He began building small homes for ants and insects, eventually developing an ability to sculpt things only viewable under a microscope. To create his works, Willard developed a method of placing himself into a meditative state, slowing his heartbeat, sculpting between beats, in the knowledge that the mere pulse in his finger could destroy his work.

According to Thai police, Hello Kitty has become the new disciplinary tool for officers found engaging in inappropriate behavior. They’ll be required to wear bright pink Hello Kitty armbands. So what might these inappropriate behaviors be you ask?

• officers who speak too aggressively to civilians
• who fail to turn off their engines when they park their cars
• commit other minor violations of proper conduct

The hope is to create a sense of shame so the officers will refrain from such behaviors. On the surface, this tactic may seem silly and a waste of time. But if you take a look at the psychological effects associated with shame, you’d agree that the Thai police have really tapped into something. In fact, this type of discipline could potentially have long-term negative effects.

Shame is often experienced as the inner, critical voice that judges whatever we do as wrong, inferior, or worthless…shame is often unbearable. Marc Miller, noted clinical psychologist and author, states ‘we may equate shame with being worthless, unlovable, unredeemable, or cut-off from humanity. Shame strikes deepest into the heart of man…. shame is felt as inner torment, a sickness of the soul….the humiliated one feels himself naked, defeated, alienated, lacking in dignity and worth.’

Rats. They’re surprisingly self-aware. They laugh when tickled, especially when they’re young, and they have ticklish spots. Admit it, they’re pretty damn cute. A few years ago, I had a pet rat. Her name was Sqishy (pronounced ski-shee). She was the sweetest pet ever - loved to give kisses.

Rats have personalities, and they can be grumpy or happy-go-lucky depending on their upbringing and surroundings. One study showed that rats accustomed to good times tend to be optimists, while those reared in unstable conditions become pessimists. In another study, Jonathon D. Crystal, a psychologist at the University of Georgia in Athens, discovered that rats display evidence of metacognition: they know what they know and what they don’t know.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jkrn6ecxthM]

Got what it takes to be an official condom tester? The “bed-testing” position is unpaid, but 200 selected testers would be up for free pack of Durex products. In return, testers would have to report back on the feel and performance of the company’s products. Condom makers say it’s the world’s best job, a ’sexecutive position’.

On July 5 hundreds of animal rights activists took part in a “Running of the Nudes” Thursday to protest the traditional running of the bulls ceremony in the Spanish town of Pamplona. Protesters stripped down to their skivvies & dressed in red bandannas & sported long plastic horns.

In the beginning of June, cyclists in London & other cities around the world, took to the streets to protest against oil & the overuse of cars. Of course they did it style - a little bit of body paint & a whole lot of nakedness! Yahoo!

An original interpretation of Leda and the Swan painted on a store mannequin. Karen Rosenberg. American, c. 2000

A male satyr head with horns and beard, with thirteen women’s torsos comprising the facial features. American, c. 2000