Unlike most secret societies, Ies UX dont aim for world domination (that we know of), summon evil creatures from other dimensions (except possibly the French police) and dont protect the heirs of Jesus.
Instead, what they do is improve parts of Paris. Hidden and run-down parts. Yes, this is a secret society made up of archeologists, historians and architects. Their works have included building a cinema, complete with bar and restaurant, underneath the Seine, restoring medieval crypts, and staging plays and readings in monuments after dark.
And for all these acts, they are wanted by the Parisian police, who frequently chase their members through the city catacombs, in hope of unmasking one of them. They break into historical monuments and leave them for the better when they leave. Plus they have a secret base (complete with cinema, bar and restaurant) under the city. How cool are these guys? Pretty fucking cool.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2554240.ece
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/heritage/story/0,,2217212,00.html
http://greg.org/archive/2007/10/09/untergunther_french_urban_explorers_sneak_into_pantheon_for_a_year_repair_150yo_clock.html
This is a website for one of their groups http://www.ugwk.eu/
This is pretty neat. Too bad the idea hasn't caught on in other cities. It's like vigilante community service.
Hoo boy, gotta love the French gov't. :lulz:
"Oh no, they FIXED IT? Bitches gonna pay for that; we LIKE our broken-down shit here."
And one of those links linked me to some lolz in Providence, RI: http://greg.org/archive/2007/10/02/the_children_of_the_ruins_and_the_apartment_at_the_mall.html
my favorite bit was that they not only sued the Untergunther, they also hired someone to rebreak the clock.
WOW.
A combination of great win (les UX) and great fail (the bureaucracy).
Also, Untergunther? I would love them just for that.
The world needs more of this. I am heartened.
Quote from: Cainad on January 17, 2010, 04:56:12 PM
Hoo boy, gotta love the French gov't. :lulz:
"Oh no, they FIXED IT? Bitches gonna pay for that; we LIKE our broken-down shit here."
And one of those links linked me to some lolz in Providence, RI: http://greg.org/archive/2007/10/02/the_children_of_the_ruins_and_the_apartment_at_the_mall.html
I've seen that story before... I love it! It's awesomeness.
That's pretty awesome!