Pet Rocks, Freakies, Sambos and More

I'd like to recommend a new addition to the blog roll and a nice launch for 2008 that looks back on the oddities of the recent past, especially the 1970s and 1980s. "Gavin Elster" in Southern California (the Brocklebank has never been as classy since he left) has retired his Sequioa Sempervirens site with the close of 2007 and launched They All Come Back.

Did you eat Freakies cereal as a kid? Did you house train a Pet Rock? Did you go for blintzes at Sambo's? Then don't just sit there, head over to They All Come Back right now.

I don't know if he'd agree, but I think Gavin is something of a Junk Thief himself.

The Disney You Don't See

When I first launched JunkThief TV nine months ago, I promised that it would feature "the unseen America". While I have been able to slip in some elements of that, I've not been able to take it on as fully as I'd hoped, wanting eventually to show some of the darker sides of American life that get swept under the carpet. With the second anniversary of Katrina nearing -- the event that really ripped open the unseen America -- I wanted to plug another great website of "Gavin Elster"'s. I recently mentioned his massive Sequoia Sempervirens, but also wanted to note his Majestic Butterhorn, which gives you a view of Disneyland that doesn't make the postcards. It's hilarious, tragic and thought-provoking all at the same time. You'll definitely pass on that Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough Ice cream after glancing at it.

I wrote a short story this week set in Missouri that featured a character that lived on Butterhorn Lane and was obsessed with cockfighting. Afterwards, I kept wondering how the term Butterhorn got lodged in my creative conscience. Then it hit me. Thanks, Gavin.

The Mission Bells Ring for Me

Thanks to Gavin Elster (no, I don't think that he's really that Gavin Elster) of Sequoia Sempervirens for the heads up about the festivities in October at San Juan Bautista marking the 50th anniversary of the filming (it was actually released the following year) of Vertigo. This looks like too cool of an event to miss. I am already fairly certain I'll attend, making it at least my fourth trip there. When I am forced to take visitors to Monterrey/Carmel, I always demand that I be rewarded by a trip to San Juan Bautista and the outlet shops in Gilroy.

If you've never been over the Sequoia Sempervirens, it's worth the trip. Gavin must have the most amazing culture obscura gopher sense for YouTube and other strange corners of pop culture. A recent post of a Finnish version of YMCA is not to be missed.