mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Thanks to everybody who participated in our third photo challenge: “Show Us Your Junk!” Weird items were found and photographed (if not purchased); you almost get a musty whiff of that signature Goodwill Smell just looking at these. We also got some (very) late submissions for our second photo challenge, “Ill-Advised Business Names,” which we thought deserved posting as well. Check ‘em out!
This zombified lamb “looks like he’s about to crap flames,” according to finder/reader Sarah, who discovered this in a San Jose thrift store.
As if math weren’t scary enough for kids, they had to add monstrous fish to the mix. From Lauren in Kalamazoo.
Also from Lauren: cute pigs! (”Watch it again and again!”)
For those who couldn’t guess, it’s a humidifier. Shaped like a choo-choo train. Found in Racine, Wisconsin by Emily.
Stephanie found this ear dryer in an Austin, Texas Goodwill.
European thrift store weirdness: the writing on this handshake-shaped mug from Lucerne, Switzerland translates to read “All the best!” (Thanks, Jess.)
A framed picture of nuclear cooling towers, from San Jose:
In case you can’t read the tagline, it says “It’s not whether you win or lose, but whether you win!” Considering Trump’s game is selling for $4.50 at a Wisconsin Value Village, has he won?
Garen found this in a Tampa, Florida garden center. Yeah, it’s not a thrift store find, but it’s still worth a chuckle:
Ill-advised business name leftovers
X Frog sends us this picture from Hove, UK:
It seems there’s just an inexhaustible supply of funny Chinese restaurant names, like this one in Cooperstown, NY (thanks, NJ):
Julie found this hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey:
All the way from Kilkenny, Ireland (a charming town if there ever was one), it’s the blaa blaa blaa. From Patty, who never ate there.
Comments (11)
Comment
- Follow mental_floss
This isn’t so much an “Ill-Advised Business Name” as it is funny. My dad found a restaurant somewhere in Ireland called Shamrock Chinese Take-Out. The Chinese name is on the sign, proceeded by an image of…. a shamrock. It’s been my desktop picture for ages….
posted by Kate on 3-3-2008 at 12:34 pm
LOL! I could so use the ear dryer! I’m going to look for it online…
posted by Karl on 3-3-2008 at 12:35 pm
That’s the Donald?!?! He had hair once?!?! Are you sure that’s not a picture of Lee Majors?
posted by Li on 3-3-2008 at 1:16 pm
First, I think that mug is kind of cool, in a kitschy kinda way. :D
Second, I’m less amused/concerned with the ear dryer than I am with the opened package of baby-wipes for sale next to it…EWWWW!!
posted by mrs.djs on 3-3-2008 at 1:31 pm
I wish you luck, Karl. May you soon be able to dry your ears “the natural way”.
posted by kate on 3-3-2008 at 1:51 pm
Oh, my!
I saw one of those “ear dryers” at my local Goodwill, too – with a (Goodwill) price tag of $19.50!
I remarked to the woman standing next to me that I’d find it hard to believe someone would pay that amount for it, retail, let alone at the Goodwill store.
posted by Mel on 3-3-2008 at 2:54 pm
You know… Only in KZoo would you find that lamb and those pigs. Good job, Laura!
posted by Nell on 3-3-2008 at 3:13 pm
Damn it. I’ve been slacking on the photo army department… next time I promise!
These are really good. Good job ya’ll!
posted by Lore on 3-3-2008 at 10:57 pm
Love this stuff! I’m a huge thrift-store whore, and really wanted to do this challenge, but please remember that in places like VA all thrift stores are pretty much closed on Sundays. I think it’s some kind of conspiracy to force us all to church…anyone who shops at thrift stores is obviously not one of God’s children and needs to have their butt in church! I’ll have to send in a picture of my Armadillo soup tureen find next time *sigh*.
posted by Ingrid on 3-4-2008 at 8:11 am
I forgot about the photo round-up, or I’d have sent in a picture of the cassette tape I bought at the Salvation Army a few days ago: “The Magic Panpipes of Mario Manzoni with his Orchestra and Chorus”. The Magic Panpipes are backed up by a cheap Casio keyboard, circa 1984. Oh, the listening pleasure! Well worth the quarter.
posted by faburobin on 3-4-2008 at 1:00 pm
I looked up that ear dryer online, it costs 75 bucks! Think I’m just going to have to keep using the corner of my towel.
posted by Emily on 3-9-2008 at 3:09 pm