Bizarre Government Spending: From Bearded Ladies to Smart Toilets

The Curious Case of Government Spending

Government spending often raises eyebrows, but some expenditures are so unusual they leave us scratching our heads. From funding peculiar scientific studies to supporting unconventional art projects, the range of government-funded initiatives is both vast and, at times, perplexing. Let's dive into some of the most eyebrow-raising examples of how taxpayer money has been allocated.

Unconventional Art and Entertainment

The Bearded Ladies Cabaret

In a move that sparked debate, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded a $10,000 grant to the Bearded Ladies Cabaret. This self-described "queer experimental cabaret company" received funding to perform an ice skating show promoting climate change awareness. The production was set to feature an eclectic cast including polar bears, drag queens, and a character dubbed "non-binary parental guardian nature" - a modern twist on the traditional Mother Nature figure.

Holograms of Deceased Comedians

The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, received a substantial $1.5 million in funding to incorporate holographic performances of legendary comedians into its offerings. This initiative aimed to bring back to life the performances of comedy icons like George Carlin, Rodney Dangerfield, and Bob Hope through cutting-edge holographic technology.

Sesame Street in Iraq

In 2021, US AID allocated an impressive $20 million to Sesame Workshop for the production of "Alan Simsum Iraq," an Arabic language adaptation of Sesame Street. The goal of this significant investment was to promote inclusion and mutual respect among Iraqi children. Supporters argue that this form of educational entertainment serves as a tool of soft power, potentially promoting stability and countering extremist ideologies in regions affected by conflict.

Peculiar Scientific Studies

The Leaf Blower Lizard Experiment

The National Science Foundation funded a study conducted by Harvard researchers that involved blowing lizards off trees with leaf blowers. With a price tag of $75,000, this study aimed to understand how lizards respond to hurricane-force winds. Researchers perched lizards on small wooden poles and blasted them with leaf blowers, observing whether the reptiles would hang on or flee.

The broader objective of this seemingly odd experiment was to investigate how hurricanes might affect lizard evolution. Given that lizards play a crucial role in ecosystems - providing food for larger predators and consuming vast quantities of insects - understanding their adaptations to extreme weather events could prove valuable, especially as hurricanes become stronger and more frequent due to climate change.

The Gin vs. Tequila Fish Study

In 1975, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism awarded a $12,000 grant to study the effects of alcohol on aggressive behavior in a species of sunfish. One particularly intriguing aspect of this study was an experiment designed to measure the comparative effects of gin versus tequila on fish behavior.

While it's unclear whether this study ever actually took place, it gained notoriety by winning the Golden Fleece Award - a dubious honor bestowed by Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire for what he deemed wasteful and nonsensical government spending.

The Thanos Snap Replica

In a case of life imitating art - or at least scientific curiosity inspired by pop culture - the National Science Foundation awarded a grant of $118,000 to study the mechanics of finger snapping. This study, while inspired by the Marvel villain Thanos and his infamous finger snap, had more practical applications in mind.

The research aimed to better understand the mechanics behind creatures like termites and ants, which have snapping mandibles. Additionally, the findings could prove useful in developing prosthetics and advancing the field of soft robotics.

Motion Sickness in Kittens

Since 2019, the National Institutes of Health has awarded grants totaling $1,513,299 to the University of Pittsburgh for research into motion-induced nausea and vomiting. The ultimate goal of this research is to contribute to treatments for human motion sickness.

In these experiments, kittens were subjected to various motion stimuli, including being strapped to a hydraulic table that tilted and spun them in all directions. Some rotations were completed in as little as 5 seconds. The kittens' eyes were exposed to bright flashing lights, and if these stimuli failed to induce vomiting, they were given copper sulfate to trigger the reaction.

It's worth noting that some of the cats, prior to undergoing these experiments, were subjected to a procedure known as decerebration, which essentially rendered them in a zombie-like state. Due to the graphic nature of this process, detailed descriptions are typically avoided in public forums.

The Hamster Fight Club

Between 1996 and 2015, the National Institutes of Health allocated over $3 million to fund research at Northeastern University investigating the effects of anabolic steroids on aggression using Syrian hamsters. The primary aim was to understand if and how steroid abuse increases aggressive behavior in teenagers.

Some of these experiments involved injecting hamsters with steroids and then introducing another hamster into the cage to observe if the drugged ones displayed more aggressive territorial behavior. The studies found that hamsters injected with anabolic steroids indeed became much more aggressive.

Another similar experiment investigated whether becoming a "trained fighter" through two weeks of combat made the hamsters more aggressive. This was designed to research what's called the "winner effect," which posits that winning an aggressive encounter enhances the probability of winning future contests.

Eventually, due to pressure from animal rights activists, the lab was compelled to discontinue these experiments.

Health and Medical Research

The Smart Toilet Project

In what might be one of the most unusual applications of biometric technology, Stanford University researchers, funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute, embarked on a $6.9 million project to develop a "smart toilet." This high-tech commode was designed not only to identify the person using it through what's called an "anal print" (yes, apparently as unique as a fingerprint) but also to analyze urine and stool samples to monitor the user's health.

The toilet employs three cameras and artificial intelligence to recognize the user's unique anal print, turning a private act into a potential goldmine of health data. While the concept might seem invasive or even comical, the potential for early detection of various health issues could be significant.

Circumcision Programs in Mozambique

In a more conventional but still notable expenditure, the US government allocated $10 million to support voluntary medical male circumcision programs in Mozambique. This initiative was part of a broader HIV prevention strategy, based on clinical studies showing that circumcision can reduce the risk of female-to-male HIV transmission by approximately 60%. In high-prevalence regions, this makes circumcision a cost-effective intervention for HIV prevention.

LGBTQ+ Teenagers and Vaping

Recognizing a concerning trend, researchers noted that LGBTQ+ teenagers are 10 to 30% more likely to vape than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Given that vaping increases the risk of beginning to smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products by four times, this puts LGBTQ+ teenagers at a greater risk for tobacco use and related health concerns.

To address this issue, a $3.49 million grant was awarded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to a group of Annenberg School faculty members for "Project Smart." This study aimed to find the most effective use of social media to spread anti-vaping messages targeted at LGBTQ+ youth.

International Development and Diplomacy

Alpaca Farming in Peru

The Department of Government Efficiency claimed to have canceled a $93,811 grant for alpaca farming in Peru. The grant was originally approved because alpaca farming is one of the few sources of employment in the rural highlands of Arequipa, Peru. However, fact-checkers, including Snopes, pointed out that the actual grant amount was $275,510 and was scheduled to be dispersed from 2023 to 2026.

This discrepancy in reporting highlights the importance of fact-checking and the potential for misinformation even in official communications. It's a reminder of why public trust in official sources and legacy media has been declining in recent years.

Enhancing Border Security in Paraguay

In 2022, the Department of State awarded a $2.1 million grant to the International Organization for Migration to provide Paraguay with enhanced border security and management capabilities. This included tools like the Migration Information and Data Analysis System, which enhances the country's ability to manage migratory flows by incorporating biometric data and providing access to national and Interpol alert lists.

Voter Confidence in Liberia

In 2023, the US awarded a grant of $1.45 million to the Elections Coordinating Committee in Liberia for the Liberia Domestic Election Observation Activity. This initiative aimed to enhance voter confidence in electoral processes and mitigate electoral violence through evidence-based observation and reporting.

Filmmaking in Jordan

A series of projects totaling $873,584 were funded to support filmmaking in Jordan. These included:

1. A 5-day workshop focused on essential filmmaking skills, including handling equipment like boom microphones and mastering lighting techniques, conducted at a cost of $4,699.
2. A $20,000 project to organize the first regional premiere and associated events of "Star Wars 9: The Rise of Skywalker" in Jordan.
3. A series of filmmaking capacity-building workshops costing $65,149.
4. The American Film Days Project, designed to showcase high-art films to audiences in Jordan at a cost of $50,000.
5. A two-year initiative connecting established American women filmmakers from New York Women in Film and Television with filmmakers in Jordan, providing mentorship as they develop and produce new documentaries and web series, which cost $298,160.
6. A project costing $435,575 aimed at enhancing the appeal of Jordan's film industry.

Environmental and Climate Initiatives

Vegan Climate Action in Zambia

As part of US AID, $250,000 was allocated to support vegan local climate action innovations in Zambia. This initiative aimed to promote plant-based diets, reduce reliance on livestock farming, and encourage sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate climate change impacts. This expenditure was directly cited by President Trump in his address to Congress on March 4th, 2025.

Supporting Recyclers in Bolivia

A grant of $364,000 was given by the Inter-American Foundation to address discrimination against recyclers in Bolivia. People who collect and sell recyclable products in Bolivia often face high levels of discrimination due to perceptions that they work in unsanitary and dirty conditions. However, these activities are not only beneficial to the individuals doing them but also to the environment.

The grant's goal was to work with approximately 40 recycler associations to advocate for public policies and programs that recognize and support an inclusive, community-based recycling sector.

Questionable Administrative Decisions

The $56,000 Plant Watering Contract

In a move that raised questions about government efficiency, the Department of Government Efficiency announced on March 7th, 2025, that they had cancelled a contract to water about eight plants for 5 years. The cost was around $1,400 per plant each year, totaling $56,000 over the contract period. Interestingly, Doge (presumably referring to a government official or department) has said they'll water the plants themselves free of charge, highlighting the apparent wastefulness of the original contract.

Camouflage Uniforms for the Afghan National Army

Between 2008 and 2017, the Department of Defense spent approximately $28 million on camouflage uniforms for the Afghan National Army that were of little practical use due to Afghanistan's terrain. The uniforms featured a forest camouflage pattern, which is effective in woodland environments. The problem is that forests cover only about 2.1% of Afghanistan's landscape, which is mostly mountains and deserts.

The specific proprietary camouflage design pattern was chosen by the Afghan defense minister based on personal preference over other free camouflage patterns offered by the US government. The proprietary nature of the chosen pattern led to increased production expenses, resulting in uniforms that cost 40% to 43% more per set.

Former US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis described it himself as "an error" and "a wasteful decision," underscoring the importance of practical considerations in military procurement decisions.

Historical Investigations

Neil Armstrong's Famous Words

In 2016, the National Science Foundation awarded two grants totaling more than $700,000 to fund a project that studied Neil Armstrong's famous phrase uttered on the moon. The project's goal was to advance psycholinguistic research by exploring how and why speech can sometimes be unclear.

The original purpose was to improve communication and understanding for individuals with conditions that may affect speech. The study used Armstrong's famous phrase as a case study to examine whether speech speed played a role in clarity. Researchers tested whether the phrases "for" and "for a" differed enough in duration and tone to be clearly distinguished.

The findings suggest that speech rate influences how people perceive words. What we do know is that Armstrong intended to say, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind," although the "a" was not clearly audible in the transmission from the moon.

Magic in American History

In 2023, the National Endowment for the Humanities, in cooperation with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, granted about $390,000 to fund a three-season podcast that talks about how magical beliefs and practices have evolved in the United States from the 1600s to today. This project is part of a larger $7 million allocation for various projects about magic, including:

• $250,000 awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the American Museum of the Moving Image to update its exhibition on magic lantern shows and Nickelodeons.
• About $6,300,000 granted by the Department of Defense to the city of Minot for a Magic City Discovery Center in 2020.

These projects highlight the government's interest in preserving and exploring various aspects of cultural and historical significance, even when they might seem unconventional at first glance.

Conclusion

While some of these expenditures may seem frivolous or unnecessary at first glance, it's important to remember that scientific research, cultural preservation, and international development often require funding for projects that may not immediately appear practical. Many groundbreaking discoveries and important cultural initiatives have emerged from what initially seemed like unusual or even wasteful spending.

However, these examples also underscore the need for careful oversight and scrutiny of government spending. Taxpayers have a right to question how their money is being used and to expect that it will be allocated in ways that provide tangible benefits to society.

As we move forward, it's crucial to strike a balance between funding innovative and potentially groundbreaking projects and ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and efficiently. This requires ongoing dialogue between policymakers, researchers, and the public to determine priorities and assess the value of various initiatives.

Ultimately, while some of these expenditures may raise eyebrows or provoke laughter, they also serve as a reminder of the diverse and sometimes unexpected ways in which government funding can shape our understanding of the world, advance scientific knowledge, and support cultural expression.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLZk4uQn79g