3d illusion arts: Oddity Central

Oddity Central

In Thailand People Change Their Names to Improve Their Fortunes
Bacon-Scented Shaving Cream Makes Men’s Mornings Smell Like Heaven
Aogashima Island – Living inside a Volcano

In Thailand People Change Their Names to Improve Their Fortunes

Posted: 30 Nov 2012 04:06 AM PST

You might have heard of people changing their names because they didn't like the ones their parents gave them. Or in an attempt to change their identity and escape their past. But in Thailand, name changes are common for a different reason altogether – to bring good luck.

A case-in-point is 46-year-old Baramee Thammabandan, formerly known as Teerapol Lilitjirawat. While neither name strikes us as charismatic, the change has made a world of difference to Mr. Baramee. About 10 years ago, he had suffered a major misfortune, when his garments business had failed. His eyesight became poor, he couldn't manage his affairs and to make matters worse, his wife left him. And so he did what is natural to the people of Thailand – he changed his name. "I wanted to become a new person," the now clean shaven and slim Baramee says. Ironically, his new name does mean 'charisma'.

In his case, the name change worked wonders in more ways than one. Not only did it change his fortunes, but it provided him with a means of livelihood. Today, the almost blind Mr. Baramee runs a thriving business, helping people change their names. The service he provides involves advising his fellow Thais on how best to choose a new name for themselves. His clients range from regular people to Thai business tycoons and celebrities. He runs his office in one of the busiest shopping malls in Bangkok, with a team that takes almost 250 inquiry calls a day. It took Mr. Baramee only 5 years to create four websites and double his business, creating a niche that competitors have now jumped into. His philosophy is that changing names should be a process as simple as changing a flat tire. "People are like cars," he says, "and changing names is like changing a flat tire. It can take you further and give you a smoother ride." For now, he charges 500 baht (about $17) to provide several alternative name suggestions.

While there are places in the world where changing one's name might seem a little extreme, it is something that comes naturally and easily to the people of Thailand. In fact, even parents exercise extreme caution while choosing names for their children. Astrologers and fortune tellers are consulted to make sure that the names they choose are suitable and complement the date/time of birth. Even so, if their names aren't working when they grow up, there is no hesitation in changing it to something better. Given the fact that Thailand has a fast growing economy, stiff competition between businesses calls for drastic measures. According to 34-year-old Suchada Jarernsritrakul, who changed her name a couple of years ago, "Thailand is changing very quickly and it is natural to look for ways to help you prosper."

Because of this, changing your name in Thailand isn't much of a hassle at all. All that Thais need to do is register their new name at the local government office and get a new identification card printed on the spot. This is quite surprising, given that name changes in other countries are a complicated and long-drawn out affair, involving several procedures. Naturally, the police aren't all too happy about this and have a hard time catching criminals. There was once the case of 35-year-old Sahachat Kasemthang, who changed his name and bank accounts numerous times and used bounced cheques to purchase gold worth $167,000. Which is why names and ID cards aren't so reliable in Thailand now. Fingerprints are used by the authorities to handle all sorts of routine processes.

It seems that the name-changing strategy of the Thais has actually worked in their favor. How else would you explain the fact that 28-year-old athlete Junpim Kuntatean won a silver medal in weight lifting at the Beijing Olympics after changing her name to Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon. Quite a mouthful, that. What else could you expect, when they even have an algorithm and a software in place to make name suggestions easier. Of course, it isn't all that great for everyone who changed their name. There are less fortunate cases as well: like a businesswoman who had to rebuild all her relationships from scratch, and another woman who sent out her wedding invitations, but no one knew who it was from. People agreed to attend her wedding only after she invited them in person.

I don't know if all this name changing business really works, or is mostly psychological. As Shakespeare had so wisely put it, "What's in a name?"

Source: WSJ

In Thailand People Change Their Names to Improve Their Fortunes was originally posted at OddityCentral.com

Bacon-Scented Shaving Cream Makes Men’s Mornings Smell Like Heaven

Posted: 30 Nov 2012 03:09 AM PST

As if bacon perfume wasn’t enough to help people carry the smell of the tasty treat with them wherever they went, a Seattle-based food company has just launched a ’high end’ limited-edition Bacon Shaving Cream.

Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow, the two man behind J&D Foods, have just released their newest idea – a bacon-scented shaving cream that will allegedly make users ’smell and feel like a champion’. Yup, the smell of bacon usually has that effect on people, but what I’d like to know is how does one restrain from having a taste of the heavenly-smelling shaving cream. After all, as inventor Justin Esch himself admits, “there is nothing more powerful than the smell of bacon, nothing.” Company co-founder Dave Lefkow also wrote in a press release: ”Bacon Shaving Cream is a high end, luxurious bacon-scented shaving cream for all skin types. Our advanced heat-activated aromatic technology lasts for hours and delivers maximum bacon scent when you need it most.” He recommends using it after a hot shower or before an important date with a potential soul-mate. It will probably make them want to eat you up.

In the old days, people used bacon grease to shave their beards, and since the breakfast food is so hugely popular these days, a bacon-flavored shaving cream just made sense. And at $14.95 it’s a steal if you can’t get enough of that crispy treat smell. But you’d better act fast, as J&D have created just 2,500 jars of the delicious-smelling lather, and with the holidays just around the corner, they’re bound to sell like ~~bacon~~ hot cakes.

Even though Justin and Dave claim theirs is the world’s first bacon-scented shaving cream, there’s a Wisconsin-based shop called Mama Bears Shop that claims they’ve been selling a similar product since 2010.

via HuffPost

Bacon-Scented Shaving Cream Makes Men’s Mornings Smell Like Heaven was originally posted at OddityCentral.com

Aogashima Island – Living inside a Volcano

Posted: 30 Nov 2012 02:07 AM PST

Can you imagine yourself living in a giant volcanic crater? Well, for starters, you can forget about Starbucks. But it sure would be the ultimate destination to get away from it all. It's not all that surprising then, that about 200 people actually inhabit the Japanese volcanic island of Aogashima, with only one school and a single post office.

Aogashima, a part of the Izu Archipelago, lies two hundred miles south of Tokyo, in the Philippine Sea. The island and its 205 inhabitants (as of 2009), are a part of Japan and governed by Tokyo. When I first saw pictures of this breathtaking location, it sort of reminded me of an inverted pudding on a plate. Or an oddly shaped donut. But Aogashima is really a volcano within a volcano. The island is quite well known for having a volcanic caldera within a larger caldera. So what you have is one big, giant crater, which is the island itself, inside which is nestled a much smaller version of itself. This gives the whole island a rather mysterious appeal, almost like something out of a fantasy movie. It's hard to believe there are such places still left in the world, untouched by noisy human activity.

The entire population of Aogashima lives on a small part of the island. This is where most of the amenities are located, such as a general store and a helipad. While it's unrealistic to expect a great night life or gourmet food options in a place as remote as this, Aogashima isn't totally devoid of activities to pursue. For starters, it is a great place to relax and unwind, basking in all the serenity. Scuba diving is a popular activity in the intensely blue waters. You could also consider hiking and camping by the volcano, or visiting the volcanic hot springs. In the very center of the island is a geothermal sauna. The main volcano has scalding hot steam vents around one side, which are used to power the public sauna – a perfect way to relax after a long day of hiking. You can even cook food at the steam vents, in the pots available outside the sauna to steam your goodies. Accessibility options to and from the island aren't too great:, as it can only be reached by ferry and by helicopter. Once you're on the island, you have access to a 24/7 live feed of the harbor, so that you can keep an eye on the weather before venturing out.

If you are planning on visiting Aogashima , you might want to know that it is actually an active volcano. The last massive eruption was over 200 years ago, in 1785. 140 people are said to have died back then, and since it has been a while, the volcano might be in store for another eruption sometime soon. If you're not the kind to take risks, you might as well sit back and enjoy breathtaking pictures of this amazing beauty of an island. I'll leave you to it.