Friday, July 31, 2009

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."

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

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.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Dancing in the Streets

WHEN: June 2009
WHERE: Shadyside, Pittsburgh
This little brown plastic guy is gettin' funky ... or has gotten run over.

Friday, July 24, 2009

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.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

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.

Monday, July 20, 2009

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.

Friday, July 17, 2009

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.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

I Bagged a Lion!

WHEN: July 2009
WHERE: Friendship, Pittsburgh
At least, I think it's a lion. For sure, though, it's bagged.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Trashy Ride

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

Thursday, July 9, 2009

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.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

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.

Monday, July 6, 2009

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.

Friday, July 3, 2009

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.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

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.