Jogging Pigs Experiment

In 1980, an experiment at Arizona State University studied the effects of jogging and high-fat diets on pigs.

The pigs ran around a field as a grad student ran behind them, wielding a two-pronged fork for encouragement.

According to a follow-up in the NY Times, the researchers found that diet was more important than exercise for keeping the pigs healthy.

Fort Myers News-Press - Oct 5, 1980

Posted By: Alex - Thu Aug 31, 2017 - Comments (3)
Category:

The Demolition of a World’s Fair

The Century of Progress World's Fair in Chicago occupied 427 acres and innumerable buildings, all specially constructed for the event.



Then, when it was over, the whole affair was wiped clean. How? See the article below.










Source of article.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Aug 31, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: Buildings and Other Structures, Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, 1930s

Reg on Smoking

In the early 1990s, Regal cigarettes in the UK launched an advertising campaign that featured an everyman named Reg who offered his dad-humor insights on various subjects.

The first ad read, "Reg on Smoking: I smoke 'em because my name's on 'em." As he held his fingers over the 'al' in Regal.


Other insights followed.

Reg on train-spotting: "There's one."

Reg on party politics: "If you drop ash on the carpet you won't get invited again."

But the campaign was eventually banned because medical researchers discovered that the stupid humor of the ads appealed mostly to young adolescents, whereas adults 33-55 years old, who were supposedly the target group for the campaign, didn't identify much with Reg.

Below are all the other examples of Reg ads that I could find online.

Reg on the Stock Exchange: I'd never swap my cubes for gravy granules

Reg on Race Relations: My Uncle Nobby used to own a bookies

More info: JimHagart.com, "Cigarette advertising and children's smoking: why Reg was withdrawn".

Update: A few more insights from Reg.

Reg on taxes: "Too many cabs drive too fast."

Reg on the Exchange Rate Mechanism: "Erm."

Reg on television: "No, I'm not. I'm on a poster."

Reg on the greenhouse effect: "My tomatoes seem to grow better under glass."

Reg on the meaning of life: "Depends if you get time off for good behaviour."

Posted By: Alex - Wed Aug 30, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: Advertising, Smoking and Tobacco, 1990s

LaVere Redfield, the Silver Dollar King

One of history's more-eccentric rich guys.




Brief essay here.

An outstanding incident from his life.



Source of article.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 30, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: Eccentrics, Money, 1950s

Bikini Revisited

In 1946, Micheline Bernardini modeled a two-piece swimsuit designed by Louis Reard, which he called a 'bikini' — naming it after the site of the recent atomic bomb test in the Bikini Atoll.

As wikipedia notes: "Photographs of Bernardini and articles about the event were widely carried by the press. The International Herald Tribune alone ran nine stories on the event. The bikini was a hit, especially among men, and Bernardini received over 50,000 fan letters."

The little box she's holding is what the bikini was sold in, to emphasize how tiny it was.



Forty years later Bernardini posed again in a bikini, "for old time's sake."

I can't figure out what picture she's holding. It doesn't seem to be the famous one, shown above. Must have been another photo from the shoot.

Source: bludog

Posted By: Alex - Tue Aug 29, 2017 - Comments (3)
Category: Fashion, 1940s

Insane Killer Dynamited in His Fortress

In earlier eras, there were different strategies for ending a siege than what we are accustomed to today.





Source of fotos.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 29, 2017 - Comments (7)
Category: Crime, Scary Criminals, Death, Destruction, 1930s

Instant Establishment Wig

Created in 1969 by Bob Woodford, for when longhairs temporarily needed to blend in with the collective, corporate establishment.

But I think those sideburns are still a giveaway.

Binghamtom Press and Sun Bulletin - Aug 25, 1969

Posted By: Alex - Mon Aug 28, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category: Headgear, 1960s, Hair and Hairstyling

Pelvic Muscle Videogame Controller

I see no reason why this device should be limited to a clinical setting. It should sell very well to extreme gamers who want an additional controller to supplement their two hands.




Source.




Source.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 28, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: Body, 1990s, Videogames and Gamers

Wizard Amendment

March 1995: During the discussion of a bill in the New Mexico state senate, Sen. Duncan Scott (R) proposed the following amendment:


It passed in the Senate, but didn't make it through the House.

The Marion Star - Dec 28, 1995

Posted By: Alex - Sun Aug 27, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category: Law, Politics, 1990s

Follies of the Madmen #324

Original ad here.

The notion of a garment that imparts a frigid chill to the wearer seems most unappealing.

At the time of this writing, there is actually a vintage one for sale online.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 27, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Advertising, Underwear, 1940s