You Are Viewing Classy Stuff

The traveling exhibition called “Body Works” which displays corpses in various stages of life from conception to old age, is currently in Berlin’s Postbanhof. It’s drawing some controversy because one of the displays has the corpses arranged in the act of performing sex.

Torsten Woehlert, spokesman for Berlin’s Culture Ministry said “As it is not against the law, only against good taste, there is not much the government could do anyway.”

Conceived by Gunther von Hagens, the exhibition displays bodies with their muscles, nerves and tendons on show using a preservation technique he pioneered called “plastination” which involves replacing all body fluids and soluble fat with specially manufactured plastics.

On his Web site, the exhibition’s purpose and goal is described as “to reveal and expose the anatomical structure of the human body and its function, in a unique lesson, and to teach us about the complexity of the human body, its anatomy, and the importance of leading a healthy way of life.”

The bodies used in the display are from donors who declared their interest and willingness to particpate in the display with their signed consent for the “benefit of education, health and the awareness of the wide public to the different systems of the human body.”

While I have as much interest in science as most, I’m not sure I would be willing to pay good money to see this particular exhibit.

What about you? Is this an exhibit on your “must see” list? Why?

Bilge Pumping image from Wikipedia

It just isn’t fair
How others with flair
Can apparently know all there is.

’bout stack dumps
Or bilge pumps
To everyone they seem quite a whiz.

They know Vegas hotels
The best flower smells
And how to make millions in the market.

They can add two and two
Know the makeup of poo
And can take a limo and parallel park it.

Besides being smart
They have quite a heart
Worthy causes are quite their forte.

But they’ll never be
As rich as plain me
‘Cause I’ve got the best of life’s buffet

A roof o’er my head
A man in my bed
And plenty of food on the table

I’ve got a nice job
And don’t have to nob
No, this isn’t gonna be some kind of fable.

Just a quick inventory
Of my life’s glory
And things God has blessed me with.

My wonderful mister
Both of my sisters
(Though on them I can plead the fifth!)

My dear sweet old Mother
Who unlike some others
Though stubborn is smart as a whip

So while it may not be fair
That I can’t compare
In the beauty and talent compartment.

I’ll take what I’ve got
And be happy with this lot
‘Cause it’s pretty darned good if you ask me.

è¿é

Susan Boyle -- I Dreamed a Dream

It’s so human that we rely on looks to immediately tell us if someone is worthy of our attention. But there’s a saying I grew up with and perhaps you’ve heard it to…”don’t judge a book by it’s cover”… remember that??

Susan Boyle, a 47 year old unemployed woman from Scotland wowed the Britain’s Got Talent judges with her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables and she is living her dream of singing to a large audience. Her videos on You Tube have had millions of views – heck I myself have listened to it 3 times alone as of writing this! This link is to the best of them as it has embedding disabled on it. Most of the others blur the audio although certainly not much can blur the quality of her voice.

And Amanda admitted that they were all pretty much against her, but what a wake up call her performance was. Amanda also admitted to being privileged to hear Susan’s performance. The camera panning the audience as Simon did the pre-performance interview showed the stark skepticism of the audience that this dowdy little lady could actually sing something they would be entertained by.

It still remains to be seen if she survives the popular voting that comes with later iterations.

I only watched a few of the other videos from performers who also received a pass from the panel to the next level. While there were some interesting performances, nothing compared to this little lady from Scotland.

So, Susan — best of luck to you in dreaming your dream. I hope and pray that it comes true for you. I think it probably already has and has certainly inspired all of us to dream a little bigger than we did yesterday.

And for the rest of you — don’t judge a book by it’s cover!

ê¿ê

Related articles by Zemanta

• The Woman Who Blew Away Simon Cowell (abcnews.go.com)
• Susan Boyle shocks Simon Cowell, everyone on Britain’s Got Talent 3’s first episode (realityblurred.com)
• Susan At Easter (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Oh. My. GOD. (netnewmusic.net)

Now listen up all, I’ve a story to tell
‘bout breeding and whelping
it’s sometimes pure hell!

We did all the right stuff – research and discuss
To pick the right sire
To make beautiful pups

We counted the day, the hours and minutes
Til that long ‘waited day dawned
a miracle imminent.

The work was easy – seven puppies were born
In the space of a minute
Then we tooted our horn!

But whippet gods frown on boastful owners
And as puppies grew,
We had lots of groaners.

Week one was great – nothing too tough
Week two brought cute noises
growls and grrruffs

Week three: mom said “No more” in a huff
“Teeth hurt and they’re messy!”
“I quit – that’s enough!”

Now it’s my turn to care for canine capers
Feed, water, deworm
And then change poopy papers

I had to increase my newspaper subscription
When caught stealing the neighbors
Consigned me to eternal perdition.

Week six we moved them from one room to another
They’d eaten the floor and the walls
Oh BROTHER!

I run out of food seems every other day
The garbage man’s on strike
Lord, help me! I pray!

But soon they’ll be going to new homes and far places
I’ll miss them I know
(Once I’ve had a vacation)

I can’t seem to quit – I’m addicted, I confess!
To puppy breath and kisses
And probably even the mess!