Let’s take a trip today to the world’s strangest museums

 Across the world, there are museums of history, of art and of science. Some of the most famous include the Louvre, the Smithsonian and San Francisco’s Exploratorium.

But for as many famous museums as there are around the world, there are just as many strange museums. To make it on this list, the wackier museum is the better. My favorite is:

The Museum of Bad Art

Founded in 1993, the Museum of Bad Art is “the world’s only museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition and celebration of bad art in all its forms.” Their mission: to bring the worst of art to the widest of audiences. With a collection of more than 400 pieces between two museums in Dedham Square and Somerville, Mass., these museums give new meaning to “can’t color between the lines.” See the Museum of Bad Art

How rude! Why boorish behavior makes us cringe

Witnessing rudeness ruins a good mood — and could even put hospital patients at risk

“Rudeness, even if it’s not aimed at us, can derail a day. It can spoil a meal and ruin a good mood. It can hamstring creativity and hamper job performance. It makes us feel uncomfortable and conflicted: We don’t want to be involved, but we feel like we should be.

As it turns out, people can be so distressed by rudeness they’ll stop patronizing a business after witnessing one worker berate another, researchers reported in a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Consumer Research.”

image source

Here’s a list of 10 cool Castles and Palaces that would be interesting to visit

Sit back, click here, and enjoy viewing some really stunning castles and palaces.

HERE’S MY FAVORITE - The most famous of three royal palaces built for Louis II of Bavaria, sometimes referred to as Mad King Ludwig, the Neuschwanstein it’s a royal palace in the Bavarian Alps of Germany.

Begun in 1869 and left unfinished at Louis's death in 1886, the castle is the embodiment of 19th century romanticism. In a fantastical imitation of a medieval castle, Neuschwanstein is set with towers and spires and is spectacularly sited on a high point over the Pullat River gorge.

 
The construction of the castle was carried out according to a well thought-out plan. The castle was equipped with all kinds of technical conveniences which were very modern, if not to say revolutionary at that time. Running water on all floors.

There were toilets equipped with automatic flushing on every floor. A warm air heating system for the entire building. American tourists are already familiar with Neuschwanstein; the sleeping beauty Castle in DisneyLand, was modeled on it. (Photo by grotsasha)

Be assured: there’s no scheme too low for corporate insurance companies - or making a profit on soldiers' death benefits

Why are large life insurance companies profiting from billions of dollars they hold on behalf of the families of fallen military service members?

“Now, Shinseki and other Cabinet members have joined a growing number of lawmakers calling for an overhaul of insurer practices. Representative Debbie Halvorson (D-Ill.), has proposed a measure to set new rules for insurance companies that profit from accounts held for dead soldiers and veterans.”

Start your engines: from humble to rumble - Sturgis turns 70

Some 750,000 people are expected to attend the annual biker rally.

Pee-Wee Herman will be there to share another great adventure with fans, and to raise money for charities.

 I spent a day in 1971, at this great motorcycle event.

My hair was getting long (I got out of the Army in March) and I wore a leather vest with various Army patches and pot patches.

I went there in my 1964 “Competition Orange” Chevy Impala, as I didn’t have a motorcycle. I was wandering around the country living out of my car at the time, and happened to be in the right place to see it.

I recall seeing a lot of hard core Bikers from the Hell’s Angels, Mongols, and other gangs. There were plenty of fights. The event wasn’t as homogenized as it is now. There were a lot of bad dudes who came looking for a good time back then. Maybe they still do, but I kinda doubt it from what I read in the article link above.

What did I do that day? I honestly couldn’t give you a good accounting as I got gleefully smashed! I remember meeting a small group of Hell’s Angels from California. I was surprised because I knew one of them, Moon. He was from my old neighborhood in La Puente, and was a couple of years older than me. Anyway Moon lead, and I followed!

Buying a Political Office – wealthy ex-CEOs seek power over the public sector

They once used wielded power in the private sector, and now that lust for power is spilling over into the public realm.

Proving that money overcomes all when it comes in massive enough quantities, Meg Whitman (pictured),Linda McMahon,Rick Scott,Jeff Greene,and Rick Snyder are all shoveling millions into political ads this year.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg holds the U.S. record for self-financing, spending $108 million, or about $185 per vote, to win a third term last year. Meg Whitman is challenging that with her cash infusion of $99 million.

Wealthy political newcomers are spending big.

“In the midst of one of the worst recessions in decades, a host of former corporate leaders are spending millions in their quest for elective office, using their personal wealth to push past the political machinery and their own lack of experience.”

As It Stands: Accepting death is unacceptable to many Americans

By Dave Stancliff/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 08/08/2010 01:32:27 AM PDT

”When death comes around, nobody is willing to die and old age is no longer a burden.”

-- Euripides, Greek poet, 480-406 B. C., Alcestis

Death is as natural as birth, but we fear it in our society to the point of denial. The will to live is celebrated and “never give up hope because a miracle could happen” is an American belief. We've all heard metaphors like “it's not over till the fat lady sings” and other phrases glorifying those who fight death until the bitter end.

My sister Marjorie fought breast cancer in the '80s and finally succumbed to it in 1987. When I say fought, I mean she went along with some traditional methods of treatment, and when they didn't work she turned to the alternate methods touted at the time.

Laetrile was a popular alternative treatment for cancer then. She tried some of that vile concoction (it came in a brown bottle that had to be refrigerated), but couldn't stand the taste and disposed of it.

Claimed as a cancer cure for years, there is no supporting evidence that Laetrile, also referred to as Vitamin B17, has any metabolic function or dietary benefit.

For more information, Google “Food and Nutrition -- Laetrile,” or read “Unproven Methods of Cancer Management -- Laetrile” (source; Cancer J Clin; vol 41, ISS 3, 1991, P187-92 ref:35).

Laetrile is illegal now, but back then people had easy access to it here in California. I know this because

in 1979 I was introduced to a practicing Laetrile “doctor,” a Dr. H. Howard, by a friend.

Howard had an impressive list of degrees after his name on his business cards and stationery. He claimed to be an expert in numerous medical fields, including the questionable practice of shilling Laetrile. He wanted someone to write a fictional book about how Laetrile saved the life of a Hartford, Conn., bank robber's wife. I know; an odd storyline, but he was loaded with money and looking for a writer.

GO HERE to read the rest.

200,000,00th visitor to this blog comes from South Africa

It took me a little while this morning to locate the exact 200,000,00th visitor to As It Stands – and he/she is from Vanderbijlpark Gauteng, in South Africa.

The viewer spent almost seven minutes reading posts. The last one they read was on a rare plant that could only be found in Namibia, Africa.

It’s called the Welwitschia Mirabilis

 

 Our visitor lives in the southern part of the country.

This is also a real nice vacation destination, and as you can see, it has all the amenities. There’s tours, 4-star hotels, water sports, and plenty of city shopping. It looks like a nice place to go.

So here’s a special shout-out to my unknown 200,000,00 visitor – thanks for the milestone!

Warning - tongue piercing leads to health problems, gaps between teeth, chipped teeth, and more

Tongue piercing can cause chipped and fractured teeth, gum trauma, infection, hemorrhage and even brain abscess.

I’ve never met someone who thought barbells in the tongue was glamorous.It’s not that I don’t talk with younger people, I do. I’ve got nephews and nieces and friends of my sons who I can ask about fashion questions such as tongue piercing.

I’ll be blunt. I think it’s a piss-poor way to get attention (why else would you do it?) and it’s not a healthy thing to do. I suppose if you don’t mind experiencing the above side-effects of this tongue-in-check fad…it’s your way of making a statement. Unfortunately,that statement often comes with health drawbacks.

 

 

 

Vogue Italia's Off-Putting Oil-Spill Photo Spread: Art or Offensive?

I’d say this whole project is just a slick way to get people’s attention – and that I find it offensive.

What do you think?

Excerpt:

“We're big believers in the power of an image to convey the drama, sadness, and gravity of world events. In the case of the BP oil spill, that power was never more apparent, both in the photographs that captured the devastation and in the photographs that were forbidden from being taken. 
The latest photos causing a stir aren't photojournalism but a fashion spread in Vogue Italia, titled "Water & Oil." Uber-edgy photographer Steven Meisel shoots model Kristen McMenamy, clad in black, coated in oil, and draped across tainted beaches. In one shot, she has a black feather perched on her lips. In another, an oil-drenched feathered glove stands in for the hundreds of birds soaked in the spill.”

Maybe this is why some adults act like kids: our personalities may be set as early as 1st grade

Study: If you were at chatterbox at 6, you probably still are — and so on…

“Our personalities stay pretty much the same throughout our lives, from our early childhood years to after we're over the hill, according to a new study.

The results show personality traits observed in children as young as first graders are a strong predictor of adult behavior.”

image source

Meat-Eaters Beware: 1 Million Pounds of Ground Beef Recalled

7 people sickened by E. coli after eating meat from California company

A meat processor recalled about 1 million pounds of ground beef products Friday after seven people were sickened by E. coli contamination.

Valley Meat Co., of Modesto, sold the potentially contaminated beef patties and ground beef in California, Texas, Oregon, Arizona and internationally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

The beef was processed from Oct. 2, 2009, to Jan. 12, 2010. Most of the products were sold frozen and the company was working to remove them from grocery store shelves.

Friday Follies: America’s Strangest Roadside Attractions

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing (and exploring) 28 of the 29 roadside attractions featured here.

Here’s the one attraction I somehow managed to miss:

Lucy the Elephant, Margate, NJ

“Lucy the Elephant’s original role, back in 1882, was to sell real estate. In fact, she’s the first example of zoomorphic architecture in the U.S. and has the patent to prove it. Located in Margate, NJ, this much-loved roadside folly is artfully crafted from wood and tin and has proved far more versatile than her creator imagined. At 65 feet tall, and housing a spacious hall, Lucy has at various times served as a bar, an office, and a summer home.” —Adam McCulloch

As It Stands’s Latest Scum of the Month Candidate: HP’s CEO Hurd quits over sexual-harassment probe

August is getting off with a bang as there’s already a bumper crop of scum eligible for the coveted, “As It Stands Scum of the Month Award.”

This will also make Hurd eligible for the “As It Stands” highly selective “Scum of the Year Award” that comes with a Life-time membership in the National Asshole Hall of Fame!

CEO filed erroneous expense reports to cover up relationship

Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman and CEO Mark Hurd has resigned after a sexual-harassment probe that found he violated company standards, the computer maker said Friday.

Don’t worry: some food is good long past the expiration date

Eggs can last weeks, cereal up to a year past the 'use by' date

I’m one of those people guilty of not checking dates on food packaging. If it’s in my refrigerator, or kitchen cupboards, it’s fair game.

Fortunately, my wife keeps a sharp eye out and seems to always be marking containers when she opens them. Sometimes, a product (like eggs) will be past it’s expiration date and she still serves them to us. That made me uncomfortable, but the alternative would have been to forage for myself. Naturally, I trust her judgment (as I’m pretty clueless about this subject), but now I’m feeling much better after reading this article!

What’s in a name? Public schools court corporate sponsors

The final bastion has been breeched.

School districts are turning to advertisers to pay their bills.

Perhaps in a few years, we’ll see Humboldt Schools with playing fields and buildings named after the county’s biggest cash crop. 

Think about it: Local farmers could hock their special brands while supporting our local school districts!  HSU could have “PURPLE KUSH FIELD.” The College of the Redwoods could have “Sour Diesel Study Hall,” and other schools could have their ball fields and buildings adorned with names like; “Grandfather Daddy Library,” or “Headband Field.”

Meanwhile:  

         Districts nationwide seek lucrative naming-rights deals for facilities

“It’s too soon to know yet whether Flamy will show up next spring when Hempfield High School in Landisville, Pa., opens its softball season.

Flamy — a smiling electric, well, flame on blue legs — was there in April when the Black Knights took the field en route to a 13-9 playoff season. That’s because it’s his field they play on.

Flamy is the corporate mascot of Schwanger Bros. & Co. Inc. (“serving Central Pennsylvania for more than 70 years”), a heating and air-conditioning company in nearby Lancaster that owns the rights to the name of Hempstead’s softball diamond — Schwanger Bros. Field. There’s a big yellow Schwanger Bros. banner on the fence. Schwanger Bros. banners hang from each foul pole and along the bottom of the scoreboard. On Opening Day, a Schwanger Bros. logo even graced home plate.”

PHOTO: Hempfield High School in Landisville, Pa., has sold the names of several of its sports and academic facilities. The Black Knights softball team plays at Schwanger Bros. Field, which is sponsored by a home services company. That’s Flamy, the company’s corporate mascot — not the school’s — on the right

That’s embarrassing : forget about ever running for President now Rudy!

I’ve heard rumors that Rudy Giuliani has aspirations of someday becoming the President of the United States. This little caper might prove to be a pothole on that road to power.

Being entirely clueless of the average American’s needs, almost qualifies him for a place in one of the Houses, but let’s face it…the little creep wouldn’t look good in the Oval Office and what party would sponsor him?

He’s got other things to think about right now:

“The rebellious daughter of former law-and-order Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was busted today for allegedly stealing makeup from an upscale beauty and skin care shop near her Upper East Side home, officials said.

Cops said Caroline Giuliani, 20, a student at Harvard University, was arrested after security cameras caught her stuffing makeup into her jacket pocket at a Sephora store at E. 86th Street and Lexinton Avenue shortly before 2 p.m.

Giuliani, who was in the store by herself, was confronted by a sales clerk and a store security guard, who called police. Sources said she allegedly stole five items, worth about $100.”

PHOTO- Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, center, his daughter Caroline and son Andrew pose for photographers as they arrive at Gracie Mansion for Giuliani's wedding to Judith Nathan in this May 24, 2003, AP file photo.

Mysterious tunnel discovered under Mexican ruins

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Blocked-off chamber may be a tomb for Teotihuacan’s rulers

Russian Satanist Sect Members Sentenced For Slaughter Of 4 Teens

Moscow, Russian Federation (AHN) -- Seven members of a Satanic sect were meted two-to 20-year prison terms for killing three high school boys and one girl in 2008 as part of an initiation ritual.

A court in the Russian city of Yaroslavl sentenced ringleader Nikolai Ogolobyak, 21, to 20 years imprisonment for murder, robbery and desecrating a corpse. His accomplices, four boys and a girl, were ordered to serve from eight to 10 years imprisonment.

A sixth accomplice was meted a two-year jail sentence and the eighth suspect, Anton Makovkin, 21, was sent to a mental institution for being insane.

The convicted killers cut apart their dead victims, who were joining the Gothic group, before burying their bodies.

The relatives of the victims protested the verdict for being too light. However, under Russian law, 10 years was the maximum prison term for underage criminals.

The beginning of the end of ‘net neutrality’: Google, Verizon near deal on pay tiers for Web – consumers should prepare to get screwed in cyberspace now!

I knew it would happen eventually. What we have here is the opening gambit to soak more money out of Internet users.

If you’re old enough to remember TV before cable, then you have a pretty good idea where all of this is leading. 

                Closed-door deal may be big hit against 'Net neutrality’

Google and Verizon, two leading players in Internet service and content, are nearing an agreement that could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content’s creators are willing to pay for the privilege.

 The charges could be paid by companies, like YouTube, owned by Google, for example, to Verizon, one of the nation’s leading Internet service providers, to ensure that its content received priority as it made its way to consumers.

The agreement could eventually lead to higher charges for Internet users.

UPDATE 10:14 a.m.

Google, Verizon deny talks about Web pay tiers!

New York Times report is 'mistaken,' says Verizon Wireless

"We've not had any convos with (Verizon) about paying for carriage of our traffic," Google said on Twitter. "We remain committed to an open Internet."

David Fish, Verizon's executive director of media relations wrote on the company's public policy blog. "It fundamentally misunderstands our purpose. As we said in our earlier FCC filing, our goal is an Internet policy framework that ensures openness and accountability, and incorporates specific FCC authority, while maintaining investment and innovation. To suggest this is a business arrangement between our companies is entirely incorrect."

I’m not sure what to make of this announcement. Did someone let the cat out of the bag too soon? Did a reporter misinterpret information provided to him/her? It’s anyone’s guess what is really going on here.

I know one thing, I don’t trust these corporations. Profit is the end-all (regardless of how it’s achieved) to their corporate philosophies. It’s called capitalism, corruption, and corporate rule of the airways.