HDR lighting is a very cool technique to put Half-Life 2 models into real world scenes and have the lighting match perfectly. The steps look kind of complicated though, as you need several high end 3d programs and stuff. But the results are stunning! Check out the pic of the Combine soldier sitting on the bed.
[ From Boing Boing ]

Damn, Darth Vader really is a badass.

Two Hurt In Mock Light Sabre Duel

A man, aged 20, and a girl of 17 are believed to have been filming a mock duel when they poured fuel into two glass tubes and lit it.

The pair were rushed to hospital after one of the devices exploded in woodland at Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Even the Star Wars nerds are like, \”losers.\” The best part is that the guy\’s 20 years old! Hey dude, remember that part in Star Wars when Luke Skywalker\’s light sabre explodes? Oh wait, that didn\’t happen.

Imagine if life was like an action movie, and this is what it\’d be like.
[ From Coudal Partners ]

Hundreds of Children Marry in India

On Wednesday, 11-year-old Soram Singh peeked shyly from behind her veil a couple of hours after her marriage to Bheeram Singh, 16, a student in the nearby government school. Singh is a common surname in the town, and the two are not related.

On their honeymoon, Bheeram plans to show his new bride his collection of Pokemon cards and give her a ride on his new Schwinn.

I love this photo. The marriage looks like it\’ll last.

Disney is making some awesome collectibles for Disneyland\’s 50th anniversary. They have really detailed, well-sculpted little figurines for all of the lands. I want this hanging on my wall.
[ From Boing Boing ]

Howard Stern \”Sirius\”-ly Turns Off Hyundai Customers

A surprising number of Hyundai customers have told the Korean manufacturer they didn\’t want Sirius Satellite Radio installed in their vehicles because they didn\’t want to listen to Howard Stern.

Ha ha, morons. Just cause Howard\’s on Sirius doesn\’t mean you have to listen to him. Hey, Howard\’s on FM radio too, maybe you shouldn\’t get a radio with your Hyundai either.

Cool photos of the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet, and Quicktime VRs of the cockpit and lounge. Looks really slick, but does anyone really want to go duty-free shopping on a plane?

There\’s finally an update at Lost America. Troy Paiva writes about his huge 4360 mile roadtrip to Texas and illustrates it with fantastic photos of abandoned buildings.

A restaurant in Taiwan has a toilet theme going on. They have toilet bowl shaped, uh, bowls, toilet chairs, sink and bathtub tables. I wonder if, subconsciously, they\’re trying to tell you their food is shit? And in their real bathroom, are the urinals made of china then?
[ From Boing Boing ]