January 11, 2002
Greetings Accumulators!
It's rainy/sunny/rainy/sunny in New York today, and last night Ethan became
the sole Survivor and a millionaire. Which is a good thing, because it's
going to cost about half that amount in barber shop bills to get a comb
through those dreadlocks he grew after a month of no grooming aids. There
is no leave-in conditioner on the plains, it seems. I can empathize with
you, Ethan. My hair being of the naturally curly persuasion, I can say that
there are days when things disappear into the massive nest, only to
reappear suddenly, weeks later, when you least expect them and aren't even
missing them anymore.
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF OUIJA TALK TO ME, PLEASE?
For those of us attracted to strange things (former spouses excluded, of
course), nothing could be more amusing that a visit to The Museum Of
Talking Boards. The site is devoted to all things Ouija, that fascinating
board "game" where the future is foretold by - well, probably by the person
sitting opposite you. Or at least that's what it feels like. Still, who
knows? You'll find the history of the Ouija board, directions for using
one, theories of how they work, strange Ouija stories, a wonderful picture
gallery of boards, and much more fun-laden information. My favorite talking
board? Oh that would be the ka-bala, with its scary black eyeball and
flying marble. Don't miss it. Stop by the museum at
LINK. I predict you can't stay away. Say,
this could be my next collection....
WHY MY EMAIL MAKES ME SHAKE MY HEAD DEPARTMENT
If you subscribe to AntiqueWeek, you'll note that my next column is a
rather testy response to people who write to me for information regarding
antiques and collectibles. I receive about a hundred emails and letters a
week, most of them looking for free appraisals. Some of them can simply be
directed to one of the appraisal organizations for help, or to places where
they can do research on their own. Some of them are too rude or too
demanding or too selfish to draw any response from me. And some of them are
so obtuse, that I yell for Artie to come into my office and read them over
my shoulder, because I think no one will believe they exist unless I have a
witness. Here's one I received today (Personal information removed to
protect the stupid):
From: XXXXXXX@aol.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 15:48:06 EST
Subject: 1939 newyork world's fair something like a paperweight
To: newsletter@msjudith.net
i want to know what it is worth if u know all i know is it is little but
heavy thank u XXXXX
At least she said thank u
While we're on the subject of weird email, here's one I received yesterday:
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 22:12:35 +0100
To: judith's email
Cc: XXXXXX
From: XXXXXXX
Subject: Time travelers PLEASE HELP!!!!!!
Sender: XXXXXXX
message: If you are a time traveler or alien disguised as human and or have
the technology to travel physically through time I need your help!
My life has been severely tampered with and cursed!!
I have suffered tremendously and am now dying!
I need to be able to:
Travel back in time.
Rewind my life including my age back to 4.
Be able to remember what I know now so that I can prevent my life from
being tampered with again after I go back.
I am in very great danger and need this immediately!
I am aware that there are many types of time travel, and that humans do not
do well through certain types.
I need as close to temporal reversion as possible, as safely as possible.
To be able to rewind the hands of time in such a way that the universe of
now will cease to exist.
I know that there are some very powerful people out there with alien or
government equipment capable of doing just that.
If you can help me I will pay for your teleport or trip down here, Along
with hotel stay, food and all expenses. I will pay top dollar for the
equipment. Proof must be provided.
Also if you are one of the very few beings with the ability to edit the
universe PLEASE REPLY!!!
Only if you have this technology and can help me please send me a
(SEPARATE) email to:
XXXXXXX@aol.com
Please do not reply if your an evil alien!
Thanks
So, naturally, I didn't reply.
A COLLECTORS CLUB TO BE TAKEN WITH A GRAIN OF...SOMETHING
So, you live in a small space, with not a lot of display area? Looking for
something to collect that won't take up much room? Well, Sand Collectors
International wants you! If you join SCI you will get a subscription to
their "6-page A4-sized Newsletters" (this is a very size-conscious group,
apparently). You will be happy to know that this subscription also
"includes color photo of sand grains", and an "annual Membership list
detailing member's interests". I'm going out on a limb here: I'm guessing
the members' interests have something to do with sand. The SCI boasts "101
members in 13 countries (four continents)", so you know they're not all
bunched up on Waikiki or someplace like that. And the club promises you the
opportunity to "exchange sand to increase your collection". Or you could
contact every single member and get enough to fill your kid's play area in
the backyard. And you'll also want to know that "members also publish
booklets on sand collecting at reasonable prices". The price for all this
fun and knowledge? $10. To join, contact horstwindisch@freemail.absa.co.za
or write to P.O. Box 17273, Groenkloof, South Africa 0027.
This has been the most fun I've had all week, Accumulators. He Who Is The
Light Of My Life and I are, once again, trekking up to the country house to
continue the interior work. I must say our new workshop is looking great.
Well, to me it's looking functional, which is great. I suspect that male
persons will find it stunningly gorgeous and very appealing. My schedule
for next week includes:
Monday, January 14, "GREG BERG SHOW" WGTD Radio,
91.1FM on your dial, Kenosha, WI. 8:00 AM Central.
Thursday, January 17,
2002: "KEN BEHRENS SHOW" WJBC Radio, 1230AM on your dial, Bloomington, IL.
10:00 AM Central.
Next Saturday, January 19, 2002: Barnes and Noble, 2245
Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY. 2PM reading from my new book, and book
signing.
For a full schedule of upcoming events, go to
http://www.msjudith.net/events/events.html. Hope to see ya at something. Have a wonderful week,
Accumulators. Happy hunting!
Best,
Judith
© 2002 Judith Katz-Schwartz. All rights reserved.
Antiques and Collectibles Newsletter #167
U.S. Library of Congress
ISSN 1520-4464
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Your comments, as always, are welcome. If you have something to say, write to me.
To subscribe to the free short weekly email newsletter, send a blank email to subscribe-judith@topica.com.
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