Weird Universe Archive
June 2013
June 30, 2013
The Cuticura System of Curing Constitutional Humors
People today know the Cuticura brand as an elegant line of beauty products. But when they first began, they were your typical patent-medicine peddlers.
No details online of what the ingredients were for their nostrums.
I own one of those beautiful bottles, which is what got me interested in them.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 30, 2013 -
Comments (5)
Category: Drugs, Nineteenth Century
Mayonnaise Flow Rate
As you eat your sandwich, you probably never realized all the science that went into it. Because, of course, some researcher had to study exactly how the mayonnaise flows off your knife onto the bread. [wiley.com]
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jun 30, 2013 -
Comments (2)
Category: Food, Mayonnaise, Science
News of the Weird (June 30, 2013)
News of the WeirdWeirdnuz.M325, June 30, 2013
Copyright 2013 by Chuck Shepherd
Lead Story
The executive in charge of the electronic infrastructure of Facebook confirmed to London’s information-technology website The Register in June that when the company inaugurated its first “cloud” data-storage facility, in Prineville, Ore., in 2011, the equipment was “drenched” when an actual cloud formed inside the building. (Facebook had only “hinted” previously at a Prineville “humidity event,” according to the Register.) The tall, huge building’s cooling units use an electricity-saving system that takes air from the outside (rather than recirculated indoor air) and subjects it to various humidity levels to cool the heat coming from the aisles of computer servers. Apparently, engineers had not accurately anticipated the vapor condensation profile of the new system, and rain guards were promptly installed. [The Register (London), 6-8-2013]
Can’t Possibly Be True
PREVIOUSLY ON WEIRD UNIVERSE: In May, not too far removed from last year’s mass shooting at an Aurora, Colo., movieplex, management at the Goodrich Capital 8 Theaters in Jefferson City, Mo., hired men dressed in full tactical gear and carrying guns resembling M-4 rifles and 9mm pistols (as “S.H.I.E.L.D.” operatives) to greet patrons for the opening of the new “Iron Man” movie. Police were not pleased by the barrage of frightened 911 callers who were fearful that “Aurora” was happening all over again. Capital 8 manager Bob Wilkins said that “hundreds” of customers were entertained by the publicity stunt and that “only a few” were upset. [KMIZ-TV (Columbia, Mo.), 5-9-2013]
Since Rozie, a pregnant Asian elephant at Albuquerque’s ABQ BioPark Zoo, stands a better chance of a healthy birth if she is strong, the “elephant manager” and staff have been putting her through twice-a-day, Pilates-type exercises (featuring leg lifts, squats, and other calisthentics). (Rozie is due sometime between August and November.) Lest anyone worry that Rozie is being mistreated, the elephant manager noted, in a May press release, that her participation “is completely voluntary.” [City of Albuquerque press release, 5-22-2013]
PREVIOUSLY: The founder of the Beauty Park Medical Spa in Santa Monica, Calif., has introduced a 45-minute procedure called the “Male Laser Lift,” which is also known colloquially as “tackle-tightening,” involving the removal of hair and wrinkles on the scrotum, along with laser treatment to remove “discoloration.” Co-owner Jamie Sherrill (“Nurse Jamie”) told London’s Daily Mail that sales are up this year, and some might attribute that to a joke comment made by actor George Clooney that the latest Hollywood craze was “ball-ironing.” [Daily Mail, 6-10-2013]
PREVIOUSLY: Recently parents in Texas and New York City have pointed out that when children commit sex offenses against classmates, educational policy (and sometimes, the law) seeks to give light punishments and second chances to the perpetrators, thus posing risks to future classmates. A Texas child, raped at age 4 by a 13-year-old, recently was forced to endure the return to class of the perpetrator after only 45 days away at an “alternative” program--because federal law requires the child’s prompt return to ordinary classroom settings if a “disability” played a role in the incident. A New York City mother filed a $6 million lawsuit in May against the city’s Education Department after her son was allegedly forced to perform oral sex on a group of classmates, one of whom had already been involved in a sex assault--for which he received a five-day suspension. [KHOU-TV, 5-6-2013] [New York Daily News, 5-30-2013]
More in extended >>
Posted By: Chuck - Sun Jun 30, 2013 -
Comments (2)
Category:
June 29, 2013
Microworld
A 1976 industrial film made for AT&T, narrated by William Shatner.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 29, 2013 -
Comments (3)
Category: Technology, 1970s
Sculptures of Bernard Jepson
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jun 29, 2013 -
Comments (5)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Eccentrics, Horticulture and Gardens, Outsider Art
June 28, 2013
Flaming Bagpipes
Back in the day, the pipes were a weapon of terror on the battle field. Since then they've only become a subject of love or hate depending on one's auditory preferences.Well.... the terror is back!
Tis a bonny, grand sporran the wee lad is a sportin, neu?
Posted By: Expat47 - Fri Jun 28, 2013 -
Comments (6)
Category: Music
A Run For The Border
A theme park in Mexico is offering an unusual experience for visitors. A three hour fake illegal border crossing. The owners say they want to discourage people from a real border crossing with the experience. I am sure making money is another goal as well.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jun 28, 2013 -
Comments (3)
Category: Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts
Flip the Frog in A CHINAMAN’S CHANCE
Zip ahead to the five-minute mark to see Flip the Frog toking on an opium pipe.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 28, 2013 -
Comments (2)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Drugs, Cartoons, 1930s
June 27, 2013
The Harp Twins
More on YouTube.
Their full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 27, 2013 -
Comments (6)
Category: Music, Twins, Lookalikes & Doppelgangers
1980s style
A prediction from 1956 of how people would be dressing in the 1980s.
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jun 27, 2013 -
Comments (4)
Category: Fashion, Predictions, Yesterday’s Tomorrows, 1950s
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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 |
