Weird Universe Archive
October 2008
October 24, 2008
Cow Mattresses
Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 24, 2008 -
Comments (11)
Category: Business, Products, Cows
October 23, 2008
Name That List #4
Courtesy of Jenny, another "Name that list" challenge. What is this a list of? The answer is in extended (and on the comments page):Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber handle, R2D2’s plastic handle, a lead cargo tag unearthed from the Jamestown colony, a stuffed teddy bear, fabric and a wooden strut piece from the Wright Flyer, a dead WWII pilot’s medal, a sheet of music from the repertoire of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”), a golf ball, a small aluminum sculpture, signatures in the form of computer codes imprinted on compact discs, badges, wedding rings, jewelry, patches, flags, medallions, coins, currency, flags, stamps, charms, pennants, postal covers, unauthorized postal covers, and unauthorized timepieces (a wristwatch and a stop watch).
More in extended >>
Posted By: Alex - Thu Oct 23, 2008 -
Comments (3)
Category: Name That List
New Beer, Old Tea Bags, Old Sanitary Napkins
and the Afternoon Edition of Chuck's News of the Weird Daily for ThursdayRice University researchers hard at work on a genetically modified strain of yeast to make beer a cancer-fighter, just like red wine. Computerworld
The outgoing Miss Teen Louisiana and some pals skipped out of their $46 tab at Posados restaurant in Bossier City, and police know that because she accidentally left her purse there (with her ID) (and her marijuana). News Star (Monroe, La.)
A local council in Britain says a guy in a two-person small business office has to buy a regular weekly environmental disposal contract after an inspector saw them toss out cling film (they wrapped their lunch from home with) and used tea bags. Daily Telegraph
In Fort Pierce, Fla., police arrested Ms. Ermith Emonfils, 27, for shoplifting, and also brandishing her "well-used" sanitary napkin. TCPalm.com
Not just a "white supremacist," but an "Aryan sorcerer"! And he's now in trouble for leaving his girlfriend's son with 13 bite marks, and for telephoning in "black magic spell" threats to high school teachers. The Star Press (Muncie, Ind.)
Professor Music's Weird Link
Here is the go-to site for the obese who read with envy that people infected with tapeworm "suffer" rapid weight-loss and wonder, Hmmm, maybe I need to get me one of those tapeworm larvae. TapewormDiet.net
Today's Newsrangers: Mark Neunder, Sandy Pearlman, Taylor Mack, Grant Crawford, Lee Strickler, Candy Clouston, Perry Levin, Eli Christman
Comments on the Afternoon Edition of Chuck's News of the Weird Daily for Thursday?
Comments 'cycle_081023'
Posted By: Chuck - Thu Oct 23, 2008 -
Comments (0)
Category:
Don Dixon’s “Praying Mantis”
Talk of bugs that eat their mates automatically reminded me of Don Dixon's one hit, the great "Praying Mantis." If you click here, you should be able to hear the song for free. Warning for those at work or in a quiet zone of some sort: it will start playing automatically.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 23, 2008 -
Comments (3)
Category: Death, Insects and Spiders, Music, Sexuality
Live and Let Live
Continuing our series of weird auto-safety films, we now examine one told completely through the medium of toys. This looks like it was a lot of fun for the creators to make.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 23, 2008 -
Comments (2)
Category: Death, Education, Toys, Documentaries, 1940s, Cars
Kitty Klaws
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 23, 2008 -
Comments (8)
Category: Body Modifications, Business, Products, Cats
October 22, 2008
Strange Candidate #6: Lar “America First” Daly
From the 1930s to the 1970s Lar "America First" Daly ran for just about every elective office, including Senator, President, Governor, and Mayor. He never won. This may have had something to do with his campaign slogan: "America First -- or Death."He campaigned wearing an Uncle Sam suit. He would promote his candidacy by driving around Chicago in a sound truck. (Is this where the Blues Brothers got the idea?) When not campaigning, he earned a living by operating a chair and stool company out of the garage behind his house.
Some of the issues he supported:
• Any witness who invokes the 5th amendment to the constitution should be sent to prison.
• Known dope peddlers should be shot on sight (after first receiving a seven day warning to get out of town).
He described himself as "known throughout America as Sen. Douglas MacArthur's greatest supporter." He filed MacArthur's name for President in every election from 1936 onwards.
In the 1950s he boasted that he was the only candidate "100 per cent behind" Sen. McCarthy's investigations into domestic Communist activities.
He told President Truman that he wanted to accompany the crew of the first American plane to fly over Moscow so that he could release the atomic bomb over the Kremlin.
But his real claim to fame came from his constant demands to be given equal time whenever a mainstream candidate appeared on air, citing Section 315 of the Communications Act, the so-called "equal time" provision. Because of him, Congress amended the law so that broadcasters didn't always have to give equal time.
Once he was effectively barred from free air time, he began buying ads in newspapers. An example of one is reproduced below. He died in 1978.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Oct 22, 2008 -
Comments (3)
Category: Strange Candidates
A Wily Garbage Chute, A Very Smelly Woman
and the Afternoon Edition of Chuck's News of the Weird Daily for WednesdayLeast competent garbage taker-outer: age 74; trash gets stuck in chute; he reaches way down, waaaaaaay down, to dislodge it. The Columbian via Seattle Times
This Australian woman finally, after years of bewilderment, got a medical explanation for why, even after scrubdowns, she still smelled like rotten fish. Australian Associated Press via News.com.au
Once again: Why is it so damn easy for drivers to accidentally turn onto railroad tracks (and then so damn hard to get off once they're on)? (This guy drove on for a mile before getting stuck.) Metrowest Daily News (Framingham, Mass.)
German photographer Bernd Hagemann gets good ink 'n' pixels about his specialty: capturing the varieties of sleepers in China taking naps, in all places, on all surfaces (more than 600 so far). Daily Telegraph (London)
It's a commune on Haight Street in San Francisco so we know what must be going on there! (Wrong. They are the super-religious, passing the days in continuous prayer for divine intervention to pass Proposition 8, the state's man-woman marriage constitutional amendment.) Los Angeles Times
A Danish art collective has made a walking house (like, for protection against floods, where the house can just run for higher ground). Looks kinda like that thingy in Wild Wild West (1999). Has a toilet, kitchen, wood stove, more. The Sun (London)
Professor Music's Weird Link
Well, not a weird link today but a nice collection of those Jay Leno-type "headlines." You can waste some serious quality time here. criggo.wordpress.com
Today's Newsrangers: Scott Langill, Karl Olson, Candy Clouston, Jeff Leiboff
Comments on the Afternoon Edition of Chuck's News of the Weird Daily for Wednesday?
Comments 'cycle_081022'
Posted By: Chuck - Wed Oct 22, 2008 -
Comments (0)
Category:
Spring Heel Shoe
The verdict is still out, however, on whether wearing them will turn you into the mythic monster known as Spring-heeled Jack.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Oct 22, 2008 -
Comments (14)
Category: Fashion, Shoes, Flight, Human Marvels, Stupidity, Technology, Fictional Monsters
Understanding Your Ideals
Let us all learn from Jeff's struggle the true meaning of popularity and hewing to our ideals. And just remember: "Grandma's going to be aaall RIGHT!"
Posted By: Paul - Wed Oct 22, 2008 -
Comments (1)
Category: Education, Family, Children, Parents, Philosophy, Ethics and Morals, Transportation, 1950s
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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 books such as Elephants on Acid. 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. Chuck Shepherd Chuck is the purveyor of News of the Weird, the syndicated column which for decades has set the gold-standard for reporting on oddities and the bizarre. Our banner was drawn by the legendary underground cartoonist Rick Altergott. Contact Us |
