only shades of gray

But today there is no day or night,
Today there is no dark or light,
Today there is no black or white,
Only shades of gray.

My wife and I are avid accumulators. Our house is an interesting amalgam of pop culture pieces from our youth and antiquities that predate even our parents' childhoods. Don't expect to see us on Hoarders anytime soon. Our collections are displayed in an orderly fashion throughout our three-story residence. We do, however, have a collection of collections. One morning in the early 90s, my wife and I set out to browse the offerings of a collectibles show at a convention center in Valley Forge, PA, not far from our home.

surprised?

Nothing surprises me.
Find out why — on my blog...

josh pincus is crying

two color

Karen Greenlee in two colors.
(So, I used black. So, I can't follow directions. Sue me.) Read Karen's story HERE on my blog. Not for the squeamish.

roy sullivan

Roy Sullivan, a U.S. park ranger at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, was hit by lightning on seven different occasions between 1942 and 1977. He survived all of them. Roy was included in the Guinness World Records as the person struck by lightning more times than any other human being.

In 1983, Roy died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound over an unrequited love. He was 71.

josh pincus is crying

time for breakfast

A trip down Memory Lane's cereal aisle on the HERE on the josh pincus is crying blog.

artist's lament

You are not alone.

I speak for you and you and you.... HERE on the josh pincus is crying blog.

(Warrning: Contains adult language and a lot of ranting.)

tyler lambert

A story of family... JPiC style.
HERE on my blog.

william darby

Read about William Darby, England's first black owner of a circus and his connection to The Beatles... HERE on the josh pincus is crying blog

equipment

The current inspirational word on another illustration blog is "equipment". HERE is a story from the Pincus Family chronicles.

some like it hot (and some don’t)

A special post for Marilyn Monroe fans (and you know who you are).

Read about her HERE on the josh pincus is crying blog.

... and now a word from our sponsor

A little graphic design from josh pincus is crying.

JPiC

an extra piece for Sam

Read about one of my closest friends HERE on my blog.

paul lynde

It’s hard to believe that an entire generation missed out on the humor of Paul Lynde.
Read his story HERE on the josh pincus is crying blog.

ruby starr

Remember Ruby Starr?
I do.
Read her story HERE on the josh pincus is crying blog.

the exorcist in six frames

There is a website based in the United Kingdom called Little White Lies. They are running a contest in conjunction with the release of a movie called "Kick-Ass" that is being released later this year. The contest is very simple. They’re asking to take any film and re-imagine it in the form of a comic, within a designated six-frame panel.

Here's my second entry. It's my version of "The Exorcist" —

(Click image for a larger version.)

willy wonka in six frames

There is a website based in the United Kingdom called Little White Lies. They are running a contest in conjunction with the release of a movie called "Kick-Ass" that is being released later this year. The contest is very simple. They’re asking to take any film and re-imagine it in the form of a comic, within a designated six-frame panel.

Here's my version of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" —

(Click image for a larger version.)

a joke

One of my favorite jokes.
(Click image for a larger, though not necessarily funnier, version)

michael johnson

On September 10, 1995, two men robbed a convenience store in Lorena, Texas. 27 year-old Jeff Wetterman was shot and killed during the robbery. The two men, David Vest and Michael Johnson, each named the other as the gunman. Vest pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and, in exchange for an eight-year sentence, testified against Johnson. Despite his unrelenting denials, Johnson was found guilty and sentenced to death by lethal injection.

As per prison policy, guards check every fifteen minutes on inmates facing imminent execution. On October 19, 2006, Johnson spoke briefly with guards at 2:30 AM. When the guards returned for their 2:45 AM check, they discovered Johnson unresponsive and lying in a pool of blood. He had fashioned a metal blade attached to a stick and slit his jugular vein. He had enough time, before he died, to write "I didn't do it" on his cell wall in his own blood.

frederick fleet

"Iceberg right ahead!"

Those famous words were spoken by lookout Frederick Fleet aboard the the RMS Titanic on April 14, 1912. Just after seven bells, Fleet saw a black mass in the ocean ahead. He immediately struck three bells and telephoned the bridge. His report received the standard "Thank you" reply. While still on the telephone, the ship started swinging to port. The starboard side of the ship scraped alongside the iceberg and ice fell on the decks.

As instructed in such emergency, Fleet began his second duty as lifeboat operator. He assisted in loading some 28 women and children and the boat was lowered to the water. In the morning, his lifeboat was picked up by the Carpathia.

In the aftermath of the Titanic disaster, Fleet served briefly as seaman on another ocean liner. Later, Fleet sailed with various companies, finishing with the sea in 1936. He worked as a shipbuilder, and as he grew older, he sold newspapers on a street corner in Southampton, England.

A few days after Christmas 1964, Fleet's wife died. Filled with a lifetime of guilt from his survival and now distraught over wife's death, Fleet hanged himself in January 1965. He was the last victim of the Titanic.

dora gerson

Read about German silent film actress Dora Gerson HERE on the josh pincus is crying blog.