Weird Universe Archive
February 2010
February 8, 2010
News of the Weird / Pro Edition (February 8)
News of the Weird/Pro EditionFebruary 8, 2010
Exceptionally Inexplicable Dispatches from Last Week
(datelines January 30-February 6) (links correct as of February 8)
Indiscriminate Anti-Discrimination, Plus Runaway Mojo, Neil Armstrong's Poop, and the Horror of Upside-Down Faxes
A Cavalcade of Anti-Discrimination
(1) Near-Perfect Storm: Benjamin Grundy is challenging Garfield-Palouse High School in eastern Washington for illegal discrimination. He's gay, plus biracial, plus mentally challenged. Plus, he'd like to be on the cheerleading team. (2) The U.S. Dept. of Justice is trying to get in front of any discrimination complaints in its Civil Rights Division, with a job announcement for "experienced attorneys," in which the Department "encourages qualified applicants with targeted disabilities to apply." "Targeted disabilities" include the traditional (deafness, blindness) as well as "mental retardation." (3) Similarly, England's Portsmouth City Council tells aspirants for taxicab licenses that they can get applications in "another language [besides English]," in "large print," in "audio," and in "Braille." Seattle Weekly /// Department of Justice job notice (pdf) [link from The Volokh Conspiracy blog] /// Daily Telegraph
"Where Feet, Fist, and Faith Collide"
Pastor John Renken leads his flock in solemn prayer to the Heavenly Father and then, not an hour later in the back room of their meeting house, he's screaming at his parishioners: "Hard punches! Finish the fight! To the head! To the head!" It's Xtreme Ministries, of Memphis, where mixed martial arts is helping to re-masculinize the gospel (to correct, as another practitioner put it, having "raised a generation of little boys" as churches have catered mostly to women and children). New York Times
A Dog Chastity Belt – Seriously
It only sounds like a joke. Breeders like it because they can take charge of in-heat cycles without invasive surgery. (But don't tell anybody about that; show them this photo of the dog all harnessed up, and let them think this is just another shrink-wrapped dog toy on their supermarket shelf.) (Bonus: Desperately horny males ferociously gnaw at the straps, but so far haven't broken through.) San Francisco Chronicle /// Pet Anti-Breeding System
Teachers' Union Poster Child
Alan Rosenfeld, 64, a New York City lawyer and real estate entrepreneur with 12 properties, is also a schoolteacher, though he hasn't been in a classroom since 2002. He's one of those Rubber Room teachers, whose contract calls for full salary and benefits even though the chancellor thinks he's a sexual menace to his female students (proven only once, with wrist-slap punishment). Rosenfeld's salary is $100,000 a year plus health care plus retirement benefits (that would, if he retired today, get him $82,000 a year). New York Post
More in extended >>
Posted By: Chuck - Mon Feb 08, 2010 -
Comments (10)
Category:
February 7, 2010
Town To Scale
Check out the town Michael Paul Smith grew up in at 1/24th scale. Also with some of the coolest old cars all in perfect condition because they are models. There will be 2 links, the first one will have the story and thumbnail pictures, the second will be a slideshow of the pictures which look like a real town. Smith puts his hand or face in a few of the shots for comparison so as to see the true size of the model.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05/sets/72157604247242338/?page=2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05/sets/72157604247242338/show/with/2346008881/
Posted By: Alex - Sun Feb 07, 2010 -
Comments (5)
Category:
Ground Frog Day
Snohomish, Washington holds Ground Frog Day each year with their Meteorological Frognosticator, Snohomish Slew.
Snohomish Slew is a very large bull frog who gets center stage much like Puxtatwny Phil does in Pennsylvania on Groundhog Day. Frogorama 2010 was held on January 30, so unfortunately we have missed it for this year.
Oh well, there is always next year.
http://www.groundfrogday.org/
picture from Yahoo images.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Feb 07, 2010 -
Comments (5)
Category:
February 6, 2010
Broke Beak
The bald eagle affectionately called Cyrano could have faced euthanasia due to the terrible injury to his beak, from a fishing line. Fortunately dentist, Kirk Johnson, was asked if he could come up with a prosthesis for the regal bird. He did just that, with the same substance crowns are made of held in place by poster putty. Dr. Johnson even used a yellow highlighter to color the piece to sort of match the natural beak. Cyrano, while doing well, will probably not be able to be returned to the wild. At least this beautiful bird won't have to be put down and will receive the loving care he deserves.
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11943748
Posted By: Alex - Sat Feb 06, 2010 -
Comments (6)
Category:
Google Translation
Click to enlarge image, if necessary!
Posted By: Paul - Sat Feb 06, 2010 -
Comments (3)
Category: Asia, Mistranslations
Tragedy or Hope?
Posted By: Paul - Sat Feb 06, 2010 -
Comments (1)
Category: Government, Politics, PSA’s, Rants, Warnings, Jeremiads, Prophecies and Cassandra-like Figures, Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, 1970s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Salamander Sam: Back in Action
As very few of you are probably aware, I have been away for a while. Now that I have returned from winter vacation I can start posting again, and I will start with a few weird things I have found around the internet over the past few months.First, we have an ad that I noticed right here on Weird Universe:
I know Microsoft is evil, but getting their rival to link to their competing service? That's just terrible.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Salamander Sam - Sat Feb 06, 2010 -
Comments (3)
Category: Entertainment, Advertising, Internet
February 5, 2010
Go Ahead, Waste My Time
Posted By: Nethie - Fri Feb 05, 2010 -
Comments (4)
Category: Entertainment, Hollywood, Movies, Pop Culture
Human Wave Pool
I tried to see actual H-2-O, but I never did catch sight of the water. When people say "the crush of humanity", this may be the perfect example. Or maybe this is the "gene pool" -- needs more chlorine!!How would you know if someone was drowning?
Posted By: gdanea - Fri Feb 05, 2010 -
Comments (4)
Category: Sports
Shrunken Head Kit
Spotted by Regina Orio.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 05, 2010 -
Comments (10)
Category: Body Modifications, Celebrities, Horror, Toys, Reader Recommendation, 1960s, 1970s
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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 |
