Weird Universe Archive
July 2012
July 2, 2012
The Thrifty Pig
The Big Bad Wolf was a Nazi?!? Who knew?
Learn more here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 02, 2012 -
Comments (2)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Government, Money, Propaganda, Thought Control and Brainwashing, PSA’s, Cartoons, 1940s
Music-Loving Peacocks of Budapest
In the Annual Report for 1933 of the Zoological Gardens of Budapest a peacock is mentioned which showed a marked preference for the evening concerts, and habitually took up its position in the immediate vicinity of the orchestra. After some time it began to contribute loud screeches to the concerts, with the result that it became necessary to remove the musical peacock.
-Ciba Symposia, Feb 1942, p.1150.
-Ciba Symposia, Feb 1942, p.1150.
The Budapest Zoo is still hosting evening concerts, almost eighty years later, and according to the Budapest Times, the zoo's peacock still enjoys the music:
The Bolyki Brothers acapella group performed on the first of seven musical evenings being held by the zoo every Wednesday until 17 August. The ensemble is the best-known acapella outfit in Hungary and are not only good musicians but charming, original and highly entertaining. It was a perfect choice as the singers tolerated the competition from the choir of frogs in the lake with good humour. Most of the waterbirds were already sleeping except for a few night owls such as the ducks, some herons and storks. Not to be outdone by the frogs, the birds also chimed in and one duck desperately tried to get into showbiz by continually manoeuvring overhead. A peacock atop a thatched hut was a quiet and dignified listener and no question a groupie. Later I heard from the zoo staff that some birds are well known music lovers and have participated in the concerts for years.
(image source)
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jul 02, 2012 -
Comments (6)
Category: Animals, Music
News of the Weird 2.0 (July 2, 2012)
News of the Weird 2.0Two or Three Times a Week, Since May 21, 2012
Underreported News, Hand-Picked and Lightly Seasoned by Chuck Shepherd
July 2, 2012
(datelines from June 1 or later) (links correct as of July 2)
★ ★ ★ ★!
Somkul Village, Cambodia: Finally, a slam-dunk victory for Christianity: The Jurai indigenous people have given up on spirit-worship and turned to Jesus. Reason: The spirits demand too many cows, buffaloes, and trinkets. Phnom Penh Post
"U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!"
Washington, D.C.: Miniature golf was a simple game . . until Americans With Disabilities Act bureaucrats got hold of it. New rules govern the slopes of the "fairways," length of fibers for artificial turf, and more. OpenMarket.org
Washington, D.C.: Forget tomato-pickers and lawn maintenance people for a minute. America needs immigrant "geniuses" and those with special skills and has given them line-jumping visas. That's why Playboy's Miss November 2010 got one. Reuters
Alexandria, Va.: Pity the head of the poor Flight Safety Foundation. The U.S. hasn't had a large jetliner crash in 11 years, which, William Voss says, is terrible. "If anyone wants to advance safety through regulation, it can't be done without further loss of life [to get the public frightened again]." Bloomberg News
Mesa, Ariz.: Sarah Robles is the strongest woman in America. She could probably juggle two of your scrawny asses. But Nike and Gatorade and those guys don't return her calls (sending her at times to food stamps) because she's un-svelte, looking like you imagine she looks. Buzzfeed.com
More in extended >>
Posted By: Chuck - Mon Jul 02, 2012 -
Comments (7)
Category:
July 1, 2012
Whiz Soap
Perhaps you recall the commercials with Madge the Manicurist, where she recommended Palmolive soap for its skin-softening qualities.
Well, Madge had nothing on a campaign from early in the century, for Whiz Soap, which informed customers that they could use Whiz to clean, oh, filthy farm equipment, and then use the same stuff for their personal bathing.
[Click to enlarge for readability]
There seem to be lots of antique Whiz containers around for sale, if you want to commemorate this product in your home.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 01, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Body, Business, Advertising, Products, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, 1910s
A gecko eaten by ants
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jul 01, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Insects and Spiders
Anti-DUI Message
Michigan has an interesting anti-DUI program going for the 4th of July. Talking urinal cakes that remind the man using the facilities to get a ride rather than drive impaired. They are being passed out to bars before the holiday. I wonder how many guys are going to decide to call a cab because they are drunk enough to hear the urinal cake talking to them!
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jul 01, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category:
| Get WU Posts by Email | |
|---|---|
| Who We Are |
|---|
| 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 |
