The Origin of the Species and Zombies by Charles Darwin … originally published 1859, revised 2009.

blackandwtf:

via.

From 1963, ten stunningly sexist reasons why not to hire women.  Of particular interest is number eight:

(viii) A spinster lady can, and very often does, turn into something of a battleaxe with the passing years. A man usually mellows;

From Letters of Note, where you can view the entire two page document, found in the National Archives of Australia.  (Further commentary here.)

1977.  Sure, I loved Star Wars.  I was five.

But I was thrilled beyond reason to have this toy.  Oh, and this one, too.

(Must … resist … urge … to check eBay …)

Showed this excellent old snake oil ad to a friend of mine who observed wryly: “And it’s from Standard Laboratories. I hear they’re pretty reliable.”

This got me to wondering about the offerings from Standard’s competion.  And so …

• Sub-Standard Laboratories will cure your crippling heroin addiction for 50 cents, but it makes your hair turn into glass.  Get what you pay for.
• And Irregular Laboratories?  25 cents will knock that coke monkey right off your back, it will … and replace it with a real live monkey.  (A monkey that now has your former coke addiction.)
• Indubitable Laboratories costs more than all of them, meriting a solid sawbuck for their unguent.  But for your five whole dollars, not only do you lose  your debilitating condition, but you gain back all of the money you ever spent on dope peddlers and opium den stays.*
  • *- Note: You will now be a contracted dope peddler who runs an opium den.  But hey, who doesn’t like to be busy?

Some revelations are less welcome than others.

A Forgotten Facet of Shakespearean Lore