Tag Archives: smithsonian

WaPo Art Critic Rants at Removal of Ant-Covered Jesus; He’d Ban Norman Rockwell

Washington Post art critic Blake Gopnik is hopping mad that the National Portrait Gallery pulled a video from its “Hide/Seek” exhibit on homosexual imagery, insisting: “Now the NPG, and the Smithsonian Institution it is part of, look set to come off as cowards.” Gopnik insisted the ant-covered Jesus in the video was inconsequential, and that if he played censor, he'd keep the insect-covered Christ and scrap the Norman Rockwell: Norman Rockwell would get the boot, too, if I believed in pulling everything that I'm offended by: I can't stand the view of America that he presents, which I feel insults a huge number of us non-mainstream folks. But I didn't call for the Smithsonian American Art Museum to pull the Rockwell show that runs through Jan. 2, just down the hall from “Hide/Seek.” Rockwell and his admirers got to have their say, and his detractors, including me, got to rant about how much they hated his art. Censorship would have prevented that discussion, and that's why we don't allow it. read more

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WaPo Art Critic Rants at Removal of Ant-Covered Jesus; He’d Ban Norman Rockwell

John Boehner’s Next Target: Ant-Covered Jesus (Updated) [Controversy]

Reps. John Boehner and Eric Cantor , the two leading House Republicans, have issued a warning to the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery : Take down that exhibit where Jesus is covered with ants, or face “tough scrutiny” next year. [ Update below ] More

Tropical Forest Diversity Increased during Ancient Global Warming Event

hmmmm….interesting implications: The steamiest places on the planet are getting warmer. Conservative estimates suggest that tropical areas can expect temperature increases of 3 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. Does global warming spell doom for rainforests? Maybe not. Carlos Jaramillo, staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and colleagues report in the journal Science that nearly 60 million years ago rainforests prospered at temperatures that were 3–5 degrees higher and at atmospheric carbon dioxide levels 2.5 times today’s levels. “We’re going to have a novel climate scenario,” said Joe Wright, staff scientist at STRI, in a 2009 Smithsonian symposium on Threats to Tropical Forests. “It will be very hot and wet, and we don’t know how these species are going to react.” By looking back in time, Jaramillo and collaborators identified one example of a hot, wet climate: rainforests were doing very well. Researchers examined pollen trapped in rock cores and outcrops—from Colombia and Venezuela—formed before, during and after an abrupt global warming event called the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum that occurred 56.3 million years ago. The world warmed by 3-5 degrees C. Carbon dioxide levels doubled in only 10,000 years. Warm conditions lasted for the next 200,000 years. Contrary to speculation that tropical forests could be devastated under these conditions, forest diversity increased rapidly during this warming event. New plant species evolved much faster than old species became extinct. Pollen from the passionflower plant family and the chocolate family, among others, were found for the first time. More at the link: http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/tropical-forest-diversity-increased-during-ancie… added by: Incredulous

See the original image at msg.com Ultimate Celebrity Look-a-like Photo Gallery

Did you ever notice that Snoop Dog and Miami Heat's Chris Bosh look alike? Or how about Tiger Woods and Ruthie from the Real World? LOL Just found the greatest celebrity doppelganger gallery with side by side pictures of actors, sports stars, musicians, politicians and more! http://www.msg.com/tv/shows/giants/2.1672/rap-legend-snoop-dogg-and-the-heat-s-c… added by: Strught

OUTRAGE OVER PLANS TO BUILD LIBRARY NEXT TO SARAH PALIN

PLANS to build a state-of-the-art library next to Republican catastrophe Sarah Palin are causing outrage across mainstream America. Campaigners have described the project as insensitive and a deliberate act of provocation by people with brains. The issue is forming a dividing line in advance of November's mid-term congressional elections with candidates being forced to declare whether they have ever been to a library or spoken to someone who has books in their home. Meanwhile President Obama has caused unease within his own Democratic party by endorsing the library and claiming that not everyone who reads books is responsible for calling Mrs Palin a fuckwit nutjob nightmare of a human being. But Bill McKay, a leading member of the right-wing Teapot movement, said: “Sarah Palin is a hallowed place for Americans who can't read. “How is she going to feel knowing that every day there are people going inside a building to find things out for themselves and have thoughts, right in the very shadow of her amazing nipples.” He added: “Our founding fathers intended for every building in this country to be a church containing one book, written by Jesus, that would be read out in a strange voice by an orange man in a shiny suit who would also tell you who you were allowed to kill. “Building a library next to Mrs Palin is like Pearl Harbour. Or 9/11.” And Wayne Hayes, a pig masseur from Coontree, Virginia, said: “I is so angry right now. “It's like something is on fire right in the middle of my head. Like I've eaten a real hot chilli, but it's gone up my nose tubes rather than down my ass tubes.” He added: “Would these library lovers allow me to set up a stall next to the Smithsonian Museum and start selling DVDs of bible cartoons as long as it was in accordance with local regulations? “Oh they would? I see. So is that why they're better than me?” Almost 40% of Americans still support the idea of books. added by: toyotabedzrock

O.J. Simpson’s Killer Suit Headed to D.C.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice , O.J. O.J. Simpson’s infamous acquittal suit finally has a new home. After being rejected by the Smithsonian Institution, the suit O.J. was wearing when he was found not guilty of murder has been acquired by the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The Newseum is … Permalink

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O.J. Simpson’s Killer Suit Headed to D.C.

Smithsonian: O.J.’s No National Treasure

It turns out that the tan suit O.J. Simpson was wearing when acquitted of murder has not reached national treasure status. The Smithsonian Institution has unequivocally rejected an…

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Smithsonian: O.J.’s No National Treasure

Crime Museum: We’d Kill for O.J.’s Acquittal Suit

Filed under: O.J. O.J. Simpson’s famous “acquittal suit” may end up in a museum after all — we’re told officials at the National Museum of Crime & Punishment are dyin’ to get their Isotoners on it. As TMZ previously reported, it’s highly unlikely the Smithsonian … Permalink

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Crime Museum: We’d Kill for O.J.’s Acquittal Suit

Smithsonian Sinks to OJ Low

Filed under: Celebrity Justice The suit famed killer OJ Simpson wore when he was acquitted of murder is going to the Smithsonian Institution.After a court hearing today, and after years of squabbling, lawyers for Simpson and Fred Goldman agreed to donate the “acquittal suit.”The … Permalink

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Smithsonian Sinks to OJ Low