Weird Universe Archive
January 2022
January 11, 2022
Andy Warhol on The Love Boat
Acting was clearly not Warhol's strong suit.More info: MeTV.com
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jan 11, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Art, Television, 1980s
Miss Riviera
Why would this lovely Mademoiselle, perhaps hailing from Cannes or Nice and crowned "Miss Riviera," be posing in what looks like a furniture showroom, instead of at the beach or casino?Because she is Miss Riviera Manufacturing of 1956.
"Mrs. Grace Boeckmann is fast acquiring beauty titles. She is Miss Riviera (chosen by the Riviera Manufacturing Co.), Miss Sun Valley and Miss San Fernando Valley. She now is representing the Valley as a contestant in the California finals of the Miss Universe competition."
Source.
"A huge expansion sale is under way at both of the Valley locations of the Riviera Manufacturing Co., maker of sofa beds. Shown above is the North Hollywood location at 11015 Magnolia Blvd., where a new annex is being constructed. The other location is in Reseda."
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 11, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Domestic, 1950s
January 10, 2022
Acoustic Skulls
When excavating medieval and early-modern buildings in northern Europe, archaeologists sometimes find horse skulls buried beneath them. One theory is that the skulls were placed there for magical, ritualistic reasons. Another possibility is that they served an acoustic purpose.Sonja Hukantaival discusses this in her 2009 article "Horse Skulls and 'Alder-Horse': The Horse as a Building Deposit".
The practical, non-ritual, reason given for horse's skulls concealed in buildings is that they are placed under floors to create an echo. This has been suggested both in the British Isles and in Southern Scandinavia... Ceramic pots have also been concealed in buildings for acoustic reasons. The acoustic skulls were placed in churches, in houses and in Scandinavia especially in threshing barns.
In churches the acoustics were very important, of course. And in houses were people danced and music was played, but why in threshing barns? It was considered important that the sound of threshing carried far. Could this have some magic purpose? It is well known that in many cultures loud noises are considered to expel evil forces. So this "practical" custom of acoustic skulls may not be contradictory to magical and symbolic acts at all. One question to consider is also why horses' skulls were preferred. One would presume that the skulls of cattle would be available more often than those of horses, and possibly just as suitable for acoustics.
In churches the acoustics were very important, of course. And in houses were people danced and music was played, but why in threshing barns? It was considered important that the sound of threshing carried far. Could this have some magic purpose? It is well known that in many cultures loud noises are considered to expel evil forces. So this "practical" custom of acoustic skulls may not be contradictory to magical and symbolic acts at all. One question to consider is also why horses' skulls were preferred. One would presume that the skulls of cattle would be available more often than those of horses, and possibly just as suitable for acoustics.
More info: IAC Archaeology
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 10, 2022 -
Comments (0)
Category: Death, Medieval Era, Archaeology
Lily & Maria
"I knew the shape of thirsty flowers..."
Their Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jan 10, 2022 -
Comments (0)
Category: Eccentrics, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, Fey, Twee, Whimsical, Naive and Sadsack, Music, 1960s
January 9, 2022
Formaldehyde Hunger
According to medical student lore, the smell of formaldehyde while dissecting bodies stimulates the appetite. This phenomenon is known as 'formaldehyde hunger'.It was mentioned in a 2020 article by Amalia Namath in the Georgetown Medical Review, and that's the earliest reference to it I've been able to find:
A few years had passed since I had last been in the anatomy lab, but the smell immediately brought me back. With the smell came a flood of memories—meeting my 4 lab mates and bonding as we spent hours hunched over our cadaver. Often, we would share our favorite recipes as the lab would wind down, in part because of the aptly named "formaldehyde hunger" and to find common ground.
An article on mashed.com disputes the reality of the phenomenon, noting, "there is some self-reported evidence of formaldehyde actually having the opposite effect — constricting hunger, rather than inducing it."
My guess is that med students just naturally build up an appetite during the long hours they're dissecting a cadaver. After all, they're presumably not snacking while they're doing this. The formaldehyde has nothing to do with their hunger. But it makes a better story to attribute their food cravings to the formaldehyde.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jan 09, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Food, Science, Fables, Myths, Urban Legends, Rumors, Water-Cooler Lore
Secret Shoulder Straps
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jan 09, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Body Modifications, Fashion, Inventions, Nineteenth Century
January 8, 2022
Cemetery Honey
Our Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum apiary has produced delicious honey made from our tree pollen. It's got a light, nutty flavor and comes raw and unfiltered.
You can buy it, in person, at Forest Home Cemetery. Or you can purchase it online from Fairy Garden Hives. For an extra $12 you can get the "Friday the 13th Limited Edition" cemetery honey.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 08, 2022 -
Comments (3)
Category: Death, Food
Andy Saunders and his Custom Cars
His homepage.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 08, 2022 -
Comments (3)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, United Kingdom, Cars
January 7, 2022
USB Wine
Since this is French, it probably won't work in the U.S.More info: usbwine.com
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 07, 2022 -
Comments (5)
Category: Humor, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Internet
A Wild Man of Alabama
Society does not tolerate outsiders and hermits very well.Source: The True Democrat (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)16 Mar 1853, Wed Page 2
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jan 07, 2022 -
Comments (5)
Category: Regionalism, Vigilante Justice, Hermits, Dogs, Nineteenth Century
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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 |
