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Breast Sizes of the World

The German newspaper Bild has recently published the World Map of Breasts. This interesting use of cartography, compares breast sizes in each of the world’s countries. The study, also known as the Atlas of Cup Sizes, concludes that women in the northern European countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia average the largest bosoms. According to the data the average woman in these countries has larger than D cup sized breasts. The U.S. was not much further behind with American women averaging in the D cup range. Women in parts of Asia, Africa, and Central/ South America reportedly average the smallest A cup sized breasts.

It is unclear how the survey was conducted and the Bild article itself questions the data’s validity. One would think that the data would vary greatly from region to region in large countries like the United States or Russia. Also, it is unclear how breast reduction or enhancement are calculated in the data. One also would might think that I have put way too much thought into this article/ map.  Here’s a link to a translation of the Bild article. The map is below.

Cookies and Breast Milk

An Oreo’s advertisement featuring a baby breastfeeding while holding a familiar black and white cookie went viral this week. The advert was apparently designed for internal Nabisco use and was never meant for public consumption (as it were.) Interestingly, most of the websites that have displayed the ad have blackened out or blurred at least part of the mother’s breast. It’s telling that many would find breastfeeding to be embarrassing, obscene, or even pornographic. It’s also worth noting that various websites censor the advertisement far differently. Here is a short guide to how and why these ads are censored.

The original uncensored ad

For those who want a hint of a nipple but can’t handle actually seeing it.

For those who were scandalized by the previous version

For those who think blurring is insufficient

For those who need better protection against seeing a nipple (and a baby’s mouth)

For those who can’t handle seeing a nipple or the bottom/ side of a woman’s breast

For those who like PowerPoint icons to cover offending nipples

For those who don’t like breasts but love whacky humor

China Censors Kate Winslet’s 3-D Breasts

One of the most amusing popular culture stories that I have read in a long time is a report from China that local authorities have censored the new 3-D version of Titanic. Apparently the Chinese release of Titanic 3D does not feature Kate Winslet’s breasts but rather has cut the offending images from the film. Surprisingly, Chinese censors do not appear to find the toplessness offensive but rather do not want moviegoers to disturb other patrons while attempting to grope Winslet’s celluloid chest. It sounds like Chinese officials believe that it is easier to recut the film than to make male fans behave themselves. Please insert your own joke here about Kate Winslet’s Titanic breasts, Chinese men amorous advances hitting the iceberg of public censorship, or mammary-centered life vest references.

Super-History: Comic Book Superheroes and American Society, 1938 to the Present

My new book, Super-History: Comic Book Superheroes and American Society, 1938 to Present, came out last week and I am excited to finally see it in print. It is a social history of the U.S. from 1938 until 2010 using comic book superheroes as lenses through which to view society. It traces the changes in American society by showcasing these social and cultural transformations in superhero stories. There are a lot of books about comic books on the market but I think this is the first that tries to teach U.S. history by connecting real world events to the stories from the comic book pages. I’m very proud of how it turned out and I hope I can sell some copies now.

Google NES 8-bit Maps- April Fools’ Day Joke

Google has created an April Fools’ Day joke that features an 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System version of Google Maps. The Google produced prank video, posted on the Google Lat Long Blog, showcases a family using their antiquated NES to gather mapping information in 8-bit format and even reminds the viewers to blow on the cartridge. Just watching the faux-family use their NES to get directions from Los Angeles to New York makes me want to play Super Mario Bros. 3. Take a look at the funny clip below and if you want to trying out Google Maps 8-bit go to Google Maps and press the Quest button.