The Creepiest Abandoned Places on Earth

The Creepiest Abandoned Places on Earth

space Unknown   13:53

Bet, this time, you’re positive the exteriors for the 2nd season of the AHS: Asylum were filmed in this creepy place. Nope. Wrong again! Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts has gone by many names; it’s been variously known as the Danvers Insane Asylum, State Lunatic Hospital, even Hell House on the Hill and other such lovely monikers. During its heyday in the 20s and 30s there were controversies over its given out the use of drugs, shock therapy and lobotomies – as a matter of fact, it may have been the birthplace of lobotomy. Eventually, Danvers transformed into unsanitary and equally dangerous place for both the patients and staff. And since its closure it has fallen into a state of despair and severe creepiness. Beware, as it’s one of the most violently haunted asylums in the world.

2. Hotel del Salto — San Antonio del Tequendama, Colombia

 No, it’s not the set of American Horror Story: Hotel, even though La Casa del Salto del Tequendama does have a past twisted enough to shoot a movie. It was built up in 1923 and named the Hotel del Santo in the 50s. Picturesque location alongside the Tequendama waterfalls in central Colombia attracted many travelers. A few decades later the level of river pollution caused the hotel’s abandonment. Recently it has been changed into a museum, though. And still, the creepiest part remains the same; many believe that this place is haunted since it was known during its prime time as a site for numerous suicide cases.

3. Pripyat, Ukraine

 

An abandoned city, located in northern Ukraine, once bustled with almost 500,000 residents is now a radioactive ghost town over-run by nature. In 1986, Pripyat became a ground zero for the deadliest nuclear disaster in history when an ‘accident’ destroyed a reactor and caused deadly radiation to spread throughout the city. The levels of radiation remain too high for people to live there again though it’s safe for tourist to visit. The city will stay abandoned forever, as that much radiation won’t vanish for hundreds of years
4. House of the Bulgarian Communist Party — Mount Buzludzha, Bulgaria
The Buzludzha monument or the ‘House-Monument of the Bulgarian Communist Party’ used to be a wonder back in the day. Opened in 1981, it served as a symbolic meeting point for the communist regime. But with the fall of the Soviet Union in less than a decade later it went into disrepair; now abandoned, this huge concrete building looks like an alien ship. The extreme location of this otherworldly monument, on Mount Buzludzha, puts it in the path of severe storms, ravaging winds and harsh winters. The outer windows were the first to go, escorted by the most of the metal-tiled roof, which is why the plans are being made to restore it.

5. Kolmanskop, Namibia

 
 Kolmanskop is one of the most famous haunting ghost towns in the world. It is located in the Namib Desert and was founded in the 1900s when first diamond was found in the sand. Within a few years, hundreds of German families set up homes here desperately seeking their fortune. Year by year it has been turning into bustling oasis which had to be abandoned to the wind and sand within just 50 years. Run-down buildings are falling apart, and their insides are filled with sand from the surrounding desert. The remains of Kolmanskop work as a magnet for ghost hunters, which is why De Beers Company set a museum to keep the town in somewhat decent shape and preserve the history of Kolmanskop.

6. Sanzhi UFO Houses, Taiwan

 
 Other-worldly appearance and wacky architecture of these saucer-like houses made them widely known as Sanzhi UFO houses the mysterious “ruins of the future”. Sanzhi Pod City became abandoned two years after it was built. This resort complex was built in 1978 in Taiwan. In 2 years due to some investment issues and other financial losses, the project was abandoned and left to the mercy of time. Sanzhi Pod City managed to find its way onto various A-lists of eerie ghost towns though and even has been used by MTV as a filming location.

7. Red Sands Sea Forts, the United Kingdom

 
 These huge metal Maunsell gun towers were originally constructed in 1943 during the Second World War to protect Britain from the German Navy. The bizarre-looking concrete monsters are named after Guy Maunsell, the engineer that designed them. Some of the towers survived to this day after they were decommissioned and left abandoned in the 50s. A few of them are still standing out as sea, remarkable as ever. Even though their lives weren’t rather long, these forts are outstanding relics of 2WW architectural history.

8. Mirny Diamond Mine – Eastern Siberia, Russia

 The second largest excavated hole in the world- Mirny was made by Stalin, who desperately wanted a more independent economy for the USSR. It was the 1st and the largest diamond mine in the Soviet Union. The Mir mine also known as Mirny mine is now inactive after 44 years of surface operation. The mine is 1,722 ft deep and has a diameter of 3,900 ft. It started to develop in 1957. Climate conditions were extremely harsh to mine: 7 winter month of frozen ground vs. brief summer month of the slush-turned ground. And yet Mir mine was producing 10,000,000 carats of diamond/year in the 60s.

9. The Haunting New Bedford Orpheum -U.S.A.

 Not only is April 15, 1912, a significant day because of the Auditorium opening, but also it happened to be the day the Titanic sunk. It functioned as the Orpheum for 47 years. This once-mighty theatre space was used to entertain the immense audiences. Since the New Bedford Orpheum closed its doors in 1959, part of the building became a supermarket ant then a warehouse. Sadly today, it remains completely abandoned, and still it never fails to impress, though.

10. Underwater Lost City Shicheng, China

Fifty-seven years ago, the Xin’an River Hydropower Station trapped the 1,300-year-old Chinese city of Shicheng (Lions City) under water. It was named Lion City after 5 Lion Mountain risen largely behind it. It is truly an astonishing sight. The city stands preserved from destructive forces of erosion, like sun, wind and rain, beneath the Qiandao Lake, so it were almost untouched and managed to stay in pretty good condition. Archeologists call it a “virtual time capsule”, but if you wanna open it, you’ll have to get some scuba gear.

The Trendiest Dog Breeds to Own

The Trendiest Dog Breeds to Own

lifestye Unknown   14:06

Some dog breeds always seem to be popular. For example, the Labrador retriever has topped the charts as the most popular breed in America for 25 consecutive years, with over 60,000 Labs registered in the U.S. in 2015.
However, other breeds have become increasingly popular in recent years. That's why the data experts at PetBreeds, a pet research site powered by Graphiq, used registration data from the American Kennel Club to find the trendiest dogs on the market today.
For a breed to make the ranking, it had to be more popular in 2015 than it was in both 2014 and 2011.* Breeds are ranked from smallest to largest rise in popularity from 2014 to 2015, with the trendiest breed taking the top spot. In cases where multiple breeds rose the same amount, breeds with a greater average puppy price were given higher rankings. If the puppy prices are also the same, breeds were ordered alphabetically.
Fashion can play a major role in making a breed more popular. The French bulldog, which both Lady Gaga and Reese Witherspoon own, has had a dramatic rise in popularity, from No. 18 in 2011 to No. 6 in 2015.
Another large influence on a breed’s popularity is the internet. The shiba inu — the No. 53 most popular dog in 2011 — has since jumped to No. 45 after the “doge” meme became an Internet phenomenon in 2013.
Want to see which breeds are becoming household names? Keep reading to find out.

Uber uses 'secret program' Greyball to avoid regulators

Uber uses 'secret program' Greyball to avoid regulators

technology News Unknown   14:01

Law enforcers acting in countries which oppose the company are ignored or 'tricked' by the app using geolocation data


Uber has been using a secret tool in countries across the world in order to avoid law enforcement authorities, it has been revealed.
Greyball, a tool which uses geolocation data, credit card information and social media account data, has been used by the company for years in order to identify and avoid officers aiming to catch drivers out in cities where the discount cab firm is not permitted.
Rides hailed from a location near a city enforcement agent suspected of launching a sting to specifically trap Uber drivers could be ignored or cancelled using the app, The New York Times reported.

The tool allowed Uber to show law enforcement officers images of “ghost” cars on the app or show that no cars were available for use, the paper said.
Uber defended the programme, adding in a statement that the company “denies ride requests to fraudulent users who are violating our terms of service – whether that’s people aiming to physically harm drivers, competitors looking to disrupt our operations, or opponents who collude with officials on secret ‘stings’ meant to entrap drivers.”
A spokeswoman for Uber confirmed that Greyball was still in use, though on a much smaller scale than it once was.
She added the tool had in fact grown in use as part of efforts to protect the group’s drivers from abuse as well as protect the app from disruption by competitors. In some cases, she said, the tool had been used where there were enforcement stings.
Uber has come under fire as of late, defending accusations of unfair working conditions and allegations of sexual harassment within the company and employee abuse.
Last week investors attacked the company for failing to address its culture of "bullying", "lack of diversity" and "harassment in every form".
On Friday, Uber’s best-known security researcher resigned without stating any reasons why, leading to speculation over whether there had been a link to the Greyball tool.
Rival company Alphabet has also accused Uber of stealing designs for technology for self-driving cars – a claim Uber has denied.
A spokesperson said Uber’s legal department had approved the practice in locations where Uber was not overtly banned, and that Uber's terms of use required riders use the ride hailing app for personal, not commercial, reasons and to not cause “nuisance” to drivers.
The program began under a different name in 2014, and is still being used when drivers are under threat of arrest or other legal punishment in some cities within 15 U.S. states without clear ride-sharing laws, she said, adding that she did not know in which other countries the system is being used.
The New York Times reported that Uber had used the tool to evade authorities in Boston, Paris and Las Vegas, and countries includes Australia, China, Italy and South Korea.
US officials have expressed concern about Uber’s practices but stopped short of saying they will take action.

Police hunting for a convicted murderer who escaped custody in Liverpool arrest four in Dorset

Police hunting for a convicted murderer who escaped custody in Liverpool arrest four in Dorset

technology News Unknown   15:04

Shaun Walmsley has been on the run since 21 February Merseyside Police

Shaun Walmsley is currently on the run after two armed men overpowered his guards during a hospital visit in Liverpool last month


Police hunting for a convicted murder on the loose in Liverpool have arrested four people in Dorset.
Armed officers arrested the four men during a swoop on a car in the Canford Cliffs area of Poole on Friday at around 3:45pm but Shaun Walmsley was not among them.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC they heard loud bangs and saw pink smoke as police cars blocked the Vauxhall Corsa’s escape in Haven Road.
During the planned operation, officers fired tyre deflation rounds to stop the vehicle and arrested the four men.
No-one was injured and no other weapons were discharged.
Walmsley, 28, went on the run on 21 February after two men armed with a knife and a gun confronted prison officers guarding him at Aintree University Hospital during a visit from HMP Wilton.
He then fled the scene in a gold Volvo which was later found abandoned in the Fazakerley area of Liverpool.
Two men aged 24 and two aged 25, all from the Liverpool area, are being questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Dudfield, of Dorset Police, said: "Dorset Police responded to reports that a number of people involved in the unlawful escape of Shaun Walmsley were travelling through Dorset.
"This was a successful targeted operation and I would like to thank all the officers involved, including our alliance colleagues at Devon and Cornwall Police as well as Merseyside Police.
"I appreciate that due to the nature of the incident there may have been some concerns in the local community, so I would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding while these necessary arrests were made."
Walmsley is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 30 years for the murder of Anthony Duffy in May 2014.
Mr Duffy, 33, was lured to an address in Aintree and stabbed 28 times by Walmsley and another man after they learnt he had planned to steal their cannabis crop, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Merseyside Police are said to be working with forces overseas as part of their search for the killer.
Two men aged 25 and 27 and a 26-year-old woman, all from Norris Green, Liverpool, had previously been arrested over the escape and they were later released pending further inquiries.
Additional reporting by PA

App lets people easily take photos with any dead person they like and bring them 'back to life'

App lets people easily take photos with any dead person they like and bring them 'back to life'

technology News Unknown   14:55

All ELROIS needs is a 3D scan of a person's face

A television reporter takes a selfie in front of the pool and cabana during a tour of the former home of Al Capone on March 18, 2015 in Miami Beach, Florida

A new app promises to let people take selfies with anyone they like – including dead people or celebrities.
ELROIS, a South Korean company, only needs a 3D scan of any person's face for its "With Me" app. Once it has one, it can 'resurrect' that person – allowing them to react to what you say and move around, as well as letting you take pictures with them.
The app has been explicitly created to allow people to recreate the image and personality of someone who has passed away, according to its creators. They said that it is a way of overcoming a broken heart by interacting with a virtual recreation of their deceased loved ones.
It does that by creating what it calls avatars of people. Those are really 3D models that are animated and use technologies to respond to conversation and move around.
The company is apparently happy to let users create avatars of people that haven't necessarily given permission. “Avatars could be your family, friends, or even celebrities!” its tagline reads.
And they can then be used to do strange things. If you say "I love you" to the virtual character, for instance, it will reply back to say the same thing. It will also copy its users' movements.
It will even scan the face of a user, and look to see if they look different or if their emotional state has changed. That way, it will be able to tell if someone looks more sad than usual and attempt to comfort them, its creators claim

21 UNDERWATER DISCOVERIES THAT WILL MAKE YOUR JAW DROP!

21 UNDERWATER DISCOVERIES THAT WILL MAKE YOUR JAW DROP!

technology Unknown   15:19

You won't believe what they found under the sea!

F4U CORSAIR

The submerged World War II plane ran out of fuel, and the quick-thinking pilot changed trajectory and landed in the ocean. According to the story, the pilot was able to free himself from the plane before it sank and survived the crash.

THE LOST CITY OF HERACLEION

For five years, famed archaeologist Frank Goddio embarked on an epic journey in search of the lost Egyptian city. When he was almost ready to give up, he stumbled upon the ruins by accident.

THE GHOST FLEET

Imagine diving and coming across this eerie undersea graveyard. The “Ghost Fleet” is a World War II-era underwater grave with over 40 vehicles bombed near Chuuk Lagoon.

SCULPTURE PARK

The warm Caribbean waters of Cancun, Mexico, offer this unique attraction for divers where they can see over 500 life-like sculptures.

MS ZENOBIA

A 10,000 ton ferry sank to the bottom of the ocean in Larnaca Bay in Cyprus in the 1980’s and rests there still today.

THE UNDERWATER RIVER

Skilled divers can access the “Underwater River,” also known as “Cenote Angelita Cave.” The trees and plants which appear to grow out of the “river,” are actually just an optical illusion caused by a cloud of hydrogen sulfide interacting with the saltwater.

USS ORISKANY

The aircraft carrier saw years of warfare through both the Korean and Vietnam Wars before finally being sunk. It’s now a part of the world’s largest artificial coral reef.

TRAIN GRAVEYARD

n 1985, archaeologists discovered a “train graveyard” off the coast of New Jersey, with locomotives and train cars dating back to the 1850’s. Not surprised New Jersey would waste them…

YONAGUNI MONUMENT

Off the coast of Japan is the Yonaguni Monument, a massive stone structure believed to be over 5,000 years old.

SS PRESIDENT COOLIDGE

The large ship saw its seafaring days end after succumbing to a series of underwater mines.

THE TITANIC

You know the story, so we won’t bore you with details. “We’ll never let go, Jack.” (Note: “Jack” was not a real person. Well, the movie “Jack” anyway.)

“ANCIENT” CHINESE CITY

China’s Qiandao Lake is the home of this “ancient” city, which really isn’t ancient at all since the city was purposely submerged by a construction company.

SS THISTLEGORM

The British merchant ship was sunk in WWII in the Red Sea, and contains everything from vehicles and motorcycles, to ammunition and other weaponry.

MANGANESE BALLS

Taking a break from sunken treasures, these naturally occurring manganese balls have kept scientists stumped for decades. No one quite knows how or why they form, but they can be just millimeters wide to watermelon-sized.

IRISH SILVER

Researchers in Ireland discovered this huge 61 ton haul of World War II-era silver off the coast, nestled in a British cargo ship. Score!

THE ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM

Discovered in the early 1900’s, the Antikythera Mechanism is an ancient analog “computer” used to predict the movement of the moon and stars, and dates back to somewhere between 100 and 205 BCE.

APOLLO 11 ROCKETS

Once thought lost to the ocean, the rockets were discovered using sonar technology in the Atlantic, led by a team of researchers funded by Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos. Amazing.

SWEEPSTAKES

This Canadian schooner from 1867 sunk in Big Tub Harbour in 1885. It’s only 10 feet underwater, so even novice divers can go searching it’s 100-year-old corridors.

BLACKBEARD’S CANNONS

Nope, it’s not “Pirates of the Caribbean”, or maybe it is. Edward Teach, aka, Blackbeard, sunk the Queen Anne’s Revenge off the coast of North Carolina, along with the millions of pounds of treasures, artifacts, and this cannon weighing over 3,000 lbs.

ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN SHIPWRECK

For thousands of years, a legend persisted of an ancient merchant vessel that sunk with jewels and pottery in the Mediterranean. Finally, in 2014, divers off the coast of Malta found the ancient Phoenician shipwreck with many of the old pots and golden treasures still intact.

LAKE MICHIGAN STONEHENGE

OK, it’s not the sea, but we had to include Lake Michigan’s “Stonehenge,” this prehistoric rock formation that contains engravings of a mastodon.

World’s Greatest Philanthropists. Meet The Super Rich And Generous.

World’s Greatest Philanthropists. Meet The Super Rich And Generous.

News Unknown   14:29

20. DIETMAR HOPP

American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie once said: “No man can become rich without himself enriching others. The man who dies rich dies disgraced.” Many successful businessmen think about sharing and giving back to their community at some point in their lives, and engage in philanthropy. Some say it is out of generosity, and others believe that it is for tax reasons. One way or another, the money spent for charitable purposes is needed and has some type of impact on someone’s life. The following businessmen believe that sharing is caring. They have donated a combined amount of $106.8 billion according to research firmWealth-X.

German IT entrepreneur Dietmar Hopp co-founded SAP, the famous software company. Through his foundation called Dietmar Hopp Stiftung, he donated a total of $1 billion to support local education, sports, and health causes in his hometown in Germany. He is worth $6.3 billion.

19. PIERRE OMIDYAR

Pierre Omidyar, the French-Iranian-American businessman is the co-founder and current chairman of eB

ay. In 1998, he started the Omidyar Foundation with his wife. The organization donates to several causes including entrepreneurship, food, technology and energy. In 2015, Omidyar reportedly donated $270 million worth of his eBay shares to undisclosed charity. So far, he has given away an estimated $1 billion dollars.

18. MICHAEL DELL

The chairman and CEO of the computer manufacturer, Dell, likes to support education, social and human services, arts and culture, and community development causes. According to Wealth-X, his lifetime donations are estimated at $1.1 billion. His foundation pledged to donate $25 million to build a 211-bed hospital in Austin, Texas.

17. JAMES SIMONS

James Simons is the chairman of Renaissance Technologies, a very successful hedge fund that owns $65 billion in assets. With his wife Marilyn, he opened the Simons Foundation, which primarily supports educational causes. They have also opened two other organizations in memory of their two sons who died in 1996 and in 2003: the Paul Simons Foundation and the Nick Simons Foundation. Altogether, the Simons couple has made $1.2 billion worth of donations.

16. TED TURNER

You’ve all heard about American media mogul and philanthropist Ted Turner. He founded the cable network CNN. In 1997, he donated $1 billion to the United Nations to promote causes related to women, children’s health, environment, world peace, and security. His Lifetime donations reached $1.2 billion.

15. JON HUNTSMAN SR.

Jon Huntsman Sr. is the founder of Huntsman Chemical Corporation, the largest manufacturer of polystyrene in the United States. Huntsman plastics are used in a wide variety of familiar objects, including burger containers. Huntsman’s philanthropic giving reached $1.2 billion and focus on the areas of cancer research. He signed the Giving Pledge, a campaign led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, to encourage the wealthiest people to make a commitment to give most of their wealth to philanthropic causes.

14. LI KA-SHING

Li Ka-shing is a Hong Kong business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is one of the richest men in Asia. The Li Ka-shing Foundation supports education, healthcare, culture, and community-related causes. Li is regarded as one of Asia’s most generous philanthropists after having donated $1.2 billion.

13. MARK ZUCKERBERG

Mark Zuckerberg is one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the world. The Facebook founder signed the Giving Pledge. He promised to share at least half of his wealth in his lifetime. He has already donated $1.6 billion. Last year, Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla disbursed $25 million to help fight Ebola.

12. PAUL ALLEN

Paul Allen, the man who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, is now the chairman of Vulcan, a private investment company. His foundation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, has given millions to global health causes. To date, he’s given a total of $2 billion to charities.

11. MICHAEL BLOOMBERG

Michael Bloomberg is the founder and CEO of Bloomberg Media, the former Mayor of New York City and the founder of the Bloomberg Foundation. His foundation provided donations to the John Hopkins University, the World Lung Foundation, the World Health Organization, the Sierra Club Foundation, and the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He’s donated in total $3 billion to charities.

10. GEORGE KAISER

George Kaiser is the chairman of BOK Financial Corporation. He also founded the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which donates to educational, health, religious, social, and community-development-related causes. In 2010, he joined the Giving Pledge. So far, he has donated $3.3 billion.

9. ELI BROAD

Eli Broad is the only person to build two Fortune 500 companies in different industries (KB Home and SunAmerica). He opened two foundations: the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and The Broad Art Foundation. Broad’s lifetime donations totaled $3.3 billion.

8. CARLOS SLIM HELÚ

Carlos Slim is one of the richest self-made billionaires in the world. He is one of the three richest men in the world. Through the different foundations he is involved in, he has donated $4 billion to charities so far.

7. GORDON MOORE

Gordon Moore is the co-founder of Intel. He retired from his corporate positions in 2006 and is nowadays very involved in philanthropy with his wife. Together, they run the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and have already donated $5 billion to campaigns supporting environmental conservation, patient care, and science.

SULAIMAN BIN ABDUL AZIZ AL RAJHI

Sulaiman bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi co-founded Al Rajhi Bank in 1957 with his three brothers. The bank has grown into one of largest Islamic banks in the world. The Al Rajhi family is considered to be among Saudi Arabia’s richest non-royal family. In 2011, Sulaiman bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi announced that he was donating most of his then $7.7 billion fortune to charity. So far, he has donated $5.7 billion

5. CHARLES FRANCIS FEENEY

Charles Francis Feeney is often called the “James Bond of philanthropy.” He made his fortune as a co-founder of the Duty-Free Shoppers Group. Determined to give away his entire fortune, the philanthropist who has a current net worth of $1.5 million, has already donated $6.3 billion to charities. His foundations support education, science, healthcare, and civil rights across several countries, including the US, Vietnam, and Bermuda.

4. AZIM PREMJI

Azim Premji is an Indian business tycoon, investor, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Wipro Limited, an IT consulting company. He was the first Indian to sign the Giving Pledge. “I strongly believe that those of us, who are privileged to have wealth, should contribute significantly to try and create a better world for the millions who are far less privileged,” he once said. So far, he donated $8 billion of his wealth.

3. GEORGE SOROS

The Hungarian-born investor, author, and philanthropist is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. He is nicknamed The Man Who Broke the Bank of England because he short sold $10 billion worth of British pounds and made a profit of $1 billion. It was during 1992’s Black Wednesday UK currency crisis. He has donated $8 billion to charities in the community development, social services, health, and education sectors.

2. WARREN BUFFETT

The chairman and CEO Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett is one of the very wealthy and generous people in the world. To date, he has donated $21.5 billion. In 2006, he pledged to donate 85% of his wealth to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and to other foundations set up by family members.

1. BILL GATES

Throughout his lifetime, Bill Gates has made $27 billion worth of donations. He spends most of his time managing philanthropic projects under the umbrella of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates co-founded Microsoft, which became the world’s largest software company.