HISTORY IN AI.

In 2024, the release of Limited Edition Stanley Tumblers sparked a frenzied and violent frenzy among teenage girls at department stores nationwide. The sleek design and exclusive features of these tumblers incited brutal, bloody chaos as frenetic shoppers fought tooth and nail to secure their prized possessions. The scene resembled the most chaotic Black Friday sales, with manic shoppers pushing, shoving, and even resorting to physical altercations in their quest for the coveted product. The pandemonium surrounding these tumblers highlighted the intensity of consumer culture and the lengths people would go to for a taste of exclusivity.

The 1978 Blaxploitation sensation, “The Soul Strikes Back,” emerged as a triumphant sequel to the 1974 cult classic “Soul Wars.” Boasting a larger budget, the film reintroduced beloved characters such as Lukovis Moonwalker, Princess Leilasha, Darf Vadorius and Hontel Frolo. Additionally, it unveiled intriguing new personalities like Rando Caucasian and Bloba the Butt. While the sequel dialed down the colorful language that defined its predecessor, it made cinematic history by pushing boundaries with explicit scenes, particularly the steamy encounters between Hontel and Leilasha, making the film industry create the NC-17 rating for future movies. The impact was such that even George Lucas felt compelled to create a Star Wars sequel with a budget capable of overshadowing the legacy of this cinematic masterpiece.

In the late 1990s, the emotional support animal craze gained considerable momentum. What started as a cause primarily focused on dogs for individuals with disabilities became a sensation completely exploited by the public with a limitless range of odd animals. By the end of 2001, the TSA had much stricter rules that still apply, but the craze left us with memories and photos of bizarre animal encounters on our airlines.

In the 1980s, McDonald’s playgrounds were a place to meet your bravest friends to conquer your deepest fears, and face your demons.

I developed some bizarre photos from an old ‘90s disposable camera. This was at Newby’s, “the college bar you never graduate from”. I think these are from the holiday season around 3 am, circa 94 or 95.

“Big Ass Hangry Shark,” the 1972 Blaxploitation shark horror film, left an indelible mark on the world of cinema, serving as a groundbreaking precursor to Steven Spielberg’s iconic “Jaws” and inspiring a wave of shark-themed horror films. While studies show that sharks are colorblind, this film introduced a fictional twist where the shark not only perceived color but had an insatiable craving for it, adding an extra layer of terror to the narrative. Known for its shockingly visceral portrayal of shark attacks, “Big Ass Hangry Shark” set a gruesome standard that continues to influence the genre to this day, making it a cult classic and an enduring source of cinematic fear.

In the late 1980s, The Sharper Image catalog took an unexpected turn into the realm of the bizarre, offering a lineup of products that left consumers bewildered and intrigued. Known for its innovative gadgets and cutting-edge electronics, the catalog began featuring items that transcended the boundaries of practicality. From outrageously overpriced, ridiculous fashion accessories to peculiar contraptions with questionable functionality, The Sharper Image seemingly abandoned its focus on useful and high-tech offerings. Perhaps the most unsettling addition was the “Afterlife Chamber”, the “Home Shock Therapy Helmet” and the infamous “Happy Ending Massage Chair”. This unusual shift in product offerings marked a strange and dark period for The Sharper Image, leaving an unwanted lasting impression on those who remember these catalog ads from that era.

Adidas’s ill-fated venture into the world of crochet wear in 1974 remains a legendary misstep. The Adidas Prochet line, touted as Men’s Active Crochet Wear, quickly became synonymous with discomfort and calamity. Sporting garments made from a peculiarly unbreathable yarn, athletes soon discovered that the fashionable facade came at a high cost. The hot and stifling nature of the material led to intensive sweating, dehydration, and alarming reports of athletes fainting on the field. Despite its brief existence, the Prochet line managed to create lasting memories, not for its performance, but for the boldness of its catalog ads that captured the essence of an era when fashion experimentation occasionally overtook practicality. The line’s demise within a year may have been swift, but its legacy endures as a cautionary tale in the intersection of fashion and functionality.

The 2018 Wafflehouse Hotel & Casino stands as a curious and ill-fated venture, an ambitious departure from the renowned 24-hour diner chain. From its inception, the concept seemed questionable, with Wafflehouse attempting to translate its greasy spoon charm into the high-stakes world of hotels and casinos. The establishment quickly gained notoriety for mirroring the less-than-sanitary reputation of its diners, with poor ventilation exacerbating the pungent mix of cigarette smoke and waffle aroma that permeated the premises. Staying at the hotel proved to be a challenge for all but the hardiest souls, as the overpowering odors lingered in the air. The final blow came with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing the closure of the hotel, which had relied heavily on its infamous all-you-can-gorge waffle and hashbrown buffet. The Wafflehouse Hotel & Casino thus stands as a cautionary tale of a culinary empire overreaching and facing the consequences of a venture gone awry.

In 2018, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer took an unexpected foray into the world of fashion with its peculiar creation, Pfizer Pfashion. This unconventional venture, marked by its high prices and avant-garde designs, raised more than a few eyebrows in the fashion industry. Ironically, the release of this eccentric line occurred two years prior to the global pandemic, and at the time, it seemed more like a satirical commentary than a serious endeavor. The public response was lukewarm, with many dismissing it as an elaborate joke. However, in an unexpected turn of events in 2020, the Pfashion line experienced a surprising surge in sales, surpassing a million units. As quickly as it gained popularity, the tide turned against it, as people began to realize the absurdity of the outfits and questioned the motives behind Pfizer’s venture into fashion. Eventually, the once-talked-about Pfizer Pfashion line faded into obscurity, leaving behind a legacy of curious sartorial choices and the profits it generated.

Ralph and Bob Wrong, hailing from the quaint town of Little Rock, Arkansas, ventured into the realm of aviation during the late 1880s with a series of ill-fated flying machines. The Wrong brothers were determined to emulate the natural flight of birds and insects by developing contraptions with wings that would flap rapidly enough to achieve lift. Unfortunately, their endeavors were marked by repeated failures, and their inventions lacked any practical plan for controlling the vessel once airborne. Tragically, the brothers met a grim fate, beaten to death by the flapping wings of one of their own creations. Despite their unconventional and ultimately fatal approach to flight, the Wrong brothers and their contributions to air transportation remained forgotten by history until now, serving as a cautionary tale of the perils that accompany ambitious experimentation.

In the clandestine labs of Nazi Germany during World War II, desperate for a supernatural advantage, top scientists stumbled upon a mysterious artifact that unwittingly beckoned extraterrestrial visitors. These alien beings, possessing technology beyond human comprehension, were initially held captive by the Nazis, who sought to harness their otherworldly power. However, the extraterrestrials, with their advanced weaponry and formidable orbiting spacecraft, quickly turned the tide. The German military, overwhelmed and outmatched, faced an impossible foe. Forced to surrender, the Nazis watched as their former captives seized control. This unexpected extraterrestrial alliance altered the course of history, shaping a world where alien technology and Nazi scientists were covertly transported to America through Operation Paperclip. The legacy of this unholy alliance would echo through the Cold War and beyond, forever changing the trajectory of human technological progress.

The East Siberian Mountains, particularly Mount Belukha, have long been associated with mysterious sightings of the elusive Yeti. Revered by locals as powerful and fearsome beings, these creatures, known for their imposing size and strength, are rarely encountered but are deeply ingrained in the folklore of the region. Mount Belukha, Siberia’s highest peak, has been regarded as their ancestral home for thousands of years. In the early 1950s, Russian wildlife photographer Ivan Semenov dedicated himself to capturing the enigmatic Yeti on film, living in the harsh and remote environments of the Siberian mountains. Sadly, Semenov never returned from his quest, and it wasn’t until 1985 that his camera was discovered, providing a glimpse into the world of the Siberian Yeti and leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and intrigue about these mysterious creatures.

The lost city of Atlantis, first described by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato over 2,300 years ago, has long been shrouded in mystery and myth. Recent discoveries off the coast of Cyprus have sparked renewed interest in this enigmatic underwater realm. Lost photos, captured by oceanic explorers in the late 1960s, reveal a mesmerizing and futuristic cityscape lying beneath the ocean’s depths. The images depict evidence of highly advanced technological achievements, surpassing even our current capabilities. The submerged ruins near Cyprus hint at a civilization with knowledge and skills beyond its time, challenging our understanding of history and igniting the imagination with visions of an ancient utopia that once thrived beneath the waves. The lost city of Atlantis continues to captivate the minds of explorers and historians, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a civilization that may have possessed knowledge and achievements far ahead of its time.

In a remarkable discovery deep within the mysterious waters of Loch Ness Lake in Scotland, an antique camera was found, shrouded in mystery and covered in algae. To the astonishment of researchers, the camera’s film was miraculously preserved. Upon careful retrieval and delicate processing, the images revealed an astonishing revelation: the first and last official photographs of the legendary Loch Ness Monster. The photographer was taking his last photographs, capturing what appears to be an attack by the Monster. These restored photographs provided concrete evidence of the monster’s existence. While recent sightings of the Loch Ness Monster are still reported, nothing has come as close to the impact of these recovered images, which remain unparalleled in their historical significance and contribution to the enduring myth of the elusive monster.

The original Elf on the Shelf doll had a fascinating origin as the Winter Watcher, an all-seeing figure with large eyes that kept a watchful eye over misbehaving children in Eastern Europe. This eerie doll would visit the dreams of wayward kids, revealing visions of Hell’s gates in an attempt to encourage better behavior. In the case of exceptionally naughty children, the Winter Watcher even introduced them to the devil, all in the hopes of steering them onto the right path. Over time, the doll evolved into a smaller figurine, but the tradition eventually faded away in the late 1800s, leaving behind a remarkable piece of folklore that would later inspire the modern Elf on the Shelf tradition.