BMW 600 Micro From 1958

The BMW 600 was a small car produced by BMW from the summer of 1957 until November 1959. It was a four-seat car partially based on the BMW Isetta two-seater, with more power, a longer wheelbase, a back door, and a more conventional four-wheel configuration.






The front end of the 600 was similar to the Isetta's, but the 600's wheelbase was stretched to accommodate four seats. A single side door was included on the right side for rear seat access. The Isetta's A-shaped tubular chassis was replaced by a more conventional perimeter frame using box-section side members and tubular crossmembers. BMW used a semi-trailing arm independent suspension for the first time on the 600. This suspension would be used on almost every new model for the next four decades. Because of extra size and weight, the 600 had a more powerful engine than the Isetta. The 600 had the 582 cc flat twin engine from the R67 motorcycle but used an H pattern transaxle instead of the R67 sequential transmission without differential. The engine was rated at 19.5 hp (15 kW) and accelerated the 600 to a top speed of 103 km/h (64 mph). The car had no fuel level gauge but had two fuel taps, one lower in the tank than the other to be used as a reserve when fuel starvation with the higher tap is felt.




In three years only 34,813 BMW 600s were produced, partly due to price competition with the entry-level VW Beetle. In the late 1950s consumers wanted cars that looked like cars, and they had lost interest in economy models. Sales of the 600 were, however, aided by the energy crisis of 1956-1957.

The 600 was replaced by the BMW 700 in 1959.

Would you let this Dog play with your little daughter?

I wouldn't... NO WAY!!!

Armadillo Lizard - Popular Dragon Pet

The Armadillo Lizard (Cordylus cataphractus) is a spiny-tailed lizard endemic to desert areas of southern Africa. It is also known as the "Typical Gridled Lizard", Armadillo Girdled Lizard or the Armadillo Spiny-tailed Lizard. They can be a light brown to dark brown in coloration depending on the subspecies, and are sometimes referred to with the common name of golden armadillo lizard. The underbelly is yellow with a blackish pattern, especially under the chin.This lizard has a distinctive defensive posture, in which it grabs its tail and curls into a ring. Its size ranges from 16 to 21 cm (61/2 to 81/2 in) in length. In South Africa, trade in Armadillo Lizards is illegal. This lizard is very difficult to find for sale in the pet trade for this reason. However, due to breeding, they are becoming more and more available in the pet trades of North America and Europe.

They occur in scrub and rocky outcrops and hide in large cracks and crevices when hibernating for the winter. They live in family groups and the female gives birth to 2-4 live young. The female may even feed her young, which is unusual for a lizard in that they rarely demonstrate parental care. They are one of comparatively few live-bearing lizards; they do not lay eggs like most other lizard species. The Armadillo Lizard lives mainly on small invertebrates such as insects and spiders and can live up to 25 years in captivity, slightly more in rarer cases.

Interesting defense, in that if frightened, they will grab their tail in their mouth and curl up into a ball. This animal is named after the armadillo for its appearance and a similar defense mechanism. The Ancient Greek symbol of self-reference, the Ouroboros, is very close in looks to a curled armadillo lizard and perhaps derived from it.The lizard's skin is covered with thick, squarish, protective scales along its back and stout spines on its neck and tail for making it awkward for predators, such as birds of prey to attack in defense. This behavior is remarkably like that of the mammalian armadillo, which explains the common English name for these lizards. And just as it does for the mammal, this defensive posture enables the lizard to protect its soft underbelly from predators, exposing only its armored back.

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Creative Surgical Masks against Swine Flu

In some countries because some people are scared of swine flu, they buy surgical masks to protect them. As you know the surgical mask just a white cloth with nothing amusing thing on it, some people are just so creative they added some elements to their surgical masks and make them look interesting.

Japanese people are taking many precautions against it and have started buying tons of surgical masks. In the area of Kobe and Osaka more than 4.000 schools have closed and kids are supposed to be studying at home. During the last days I can see much more people than usual wearing surgical masks and it looks like it is very difficult to be able to buy new surgical masks since they are sold out everywhere. Some people have thought of it as an opportunity and during the last days there are tons of surgical masks at Yahoo Auctions being sold at high prices.

Some Mexicans have reacted to the swine flu crisis with humour and creativity. A man wears a mask with a moustache drawn on it as he talks on his mobile phone in Mexico City.

:)

via - The Peoples Forum and Kirainet

Realistic 3D Wall Painting

Trick of the eye: John inserts a passer-by into the mural painted in Santa Cruz, California, entitled Bay in a Bottle, who is watching the ocean scene.

Blurring the lines: A mural entitled Art Imitating Life Imitating Art Imitating Life, at the Cafe Trompe L'oeil, in San Jose, California.

Having a cow: Valentine's Day, a mural unveiled during the Global Mural Conference in Twentynine Palms, California.

At first glance, it looks as if some natural disaster has shaken away the walls of these buildings to reveal architecture hidden for thousands of years.

And at second and third glance, it looks like that too.

But these spectacular images are not the unexpected result of an earthquake.

Wonder wave: John Pugh's Mana Nalu mural in Honolulu. Fire crews rushed to save the children from the mighty wave - before realising it was an optical illusion!

Take a pew: This looks like a nice spot to rest your weary feet on a sidewalk in Sarasota County Health Center, Florida.

Treasure trove: An Egyptian style mural adorns a wall in Los Gatos, California. Pugh paints people into the mural to heighten the 3D effect.

This is the desired effect and John Pugh enjoys the community-bonding properties of his public works.

He works on a large scale in public and residential areas and his paintings can be seen all over the world from New Zealand to Hawaii - with many telling a story of the area where they are positioned.

Pugh is used to people's amazed reactions when they pass his murals.

He said: 'They say "wow did you see that. I thought that was real."

'Public art can link people together and stimulate a sense of pride within the community.

'These life-size illusions allow me to communicate with a very large audience.

'It seems almost universal that people take delight in being visually tricked.'

Pugh is currently working on a mural for a police station in California and also one for a recreation centre in Calgary, Canada.

Thanks To... Dailymail