The XO Directory

Rare Photos Show Adolf Hitler’s Private Life

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:54:27 +0000

After the World War 2, little historical photos survived showing the private life of one of the ruthless ruler in modern history. Recently however, more insight in Adolf Hitler’s life are coming out. Historians discovered some of his private painting collections and months ago, rumors surfaced that Hitler fathered a love child from an earlier relationship. The latest are colored photographs of his private life which was recently released. There photos are taken by his personal photographer, Hugo Jaeger.

Hitler eats with his personal physician, Professor Theodor Morell and the wife of Gauleiter Albert Forster. Image via

Interior view of Hitler's office in Reichskanzlei. Image via

Adolf Hitler at a New Year celebration. Image via

More photos here

Chandra Bahadur Dangi, the New Shortest Man in the World

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:12:26 +0000

At 21.5 inches in height, Chandra Bahadur Dangi of Nepal was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the new shortest man in the world as of February 2012. He beat Junrey Balawing of the Philippines who held the record last year at 23.5 inches in height.

Chandra Bahadur Dangi – Shortest person ever. Image via

At his current height, Chandra is the shortest man ever recognized by Guinness having beaten Gul Mohammed of India who was the shortest adult human to have their height verified by Guinness. Mohammed was 22.5 inches tall and died in 1997. Chandra is the second Nepalese to hold shortest man world record – Khagnedra Thapa Magar was the first one.

Chandra grew up in a remote village of Nepal. Because his height, he stay at home most of his life and needs assistance to move around. His parents died when he was still in his teens, and now lives with his brother who do not know when he stopped growing and for what reason.

Summer Solstice, the Longest Day of the Year

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:09:36 +0000

The longest day of the year, also known as Summer Solstice, occurs on either June or December of each year depending on whether you are in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. Summer Solstice is an instant in time that occurs when the axial tilt of our planet’s semi-axis in a given hemisphere is most inclined towards the star that it orbits. It is also the day when the sun can be seen at the highest, northernmost point in the sky.

North Season. Image via

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Summer Solstice occurs either June 20 or 21 on each year. While in the Southern Hemisphere, it occur either on December 21 or 22. This year, 2012, the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will be June 20, 23:09 UTC and December 21, 11:12 UTC in the Southern Hemisphere. In the US, Summer Solstice marks the first day of Summer.

So how long does Summer Solstice last, you may ask? Well, actually just in an instant.

Pig in China Learn to Walk on Front Legs

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:06:43 +0000

In China’s eastern Anhui Province, a pig that was born without hind legs learn to walk using only its front legs. Its amazing to see this pig, who is now a darling of the whole village, hoists it’s whole body like a gymnast to walk around.

Pig walking on front legs.

Check out the video below.

Besse Cooper, World’s Oldest Living Person Since June 2011

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:50:57 +0000

At 115 years and 102 days at the time of this writing, Besse Berry Cooper of Monroe, Georgia in the United States is currently the world’s oldest living person since June 21, 2011 following the death of the ex-title holder Maria Gomes Valentim who was from Brazil.

Besse Cooper – Oldest Living Person Since June 2011. Image via

Besse Cooper, who now lives in a nursing home in Monroe, was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records and was included in the book’s 2011 edition. She was born on August 26, 1896 in Tennessee and moved to Georgia during the World War I to find work as a teacher. She had four children, 12 grandchildren, and many great- and great-great-grandchildren.

Besse Cooper and the Guinness Book 2011 Edition. Image via

Modern Times Forever, the Longest Film Ever Made

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:09:18 +0000

The Modern Times Forever is considered the longest film ever made to date. It was made by a group of Danish artists, Superflex, and was played via a projector at the 2011 festival IHME Project 2011, on the side of Stora Enso Building in Helsinki, Finland on March of 2011. The film is 240 hours or 10 days long.

Modern Times Forever, the Longest Film Ever Made. Image via

The film is about what thousands of years of decay will do to modern architecture in the future compressed into the span of the 240 hours.

Giant Weta, the Largest Insect in the World

admin — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:07:00 +0000

A giant Weta, found in the Little Barrier Island in New Zealand island, is thought to be the largest insect in the world to have been found to date. This gigantic insect weighs 71 grams – that’s heavier than three mice and even some bird species like the sparrow. It was found be adventurer Mark Moffett of Colorado, USA up in a tree after two days of searching.

Giant Weta – the largest insect ever found. Image via

Weta is the name given to about 70 insect species that can only be found in New Zealand. It’s body is similar to a cricket. The specimen that was found by Mr. Moffett had a wingspan of only seven inches but it’s body is huge in insect standard.

Giant Weta eating a carrot. Image via

Artamène ou le Grand Cyrus, the Longest Book Ever Written

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:58:03 +0000

Artamène ou le Grand Cyrus (English: Artamène or Cyrus the Great) is the longest book ever written. This novel has ten volumes and was written by siblings Madeleine and Georges de Scudéry of France from 1649 to 1653. The book is composed of 2,100,000 words in over 8000 pages and was written in the French language.

Artamène Book Cover. Image via

The novel has more than four hundred characters and over one hundred settings. It has complex structure and plot making it difficult for the reader to acquire an overall grasp. If you however have time and can understand French, you can read it online at http://www.artamene.org.

Madeleine and Georges de Scudéry authors of Artamène ou le Grand Cyrus. Image via

1858 Remington Replica Revolver, World’s Largest Revolver

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:31:06 +0000

This replica of the 1858 Remington New Model Army revolver is considered as the world’s largest revolver. It measured 4 feet and 2 inches in length and stand approximately 1 feet and 4 inches and was included in the
2005 edition of Guinness Record book. It was constructed by Ryszard Tobys of Poland.

Remington 1858 Replica. Image via

Due to it’s size, the revolver needs to be loaded and fired from a bench. In July 15, 2002, it was successfully test fired by Ryszard Tobys.

Testing the 1858 Remington Replica Revolver. Image via

1858 Remington Replica Revolver and Original. Image via

Sciatic nerve, Longest and Largest Nerve in the Body

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:43:06 +0000

Sciatic nerve, also known as the ischiadic nerve or the ischiatic nerve, is the longest and largest nerve fiber in the bodies of humans and animals. In some human individual, it can measure up to 35 inches long and three-quarters of an inch in diameter, size of a pinkie finger, for most people.

Sciatic nerve in human body. Image via

In humans, the sciatic nerve starts in the lower back and reaches down to the big toe. As all nerves do, it collects information in the form of sensations and movement and sends that information through the spinal column to the brain. It supplies the whole of the skin of the leg, the muscles of the back of the thigh, and leg and foot. It enables movement and feelings in the thighs, knees, calves, ankles, feet and toes.