Canadian colonization advertising vehicle... looking like a streetcar on a truck chassis

Seems the big wide open plains of the Candian west needed farmers, and they used this to spread the word. Just study that box of a body and let me know if it's anything but a one off single purpose built vehicle
from http://www.shorpy.com/

Old tour bus, 1908

from http://www.shorpy.com/

Book Safe

Blood Puddle Pillows

The pillows are inspired by those suspenseful moments when a sleeping loved one is a little too still for a little too long. Using an irreverent combination of comfort & fear the pillows parallel sleep & death.

Surprising Safety Hazards Around the Home & Garden

1. Plastic packaging: Did you know that many lacerations and puncture wounds occur when people use kitchen knives to open hard plastic clamshell packages? In 2004, more than 6,400 people went to the emergency room for injuries resulting from plastic packaging.

2. Flooding: Did you know flooding can cause indoor air quality problems in your home long after floodwaters have receded? Microorganisms in floodwaters may present a health hazard. These organisms can penetrate deep into soaked, porous materials and later be released into air, causing illness and allergic reactions when inhaled. 

3. Pools, spas, hot tubs: Did you know drowning is not the only common risk associated with swimming pools and hot tubs? One of the biggest risks associated with pools, spas, and hot tubs in homes is electrocution. Faulty underwater lighting, aging electrical wiring, sump pumps, power washers, and ungrounded vacuums are among the most prevalent causes, in addition to electrical appliances and extension cords that fall into the water.

4. Kitchen knives: Did you know a sharp kitchen knife is safer than a dull one? The force exerted when cutting, slicing, or chopping with a dull blade often leads to slips that cause hand injuries.

5. Fire: Did you know deaths resulting from fires in the home are highest among people age 65+ and children under the age of 5? Residential fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury deaths and the ninth leading cause of home injuries resulting in an emergency department visit.

6. Hot tap water: Did you know each year approximately 3,800 injuries and 34 deaths occur in US homes due to scalding from excessively hot tap water? The majority of accidents involve the elderly and children under the age of 5.

7. Grills: Did you know, each year an average of 6,500 grill fires result in $27 million in property loss according to the US Fire Administration?

8. Power lawn mowers: Did you know nearly 80,000 Americans require hospital treatment from injuries caused by power lawn mowers each year? The most common injuries are caused by flying projectiles and the most common injuries requiring hospitalization were fractures of the foot.

9. Pool or spa drains: Did you know the suction from a pool or spa drain can be so powerful it can hold an adult underwater? According to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission, between 2002 and 2004, 15 injuries and 2 fatalities occurred due to missing or broken pool or spa drain covers.

10. Batteries: Did you know trying to charge non-rechargeable batteries is extremely unsafe? 

11. Poison ivy: Did you know poison ivy is mutating in ways that make its rash-inducing oils more potent and the plants themselves more difficult to identify? The cautionary rhyme “leaves of three, let them be" isn’t so reliable anymore. Plants, which can take the form of a shrub or vine, can have more leaves in a cluster.

12. Garage doors: Did you know each year an average of 20,000 people are treated in the hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with garage doors?

13. Clothes dryers and vents: Did you know, according to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission, some 15,500 fires annually are attributed to careless use and faulty maintenance of clothes dryers and their exhaust vents? Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or the exhaust duct and the flow of air is blocked. This causes excessive heat build-up. Lint buildup on the filter or within the exhaust vent can catch fire.

14. Furniture tip-overs: Did you know approximately 3,000 injuries and an average of 22 deaths a year occur as a result of furniture tip-overs?

15. Video games: Did you know it is possible to sustain sports injuries while playing video games? Sports injuries resulting from playing video games are on the rise and most are related to the upper extremities -- to the shoulder, elbow, and wrist.

16. No-power hand tools: Did you know more people sustain injuries while using hand tools than power tools? According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more people injure themselves when working with hammers and utility knives than with power saws and drills. The most common tool-related injury is striking one’s own fingers with a hammer.

17. Bungee cords: Did you know bungee cords used for strapping down things to the top of a car or to truck beds can cause blindness? The US Consumer Products Safety Commission reports an estimated 11,500 accidents involving stretch cords each year. Problems occur most often when the cords are overstretched and not hooked to a secure fitting. The most serious typical injuries are lacerations to the face and eyes.

18. Pressure washers: Did you know an estimated 3,747 people needed hospital care for pressure washer injuries in 2004? 

19. Extension cords: Did you know burns to the mouth account for more than half of injuries related to the use of electrical extension cords in the home? Extension cords can be dangerous if they’re faulty or frayed, but even intact cords can present a number of hazards if they’re not used properly and safely tucked away, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Children and pets can and will chew on extension cords if they can get to them, and this can result in severe burns and even electrocution.

20. Home computers: Did you know approximately 78,000 people have experienced injuries related to the use of home computers within a 13-year period? Data collected through the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System show that using computers has some significant risks.

21. Electric power tools: Did you know older electric power tools (those made before 1980) can present an electrocution hazard? According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, during a recent year 15 deaths were associated with old power tools.

22. Flowers and plants: Did you know some popular flowers and plants are poisonous to your pets? In 2007, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Poison Control Center responded to more than 130,000 cases of poisoned animals.

8 Shocking Signs of American Excess

Here in America, we do everything bigger. Our skyscrapers are taller, our toilets have more-powerful flushes, and even our beauty queens are prettier than those from the rest of the world. We like our reputation as the home of the biggest, the best, the grandest, the fanciest, and the most luxurious.

Except that commitment leads to some pretty embarrassing displays of excess. We Americans are used to a level of abundance that many in the world would gawk at; in fact, it can be downright embarrassing. Other countries and other cultures have their vomitoriums, desert ski resorts, and the Taj Mahal, but when the rest of the world talks about America as the original land of outrageous, inexcusable, and stomach-churning gluttony, this is what they’re thinking of.

1 Man v. Food

In this television show for the Travel Channel, Richman tours the country, looking for the biggest, most fattening, most heart attack–inducing plates of food. And then he eats them. Or he tries to, anyway. Seriously—that’s the whole premise: how much food can Adam Richman stuff into his gullet? In a world where 1.7 billion people live in poverty, this show could only be the product of a country airing no fewer than eight weight-loss reality shows on television as of December 2010. In other words, screw you, poor people!

2 The $5 Million Bra

Apparently, diamonds aren’t quite as rare as we’re made to believe, because each year, Victoria’s Secret uses several pounds of gemstones to create a special Fantasy Bra for the holidays. The 2010 model features 1,500 carats of black diamonds and rubies costing a total of $5 million. As extravagant as that may seem, it doesn’t hold a candle to the $7 million bra from 2006 or the $12.5 million 2005 version. Although the company acknowledges that no one has ever actually purchased one of these brassieres, that doesn’t stop it from making them. Apparently, Americans are so desensitized to seeing boobs on parade that now the only bosoms that warrant attention are spangled ones.

3 “Noisy” Sun Chips

In 2010, Frito-Lay developed a plant-based compostable package for its SunChips line of snacks. Good green news, right? Wrong. Sales of the chips plummeted because consumers—the same ones who flaunt their eco-friendly shopping totes and refuse to consume high-fructose corn syrup—refused to buy them. The reason? The bag made too much noise. Yes, a little extra crinkle and crunch offended Americans’ delicate aural sensibilities, forcing the manufacturer to go back to the original landfill-clogging bag. The biodegradable packaging is still available in Canada, however, since Canadians somehow believed that a little extra noise was worth it to help the environment. Go figure.

4 The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book

Fancy a life-size likeness of yourself made of Legos? How about a portrait of yourself in chocolate syrup? A two-man submarine? A backyard waterpark? If you have tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to burn, all of these delights could be yours, courtesy of Neiman’s legendary Christmas Book. In it lie the kinds of outrageous, outlandish gifts that no one thinks to ask for … because no one actually needs them. But that doesn’t stop people from buying them anyway.

5 Triple-Ply Toilet Paper

That soft, plush toilet paper Americans favor comes with consequences: that softness requires the kind of virgin wood fibers found only in untouched old-growth forests, which makes logging for the purpose of creating toilet paper a significant cause of deforestation. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that if every American household used one less roll of regular toilet paper and replaced it with a roll of recycled paper, it would save 423,900 trees per year. Recycled-paper toilet tissue is widely available, but it doesn’t sell well. The reason? Too scratchy. Americans refuse to wipe their butts with anything but the best.

6 Waxes for Children

If there’s one lesson a prepubescent girl should learn, it’s that her body hair is dirty and wrong and no man will ever love her unless she rips it out. Of course, grown women have taken this ethos to heart for years, but now the waxing trend has spread to girls as young as six or seven, with many urban spas even offering discounts for child clients. According to the New York Post, several New York salons offer leg, upper-lip, and, yes, bikini waxes for little girls. Advocates point out that waxing fine “virgin hair” can be more effective, saving the child from a lifetime of repeated and painful wax jobs. Opponents, of course, counter by pointing out that even if it’s more effective, it’s still pretty sick.

7 Teen Cribs

Who doesn’t love watching the spoiled children of the nouveau riche flaunt their indoor swimming pools, bowling alleys, personal recording studios, and basement disco arcades? The kids featured in MTV’s display of conspicuous consumption are shown hanging out by their foyer waterfalls or showing off their custom closet installations—you know, like normal, everyday teens do. The message of the show isn’t that being rich makes them better, kinder, or more interesting people; it’s that when you’re rich, your parents love you more.

8 The $161 Billion Wedding Industry

According to Condé Nast’s American Wedding Survey, the average American wedding cost $28,082, for a grand total of about $161 billion spent on tooth whitening, personalized M&Ms, monogrammed bridesmaids’ tracksuits, favors for every guest, and, of course, plastic surgery to look perfect on Your Most Special Day. It’s no longer enough to throw a nice party with good food for your nearest and dearest—nowadays, if you don’t have a second dress for the reception, a horse-drawn carriage to transport you to the ceremony, a midnight milk-and-cookies bar, and a chuppah decorated with $10,000 worth of Peruvian orchids, you might as well accept that your entire marriage is doomed to fail.

America may be the Land of Plenty, but seeing a restaurant serve chocolate cake topped with twenty-four-karat edible gold leaf suggests that we’ve turned into the Land of Slightly Too Much. Any one of these obnoxious displays of our nation’s wealth and security should give us pause and make us think about those in the world who’d be grateful for our table scraps. Surely, many immigrants would love to come to this country to make a better life for their families by working hard year after year until they, too, can achieve the American dream and buy their teenage daughter a Brazilian wax and her own petting zoo. U.S.A. #1!

Part-Time Jobs for Retirees

If you're at or near retirement, you may find that a part-time or occasional job would make a big difference to your budget.

Beyond paper routes and baby-sitting, how can you make a few extra bucks on the side? Here are some good options you might not have considered.

1 Consult or Freelance

Many consulting companies need people to come in on a project basis, says Dick Dawson, vice president of CareerCurve, who coaches many workers over age 55. "Explore the company -- write to the person who heads up the unit you would want to work in." Other organizations, especially those that are downsizing, look for freelancers to fill gaps in their staff.

2 Do the Same Job, Only Less

Larry Schaffel, director of public relations for Magellan Development Group, says that he retired after selling his PR agency. Then, a former client offered him his current job on a two-day-a-week basis. "Impossible to say no," says Schaffel. Many professional jobs allow for a phased transition to retirement, in which you may work fewer hours each year over several years. Or, keep your former employer as a client and work part time.

3 Research for Businesses or Universities

Career counselor Anne Headley knows a retiree who volunteered at the local university, which led to a part-time job. "Because he has lots of experience in researching, delving through records to answer questions, he came to the attention of the archivist." Also needed are researchers who can help scholars find the studies or do the data collection they need to complete their research projects. Let departments related to your area of expertise know you're available.

4 Go to the Government

Age discrimination is less likely in government jobs, says Dawson. Government agencies have seasonal and part-time work.

5 Think Seasonal

Retailers need part-time workers during the holiday season, says Dawson. The key to making this kind of work satisfying? "Don't think of Wal-Mart only," he says. "There may be other fun things to get into. For example, if you're interested in organic food, try Whole Foods."

6 Show Your Team Spirit

Many sports teams hire workers seasonally or part time. These kinds of jobs can run the gamut from ushering spectators to their seats to running the front office. Retiree Harold Jaffe manages the Diamond Club, the premier seating facility for Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners.

"This is my eighth season doing it," says Jaffe. "I started when I was 64. I'll do it another 40 or 50 years. It's great fun!"

You won't find a job like this advertised, though, and you have to be willing to start at the bottom of the ladder. "Call up your local ball club," he says. "It's something you have to go after. If you have the ability to network, it will lead you to this kind of thing."

7 Customer Service

Many older works excel at customer service. Alpine Access, for example, employs many part-time retirees who work from home as customer service agents. They still have the flexibility to travel and enjoy their retirements. Headley says that many older workers can find "help desk" jobs that require the kind of knowledge they have amassed over a lifetime of work.

8 Monetize Your Gifts

Look at what you're good at and try to find a way to make money from it. If you're handy around the house, you may be able to find work helping people unstop their sinks, put together their bookshelves or hang pictures. If you're good with a needle, you could alter clothes or fix torn hems.

Tell your friends and family, post fliers and connect with places that might need your skills. The dry cleaner may need someone who can sew buttons back on or the rental management company may need an occasional handyman. Don't discount your skills, says Aricia LaFrance, a psychological marketing strategist and retirement coach. "These are all goods and services that people buy."

9 Teach or Tutor

Many organizations need class instructors. For enrichment (noncredit) classes, oftentimes the only credential you need is experience. Try your local college or university, art center, or parks and recreation center. If you have aptitude and patience, you can tutor local students in math or English. Connect with local school principals and teachers to get started.

Or start your own program based on your hobbies or interests, as Dennis Golden did. He's the founder of IM-Safe, an organization that provides personal safety training, which he began after retiring.

10 Sell Online -- But Not the Way You Think

You know you can sell your prized doll collection on eBay or use Craigslist to get rid of your furniture. But to build a sustainable source of income, establish a Web presence around an area of expertise and then sell ad space and related items.

For example, when Al Wiener retired, he built everything-about-rving.com as a hobby. When the recession hit his retirement savings hard, he focused on turning it into a profitable e-business. He's able to work on his business even when he's in his RV. Now, he says, the money he earns from ad sales on his website exceeds his monthly retirement income.