Weird Universe Blog — December 6, 2024

Rat-Operated Vehicles

We've previously posted about researchers who created fish-operated vehicles.

Along similar lines, neuroscientist Kelly Lambert of the University of Richmond has trained rats to drive small vehicles. She found that they were eager drivers: "the rats had an intense motivation for their driving training, often jumping into the car and revving the 'lever engine' before their vehicle hit the road."

More info: theconversation.com

"Some rats training to drive press a lever before their car is placed on the track, as if they’re eagerly anticipating the ride ahead."

Posted By: Alex - Fri Dec 06, 2024 - Comments (1)
Category: Animals | Science | Experiments

Follies of the Madmen #613








Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 06, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Advertising | Candy | 1970s

December 5, 2024

Tall Men’s Association of America

The Tall Men's Association of America was formed by Benjaming Ostling in 1925. It wasn't just a social club for tall men. It was an activist group that lobbied businesses with the goal to "make life more comfortable for tall men" (as its motto stated).

For instance, members of the association would petition hotels to have longer beds for tall men, or they would ask restaurants to have higher tables.

The group remained fairly active until the early 1940s, but fell into inactivity during WWII.

Atlanta Journal - Aug 5, 1928



Oregon Daily Journal - Nov 20, 1949



Honolulu Star Advertiser - Nov 17, 1929

Posted By: Alex - Thu Dec 05, 2024 - Comments (2)
Category: Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations | 1920s

Merry Twistmas

Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 05, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Holidays | Music | 1960s | Dance

December 4, 2024

Typical reactions of typical American women to feeling A-bomb blast

May 1955: Seven "typical American women" crouched in a trench 3500 yards from an atomic-bomb test in the Nevada desert. They did it to "demonstrate to other women that civilians can survive an atomic blast, if they take proper precautions."

The best reaction to the blast came from Mrs. Grace Doebler of Tucson, Ariz.: "I'd like to do it again, with a bigger one."



Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin - May 5, 1955

Posted By: Alex - Wed Dec 04, 2024 - Comments (2)
Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters | 1950s | Women

December 3, 2024

The John Quinn Letters

Peter Kavanagh published The John Quinn letters: a pandect in 1960. The book consisted of extracts from the letters of the lawyer John Quinn who had corresponded with many famous literary figures such as James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, T.S. Eliot, etc.

The book is a literary oddity not because of its subject matter but because of the way that Kavanagh collected the extracts. He gained access to Quinn's letters in the manuscript room of the New York Public Library. But he was only allowed to read the letters, not take any notes on them. So he transcribed them, from memory, outside the library.

It was a form of spite publishing because the library had forbid the publication of any of Quinn's letters until 1988, and Kavanagh disagreed with this on principle. Also, he published the book on his own handmade printing press. The NYPL promptly sued him and barred distribution of the book.

I don't think it's possible to buy a copy of Kavanagh's book today, but a few libraries have copies of it. I believe there are only 12 copies of it still in existence.

More details from Life magazine (Feb 8, 1960):

When he died in 1924, Quinn bequeathed his letters to the New York Public Library, but the courts construed his will as barring publication in any form until 1988. Scholars who have been permitted to read them in the library's Manuscript Room have to sign a special form agreeing not to use direct quotation, and are forbidden to take notes.

But to Kavanagh, these restrictions were outrageously unjust...

In the Manuscript Room, he had no compunction about signing the pledge not to quote from the letters. "To me," he explains, "that paper had no more validity than posting a sign in my flat, 'Not responsible if the roof falls in.' I was driven and had no choice."

For 13 days Kavanagh pored over the letters. Unable to take notes, he simply memorized salient passages, then rushed outside to jot them down. When he had all he wanted he went on to the most arduous task of all: hand-setting the book and printing it...

Kavanagh had not sold a single copy of the Quinn Letters when the library served him with a restraining order, preventing him from distributing the edition and demanding its confiscation. At that point, Kavanagh made a heartbreaking decision.

"I don't want their bloody hands on my book," he said, and on the morning of the hearing he systematically hacked 117 volumes with a shoemaker's knife, shearing them down the middle. "It's like tearing my heart out," he said...

Kavanagh arrived in court with a briefcase crammed with the literary remains. He approached the bench and addressed the judge as "your lordship." Then he upended his briefcase and scattered his shredded copies as evidence that he had obeyed the injunction. The judge explained that he was not "his lordship" and gave Kavanagh permission to keep two unshredded copies of the book for himself.

Windsor Star - Jan 18, 1960

Posted By: Alex - Tue Dec 03, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Literature | Books | Lawsuits | 1960s

December 2, 2024

Hybrid Flare Denim

Jeans that are just the legs, but still have a belt and pockets.

Available from Coperni for $1,070.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Dec 02, 2024 - Comments (3)
Category: Denim

Comedian’s Suit

Be sure to operate properly.

Full patent here.





Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 02, 2024 - Comments (2)
Category: Costumes and Masks | Humor | Inventions | Patents | 1920s

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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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