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It’s time again to deck the halls and watch hospital emergency rooms fill with victims of  stupidity. Sorry to sound harsh, but the holidays bring cheer and, for people who cannot find cheer in the holiday spirit, there are spirits that they swallow, shouting “cheers”.  Combine a dry tree, electric power, whiskey and – BOOM –  instant misery. Every Christmas, one in 189,900 people will find their way to the ER following a mishap with artificial Christmas trees.  All you can do at a time like this is pray.

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Photo from No Solo Gadgets

According to Weird News, 27 people have died over the last decade by testing batteries on their tongue. A suggestion: Put the battery INTO the appliance and see if it powers up that way.

Window on folly

Photo from Book of Odds

Left to their own, Christmas trees do not start fires. More than two dozen people have died since 1997 trying to water a Christmas tree draped with electric lights. Nothing like adding a little sizzle to dull home interiors. The thing about Christmas fires is that they burn hot and spread like, well, wildfire. I don’t know if you’ve checked out new window prices and drywall installation costs, but I’m sure you’d rather spend your money on X-Box accessories.

Having a holiday blowout

Photo from Michaels & Smolak

You probably would not be surprised at the number of people who throw safety to the wind. The odds of hurrying to the ER as a result of a Christmas gun accident, Weird News says, is one in 12,610. Please unwrap new firearms outdoors while aiming the muzzle away from Aunt Veronica.

Pin it on the donkey

Photo from Gordana Zikic

OK, I only pass on what I read on the Web. Apparently, more than 200 featherbrains are admitted to ERs after failing to remove all the pins before trying on gift shirts. I tell you, it’s a conspiracy of devil haberdashery.

Happiest holidays, dear readers!

As China gains economic might, the Sino landscape is blossoming with inventive architecture and fresh infrastructure. The country plans to spend $120 billion on new railroad lines, despite a temporary shutdown of high-speed trains after an accident killed 40 last July.  In 1970, 20 percent of the population lived in cities. Today it’s more like 50 percent, and rising.

Not all the new homes and commercial buildings are boiler-plated, functional post-Mao boxes. Have a look at what’s going on in unique Chinese architecture.

Green designs for 45 million passengers

Photo by Arup

Shaped like an airliner, the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport Terminal 3 was designed to cut traditional energy costs by a fourth. It will be the first National Green Building Star Label certified airport terminal in China, according to sustainable architect-engineering firm Arup.

Unique house at heaven’s door

Photo by Dornob

Lixiaodong Atelier designed this reflection-pond home that sits at foot of the Yulong Snow Mountain in southwestern China. The house has a breath-taking traditional simplicity about it. Every room is oriented to view the mountain. Read more about it at Dornob.

He said, she said

Photo by Inman

Designs for the $125 million Comics and Animation Museum planned for 111 miles southwest of Shanghai incorporate playful interlocking “word balloons” in keeping with the comic theme.  The designer is MVRDV of the Netherlands. You can view an animation of the proposed structure at You Bent My Wookie.

They’re playing our song

Photo by Inman

The Piano House completed in 2007 in Anhui province has gotten a lot of press, but deserves another look. The Huainan Fangkai Decoration Project worked with Hefey University of Technology to build the black piano and clear violin that rests against it. The house serves as a practice facility and doubles as a concert hall. See additional photos at the Homedit blog.