September 2012

Month

Actuarial alert!

I remember taking a college business course, and having a guest speaker come in to talk about his career as an actuary. In case you didn’t know, that’s a person who uses statistics to analyze the financial consequences of risk regarding uncertain future events (such as life expectancy) that are of concern to insurance companies. Sounds pretty dry and boring to me, but the combination of smoking, drinking, and Slim Jimming would probably rev up the statistical juices of even the most buttoned-down actuarialist.

September 27, 2012 0

First gator in England?

To the best of my knowledge, there are no gators in England. This one is headed there. I bought him at a yard sale on this side of the Pond, and sold him to a person on the other side of the Pond. Admittedly, there are probably other non-living gator somethings over there, but he might still be a one of a kind. Every other ceramic character bank I have ever seen has had a coin slot in the back, or on the top of the head. His coin slot is in his mouth. By the looks of his midriff, it appears he is capable of swallowing plenty of other things as well.

September 27, 2012 0

A blue Sillisculpt?

These goofy resin-plastic figurines turn up at almost every yard sale. If you were alive in the early ’70s, you no doubt gave or received one of these, somewhere along the line. I once had a collection of about a hundred of them. Most are of little value. Most are the familiar off-white color. Not too many are of other colors, like this one. And, yes, they do have a name. They are known as Sillisculpts. Not sure who coined the phrase, but it does seem appropriate.

Here’s a link for more information:

http://fashion-design.pop-cult.com/sillisculpts.html

September 17, 2012 0