The largest number of phones to explode in one house Infographic

Strangely enough, when you google "The largest number of phones to explode in one house", this site is only the third hit you get. Clearly, this is an area that needs more detailed examination.

©2015 James Mathurin

The biggest ever mushroom omelette Infographic Redux

Every now and then, a massive explosion causes unexpected and beautiful things to happen.

©2015 James Mathurin

Most erotic cooking instructions Infographic

Important historical research, now in infographic form!

©2013 James Mathurin

Biggest Mushroom Omlette Infographic

Personally, I'm not such a fan of mushrooms. They seem to be dangerous.

©2013 James Mathurin

The world’s smelliest piece of art

The world’s smelliest piece of art was Self-portrait in Tofu, a sculpture by Dutch artist Kurzt Voegells. Although relatively odour-free when it was first exhibited in May 2003, it soon began to decompose, and caused the entire Anstschlogge gallery of Eindhoven to be evacuated between the 4^th and 7^th of September that year. After it was destroyed in a controlled explosion, Voegells announced, 

“I had not planned for this, but I feel it came to express the disgust I feel for society far more poetically than my food-sculpting abilities could possibly have expressed.”

Dutch police evacuate the area around the Anstschlogge gallery on June 15th 2003, immediately before Self-portrait in Tofu was destroyed. Riot police were required, as the horrible smell was deemed to be responsible for 17 separate scuffles and 2 small riots breaking out. Photograph by Karen Eliot.

 ©2012 James Mathurin

The biggest ever mushroom omelette

The biggest ever mushroom omelette covered an area of 0.73 square miles, and was formed by a gas explosion at a farm just outside of Leipzig, Germany in 1974. The farmer, Helvig Kreucker, said, “I am relieved that the omelette has been declared a record breaker, as I am hoping I can use it to finance the repairs to my chicken coop and greenhouse. There was a fear that the judges would refuse to recognise it as an omelette at first, due to the hole in the middle the explosion made. Some of them wanted to call it some kind of donut, but fortunately, they relented.”

Kreucker's barn, where the omlette-causing explosion originated. This photograph was taken by an insurance assessor, after the egg had been cleaned up. Photograph  by dé.wé..

 ©2012 James Mathurin 

Most erotic cooking instructions

The Most erotic cooking instructions are the 14th Century Persian book الغذاء ليالي الصحراوية الطويلة (roughly translated as "Food for long desert nights"), by an unknown author. It is only legal in 57 countries to print 3 extracts from the book.

This bound copy of the book was being used by Issamm Joabchim to produce a French translation for publication in Belgium in 1753, when his cottage exploded. When the book was the only thing to be found intact in the wreckage, it was confiscated by the Vatican as being a "Satanic Appendage". Image supplied by -MRTN-

©2012 James Mathurin

The largest number of phones to explode in one house in one year

The largest number of phones to explode in one house in one year is 24, in 1997. It was in the house of Mary Davies, a resident of Columbus, Ohio. She told her local news channel, “A lot of people have said it was because of my pet Bush Baby, Bronson, marking them as his territory, but I think this is how angels communicate with us.”

Bronson, pictured in his habitat, which is now required by local ordnance to be kept at least 15 metres from any telephonic device. Photo courtesy of Eggybird

©2009 James Mathurin