Weird Universe Archive
June 2019
June 11, 2019
Follies of the Madmen #428
"Grape Nuts will make you Emperor of the World."
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 11, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Food, 1910s
June 10, 2019
No Frills Books
In 1981, Jove Publishing debuted a “No Frills” series of books. This consisted of four books, each of which was supposed to represent a generic version of a genre (science fiction, western, mystery, and romance). Each book featured a generic cover, styled after the generic packaging for foods.And to complete their genericness, the names of the authors weren't revealed. But the Internet, of course, has subsequently tracked down who they were. As posted on Bill Crider's blog:
Terry Bisson, who was one of the instigators of this project, reports:
Mystery was written by Clark Dimond, a men's mag editor/writer who also wrote for comics.
The Romance was written by Judy Coyne (former Glamour mag editor) nee Wederholt
The SF was written by John Silbersack, SF editor and now an agent.
The Western was by Vic Milan (SF author)
We were working on a No-Frills Besteller (by me) and A No-Frills movie (by film critic David Ansen) when the series was dropped.
My partner selling the series was Lou Rosetto who went on to found WIRED magazine.
Mystery was written by Clark Dimond, a men's mag editor/writer who also wrote for comics.
The Romance was written by Judy Coyne (former Glamour mag editor) nee Wederholt
The SF was written by John Silbersack, SF editor and now an agent.
The Western was by Vic Milan (SF author)
We were working on a No-Frills Besteller (by me) and A No-Frills movie (by film critic David Ansen) when the series was dropped.
My partner selling the series was Lou Rosetto who went on to found WIRED magazine.
So what were the plots of these 'generic' novels? Here are some summaries I was able to find online:
Science Fiction (via Goodreads)
"A space cadet is called to the commander's office at the moon academy. His father is the lone known survivor of the Pluto colony, and asks for his son to join him in the search for what happened. They assemble a crew and blast off to Pluto, where they stumble upon few clues but several surprises."
Western (via Goodreads)
"It begins when Kid Smith arrives in town and almost immediately finds himself in a bar room brawl. He’s soon menaced by the town’s two factions. Those wearing black hats are led by a corrupt judge and those wearing white hats are led ….by a corrupt mayor. Both want their hands on the widow West’s land but Smith has taken a shine to her and vows to protect her and her property from the two no-good skunks and their henchmen."
Romance (via NY Times)
'''Romance' is complete with everything the cover claims - a kiss, a promise, a misunderstanding, another kiss, a happy ending -plus an alarming trial marriage condoned, nay, arranged by the Mother Superior of a Virginia hunt-country convent."
Mystery (via Bill Crider)
"The story itself is pure pulp, with corpses piling up at an amazing rate. The unnamed first-person private-eye narrator is given a mysterious cassette tape. Someone's killing to get it because although to the p. i. it sounds like a song, it has the power to cloud most men's minds. Most women's, too. Whoever has the tape can control the world."
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 10, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Literature, Books, 1980s
Nuking the Moon
Project A119, also known as A Study of Lunar Research Flights, was a top-secret plan developed in 1958 by the United States Air Force. The aim of the project was to detonate a nuclear bomb on the Moon, which would help in answering some of the mysteries in planetary astronomy and astrogeology. If the explosive device detonated on the surface, not in a lunar crater, the flash of explosive light would have been faintly visible to people on Earth with their naked eye, a show of force resulting in a possible boosting of domestic morale in the capabilities of the United States, a boost that was needed after the Soviet Union took an early lead in the Space Race and was also working on a similar project.
The project was never carried out, being cancelled primarily out of a fear of a negative public reaction, with the potential militarization of space that it would also have signified, and because a Moon landing would undoubtedly be a more popular achievement in the eyes of the American and international public alike. A similar project by the Soviet Union also never came to fruition.
Wikipedia page here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 10, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Antisocial Activities, Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Explosives, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Government, Mad Scientists, Evil Geniuses, Insane Villains, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, 1950s, North America, Russia
June 9, 2019
Latchkey Incontinence
As defined by a 2015 study published in the journal Biomedical Research:environmental cues are reported to be related to OAB [Overactive Bladder] symptoms. The cue that is most mentioned was upon arrival at an individual’s front door is defined as “latchkey incontinence”, which is a loss of urine that occurs when one arrives home and puts the key in the lock of one’s front door
Basically, it's the phenomenon that the closer you get to the bathroom, the more urgently you have to go.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jun 09, 2019 -
Comments (5)
Category: Bathrooms, Body Fluids
Cinerama’s SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD
The IMAX of my youth. Is anyone today awed or thrilled by any of the world's "seven wonders?" Or has an interconnected, over-exposed media environment rendered this type of film a dead genre?The film's scant Wikipedia entry.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 09, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Culture and Civilization, Foreign Customs, Documentaries, 1950s, Natural Wonders
June 8, 2019
Four-Layer T-Shirt
New from designer Y/Project. It’s essentially four t-shirts sewed on top of each other. So when the first t-shirt is dirty, you just advance to the next one, and then the next, etc.Although, for the price tag of $191, it would be a lot cheaper to sew together four of your own t-shirts.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 08, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Fashion
Glacier Rub
I guess you can't keep a good (?) idea down. Particularly poignant product name in an era of climate change.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jun 08, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Body, Head, Business, Advertising, Nature, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, Twentieth Century, Twenty-first Century
June 7, 2019
HumanCharger
From the Finnish company Valkee comes the HumanCharger, aka ear lights. Ear buds shine bright lights into your ears, and this is supposed to stimulate “light sensing proteins” in your brain and make you feell more energized. Specifically, the manufacturer offers the gadget as a cure for jet lag.Many are skeptical. Back in 2015, a reviewer for the Guardian described them as “a very expensive flashlight.” (They retail for over $150). While the website earlightswindle.com has been trying to debunk them for years, noting:
The swindle was busted in 2012 in Finland, and Valkee was awarded the HuuHaa (flim-flam) prize for the earlight device. Having lost their home market, Valkee is trying elsewhere to trick people into buying this expensive toy
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jun 07, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil
Mystery Illustration 82
Who, when, where, wha?The answer is here. Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 07, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: 1970s
June 6, 2019
Raf Simons Grey Leather Tank Top
Usually it retails for $2850, but it's on sale now at ssense.com for only $1311. A bargain!
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jun 06, 2019 -
Comments (7)
Category: Fashion, Overpriced Merchandise
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