Swine Flu Radio PSAs 1976

Back in 1976, Gerald Ford and the Center for Disease Control wanted you to get a shot for the Swine Flu. Here are some government produced public service announcements sent out to radio stations across the country that summer:


Give a listen:

Passalong :60
Passalong :30
Skeptic - Truckdriver :10
Skeptic - Woman :10
Skeptic - Male Executive :10

Radio QSL Cards Part 2

Here are some more radio QSL cards from the 1960s. Back then, if you heard a faraway AM radio station, you could write them and give details of what you heard, and they would send back their QSL card as confirmation. QSL actually came from ham radio, but stuck through to the AMs. If you missed Part 1 of the QSL cards, see them here. As always, click any pic for a larger version.

Weird Things Found at Publix

Pirate's Booty Chips taste like __________?

Better Homes and Gardens Guide To Entertaining

Don't want to get too James Lileks on you, but there are a lot of these books out there.


I still have no clue how to plan a party, but I'm keeping this book for the next time I need it.


Yum, furry trout. Click for larger, furrier pic.


Actually, this woman is 65 now and this is still her home.

Freddy Morgan Hey Mr. Banjo

Here's something from long ago to make you smile:

It's Freddy Morgan, former member of Spike Jones' Band, and his album from Liberty Records. Freddy was the co-writer of "Hey, Mr. Banjo". Give a listen to it here.

Hawaiian Shirt Wallpapers

It's a slow news day, so here are two shots of some Hawaiian shirt fabric that I have. Click for wallpaper sized versions.

Awesome Family Portrait

You've all seen the bad Olan Mills, Sears, and other picture galleries around the web. One of the better ones is here.

Now for the secret shame of my family - THIS photo!

It was 1971 in a suburb of Winston-Salem, NC. My mom was excited. Our next door neighbor, who was a traveling photographer, was going to be set up in the local shopping plaza the next day. My mom booked the local beauty parlor for the next afternoon. After my dad got home, we all were stuffed into our jackets and had our hair brushed. Then it was off to the plaza. Our neighbor was set up with a minimal amount of equipment. Not enough lights, and no choice of backgrounds. Here's the result. Click for larger pic.


Some notes: My mom's hair never looked like that before or since that day. Apparently the only 'do they knew at the beauty parlor was beehive. I'm the oldest, in the top right, resplendent in my brand new Robert Hall blazer and orange tortoise shell glasses. Of course, every jacket in the photo was a hand-me-down from me. And what can I say, everyone in my family is nearsighted. We could have gotten a sponsorship.

Update from my sister: "The best thing about that shoot that you didn't mention was that the "studio" was the open area just beyond the cash registers in the Ben Franklin store, so we were all laid out for all the kids from my school to watch and make fun of during the shoot, and for the next couple weeks at school."

To top off the embarassment, a short while later our neighbor was arrested. He wasn't a fulltime photographer, but an operative in a New York to Florida car theft ring.

It was not until 1983 that we assembled for another family photo.