This Is Spinal Tape

This is Spinal Tap, a mock rockumentary. But This Is Spinal Tape, packing tape with real backbone. …Well, it’s illustrated with spinal cord, anyway. According to the reviews, it’s more decorative than structurally sound for packing up boxes.

this is spinal tape

God Save The King – With A Mustache

Not to be all about moustaches, but did you know that the World Beard and Moustache Championships were recently held in in Leogang, Austria? Results will be published here. And just yesterday, the 2015 Just for Men® National Beard and Moustache Championships® presented by Hanes X-Temp® took place in Brooklyn, New York. Details here.

Also, the British Army required every soldier to have a mustache from in 1860-1916.

kitchener-britons

Second Spin Sales

secondspin Starting today, and running until October 9th, 2015 (or supplies run out) Second Spin has sales on CDs and DVDs, $5 and $4, respectively.

Or, if you prefer the collectible and out of print stuff, use code FALL15 get 10% off until November 30, 2015.

I Love You Tutti Fruitti Elvis Hat

Authentic vintage Elvis hat: black-and-white gabardine crew hat with six-color images, song title graphics and original 1956 brown white and red tag still affixed. Part of a lot from that Auction At Graceland.

vintage elvis tuttie fruitti i love you hat

Bill “Stay-Smoochie” Gordon

An ad from the December 18, 1950 issue of Broadcasting Telecasting showing how much WHK’s Bill Gordon was loved in Cleveland. According Mel Maurer at The Plain Dealer, “Bill was the original ‘wild and crazy guy,’ a comic innovator who helped to pioneer, if not invent, unscripted radio.”

stay-smoochie-kissable

Going Where Boys Dare To Go

Around here, we joke that I’m only allowed upstairs— which is a euphemism for the fact that maybe I shouldn’t go out in public much. Mainly because I get emotional. If I’m not easily amused (or even more easily confused), I’m infuriated. And pretty much all the emotions in between. Case in point, last weekend’s trip to the Mall Of America where I was amused by several of the displays at The Boys Adventure Store.

Perhaps mannequins with heads would be better used to sell camping — especially with the large bear looming behind them. I’m a mom. I worry about these things.

headless campers

I did learn something though: rabbits can survive in black holes.

bunny & black holes

As far as the shop itself goes, The Boys Adventure Store is a JMCremps creation, which means it has religious tones. Meh. Maybe that’s why they insist on marketing this as “for boys”.  But, yeah, why can’t this outdoorsy fun adventure stuff be for girls too?

In terms of shopping, the items are either for real little boys (toys to push, toys to ride on, and the like) or stuff that seems to leap light-years into adulthood. Teaching kids how to throw knives and tomahawks? (When I held that up in the store, my mom read it as “Kite Throwing” — that makes far more sense, I think.) If you have older kids, and kids you can trust and will supervise, then check out the shop and the official blog. (Admittedly, the blog is far more sane sounding.)