Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Buttons - Events - 1972

McCleary 2nd Growth & Bear Festival
14th Annual
July 14-15-16-1972

On the curl: G.H. Stamp Works, Aberdeen, Wash.

Phone photo 2017

Kalaloch, Washington

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Morty Comix # 2448




Morty Comix # 2448 was placed inside of a table display in an Elma, Washington restaurant

Phone photo 2016

Kalaloch, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Geronimo, an American Legend

"I hate an idealist. There's always something messy about them."

Phone photo 2015

Humptulips Cemetery

Monday, October 22, 2012

Buttons - Events - 1982

McCleary 2nd Growth & Bear Festival
24th Annual
July 16-17-18-1982

On the curl: G.H. Stamp Works, Aberdeen, Wash.

Favorite Movie Quotes: Dracula (1931)

"Huh-hnnn-hnnn-hnnn-heeeen!'
[Renfield's laugh]

Buttons - Events - 1977

McCleary 2nd Growth & Bear Festival
19th Annual
July 15-16-17-1977

On the curl: G.H. Stamp Works, Aberdeen, Wash.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Phone photo 2014

Humptulips Cemetery

Morty Comix # 2447




Morty Comix # 2447 was placed under a carpet at our local franchise Subway shop in McCleary while I ordered a couple meatball sandwiches. 

Phone photo 2013

Aberdeen, Washington

George McGovern, 1922-2012


Come Home America

In many elections I hear voters say they have to choose between the lesser of evils. But in 1972 it was clearly a choice between Good and Evil. And America re-elected Evil in a landslide. Two years later it was hard to find anyone who admitted to voting for Nixon.

There was a bit of graffiti someone wrote on the restroom wall of McGovern HQ in Oly. I'll share it here, and as off-color as it was, it does sum up how us young volunteers felt about Dick Nixon: "Don't change Dicks in the middle of a screw, vote for Nixon in '72!"

When I balance the choices I made in my life, I count the experience of being a volunteer for McGovern in '72 as something I will never regret. I also supported him in my caucus when he ran in 1984 against Ron the Con. And I don't regret that either. Several issues considered radical in the 1970s-1980s are now embraced by many Republicans. So our side eventually won. George was a pioneer and a winner on the right side of history.  But being a pioneer has a big price.

To quote McGovern, "You know, sometimes, when they say you're ahead of your time, it's just a polite way of saying you have a real bad sense of timing." 

He also said something to the effect: "I wanted to run for President in worst way-- and I did!" 

My fave was when his wife, Eleanor, came to Seattle and proclaimed the Nixon administration the "most corrupt in recent history." There was a big uproar. A few days later George arrived and apologized. He said Eleanor should have left out the word "recent."

McGovern was on the winning wide of history, at least on social issues and foreign policy. In this area obstructionist conservatives will always lose and progressives will always win. Economics has more of a universal pendulum.

Goodbye Sen. McGovern. And thank you for being a voice of reason on a national stage filled with haters shouting out messages of greed and fear. You were an inept politician, but you were a decent man. It was a miracle you were ever nominated. But working for you was the cleanest political experience I have ever had in my life, and I frequently revisit the idealism of that year if I need to recharge to keep up the Good Fight. Of course we all evolve, but at my core I still think of myself as a McGovernite. And a whole generation of us were inspired by your campaign. You were a WWII vet who worked hard to end war. I salute you for your service and your vision.

Come Home America


Phone photo 2012

Morck Hotel
Aberdeen, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Dr. No

"Does the toppling of American missiles really compensate for having no hands?"

Phone photo 2011

Aberdeen, Washington

Buttons - Events - 1974

McCleary 2nd Growth & Bear Festival
16th Annual
July 19-20-21-1974

On the curl: G.H. Stamp Works, Aberdeen, Wash.

Phone photo 2010

Aberdeen, Washington

Morty Comix # 2446




Morty Comix # 2446 was placed inside a book called Old Dogs, which resides in the waiting room of veterinarian in Olympia, Washington

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Phone photo 2009

"The Count Has a Posse"

Sticker found in an alley in Aberdeen, Washington. This is an image of Joe Towey in his role as The Count,  an over-the-top vampire who introduced late night night horror films on KIRO TV in Seattle in the 1960s-1970s.

Joe also worked as the director of the J.P. Patches show. I met Joe when I interviewed J.P. back in 1975. Mr. Towey was a very mild mannered and almost shy man as he demonstrated how the control booth and cameras worked as the show was airing.

Favorite Movie Quotes: Dirty Harry

"Sociology? Oh, you'll go far. That's if you live."

Phone photo 2008

Aberdeen, Washington

Buttons - Events - 1966

McCleary 2nd Growth & Bear Festival
8th Annual
July 15-16-17-1966

On the curl: G.H. Stamp Works, Aberdeen, Wash.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Morty Comix # 2445




Morty Comix # 2445 was dropped into the mail slot of a long vacant storefront on Oly's Westside where a pizza place used to be.

Actually two different pizza places were there from the 1970s-2000s. Lots of good memories in both.

I think it was in this place I heard a good McGovern/Nixon story. Since George is in his last days I think it is appropriate to relay this tale.

Around 1976 a bunch of us guys taking a Constitutional law class at The Evergreen State College went here to share a pizza and beer. One among us was Vietnam War vet who was badly wounded on a gunboat, patched up, and then sent back to the U.S. for noncombat duty. He said he was then assigned to the White House.

According to this fellow, he stood at attention in a room where President Nixon came most evenings and studied papers. The President always wore glasses and had a beer with him as he did so. After a month of basically being ignored by Nixon, the Commander in Chief suddenly looked up at the soldier and asked, "Who did you vote for in the last election, son?"

"McGovern, SIR!" was the reply.

And the next day he was given a new assignment.

Goodbye George, and thank you.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Phone photo 2006

Sunrise over the Chehalis River
Aberdeen, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: City of Angels

A library user in 1998 navigating through the online catalog: "What happened to the cards? You could touch the cards!"

And really, believe me, that was the most exciting line in this bit of cinema art.