But if it's sugarless, would it still be bad for me?

Everybody's a comedian.

Roast Beef Bubble Gum?

This product is for all the people who've wondered: "I like the flavor of roast beef, but don't need its calories. And I like to blow bubbles! If only there was roast beef bubble gum..."

But even though this gum is a genius idea, it does pose three problems:

1.) I don't need my bubble gum to be "slow roasted!"

2.) That roast beef picture is ghastly. 

3.) When I have something in my mouth that's chewy and tastes like meat, I call it gristle... even if I can blow bubbles with it!

Hey, now THERE'S an idea: Gristle Bubble Gum!

"Mr. Poop is the name. Selling gum is my game."

In Japan, Mr. Poop (the character above) is well known! Here, Mr. Poop is selling wine-flavored gum that comes in the poop shape shown.

Wait— a character make of poop is selling alcohol-flavored gum to kids?! Timothy Takemoto —this is his picture— has an essay that explains some of this. (Read it here!)

Also, kids in Japan often learn the "Poo-Poo Song." Here's the words:

How's your tummy? How's your poopy?

Dr. Poopalot has this to say:

Chew your breakfast, chew it chew it

After breakfast poopy do,

Shiny poopy, rocky poopy, skinny poopy, slimy poo

Shiny poopy, rocky poopy, skinny poopy, slimy poo

Shiny poo is very healthy...when you poop!

Learning About Art (gross, gross, art!)

From here.

I was wondering about art this morning after seeing a website called the SpeedOfArt.com.

Wait, that looks like it says Speedo fart. Yuck!

Trying again, I checked the BBC arts site. There I learned that a London artist named Ben Wilson makes paintings out of the old gum people spit out on sidewalks.

Wilson says, "I can make something special out of something that people find disgusting." (Video here.)

One thing that people often say about art they don't like is that, "A monkey could have done that."

But I'd never heard of anyone saying a maggot could make art until I saw this article about Erin Watson. She's a forensic entomologist. That means Watson investigates murder scenes and looks at maggots to figure out how long the body's been dead.

And Watson ALSO uses maggots and children to make art:

"Maggot art is made by gently dropping the larvae into blobs of non-toxic, water-based paint. As the maggots crawl across paper using their hook-like mouths, they drag streams of paint behind them creating what Watson calls 'Maggot Monets.' After a little [help], children become enthralled with the project, says Watson, which has caused throngs of eager youngsters to crowd around her table at past exhibits."

"Hey lady, you just stepped in something."

Actually, she didn't.

In real life, this is an interesting high-heel shoe designed by Kobi Levi. Well done!

The Gum Wall: ALMOST the Most Germy Spot in the World!

The Market Theater Gum Wall (aka, the Wall of Gum) was chosen by CNN as the second-most germy tourist attraction in the world. Disgusting!

So of course, you must see it. Go to Seattle —specifically, Pike Place Market— and look around for a multi-colored wall covered with dried spit and chewing gum.

That's the one!

It’s about 15 feet high and runs 50 feet long, and man, is it colorful! The Gum Wall got its start in 1993. As a film-goer stood in line, he or she stuck his or her gum on the wall. This inspired another gum chewer to stick gum on the wall…and now here we are with a LOT OF GUM STUCK TO THE WALL!

Today, the Wall of Gum is home to perhaps millions of wadded, chewed, rubbery bits of saliva-soaked gumminess. It’s nasty and it’s beautiful…kind of like this blog!

Photos from NPR and SeattleTales.com.