Showing posts with label Top 10 List. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top 10 List. Show all posts

Monday, 17 October 2011

Top 10 Bizarre World Records

Tallest of the tall, strangest of the strange. When it comes to knowing the “most” in things, The Guinness World Records has done its job very well, in noting the best and the worst. One of the most notable things that they have taken is about the people that have unique characteristics, physical traits, or even undeniable feats. All of them are special in their own way; however, looking at the most bizarre would make you think how diverse the world is. With that said, take a look at the most bizarre world records that can make anyone gasp with wonder.

 

Bizarre World Records Part 1

 

 

10. Heaviest Living Woman

10. Heaviest Living Woman1 10 More Bizarre World Records

You have watched the Biggest Loser or at least you have known that the show has gathered the heaviest people and helping them lose their fat, the natural way. However, there is one contestant that may not join this contest as the medical situation of this person may be too challenging. Pauline Potter is confirmed as the world’s heaviest living woman with the weight of 643 lbs. being 47 years old.

9. Fastest Time to Burst Balloons Using the Back

9. Fastest Time to Burst Balloons Using the Back 10 More Bizarre World Records

No, we are not talking about using your back to pop the balloon by laying it flat on the ground and lying down on it with your back popping it. For Julia Gunthel, also known as Zlata from Hochstadt, Germany, popping the balloon is done by standing still, keeping the balloon on the butt, and popping it by flexing your back to your butt, and doing it as fast as possible. She was able to pop 3 balloons in 12 seconds.

 

 

8. Female Longest Tongue

8. Female Longest Tongue 10 More Bizarre World Records

Have you ever been dared to use your tongue to reach the tip of your nose? When you find it so hard, there is someone who will not just tap the nose, but may even wet the eyes when she feels like it. Chanel Tapper from California has a tongue that measures 9.75cm with lengths that can be compared to an iPhone.

 

 

7. Widest Mouth

7. Widest Mouth 10 More Bizarre World Records

Imagine eating your burger with one bite, when you do not have the time. This can be easily done by Francisco Domingo Joaquim as he is recorded to have the widest mouth in the world. It was recorded in Rome, Italy on March 18, 2010.

 

 

6. Female Longest Fingernails

6. Female Longest Fingernails 10 More Bizarre World Records

Growing fingernails for ladies is natural as it is attractive, especially with nail polish added. However, having it grown to over 8.65m in total length may be too extreme. This is the record that Lee Redmond of Salt Lake City, Utah when she started to take care of her nails starting 1979.

 

 

5. Male Longest Fingernails

5. Male Longest Fingernails 10 More Bizarre World Records

Yep, if you think that growing nails is just a girl thing, a Guinness World Record has also noted of a man growing his fingernails at great lengths. Melvin Boothe of Pontiac has nails that are longer than Redmond’s is, with 9.85m at total length.

 

 

4. Hairiest Teenager

4. Hairiest Teenager 10 More Bizarre World Records

Having hair grown all over the body is a very big issue for the ladies as they like it when their skin is all smooth and silky. However, with Supatra Sasuphan of Phanakorn, Bangkok, Thailand, she may have too much problems with her hands. However, she has been strong to accept her uniqueness, making her the hairiest teen lady noted by Guinness.

 

 

3. Farthest Milk Squirting Distance

3. Farthest Milk Squirting Distance 10 More Bizarre World Records

If you think this feat is easy to beat, try to drink some milk and have it squirted coming from your eyeballs. Easy? This is the kind of performance that gasped so many people, with Ilker Yilmaz of Turkey doing the amazing act. He was able to squirt it with a distance of 9 feet and 2 inches.

 

 

2. Most Needles Inserted on the Head

2. Most Needles Inserted on the Head 10 More Bizarre World Records

This has been achieved by Wei Shengchu of China. For people that have been too accustomed with acupuncture, you would reckon that this is ordinary. However, acupuncture is sticking needles to manipulate the pressure points in the body, and may hurt bad if everything is stuck too close to each other.

 

 

1. Smallest Waist

1. Smallest Waist 10 More Bizarre World Records

The usual vital statistics of the sexiest women are 36 on the bust size, 24 on the waist, and 36 on the hips. However, having a waistline of 21 inches when not wearing a corset, and goes as tight as 15 inches with a corset, is definitely bizarre. Cathie Jung of Old Mystic in the US has achieved this strange record.

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Top Ten Fastest Mammals

           Top Ten Fastest Mammals



#1 - Cheetah (71mph / 114kmh)

CheetahA member of the cat family, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) leads the way as the world's fastest mammal. Capable of speeds between 70-75 miles per hour, the cheetah can run at this speed for up to 1,500 feet (460m), and has been recorded accelerating from 0-60mph in just 3 seconds - faster than most sports cars.


#2 - Pronghorn Antelope (57mph / 95kmh)

Pronghorn AntelopeThe Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana), or Pronghorn Buck, is a hoofed mammal native to North America. It is built for maximum predator evasion, with speeds recorded varying from 40-57mph. Although slower than the cheetah, the Pronghorn is capable of maintaining its top speed over much longer distances due to its large heart and lungs.


#3 - Blue Wildebeest (50mph / 80kmh)

Blue WildebeestOne of two species of wildebeest, the Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a grazing animal found in Southern and East Africa. With so many natural predators including lions, hyenas, cheetahs and crocodiles, the blue wildebeest move in large migratory herds and are capable of speeds up to 50mph when necessary.


#4 - Lion (50mph / 80kmh)

LionAt one time the second most common mammal in the world after humans, the Lion (Panthera leo) is these days found mostly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The second largest living cat after the tiger, the lion can achieve speeds of up to 50 miles per hour when hunting its prey which can range from warthogs to elephants.


#5 - Springbok (50mph / 80kmh)

SpringbokThe Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a medium sized gazelle, earning its name from its tendecy to leap into the air while running to attract a female or evade a predator, a behaviour known as 'pronking'. Most commonly found in south and southwestern Africa it can reach running speeds of up to 50mph / 80kmh.


#6 - Brown Hare (48mph / 77kmh)

Brown HareThe smallest animal on our list of the top ten fastest mammals, the Brown Hare is native to much of Europe and Western Asia. Slightly larger than a rabbit, it is a strictly herbivorous mammal that feeds on many types of vegetation throughout the year. With a number of natural predators, the Brown Hare is a naturally shy animal and is capable of reaching 48mph to avoid capture.


#7 - Red Fox (48mph / 77kmh)

Red FoxThe Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a relatively small carnivorous mammal capable of running speeds of 48mph / 77kmh, incidentally the same as one of their prey, the Brown Hare. With natural populations of red foxes in the United States, Europe, North Africa and Asia, the red fox has the widest range of any terrestrial carnivore.


#8 - Grant's Gazelle (47mph / 76kmh)

Grant's GazelleThe Grant's Gazelle (Gazella granti) herivorous mammal found on open gras plains in East Africa. With the world's fastest land animal, the cheetah, being one of its natural predators, it needs to be quite speedy across the ground and can build up to a fastest speed of over 45mph.


#9 - Thomson's Gazelle (47mph / 76kmh)

Thompson's GazelleSimilar in appearance to the Grant's Gazelle, the Thomson's Gazelle (Gazella thomsoni) is probably the best known of the gazelle genus. Native to Africa's savannahs and grasslands, most notably the Serengeti, the Thomson's Gazelle will migrate in herds of hundreds or thousands. It can evade predators through its ability to maintain speeds of up to 47mph while turning quickly and 'pronking' to confuse chasers.


#10 - Horse (45mph / 72kmh)

HorseThe Horse (Equus caballus) is a common and highly domesticated animal. They have been used for centuries to carry humans and goods as well as pull objects such as ploughs and carts. Through breeding horses have also been made to specialise in certain tasks, such as racing, and it is here that horses have been recorded reaching speeds of 45mph.

Top Ten Automakers of 2010

The financial crisis has changed the demographics of the auto industry putting formerly unknown manufacturers on the map, while top companies have lost their worldwide positions.

 

1. Toyota

Popular throughout the world by the sheer volume of cars it produces and sells in almost all countries; Toyota majorly caters the car and Light Commercial Vehicle segment. With marques such as Daihatsu, Hino, Lexus, Scion and Toyota, this giant manufacturer produces cars of mass appeal, elegance and comfort. With stylish cars regularly churned from its basket it would be hard to beat it from its top position.

 

2. General Motors

General Motors is a United States manufacturers and the second largest automaker in the world. This company has been ranked as the largest manufacturer of motors in the world though its share dwindled due to the financial crises and declaration of bankruptcy. Currently it is focusing on its core brands Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Its biggest markets are North and South America and China; however it’s trying to put a foothold in other emerging markets like India, Germany, Spain, etc.

 

3. Ford Motor Co.

Ford Motor Co. introduced the revolutionary method of large-scale manufacturing of motor vehicles. It is the third largest manufacturer in the U.S behind Toyota and General Motors. The Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo are the brands under its automobile segment. With a majority of its market share in North America and the U.S, Ford Motors is rapidly expanding its foothold globally with its ‘Ford’ brand.

 

4. Fiat

This Italian automotive major has a 20% stake in Chrysler since 2009 and its cars are best sellers in Brazil, Argentina and Poland. Its long list of ventures with local companies in India, China, France, Turkey, Russia and Pakistan has ensured that this company has made a mark on the auto industry. Fiat is constantly involved in R&D and its ‘Multiair’ engine won the ‘Best Engine of the Year 2010’ in the International Engine of the Year Awards for its innovative engine technology.

 

5. BMW

Renowned for manufacturing luxury and performance vehicles, this German company also owns the MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. It’s famous for its BMW 3

Series of models and has brought out many innovations with its flagship 7 Series sedans. The company also had a successful stint in Formula One before winning 20 races before selling out to Peter Sauber. BMW is rapidly expanding its client base by setting up subsidiaries in South Africa, India, United States, China, Canada, Austria and Egypt.

 

6. Daimler AG

Daimler Corporation is the thirteenth largest car manufacturer. This German automaker has an envious basket of brands consisting of the ultra-luxurious Maybach, the ever popular statement-Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mitsubishi Fuso, Setra, Smart. Luxury and comfort are its two main focuses while manufacturing models. To increase its market share it has also entered into an alliance with Renault-Nissan in 2010.

 

7. Porsche SE

Another German manufacturer to feature on this list, Porsche is into manufacturing of luxury high performance automobiles. An impressive list of marques such as Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Scania, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen group has ranked it among the top luxury automakers in the world. Porsche cars are immensely successful in the Formula One circuit winning more than 28,000 races. Porsche Cayenne SUV is also very popular with more than 250,000 models sold till date.

 

8. Tata Motors

TATA Motors emerged as a leader in automotive manufacturing after its historic takeover of British brands Jaguar and Land Rover in 2008. With a 70% market share in India, and ranked 19th by OCIA as the world’s largest automaker, TATA Motors is renowned for manufacturing affordable and cost-effective vehicles. It has also rolled out production of the cheapest car in the world ‘TATA Nano’ available at an ex-showroom price of $ 2,146 only. Apart from India it also has manufacturing plants in Argentina, South Africa and Thailand.

 

9. Honda Motor Co.

The sixth largest automobile manufacturer in the world, Honda’s products are mid-sized and highly fuel efficient. Their line-up cars like the Honda Civic, Fit, Accord, Odyssey, Insight and CR-V are very popular in the car market. The Honda Civic has the longest running production period. Honda also produces more fuel-efficient cars than any other automakers according to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency.

 

10. Chrysler Group LLC

A U.S. automobile manufacturer Chrysler has manufactured popular brands such as Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep and GEMCAR- battery powered vehicles. Chrysler vehicles are also very popular among gamers with the Chrysler parody being used as ‘Chryslus Motors’ in Fallout video game series. Dodge vehicles are also used in the Need for Speed and Tom Clancy video games.

Thursday, 29 September 2011

Top 10 Most Venomous Snakes

Without an inch of doubt, snakes tend to rank high among all that we shall be scared of. For the simple reason that they are among the deadliest and most toxic living beings, snakes have as much beauty of creation as any other animal.

 

1. The Belcher’s Sea Snake

Also known as the Faint-banded Snake. This reptile was christened John Edward Gray after the legendary explorer, Sir Edward Belcher. The Belcher is by nature quite and amiable, found mostly in the coastal areas near Philippines. The Belcher snake has a poison, which is around 100 times stronger than the Inland Taipan. However, the snake is not known to deliver a lethal dose every time.

 

2. The Inland Taipan

It is by default a local of the deserts of Australia. The snake is known to be docile, and coy, which should be good news, for its default venom is strong enough to deliver a fatal blow to around hundred full grown humans. Venom around four hundred times stronger than that of a Cobra.

 

3. The Beaked Sea Snake

Another big time exploit in world of snakes. This snake is known for its venom and is spotted around the rim of the Persian Gulf up to those of Australia without fail. A dig of this reptile has enough power to kill 10 men. Also this snake is known for biting without aggravation and is to blame for almost half of all sea snake bites and most of the deaths thereafter.

 

4. Krait

It is known for its venom which happens to be around fifteen times stronger than that of a cobra. There are accidents of people being bitten by this snake when they end up surprising it. Mostly, because the krait may take a shelter in domestic civil areas.

 

5. The Philippine Cobra

By the very implication of its name is found on Philippines Islands and has a way of flaring its hood. This way of the cobra has given it a special category among snake charmers.

 

6. The Indian King Cobra

It is simply the largest of the venomous as it can take on a length up to 13 feet in length and gain somewhere around 9 kilograms of weight. Though it does not come with the strongest of venoms, it sure does know the art of pumping a good quantity of its venom into its victim.

 

7. Russell’s viper

A lot many people consider the Russell’s viper as being the most venomous snake in Asia. Its high presence among civil population has made it quite a killer.

 

8. The Black Mamba

The Black Mamba found in Africa is not a high time man killer because of its nature, but because of the fact that its territory has been invaded by humans and also because it is found in some 14 nations world wide. In fact, besides being a poisonous snake, the black mamba is the fastest snake by all measures, which can reach a speed of around 20 kmph.

 

9. The Yellow-Jawed Tommy Goff

It is also known as the ‘Fer-de-lance’ is locally found in many areas of South America. This snake is reputed for having a very bad nature and severe temperament, which make this snake strike a very high, which is not matched by many snakes. There fangs seek heat patterns, an ability which makes them deadly at night hunts. Be it man, animal or simply fun.

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Top 10 Fun Top Gear Moments To Watch




Top Gear started in the late 70’s as a local program produced by BBC Birmingham and has established itself as the world’s most popular motoring show.

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have witnessed Top Gear growing into a global phenomenon, so no wonder it’s the most illegally downloaded show on the planet.

According to Dailymail.co.uk, Top Gear has a global audience of over 360 million people in more than 100 countries. The long-running show conquered the world with good old fashioned British humor and dedication. Enjoy watching some of Top Gear’s most entertaining moments:

10. Top Gear Stunt Man Setting a World Record

A new character, Top Gear Stunt Man, was introduced in Top Gear’s first episode of the 11th series, 2008. The goal was to break the world record of most cars jumped over by a vehicle driven backwards. Top Gear decided to use an Austin Allegro, “a car that was famous for being more aerodynamic going backwards than it is going forwards,” claimed May. It turned out that this record didn’t exist, so Top Gear Stunt Man set a world record on his very first appearance on the show.

9. Car Football World Cup

Believe it or not, car football is actually played in America and as I see it, it’s a lot more fun to watch and play than real football.

A team of Toyota Aygos takes on the Volkswagen Foxes in a game of car football in the 5th episode of the 8th series. James May captains the yellow Foxes and battles against Richard Hammond and his Aygos that are apparently made in the Czech Republic, and not Japan. Which small smart car do you think will prove victorious?

8. Range Rover vs. Challenger II

Challenger II is a British main battle tank (MBT) advertised as the world’s fastest and most reliable MBT. Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the awesome Range Rover Sport while testing it in a battle against the Challenger II tank on Salisbury Plain. The conclusion? That’s one impressive off-road car! The Ranger Rover Sport is a very good off-road car, but if you are planning on invading another country, use a tank :)

7. Alabama, Lethal Car Decorating

This US Special is an episode of the ninth series that sparked quite some controversy. It features Richard, James and Jeremy taking a road trip across Southern America. The catch? Each of them were given $1,000 to buy a car that will carry them to their destination. There were five challenges to overcome and at the end of the epic road trip, the cars had to be sold to see which host could get most of the money back.

Lethal Car Decorating was the fourth challenge. Prior to entering in Alabama, Richard, James and Jeremy were instructed to spray paint provocative statements on their cars to test the limits of Southern hospitality. Slogans like “Hillary for President”, “Country and Western is Rubbish” “NASCAR Sucks”, “I’m bi” and Man-love rules OK” didn’t go down too well with some of Alabama’s locals. The trio raised the fury of the locals to the highest pitch and the situation got very ugly.

6. Race on Water

Want to get off the old, beaten path…literally? Iceland with its spectacular landscape is the place for you, off road motor sport at its best!

Richard Hammond visited Iceland a couple of years ago and raced a buggy, a modified off-road vehicle, against a snowmobile over the third largest lake in southern Iceland, Lake Kleifarvatn. Hard to believe that a one and a half ton off roader could be driven on water? Just watch this video. The perfect combination of pressure, tire shape and speed prevents the water’s surface from breaking.

5. Crossing the English Channel in Car Boats

Richard, James and Jeremy were challenged by the producers to cross the English Channel in home-made amphibious cars. This was their second attempt. Jeremy built an amphibious Nissan pickup (nicknamed Nissank), James upgraded the same Triumph Herald he had used in the first attempt of crossing the Channel and Richard modified a Volkswagen Transporter (nicknamed Dampervan). The last two vehicles sank, so Jeremy Clarkson and his Nissan won the challenge.

4. Car Darts

James and Richard played darts in the fourth episode of the fourth series with second hand cars. Where? In a real quarry! They used scrap cars as darts and a caravan as the bull’s-eye. In a James Bond movie there is always a scene where a car makes a crazy leap through the air. How do they do this? By firing the car from a gas-powered cannon, so Richard and James were wondering what else could they do with that cannon. Here’s the result, a simplified, super-duper round of darts.

3. Funniest review ever

Offended by Mr. Needham, a fan who complained that Top Gear doesn’t review cars properly anymore, the hosts decided to take the 2010 Ford Fiesta and do a serious road test, including an exhilarating car chase inside a mall and a Royal Marine beach assault!

The road test was conducted by Jeremy Clarkson and was divided into nine major segments:

Is the Ford Fiesta practical?

Is it economical?

Is it fun to drive?

Will it break down all the time?

Is it easy to park?

What if I go to a Shopping Centre and get chased by baddies in a Corvette?

Is it green?

Can I afford it?

What if I’m asked to take part in a beach assault with the Royal Marines?

I couldn’t believe the ending, they are insane! This has got to be one of Top Gear’s coolest reviews ever.

2. Bugatti Veyron vs. Euro Fighter Typhoon

The second place goes to one of the most watched videos of Top Gear on YouTube. No wonder this challenge is widely recognized as Top Gear’s greatest race.

The legendary Bugatti Veyron is not just the world’s most expensive car, but it’s also the fastest. Richard raced a $1.4 million Bugatti Veyron against the highly agile and sophisticated multirole combat aircraft, the Euro Fighter Typhoon. Who do you think that won the horizontal vs. vertical two mile drag race?

(Series 13, Episode 3, 2009)

1. James May and Kent Block vs. Ricky Carmichael

James May meet stunt-driving legend Ken Block and Ricky Carmichael, the greatest dirt-biker in history, on an airfield in California. Ken Block took James for a spin in his Subaru Impreza rally car and shortly after, Ricky Carmichael joined the ride. Known as G.O.A.T., aka the Greatest of All Time, Ricky “retired from Supercross/Motocross racing at the end of 2007 having won 16 AMA titles. He also won every single race in the 2002 and 2004 Motocross seasons. Carmichael has now begun a new career in stock car racing,” wrote Crash.net.

Superlatives fail to describe this extraordinary and visually stunning Top Gear moment.

Top 10 Customized Vehicles From Around The World Read more: http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-customized-vehicles-from-around-the-world.php#ixzz1ZGlzZwW4




90% of Americans own at least one car, and 85% of those people use their cars to commute from home to work., according to The Nielsen Company. A survey completed by the US Department of Transportation in 2007 showed that there were about 250 million cars registered in the U.S. alone.

Though the debate between foreign cars versus domestic cars will rage on for years to come, one thing we all can agree on is that we want to be able to purchase a car that is safe and reliable. Sadly, slip-ups do happen and car companies do make huge mistakes, often costing them money, customers, and sometimes lawsuits. When this does happen, a company will issue a recall in hopes to keep their customers and business above the water.

Below is a list of the ten worst car recalls in history, ranked by the number of vehicles recalled. Although Toyota’s recent recall of 2.3 million vehicles is big news today and has seemingly shocked everyone, they don’t make the list:

10. 1984 General Motors (3.1 million vehicles)



In 1984, it seems that General Motors realized this importance too and quickly recalled 3.1 million vehicles, including the Pontiac Grand Pix, Buick Century, Cutlass, Monte Carlo, and many others. According to GM, all 3.1 million cars were at a high risk of having defective axle assemblies. This means that the wheels on the car or truck could just fall off at any time. Thankfully, no one was hurt because of the faulty installation and GM was able to quickly spot the problem and get it fixed.

9. 2004 General Motors (3.6 million vehicles)



Here’s one way to take the fun out of a tailgate party really fast. In 2004, 3.6 million GM trucks (Sierras, Silverados, Escalades, and Avalanches) had issues with the tailgate cables that keep the tailgate attached to the truck itself. These cables were said to corrode easily which would then cause them to break. Over 134 accidents were reported, but most of these were at the owner or victim’s expense. GM warns all customers to not stand or sit on the tailgate, and those who reported accidents were doing just that.

8. 1987 Ford Motor Company (3.6 million vehicles)



Buying gas can be a painful experience these days, but Ford owners in 1987 were really at risk. F15-350 trucks, Mercury models, Lincoln models, vans, and practically every other Ford model were leaking fuel due to a faulty fuel-line that led to the connectors, which then caused compartment fires. Of course there was a fix, but I’d imagine many owners bought a new car or forgot Ford altogether. Photo: CarGurus.com.

7. 1972 Volkswagen of America (3.7 million vehicles)



When it’s raining or snowing, you need functional windshield wipers. When you’re going down the road and you find a bug smashed into your windshield, you need your windshield wipers then as well. Yet, in 1972, 3.7 million Volkswagen vehicles had windshield wipers that were nothing less than useless. The arms of the wipers from cars built in 1949 up to 1969 would become loose, which would cause them to not work properly, and eventually they would fall off. Fortunately, a simple replace of the wiper arms was all that was needed, and the recall wasn’t a huge hassle for those who were affected. Photo: IMCDB (Internet Movie Cars Database).

6. 1995 Honda Motor Company (3.7 million vehicles)



After a long day at work you want nothing more than to be able to pull into your driveway, turn off your car, and undo your seatbelt, right? Releasing that thing is definitely the home stretch towards freedom. However, many Honda and Acura owners (specifically Accords, Civics, and Preludes) weren’t able to get out of their seatbelts. The release button that all seatbelts have would easily crack and then become unusable, leaving car drivers stuck in their car. This could really become an extreme situation if you were to get into an accident and needed to exit the car. Even on a regular day, you might not have a knife or a pair of scissors in your glove compartment, so hopefully there is someone around to help. At worst, you’re trapped: at best, you’re left with a broken seatbelt. Honda issued the recall and all of the seatbelt release buttons were replaced.

5. 1973 General Motors (3.7 million vehicles)



We’ve all probably heard a rock or some sort of solid hard object hit the underneath of our car, and of course we don’t think too much of it. However, in 1973, about 3.7 million GM car owners (those who drove Centurions, Electras, Kingswoods, Belairs, Bonnevilles, as well as many other cars) had to worry a great deal about the overall protection of their engine and car. The shields that are installed underneath many engines are designed to keep rocks and other solid pieces of rubble from getting into the engine itself. The shield wasn’t doing its job, and a recall was issued. If a rock were to get into the engine, it would completely disable it, and that could be pretty costly. (The taxi in the clip above is a 1973 Bel Air according to IMCDb.org.)

4. 1972 Ford Motor Company (4.1 million vehicles)



Nowadays, wearing your seatbelt while driving is a law in most states, and with campaigns such as “Click it or Ticket,” those who used to dread wearing their seatbelt probably do so now. In 1972, Ford realized that the harnesses used for seatbelts in many of their vehicles, including Mercurys, Lincolns, Rancheros, were less than perfect protection. Instead, the seatbelt harness would easily fray and come loose from the metal that was used to attach it to the frame. This was a problem in 4.1 million Ford vehicles.

Top 10 Snakes




The limbless cousins to the lizards are some of the most maligned animals on Earth, though most species are entirely harmless to man and all are a valuable part of nature’s balance. Even without arms and legs, they can come in a remarkable assortment of forms adapted to a surprising variety of environments.

10. Erpeton tentaculatum

Erpeton tentaculatum

The “tentacled” snake is the only member of the genus Erpeton, and the two tiny “tentacles” of its namesake are a completely unique feature for detecting prey. It preys mostly on small fish, hunting in murky water with its hed bent backwards like a crowbar. When a fish swims by, it wiggles its tail to frighten the prey straight towards its mouth.

9. Rhabdophis tigrinus

Rhabdophis tigrinus

While venom is a powerful natural weapon, it’s also quite costly to produce and important for a snake to conserve. The last thing it really wants to do is waste venom on something it can’t eat, so when the tiger keelback must defend itself from a larger predator, it often saves its venom by secreting a noxious toxic substance from glands in its neck – a substance produced not by the snake itself, but extracted from the poisonous toads it dines upon.

8. Chrysopelea

Chrysopelea

This amazing genus of “flying” snakes are capable of flattening out their bodies and gliding up to a hundred meters, surpasses many other gliding vertebrates.

7. Crotalus cerastes

The desert dwelling “sidewinder” has one of nature’s strangest modes of locomotion, moving sideways rather than forwards as it wriggles its body. This not only provides excellent traction in its environment, but reduces its contact with scorching hot sand and uses less energy than a traditional slither.

6. Elapidae

Elapidae




The beautiful but deadly sea snakes belong to the same family as the widely feared cobras, but are so adapted to a life beneath the waves that, like whales and dolphins, most species are completely unable to move on land and give live birth while underwater. Many species can even extract oxygen from the surrounding water through their skin, satisfying up to 20% of their oxygen requirements. The banded sea krait, shown here, is one of the more primitive species, still spending some of its time slithering on land. As it often forages for prey with its head buried, its tail resembles a second head to discourage sneak attacks from predators.

5. Pareas iwasakii

Pareas iwasakii

This tiny but rather large-headed Japanese has one of the most oddly specific diets in the animal kingdom; its asymmetrical jaws are adapted for preying entirely upon snails…so long as their shells spiral clockwise. A once rare mutation is known to produce snails with counter-clockwise shells, and since these provide a greater challenge to the snakes, the “mirrored” snails may be growing steadily more common.

4. Atractaspis

atractaspis

The “stilleto” snake has also been called a “mole viper” and “burrowing asp.” Though highly venomous, it spends most of its time tunneling through soil with little or no room to open its jaws and strike. Instead, it possesses switchblade-like “pop out” fangs, which it hooks into subterranean prey by jerking its head backwards, hooking into their flesh.

3. Scolecophidians

Scolecophidians

“Blindsnakes” or “threadsnakes” are another group of burrowers, nonvenomous but quite a bit weirder than our last serpent. With eyes covered over by thin scales,tubular worm-like bodies and mouths tucked underneath their heads, these animals are completely adapted to a fossorial (burrowing) lifestyle, and feed primarily on soft subterranean insects such as termites and ant larvae. Some species even possess tiny, movable finger-like sensory growths on their snouts,much like a star-nosed mole.

2. Eunectes murinus

Eunectes murinus

No list of snakes is complete without the green anaconda, the heaviest alive today and one of the world’s longest predators. While their typical recorded length is up to sixteen feet, reports of anacondas over thirty feet in length have circulated for centuries. Like all constrictors, they wrap their bodies around prey to restrict breathing and kill by asphyxiation, swallowing the prey whole when it finally stops struggling.

1. Naja ashei

Naja ashei

With their deadly venom and famous “hooded” threat display, cobras are easily the world’s most iconic, most dramatized reptiles, and none are as fearsome as the various “spitting” cobras, who can spray venom several feet from their fangs with muscular contraction, often aiming deliberately for the eyes of attackers and capable of causing blindness. Naja ashei, a species from Kenya, is the largest and most venomous spitting cobra in the world, reaching lengths of up to nine feet from head to tail.