When Clowns Go Bad

WHEN: July 2009
WHERE: Logan, Chicago
PHOTO: Mark in Chicago
Mark sez: "This was in our backyard this morning. Not sure whether to be charmed by the reference to the classic Simpsons' Halloween episode, or terrified by random satanic Krusty dolls appearing on our property."

Strolling Along

WHEN: July 2009
WHERE: Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh
If you're gonna abandoned a baby doll, you might as well push the stroller right into a huge pile of garbage.

Dancing in the Streets

WHEN: June 2009

WHERE: Shadyside, Pittsburgh
This little brown plastic guy is gettin' funky ... or has gotten run over.

Fun With Geese

WHEN: April 2009

WHERE: Monongahela River, Downtown Pittsburgh

ADDED PATHOS: River debris
It was a dull day wading through the river muck until one goose spotted a ball.

Shopping Cart Crime Spree

WHEN: July 2009

WHERE: East Liberty, Pittsburgh

These pint-sized shopping carts -- from Wal-Mart no less -- let kids get started early on abandoning them on the street. These junior cart-burglars also left the groceries behind.

Pink and Prickly

WHEN: June 2009
WHERE: Strip District, Pittsburgh
Even though this creature is covered in nasty spines for defense, it's still hiding under a piece of newspaper just to be safe.

Gulf Ball

WHEN: 2009

WHERE: Beach at abandoned pearl-fishing village, in Northern Qatar

PHOTO: Matthew T. of DC

This is going to a lonely -- and hot -- vigil for this washed-up sports ball.

I Bagged a Lion!

WHEN: July 2009

WHERE: Friendship, Pittsburgh

At least, I think it's a lion. For sure, though, it's bagged.

Trashy Ride

WHEN: June 2009
WHERE: New York City
PHOTO: Leigh in Brookyln
Oh no, Barbie!

Batter Up

WHEN: July 2009

WHERE: Eliza Furnace Trail, Pittsburgh

Given the sorry state of the Pirates baseball club, I'm surprised we don't see more of the players' heads stuck on fences around town.

Thriller: Michael Jackson's Sad Toy

WHEN: July 2009

WHERE: Alameda County Fair, Calif.

PHOTO: Roger in San Fran

ADDED PATHOS: Non-stop Michael-Jackson-is-dead coverage

Quite possibly the largest sad toy ever -- from the glittery high of Neverland to the bally-hoo low of the county-fair circuit. Today, as the world stops to remember Jackson, let us take a moment to ponder: Somebody had this ride in their back yard.

Rider in the Sky

WHEN: June 2009

WHERE: East Liberty, Pittsburgh

One of those horses that gallops through the sky -- as seen on 70s LP covers and sides of conversion vans -- has crashed into some roof structure.

Doll Daze No. 4: Free to a Good Home

WHEN: May 2009
WHERE: Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C.
Floating to the surface in this box of curbside trash. The good news: When I walked by later, the doll was gone -- and hopefully to a good home.

Doll Daze No. 3: The Horror

WHEN: November 2008
WHERE: Moorpark, Calif.
PHOTO: Dan in Calif.
Here's the backstory: Dan was helping a couple of older women clean out their houses so some painting could be done. The houses were stuffed to the brim with collector dolls off Home Shopping Network. Think boxes where they had made pathways to get from one side to the other. It was in such a mess, the cats had puked and pissed on the dolls, and there was rat droppings and whatnot. Needless to say, the collector status of the dolls was highly in question considering their condition. Pictured above: a survivor.