“With their intricate patterns and bright colors, it is hardly surprising if these curious-looking painted bulls attract close attention. But the reason behind their colourful hides is actually meant to ward off intruders. Artistic residents in Jiangcheng County, Yunnan Province, China decorated their bulls for a festival, but the tradition began from a small Chinese group who believed painting their bulls would protect their village. The Hani minority tale preached that the painted bulls would scare away tigers from wandering into their homes. And this tradition now gives people the prefect excuse to show off their artistic talents. Altogether 48 teams joined this year’s China-Laos-Vietnam Bull Painting Festival.” w/ photos

“A vending machine that gives out free puddings to adults, but none to children sounds like something dreamed up by Roald Dahl. But the iSample machine, a collaboration between Kraft and Intel, is designed to do exactly that – and is currently under trial in Chicago and New York. The machine uses a biometric scanner to ‘read’ the age and gender of people standing in front of it, and will serve adults, but refuse children. The two machines are on trial in Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium and New York’s South Street Seaport. The iSample is designed to offer free samples of Kraft’s new Temptations jelly – a dessert marketed at adults. It’s clearly a promotional tool – but the biometric technology behind it is serious, and already under test by companies such as Gillette.” w/ photos

“It looks like a neglected bike long since consigned to the shed, but this two-wheeled contraption’s value belies its rusty appearance. The ancient bicycle is in fact a 1906 Indian Camelback, one of the first ever two-wheeled motorized machines and one which is hugely desirable to collectors. Just 1,698 of the rare cycles were produced 105 years ago, with its ‘unrestored’ state meaning the relic could fetch as much as $64,769 at auction. And as it packs a puny 2.25 horse, has a single cylinder and top speed of just 30mph, buyers certainly won’t be bidding on the ancient bike for its high-powered spec.” w/ photos

“Huang lives in a village in a corner of the Taiwanese city of Taichung, a community that was created for Nationalist soldiers in the 1940s and 50s. Over the years, the place slowly changed into a permanent settlement, suffering from urban problems like abandonment, decay and housing dereliction. However, none of this is visible in the settlement today, thanks to the transformation brought about by Huang’s colorful paintings. The streets and the walls of practically every building in the village are covered with Huang’s simplistic paintings of plants, animals, TV personalities, birds and buffaloes. Considering the fact that he began painting only two years ago, his accomplishment is pretty huge. The bright colors and simple strokes used by Huang only add to the attractiveness of his work.” w/ photos

“Demand for ‘crazy coffins’ – made in the shape of sharks, pineapples and beer bottles – has rocketed after an African carpenter put on a UK art show. Paa Joe, a 66-year-old master coffin maker from Ghana in West Africa, has rustled up hundreds of coffins in the last few decades – making them in the shape of whatever the deceased desired. Among the bizarre coffins he has made in the past include ones made to look like mobile phones, pineapples, sharks, coke bottles, beer bottles, chickens, cars and aeroplanes. And after a show at London’s Jack Bell Gallery earlier this year – combined with a number of his pieces on show at the prestigious British Museum – demand for his coffins has rocketed all over the world.” w/ photos

“This rare Kiwi chick is betraying its ‘All Black’ heritage – because his feathers are snow white. The flightless bird’s unusual coloring gave keepers at Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre, New Zealand, a white Christmas when it hatched in their nursery. Both of its parents are believed to have carried a rare and recessive white gene which caused his pure white feathers. Local Maori have named the chick Mauriora, meaning sustained life, the New Zealand Herald reported. Center manager Kathy Houkamau said: ‘We were gob-smacked when we saw it was white’ and described it as a ‘delightful gift, especially at this time of the year.” w/ photos

“Sighted in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha, it took another 140 years later before another person stepped foot on the island. In 1811 Jonathan Lambert from Salem, Mass. took resident and tried naming it Islands of Refreshment but died in 1812. An average diameter of 6 miles and a total area of 60 miles. The island is mostly mountainous but the capital, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is flat. There are mineral rich fields to grow vegetables. With a population of 264 people, it’s felt they are descended from 15 ancestors. All the land is community own and measures are in place to prevent any one family from owning more than others.” w/ photos

“Swallowing a lightbulb is a risky business, but for daredevil R.J Williams, it’s a record breaking reality after he managed to crunch down a whole glass bulb in 33.86 seconds. Watched closely by adjudicators from recordsetter.com, Mr Williams followed strict rules in order to break the record. He had to use a standard household light bulb and everything had to be eaten excluding the metal parts. Using his teeth was the only way he was allowed to break and eat the lightbulb and the broken glass could only be washed down with water. Last year he broke the record managing to chew it down in 1 minute and 7.97 seconds, before managing to reduce it further a few months later to 52.41 seconds.” w/ photos + video

“It is at the Happy Island amusement park in Hefei, Anhui province where the 697-foot long yellow and orange dragon can be found. Designed as a main feature within the park, the serpent-like body stretches all around the outer-edge of the park. Orange spikes adorn the dragon’s body while the ‘neck’ and head towers to a height of 20ft, which would dwarf a London double-decker bus.” w/ photo

“We are living in wild times. An illegal wolf-dog hybrid has been found roaming the streets of New York. In a scene reminiscent of post-apocalyptic science-fiction films, police found the 53-pound, three-year-old female in Brooklyn, New York Animal Care and Control said. The cross-breed was found wandering near Elton Street and Vandalia Avenue in East New York… Wolf-dog hybrids are considered exotic animals and are illegal to keep as pets in New York. Despite being dangerous they are growing in popularity as a pet, with puppies widely available on the internet. There are estimated to be between 300,000 and 500,000 in North America and 1,500 federally regulated pure wolves living in captivity. Hybrid wolf-dogs often suffer behavioral problems and are not well suited to becoming pets, so sadly many end up living chained up in yards, abandoned or put down.” w/ photos