The Stuffed Owl

I'm reading a Mark Twain book currently, Following the Equator. In it, he mentions a notoriously bad poet, Julia Moore, a name I had not thought of in ages. Moore's fabled lack of talent produced scads of bad poetry. You can read about her career here.

Google has digitized at least one of her books, which you can read here. Be prepared to encounter such excruciating verse as this sample to the right.




Moore is included in The Stuffed Owl, a volume of the world's worst poetry. Wouldn't that make a swell Xmas gift for the literary type in your life?

Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 27, 2009 - Comments (9)
Category: Eccentrics, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Literature, Nineteenth Century

Weird Divorce

It’s been a weird week for divorcees, starting with an Indian couple from Pune near Mumbai. After years of arguments over the wife’s penchant for Hindi soap operas, the husband finally barred her from watching them any more. She promptly filed for a divorce, which was granted on the grounds of his “cruel treatment” of her (World News AU).

Next is the case of the divorce granted to the Chinese couple who had not seen each other since their wedding, three years previously. The ceremony took place in China’s Machong district and was the result of an arranged marriage by the parents of the couple, called Ma and Mo, who were good friends. But Ma, the groom, left for a job elsewhere straight after and the newlyweds did not even try to stay in touch. With no children or property to argue over, the divorce went fairly uneventfully (China Daily).

Staying in China for a moment, Shoutsee Li and Han Fucheng of that country’s Mentougou district are hoping a judge will annul their marriage so they can marry again, this time legally. The couple originally married in 2006 after meeting nine years earlier, but Li was in China under false papers and now faces deportation. But while the police don’t recognise Han and Li’s marriage, the registrar does, and will not let them remarry until their current marriage is dissolved (People’s Daily).

Not so likely to remarry are recently separated couple Robin Williams and Anthony Hull of Kingsfold in England. Attempts to reach an agreement on how to divide their £500,000 ($850k) house have stalled amid arguments over who keeps the cheese grater and whether paint pots are communal property. The couple have now taken their grievances to Britain’s High Court (Daily Express).

Also in court this week was Stanley G. Hilton of Hillsborough, CA who is suing San Francisco, its airport, every airline that uses it, and the manufacturers of the airplanes landing there for $15 million each for ruining his marriage. All in all Hilton, a former attorney (now disbarred), cites 37 parties as contributing to the breakdown of relations with his wife, which amounts to a cool $555 million in the unlikely event that he wins (Wired).



More in extended >>

Posted By: Dumbfounded - Mon Nov 23, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Eccentrics, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Government, Regulations, Religion, Lawsuits, Divorce

Bill Willamson, RIP

Let us all pause to honor the memory of Bill Williamson, Nevada resident, deceased last week, who taught his various dogs to drive a car in the annual Nevada Day Parade. Read his obituary here.

(Nevada Appeal file photo)

Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 17, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: Eccentrics, Parades and Festivals, Regionalism, Dogs

Florence Foster Jenkins

Worst opera singer ever? Read about Florence Foster Jenkins here.

Then, if you want more, buy this CD!

Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 21, 2009 - Comments (5)
Category: Eccentrics, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Music, Nineteenth Century

Globetrotters Costume Party

Here is a history of The Globetrotters Club, which is still in operation today.

Shortly after their founding, in 1947, they threw a costume party, pictured here.

I hope such events are still part of their activities.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 20, 2009 - Comments (10)
Category: Costumes and Masks, Eccentrics, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, Pop Culture, Travel, Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, Dogs, 1940s

Samsonov

From what I can discern, this fellow is giving us the background on his epic movie, Samsonov. If this is what the "extras" are like, I think I'll skip the feature presentation.

Caution: some mild nudity.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Sep 02, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Eccentrics, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, Movies, Fantasy

Snow Bo

I found this gem cited on Motionographer.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 30, 2009 - Comments (7)
Category: Death, Eccentrics, Children, Cartoons

Cult Magazines

I've just gotten the advance galley of this book from my pal Luis Ortiz, the publisher. I can guarantee that WU-vians will love it!

Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 28, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: Eccentrics, Collectors, Magazines, Subcultures, Books

Lynval Samuels

Lynval - "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"


I just learned about nutcase preacher Lynval Samuels. So here he is for your enjoyment.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 06, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: Eccentrics, Regionalism, Religion

The Weird Sisters

P J Harvey and Bjork onstage together is almost the definition of a weirdness black hole.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Jul 04, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: Eccentrics, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, Music, Women