Wheasus: The Ultimate Religious Billboard in Kansas

In general, I'm not a fan of religious billboards. I just don't think they change anyone's mind. I mean a "Jesus is Watching" billboard next to the adult bookstore is not savin' any souls and when I'm driving down the highway and see an anti-abortion billboard, it simply makes me angry. These issues are just more complicated than a slogan or bumper sticker. I also don't think religion should be worn on one's sleeve. It's a private affair between you and God/the Goddess/Nature/the Universe/Not-God.

Religion and politics aside, I'm completely fascinated by this billboard. WTF, Kansas? It's like Children of the Corn, but with Jesus in a wheat field.

The actual art is alright... I mean we all know it's Jesus holding onto some wheat, but it looks like Jesus' head and hand are growing out of the field!

It's intoxicating, this... Wheasus. I would argue it's a bit dangerous... I mean, you're driving by it going 70 mph, but can't tear your eyes away from the weirdness. Don't worry, I actually went to the field to take the photo, so no drivers were almost harmed in the production of this photograph.

If this wasn't a billboard, I would totally send it to the "Museum of Bad Art" and if you haven't heard of MOBA, well, enjoy:

http://www.museumofbadart.org/collection/unseen-12.html

Carhenge- seriously!

Carhenge is the perfect place to pause during a long drive through Nebraska. It's quirky, it's free, and it offers the opportunity to stretch your legs after being cramped up in a car for a few hours. The sculptor certainly had attention to detail, recreating many features of the original Stonehenge.




It looks like the top cars are stuck in traffic on the car superhighway.



Is that the car from Harry Potter?




There are a couple of random sculptures next to Carhenge. This salmon is my favorite.

Where There's Smoke, There's No Tire...

Today, I headed for Nebraska with a plan in mind. I would get to Scottsbluff in time for lunch and do a few hotel inspections. Unfortunately, my tire had other plans.

While going about 75 mph on I-25 (yes, the speed limit is 75), I was getting engrossed in an audiobook I had downloaded and heard a strange sound. I couldn't tell if it was coming from my car or not. Then, I felt some bumpiness, figured it was the rear tire, and pulled over. When I got out of the car, I smelled burning rubber and saw smoke coming from the tire. SMOKE! The tire had disintegrated, exposing two large holes.




See the pile of tire crumbs on the ground? Shocking! I didn't think a tire could do that... I mean, I've seen strips of tire, but this was bizarre.

Luckily, I'm okay. After spending three hours dealing with the situation, I still made it to Nebraska with the assistance of four new Goodyear tires.

Remembering Les Santes Fesitival in Mataro, Spain...

Today I listened to an episode of my favorite podcast, Too Beautiful to Live. The host, Luke, had called a listener who discussed his favorite Swiss festival involving a snowman that gets blown up.

This reminded me of a festival I experienced abroad. My ex-boyfriend and I were staying at his friend's house in Mataro, Spain. This was July 2001. The following links are just some examples I pulled off youtube.

First, we participated in building a Diada Castellera (human castle).

Capgrossos de Mataro:

Then, there was a parade of "giants".

All of that was pretty cool, but tame. The next part of the festival was total chaos. "Devils" chase after the townspeople with poles that have a wheel of spinning fireworks on top. This ends in a huge fireworks display.

After the pyrotechnics, there's a lot of drumming to the center of town where there's a big rock concert. At the concert, everyone is drenched in water.

It's called "Les Santes", the Saints, but there is nothing Catholic about this celebration... in my eyes the giant figures, the fire, and the water all seem somewhat pagan. Pagans were so much fun.

The most interesting thing in Sidney, NE...

...may be this sign.

Is it just me or does that bison look a bit strange?

I have to say this bison looks even stranger.



You may be wondering what is going on here. Well, work led me out to the Terry Bison Ranch in Cheyenne, WY. According to Sideshow, the ranch hand, they care for a variety of animals including the only seven camels in Wyoming (formerly nine, but they sold two). I would argue that they probably have the only seven camels in a larger region, but I'm not up on my camels per capita stats.

It must get cold out there for a camel in Wyoming. I wonder if they wear blankets in the winter.

In addition to camels and ostriches, I saw horses, goats, and alpacas, but, oddly, no bison. Sideshow said they also have the only known beefalo (a randy bison liaised with a cow). Of course, this led to carnivorous thoughts about how a beefalo would taste.

One thing's for sure, there's a reason Southern Wyoming has wind farms. Just ask this guy:


If the garden doesn't work out, this is my Plan B for the backyard:



Overall, it was an entertaining trip to the ranch. Thanks, Pard(ner).