Weird Universe Archive
November 2020
November 11, 2020
M. X. Mockus, Blasphemer
Read all about it here.
Photo source.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 11, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Law, Religion, 1910s
November 10, 2020
A real stickup
April 1981: Dad humor gone too far? Ciro Jose Leon entered a store holding a three-foot stick, slammed it down on the counter, and declared this was a stickup. Bystanders intervened and held him until the police arrived. Leon was booked for investigation of armed robbery.
Santa Clarita Signal - Apr 17, 1981
Posted By: Alex - Tue Nov 10, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: Crime, Jokes
Mokapzu Park
Mokapzu Park from Art&Graft on Vimeo.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 10, 2020 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Armageddon and Apocalypses, Humor, Science
November 9, 2020
The pinhead art of Mary Ann Normandin
Artist Mary Ann Normandin used one of her husband's eyebrows to paint pictures on pinheads. During the 1950s, she got quite a lot of publicity for this. But today she seems to be entirely forgotten. In fact, I can't find any pictures of her paintings.
Asheville Citizen Times - Nov 30, 1952
Boston Globe - Nov 11, 1953
Apparently she completed four pinhead paintings — the Old Man of the Mountain, an Egyptian pyramid, an autumn scene, and a lighthouse — then she gave it up because it was too emotionally and physically demanding. A 1977 article about her work in the Boston Globe offered some details:
"It took a total of two years and 5000 hours to complete the four earlier paintings. It took me six months alone to learn how to paint between heartbeats. The slightest movement could ruin a painting."
"I started each one of those paintings about 500 times before I finally got it perfect. It wasn't a simple task..."
Her brush was a hair from her husband's eyebrow, which she still keeps in a small container.
"I would paint one thin line, then let it dry," she explained. "Then go on to the next line. The slightest mistake or wrong movement, and the painting was ruined. You'd have to wipe the pinhead clean, and start all over again."
"I completed four paintings, and tried a fifth. It was supposed to be Lincoln, but the paint blistered, and Lincoln ended up looking like Foodini The Magician, a character they had on television years ago."
"You know, I have a nightmare every once in a while. In it, one of my pins is dropped on the floor and rolls into a crack, and I'm unable to find it."
"I started each one of those paintings about 500 times before I finally got it perfect. It wasn't a simple task..."
Her brush was a hair from her husband's eyebrow, which she still keeps in a small container.
"I would paint one thin line, then let it dry," she explained. "Then go on to the next line. The slightest mistake or wrong movement, and the painting was ruined. You'd have to wipe the pinhead clean, and start all over again."
"I completed four paintings, and tried a fifth. It was supposed to be Lincoln, but the paint blistered, and Lincoln ended up looking like Foodini The Magician, a character they had on television years ago."
"You know, I have a nightmare every once in a while. In it, one of my pins is dropped on the floor and rolls into a crack, and I'm unable to find it."
Posted By: Alex - Mon Nov 09, 2020 -
Comments (4)
Category: Art, 1950s
Sleep Robot
Posted By: Paul - Mon Nov 09, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Inventions, Sleep and Dreams, Europe
November 8, 2020
My Girlfriend in Walk
For those who would like to hold someone's hand as they walk around, but can't find anyone human who will oblige, engineers at Gifu University in Japan have invented the "My Girlfriend in Walk". It's a robotic hand covered in soft, skin-like gel that will grip your hand. Plus, it emits the scent of a woman's shampoo, and (through a smartphone app) can simulate the sounds of breathing and rustling clothes.The inventors hope that it might help people who have been isolated due to the pandemic.
More info: SoraNews24
Posted By: Alex - Sun Nov 08, 2020 -
Comments (5)
Category: Technology, AI, Robots and Other Automatons, Love & Romance
Help, I’m a Rock!
Their Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Nov 08, 2020 -
Comments (6)
Category: Music, Nature, Avant Garde, Surrealism, 1960s
November 7, 2020
Mae West Cocktail
Last night I was watching TV with my 98-year-old great aunt, when an ad for Alka-Seltzer came on. She immediately perked up and said that, back in the 40s, they used to mix Alka-Seltzer and water in a glass, and then put a condom over it. They called this a Mae West cocktail. It was a popular party trick, she said, to ask someone if they wanted a Mae West cocktail and serve them this.I immediately thought that I needed to add this to my list of things named after Mae West that I posted four years ago.
I googled the term 'Mae West cocktail' and found a variety of different recipes for alcoholic cocktails named after her, but no mention of the Alka-Seltzer and condom trick. Though I did manage to find a picture of the trick being performed.
image source: ourbusandus.blogspot.com
Since my great aunt's version of the cocktail has no alcohol in it, I suppose that technically it's a virgin Mae West cocktail.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Nov 07, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: Sex Symbols, Pranks
Le Bellybutton
A forgotten moment in post-HAIR theater.'Nudie' musicals presented nudity onstage in a way that said 'sex is beautiful and natural and fun and there's no need to be afraid of it'. Unlike XXX theatre, Peep shows, and sex clubs, sex in these musicals was always simulated, never real. These musicals validated the sexual revolution happening outside with shows like Hair, Oh! Calcutta!, Stag Movie, Let My People Come, Le Bellybutton.
Article source.
More photos here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 07, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: Regionalism, Sexuality, Theater and Stage, 1970s
November 6, 2020
Cooking for your cat… and you
For those who want to share meals with their cat, Skyhorse Publishing has a cookbook of recipes that both humans and felines can eat.I don't think freshly caught mouse is included, even though I'm pretty sure that's what the cat would prefer.
Amazon link
Posted By: Alex - Fri Nov 06, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Food, Cookbooks, Books, Cats
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