The Gondolier

"Gondolier, Venice

30 Dec 56"

Well, that's what the slide says, and who am I to disagree.

Bonus - Daily Mail in "Contender for most stupid article" shock.

Fashion Statements

Two fashion statements in one slide. How lucky are we?

Unfortunately, the statements are both "Do not follow". (Unless you're Lady Gaga, and looking for something to  really shock the cool world.)

Bonus - Screaming Beans

Very Dull

No, not this one.

This one's actually very interesting.

This is Asteroid Lake, on the western boundary of Pittsburgh. Formed 1850 years ago by the impact, of a large meteorite. The local natives witnessed the event, and the commemorated the event as Keenowatakitee (literally Day of the Flash Bang). In the 1870's, the local mayor Jefferson Mayhew tried to excavate the lake to mine the metal meteorite, but failed as the lake kept refilling.

See : Very Interesting.

(and totally untrue. Every word of it.)

Bonus : This Is Charley

Pocket Billiards

"Say no more"  Nudge, nudge...

Bonus - Lateral Punny Thinking

Watermelons For All !

The traditional way to get refreshed after a day in the sun. (Even tho' watermelons are flavourless, watery and over-rated.)

Bonus - Snow Ratchet and the Seven Randalls.

The Children's Table

While the adults of the South Dakota Districts Swingers Club hold thei August "Get Together" elsewhere, the kids gather around the picnic table. Much Pepsi-Cola an potato chips were consumed, and Billy Mitchell (in the Daniel Boon coon-skin cap) tells everyone why their teacher Miss Havershaw is actually a communist.

Bonus - Washing Machine + Brick = Science !

Meet Miss Michigan

Fresh Box of slides, and quite a few from some parade thru' Lansing in Michigan.  Unclear what the celebration, but might be from a Centenary Celebration (1959?), but the presence of a horse-drawn hearse was a surprise.  Still, lets concentrate on the pretty ladies for the moment...

Bonus - You don't get magazines like this any more. I wonder why not?

Dansoublierapantalophobia

Dansoublierapantalophobia - noun (rare) - The gradual realisation while waltzing that one has forgotten to put on underpants.

Bonus - Sheep + Crystal Meth + Tasers = Science

Meanwhile, at Gettysburg...

"Mabel Gardner, Julia Langsam, Sang Myung Pai on Little Round Top, Gettysburg Battlefield, Pa.   1 May 1953, Photo by Mrs J.F. Brown Jr, Bedford, Mass."

What more could I add?

Bonus : And you think travel to your job is stressful? Transmitter Repairs

Neo Brutalist

"And this is the quaint little hotel that we stayed on the 23rd night. I tried to get it's best side, but the view from every angle just made me suicidally depressed. In fact, you can see where the French Chap (Mssr Clement, I think) tried to knock it over to save the world from another neobrutalist architectural monstrosity."

Bonus - Mother-Love

Name That Plane !

Now, I know that there are some Aero Engineers watching, so here's a chance to get all nostalgic.

Name that plane.

Yes, there's not much to see, but there's enough there.  And ain't it a grand photo (apart fro the mould.)

Bonus - Karaoke -  R.E.M's 'Losing my religion'.   With Tourettes.   NSFK 

Avast Behind !

Ahoy Matey,

Yarr, it be that time o' th' year. International Talk Like A Pirate day, ye lily-livered land-lubbing spawn of a sea-cow. So gather round, and fetch the rum while I tell ye a tale.  Or p'rhaps not.

Bonus - Swans.   Almost as nasty as ducks.

Bonus 2 - This site in Prate-talk

Weekend at the Cabin

A very "Normal Rockwell" image, slightly blurred, but it just works.  Makes me wish I had a cabin out in the Adirondacks (or maybe Grindleford) that I could retreat to.

Bonus - Winner !

On Tour With The Fanshawes

If it's Friday, it must be the Alps.

With the luggage tied into the roof. (Hope they're insured.)

Bonus - What, here's me with another dose of lurghi, and you want entertaining?     Damn    OK, Hungover Owls.

Cross-Country Car Carrier

Something I hadn't really considered - Trans-America relocation. Pile everything into a moving wagon, and fly to the new job on the other side of USA.  What about the car ??

Ship it too.

Bonus.   Apologies in advance for the hours lost. An addictive game (instructions in Japanese, but you'll pick it up quickly.)

The Cultural Trip

I'm sure a part of every Business Trip in the 1960's was a tour of the cultural regions of whichever god-forsaken city a salesman was sent to. 

Here, Luigi enjoys a tour of Baghdad, and lets his hair down by...gosh...taking off his tie, but leaving the top button done up. Radical.

Bonus - Viral Adert, but worth a trip. Tippex.

The Holy Grail of Dull

Yes, it's real.

Yes, it's dull.

Yes, I like it.

Bonus - Artist takes commissions to paint Jesus with your kids.

A Barrel of Laughs

Pam, in her natural environs.

Bonus - Military Rations

Grandpa Sherman

Grandpa Sherman - a.k.a. Frederico Sherman -  a.k.a. LeRoy Clinton.

Three Wives, 12 Children, 22 Grandchildren, 8 Great Grandchildren, 2 Great Grandchildren.

5 Mistresses, Twice named in divorce cases, one church scandal, dishonourable mention in Utah Church Times, four patent infringements, one arrest for "Transporting a baboon across a state line for immoral purposes."

Legend.

Bonus - where art and nutrition collide.  http://www.drawyourdinner.com/

Mr Apollo

Are you tired of me kicking sand in your face?

You need the body building course devised by Mr Apollo. I was once a 6-stone apology...now, I am two separate gorillas. Think of the advantages :

• Lift objects
• No unpleasant bending
• Wrestle Poodles...and win !
• Splash water at people (see illustration.)

Send money now.

Bonus - 

Golfing Gals

Mollie, Mavis and Mildred. The cougars of the San Mateo County Golf Club : always on the prowl for unsuspecting teenage caddy.

My first thought was that this was some odd Performance Art / Drag Queen extravaganza, but no...it appears genuine. Which means that beehive, grimace and hat are genuine fashion.

Lovely.

Bonus - The Art of Political Speech is absent.

The Backstreets

Curious.  I've had great trouble posting pictures today.  Hmmm.    Poltergeists.

Bonus : Timewasting with commenter.  Not something that I would do...

Changing Culture

Strange how things change.

Nowadys, a bloke with a dog, panhandling on a busy shopping street would be taken by many to be a chiseling dole-scum (© Daily Mail), looking for a free handout. Most folk would hurry past without making eye contact.

Forty years ago, such a scene seems to have been an example of local colour, and a suitable subject to show the neighbours

Curious.

Bonus - I know it's an advert, but...wow.

Railroad to Oblivion

If America can have great western town names like Gun Barrel City (Texas), Humptulips (Washington), Looneyville (Minnesota), Boring (Oregon), Why (Arizona), and Tombstone (Arizona) then why isn't there a town called Oblivion?

Anyway, today's dull slide documents a tedious moment on a train.

Bonus - Surprised I haven't mentioned this before. THE UTTERLY POINTLESS PICTURE BLOG

Marjory Fortesque

Doyen of the Thrumpton Ladies Guild, and jolly good egg.

Merge never misses a day of weasel-kicking, the ancient sport of choice in Thrumpton. There she is, bedecked in sensible tweed skirt, sensible checked shirt, and with her reliable old Leica, ready to record the final moments of a punted weasel.

Bonus - Ain't that the truth

Shock and Awe

Well, something's Spooked Monica. My first thought was that she was on her mobile phone, but I guess tht doesn't apply in 1950's America.

So, here's your monthly calendar wallpaper. (Almost forgotted)

Bonus : Childish fun, but NSFK   Crap Grafitti

Bow Tie and Dungarees

 A bold Fashion Statement.

( Sorry, I'm coming down with some bug - not  the mood for chatiness.)

Kilometric

Slide number 800 (Woo !) and we're in the Dark Continent. I can only assume that the photographer was surprised to see that "long lasting ballpens" are advertised in the outback.

From the carrier bag, I guess we're in Kenya today, and that means....this

Bonus - Kenya !

Bonus 2 - Excitable Otters

F.L.K.

Seems like it's been too long since we had some Funny Looking Kids slides, so this is a welcome return.

The younger one seems to have inherited his gnashers from Great Uncle Orlok.

Bonus : For those who haven't had the pleasure...The Gashleycrumb Tinies.     Go-on, buy it !

Four Ninjas

In this picture, there are four death-dealing, homicidal, maniacal, skilled Ninjas, just waiting to pounce.

How many can you see kids ?

Bonus : Books for Odd Kids