googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DTBT_ATF’); }); Okay, okay, soda might not be great for you, but you can’t deny that it’s delicious, right? Sitting out by the pool with an ice-cold glass of fizzy goodness is basically the definition of refreshing. Speaking of foods that aren’t really healthy but taste way too good, let’s talk about cake for a second. Actually, let’s talk about soda and cake. If these two treats are high on your “gotta have this right now” list, this amazing recipe is the one for you. I really need to learn how to bake, because this is just too good to miss. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/7-up-cake/
Sometimes in life, there’s a camera in the right place at the right time. As it turns out, this video shows us one of those instances. When a young woman decided to record herself microwaving an egg for all the Internet to see, something happened that made us burst out laughing (mainly due to secondhand embarrassment). Please don’t try this nonsense at home. Yeah…I don’t think she’ll be doing that again anytime soon. Just a hunch. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/microwave-egg/
Once a bustling town in Thessaly, Greece, Ropoto is now a ghost town. What happened to this locale to make it so desolate? Well, in 2012, a landslide caused homes and buildings to cascade down the side of a hill, displacing 300 families in the process. The 12-minute documentary Ropoto: Greece’s Sinking Ghost Town details what happened on the day of the landslide, reveals that the sinking continues to happen, and sheds light on the unwillingness of the Greek government to help its own people. As you walk through Ropoto, you might confuse it with the set of a disaster movie. Indeed, the town is still reeling from the effects of the real-life disaster that changed everything 4 years ago. YouTube / Greek Reporter Due to poor drainage, townspeople always relied on specialized machines to move the water around. But when the machines didn’t do their job in 2011, it led to a massive landslide that occurred on April 12, 2012. YouTube / Greek Reporter When the mountain began forming cracks in the ’60s, scientists warned the Greek government that something like this would happen. Sadly, people continued to build on the dangerous land for profit. YouTube / Greek Reporter var OX_ads = OX_ads || []; OX_ads.push({ slot_id: “537251602_56eb95b8af979”, auid: “537251602” }); Many people are still left without homes, and to this day, the town has no electricity. Many residents stay in barns with their animals. Since the last landslide, the town has slipped between 10 and 15 centimeters down the hillside, and Ropoto continues to sink more every year. YouTube / Greek Reporter Here is the entire documentary. It features one of the village’s former council members, Yorgos Roubies. (via Oddity Central) The Greek government refuses to send aid to Ropoto. Some villagers say that they still receive bills for taxes on properties that were ripped out from under them years ago. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/ropoto/
When exploring abandoned places is your passion, you need to be ready for the unexpected to happen at pretty much any moment. Seasoned urban explorers all have their own kind of rituals and safety precautions when they’re on the job. For example, in interviews with urban explorer Seph Lawless, he said that he occasionally carries a gun with him while exploring certain places. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBP_ATF’); }); However, for photographer and urban explorer Freaktography, nothing could have prepared him for what some believe he encountered inside this beautiful abandoned home in Ontario, Canada. Freaktography googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBM_BTF’); }); The old stone house, which stood not far from the shores of Lake Michigan, was beginning to collapse in on itself. Freaktography Freaktography Just imagine how beautiful this home must have been before it was abandoned. Freaktography googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCI1_BTF’); }); Freaktography Old wallpaper still hangs in some of the rooms. Freaktography A dizzying view of the grand staircase. Freaktography While these pictures make the house look very abandoned, Freaktography was possibly not the only being inside the house on this particular day. Freaktography In addition to the photos, he also took some video. While he doesn’t remember anything weird happening, reviewing the footage later he spotted something weird dart across the camera at about the 1:25 mark. Could this house be haunted? Looks like it. (source Freaktopgraphy) Whoa. Alright, that was freaky as hell. For more photos like these, make sure to follow Freaktography on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/ghost-house/
When we were little, our stuffed animals served as fluffy confidantes. They sat with us at our tea parties, they stayed close at night to fend off bad dreams, and they comforted us when we were sick. What they didn’t typically do, however, is teach us important lessons that would ultimately stick with us for a lifetime. But one Japanese organization aims to change all that. Second Life Toys allows parents to send their kids’ damaged stuffed animals in for “transplants” to teach them about the beauty of organ donation. While thousands of people are registered organ donors in the States, the issue gets little attention in Japan. Second Life Toys There are quite a few reasons why Japanese people have mixed feelings about organ donation. For one, belief systems in Japan dictate that bodies should be whole upon cremation, which understandably discourages them from registering. Second Life Toys Along with that, the 1968 Juro Wada case, which involved harvesting organs from a braindead patient at a point when the determination of brain-based death was still hotly contested, embedded an association between organ donation and unethical activity deeply into the cultural consciousness. Representatives from Second Life Toys believe that they can flip the script on this pressing issue by teaching kids the importance of organ donation at a young age. Second Life Toys Their program walks little ones through the process in a way that they can understand. Here’s how it works. Second Life Toys A parent sends photos of their child’s damaged toy to the company, and upon approval, they mail the stuffed animal in for “surgery.” Using parts from donated toys that look much different than the rest of the recipient, they repair the defect and mail it home. Second Life Toys And the program works the other way, too! Those who choose to donate unused toys receive letters from the company explaining how their toys were used to save stuffed animals in need. Their goal is to help young people develop positive attitudes toward organ donation. Second Life Toys For more information about the initiative, check this out! The best way to make change is to work from the ground up. After all, children are the ones who will build a better future someday. If you want to learn more about this project, be sure to check out the company’s website. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/organ-donor-toys/
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DTBT_ATF’); }); Are you tired of biting into your favorite sandwich, only to realize that something’s missing? You know darn well you put bacon on that sandwich, but why isn’t there bacon-y goodness in every bite? It’s just un-American to have a BLT without bacon. Well, never fear, the perfect bacon sandwich tip is here! We’ve got the key to incorporating your favorite cured meat into every bite. This will change the way you eat sandwiches forever! Here it is broken down — lift up the middle piece and place one piece on top. Rumble / ViralNova googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBM_BTF’); }); Then pull back the other two slices from the opposite end and place another piece of bacon down. Rumble / ViralNova Full instructions: Put tin foil over a baking sheet. Weave the bacon like described above. Place an oven-proof rack over the bacon. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes. Remove the sheet and brush the bacon with maple syrup. Bake for five more minutes. Top your favorite sandwich and ENJOY! Well I don’t know about you, but I’m off to the grocery store to pick up some bacon so I can start perfecting my weaving skills! Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/bacon-weaving/
One of my biggest regrets is not taking advantage of the stories my 90-year-old grandmother could have shared with me while she was alive. Like Clara Cannucciari, who has also now passed on, my grandmother lived through the Great Depression and likely could have shared similar recipes with me if I’d given her the chance. Thankfully, Clara’s family had the good sense to capture her warmth, stories, and recipes before it was too late. Each of the delightful videos showcases a meal Clara and her family survived on during one of the bleakest eras in U.S. history. Even while pushing a century on this planet, Clara’s sweet personality shines through the camera while she peels potatoes, sautés onions, and serves up the dishes they were able to piece together on their meager funds. Watching as she blends together the ingredients and listening to her memories of the time will fill your heart with happiness and, if you follow along, your stomach with delicious, budget-friendly food. Here she recreates the typical breakfast they would have each morning. And in this, she treats her grandson and his friends to a favorite: The Poorman’s Meal. I definitely encourage you to check out more of her charming videos over on her YouTube page. And if you’re lucky enough to still have your grandparents or great-grandparents around, give them a visit or a call and just listen to what they have to say. Even if they’ve gotten a tad grouchy with the passing years (they’ve earned the right to be!), you’ll still be so glad you did. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/great-depression-recipes/
How old is old enough to get married? In Mali, West Africa, child marriage is an epidemic. As many as 82 girls under the age of 15 are married every day. The Danish organization BØRNEfonden, also known as the Children & Youth Foundation, works to raise awareness and funds for those in danger of child marriage. To date, they’ve sponsored 14,000 children in Mali, providing them with education, healthcare, and developmental opportunities. Recently, they wanted to see how parents in Denmark would react to a 30-year-old asking to marry their 13-year-old daughter. The idea was that if they thought about their own child being married, they would be inspired to support the organization in its quest to help young girls. Watch as a 30-year-old actor asks several fathers for permission to marry their 13-year-old daughters. It’s safe to say that these families will never think about child marriage the same way again. Read More: Child Marriage Seems Like A Foreign Idea, But It Happens Right Here In The U.S. This video makes me cringe, but it sends an important message that everyone should hear. To learn more about BØRNEfonden or donate to their cause, click here. Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/child-marriage-awareness/
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but when you’re scarfing down sugary cereal and carb-heavy bagels, you kind of defeat the whole idea of the meal. Instead of completely obliterating your calorie intake for the day, why not try this recipe out? Not only are the results just as delicious as the traditional comfort food, these hash browns are also healthy! googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBP_ATF’); }); To make this tasty (and healthy) update to this breakfast staple, check this out: Ingredients: 1 head of cauliflower 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon of minced onion 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt 1/8 teaspoon of pepper 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder 1 teaspoon of coconut oil Recipe: Cut the cauliflower in half and remove the leaves on the bottom. Using a cheese grater, grate both halves. Put the grated pieces into a bowl. Add the egg, onion salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat the coconut oil in a saucepan and add half of the cauliflower mixture. Cook for three to five minutes, repeat with the other half, and serve! Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/cauliflower-hash/
Urban Explorer Seph Lawless is known for exploring empty, eerie places — and Picher, Oklahoma, is definitely one of the most unsettling. Picher started out as a promising mining town in 1918, but today, it is known as the most toxic city in America. After years of water contamination and sludge buildup, the whole town was evacuated. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBP_ATF’); }); For his latest project, Lawless journeyed to this foreboding town and walked its silent streets. There is nothing safe about being inside Picher’s city limits, but that definitely wasn’t enough to extinguish his curiosity. Abandoned for over a decade, this city once thrived with a booming mining industry in the early 20th century. Seph Lawless googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCBM_BTF’); }); During Oklahoma’s expansion in 1913, huge amounts of lead and zinc were found in the area. Being at the center of all this new mining work, a settlement was formed and its population had reached nearly 10,000 people by 1920. Seph Lawless It was named after Oliver Picher, owner of the Picher Lead Company. Seph Lawless It became so successful that at one point, it was producing over $20 billion of ore, quickly making it the most lucrative mining settlement in the state. Seph Lawless Over half of the lead and zinc used by the U.S. military during World War I came from the city. Seph Lawless But everything changed after mining stopped in 1967. Hazardous waste and contaminated water from mine shafts created a toxic environment. Seph Lawless googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCI1_BTF’); }); The situation got so bad that the U.S. government designated it as a Superfund site, which identified it as a candidate for cleanup because of the dangerous risk that was posed to people living there. Seph Lawless Unfortunately, Picher couldn’t be salvaged. Officials evacuated the area in 2009 and classified it as the most toxic city in America. Seph Lawless Residents were forced out of their homes and relocated. They left many of their possessions behind, which turned their houses into chilling time capsules that now commemorate an awful point in Oklahoma’s history. Seph Lawless Lawless noticed when he started exploring that people’s clothes were still hanging in their closets as if they’d only just left. Seph Lawless Because of extensive mining, the ground beneath the explorer’s feet could have given way at any time. Seph Lawless As Lawless walked through the streets, he feared that he would fall to his death. Seph Lawless googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘VN_PG_DCI2_BTF’); }); Mining also left behind huge piles of siliceous rock and dolomite waste called “chat.” The mounds are so large that they look like mountains surrounding the city. Seph Lawless Approximately 34 percent of children from Picher were found to be suffering from lead poisoning by the time 1996 rolled around. Seph Lawless In the short amount of time that Lawless spent on one of the hills, he reported feeling nauseous and very uneasy. Seph Lawless But despite all of the dangers, the city’s pharmacist, Gary Linderman, refused to leave […]
