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Randy Cassingham's BlogHistorical Details and Author's Notes from This is True®
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Photo Archives
Got Wheels?
I have a photo of the guy in the wheelchair, still stuck in the truck's grille, from the story in this week's issue. But first, the story:
Duct Tape Robber
In last week's issue there was the story of an alleged robber who wrapped his head in duct tape as a disguise. But I forgot that I had photos of this brain surgeon to show you! But first, the story, from the 9 September issue:
The Big Picture
Sometimes newspaper editors do their work mechanically, not paying any attention whatever to what they're printing -- even on the front page. And we have the photos to prove it. From True's 23 December 2007 issue:
Kumari Fulbright Mugshot
Update:Prison Time |
(Trust me: Scroll down slowly! Read the story first, then scroll down to see the first picture, and then go down to see the second one. Really -- it's worth it.)
Another Empty Suit
Another fun story that's made even more fun by seeing the photos involved:
Lolita Midsleeper Combi
I thought many readers would like to see the photos that go with a story from this week's issue, and maybe you will have examples of other "inappropriate" products, especially for children. First, the story:
Barbecued Biker
Update:Convicted and Fined |
First the story from True's 17 February 2008 issue, then some examples of the genre.
A Lingering Image
Another one of those stories that just begs for a photo. From True's 9 March 2008 issue:
Beauty and the Beast
Two stories this week have photos: the sexy mayor of Arlington, Ore., and the idiot robber using a bottle of cologne as a weapon.
First, the moron.
Two Teen Tales
Two stories this week have photos to go with them. First, the dangerous desperado and the dual damsels:
Men and Balloons
What is it with men who want to fly under balloons? I don't mean hot air balloons, I mean toy balloons. This one's a priest -- he just wanted to get closer to God, I guess. From True's 27 April 2008 edition:
School Bus Plunge (On Purpose)
I spent most of the day Sunday working at the scene of a school bus that plunged (buses always "plunge"!) over the side of a steep embankment on Ouray County's famous "Million Dollar Highway" below Red Mountain Pass.
One Strange Fetish
I just had to post this guy's mug shot after a subscriber wrote to say he thought it was odd that the woman so quickly thought the man was suspicious. First, here's the story:
Udderly Ridiculous Photo
Sometimes the photo that goes with a story is funnier than the story. Sometimes the story is pretty good all by itself. This one, from the 19 October 2008 issue, is a toss-up: I'm not sure which part is funnier. First, the story:
Zero Tolerance Trick, No Treat
Zero Tolerance is insidious. An abdication of common sense and professional ethics, in schools it seeks to apply one punishment -- suspension, usually leading to expulsion -- to any level of "crime".
Mug Shot = 1,000 Words
One of the stories in this week's column is notable for two reasons. One of them is the guy's mug shot.
Honorary Unsubscribe Choices
Two weeks ago I ran out of time to research and write the Honorary Unsubscribe -- and then forgot to note that in the issue. The H.U. runs the following Monday in the Premium edition, and I had time to research it over the weekend, so there was an H.U. entry that week -- free edition readers just didn't see it. But it's in the archive, if you like to keep track of such things. To catch up see Hans Beck.
Out My Window: a Golden Eagle
I just love my job. Even though I "have to" work Sundays, I really have a gorgeous view out my window, and I sometimes see the most amazing things.
Tardwit
Updated:See Below |
Spring Snow
It was a good day to stay inside today. Just because it's well into Spring doesn't mean it doesn't want to snow in Colorado! It came down all day today, sometimes in "whiteout" conditions, piling up about 18" (46 cm) at my house. It stopped about two hours before tonight's newsletter went out, so I just posted an amazing photo of what happens here when it snows:
Civic Pride
There were several cranky responses to a story in last week's issue. Let's start with the story, from the edition dated 5 July 2009:
Dude! I Got Trashed Last Night!
Another story that isn't really complete without the photos mentioned. Even before I posted them, a couple of readers thought I was too hard on the guy. Let's start with the story, from True's 19 July 2009 issue.
Bear Country
A few comments about this week's lead story. If the location sounds somehow familiar, it's because that's where I live. Ouray County is pretty big (550 square miles), but is otherwise pretty small (around 4,100 people). And since I'm a volunteer with both our EMS agency and (occasionally) the local sheriff's office, I was quite aware of this event while it was happening. (I'm happy to say it wasn't in my response area, so I didn't have to go.)
Bambi Get Your Gun
Another story that begs to be illustrated by the photo mentioned. From True's 13 September 2009 issue:
A Clever Disguise...?
Once again, a picture is worth a thousand words. But I'm not sure that in this case, two pictures are worth two thousand words!
A Picture Worth 1,000 Anytime Minutes
Update:This page expanded into an Entire Web Site |
New Project: the Mug Shot Museum
The last time I posted a police photo of someone I wrote about in True*, more than 10,000(!!) people went and looked.
Patrick Timoney's "Gun"
The "zero tolerance" stories just don't stop, despite court decisions and legislators demanding "common sense". A 2" hunk of plastic isn't a gun, unless you're a hysterical grade school principal who demands that 9-year-olds in your care sign confessions when they bring a toy to school.
FloriDuh
People often try to tell me California is the weirdest state in the union. No way, I always reply: Florida is. I find more weird stories there than from any other state, even though California (with about 37 million residents) has twice the population as Florida (with about 18.5 million). One of their newspapers even has a recurring feature called "FloriDuh" -- they know the weirdness that permeates the state.
Independence Day
It's Independence Day weekend in the U.S., and I thought I'd share a couple of photos I took yesterday in the "real" Rural America.
Family Feud
Sometimes there's a story that I "have" to publish, even though I know it just won't make it past the spam filters.
"Stupid" is Written All Over His Face
I just have to tell you the story of David Winkelman. The event that first brought him to my attention occurred in the year 2000, but it was when he sued over what he did that got him featured in This is True -- in the 23 June 2002 issue. Here's the story:
Animals Love Him, Too (Nom Nom Nom)
Last week, quite a few readers wanted to report an "error". Here's the story, from the 10 October (10/10/10!) issue:
A Picture's Worth a Thousand Laughs
With a title like that, I certainly couldn't run the story without providing the photo! As usual, the story first, from True's 14 November 2010 issue:
Illuminated (Security Camera Video)
Another story that's immeasurably enhanced by its security camera video. From True's 12 December 2010 issue. First, the story:
Let's See If You Can Picture This
There are times that a photo doesn't just add to a story, it makes the story. This is this week's most-suggested True story: from the 24 April 2011 release:
His Motto
Another classic story that is so nicely served by the photograph referenced in the story. From True's 15 May 2011 issue.
Remembrance and Reconciliation
There were a couple of stories I found earlier in the month, but decided to hold until the Memorial Day issue. And they get to be in the blog, since one of them has illustrations you need to see for the complete effect.
The Old Ball and Chain
Another story that needs the photo to be complete. From True's 31 July 2011 issue:
No Parking -- Lithuanian Style
I've had a couple of complaints about a story in the 7 August 2011 issue. Let's start with the story:
Eww Factor
OK, I admit it: I knew the tagline on a story this week would make a lot of readers squirm. I have the story -- and the guy's mug shot -- plus some reader comments. The story is from True's 14 August 2011 issue:
Seeing Red
Another story where you just have to see the accompanying photo -- an instant classic!
(Warning: It looks a bit intense, but it's fake: the woman is not only not dead, she's not at all injured.)
Fix-a-Flat
It's another story that absolutely demands the accompanying illustration -- in this case, a mug shot. But trust me: read the story first! It's from True's 20 November 2011 issue:
Sydney Spies' Yearbook Photo
You don't really need the photo that the girl submitted to the yearbook to "get" the story in this week's issue (8 January 12), but she did release it to the media, so I'll bring it to you -- along with some additional details. First, the story:
Hiding Places
There were two wonderful stories in this week's issue that really go nicely together. And one has a photo that has to be seen to be believed. Let's start with the stories, from True's 15 January 2012 issue:
