Weird Universe Archive
January 2021
January 31, 2021
Index of Boredom
In 1957, advertiser John P. Cunningham came up with the concept of an "Index of Boredom" in an attempt to quantify how bored TV viewers were while watching shows. His research team studied 160 viewers in New Brunswick, NJ, and concluded that the most boring show on TV was Milton Berle, while the least boring show was "I Remember Mama".But they also came across an unexpected finding: people would continue to watch TV shows even if they found them boring.
Perhaps the strangest fact to emerge from the reports was that people watch programs even though they are tired of them. Some of those surveyed were quite hostile to the spate of westerns on TV, but they watched westerns anyway.
Deseret News - Oct 29, 1957
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jan 31, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Boredom, Television, Psychology, 1950s
How to Succeed With Brunettes
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jan 31, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Annoying Things, Antisocial Activities, Customs, Emotions, Etiquette and Formal Behavior, PSA’s, 1960s, Men, Women
January 30, 2021
Toy Gas Fired Missile
A toy gun that uses fart gas to "fire a toy missile into space" was patented by Michael Zanakis in 2000:To operate the assembly, the operator places the inlet tube with its valve open adjacent his anal region from which a colonic gas is discharged. The piston is then withdrawn to a degree producing a negative pressure to inhale the gas into the combustion chamber to intermix with the air therein to create a combustible mixture. The ignitor is then activated to explode the mixture in the chamber and fire the missile into space.
Zanakis argued that his toy wasn't just amusing but also offered safety benefits, because using it was safer than lighting your farts on fire:
A recreational activity practiced by some individuals is ignition of one's own flatus. This is performed by using a lit match or candle, or a cigarette lighter. So widespread is this activity that there are web sites on the Internet devoted exclusively to explaining proper lighting techniques.
A major drawback of this popular practice is that it usually involves the hazardous coupling of fire, combustible gases and inebriated participants. Reports of serious burns to body parts are not uncommon, this being especially true when the participants remove their clothing...
In view of the foregoing, the main object of this invention is to provide a safe toy which exploits the combustible properties of flatus to fire a toy missile into space.
A major drawback of this popular practice is that it usually involves the hazardous coupling of fire, combustible gases and inebriated participants. Reports of serious burns to body parts are not uncommon, this being especially true when the participants remove their clothing...
In view of the foregoing, the main object of this invention is to provide a safe toy which exploits the combustible properties of flatus to fire a toy missile into space.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 30, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Toys, Patents, Flatulence
Wearable Boat
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 30, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Hunting, Trapping and Other Wilderness Activities, Inventions, Chindogu, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, 1930s
January 29, 2021
Butler In A Box
Before there was Alexa or Google Voice, there was the Butler In a Box. It was invented in the early 1980s by Gus Searcy, a professional magician, with help from Franz Kavan, a computer programmer. In response to voice commands it could control connected household devices. So, it could operate the lights, turn on the heat, make a phone call, etc.About 9000 of them were reportedly sold. But at around $1500, the gadget was too expensive. Plus, the voice recognition was somewhat buggy. By the early 1990s they were off the market, but there's still some of them for sale on eBay.
More info: Popular Science (Mar 1987), vcfed.org
Austin American-Statesman - Aug 6, 1989
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 29, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Technology, Computers, 1980s
Follies of the Madmen #498
This is a fine example of pushing a metaphor to the point of absurd surrealism.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jan 29, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Business, Advertising, Miniature People in Ads, Television, Surrealism, 1950s
January 28, 2021
American Airlines Wine Club
Fans of mile-high drinking can now get a taste of the same experience at home thanks to the new American Airlines Wine Club. For $99 a month, members get three bottles of some of the wines served inflight shipped to them each month.I'm sure it's good wine. For $33 a bottle, it better be. But it seems to me like a weird extension of the American Airlines' brand. Although as an economy flyer I associate air travel with misery and discomfort. Perhaps if I flew first-class I'd feel differently.
via Retail Therapy
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 28, 2021 -
Comments (5)
Category: Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Air Travel and Airlines, Alcohol
The Sunken City of Shicheng
What many believe to be a mystery isn't actually so mysterious. Lion City, famed for sitting at the bottom of the Qiandao Lake, has a surprising history. The once thriving city, known for its powerful statue throughout all of China, now resides over 100 feet below the lake's surface. This was not due to a natural disaster or any type of destructive force unless you consider human nature to be one. The ancient city met its watery fate due to the hands of humans, specifically those who gave up the land the city once sat on to make way for modern machinery.
While there are many details surrounding the reasoning for this -- much of which we'll get into later on -- there's no denying that the fact that this city is fully preserved is a modern miracle. Although it sits deep under the water, all of its structures, statues, memorials, and archways all sit in perfect stature. Its rediscovery happened almost two decades ago and since then, divers have been repeatedly making trips below the surface to see what new aspects of the city they can explore. Inside these preserved walls lie the tale of several powerful dynasties, an ancient way of life, and some of the most stunning architectural features that are so indicative of China's history.
Full story with more pictures.
Daily Mail coverage.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 28, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Architecture, History, Archaeology, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, 1950s, Asia
January 27, 2021
Airbag Jeans
Another addition to our growing collection of weird jeans:Moses Shahrivar, who calls himself "The Artist Moses," has invented airbag jeans. From upi.com:
The jeans... are tethered to the rider's motorcycle, and when the tether is pulled airbags deploy up and down the wearer's legs to cushion an impact.
It seems similar in concept to the wearable airbags, designed to prevent the elderly if they fall, that we've posted about before.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jan 27, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, Denim
Haas Brothers Art
A long article here.Their homepage.
An account of their 2014 exhibit.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 27, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Art, Pop Art, Surrealism, Cryptozoology, Fictional Monsters, Sexuality
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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 |
