Los Angeles County is known for having the stinkiest sludge in America. Virginia Tech environmental engineer John Novak says the sludge from that county in California has the "worst odor of any I have ever tested. " "This county can haul its sludge hundreds of miles into the desert, and it still gets complaints," Novak said, according to a press release by Newswise.

Holland is experiencing an increase in incoming tourism from the US -- a market that decreased after 9/11. This year will be the first since before 2001 that the country will welcome it's one-millionth visitor from the US. Conrad van Tiggelen, Director, NBTC North America said, "Despite the exchange rate concerns, with the dollar in a renewed slide against the Euro, visitors from the USA are back to the levels of 2000. "

Saying that Coca-Cola created the present-day Santa Claus for its advertisements, anti-Santa campaigners in Austria and Germany are fighting the commercialization of Christmas by asking vendors to ban him from their markets. The campaigners were able to persuade a market is in front of the Vienna city hall - the biggest Christmas market in the country - to ban Santa's image. Now the only Santa to be seen is the one in the middle of occasional "Ban Santa" stickers.

A museum exhibit featuring several American flags that had been deep-fried has been removed over concerns that the art could spark a controversy. The Customs House Museum exhibit titled "The Fat Is in the Fire," featured three U. S. flags imprinted with phrases such as "Poor people are obese because they eat poorly" and more than 40 smaller flags fried in peanut oil, egg batter, flour and black pepper. Art student William Gentry said his work was inspired by the prevailing obesity problem in America and that he deep-fried the flag for his concern about America and America's health.

A museum exhibit featuring several American flags that had been deep-fried has been removed. The museum's executive director took down the exhibit less than 18 hours after it went up. The art was titled "The Fat Is in the Fire," and according to art student William Gentry was a commentary on obesity in America. It was on display at Customs House Museum.