Author: jeff@jeffnapier.com

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Worst Motorhome

The GMC Motorhome (produced from 1973 to 1978) is widely considered a design masterpiece of its era, featuring front-wheel drive, a low profile, and a sleek fiberglass-and-aluminum body. It’s sleek look causes many people upon seeing one for the first time to believe that it is a current, ultra-modern motorhome.

I bought one of these in 1978 that was four years old. I like to claim that I spent more time under it fixing things, than in it. I drove it back and forth across the USA for three and a half round trips, and into Canada twice during the six years that I owned it. It looked almost identical to the one pictured above.

However, its unique engineering choices and vintage mechanicals came with a specific set of notorious problems and vulnerabilities:

Mechanical & Drivetrain Issues

Front-Wheel-Drive Heavy Loads:
The GMC used GM’s Unified Powerpack – the same 455 cu in (7.5L) or 403 cu in (6.6L) Oldsmobile V8 engine and Turbo-Hydramatic 425 transmission used in the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado. While innovative for an RV, transferring that much torque to front drive axles carrying up to 12,000+ lbs caused premature wear on CV joints, front axle shafts, and front wheel bearings (which often required replacement or repacking every 25,000–30,000 miles). Yes, I had to replace a CV joint.

Engine Bay Overheating & Vapor Lock:
Because the front-wheel-drive engine was shoved tightly under the cab forward of the front axle, ventilation was tight. Under heavy loads, mountain climbs, or hot summer driving, the engine bays were prone to extreme heat build-up, occasionally leading to vapor lock in the mechanical fuel pump system. I didn’t have that problem, but found the transmission oil turning brown, so I had to install an auxiliary cooler.

Front Traction Problems:
Because all driving force came from the front wheels while much of the living space and cargo weight rested over the rear tandem axles, traction could be poor on wet grass, steep unpaved inclines, or loose gravel. Towing heavy trailers could unweight the front end further. I never experienced that.

Rear Suspension & Brake Shortcomings

Air Suspension System Leaks:
The GMC Motorhome famously omitted a rear axle across the middle of the vehicle (dual rear wheels, or ‘dualies’), using an electro-pneumatic air bag system to self-level the rear tandem wheels and provide a smooth ride. The original rubber air bladders, air compressor, leveling valves, and air lines are notoriously leak-prone over time, causing the rear end to sag or drop completely to the bump stops when parked or driving. I never had a leak, but an air bag blew out in the middle of one night. I thought someone had shot the side of the motorhome with a shotgun. In the morning, I discovered pieces of rubber blown twenty feet (7 meters) away. People claimed a smooth ride, but no, it was noisy and bumpy, although perhaps no more than most motorhomes.

The differential gearing was the same as the Oldsmobile, but the wheels were larger and the vehicle weighted much more. It was geared so high that it couldn’t climb out of some not-so-steep driveways.

Not only that but the tandem rear wheels put tremendous lateral stress on the bearings when turning sharply such as backing into parking spaces. As a consequence, I had a wheel fly off on the freeway in Ohio one morning. Fortunately, the bearing and brake parts were standard Oldsmobile Toronado, so I was able to get replacements at a nearby junkyard. I also had to replace a pivot pin at another time.

The frame was a little lighter duty than ideal. GM sold shim kits so as the frame slowly twisted at the rear wheels, the wheels could be made perpendicular again.

Marginal Braking Performance:
Stopping a 10,000-to-12,000 lb vehicle with 1970s drum brakes on the four rear wheels and discs up front was challenging. Brake fade on long downhill mountain descents was a common complaint among owners, requiring careful gear-down engine braking. I never experienced that.

Electrical Flaws

12V Wiring & Grounding Issues:
The original 12V DC wiring harnesses suffer from inadequate grounding, leading to flickering lights, erratic instrument panel gauges, and persistent battery drain issues when sitting. I didn’t have that, but I could understand the problem. Lights and other components had to have two wires instead of one. In a steel vehicle, the electricity can be grounded through the frame.

Ownership & Living Space Drawbacks

Even in the late 1970s, replacement parts were expensive and hard to get. At the same time, owners of the ubiquitous Class C motorhomes, those with an ordinary van chassis, were low-cost and easy to maintain.

The curved entry door would slowly uncurve. General Motors offered a special block and tackle kit to bend it back into shape. Mine leaked when it rained.

The curved walls made it feel small inside. Curtains had to have runner attachments at the top and bottom.

Fuel Economy:
Despite its aerodynamic styling compared to boxy competitors of the 1970s, the massive big-block Oldsmobile V8 typically delivers only 8 to 11 MPG on highway trips. Yup, I averaged 10 miles per gallon.

A total of 12,921 GMC Motorhomes were produced during its manufacturing run from model years 1973 through 1978.

Two length options were offered:
26-foot models: Accounted for the vast majority of production (around 11,000 units).
23-foot models: Made up the remaining ~1,900 units.

Mine was 26 feet long.

Survival Rate:
One of the most remarkable aspects of the GMC Motorhome is its longevity. Thanks to its aluminum and fiberglass body construction and an enthusiastic enthusiast community, an estimated 8,000 to 9,000 of these motorhomes are still in running condition and on the road today.

On The Other Hand:
Owners of recent motorhomes made after approximately 2014 have a lot of complaints about low-quality materials, over-engineering with too many failure-prone electronics, and poor workmanship. Rain leaking in and causing mold damage is common. One of the biggest issues seems to be with the slide-out rooms. Imagine getting ready to leave your campground, but you can’t get a slide to go back in!

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France’s Worst President

Paul Deschanel was a French politician, orator, and writer who served as the 10th President of the French Third Republic in 1920. While he enjoyed a long, distinguished political and literary career, he is best remembered for his brief, tragicomic presidency, which lasted just seven months before being cut short by a severe mental breakdown.

Rise to Power

  • Distinguished Career: Prior to his presidency, Deschanel was an influential parliamentarian representing the Eure-et-Loir department for 35 years. He served twice as President of the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house of Parliament), notably holding the position throughout World War I, where he gained fame as a patriotic orator.
  • Literary Achievement: An accomplished intellectual, he authored numerous books on literature and political science and was elected to the prestigious Académie française in 1899.
  • Defeating “The Tiger”: In January 1920, Deschanel achieved his lifelong ambition of becoming president by defeating Georges Clemenceau—France’s legendary wartime Prime Minister—in a surprise election victory.

The Presidency & Mental Collapse

Shortly after taking office, Deschanel began suffering from severe anxiety, depression, and neurological deterioration, likely brought on by dementia or extreme overwork. His erratic behavior quickly became the talk of Paris:

  1. The Train Incident (May 24, 1920): While traveling overnight on the presidential train to Montbrison, an intoxicated or confused Deschanel fell out of his compartment window while trying to open it. The train was moving slowly, so he survived with only minor scrapes. Dressed only in his pajamas, he walked to a nearby railway track-watcher’s cottage, claiming to be the President of France. The worker’s wife famously brushed him off at first, thinking he was a drunk local.
  2. Strange Public Episodes: Reports began surfacing of other bizarre occurrences—such as signing state documents as “Napoleon” or “Charlemagne,” receiving dignitaries while wearing only his presidential sash, and wandering into a lake fully clothed at the Château de Rambouillet.

Resignation and Legacy

  • Resignation: Realizing he was unfit to govern, Deschanel resigned on September 21, 1920, after just 216 days in office. He was succeeded by Prime Minister Alexandre Millerand.
  • Recovery: After resting at a sanatorium, his mental health improved significantly. He was elected to the French Senate in early 1921, where he served until his death from pleurisy in April 1922.
  • Historical Impact: Beyond the popular folklore surrounding his train fall, Deschanel was notable for his progressive stance on foreign affairs and his lifelong opposition to the death penalty; notably, no state executions took place during his time as head of state.
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Worst Hallelujah Ever


10 Surprising Hallelujah Facts

  • Slow Commercial Burn: Leonard Cohen spent over five years writing “Hallelujah,” drafting as many as 80 different verses before releasing it on his 1984 album Various Positions. Columbia Records initially refused to release the album in the United States, believing it wasn’t commercially viable.
  • Musical Self-Reference: The lyrics in the first verse famously describe the song’s own chord progression: “It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth / The minor fall, the major lift,” shifting to F major, G major, A minor, and F major respectively.
  • John Cale’s Pivotal Rewrite: Velvet Underground founding member John Cale arranged a version for a 1991 tribute album, asking Cohen to fax him all existing draft verses. Cale spliced together a sweeter, less cynical selection of verses that established the template used by almost every cover artist since.
  • Jeff Buckley’s Definitive Cover: Inspired by Cale’s arrangement, Jeff Buckley recorded a haunting solo acoustic version for his 1994 album Grace. His interpretation transformed the song into an iconic masterpiece and is widely considered one of the greatest cover songs of all time.
  • Massive Pop Culture Resurgence: Rufus Wainwright recorded a version based on Cale’s arrangement for the soundtrack of the 2001 animated movie Shrek, introducing the song to an entirely new generation and turning it into a global mainstream phenomenon.
  • Explosion of Cover Versions: “Hallelujah” is one of the most covered songs in modern music history, with over 300 recorded versions across multiple languages by artists ranging from K.D. Lang and Bob Dylan to Bono and Pentatonix.
  • Dual Sacred and Secular Themes: The lyrics blend biblical iconography—referencing the stories of Samson and Delilah as well as King David and Bathsheba—with themes of heartbreak, existential questioning, and sensual love.
  • Chart Triumph Decades Later: Cohen’s original version did not enter the Billboard charts when released in 1984. It finally made its first appearance on the Hot 100 in November 2016, reaching number 59 shortly after Cohen’s death.
  • An Unofficial Anthem for Shared Moments: Despite its melancholic and complex lyrics, the song has become an all-purpose hymn performed around the world at weddings, funerals, charity events, and national memorials.
  • Agonizing Composition Process: Cohen famously recalled sitting in his underwear at the Royalton Hotel in New York City, banging his head against the floor in frustration while trying to complete the lyrics to the song.
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Ugliest Cats


10 Surprising Facts About Cats

  1. Distinctive “Purr-sonality”: Cats purr at a frequency between 20 and 140 Hertz, a sound range known to promote bone density, tissue repair, and pain relief.
  2. Flexible Anatomy: Cats do not have a rigid collarbone, and their spine is extraordinarily flexible with 53 loosely fitting vertebrae, allowing them to squeeze through any opening larger than their head.
  3. Exceptional Jumpers: An average housecat can leap up to six times its body length in a single bound thanks to powerful hind leg muscles.
  4. Unique Nose Prints: Just like human fingerprints, the pattern of ridges and bumps on a cat’s nose is unique to every individual feline.
  5. Night Vision: Cats only need about one-sixth of the light humans need to see clearly, largely due to a reflective layer behind their retina called the tapetum lucidum.
  6. Communication with Humans: Adult cats rarely meow at other cats; they developed meowing almost exclusively as a way to communicate with and manipulate human caregivers.
  7. Sleep Masters: Cats spend roughly 70% of their lives sleeping, which translates to about 13 to 16 hours a day to conserve energy for hunting.
  8. Scent-Marking Express: Cats have scent glands on their cheeks, lips, paws, and tail base. When they rub against you, they are claiming you as part of their safe territory.
  9. Dominant Paws: Studies show that male cats are more likely to be left-pawed, while female cats tend to be right-pawed.
  10. Ancient Companionship: Archaeological evidence suggests humans and cats have been living together for over 9,500 years, predating the ancient Egyptian cat worship era.
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Worst Doctor

Kellogg’s Corn Flakes was invented as a way to stop children from masturbating. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg felt that bland foods would curb sexual appetite. The theory must have not been quite right, because although a lot of corn flakes were sold, the kids kept doing what kids will do.

Dr. Kellogg was a man obsessed with speaking and acting out against masturbation. In fact, he went much farther than just talking about it. As a medical doctor, he badly abused his power, and young patients, as is evidenced in the following quotes:

“A remedy which is almost always successful in small boys is circumcision, especially when there is any degree of phimosis. The operation should be performed by a surgeon without administering an anesthetic, as the brief pain attending the operation will have a salutary effect upon the mind, especially if it be connected with the idea of punishment, as it may well be in some cases. The soreness which continues for several weeks interrupts the practice, and if it had not previously become too firmly fixed, it may be forgotten and not resumed.”

A method of treatment [to prevent masturbation]: “…and we have employed it with entire satisfaction. It consists in the application of one or more silver sutures in such a way as to prevent erection. The prepuce, or foreskin, is drawn forward over the glans, and the needle to which the wire is attached is passed through from one side to the other. After drawing the wire through, the ends are twisted together, and cut off close. It is now impossible for an erection to occur, and the slight irritation thus produced acts as a most powerful means of overcoming the disposition to resort to the practice.”

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World’s Ugliest Dog


10 Surprising Facts About Dogs

  1. A dog’s nose print is completely unique. Just like human fingerprints, the pattern of ridges and creases on a dog’s nose is distinct to each individual canine and can be used for identification.
  2. Dogs can process smells up to 100,000 times better than humans. A dog’s brain area dedicated to analyzing smells is roughly 40 times larger than a human’s relative to size, with up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to our 6 million.
  3. Dogs dream during sleep just like humans do. Canines experience REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the stage where vivid dreams occur, causing them to twitch, move their paws, or make quiet noises while dreaming.
  4. The Three Basenji dogs are famous for not barking. Known as the “barkless dog,” the Basenji produces a unique yodel-like sound called a “barroo” due to the unusual shape of its larynx.
  5. Dogs possess a sense of time and routine. While they don’t count hours, dogs anticipate recurring events based on circadian rhythms, daylight changes, and subtle cues in human behavioral patterns.
  6. A dog’s wagging tail has its own complex language. A tail wagged more to the right usually indicates positive feelings or excitement, whereas a tail wagged to the left often indicates anxiety or negative emotions.
  7. Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic. Out of twelve dogs aboard the luxury liner, two Pomeranians and one Pekingese survived after being rescued in lifeboats alongside their owners.
  8. Dogs are as intelligent as a two-year-old child. Studies show the average dog can understand around 165 words, signals, and gestures, while highly trained dogs can learn over 250 words.
  9. Petting a dog lowers human blood pressure and stress. Interacting with a dog triggers the release of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine in the human brain while simultaneously reducing cortisol levels.
  10. Dogs sweat exclusively through their paw pads. Unlike humans who sweat all over their skin, dogs rely primarily on panting to regulate body temperature, using perspiration on their footpads only as a minor cooling mechanism.
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The Messiest House in Britain


Surprising Facts About Messy Homes

  1. Messy desks and rooms are linked to higher creativity. A famous study by the University of Minnesota found that participants placed in messy environments generated more creative, unconventional ideas than those in tidy rooms.
  2. Clutter increases cortisol levels, especially in women. Research from UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives of Families showed a direct link between high density of household objects and elevated stress hormones in mothers.
  3. Famous geniuses were notoriously messy room dwellers. Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Mark Twain, and Thomas Edison all maintained famously chaotic workspaces, holding that disorder fostered non-linear thinking.
  4. Messiness can promote charitable and generous choices. While orderly environments encourage traditional convention, messy environments can prompt people to challenge old habits and seek out new ways to give back.
  5. A messy room can disrupt healthy eating habits. Studies indicate that people stressed by chaotic kitchen environments are more likely to reach for high-calorie snack foods than those in tidy, organized kitchens.
  6. Dust in messy homes contains complex microbial ecosystems. Household dust isn’t just dirt; it contains skin cells, textile fibers, pet dander, and thousands of distinct species of microflora unique to each home.
  7. Physical clutter impairs visual processing focus. Neuroscientists at Princeton University found that multiple visual stimuli in a cluttered room compete for attention, reducing the brain’s capacity to process information efficiently.
  8. Clutter negatively impacts sleep quality. Studies on sleep hygiene demonstrate that sleeping in cluttered, disorganized bedrooms can lead to longer light-sleep stages and increased nighttime awakenings.
  9. The average home holds over 300,000 items. The sheer volume of consumer goods in modern residences makes maintaining order vastly more labor-intensive than in previous centuries.
  10. Messy environments encourage trial-and-error problem solving. Psychological experiments suggest that messy settings break people out of rigid mindsets, making them more willing to experiment with unexpected solutions.
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Moldiest House

10 Surprising Facts About Mold

  1. Mold gave humanity its first true antibiotic. Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin in 1928 when a stray spore of Penicillium rubens landed on a Petri dish of bacteria and inhibited its growth, revolutionizing modern medicine.
  2. Slime molds can solve complex mazes without a brain. Though technically protists rather than true fungi, slime molds spread efficiently toward food sources and can map optimal pathways through mazes and city transit networks using basic chemical signaling.
  3. Mold is responsible for unique aged cheeses. Varieties like Penicillium roqueforti and Penicillium camemberti give blue cheese, Roquefort, Brie, and Camembert their distinct flavors, textures, and characteristic rinds.
  4. Spores are virtually everywhere in the air. Mold spores exist in almost all indoor and outdoor air currents, floating constantly until they land on an environment with moisture and organic matter to colonize.
  5. Mold reproduces both sexually and asexually. Depending on environmental conditions and species type, mold can propagate by producing asexual spores or by fusing hyphae with compatible strains to form genetically unique sexual spores.
  6. The “black mold” health panic is widely misunderstood. While Stachybotrys chartarum produces mycotoxins and thrives in damp buildings, toxicological studies show that inhaling ordinary levels of black mold spores does not produce unique “poisoning” beyond general allergic reactions and respiratory irritation.
  7. Mold is nature’s essential recycling engine. As primary decomposers, molds secrete digestive enzymes that break down tough organic materials like cellulose and lignin in dead trees, returning vital nutrients to the soil.
  8. Soy sauce and sake rely on mold fermentation. The mold species Aspergillus oryzae (known as koji-kin) is essential for breaking down complex starches in soybeans and rice into simple sugars during traditional fermentation.
  9. Certain molds can grow on plastics and synthetic materials. While mold prefers wood and drywall, species like Aspergillus tubingensis have adapted to secrete enzymes that break down polyurethane and other synthetic polymers.
  10. Mold spores can survive extreme radiation and space exposure. Experiments aboard the International Space Station showed that spores of Aspergillus niger can survive high doses of ionizing radiation, highlighting their extreme resilience.
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Thinnest Apartment

10 Surprising Facts About Tokyo

  1. World’s Most Populous Metropolitan Area

    Greater Tokyo is home to over 37 million residents across its metropolitan area, making it the most populous urban agglomeration in the world—housing roughly 30% of Japan’s total population.

  2. It Was Originally Named “Edo”

    Before becoming Japan’s capital in 1868, Tokyo was a modest fishing village named Edo. It was renamed “Tokyo” when Emperor Meiji moved his seat from Kyoto, meaning “Eastern Capital.”

  3. The World’s Busiest Train Station

    Shinjuku Station serves over 3.5 million passengers daily, making it the busiest transport hub in the world according to the Guinness World Records. It has over 200 exits and dozens of platform tracks.

  4. Vending Machines on Every Corner

    Tokyo features one of the highest densities of vending machines in the world. You can buy hot coffee, cold ice tea, hot soup, umbrellas, snacks, and fresh eggs 24 hours a day on virtually any street corner.

  5. The Famous Shibuya Scramble

    Shibuya Crossing is believed to be the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world. During peak hours, up to 3,000 people cross the street at the exact same time with every signal change.

  6. Home to the World’s Tallest Tower

    Standing at 634 meters (2,080 feet), the Tokyo Skytree is the tallest freestanding tower in the world and the third-tallest structure overall, offering panoramas extending all the way to Mount Fuji on clear days.

  7. Incredible Michelin Culinary Density

    Tokyo regularly leads global rankings for the total number of Michelin stars awarded to its restaurants—outpacing Paris. Stars span high-end traditional kaiseki to affordable ramen shops.

  8. An Underground Flood Shield

    To prevent catastrophic flooding during typhoons and severe storms, Tokyo built the G-Cans project—an enormous underground water discharge channel featuring gigantic concrete pillars often compared to a subterranean cathedral.

  9. Earthquake-Resistant Tokyo Tower

    Built in 1958 and inspired by the Eiffel Tower, the iconic red-and-white Tokyo Tower was constructed partly using scrap metal recycled from American tanks damaged during the Korean War.

  10. Extraordinary Safety and Public Honesty

    Tokyo consistently ranks as one of the safest major cities globally. Lost property networks are remarkably efficient: over 80% of lost wallets turned in to local police stations (Koban) are returned to their owners intact with money inside.

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Worst Shoes


Interesting Facts About Shoes

  1. High heels were originally created for men. Persian horsemen in the 10th century wore heels to keep their feet secured in stirrups while riding and shooting arrows. European aristocrats later adopted them to signify high status and wealth.
  2. Left and right shoes were not distinct until the 19th century. For centuries, shoes were made “straight”—identical for both feet—and had to be worn in gradually to fit the left or right foot. Philadelphia shoemakers began crafting distinct left and right shoes around 1818.
  3. Sneakers got their name because they were quiet. In the late 1800s, rubber-soled shoes were nicknamed “sneakers” because the soft bottoms allowed the wearer to walk silently without making noise on hard surfaces.
  4. The world’s oldest preserved leather shoe is over 5,500 years old. Discovered in an Armenian cave in 2008, the Areni-1 shoe is made of a single piece of cowhide laced with leather cord, remarkably preserved by dry cave conditions and sheep manure.
  5. The term “sneakerhead” emerged in the late 1980s. The culture of collecting sneakers exploded following the release of Nike’s Air Jordan line in 1985, turning basketball footwear into a major fashion and collector movement.
  6. Medieval shoes were styled so long they had to be tied to the wearer’s knees. Popular in 14th-century Europe, “crakow” or “poulaine” shoes featured long, extended toes up to two feet long, forcing wearers to loop string or chains to their knees to prevent tripping.
  7. Red soles on Christian Louboutin shoes were inspired by nail polish. In 1993, fashion designer Christian Louboutin grabbed a bottle of his assistant’s red Chanel nail polish and painted the underside of a prototype shoe, instantly creating his signature brand look.
  8. Astronaut boots remain on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and the Apollo astronauts left their moon-walking boots behind on the lunar surface to reduce weight on the spacecraft for the journey back to Earth.
  9. Space-age mattress foam revolutionized athletic shoes. Memory foam and TPU cushioning materials, originally developed for aircraft ejection seats and NASA padding, were later adapted by shoe manufacturers to build modern high-impact running soles.
  10. The phrase “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” was originally an absurd joke. In the 19th century, the expression described an impossible physical feat—attempting to lift oneself off the ground by pulling on shoe loops—before its meaning shifted to self-reliance.