Weird Universe Archive
July 2009
July 7, 2009
Banned - School Trips To Saddam’s Grave!
The Iraqi government has banned organised outings to the grave of Saddam Hussein after it learned that local schools were regularly taking groups of pupils on visits. The tomb is still regularly visited by supporters of the former dictator, who was hanged for war crimes in 2006, but now these must only be informal affairs and not arranged or supported by local or ministerial authorities (BBC News).Two words: "flashmob" and "tapshoes".
Posted By: Dumbfounded - Tue Jul 07, 2009 -
Comments (1)
Category: Death, Education, Government, Regulations
Farewell!
However, now I need to step back to attend to other projects. But I leave the blog in the capable hands of its readers. And I'll be checking in every day.
Perhaps you recall the very first, non-introductory post, as seen in the screen-capture to the right. I figured I might as well go out on the same note. So look for FOLLIES OF THE MAD MEN #70 to follow. I didn't quite manage to hit 100, but 70 is still pretty good.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 07, 2009 -
Comments (7)
Category: Anniversary, Weird Universe, Paul
Follies of the Mad Men #70
Well, folks, here it is: the last FOLLIES OF THE MAD MEN for the foreseeable future, and my last regular post after one year's worth of nearly two per day. I didn't quite achieve two FOLLIES per week over that year, but close.
In any case, read the convoluted logic here about how your choice of TV reflects your sexual prowess.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 07, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Sexuality, Television, 1970s
July 6, 2009
Mama Mia!
After a disagreement with his mother, an 18 year old New Zealander found an interesting way to get even and make some money too. He posted nude photos of mom for sale on line. She was quite upset and the site pulled the photos. End of story, right? Wrong! The next day he posted lingerie shots of mom for sale, with her approval. I guess it didn't upset her anymore once she was promised half the proceeds of the sale. Check out the naked truth here- http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,28348,25738688-5014239,00.html
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jul 06, 2009 -
Comments (6)
Category:
The Sandpaper Ballet
Any orchestral work that uses sandpaper as a musical "instrument" qualifies as weird. But when it's performed by men in tutus, it's even weirder.Read more about composer Leroy Anderson here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 06, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Music, Tools, 1950s
Early Bodybuilding
And now, some Victorian Beefcake.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 06, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Nineteenth Century, Bodybuilding
Lynval Samuels
Lynval - "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"I just learned about nutcase preacher Lynval Samuels. So here he is for your enjoyment.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 06, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Eccentrics, Regionalism, Religion
Argentine Ants, Naked Office Workers, and Newfound Respect for British Teeth
News of the Weird / Pro EditionJuly 6, 2009 (news from June 27-July 4)
Turkish TV, Livin' on the Edge
A station in Turkey is working on a show for September launch in which 10 certified atheists get hit on relentlessly (well, spiritually, anyway) by an imam, a priest, a rabbi, and a monk, all trying to flip them. Not sure yet of the rules, but whichever of the 10 "wins" gets an expense-paid trip to the victorious religion's theme park (Mecca, Vatican, Jerusalem, Tibet). This oughta turn out fine. BBC News
Not One Damn Thing About MRIs or Antivirals in the Good Book
Therefore, some Pentecostals and Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Scientists (plus some ridiculous recent start-ups) accept only the salve of prayer. About 30 U.S. states have laws protecting believers' right to refuse medical treatment on religious grounds, but they were mostly passed 30 yrs ago, and experience now tells us (according to a children's activist group) that at least 274 kids have died since then due to parents' inept prayers. Associated Press via CBS News
Ants Rule
Biologists believe that one strain of Argentine ants now occupies mega-colonies thousands of miles long on three continents (along the Mediterranean, in California, and in Japan). Biologists know this because the ants have similar chemical makeup, for instance not attacking MOTs but rather just rubbing antennas with them. Still, the colonies are smaller than the chemically-similar mega-colonies of stupid humans, who are found on six continents in huge numbers and dominate various sectors of our discourse. BBC News
Can't Possibly Be True
OK, the second thing about this is almost trivial compared to the first thing. The second thing is that Dr. Christopher Liu (of the Sussex Eye Hospital, Bristol, England) actually carried it out successfully (on a 42-yr-old man, who's absolutely tickled with it). It's the first thing about it that's amazing: how in the blue hell did Dr. Liu think this up to begin with? Martin Jones had been blind for 12 yrs. Dr. Liu figured out that if he took a tiny sliver of Jones's tooth, planted it in his eyeball, and put some of Jones's skin under the eyelid, why, a few short weeks later, Jones would be able to see again. WTF? Daily Mail (London)
More in extended >>
Posted By: Chuck - Mon Jul 06, 2009 -
Comments (6)
Category:
July 5, 2009
The Shaggs
Here's an oldie-but-goodie from the catalog of weird music: MY PAL FOOT-FOOT, by the Shaggs.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 05, 2009 -
Comments (4)
Category: Cryptozoology, Fictional Monsters, Family, Music, 1960s
Canadian Snake Mating
I'm sorry I did not learn about the annual snake mating in Manitoba until now, since the peak activity occured around Mother's Day. But maybe you can plan your trip for next year.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 05, 2009 -
Comments (4)
Category: Animals, North America, Natural Wonders
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| Who We Are |
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction books such as Elephants on Acid. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Chuck Shepherd Chuck is the purveyor of News of the Weird, the syndicated column which for decades has set the gold-standard for reporting on oddities and the bizarre. Our banner was drawn by the legendary underground cartoonist Rick Altergott. Contact Us |
