From the El Paso Times:

Benny Rosales shows a rock that he says has an image reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s face. He said he found the rock 10 years ago while jogging.

Image:

Michael Jackson's image on a west Texas rock

From Ottawa we went by rail to Prescott which is surely one of the most wretched little places to be found in any country.

Immediately opposite to it on the other side of the St Lawrence is the thriving town of Ogdensburgh. But Ogdensburgh is in the United States. Had we been able to learn at Ottawa any facts as to the hours of the river steamers and railways we might have saved time and have avoided Prescott but this was out of the question. Had I asked the exact hour at which I might reach Calcutta by the quickest route an accurate reply would not have been more out of the question. I was much struck at Prescott and indeed all through Canada though more in the upper than in the lower province by the sturdy roughness some would call it insolence of those of the lower classes of the people with whom I was brought into contact. If the words lower classes give offence to any reader I beg to apologize to apologize and to assert that I am one of the last of men to apply such a term in a sense of reproach to those who earn their bread by the labour of their hands. But it is hard to find terms which will be understood and that term whether it give offence or no will be understood.

Source: North America By Anthony Trollope

The photo montage attached shows ~200 abandoned Walmarts. It’s an impressive number, larger than many retail chains, but is an indicator of success not failure. In most cases Walmart has relocated to better and larger premises nearby. It’s success for Walmart, which is still expanding, but like industrial waste the empty buildings are not much use to anyone else and typically it’s downhill as a shopping destination after Walmart’s pullout. There are success stories but they are outweighed by the greyfields.

The properties shown are listed for sale or lease on the Walmart Realty website.

CPAir’s April 1972 schedule promoted their new Executive Jet class as having…

Playboy magazines for relaxation…brought to you by great looking stewardesses and by stewards trained in European hotels.

Apparently there was a backlash from stewardesses and from passengers sitting beside men “relaxing” while reading Playboy. There is no mention of Playboy magaine in the next published schedule (October 1972) and brains have replaced boobs and fantasies in describing female staff.

That’s why we go to great lengths to find stewardesses who are helpful and intellegent. And why we hire stewards, many trained in fine European hotels.

Image below:

The Mexican word ‘pendejo’ is not used in polite society, but if it was it would (politely) translate as dumbass. To be on the safe side it’s best to only use the ‘Hola Pendejos’ greeting among good friends.

If you think you are a pendejo, or others think you are, you can confirm your status and become an official card carrying pendejo by printing the Pendematic card above.

Spanish:
Pendematic
Tarjeta Universal
Vailda por vida
Esta tarjeta puede ser usada
para culaquier Pendejada

USELE SIEMPRE CON DIGNIDAD Y ORGULLO
Presentela para creditos en:
BARES, NIGHT CLUBS, HIPODROMOS
PRSENTAMOS, MULTAS, MORDIDAS
VIAJES, CINES, TEATROS, NEGOCIOS Y
EMPRESAS AFILIADAS A LA PUP.
LA CARA IDENTIFICA A LA PERSONA
Traigala siempre en su cartera y cuide
de ella; la perdida de la misma, le
ocasionaria una pendejez deficil de explicar.

English translation
Pendematic
Universal Card
Valid for life
This card can be used for any dumb-assed moves.

Always use it with dignity and pride
Use it for credit at:
Bars, Night Clubs, Racecourses
loans, fines, bribes
travel, cinemas, theaters, businesses and
companies affiliated with PUP
The face identifies the user
Always carry it in your wallet and take care of it; it’s loss
might cause you an act of stupidity difficult to explain.

When an El Paso reporter stopped at the scene of a 18 wheeler rollover he was “just trying to do his job” and interview witnesses when a police sergeant asked him to move along, The reporter and his cameraman were a bit slow to respond, the situation escalated and they wound up handcuffed and arrested. They were later released without charges. The sergeant is doing desk duty pending an investigation which includes preventing a passing nurse from giving aid.

A former police officer calls it “contempt of cop” - “a national phenomenon that’s being studied.”

“People go to jail in contempt-of-cop situations more than any reason nationally,” DeAngelis said. “You could see it in the video. The situation became more personal between the officer and the reporter than the overriding issues of public safety.

“You can see it, and you and hear it in the language of the officer when he said, ‘I gave you an order.’ That’s what contempt means: ‘How dare you not obey my order.’ It’s personal. You’re challenging the officer’s authority. It has nothing to do at that point with the overall safety of the scene. That’s why you see him reacting emotionally rather than rationally.”

Is anyone aware of a free service called “Spyware” or “Skyware?”

I believe it’s invitation only - by email. Alternately, follow these instructions:

1. disable any/all antivirus software
2. open Internet Explorer (preferably in a Windows environment)
3. search/visit p@rn and warez sites looking for cracks of any kind
4. if a little bar/warning pops up at the top of your browser that a website is trying to install an activex program or something..simply allow it as it is only installing to further enhance your experience.

Source: El Paso Times

Browsing the Chrysler and Dodge brochures I was surprised to find two identical pictures of children in the tailgate seat - the only difference being the interior and exterior colors. I expected similar photographs but not identical ones with one or both Photoshopped.

2009 Dodge Caravan

2009 Town and Country

Digging deeper I found 2 more altered photos. The same girl is in the 3rd row seat in both pictures but is obviously Photoshopped in as she has no seat back. No wonder the vans look roomier in the brochures than in real life.

2009 Dodge Caravan

2009 Town & Country

And finally… different markets, different reading choices:

Caravan kid reads a comic

Town and Country kid reads a hardcover