πΏπππππππππ π°ππππππ Roundup
Discover more from Pessimists Archive Newsletter
πΏπππππππππ π°ππππππ Roundup
Sunday February 15th
π On this dayβ¦
On this day in 1946 the first general purpose computer (ENIAC) was dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania. 6 years later a headline wondered what on earth FORTY SEVEN of these βelectronic brainsβ would do:
π Not Safe for Workhouse (1941)
Japan banned French romance novels in the 40s because it was turning people into FREAKS, replacing more traditional love making methods with βmore ardent techniques.β This mimics more modern concerns about media consumption and its influence on sex.
π½ Cancelled (1921)
A juvenile Judge got cancelled for defending moving pictures and their influence on youth crime, he proclaimed to concerned clergymen that heβd seen twice as many youth commit crimes just after church or Sunday School. One minster called for him to be jailed, the judge later apologized.
βI have had twice that many cases of children who have been attending church and sunday school just before they commit their offenses.β
π Mechanical Goat (1897)
124 years ago this article pointed out how the bicycle had become a scapegoat for many social and economic ills, the 1890s marked a moment when the bicycle was going mainstream as cost and practicality hit a sweet spot.
Paper Time (1872)
We did it, we found someone complaining that all commuters do these days is stare at paper, 149 years ago staring at a novel was treated as staring at a screen is today. It is a fun addition to the below photo that has gained some viral traction in the past as an example that the βgood old daysβ involved staring at information too.
βWe have often observed young misses, intently engaged in the perusal of some romance, while upon a rapidly-moving railway train" βSuch practices lead to serious injury to the eyes.β
TOP TWEET
