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3 September, 2003

The Dead Letter Office

Check out the Dead Letter Office.

The premise is simple: You are now dead. You just died. You don't know how it happened, you don't know what happens now. The only thing you know for certain is that your life is over.

This is your opportunity to write one letter to the world. You may say anything you want. You may use as many or as few words as necessary.

You can read the submitted letters, by category -- funniest, saddest, most touching, angriest, and most insightful.

Posted on 3 September, 2003

Pina Conti

Photos of Pina Conti, a contortionist.

Purely as an Acrobatic Contortionist, Pina's superhuman abilities will astound even the most sophisticated audience. She winds, folds, and contorts her wonderfully fit physique into and out of seemingly impossible positions.

Posted on 3 September, 2003

WD-40

Where did the name WD-40 come from? According to the WD-40 FAQ:

WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. That's the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed WD-40 back in 1953. The chemist, Norm Larsen, was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion-a task which is done by displacing water. Norm's persistence paid off when he perfected the formula on his 40th try.

There are at least 2,000 uses for WD-40. But if you want to find out what they are, you have to join the Official WD-40 Fan Club. Or, just go here (apparently, one of the Fan Club members leaked this secret list).

Some of these 2,000 uses are fairly esoteric. For example:

  • Cleans ostrich eggs for craft use
  • Removes stubborn stuck-on leg wax
  • Spray lightly over stagnant water to keep mosquito eggs from hatching
  • Lubricates stethoscope
  • Gives virtual rocks a clean (virtual rocks???)
  • Spray on balcony to keep pigeons away (they hate the smell)
  • Lubricates dog nail clippers
  • Lubricates emergency gear handle on Piper Aztec
  • Lubricates wheels on tuba case
  • Lubricates hinge on beer stein

(via Love and the Happy Cynic)

Posted on 3 September, 2003

Satan's Laundromat

An excellent photolog called Satan's Laundromat.

This is a Brooklyn-based photolog with an emphasis on strange signage, urban decay, and general weirdness.

Here's a (not necessarily typical) example:

Posted on 3 September, 2003

Britney Speaks

Britney Spears is more than just a no-talent media creation. She is actually capable of thinking and speaking out on important issues.

Here's a quote from a recent interview with CNN's Tucker Carlson (source):

Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes and we should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens.

Be faithful in what happens?

Posted on 3 September, 2003

Forensic Art

Stephen Mancusi is a forensic artist, and you'll find lots of interesting examples at his web site. For example, here's an age progression of Michael Jackson.

If Michael Jackson did not have all his surgery over the years, this is how he might look at the age of 45. I started with an image of Michael before he began his unusual facial changes. "ABC News Primetime" requested this age progression.

Click here to see what Marilyn Monroe might look like if she were alive today.

Posted on 3 September, 2003

Reselling an iTune

You can sell a used CD, but what about a used digital song? As a test, George Hotelling purchased a $0.99 iTune, and put it on eBay.

The current bid is $16,600.

Posted on 3 September, 2003