• Johnson County,KS: Then and Now

    I am a big fan of the “Kansas City: Then and Now”  and “Kansas City: Then and Now 2” books. No matter where you live there is a history and as much as everyone makes fun of old people and their “back in my day” stories, they are actually very entertaining. These books tell the stories with photos of the past and present side-by-side and, unfortunately, the present is not always better then the past.

    I wanted to do something like that for a long time on a smaller more amateur level and with the help of the Johnson County History website I will try post some photos once in a while.

    A group of men gathered in front of an automobile at the ground breaking for Andy Klein Pontiac dealership.

    Here is what it looks like now (click for more):

    Then and Now

    Not really much of an improvement, but I am sure Mr. Klein would have been proud. The JoCoHistory website has some additional photos tagged “Andy Klein Pontiac” as well as Mr. Klein’s personal photos.

    A business like an auto dealership touches many lives and I imagine in the old days it was more personal then now. Over the years it has probably seen a lot of happiness and excitement on its sales floor. Wouldn’t you get excited buying this “General Motors Masterpiece” in 1955,or, should I say “back in the day”.

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  • Different Toys – Different Lives

    Some toys end up at the mass grave at the Community Yard Sale:



    This is one morbid-looking doll:

    Sturdy Play Suit – made for hard play (if you know what I mean):

    A pin from a lot more innocent times:

    Naked golf balls no more:

    Other toys get to live in the museum:

    Jewel Secrets Ken – draw your own conclusions:

    In the hindsight it might have been inappropriate to write “my arms and legs are pauseable”, “ages 3 and up”, and “no batteries required” on a Pee-Wee Herman doll. If you own an Ernest talking doll, you might be a redneck:

    Some PEZ dispensers:



    Lastly, you may have seen these “urban toys” before:

    urbancurban-collectiblesI guess these peope got their inspiration from the “Bag O’ Glass”, “Bag O’ Vipers”, “Bag O’ Sulfuric Acid”, etc.

    Where would these end up in 20 years – the dump or in the museum? Time will tell.

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  • Tsoi Lives

    20 years ago today a popular Russian rock singer Victor Tsoi died in a car accident.

    20 years ago his songs  spoke to us.

    20 years ago we raised our arms and yelled “We Are Waiting for Changes”  together with him.

    20 years ago his songs sounded like a war cry.

    20 years later it’s still the most played CD that I own.

    Tsoi Wall in Moscow

    httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB0ErvJfT7Q

    We want changes!
    It’s the demand of our hearts.
    We want changes!
    It’s the demand of our eyes.
    In our laughter, in our tears, and the pulse in our veins.
    We want changes!

    httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5peDpAFVs

    httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7gPKBOGPAE

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  • Kansas Roadtrips: Iola

    Iola is located South of Garnett on U.S. Route 169.

    Iola is the scene of an upcoming gritty drama sequel to the Baywatch – Methwatch, where less toothy but a lot more animated characters save lives of unsuspecting citizens.

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  • Christmas Inflation In Olathe

    I drove past this house many times over the years, every year noticing more and more inflatable things slowly taking over the place. Today I stopped by to take some pictures of the “Paulie’s Penguin Playground” located in Olathe. The front, roof, driveway, yard and everything else around the house is covered with every inflatable toy imaginable. There is a passageway through the yard leading to the porch where you can leave a donation to the Leukemia Society or buy the owner’s truck.

    Short video look-around:

    httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLKdNtAMQUo

    (Pick any two): Merry Happy Holidays Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa!

    Other examples of local Christmas Art from Midtown Miscreant and Plog.

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