Of course "the environmentalists" aren't amused. It's a pretty pointless and dumb stunt, considering NZ tries to promote it's "clean and green" image (which is a pretty thin cover anyways unfortunately).

that's really pathetic. and cruel.

One would hope that the world would've moved beyond this stupid 19th-century attitude towards nature.

Awesome article, thanks for posting it! It's obvious from this article and most people's experience that we need sleep, but I haven't found any answers as to *why* we need sleep. What makes us go tired (and a bit loopy) when we're sleep-deprived? As far as I can see (with a quick google for research papers) biologists don't know yet.

unnecessary. decadent. sick.

@Silver: tourist, sheep, we're thinking along the same line :)

It's a decimal counter - each wheel has 10 teeth, with a pin on one of the teeth to advance the next wheel. It would count from 000 to 999 I suppose.

It looks old, I wonder what it used to count... sheep perhaps?

"Koalas are endangered?" -- you're kidding, right? Koala have been endangered quite a while and are on the US "endangered" list since 2000. Australia still considers koala "common" in some parts of the country, even though there aren't that many left, mainly due to deforestation. For more information, see https://www.savethekoala.com/koalasendangered.html

I've been looking for information on the sources of their cocoa. Unfortunately, a large portion of the world's cocoa production actually threatens local rainforest and wildlife, and is linked to child labour and slavery. Selling this chocolate while giving parts of your proceeds to WSPA would be cynical in that case.

I came across "The Endangered Species Chocolate company" at http://www.chocolatebar.com/ and now I'm confused. Did Walteria living just steal their idea (and trademark)?!

Flight of the Conchords are awesome.

Thanks for the article, however, "Liebniz" is actually called "Leibniz" (pronounced Laibnitz). Furthermore, to give a bit more context, many scientists of that time were alchemists, Newton wasn't strange in this regard. If you're keen to know more about the strange and wonderful personalities behind Newton and many other scientists, I recommend reading "A Short History Of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson.

Ow, the billboard is awesome though. I'd go sick playing soccer like that. But I suck at playing soccer anyway.

That guy who said "In downtown Japan" must live somewhere in downtown America.

Thanks for yet another interesting list! One small point: Gavrilo Princip's assassination of Franz Ferdinand started world war I (one), not II (two).

I absolutely love Neatorama and I enjoyed reading this list, up to the very last sentence. Like her or not, suggesting Kylie Minogue doesn't have talent is just dumb.

I was going to mention the fabulous Museum of Jurassic Technology, but Dan beat me to it! If you're in LA, it's worth a visit!