To be sure, there’s nothing awesome about torture. But there’s a certain grotesque ingenuity inherent to many of the most horrifying medieval torture methods. Not only could they cause pain, but they often played on psychological fears, showing that even in the dark ages, the study of the mind was alive and well. It was merely being horribly misused to manipulate accused witches and dissenters against the church into confessing to crimes against God they didn’t commit....

The East Asia island country has the sixth-longest coastline in the world, accentuated by tall mountains. It also has tons of castles, temples, amazing greenery, culture, and history. Most Beautiful Places in Japan Japan is both modern yet traditional. There is so much beauty to see here, but there are spots that stand out. These charming spots make the list of the most beautiful places in Japan, as listed below....

Carbon fiber is the new kid on the block, thin as paper but as strong as steel. The advanced polymer is taking over wallet production, making slim, cool, and strong moneybags. Now, if you’re in search of one of these trim wallets, read on for our nine top picks of the best carbon fiber wallets. We’ll also address what to consider when buying your ideal wallet. Let’s dive right in....

We’ve got to give it to Ben Wilson— it takes plenty of ingenuity to make a recumbent bike look cool. Not only did Mr. Wilson do that with his Artikcar Bike, he made the recumbent bike very much en vogue. Artikcar is a four-wheeled recumbent-style bike with a bubbly rider profile that is laced with bright neon lighting. Beyond its bold design sensibility, Wilson’s Artikcar is as much about safety as it is about style....

The Baumraum Treehouses Solling is a two-story dwelling over a pond in Uslar, Germany. It is built as a guest house or a relaxing overlook for its owners, who hired Baumraum to construct the treehouse on their property behind their home. Its bottom level stands 12-feet over the surface of the pond, while the second story reaches up even further into the forest canopy. Together, these spaces equal about 118 square feet of living space, plenty for visiting guests or a peaceful escape for the owner....

RELATED: Follow TheCoolist Through Washington, D.C.’s Hidden Hoods The BeFunky office spans 3,000 square feet in an old truss warehouse on Portland’s northeast side. This project by Fieldwork oversaw tenant improvements throughout this interior space. Its visual character is defined by wood, both as wall coverings and visual accents throughout. Of these, the knotty, natural wood is emphasized on custom desk surfaces, wall coverings and geometric window panes. This new wood continues the industrial character of the original truss warehouse, but provides visual warmth that keeps the space inviting....

An OTF knife is a type of switchblade. The abbreviation stands for “out the front”, which simply describes the mechanism by which the blade is deployed. OTF knives occupy quite a small niche in the knife market, and options may not be as many as, say, throwing knives. But their popularity has steadily risen over the years. When it comes to legality, the same rules apply as with the switchblade....

Shopping malls are now much more than a place to pick up a new outfit. Some even include amusement parks, aquariums, and everything in between. The malls that make the top 10 list have so many shops that you could spend hours, if not days, looking around and taking in all they have to offer. This article comprises a list of the largest shopping malls in America, so you know exactly where to head for your next shopping trip....

These forest giants are Mother Nature’s skyscrapers, and they are some of the oldest and biggest trees on the planet. Many have been around for thousands of years, weathering adverse weather conditions and forest fires to stand tall and firm today. Related Reading: The World’s Most Beautiful Trees What Is the World’s Largest Tree? Giant sequoias, also called Sierra redwood, are the overall biggest trees in the world. And if you’ve seen them, you’ll know they are a feast for the senses....

Casa Playa Las Lomas I-05 by Vértice Arquitectos Gallery View in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in galleryView in gallery

One of the ways we’re slowly moving towards that ideal is through virtual reality. Through tech like the Oculus Rift, we’re able to immerse ourselves in wholly digital, fully-interactive worlds. But even with all this tech, VR isn’t quite perfect. See, we’re still missing a few vital elements – one of which is a sense of touch. Dexmo aims to solve that problem. It’s a mechanical glove that accurately captures the hand motion of its user and translates it to the digital world....

View in gallery Francoise Nielly 2011 Gallery

The Galpin Ford GTR1 is powered by a twin-turbo 5.4L V8 engine built onto the center of the frame. That’s a lot of power for a car of such moderate weight– inset in the aluminum shell is carbon fiber accents and components which shed curb weight to make the most of that double-turbo engine. All that speed is kept in check by 6-piston brakes with full carbon rotors, allowing for the proper deceleration to handle tight curves....

All the books and articles and newsletters and advice from friends won’t prepare you for the, let’s say “blessed” event to keep it clean. So, before you set to knocking up your partner, head down to the adoption agency, or go to the maternity ward with a mask and a bag, here’s a few things you should know before having a baby. Make Yourself Happy Happy children most commonly come from happy environments....

You’ll need a plan of execution, and a willingness to make serious changes so that you can start stashing away some cash, either for a rainy day where your car breaks down, you lose your job, and your house burns to the ground, or for a future free from wage slavery, where you can relax, retire, and no longer break your back for someone else’s profit. Whether you’re making the bare minimum or looking for ways to further pad your plush account, these 17 money-saving tips will work for anyone trying to save a buck....

The release of the Canon 5DS is actually the release of two slightly different cameras. The 5Ds is accompanied by the Canon 5DS R, a model that comes without the low-pass filter that allows for a more crisp image than its filtered alternative. There are advantages and drawbacks to both. The base Canon 5DS will produce still images of subjects like architecture and landscapes that won’t have the same sharpness as an image shot on the 5DS R....

The display on this Ladiore Roller Guardian Time Watch looks more like something you’d see under the hood of a custom sportscar than something you’d fasten to your wrist. The twisting cylinders, crisp metals and black/red dials give the Roller Guardian Time a performance-minded design fit for an aviator, a diver or a racecar driver– but is more than good enough for any stylish gentleman. No word yet on just how much this little wrist rocket is going to set you back… [thanks flylyf] View in gallery View in gallery...

Throughout the marque’s history, BMW has produced some absolute gems in the world of automobiles, be they four-wheeled or two. We’ve shared some brilliant BMWs here on TheCoolist, especially the 1937 BMW 328 Mille Miglia and the 1937 BMW R7 motorcycle. Continuing our fascination, here is one of TheCoolist’s favorite vintage motorcycles, the 1960 BMW R69S. The BMW R69S motorcycle was produced between 1960 and 1969, with 11,317 sold for $1,564 each ($10,192 in today’s USD)....

Since VHS isn’t going to be coming back into style, and even being able to find a working VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) is akin to locating a man in Hollywood that hasn’t sexually attacked his colleagues, it’s important to transfer your recordings to a digital format. Then, you can store them on DVDs or in other digital mediums for easier access, less wasted space, and greater survival in the long run....

A-Cero Architects is rolling out its own kind of prefab in its new Modularing House in Madrid, Spain. The Modularing House is built from a number of factory-produced sections the help improve quality control, reduce costs and streamline the production process. the result is quite stunning, a modular modern home with the amenities and features a progressive home buyer desires. These modular homes can be built for as little as $93,000, and should A-Cero finalize the process these homes could gain a solid foothold in the Spanish home construction market....