Killer Rat

Our beloved Chuck Shepherd had a category in NOTW that might even have been finally considered "no longer weird." DOG SHOOTS OWNER.

But so far as I know, he never had a rat pulling the trigger.

Original article here.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 19, 2019 - Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Death, Children, 1920s, Weapons

Alfred Latell, Animal Impersonator

Learn more about him from Pam Deitch at her blog.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Feb 18, 2019 - Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Costumes and Masks, Entertainment, Movies, Twentieth Century

Official White House Squirrel Feeder

Odd trivia: Rick Feeney is arguably the longest-serving White House appointee ever, having served as the Official White House Squirrel Feeder since 1949, when Truman appointed him to the post. Having never been replaced, he presumably still holds the role. Feeney was 5 years old when appointed, which would make him about 75 now. I wonder what would happen if he wandered up to the White House and insisted on being able to perform his squirrel feeding duty.

The story goes that his father (who was Truman’s administrative assistant) took him to the White House in 1949 to meet the president, whereupon Feeney informed Truman that the White House squirrels were skinnier than the ones in Lafayette Park. So Truman promptly appointed him to be the White House squirrel feeder, noting that the Senate was in recess so their confirmation wasn’t needed. Feeney was to serve “at the pleasure of the President.”

In 1974, when Feeney was 29, he noted that it was really time for someone to replace him, but no other Squirrel Feeder has ever been appointed.

More details at Southern Maryland This Is Living.

Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin - Sep 6, 1974

A children's book published in 2016 tells the story of the White House squirrel feeder. Available on Amazon.

Posted By: Alex - Sun Feb 03, 2019 - Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Politics, 1940s

How Not to Get Your Nose Blown Off When It Is Mistaken for a Deer’s Tail

I do not see that Kleenex makes these in 2019.



Source.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 03, 2019 - Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Body, Hunting, Trapping and Other Wilderness Activities, 1960s

Follies of the Madmen #410

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 01, 2019 - Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Guns, 1910s

Laura the Nazi-Saluting Parrot

At the end of World War II, the Allied forces wanted to make sure that Nazism didn't rise again in Germany. So they implemented a program of denazification, making it a criminal act, punishable by up to three years in prison, to display Nazi symbols such as the swastika or to give the Nazi salute. However, they encountered resistance from an unusual quarter: a 15-year-old white, female, South-American parrot named Laura who lived in a cage at Munich's Hellabrunn Zoo. This bird had the disturbing habit of greeting visitors by loudly squawking the phrase 'Heil Hitler' as she bobbed her head up and down.

Children at the Munich Zoo hoping to hear Laura say her signature phrase. Image via icp.org.

More in extended >>

Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 24, 2019 - Comments (7)
Category: Animals, 1940s

Beaver-Flavored Booze

Eau de Musc proudly features an old-world flavoring technique that uses the oil extract from the castor gland of the North American beaver, which exudes a leathery, raspberry taste, and acts to fortify the whiskey flavors.

Get yours here!

Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 30, 2018 - Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Alcohol, Nausea, Revulsion and Disgust

Merry Christmas 2018!

Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 25, 2018 - Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Holidays, Music, 1950s

Discerning pig screams

Perhaps it's hard to tell whether it's the pigs or the humans screaming...



Source

Posted By: Alex - Tue Dec 18, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Science

Follies of the Madmen #401

Not quite sure why a kangaroo would be deemed an apt symbol for a conservation-minded USA citizen. Weren't there any miserly Scotsmen available?

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 17, 2018 - Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Money, Stereotypes and Cliches, 1940s, Alcohol