Kaboom!

First James Louis Krosner legally changed his name to "Natural Hunka Kaboom." Then he made a walking stick for himself out of a piece of aluminum pipe that he sealed at each end with duct tape. Then he wrote his name on the "walking stick." Finally, he accidentally left his stick at the Akron City Hall. The result: police found the odd-looking pipe, saw the word "KABOOM" scrawled on it, concluded it might be a bomb, and evacuated the building. Natural Hunka Kaboom now plans on running for city council. [ohio.com]

Posted By: Alex - Thu Oct 04, 2012 - Comments (9)
Category: Explosives

Delivery Boy

Posted By: Paul - Sat May 26, 2012 - Comments (6)
Category: Explosives, Geeks, Nerds and Pointdexters, Mad Scientists, Evil Geniuses, Insane Villains, Movies, Robots

Scientists Test “Foolproof” Dynamite

I'm sure these Du Pont scientists knew exactly what they were doing. But I still think I would have backed up a bit as they were doing this. Image from eBay. Article from Chicago Tribune, Jan. 23, 1935:

Posted By: Alex - Sat Apr 21, 2012 - Comments (14)
Category: Explosives

Johnson Smith Catalog Item #9

Of course any lady would be thrilled to be presented with a "real dimond," especially if you told her it was her engagement ring, and then have a cap explode in her face!

From the 1930s catalog.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Sep 21, 2011 - Comments (3)
Category: Destruction, Explosives, Jewelry, Johnson Smith Catalog, 1930s, Jokes

I Feel More Secure Already

I stumbled across this essay quite by accident. I was laughing at the image to the right (seriously? snow globes? they must have watched that short by Pixar where the itty bitty plastic snowman tries to blow up his globe to reach the hot mermaid in the snow globe next to his and they thought it was reality TV). Under that image was a link to the following essay, Terrorism, Tweezers, and Terminal Madness: An Essay On Security. It's not a short read, but it is definitely worth reading if you want a pilot's perspective on what airline security has become since September 11, 2001. Perhaps even more interesting is the list of air crimes at the end of the essay, sorted by date, starting in 1970.

Posted By: Nethie - Sun Aug 08, 2010 - Comments (9)
Category: Crime, Destruction, Disasters, Explosives, Flight, Terrorism and Terrorists

Trapped by Boobies

Hemet, California, has traditionally been known as a quiet retirement community. Until now. For whatever reason, someone (or more likely, several someones) has decided that the police are the bad guys and that they should be dealt with. And while we might not approve of what these anonymous folks are doing, you have to admit that they are going to extraordinary measures: a gas line re-routed directly into the police station, a ballistic contraption designed to go off when the gate is opened, and explosive devices attached to police vehicles. Investigators have no idea who might be behind the recent attacks except to point out that the gang enforcement division has been targeted more than any other. Read more about it on Yahoo.

Posted By: Nethie - Fri Mar 19, 2010 - Comments (7)
Category: Cops, Crime, Explosives, Terrorism and Terrorists

A Little Light Weirdness – 8

A would be bank-robber in Austria was foiled in his robbery attempt when the bank closed early for a staff training session. The man came equipped with a Barack Obama mask and gun but was stopped at the first hurdle when the locked door refused to open for him. Staff inside initially thought it was part of the training or a joke, and their laughter aggravated the criminal until he eventually fled empty-handed (Digital Spy).

More successful were the thieves that managed to steal several US landmarks, including the Palace of Fine Arts, USS Pampanito and Ghirardelli Square. Models of course, part of an exhibition of Mark and Jannet Benz’s Lego creations on display at the Palo Alto Museum of American Heritage, and worth several thousand dollars. A reward of $500 has been offered by the Benzes (SF Weekly).

But if Jan and Mark are thinking of upping their home security, they should perhaps avoid following the example of Alexander Skopintsew of Primorye in Russia, who decided to deter intruders by planting homemade landmines around his garden. He was inevitably found out when a trespasser was injured when setting off one of these devices, and charged with possession of illegal weapons, receiving a suspended sentence (ABC News).

Of course another alternative might be to have nothing worth stealing. Perhaps something similar occurred to retired lorry driver Ken Strickland, who amassed a collection of over 3000 watering cans, each meticulously documented. Sadly Mr. Strickland died last month aged 78, bequeathing the entire assortment to his niece, who is at a loss as to what to do with them and may in fact sell them on behalf of a charity. One watering can however will not be up for sale, it contains her uncle's ashes (Metro).

Meanwhile hundreds of other women up and down the UK might be feeling a little let down this Monday, after British department store Debenhams recorded a 76% surge in sales of their range of “anatomy boosting” underwear for men ahead of Valentine’s day. Turn around is fair play, I say (Reuters).



More in extended >>

Posted By: Dumbfounded - Mon Feb 15, 2010 - Comments (5)
Category: Buildings and Other Structures, Crime, Stupid Criminals, Eccentrics, Collectors, Explosives, Geeks, Nerds and Pointdexters, Government, Officials, Kitsch and Collectibles, Weird Theory, Goofs and Screw-ups

Dynamite, Watermelons and Classical Music

From the category of "People With Way Too Much Free Time", I give you a dynamite fruit classic. Slow motion flying watermelon with fireball explosions -- what more could you want?



I especially like the fireballs.

Posted By: gdanea - Sun Jul 12, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Explosives

Throwing Molten Iron

During the Lantern Festival, Wang Fu performs a one-hour long "Beating Flowers in the Trees" celebration. Here's the formula for your own celebration.

1. Melt scrap iron in a furnace.
2. Put on animal skins and a hat.
3. Throw molten iron at the town wall for an hour.



The amazing "cheap fireworks" are spectacular!!

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!

Posted By: gdanea - Sun Jun 21, 2009 - Comments (1)
Category: Explosives

World’s Largest-Ever Model Rocket Launch

Okay, "model rockets" are about a foot long, right? This thing is something the North Korean military aspires toward!

Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 30, 2009 - Comments (4)
Category: Explosives, Geeks, Nerds and Pointdexters, World Records, Weapons