OOOPs! Boy Accidentally Damages Million Dollar Painting!

Talk about a "major" accident! A 12 y/o Taiwanese boy accidentally damaged a  $1.5M Italian painting 'Flowers' by Italian artist Paolo Porpora which dates back to the 1600s!

'Flowers,' by Italian painter Paolo Porpora valued at  $1.5 million dates 
back  to the 17th century; the only Porpora painting  signed.

Check out the now viral video showing the boy accidentally punching a hole through the centuries-old Italian oil painting when he tripped over a platform in front of the artwork and then brace himself against the painting to break his fall putting a fist-sized tear in it.

A close-up view of the puncture in the canvas. Photograph: TST Art of Discovery Co

The painting is part of a collection of 55 artworks on show in the country's capital.The organizers of The Face of Leonardo exhibition in Taipei have decided not to seek damages from the boy's family, according to Central News Agency. 

Museum staff and famous restorer Tsai Shun reviewing the damage to the painting in Taipei. Photograph: TST Art of Discovery Co

The painting was restored on site Monday, August 24 and is now back on exhibition.

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AUGUST: The Dreaded HUNGRY GHOST MONTH!

Saeed Khan / AFP - Getty Images. Ethnic Chinese devotees set fire to a 26.71 foot high paper-made statue of Chinese deity "Da Shi Ye" (Guardian God of Ghosts) during the festive event of Hungry Ghost in Malaysia.

The Hungry Ghost Festival, is one of the most dreaded festival of the Chinese. The Chinese believe that every year, the Gates of Hell are opened for spirits and ghosts to return to earth and roam freely in search of food and to visit their living ancestors. During this festival the devotees burn paper-made models to appease the wandering spirits and offer prayers. The Festival is always associated to the month of August as, following the Gregorian/Western calendar, the Hungry Ghost Month always cuts across the month of August- BUT in actuality it can land on different dates before or beyond the month of August depending on the year it falls on. Sometimes, it starts in July and ends in August, or starts in August and ends in September.

Vincent Thian / AP. Ethnic Chinese burns joss sticks after a giant paper statue of the Chinese deity "Da Shi Ye" or "Guardian God of Ghosts" burns during the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival in Bukit Mertajam,Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011.

Simply called Ghost Month (鬼月, Guǐ Yuè) in Chinese, the word "hungry" is added to clarify the nature of the ghosts that best characterized this season which is basically the time when hungry ghosts are released from hell so that they can eat. Because a lot of these hungry ghosts lived a negative life or died violent deaths, a lot of them still harbor ill feelings brought about by their fate, so when they’re released from hell, they also tend to do bad things to us.

from carlassocialrealism blog

It is said that there’d be more paranormal and ghostly manifestation during this month. Furthermore, hungry ghosts will also look for victims that they can bring with them to hell, and thus there’d be more accidents. Because of the strong yin and negative energy of this season, business becomes bad and it is highly advisable that one shouldn’t sign any contract, move to a new house, get operated on during the entire Hungry Ghost Month.

To ward off the negativity brought by the Hungry Ghost Month, the following are some more simple rules from a post "Be safe during the Hungry Ghost Month" by Carla Mortel: 

• Do not swim at night.
• Do not go out late at night.
• Do not start construction of any structure.
• Do not get married.
• Do not buy a home.
• Do not start a new business.
• Do not move into a new home.
• Avoid too much travel.
• Avoid medical procedures.

It is also advised to wear bright colors during this month to invite more yang energy. Somber colors represent the yin energy.

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Pooping Cyclist Starts Wildfire!

According to NBC News, more than 73 acres of land in the Hulls Gulch Reserve in Idaho was reportedly damaged by fire after a cyclist attempted to light a tissue he used after defecating- the ember from the attempt set some dry grass on fire. The cyclist who remained anonymous has to pay a $250 fine and may also have to pay the full cost of putting it out, which the Idaho Statesman reports could be in the thousands to cover the helicopters, air tankers, and ground crews that stopped the blaze from spreading to neighborhoods.

A plane dumps fire retardant on a grass fire in the Hulls Gulch Reserve area of foothills, in Boise, Idaho on July 22, 2015.

Boise Fire Department said the fire was put out at Wednesday evening. Police have not determined whether they will hold the man, who turned himself in, criminally or financially responsible. However, he was issued a citation for starting the fire.

Hulls Gulch Reserve is one of the two City Reserves known for its MOUNTAIN BIKE LOOPS offering.

Hulls Gulch Reserve MOUNTAIN BIKE LOOPS.

This article originally appeared on Newser: A Cyclist Stops to Poop, Ends Up Starting Wildfire.

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Coconut Helmet!

Till Death Do Us Part: Undertakers' Wedding with Casket Prop!

Jenny Tay and Darren Cheng wedding photos featuring a casket as a prop. PHOTO: JENNY TAY/STRAITSTIMES

Its will certainly be a cringe-worthy move but Ms Jenny Tay, 29, and her fiance Darren Cheng, 30, have opted for a casket as a prop in a series of pictures taken for their wedding in October. They are dead serious about their profession and their wedding since both are actually in the funeral trade. Tay is the  managing director of Direct Funeral Services and Cheng is the company’s operations and business development director.

Tay is the daughter of Roland Tay, 70, a colorful undertaker well-known for arranging free funerals for murder victims, the poor and the destitute. The Buddhist couple have taken over the business from Tay and have been working at Direct for two years. They are on a mission to modernize and professionalize the trade and remove the taboos associated with death and funerals.

Tay and Cheng wedding photos featuring a casket as a prop. PHOTO: JENNY TAY/STRAITSTIMES

Tay sought out photographer Joel Lim, a commercial lensman who recently shot campaigns for a department store in Hong Kong Ion Orchard and Lane Crawford. The shoot itself took just one day – but planning took about three months with a unique challenge to make the pictures look good without being too morbid. Initial plans to shoot the pictures with a white horse at the Singapore Turf Club in Kranji were nixed when they could not get permission. They decided to do the shoot –in Punggol, or Ponggol, a neighbourhood in northeastern Singapore instead.

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UFC fighter Yoel Romero: 'Go for Jesus, NOT for gay Jesus'!

So one has to be more "careful" NOW in publicly expressing or defending ones Catholic/Christian beliefs for fear of offending same-sex marriage advocates and the LGBT community in general?! Check this out.....

Yoel Romero, who defeated Lyoto Machida at UFC Fight Night 70 via knockout, made some unusual comments just days after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states.

“Hey UFC! Hey Miami! Hey Florida!,” the Cuban born fighter said, riling up the crowd at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Then the interview took an unexpected turn.

“What happened to you, USA? Wake up, USA! Go! Go back for you, go! Go for Jesus. No for gay Jesus people." This apparently has something to do with recent social media photos of gay men kissing while dressed as Jesus in celebration of the controversial Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage which outraged Christian groups.

Fox Sports tweeted and quickly deleted a video of the speech with the accompanying message: "Yoel Romero beats Machida and then proceeds to scold the United States for believing that #LoveAlwaysWins".Twitter users quickly reacted, with some supporting Romero and some in disagreement.

At the post-fight press conference, Romero claimed that he was misunderstood because of his accent and intended to say "don't forget Jesus."......I don't think so...but the violent reaction against what he said says a lot about how the world has come to lately......

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Pro Choice sad reality...