December 12, 2008 @ 12:44 am
I caught this just in time and I’m glad! For the second year in a row (I think), Waterford Crystal and Macy’s Herald Square put the iconic ball that drops in Times Square during new years up for display inside Macy’s.
Two years ago, Waterford Crystal completely redesigned the ball with LED lights from Philips, creating the brightest and most efficient ball to ever drop at Times Square for new years. The same ball is being used this year to ring in the new year.
In person, the ball really isn’t that big. I always assumed it was massive in size because it’s so visible from such a far distance (via TV cameras) but it’s really quite small when you stand next to it.
To give it some comparison in height, have a look at the two pictures below which show the ball in its entirety (on a pole) fitting under the first floor ceiling of Macy’s. I mean, the people next to it aren’t even that much smaller than it.
Anyway, if you want to see it up close in person, you’re out of luck this year because the ball was only on display in Macy’s until December 10. But hey, who knows, Waterford and Macy’s might do this again next year.
And of course, you can catch this same ball on New Year’s Eve on TV everywhere or in Times Square, NYC.
November 21, 2008 @ 1:35 am
About 1000 feet below the Chihuahua Desert in Mexico (what a ridiculous name by the way), there exists a cave filled with giant crystals, the largest of which measures about the height of 6 grown men. The cave was discovered by two brothers drilling at a lead and silver mine.
Although the crystals look like big icicles, the temperature inside this cave is a swealtering 112 degrees Fahrenheit and almost always at 90-100% humidity. Check out the image below of one section of the cave. Look closely and you will notice men in orange jumpsuits exploring the area. Yep, that’s how massive this place is.
September 25, 2008 @ 7:34 pm
Aurumania, a Scandinavian bicycle company, has created a very limited edition track bike that is completely covered in 24-karat gold and decorated with 600 Swarovski crystals. It is quite possibly one of the most expensive bikes in existence, worth a grand total of almost $117,000. The exclusive bike company includes a 10-year no-questions-asked guarantee should you somehow mess this baby up while you show it off to your less than rich friends.
And hey, since you’re buying such an expensive bike, the company might as well deliver it personally to you anywhere on the planet with white-glove service. Oh, they do. Wow. Maybe, just maybe, this bike is worth the huge price tag.
If for whatever reason you cannot afford this beautiful bike, maybe you might be able to afford the lesser non-crystallized version. Still decked out in gold, the standard Aurumania gold track bike is only just over $30,500. The company also sells a gold-plated wall-mount for your bike so that you can keep it out of reach of poor, oily fingers. However, the bike rack will cost you over $7300, which alone is enough to get you several very, very, very nice non-gold, non-crystallized bicycles. It’s your money though, so do what you want with it.
