Weird Universe Blog — May 12, 2025

Productivity-enhancing chewing gum

Chewing gum maker Lotte is hoping to convince Japanese consumers that its chewing gum will help them work better:

In response to rising digital distractions and a survey reporting that nearly 80% of Japanese office workers struggle to concentrate, Lotte is repositioning chewing gum as a productivity aid. Framed as a ‘brain warm-up exercise’, Shu-Chew Beats synchronises musical beats with rhythmic chewing to improve focus and cognitive readiness...
By chewing Lotte gum to the beat, consumers can unlock new levels of concentration.

Perhaps it'll work, but I don't see why it wouldn't work with any chewing gum and any music.

More info: LSN Global, Shu Chew Beats

Posted By: Alex - Mon May 12, 2025 - Comments (0)
Category: Music | Junk Food

Rock-and-Roll Mops

A short time ago, Alex told you about the exploits of surrealist writer Boris Vian and his novel I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVES. But he did not get into Vian's career as a musician.

Here's one of Vian's songs, with bits of his infamous surrealism, as you can see from the lyrics (translated via Google). (I like the classy cover video also.)

And what's the pun inherent in the title?

Why, with the dish known as rollmops.








I seduced her in an instant
Thanks to the light in my eye
She fell like a leaf
Into my big orangutan arms
We loved each other like gods
Aznavour would have been left blue
The phonograph was playing in a corner
Swinging jazz tunes
But in the end I was so hungry
That I called the local bar:
Hello Dupont
Bring me up
Something to eat,
Or I'll die
And what should I bring you?
Bring me without hesitation:
Rock and roll-mops
With buttered bread,
Rock and roll-mops
And ground beef,
Rock and roll-mops
With a fried egg,
Rock and roll-mops
I feel like a cannibal. Kangaroo escalopes
Sapajou sausage
Lion liver with salsify
Bacon head with candied fruit
And in a dish
Just for me
Well prepared
Not too seasoned
Rock and roll-mops
It comforted me,
Rock and roll-mops
I'm bursting at the seams,
Rock and roll-mops
My strength is increased tenfold,
Rock and roll-mops
We're going back to bed

Posted By: Paul - Mon May 12, 2025 - Comments (0)
Category: Food | Music | Surrealism | 1950s | Europe

May 11, 2025

John McCracken’s Planks

Minimalist sculptor John McCracken produced a series of "planks." Each work consisted of a brightly painted plywood plank leaning up against a wall. Some info from wikpedia:

In 1966, McCracken generated his signature sculptural form: the plank, a narrow, monochromatic, rectangular board format that leans at an angle against the wall (the site of painting) while simultaneously entering into the three-dimensional realm and physical space of the viewer. He conceived the plank idea in a period when artists across the stylistic spectrum were combining aspects of painting and sculpture in their work and many were experimenting with sleek, impersonal surfaces. As the artist noted, "I see the plank as existing between two worlds, the floor representing the physical world of standing objects, trees, cars, buildings, [and] human bodies, ... and the wall representing the world of the imagination, illusionist painting space, [and] human mental space."

"Blue Plank" (1969)



"Don't Tell Me When to Stop" (1967)



"Think Pink" (1967)

Posted By: Alex - Sun May 11, 2025 - Comments (4)
Category: Art | 1960s

Collect:  The Stamp Collecting Game

As the folks at Board Game Geek tell us:

Stanley Gibbons Collect: as it says on the box, "share the excitement and tension of building a major stamp collection". Stanley Gibbons is a famous UK firm that sells postage stamps to collectors and published this game in the 70s to promote the hobby. There wasn't much to do in Britain in the 70s.


Posted By: Paul - Sun May 11, 2025 - Comments (0)
Category: Boredom | Games | 1970s | United Kingdom | Postal Services

May 10, 2025

Ice Cream Van regulations

Online you can find the official regulations governing "Noise from Ice-Cream Van Chimes Etc. in England." One part that stood out for me:

6.1. The chimes should be played once only on the approach to each stopping place (or
‘selling point’), only once when the van is stationary, and never at intervals of less
than 2 minutes.
6.2. The chimes should not be played more often than once every 2 hours in a particular
length of street.

Once the summer heat sets in here in Phoenix, the ice cream truck drivers are out in force, and they sure don't limit their music to "once only on the approach to each stopping place." They play the jingle constantly. You can hear it repeating endlessly as the van circles around the neighborhood.

Incidentally, while growing up I thought ice cream trucks were referred to generically as the "Good Humor Man" (whether or not they happened to be selling Good Humor ice cream). Only recently did I realize that many people don't refer to the trucks by that name.

Posted By: Alex - Sat May 10, 2025 - Comments (1)
Category: Government | Junk Food | Cacophony, Dissonance, White Noise and Other Sonic Assaults

Hi Yo, Camel

The record's page at Discogs.

Posted By: Paul - Sat May 10, 2025 - Comments (0)
Category: Animals | Music | Ridiculousness, Foolishness, Public Ridicule, Silliness, Goofiness and Dumb-looking | 1960s

May 9, 2025

Pul-Vac Vacuum Massager

Turn your vacuum cleaner into a vibrating massager.



Pittsburgh Press - July 25, 1965



(l) Pittsburgh Press - July 25, 1965; (r) NY Daily News - Sep 12, 1965



Harrisburg Patriot-News - Apr 19, 1966

Posted By: Alex - Fri May 09, 2025 - Comments (3)
Category: Technology | 1960s

Miss Cereal City

The earliest reference that I find is 1961 (the photo below). The latest is 1999. It seems the contest and title are extinct.

Posted By: Paul - Fri May 09, 2025 - Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests | Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues | Regionalism | Cereal | Twentieth Century

May 8, 2025

Kilroy Was Here toy jeeps

I would guess that the maker of these toy jeeps knew that "Kilroy Was Here" was a popular phrase among members of the American military, but probably didn't know much about it beyond that.

Decatur Herald and Review - Apr 1, 1947

Posted By: Alex - Thu May 08, 2025 - Comments (2)
Category: Military | Toys | 1940s

The Madison Avenue Beat








Posted By: Paul - Thu May 08, 2025 - Comments (4)
Category: Music | Vinyl Albums and Other Media Recordings | Advertising | 1960s

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All original content in posts is Copyright © 2016 by the author of the post, which is usually either Alex Boese ("Alex"), Paul Di Filippo ("Paul"), or Chuck Shepherd ("Chuck"). All rights reserved. The banner illustration at the top of this page is Copyright © 2008 by Rick Altergott.

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