A staple of any cheesy movie set in the jungle is the scene where somebody falls victim to the enormous, man-eating plant. Obviously this scene is impossible, plants are still nowhere near the point of hunting or eating people, but its inspirations are as real as they are fascinating. Carnivorous plants, parasitic plants, and other violent flora are found on most continents, and by now have been fairly well documented. Here are some of the coolest.

Cape Sundew

Mostly insects, but can be “fed” larger prey such as very small tadpoles.


Sustenance.


Secretes succulent-looking droplets from the tendrils on its leaves which attract insects. Once the prey has landed for a drink, the sticky nature of the secretions immobilizes it while the tendrils and leaves curl up around it and digest.

— The impressive colors and the unique nature of the sundew’s feeding system make it appealing to both the eye and to the sense of imagination. As such, it is one of the most commonly cultivated carnivorous plants around. A tropical plant, originally sprouting in the Cape area of South Africa, this sundew appreciates warm temperatures, high humidity, and plenty of fresh insect life. Given its tendency to retain leaves and old branches, the plant can become quite woody and cluttered looking over time without constant attention.

Splendid Pitcher Plant

Insects, very small frogs, reptiles, or mammals (only the largest pitchers can trap and digest food larger than big insects).


Sustenance.


Lures insects to the rim of the pitcher with bright colors and a sweet smelling nectar. Both the rim and the inside of the pitcher are very slick, and once an insect has fallen into the depths of the plant it is digested by the enzymes within.

— The splendid pitcher plant is generally considered the largest and most attractive of the Nepenthaceae family, or “Old World” pitcher plants. Like most Old World pitchers, it is a climbing plant which uses surrounding trees and shrubbery for support and then sprouts a series of hanging pitchers from its foundation. Unfortunately, its conservation status is now at vulnerable owing mainly to the El Nino disaster of ‘98 and ‘99 and the dry-spell that followed it. When in the wild, it is not uncommon to find a splendid pitcher providing a home for a forest creature, despite the corrosive enzymes in the water. Most notably, a spider in the forests of Borneo has learned that by hiding inside the pitcher it can simply wait for insects to be lured and detained and then remove them from the water and chow down. The largest animal ever recorded living in one of these pitcher plants is a small crab.

Butterwort

Small insects.


Sustenance.


Has extremely sticky, fly-paper leaves. Any insect that sets foot on the plant is cemented in place where it struggles to free itself and, in the course of its wriggling, covers its entire body in the mucilagenous secretions. After it has died, the insect’s nutrients are slowly absorbed by the enzymes secreted by the leaves.

— Butterwort is another commonly cultivated carnivorous plant. The ease with which it can be grown, and the very visual nature of its hunting habits make it one of the more popular starting plants for carnivorous plant enthusiasts. Butterworts generally grow in nutrient poor, alkaline soils, getting most of their nourishment from their prey. In the past, butterwort has been used to curdle milk and speed the healing of livestock wounds. The natural insecticide in butterwort helped keep the wounds clean.

Black Walnut

Any susceptible plant-life in a certain area.


Elimination of competition.


Roots secrete a deadly poison into the soil which kills or cripples much of the plant life in a close proximity.

— The black walnut tree is a devious killer. Its innocuous-sounding name and its appearance as just another pretty nut tree make it seem like an innocent addition to the landscape. Underneath the soil, however, it is much more vicious. The natural toxin, juglone, is produced by the leaves, nut husks, and especially the roots of the black walnut tree and inhibits many of the enzymes required by most plants for the metabolic process. Despite its herbicidal tendencies, the black walnut is still commonly cultivated for its nuts, its strong, beautiful wood, and the juglone which is used as a natural food coloring. Just don’t plant it too close to the garden:

Great Dodder

Healthy, vital host plants.


Sustenance and support.


Grows up the length of a host-plant’s stem. Once it reaches a certain point, inserts small needles into the stem of the host and starts draining nutrients and water.

— Great dodder, also known as European dodder, is a parasitic plant that grows widely throughout temperate to tropical climates. The plant begins its life as most other climbing plants do: rising from the soil, finding a stable base, and then using almost all of its energy for rapid climbing. After a certain point, however, the plant differentiates itself from other vines by shedding its roots and injecting several appendages into the body of its host. These appendages then suck from the host any valuable food or water that they can reach. Dodder can grow quickly and, in some areas, almost continuously, allowing it reach up to the very tops of the canopy in some cases.

Venus Flytrap

Insects, mostly winged.


Sustenance.


Lures prey into “mouth” with bright colors and appearance of moisture. Once the prey lands, the plant snaps shut very quickly and digests it by secreting enzymes.

— The Venus Flytrap is one of only a few plants capable of rapid movement. Despite its reputation as being difficult to grow (it naturally grows in extremely acidic swamps and bogs), the flytrap is probably the most commonly cultivated carnivorous plant due to the popularity of its hunting system. The feeding/digesting process can be easily triggered simply by dropping a small bug into the mouth of the plant and the resulting jump is always a crowd pleaser.

Kudzu

Everything and everyone in the world.


Just wants to grow.


Attacks with sheer strength of numbers. Like a zombie horde, the plant just grows and grows until everything is overwhelmed.

— Kudzu, also known as the vine that ate the south, is famous for being one of the fastest growing plants in the United States. Originally a Japanese plant, it was brought to America as an ornamental and forage plant. It’s growth was encouraged for some time until it was realized that the southern United States is absolutely perfect for growing Kudzu and, as such, the plant had begun to spread out of control. Estimated by some to grow up to three feet in a twenty four hour period, it soon enveloped fields, barns, houses, and anything else in its path. Indeed, the prominent lump in the picture above is a house that was completely overrun by kudzu. These days it is considered a nuisance by almost everyone and its cost, in terms of lost crop-land and removal expenses, is now estimated at nearly 500 million dollars a year in the U.S.

Mistletoe

Strong, healthy trees or shrubs.

Sustenance and support.


Attaches to healthy host tree via bird droppings and then absorbs water and mineral nutrients.

— Mistletoe, the same mistletoe that famously encourages holiday intimacy, is, in reality, a fairly toxic parasite with an interesting method of spreading its seeds. After the berries of the plant are eaten by birds, the seeds resist digestion and are eventually “deposited” in another tree or shrub. At this point the plant begins to grow, slowly at first, living off the nutrients in the bird’s droppings. Once it reaches a certain level of maturity, the plant then attaches to, and begins draining water and nutrients from, its host. As mistletoe has leaves and chlorophyll it is capable of at least rudimentary photosynthesis and therefore relies on its host mainly for water and mineral nutrients. While a small infestation of mistletoe can only harm growth of its host, a large infestation can easily kill a healthy tree.

Corpse Flower

Nearby, healthy stems and vines.


Sustenance.


Grows root-like tendrils that grow into the tissue of surrounding vines and absorb nutrients and water.

— The charmingly titled “corpse flower” is utterly dependent on the nutrients of others. With no leaves, stem, or roots of its own, it instead grows many tendrils which search for and then invade the bodies of other, nearby plant-life. Originally discovered in Indonesia, it is found throughout southeastern Asia, including Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippines. Locals refer to it as corpse flower because it emits a horrible odor which many equate to that of rotting meat. It is believed that this smell attracts insects which help with pollination. Under the right conditions, these fragrant flowers can grow to startling sizes.

Sandbox Tree

None really.


Spreading of seeds.


Exploding seed pods. Seriously.

Becomes

— The sandbox tree is possibly the most intimidating plant known to man. Boasting toxic bark, enormous stiff thorns, and seed pods that explode with sufficient force to injure people or livestock below, it is certainly a violent specimen. It is not, however, a malicious one. While all of the other plants on this list go out of their way to cause harm to other organisms, the sandbox tree simply tries to spread its seeds and, in the process, catches the rest of the forest in its crossfire, which has been known to reach 100 meters from the tree. It is native to tropical areas of North and South America and, despite the obvious drawbacks, is occasionally grown purposefully for shade.

It’s no secret that traditional news sources are being trumped by online news. The sheer speed that news is passed online makes it incredibly hard for traditional new sources like newspapers to even compete. Nobody wants there news later when they can have it now, hell we can even have instant video of disasters while there occurring. Traditional news faces a demise if they cannot create viable solution. Check out these stunning facts on Online Vs Traditional news.

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Loaning money always seems to cause problems, especially when your lending it to someone you know, like a friend or family member. Most of the time your better off lending money to a complete stranger. Well we have solution for you; we have created a flowchart to help weigh the risks and rewards of lending someone money. Now you can be sure your making the right decision.

Growing grass can be very important to the environment, its provides a magnificent green surface to enjoy in many different ways. Haven’t you ever wonder what goes into or even how grass seeds seem to spring up from the earth? This graphic takes in-depth look in the Grass Growing Process.

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With Valentines Day around the corner, every man in the world is scrambling to find the perfect gift, or even remember to get a gift for their significant other. Over the years the cost of finding that perfect gift has gone up. Check out the amounts of money spent just to this commercial holiday of love a special one.

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From the authors of Would You Rather, comes Do Unto Others, A Life’s Little Instruction Book for those looking to add a little lunacy to their lives.With over 1,000 off-the-wall things to do in over 50 locations (churchs, shopping malls, public bathrooms, etc.), Justin Heimberg and David Gomberg have created a laugh-a-minute guide to disturbing and disgusting those around you.Here are some sample suggestions:Things to Do During a Job Interview–Answer all questions in interpreti… Buy Do Unto Others: 1000 Hilarious Ways to Screw with People’s Heads at Amazon

Driving is always such a chore. The same motions, the same sounds, and often the same scenery, time and time again. It’s such a bore. That’s why these kind people have decided to try to bring a few smiles to the road. They may be gross, silly, or just weird but all of these private number plates are worth a laugh or two.

Timmay!

For South Park fans only. “Timmay!!”
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Upside Down

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Metallica

Too much metal for one license plate!
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Virginia. . . Sort Of

Man, I hate going to Virginia. It always smells so fishy.
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Late

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The Dark Prince

So Satan drives a BMW, huh? Nobody ever said he didn’t have class.
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Eat The Kids

And if you’re still hungry, go ahead and start on grandma. If we don’t eat her soon she’s going to spoil.
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Two Girls One Cup

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Dr. Long

Over compensating a little, aren’t we chuckles?
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If you’d like to spread a little joy yourself, just visit http://dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk/ to see what’s available.

The Internet has made almost everything easier. It’s made it easier to play, easier to learn, and WAY easier to jack off. Unfortunately, it has also made it easier to do absolutely nothing with your time. Here are some common symptoms of someone who spends too much time online:

Bathroom Surfing

You value your precious Web surfing time so much that you can’t lose one precious second. You find yourself thankful for laptops, netbooks, and mobile phones with Web browsers that allow you to multitask shitting and surfing at the same time. Consequently, you also find yourself taking longer than normal dumps just so you can finish checking your updated RSS feeds. But please wash your hands. There’s enough crap on the Internet already.

Mountain Dew Clothes

You feel so strongly about your beverage choice that you just have to let the people know. When you slip on that Dew shirt and head out the door, you feel confident that people will understand what really fuels you. Anyone who sees you wearing that shirt immediately realizes that you are the kind of person that will remain awake for two and a half days to finish your guild battle. Some say it even makes the wearer immune to asthma attacks and grants a +2 bonus to endurance.

Multiple E-mail Accounts

You’re embarrassed.You should be. You’re in a pine walled office, adding SexyStud69@hotmail.com to a professional resume. However, you want to show all the ladies online what a complete tool you are so you still want to keep it. What a dilemma. Fortunately, you’ve created different e-mail account for every plausible scenario that you might have to use one: one for registering for services online, one for family, one for work, and one for your best friend’s mom.

First Viewings

You are so connected to the internet community that you never need to be told about the latest Online phenomenon. You were probably one of the people that found the video. You may have to spend six hours a day surfing through miles of 4chan dialogue, but you got to be one of the first people to watch that fat kid trip over his lightsaber. Unfortunately, you were also one of the first people to ever ask “Wait, those two girls are going to do what with that cup?”

Firefox Dependency

You have downloaded a Firefox add-on for almost everything you’ve ever needed. You have add-ons that educate, record, manipulate, and download. If you encounter a problem, the first place you check for solutions is the add-ons list. If you can’t find a solution there, the problem probably wasn’t worth solving in the first place. Unfortunately, this dependency may cause you some problems when it comes time to fry up a ribeye.

World of Warcraft

You knew that being a great hero of Azeroth would take dedication. You understand the suffering that is necessary to shape a true champion. And so you grind. Hours at a time, you ignore the hunger, you ignore the carpal tunnel, and you ignore the boredom that has destroyed lesser men. Someday it will all have been worth it when you are the most feared man in World (of Warcraft).

Foreign Friends

Most of your friends have names that I probably can’t pronounce. When you want to hang out with the guys and play a little poker, you need to first establish connections to Korea, India, and Vietnam. Luckily, that’s not hard at all for you. You can remember fondly all of the times you’ve had with your friends, all the quests, games, and discussions. Of course, it would be easier if you all spoke the same language. . .

Too Much Information

The newspaper hasn’t been on your table for a few years now. You don’t miss it though, because you have made sure to follow a different blog for every single topic of your interest. Sure you have to read fifteen blogs every day, but you don’t mind. You can set up your laptop where the newspaper used to go and read the news while you chow your Rice Krispies. Just like old times.

Second Life Career

You tried to explain your career to your mom once and she just laughed. Apparently she doesn’t understand the true value of rabbit ears in fun colors. How could she though, when she’s never really experienced the world of Second Life? If she had, you’re sure she would realize that accessorizing avatars for money actually makes more sense than any job you’ve ever had. After all, do what you know right?

Techno-Snobbishness

You know it’s strange behavior, but post offices, VCR’s, and those mice with the rubber balls inside them always make you a little frustrated. At what point, you wonder, will our society be able to just put its past behind it and embrace the joys of modernity? If it makes everyone feel better you would certainly not be adverse to a public museum of old and inefficient methods of getting things done. It might be good for perspective.

Vanishing Syndrome

Vanishing Syndrome is another common ailment of people who spend too much time online. It is characterized by an absence of any direct human interaction and the appearance, to the rest of reality, of not existing. Like MDD, Vanishing Syndrom is easily cured. Simply obtain as many single dollar bills as possible and some sort of transportation. Transport the patient to a strip club as quickly as possible and watch the real world work its magic.

Forgetting To Blink

Everything happens so quickly Online, it’s only reasonable for you to want to keep an eye on it every second. Who knows what you might miss in that fraction of a second that you’ve got your lids down. Just be aware that to the uninformed viewer you may look much more zombified than you feel. If they give you any shit, just record them watching Monday Night Football. That should shut them up.

The Assprint

Your chair has always been there for you. It’s been the support that you’ve needed through countless battles and conversations. In fact, you and your chair have developed such a deep bond that it actually carries physical scars from bearing you into battle. The ass groove runs deep in your chair, hugging your curves tightly and giving you that security you need to confidently face down any virtual competition.

Waking Up On The Keyboard

The condition is often reffered to as MDD, or “Mountain Dew Defficiency.” It starts when you wake with a start and a crink in your neck. You look around and realize that not only are you still dressed, but you’re still sitting in your office chair. Empty Dew cans generally litter the vicinity of the afflicted whose face may still carry keyboard marks. Luckily, the condition is easily remedied and is only fatal for whichever team you’re battling with when you hit the deck.

Epic Arguments

You, on some level, understand that arguing on the Internet almost never accomplishes anything. You get that it is an exercise in vanity to some degree and that it will be forgotten by almost everyone within a week of ending. You also realize, though, that if you quit now the little shit from Vermont wins. You have spent days before, reviewing cases, studying journals, and whatever else was necessary to prove your point. It doesn’t matter who you’re fighting with or what you’re fighting about, you know you’re right and, by God, you’re going to win.

Battlestarsexy9

This guy is your nemesis. Superman had Lex Luther, G.I. Joe had Cobra, and you have Batllestarsexy9. This guy pops up anywhere you ever post and immediately attacks. You can’t count the number of hours you’ve spent putting this asshole back into his place, and you can’t even remember the argument that initiated your feud. All you know is that Battlestarsexy9 must be destroyed at all costs. Oh, by the way, he makes fun of your name too.

HTML Dreams

Your unconscious mind likes to take you where you are most comfortable and powerful. For you, that means the world of HTML. Walk around and enter a few new lines of code into the elm tree and watch it sprout maple leaves. Enter some new lines into the stream and watch the beer flow strong. Add a few new lines into your girlfriend and watch her bra size double. It’s a good life.

Those that make the rules and those that break them are always in direct competition. The nature of the game insists that as one group progresses in some fashion, the other must also progress in order to survive. Today, the police are as advanced as we have ever feared they could be. Rather than be discouraged by this fact, however, it is up to the modern rule breaker to get competitive and look for new ways to be just as advanced as the law. Here are some ways for the modern brigand to use the Internet to get back into the game.

RESEARCH CHEMICALS

Research chemicals are chemicals that are, holy crap, still being researched. Most of these chemicals are of no importance unless you really need a new cholesterol medicine, but a choice few are worth looking at. 2-CT-7, 4-HO-DiPT, and 2C-I are all classified as either tryptamines or phenethylamines (the two classifications that also encompass LSD and Mescaline), and are considered research chemicals. What this means to the average lawbreaker, is that these chemicals have been proven to be psychoactive but are still too new to be illegal. So the market flourishes. Since “Operation Web Tryp,” which saw several research chemical providers in prison, the number of sellers has certainly declined, but providers do still exist. **** Please be aware that these chemicals really are still being researched. This means that no one is one hundred percent sure how any person may react to their ingestion. Unlike magic mushrooms or LSD, there is no history of safe usage and no anecdotal assurance. Research chemicals still have the potential of being very harmful and even deadly. Use caution.****

GAMBLING

The Internet has made an Indian reservation out of every computer room in the country. I know it’s not exactly the same as sitting down at the poker table and having a game, but if its the gambling that you crave, look no further. Just try typing Online casino into a search engine and see how many results you get. There are literally millions of sites that are always ready to hook you up with a real game with stakes as high as you’re comfortable with. Plus, you can get as drunk as you want and no one will be able to watch you fall out of your chair.

THEFT

Twenty years ago, stealing a car was considered the ultimate feat of solo theft. Grand theft auto was the practice of the only the elite and/or reckless criminal and carried with it a stigma of power in the criminal world. Today, the improved alarms, locks, and starting mechanisms of our vehicles make car theft nigh impossible. But, when Satan closes a door, he opens a window. Now, with some technological prowess and a complete lack of morals, any Tom, Dick, or Mary with a computer can actually steal a person’s entire identity. In a matter of hours, these thieves can then liquidate this person’s every asset and transfer all of the wealth to a secure account in Jamaica or Haiti. Never thought you’d miss your car-jacker, huh?

PHARMACEUTICALS

Prescription drugs that are not prescribed to you are never ever legal for you to own or buy in the United States. Those are just the rules. The Internet, however, allows the criminal of today to simply take his wallet to a country where it is legal. A quick search will bring up hundreds of listings of pharmacies from China, India, or Canada who are all more than willing to sell you drugs you weren’t prescribed. Of course, buying any kind of pharmaceutical from a foreign country is considered illegal in the U.S., so there is some obvious risk, but most sites offer discreet, fast shipping to dampen the risk as best they can. **** Pharmaceuticals bought online, especially from foreign-run or shady companies, may not be exactly what you ordered. Occasionally such companies cut their medications with other substances that may be very harmful if ingested. Always use caution.****

VANDALISM

So much has been created on the internet that it only makes sense that someone would want to tear it down. That’s just the nature of society. Someone always feels the need to destroy what other people create. In the parking lot, this manifests as spray-paints and baseball bats, but on your computer it shows up as trojans and viruses. Someone wrote the program that ate all your files and sucked all of y0ur memory. Someone sat at their computer for hours just to design a program that would make your computer malfunction. Mindless destruction, ladies and gentlemen, in the twenty first century.

MARIJUANA. . . SEEDS

Buying marijuana seeds online operates under the same protection that buying pharmaceuticals does. Many countries have kindlier views of marijuana than the United States, and many of these see no problem with selling the seeds of the cannabis plant. All that the enterprising scoundrel must do is visit these countries via the Internet and ask for these seeds to be sent to the front door. Obviously the seeds must then be grown to be of much use, but after they are grown you will be glad you bought professional.

STALKING

Isn’t it wonderful when someone else does your work for you? Imagine for a moment that you are a stalker. First you have to hide in the bushes and follow your victim home. Then you have to start hiding outside their house all the time, taking pictures, breathing heavily and just doing the stalker thing. Then you need to start hanging the pictures all over your walls and building miniature dolls that look like you and your victim. Sure it’s a good time, but it’s also exhausting. Today’s stalker has it so easy. Today, a quick visit to MySpace or Facebook can be just as useful as a month or two spent in the bushes. Plus, if you decide to stalk someone with a blog too it’s like grabbing the photo book and the diary all at once. It’s a good time to be creepy.

Drugs

Many legal substances can be purchased online, not all of which are harmless. One of the more popular legal highs is a substance called Salvia divinorum or “Salvia” for short. This plant hails from Mexico and boasts impressive side effects for a drug that’s perfectly legal for anyone to buy. Some of the side effects include:

• radical perspective shifting
• increase in sensual and aesthetic appreciation
• creative dreamlike experience
• insight into personal issues
• powerful open and closed eye visuals
• general change in consciousness (as with most psychoactives)
• altered perceptions
• change in body temperature, flushing
• sensation of physical push, pressure, or wind
• sensation of entering or perceiving other dimensions, alternate realities
• feeling of ‘presence’ or entity contact
• dissociation at high doses, walking or standing

With so much happening in health care right now there is a lot of confusion about the way health care systems work in other countries. Cut through the clutter and find out the real 411 on health care in Canada (and why it’s not as bad as you might think).