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from the after-detonation-one-can-rest-in-pieces dept.
Over at the excellent 99% Invisible is an article on the often lethal Victorian era defences against grave robbers:
Sometimes known as "resurrectionists," corpse thieves would exhume and sell bodies to doctors, medical instructors and students for anatomical study.
In response, an arsenal of grave-protecting devices began to hit the market, including the "cemetery gun." Locked, loaded and located near the foot of a grave, this device was essentially a conventional firearm on a swiveling based[sic]. Triggered by tripwires, it would spin and shoot would-be robbers approaching under cover of darkness.
The article links to a similar piece on Atlas Obscura.
"Sleep well sweet angel, let no fears of ghouls disturb thy rest, for above thy shrouded form lies a torpedo, ready to make minced meat of anyone who attempts to convey you to the pickling vat," read an advertisement for the Howell torpedo.
As the article notes these devices were oddities, which were probably not commercially successful or widely used, however:
these inventions provide a peculiar window into the curiosity, horror, and unease anatomical practice inspired among 19th-century society.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday August 22 2017, @07:50PM (7 children)
I want more of this kind of thing (and have been trying to find time to do it properly: maybe over the last few days of my vacation).
More!
Encore!
Nescafe!
+1BillionJillianGooglianBillion!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Wednesday August 23 2017, @01:05AM (3 children)
Do you mean more of this type of article, or are you looking for better defenses for your grave?
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Wednesday August 23 2017, @01:33AM (2 children)
Sorry: i thought i was over at
www.nakedunicornsdoingomgponiesfrombehind.com
My mistake for posting here.
:)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 23 2017, @02:56AM (1 child)
Server not found
Firefox can't find the server at www.nakedunicornsdoingomgponiesfrombehind.com.
Check the address for typing errors such as ww.example.com instead of www.example.com
If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network connection.
If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday August 23 2017, @04:07PM
Unicorns are typically "naked", but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if the same address with "busty" existed.
No, I'm not trying at work.
(Score: 2) by tonyPick on Wednesday August 23 2017, @05:23AM (2 children)
If it's more of this kind of stuff I can recommend going over to the 99% invisible site and working through the podcast backlog... They're short (usually in the 15-30 minute range) and cover pretty much "anything that's designed". I keep thinking about putting together some submissions based on the particularly interesting older episodes where they link to newer stories.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Wednesday August 23 2017, @11:39AM
Yeah, listened to a few already.
Good stuff!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Wednesday August 23 2017, @02:13PM
Listening to Dan and Dave: talk about a failure for Rebook, win for Nike, and how much humans can endure.
And how an ad campaign can destroy itself: hype athletes by sticking cameras in their face 24/7, while being completely oblivious to the fact that they can't train properly while this happens.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---