Weird Universe Archive
July 2022
July 11, 2022
Atomic Brandy
1971: Soviet scientists claimed to have invented a method of making brandy in 10-15 days, as opposed to the 2-3 years it usually takes. Specifically, their method involved infusing grape juice with "oak shavings irradiated with 200 rads," and in this way rapidly transforming the juice into brandy.
San Rafael Daily Independent Journal - Sep 14, 1971
Some googling reveals that food scientists have continued to experiment with using ionizing radiation to speed up the aging process for alcoholic beverages. For instance, here's a 1999 article about Brazilian scientists using radiation to speed up the aging of cachaca.
Would the resulting brandy or cachaca be radioactive? Apparently no more so than any alcoholic drink.
Consider this Snopes article: Does U.S. Law Require Alcohol to Be Radioactive?
The answer is that, no, the law doesn't require alcohol to be radioactive, but any alcohol made from plants is going to be slightly radioactive because the plants have been exposed to cosmic rays. As opposed to synthetic alcohol made from petroleum, which will be far less radioactive. So, one way to determine if alcohol came from plants or petroleum is to measure how radioactive it is. Most people, I assume, would prefer the more radioactive stuff.
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jul 11, 2022 -
Comments (0)
Category: Inebriation and Intoxicants, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters
Follies of the Madmen #537
Police brutality!
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 11, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Hygiene, Police and Other Law Enforcement, Advertising, 1930s
July 10, 2022
Paperboy who used his head
This would be an unusual thing to see in America, but not in Africa. When I visited Malawi (quite a few years ago) I remember seeing numerous women walking around balancing all kinds of heavy objects (firewood, water containers, etc.) on their heads.
Charlotte Observer - Jan 31, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jul 10, 2022 -
Comments (5)
Category: Human Marvels, 1970s
Combined Oscillator, Go-Cart, Sled and Step-Ladder
Sometimes you want to rock, sometimes you want to roll, sometimes you want to slide, and sometimes you want to climb.Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 10, 2022 -
Comments (0)
Category: Inventions, Children, 1900s
July 9, 2022
How to make a walking stick from cabbage
There's a type of cabbage that grows thick, woody stalks, and in the Channel Islands there's a tradition of making walking sticks out of it.Instructions from Countryside Publications:
To get good straight stalks of the proper diameter for walking sticks you must strip off the lower leaves at regular intervals. If you get much wind, stake them. The plants are shallow-rooted, like corn, and are easily blown over. Purposely bending the young plants over and then later staking them straight will cause a natural crook in the stalk. This crook then becomes the handle to the walking stick. This type of stick is much prized in England, and fetches a better price than straight sticks.
If the leaves are left on too long the stalk becomes too thick for a proper walking stick and it will often branch out, trying to form limbs. Ideally, you need to remove the lower leaves when the stalk is slightly larger than walking stick size--about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter. You can expect about 20 pecent shrinkage when dry. I think a diameter of about an inch is ideal for a walking stick...
If the leaves are left on too long the stalk becomes too thick for a proper walking stick and it will often branch out, trying to form limbs. Ideally, you need to remove the lower leaves when the stalk is slightly larger than walking stick size--about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter. You can expect about 20 pecent shrinkage when dry. I think a diameter of about an inch is ideal for a walking stick...
The specific type of cabbage you need goes by a variety of names: 'cow cabbage,' 'Jersey cabbage,' or 'walking stick cabbage.' And yes, you can eat the leaves of this cabbage.
More info: wikipedia,
image source: Grow Your Own Monsters, by Nicola Davies and Simon Hickmott
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jul 09, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Vegetables
The Sounds of Camp
Can't afford to send your child to summer camp this year? Just stick 'em in the front yard under a sprinkler and play them this album.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jul 09, 2022 -
Comments (0)
Category: Day Camps, Away Camps, Outdoor Activities and Recreational Retreats, Children, 1960s
July 8, 2022
The Volkswagen Beatle
Dave Fambrough made headlines back in 1978 for turning cars into giant spiders. I'm not sure what's become of him since then.According to NV Racing News, as of 2015 one of Fambrough's spider cars could be seen on the roof of Scudder's Performance Racing garage in Sparks, Nevada.
San Bernardino County Sun - Mar 29, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jul 08, 2022 -
Comments (5)
Category: Art, 1970s, Cars
The Teppaz Transistradio
Besides having an unpronounceable name and being ugly, this French radio-turntable looks like very kludgy tech.The entry at the Radio Museum.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 08, 2022 -
Comments (4)
Category: Music, Radio, Technology, 1960s, Europe
July 7, 2022
Genuine Los Angeles Smog
A gag gift from 1958. Cans of the stuff occasionally pop up on eBay, though none are currently available.More info: kcet.org
Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Apr 24, 1958
Colorado Daily Sentinel - Jun 22, 1958
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jul 07, 2022 -
Comments (4)
Category: Gifts, Presents, Tributes, and Other Honoraria, Urban Life, 1950s
Ella Fitzgerald, “Get Thee Behind Me Satan”
This is a very weird song. Is Satan the boyfriend? I'm not sure. Gospel music of course deals with this subject matter all the time, but to the tune of a wistful ballad?Get Thee Behind Me Satan Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Get thee behind me, Satan
I want to resist
But the moon is low and I can't say "No"
Get thee behind me
Get thee behind me, Satan
I mustn't be kissed
But the moon is low and I may let go
Get thee behind me
[Bridge]
Someone I'm mad about
Is waiting in the night for me
Someone that I mustn't see
Satan, get thee behind me
[Verse 2]
He promised to wait
But I won't appear and he may come here
Satan, he's at my gate
Get thee behind me
Stay where you are, it's too late
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3]
Satan, get thee behind me
He promised to wait
But I won't appear and he may come here
Satan, he's at my gate
Get thee behind me
Stay where you are, it's too late
[Outro]
It's too late
It's too late
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 07, 2022 -
Comments (6)
Category: Music, Religion, Love & Romance
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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 |
