More colorized ArchRecord interiors. AI colorized, but not AI created. The original had the magazine and the pillow thing on the floor.

That's an odd room. A reminder that some of these mid-century spaces weren't perfect examples of elegant minimalism. We'll have more on Friday.

LIGHTS UPDATE: I went to the office with an unrelate matter this morning, and asked about the lights situation.

"The lights? What about them?"

Sigh

As I said in a tweet, I had the feeling that everyone was just humoring me, the madman who came down and said "there's a giant pterodactyl on the roof" and they say "oh well I'll tell maintenance," and then make a circle-gesture around the temple when I leave. But this time it seemed to take, and when I asked later, I was informed that they were on it. Maintenandce said it might have been due to the power outage Edina had a few days ago. It burned something out. Now, I'm just a plain old country non-electrician, but I don't know how the power going out ruins the ability of the power to come back on. Unless it was a surge! I've heard about those.

And how are things at the end of Monday?

I feel personally responsible. Except for the whole "fixing it" part.

FIELD UPDATE

Every day I find something.

LIFE UPDATE

Massive unhappy backsliding and overwhelming vacancy and futility. But for slightly different reasons, so there was an element of novelty to it all. It makes for an odd day. Did the morning work and accomplished things, which is a necessary part to start the day; left the dog to weep while I went to the gym, because that helps the mood. (Sometimes.) Around 2:30 I was at the nadir of everything, and was also aware that I had to do a national radio show in ten minutes with a host to whom I'd never spoken, even though I'd listened to him for decades. Did the show, all perky and chatty, because of good old Dr. Footlights. When you have to perform you just do it.

The rest of the week will get incrementally better, but the issues are unresolved and likely to remain so unless I force them, which I won't.

So. Two things: I'm polishing up the edit of my godson's wedding, and it's absolutely wrecking me - the glorious church, Ave Maria, marital happiness, and the fact that they used Holst's Jupiter slow-theme as a recessional, so I'm setting the outside walk down the steps to the car to the triumphant end of that movement.

Second thing: new owner of the house has a package for me, and wants me to come by the house to answer a few questions about the Oak Island Water Feature.

I can't. I just can't. And I don't want to make their enjoyment of Jasperwood curdled somehow by saying "you know, it's too painful to even think of setting foot in my old back yard again" so I have to find some other words. I'm thinking "I have infectious shingles" might work.

As I noted in a confession of old-man behavior that sounds like the actions of someone who has given up on the present and sits in the La-Z-Boy replaying past pleasures, I cap off my evening TV with some commercial compilations. It's not as sad as if sounds! And it sounds pretty fargin' sad! But it's fascinating. Now and then I find something that makes me think: could that be who I think it is?

This is peak AOL, although I have to wonder why they bothered to advertise. They must have mailed 6 CDs to everyone. They probably had brand penetration around 89%. Maybe they were trying to shake loose the diehards who stuck to CompuServe and Genie and the like. Look how much fun it is over here! Hip Business-dudes in the mufti of the age love it! And they're working in hip workspaces with exposed brick and vintage fixtures.

You wonder what happened to these guys. For example, anything ever happen to this galoot?

I'm convinced it's him. If it's not, fuggeddaboutit.

Another batch came from an older tape with a lot of damage. You think - is this Tom Selleck?

No. It's just that everyone looked like Tom Selleck. But then there's this, which gives me pause.

Second from the right.

The brain skitters around looking for a match, and convinces you it's -

Well, you tell me. He was already doing TV by this time, so it's entirely possible.

Okay, one more. I'm watching a fascinating docudrama about the Lockerbie investigation. One scene has the local ladies boxing up the items found in the debris field, adding a sprig of local flora for the family of the victim. I thought this was an interesting choice. It's so specific you think there has to be a reason.

There's just enough information so you know what it is right away, because all the word fragments click and light up a tiny portion of the brain where you stored the thing the fragments identify. If you don't know what it is, that's certainly okay; it's regrettably obscure by now. I just want to know why the set dresser chose it.

All just a reminder. There's a story in every frame. Of everything.

It’s 1915.

As the S. J. Perelman piece had it, “I went to the Corn Exchange to exchange some corn.” A simple and brilliant line that was just sitting there all those years, waiting.

There was a time when we expected this of our institutions. They were eager to oblige.

Demolished, but the windows were preserved.

The First National Bank building, the most generic name ever for an utterly generic exterior of its time. But gorgeous inside.

Better than what’s there now? You make the call. It would have been nice to have some history on the corner.

WOULD YOU LIKE SOME 1916 MILK

And the Lord said, Let it be Wanzer’s. Maker of the famous “Germ-No-Milk,” which certainly gave “Germy Milk” a run for its money.

Sold to Borden, and away it went.

“Mud baths for rheumatism.” Well, why not. I’ll bet they cleaned up on that sale! Ha! Ha!

They took everyone except quarantine patients and the “violently insane.” They also took Eugene Debs, who died there.

Three minutes:

The Von Traps kids didn’t sing about this:

Another big business institution slain by the dries.

The Schoenhofen Brewery, long known as the producers of Edelweis Beer, was one of the largest and most elaborate breweries ever constructed in Chicago. The Brewery was established in the early 1860's and continued to function until Prohibition.

Pictures here. Huge facility. Mostly demolished, but this part survived.

I’m so happy my guts don’t bolt up my gullet anymore

Okay I won’t

Wasn’t planning on it anyway

Gloriously Good Nebos:

Nebo gave you silks!

In the early 1900s, the more expensive brands of cigarettes and cigars were often promoted and advertised with included premiums and giveaways. Trading cards were often given away in free within cigarette packets, as were cigarette silks. The name is a misnomer, as the materials were nearly always satin or another woven material. Nebo Cigarettes (the sponsor of the silks featured here) were manufactured by the P. Lorillard Company and the company was widely known for including silks in each packet.

There were a variety of subject matter depicted in these little rectangles of fabric, many picked with an eye to appealing to women: actors and actresses, birds other animals, flags, kings and queens, and more. A number of series were produced, such as Judy’s examples, which were from the Flag Girls of All Nations series.

Interesting, and honest, slogan.

That will do. Sad news in Comic Sins today. Probably a somewhat melancholy Joe Ohio; haven't read it yet. But! Better days ahead.

Right?