Drunk Driving Victim Deemed “Too Graphic”

Mike Harn is in a fight with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Twenty years ago his wife, Rose, was in an accident caused by a teenage drunk driver. She was left brain-damaged and paralyzed. Ever since then Mike has been taking her around to schools and state fairs where he displays her (often in cooperation with MADD) as a kind of human atrocity exhibition, to illustrate the consequences of drunk driving.

That is, until some fair-goers at the Western Idaho Fair complained that the sight of Rose was "too graphic." MADD subsequently dropped Harn as a volunteer, citing the complaints about her. Mike Harn is outraged by this, noting that the point of showing Rose WAS to shock people.

The irony is that not too long ago people used to pay to see human exhibits like Rose at state fairs. I guess nowadays the fairs have been purged of anything strange or disturbing. But I wonder, if Mike Harn chose to visit the fair with his wife, in an unofficial capacity, they couldn't exactly stop him, could they? (Thanks, Bob!)

Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 07, 2008 - Comments (5)
Category: Inebriation and Intoxicants

Sabrage

I've just learned about the art of opening a bottle of champagne with a sword. The practice is called sabrage.

You can watch a video here that teaches you how to do it yourself!

Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 06, 2008 - Comments (15)
Category: Human Marvels, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Weapons

Color It Clean

So long as we've started a toilet thread, let's all watch "Color It Clean," so that we appreciate the men and women who maintain our public lavatories.



This film reminds me of Barney Gumble's autobiographical entry in the Springfield Film Festival. I could find the clip only in Italian, but that adds a certain frisson to the viewing experience, I think.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 03, 2008 - Comments (3)
Category: Bathrooms, Buildings and Other Structures, Bums, Hobos, Tramps, Beggars, Panhandlers and Other Streetpeople, Hygiene, Body Fluids, Excrement, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Television, Documentaries, 1960s

Bacon Bloody Marys

After Baconhenge and Bacon Beans, what other odd bacon bits could there be?

Well, what about Bacon Bloody Marys?

For some reason I am reminded of Lisa Simpson asking Bart to please stop stirring his lemonade with a sausage.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 23, 2008 - Comments (13)
Category: Animals, Fads, Food, Inebriation and Intoxicants

Follies of the Mad Men #23

[From Newsweek for January 10 1944.]

Surely nothing better evokes the confusing and guilty sensations associated with a "what's my name, and where did I leave my panties?" lost weekend better than a forgotten drink high atop a pole you shimmied up while looking for the bluebird of happiness.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 04, 2008 - Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Business, Advertising, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Corrections, 1940s, Weather

Follies of the Mad Men #22

[From Newsweek for September 25 1950.]

Pure jittery brainbuzz in a handy grenade-shaped shaker.

Beware of putting anything in your mouth that comes from a company named "International Minerals & Chemical Corporation."

Posted By: Paul - Wed Sep 03, 2008 - Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Food, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Science, Technology, 1950s

Follies of the Mad Men #17

[From Life for April 3 1964.]

Babes really go for guys who carry around liquor store props.

"Is that a Jeroboam in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 29, 2008 - Comments (0)
Category: Business, Advertising, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Sexuality, 1960s

Follies of the Mad Men #15

[From Life for May 22 1964.]

Our booze appeals mainly to Eighteenth-century highwaymen.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 27, 2008 - Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Celebrities, Crime, History, Hollywood, Inebriation and Intoxicants, 1960s

On the Nod

Now all those droopy-eyed slackers who are tired of drinking prescription cough syrup straight from the bottle have their own "anti-energy" drink, in the form of Drank.

When you wake up after trying this, please report back to WU Central with the results.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 24, 2008 - Comments (15)
Category: Business, Products, Drugs, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Regionalism

The Happy Hour of Aquarius

Are you having trouble getting drunk? Are your mixed drinks not having the proper effect, fast enough, or perhaps engendering too large a hangover? Does your choice of drink preclude picking up the partner you truly desire and deserve at your local bar?

That's because you are not taking astrology into account! Your zodiacal sign is all-important in determining your proper beverage!

Or so we learn from this magazine pamphlet (source unknown, but probably Playboy of a certain vintage).

Read on, after the jump, and you'll learn what cocktail you should be imbibing!

I'm off to have a Stinger!







More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 19, 2008 - Comments (17)
Category: Inebriation and Intoxicants, Magazines, New Age, Sexuality, Advertising