Tag Archives: stuff that weighs more than me

Stuff that Weighs More Than Me: Giant Frozen Poo Sculpture

Oh my goodness. Once I saw this posted on my friend Kathleen’s wall, I just knew what I was going to use for my Friday blog post this week. I mean it’s got everything! It’s a sculpture, and it’s frozen and it’s made of cow poop! It’s in Russia, and it depicts a king cobra just in time for (wait for it) the Year of the Snake.

And lest you think this is the first of its kind, it appears that the artist, Mikhail Bopposov is a serial scat sculptor. Apparently Mikhail has previously created a poop tank, and a winged serpent to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

He’s practicing up for next year which will be the Year of the Horse. At least I know that I won’t run out of blog, um, material for a while.

Anyways, here’s the stats (that I could find…)

Subject: King Cobra

Materials: Cow dung (“balbalkh” as it is known in his native Yakut language) contributed from Mikhail’s 17 cows.

Weight: 880 pounds

Conclusion: The world’s largest poo sculpture weighs more than me.

Stuff That Weighs More than Me: Lolong, The World’s Biggest Crocodile

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Holy handbags, Batman! This is one huge reptile! Lolong, shown above, is the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity. He was captured by local townspeople in a remote southern Philippines town near Manilla. Apparently it took over 100 townspeople to subdue the giant brute who was later confirmed to have taken down local water buffalo. EEEEEEEK! Lolong currently lives in a new ecotourism park and research center in the outskirts of Bunawan and has drawn thousands of visitors. Here’s the stats:

Age: Estimated at over 50 years

Length: 20.24 feet

Weight: 2,370 lbs.

Conclusion: Lolong, the world’s largest crocodile weighs more than me, and he’s scarier too!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter your time or miles HERE by noon today to count for this week’s total on Fit Fatties Across America. Let’s see just how far we can get this week!

And don’t forget to register for next week Tuesday’s Teleseminar on fitness for the New Year!

Love,

The Fat Chick

Stuff That Weighs More Than Me: World’s Largest Scale Model of the Solar System

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The Ericsson Globe

Let me start by saying that this is one of the coolest things I have heard of, like EVER! And I also will have to state for the record that I don’t have a lot of data about the exact weights of the objects here. Nevertheless, I have great confidence that it weighs more than me. Let me explain. The world’s largest model of the solar system is in Sweden. The sun is represented by the Ericsson Globe. And we’re not talking about a measly little statue here, no sir! The Ericsson Globe is currently the largest hemispherical building in the world. It hosts up to 13,850 guests for hockey games and indoor football, and can hold even more people for musical performances. Which makes sense, because the sun is you know, BIG. Oh and by the way, the Ericsson Globe also hosts a funicular railway system known as Skyview. Just in case you don’t know what a “funicular railway” is, the Skyview consists of two gondolas that hold 16 passengers each that take you up the side of the globe and offers unparallelled views of Stockholm.

The scale model stretches for a distance of 590 miles from the “sun” to “termination shock“. (Follow the link to learn all about what termination shock is all about. Trust me, it’s cool!) The scale model contains 16 other bodies including four inner planets–Mercury, Mars, Venus and the Earth (as well as its moon), four outer planets–Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, four dwarf planets–Pluto, Ixion, Eris and Sedna, two comets–Halley’s and Swift-Tuttle, two asteroids–Saltis and Palomar-Leiden and one near-earth object–Eros.

Here’s the stats:

Sun: (Ericsson Globe) Diameter (the disk) 233 ft. (incl. the corona) 361 ft.

Mercury: Distance from “sun” 1.8 miles. Diameter 9.8 inches.

Venus: Distance from “sun” 3.4 miles. Diameter 24.4 inches.

Earth (and moon): Distance from “sun” 4.7 miles. Diameters 25.6 and 7.1 inches

Eros: Distance from “sun” 6.8 miles. Diameters 2.0 mm x 0.7 mm x 0.7 mm.

Sattis: Distance from “sun” 6.8 miles. Diameter <1 mm.

Mars: Distance from “sun” 7.2 miles. Diameter 13.8 inches.

Jupiter: Distance from “sun” 25 miles. Diameter, 24 feet.

Palomar Leiden: Distance from “sun” 37 miles. Diameter 0.2 mm.

Saturn: Distance from “sun” 45 miles. Diameter 20 feet.

Uranus Distance from “sun” 91 miles. Diameter 8.5 feet.

Halley’s Comet: Distance from “sun” 127 miles.

Neptune: Distance from “sun” 142 miles. Diameter 8.2 feet.

Pluto (and Charon): Distance from “sun” 186 miles, Diameters 4.7 and 2.4 inches.

Ixion: Distance from “sun” 224 miles. Diameter 2.6 inches.

Swift-Tuttle Comet: Distance from “sun” 242 miles.

Eris: Distance from “sun” 317 miles. Diameter 5.1 inches.

Sedna: Distance from “sun” 503 miles. Diameter 3.9 inches.

Termination Shock: Distance from “sun” 590 miles, Represented as a large plate.

Combined weight: A whole LOT.

Conclusion: There’s a big, big universe out there, and it weighs more than me.

Love,

The Fat Chick

P.S. Want to have access to other fun and cool content? Don’t forget to sign up for The Fat Chick Clique. It’s totally free! You also might want to join me at this upcoming teleconference or this amazing event!

Stuff that Weighs More than Me: Tex Randall

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My dear (and extremely awesome) friend Donna sent me this picture from her recent trek across the country. (Her search for the world’s biggest frying pan continues…) She pointed out that this big cowboy just outside of Amarillo Texas is pretty darn big and thus is likely to fall into the category of “stuff that weighs more than me.” After just a little research I have concluded that indeed, Tex Randall is big enough to fit the bill.

The Tex Randall statue lives in Canyon, Texas. He was built by industrial arts teacher Harry Wheeler in 1959 to promote his western curio shop. Apparently when originally created, the statue was clothed in real denim jeans and a real fabric red checked shirt which were provided by a local tent and awning company.

Over the years Tex has had a fairly rough and tumble life. He’s endured 100 MPH winds, the clothes deteriorating off his body, a truck collision with his left boot and having the original cigarette shot right out of his hand. These days Tex’s clothes are painted on, and the original cigarette has been replaced by a spur, but Tex lives on in all of his magnificent, gigantic, glory. Here’s the stats:

Materials: concrete with an internal structure of pipe, rebar and wire mesh.

Height: 47 feet

Weight: 7 tons

Conclusion: Tex Randall weighs more than me.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Your fabulous pictures could also be featured in this blog. I’m always looking for great local landmarks and statues and stuff for the Stuff that Weighs More than Me section. I’d love it if you’d send me some photos with a little basic background information to me at jeanette at the fat chick dot com.

Love,

The Fat Chick

Stuff that Weighs More than Me: World’s Largest Floating Christmas Tree

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Wow, who thought of taking a giant Christmas tree and floating it on the water? Some folks down in Brazil did and what a beauty! This behemoth. created by Brazil’s largest insurance company is called the Bradesco Seguros Christmas Tree. It is located in the in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro. The floating metal structure rests on eleven giant floats and is about as tall as a 28-story building. The tree, seen in the video above during its lighting ceremony demonstrates four different looks depicting each of the four seasons. The lighting ceremony, which also boasts a spectacular fireworks display, attracts over 100,000 people annually. Here’s the stats:

Number of lights: Over 3 Million

Platform: eleven huge floats

Height: 85 meters (over 280 ft.)

Longest String of Lights: 105 km. (65 miles)

Weight: 542 tons

Conclusion: The Bradesco Seguros Christmas Tree weighs more than me.

Stuff that Weighs More than Me: The Rockettes

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Over the years, more than 3,000 women have smiled, danced and high-kicked as one of the Radio City Rockettes. Founded in 1925 as the Missouri Rockets, the dance troupe was formed under the leadership of Russell Markert. In 1932, the Rockets ventured forth from their St. Louis home and performed at the Radio City Music Hall to great acclaim. They were renamed the Radio City Rockettes and they have been performing under that moniker ever since.

The Rockettes have a grueling schedule–logging 6 hours of rehearsal per day to prepare the 8 numbers for their annual Christmas Spectacular. Eight numbers mean eight incredibly fast costume changes–sometimes as little as 78 seconds! And there are A LOT of costumes. Eight costumes per day times four performances per day times 36 Rockettes means a whole LOT of laundry.

In terms of personal stats for each of the Rockettes we know a few things. Each of the Rockettes must be between 5ft., 5.5 inches and 5 ft., 10.5 inches tall and must be able to kick over their heads. None of them appear to weigh very much, but in the aggregate, I think it’s a different story. Here’s the stats:

Height: 5ft., 5.5 inches to 5ft., 10.5 inches.

Number of Rockettes: 36

Conservatively estimated weight per Rockette: 100 lbs.

Weight of the “Radio City Rockettes”: Approximately 3600 lbs.

Conclusion: The Radio City Rockettes weigh more than me.

By the way, ever wonder why all the Rockettes appear to be exactly the same height when there is an allowable height difference of five inches? It’s an illusion! The tallest dancers are in the middle with the shortest dancers on the end. Thus from the audience’s perspective the dancers all appear to be the same height!

Stuff that Weighs More than Me: World’s Biggest Hanukkah Menorah

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Just in time for Hanukkah, I give you, the world’s largest Menorah. This amazing edifice stands at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, by Central Park, between the Plaza and the Pierre Hotels in New York City. This year, the first Hannukah “candle” will be lit at 5:30 PM on Saturday, December 8. All the candles will be lit on the evening of December 15. The Menorah will be lighted nightly with genuine oil lamps. Given the enormous size of the structure, the lamps will be lit using a Con Edison Cherry Picker and two lifts.

This amazing Menorah, certified by Guinness Worlds Records as the world’s largest, was designed based on a drawing inspired by the original Menorah at the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. The Menorah will be the site of a number of celebrations in the coming week including a parade on December 13 and a celebration featuring music, dance, free hot “Latkes” and “Hanukkah Gelt” for the children. YUM!

Here’s the stats:

Color: gold

Material: steel

Height: 32 feet

Weight: Over 4,000 lbs.

Conclusion: even after an evening of free hot Latkes, the worlds largest Chaukah Menorah still weighs more than me.

Happy Hanukkah!

Love,
The Fat Chick

Stuff That Weighs More Than Me: Kermit the Frog Balloon from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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I love parades. Well to qualify, I love watching the holiday parades in my jammies in front of the TV accompanied by a box of cereal and some milk and a warm blankie. I’ve always loved watching the Tournament of Roses parade on New Year’s Day and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. So naturally, I thought I’d turn to yesterday’s Macy’s Parade to find fodder for today’s blog.

One character that has been a mainstay of the parade since I was a kid is Kermit the Frog. I must confess that I am an avid Muppets fan, and those fuzzy little guys hosted my absolute favorite childhood TV show, “The Muppet Show”. So naturally, I’ve always loved the giant Kermit the Frog balloon from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

It, turns out that Kermit has had an interesting run as a parade balloon. The balloon was “launched” during the 1977 Thanksgiving Day Parade. Apparently the real Kermit the Frog was on hand to report about the balloon (in his Muppet News Flash garb complete with a trench coat, press fedora hat and microphone). Reportedly, Kermit expressed his chagrin that his giant balloon counterpart was naked. Kermit has appeared live at the parade several times throughout the years.

The original Kermit the Frog balloon suffered a few major incidents over the years. In 1985, the balloon ripped along its stomach and lost over 80 percent of its helium. Apparently it was carried for the last part of the parade route by its balloon handlers. In 1991 the balloon caught on some trees in Central Park West, tearing a hole in the balloon. One again, the balloon was carried much of the way by his balloon handlers. The balloon was cheered wildly by spectators as he appeared to “swim” down the street.

After the 1991 incident, a new Kermit the Frog balloon was created, and it was that version that we saw in yesterday’s parade. Here’s the stats:

Width: 36 ft.

Height: 61 ft.

Length: 78 ft.

Volume: 11,000 cubic feet of helum

Weight: Well over 1,000 lbs.

Conclusion: The Kermit the Frog Balloon from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade weighs more than me.

Stuff That Weighs More Than Me: Lenin’s Head (Sculpture)

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So, we were furniture shopping on La Brea the other day with my fabulous friend Jim when we ran across this bad boy right out there on the street corner. My husband’s first comment was, “How odd!” Jim’s first comment was, “Well, that’s interesting!” My first reaction was to squeal and demand, “Take a picture, because I just KNOW that thing weighs more than me!”**

The statue, called “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head” is a work by the Gao Brothers, Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang, of China.

Fairfax By Night gives us more details about the piece:

As such a well known person, the artists’ decision to give his face a chrome finish takes the focus away from Lenin, and to the sculpture’s context by allowing the reflections to highlight the immediate surroundings instead of Lenin in an appropriately demeaning fashion. The staggered sections represent his broken and destructive legacy that brought so much turmoil to Russia. Atop is a very playful inclusion of baby holding a balance stick on top of Lenin’s protruding head, as if walking a tight rope of his disastrous and risky Marxist ideals.

So why, one might wonder, is there a giant bust of Lenin in Stainless Steel on the corner of 4th and La Brea in Los Angeles? Apparently, it’s been installed in front of the ACE Gallery LA as part of The [Secret] Return of Noever show. And now for what you really wanted to know…

Here’s the stats:

Materials: Stainless Steel constructed in horizontal sections

Depth: 13.79 ft.

Width: 19.67 ft.

Weight: 3306.93 lbs.

Conclusion: Lenin’s head weighs more than me!

**Please note. Ginormous bust of Lenin on La Brea is considered an ironic look at a controversial dictator. The Fat Chick bussing giant bust of said dictator should also be construed as ironic and not be taken as support for dictators, stainless steel or giant heads. That is all.

Stuff That Weighs More Than Me: Chili the World’s Largest Bull

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Well there are foundlings and then again, there are foundlings. Chili, a black and white Fresian bull was found running around on the doorstep of the Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Ferne, Somerset when he was just 6 days old. Over time, Chili’s new owners noticed that he was growing larger and faster than the other bulls. Nomi Clarke, Manager of the Ferne Animal Sanctuary noted that Chili doesn’t eat as much as the other cows but has grown much larger than them. She also described the bull as “abnormally friendly and gentle.”

Height: 6 ft., 6 in.

Age: 13 years

Diet: Vegetarian including Grass and the occasional swede (In the case the swede does not refer to a person of Swedish descent, but rather the UK name for a rutabaga.)

Weight 1.25 tons

Conclusion: Chili, the world’s biggest bovine, weighs more than me.