Chuck’s 2017 Farewell

Below is a screenshot of Chuck's goodbye when he retired.

I should mention that I knew Chuck for only 32, years, not 40. Our acquaintance dated to my awareness of him when he was profiled in THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY. You can read that article here.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 16, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Statues, Monuments and Memorials, Chuck

Chuck’s First Post at WU

Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 16, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Chuck’s Hand-Picked Weird News, History, Statues, Monuments and Memorials, Weird Universe, Chuck

Chuck Shepherd, RIP

This is an incredibly sad post to make. I am honored beyond belief to have counted Chuck as a friend for nearly 40 years. His contributions to culture were immense. All we can do, other than mourn, is to carry on as he would have wanted us to do.

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 16, 2022 - Comments (6)
Category: Death, Chuck

Homage to Shepherd

Someone at the NEW YORK TIMES exhibits his good taste and sense of propriety, by capitalizing "News of the Weird" to render homage to Chuck. And this proves that NOTW remains a potent historical signifier and force!



Article.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 07, 2018 - Comments ()
Category: Newspapers, Weird Universe, Chuck

Go Back, Jack, Do It Again

As we approach the tenth anniversary of Weird Universe (founded mainly due to the genius and initiative of Chuck Shepherd, July 2008), Alex and I had the notion that newcomers might not have seen many of our past posts that were deserving of their amused attentions. Therefore, we are going to occasionally repost an oldie-but-goodie, bannered with a special header to identify it. We hope that even if you have been with us since the beginning, you will enjoy these reruns, which, of course, will not diminish our schedule of two new posts each and every day.

Just more weirdness for your enjoyment!

Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 03, 2018 - Comments (3)
Category: Anniversary, Weird Universe, Alex, Chuck, Paul

Who Can Replace a Shepherd?

WU-vie GES comments: "I've sent many stories to Chuck over the years, several of which he has included on NOTW. Where can I send them now? Is there some way of getting them posted in WU?"

Certainly Alex and I would appreciate reader tips, and possibly use them somehow, in singleton posts. So keep sending them to the email addresses in the sidebar. But neither of us have plans at the moment to try to match the weekly ineffable efforts of Chuck.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 04, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Weird Universe, Alex, Chuck, Paul, Reader Recommendation

Chuck’s Departure

Naturally, when Chuck informed Alex and me earlier of his decision to retire, we were heartbroken--just as all of his readers are showing themselves to be.

And yet, once the dust of that explosive announcement settled, Alex and I realized--just as all of his readers must--that Chuck's long, invaluable, joyous service would remain forever an inspiration, and that no one deserved more accolades and more congratulations and more good wishes for a long and fruitful post- NOTW lifetime than he did! So, Chuck, please consider those warm feelings and congratulations delivered in spades!

Of course, after all this, Alex and I still faced the question of whether to keep Weird Universe going. We decided to give it a go, for as long as readers keep coming and seem to enjoy what we do.

The blog has not been diminished by one-third, but by more like fifty percent, with Chuck's departure. So I guess Alex and I will just have to try to fill those large shoes to some degree.

Thanks to one and all--but most of all, to Chuck, whose idea it was to do Weird Universe in the first place!

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 04, 2017 - Comments (18)
Category: Weird Universe, Alex, Chuck, Paul, Sadness

The City Flag of Tampa

Our own Chuck Shepherd, longtime resident of Tampa, Florida, can salute his city's improbable flag as one of the ugliest banners in the history of banner-dom. He modestly suggests that more people should know of it, to induce further laughter and insults.

And yet, surprisingly, neighboring burg of St. Pete has a halfway decent ensign--if you like pelicans.





Full article here.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Apr 22, 2017 - Comments ()
Category: Annoying Things, Government, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Regionalism, Chuck

Happy New Year, 2017!

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jan 01, 2017 - Comments ()
Category: Holidays, Weird Universe, Alex, Chuck, Paul

Chuck Shepherd:  NOTW Milestone

Friends: the post immediately below this one is Chuck's 1500th weekly column! Do the math, kids: Twenty-eight-plus years of brilliant curation and commentary. What else began in 1988 that is still going strong and undiminished? Oh, sure Afghanistan is still wracked by war. But is that an honorable achievement? No! The Phantom of the Opera debuted in 1988 and is still running. But I'll take Chuck over Andrew Lloyd Webber any day!

Please weigh in with your own thoughts and applause and appreciations. Perhaps your 28-year-old child somehow owes his or her birth to NOTW? Your marriage was saved by NOTW? You went to Washington as a humble Senator and conducted a noble filibuster by reciting NOTW columns? No? Well, in any case, Chuck has brightened many a day and life. That's what really matters.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Nov 07, 2016 - Comments (13)
Category: Anniversary, Weird Universe, Chuck