Tag Archives: World War II

Pardon me

Certain words are considered crass and socially unacceptable.

But entire towns?

Such is the sad state of affairs in F–cking, Austria.  (And yes, the “–” stands for exactly what you think.)

Until US soldiers were stationed nearby in World War II, no one in F–king thought a thing about their town’s moniker.

Now tourists mock them.  Steal the F–king signs.  The prank calls were the final straw.  The town mayor decided to change the F–king name.  But all the residents have to agree.

As someone who grew up in Fancy Farm — in a state with towns like Monkey’s Eyebrow, Possum Trot, and Big Bone Lick — I say…

“Keep your F–king name!”

Nose knows

You probably know someone who’s had a nose job.

I know two or three.

All were trying to take their too wide, too long or too bumpy noses and make them look more like some perfect version they had seen on a model or actress.

Hey, if it makes them feel better about themselves, I say go for it.

But take a look at these ‘nose jobs’ that went in the completely opposite direction — achieving perfection by being as unique as possible.

These are airplane nose jobs, by the way, in an exhibit of the same name at the Eric Firestone Gallery in Easthampton, New York.

Airplane nose art dates back to World War II.  Firestone purchased scrap government-issued airplanes– DC7s to F106s — gave them to 22 artists and let them have at it.

There is no standard for these nose jobs — no model perfection.  Each nose in the exhibit is as unique as its artist.

I’m sure there is something to be learned from all this.

I just like looking at the artwork.


Memories

Over the weekend Rory Dog and I met a couple carrying their brand new malti-poo puppy. That’s a maltese/poodle combination (’cause everything’s better with a little poo).

The pup was only 12 weeks old and cute as a bug, so I asked his name.

“Hubbell,” his mom announced proudly.

“Awww,” I replied. “Like Robert Redford in ‘The Way We Were.’”

She glanced at her husband, then they both looked at me blankly. “Haven’t heard of that one. We actually named him after the telescope.”

Snap. It’s official — I’m old.

Or perhaps these young whippersnappers just aren’t up on their movies. “The Way We Were”, released in 1973, stars Redford and Barbra Streisand as two lovers in post-World War II whose relationship can’t survive her politics or his expectations.

The movie was nominated for six Oscars and won two, for Best Score and Best Original Song, which was also sung by Streisand. (I’ll bet Hubbell the pup’s mom and dad could name that song in three notes).

It’s one of the most romantic movies ever made and still in my top five.

And if I were a puppy, I’d sure as heck rather have Robert Redford as the inspiration for my name than a big ol’ magnifying lens.

I’m just saying.