Weird Universe Archive
November 2009
November 13, 2009
Fast Way to the Beach
I hate it when this happens... a nice day at the beach....clear sky....and then a jet drops from the sky.It's got to be tough to get out of the flight suit and loose from the parachute.
Posted By: gdanea - Fri Nov 13, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Transportation
A Day in the Death Of Donnie B.
Be sure to hang in there at least through the theme song!
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 13, 2009 -
Comments (1)
Category: Addictions, Drugs, Movies, Documentaries, Urban Life, 1960s
November 12, 2009
Asteroids without the Asteroids
Another great interactive flash which reminds me of the old "Asteroids" video game without the asteroids.
As you move your cursor on the screen the flock of "birds" try to avoid each other. Here's the link:
http://bestiario.org/web/media/14/preview/index.php?id_proyecto=14
It also makes a fun hypnotic time waster.
Posted By: gdanea - Thu Nov 12, 2009 -
Comments (1)
Category: Art
Ahead of its Time #1
Of course, not everyone had bad ideas in those old issues of Popular Science. Many of the ideas for new products were quite brilliant. This series will look at ideas that were ahead of their time. Today's lesson: In Car Tape Deck.
(from the March 1954 issue of Popular Science)
For a little background, the modern tape recorder came about in 1939, but it wasn't refined enough for commercial use until the late 1940s. Reel to reel tape recorders started to become common home recording machines in the mid 1950s and as a professional home audio format in the late 1950s. The first automobile tape player was the Muntz Stereo-Pak of 1962 which evolved in the Lear Jet Stereo 8 (better known as 8 Track) in 1964. Even so, 8 track players didn't become common in cars until the late 1960s, so unfortunately A. P. Sabol had another fifteen years to wait before his request was answered...
Posted By: Salamander Sam - Thu Nov 12, 2009 -
Comments (7)
Category: Technology, 1950s, Cars, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
November 11, 2009
Optical illusion
Another great optical illusion -- but does this still work if you are colorblind?Any explanations why this works?
Posted By: gdanea - Wed Nov 11, 2009 -
Comments (5)
Category: Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand
Avoiding H1N1 Religiously
First a little background for those non-catholic wu-vians. By the doors in catholic churches there are fonts containing holy water. Upon entering and leaving worshippers dip a finger in the holy water and cross themselves. Recently in some places the church has suspended this age old practice due to the fear of spreading the H1N1 virus. Now Italian inventer/catholic, Luciano Marabese, has supplied the solution. He felt fear was damaging church traditions so he built a holy water dispenser. It works like a public restroom soap dispenser, the parishioner waves their hand under the dispenser and a sensor makes it spray out holy water. The invention is being used in a church in Fornaci di Briosco, a northern Italian town. But since more churches are suspending the rite Luciano has been receiving orders for the dispenser from around the world. Yes, he does charge for them, apparently he's not THAT religious.http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/091111/odds/odd_us_italy_flu_holywater_odd
Posted By: Alex - Wed Nov 11, 2009 -
Comments (6)
Category:
Aqua Frolics
'Why not have your Thanksgiving turkey dinner underwater this year?
Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 11, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Exercise and Fitness, Movies, Documentaries, Recreation, Sports, 1950s
November 10, 2009
Follies of the Mad Men #76
Nothing like aligning your product with a civilization that practiced human sacrifice. The Incas weren't the Aztecs, but as Wikipedia reminds us: "There is [sic] archaeological discoveries supporting the presence of sacrifice within Inca society according to Reinhard and Ceruti: 'Archaeological evidence found on distant mountain summits has established that the burial of offerings was a common practice among the Incas and that human sacrifice took place at several of the sites.The excellent preservation of the bodies and other material in the cold and dry environment of the high Andes provides revealing details about the rituals that were performed at these ceremonial complexes.'"
And did they actually make the best ink ever? I can't find any reference to such an accomplishment.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 10, 2009 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, History, Archaeology, 1950s, South America
What’s The Chances? - 2
Earlier this year we heard of the national lottery that drew the same numbers two weeks running. Now meet the man who has just won a lottery jackpot for the second time!The unnamed 34 year-old from the Limpopo province of South Africa beat 24 million to one odds to take the country's "PowerBall" draw for 30 million rand ($4 million), just seven years after winning 11 million rand ($1.5 million) from an earlier state lottery system with odds of 14 million to one. His feat is all the more remarkable given he claims to spend only 100 rand ($13) a month on tickets (Telegraph).
Posted By: Dumbfounded - Tue Nov 10, 2009 -
Comments (5)
Category: Games, Human Marvels, Money, Synchronicity and Coincidence
News of the Weird / Pro Edition (11-9-2009 Extra)
News of the Weird/Pro Edition (11-9-2009 Extra)November 9, 2009
Still More Things to Worry About
Solemnly communing with the Holy Spirit on the Day of the Dead (Nov. 2) worked out just swell for Jose Andrade of Des Moines, Iowa. He left the candles burning in his bathtub, leading to a minor inferno in the john, melting the tub. Des Moines Register
Good to know: Australian National University researchers have learned that male fiddler crabs lurk close to home, hoping to get the chance to protect females from intruders so that they can get rewarded, with sex. Associated Press via San Francisco Chronicle
David Napodano, 42, was arrested in North Naples, Fla., for exhibiting his naked self while in his truck in a Wal-Mart parking lot. When two women chose to be alarmed rather than stimulated, and called police, the best Napodano could do to explain having removed his clothes was that he was experiencing "explosive diarrhea" (but that condition always produces evidence, and none was present). WBBH-TV (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Both Bishop Rick Painter of the Cathedral of Christ the King, and his Phoenix, Ariz., neighbors, think the other's position is outrageous: Painter: Of course God approves our ringing the church bells every half-hour, 24/7. Neighbor Sam Jensen: "I can't imagine . . .." ABC News
Not Supposed to Happen: In Enid, Okla., a motorist on U.S. 81 collided with an elephant, but Becky Field, traveling on Interstate 89 in New London, N.H., was probably unimpressed. Her car collided with a boar. Associated Press via The Oklahoman /// Concord Monitor
More in extended >>
Posted By: Chuck - Tue Nov 10, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category:
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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 |
