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Samurai Cats and Mice

Artist Jeff De Boer created samurai armor for cats and mice.

Q&A with the artist:

Q. How long does it take to make a suit of armour for a cat or a mouse?

A. Someone once asked a famous painter how long it took to complete a painting. His response was "25 years." It is not just the amount of time it takes to actually build a piece, it is also the years of work needed to attain the necessary skills and tools. I have always been able to work quickly and with few mistakes. Still, it does take time to make a mouse or a cat. Some silver mice can take up to 20 hours to build and another 10 hours to polish, and we haven't even made a base for it yet. Some mice are less complicated or have different finishes, thus taking less time to build. With this in mind, I would say that a mouse will take from 10 to 40 hours to make. As for cats, the same thing applies, but as you go bigger, things simply take longer. A cat will take from 50 to 200 hours.

And a photo tutorial on how to make a samurai cat suit.

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Urban Camouflage

Move on, there's nothing to see here folks.  [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH2XsAkjYw0&fmt=18]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NCBrT5bgmE&fmt=18]

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Anatomy of a Car Crash

Before a driver becomes aware of a collision, a modern car is already reacting quite literally in the blink of an eye.

0 milliseconds - An external object touches the driver's door.

1 ms - The car's door pressure sensor detects a pressure wave.

2 ms - An acceleration sensor in the C-pillar behind the rear door also detects a crash event.

2.5 ms - A sensor in the car's centre detects crash vibrations.

5 ms - Car's crash computer checks for insignificant crash events, such as a shopping trolley impact or incidental contact. It is still working out the severity of the crash. Door intrusion structure begins to absorb energy.

6.5 ms - Door pressure sensor registers peak pressures.

7 ms - Crash computer confirms a serious crash and calculates its actions.

8 ms - Computer sends a "fire" signal to side airbag. Meanwhile, B-pillar begins to crumple inwards and energy begins to transfer into cross-car load path beneath the occupant.

8.5 ms - Side airbag system fires.

15 ms - Roof begins to absorb part of the impact. Airbag bursts through seat foam and begins to fill.

17 ms - Cross-car load path and structure under rear seat reach maximum load.

Between 150 and 300 milliseconds the car's occupant finally becomes aware of the collision.

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Henry VIII's Love Letter to Anne Boleyn

A passionate love letter sent around 1528 by King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn five years before she became Queen is being publicly displayed for the first time at British Library in late April.

It speaks of the king's "unchangeable intention" to marry her and marks a turning point in their relationship.

Before then, Anne had held out – aware of Henry's womanising reputation – and had refused any premarital sexual relations.

It reads: "The demonstrations of your affection are such, and the beautiful words of your letter are so cordially phrased, that they really oblige me to honour, love, and serve you for ever....

"For my part, I will outdo you, if this be possible, rather than reciprocate, in loyalty of heart and my desire to please you.

"Beseeching you also that if I have in any way offended you, you will give me the same absolution for which you ask, assuring you that henceforth my heart will be dedicated to you alone, and wishing greatly that my body was so too."

In 1536, he had her beheaded at the Tower of London and subsequently married four other women.

Jerk.

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Congrats on Slumdog, Dude.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWy4Fklp7Cw&fmt=18] Slumdog Millionaire definitely set the bar high for hanging out with my Indian friends. They'd be a lot more fun to party with if they busted out in synchronized Bollywood dance.

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