The preference for boys in China is one thing but when bodily fluids become part of a ritual, this is gross. Once a year (for centuries) eggs are soaked before cooked in urine collected from grade school boys bathroom. No one says how long the urine is sitting before collection but maybe it doesn't matter. Health properties? Read more
It's one of the most bizarre and illogical new taxes or fees Americans are unaware of--despite the fact consumers may see it passed on by holiday tree retailers in one form or another: The Agriculture Department's announced a 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees, to start this holiday season. There's a new board in town--The Christmas Tree Promotion Board. You need it, America. Read more
U.S. authorities discovering more than a truckload or two of pot isn't necessarily the most unusual occurrence. The discovery of a tunnel between California and Mexico for transfer of that marijuana isn't so rare either. But a drug tunnel complete with rail system tracks, lighting, ventilation -- and even convenience of an elevator -- is. Read more
Threats of killing aren't exactly new in Pakistan--these just happen to be over text messages. Pakistan Telecommunications Agency wants (what it considers) offensive or obscene texts knocked out. It says 1695 words aren't acceptable. In response, roughly 10% of those banned words now equal a death threat. 150 members have been told to step down--or die. Read more
If you’re a Pakistani and involved in conversation, don’t refer to the act as “intercourse” via text message. If it involves flatulence, shorten it to “gas” if you want that text to go through because a Pakistan government agency now considers a whole slew of words as offensive or obscene. And the PTA’s opinion matters. Read more
Can California really afford to fund college educations for non-citizens with the The Dream Act when funding cuts for residents students are rampant? Read more
A stray mouse found in a United States classroom would be lucky not to find itself on a glue tray, for an unanticipated and early demise. But in the land of "Dracula," bats apparently get some precedence. Only in Transylvania do the bats become respected enough for students to move classrooms for a test--to give a flock of bats some peace and quiet, and much-needed beauty rest. Read more
Someone's responsible for the unthinkable--damaging one of Rome's most famous fountains on Piazza Navona by breaking off pieces and beheading figures from the pink marble. Video shows a man who breaks Rome's Fontaine du Maure in Piazza Navona while using a rock as a weapon. Police have the pieces. And it's a replica, one that in itself is over a hundred years old. Read more
A councilman doesn't seem to believe in the First Amendment. Los Angeles Councilman Dennis Zine is battling a back-to-school campaign by retail art store Aaron Brothers--claiming he'll do anything to stop the campaign and class. There seems to be some misrepresentation by Zine, who insinuates that kit includes paint -- not its actual contents of markers and paper pads. Read more
There’s more than one thing in this world that can be crooked. One part of Italy doesn’t want anything to do with sales of ‘trashy’ items like the Leaning Tower of Pisa as penises, or the oh-so-popular ‘David's' revealed genitalia. Read more