So, how do you land the B-24 with the landing gear damaged?

I can't get enough of old paper. These manuals for the "B-24" series bombers and the Curtis electric propeller are a good example. I found these in Bridgewater, and in the back of one are notes one of the flight crew made (mainly what to pack for a mission). I would have just as much liked to have spoken with the owner of these to get a little provenance. You'll need to click on the image for the larger image.

A Toast to all who skip the mall, visit the Flea, and buy what they see.

I think the idea of tag sale'ing is closely related to the origins of man. It really is a continuation of the hunter gatherer instinct. Sale'ing is not a year 'round thing, it has its seasons. Spring brings a cleaning and clearing sort of sale, Summer brings everybody with everything kind of sale, Fall seems to cause people to reflect and so you get more attic clearing sales. Winter is hibernation and holiday time, the sales here are few and far between. During the winter months I like to pour over my top finds and research the unanswered questions each presents. The booklet "200 Toasts from Broadway" was a "fix" I needed this past weekend. I found it at a Ridgefield estate sale and it worked for me only because of its contents and age (1907). The copyright is by Mixer Doty and lists New York and Buffalo as origins. Truly a bar side companion, but I can find nothing more from my research. Any ideas?

My favorite toast from within:

Here's to turkey when you're hungry,
Champagne when you're dry;
A pretty girl when you need her,
And Heaven when you die.

Foot Candle

Found this years ago at a great dig of a sale in Buffalo. I couldn't pass it up as it was a great site gag. When did GE come out with the good old F40 bulb and where would dad's workbench be with out it?


This is a 3 inch foot.



Focus is a little soft here, but still readable.

What is a "Video Martyr"?

It's just a name I came up with about 20 years ago. I have been working in local television/video production since college and for a time I was freelancing, volunteering, working full-time, at numerous companies, at the same time. I always thought that the pace I was keeping would kill me, and that is how I came up with VM. I am also a wordsmith, not a great one, but I can't listen or join any conversation without twisting the meaning, punning, adding simile, or metaphor when it's my turn to contribute. I enjoy dancing around the fine line between humor and boorishness, looking for the perfect line, delivered at the perfect time. Video Martyr had a certain ring to it as sort of an ode to anyone who had sacrificed free time/friends/sanity trying to build experience or a reputation in this business. At one point I had t-shirts printed up and sold or gave them to friends who were also in video. On the back was written: 36 hours a day. 8 days a week. 3 places at once.

I hope to learn the art of blogging, if for no other reason than to share images and stories with friends and family. I also plan offer up some images of the things I have found during my other passion: Urban Archeology i.e. tag sale'ing.