Sunday, December 09, 2007

Greedy Much?

In an radio interview on NPR a woman from Iowa, a REPUBLICAN voter said:
"I make a great deal of money through my own hard work. I don't want to pay for someone else's child to eat breakfast at school anymore."

I.
Am.
Speechless.
Even the Witch King is blown away by the evil, ugly, greedy honesty of her statement.

So we will let Devilstower on Daily Kos respond:

"Get that? She makes not just enough money, but a "great deal of money." How dare anyone take it away for something so frivolous as feeding a poor child? And yet Republicans, through their actions in blurring the lines between church and state, have become the "party of faith." Because they say so. Because they are bold in their actions and snarling in their defense.

We need to be just as adamant. We need to not hide behind any abstraction or evasion. We need to be unafraid to address this voter and say "I am going to take some of your money, and give it to that poor kid, because it's more important -- both to the child and to society -- that he eat, rather than that you have an extra week in Cabo."

Note that we should not pretend that "a program will take your money." Or "the government will take your money." This is a democracy, and we are the government. I will take your money. I will. Some of that money you worked hard for and want to keep. I will give it to a kid who is hungry. If your concern is that poverty should be addressed by individuals, then there's a simple solution: feed him. If there are no poor children needing food, I won't have to take anything for them. If your position is that people would be more generous if only the government would stay out of it, then sorry. I'm not willing to put this child at risk to as part of your experiment. Besides, if that were true, then why were their more hungry kids before we started these programs to give them a little breakfast? If your position is that your being able to keep all your money is more important than a child being fed, then I simply think you're wrong. And sick. You want to keep that money? You better beat me at the polls."

If it helps these greedy bastards who don't want to spend their money on things like free food for poor kids, I'd rather not spend my money on the war in Iraq.
and in the end money spent feeding poor kids so they can do better in school benefits not just the children, BUT all of us when most of those kids go on to be tax paying adults. It works in the same way the GI bill worked after WW2*, for every dollar the Government spent back then, seven dollars were put back into the economy after those guys became college grads with good jobs.

Just a reminder that there is an election next year and that there really are folks like that woman in the Republican "I got mine, screw you" party. These are the folks who elected Bush, who love Bush and see nothing wrong with him or the hatred exposed by the Religious Right.

For Democrats the whole entry is good read. Like Kos says "we do not need to elect Democrats, we need to elect BETTER Democrats".


*just a reminder. Today's vets do NOT get the same GI Bill of the 40's and 50's, theirs is crap compared to that one. Mostly in Bush's America we like to just screw our returning war heroes.


Thursday, December 06, 2007

Bringing The Cute Back To eBay

Normally I only list once a month on eBay and for the most part
it is vintage clothes, but this week I decided to do something
different.

How can you refuse?
Teh cute-ness is overwhelming, is it not?
Look at that poor little kitty working so hard everyday of the week.
~sigh~
They really are as sweet as can be.
The vintage kitty cat Days of the Week towels can be bid on here.

I also decided to list a group of old vintage photographs of miners at a mining operation.
I think it is in Rhode Island, but it is hard to read the writing on them.
I find old photographs fascinating, epically ones of folks at work.
Here is a peek.
and this cute little toddler (with old man eyes) all bundled up in a sweater.
You just know that when he (she?) walked they will just waddle like the brother in A Christmas Story when his mom bundled him up to go outside.


Last I put a group of vintage sewing patterns up on Sew-Retro and thought this one deserved a shout-out. It is the perfect rockabilly wardrobe (if only it had some sexy cigarette pants) in one pattern. It looks like a vintage halter dress, but is actually a button on skirt with 3 different blouses; a sexy off the shoulder number, a great pin-up wrap blouse and the halter top.
That would make a killer vintage dress with ANY of the tops.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Books For the Vintage Lover

I know I said that I would be reviewing David Sedaris's book next, but I did want to get these two gift giving recommendations out first.
If you are looking for a gift for the vintage clothing lover in your life (or yourself) here are 2 of my favorite books.

First off is The Seductive Shoe by the wonderful Jonathan Walford of Kickshaw Productions.
The book has all the shoe eyecandy one could ever ask for while exploring the effect of historical and societal changes on footwear . Organized chronologically, it includes an illustrated appendix of designers and shoemakers. Really, the pictures in this are just some of the best I have ever seen, clear and crisp.

The next one is Fashion, The Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute: A History From the 18th to 29th Century. This is, of course, just a lovely book with beautiful garments and a nice heft that makes it also good for self-protection since one could wack an intruder with it. While the scrumptious photographs take center stage the small amount of text is rich with details. This has been re-issued a few times, the last being 2006 when the book was split into 2 volumes.
Loses the protection aspect, but may make it easier to handle.

If you are going to buy from Amazon, please use this link that helps support the Vintage Fashion Guild. Better yet, forget about Amazon and support you local bookstore.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Asshats and Tears

Normally I can just ignore that part of the American public that exists just to make me feel all shouty and stabby.
Not today.
After having spent some time in the annoying Target store avoiding all manner of asshattery I come out to my van to see that the lady who pulled in next to me did so at the diagonal.
So close that I had to go around the front of my vehicle to get in the door.
I sat there for a few thinking of all the things I'd like to do, like scrape her car door as I got out of the space or let the air out of her tires.
Instead, for once, I wrote that note that I always think of too late:

Dear Asshat Target Shopper.
Hi.
Awesome parking skills you have there. Thanks for allowing me to practice my mad driving skills by getting out of this parking space without scratching your craptastic van.
Merry fucking Christmas!


No not very nice, but damn it, it would have taken her 2 min to straighten her van in the parking space. I wish I had a camera with me so I could have taken a picture and posted it here.

After that I got to be annoyed at the library, Lowe's and then WalMart.
While waiting in line to pick up my prescription there was a gal with a little guy.
Maybe 2ish.
He was just being a little guy, but mom was tired and bitchy and I felt sorry for her.
He really was not being bad, but you could tell her day had already been long.
What I wanted to tell her was that they go from this:
to this:
in a nano second and there is no going back.
I wanted to tell her to lighten up and enjoy the silliness and the little kid-ness and just let things go. How many times did I scoff at folks who told me to enjoy my son while he was little, the time goes by so fast.
I was a fool, they were right.
and while I was thinking this I began to CRY.
Seriously, in WalMart, standing in line waiting for a prescription.
Jesus, I'm such a sop.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Vintage Blow Out Sale

Just a reminder, there is a sale going on right now on eBay.
The Vintage Blow Out Sale or VBO.
Four times a year some for the best sellers on eBay get together and list tons of vintage
clothes at $19.99 or less.
Buy it Now or Fixed Prices, no auctions.
Go to eBay and use VBO as your search.
Here are a few of the items I have listed that have not been snatched up yet.

Bitter

Got a bit of a Battlestar Galactica fix tonight which helps rid a bit of the bitterness I am feeling since noticing that Pushing Daisies (the BEST new show on TV...sweet and funny and cool and smart and odd and I cry at the end each week, I'm such a sap) is going to be pre-empted* by a freaking razorback basketball game.
Do I care about a basketball game?
No I do not.
I must see what happens next to Chuck and the Pie maker.

Of course Tivo could be wrong....I can only hope.


*Yes I know that in the big scheme of things missing a favorite tv show ranks pretty low, but with the dreck that passes for tv (what with BSG not coming back till march and no HBO for The Wire, Pushing Daises and Dexter are about the only really entertaining shows out there) these days I feel a bit bitter and I can't tell if it will be shown later or on another night.
And I don't trust myself to write a nice email at the moment to inquire.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Battlestar!!!!!!

Ack.
I almost forgot, Battlestar (best show on TV, besides The Wire) Razor is on tonight.
It is the bone that ScFi is throwing us BSG freaks to keep us happy until the new season next year.
Enjoy.

ETA:
Harbinger of the freaking Apocalypse!!
WTF?

Caturday Quick Post

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris came in the mail today so it is next up for a book review.
My 1st order from Roger That! also came!
They really are "all that" folks.
Me so happy.
Go buy some.
Now.

Here is a funny LOLcat from icanhazcheezeburger ya Trekkie Geeks out there:

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Why I Love Ellen Green

More YouTube stuff, sorry.
But I have just loved Ellen Green ever since I saw her in Little Shop of Horrors.
If you only know her as Aunt Vivian on Pushing Daisies here are a few clips from LSH.







The movie is worth a look just for Audery's and The "Greek chorus" of Chiffon, Crystal and Ronette's costumes.

and yes, I did try to find a clip of Herbert on Family Guy singing "Somewhere That's Green" in his special pervy way.

Why I Love Pushing Daisies


Besides the sweetest stories with snappy dialoge, they let Ellen Green and Kristin Chenoweth sing.
Sing They might be Giants and Cat Stevens and "Hopelessly Devoted to You" from GREESE, for heaven's sake.
With dogs and Pagoda hats and Swoozie Kurt's crazy ass eye patches.
Totally delish and really, Morning Has Broken (you would have to have been watching for a bit to know how important it was for the Aunts to swim again) made me bawl this week....and go to itunes and download songs from Little Shop of Horrors so I could enjoy Ellen Green a bit more.
I love the aunts.

Now watch these clips and fall in love.





Happy Thanksgiving!!!


Eat till you bust, drink some good spiked cider, try not to fight with your family and then go take a nap....hopefully your dreams will not involve turkeys armed with knives.
Good times....

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Is Your Best Friend a Psycho



My friend Ang thought I needed to take a look at the cards over on Roger That! Laboriously Handmade Cards.

How did she know (except she knows my sense of humor and has spent many hours laughing at the LOLcats with me over on icanhascheeseburger whilst talkin' on the phone) I would find them so LOLROTFLOMG!!!1111!!!!!! and all that.
She was right.
I dig 'em.
Seriously, they are right up my alley with cards like "Happy Holidays from ASSHOLEVILLE!"
and "Is Your Best Friend a Psycho?" and a ton of cards with MCM furniture* on them.
There are boobie! cards, and glam vintage gal cards and bizzare "what the hell does this mean" cards and oh, yes Jesus cards.
And most of them have little gems written next to them, like this:

Here’s where reading all these damn card descriptions actually pays off. The police use the following test on suspects to see if they’re dealing with a psychopath. It’s a REAL TEST. REALLY.

Call your best friend and casually tell it the following anecdote:

Maggie is at her mother's funeral. She meets George. They go out a few times, and she falls madly in love with him, but George seems indifferent and finally stops returning her calls. Maggie kills her sister.

Now here's the test: ask your potentially psycho best friend, "Why did Maggie kill her sister?"

If your friend retorts, "Well, OBVIOUSLY because she wants to see George again," then your best friend is, indeed, a psycho.

See.
Jesus, that is brilliant!

So I ordered a set of "Glam" cards for a "Secret Santa" gift and also picked up some of the Xmas cards to give to my bitches (they know who they are).
I'll let ya know what I think when they get here, but I'm pretty sure that the Roger That! folks will be raking in more of my money in the near future.


*A category that has a long paragrah explaining just "why" there are so damn many furniture cards. Who cares? Cards with Danish Modern Furniture on them are made of awesome in my book.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Serendipity

ser·en·dip·i·ty (sÄ›r'É™n-dÄ­p'Ä­-tÄ“)
n. pl. ser·en·dip·i·ties
  1. The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.
  2. The fact or occurrence of such discoveries.
  3. An instance of making such a discovery.

I got this vintage 1940's velvet evening dress the other day.


Today I was playing on eBay and found this 1947 vintage pattern.



Like I said....Serendipity.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Good Times

As Carol, over on Life of a Jersey Girl has already blogged, it is that time again.
No not the holidays, sweetie, but Project Runway.
Once again we get to watch Tim Gunn walk around with this

and This:
look on his face whilst a designer does something craptasticlly idiotic.

So far I think Chris and Steven will be my favorites.
Yes, Rami is hot.
I can't wait to see Ricky cry more.
and I am so glad to see Mango is on the show!
Check out my favorite PR blog:
Project Rungay

Good times!

On the Watch List

So I love Bes-Ben hats.
Who dosen't?
Crazy ass, wild, quirky and sometimes just down right chic.
What a sense of humor Mr. Green-Field must have had.
I love this little tid bit:
The prices for Mr. Green-Field's creations, which originally ranged from $37.75 to $1,000, tended to exclude women on a budget. However, every summer he would clean out his inventory for the new season at a midnight sale, marking down the hats to as little as $5. At 2 a.m., he would begin to toss the rest out the front door to waiting bargain-hunters.

I would have stood outside every year for a chance to be thrown an awesome hat like this:
Or This:


Or, dear GOD(!) like the Creepy Owl Hat!

You could not be meek and wear one of these hats.
There is even one with two freaking pineapples sticking out on either side of the hat.
Awesome.
These come from a large collection that will be auctioned on Sunday in Chicago.
They are also doing eBay live auctions for the hats along with various other vintage garments, purses, hats and textiles.

The Brief History of the Dead



I read about 2 or 3 books a week.
Mostly mysteries, mostly forgettable.
I begin a number of books each week, but I do not
finish all of them. Life is just too short to read a sucky book.
I have been meaning to discuss the better ones, the ones
I took the time to finish.

Last night I sat down to begin The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier.
Last night I finished it too.
Once I began I could not put it down and at only 272 pages it was a fast read.
The book alternates between Lara Byrd, a researcher stranded in the Antarctic after a virus has killed everyone on earth and the City of the Dead.
That's really all I want to give away.
Except that it was a lovely little book about life and death, memory and love.
Get it on Amazon, or better yet, support your local independent bookseller.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Whaaaaaa.....

My parents are moving.
Far away....well 5 hours away.
I am now for all intents and purposes a orphan.

Not really, but it is hard to imagine what it will be like.
I've gotten used to having them around for the last 9 years.
We are now back to how it used to be when we lived far away
from any family.
So it will be just the 3 of us again.

I was kinda counting on the "lousy" housing market to keep them around, but
instead there ended up being a bidding war for their house and they ended selling for just $1000 less then what they had asked for when the house 1st went on the market.
I think it was on the market for maybe 2 months.

Right now it sucks to be me.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

New Stuff at My House

I got some new (at least to me) pieces of vintage furniture in the last few weeks.
First off is my new 50's vintage kitchen table.
This is what it looked like when we got it home:
This is what it looks like now:
Hubby cleaned it it up very nicely.
I really like that "cracked ice" top.
Found it at an estate sale in the storage shed they had were not gonna clean out.
I got it for 10 dolla!
That is my kind of price.
This weekend I got this awesome 50's Kroehler chair
from what I assume was their "Galaxy Designs" group.
It is in just great condition, very comfy and the perfect "reading" chair for me.
I got it from a friend of a friend (which probably makes him my friend too) who sells Mid Century Modern furniture.
I looked all over eBay for an ad, but found none, there were tons of Kroehler ads, just none for the "Galaxy" line. I need to go though my vintage magazine stash and see if I can find one.
Maybe someday I'll run across one of these sofas.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Vintage Bias Cut Negligees



Sigh.
Bias Cut Negligees
They are so lovely.
I got these the other day and just had to share.
The one above is a golden hued 30's silk charmuse.
Below a yummy 1940's vintage peignoir set of rayon slipper satin, another 30's gown and a sweet 40's gown with a lace peplum.



These items and more will be available soon from Damn Good Vintage.