On The Rocks, with Elaine and Pepper.

 

This set of slides seems to have a lot of slides taken in the Southern part of Wales. And with Elaine and/or Pepper.

So, I'm guessing that this one may be Pembrokeshire. But that's a guess.

I do like the vintage mechanical winch/crane in the background.

Bonus - My girlfriend left me because I'm insecure.

Oh wait, she's back. I guess she just went to the grocery store.

Sunday in the Park with Junior

 

What a remarkably calm and restful scene - a mother, daughter, son-in-law and their grad-daughter enjoying the air of a crisp Sunday Afternoon.

Except... there's a secret. Karen, the daughter is actually Kevin, and he's en femme after going AWOL from the US Navy Seals - not every guy wanted to head off to Vietnam. So, while awaiting his hair to grown long, and a chance to head north to safety in Canada, Kevin was hiding in plain sight, with a toddler from a nearby Orphanarium.

Bonus - 

More American Architecture

 

I don't know why, but I find slides like this, or rural American architecture, fascinating.

When I win the National Lottery (unlikely, especially asI don't play it) I would be tempted to build a house like this.

Bonus - Barry Cryer in conversation with Richard Herring (over an hour, but very enjoyable.)

Bonus 2 - An end to the BoJo Partygate matter/

The Early Days of Computer Graphics

 

It may be crazy-sounding to younglings brought up on XBoxes and Mintendo machines, but this image would once have been white-hot leading edge computer generated imagery.

Probably around 1983.

Bonus - A patient experienced claustrophobia and had a panic attack during a CT scan

Bonus 2 - 

Simple, but I call it home.

 

Since downsizing from my pervious 72-bedroom bungalow a few years ago, I've been living in this modest property. It's a simple little place, and suits my solo life.

The upper floor is given over to the servants, and the penthouse swimming pool is becoming a bugger to heat.

So, if anyone would like to do a house-swap - please get in touch.

Bonus - Aw crap.  R.I.P. Barry Cryer.

Bonus 2 - Chat-up line rejections

The Curious "Knee" of the Flamingo

 

Have you ever stopped to consider the Flamingo's knee?

How come it flexes forward, when every other animal has knees that flex backwards.

Well, Have I got astonishing news for you.

Bonus - Trump 2024 flags being sewn in a Chinese factory…

Lloyd at 1107

 

I know that today is Tedious Tuesday, but today's slide is actually doubly interesting.

• The slide mount may be the standard 2inch square size, but the image was larger than the normal 35mm size.
• The slide image is of Lloyd Prentice, the only Mortician in Kansas City to have pet penguin. (Charlie the Adelie penguin.)

So, not very interesting.

Bonus - Why Laos Has Been Bombed More Than Any Other Country

Skating on The Fletcher's Pond

 

Nostalgia, cold winters, "Too Cold For Snow", skating using an old frozen banana instead of skates, etc etc etc

You know the stories.

Bonus - Duelling Balloons.

Bonus 2 - 

Back to Nature

 

Yesterday, I got off my fat ass, sat down (!?) and scanned another baggie of slides. They were basically a record of someone's trip to Russia in 1985 (Leningrad, Moscow and Yalta), and were...to be honest ... only slightly interesting.

And then this slide appeared. Different mount, and unconnected with the USSR selection.   And it's great. A lovely calm forest lake...somewhere. Anywhere. This could be Wales, or Siberia, or Canada, or Montenegro, of Finland or ... anywhere.

And it's lovely.

Bonus - a recent estimate for the number of trees on Earth exceeds the highest estimates for the number of stars in the Milky Way.

Bonus 2 - Curse of the Axe: Rewriting American History (2015) - European axe found (likely) prior to arrival of settlers, a story about Indigenous trade networks. Looks like an interesting watch.

Marjorie - Cougar on the Prowl

 Since the death of her third husband ( wouldn't eat his mushrooms, if you know that story )  Majorie Furness has been stalking the fleshpots of Portugal for some "Fresh Meat".

Here she is, awaiting the arrival of the Lithuanian Under 21 Water Polo team for their winter training camp.  Run Lads !

Bonus - There are some inventions that arrive at the right time. Some whose time is not yet here. And some.... well, I doubt that there's been a worse sounding idea than The Boomerang Grenade.

Seaman (2nd Class) Arnold J Rimmer

 

They say that every soldier carries a Field Marshall's baton in his knapsack.

However, Water Fountain Servicing Technician Arnold J Rimmer carries a copy of the US Navy's Guidebook "So You Made It To Fleet Commodore" in his kit-bag, just in case of an in-field promotion.

Bonus - Having seen a link to another article on The 30 Greatest Action Movies of All Time, I though...Ho-hum. But having seen what's at number one..... Yeah !

Greetings from Andorra

 

I know what you're think ... that's the Netherlands, obviously. 

But No !  My neighborhood windmill  expert (Hi Gavin!) tells me that the sails rotate anti-clockwise when viewed from the East, which is a characteristic feature of windmills in Andorra.

Also, the Andorran windmills use power generated by hydro-electric plants in the Pyrenees to power the sails, ensuring a steady flow of air to prevent the formation of foggy spots on the canals..

Bonus - Stranded dog saved from rising tide after rescuers attach sausage to drone

Bonus 2 - 

Llama Blanket Bingo

 

In the Peruvian village of Santa Ricardo de Tromboni, there is a strange custom. Every two years, the villagers layout their hand-knitted blankets in a field, then introduce a herd of llamas, pre-fed on chocolate eclairs.

Eventually, nature takes its course, and a llama poops on a blanket.  The owner of that cacca-blessed blanket will be Mayor of the village for the next two years.

I presume a similar thorough process can be blamed for Boris Johnson's appointment.

Bonus - 

The Cabin in the Woods

 

I know that Tuesday's are traditionally reserved for the dullest of the dull, what are traditions for, if not to be broken?

While this ain't the most thrilling slide, it's a nice little slice of rural life. A small wooden cabin (dacha?) in the forest, when the family can escape to, drink beer, fish, hunt, drink beer, plot the overthrow of the government, drink beer and be buried in a shallow grave.

Only to be dug up by marauding black bears. 

Bonus - 

The Correct Use of the Apostrophe

 

While I ain't no Grammar Nazi, I do appreciate the correct use of punctuation. And full marks for the owners of the Mechanics' Building for demonstrating that this isn't a building for just one mechanic.

No info on the slide, but the interesting combination of sunshine, Morris Minor and "Drug Store"mae me think of Bermuda....and Yes. I was correct.

Current (well, 2015) streetview is shown.

Bonus - 

.

Oriental Rooftops

 

No info on this slide, but something at the back of my mind makes me think Rooftops in Thailand.

If you know better, speak up.

Bonus - Don't you just hate it when you arrive at work and realise you've forgotten to bring your will to live?

Bonus 2 - After the Beanie Baby bubble burst

Grand Canyon-esque

 I can't be certain that this is actually The Grand Canyon, but it does have that Ooh Aah vibe to it. Also, a nicely faded slide.

Bonus - One of my own photos - a Foggy Day in South Derbyshire.

Snowball Fight

 

It's been a chilly day, here in Slideville...with quite a misty, foggy atmosphere.

However, this snowballers seems to enjoying their weather, and will probably head indoors to a mug of Hoit Chocolate and marshmallows soon. Lucky beggars.

Bonus - Vintage Japanese Gas Attack Posters, 1938

Bonus 2 - A Brief History of Medical Face Masks

A Snowy Scene in Albany.

 

Sorry. Been working late, and haven't the time or enthusiasm for mischievous descriptipons.

Bonus - 

Midge and Nancy -- Cruise Cougars

 

Every cruise has them, or so I am informed. Cruise Cougars: rich widows who go on endless Caribbean cruises, hoping to pick up some young male flesh.

In the unlikely event that an unattached hetero male does come aboard, the pack of cougars might tear him to shreds in an effort to get them. Thus, the background to the preponderance of gay male stewards on-board makes more sense.

Bonus - 

The Ivy-Covered corner.

 

Today's slide is... well.... dull.

And I'm lacking all inspiration for an apocryphal story of ivy, monasteries and Barbary Pirates.

Sorry.

Bonus - If You Search Wikipedia Long Enough, You’ll Find The Dark And Funny “Depths”

The Skeleton of a Brontosaurus

 

This is so clearly the in-situ skeleton of a Brontosaurus that I will not accept any comments to the contrary.

And I don't care what sort of madcap theories you have.

Bonus - Four Days Late, but...

Abhor-Rent: 525,600 Minutes Since The Insurrection

Nonus 2 - Anti-Vax Leader Urges Followers to Drink Their Own Urine to Fight COVID

The Flame-Haired Jezebel of MacDuff Street.

 

Don't let her restrained manners full you, Miss Mona del Abrio was a home wrecker. For many years she held the All-State Record for Virginia, with citations in 23 different divorce petitions. So notorious was she, that Hugh Heffner took out a restraining order against Mona, "Just In Case".

In later years, she found Jesus, and disappeared doing missionary work in New Brunswick.

Bonus - How Aliens Would Reconstruct Animals Based On Their Skulls Vs. What They Really Look Like

Bonus 2 - 

'Arry The Safe, hides out in Spain

The legendary Harry The Safe poses for the camera in pre-fame Torremolinos.

Having just blown the safe on the Kiddeminster Building Society job, Harry knew that Safford would be a little too "hot" for a few months, so it was off to Spain to avoid the long arm of the law.

Harry eventually was tempted back to the UK due to the poor quality of Spanish Jelly Beans, and was arrested by Kegworth CID.

Bonus - What Are Kneecaps For?

Bonus 2 - 

 

Sunshine and Snow

 

Well, it's the end of the first week of the year, and I've survived. Like the two Mitzi's in the picture, it's time to get some household tasks done.

Tho' hopefully without the weird neighbour photographing me for ... nefarious purposes.

Bonus - Some surprising faces in this.... Hudson????

In The Shade with Maude

 

It's been a while since we last checked in with Maude, and we find her enjoying the sunshine, or actually just the shade with he Hubby.

I do wonder if Maude employed a paparazzo to follow her, and take lots of picture of her and Mr J.

Bonus - Quiz question: Which way does water flow in the Bosphorus?

Bonus 2 - 

Not Up / Down to MOBA Standards

 

It's bad, but not that bad.

Maybe the artist had an inability to do side profiles, or maybe he just liked this pose.

But, this painting did remind me of the Museum of Bad Art, which is still going, albeit just on-line at the moment.

Bonus - Artisanal Tinfoil Haberdashery

Oh Well ... Back to work.

 

Tuesday 4th Jan. Time to get back to the (virtual) office.

Not this pictured office ... that's some sort of early Cubicle Workspace, which could very well be adapted from a genuine pig-pen.

Nice.

Bonus - 

Graduation - City of South Gate

 

After checking my bulging sack (doctor's orders) I found that I had very nearly one letter asking for more 1963 Rose Parade float slides.

And thus, here's another one.  From the City of South Gate, which rather ironic as it became known as the "Azalea City" when it adopted the flower as its symbol in 1965. Maybe it was a bad experience with this Rose Parade that led to that change of flower.

It's also the home of Cypress Hill, the Rap Group. Where do these botanical connections stop?

Bonus - 

74th Tournament of the Roses (1963)

 

I've a whole box of slides for this parade, complete with descriptions of the slides. 

Well, descriptions of all slides...except this one.... but it's fairly self-explanatory. 1963, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Parades, crowds, etc.

If that's whetted your appetite, Youtube

Bonus - January the second is traditionally teh date I read about Social structure of frog-eating bats.

Bonus 2 - Syphilis has a complex linguistic history. Even as the English used to call it the French disease, the French called it the Neapolitan one. The Russians called it Polish, the Poles called it German, the Germans called it French and the Danish called it Spanish.