Coney Island Express

My grandma was kind enough to share this image of her and my late grandpa, back in the day in NYC in 1961. Of course, back then, Coney Island was a very different playground. Here's to good memories of a questionably simpler life.
Thanks Abu...

A special Christmas find!

Christmas is supposed to be the season of cheer. So why is this lady so ticked off? Can't she take a joke?
Above is a letter that said lady wrote to a local Toyota dealer. It is her response to an ad the dealer ran in the newspaper. The ad depicts a Santa Claus so tempted by the super low prices at this particular Toyota dealer, that his fangs have come out as an expression of hunger/desire to take advantage the sale. [The ad was also playing up the Halloween element].
Of course, this lady took it the wrong way. To her, it's all about the devil!!! What a party pooper!


Here, a rough translation:
[Page 1]
Dear President [of the dealership]: I am including an ad you ran in [the newspaper] on Oct. 17. How awful! Your company often produces such great advertising, yet this one is so horrible.

[Page 2]
How dare you place the D***l's fangs on Santa Claus? Santa Claus is for children and tarnishing his image with those teeth is just going too far. You could have placed some pumpkins or anything else, but not fangs. You sir, as President of the dealership...

[Page 3]
...should be more careful when approving the ads your agency presents to you. How would you explain this crappy ad to your kids or grandchildren?

[Page 4, written on the ad itself]
Horrible! Terrible! Ugly! Bad!

Travel ain't what it used to be

Not too long ago, when the skies were actually friendly, air travel used to be a dream. Flight attendants really did go out of their way to feed you and treat you right. Want proof? Check out this old in-flight menu I dug up recently, circa 1993. Chicago to Paris is a long flight, but being able to choose between monkfish and veal makes it all right.
Oh, did I mention this was Coach? Let's not even get in to what was going down in First Class.

Loud and Clear

In light of the recent shoe attack on George Bush in Iraq, I found it fitting to post these snaps of anti-Bush sentiments plastered around NYC. These were taken by my good friend Z on a trip to Manhattan shortly after 9/11 (thanks for sharing!). Good to see that hating The Man hasn't gone out of fashion.

Girl... Interrupted and confused

This message, a found note from some middle school in the Northeast, is great on many levels. It's a classic example of preteen insecurity.
Check out the strong opening lines followed by the "Are you mad at me?" softness. It's like a dog that threatens you with a harsh bark, all while his tail is tucked between his legs.

And then, the desperation! ("I love you so much"), followed by a need to satisfy ("I'll change. I'll do anything"). Classic!
What did this dude do to her? How tragic can 8th grade be?

A special message from the Ladies' Man

Some dudes want true love. Other dudes just want sex. And then there are dudes like the freak who wrote this disturbing message under a fisherman’s bridge in Cataño, PR.
Talk about a lazy punk who wants it all...

Rough Translation:
Women Beware –
The swindler of females is back on the attack, Storm, looking for another victim to be my Sugar Mommy.

Confessions of a yearbook - Part IV

Here's more from that old yearbook I found at my local Salvation Army.
Check out posts from the November and October editions of this blog for parts I-III.
This dude was apparently very popular.

Crush Groove

School crushes are so sweet, especially when the notes you write to the subject of your secret admiration are chockfull of grammar and spelling errors. It just goes to show that innocence is a cute and powerful thing.

Here is a found note passed on September 29, 1977, somewhere in Puerto Rico. Aside from the youthful confidence, it also shows the magic of a world before text messaging was king.

Here’s a rough translation:

Dear Z:
My darling, there is something I need to tell you, or better yet, I need to clarify something. I am Clark Kent, Superman, a super man, that is. Ok. Baby, you’ll need to save this love and your kisses for me.

Mua [repeated]
8 kisses for you. Good day, honey.

Goooood-bye. I’ll see you in school.
Love. Love. Loooove!