Albatross Airlines

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Albatross Airlines: Hard takeoffs and landings

This magnificent bird is capable of flying thousands of miles (this one flew around the globe in 90 days) - but they are pretty hilarious on takeoffs and landings. They have the largest wingspan of any bird so they are understandably ponderous about taking off (pterodactyls were bigger, but they used trees for takeoff and landings, not the ground)

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Here is a video of albatross doing it right, using strong winds for takeoff - click here

Today's pictures & links:
Steam-Powered Spaceships! - 1918

Rare and marvelous image, see the large version here... Infomercantile has more info:

"It appears that the "wing-like" surfaces were not functional, as you'd expect for a spacecraft: if you look closely, there are observation decks and tiny people at the edges. My use of the word "Steam-powered" is purely an assumption based on the time period; the features that look like smokestacks are supports for the wings; I cannot see any outward evidence of the ship's power source." - read more

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Hang This Up in Your Time Machine

You would need to remember humanity's technological advances in a hurry. Don't worry, this poster has you covered. Available at Time-Travel Essentials!

Don't forget to charge a decent price for all the scientific "revelations" you're going to bestow on un-enlightened populace...

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Shooting the classic MGM logo (1924)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lion, in all his original glory (more info)

Los Angeles, California, 1929 - Leo, the M.G.M. Lion before the mike with a cameraman. Photo by Bettmann/CORBIS

Here are all the lions in history of MGM:

(images via)

It would be harder to make this mascot to sit still -

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Keep your distance

Unless you are in a "Flat-Mobile", the lowest sports car in the world - click here

(original unknown)

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Mixed fresh links for today:

World's Smartest Man: a society of one, real child prodigy - [interesting]
Super LEGO sculpture: battleship "Yamato" - [pics, transl. Japanese]
Uranium glass for your bedroom - [glowing, of course]
Web Trend Map, larger - [mapped on Tokyo subway]
The Coolest Hot Tub? - [design]
Fantastic Dutch Tulips Fields from the Air - [wow pics]
Urban Powersliding (easy on your bum!) - [wow video]
Extreme winter in Norilsk, Russia - [cool video]
Motorcycle Madness (don't try this!) - [car video]
Make stunning Flash websites for free! - [promotion]

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Not just any key. A key to launch a rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome

Made in 1972.

(image via)

Also a rare photo of Soviet "Buran" Shuttle on a launch pad - see more here

(image via)

On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space:

And his launch countdown card... Cheers!

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A Pet Spotted Outside Grocery Store

...it probably ate the dog that was sitting there a minute ago.

(image credit: Alexey Andreev)

Here is the pet's owner - click here

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Early Marketing

They seem to get the right idea already - "Look at my legs" should work fine.

(original unknown)

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Princess Leia

A rarity.... it's easier to find Han Solo-kind of dogs, by far -

(image via)

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Apple's "Don't Be Evil" policy is clearly not working:

(original unknown)

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Too Much Snow

Opening of the Trans-Labrador Highway - more images here

(images credit: Ian Dryburgh)

According to Snopes, these images are at least 5 years old.

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Mystery Thing

...on wheels. Is it a some sort of radar, or a traveling fair wagon?