The vinyl resurgence shows no sign of slowing, so here's a great budget turntable for your newly thrifted LPs.
When faced with tough decisions, some high-priced executives turn to their crack staff of analysts and consultants. Others might go into hyper data-acquisition mode before generating a massive spreadsheet of all the facts. If you're a smart exec who wants to look calm and cool (and can't bear the thought of all of that data processing) just reach into your desk drawer and pull out this 1980's Executive Decision Maker from Radio Shack.
The EDM is a roughly 2" cube, clad in the finest simulated walnut finish. Two switches unleash the Decision Maker's decisive power. One switch turns the unit on, the other launches the complex "random" algorithm and the determined ticking and bleeps that accompany every decision making process.
Eventually the red LED indicator comes to rest in one of the six possible outcomes. Unless the answer is "ask again", you can simply slip the Electronic Decision Maker back into your mahogany desk and still make your tee time.
I suppose that plebeians can get a similar determination by rolling a die or flipping a coin, but neither of those has fake walnut woodgrain or bear the legend; "executive". The only question remaining in my mind is whether this device has ever been used to actually make important decisions. It would explain a lot.
There were countless fun and spooky children's records. I remember that listening to these LP's was like being able to put on my own haunted house anytime. When I listen to this recording today, there is an extra shiver of nostalgia as I remember staring through my neighbor's fence, convinced that the lifeless mannequins had moved a little.
The iPod isn't the only piece of technology to create an irresistible stir in the zeitgeist. These two modest examples celebrate the lightning-in-a-bottle that is pre-recorded music. A stack of records let you program your evening outside the whims of your local radio broadcast. How better to embrace this freedom than a cheap Victrola vase, and a set of record shaped coasters?
It's my birthday next week, so if you're shopping for a gift one of these lovely light-up skulls from 1926 would do very nicely. This seems like a really serious skull for such a novel piece of jewelry. Was it intended for children? Or perhaps it's for 
Since become an apartment dweller, I no longer have to go through the autumnal ritual of taking down the window screens and putting up the storm windows. I remember it being a helluva task, but even worse was putting screens back up in the spring. Even though all the windows were the same, over the years the screens warped and bent to an almost custom fit. The retreat of the snows meant many trips up and down the ladder trying to cajole all of the screens back into place.
I've not seen a modern product like this (what are you supposed to use these days... one of those electronic label makers?), but I guess that screen window technology has moved on to be better fitting. Then again, don't those precision aluminum framed screens look goofy on a gorgeous old Victorian house? If any of you are faced with a similar problem, perhaps the ol' Hold-Tite tacks hint at some innovative solution you can adopt (besides foisting the task onto your children, of course...).
If nothing else, at least you can think about this strong-armed anthropomorphized tack who's entire self-worth is predicated on helping you keep your screens sorted.
Dating back to 1977, the aftershave in the heads of these presidents still smells pretty good. I don't know how much of the original essence has evaporated, but I could see still using this sweet smelling stuff after one of my typical abortive attempts at shaving. 
When Mother's Day rolled around, there were some crappy gifts that even a kid could afford. Among the "classiest" were these antique finished miniatures. Not only were they models of gadgets of yesteryear, but they doubled as pencil sharpeners. Um... handy, I guess.
the camera's bellows open up (conveniently dumping out the shrapnel from the sharpener), etc.
The company is still around, at least in name - perhaps they are another 
A reasonable copy (certainly well beyond my skills as an artist) took shape, but take a closer look at the face. It's another woman! Call the Louvre! Break out your daVinci Code decoder rings! 
Hours of high pressure sales lectures later, my parents were presented with the above drek. Unfortunately my father wasn't type of guy to say, "Ha ha... a car shaped phone. Great, ya got me. Now which of you should I talk with about punching in the face?"
We've written about 
Looking back to the year 1900, the world was entering an age of incandescent light bulbs and considering the possibilities of the internal combustion engine. The benefits of X-Rays had been discovered, and motion pictures were an amusing curiosity. However, modern assembly line manufacturing was unheard of, airplanes were still a few years off, and electronic miniaturization and most of today's clever gadgetry made possible by the transistor was still a half century away. 
