“Batman has the Batmobile, Oscar Meyer has the Weinermobile — it only makes sense that L.L. Bean is bringing us the Bootmobile. The Maine-based outdoor outfitter is marking their centennial this year, and they’re celebrating by driving a giant boot-shaped truck through Times Square and lacing — er, racing — it through the streets of Manhattan. From the trademark windows, green gas cap and tiny wheels, the Bootmobile appears to be cobbled together from a diesel Ford F-250 pickup. In true Yankee fashion, it’s wearing all-terrain tires, sports a Maine license plate and is missing a hubcap. It also has no trunk to speak of, which is sure to confuse the heck out of British tourists.” w/ photos

“Indonesia has gone to imaginative extremes to try and stop commuters from illegally riding on the roofs of train – from hosing them down with red paint to threatening them with dogs. But now authorities have developed an intimidating and possibly deadly new tactic – suspending rows of grapefruit-sized concrete balls to rake over the top of trains. They hope the balls – which would deliver serious blows to the head if they didn’t knock a person off the roof of a train – will be enough to deter train surfers.” w/ photos

“High above the dreary grey streets of the world’s cities, gorgeous gardens blossom in a wilderness of rooftops. These unexpectedly colorful spots provide an oasis of calm away from the bustle of urban streets across the U.S., Europe and as far away as Japan. The elevated scenery ranges from a wildflower meadow on top of a house in London to a neat lawn tended on top of a New York office block. Married couple Diane Cook and Len Jenshel traveled the world capturing their photographs of these stunning sights. It is their latest project after 25 years spent producing images that show how human’s influence their environment.” w/ photos

“Now even the clumsiest can take to the streets on a skateboard, after laboratory wizards created a longboard powered by voice control and hand movement. Taking a motorized longboard, the technology team at Chaotic Moon Labs fitted it with a Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect device, a Samsung Windows 8 tablet with voice control, a phidget interface module, and sturdy all terrain tires for their ‘Board of Awesomeness’. Branded ‘Project Sk8′ the team sent one of their crew out to road test the impressive electronic board which, using Kinect technology, is controlled by user’s movement.” w/ photos + video

“The world’s newest snake has menacing-looking yellow and black scales, dull green eyes and two spiky horns. And it’s named after a seven-year-old girl. Matilda’s Horned Viper was discovered in a small patch of southwest Tanzania about two years ago and was introduced last month as the world’s newest known snake species in an issue of the journal Zootaxa. Tim Davenport, the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Tanzania, was on the three-person team that discovered the viper. So it is thanks to his daughter that the snake will always carry the slightly-less-than-fearsome name.” w/ photos

“This pensioner has certainly made his mark – scrawling the world’s most famous paintings on his housing association flat wall. Ray Charman, 75, spent an incredible 150 hours creating the brilliant replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper using a pencil, some sticky tape and a ruler. He started work on his own version of the masterpiece last October before unveiling the stunning fresco over the New Year. The former actor did his version to amuse his friends at the Bankside Sheltered Housing Scheme in Bankkside, Wendover, Buckinghamshire. He has recreated the painting in his bedroom. Unlike the original 15th century painting, which is 29ft wide, Mr Charman’s work measures 14ft.” w/ photos

“Dressed in skimpy bikinis, these Chinese women could be going for a day out at the beach. But these trainees are in fact being put through a grueling regime in Sanya, Hainan province, on the road to become female bodyguards. Twenty women, most of them college graduates, were kicked, dunked, near-drowned and forced to carry a heavy log between them during a tough boot camp run by professional bodyguards on Sunday. The four-week programme is run by trainers from Tianjiao Special Guard Consultant Ltd – the first open group training for female bodyguards in China. Each trainee goes through 10 months of instruction to develop their skills in reconnaissance, anti-terrorism training, martial arts and business etiquette. The best individual from the class is also invited to study further at the International Security Academy in Israel.” w/ photos

“Hazel Jones always wondered why she suffered from terrible cramps and heavy periods during puberty. But it wasn’t until she turned 18 that she was given her astonishing diagnosis – she had two vaginas. The blonde 27-year-old from High Wycombe has the million-in-one condition uterus didelphys, which means she has two separate uteruses and cervixes as well. But she told ITV’s This Morning she was comfortable with having the condition, despite the fact she had to effectively lose her virginity twice. ‘Once I found out what it was I told everybody,’ she told TV hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. ‘I thought it was amazing and it’s definitely an ice-breaker at parties.” w/ photos

“It’s a growing problem, but the success of a firm that specializes in giant coffins has brought America’s obesity epidemic into sharp focus. With over 30 per cent of Americans officially classified as obese, Indiana-based Goliath Caskets has found its niche product steadily become more in demand. Its largest casket is a staggering 4ft-wide and 8ft-long and can hold a person weighing up to 1,008 lbs. Founded in 1985, Goliath Caskets has seen demand for its largest casket rocket from an average of one per year to more than a dozen. The East Lynn firm also sells more than 200 slightly smaller oversized coffins each year.” w/ photos

“Zimbabwe has banned the sale of second-hand underwear. A new law has made it illegal to import or sell used pants, according to the Independent News Day newspaper. It is now forbidden to import ‘second-hand undergarments of any type form or description – whether purchased, donated or procured in any other manner. The hand-me- down knicker band was introduced by finance minister Tendai Biti, who said he was shocked to discover many Zimbabweans in the poverty-stricken country bought used underwear from flea markets or stalls.” w/ photo