Failure's Berkeley Pit feature highlighted in Denver Post

Sarah Gilman's Christmas Day column in the Denver Post highlighted Failure magazine's feature The Berkeley Pit. Unfortunately, the Post's editors failed to link to the article.

Fed Up With Lunch

The inspiring story of Sarah Wu (also known as Mrs. Q), who has become an unlikely part of the school lunch reform movement. The cover of her book, "Fed Up With Lunch" (Chronicle), is pictured at right.

"A Thousand Lives"

In the new book “A Thousand Lives” (Free Press), author Julia Scheeres makes it clear that Jim Jones never intended for Jonestown to succeed. In fact, he explored many different means of killing his followers, including loading them onto a jet plane and crashing it, and driving buses off the Golden Gate Bridge. Our feature on the book includes a link to the video advertorial that Jones used to entice followers to come down to Guyana, as well as photos, documents, movies, and audio clips that the FBI rescued from Jonestown.

The Berkeley Pit

Butte, Montana toxic waste site (and State Office of Tourism recommended "place to visit") yielding compounds that may be medically, environmentally useful. Photo courtesy of Donald Stierle.

Berkeley Pit Viewing Stand

To go out onto Berkeley Pit Lake you have to complete a 40-hour Hazmat course. But for just two dollars, a member of the public can look out over the Pit from the Berkeley Pit Viewing Stand (which is accessed by walking through a long tunnel) - and take in this strangely-compelling view. Photo by Failure magazine.

Empire, Nevada became a ghost town in 2011

In January 2011, Empire was home to ninety-nine U.S. Gypsum Company employees and their families. Today, all the inhabitants of the company town are gone and the desert is reclaiming the land. Above: The view from outside Empire's locked gates. (Photo by Leigh Ann Lipscomb, late November 2011).



Above: The now-vacant drywall plant.
(Photo by Leigh Ann Lipscomb, late November 2011).

Idaho Beef & Dairy CAFOs

Today Failure magazine published a feature on the work of watchdog group ICARE (Idaho Concerned Area Residents for the Environment), which aims to educate the public about the environmental impact of Concentrated Animals Feeding Operations (CAFOs), and also acts as a champion of small family farmers. The above photo depicts a feeding pen at a dairy CAFO on Bob Barton Highway in Jerome County, Idaho. Notice the single cow standing atop the manure pile.

Awkward Family Pet Photos: The Book

In Awkward Family Pet Photos, coauthors Mike Bender and Doug Chernack celebrate "the special — and frequently disturbing — bond between families and their pets.

Black Friday is here ...

... and for University of Minnesota economist Joel Waldfogel, it's "the most wasteful time of the year."

Nudists Look to Attract the Young, Naked

Traditional nudist retreats may be failing, but thanks to social media, the rise of high-end resorts, and new groups like Young Naturists America (logo at right), young people are at last showing the lifestyle some love.

Evel Knievel's grave - Mountain View Cemetery

While working on an unrelated story in Butte, Montana, I ventured to Mountain View Cemetery to visit Evel Knievel's grave. This photograph was taken on October 27, 2011 (by Failure magazine).

Evel Knievel's headstone (back)

The back of Evel Knievel's extra-large headstone, photographed October 27, 2011, at Mountain View Cemetery in Butte, Montana. Photo by Failure magazine.

Prophet's Prey

“Short Creek is the most lawless town in the country,” says Sam Brower, author of the new book “Prophet’s Prey” (Bloomsbury), which chronicles his 15-year investigation into the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints, a radical religious group that practices polygamy. "It’s going to take the resources of the federal government to control crime in Short Creek and other FLDS communities, because “[FLDS] have millions of dollars and they’re in it for life,” he notes. Sam Brower's Failure Interview..

Staxxon's Folding Shipping Container

A Montclair, New Jersey-based startup’s recently-patented technology has the potential to revolutionize the global shipping industry. (Above, a Staxxon container undergoing CSC testing.)

Inside Scientology, America's most secretive religion

Janet Reitman, author of “Inside Scientology,” discusses the successes and failures of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, as well as those of the church’s current leader David Miscavige.

The End of Country

Today's Failure Interview: Seamus McGraw, author of the new book "The End of Country," on the debate over fracking and the future of natural gas drilling in the United States.

Dive - Living Off America's Waste, now available on Special Edition DVD

Last year Failure interviewed filmmaker Jeremy Seifert (see Food For Thought) about his film "Dive - Living Off America's Waste," which illustrates how thousands of dollars worth of good, edible food is thrown away by stores each and every day. The film is now available (watch the trailer) on Special Edition DVD, which includes a special feature on how you can get involved in Seifert's Eat Trash Campaign. You'll be entertained - and save a huge amount of money on food, assuming you're willing to dumpster dive.

Pitching in the Promised Land

New this weekend in Failure magazine: A look back at the failed Israeli Baseball League (IBL), viewed through the eyes of IBL pitcher Aaron Pribble, author of the new book "Pitching in the Promised Land."

The Big Roads

Just in time for the July 4th weekend, Failure interviews Earl Swift (author of "The Big Roads") on the history of America's interstate highway system. Have a safe holiday!

Boredom: A Lively History

Peter Toohey, a professor of classics at the University of Calgary, believes the subject of boredom deserves more attention. Reading this Boring Article to find out why.

Shipping Container Overboard!

Every year an estimated 10,000 intermodal shipping containers fall off ships and are lost at sea. A group of marine scientists based in the San Francisco Bay Area are attempting to draw attention to this largely unknown problem.

Alexandra Robbins on Quirk Theory

In today's Failure Interview, Alexandra Robbins explains quirk theory - and why high school outcasts are likely to surpass their "popular" classmates in terms of real-world success.

The Longevity Diet

It's a "diet" that appeals mostly to males, weight loss is "an unfortunate consequence," and scientific research suggests it might allow humans to live 120 years or longer. In today's Failure Interview, Brian Delaney, the president of Calorie Restriction Society International (and co-author of "The Longevity Diet"), explains why he's been on the diet for 20 years, and the main challenges to limiting oneself to 1,500 or so calories a day.

Joshua Kendall interview

In "The Forgotten Founding Father," a new biography of Noah Webster Jr., Joshua Kendall seeks to rehabilitate the "incredible shrinking reputation" of his subject. In today's Failure Interview, Kendall paints a well-rounded portrait of Webster, one that includes his remarkable successes (including "the Harry Potter of its day"), and notable failures (a translation of the Bible and an expurgated anthology of English poetry, to name two).

Wreckers on display at the Intl. Museum of Towing and Recovery

Above: A Holmes 485 wrecker, bolted-on to the back of a 1913 Locomobile.



Above: A Diamond T military wrecker utilized in Europe during World War II.

Read more about the International Towing and Recovery Museum and Hall of Fame.

The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum

A one-of-a-kind museum and hall of fame in Chattanooga preserves the history of an industry entirely dependent on failure.

Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs

High gas prices are likely here to stay, and suburbanites need to make changes. In her new book 'Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs,' author/blogger Wendy Brown asks us to imagine a reinvention of suburbia.

Obama Bin Laden headline fail

The above FOX News image has emerged as the most well-known headline fail announcing the news of Osama bin Laden's death. Of course, FOX is no stranger to chyron fails, especially when the Middle East or geography are involved. Which perhaps explains why FOX sometimes gets the geography of the Middle East completely wrong.

The Perfect Nazi

In "The Perfect Nazi," BBC commissioning editor Martin Davidson tells the world a dark family secret — that his German grandfather was a dyed-in-the-wool Nazi, an SA Sturmführer, and a captain in Heinrich Himmler’s SS — and finds it a liberating experience. In the following interview, Davidson discusses his memories of his grandfather, his family’s response to the book, and why he characterizes Bruno Langbehn as the Perfect Nazi.

Photos from inside Cheve, the deepest cave in North America

Just released in paperback: James M. Tabor's best-seller "Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth." (Special thanks to Mr. Tabor for providing Failure with the photos included here.) For more on the book and the race to discover the Mount Everest of caves, read To the Supercave (Failure magazine, July 2010).

Above: Bart Hogan, 3,000 feet deep in Cheve’s vast Low Rider Parkway. Though impressive, the Parkway is not especially huge by Cheve standards. Photo © 2010 by Kenneth Davis.

Bill Stone, leader of the expeditions into Cheve cave. Photo © 2010 by Bill Stone.

Marcus Preissner rappels a section of Angel Falls, at a depth of 1,100 feet in Cheve Cave. Redirectionals pull the rope away from plunging water. Photo copyright © 2010 by Kenneth Davis.

Photos from inside Krubera cave

Krubera (KRU-bera) cave is located within the Arabika Massif in the western Caucasus Mountains, in a region of Abkhazia in southeastern Republic of Georgia.

The above photo shows Gennady Samokhin (in red) returning from an abortive dive into Krubera’s Siphon 2, August 2004.

To read about Alexander Klimchouk and the race to discover the Mount Everest of caves, see To the Supercave (Failure magazine, July 2010).

Above: Denis Kurta dropping into Krubera’s 500-foot deep Grand Cascade. Photo ©2010 Alexander Klimchouk and the Call of the Abyss Project.

Today: 30th anniversary of the near assassination of Ronald Reagan

Today -- March 30, 2011 -- marks the 30th anniversary of John Hinckley Jr.’s attempt on Ronald Reagan’s life, which, as it turns out, set the stage for a politically successful presidency. In the new book "Rawhide Down," Washington Post reporter Del Quentin Wilber delivers a minute-by-minute account of the events of that memorable day. Failure has just posted a Q&A with Wilber.

The Longevity Project

“The Longevity Project” answers the question of who lives longest — and why. And make no mistake, after you’re through reading the book, you’ll no doubt recognize the “pathways” to a longer, healthier life, even if you’re not on one of those paths.

James S. Robbins on 'This Time We Win: Revisiting the Tet Offensive

James S. Robbins explains why the legacy of the Tet Offensive makes it difficult for the United States to defeat unconventional enemies, and how U.S. leadership can avoid acting in ways our enemies want and expect.

Charlie Sheen always good for a quote at DreamMasheen

Charlie Sheen: In his own words at DreamMasheen.

50 Jobs in 50 States

Failure interviews USC grad Daniel Seddiqui (author of the forthcoming book "50 Jobs in 50 States"), on how he turned a failed job search into opportunity.

Caltech basketball team beats Occidental, breaks 310-game losing streak

Read about the game on the Failure site (with video of the celebration).

Or check out Failure magazine's feature on the history of Caltech's basketball program.

Remote Area Medical in Nashville

This past weekend, Remote Area Medical (a non-profit that offers free medical care at clinics in the Third World and the United States) came to Nashville, Tennessee. Truth be told, the event was a sad commentary on what we value (and don't value) here in the U.S. The school where the clinic was held (McGavock High School in east Nashville) is kinda run-down, and the cinderblock walls give its halls a prison-like feel. (Did I mention that the Nashville Metro Police Department has an office in the school?)

Of course, education isn't the only thing that we fail to make a priority here in the U.S. We don't do enough to make sure our populace has access to affordable health care, hence the desperate need for an organization like Remote Area Medical.

Below are a handful of photographs that Failure magazine took during the Nashville clinic. Pictured above is Stan Brock, founder of RAM. Or read Failure's feature about RAM.

Fire on the Horizon

Curious about the little-understood culture of offshore oil drilling? Read Failure magazine's interview of John Konrad, founder of gCaptain and author of the forthcoming book Fire on the Horizon: The Untold Story of the Gulf Oil Disaster.