Cuddling as a commcercial industry

According to a recent article in the SF Chronicle: "The belief that touch is essential — a biological and social need — but often difficult to find without an intimate relationship is a guiding principle within the cuddling world, which in recent years has emerged as a major commercial industry. There are professional cuddlists who offer private cuddling sessions for as much as $100 per hour. Cuddling has pushed into the retail market with vigor."

A Washington Post article adds, "In the past four years storefront cuddle shops have opened in Portland and Los Angeles, and one-on-one cuddle providers are proliferating across the nation."

The cuddling industry doesn't involve only person-to-person cuddling. There's also person-to-cow cuddling. The BBC reports: "A farm in upstate New York is offering self-care seekers the chance to spend 90 minutes cosying up to cows. The Mountain Horse Farm explains that cows are 'sensitive, intuitive animals' who will 'pick up on what's going on inside and sense if you are happy, sad, feel lost, anxious or are excited, and they will respond to that without judgement'... The farm in New York charges $300 (approx. £225) for 90 minutes of snuggles. That’s roughly £2.50 per minute of cow time."

There's even turkey cuddling, which has been gaining popularity as an alternative way to celebrate Thanksgiving.

image source: Instagram

Posted By: Alex - Fri Nov 23, 2018 - Comments (0)
Category: Business, Emotions, Love & Romance

The Encyclopedia of World Problems

Do you not have enough problems in your life? Do the internet and other media fail to bring world problems to your attention? If this is your dilemma, rest easy! A solution is at hand! Simply visit THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WORLD PROBLEMS. There, you can choose from thousands of problems to worry about. Maybe you want something concrete, such as VIOLENT CRIME. Or maybe you'd like to focus on something more numinous, like UNMEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS TO PLACE. Whatever your worrying needs, you can rely on THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WORLD PROBLEMS to provide grist for your anxieties.

Here is a picture and review of the first (print) edition from 1976.





Source of article.

Posted By: Paul - Thu May 31, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Addictions, Annoying Things, Armageddon and Apocalypses, Destruction, Disasters, Emotions, Moral Panics and Public Hysteria, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, 1970s

Santa Was Exhausted

One can only begin to imagine...

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 15, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Emotions, Holidays, 1960s

Honor

Not weird, as many of you are well aware, but worth passing on. A day in November is not the only time we should remember to say:
To all of you who served or are serving in the military, thank you for your service. Your sacrifices should never be forgotten.

Posted By: patty - Fri May 13, 2016 - Comments (0)
Category: Emotions, Military, Money, Patriotism

Montreal Madness of 1892

People acted weird in familiar NOTW fashion even over a century ago, as this Montreal newspaper reveals.

Posted By: Paul - Fri May 01, 2015 - Comments (5)
Category: Emotions, Newspapers, Husbands, Wives, Nineteenth Century, Mental Health and Insanity

Wish List

Posted By: Paul - Thu Feb 27, 2014 - Comments (3)
Category: Aliens, Anthropomorphism, Body Modifications, Emotions, Surrealism, Cartoons

Woman Astonished and Delighted at Miracle of Popup Tissues

[Click to enlarge]

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Aug 03, 2013 - Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Emotions, Hygiene, 1950s, Women

Vivacious Chicken

[Click to enlarge]

An illustration from Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables.

Maybe it's just me, but the notion of carrying a "vivacious chicken" around on one's shoulder strikes my funnybone just perfectly.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 28, 2013 - Comments (9)
Category: Animals, Emotions, Literature, Nineteenth Century

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, or Braingasms

The Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) Research & Support site defines the phenomenon as, "a physical sensation characterized by a pleasurable tingling that typically begins in the head and scalp, and often moves down the spine and through the limbs." Various stimuli can trigger the sensation -- certain kinds of sights, sounds, and situations. It's sometimes referred to as a "braingasm".

I'm not sure whether ASMR is considered to be a scientifically verified phenomenon. Nevertheless, there's a sizable community of people who actively seek the sensation, and they post videos on youtube designed to trigger it. That's why, if you wade deep enough into the depths of youtube, you'll eventually come across a whole slew of odd ASMR-trigger videos, such as this one of the sounds of gift wrapping



I believe that the whisper videos I posted about yesterday are related to this ASMR phenomenon -- because whispering can be an ASMR trigger. That is, most people simply find it annoying to have to strain to hear someone whispering, but there are a few who are getting a tingly, braingasm feeling from it.

Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 19, 2012 - Comments (16)
Category: Emotions, Subcultures, Psychology, Brain

Radioactive Mama

From the musical genius who brought us the theme song for George of the Jungle and was the voice heard whenever Mr. Ed the Talking Horse sang.

More info here and here.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 10, 2012 - Comments (2)
Category: Armageddon and Apocalypses, Emotions, Humor, Music, Technology, 1960s