November 30, 2009
moving the new motor
A bunch of folks built rafts out of trash a couple years ago, see, and went down the Mississippi River one summer. And if just knowing that people are still doing that doesn't make you happy, well, we're different sorts of people.
The Garden Of Bling of the Miss Rockaway Armada on the Mississippi River in Brooklyn, IL
2007
from sucka pant's flickr stream
Photobooth Smoker
Real tough guy, this one. Just lookin' for a fight. And a match.
no stats available
from stevechassmar's flickr stream
Annual Seamen's Masquerade Ball
I've always loved Popeye. His mumbling, his love for the oddly shaped Olive, his massive forearms. As a kid, my favorite parts of the cartoons were when he'd swallow the spinach and those arms would break out in muscles that became battle ships or explosions, and then POW! he'd knock some jerk's block off. Simple lessons from a simple character: eat right, stay near the ocean, don't take no crap, appreciate your goil.
Popeye Comics #8
1949, illustrator Bud Sagendorf
from Cover Browser
DJ Digital Watch
What's up with that pack of smokes in the background? How old is this kid?
Deventer, The Netherlands
no stats available
from time tales
November 23, 2009
Commie hunks in trunks
What an odd thing to have to look at every time you light a match. I would think that making propaganda every day like this would pretty much drop the effect, wouldn't it?
Russian matchbox cover
no stats available
from wackystuff's flickr stream
Strongman of Engine Company No. 9
I just want to know how they got up there.
Los Angeles, California
1914
from LA Fire Department Historical Archive
The City of Dreadful Night
Ah, look at that printing! I regret that I can't get the person who made this to show me his technique. The little elephant logo in the bottom right is also very cool.
Allahabad, India
1891, author Rudyard Kipling, wish I could credit the printmaster
A. H. Wheeler & Co. Indian Railway Library
from New York University Library
colors not found in nature
I feel like this is the cheesiest picture I've posted up; it might as well be a postcard or a trashy novel cover. The thing is, this is honestly what many Florida sunsets look like, all pink and orange and water and palms and Spanish moss in the oak trees. Trade out buildings and a parking lot for the river? bay? inlet? there, and you've got the sunsets I can see from my porch every evening it isn't raining. Looks fake, is real: the secret of Florida's success, right up until Disney twisted that.
Welaka, Florida
no stats available
from Welaka Lodge
Watson and the Shark
The boy in the water, in shock, his right foot gone down the monster's throat! His horrified crew mates racing to his rescue, fighting the chop of the bay, throwing a rope he can't think to grasp, almost tumbling over the side themselves to drag him to safety! The shark circles and strikes again and again, despite the men who battle it!
Later in life, when Watson grew from ship's boy to baronet, his coat of arms displayed the "Latin motto Scuto Divino, meaning "under God's protection," the design places Neptune, god of the sea, at the apex, brandishing a trident to repel an attacking shark, and in the upper left corner of the shield, prominently displayed, is his missing right leg!"
The painting hangs in the National Gallery of Art and the attack took place in Havana, Cuba.
Attack, 1749. Painting, 1778. Artist, John Singleton Copley.
from The National Gallery of Art, seen first (as so often is the case) at the blog Uncertain Times
November 17, 2009
Robin Wrestles Will Stuteley at Gamewell
I had this version of Robin Hood as a kid and consumed it in big bites, made many meals of it. I love the myth in all versions - there are particular good spins on Hood in both Once and Future King and The Last Unicorn - but Wyeth's drawings will always be Robin to me.
Robin Hood by Paul Creswick
1917, illustrations by N.C. Wyeth
from Project Gutenberg
November 16, 2009
Clarence Clemons & Bruce Springsteen, sitting in a tree...
Have you ever seen a Springsteen concert live?
I've seen two and at both of them, Bruce and his massive horn player, Clarence Clemons have kissed each other on the lips. It's rather shocking the first time you see it because these are two obviously extremely, well, men who like women a LOT and yet, when they kiss it is with great passion and bravado, great energy and obvious love.
*Bless Our Hearts blog
LA, California
1985, photographer Neal Preston
from CORBIS
corset and cock
Sometimes sexy is more about what they leave on than what they take off. And sometimes you just hope he's wearing button-fly britches.
no stats available
from milf4jim's flickr stream
November 15, 2009
Two sergeants, 4th Light Dragoons
To the modrn eye, these guys are a little silly looking. But I suspect they led their troops as bravely as any modern marine, regardless of their bellhop uniforms.
Crimean Peninsula
1855, photographer Roger Fenton
from All World Wars
señores metidos en cajas de metal para terapia Radio-Vitant*
This doesn't look comfortable, even with the chest windows. I wonder what this was treatment for.
*gentlemen put into metal boxes for radio treatment
1920
from Desconfianza Absoluta
November 11, 2009
More than slightly creepy, really, but I'm a sucker for a cowgirl pn up. Plus, I dig the lettering. Handsome stuff.
Postcard from the E.C. Kropp Co.
1940s
from Viewliner Ltd
VENGEANCE IS MINE
Now, that is super classic broad-with-a-gun pulp illustrating. The artist did great stuff with light - the hair, the slip, the gun half hidden in shadows under her.
Spicy Detective Stories
1936
from Cover Browser
Peeking over the Berlin Wall
Do you think they were communicating with someone? Just checking it out? Talking politics? Was this a date? Were they looking for relatives? Is she crying?
Berlin, Germany
Cold War era
from CarlaCarlaCarlaCarla's flickr stream
November 10, 2009
Entertainers at Sammy's-on-the-Bowery
Don't threaten these two ladies with a good time.
NYC, NY
1944-45, photographer Arthur "Weegee" Fellig
from Amber Online
November 9, 2009
Fighting Cholitas
In the unlikely chance that I ever get to Bolivia, I've got to go see the cholitas fight. They're female luchadores, but instead of the tights and masks they wear traditional skirts and braids and fight like tigers!
Bolivia
2008, photographer Ivan Kashinsky
from National Geographic Magazine
kissing at the punk house
What we miss with photography is the loud music that I have no doubt was playing. I especially like the bird he's only half paying attention to shooting.
Ireland
1980s
from wally's picasa stream
November 3, 2009
As Old As Creation
And on the 7th day, God created Syphilis. And He said, "Ain't that a bitch."
WPA Poster
1936 or 37
from The Library of Congress
chop sticks in space
I'm a kid of my generation. I grew up watching footage of astronauts floating in their tin can, chomping m&ms like Pacman and slurping floating balls of juice with a straw. he chopsticks seem like a good idea to me. If something starts to get away, they would add to your reach.
Discovery Shuttle
1985, subject Ellison Onizuka
from NASA
Suzuki Beane
my name is suzuki beane
i have a pad on bleeker street
with hugh and marcia
My Aunt Lynn read this book to my sisters and I, about a beatnik kid in the big city. I wish I had a copy to show all the new babies around me. I miss my Aunt Lynn.
Suzuki Beane
1961, written by Sandra Scoppettone, illustrated by Louise Fitzhugh
from vintage kids' books my kid loves
Motorcycle diva
Do you think she has kids now? Do you think they know how goddam cool she is?
no stats available
1970s
from Albert's EYE's flickr stream
Buddha drive by
Assignment: write a story about this photo in 4 lines or less.
no stats available
from signs and wonders's flickr stream
November 2, 2009
James Stephens (exercising).
Before he was a writer, he was an Irish gymnast. I bet he liked showing off.
gelatin silver print
1925
from the NY Public Library
Haunted Castle
I'm easily spooked, but how can you beat a dragon castle?
Miracle Strip Amusement Park, Panama City, Florida
1960s
from King Power Cinema's flickr stream
Mystery Adventure
Sometimes, I really feel a lack of adventure in my life.
“Zenith Rand, Planet Vigilante”
1936, illustrator Norman Saunders
from eFanzines.com
Space Chicken
I don't know what their game is, but I sort of want to play.
New York
1951
from hastingraham's flickr stream
November 1, 2009
Meat Market
You think times don't change? Talk about treating women like meat.
Georgia House of Representatives, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
mid 1970s
from the Georgia Archives
Janice and I lounging on the Taylor
Doesn't that look like a good time? Layed back on your speed boat, just taking the breeze.
Winfield Lake, Kansas
1975
from gtotiger68's flickr stream
Frank and David wrassle
These are happy guys.
San Francisco
1970s
from Mr. Flikker's flickr stream, and if you are interested in gay recent history, click that link.
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