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'The Maison d'Ailleurs (translated as "House of Elsewhere"), is a museum of science fiction, utopia and extraordinary journeys in Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland). The archives of the museum contain around 70,000 documents related to science fiction or utopia (books, art pieces, toys, etc.), including some very old (as early as the sixteenth century) or unique pieces. The collections of the museum are used for iconographic purposes or research (literature, history of ideas, design, etc.).
'In 2003, collector Jean-Michel Margot decided to donate one of the most important collections dedicated to Jules Verne to the city of Yverdon-les-Bains. The Maison d'Ailleurs was given the task to manage and present this collection. This Jules Verne collection contains about 20,000 documents, including rare pieces such as posters dating from the end of the nineteenth century, hand-written notes, ancient iconography linked to discovery and scientific adventure, as well as the complete collection of the Voyages Extraordinaires, owned by the granddaughter of Pierre-Jules Hetzel, Jules Verne's publisher.
'In parallel, the museum presents from two to three temporary exhibitions per year, around the main themes of science fiction (cities of the future, space travel, lost worlds, etc.) and its artists: H.R. Giger, John Howe, James Gurney, Caza, Jean Fontaine, etc. The Maison d'Ailleurs is the only public institution of its kind in the world.' -- TMdA
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'Museum Of Death (Bangkok): Travel books warn that this museum is not for the faint-hearted. In fact, visitors are welcomed by the founder’s skeleton at the entrance door. The forensic department’s museum displays strange hemorrhaged brains, severed legs and arms with tattoos, lungs full of deep knife wounds and skulls punctured by many bullet holes, shot at from different angles by forensic experts in an experiment to study how gun bullets ricochet inside a human’s head.
Perhaps the most ‘famous’ of all the exhibits is the mummified corpse of See Uey Sae Ung (labeled as Si Quey on his display case and sometimes also referred to as Si-oui or Si Ouey depending on who is writing about him). He was the most notorious serial killer in Thai history. A Chinese immigrant who moved to Thailand in 1944; See Uey suffocated and then ate the hearts and livers of over a half dozen male children. He apparently believed that the practice made him stronger, healthier, and by some accounts, immortal.
He was captured and executed by hanging in the 1950s. After an autopsy, the cadaver was filled and covered with paraffin wax to preserve it. In recent years, the museum has added a film educating visitors about the story of See Uey and he became a sort of bogeyman for Thai children. Parents would threaten misbehaving kids with a visit from his ghost.' -- asianewsnet
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'Dedicated to Norway’s most inventive twentieth-century writer and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the 2700-square-meter Knut Hamsen Center is located above the Arctic Circle by the village of Presteid of Hamaroy, near the farm where Hamsun grew up.
'Architect Steven Holl's idea with the building was to construct it as a human body, a figure which includes all the contradictions and themes found in Hamsun's literary characters in his novels Hunger, Mysteries, and so on. The building is a place of contradictory forces - there are dark corners and big, open spaces, and labyrinths, and the changing light and seasons make it appear different each day. It's a complex building that is always changing, just like the psychology of Hamsun's early characters.
'When you enter the area around the museum, you see this big, black tower, which is reminiscent of old, wooden, Norwegian churches. But it also refers to a scene in one of Hamsun's novels. Then, on the top of the roof, you see bamboo, which is like a strange mix of hair and grass. The building sort of leans to the side, and all this together makes it appear like a figure.
'Inside, it's white, so you get this contrast of the black, wooden exterior and white, concrete interior. In the middle of the building, there is this brass elevator. If the building is a metaphor for the body, then this brass elevator is like the spine holding it all up; it's the core, the stable element. But there are glass panels in it, so you can see the movements both inside and outside the elevator - like the nerves in the spine of human beings.
'Stephan Holl has all these playful tricks and illusions inside the building that make it challenging, and create a dynamic between the open spaces and the darker corners. Also, on the first level, the floor is made of blackish-gray concrete and is slightly tilted, so when you move inside the building, you actually have quite a physical, special experience of working with or against the building. And then there are funny elements in there - like a yellow balcony, which is a reference to Hamsun's novel Hunger, or a wooden structure that symbolizes the empty violin case in Mysteries.' -- Bordil Borset, director of the Hamsunsenteret (Knut Hamsen Center)
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'The Retrocomputing Museum is dedicated to programs that induce sensations that hover somewhere between nostalgia and nausea — the freaks, jokes, and fossils of computing history. Our exhibits include many languages, some machine emulators, and a few games.
'Most are living history — environments that were once important, but are now merely antiques. A few never previously existed except as thought experiments or pranks. Most, we hope, convey the hacker spirit — and if not that, then at least a hint of what life was like back when programmers were real men and sheep were nervous.
The curators of the Museum are Eric S. Raymond and John Cowan. See Eric's offer for more about the kinds of things we build and collect.
'If you've visited before, check out the what's new section. You, too can contribute to the Museum! If you think something belongs here, tell us about it. Take a look at our want list of things we're looking for. Finally, you can browse a list of related resources.' -- TRM
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'The Vodka Museum (Moscow): 'There is hardly a person in the multilingual world that surrounds us who, if Russia is mentioned to him, will not think of vodka. Of course, it is one of the many symbols of our country, such as nestling dolls, caviar and brown bear.
'The vodka association is absolutely normal, natural and correct, for this drink has long been an indispensable part of Russian life; a necessary element of the most important events in our life, for example, weddings, departures on a long trip, birth of a human being, or a funeral repast. In late modern Russian history, there was a period of time when a bottle of vodka became a kind of national currency, which was used to pay for all sorts of small services, and this way of payment was preferable to cash payments. Also, in the beginning of the 1920's during a serious financial crisis when there was a shortage of monetary units, vodka labels served as cash in Siberia! This drink also plays a significant role in the Russian language and folklore. In other words, vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture.
'Let us enter the door of the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of the long gone centuries. Listen to the unhurried story of what is the real vodka, of when its manufacture began and the role it has played in the history of Russian civilisation.' -- TVM
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p.s. Hey. A quick reminder to those of you in the NYC environs that Lonely Christopher, author of the new Little House on the Bowery title 'The Mechanics of Homosexual Intercourse', is reading tonight, 7 pm, at Bluestockings. He's great, and please be there if you can. Otherwise, it's exile/ cleaning day on my end, and this post's launch time is in the cleaners' unpredictable hands. ** David Ehrenstein, Thanks, David. The dreadful missing is very mutual, trust me. ** Mark, Hey. I actually tried to call you yesterday, but I couldn't get a connection for some reason. I think it was my phone. I'll try you again today, and I'll write you if the problem persists. ** Chris Cochrane, Hey, man. Yeah, if 4 dancers can't do Utrecht, I don't know ... I guess we should confer. The September shows are awesome! ** Pisycaca, Hi, Montse! The waiting is such a drag, right? I'm sure everything will be fine for both of us. Well, pretty sure at least on my end of things, ha ha. Hotel near the Pompidou, nice. Very nice. Can't wait to see you guys! Awesome that you're taking up French again. You can teach me a few things. And very cool that you liked the Zach German book. Yeah, I adore that novel. Love and more love. ** Pilgarlic, Oh, ugh, on the Tybee house payment increase. Damn. Even your dreams are colorful, raucous beats of things. That was a good one. Me, I'm stuck with my threadbare, minimalist terror of high heights dreams, seemingly for eternity. ** Alexp336, Well, yeah, if a writer continually and devotedly addresses a subject, it surely does mean it's something they feel passionately about, but do people immediately assume that, oh, Stephen King is on the monsters' side or that detective novelists side with their novels' murderers? That's what's weird to me. The subject of sex seems to derange otherwise logical people, which is partly while it's interesting to explore, of course. Oh, sure, I should have implicated myself in the complicated people thing. It takes one to know one, and all that. Well, 'proper', yes, whatever that means, of course. The popular definition of proper so often means dull and 'seen it all before', and that's the problem. ** MANCY, Hey. I don't suppose there's any logic or use in the idea of keeping the business venture w/ your friend and making it a two city venture? I guess that makes no sense. I have this problem-solving side that leaps to the fore when I think about dilemmas like this. ** Alan, Hey. Thanks. Is the new room you're moving into the fabled one with no window? I'm hoping you're okay with the new living situation. I just read a book by Frantz Fanon and thought it was pretty great. Have you read him? ** Laurabeth, Hi, Laura. If I can finish this text I'm working today, and I think I can, it'll be at least a semi-wonderful day. Snow day, cool. We haven't had one here in weeks, for fuck's sake. Love, me. ** Steevee, Keiji Haino with the Rollins band, wow. That's a funny idea. I can see that functioning. This is the season where people like you and me who don't go to the gym regularly or practice yoga tend to slack off, yeah. Well, it's nice she cares enough to push you at least, right? ** Kiddiepunk, Big M! I'm counting the days until you're stumbling around here jetlagged in some charming fashion. Yes, some Facebook friends with eagle eyes told me about this engagement business. Well, hugs and expensive champagne, you guys. I want to hear the scoop straight from your Aussie accented mount. I'm okay. A bit spaced, trying to work, bored without you guys around. But all is well. Except for, ahem, you guessed it, the internet, which remains its sluggish self so far. Maybe it's been a wee bit faster lately. A wee bit. I'm waiting for the right moment to ask Chrystel when this wonderful, promised New Years internet speediness gift is arriving. Oh, but one thing: the Recollets gallery is apparently as finished as it's going to be, and Chrystel suggested we meet next week when you guys get back to talk about our legendary show. That's the news. Enjoy your waning summer, and get the hell back here. ** L@rstonovich, Welcome back to civilization. Man, that thing with Jen's dad is so Arizona du jour. All respect from me for laying into him for his racist crap. 'Hurt his feelings', fucking hell. Anyway, it's a pretty looking state for the most part at least, no? Oh, and while I've got you, your oh so great and kindly guest-post will be launching here on Thursday of next week aka the 27th. Thank you, buddy! ** Tender prey, Yeah, we're still at the point where a stint without internet can be very refreshing and all about getting more in touch with (blank), but I figure there'll come a day when losing your internet connection will literally kill you. It'll be great for the spy and hacking set, I guess. I'll write to you in just a bit. ** Andrew, Divine was on 'Tales of the Darkside'? I didn't know that. As Divine or as whatever his real name was? ** Dusty rose, Since your writings made my day, it's only fair. All signs and all logic says that your new stuff is going to blow a whole lot more than me away. ** Creative Massacre, Hey. Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Intimate relationships ending or evolving are tough and strange no matter what, but it's great that you guys are still close. And I hope everything with your mom goes okay. They they think they have to break her shoulder to fix the pain? Yikes, but at least the pain will heal that way, I guess. Sounds tough, pal, yeah. My love and hugs to you. ** Misanthrope, Hm, what an intriguing hint at your post. I'll just sit on my hands over here and await the mystery's resolution. Alert me on your Mung Philosophy Blog for sure. Sounds like a must see. Good news on the lessened work and on the increased nearness of your novel's growth. Your wanting to see that movie for that reason isn't bad to me, no sir. ** Exiled here. ** Thomas Moronic, Hey, T! Thanks so much for yesterday. Stephen O' just gave me the Ambarchi/ O'Rourke/ Haino album. I'm guessing you know it. Amazing! ** Inthemostpeculiarway, Hey. Nice to see you at greater length. Oh, that wasn't such a bad day really. I thought it glistened, but that might have been your prose. I'm so glad I don't have a bathtub to clean, and I'll bet the cleaning crew is too. That Franco guy really is a heavily busy bee right now. He's starting to be as inescapable as Gaga. So, 'Skins' isn't so hot? Boy, people sure talk about it. I guess they mostly talk about the cast being 'hot' actually. Not here because it isn't showing here as far as I know at least. Wow, you linked to a clip from 'Pieces'! I loved that movie back in the day. And it had one of my all-time favorite advertising lines or catch phrases or whatever you call them: (spoken ominously) 'Pieces ... it's exactly what you think it is.' That's poetry right there, man. Thanks for the memories! My day was nothing much at all, be forewarned. I mostly sat exactly where I'm sitting right now trying to finish that text for Gisele, and I couldn't, and I was very frustrated, although I'm pretty sure I'll have it finished today. I took a break at one point because I thought I had a really good idea for a blog post, and I spent maybe three hours gathering stuff and putting it together before I realized it wasn't actually a very interesting blog post at all, and that I had just wasted my time for nothing. That happens more often than I say. I downloaded the new Wire album, and, on first listen at least, I'm in love with it. That weird email guy kept emailing me all day and getting crazier and making less and less sense, so I stopped responding to him, and hopefully he'll go act nutso towards someone else now. I think I went out and bought some food, didn't I? Yeah, I did. Anything unusual? Mm, no, I don't think so, but the Monop mini-market where I buy most of my non-veggie food has decided to rearrange everything in the store, so it was full of people who, like myself, were completely confused and wandering around with annoyed squints on their faces, and it made us feel spiritually connected in a way you normally don't get with fellow shoppers, and I guess that was interesting. I bought the new issue of Mojo. Iggy the Eskimo, the girl who posed naked on the cover of Syd Barrett's 'Madcap Laughs' album, and who had been lost and mysterious for years and years has reappeared, and she gave a not so interesting interview about her life with SB and her life since. I also found out via a photo in the Mojo that Mick Taylor, who, for my money, was the most attractive ever member of the Rolling Stones, is now very, very not attractive. Anyway, I don't think anything else happened that was interesting. Some TV, nothing good. Food, as normal. Cigarette intake, normal. So, I'll stop trying to shine my unshiny day right there and hope for better today. Your turn. I hope you're feeling better. ** Colin, The car crash sound is kind of an old friend of mine, I think from growing up in LA where there are so many cars that have such wild personalities. ** Dandysweets, Hey! Awesome to see you! Yes, I saw your emails this morning! Thank you, thank you! That's so great! I'll get to putting them together asap, and I'll write to you with the coordinates and stuff. How are you? What are you up to? ** Changeling, Hey. Well, you could just ask people to comment on what they perceive to be the work's intention, I guess, no? I don't know. Of course I'm happy to talk this through with you, if that helps, to see how the workshop could work at its best for the piece and novel and you. ** Armando, I will see 'Kes' when I can, for sure. Mm, no, I wouldn't say the French are inherently down on S. Coppola's films. 'Marie Antoinette' had both fans here and those who weren't so into it, but it was only the reactionary idiot types who went off about the film's supposed inaccuracies and all that. And, no, I haven't seen 'MA', weirdly. I'm not sure why 'Somewhere' hasn't been liked here. The win at the Venice Film Festival might have raised expectations in some particular way. It's not like the dislike of it is passionate at all. The people I know in the States who weren't that into the film said they thought it was kind of forgettable, and there just seem to be a lot more people here having that same reaction. I don't know. I'll see it and see for myself. Take care, man. ** Okay, onwards. The post: well, five interesting museums in my opinion, basically. I also liked the grouping for some reason. Anyway, there you go. See you tomorrow.
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