The Ugliest Animals

Blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus)

The blobfish, a denizen of the Pacific has been voted as the unofficial world’s ugliest animal.

The winner was announced at the British Science Festival in Newcastle.

The grumpy-looking, gelatinous blobfish has won a public vote which was organised by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society.

As the winner, the blobfish is now the official mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society.

Biologist and TV presenter Simon Watt, president of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, said he hoped the campaign would draw attention to the threats facing these weird and wonderful creatures.

It is part of the campaign to raise awareness of unsightly species that play an important role in the ecological web.

Please click the photos for larger images:

Green Kakapo (Strigops habroptila)

Probocis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus)

European Eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Dromedary jumping slug (Hemphillia dromedarius)

Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophidae)

Pig Nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)

21 Killed By Tropical Storm Manuel And Hurricane Ingrid

A car lies on its side after a portion of a hill collapsed due to heavy rains in the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, Mexico, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. Flooding and landslides unleashed by Hurricane Ingrid and Tropical Storm Manuel have claimed at least a dozen lives in Mexico and sparked the evacuations of thousands of people even before the weather systems had made landfall on the country’s east and west coasts. (AP Photo/Bernandino Hernandez)

 

At least 21 people were killed in Mexico after a hurricane and a tropical storm strikes the opposite sides of Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific. 

Tropical Storm Manuel drenched Mexico’s southwestern Pacific shoulder Sunday while Hurricane Ingrid closed in on the country’s Gulf coast, causing heavy rains and landslides.

Civil Protection Coordinator Luis Felipe Puente said 14 people died in Guerrero, three in Hidalgo, three in Puebla and one in Oaxaca due to the disaster.

Tropical Storm Manuel, with a maximum sustained winds of about 35 mph (55 kph) was moving to the northwest at 8 mph (13 kph) late Sunday, 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of Manzanillo.

Manuel was expected to bring 10 to 15 inches of rain over parts of Guerrero and Michoacan state, with maximums of 25 inches in some isolated areas.

Meanwhile Hurricane Ingrid had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) late Sunday and was centered about 110 miles (175 kilometers) northeast of the port city of Tampico as it moved west-northwest at 6 mph (9 kph). 

It is expected to make a landfall by Monday morning, most likely along Tamaulipas state’s lightly populated coast north of Tampico.

Anyway, the storm system from the outer bands of Ingrid was already dumping heavy rains in parts of Mexico.

A hurricane warning was in effect from Cabo Rojo to La Pesca.

The hurricane can bring dangerous storm surge, destructive waves and heavy rains that can cause flash floods and landslides.

Yahoo! News said that more than 1,000 homes in Veracruz state had been affected by the storm to varying degrees and 20 highways and 12 bridges were damaged by the disaster.

(Please click the photos for larger images)

Army soldiers and a civilian look out into a flooded street caused by Tropical Storm Manuel in the city of Chilpancingo, Mexico, Sunday Sept. 15, 2013. In the southern Pacific Coast state of Guerrero, rains unleashed by Manuel resulted in the deaths of six people when their SUV lost control on a highway headed for the tourist resort of Acapulco. Another five people died in landslides in Guerrero and Puebla states, while the collapse of a fence killed another person in Acapulco. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)

This NOAA satellite image taken Sunday, September 15, 2013 at 1:45 PM EDT shows clouds from Hurricane Ingrid as it moves westward into central Mexico. A stationary front over the northern Bahamas brings rain showers and thunderstorms.(AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND)

Flood waters caused by Tropical Storm Manuel enter a neighborhood in the city of Chilpancingo, Mexico, Sunday Sept. 15, 2013. In the southern Pacific Coast state of Guerrero, rains unleashed by Manuel resulted in the deaths of six people when their SUV lost control on a highway headed for the tourist resort of Acapulco. Another five people died in landslides in Guerrero and Puebla states, while the collapse of a fence killed another person in Acapulco. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)

Rain water pours into the beach due to heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Manuel in the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, Mexico, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. Flooding and landslides unleashed by Hurricane Ingrid and Tropical Storm Manuel have claimed at least a dozen lives in Mexico and sparked the evacuations of thousands of people even before the weather systems had made landfall on the country’s east and west coasts. (AP Photo/Bernandino Hernandez)

Waves flood a beach in Acapulco September 15, 2013. REUTERS/Jacobo Garcia

Army soldiers work to try to get their vehicle out of a flooded portion of a road caused by Tropical Storm Manuel in the city of Chilpancingo, Mexico, Sunday Sept. 15, 2013. In the southern Pacific Coast state of Guerrero, rains unleashed by Manuel resulted in the deaths of six people when their SUV lost control on a highway headed for the tourist resort of Acapulco. Another five people died in landslides in Guerrero and Puebla states, while the collapse of a fence killed another person in Acapulco. (AP Photo/Alejandrino Gonzalez)

7.3 Magnitude Quake Hits Off Northeastern Japan

People crowd at Sendai railway station in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 after trains were halted following a strong earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan. It is the same region that was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami last year. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)

A strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan on Friday.

The quake lasts for about several minutes minutes.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Miyagi prefecture at 5:18 p.m. (0818 GMT).

It is  in the same region that was hit by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and deadly tsunami last year.

The epicenter was 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) beneath the seabed and 240 kilometers (150 miles) offshore.

Tokyo high-rises swayed for several minutes.

Authorities issued a warning that a tsunami potentially as high as 2 meters (2.2 yards) could hit.

A tsunami of 1 meter (1 yard) hit Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi, at 6:02 p.m. (0902 GMT).

So far no deaths or serious damage were reported.

This is a disaster!

About 350 Die After Typhoon Bopha Hits Southern Philippines

Residents cross a river using suspended ropes at Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, a day after Typhoon Bopha made landfall. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country’s south on Tuesday, killing scores of people while triggering landslides, flooding and cutting off power in two entire provinces. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

At least 332  people were killed and 379 others were missing after Typhoon Bopha hits southern Philippines.

The typhoon slammed into Davao Oriental as it blew from the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday and caused a lot of damages to the province that  it was hard to find any buildings with roofs on them.

It then hit Compostela Valley and roared across the southern Mindanao and central regions.

Southern Mindanao was rarely hit by strong typhoon.

Typhoon Bopha knocked out power in two entire provinces, caused landslides, destroyed houses and damaged the plantations.

Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental were the hardest hit provinces.

About 20 typhoons hit the the northern and central Philippines every year, often causing death and destruction.

But almost exactly a year ago, Typhoon Washi killed 1,500 people in Mindanao.

Typhoon Bopha, with central winds of up to 115 kph (71 mph) and gusts of up to 145 kph (90 mph), was moving west-northwest of the central Philippines and was expected to be over the South China Sea on Friday.

This is a disaster!

(Please click the photos for bigger images)

A villager walks on rope over floodwaters that flows down a destroyed road caused by typhoon Bopha in Compostela Valley, southern Philippines December 5, 2012. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

Residents cross a river in the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country’s south on Tuesday, killing scores of people while triggering landslides, flooding and cutting off power in two entire provinces. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Residents cross a river in the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Residents rebuild their house which was destroyed by Typhoon Bopha in Compostela Valley, southern Philippines December 5, 2012. Blocked roads and severed communications in the southern Philippines frustrated rescuers on Wednesday as teams searched for hundreds of people missing after the strongest typhoon this year killed at least 283 people. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

Northern Australian Total Solar Eclipse – The Last Until 2015

There will be a solar eclipse in parts of northern Australia for a few minutes from shortly after dawn Wednesday (Nov. 14) local time in Australia or 3:35 p.m. EST (2035 GMT) Tuesday.  

(Please click here for the photos of the total solar eclipse)

(Please click here for for the awesome video of the 2012 Australian Total Solar Eclipse)

This will be the world’s last solar eclipse until March 2015.

It could be seen in Northern Territory, state of Queensland and the Pacific Ocean.

If we are not in those places, we could still watch the rare phenomenon live from the Internet.

The Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Slooh Space Camera will provide free webcasts of the event.

The broadcasts will begin at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT) and 2:30 p.m. EST (1930 GMT) on Tuesday, respectively. 

SPACE.com reported that:

The total eclipse of the sun will begin over the Arnhem Land region of the Northern Territory, where the moon’s shadow will touch down at 3:35 p.m. EST (2035 GMT). [Video: Watch Path of Nov. 13-14 Total Solar Eclipse]

Then the eclipse path moves southeast across the Gulf of Carpentaria to Queensland, darkening the skies over towns such as Mitchell River and Palmerville before reaching the coastal city of Cairns at 3:39 p.m. EST (2039 GMT).

Shortly after sunrise, skywatchers in Cairns will witness a total solar eclipse lasting two minutes.

From Cairns, the moon’s shadow will cruise out into the vast Pacific Ocean, with the total eclipsefinally petering out 610 miles (980 kilometers) west-northwest of Santiago, Chile, at 6:48 p.m. EST (2348 GMT).

The eclipse’s path of totality is about 108 miles (174 km) wide and covers 9,000 miles (14,500 km) over a three-hour period.

The next total solar eclipse occurs in March 2015 and will be visible from some areas in the North Atlantic region, such as Norway’s Svalbard Islands.

However, a so-called “hybrid” eclipse — which shifts between total and annular at different points on the globe — will come to parts of the Atlantic and central Africa in November 2013.

Related post:

1. Awesome Video Of Australian 2012 Total Solar Eclipse By Panasonic, NASA

2. Photos Of 2012 Australian Total Solar Eclipse

3. The Sun

4. Videos Of May, 2012 Spectacular Annular Solar Eclipse

5. Photos – Rare Solar Eclipse In North America(May 20, 2012)

6. Photos – Rare “Ring Of Fire” Solar Eclipse In Asia(May 21, 2012)

7. Solar Eclipse July 2009

8. My Picture In The Newspapers

Golden Gate Bridge’s 75th Anniversary

The Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco, the longest suspension bridge in the world was opened on May 27, 1937. A view taken from one of the towers of pedestrians swarming across the Golden Gate Bridge immediately after the opening. (AP Photo)The bridge opened to the public on May 27, 1937.

The Golden Gate Bridge was opened to the public on May 27, 1937.

It was constructed from January 1933 to May 1937.

The bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the Golden Gate.

Golden Gate is the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean.

The Golden Gate Bridge links the city of San Francisco to Marin County, California.

At 4,200 ft (1,280.2 m), it was the longest suspension bridge in the world until 1964.

I have already went across the bridge when we visited San Francisco.

After that I visited the Fisherman’s Wharf to eat clam chowder 🙂

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

A crowd estimated at 800,000 jams the deck of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif., on May 24, 1987, as a walk is kicked off to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bridge that spans the San Francisco Bay. (AP Photo/Doug Atkins)

Motor traffic crosses the Golden Gate Bridge, Nov. 20, 1940, in San Francisco. (AP Photo)

Workers at the top of the tower, which will support the $35,000,000 suspension bridge, are shown during construction of one of the catwalks for the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Ca., Oct. 17, 1935. Below in background is the Marin County shore, which will be connected to San Francisco by the bridge. (AP Photo)

Preparations for spinning the cables of the Golden Gate Bridge between Marin County and San Francisco on October 10, 1935. (AP Photo)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

Golden Gate bridge March 31,1960, in San Francisco. (AP Photo)

The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, which will link Fort Point, bottom, with Marin County, Calif., top, is seen as work progressed, 1934. (AP Photo/Redwood Empire Association)

Aftermath Of Earthquake in Chile

Vehicles sit on a destroyed motorway in Santiago following a powerful earthquake in southern Chile, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Carlos Espinoza)

A very strong 8.8 earthquake hit central Chile early Saturday.

This is the 7th strongest earthquake in the world.

The president of Chile, President Michelle Bachelet said at least two million people were affected and 214 were killed.

The earthquake damaged buildings, roads and bridges.

A collapsed bridge over the Claro river is seen near the town of Camarico, Chile, some 112 miles (180 kilometers ) south of Santiago Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Chile early Saturday. The quake hit 200 miles (325 kilometers) southwest of the capital and the epicenter was just 70 miles (115 kilometers) from Concepcion, Chile's second-largest city. (AP Photo/Aliosha Marquez)

Houses, offices, hospitals and highways were damaged.

Highway overpasses collapsed on the road and cars were thrown away.

The president declared ‘areas of catastrophe’.

A town named Chillan that was destroyed in the 1939 earthquake is one of the most effected.

Santiago lost electricity, water and telephone services.

Santiago is the capital of Chile.

The Santiago airport is shut down for at least the next 24 hours.

Tsunami waves were reported in the countries around the Pacific Ocean.

Boats were thrown ashore, buildings were damaged and some areas were flooded.

In Talcahuano, Chile the waves were as high as 7.7 feet.

On the island of Juan Fernando the tsunami waves killed 3 people and 10 were missing.

Tsunami activities is reported as far as in Tasmania, Australia.

CNN reported a 9 feet high tsunami may hit Japan and tens of thousands of people has been evacuated.

There have been lots of powerful aftershocks; one with a magnitude of 6.9.

In Argentina a 6.3 magnitude quake killed 2 people in separate towns.

There have been lots and lots of damage in Concepcion.

People walk near a destroyed building in Concepcion, southern Chile, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Chile early Saturday. The quake hit 200 miles (325 kilometers) southwest of Santiago, the country's capital, and the epicenter was just 70 miles (115 kilometers) from Concepci

Any way things are not as bad as the aftermath of the 7.0 Haiti earthquake.

I am very sorry for the victims in this natural disaster.

I think we should build high quality buildings with air bags to protect the buildings and people during earthquake.

Three Countries Hit By Earthquakes

These are the news from CNN:

A pair of earthquakes hit Solomon Islands Monday morning, and another struck the Philippines, according to the U.S. Geological Service.

One quake, with a magnitude of 5.3, hit the Philippines at 5:38 a.m. (4:38 p.m. Sunday ET), near the eastern-most island of Mindanao, the agency reported.

The Solomon Islands experienced a 6.3-magnitude quake at 8:48 a.m. (4:48 p.m. Sunday ET), and another 7.2-magnitude tremor hit less than an hour later.

The quake shook Tajikistan’s mountainous Gorno-Badakhshan province about 7:15 a.m. local time.

The 20,000 people were left homeless in the villages of Rog and Gishkon, where 1,050 mud dwellings were destroyed, according Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency.

The U.S. Geological Survey classified the quake as a magnitude 5.3. It was centered 80 km (50 miles) north of Korough, Tajikistan, and was about 44.5 km (27.7 miles) below the Earth’s surface, the USGS said.

Earthquake is a disaster.

Earthquake can kill many people and animals.

If a strong earthquake happens in the sea it can cause a tsunami.

Tsunami is also a disaster and can kill many people and animals.

A lot of tsunamis happened in Japan.

Japan is in Asia, in the western Pacific Ocean.

Solomon Islands is near Papua New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean.

The Philippines is in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean.

Tajikistan is in Central Asia near Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China.