The English language is often the butt-end of jokes, considered by many in Europe and Asia as an “ugly” language with strange sounds and simple words. Compared to Italian, French, Russian, and Chinese, it is a “dumbed down” version of speech, at least to the ears of others around the world. The language does, however, have some amazing traits, including the ability to change the sound of one word to another based upon pacing.

Here’s a perfect example of this phenomenon at work:

Did someone just tell you that the word “Gullible” used to be spelled “Gulllible” and it was the only word in the English language that was spelled with the letter-L in it three times in a row before Teddy Roosevelt had it changed?

Look, we all have someone that we just cannot seem to shake in real life or online. That someone who pokes the fun out of poking, shows up at your favorite restaurant or won’t get the hint that you are in fact clicking the ignore button on purpose.

Love songs always seem to make their way to the top of the music charts, even when the words they spew are not always true (ha, that rhymed!). The fact is, truthful songs like this parody of the popular Katy Perry song, “The One That Got Away”, is probably more accurate to the real world, not the Disney fairytale we all dream about. Especially since we are in the age of Technology and have opened ourselves up to even more people, people we don’t really know, but they think they know us and just won’t simply go away.

As Chime puts it, “I don’t always post “Angry Bird IRL” pics, but when I do, they’re this awesome.”

We agree. There are very few times when Angry Birds pics deliver the goods, but this particular bird is definitely angry. Zero doubt.

(Via: Chime. H/T Florence Alabama Used Cars)

Art can be found everywhere online, but to find art that makes your jaw drop to the floor is hard to discover. Especially when pop culture figures are turned into epic art pieces, yes, the kind you want to frame and hang on your walls. These sketches drawn by Jose Vega are that of a talented hand and needs a little extra notoriety since each piece makes you want to say, yep.

Samurai Vader

Yep.

Yep.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Pirate

Yep. Yep and Yep.

(via: CGHub)

Economic crime or fraud defined by a 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers survey as the intentional use of “deceit to deprive another of money, property, or a legal right.” That can mean anything from old-fashioned embezzlement to the growing incidence of cybercrime. What kind of crimes are most common in the business world, and where are they most likely to happen?

Robots are becoming more advanced and soon we will most likely have something close to Rosie (Jetsons) invading our homes as common as computers. The more we see their capabilities the stranger it will seem incorporating them within our lives. This video of  a Japanese robot with life-like movements that most humans can not do, such as slick dance and aerobatic moves only intensifies the yearning for wanting one. Until they are available for mass production all we can do is watch with envy.

IMHO The one thing that is missing from this video is a dubstep soundtrack.

As 2011 comes to a close, we have been sifting through some of the most amazing images that were posted on various social sites throughout the year as we try to compile the “Pics Year in Review”. This one, taken from the same spot in Shanghai in 1990 and again in 2010, stood apart as a truly amazing depiction of the change that is sweeping Asia and many other parts of the world.

It has become a joke and a cliche that when Americans want to make themselves happy, they grab their credit card and head to the nearest mall or online shopping destination. Even the infamous Tammy Faye Bakker once said, “I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist.”

Are we “treating” our emotional ills with retail therapy?

Every year, people pour into Arcadia, CA, the day after Christmas to be part of one of the most exciting days in horse racing: Opening Day at Santa Anita Park. This year, the 75th winter season opens to an added bonus that fits perfectly with the times. In an era when smartphones are able to do just about anything we want, they will be gaining a new attribute at Santa Anita – the ability to place wagers from the seats.

Visitors connected to the Santa Anita Park WiFi will be able to research races and place bets without waiting in line as the park is launching their new mobile app. The sheer convenience alone is enticing, but there is more to it. Horse wagering is serious business; there’s always luck involved, but having the information in hand and the time to put it all together adds to the allure of the app.