Weird Universe Blog — September 11, 2024
The Devon Octopus Invasion
Summer of 1950: A strange Cold War conspiracy theory circulated among fishermen in Devon. They attributed a large number of octopuses in the coastal waters to the presence of Russian trawlers "fitted with tanks containing octopuses," releasing the creatures near the coast.
Plymouth Western Morning News - Sep 28, 1950
Posted By: Alex - Wed Sep 11, 2024 -
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Category: Fish | Conspiracy Theories and Theorists | 1950s | United Kingdom
Jailbait!
This text seems to be missing coverage of fully half of all possible juvenile delinquents. But why not see for yourself at the Internet Archive.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Sep 11, 2024 -
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Category: Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough | Teenagers | Books | 1940s
September 10, 2024
Weight-Loss Earring
The Acu-Ring, or weight-control earring, was introduced in 1978 and continued to be sold until at least 1990.You were supposed to wear the ring around the edge of your ear and squeeze it whenever you felt an urge to eat. Soon you'd see the pounds melting away!
It supposedly worked by means of 'acupressure'. The theory was that there's a spot on the ear that controls the stomach, so putting pressure on that spot would lessen appetite. (Couldn't a similar effect be achieved just by squeezing the edge of your ear with your fingers? Apparently not.)
A similar idea lay behind "staplepuncture" (or ear stapling) which we've posted about previously.
Brigham Young University Daily Universe - Oct 7, 1982
Allentown Morning Call - July 17, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Tue Sep 10, 2024 -
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Category: Dieting and Weight Loss
Oddities: A Book of Unexplained Facts
Read it here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 10, 2024 -
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Category: Weird Facts | Weird Studies and Guides | Books | 1920s
September 9, 2024
How to hold a press conference
Chico Enterprise-Record - June 7, 1972
Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 09, 2024 -
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Category: Diplomacy and Foreign Relations | Officials | 1970s
Monkey Girl Marries Alligator Boy
Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 09, 2024 -
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Category: Human Marvels | Marriage | 1940s | Circuses, Carnivals, and Other Traveling Shows
September 8, 2024
Please don’t throw explosives in the trash
A very British way of asking people to not blow up garbage workers:
Derby Evening Telegraph - May 14, 1966
Posted By: Alex - Sun Sep 08, 2024 -
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Category: 1960s | United Kingdom | Weapons
The Idea
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 08, 2024 -
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Category: Philosophy | Allegories, Parables, Fables and Moral Lessons | Cartoons | 1930s
September 7, 2024
Subversive Coca-Cola Bottles
In 1965, thousands of sealed Coca-Cola bottles containing "subversive bulletins" were found floating off the coast of the Northern Celebes.
Miami Herald - July 30, 1965
I can't find any information about who was responsible for this strange act of subversion. But it recalls a later subversive use of Coca-Cola bottles by the Brazilian artist Cildo Meireles.
It was during the 1970s when used glass bottles would be returned and refilled. Meireles would modify the bottles before returning them by adding white text on the side showing messages such as "Yankees Go Home" or instructions for turning the bottle into a Molotov cocktail.
More info: Beach Branding and Packaging Design
Posted By: Alex - Sat Sep 07, 2024 -
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Category: Art | Soda, Pop, Soft Drinks and other Non-Alcoholic Beverages | 1960s | 1970s
The Hobo News
The Wikipedia page.A nice essay with pix.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Sep 07, 2024 -
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Category: Bums, Hobos, Tramps, Beggars, Panhandlers and Other Streetpeople | Newspapers | Twentieth Century
