Europe
Kabbadi
New sports are always being invented. But will they become universal? I am in doubt about Kabbadi. Although, as this BBC article tells us, there's a UK women's team. What do you think? USA Kabbadi leagues with primetime ESPN coverage?
I am a little unclear how any ref could enforce this rule during the melee: "Then the raider tries to return to his own half, holding his breath and chanting the word "Kabaddi" during the whole raid."
I think the announcers though will rival the Latino ones who shout "GOOOOAAAL!" in soccer matches.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 22, 2012 -
Comments (2)
Category: Sports, Asia, Europe, India
On Space Time Foam
This is an art installation in Milan, where you crawl with other museum patrons over a plastic surface. Lot of weird pics at the link.
But is that plastic suspended over a high well of emptiness, an atrium or courtyard, as it seems in the video? And guaranteed not to break?
Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 10, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Art, Avant Garde, Performance Art, Science, Europe
Mercedes Benz Commercials
Maybe it's just me, but I find these commercials remarkably creepy, inauthentic, unappealing, ineffective and misguided, given my perceptions anyhow of who buys a Mercedes.
What do you all think?
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 08, 2012 -
Comments (8)
Category: Business, Advertising, Humor, Stereotypes and Cliches, Europe, Cars
Documenta
I'm sorry I learned about the Documenta Art Festival only just now. The thirteenth one occured this past September, and there won't be another for five more years.We'll have to content ourselves with these videos till then.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 06, 2012 -
Comments (3)
Category: Art, Avant Garde, Performance Art, Bombast, Bloviation and Pretentiousness, 1950s, Europe, Cacophony, Dissonance, White Noise and Other Sonic Assaults
Queen Elizabeth, Teenybopper
[Original article here.]
Courier Mail Wednesday 19 September 1956
The Queen sees Rock 'n' roll Film
London. September 18. (AAP)- Queen Elizabeth has asked to see the film “Rock Around the Clock” which has led to rock 'n' roll disturbances in several British towns.
A copy of the film was sent from London yesterday to Balmoral, where the Queen is on holiday, the Daily Mirror said today.
The Daily Express reported that showings of “Rock Around the Clock” has been banned by country councils in Stockport, Cheshire, and Gloucestershire yesterday.
But at Burt St. Edmunds in Suffolk, no objections were raised by members of a watch committee after a private showing of the film.
Sir Malcolm Sargeant, conductor of the BBC symphony orchestra, said to day that rock 'n' roll music was “nothing more than an exhibition of primitive tom tom thumping, and was ‘centuries old’. It was not ‘new and wonderful’ as many young people thought. It had been played in the jungles for centuries.”
At age 86, Queen Elizabeth reminds no one of a rocker--although she does hand out a lot of knighthoods to musicians. But in 1956, at age 30, she could really groove.
She was obviously remembering those days in 1979, when she and Bill Haley reconnected for the first time in nearly 25 years.
[Original text here.]
Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 04, 2012 -
Comments (3)
Category: Music, Royalty, 1950s, Europe
Les Franglaises
Explanation is here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 30, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Music, Europe, Mistranslations
Coughs and Sneezes
It's that time of the year again!
Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 06, 2012 -
Comments (16)
Category: Hygiene, PSA’s, 1940s, Europe
The Wellingborough Carnival
The town of Wellingborough, UK, has been holding a carnival for over 100 years. The old affairs certainly featured things that look weird to us today. Here's a photo album to peruse.
And the Wellingborough Carnival home page reveals this year's affair is on July 7th! Plenty of time to make your plans to attend!
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 22, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Holidays, Parades and Festivals, Weird Theory, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, Europe
Italian Stores
I took these 2 fotos in Italy. I particularly like the motto of the toy store "Skunk Tani": "smart head grow shop."
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 12, 2012 -
Comments (9)
Category: Signage, Europe
Italy Report
For those who might be interested in my recent Italian trip.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 03, 2012 -
Comments (2)
Category: Telephones, Paul, Europe
| Who We Are |
|---|
| 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 |