Urban Life
Balloonfest ‘86
From Wikipedia:Balloonfest '86 was a 1986 event in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in which the local chapter of United Way set a world record by releasing almost one-and-a-half million balloons.[2] The event was intended to be a harmless fundraising publicity stunt, but the balloons drifted back over the city, Lake Erie, and landed in the surrounding area, causing problems for traffic and a nearby airport. The event also interfered with a United States Coast Guard search for two boaters who were later found drowned.[1] In consequence, the organizers and the city faced lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages,[1] and cost overruns put the event at a net loss.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 18, 2021 -
Comments (4)
Category: Charities and Philanthropy, Disasters, Noises and Other Public Disturbances of the Peace, Urban Life, Air Travel and Airlines, 1980s
Anti-Pollution Ventilators
1996: French engineer Yves Lecoffre proposed installing 70,000 "anti-pollution ventilators" (aka fans) around the streets of Paris to blow away the exhaust fumes from cars.Was he joking about this? Was it some kind of April Fool joke? Not as far as I can tell. Though I can't imagine how his scheme would have made the slightest difference to Paris's air quality.
Calgary Herald - May 4, 1996
Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 13, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Engineering and Construction, Really Bad Ideas, Urban Life, 1990s
1969 Design Proposals for NYC
A 200-MPH transit system, a dome over Times Square, and other daydreams.Source.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 26, 2020 -
Comments (3)
Category: Motor Vehicles, Urban Life, 1960s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Unauthorized Dwellings 12
Once Manhattan was home to squatters. Go to article link for readable text.
Article source.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Feb 20, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Eccentrics, Urban Life, Unauthorized Dwellings, 1920s, Nostalgia
Le Silence de la Rue
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jan 27, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: Ambiguity, Uncertainty and Deliberate Obscurity, Antisocial Activities, Urban Life, Surrealism, Cartoons
Abstract in Concrete
Ten minutes of colorful blobs reflected in puddles. Not sure what audience this was aimed at.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 02, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Art, Avant Garde, Urban Life, 1950s
Unauthorized Dwellings 8
Postwar squatting in England was a big thing.This article goes into much detail. But they don't mention the weird squatter letter detailed in the news article.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 11, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Antisocial Activities, Buildings and Other Structures, Urban Life, 1940s, United Kingdom
Super-Greater New York
We can still do this. A nice walk to the Statue of Liberty on Landfill Manhattan.
Source of document.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Feb 05, 2018 -
Comments (6)
Category: Engineering and Construction, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Urban Life, 1910s
Plasticville, USA
Original ad here.
With no trace of modern irony, Plasticville USA was once deemed a grand name for an imaginary town. Somehow I can hear a beatnik of the era saying, "Plasticville, man, that's for squares!"
Wikipedia entry here.
More info and some great pictures on this page.
More images via Google.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 23, 2016 -
Comments (3)
Category: Toys, Urban Life, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, 1940s, 1950s
Moonlight Towers
The antique form of streetlights called "moonlight towers" exists today only in Austin, Texas, as seen above in a picture taken from this fine post. There's something pretty science-fictional or steampunk about them, especially in a vintage picture as seen here.
In some other timeline, moonlight towers dot the nation in the year 2016.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 11, 2016 -
Comments (4)
Category: Buildings and Other Structures, Technology, Urban Life, Nineteenth Century
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. 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. Contact Us |