STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

[MIKA27]

The Story Behind Monopoly Pieces

While many board games use colorful little pegs as markers, Monopoly, the game with the unique power to unite and divide a family in the matter of an hour, has those odd tokens you’re no doubt familiar with. You’ve probably played more than a few games with the little racecar or thimble but never stopped to think, “Why the hell am I a thimble?”

From Random Junk to Iconic Pieces

When Monopoly was first concocted, the game’s inventor (although whether he stole the idea is highly disputed and probably true), Charles Darrow, envisioned players using small items from around their homes as playing pieces. Your sister could have been a button and you could have been a bottle cap or a lighter, for instance. It was at the suggestion of Darrow’s niece that the pieces be charms from a girl’s charm bracelet. If Darrow didn’t give her a sizable paycheck for that advice, well, that’s a damn shame because she was really the genius behind perhaps the most iconic part of the most iconic board game ever created.
Since the game was introduced in the 1930’s, pieces have come and gone. Some have stuck around since the beginning, others have been given the boot, and one was just added earlier this year. Of course, if you are buying special editions, you may have encountered a few obscurities. For standard Monopoly players though, here’s the story behind each piece.

Top Hat

Often considered the most recognizable icon of the game, the top hat is also one of the original pieces created in 1935. The token was based on the hat the game’s lead character, Mr. Monopoly, would wear. Of course, when the game was introduced, he was known as Rich Uncle Pennybags, and many have speculated the character was based on J.P. Morgan.

Thimble

The piece of choice of US Monopoly champion, Richard Marinaccio, the thimble is another of the original pieces from 1935. Much like the top hat and shoe, the thimble has appeared in most versions of the game that have been released. It was voted out earlier this year.

Iron (Recently Retired)

Earlier this year, fans of Monopoly voted on a new token to add to the game. They also voted on which piece it would replace. With only 8% of the vote, the iron was the low man on the totem pole. Perhaps saddest to see it go is Monopoly World Champion, Bjorn Halvard Knappskog, who used the piece in his last championship match. The iron should have seen the writing on the wall, it was the second least popular piece in a 1998 vote.

Boot

Around since the beginning, the Boot was modeled after the practical work shoe of the 30s. Instead of changing its design with the times, the Boot has remained the same and is a symbol of both hard work and the riches that can come along with it. It met it demise this year, as an online vote forced the Boot into retirement.

Battleship

The die-cast metal battleship token is actually somewhat of a game piece celebrity. The piece was originally used by Parker Brothers in a game called “Conflict.” When that game failed it was easy enough for the company to take the pieces and use them in Monopoly. Since then, it has also been used in the game “Diplomacy” as well.

Cannon (Retired)

Often called the cannon even though rumor is the piece was supposed to be called the howitzer, this piece is closely tied to the battleship. The cannon was also used in “Conflict” and tossed in with Monopoly as that game failed. In 1946 it changed from its original design to the more recent long cannon style. Unlike most pieces, the cannon was simply dropped from the lineup without any kind of fan vote or campaign.

Racecar

The car was added just a touch earlier than the other pieces in this section, appearing as the seventh token. The racecar steals its sharp looks from a 1930’s roadster. The original idea was to design the car token based on the car Mr. Monopoly would drive around. It’s undergone a few variation changes through time and sported a “3” on its side until sometime in the 1960s.

Purse (Retired)

The purse became the eighth playing piece to join the Monopoly family, and it has a bit of an odd history. It appeared and disappeared from sets beginning in 1935/1936 until it was finally retired in the early 50s. Early on, the game pushed the limits expanding to 10 tokens (the purse being one of them) and then scaled back and continued to oscillate this way for years. The purse seemed to be thusly added and removed as these changes occurred.

Rocking Horse (Retired)

The rocking horse is one of the more hard to find pieces nowadays. It was only around from the 30s to the 50s and it didn’t appear in many editions of the game during that time.

Lantern (Retired)

The lantern is tied at the hip with the rocking horse. Both were added at the same time and removed in the 50s when the Scottie dog, the wheelbarrow, and the horse and rider were added.

Scottie Dog

One of three new tokens added in the 1950s, the Scottie Dog became Mr. Monopoly’s right hand-man/pup. The token has become the most loved of all the pieces and received the most votes to keep it during the recent ousting of the Iron (29% of the vote to be precise).

Wheelbarrow

Introduced in the 1950s wave of token changes, the wheelbarrow was one of the pieces that replaced the lantern, purse, and rocking horse. The wheelbarrow was included as an emblem of hard work and one of the prime tools needed to build the properties around the board. It barely survived the recent vote and is clearly not the most popular piece ever as it placed dead last in the vote in 1998. It finally met its demise this year, as it was voted out in the January 2017 online vote and will no longer appear in sets starting this fall.

Horse & Rider (Retired)

The horse & rider became a staple piece beginning in the early 50s until it met a similar fate as the cannon (being removed without much fanfare).

Sack of Money

The sack of money became the first new token added in over 40 years in 1999. It beat out the piggy bank (20% of the vote) and the bi-plane (29% of the vote) in a vote Hasbro ran to join the elite ranks by securing 51% of the vote of 1.5 million people. Unfortunately for the sack of money, it was retired less than a decade after it was introduced.

Cat

The winner of a recent vote, the cat is one of the newest piece you’ll find if 1999 you purchase a set. The cat defeated the diamond ring, a guitar, a toy robot, and the helicopter to find itself among the lot.

Monopoly shook things up again this year, as an online vote gave the boot to, well, the boot, along with the wheelbarrow and the thimble. Out of 64 potential token options, millions of fans voted in the following game pieces, which will appear in Fall 2017:

T-Rex
The Tyrannosaurus Rex token received more votes than any new potential game piece in the January 2017 vote.

Rubber Ducky

Penguin

[MIKA27]

Human Skull Logs

There’s just something about a big pile of flaming human skulls in your backyard firepit that sends the perfect message to your friends, family and neighbors. If that kind of sheer terror is something you’re interested in, look no further than these fireproof human skull logs. Each skull is “about the size of an adult skull” (that’s 8-9″ long and 6.5-7.5″ wide, in case you were curious) and made with a steel-reinforced interior, lava granules and a high-heat refractory ceramic material that the company says is the same type that NASA tests rockets on. All these factors mean the skulls are weather-resistant, heavy enough to stay put and rated for up to 3000-degrees Fahrenheit. Each skull is handmade in California and finished with a white, black or brown five step hand-painting process. They’re definitely not cheap, but no other “logs” are going to give your guests the same reaction when you set them on fire.

[MIKA27]

PG X BUGATTI BICYCLE

Developed by the former and designed by the latter, the PG x Bugatti Bicycle is the ideal two-wheel complement to the four-wheeled Chiron. Made from more than 95 percent carbon fiber, the bike weighs less than 5kg, making it the lightest "special" urban bike in the world. Individual components can be tailored to the rider, and customers of Bugatti can even get theirs built to match their cars. Manufactured by Kussmaul in Germany and limited to just 667 bikes worldwide. $39,000

 

[MIKA27]

PITMASTER

Spring is almost here for some, whilst winter is nearing elsewhere, and with it comes the start of barbecue season. Reading through Pitmaster: Recipes, Techniques, and Barbecue Wisdom is a good way to get up to speed. Penned by masters of the craft like Andy Husbands, Chris Hart, and Mike Mills, it's filled with information that will help you make the most of your cooking sessions, from tips and tricks on smoker operation to award-winning recipes. Each chapter features a guest pitmaster who specializes in a different style of 'cue, giving the book a wider range than you'll find in a typical tome of recipes.

[MIKA27]

Does This Leaked Deadpool 2 Concept Art Reveal Brad Pitt As Cable?

Is that...is that Brad Pitt as Cable?!
We see Domino, Deadpool and Cable in this alleged leaked concept art (if it's legit, it's unconfirmed) - and that Cable does look a lot like Pitt. Michael Shannon and Stranger Things' David Harbour are also apparently being considered for the role.

It certainly looks like him, right? What do you think?
 

 

 

 

[MIKA27]

The Han Solo Movie Covers Six Formative Years In The Smuggler's Life

We now know just how young the young Han Solo will be — and the key moments in his early life the film will explore.

At a discussion in Los Angeles Thursday, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that the Han Solo Star Wars Story will take place as Han ages from 18 to 24. It will show him acquiring his iconic ship the Millennium Falcon, meeting his partner Chewbacca, and "getting his name," according to Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Fritz.

Now, none of this is exactly earth-shattering. You don't put Lando in a movie about Han Solo and not show how he won the Millennium Falcon. And it was previously revealed that the film will explain how Han saved Chewbacca's life, setting up the life debt and friendship between the two.

So what does "getting his name" mean? Is Han Solo not his given name? Is it a cool smuggler alias? No, I think what Fritz means is "making a name for himself", but just saying so in under 140 characters. Things like beating Lando for the Falcon, saving Chewbacca, and whatever else will help give Han the reputation and swagger he has later in the series, where he's an infamous smuggler who has wronged Jabba the Hutt and others. Or, maybe, it is literally "getting his name". We don't know, but that would be weird.

I'm sure I'll say this a million times leading up to 2018, but I have mixed feelings about this. Lots of what makes Han Solo so great is his mysterious past and all these events just being hinted at. Now we're going to actually see them, and as exciting as that is as a fan, you also don't want the character to be demystified. All we've imagined about the young Han will be difficult to top in reality. Then again, with Lawrence and Jake Kasdan writing, as well as Phil Lord and Chris Miller directing, there's a good chance seeing these things play out will equal our expectations. Or at least we hope.

Starring the 27-year-old Alden Ehrenreich, the untitled Han Solo film opens 25 May 2018.

[MIKA27]

Watch: Batman, The Flash And Aquaman Get Teaser Trailers For 'Justice League'

There's a Justice League trailer dropping this weekend, so here's a couple of teaser trailers to tide you over, featuring Bruce "Everyone Knows I'm Batman By Now, Right" Wayne, and everyone's favourite Extreme Makeover transformation, AquaDrogo.

 

 

 

[MIKA27]

The New 'Baywatch' Trailer Is Here And It Is Ridiculous (In The Best Possible Way)

This might be the stupidest movie trailer I've ever seen, and that's not a bad thing. I mean, the tagline for this movie is "Lifesaving takes a pair" so I think I'm right not to be taking it seriously here.
Directed by Seth Gordon, Baywatch features Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Zac Efron, Priyanka Chopra, Alexandra Daddario, Jon Bass, Kelly Rohrbach and Ilfenesh Hadera

Baywatch follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Johnson) as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

It hits cinemas 1 June.

[MIKA27]

HAUNTING PHOTOS OF A MASSIVE UNDERGROUND MILITARY BASE FORGOTTEN BY TIME

Nestled between Croatia and Bosnia, Željava Air Base was once one of Europe's largest underground military bases. These days, the abandoned space is a crumbling memorial to the Yugoslavian government.

Željava Air Base was constructed between 1948 and 1968. During those two decades, at least $6 billion was sunk into construction costs. That's over three times the current combined military budget of Serbia and Croatia.

To give you an idea of Željava's size, the compound had 5 runways, numerous radar and missile sites, military police stations, and tunnel systems that could house squadrons of aircraft.

The base was used up until the 90s but decommissioned shortly after. Everything was destroyed to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. This officially rendered the base a graveyard for bullet-riddled planes and outdated machinery.

In 2004, there was a push to convert the sprawling compound into housing for asylum seekers. Sadly, the idea was abandoned. The countries of former Yugoslavia couldn't come to a unanimous decision, so the site remains overgrown and wild.

Who knows what lies hidden in the secret tunnels and underground rooms here? Probably all kinds of fascinating treasures from Yugoslavia's military past. Just be careful if you're thinking of exploring Željava in person.

There are mines still buried everywhere and that's no joke. Dogs are brought here to be trained to sniff out explosives, so we don't recommend you visit without a proper guide.

[MIKA27]

Citizen Eco-Drive Professional Diver 

Presented at this year´s Baselworld watch fair, the new Citizen Eco-Drive Professional Diver is a solar-powered dive watch with an extreme depth rating of 1,000M! Citizen also makes the claim that it is the most water-resistant dive watch that is light powered, allowing it to go deep within the ocean where no natural light exists to power the movement. This is one serious and rugged watch, it is fitted with a locking system for the bezel, and Citizens usual, year-long power reserve. Powered by the Citizen in-house-made caliber J210 Eco-Drive quartz movement, the professional dive watch has a large (52.5mm wide) and thick (21.4mm) titanium case, plus a dial that offers the time, date, and a power reserve indicator. 

[MIKA27]

Noomi Rapace's New Movie, Rupture, Looks Really Messed Up

I wasn’t aware Rupture existed until about an hour ago. That’s when an email came into my inbox touting a tense scifi film with Noomi Rapace, Peter Stormare, Kerry Bishe, and Michael Chiklis, directed by the guy who made Secretary. Yup, I’ll click on that.

Well, I’m glad I did. Co-written and directed by Steven Shainberg, Rupture looks really messed up and interesting. The trailer is hard to watch at the start as the main character, played by Prometheus star Rapace, gets violently kidnapped. But things only get weirder from there. Check it out.

Will Rupture, which comes to DirectTV on March 30 and theaters and VOD April 28, actually be good? We don’t know. But that’s surely an intriguing and crazy trailer.

[Fuzz]

55 minutes ago, MIKA27 said:

Does This Leaked Deadpool 2 Concept Art Reveal Brad Pitt As Cable?

Is that...is that Brad Pitt as Cable?!
We see Domino, Deadpool and Cable in this alleged leaked concept art (if it's legit, it's unconfirmed) - and that Cable does look a lot like Pitt. Michael Shannon and Stranger Things' David Harbour are also apparently being considered for the role.

It certainly looks like him, right? What do you think?
 

 

 

 

Oh dear Lord! Please let it not be so?!?!?!

[polarbear]

1 hour ago, Fuzz said:

Oh dear Lord! Please let it not be so?!?!?!

Choice of actor aside, the character design is pretty cool

[MIKA27]

Justice League Trailer Unites The Team And World

The full Justice League trailer is here, and things are about to get epic.

 

[MIKA27]

NASA Is Eyeing Off A Breakthrough Australian Scientific Discovery That Could Reverse Aging (And Help Get Us To Mars)

This is incredible.

University of New South Wales researchers have made a discovery that could lead to a drug that actually reverses aging - and could even help NASA get its astronauts to Mars.
The team have identified a critical step in the molecular process that allows cells to repair damaged DNA. Their experiments in mice suggest a treatment for DNA damage from ageing and radiation that is so promising, it attracted the attention of NASA, which believes the treatment can help its Mars mission.

While our cells have the capability to repair DNA damage − which happens every time we go out into the sun, for example – their ability to do this declines as we age. The scientists identified that the metabolite NAD+, which is naturally present in every cell of our body, has a key role as a regulator in protein-to-protein interactions that control DNA repair.

Treating mice with a NAD+ precursor, or "booster," called NMN improved their cells' ability to repair DNA damage caused by radiation exposure or old age. Human trials of NMN therapy will begin within six months.

"The cells of the old mice were indistinguishable from the young mice, after just one week of treatment" said lead researcher Professor David Sinclair of UNSW School of Medical Sciences and Harvard Medical School Boston. "This is the closest we are to a safe and effective anti-ageing drug that’s perhaps only three to five years away from being on the market if the trials go well."

The work has excited NASA, which is considering the challenge of keeping its astronauts healthy during a four-year mission to Mars. Professor Sinclair and his UNSW colleague Dr Lindsay Wu were winners in NASA's iTech competition in December last year, out of 300 entries.

Even on short missions, astronauts experience accelerated ageing from cosmic radiation, suffering from muscle weakness, memory loss and other symptoms when they return. On a trip to Mars, the situation will be far worse: five per cent of the astronauts' cells will die and their chances of cancer will approach 100 per cent.

Cosmic radiation is not only an issue for astronauts. We’re all exposed to it aboard aircraft, with a London-Singapore-Melbourne flight roughly equivalent in radiation to a chest x-ray. In theory, the same treatment could mitigate any effects of DNA damage for frequent flyers. The other group that could benefit from this work is survivors of childhood cancers.

Dr Wu says 96 per cent of childhood cancer survivors suffer a chronic illness by age 45, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancers unrelated to the original cancer.

"All of this adds up to the fact they have accelerated ageing, which is devastating," he says. "It would be great to do something about that, and we believe we can with this molecule."

For the past four years, Professor Sinclair and Dr Wu have been working on making NMN into a drug substance with their companies MetroBiotech NSW and MetroBiotech International. The human trials will begin this year at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston.

The findings on NAD+ and NMN add momentum to the exciting work the UNSW Laboratory for Ageing Research has done over the past four years. They've been looking at the interplay of a number of proteins and molecules and their roles in the ageing process. They had already established that NAD+ could be useful for treating various diseases of ageing, female infertility and also treating side effects of chemotherapy.

In 2003, Professor Sinclair made a link between the anti-ageing enzyme SIRT1 and resveratrol, a naturally occurring molecule found in tiny quantities in red wine.

"While resveratrol activates SIRT1 alone, NAD+ boosters activate all seven sirtuins, SIRT1-7, and should have an even greater impact on health and longevity," he says.

[Science]

[MIKA27]

Robert Rodriguez Is Likely To Direct The Escape From New York Remake 

An Escape from New York remake will happen. It's just a matter of when. And now, we have a very intriguing director circling the project.

Robert Rodriguez is the likely choice to helm the remake of the 1981 John Carpenter film, according to The Tracking Board. 20th Century Fox has been trying to get the remake off the ground for several years but it seems like in Rodriguez they found a filmmaker willing to take on the intimidating challenge.

The current script is by Neil Cross (Luther) and Fox wants to "follow the same formula employed by its Planet of the Apes franchise to great success", whatever that means. (Prequels? God, we hope not.) The one issue is that Rodriguez is currently making Alita: Battle Angel which won't be in theatres until July 2018. That means Escape from New York probably wouldn't get started until at least then, assuming Alita takes up all that time.

Obviously, you never want to see your favourite movies remade for no reason, and a cult classic like Escape from New York surely has a ton of fans. You just have to hope and pray that whoever makes the movie, they bring something to it that gives it a distinct reason to exist.

[MIKA27]

Rogue One Director Talks About 'That Scene' With Darth Vader

Even if Rogue One didn't do it for you, you'd be hard-pressed saying the final scene involving everyone's favourite brooding Sith Lord didn't float your corvette. So, how did director Gareth Edwards go about capturing Darth Vader at his prime? WIRED caught up with Edwards to find out.
In the above video, which is a little over five-and-a-half minutes, Edwards shares a number of details about the scene, including how it came together just four months before release and the cinematic tricks employed to make sure Vader was "badass" enough.

One snippet I found interesting involves the Death Star plans themselves, which take the form of a small, credit card-sized device with a yellow disc in its centre.

Always striving for accuracy, it took a bit of effort to make sure the prop matched what fans had seen before... regardless of how brief its previous appearance:

Quote

What's interesting about that card actually is that there's no record whatsoever of what that looks like. The only reference is in the Blu-ray of A New Hope. There's one close-up where [Princess Leia] starts to slide it [into R2-D2] and that's all we had to base this card on.

Edwards goes on to say they he may or may not have made off with that particular prop, making him the true thief of the Death Star plans. Edwards himself also plays a crucial role in the film (as an extra) — in fact, the director is convinced, canon-wise, the original trilogy would never have happened without his character.

MIKA: I personally would love to see a stand alone Vader movie.
 

 

[MIKA27]

The Spider-Man Homecoming Teaser Poster Is Perfect

One thing no one ever wants to see again is Spider-Man's origin. We've got it. And maybe you didn't get it from the trailer, but Spider-Man Homecoming is a whole new kind of Spider-Man. It isn't about his physical origin, it's about his mental one. And the teaser poster hammers that point home.

And the tagline is: "Homework can wait. The city can't."

So let's list why this poster is so great. Obviously, it's a pretty image. The colours and city simply look nice. You also get the sense of Spider-Man as a character. He's a kid. He's wearing a school uniform. There are two parts of him, the human and the hero. Also, he feels responsible for New York. It's his city.

Then there's the backdrop. The New York skyline complete with Avengers Tower. Yes, this is a Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which was pretty obvious when Iron Man showed up in his trailer, but this poster just puts it there very matter-of-factly.

Then again, my colleague Katharine pointed out that Spider-Man wearing that jacket makes him pretty damn recognisable. "Poor anonymity," she says. I agree. But they don't have to wear it always, right?

Nevertheless, this is a great poster. It very simply shouts out, "This is not a Spider-Man you've seen before." And we can't wait.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE.

Heroic Hollywood found this international poster for the film. Same basic idea: New York, Spider-Man, Avengers Tower, but with way less chill

Spider-Man: Homecoming opens July 7

 

 

[MIKA27]

DOCUMENTARY: BLACKBURN BUCCANEER – THE FULL STORY

The Blackburn Buccaneer was developed in the 1950s as a carrier-borne strike aircraft with a long range – capable of carrying a nuclear payload under enemy radar at speeds of Mach .85. In order to fit the Buccaneer onto the smaller carriers used by the British, the tail and nose could both fold inwards, and the wings can be folded up – significantly reducing the floor space required when in not in the air.

Despite its age, the Buccaneer was used extensively in the first Gulf War, with 12 aircraft deploying laser-guided bombs for precision strikes. By the end of the war, the Buccaneers had completed 218 strike sorties.

This film features detailed interviews with many of the men directly involved in the design and development of the original Blackburn Buccaneer, and it includes a wealth of footage of Buccaneers being built and flown – including a number of carrier take offs and landings.

If you’d like to read more about the Blackburn Buccaneer you can click here.

[MIKA27]

Legendary Ming Dynasty Sunken Treasure Found in China

A famous Chinese legend that has inspired many treasure hunters involves the brutal leader of a peasant uprising nicknamed Yellow Tiger, looting raids of Ming dynasty villages that brought him tons of treasures, and a failed escape that resulted in the Yellow Tiger’s defeat and death and the sinking of 1,000 boats said to be loaded with precious metals and jewelry, never to be seen again. Until now.

Archeologists announced this week that the legend of the sunken treasure of Zhang Xianzhong, the Yellow Tiger, is true. They found over 10,000 items at the bottom of the Minjiang River where it meets the Jinjiang River, 50 kilometers south of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan in the Sichuan Province.

Quote

The items found include large amounts of gold, silver and bronze coins, jewelry, and iron weapons such as swords, knives and spears.

And that’s just from one boat, according to Gao Dalun, director of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archeology Research Institute. Sichuan residents may want a big chunk of those items since Zhang’s conquest in the 1640s of the area came after some of the most brutal mass killings in history – an estimated one million dead out of a population of three million. The Yellow Tiger – so nicknamed because of his yellow color and heavy “tiger” chin – was said to have counted his killings by collected heads, hands, feet, ears and noses.

Needless to say, he was hated by locals and his rumored treasures were desired by other groups. Upon hearing that the army of the Manchu Qing Dynasty was heading his way, Zhang loaded his loot in 1,000 ships and headed back to Shaanxi province. During the escape, the ships sank and Zhang either went down with his treasures or was killed by the Manchu forces, possibly helped by the betrayal of one of his officers. Serves him right.

The story of finding the legendary treasure is just as interesting, although not as gruesome.  Silver items had been found along the shores of the Minjiang since the 1950s and were often linked to Zhang but never proven. However, a water diversion project in 2005 revealed a hollowed-out log with seven silver ingots in the riverbed. That was followed in 2011 with the discovery of gold and silver coins by workers digging sand for construction. At that point, as is usually the case, treasure hunters and looters converged on the location.

As objects rumored to be from the Yellow Tiger began to appear on the black market, local police investigated and last October busted 10 artifact looting gangs and 70 traffickers and recovered hundreds of artifacts in the largest looting case ever solved in China.

The Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archeology Research Institute took over the area and, beginning in the dry season this January, drained the river and dug down through five meters of muck until they struck gold … and silver and jewelry and weapons and solid gold seals with engravings proving they belonged to Zhang.

Excavations by the archeologist will continue through April. Then they have to decide how to protect it from more treasure hunters and looters looking for the no-longer-mythical other 999 treasure ships.

[MIKA27]

MARSHALL STOCKWELL TRAVEL SPEAKER

Long ago, Marshall made a name for themselves in the Rock n’ Roll world for their high quality and iconically styled amplifiers. Today, the brand is still going strong, but they’ve expanded their wheelhouse outside of just instrument accessories. Now they have an entire line of high quality audio gear, including their Stockwell travel speaker.

The smallest Bluetooth-enabled speaker that the brand offers, the Stockwell still features the brand’s signature styling and high quality tech. It weighs just 2.65 pounds, but is equipped with two 2.25” woofers and a two-channel Class D amplifier – giving it one hell of a sonic punch. The analog volume and tone knobs mounted upon it, which can be used to perfect your desired sound, are fully retractable for added security when they aren’t in use. And the Stockwell can even be used to answer or end calls and charge your listening device on-the-go. You can pick one up now – with a multi-functional cover – for just $225. [Purchase]

 

[MIKA27]

LA GRANJA IBIZA

Located on a 20-acre farm surrounded by a forest of pine and citrus trees, the La Granja Ibiza is a members-only retreat in the middle of the Mediterranean. The former private residence now offers nine guest rooms, ranging from an intimate single room to suites with a private garden and terrace, featuring an ancient Iberian aesthetic with arched walls, dark wood beam ceilings and doors, and hammered iron fixtures. A short distance from the farmhouse is a guesthouse with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, lounge area, and private garden. The on-site chef works closely with the farmer and local producers to create the freshest farm-to-table meals, offered family style around the communal table. After dinner drinks are served at the base of a mature carob tree, where you can indulge in an assortment of mezcal-based cocktails and organic wines.

[MIKA27]

Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor Watch

Most watch movements are held inside the case. With the Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor Watch, the movement is the case. Built from 257 pieces, the watch has a 42.5mm movement frame cut from a solid plate of stainless steel, protected by two plates of carefully milled and polished sapphire, held together with four screws. The flying tourbillon is visible through an aperture at 6 o'clock, the indices and hour and minute hands coated in SuperLuminova, and the micro-rotor visible through the back. Finished with a gray alligator strap with a folding steel buckle and limited to just 99 pieces.

MIKA: One can dream...

[MIKA27]

BLACK COW VODKA

Traditionally made using potatoes or apples, it's tough to find something unique in the vodka section of your liquor store. But Black Cow Vodka is unlike any vodka you've had, as it's made using the milk from grass-fed cows. The world's first and only pure milk vodka is made entirely from the milk of the cows mentioned above and provides a smooth, creamy character that helps it stand out in the crowded vodka market. Drink it chilled or mix into a dirty martini for a different take on the biggest selling spirit in the world.

[MIKA27]

Villagers Find Missing Man's Corpse In Belly Of Enormous Snake

**CONTENT WARNING FOR THE SQUEAMISH**

Snakes are scary. Even small ones — the way they move, the prospect of venom, those little forked tongues — can send chills down your neck. But did you know that some snakes can eat human beings? A tragic incident in Indonesia recently reminded the world of this fact.

A 25-year-old man named Akbar disappeared on Sunday when he was harvesting palm oil on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. By Monday, his fellow villagers were searching the jungle for the man and, according to local police, the search party found "scattered palm oil fruit, a picking tool, and a boot" near a 7m-long reticulated python. The villagers chased down the snake, cut open its gut, and to their horror (as well as the world's) they found Akbar's body inside.

"It seems he was attacked from behind because we found a wound on his back," Junaedi, an official in the village of Salubrio, told the press. Here's a six-minute-long video of the villagers gutting the python, if you feel like throwing up today:

So, to recap, an able-bodied man in his 20s was working in the fields and a snake the length of a city bus attacked him. The reticulated python, the world's longest snake, got a hold of the man with rows of teeth that turn inward toward its stomach, and then likely squeezed him to death before swallowing him whole. Still alive, the snake chilled next to its poor victim's belongings before a group of villagers killed it and sliced open its belly to reveal a corpse covered in digestive fluids. Experts say that it's extremely rare for pythons to swallow human beings, but as we learned this week, it does happen.

Were you planning on sleeping tonight? Sorry, this snake story will haunt your dreams for weeks to come.