July 2018
July 21, 2018
Squished Cockroach
In order to confront the stereotype of the "perceived passiveness of Asian people," the artist who calls herself Squished Cockroach painted herself yellow and then wandered through a crowded train while eating rice and stepping on printed articles strewn in her path. The articles referred to "the rise of hate speech against Asians, stereotypes against Asians presented by the media and increased crime rates targeting Asians."She walked through the train and then was gone, leaving the befuddled commuters to wonder about "the many incidents of racial harassment that do in fact occur on public transport" as well as "the ‘progress’ of humanity."
More info
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jul 21, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Performance Art
Follies of the Madmen #375
"You like your booze so much, why don't you marry her?"
"Thanks! I think I will!"
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jul 21, 2018 -
Comments (6)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Wives, 1940s, Alcohol
July 20, 2018
Tea Whiz
Tea Whiz by Nestea appeared on supermarket shelves in 1973, and then was discontinued almost right away. Hard to imagine what thought process led Nestea to think Tea Whiz would be a good name.
Los Angeles Times - Apr 14, 1973
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jul 20, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Coffee and other Legal Stimulants, 1970s
Virginia Slims Clothing
Dress in the tribal garments of your tobacco goddess.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 20, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Fashion, Tobacco and Smoking, Advertising, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Women, Twentieth Century
July 19, 2018
Does seltzer water help plants grow?
In 1980, Canfield's natural seltzer launched a campaign to promote its product as being great for watering house plants. It printed on its labels: "We recommend our natural seltzer for house plants."Could there have been any truth to this claim? Is seltzer water actually good for plants? Well, the only vaguely scientific study I can find addressing this claim (after, admittedly, only a brief search) was a student project conducted at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2002. The student researchers concluded, "Plants given carbonated water not only grew faster but also developed a healthier shade of green in comparison to plants given tap water."
So, maybe Canfield's was onto something. However, if you're thinking of treating your plants to some seltzer water, I imagine you'd want to use water at room temperature, not refrigerated. Cold water might shock their systems.
Marysville Journal-Tribune - June 9, 1980
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer - May 19, 1980
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jul 19, 2018 -
Comments (12)
Category: Nature, Science, Environmentalism and Ecology, Experiments, 1980s
Why a Monkey on the Leinster Coat of Arms?
"The coat of arms of the Dukes of Leinster derives from the legend that John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare, as a baby in Woodstock Castle, was trapped in a fire when a pet monkey rescued him. The FitzGeralds then adopted a monkey as their crest (and later supporters) and occasionally use the additional motto Non immemor beneficii (Not forgetful of a helping hand)."
The Wikipedia page.
Article source.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 19, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Royalty, Eighteenth Century
July 18, 2018
Barfo Family Candy
The classic, vomiting-head candy released by Topps in 1990.Drew Friedman tells the story of its creation here.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 18, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Candy, 1990s
Miss Interplanetary Space Queen of 1997
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 18, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, 1950s, 1990s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
July 17, 2018
Motion-Sickness Glasses
They're called SEETROËN glasses. They were designed by the French car company Citroën, which claims that they're the first glasses that eliminate motion sickness. Apparently the blue liquid in the glasses simulates level ground, which helps stop the vertigo feeling that some people get while traveling.Interesting concept, but they look a lot like "crazy straw" glasses.
More info: visuall.net
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jul 17, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Fashion, Health, Inventions
Mystery Illustration 74
This young lass is delighted to be offering an armful of potatoes to someone. Who and why? PS: They are not the product of her personal horticultural skills.
The answer is here.
And after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 17, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Food, 1920s
| Get WU Posts by Email | |
|---|---|
| Who We Are |
|---|
| 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 |
