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.