Weird Universe Blog — September 19, 2023

AI-created soda

Companies are scrambling to get on the AI bandwagon. The latest example of this is Coca-Cola, which recently released Y3000, a soda "co-created with artificial intelligence." The packaging describes it as "futuristic flavored." One reviewer said it tasted like "melted gummy bears with orange." I think I'll pass.

More info: CNN Business



Posted By: Alex - Tue Sep 19, 2023 - Comments (1)
Category: AI, Robots and Other Automatons | Soda, Pop, Soft Drinks and other Non-Alcoholic Beverages

September 18, 2023

No more queues in grocery stores

We got the computerized food scanners, but we've still got checkout lines. What happened?

North Bay Nugget - May 29, 1974

Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 18, 2023 - Comments (4)
Category: Technology | 1970s | Yesterday’s Tomorrows

Dirt Danger Days

Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 18, 2023 - Comments (0)
Category: Death | Hygiene | Advertising | Children | 1950s

September 17, 2023

Wate-On

Based on the strange clothing and the thing that looks like an asteroid in the top right corner, I think the two people are supposed to be futuristic space travelers of some kind. Why they're in an ad for a weight-gain product, I don't know.

Sports Illustrated - June 5, 1978

Posted By: Alex - Sun Sep 17, 2023 - Comments (2)
Category: Advertising | Space Travel | 1970s | Dieting and Weight Loss

Hal Mooney’s BALLET WITH A BEAT

I regret that I cannot find the entire album online. But perhaps these two tracks will tell you all you want to know about turning ballet standards into exotic lounge music.





Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 17, 2023 - Comments (0)
Category: Space-age Bachelor Pad & Exotic | 1960s | Dance

September 16, 2023

Surveillance Underwear

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) recently announced that it's launching a program to develop "durable, ready-to-wear clothing that can record audio, video, and geolocation data." This will include underwear.

The surveillance clothing will aim to be "stretchable, bendable, comfortable, and washable like regular clothing."

I'd like to see James Bond wearing surveillance underwear in his next movie.

More info: The Intercept; IARPA's press release

Posted By: Alex - Sat Sep 16, 2023 - Comments (5)
Category: Spies and Intelligence Services | Underwear

Follies of the Madmen #575



Who knew a simple cough could prove fatal?

Posted By: Paul - Sat Sep 16, 2023 - Comments (1)
Category: Death | Advertising | 1960s | Diseases

September 15, 2023

The Wozard of Iz

A 1960s, Moog-synthesizer parody of the Wizard of Oz.

Wikipedia quotes Kim Cooper who described it as, "the pinnacle of the rather small genre of psychedelic Wizard of Oz-themed albums."



Detroit Free Press - Dec 20, 1968

Posted By: Alex - Fri Sep 15, 2023 - Comments (1)
Category: Music | 1960s | Parody

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All original content in posts is Copyright © 2016 by the author of the post, which is usually either Alex Boese ("Alex"), Paul Di Filippo ("Paul"), or Chuck Shepherd ("Chuck"). All rights reserved. The banner illustration at the top of this page is Copyright © 2008 by Rick Altergott.

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