bookofjoe

Wieliczka Salt Mine — A world treasure unknown outside eastern Europe

From Wikipedia:

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The mine, built in the 13th century, produced table salt continuously until 2007, as one of the world's oldest salt mines still in operation.

[From an email accompanying a number of these photos: "It may feel like you are in the middle of a Jules Verne adventure as you descend into the depths of the world. After a 500-foot climb down wooden stairs, the visitor will see some amazing sights."]

From its beginning and throughout its existence, the Royal mine was run by the Żupy krakowskie Salt Mines.

Commercial mining was discontinued in 1996 due to low salt prices and mine flooding."

The mine's attractions include dozens of statues and an entire chapel that has been carved out of the rock salt by the miners.

The oldest sculptures are augmented by the new carvings by actual artists.

About 1.2 million people visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine annually.

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[via Virginia Moore]

Arcade Light Switch

Must have.

From Holy Kaw!:

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Looking for a way to liven up your nights without leaving home?

Sock it to the darkness in old-fashioned arcade style with this light switch.

Simply remove your regular plate cover, replace it with the Power-Up Arcade Light Switch, and let the fun begin.

Not recommended for children who already have trouble settling down to bed.

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"Not recommended for children who already have trouble settling down to bed" — alas, that's over half my readership.

Feel free to ignore the caution.

$29.99.

[via Technabob and Richard Kashdan]

Oreos Around The World

Above, a Green Tea Ice Cream Oreo — featuring a cooling sensation in the crème — available in China.

Below, side-by-side Blueberry Crème and Raspberry, available in China.

Below, Vanilla and Strawberry, available in Latin America.

Below, Orange and Mango, available in China.

 Below, Peach and Grape, available in China.

Below, Dulce de leche and Banana, available in Latin America.

 Below, Chocolate.

[via the Wall Street Journal]

College Football Duck Tape

What took so long?

"Support your favorite team

with College Duck Tape!"

Wa Hoo Wa —

why hasn't UVA picked up the cluephone?

No Cavaliers tape, alas,

among the 44 schools available.

$6.67. 

a

roll.

A vote for Gray Cat is a vote for change

Res ipsa loquitur.

Things We Didn't Know Loo Roll — "Poo and learn!"

What took so long?

Erm.

From the website:

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The Things We Didn't Know Loo Roll contains all manner of silly facts and wild claims.

Great talking points (for after you've left the toilet, obviously).

Over 70 individual facts, so plenty to be getting on with.

Will fit any normal loo roll holder.

Suitable for ages 4 years +.

Not too scratchy, either.

Full roll.

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"Suitable for ages 4 years +" is GREAT news — why, that's over 75% of my readers!

£4.99.

Layers at the base of Mount Sharp on Mars

From NASA:

A chapter of the layered geological history of Mars is laid bare in this postcard from NASA's Curiosity rover. The image shows the base of Mount Sharp, the rover's eventual science destination.

This image is a portion of a larger image taken by Curiosity's 100-millimeter Mast Camera on Aug. 23, 2012. See PIA16104. Scientists enhanced the color in one version to show the Martian scene under the lighting conditions we have on Earth, which helps in analyzing the terrain.

For scale, an annotated version of the figure highlights a dark rock that is approximately the same size as Curiosity. The pointy mound in the center of the image, looming above the rover-sized rock, is about 1,000 feet (300 meters) across and 300 feet (100 meters) high.
› Annotated version

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Rocket Air Blaster — Camera Sensor Dust Remover

Wrote Roy Furchgott in Sunday's Washington Post, "Although this bulb for blowing air looks like a toy, it's indispensable. Dust on your camera sensor will leave marks that show in the same place on each and every shot you take. If you sometimes change lenses, you'll eventually get dust on the sensor. But unless you really know what you're doing (really, really know), you shouldn't use any cleaning product that touches the sensor.

That's where a bulb can be handy. Squeeze it, and a little burst of air clears the dust. The bulb is better than canned air, which uses propellants that can cause more damage to a sensor than dust.

The fins aren't just for a cutesy look: They keep the bulb from rolling away, as round ones have a tendency to do."

$8.50.