January 2024
January 11, 2024
Vector Portraits by Andrew Bush
"Photographs made while travelling 50 to 70 mph in Los Angeles and other parts of the Southwestern United States." 1989-1997.More info: andrewbush.net
via Vintage Annals Archive
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 11, 2024 -
Comments (6)
Category: Photography and Photographers, Cars
Every Day is Miracle Day
Man, that's a big claim to make for beauty parlors!Here's the source, where you can magnify the text.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 11, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, 1930s
January 10, 2024
Women for Women International’s International Board Member
The title of this woman's position went a bit off the rail's rails.Her husband is a big political muckety-muck.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jan 10, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Jobs and Occupations, Odd Names
Warning Device for Speeders
Drivers not paying attention to their speedometer will receive a blast of air on their accelerator foot at a preset MPH.Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 10, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Inventions, Rants, Warnings, Jeremiads, Prophecies and Cassandra-like Figures, 1930s, Cars
January 9, 2024
Using frog croaks to predict the weather
In 1975, Chinese meteorologist Chang Chi-tsai came out with "Chang's law" which codified the relationship between croaking frogs and the weather:If frogs croak after rain it will be fine weather.
It will continue to rain if frogs do not croak after successive overcast days.
Previously we've posted about how to use gnats to predict the weather.
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Jan 19, 1975
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jan 09, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: 1970s, Asia, Weather
The Castro Cap
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 09, 2024 -
Comments (3)
Category: Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Disguises, Impersonations, Mimics and Forgeries, Toys, 1950s, Caribbean
January 8, 2024
In the event of nuclear war, drink beer
Sounds like a sensible plan to me.As for whether bottles would protect the beer inside from radiation, I imagine that would be the least of one's concerns after a nuclear war.
Tacoma News Tribune - July 7, 1958
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 08, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Inebriation and Intoxicants, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1950s
Follies of the Madmen #585
How to sell that newfangled gadget, the television? If you're RCA, you just make a special Xmas song!The singer's Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jan 08, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Holidays, Music, Television, Deceit, Trickery, Subterfuge and General Slyness, Advertising
January 7, 2024
Pocket Typewriter
In 1952, Maurice Julliard patented a typewriter small enough to fit inside "an average size pocket." It could be used "without any support, being simply held in the hand."His patent included a sketch of the typewriter, but I haven't been able to find any pictures of it. I'm not sure what practical use it was supposed to have, beyond being a novelty. His patent doesn't say. Would one use it to type miniature notes or manuscripts?
I noticed that it had a non-qwerty keyboard.
The Hackensack Record - July 24, 1952
Julliard's pocket typewriter wasn't the first one in existence. The book Victorian Inventions by Leonard de Vries contains an example from 1891. Though unlike Julliard's typewriter, it lacked a keyboard.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jan 07, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Technology, Patents, 1950s
Rancher Glen, the Christmas Seal Cowboy
I'm a little late with this seasonal entry, but I still hope all WU-vies can follow Rancher Glen's advice for a healthy 2024.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jan 07, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Health, PSA’s, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Children, Wild West and US Frontier, Twentieth Century
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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 |
