September 2015
September 20, 2015
Brickplayer
Here is an old British toy that had a lot of good intentions, but also some unanticipated drawbacks.
Buildings were constructed on allegedly waterproof waxed card bases. The bricks etc. were stuck together with a mortar made from a mixture of flour and chalk powder. It required a great amount of skill to erect buildings accurately, very time-consuming and beyond the patience of most of the children it was aimed at (8 to 14 years). Especially so in cold houses (as most British homes then were) it would take several days for the building to 'set'. Reusing the components involved a process of dunking the entire model in a large bowl of warm water. After the model fell apart the bricks and plaster pieces required lengthy rinsing to remove all organic traces to prevent mould growing on them.
I wonder how well they sold in the USA, as touted in the ad below, from Boys Life for September 1948.
Fan page.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 20, 2015 -
Comments (8)
Category: Buildings and Other Structures, Toys, Children, Europe, Twentieth Century
September 19, 2015
British Snail-Watching Society
The British Snail-Watching Society was founded in 1945 by Peter Henniker Heaton. It was an organization "dedicated to the theory that man, harassed by the mounting tempo of modern life, has something to learn from contemplating the snail."The snail watchers spent much of their time watching snail races, but they also tried to promote interest in snails and were enthusiastic supporters of conchophilately (the collection of pieces of mail damaged by snails that had invaded mailboxes).
Life magazine ran a feature about the society in its Dec 2, 1946 issue.
Image via Google Cultural Institute
Snail-damaged letter
Posted By: Alex - Sat Sep 19, 2015 -
Comments (8)
Category: Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations
Four-Screen TV
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Sep 19, 2015 -
Comments (7)
Category: Television, Chindogu, 1970s, Europe
September 18, 2015
What Am I?
This unusual little guy is considered an exotic pet. Take your guesses in comments, the answer is in extended.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Alex - Fri Sep 18, 2015 -
Comments (10)
Category: Animals, Pets
Moroccan Goats
The goats in Morocco climb trees! Who knew?
Posted By: Alex - Fri Sep 18, 2015 -
Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Natural Wonders
Faux Phones
More brilliant criminals here in Ohio in the state capital, Columbus, no less. Apparently some high tech geniuses used rocks to smash in the back door of a Verizon store and took all the display phones. The display phones are dummies, you know like the thieves. Real cell phones are locked in a vault at night due to a previous successful robbery. When they get caught they won't be able to hold their heads up in jail amongst the real criminals.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Sep 18, 2015 -
Comments (5)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Stupid Criminals, Your Daily Loser
Bat Sounds?
Several sources claim that in 1999 one of the top-selling CDs in Europe was titled "Bats." It consisted entirely of the sound of bats flying around.However, one of those sources is the Weekly World News (May 4, 1999). So not very reliable. And since I can't find any trace of this CDs existence elsewhere (I thought a copy would likely have surfaced on eBay -- but no; or on YouTube -- no again), I'm wondering if the CD was real, or one of WWN's jokes.
The other source that mentioned the CD was the Glasgow Sunday Mail, May 2, 1999. But maybe they got their info from the WWN?
Do any WUvians have the answer to this bat mystery? Was Bats really a European top-seller?
Weekly World News - May 4, 1999
Posted By: Alex - Fri Sep 18, 2015 -
Comments (7)
Category: Animals, Music, 1990s
Keeping Mentally Fit
Is the narrator drunk? Of just folksy?
The lesson learned: look around you and you will probably spot a lunatic.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 18, 2015 -
Comments (4)
Category: PSA’s, 1950s, Diseases, Mental Health and Insanity
September 17, 2015
Realized he was Jesus
Here at WU we've explored a number of odd reasons marriages have failed (such as the husband's over-fondness of horse fondling, and a man's dislike of his wife's deformed nipples).Add to this list Alan John Miller, whose marriage didn't survive his realization that he was Jesus Christ, reincarnated. I can see how that might put a strain on a relationship.
Miller (aka Jesus) went on to found the Divine Truth ministry in Australia. He still claims to have been Jesus and says that he remembers many details of his past life, such as his crucifixion (says it wasn't that bad). However, he doesn't remember how to speak Aramaic.
He's also found a new life partner, Mary Luck, who coincidentally happens to be Mary Magdalene, reincarnated.
More info: Times Live
Mary Luck and Alan Miller (aka Mary Magdalene and Jesus)
Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 17, 2015 -
Comments (14)
Category: Religion, Divorce
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 17, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, Exploitation and Grindhouse, Avant Garde, Homages, Pastiches, Tributes and Borrowings, Martial Arts, 1980s, Dance
| Get WU Posts by Email | |
|---|---|
| Who We Are |
|---|
| 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 |
