Regionalism
Guga
The tradition.
The controversy.
The taste.
Eating guga is an experience that can produce a lump in the throat, tears in the eyes. Tears of nostalgia, to those for whom it is part of a cultural identity - for others, simply a response to the urge to regurgitate.
The guga is a fishy-tasting seabird, highly prized in its own area for its unique taste. Yet to others living a mere 20 miles away, it is incredible that something so foul can even be taken into the mouth, let alone enjoyed.
The guga, however, is unique to the Isle of Lewis. When exiles meet in far-flung places, the talk soon turns to guga and memories of sharing this . . . delicacy. As the ache of nostalgia creeps in, soon they long to plunge knife and fork into this plump seabird, a 3lb baby gannet. And so it is that barrels of guga, salted down in the summer, wend their way across the world to destinations as far away as New Zealand to bring a taste of home (the sweaty, fishy, oily taste of the scuppers of a fishing smack).
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 09, 2011 -
Comments (7)
Category: Food, Regionalism, Foreign Customs, Europe, Natural Resources
Follies of the Mad Men #147
View top two panels left to right, then bottom two panels left to right.
Somehow, I doubt any human being on earth would ever utter this dialogue unless under threat of torture, and maybe not even then.
And I resent the implied slur at my native state, Rhode Island! Foggy Pawgansett, indeed!
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 26, 2011 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Fey, Twee, Whimsical, Naive and Sadsack, Regionalism, 1980s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents
Del Rivers
WU Reader Frank Stamm kindly introduces us to the music of Del Rivers. Mr. Stamm further enlightens us:
A cover story was done on Del in Rochester’s alternative newspaper City
News in 2001 that said of him “the list of musicians he's worked with
reads like a who's-who of Rochester garage rock: Cousin Al, Insiders,
Fadeaways, It's My Party, Fertility Rite Brothers, McFadden's Parachute,
Fugitives, Earthlings.” Del has been backed back by some of Rochester’s
best musicians, and has turned out a list of singles over the years that
place him at the head of the pack: “Second in Line”, “Soul Chaser”,
“She Walks Like a Robot”.
After taking a detour for a few years into comedy and acting, he has found
a new band that matches his musical sensibilities, Fudge Club. They have
released three music videos now: “Duesenberg (All The Way)”, the
controversial “Ape Farmers”, and now the new single, “Wacky Bushy
Pine-ackles”.
It’s never too late to jump on the Del bandwagon! Del Rivers will field
all questions at [email protected] He will answer questions about
his new work, old work, or his problems with women.
Thanks, Frank! I think.....
Posted By: Paul - Fri Mar 25, 2011 -
Comments (3)
Category: Music, Regionalism, Outsider Art, Reader Recommendation
The Canada Song
Continuing our Hindi music theme, eh?
Posted By: Paul - Sun Mar 20, 2011 -
Comments (1)
Category: Music, Regionalism, Asia, North America
Follies of the Mad Men #133
The problem here is the product, first of all. Who wants to smell like a hillbilly? We all know what hillbillies smell like: manure, chewing tobacco, unwashed linens and athlete's foot. Given this product to tout, all the advertising guy could come up with is a Daisy Mae-type figure totally emasculating the wearer of this cologne. Good going!
Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 09, 2011 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Hygiene, Regionalism, 1960s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents
Spam Jam
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 18, 2011 -
Comments (3)
Category: Food, Parades and Festivals, Regionalism
Dusty’s Trail
Generally regarded as a contender for Worst TV Show Ever, this short-lived series exactly mapped Gilligan's Island onto the Wild West.
Watch as much of this episode as you can.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 07, 2010 -
Comments (11)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Regionalism, ShowBiz, Television, 1970s
The Girls of Murder City
Why the video of an old song in this post? It's the tune that one of the murderesses played and danced to, over the corpse of her victim!
Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 18, 2010 -
Comments (4)
Category: Crime, Feminism, Music, Regionalism, Wives, Books, 1920s
Chatanooga Hookers Meet Rival Team!
See article and larger photos here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 23, 2010 -
Comments (25)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Regionalism
The Orange People
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 08, 2010 -
Comments (9)
Category: Regionalism, Skin and Skin Conditions
| Who We Are |
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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 |