Brain Droppings

World’s largest house of cards

By David | Published: March 11, 2010

An American architect has broken his own Guinness World Record by building the largest house of free-standing playing cards.
Bryan Berg used 218,792 cards to create a replica of the Venetian Macau, which is on display in its namesake luxury hotel and casino.
Berg took 44 days and 4,051 decks of cards to complete his model inside the Venetian, which sits at the heart of Macau’s Cotai Strip, the China-ruled city’s version of Las Vegas’ neon alley.

The Bradys are impressed.

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Reporter gets upset

By David | Published: March 11, 2010

Gordon Boyd is a little frustrated by his news report. The face on the anchor after he breaks is hilarious.

[via]

Abstract City

By David | Published: March 11, 2010

Christoph Niemann’s collection of art based on the style of Google Maps.

Forbes’ annual list of people with more money than you and everyone you know combined

By David | Published: March 11, 2010

This year, however, it’s no longer Bill Gates. Mexican communication tycoon Carlos Slim Helu has taken the top spot with $53.5 billion. The United States still has the most billionaires on the list, but that number has slipped as well.

From Forbes:

This year the World’s Billionaires have an average net worth of $3.5 billion, up $500 million in 12 months. The world has 1,011 10-figure titans, up from 793 a year ago but still shy of the record 1,125 in 2008. Of those billionaires on last year’s list, only 12% saw their fortunes decline.
U.S. billionaires still dominate the ranks–but their grip is slipping. Americans account for 40% of the world’s billionaires, down from 45% a year ago.
The U.S. commands 38% of the collective $3.6 trillion net worth of the world’s richest, down from 44% a year ago.
Of the 97 new members of the list, only 16% are from the U.S. By contrast, Asia made big gains. The region added 104 moguls and now has just 14 fewer than Europe, thanks to several large public offerings and swelling stock markets.