Desairology

Noella Charest-Papagno coined the term 'desairology' to mean doing hairstyling and cosmetics for the deceased. She created the word by combining 'des' (for deceased), 'air' (for hair), and 'ology' (a branch of learning). She thought the term sounded better than 'necrocosmetologist,' which had previously been the job title for funeral hairdressers. Her term seems to have caught on within the profession. At least, it has a wikipedia page.

In 1980, Papagno also authored the first book on hairdressing for the dead — Desairology: The Dressing of Decedent's Hair.

She created the somewhat bizarre video below around 2015. It's titled, "Dead lady speaks. Looks better now."

More info: JJ Publishing Group

Fort Lauderdale News - Apr 27, 1986

Posted By: Alex - Fri Jun 10, 2022 - Comments (0)
Category: Death, Hair and Hairstyling

Butt Cleavage Pants

I love how the opening can be any shape, such as a Chevy logo.

I also hope that Rhianna is not violating this patent!

Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 10, 2022 - Comments (3)
Category: Body, Fashion, Public Indecency

Games Couples Play, #2

July 1947: Newlyweds Jane and Lloyd Gulledge of Dearborn, Michigan decided to play a couple of rounds of Russian roulette. Lloyd lost. "Police say they had been drinking."

Lancaster Eagle Gazette - Jul 28, 1947

(L) Nevada State Journal - Jul 29, 1947; (R) Palm Beach Post - Aug 3, 1947

Related: Games Couples Play, #1

Posted By: Alex - Thu Jun 09, 2022 - Comments (3)
Category: Marriage, 1940s, Weapons

World’s Largest Collection of 8-Track Tapes

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 09, 2022 - Comments (0)
Category: Eccentrics, Collectors, Kitsch and Collectibles, Music, Technology

Crepitus, the God of Flatulence

Crepitus was allegedly the Roman god of flatulence. He was usually depicted as a young child farting.

However, he's only allegedly so because there's controversy about whether the Romans recognized such a god, or whether Crepitus was the creation of early Christians trying to satirize pagan beliefs. According to Wikipedia, there are references to Crepitus in ancient texts, but only in Christian works, not pagan ones.

image source: POOP Project

Posted By: Alex - Wed Jun 08, 2022 - Comments (4)
Category: Religion, Flatulence, Ancient Times

Follies of the Madmen #534

Who knew that domestic life could be so medieval?

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 08, 2022 - Comments (3)
Category: Domestic, Advertising, Weapons

Period Crunch

I doubt you'll be able to buy this new cereal at your local grocery store anytime soon. It's raspberry-flavored, uterus-shaped, and turns the milk red when poured into the bowl.

It's the creation of health brand Intimina who are hoping to "fight the stigma around menstruation." They note that 77% of the people they surveyed had "never talked about anything to do with menstruation at the place where the whole household regularly sits down and talks together: the kitchen table." This cereal aims to change that.

More info: Intimina.com

Posted By: Alex - Tue Jun 07, 2022 - Comments (4)
Category: Cereal, Body Fluids, Blood

Triple-Bristle Toothbrush

Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 07, 2022 - Comments (0)
Category: Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Hygiene, Inventions, Chindogu, Teeth

“The Largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere”

Another oddity that I encountered on my recent cross-country road trip was the "largest cross in the western hemisphere." It's located in Groom, Texas, just a few miles down the road from the Devil's Rope Museum (which I posted about yesterday).

It was built in 1995 by Steve Thomas, a structural engineer, after he grew tired of being "faced with huge billboards along I-40 advertising XXX pornography locations." He wanted to offer the public something more wholesome instead.



The cross stands 190 feet tall, but as you approach it along the highway it looks disappointingly small because it's dwarfed by windmills in the fields around it. However, once you get right up beside it, it seems pretty big.

Referring to the cross as the largest in the western hemisphere, begs the question of where the largest cross is. According to Wikipedia, it's in Spain and is 500 feet tall.

However, more Internet research reveals that the cross in Groom isn't actually the largest in the western hemisphere, even though it's still being advertised as such (according to the pamphlet I got — see below). It was the tallest when it was built, but there are now two taller crosses in America — one in Illinois (198-feet tall) and another in Missouri (218-feet tall).



The cross is surrounded by "life-size bronze sculptures depicting the steps of Jesus to the Cross." And to the side of the cross is a life-size depiction of Calvary, where Jesus was crucified alongside two thieves.

The depiction of Calvary stands quite close to the highway. You can see the trucks and cars going by in the background. It gives the odd impression of three people being crucified along the I-40.



Overall, given that the giant cross was directly off the highway and very easy to get to, I'd recommend it as being interesting enough to visit, if you happen to be doing a roadtrip along the I-40.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 06, 2022 - Comments (2)
Category: Religion, Landmarks, Sightseeing

Hen Hop

Hen Hop, Norman McLaren,



We've featured the work of Norman McLaren before on WU, but never this one, I think.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 06, 2022 - Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Cartoons, 1940s, Dance