The Inquisition Museum in Spain is home to a variety of monster sculptures, taxidermy hybrids and brutal torture devices. Monster Brains chose a wonderful sampling.
It took every ounce of my strength not to add cheesy captions.
There’s a great little gallery from willm23 and a.phasia on Flickr.
The Swallow’s Heart:
Used as a powerful love attractor when carried in a purse, your pocket, or red flannel bag. Also makes others desire you.
I’m slightly comforted by the inconspicuous “alleged” on the top of the package. I hate to think these innocent creatures had their hearts ripped out just because a human being felt like attracting a little love. A Swallow’s heart probably has more important functions in the actual bird.
As promised, it’s *POTION WEEK* here on SheWalksSoftly and I’m featuring a different bizarre concoction each day. By the end of the week you’ll be able to impress your friends with all of your useless (yet fascinating) potion knowledge.
We’ll start with Cobra Black Snake Pellets
These are used in Voodoo and Santeria ritual practices to cleanse, heal, protect and remove jinxes. One end of the pellet is lit to activate it.
I’m not sure exactly what’s involved in the “pelletization” process of a Black Cobra.
Where do you turn for reliable knowledge on genetic anomalies? Why, this 1961 issue of Sexology magazine, of course!
You can read the article on Modern Mechanix.
About Sexology magazine:
In the early 1930’s Hugo Gernsback introduced yet another magazine. This time the title and subject stunned the American reading public. SEXOLOGY, THE MAGAZINE OF SEX SCIENCE, sought to bring the results of modern science to a general public that had not yet crawled out from under the Victorian pseudo-moral posture of never speaking publicly about sex. A little implied prurience probably helped sell magazines, too.
If only they knew the extent of “prurience” the Internet (final wrecking ball to all things sacred) would bring.
The arrival of my Azure Green catalog inspired me to do a *POTION WEEK* here at SheWalksSoftly. Each day next week I’ll feature bizarre and curious formulations with a note on their origins and use.
We’ll start with these:
Use in rituals to destroy curses, hatred, resentments, envy & any evil intention towards you or your home.
My favorite thing about Black Destroyer is the description on the bottle: “Alleged Powerful Oil.” Never underestimate the energy we bring to the products we use.
A formula developed during the time of the Black Plague, Four Thieves Vinegar is used to make your enemies go away (or any other person you wish out of your life).
It can also be used as a body wash…which is most likely responsible for its repellent effects. Tempting for those anti-social moods.
Aw, isn’t this nice? The “I Am a Sunflower” collection of children’s songs. Wait a minute, are those…rifles?
Why yes! These are the children of Mao’s communist regime. You can join the children in singing the classic hits “Criticize Lin Pioa and Discredit Him Completely” and “Little Red Guards Attend a Repudiation Meeting.”
Someone REALLY needs to design an album of GW Bush era lullabies. Maybe I’ll do it. Song title suggestions anyone?
This 1961 release is without a doubt the best rare music I’ve come across all year.
Back cover (click to enlarge):
WFMU’s Beware of the Blog has three songs available for download:
“Will to Fail”
“Repressed Hostility Blues”
“It Must be Something Psychological”
Run…don’t walk…to get these songs! “Will to Fail” is my favorite.
I have talents that I never use
I try to win but I love to lose
because I’ve got the will to fail
I secretly am enjoying myself
but slowly I’m destroying myself
(Not my personal anthem, but I think we all know people the song describes)
If only all psychological issues could be transformed into catchy, chipper tunes.
Thanks so much, Tom from Mind Hacks, for posting this.
Cabinet of Wonders drew my attention to this amazing little place in Napoli (now added to my Italian destinations list).
As someone who loves art, science and sociology equally, I’m extremely interested in the ways people choose to replicate and display the human form. Thus my fascination with creepy dolls makes perfect sense, and should not surprise anyone.
(The above photo looks like something I would do with spare doll parts…because it “seemed like a good idea at the time”)
I wish there were a more definitive travel guide to these typically unseen treasures. Over the years, I suppose I’ve been compiling my own.
(click for full size…you don’t want to miss the text)
I have no idea where this comes from, or why someone thought it would be a good idea to market an oddly bisected goat placed atop what looks like some terribly inefficient machinery (though they suggest its use in burlesque performances).
In case the diagram fails to convey the unparalleled fierceness of the animal, the ad states that “a wild western bronco is tame compared to this goat.”
For a mere $10 extra, you can substitute a horse, donkey, tiger or camel body.
The Ukraine is home to this spectacular floating house, supposedly built to store an overload of mineral fertilizer.
But I agree with the source. There’s a better story lurking out there.
So what kind of entertaining origin do you attribute to this levitating mini-masterpiece?
Odee’s collection of gravity defying houses is definitely worth a look as well.
SheWalksSoftly 
