Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend looking at these pictures if you’re afraid of heights. A group of self-described “hot tub enthusiasts” in Switzerland has gone ahead with one pretty extreme plan: using a hot tub that has been suspended some 600 feet off a bridge. They selected the Pont du Gueuroz, which was one of the tallest bridges ever built at the time of its construction.
They started work on their system at 4:30 a.m. on October 1. Four and half hours later the first person went into the hot tub. The last person came out at 6:00 p.m. 25 people participated in the experiment. More pictures are here.
Self-described “Guardian of Seattle” and real-life “superhero” Phoenix Jones was arrested and charged with assault after he pepper sprayed a group of people outside of a nightclub this past weekend.
A group of men and women left a nightclub and were “dancing and having a good time” when Jones burst onto the scene and pepper sprayed them. According to a police report, a woman approached police officers around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning and claimed “she and some of her friends had just been attacked and pepper sprayed by a male in a ‘Spider-Man costume.”
“In this particular case, he perceived that this group was fighting and when we contacted them, they said they weren’t fighting,” said Det. Mark Jamieson, a Seattle Police Department public information officer. “Unfortunately, he used force. He committed a crime, an assault against these individuals. That’s against the law.”
“I WOULD NEVER ASSAULT OR HURT ANOTHER PERSON IF THEY WERE NOT CAUSING HARM TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING,” Jones wrote on Twitter.
Jones is a member of the “Rain City Superhero Movement,” a group of people who patrol the streets aiming to stop crimes. Following his arrest, the Smoking Gun exposed his real name, Benjamin John Francis Fodor, 23. Jones could face up to year in jail if convicted.
Van Der Spuy was riding for Team Jeep South Africa at Albert Falls Dam in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa when the accident occurred. In the video, his teammate, Travis Walker, warns him to “watch the buck” but an accident is unavoidable.
Former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh, 40, died this weekend of a suspected drug overdose at his hotel in Chicago. The musician-turned-artist eerily predicted his death two weeks ago on Twitter.
On September 26, Welsh took to Twitter and wrote that he had dreamt his own death. Was his message a call for help?
A little bit later, Welsh updated his earlier message and changed the date of his death to this past weekend.
Welsh hailed from Burlington, Vermont and played with Weezer from 1998-2001 until he suffered a nervous breakdown. Following his musical career, Welsh devoted himself to painting and drawing.
He was supposed to attend a Weezer concert on Sunday night in Chicago. The band went ahead with the show and dedicated it to their former bandmate.
“A unique talent, a deeply loving friend and father, and a great artist is gone, but we will never forget him. His chapter in the weezer story (’98 – ’01) was vital, essential, wild, and amazing,” the band wrote on their website.
Legendary Apple co-founder and technological innovator Steve Jobs has passed away at the age of 56. He had waged a public battle against pancreatic cancer for the better part of a decade.
Jobs was a visionary who fundamentally changed the way people interact. The iPod, iPad and iPhone are just a couple of his inventions.
The company’s Board of Directors posted a short message online. “Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”
A statement from the Jobs family said tech visionary passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. “In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories. We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.”
Tributes poured in from around the world, including the White House. “Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it… The world has lost a visionary.”
Microsoft c0-founder Bill Gates offered his condolences to the family and paid tribute to his longtime rival. “The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.”
Google CEO and co-founder Larry Page said Jobs’ focus on the user experience influenced him as he launched the world’s greatest search engine. “I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it.”
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wrote a short statement on his wall. “Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.”
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo paid tribute in a tweet. “Once in a rare while, somebody comes along who doesnt just raise the bar, they create an entirely new standard of measurement.”
Speaker of the House John Boehner used Twitter as well. “Steve Jobs changed the world for the better w/ his innovations & genius. R.I.P.”
Here’s a collection of celebrity reaction to the sad news.
Lastly, for those people who have not seen it, here’s Jobs addressing Stanford University in 2005. His speech is moving and well-worth a look.
They also constructed a jaccuzzi at the summit of Mont Blanc.
Not Intent on Arriving 