04/03/2012 – Skateboards, Mutant Fish, and Gibraltar

Editor’s Note: The Blip includes short headlines with odd, feel-good, informational, or pointless material. Stories are presented in a fast, easy-to-read format with news that will make you laugh and be enlightened. The Blip is updated daily.

 

World’s first 1080 achieved

Tom Schaar, just twelve years old, landed the first 1080 in the skateboarding world—that’s three (3) full three-hundred-sixty degree (360˚) rotations in the air. It took him five attempts before successfully completing three turns. “It was the hardest trick I’ve ever done, but it was easier than I thought,” said Schaar. The world’s best skateboarders have been unable to perform this trick. X Games Big Air defending gold medalist Bob Burnquist even gave him a nod, saying, “I look forward to learning a lot from him in the future.” Schaar dreams of getting an invitation to skate Big Air.

Read more here: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8604079

 

Uncanny beast discovered in South Carolina

Folly Beach, South Carolina is abuzz with news of a bizarre animal that washed ashore. The animal is a monstrous, tan-brown beast with bony plates. But scientists have already pinned down the identity of the creature, despite widespread speculation of dinosaurian chupacabra. It happens to be an Atlantic sturgeon, whose skin changed color after being in the sun too long. Sturgeon are known to be five-hundred pounds at fifteen feet long, so the horror it caused upon washing ashore is understandable. This is only one of a startling trend of numerous fish that have tried their land legs recently, including a high number of tuna and gar.

Read more here: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/03/29/marine-monster-mystery-on-south-carolina-beach/

 

If I lived in Gibraltar…

Most of you reading this live in the United States, specifically the state of Ohio, and even more specifically the city of Oxford (and various suburbs). Did you ever wonder what it would be like to live in another country? Gibraltar, in particular? I know I have, and I have compiled this list of facts to let you know how different your life would be, were you to live in Gibraltar.

You would have a 67.74% greater chance of getting employment, but make 17.03% less money. Though you may have 2.68% more babies, you also have 11.07% more chance of dying in infancy. You would use 13.2 times more oil, but consume 59.5% less electricity. Ultimately, your quality of life will improve, because you will likely live .29000000000001 years longer. Gibraltar is the 235th largest country with respect to square kilometric area.

You can find these facts, and facts about many more countries compared to where you live at IfItWereMyHome.com.