Listsplosion

[listsplosion]

9 Alternatives To IDA Pro Disassembler

via Hacker Lists

IDA Pro is the gold standard for disassemblers. However, IDA Pro licenses start at $1,129, so it can be extremely cost prohibitive for many. Thankfully there have been some solid alternatives that have sprouted up over the years. Here’s a list of 9 alternative disassemblers to IDA Pro.

1. Hopper

Hopper is a reverse engineering tool for OS X and Linux, that lets you disassemble, and decompile your 32/64bits Intel Mac, Linux, Windows and iOS executables!

2. x64dbg

x64dbg is an open-source x64/x32 debugger for Windows.

3. Visual DuxDebugger

Visual DuxDebugger is a 64-bit debugger disassembler for Windows, especially useful when the source code is unavailable.

4. Immunity Debugger

Immunity Debugger is a branch of OllyDbg v1.10, with built-in support for Python scripting and much more.

5. PE Explorer Disassembler

The PE Explorer Disassembler is designed to be easy to use compared with other disassemblers. To that end, some of the functionality found in other products has been left out in order to keep the process simple and fast. While as powerful as the more expensive, dedicated disassemblers, PE Explorer focuses on ease of use, clarity and navigation.

6. Hiew

Hiew is a great disassembler designed for hackers, as the name suggests. It supports three modes - Text, Hexadecimal and Decode (Dis-assembly) mode.

7. Radare2

Radare2 is an open source tool to disassemble, debug, analyze and manipulate binary files.

It actually supports many architectures (x86{16,32,64}, Dalvik, avr, ARM, java, PowerPC, Sparc, MIPS) and several binary formats (pe{32,64}, [fat]mach0{32,64}, ELF{32,64}, dex and Java classes), apart from support for filesystem images and many more features.

It runs on the command line, but it has a graphical interface in PyGTK called Bokken that has support for some of its features already.

8. ODA (Online Disassembler)

The Online Disassembler is a free web-based, reverse engineering platform that supports over 60 architectures and object file formats from all the major operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and mobile platforms.

9. Panopticon

Panopticon is a disassembler that understands the semantics of opcodes. This way it's able to help the user by discovering and displaying invariants that would have to be discovered "by hand" in traditional disassemblers. This allows an interactive search through the space of all possible program executions.

[listsplosion]

6 Easy Yoga Poses For Beginners

The popularity of yoga in the United States has exploded in recent decades. Currently, nearly 10 percent of all U.S. adults regularly practice yoga. You may be considering it yourself, but don't know how to begin. If that's the case, here are six easy yoga postures that every beginner can master in no time.

1. Mountain Pose

The traditional name for mountain pose is tadasana. In Sanskrit sana(SAH-nah) means "pose" and you will see it repeated in the names of many yoga poses. Tada(TAH-dah) means "mountain" -- hence "mountain pose." Mountain pose improves posture and increases the flexibility of the spine.

How to perform the mountain pose:

Stand with your feet together and your arms hanging loosely at your sides.

Gently lift and stretch your toes then place them flat on the floor.

Inhale deeply and slowly raise your arms over your head bringing your palms flat together as if praying.

With your arms fully extended and your fingers pointed straight up, raise yourself onto your toes and stretch your body toward the sky.

Hold as you deeply inhale and exhale three times.

Lower your heels to the floor.

Slowly return your arms to your sides.

2. Cobra Pose

In Sanskrit, cobra pose is known as bhujangasana (boo-jang- GAHS-anna) and comes from the word bhujanga (boo-jang- GAH), which means "serpent" or "snake." Cobra pose increases the strength of the arms, shoulders, and wrists, and helps reduce neck and back pain.

How to perform the cobra pose:

Begin by lying on your stomach with your legs extended behind you and the tops of your feet pressing against the floor.

Keep your elbows bent so that your hands are under your shoulders with your palms flat on the floor. Imagine you are getting ready to push yourself off the floor and spring to your feet and you’ll know the correct pose.

Tighten your glutes and leg muscles, and maintain contact between your pelvis and the floor.

Inhale deeply as you stretch your neck and raise your head. Keep your gaze focused on a point in front of you.

Slowly extend your arms until they are straight. Your head, neck, and chest should be perpendicular to the floor and your back should form a graceful arch.

Hold as you deeply inhale and exhale three times.

Slowly lower yourself back to the starting position.

3. Child’s Pose

Child's pose or balasana (bah-la- SAH-nah) is a restful pose that can be performed between more challenging postures. The Sanskrit root bala means "child." Child's pose stretches the muscles of the back, hips, thighs, and knees.

How to perform the child’s pose:

Kneel and rest your buttocks lightly on your heels.

Inhale deeply as you roll your body forward until your forehead touches the floor.

Lower your chest so that it rests comfortably on your knees and extend your arms straight out in front of you with your fingers relaxed and your palms against the floor.

Hold as you slowly inhale and exhale three to five times.

4. Seated Twist

The seated twist is an excellent pose for yoga beginners. In Sanskrit, it is called vakrasana (vah-KRAH- sah-nah), the word vakra meaning "twisted." The seated twist stretches and strengthens your hips, back, and shoulders, helps relieve chronic neck pain, and reduces anxiety.

How to perform the seated twist:

Begin by sitting on the floor with your legs crossed.

Lift your right foot to cross it over your left thigh and place it flat on the floor. Your right knee should be pointed at the sky. Beginners who are less flexible may keep their left leg straight to make this pose easier.

Maintain these leg positions as you place your left hand on the outside of your right thigh. Place your right hand behind you with the palm flat against the floor.

From this position, twist your shoulders as far right at you can, stretching your middle and lower back.

Hold as you deeply inhale and exhale three times.

Repeat for the opposite side.

5. Tree Pose

Tree pose is done standing, much like the mountain pose. Its Sanskrit name is vrksasana (vrik-SHAH- sah-nah), from the word vrksa (vrik-SHAH), which means "tree." Tree pose improves balance and increases the strength of muscles and ligaments in the legs and feet.

How to perform the tree pose:

Stand with your feet together and your arms hanging loosely at your sides, the same starting position as the mountain pose.

Focusing on your balance, shift your weight onto your right foot and slowly raise your left foot.

Place the sole of your left foot against the inside of your right thigh with your toes at the knee.

Inhale deeply and slowly raise your arms over your head, keeping your palms at shoulder-width apart but facing each other. Your fingers should be extended toward the sky.

Hold as you deeply inhale and exhale three times.

Gently lower your arms and leg to their starting position then repeat for the other side.

6. Triangle Pose

The Sanskrit name for triangle pose is trikonasana (trih-koh- NAH-sah- nah), derived from tri, meaning "three," and kona, meaning "corner." Triangle pose is a popular beginner pose which strengthens your core and stretches your leg muscles.

How to perform the triangle pose:

Stand with your feet wide apart -- roughly the length of one of your legs.

Turn your right foot to a 90-degree angle relative to your left foot. Your left foot should be pointing straight ahead of you.

Raise your arms and extend them straight out to each side.

Now bend sideways to your right until your right hand comes to rest on your right shin just above the ankle. Your left arm will now be pointed toward the sky.

Flatten your left palm and extend your fingers straight upward.

Turn your head so you are gazing upward.

Hold as you deeply inhale and exhale three times.

It’s important to remember that, although these poses are excellent for both novice and seasoned practitioners, those new to yoga should start slowly. Yoga is about connecting your mind and body. Listen to any signals your body may send. Do not overstretch your muscles. If you find a pose too challenging, set it aside and work on mastering the others. You'll be able to return to the difficult pose once you gain confidence in your abilities and your body becomes more flexible. The important thing is to keep trying.

Before you know it you'll be practicing this ancient form of exercise like a master yogi.

[listsplosion]

Kendrick Lamar Songs: 20 Essential Tracks

With every album release, Kendrick Lamar's reputation has grown. Many hip-hop heads are now comparing him to such legends as 2Pac. Lyrically, Kendrick Lamar is peerless among the elite rappers of hip hop's new generation. These 20 tracks go a long way toward explaining Kendrick Lamar's popularity and critical acclaim.

Overly Dedicated (2010)

1.      Ignorance is Bliss

After a few guest spots on tracks by artists like the Game, and mixtapes that gained Kendrick Lamar some local notoriety in L.A., he first showed shades of how much he would go on to stand out from other rappers with Overly Dedicated, his first release with Top Dawg Entertainment. "Ignorance is Bliss" sees Kendrick Lamar delivering lightening-fast gangster rap braggadocio in the verses, then flipping the meaning with a chorus that asserts "ignorance is bliss." It was reportedly this track that first attracted the attention of super-producer Dr. Dre.

2.      P&P 1.5

The lead single from Overly Dedicated pairs a catchy chorus with Kendrick's trademark lyrically dense delivery. It's great from the start, but at mid-way the song suddenly breaks down and slows into something entirely different, and then it switches back to the chorus and continues from there. It was an indication of the sonic experimentation that would characterize his biggest success so far, 2015's To Pimp a Butterfly.

Section.80 (2011)

3.      Fuck Your Ethnicity

Kendrick Lamar followed Overly Dedicated with a fully formed album that fans would argue is every bit the equal of its more successful follow-ups. Section.80 opens with this track, Kendrick's rapid-fire storytelling delivery in full flow over a simple but mesmeric beat made up mostly of piano and drums. It's all packaged together with a provocative title making clear the artist's intentions to push hip hop in new directions.

4.      A.D.H.D.

The introspection that would characterize 2012's good kid, m.A.A.d. city comes to the forefront on what just might be Section.80's strongest track. Lightening-fast flow, dense lyricism and laconic, mesmerizing beats combine to make the archetypical Kendrick Lamar track.

5.      No Make-Up (Her Vice)

How many rap songs have been written decrying the pressure put on women to wear make-up, and celebrating human imperfection as true beauty? This is probably the only one. Deep meditations on the unexpected are one of the main reasons Kendrick Lamar stands out among his contemporaries. It also doesn't hurt that the track's a banger.

6.      Ronald Reagan Era

The political consciousness that runs through To Pimp a Butterfly first floats to the surface here, with Kendrick dissecting inner-city deprivation and desperation through a prism of the influence of the policies of Fox News' favorite president. Who else but Kendrick could come up with this?

7.      Keisha' Song (Her Pain)

Kendrick Lamar's skill as one of the most gifted storytellers in rap is never more obvious than is here. Kendrick tells the sad story of a prostitute servicing clients in "fancy cars," in a track that brings inner-city darkness to light.

8.      Rigamortus

In the highest-tempo track on Section.80, Kendrick Lamar spits pure fire about killing off your favorite rapper and taking his place. Ridiculous rhymes come a mile a minute in a track that makes it impossible to sit still.

9.      Hiii Power

Section.80's final track is an epic rant that throws together the elements of politics, modern history and inner-city life that are present throughout the album. The result is perhaps the strongest track on the album and pure gold from Kendrick.

good kid, m.A.A.d. city (2012)

10.  Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe

2012 was the year Kendrick hit the big time with good kid, m.A.A.d city being released through Interscope and debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard chart. New label-mate Dr. Dre's influence is clear on "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe," with a beat reminiscent of his classics.

11.  Backseat Freestyle

For the army of new fans that flocked to Kendrick after m.A.A.d city's release, "Backseat Freestyle" was their first taste of just how hard Kendrick can go. Lamar here delivers a pure power flow over a pared-down beat that won him a lot of new admirers.

12.  Money Trees

Kendrick teamed up with regular collaborator Jay Rock for "Money Trees," a tripped-out track perfect for chilling to. The whole m.A.A.d city album is a tribute to Kendrick's hometown of Compton, and the vibe on "Money Trees" is evocative of many of the hip-hop classics the city has produced.

13.  Poetic Justice

"Poetic Justice" pairs Kendrick with Drake, the other biggest new name in the rap game. The competition spurs both men on to kick their rhymes up a notch on one of m.A.A.d city's most popular tracks.

14.  Swimming Pools (Drank)

The first song many of Kendrick's new fans heard by him, m.A.A.d city's lead single deals with the kind of over-the-top imagery typical of a lot of gangster rap -- a swimming pool filled with liquor -- in an unconventional away. The moment the eerie electronic intro begins, it's obvious that Kendrick Lamar is not an average rapper.

Collaborations (2013)

15.  Fuckin' Problems (2013)

A$AP Rocky and Drake were the hottest new artists to come out at the same time as Kendrick, and this track brings them all together for a rabble-rousing party anthem. An absolute banger, it's guaranteed to get any dance floor moving.

16.  Control (2013)

While "Fuckin' Problems" brought together hip hop's most prominent new names, Kendrick Lamar tears them apart on "Control." He threatens to murder his contemporaries and then does just that in an incredibly bold game-changing verse. Drake apparently was not pleased at being name-checked here, and rivalry between two of rap's biggest young guns has been boiling away ever since.

To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

17.  King Kunta

By 2015, Kendrick Lamar had built a body of work that had the whole rap world awaiting his next release. Nobody expected To Pimp a Butterfly, a wild ride through African-American musical and political history that kicks into high gear with "King Kunta." Multi-layered lyrics full of literary references delivered over a booming beat characterize one of the standout tracks from Kendrick's most ambitious effort to date.

18.  u

Nowhere does Kendrick lets his creativity and inventiveness run wilder than on "u." In a dramatically delivered journey through a dark night of the soul, "u" explores the underside of Kendrick's new-found fame and success. Though definitely not easy listening, it's well worth experiencing.

19.  The Blacker the Berry

To Pimp a Butterfly was released at a tumultuous time in America, with protests rising up in many cities against the disproportionate number of African-Americans being killed in altercations with police officers. Kendrick rarely takes the easy option, and on "The Blacker the Berry" he explores the complexity of race issues in modern America, while labeling himself "the biggest hypocrite of 2015."

20.  i

When the music video for "i" first appeared ahead of the album's release, it was divisive among hip-hop heads, with some feeling it was an indication his next album would see Kendrick Lamar aiming for a more mainstream sound. The rest of the album disproved that thought. Surrounded by tracks that deal with dark and deep subject matter, "i" is a life-affirming anti-suicide song, and its positivity about loving one's self becomes incredibly uplifting.

In the five years between the release of Overly Dedicated and To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar has produced a body of work that has rightly drawn comparison to the greatest rappers who've ever lived. With youth on his side and an untouchable talent, the years to come may see Kendrick eclipse them all. Whatever direction he decides to go next, it'll be essential listening for anyone with any interest in hip hop.

[listsplosion]

Learn Erlang With These 20 Books and Resources

Ericsson, the Swedish Telecom company, originally developed Erlang in 1986 as a proprietary language. It was open-sourced 10 years later, in 1996, and, as of September 2015, sits at #37 on the TIOBE Programming Community Index.

Even though it sits fairly low in the rankings, learning Erlang has become a hot topic over the past couple of years. If you’ve shown an interest in learning it, but don’t know where to start, then check out these 20 books and resources for learning the Erlang programming language.

Learn you some Erlang for Great Good by Fred Hebert

Some Erlang Magic for Beginners by Brujo Benavides

My favorite Erlang program by Joe Armstrong

Build an FTP Server with Ranch in 30 Minutes

Canillita - Your First Erlang Server by Brujo Benavides

On Erlang, State and Crashes by Jesper Louis Andersen

Erlang String Handling by Jesper Louis Andersen

Every-day Erlang: Handling Crashes in Erlang by Marcelo Gornstein

9 Erlang pitfalls you should know about by MazenHarake

The Erlang shell by Jesper Louis Andersen.

REPL? A bit more (and less) than that by Fred Hebert

Code Janitor: nobody's dream, everyone's job (and how Erlang can help) by Fred Hebert

Let it crash the right way by MazenHarake

Stuff Goes Bad. Erlang in anger by Fred Hebert

Writing Beautiful Code by Garrett Smith

Beyond OTP by Loïc Hoguin

Writing Quality Code in Erlang by Garrett Smith

Can you hear the drums, Erlando? by Matthew Sackman

Programming Rules and Conventions

Erlang and code style by Jesper L. Andersen

[listsplosion]

12 Clever Uses for Club Soda

Club soda is more than just a fizzy mixer for drinks. The carbon dioxide and minerals it contains make it a versatile product useful for many household tasks. It can enhance your cooking and help with a variety of cleaning chores. Here are twelve practical things you can do with club soda. Some of them may surprise you.

1. Remove bird droppings

Use club soda to clean bird droppings from house and car windows. Put the soda in a spray bottle and squirt it over the mess. Leave it to work for five minutes, then wipe away the residue with a paper towel. The carbonated liquid dissolves and dilutes the dried uric acid for easy cleaning.

2. Renew your mugs

The inside of coffee mugs and teacups can become coated with brown stains which don't come off when you clean them with dish soap. Fill your mugs with club soda and let them sit overnight. The carbonic acid in the soda will remove the stains and leave your cups sparkling clean.

3. Make fluffier pancakes

For light, fluffy pancakes or waffles, substitute club soda for half of the liquid called for in the recipe. The carbonation aerates the batter and enhances the action of the baking powder. The pancakes will rise more while they're cooking and the extra air bubbles will help create a soft, spongy texture.

4. Enhance your plants

If your club soda has gone flat, use it to feed your houseplants. Many brands contain minerals such as potassium and phosphates that will enrich the soil and help your plants to thrive. You can also fill a vase with flat club soda to keep cut flowers looking fresh for longer.

5. Loosen a rusty nut

If you need to remove a nut and bolt that have rusted together, try the club soda solution. Pour it on the hardware, then wait five minutes before attempting to unscrew it. Carbon dioxide in the soda dissolves the rust that is holding the nut in place.

6. Neutralize pet odors

If your pet has had an accident on the carpet, club soda can help to remove the smell. Blot up as much urine as possible, then saturate the damp area with soda. Leave it to work for ten minutes before blotting up the remaining liquid. The soda breaks down organic compounds responsible for the odor.

7. Clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces

Pour club soda into a spray bottle for use as an all-purpose kitchen and bathroom cleaner. It is effective for removing grease and soap scum from stainless steel and porcelain. Simply spritz onto surfaces and wipe down with a soft cloth. To remove stubborn grime, allow the soda to foam for a minute or two before scrubbing.

8. Rejuvenate jewelry

Gold jewelry set with gemstones can become dull over time as it collects oils from skin and dust from the air. To renew the shine, simply leave it in a cup of club soda overnight. The bubbles reach into every crevice to loosen debris and wash it away. Diamonds and other gems will catch the light and sparkle like new.

9. Make dishwashing easier

It takes a lot of effort to get rid of food stuck to the bottoms of stainless steel or cast iron pots and pans. Club soda can help make clean-up less of a challenge. While the cookware is still warm, pour in enough soda to cover any food fragments. Leave it to work while you're eating. The carbonation will soften the remains, making them easier to scrub away.

10. Jazz up gelatin

Club soda transforms an ordinary box of flavored gelatin into a sparkling, fizzy dessert. Prepare the gelatin mix according to the instructions, substituting soda for the cold water. Pour into clear glasses or dessert bowls. The bubbles will be trapped as the gelatin sets.

11. Remove fabric stains

Club soda can help to remove wine, blood and food stains. Pour soda into a bowl and soak the stained area of fabric for five minutes before laundering as usual. The acidity of the soda helps to dissolve the stain and the carbonation lifts it out of clothing fibers.

12. Open oyster shells

Shucking oysters can be difficult and time consuming. To speed up the process, pour club soda over the oysters and leave them to soak for twenty minutes. Carbon dioxide in the soda relaxes the muscles of the mollusks so they can't hold their shells as tightly closed.

You may like to drink a particular brand of club soda, but a cheap generic or supermarket brand will work just as well for household chores. Keep a bottle handy by storing it in the cupboard with your cleaning products.

[listsplosion]

23 Fun Rabbit Facts

Rabbits have many funny and mysterious behaviors which make sense to them, but may puzzle humans. For instance, they press their chins onto objects to mark them with scent and take ownership. Lunging is a fear reaction as they get ready to attack. Dancing rabbits are incredibly happy and show it by bouncing, leaping, shaking their heads, and kicking sideways. Rabbits that are not spayed or neutered may circle and oink softly, asking for attention from humans or looking for a breeding partner. Rabbits will also play by throwing anything that's not fastened down.

1. Rabbits prefer to sit on your lap or cuddled beside you on the couch rather than being held in your arms.

2. Never pick up a rabbit by grabbing it with both hands around the middle and never pick up a rabbit by its ears. 

Instead, grab the loose skin over its shoulders and as you pick it up, slide your other hand under its back legs and butt. Support the rabbit as you lift to keep it from panicking.

3. Rabbits and parrots are the only two animals that can see behind themselves without turning their heads.

4. Rabbit sweat glands are located in their lips.

5. Rabbits keep cool through their ears.

They don't like heat and can get heatstroke easily. Try to maintain their environment no warmer than 70 degrees, and definitely below 85 degrees. Avoid direct sunlight, brush your rabbit frequently, and always have fresh, cool drinking water available.

6. Rabbits have only 28 teeth.

7. If your rabbit grinds its teeth softly but appears to be content, don't worry. This is one way rabbits express their comfort with the world.

8. If your rabbit needs medicine, here's a great tip to make doctor time easier: mix liquid medicine or pulverized pills with plain canned pumpkin.

Or you may use baby food without the sugar, if you like. It's a good idea to get your rabbit used to enjoying pumpkin before he needs medicine, so practice by giving him a tablespoon once a week.

9. Rabbits produce two kinds of poop called “fecal pellets” and “cecotropes.”

 Fecal pellets are larger, dry, and round. Individual cecotropes are smaller and shiny, but they stick together like bunched grapes. Rabbits rarely eat fecal pellets, but it is essential for them to eat cecotropes because they contain vitamins and healthy bacteria which are good for the digestive system.

10. Rabbits older than 6 months should be fed high quality manufactured rabbit pellets and loose timothy hay.

A 2-4 pound rabbit should not be fed more than ¼ cup of food daily, a 5-7 pound rabbit will eat ½ cup, an 8-10 pound rabbit should get ¾ cup, and rabbits over 11 pounds should be fed 1 cup of food daily. Give rabbits an unlimited amount of timothy hay every day.

11. Feed your rabbit fresh fruit as a treat, no more than twice a week. 

Try half a dozen blueberries, small pieces of banana, or one or two apple slices. Your rabbit might also like melon, blackberry, peach or pear, strawberry, raspberry, or mango. You may also try three raisins as an extra-special treat.

12. Avoid feeding rabbits iceberg lettuce.

You may have heard that you should never feed your rabbit lettuce. This isn't exactly true. Avoid feeding rabbits iceberg lettuce, which is completely devoid of nutrients and fiber. Instead, feed romaine lettuce or green and red leaf lettuce as part of a balanced diet. Mustard greens, kale, Swiss chard, watercress, and endive are also excellent greens for rabbits.

13. You may feed your rabbit any of the following treats in small amounts: plain parsley, alfalfa or clover sprouts, carrots and carrot tops, dandelion greens, or beet tops. 

Don't feed your rabbit salty or sugary snacks, even if it likes them. Never feed a rabbit chocolate.

14. Wild mother rabbits only feed their babies twice a day in the morning and evening.

Wild babies start venturing out of the nest when they reach 15 days old.

15. Although all domestic rabbits are descended from one species of European wild rabbit, there are now more than 60 recognized breeds and 530 varieties of domestic rabbits.

16. Truly wild rabbits are usually brown with white tails and their ears stand up.

 These rabbits are called cottontails. If you see a rabbit out in the wild that is colored differently, is spotted or striped, or has floppy ears, it's probably a domestic rabbit that got loose or was dumped. A domestic rabbit you find outdoors may need your help.

17. Rabbits need toys to keep themselves occupied and happy (and for a little exercise).

Try cardboard boxes, cat toys, hard plastic baby toys, paper bags, cat hideaways and lodges, hard rubber balls, empty cereal boxes, or old hand towels.

18. The Australian rabbit population is around 1 billion.

By contrast, there are 1.2 billion humans living in India and 1.3 billion humans living in China, the two most populous countries on Earth.

19. Before you bring a new rabbit home to your family, make sure you have everything ready and establish a few ground rules.

Supply the cage with a few toys, a clean water bottle, fresh litter, and some timothy hay. Don't handle the rabbit too much during its first few days in a new home. Introduce him gradually to other pets and to small children. Keep the environment quiet and commotion-free and your new rabbit will soon settle in comfortably.

20. What's the difference between a rabbit and a hare?

Baby rabbits, called kits or kittens, are born with their eyes closed and no fur. Baby hares are born with their eyes open and covered with fur.

21. Rabbits are most wakeful in the early morning and just after the sun goes down.

Playtime, feeding and grooming, and cage cleaning should happen at these times. Most rabbits will sleep all day and all night, but try to engage your pet when he's feeling frisky.

22. Rabbits are apparently immune to black widow venom, as are sheep.

 Horses, cats, and humans are very susceptible to black widow bites and may die if untreated.

23. In 300 BCE, the Carthaginians conquered the area that would later become Spain. They named it Ispania from the word sphan, which translates to “land of rabbits.”

[listsplosion]

51 Free Data Science Books

A great collection of free data science books covering a wide range of topics from Data Science, Business Analytics, Data Mining and Big Data to Machine Learning, Algorithms and Data Science Tools.

Data Science Overviews

An Introduction to Data Science (Jeffrey Stanton, 2013)

School of Data Handbook (2015)

Data Jujitsu: The Art of Turning Data into Product (DJ Patil, 2012)

Art of Data Science (Roger D. Peng & Elizabeth Matsui, 2015)

Data Scientists Interviews

The Data Science Handbook (Carl Shan, Henry Wang, William Chen, & Max Song, 2015)

The Data Analytics Handbook (Brian Liou, Tristan Tao, & Declan Shener, 2015)

How To Build Data Science Teams

Data Driven: Creating a Data Culture (Hilary Mason & DJ Patil, 2015)

Building Data Science Teams (DJ Patil, 2011)

Understanding the Chief Data O€fficer (Julie Steele, 2015)

Data Analysis

The Elements of Data Analytic Style (Jeff Leek, 2015)

Distributed Computing Tools

Hadoop: The Definitive Guide (Tom White, 2011)

Data-Intensive Text Processing with MapReduce (Jimmy Lin & Chris Dyer, 2010)

Data Mining and Machine Learning

Introduction to Machine Learning (Amnon Shashua, 2008)

Machine Learning (Abdelhamid Mellouk & Abdennacer Chebira)

Machine Learning – The Complete Guide (Wikipedia)

Social Media Mining An Introduction (Reza Zafarani, Mohammad Ali Abbasi, & Huan Liu, 2014)

Data Mining: Practical Machine Learning Tools and Techniques (Ian H. Witten & Eibe Frank, 2005)

Mining of Massive Datasets (Jure Leskovec, Anand Rajaraman, & Jeff Ullman, 2014)

A Programmer’s Guide to Data Mining (Ron Zacharski, 2015)

Data Mining with Rattle and R (Graham Williams, 2011)

Data Mining and Analysis: Fundamental Concepts and Algorithms (Mohammed J. Zaki & Wagner Meria Jr., 2014)

Mining the Social Web: Data Mining Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, GitHub, and More (Matthew A. Russell, 2014)

Probabilistic Programming & Bayesian Methods for Hackers (Cam Davidson-Pilon, 2015)

Data Mining Techniques For Marketing, Sales, and Customer Relationship Management (Michael J.A. Berry & Gordon S. Linoff, 2004)

Inductive Logic Programming: Techniques and Applications (Nada Lavrac & Saso Dzeroski, 1994)

Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning (Christopher M. Bishop, 2006)

Machine Learning, Neural and Statistical Classification (D. Michie, D.J. Spiegelhalter, & C.C. Taylor, 1999)

Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms (David J.C. MacKay, 2005)

Data Mining and Business Analytics with R (Johannes Ledolter, 2013)

Bayesian Reasoning and Machine Learning (David Barber, 2014)

Gaussian Processes for Machine Learning (C. E. Rasmussen & C. K. I. Williams, 2006)

Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction (Richard S. Sutton & Andrew G. Barto, 2012)

Algorithms for Reinforcement Learning (Csaba Szepesvari, 2009)

Big Data, Data Mining, and Machine Learning (Jared Dean, 2014)

Modeling With Data (Ben Klemens, 2008)

KB – Neural Data Mining with Python Sources (Roberto Bello, 2013)

Deep Learning (Yoshua Bengio, Ian J. Goodfellow, & Aaron Courville, 2015)

Neural Networks and Deep Learning (Michael Nielsen, 2015)

Data Mining Algorithms In R (Wikibooks, 2014)

Data Mining and Analysis: Fundamental Concepts and Algorithms (Mohammed J. Zaki & Wagner Meira Jr., 2014)

Theory and Applications for Advanced Text Mining (Shigeaki Sakurai, 2012)

Statistics and Statistical Learning

Think Stats: Exploratory Data Analysis in Python (Allen B. Downey, 2014)

Think Bayes: Bayesian Statistics Made Simple (Allen B. Downey, 2012)

The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining, Inference, and Prediction (Trevor Hastie, Robert Tibshirani, & Jerome Friedman, 2008)

An Introduction to Statistical Learning with Applications in R (Gareth James, Daniela Witten, Trevor Hastie, & Robert Tibshirani, 2013)

A First Course in Design and Analysis of Experiments (Gary W. Oehlert, 2010)

Data Visualization

D3 Tips and Tricks (Malcolm Maclean, 2015)

Interactive Data Visualization for the Web (Scott Murray, 2013)

Big Data

Disruptive Possibilities: How Big Data Changes Everything (Jeffrey Needham, 2013)

Real-Time Big Data Analytics: Emerging Architecture (Mike Barlow, 2013)

Big Data Now: 2012 Edition (O’Reilly Media, Inc., 2012)

via Hacker Lists

[listsplosion]

7 Unforgettable Places to go Hiking in Morocco

There are few countries around the world that can offer sublime beauty and an awe-inspiring natural diversity as Morocco. Located in the northwest of the African continent, Morocco offers relaxed beach holidays to vibrant shopping opportunities and rich historical and cultural activities.

However, the country is well-known for its amazing hiking and trekking excursions. From gentle treks in the Atlas Mountains during the warmer months and then the snow-capped regions during winter for the more experienced hikers, Morocco offers an unforgettable hiking experience for all.

Jebel Toubkal

Jebel Toubkal is the highest peak in Northern Africa, stretching up to 4167 metres towards the sky in the Central High Atlas Mountains. The mountain features in many myths and legends and the views from the top are well-deserving of its high status in the country’s culture. During the summer months, hikers will spend two to three days to reach the top from Imlil, providing one does not succumb to altitude sickness and/or dehydration. Kasbah du Toubkal is the main starting point on the trail. During the winter months when the snow covers the mountain, the trek calls for specific equipment and more experience. The Toubkal Circuit, which normally takes around seven days to finish, is ideal for those wanting more of a challenge.

Jebel Saghro

During the winter months the snow can make the High Atlas Mountains quite a challenge so for those seeking a gentler hike will find Jebel Saghro the ideal option. It is part of the Anti-Atlas, but the temperature is much warmer and the trails are not quite as challenging as that of Jebel Toubkal, but still just as beautiful. Amalou n’Mansour is the tallest peak, but at 2712 meters above sea level the threat of altitude sickness is much less. Don’t pass up on the chance to view the cave paintings here.

M’Goun Massif

Negotiating across the M’Goun Massif, located in the Central High Atlas, makes for a wonderful experience. There are many trails to hike, but for those not wanting a challenge avoid the higher peaks, such as M’Goun Massif itself which stands at an impressive 4071 metres. Instead, take the time to appreciate the awe-inspiring mountain views and the charming valleys where the Berber tribes live. Come in spring when the snow melts and flows in streams through the valleys and wildflowers cover the slopes.

Jebel Sirwa

The High Atlas Mountains often overshadow the Anti-Atlas region located in southern Morocco, but for those who venture here agree it features some impressive peaks to scale. Head to the volcanic mountain peak of Jebel Sirwa, reaching a height of 3304 metres above sea level, in reality joins the two ranges. A two day hike can be completed from Atougha, but it is highly recommended that you take an experienced guide as the last section can be extremely problematic. For those who can spend a week here, start at Taliouine and take the time to appreciate the beauty of the various Berber valleys with their precipitous terrace fields.

Rif Mountains

Located in the north of the country, the Rif Mountains are not quite as highly celebrated as hiking and trekking excursions, but they are popular with families and locals alike. Start off in Chefchaouen and there are a number of treks available to choose from. The Ras el-Maa Rivers makes the ideal spot for relaxing with the family or just by yourself. Head up Jebel al-Kalaa for a day long trek where you can enjoy beautiful vistas of the town at the top. The Talassemtane National Park is a great option for those wanting to indulge in an overnight experience.

Ifrane National Park

Also known as the Little Switzerland of the country, the Ifrane National Park is the perfect destination for hikers who enjoy the natural world. There is an abundance of stunning flora and fauna here, with the Atlas cedar trees covering the slopes like a lush blanket. As you head out along the trails don’t forget to try and spot the Barbary Macaque, an endangered species whose number has greatly reduced and calls the national park home.

Paradise Valley

Morocco boasts a great number of beautiful beaches so why not combine a relaxing beach holiday with an exhilarating hiking excursion? The verdant palm fringed gorge of Paradise Valley is situated not far from Agadir and trails the river to Imouzzer Ida Ou Tanane. A short three kilometre trek can be enjoyed from here to the Cascades waterfalls but for those who can spend longer, hire a guide and visit the many Berber villages and camp outside with the stars shining brightly overhead.

[listsplosion]

149 Restaurant That Give You Free Food On Your Birthday

Who doesn’t love free food on their birthday? Check out these birthday freebies from 149 of your favorite restaurants.

Abuelo's - Free dessert

Acapulco - Free entree

Amato's Sandwich Shop - Free large Amato's original 9" cheese pizza or a cheese pazzo bread

Applebee's - Free birthday dessert with the purchase of an entree

Arby's - Free 12oz. milkshake with any purchase

Atlanta Bread Company - Free cookie

Au Bon Pain - Free sandwich or salad

Auntie Anne's Pretzels - Free pretzel!

Bakers Square - Free slice of pie with any adult entree purchase

Baskin Robbins - Free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream or a swirl of soft serve

Beef 'O' Brady's - Free dessert with the purchase of any entree

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream - You become a Chunk Spelunker and get a free scoop of ice cream plus $3 off an ice cream cake!

Benihana's - Free $30 gift certificate with the purchase of a 2nd adult entree.

bd's Mongolian Grill - Free stir-fry meal

Biggby Coffee - A snail mailed coupon for a free beverage

BJ's Restaurants - Free Pizookie dessert (otherwise known as a delicious dessert)

Black Angus Steakhouse - Free BOGO steak dinner, up to $19.99

Black Bear Diner - Free Bearthday Breakfast (pancakes or waffles, eggs, and bacon or sausage)

Bojangles - Free biscuit with purchase

Boston Market - Free individual dessert with purchase of any create your plate meal

Boston's The Gourmet Pizza - Free flatbread

Bonanza Steakhouse - BOGO coupon for one free steak or buffet

Brio Tuscan Grille - Free filet and crab shrimp cake

Bruegger's - Free bagel with cream cheese with the purchase of a drink

Bruster's - Free BOGO coupon for a waffle cone

Buca di Beppo - $20 off any 2 pastas or entrees

Buffalo Wild Wings - Free snack size boneless or traditional wings

Captain D's - Your choice of a 2 piece fish, 12 pc. butterfly shrimp, or a grilled tilapia dinner

Caribou Coffee - Free medium drink

Carrabba’s Italian Grill - Free dessert with purchase of an entree

Carrows - Free dessert

Chevys - Free entree

Chili's - Free brownie sundae

Cinnabon - Free mochalatta chill

Coldstone Creamery - Free BOGO coupon for a Coldstone Creation

Corner Bakery Cafe - Free bakery sweet

Country Buffet - Free BOGO entree coupon

Country Kitchen - Free dinner entree up to $8 in value with valid ID

Culver's - Free one-scoop sundae

Dairy Queen - One BOGO coupon for a free mini, small, or medium blizzard

Daphne's Greek Cafe - $5 loaded onto your Pita Points Rewards Club card

Del Taco - Free premium milkshake

Denny's - Free Grand Slam breakfast

Dickey's Barbecue Pit - BOGO coupon for one free BBQ sandwich

Dippin' Dots - Free small cup of Dippin' Dots

Don Pablos - $10 gift certificate

Dunkin Donuts - Free medium beverage

Earl of Sandwich - Free sandwich, salad, or wrap

Einstein Bros Bagels - Free breakfast sandwich when you buy any drink

El Chicos - Free fried ice cream

El Torito - Free entree

Famous Dave's Barbeque - Free dessert with the purchase of an entree

Fazoli's - Free dessert

Firehouse Subs - Free medium celebratory sub with valid ID

Flat Top Grill - Free stir fry, however they're planning on changing this to a $5 off coupon

Fox and Hound - Free BOGO coupon for any entree

Friendly's - Free single cone with any Friendly's purchase

Fuddruckers - Free 1/3 lb. burger with the purchase of another Fudd’s entree

Genghis Grill - Free birthday bowl

Glory Days Grill - Free dessert

Gold Star Chili - Free meal

Gordon Biersch - Free BOGO coupon for an entree

Great American Cookies - Free cookie cake slice with the purchase of a regular soda. Because nothing goes with a cookie like sugar water!

Hometown Buffet - Free BOGO adult dinner buffet

HoneyBaked Ham - Free sandwich

Hooters - 10 free wings

Houlihan's - Free menu item up to $15

HuHot Mongolian Grill - (What the heck is with all these Mongolian grills?) Free grill meal

IHOP - Free Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity pancakes stack

Jack in the Box - Free dessert with a valid ID and the printable coupon

Jamba Juice - One sixteen size smoothie for $2

Jason's Deli - $5 off any item

Jersey Mike's - Free regular sub and 22 oz. fountain drink

Joe's Crab Shack - Free appetizer

Johnny Rockets - Free hamburger with the purchase of any entree and drink

Juice It Up - Free BOGO 24 oz. smoothie

Keg Steakhouse and Bar - Free 10 oz. Prime Rib classic dinner and caesar salad for US visitors only and you must sign up a month in advance

Keva Juice - Free 24 oz. regular blend smoothie

Krispy Kreme - Free doughnut of your choice and a free small coffee or fountain drink

la Madeleine - Free pastry

Logan's Roadhouse - Free Nutter Butter Fudgeslide with any entree purchase. I have no idea what this is but it sounds spectacular.

LongHorn Steakhouse - A delicious free dessert

Maggianos - Coupon for $10 off any check of $30 or more

Maggie Moo's - Free ice cream cone

Marble Slab Creamery - Free small ice cream cup or cone with unlimited mix-ins

Marie Callenders - $5 coupon and a free slice of pie

McAlister's Deli - $5 coupon

Memphis BBQ - Free entree up to $20

Mimis Cafe - Free entree up to $10 value with any $20 check

Moe's Southwest Grill - One free entree (excluding fajitas) as well as free chips and salsa

Ninety Nine - Free dessert

Noodles & Company - Free bowl of soup

Not Your Average Joe's - Free entree and dessert

O'Charley's - $5 coupon with any $20 food purchase

Old Country Buffet - Free BOGO adult dinner buffet

Olive Garden - Free appetizer or dessert with purchase of 2 adult entrees

On The Border - Free dip trio or brownie sundae

Orange Julius - Free BOGO 20 oz. Julius or premium fruit smoothie

Panera Bread - Free birthday pastry

Papa John'sNwonknu

Papa Murphy's - Free cookie dough with the purchase of any pizza

Perkins - Free magnificent Seven breakfast meal

Pinkberry - Free small yogurt with toppings

Planet Smoothie - Free small smoothie

Ponderosa - Free steak dinner

Qdoba Mexican Grill - BOGO free entree coupon

Red Lobster - $5 off two adult entrees

Red Robin - Free Gourmet Burger if you pick up a Red Royalty Card at your local restaurant then register it online

Rita's Italian Ice - Free regular Italian Ice

Romanos Macaroni Grill - Free dessert

Rubio's - Free meal up to $7

Ruby Tuesday - Free burger

Ryan's - Free BOGO adult dinner buffet

Sbarro - Free pizza slice with drink purchase

Schlotzsky's - Free small sandwich or 8" pizza

Sharis Restaurant - Free slice of pie

Shoney'sFree dessert with adult buffet or entree

Smashburger - Free shake with entree purchase

Smokey Bones - Free slice of cake

Smoothie King - 20oz. smoothie for $2.99

Sonic - Free regular creamslush, medium tator tots, or medium drink

Sonny’s BBQ - Free Big Deal (BBQ sandwich, fries, & drink)

Souper Salad - Free lunch or dinner buffet

Spaghetti Warehouse - Free spaghetti entree and spumoni sundae

Spicy Pickle - Free entree

SprinklesFree cupcake

Starbucks - Free handcrafted beverage

Steak 'n Shake - Free Double Steakburger with Cheese 'n Fries

Sticky Fingers - Free BOGO entree up to $10.99

Taco Bueno - Free cheesecake chimichangas with the purchase of any entree

Taco Cabana - Free flauta plate, which includes 3 chicken flautas with rice, beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole and 2 fresh flour tortillas

Taco Del Mar - Make a guess! We can't get confirmation.

Taco John's - Free cini-sopapilla bites. I've never had these before, but if they’re as delicious as they are hard to spell, I’m excited.

TCBY - Free small cup of frozen yogurt and $3 off a cake or pie

Ted's Montana Grill - Free dessert

Texas De Brazil - Free BOGO coupon for a dinner

Texas Roadhouse - Free appetizer or sidekick of ribs

T.G.I. Friday's - Free dessert with the purchase of an entree

Tony Roma's - Free entree up to $15.99

Tropical Smoothie Cafe - Free smoothie

Uno Pizzeria - Free entree

Waffle House - Free waffle

Wendy's - $1 off any premium combo

Which Wich - Free regular Wich (AKA sandwich)

Wienerschnitzel - One free corndog

Wingstop - Free large fresh cut seasoned fries

Zaxby's - Free nibbler and free meal deal

Zoes Kitchen - Free BOGO coupon for an entree

Z' Tejas - $10 coupon

[listsplosion]

9 Of England's Most Unusual Tourist Attractions

Summer is almost over, so if you're planning a last minute trip to England this year there's probably lots of places you'll want to stop and check out on your travels. There's lots to see and do in London, but if you look a bit further than our capital city you'll see there's a wealth of interesting, exciting and slightly eccentric places to visit.

1. Cadbury World, Birmingham

This is a must for any chocoholic sightseers. Located in the Cadbury factory in Birmingham, Cadbury World is an insight into the history of chocolate, and a sneak peek into the chocolate making process. Learn more about how Cadbury chocolate is packaged and advertised, try out samples of the chocolatier's newest creations, and even go for a ride in a 'beanmobile' in 'Cadabra'. When your appetite for Cadbury chocolate is well and truly whetted, you can stop in the world's biggest Cadbury shop for as many sweet treats as you can carry.

2. The Beatles Story, Liverpool

Liverpool is the home of one of the country's most successful bands, and they’ve paid tribute to their famous sons by creating The Beatles Story. The museum takes you through the entire career of the Beatles, where you can visit a replica of the cavern club or even take a ride on the Yellow Submarine. There are other exhibitions too, such as the The Beatles Hidden Gallery, and The Fab 4D experience.

3. Land's End, Cornwall

Land's End is a place of stunning natural beauty. You can explore the granite cliffs and the famous Longships Lighthouse, or take it easy in the Land's End Restaurant, which has views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. For children, there are four indoor attractions including The Shaun The Sheep 4D experience, as well as Arthur's Quest, an interactive walkthrough area as you seek the lair of the dragon. Afterwards, you can put your feet up in the First and Last Inn, the historical headquarters of smugglers and wreckers.

4. Stonehenge, Wiltshire

For any history buff, the famous and mysterious standing stones are a must see. As well as the stones, there are plenty of other exhibits to enjoy. The Neolithic Houses are a faithful recreation of the homes the builders of Stonehenge would have lived in, complete with volunteers who can tell you all about how they were built. There is also the Stonehenge Exhibition, bringing together over 250 objects found at the site for the first time, telling the story of how people came to be at the site, and of their daily lives.

5. Flamingo Land, Yorkshire

One of England's most underrated theme parks, Flamingo Land is a hidden gem if you're traveling with children this summer. Their theme park has attractions for everybody, including Children's Planet, an active play zone for the little ones. Flamingo Land's zoo features many different animal encounters, as well as the 'Ask A Zoo Keeper' event. If you can't fit this all into one day, there's even accommodations and night time entertainment on site.

6. Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Watford

Located just outside London, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour encompasses hundreds of sets, props and experiences from the Harry Potter films. Visitors are encouraged to take photos, explore sets, and try out special effects that were used in the films. If you want more information, tour guides (many of whom were involved with the films themselves) will tell you everything you need to know. After your tour, check out the gift shop and pick up your very own wand or Hogwart's robes, or relax in the studio's restaurant.

7. The Shell Grotto, Margate

Discovered in 1835, the Shell Grotto is one of the most mysterious tourist attractions out there. 70ft of winding underground passages are decorated with 4.6 million seashells, and no one knows why it was built. Theories include a meeting place for a secret cult, an ancient Pagan temple, or simply a Regency era folly. No matter what it's origins are, it certainly is a unique work of art.

8. National Videogame Arcade, Nottingham

Fun for all the family is promised in this arcade come gaming museum in Nottingham. Video games from some of the very first gaming arcade cabinets to the newest technology are displayed here, creating a timeline of video gaming as an artform. Check out exhibits on the history of games, take part in an enormous game of Mission Control, or control a video game just by jumping in the Jump! exhibit.

9. The Pencil Museum, Keswick

Keswick is historically the home of pencils, their first recorded pencils being manufactured in the time of Queen Victoria, and they are proud of their heritage. The quirky Pencil Museum includes exhibits, demonstrations and a children's art studio where they can be let loose to create to their heart's content.

[listsplosion]

12 Pictures Of Giant Straw Dinosaurs From The Wara Art Festival

Every August 31 the Wara Art Festival is held in the Niigata Prefecture in Japan. And every year Amy Goda, an aspiring local artist, wows everyone with her giant straw dinosaurs and creatures. Check out these 12 pictures to see just how spectacular her giant straw creations really are.

1. T-Rex going in for the kill

2. Triceratops

3. Spectator standing in T-Rex’s mouth

4. Giant Praying Mantis

5. King Cobra

6. Another view of Triceratops

7. Up close with Triceratops

8. Each creature starts out with a frame

9. Giant Crab

10. King Cobra up close

11. Floating duck

12. T-Rex from the side

h/t boredpanda

[listsplosion]

9 Awesome Chun-Li Cosplays

Chun-Li, the first female player character to appear in the Street Fighter series, is arguably one of its most popular characters, too. It’s no wonder that she’s a cosplay favorite. Check out these 9 photos of some of the best Chun-Li cosplays you’ll ever see.

1. Chun-Li on the streets of NYC

source: reddit

2. Chun-Li at Comic-Con Argentina

source: reddit

3. Chun-Li with Cammy and Poison

source: reddit

4. Looking up at Chun-Li

source: reddit

5. Kickin’ Chun-Li

source: reddit

6. Chun-Li (Art Nouveau version)

source: yayahan.com

7. Lightning Kick Chun-Li

source: reddit

8. Chun-Li in alternate red costume

source: reddit

9. Chun-Li from SF4

source: reddit

[listsplosion]

Huge meteor crashes to Earth in Thailand

Check out the 10 Strangest Places in the Solar System!

[listsplosion]

10 Strangest Places in the Solar System

Astronomy has evolved over the last few decades to reveal some astonishing secrets about our solar system, just one of millions in the Milky Way galaxy. Eight planets, hundreds of moons, at least five dwarf planets and countless asteroids, the solar system is home to a huge variety of otherworldly places that bear little resemblance to our own. The following are some of the most extreme environments found in our little slice of the Milky Way.

1. Underground Oceans of Europa

One of the four Galilean Moons of Jupiter, Europa is top of the list of places in our solar system where we might find life beyond Earth. A little smaller than our own moon, Europa is believed to have a vast water ocean underneath its surface, kept liquid by the tidal heating caused by Jupiter's gravitational pull. This ocean is expected to be some sixty miles deep, and it may be home to some exotic forms of life similar to those found in Earth's deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The surface of Europa itself is the smoothest in the solar system, characterized by its 120-mile high water geysers that occasionally break through the icy crust.

2. Hydrocarbon Lakes of Titan

Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is certainly quite an enigma. About 50% larger than our own moon, Titan is the only moon in the solar system with more than a trace atmosphere. Even more impressively, it is the only celestial body known to have stable surface liquids on it. However, unlike Earth, the lakes, seas and rivers of Titan, with a mean surface temperature of -180 °C, are composed of liquid methane rather than water. Liquid methane also rains from the skies, and the mountains of the southern hemisphere are covered with methane snow. Titan is also the only place in the outer solar system that has been explored by a surface lander.

3. Volcanic Plumes of Io

Another of Jupiter's Galilean moons, Io, being the most volcanically-active world in the solar system, is a violent world. Its surface is characterized by yellowish plains covered in sulphur, and it has more than 400 active volcanoes due to the enormous tidal forces from Jupiter. Flows of lava hundreds of miles in length scatter the hellish surface, while one of the largest volcanoes, Tvashtar, spews material up to 200 miles into the Ionian skies. As a result of its extreme geological activity, the surface of Io is under a constant state of change as evidenced by observations from the Galileo and New Horizons spacecraft over a period of eight years.

4. Scorching Plains of Venus

Once imagined by the optimistic to be a lush tropical world teaming with exotic life, the surface of Venus is actually the veritable biblical hell. Deep beneath a thick atmosphere is a runaway greenhouse effect gone mad: surface temperatures are hot enough to melt lead, and the air pressure is comparable to that of a kilometre under the surface of Earth's oceans. Although similar in size and mass to Earth, Venus shares pretty much nothing else in common with its so-called sister planet. A day on Venus is 243 Earth days long (even longer than its year!), while the upper atmosphere is constantly tortured by ferocious storms and sulphuric acid rain.

5. Frozen Wastes of Pluto

Considered the ninth planet of the solar system until its reclassification as a dwarf planet in 2006, Pluto is a frozen little world in the distant reaches of the solar system. Significantly smaller than the Moon, Pluto's surface is almost entirely covered by frozen nitrogen as hard as granite in temperatures of -229 °C. Since no spacecraft has ever visited Pluto, the little world and its five known moons, the largest of which is Charon, remain shrouded in mystery. However, in July, 2015, the New Horizons space probe performed a flyby of the dwarf planet, giving us the first ever close-up images of the surface.

6. Dusty Wastelands of the Moon

The moon formed shortly after the formation of the Earth, likely as a result of a collision between the young, primordial Earth and another planet approximately the size of Mars. The only place beyond Earth where human beings have actually stepped foot, the moon is a lifeless grey desert consisting of numerous craters, lowlands and mountains. One of the more unusual things about the lunar surface is its copious quantities of moon dust, an extremely fine and abrasive material that cuts through things like glass yet has a consistency of powder. Even more strangely, moon dust smells like gunpowder.

7. Icy Deserts of Mars

We know more about the surface of Mars than the bottom of the Earth's oceans, and this is thanks largely to the various robotic rovers that have been exploring the surface over the last few decades. The chilly red desert world is geologically dead, and its surface pressure is so low that water cannot exist on the surface without evaporating within minutes. However, Mars is home to plenty of water ice at its poles, and the Viking lander even took photos of frost on the surface. Mars is also home to violent sand storms and dust devils. The planet also sports the highest mountain in the solar system, Olympus Mons, three times the height of Everest.

8. Violent Geysers of Enceladus

With a diameter of only 300 miles, tiny Enceladus is one of Saturn's many moons, but it is unique in that it has a very geologically active surface characterized by its many cryovolcanos. Unlike the volcanos on Earth, the volcanos of Enceladus erupt with frozen water, methane and ammonia, and vast geysers of such materials have been photographed spewing from the surface of this remote world. Like Europa, Enceladus may also be home to a sub-surface ocean of liquid water, making it another potential abode for extraterrestrial life in the solar system. The surface itself is characterized by its smooth plains and numerous impact craters.

9. Dramatic Sunrises of Mercury

The surface of the closest planet to the sun looks rather unassuming: it is grey and heavily cratered much like that of the moon. However, Mercury offers a very unique experience to anyone who would stand on its surface. Due to its highly eccentric orbit, when Mercury is at its closest point to the sun, the sun will rise and fall in the same location before resuming its normal course across the sky. The sun also appears up to 3.2 times larger in the sky than when seen from Earth. Mercury is also home to the most extreme surface temperature fluctuations in the solar system, ranging from a frigid -193 °C to a searing 426 °C.

10. Jagged Craters of Hyperion

Hyperion is a small moon belonging to Saturn. Irregularly shaped due to its small size and mass and consequent lack of gravity, Hyperion looks rather like a chunk of coral with its many jagged craters. It is widely believed that Hyperion is a fragment left over by an impact event which destroyed a much larger moon. Because of its irregular shape, Hyperion is not tidally locked to Saturn, so it has a very bizarre rotation. In other words, the days on Hyperion are impossible to predict, and they vary significantly. The moon's sponge-like surface is characterized by deep craters all of jagged edges, but almost half of its volume is just empty space.

[listsplosion]

14 Vintage Photos Of NYC In 1983

Thomas Hoepker is a German photographer who captured some amazing photographs of daily life in New York City in 1983.

1. Plowing Canal Street in Chinatown after a blizzard.

2. Residents of East Harlem sit in a vacant lot.

3. Crowd gathers for St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Ave.

4. A woman attending the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Ave listens to the radio.

5. A man pushes his homemade speed bike on Fifth Ave.

6. NYPD at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

7. A family in their apartment in the Bedford Stuyuvesant section of Brooklyn.

8. A man in the East Village sun bathes in a reclining lawn chair.

9. A destroyed car in the South Bronx.

10. A gay couple embraces on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.

11. Andy Warhol and groupies at Xenon night club.

12. A lady rides the subway on the Lexington Avenue line.

13. A dog smokes a cigarette.

14. A fire hydrant brings much needed relief to these children on a hot, summer day. 

Check out more vintage NYC photos at vintage everyday

[listsplosion]

20 Creepiest Two-Sentence Horror Stories That You’ve Ever Read

1.

I woke up to hear knocking on glass.

At first I thought it was the window until I heard it come from the mirror again.

2.

The last thing I saw was my alarm clock flashing 12:07 before she pushed her long rotting nails through my chest, her other hand muffling my screams.

I sat bolt upright, relieve it was only a dream, but as I saw my alarm clock read 12:06, I heard my closet door creak open.

3.

Growing up with cats and dogs, I got used to the sounds of scratching at my door while I slept.

Now that I live alone, it is much more unsettling.

4.

In all of the time that I’ve lived alone in this house, I swear to God I’ve closed more doors than I’ve opened.

5.

A girl heard her mom yell her name from downstairs, so she got up and started to head down.

As she got to the stairs, her mom pulled her into her room and said “I heard that, too.”

6.

She asked why I was breathing so heavily.

I wasn’t.

7.

My wife woke me up last night to tell me there was an intruder in our house.

She was murdered by an intruder 2 years ago.

8.

I awoke to the sound of the baby monitor crackling with a voice comforting my firstborn child.

As I adjust to a new position, my arm brushed against my wife, sleeping next to me.

9.

I always thought my cat had a staring problem - she always seemed fixated on my face.

Until one day, when I realized that she was always looking just behind me.

10.

There’s nothing like the laughter of a baby.

Unless it’s 1AM and you’re home alone.

11.

I was having a pleasant dream when what sounded like hammering woke me.

After, I could barely hear the muffled sound of dirt covering the coffin over my own screams.

12.

“I can’t sleep,” she whispered, crawling into bed with me.

I woke up cold, clutching the dress she was buried in.

13.

I begin tucking him into bed and he tells me, “Daddy, check for monsters under my bed.”

I look underneath for his amusement and see him, another him, under the bed, staring back at me quivering and whispering, “Daddy, there’s somebody on my bed.”

14.

You get home, tired after a long day’s work and ready for a relaxing night alone.

You reach for the light switch, but another hand is already there.

15.

I can’t move, breathe, speak or hear and it’s so dark all the time.

If I knew it would be this lonely, I would have been cremated instead.

16.

She went upstairs to check on her sleeping toddler.

The window was open and the bed was empty.

17.

Don’t be scared of the monsters, just look for them.

Look to your left, to your right, under your bed, behind your dresser, in your closet, but never look up, she hates being seen.

18.

My daughter won’t stop crying and screaming in the middle of the night.

I visit her grave and ask her to stop, but it doesn’t help.

19.

After working a hard day, I came home to see my girlfriend cradling our child.

I didn’t know which was more frightening, seeing my dead girlfriend and stillborn child, or knowing that someone broke into my apartment to place them there.

20.

There was a picture in my phone of me sleeping.

I live alone.

h/t: bored machine

[listsplosion]

10 of the Strangest Things Schools Have Banned

School can be enough of an ordeal without having to contend with the crazy bans put in place by the powers that be. In an age of discrimination and litigation, schools walk a fine line between political correctness and insanity.

School authorities have been reduced to living in a world of paranoia where danger lurks at every corner; a mere hug or high five could lead to unknown harm, and flapjacks pose a real risk. 

Physical concerns aside, there is also the question of students' morality being corrupted by the influence of rainbows and dictionaries. 

All things considered, school is a dangerous place. Here are 10 of the strangest things schools have banned.

1. Triangular Flapjacks

A popular alternative to cakes and biscuits, flapjacks have long been a traditional snack in schools across the UK. However, back in March 2013 these humble baked oat bars got one Essex school in a flap. The school banned triangular flapjacks after a child was hit in the face by one during a food fight. The resulting "sore eye" was deemed concerning enough to provoke an immediate ban and a review of the shape and texture of their flapjacks.

The verdict of the review was that triangular flapjacks were dangerous but square or rectangular ones were fine. The school seems to have overlooked the fact that squares and rectangles also have corners, not to mention the potential for pupils to create a number of lethal weapons by cutting the squares into triangles. Understandably, some of the parents and school workers were unimpressed that such extreme measures could be provoked after one isolated incident. It was suggested that, after a fifteen year untarnished track record of safe flapjack production, this might be a case of culinary correctness gone mad.

2. Cartwheels

Banning cartwheels has become a favorite rule for some schools in Australia. Drummoyne Public School in Sydney hit the headlines in August 2012 when it banned cartwheels outside of gym class, and infuriated parents in the process. The school's spokesman claimed the ban was a preventative measure to stop students from hurting themselves, but angry parents saw it more as the school's way of preventing law suits as the result of injuries. Similar bans have become popular all over the world.

3. 'My Little Pony' Lunch Bag

In 2014, a 9-year-old student from North Carolina made international headlines when he was banned from taking his 'My Little Pony' lunch bag to school. Grayson Bruce had been relentlessly bullied for liking the TV show and franchise which is marketed at girls. When his mother learned of this, her natural reaction was to inform the school, but unfortunately their natural reaction was to punish the victim instead of the bullies.

The story caused widespread outrage and a Facebook page in support of Grayson was created, and currently has over 72,000 'likes.' His supporters are trying to promote friendship and break down gender stereotypes. The school's handling of the situation was viewed as yet another example of victim-blaming and bully-enabling. Grayson's mother Noreen even alluded to rape culture by stating, "Saying it's a trigger for bullying is like saying a short skirt is a trigger for rape. It's flawed logic, it doesn't make any sense."

The school authorities had a change of heart following the backlash and lifted the lunch bag ban. Many of Grayson's supporters are 'Bronies' (males who like My Little Pony) and have received some positive media attention from the incident.

4. Rainbows

LGBT issues haven't always been taken seriously by schools. Conversely, many schools take them so seriously it's as if they're afraid of their students expressing their sexuality. St. Joseph Catholic Secondary School in Ontario, Canada banned official LGBT groups, but allowed its unofficial gay-straight alliance (GSA) to hold an anti-homophobia event. The catch was that they were not allowed to distribute leaflets discussing gender identity or safe sex, donate money from their bake sale to an LGBT charity or mention the school's name at a gay pride parade. Most importantly, all rainbow banners and posters were prohibited. That was a ban too far for the students, who creatively circumvented it by baking cupcakes with rainbow-colored batter, and attending the pride march anyway.

5. Sunscreen

Another bizarre ban had its day in the sun last June. An outraged Texas mother complained that her daughter had ended up with severe sunburn after a field trip when she was not allowed to apply sunscreen. The risk of melanoma and future skin cancer seemed to be less of a concern to school authorities than the effects of applying a "toxic substance," so San Antonio's Northeast Independent School District banned it.

Although it is usually thought of as skin protection, some schools view the lotion as highly dangerous due to potential allergic reactions. It is classed as a medicine so can only be used when accompanied by a doctor's note. The mother claimed the school even feared the possibility of students ingesting it  -- yes, eating sun cream! However, that should be the least of their worries, since studies have shown that just one incidence of sunburn as a kid can double the risk of melanoma in later life.

It's not the first time sunscreen had been banned.The issue had previously received attention in 2012 when a Washington-based student who had a form of albinism suffered from severe burns as a result of a similar ban. Since school's review their policies on a yearly basis, it looks like it will remain a burning issue for the foreseeable future.  

6. Mustaches

Mustaches aren't a common sight in schools unless you count teachers, and this was the reasoning behind one school's ban on them. The Priory Academy in Dunstable Bedfordshire prohibited 13 year-old student Gus Hooker from growing one to take part in 2012's 'Movember' (Moustache November). This charity event takes place nationwide every November as a way to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. Gus had been shaving since he was 9, and felt that he could raise a good amount of cash from his mustache.  However, the school decided that the cause wasn't inclusive enough because not many other students would be able to participate. Although his classmates were supportive, they had to be content with wearing fake mustaches for a day instead.

7. Red Ink

Can kids handle the truth? Maybe not, according to some British schools who have banned red ink for being "too negative." The ban goes back for more than a decade,  with a few trail-blazing schools preferring to take a gentler approach by using green pens instead. Red ink is seen as an aggressive color which may be too upsetting for sensitive souls, whereas green is more neutral and calming.

One school in Cornwall also encouraged teachers  to write two or three positive comments about the work at the bottom of the page and students can write responses by using purple colored pens.

Unsurprisingly, this ban has received a lot criticism involving mumbles of "political correctness gone mad," and questions as to how students will be equipped to handle the harsh realities of life when they leave school.

8. Father's Day

Schools are struggling to keep up with the changing of family structures in modern day life. In efforts to address these issues some schools have put some very twenty-first century bans in place, targeting Father's Day in particular. There was controversy in Scotland in 2008 when thousands of students were prohibited from making Father's Day cards so as to not embarrass students with single mothers or same-sex parents.

Similar bans have taken place in the US and Canada, with Mother's Day also being on the hit list. Although this ban has more support than others because it is based on sensitivity rather than political correctness. Child psychologist Laura Benkov believes the move could benefit children who have lost a parent, claiming "It's not the best thing for a child to have to deal with his/her grief in a school setting."

9. Dictionaries

Who knew Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary was such a racy read? In January 2010 the dictionaries were removed from California schools over complaints about entries referring to various types of oral sex. The content was too sexually explicit for one parent, and then others joined in raising concerns about what might else might be inside the innocuous-looking tome. Dictionaries are generally off limits when it comes to forbidden books, novels like "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" or "The Catcher in the Rye" are the usual targets because of their controversial themes, language or profanity.

Just days after the ban, a committee of parents and teachers decided to return the dictionaries to classrooms and let parents decide if they wanted their children to use them. Merriam Webster's Dictionary is the official dictionary of the school's spelling bee so it should come in useful, let's just hope the words that come up don't need parental guidance.

10. Physical Contact

A recurrent ban that seems widespread in the last decade is based on physical contact. These restrictions encompass everything from contact sports and hugging to the humble high five. Schools have justified the bans, saying they are in the interests of student safety after some had been accidentally or deliberately hurt. They also claim that some students (particularly females) feel uncomfortable as a result of physical contact, but are too embarrassed to speak up about it.

Clearly this ban can be confusing for kids, some of whom are brought up in environments where there is a lot of hugging and physical displays of emotion. What if little Jimmy falls over and little Bobby reaches out to console him? Well, that would be a big no-no at Fairfax County Middle School in Virginia, or the Quest Academy in Croydon, UK. It's unclear as to how a high five, hug or handshake could lead to bullying and disruptive behavior, but that's what the schools say they're trying to avoid. In the meantime, parents remain critical of the policy, wondering how their kids are going to learn the norms of social interaction and how to distinguish inappropriate touching from standard behavior. It doesn't seem likely that they'll hug it out anytime soon.

There you have it. School is a dangerous place to be tackled at your child's peril. Obviously, schools have a responsibility to protect students, but they can go a little too far in their efforts, provoking the ire of parents and pupils alike. On the other hand, if your child makes through school unscathed by flapjacks, red ink and cartwheels, then consider yourselves lucky.