October 2017
October 16, 2017
Weighing the Mayor
The town of High Wycombe in England has an ancient custom of weighing their mayors, first upon taking office and again at the end of their term. To have gained weight is taken as evidence that they've grown wealthy at the taxpayer's expense. It's like an ancient form of fat-shaming.In the 1950s, the mayor of Minneapolis, Eric Hoyer, decided to adopt this custom. He even arranged to have the official scales flown in from High Wycombe. He apparently was pretty confident that he'd lost weight, but according to the scales he had gained some. He blamed the extra weight on the ceremonial costume he was wearing for the occasion.
It's an interesting custom. Perhaps we should weigh more politicians periodically. Such as an annual weighing of senators and the president.
Pleasant Grove Review - Jan 4, 1952
Cincinnati Enquirer - Dec 1, 1951
Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 16, 2017 -
Comments (6)
Category: Politics, 1950s, Dieting and Weight Loss
The Skewb
If Rubik's Cube is stale, other cube-type puzzles exist. Here's one.More at the Uwe Meffert link.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 16, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Games
October 15, 2017
Michael Fish Moment
With Hurricane Ophelia headed in the direction of the U.K., it seems like an appropriate moment to remember the Great Storm of 1987. In particular, Oct 15, 1987, when TV weatherman Michael Fish opened his forecast with the remark, "Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way; well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't." A few hours later, the worst storm in 300 years hit Britain, killing 18 people. Though, in Fish's defense, it technically wasn't a hurricane.In the UK, whenever anyone makes a really bad prediction, it's still known as a "Michael Fish moment."
More info: wikipedia
Posted By: Alex - Sun Oct 15, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Predictions, 1980s, Weather
On the Good Ship Apple Pie
"Display of Steamship "Gold" made of whole and dried apples. The first Sebastopol Apple Show was held in a tent across from the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Depot in August, 1910 and promoted local fruit in various creative ways."
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 15, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, Food, 1910s
October 14, 2017
Effect of Gamma Rays on Marigolds
Paul Zindel's play The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1971. It inspired Paul Newman to make a film of the same name the next year.And in 1974 it inspired 13-year-old Danny Kleiner of Philadelphia to wonder what the effect of gamma rays on marigolds would be. So he made that his school science project. He used cobalt radiation to produce the gamma rays. Unfortunately, I don't know what the results of his experiment were.
I haven't read or seen Zindel's play so I don't know if a similar experiment is featured in the book. I'm guessing it must be. I wonder how many high school students were inspired by Zindel's play to do similar experiments?
Danny Kleiner examining his gamma-ray-exposed marigolds
via Temple University Library
Posted By: Alex - Sat Oct 14, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Theater and Stage, Experiments, 1970s
The Laxey Wheel
I love that the Laxey Wheel has a name, "Lady Isabella," and a tribute folk song.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 14, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Technology, Europe, Nineteenth Century
October 13, 2017
Domestikator
An art installation titled 'Domestikator' was scheduled to be displayed in the gardens of the Louvre next week. But the Louvre recently changed their mind, deciding the work was too risqué.I don't think Khrushchev would like this art.
More info: NY Times
Posted By: Alex - Fri Oct 13, 2017 -
Comments (5)
Category: Art
Follies of the Madmen #329
Tony the Tiger is a protective deity against the occult forces of Friday the Thirteenth?
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 13, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Business, Advertising, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Products, Food, 1960s
October 12, 2017
Rubber Creatures from Outer Space
All this month the Durham Art Guild is presenting a collection of clothes made from recycled bicycle inner tubes. The collection is called Rubber Creatures from Outer Space!The clothes were created by artist Tom Buhrman, who also created an accompanying Rubber Creatures website. Plus, there's a soundtrack for the show that you can download for free.
More info: heraldsun.com
Posted By: Alex - Thu Oct 12, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category:
Tony Sarg
Tony Sarg, "America's Puppet Master," did some weird stuff, among which were early Macy's Thanksgiving Parade balloons; the cartoon below; and his inflatable beach monster on Nantucket.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 12, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Puppets and Automatons, Cartoons, 1920s, 1930s
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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 |
