Weird Universe Archive

March 2018

March 12, 2018

The Cheerios Dollar

If you have any Sacagawea dollars lying around, it's worth taking a closer look at them, because some of them may be worth more than face value. Quite a bit more. Anywhere from $5000 to $35000 each, if they're a so-called Cheerios Dollar.

In 2000, when the coin was introduced, 5500 of them were given away in boxes of Cheerios as a promotion. Turns out that these Cheerios Dollars were slightly different than all the other Sacagawea Dollars.

The tail feathers of the eagle on the reverse side of the coin had more details than the normal coin, and this made them more valuable. However, most of these Cheeries Dollars disappeared into circulation, and only around 70 of them have ever been found.


Detail of the tail feathers on a normal Sacagawea Dollar



The tail feathers on a Cheerios Dollar

Posted By: Alex - Mon Mar 12, 2018 - Comments (11)
Category: Money

Wine on Tap, version 2.0

We've previously we've posted about wine on tap in hotel rooms. Such as the Hotel Terminus in France, which in 1953 ran pipes through the walls to achieve this.

There's now a more high-tech alternative. The Plum Dispenser is a $1500 gadget that stores several bottles of wine, but dispenses a glass at a time — allowing hotel guests to buy a single glass in their room rather than a whole bottle. It's basically wine on tap. Though the prices aren't cheap:

At La Confidante, the Plum in every room dispenses Evesham Wood pinot noir from Oregon ($5.25 for a 2-ounce glass; 5 oz. for $16) and Justin sauvignon blanc ($4, $12) from Paso Robles.

$16 for 5 ounces of wine? You could go to a local supermarket and buy an entire bottle for that.

More info: North Bay Business



The Evening Sun (Hanover, Pennsylvania) - Jan 7, 1954

Posted By: Alex - Mon Mar 12, 2018 - Comments (3)
Category: Inebriation and Intoxicants, Inventions

Khrushchev vs. Lachaise

2018 NOTE: Here is the basis for the ongoing series whose latest entry is today.





Original article behind CHICAGO TRIBUNE paywall.

Upon reading this article, I immediately wondered what statue was at the center of the controversy. Finding out took a little google-fu. Eventually, I hit upon the complete catalogue of works shown, in PDF form. Below is the relevant section.



I did not even bother to google any of the other statues after seeing Gaston Lachaise's "Standing Woman."

Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 12, 2018 - Comments (8)
Category: Art, Criticism and Reviews, 1950s, Russia, Obesity

Artwork Khrushchev Probably Would Not Have Liked 11



Not only do we see "Constructed Torso," but also its creator, Naum Gabo, along with some of his fellow bohemians.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 12, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Art, Avant Garde, Russia

March 11, 2018

Touch of Yogurt Shampoo

Test-marketed in 1979 and soon abandoned. I think the decision to promote it alongside yogurt makers and yogurt cookbooks couldn't have helped, because it made you wonder, am I supposed to eat it or put it in my hair?

More info here.



Springfield News Leader - Sep 19, 1979



St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Mar 26, 1980

Posted By: Alex - Sun Mar 11, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Food, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, 1970s, Hair and Hairstyling

Mystery Gadget 59



Magnetism? Hydraulics? What's up with this gadget?

Answer is here.

Or after the jump.

More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Sun Mar 11, 2018 - Comments (3)
Category: Technology, 1930s

March 10, 2018

Kangaroo Eyes

‘Kangaroo eyes’ = wearing false eyelashes upside down. This was, briefly, a fashion fad during the 1960s. And apparently again in 2010, according to Popsugar.

The picture below shows a model demonstrating the look during Paris Fashion Week, 2010.

Monroe News-Star - July 23, 1964



Posted By: Alex - Sat Mar 10, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category:

Norma Jean Almodovar:  Cop to Call Girl



Her Wikipedia page.



Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 10, 2018 - Comments (0)
Category: Law, Sexuality, Books, 1990s

March 9, 2018

Applesauce Surprise Cake

The surprise is earthworms.

Hazleton Standard-Speaker - Dec 13, 1975



The recipe, in case you want to try it:

Pensacola News - Jan 20, 1976

Posted By: Alex - Fri Mar 09, 2018 - Comments (7)
Category: Food, 1970s

Crest Cavity Creeps

This will obviously be rebooted as a Hollywood Blockbuster any day now.









Posted By: Paul - Fri Mar 09, 2018 - Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Hygiene, 1970s, Fictional Monsters

Page 5 of 7 pages ‹ First  < 3 4 5 6 7 > 




Get WU Posts by Email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner


weird universe thumbnail
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
Monthly Archives
March 2024 •  February 2024 •  January 2024

December 2023 •  November 2023 •  October 2023 •  September 2023 •  August 2023 •  July 2023 •  June 2023 •  May 2023 •  April 2023 •  March 2023 •  February 2023 •  January 2023

December 2022 •  November 2022 •  October 2022 •  September 2022 •  August 2022 •  July 2022 •  June 2022 •  May 2022 •  April 2022 •  March 2022 •  February 2022 •  January 2022

December 2021 •  November 2021 •  October 2021 •  September 2021 •  August 2021 •  July 2021 •  June 2021 •  May 2021 •  April 2021 •  March 2021 •  February 2021 •  January 2021

December 2020 •  November 2020 •  October 2020 •  September 2020 •  August 2020 •  July 2020 •  June 2020 •  May 2020 •  April 2020 •  March 2020 •  February 2020 •  January 2020

December 2019 •  November 2019 •  October 2019 •  September 2019 •  August 2019 •  July 2019 •  June 2019 •  May 2019 •  April 2019 •  March 2019 •  February 2019 •  January 2019

December 2018 •  November 2018 •  October 2018 •  September 2018 •  August 2018 •  July 2018 •  June 2018 •  May 2018 •  April 2018 •  March 2018 •  February 2018 •  January 2018

December 2017 •  November 2017 •  October 2017 •  September 2017 •  August 2017 •  July 2017 •  June 2017 •  May 2017 •  April 2017 •  March 2017 •  February 2017 •  January 2017

December 2016 •  November 2016 •  October 2016 •  September 2016 •  August 2016 •  July 2016 •  June 2016 •  May 2016 •  April 2016 •  March 2016 •  February 2016 •  January 2016

December 2015 •  November 2015 •  October 2015 •  September 2015 •  August 2015 •  July 2015 •  June 2015 •  May 2015 •  April 2015 •  March 2015 •  February 2015 •  January 2015

December 2014 •  November 2014 •  October 2014 •  September 2014 •  August 2014 •  July 2014 •  June 2014 •  May 2014 •  April 2014 •  March 2014 •  February 2014 •  January 2014

December 2013 •  November 2013 •  October 2013 •  September 2013 •  August 2013 •  July 2013 •  June 2013 •  May 2013 •  April 2013 •  March 2013 •  February 2013 •  January 2013

December 2012 •  November 2012 •  October 2012 •  September 2012 •  August 2012 •  July 2012 •  June 2012 •  May 2012 •  April 2012 •  March 2012 •  February 2012 •  January 2012

December 2011 •  November 2011 •  October 2011 •  September 2011 •  August 2011 •  July 2011 •  June 2011 •  May 2011 •  April 2011 •  March 2011 •  February 2011 •  January 2011

December 2010 •  November 2010 •  October 2010 •  September 2010 •  August 2010 •  July 2010 •  June 2010 •  May 2010 •  April 2010 •  March 2010 •  February 2010 •  January 2010

December 2009 •  November 2009 •  October 2009 •  September 2009 •  August 2009 •  July 2009 •  June 2009 •  May 2009 •  April 2009 •  March 2009 •  February 2009 •  January 2009

December 2008 •  November 2008 •  October 2008 •  September 2008 •  August 2008 •  July 2008 •