Titanic 100th anniversary cruises

First, there was the Titanic Memorial Cruise. Now available: cabins on the Titanic Anniversary Cruise (roundtrip to and from New York) on the Azamara Journey [pictured above], and the Titanic Mini Cruise (roundtrip to and from Southampton on the MS Balmoral).

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!