Weird Universe Archive
February 2010
February 19, 2010
Out of This World
Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 19, 2010 -
Comments (13)
Category: Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, 1960s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
February 18, 2010
Concerto for Beatboxer and Orchestra
This Friday sees the world premier of a new classical composition by popular modern composer Anna Meredith. However this is a score with a difference as Anna, in collaboration with top British beatboxer Schlomo (it's his real name), has incorporated 5 of the performance artists into her latest piece, Concerto for Beatboxer and Orchestra, playing at London Southbank Centre. The first problem facing the odd-couple duo was how exactly to score a beatbox performance as the vocal styling had grown from its hip-hop roots entirely by 'word of mouth' and has no formal notation. Undeterred Meredith and Schlomo have spent a year constructing their own, which they hope will gain wider adoption when the entire score of the new work is made available online for free following the first performance (FT).The Southbank Centre has put up a 'teaser trailer' for the new work
And Schlomo's beatbox talents can be checked out courtesy of the BBC's Jules Holland Show.
Posted By: Dumbfounded - Thu Feb 18, 2010 -
Comments (6)
Category: Art, Performance Art, Entertainment, Music, Screams, Grunts and Other Exclamations
Nothing Is Ever Free
The Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania provides lap top computers to every one of their 1,800 high school students. School officials say that this ensures that all students have '24/7 access to school based resorces'. It seems the actual reason is to allow school officials after school access to the students' home lives. Each one of the student lap tops contains an embedded web cam that can be remotely activated by the school personnel. Let me be clear, anything happening in any room the school provided lap top is in can be watched by school officials whenever they choose to activate the web cam. This is not just checking what the computer was accessing on the web, this is watching what goes on in the family homes of these children. This came to light when student, Blake T. Robbins, was pulled into assistant principal, Lindy Matsko office to be reprimanded for 'improper behavior at home'. To verify the accusation Ms. Matsko produced a picture taken by the web cam in the boy's home. A lawsuit has been filed by Blake's parents on his behalf, in federal court. Not all lawsuits are frivolous, not all educators are intelligent, and not all big brother scenarios involve the government in the role of bad guy.
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/breaking/news/20100218_Lower_Merion_School_District_sued_for_cyber_spying_on_students.html
Posted By: Alex - Thu Feb 18, 2010 -
Comments (24)
Category:
More Weird Shorts
And if you fancy taking a trip to Tickle Cock Bridge, why not make a grand tour of it and take in some more of Britain’s rudest place names (Telegraph).
It’s always worth making sure you have plenty of the local currency on holiday, but for one German tourist this became more of a life-saver than a simple convenience. Dominik Podolsky was just riding the ski-lift back down in Hochzillertal in Austria as darkness fell when it was suddenly switched off, as it is every dusk, leaving him stranded. As temperatures dropped to minus 18° Celcius (0° F) Mr. Podolsky began to set light to whatever was to hand to attract attention, starting with paper napkins and some business cards before in desperation he was forced to set fire to his money. He had just burned his last euro when he was finally spotted by a cleaning crew and rescued (Orange).
Perhaps he would have done better to visit the Swiss side of the Alps instead. If not on the mountains, at the very least he would have been better looked after in that country's brothels. Principally because, with an increasing number of elderly clients packing a well-known anti-impotence treatment, Swiss brothels are training their staff in the use of defibrillators in an effort to stop the pill-popping pensioners become clog-popping corpses. "Having customers die on us isn't exactly good publicity" said one sex-club owner. Funny, I would have thought the opposite was true (Telegraph).
But trained as they may be, Swiss working girls will never have the edge on their American competitors. At least that’d be the conclusion you might draw from the results of a recent poll which placed America at number one on the list of countries with the most attractive people (Switzerland didn’t even make the top 20). So rejoice America, from the wild and wanton women of Walmart to the sultry street-girl sirens of Chattanooga, your beauty is unsurpassed (Herald Sun).
Posted By: Dumbfounded - Thu Feb 18, 2010 -
Comments (5)
Category: Architecture, Government, Officials, Money, Odd Names, Political Correctness, Goofs and Screw-ups
Chedder Cheese for Heros
Not safe for PETAites.More in extended >>
Posted By: Expat47 - Thu Feb 18, 2010 -
Comments (3)
Category: Food
February 17, 2010
Smallest Meets Tallest
My favorite part of the video is where the little guy holds the big guys index finger.Click on the video at 1:04 to see that.
The big guys hand on the little guys shoulder at 54 seconds is pretty cool, too!
Posted By: gdanea - Wed Feb 17, 2010 -
Comments (1)
Category: Body
Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite
For those of you who travel frequently, there is a web site you may find useful. The Bed Bug Registry is a listing of hotels and even apartment buildings with bed bug infestations. It's a free site and in addition to checking for listings you can even report an infestation if you have the misfortune of finding one somewhere.
http://bedbugregistry.com/
picture from yahoo images
Posted By: Alex - Wed Feb 17, 2010 -
Comments (2)
Category:
Safety Down Under
In a move to promote safe sex in the sex industry the Australian government will be supplying condoms to prostitutes and their customers. Not just generic, plain old condoms either. The government is requesting price quotes for condoms of all colors, flavors, and textures.http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/novelty-condoms-hit-the-street/story-e6freuy9-1225831557681
Posted By: Alex - Wed Feb 17, 2010 -
Comments (5)
Category:
When Bacon Just Isn’t Enough
Now you can get your caffeine and protein in one, hard to chew, treat. Meet Perky Jerky; where the meat treat meets the morning cuppa joe.
Posted By: Expat47 - Wed Feb 17, 2010 -
Comments (6)
Category: Nutrition
February 16, 2010
Badge gets shot - not officer!!
The shooter probably wasn't aiming for the Las Vegas officer's badge, but the shield did shield the officer.
The rest of the story and a short news report is at this link:
http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11983445
What handy item will save a life next?
Aluminum foil hat stops safe?
Another pen used to perform a tracheotomy?
Submit your suggestion in the comments!!
Posted By: gdanea - Tue Feb 16, 2010 -
Comments (5)
Category: Cops
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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 |
