ventures, who own an undisclosed percentage of the $1billion company themselves.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that other firms given the chance to invest late last year refused when felt the then-$500million valuation was too high.

In just a few short months they would have doubled their money.

Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the deal on Monday. He wrote on his own Facebook account: ‘I'm excited to share the news that we've agreed to acquire Instagram and that their talented team will be joining Facebook.

Instagram handiwork: Mike Krieger's girlfriend Kaitlyn Trigger, 27, creates a Valentine's card with the app

Loved up: Mike Krieger is pictured with girlfriend Kaitlyn Trigger, who attended Yale

‘For years, we've focused on building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family. Now, we'll be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team to also offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people based on your interests.

‘We believe these are different experiences that complement each other. But in order to do this well, we need to be mindful about keeping and building on Instagram's strengths and features rather than just trying to integrate everything into Facebook.

‘That's why we're committed to building and growing Instagram independently. Millions of people around the world love the Instagram app and the brand associated with it, and our goal is to help spread this app and brand to even more people.

‘These and many other features are important parts of the Instagram experience and we understand that. We will try to learn from Instagram's experience to build similar features into our other products.

'At the same time, we will try to help Instagram continue to grow by using Facebook's strong engineering team and infrastructure.

Fan: Kelly Brook is one of its celebrity users. Here she created a sepia-tinted pose of her with a coconut

Getting creative: Jessica Alba's Easter Instagram picture

‘This is an important milestone for Facebook because it's the first time we've ever acquired a product and company with so many users. We don't plan on doing many more of these, if any at all.

'But providing the best photo sharing experience is one reason why so many people love ‘Facebook and we knew it would be worth bringing these two companies together.

‘We think the fact that Instagram is connected to other services beyond Facebook is an important part of the experience.

'We plan on keeping features like the ability to post to other social networks, the ability to not share your Instagrams on Facebook if you want, and the ability to have followers and follow people separately from your friends on Facebook.

‘We're looking forward to working with the Instagram team and to all of the great new experiences we're going to be able to build together.

Christians NAILED to crosses in gruesome Good Friday re-enactment of Jesus's death in the Philippines

• Church have condemned annual ritual which attracts crowd of 10,000
• Ruben Enaje, 51, took part in crucifixion for 26th TIME today

By Rob Cooper MydeaMedia

Christians were nailed to crosses in the Philippines today in a grim Good Friday reenactment of Jesus's suffering.

Thousands of people watched as 17 devoted Catholics were 'crucified' in the gruesome annual ritual.

Church leaders have condemned the practice which they believe are a distortion of the true Easter message.

Scroll down for video. WARNING: contains graphic images

Grim reenactment: Three Filipinos are nailed to crosses in a Good Friday crucifixion in Barangay Cutud, San Fernando. The event attracted a crowd of around 10,000 people

Pain: A Filipino man has nails through his hands - and some more put through his feet as he is put on a cross in the reenactment. The event has been condemned by the Catholic church

Nine men were crucified in Pampanga province's San Pedro Cutud village today, while at least eight others were crucified in neighbouring villages.

The annual event - which dates back to the 1950s - drew an estimated crowd of 10,000 worshippers.

 

Many take part to atone for sins, pray for the sick or for a better life, or to give thanks for what they believe were miracles.

Agony: Woman penitent Percy Valencia has a three inch steel nail hammered into her foot in Paombong, Bulacan province, northern Philippines, today

Horror: Percy Valencia, 41, is hoisted up onto a cross before being 'crucified' for a few minutes today

Ruben Enaje, a painter, 51, took part in the crucifixions for the 26th time today. He began taking part in the annual event to give thanks after he survived falling from a building.

'This is not just for fun or for money. This is a calling,' he told Filipino website Tempo.

He added that despite the crucifixions being condemned he still took part because the Church 'stay at home during Good Friday instead of reaching out to penitents to explain their side'.

Agony: Bobby Gomez grimaces as a nail is hammered into his hand in the Good Friday celebration

Bloody: Jon Jon Tanael looks at the nail going into his hand as a man holds a rag covered in blood during the event. 17 people took part

'This is a spiritual vow as a way of thanking God for sparing my life.'

He had three-inch steel nails hammered into his palms during the ceremony.

The spectacle is a unique brand of Catholicism that merges church traditions with Philippine folk superstitions.

More than 80 per cent of the Philippines' estimated 90 million population are Catholic.

Bloody feet: Filipinos acting as Centurions carry a penitent with bloodied feet after he was nailed to a cross during a reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday in Barangay Cutud, San Fernando, Pampanga in northern Philippines

Close-up: Percy Valencia. 41, has a nail going all the way through her hand during the re-enactment today

Agony: Percy Valerncia, 41, closes her eyes as she is put on the cross with nails through her hands

Grim: Dozens of people take photos as Percy Valencia is hoisted onto the cross

Passover: An ultra-Orthodox Jew holds a box near a fire burning leaven in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood of Jerusalem, ahead of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It commemorates the flight of Jews from ancient Egypt, as described in the Exodus chapter of the Bible.

Stunning photos show TEN-STOREY tree house that makes Swiss Family Robinson look like amateurs (and the builder says it was commissioned by God)

By Tammy Hughes with MydeaMedia

The world's tallest treehouse, located in Crossville, Tennessee, makes the Swiss Family Robinsons look like a bunch of amateurs - but that might be because it was commissioned by God.

The 1960 Disney film about a family shipwrecked on an island, features an impressive treehouse complete with its own water mill.

But the Robinson's home pales in significance next to this structure, which took builder Horace Burgess 11 years to build.

Ten stories: The tree house in Crossville Tennessee, the tallest in the world and it has taken 11 years for builder Horace Burgess to finish

Envious: The vast, cavernous, interior is large enough to make the likes of even Swiss Family Robinson envious. That family, from a 1960s Disney movie, built a splendid tree house while trapped on an island

Horace, who lives in the 10 story wooden house, said he begun the build in 1993 after he received a vision from God, who said he would never run out of materials if he built it.

The enormous treehouse is a whopping 10,000 square feet but only cost Horace a reasonable $12,000 thanks to his thrifty use of recycled materials.

Inside there are spiral staircases, a sanctuary, a choir loft, a basketball court, and countless rooms, walkways and balconies.

 

These photos were taken by photographer Tom Whetton, 63, on March 15, this year.

He said: 'The treehouse is incredibly impressive.

'You can't really appreciate the scale until you are standing next to it but it is absolutely huge.

'I was told that the whole thing is supported by just six trees and that Horace used 258,000 nails to put everything together.

'This house is every kids dream. Even I wanted to go inside and explore.'

More like tree mansion: The builder, Horace Burgess, calls this 10,000-square-foot structure

Wonders inside: The tree house features a spiral staircases, a sanctuary, a choir loft, a basketball court and countless rooms, walkways and balconies

The view: In rural Crossville, Tennessee, Mr Burgess built his tree house as a testament to God

Hard work: The entire house took more than 268,000 nails to build -- ad a lot of elbow grease

Dream house: Tom Whetton, the photographer who snapped pictures of the place, said the house is the sort of place every kid dreams about exploring

Church service: The tree house is meant as a testament to God's glory. And it also offers a space for worship

Competition: The Swiss Family Robinson, from a 1960 Disney film, lived in a somewhat less elaborate structure.

C-MydeaMedia @ 2012

Top 10 terrorists on FBI most wanted list

MydeaMedia

Even after Osama's death, terrorism continues to remain a major threat to the people across the globe. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) rolled out a list of most wanted terrorists in late 2001 which has been constantly updated since then. Here's a brief description of ten of most wanted terrorists out of that list which features at least 30 names.

JABER A. ELBANEHis wanted in connection with a federal criminal complaint unsealed on May 21, 2003, in the Western District of New York, Buffalo, New York. He is charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization and conspiring to provide material support, specifically to Al-Qaeda. Elbaneh is believed to have fled the United States and is still thought to be outside the country.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of Jaber A. Elbaneh

JAMEL AHMED MOHAMMED ALI AL-BADAWIis wanted in connection with the October 12, 2000, bombing of the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen. This attack resulted in the deaths of 17 American sailors. Al-Badawi was being held by Yemeni authorities in connection with the attack when he escaped from prison in April of 2003. Al-Badawi was recaptured in March of 2004, but again escaped Yemeni custody on February 3, 2006.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of Jamel Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Badawi.

HUSAYN MUHAMMAD AL-UMARI was indicted in the District of Columbia for his alleged role in the August 11, 1982, bombing of Pan Am Flight 830, while it was en route from Japan to Hawaii. He is alleged to have prepared the bomb that was placed under a seat on Flight 830, resulting in the death of a 16-year-old passenger and injuring 16 other passengers.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction, in any country, of Husayn Muhammad Al-Umari. The United States Department of Defense is offering a reward of up to $200,000 for information leading to the capture of Al-Umari

MOHAMMED ALI HAMADEIwas indicted for his role and participation in the June 14, 1985, hijacking of a commercial airliner which resulted in the assault on various passengers and crew members, and the murder of one United States citizen.
REWARD:The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Mohammed Ali Hamadei

ABDELKARIM HUSSEIN MOHAMED AL-NASSER has been indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for the June 25, 1996, bombing of the Khobar Towers military housing complex in Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Abdelkarim Hussein Mohamed Al-Nasser

ABDULLAH AHMED ABDULLAH has been indicted for his alleged involvement in the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah.

 

 

ALI ATWAwas indicted for his role and participation in the June 14, 1985, hijacking of a commercial airliner which resulted in the assault on various passengers and crew members, and the murder of one United States citizen.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Ali Atwa.

IBRAHIM SALIH MOHAMMED AL-YACOUB has been indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for the June 25, 1996, bombing of the Khobar Towers military housing complex in Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Ibrahim Salih Mohammed Al-Yacoub.

 

 

FAHD MOHAMMED AHMED AL-QUSOwas indicted in the Southern District of New York for his role in the October 12, 2000, bombing of the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen, in which 17 American sailors were killed.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction, in any country, of Fahd Mohammed Ahmed Al-Quso.

 

 

 

AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRIhas been indicted for his alleged role in the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya.
REWARD: The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Ayman Al-Zawahiri

 

 

MydeaMedia @ 2012

Source: FBI.