Here’s a pope who appeals to the masses; I’m quite certain he’s the first pontiff spotted riding a new BMW motorcycle. We shouldn’t find this too surprising, as he’s known to enjoy playing tennis.

I remember the excitement of visiting stores like Sears and Montgomery Ward, with their enormous mail order catalogs filled with pictures of all sorts of items I longed for. It was probably October when they began to send out catalogs directly to our homes, offering countless options to explore. These stores had endless counters with live demonstrations and samples, creating a lively and interactive shopping experience. Comparing that to the convenience of shopping online, it’s a whole different world, and I truly miss the joy of browsing in person.

For many kids, including myself, the Mickey Mouse Club was absolutely the best show to watch. Around 1958, everyone loved Annette, who was part of the cast. Boys my age couldn’t get enough of her. The other kids were also very talented, but Annette truly stole the spotlight. Honestly, she was simply the best. Confess now, do you agree?

Most of the time, I share fun things that made me smile. Today, I read an article in a major newspaper about the newest school shooter, Robin Westman. She documented in detail how she planned to carry out the attack, keeping secret diaries about acquiring a weapon and her plans to harm children. One entry read, “Oh my God! I got it. I have a shotgun!”

This is a person who has had lifelong difficulties. She described in 3 secret diaries how she would commit mass murder and who killed two children and injured 18 other people. This is a person who posted videos on YouTube. She wrote of her early fascination with school shooters and settled on her former church, Annunciation, the scene of the shooting.

The article I read included a comment from someone who knew her, saying, “she led a troubled life from an early age, filled with grievances, hatred, and self-harm.” I wonder how people can write such detailed comments. However, she never received medical help, despite her difficulties being well-known. She was found dead at the rear of the church from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, so we may never understand her motives. She was 23 years old.

Unfortunately, Greyhound today, what’s left of it, is way different from the Greyhound of yesteryear in this 1951 ad. I remember several pretty long rides, and for certain, not a single rider was dressed like these folks or this happy.

Not long ago, I looked into taking the bus from where I live to Louisville, and it was a nearly impossible journey. So much for saving money.

This is one of the most ridiculous ads ever published. I would love to see the ‘nationwide survey’ that provided the statistics convincing enough to make me rush out and buy one of the strongest cigarettes ever sold. Back in my day, if you were smoking a Camel, you were just a hair’s breadth from the cancer clinic. I guess that’s convenient, as there will be many doctors nearby who smoke.

A wave of negative comments from politicians and public opinion targeted Florida’s policy team regarding incarceration at this facility. By any reasonable standard, the conditions there were unacceptable. By the end of this week, the facility—constructed with millions of dollars—will be empty and shut down. It never should have been built in the first place.

This ad really made me laugh out loud. I remember how every kid would pester their mom to buy Twinkies. Honestly, the product wasn’t the best for our health, but with “body-building” vitamins, who could blame moms for giving in? I also have fond memories of the cupcakes—my sister loved the chocolate one, and I fancied the fake coconut cupcake. Ah well, if I were to eat either now, I know I’d be very, very sorry.

All my friends know I enjoy looking at old advertisements, mostly from magazines. Although I never reached this stage in life, I saw many guys walking around looking just like this. One reason I love ads is that they serve as barometers of what life was like during that period.

This particular ad likely appeared in a magazine from the early 1970s. Back then, our nation had fewer worries, and as this model illustrates, leisure was of great importance.

In a few weeks, the US Open Tennis Championships will take place. Since I was on a rant recently about the cost of food and feeding families, take a look at this. The event has a signature cocktail (of course) named the “Grey Goose Honey Deuce” cocktail. A key component of the drink is a garnish of two honeydew melon balls. Last year, they sold $12.8 million worth of a sugary-tart lemonade, Grey Goose vodka, and raspberry liqueur in a plastic cup.

Moving on to other statistics, attendees will consume 90,000 pounds of beef (equivalent to 225,000 hamburgers and hot dogs), 85,000 pounds of poultry, 9,000 pounds of crab, lobster, and shrimp, 400,000 individual berries, and 12.5 tons of lettuce. They will consume 35,000 pounds of tomatoes, 66,000 bananas, and 7,000 specialty tennis ball cookies.

When I think of a recent posting from Costco, none of the above should come as a surprise. Apart from the drinks sold, the statistics resemble what Costco sells to fans for tailgating and barbecues before a football home game in Knoxville, between Tennessee and Alabama.