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.
Shakespeare’s Den has a great box that masquerades as a book.
I’m perplexed as to why they decided to call this particular item a Pandora’s Box. Here’s the explanation they give:
In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman on earth. She was created by Zeus, and endowed with gifts from the gods. Thus her name, Pandora, meaning “all-gifted,” fit well.
But when Prometheus stole fire from the heavens, Zeus punished him by stealing Pandora away and taking her to Epimetheus, Prometheus’ brother. He gave her a jar and forbid her from opening it. Pandora’s curiosity got the best of her and she opened it, and unleashed evil unto the world.
So if anybody tries to take a peak at your secret belongings, tell him/her that story!
Sure, why not.
The WEEE Man is not only a robot one might expect to see in post-apocalyptic sci-fi; it’s a statement.
The WEEE man, designed by Paul Bonomini, is a huge robotic figure made of scrap electrical and electronic equipment. It weighs 3.3 tonnes and stands seven meters tall – representing the average amount of e-products every single one of us throws away over a lifetime.
If I were in the UK, I’d like to pay WEEE Man a visit.
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.
I’ve heard very little about this upcoming animated anthology, but I really look forward to seeing it.
I believe it comes out 10/24.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted awe inspiring sea creatures, and National Geographic has a stunning gallery in which every one is incredible to look at.
Some are positively alien, like the Antarctic Sea Butterfly:
Isn’t it wonderful that these Roundbelly Cowfish are leagues under the sea, off the coast of Hawaii, just looking adorable?
The bioluminescent cells of this Comb Jellyfish, found in Antarctica, could make any raver envious:
Go visit the rest of the gallery!
My love of strange art is most likely why I have absolutely no need for drugs. Dan Kennedy sends me on an “art trip” with his tightly packed brightly colored amalgams of pop culture.
His newer work is even more psychedelic:
And every now and then, you find a simple quote-turned-painting. When I get home to NY (and my craft supplies), I’m putting this one on a T-shirt.
Well folks, today marked my trip to see The Fly. It was wonderful. I’m glad I got to see the final performance before it closed.
I wasn’t crazy about Howard Shore’s decision to make the entire score atonal and without melody (I tend to dislike “lavish musical” melodies, but the score could have better engaged the brain if were a bit more cohesive).
Maybe I’m just a Philistine who doesn’t know the first thing about quality sci-fi opera.
I did get to hear retro-style telepods with operatic vocals. “Subject: carbon based life form…transmission complete…teleportation successful…”
That was probably a once in a lifetime experience.
SheWalksSoftly 
