Category:
Boredom
Boredom
On Horseback and By Highway: Administrative Facilities of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 1902-1960.
It's been way too long since we set the Gold Standard of Boredom with the TIMBER BRIDGE INSPECTION video.But maybe we can match it with this pamphlet. Feel free to read all 214 pages at the link.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 22, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Boredom, Government, Twentieth Century
Vexations by Erik Satie
Eccentric composer Erik Satie wrote "Vexations," a four-line piece of music, around 1893, though that date is a guess because it remained undiscovered until his death in 1925. It was an unexceptional piece of music (by design), except for the instructions he attached that seemed to indicate that it should be played "840 times in succession" by a pianist who should "prepare oneself beforehand, in the deepest silence, by serious immobilities." It's not clear why he chose the number 840.It was first performed in September 1963 at the Pocket Theater in Manhattan. Composer John Cage arranged for a relay team of 10 pianists to play the entire thing, 840 times. The entire performance lasted 18 hours and 40 minutes.
There was a $5 admission fee for audience members, but you got 5 cents back for every 20 minutes you listened to it. Joel Meltz sat through the whole thing, so ended up getting a refund of $2.80.
It's subsequently been performed a number of times and is, of course, available on YouTube. Check out the video below of the guy who plays the entire thing, alone, in under 10 hours.
San Bernardino County Sun - Sep 11, 1963
Posted By: Alex - Mon Apr 17, 2017 -
Comments (6)
Category: Boredom, Music, 1960s
Roy L. Gray, the Most Average Man
In 1927, William S. Dutton, a writer for American magazine, decided to locate America's most average man. The requirements were that whoever it was had to be:A native-born American, of average age, average size, average education and average viewpoint. He had to own an average home on an average street, drive an average automobile and be head of a family of four, which is the average used by the census bureau. He had to be engaged in an average one-man business, be neither a leader nor a laggard in public affairs, neither prominent nor obscure, popular or unpopular.
To conduct his search, Dutton used the census report, a map, and a weather chart to select America's most average city, which he decided was Fort Madison, Iowa. Then he conducted a survey of Fort Madison's residents to determine who the most average man living there was.
He finally settled on Roy L. Gray, owner of a clothing store. Gray was 43 years old, married, and had two children.
Dutton knocked on Gray's door and informed him that he was the most average man in America. Gray seemed to take the news in stride. He agreed to an interview, and then was whisked off to Chicago where he was given the VIP treatment, which included getting to meet the mayor. Then he returned to his average life, and as far as I can tell never made the news again.
He should have tried to hook up with Miss Typical.
Rushville Daily Republican - Oct 26, 1927
The Lincoln Star - Oct 25, 1927
Posted By: Alex - Thu Feb 16, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Boredom, 1920s
Hedge Laying Championships
Their homepage.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Aug 04, 2016 -
Comments (1)
Category: Boredom, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Eccentrics, Horticulture and Gardens, Europe, Natural Resources
Trimming Beets for Victory!
WWII was won through strategic use of beets--apparently. No sound on this video.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 07, 2016 -
Comments (7)
Category: Agriculture, Boredom, Food, PSA’s, War, 1940s
The Life Cycle of the Pin Mould
"If a ripe head is squeezed, an enormous number of little things fastened together in a sticky mess are jerked out."
They teach this filth in our schools!?!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 22, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Boredom, Hygiene, Innuendo, Double Entendres, Symbolism, Nudge-Nudge-Wink-Wink and Subliminal Messages, Nature, 1940s
Crosscut Saw Filer
You know, I was actually getting into this a little bit, finding the esoteric knowledge somewhat alluring. But five parts adding up to over two hours? I'm gonna call the total program a fit candidate for our "Boring Video" competition.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 24, 2015 -
Comments (6)
Category: Boredom, Eccentrics, Tools
Sitting and Smiling
Benjamin Bennett has currently uploaded 84 videos to YouTube. They all share the exact same premise. In each video he sits in front of the camera and smiles — for four hours.His unwavering adherence to the concept has, by now, earned him status as a minor Internet celebrity. (And what higher goal can one really seek in life than to be famous online?)
His most popular video is Sitting and Smiling #5 (below), because this includes a brief moment of drama. In Bennett's own words:
About 2.5 hours into the webcast, I hear someone come into the house, which is odd, because my only housemate is at work, and we aren't expecting anyone. I realize I didn't check to see if the doors were locked before starting the webcast. I hear the person stealthily moving around the house, and then I hear them stealthily climbing the stairs, towards my room. My door opens, and I hear an unfamiliar male voice say "Hello?". Then, after presumably seeing me sitting still and smiling in front of a camera, lit from beneath by a florescent bulb, he promptly descends the stairs and exits the house.
You can see this happen at 2:36:30.
As it turns out, the doors were locked, and he had broken one open. We found nothing missing, as there is not really anything of value in the house other than the laptop I was using to webcast.
You can see this happen at 2:36:30.
As it turns out, the doors were locked, and he had broken one open. We found nothing missing, as there is not really anything of value in the house other than the laptop I was using to webcast.
Posted By: Alex - Sun May 17, 2015 -
Comments (6)
Category: Boredom, Eccentrics, Video
My human time
Man sits in front of the camera for 24 hours. The result is 3 videos, each 8 hours long. Every minute his computer chimes, and he says what time it is. He claims this is the "most boring video ever." He's possibly correct.I suppose that if you managed to sync the time in the video with the time in real life, you could have the video running continuously and use it as a speaking clock. Or you could just ignore the video, like the rest of the world.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Apr 17, 2015 -
Comments (9)
Category: Boredom, Video
Bookkeeping and You
More patented boredom for your snooze-inducement.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 10, 2015 -
Comments (2)
Category: Boredom, Teenagers, Documentaries, 1940s
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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 |