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Vintage Geek Link Round Up
 Vintage Goodness helps us all declare our Vintage Geek Pride. Speaking of geeks, Michael Duff made me smile with his comment on the definition of "geek": The Urban Dictionary defines “geek” as: The people you pick on in high school and wind up working for as an adult. All this really proves is that the Urban Dictionary is written by geeks.
Past Perfect Vintage gives us history lessons on the inaugural dress of former First Ladies. Cheetah Velour knows her stuff. The proof lies in the stuff she didn't buy -- and with good reason! Crafting geeks, I wonder how well you know your pine cones! Labels: collecting, cool, fashion, stuff, vintage
Trade Your Spaceship For Christmas Lights?
Of Music, Technology & Kids Today :sigh:
 The new Jensen JiMS 525i may be a great iPod dockable HD Radio, but as technology leaps ever forward, I can't help but feel old nostalgic. Sure, I use the Internet (far too much, according to some), but I can't help but feel that kids today are missing out. Take music, for example. So many makers of today's music machines, like the new Jensen JiMS 525i, are selling themselves on the the benefit of iTunes Tagging. "How many times have you heard a song on the radio you’d really like to hear again?" they say. "Wouldn't it be great if you could tag that song and buy it?" Everyone knows that one of the many joys of music, along with the often related ear worm song, is the nagging annoyance of 'knowing' a song, but being unable to name it or who recorded it. Honestly. It's a thrill.  There's a satisfaction in ending the auditory blackout -- remembering the name -- right as you walk into the record shop, before you have to ask some clerk and show your ignorance in public. And I love waking up at 3 A.M., sitting straight up in bed and uttering, "Power Station!" before passing out again with a sigh. Maybe I'll remember that in the morning; maybe not. But for now, I got it, damnit. This deficit on the part of the general population to recall the song's title and artist even when listening to it forces you to listen to the radio announcers (even today on those new music stations), just to hear them identify the song. You beat your fist on the dashboard in frustration when they didn't -- and rhythmically on the steering wheel as you repeated the title/artist mantra out loud when they did (yes, all the way to the record shop). If you were home alone on a Saturday night, you could even call into the radio station and ask... The final nail on your loser coffin. This alone made DJs vital to your life. But, again, sometimes you couldn't count on the DJ for help. You just wandered, frustrated and annoyed until you found one of those rare and annoying but necessary walking encyclopedias of musical knowledge -- those who can who can hear, process & recall such info (along with band, album name, and concert date at CBGB's). We need these geeks of music. And they know it. Hence their egos. Now the chips on the shoulders of those who do not recall as well have been replaced by some computer chip. Sure, it's cleaner, easier, and costs your pride less to hold up a device and get the answer than it is to humbly ask your local music knowledge god. But the computer chip has no great stories.  It won't regale you with tales of rock concerts. Or of staying home one night after being dumped and polishing off a six-pack of Zimas solo while listening to November Rain over and over again until you could get pissed enough (emotionally & alcohol-wise) to angrily sing-scream along with I Used To Love Her. (Axel Rose sure knew how to musically score a love life -- or so I'm told. I never did that, of course. It's just an example... From my, uh, friend's life.)  Sooner or later we all have the thrill of playing music knowledge god too. Eventually a friend doesn't know the latest release by the hottest new artist -- but you do. And then you get to express your superiority & snark as you reply, "How do you not know of The The?!" followed by a "sheesh!" or a sigh and the mandatory eyeball roll.  Without these mental musical blanks in the minds of your friends, how would you ever get that opening to tell the story of why you'll never-ever forget the Pet Shop Boys' or West End Girls -- because that song sooo reminds you of the night you were sooo drunk you woke up in the dorm's girls' bathroom, staring at the "janitor's" shoes. (He said he was the janitor, but what janitor wears patent leather shoes to his job?) How else will we be able to share these stories? Oh yeah... Blogs. But then, it's not quite the same as being asked -- and I have no idea if you're even listening. Labels: 1980s, cult classics, music, records, retro, stuff, tech
How Much For The Heron In The Picture?
Our Kids Asked To Be Left Alone, Please
So Your Parents Are Celebrating Their 50th Wedding Anniversary -- I'll Tell You What You're NOT Going To Do
When it's your parents' Golden Anniversary -- or any anniversary, really -- do not buy them a plate or other glass or ceramic gift ware with 'happy anniversary' on it. I don't care how personalized, pretty, or 'golden' it is. One trip to any thrift store, and you will see isles littered with such token gifts nobody wants.     Sure, you could argue (insensitively, yet pragmatically) that a couple may, in fact, pass away not long after celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary -- but the lesson here is that no one in the family wants to keep such mementos. Labels: anniversaries, antiques, kitsch, stuff, thrift store lessons
Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood?
Because All Men Still Look Up To See Planes
High-Fives On Fridays
 Want to give high-fives too? Sure you do! But read & visit mine first! 1) Two words: Babee Tenda!2) Canadians were in WWII? Who knew? (It's like they're an independent country or something!) 3) Rian Fike made The Miami Herald! 4) A general shout-out high-five to A Tad Too Much Tan For Taupe. 5) MrsTattooedGeek for her Skull with Butterfly Wings in Black Natural Cotton Tote.  Labels: cool, high-five fridays, skulls, stuff
Vintage Rocket Toothpick Dispenser
Nothing Says, "Welcome, Spring!" More Than A Skull Birdhouse
Weird But Good
Today's Mute Monday is Weird But Good. If ever there was a theme for this blog, huh? *wink*  Weird Science with Muppets via.  Weird Al & Storm Troopers via.  Weird medical marketing piece via. Labels: Mute Mondays, science, stuff, weird
High-Five Fridays #6
1) A high-five for Rian for having the patience of a saint school teacher during my interview with him. 2) Believe in UFOs? Maybe you should. Unidentified Family Objects is a cool blog -- and who knows, maybe your family's objects are there? 3) Now there's a Wiki for Vintage Sewing Patterns. A serious way to kill at least 24 hours. (Found via Tad Too Much tan For Taupe's TT post.) 4) Scott McLemee's Quick Study, a blog on books, ideas and trash-culture ephemera. (Gotta wonder why he's not been here before -- perhaps because he considers himself a 'feuilletonist' rather than a blogger.) 5) Spare Mindy's Easy-Make Oven is super cute -- and clever! Want to give high-fives too? Participation is a lot like Thursday Thirteen, only your post is links to who and what you like. (Plus, it's only 5 instead of 13!) Find out how to give your High-Five Fridays here! The purpose of this meme is to give high-fives to 5 people, posts, blogs and/or websites you've admired during the week. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 5 high-fives on Friday. Trackbacks, pings, linky widgets, comment links accepted! Visiting fellow High-Fivers is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your High-Fives in others comments (please note if NWS). Find more High-Five Friday folks here!
Labels: cool, high-five fridays, stuff
High-Five Fridays #5
1) William at Hang Fire Books overheard this conversation between two Salvation Army workers. 2) I mock a lot of crafts here, but as you've likely expected I am also charmed by many too -- I must be at some level to save all the stuff I do. *wink* For those who admit their problem hobby, check out Vintage Craft Patterns for free old instructions. 3) Somewhat related is Make. It's not always 'old' but it's of the same DIY spirit that you see in Popular Mechanics, Work Basket etc. 4) High-fives in general to coisas do arco da velha "bizarre - burlesque - freaks - circus - kitsch - pulp - mexico". Don't worry, it's in English -- but even ifin t'weren't, you'd enjoy the images & understand it all the same. (Like you understand what I say here half the time anyway.) 5) Most of you probably know of the Vintage Ad community at LiveJournal, but it's worth a high-five for its continued dedication. Want to give high-fives too? Participation is a lot like Thursday Thirteen, only your post is links to who and what you like. Find out how to give your High-Five Fridays here! The purpose of this meme is to give high-fives to 5 people, posts, blogs and/or websites you've admired during the week. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 5 high-fives on Friday. Trackbacks, pings, linky widgets, comment links accepted! Visiting fellow High-Fivers is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your High-Fives in others comments (please note if NWS). Find more High-Five Friday folks here!
Labels: collecting, crafting, high-five fridays, kitsch, stuff
Things That Are Living In Your Pockets
High-Five Fridays #2 (But My First On A Friday)
 1) Rian Fike of Full Body Transplant says that I am "the Snark MASTER!" Likely this post disappoints in that regard, but there's always another post to be made... 2) Suburban Diva asks, "Does this room make me look fat?" I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may incriminate by association. 3) Reading The Past On Postcards (at CQ; but not by me) discusses more than the pretty pictures -- but yes, it shows neat old postcards too! 4) Did you know that the Library of Congress had a blog? 5) The "Top Ten Science Based Predictions that didn’t come true" has been selected as much for the science kitsch as for the fabulous Wayne's World graphic.  Find out how to give your High-Five Fridays here! The purpose of this meme is to give high-fives to 5 people, posts, blogs and/or websites you've admired during the week. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 5 high-fives on Friday. Trackbacks, pings, linky widgets, comment links accepted! Visiting fellow High-Fivers is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your High-Fives in others comments (please note if NWS). Find more High-Five Friday folks here!
Labels: cool, high-five fridays, stuff
Keep A Gnome In Your Pocket
Arg!
 Seems here they won't sell to US customers -- and while they say nothing of prohibiting such things, (this) one imagines it has something to do with the cord/plug/socket/electricity. Bummer. Because nothing says 'breakfast' better than skull-and-crossbones toast & a GnR ref on my toaster. Labels: cool, food, skulls, stuff
The Slippers That Got Away
Amy Vanderbilt Success Program Ephemera
The Amy Vanderbilt Success Program For Women was a membership club, like the book of the month club, from Nelson Doubleday. According to this card from the Department Store Division (for the July Selection: Parties With A Theme), membership was run through department stores: This card is not a bill. Charges for all purchases will be included in your regular statement from the Department Store through which you enrolled for membership.  Members were mailed the latest booklet along with Amy Vanderbilt's Newsletter -- which was several pages of ads.  This example is from 1971, and contains pitches for Pritt Glue Stick, Cutex lip colors, the Museum of Modern Art, and UNICEF Birthday Cards along with info on saving electricity, a recipe, and this interesting note on "Unusual Fabrics": Whenever I go to Vermont, I try to stop at Putney to visit the home shop of Carol Brown which, for so many years, has featured Irish handwoven tweeds and other fascinating farbrics in materials by the yard, as well as clothing and furnishings. She also has Irish and Scottish shawls, throws, blankets, and stoles, including the delightful little blankets and throws from AVOCA in Ireland. I love the little knee rugs, 38'' x 54'', comfortable to throw over your legs if you're watching TV or to take to sit on at a picnic, or to keep you warm in an open car. Mrs. Brown has a little folder that tells about her shop and what she sells (she is very patient and understanding about selling by mail). Send her a postcard and ask for the folder, saying that you read about her in this newsletter. Her address is: Carol Brown, Putney, Vermont 05346. This was all I could find on Carol Brown and her shop. See also my CQ article on How To Be A More Interesting Woman. Labels: collecting, ephemera, stuff
I'll Get You, And Your Pretty Pink Puppy Too
This Just In... Truck Stop Has Elvis' Family Jewels
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