Tiger of the Month Club: March

Harbinger of Spring, and fashion trendsetter.

And, in response to those astronomers of 1922
(see this month's Frate Indovino)—
felis rules the world of 2010!

Frate Indovino: March Monk

"And come back accompanied by your parents!"

Some advice from the good brother: "If you want the bread, don't sit on the oven."

Followed by thoughts of gardening, with an enticing list of all that can be started in a protected place, including meloni, basilico, peperoni, pomodori...

Among this month's star lore, there's this—

Curiosity - Extinct Constellation: The Cat was introduced in '700 [1799, according to this] by the French Lalande in honor of his favorite animal, the cat, in fact. To lovers of this cat, it might seem unfair that in the sky are numerous references to the dog and none to him. Although the French scholar had placed the cat in the firmament, in the zone between Indra and the air-pump (two constellations of the southern hemisphere) with the 1922 meeting of the International Astronomical Union, it was removed from official maps.

As to those particular astronomers: a March felis waiting in the wings for the next post might have something to say about them...

Brave New Economy

Russian plastic bag—from a 35-ruble store

Yes: that's about $1, which makes Fixprice akin to a dollar store.

I don't know how many countries have shops on this theme, but we do live in a world full of cheap Chinese crap that keeps large segments marginally able to consume. In this country's hollowed out economy, plenty of shoppers already use dollar stores as the alternative to dog food.

Though Japan also has thousands of 100 yen shops by now, here's something on the vintage side: a Kyoto discount store logo from the 1980s.

Back then, "discount store" was still a novel idea in Japan.

As far as I can remember from my one visit, the store sold decent quality stuff. And the merchandise was not yet imported from the land of totalitarian capitalism.

King of the Wild Frontier

1933, John Hancock Life Insurance Company

The 17-page pamphlet must have been treasured by Mrs. A. M. Ribolin, who inscribed her name on the covers (though she later erased the front).

Title page:

Page borders:

It seems so quaint now, the idea of an insurance company going after public goodwill with a patriotic, folksy giveaway about a subject of much mythology.

Instead of merely buying itself some senators.

Outside the Box

1950s gift wrap sheets, found in a small town during a road trip of J.'s—
Yet another reason to lament the loss of local retail to big box.

More designs—

Tiger of the Month Club: February

February: a good month for cabin fever?

Not with Panthera tigris to liven things up!

Frate Indovino: February Friar

"Until the boat leaves..."

The spiritual skygazer predicts:

Planetary positions: Mercury on the 10th passes by the sign of Capricorn in Acquarius. Venus on the 11th passes Aquarius [to?] Pisces. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are stationed in the signs of the previous month (Leo, Pisces, Libra, Pisces and Aquarius).

Sunspots: occur early this month and after the third week. Magnetic storms: some geomagnetic failure in the first half of the month. Favorable days: concentrated after the middle of the last ten days. Special meteor sensitivity will occur early in the month.