September 2024
September 5, 2024
Politician promises weight loss
A low-ambition campaign promise: Adeline Geo-Karis promised that, if elected Comptroller of Illinois, she would lose 50 pounds. She didn't win.
Bloomington Pantagraph - May 23, 1986
Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 05, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Politics, 1980s, Dieting and Weight Loss
The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away
Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 05, 2024 -
Comments (3)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Music, 1950s, Alcohol
September 4, 2024
Nature’s Butts
They've been coming out with versions of this calendar for a couple of years, but I just heard about it now.The 2025 calendar is now available.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Sep 04, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Nature, Natural Wonders, Photography and Photographers
The Piano Violin
Full patent here.The player has to bow the strings and strike some keys simultaneously. Wonder why it never caught on?
Posted By: Paul - Wed Sep 04, 2024 -
Comments (6)
Category: Inventions, Music, 1900s
September 3, 2024
Take your kid to work day, brain surgery edition
When sharing with your kid goes too far...The medic, whose identity was not disclosed, was employed at University Hospital Graz in Austria and reportedly guided her 13-year-old daughter step-by-step through the procedure in January.
She allegedly went as far as letting her daughter drill into the skull of 33-year-old Gregor R., who required emergency surgery following a head injury from a forest accident.
More info: Daily Mail
Posted By: Alex - Tue Sep 03, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Jobs and Occupations, Teenagers
Killer Tree
Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 03, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Death, Highways, Roads, Streets and Traffic, Nature, Synchronicity and Coincidence, 1960s
September 2, 2024
A search for love on the No. 94 bus
While visiting Los Angeles from Elk River, Idaho in May 1978, 33-year-old Zan Lawrence met a young woman on the No. 94 bus. They talked for about 20 minutes before she disembarked.Lawrence was smitten, but he didn't know how to contact her. Or even what her name was. So he spent the following weeks riding the same bus back and forth, hoping to meet her again. He also put up signs and placed newspaper ads.
Eventually his search came to the attention of the media, and he was featured in articles. However, the publicity didn't help him locate the young woman. He never did find her again.
Of course, maybe she didn't want to be found.
Los Angeles Times - June 10, 1978
Los Angeles Times - Aug 14, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 02, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: 1970s, Bus, Love & Romance
The Outdoors Girl of Canada
The earliest reference I find is the one below, from 1955. The latest is from 1989. A respectable 40-year run. But too few pictures of the winners!
Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 02, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Nature, Day Camps, Away Camps, Outdoor Activities and Recreational Retreats, 1950s, 1980s, North America
September 1, 2024
Miss Calculator of 1952
I've been unable to find out if Ruth Houser ended up winning the title of "Miss Calculator of 1952."Incidentally, the Monroe Calculating Company is still around, and still selling calculators.
Johnson City Press-Chronicle - May 18, 1952
Posted By: Alex - Sun Sep 01, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Technology, Computers, 1950s
Dancing Fools
BULLETIN! Fresh outbreak of the Medieval Dancing Mania!
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 01, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, Advertising, 1970s, Dance
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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 |
