September 2024
September 10, 2024
Weight-Loss Earring
The Acu-Ring, or weight-control earring, was introduced in 1978 and continued to be sold until at least 1990.You were supposed to wear the ring around the edge of your ear and squeeze it whenever you felt an urge to eat. Soon you'd see the pounds melting away!
It supposedly worked by means of 'acupressure'. The theory was that there's a spot on the ear that controls the stomach, so putting pressure on that spot would lessen appetite. (Couldn't a similar effect be achieved just by squeezing the edge of your ear with your fingers? Apparently not.)
A similar idea lay behind "staplepuncture" (or ear stapling) which we've posted about previously.
Brigham Young University Daily Universe - Oct 7, 1982
Allentown Morning Call - July 17, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Tue Sep 10, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Dieting and Weight Loss
Oddities: A Book of Unexplained Facts
Read it here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 10, 2024 -
Comments (3)
Category: Weird Facts, Weird Studies and Guides, Books, 1920s
September 9, 2024
How to hold a press conference
Chico Enterprise-Record - June 7, 1972
Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 09, 2024 -
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Category: Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, Officials, 1970s
Monkey Girl Marries Alligator Boy
Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 09, 2024 -
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Category: Human Marvels, Marriage, 1940s, Circuses, Carnivals, and Other Traveling Shows
September 8, 2024
Please don’t throw explosives in the trash
A very British way of asking people to not blow up garbage workers:
Derby Evening Telegraph - May 14, 1966
Posted By: Alex - Sun Sep 08, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: 1960s, United Kingdom, Weapons
The Idea
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 08, 2024 -
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Category: Philosophy, Allegories, Parables, Fables and Moral Lessons, Cartoons, 1930s
September 7, 2024
Subversive Coca-Cola Bottles
In 1965, thousands of sealed Coca-Cola bottles containing "subversive bulletins" were found floating off the coast of the Northern Celebes.
Miami Herald - July 30, 1965
I can't find any information about who was responsible for this strange act of subversion. But it recalls a later subversive use of Coca-Cola bottles by the Brazilian artist Cildo Meireles.
It was during the 1970s when used glass bottles would be returned and refilled. Meireles would modify the bottles before returning them by adding white text on the side showing messages such as "Yankees Go Home" or instructions for turning the bottle into a Molotov cocktail.
More info: Beach Branding and Packaging Design
Posted By: Alex - Sat Sep 07, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Art, Soda, Pop, Soft Drinks and other Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 1960s, 1970s
The Hobo News
The Wikipedia page.A nice essay with pix.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Sep 07, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Bums, Hobos, Tramps, Beggars, Panhandlers and Other Streetpeople, Newspapers, Twentieth Century
September 6, 2024
The Second Home
Surprise, honey, we're going to be living in a camper shell!
TV Guide - Jan 10, 1970
Posted By: Alex - Fri Sep 06, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Advertising, 1970s, Trucks
Combined Ear Muff and Neck Protector
This thing is stiffened with wire, so it must feel like wearing a medical neck brace.Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 06, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Fashion, 1900s, Pain, Self-inflicted and Otherwise
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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 |
