October 2017
October 31, 2017
Why is Florida Weird?
Craig Pittman, columnist at the Tampa Bay Times, has a new book out that might be of interest to WUvies. It asks the question: why does so much weird news come out of Florida?He suggests a few possible reasons in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio:
He also cites the shifting landscapes and inherent dangers in the geography that can lead to a live-for-the-moment attitude. "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may be wiped out by a sinkhole or a shark bite or lightening -- all of which happen more in Florida than any other state. So, it leads to this sort of YOLO culture in Florida. And that's, honestly part of what makes it kind of fun to be a journalist here -- is writing about all the people who grab for the gusto ... and miss," he said.
These same reasons would also apply to my neck of the woods, SoCal. But our particular dangers are earthquakes, fires, and rattlesnakes.
Oh, Florida! — available from Amazon
Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 31, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category:
Mystery Illustration 61
This woman is attempting to sell you a magazine. What type? Skin mag? Sports mag? CAT FANCY?
The answer is after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 31, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Magazines, Sexuality, 1970s
October 30, 2017
Weird News Costumes
With Oct 31 almost upon us, I was trying to find examples of people who dress up for Halloween as characters from weird news stories. So far, I've found two.The first is the Swiss Cheese Pervert. You may recall he was that guy who would drive around Philadelphia propositioning women while holding and fondling a piece of swiss cheese. He was arrested in 2014. Chuck mentioned him once in a column.
The Swiss Cheese Pervert
Swiss Cheese Pervert Costume (via uproxx.com)
The second is the "Monkey Jesus" painting — the name given to an amateur art restorer's attempt in 2012 to "fix" a 1930 fresco of Jesus.
via Yahoo! News
Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 30, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Costumes and Masks, Halloween
The Oshkosh Snozzle
I am trying to picture being a passenger on a flaming airplane when the Snozzle thrusts its tip thru the wall and starts spraying.
Homepage here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 30, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Disasters, Technology, Air Travel and Airlines
October 29, 2017
Noise-canceling ramen fork
The OTOHIKO fork from Nissin, for noisy ramen slurpers. It doesn't actually cancel out the noise. When it detects a slurping noise it causes your phone to make a louder, wave-crashing sound, which drowns out the slurping sound.It costs ¥14,800. Or around $130.
via mashable.com
Posted By: Alex - Sun Oct 29, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Inventions, Noises and Other Public Disturbances of the Peace, Cacophony, Dissonance, White Noise and Other Sonic Assaults
Follies of the Madmen #332
Wait a minute--this is my own tire on my own car that is being represented as a hideous criminal killer! And since I, the driver, am responsible for my own tires, I must be a hideous criminal killer too!
Way to make your customers feel good about themselves!
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 29, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Products, 1930s, Cars
October 28, 2017
Filter Queen Vibrator
A 1950s gadget that, when attached to the hose of your vacuum, transformed it into a vibrating massager.
"Directions: The Filter Queen Vibrator should be inserted into the wand end of the hose and the hose fastened to the suction inlet of the Filter Queen... For use, place hose on neck, shoulders or other parts of the body to be massaged. See illustration on opposite side of box."
More info: Herald Tribune
Image source: Flickr
Posted By: Alex - Sat Oct 28, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, 1950s
Woody Woodpecker, Deconstructed
Thanks to Mark Evanier, who explains.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 28, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Cartoons, 1960s, Parody
October 27, 2017
Most Cockroach-Infested Home
In early 1997, Combat Insect Control ran a contest offering a $5000 cash prize to the person with the most cockroach-infested home.The winner, from over 1000 people who entered, was Mary Esposito of Forest Park, Georgia. She complained that she had roaches living in her dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, coffeemaker, VCR, wallpaper, dresser drawers, and bathtub faucet. An entomologist hired by Combat estimated there were 75,000 roaches in her home.
Somehow I don't think that "most cockroach-infested home" is a record that will ever make its way into Guinness.
Orlando Sentinel - June 12, 1997
Palm Beach Post - Mar 16, 1997
Posted By: Alex - Fri Oct 27, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Insects and Spiders, World Records, 1990s
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| Who We Are |
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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 |
