1960s
The Cashless Society, As Predicted In 1967.
Here's a clip from the BBC popular science program Tomorrow's World from 1967, talking about how the future will become a cashless society. It's interesting to see that the very first debit-card system shown on the program used PINs rather than signatures to authorize.Unfortunately, the BBC iPlayer can't be embedded like most online videos, so here's a link to the excerpt in question.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/tomorrowsworld/8012.shtml
This is just one of a number of Tomorrow's World clips the BBC is making freely available online. There are some real gems on the site, including a first look at the "light-pen" from 1967, an early screen outing for the Moog synthesizer from 1969, and a demonstration of one of the first true mobile phone systems from 1979.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/tomorrowsworld/index.shtml
Oops, it seems not everyone can view the Online BBC Archive. For those who can't here's a couple of stills from the electronic banking and mobile phone segments mentioned above.
Love that funky retro dial! :lol:
Posted By: Dumbfounded - Mon Sep 14, 2009 -
Comments (3)
Category: Futurism, Television, 1960s
The Nostrils Cannae Take It, Captain!
In the future, all people will smell this way! Well maybe not, but design house Genki Wear has launched three Star Trek themed scents for the trekkie who has everything, including B.O.For the men there's a choice of Tiberius or Red Shirt. The former refers to the "T" of James T. Kirk, and presumably makes you smell like a womanising maverick. The latter an allusion to the numerous expendable extras from the original series; though why smelling like someone with a life expectancy of minutes is supposed to be a turn on is not explained. For the women there's Pon Farr, named for the stage of a Vulcan's life where their emotions come to the surface and they become both aggressive and sexually receptive. Fortunately for Earthwomen (and their partners) the pointy ears and domestic violence are optional, and staging fights to the death with gardening implements is not advised.
All three fragrances are available to buy from Genki Wear at $29.99 each.
(Images from social shopping network Kaboodle.)
Posted By: Dumbfounded - Fri Aug 28, 2009 -
Comments (10)
Category: Aliens, Geeks, Nerds and Pointdexters, Pop Culture, Television, 1960s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents
The Shaggs
Here's an oldie-but-goodie from the catalog of weird music: MY PAL FOOT-FOOT, by the Shaggs.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 05, 2009 -
Comments (4)
Category: Cryptozoology, Fictional Monsters, Family, Music, 1960s
The Past Is Another Country #1
From The Saturday Evening Post for April 13 1963.I'm guessing by the signature that this is the work of Ronald Michaud.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 09, 2009 -
Comments (0)
Category: Cannibalism, Food, Stereotypes and Cliches, 1960s, Africa
Flexi Discs
Visit this great site for a history of this odd phenomenon. Be sure to look at the Flexi Disc stamps from Bhutan!
Posted By: Paul - Sun May 24, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Music, Technology, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s
Rat Pfink and Boo Boo
I watched this Ray Dennis Steckler gem the other night. If you need more, there are other segments on YouTube.
Posted By: Paul - Sat May 23, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, 1960s, Parody
Slowest Marathon Ever
Now, I can be easily distracted, but I'm nothing compared to this guy. It seems that he stopped for some OJ at a garden party during his run, and just had a hard time starting again. He did eventually finish, 54 years later. Futility Closet
Posted By: Lovemonkey - Mon May 11, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Exercise and Fitness, Sports, 1910s, 1960s
Escalation
Posted By: Paul - Thu May 07, 2009 -
Comments (5)
Category: Humor, Parody, Movies, Cartoons, War, 1960s
Political Poster Dress
Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 28, 2009 -
Comments (10)
Category: Fashion, Politics, 1960s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Two-Way Stretch
As we all know, Chuck has a recurring theme about how the Brits coddle their prisoners. Apparently, this motif goes back at least as far as 1960, the year that the Peter Sellers film TWO-WAY STRETCH premiered. In this film, Sellers and gang receive deliveries from the milkman and newsboy, keep a cat, steal the warden's ciggies, and generally make their stay quite enjoyable. Until the tough-guy guard known as "Sourkraut" shows up. See some moments below.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 09, 2009 -
Comments (0)
Category: Movies, Prisons, Stupid Criminals, 1960s, Europe
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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, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. 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. Contact Us |