Long before smartphones became popular, we relied on incredibly skilled telephone operators. It’s pretty remarkable to think that nearly every city had its own version of this setup. I still fondly remember dialing “o” and hearing the operator kindly ask, “number, please,” or a similar phrase. There was also a special joy in calling just to hear the time of day, which always felt like a little treat. This was another example of cheap entertainment on Vallejo Street. I was pretty lucky my mom missed me dialing away.

Sometimes, important events happen that we might not notice right away. The potential funding cuts to NPR and public broadcasting could impact us all. I’ve been a radio enthusiast for many years; shows like All Things Considered reach millions every day. PBS will also feel the effect, and programs like the NewsHour are at risk. Many government programs require adjustments or budget changes, but public broadcasting shouldn’t be one of them—it’s a valuable resource that benefits us all.

Now, these very well-dressed shoppers would have looked right at home on the “Queen for a Day” show! That’s a pretty snappy fridge for 1941. The older I get, the more I enjoy seeing these vintage ads. I looked up how much a fridge like this would have cost — $250 back then. And, guess what, shoppers? In today’s dollars, that’s a whopping $3,280! My dad was a mailman at the time, and I can’t even imagine what his take-home pay was.

Although I was never really into watching TV, my mom and I always enjoyed watching the show “Queen for A Day” together. It was way beyond great TV entertainment.

Women would come on the show with Jack Bailey, sharing their hopes with the audience, who would then vote on who should be crowned “Queen”. I can hear the audience yelling who is their choice. What a fantastic way to go home with your very own Dishmaster.

Meet Washington, DC’s police chief, Pamela Smith. She has the challenging role of leading law enforcement in DC, especially with the recent addition of National Guard troops to the police force. It’s a complex situation, and some may worry about the legality of deploying Federal troops under Federal Law. Personally, I feel that seeing federal officers walking down the streets might not give the most welcoming impression of our beautiful Nation’s Capitol.

As any reader of my posts will notice, I rarely add something controversial. I happened to see this and thought, hey, wait. Is this a good idea? I am aware that people enter the US and do overstay their stay. It’s anyone’s guess why someone overstays their visa; however, if we demand a substantial pre-payment to enter, we are implying the person will overstay. That doesn’t seem right to me; I’m not aware of any other country that has a policy like this. Should we be setting a bad example with such a unique policy?

I’ll skip the magazine this time and grab a pack of Camels instead. Back in 1950, handing out free treats while delivering magazines was pretty common. The person in the photo seems nice enough—maybe the candy stripers will soon arrive with a tasty lunch tray to brighten the day!

We didn’t have a TV until I was around 13 or so, which surprisingly means I rarely watch TV these days, as I mentioned recently. But what we did have, and I really loved, was a device like this with a super selection of images. We only had one, so my sister and I would take turns viewing it, which was always a fun little adventure. It was wonderful because it didn’t need to be plugged in—perfect for the curious boy I was back then.

One of our local Mexican restaurants may have hit the best advertising gimmick. I gave up tequila, however, this may tempt me back.