Weird Universe Archive

June 2024

June 30, 2024

Bowel evisceration after sneezing

We've previously drawn attention to some of the dangers of coughing and sneezing. Such as the cases of people who sneezed so hard that their eye fell out. Or the woman who coughed out her lung.

Now the American Journal of Medical Case Reports has published a case of "bowel evisceration after sneezing." A man sneezed violently while dining at a restaurant and then realized that his intestines had come out of a surgical incision in his stomach. He thought the incision was fully healed. From the journal:

On the morning of the event, he returned to Urology clinic, where his wound appeared well-healed and the overlying staples were removed. He and his wife went to breakfast to celebrate.
During breakfast, the man sneezed forcefully, followed by coughing. He immediately noticed a “wet” sensation and pain in his lower abdomen. Looking down, he observed several loops of pink bowel protruding from his recent surgical site. He later related that he was unsure of how to proceed, so he covered the exposed intestines with his shirt. He initially decided to drive himself to the hospital, but concerned that changing his position might injure his bowel, his wife requested an ambulance.

To be fair, sometimes sneezing can cause miraculous recoveries, such as the case of the woman whose deafness was cured by a sneeze.

Posted By: Alex - Sun Jun 30, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Health, Surgery

June 29, 2024

Beforehand Postcards

The concept of Beforehand Postcards was that, if you were going on vacation to Europe, you could buy your postcards from them beforehand. Then you could address the cards, and maybe even write them, before you left. Once you arrived in Europe, all you would have to do was mail them.

The business lasted a little over ten years, from the early 1970s to the mid 1980s.

Philadelphia Inquirer - June 17, 1973

Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 29, 2024 - Comments (2)
Category: Tourists and Tourism, 1970s, Postal Services

Odd Jobs for Eve



Posted By: Paul - Sat Jun 29, 2024 - Comments (1)
Category: Stereotypes and Cliches, Work and Vocational Training, 1930s, Women

June 28, 2024

Jim’s Guide to San Francisco

In 1977, artist James Patrick Finnegan published an oddball guide to San Francisco, titled Jim's Guide to San Francisco. It consisted of pictures of him posing in front of San Francisco businesses that were named Jim: Jim's Barber Shop, Jim's Donut Shop, Jim's Transportation, Jim's Smoke Shop, etc.

The book was printed in black-and-white, but he handcolored parts of it with a crayon. I assume he individually handcolored each copy sold.

I haven't been able to find any scanned copies of the book online, and only one copy of it for sale. The seller is asking $300, justifying that price by the book's rarity.

It's been almost 50 years since the book came out, so Finnegan should do an updated guide. I'm sure there's now a whole new batch of businesses in the city named Jim.







Posted By: Alex - Fri Jun 28, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Art, Books, Tourists and Tourism, 1970s

June 27, 2024

Paint your own modern abstracts

True magazine - Jan 1969

Posted By: Alex - Thu Jun 27, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Art, Advertising, 1960s

The Role of Wine in the Great 1906 California Quake

Everyone knows the drama of the Great 1906 Quake that devastated San Francisco.. But since California is famous for its wine production, it was only natural that wine played a part. Here are two such incidents out of who knows how many.




And in nearby Santa Rosa.



Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 27, 2024 - Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Destruction, Regionalism, 1900s, North America, Alcohol

June 26, 2024

Minister Cancels Walk on Water

May 1972: Rev W.L. Jenkins of Mississippi advertised that he was going to walk across the surface of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. But he had to cancel the event when he was shot in the leg while driving to the reservoir. He said he still planned to walk across the reservoir sometime in the future, but wouldn't publicize the event beforehand.

It doesn't seem that Rev Jenkins's failure to walk on water put a dent in his popularity. He continued to have an active ministry, as documented on his website JenkinsMinistry.com.

Related post: When Yogi Rao walked on water

Quad-City Times - May 22, 1972

Posted By: Alex - Wed Jun 26, 2024 - Comments (3)
Category: Religion, 1970s

Follies of the Madmen #599

Who knew that electrical appliances could be such rivals? And is that gal's Bride of Frankenstein hairdo a result of the scary radio mystery, or just her natural style?

If you go to the source, you can magnify the text.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 26, 2024 - Comments (2)
Category: Radio, Rivalries, Feuds and Grudges, Technology, Advertising, 1940s

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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.

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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.

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