This list is for any creative types out there who are experiencing a block, be it writer’s block, designer’s block, songwriter’s block whatever. Get inspired. I am going to be putting it up in sections right here and once it’s complete I may give it a more permanent home.
It's time for the final chapter. I hope you enjoyed (and were not too offended by) this list. I will be adding plenty more helpful hints, links, and more in the future so keep coming back.
82. Tattoos. Bad ones and good ones, just be careful when looking at the ones on a person you don’t actually know. Do not stare directly at the cleavage of a guy who looks like he is named Thor.
83. Mom and Pop coffee shops. The kind that still have vinyl booths and look like they are trapped in 1966 are the best.
84. Restored Movie houses. The kind that have and organ a show a newsreel before the movie.
85. Old newsreels and educational films. Or filmstrips. Ding!
86. Defunct tourist attractions. Crazy former tributes to gators, or tikis or whatever. Relive their former glory on the internet.
87. Vintage style lettering. The kind you see on old movie posters, toys, ads, board games and more. Usually hand lettered.
88. Kitsch. That is if you don’t consider this whole list kitsch.
89. Iconic dead stars. Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Elvis etc. If you are wondering why they are so iconic long after they are gone it’s because their heirs hired a law team that handles their image and make sure it is still in the public eye in the form of purses, clocks, underwear, and popcorn you can buy at places like Kmart and Big Lots. Now you know.
90. Less Iconic Dead stars. Their relatives maybe didn’t hire as good of lawyers but they were still really cool in their day.
91. Names you don’t hear so much anymore. Like Myrtle, Ethel, Strom, Huey, Milton, Royce, Edith, Midge, Harvey or Tex.
92. Music from before your time. Lounge, exotica, garden variety oldies, whatever.
93. The County Fair Head on over to your county fair this summer and get a slice of Americana. Do the midway, see a horse race, get some kettle corn, then hold your nose and head on over to the animal pavilions. Bring on those happy memories of reading Charlotte’s Web and realize that the patch of suburbia that holds the county fair hasn’t been an actual farming community since 1962, and most of the 4h kids in the community only joined to get in the fair for free so they could buy the wristband and ride the rides all day. (Or was that just me?) Then to end your night go see fair’s free Foghat concert.
94. The stuff they sell at the County fair. Spinning metal wind art for the patio, Infomercial crap galore, purses made from loud fabrics featuring wolves, ten gallon hats, olde tyme photos, airbrushed t-shirts, deep fried everything, Amish country funnel cakes, Mackinac Island Fudge, those Mexican poncho sweaters that were totally popular in 1992, purses made from beer cans or license plates, bad copyright infringement art airbrushed on your wolf purse, whatever!
95. Video Games. Or maybe this is just an excuse to go play World of Warcraft or Farmville.
96. Internet culture. Pwnd, memes, LOLcats, ninja cat, Nora the piano playing cat, keyboard cat, that squirrel who stares, Homestar Runner, numa numa guy, Susan Boyle, all your base belong to us, Men that look like old Lesbians, Men who look like Kenny Rogers, mullets, etc…Or you can go old school and log into Archie and Veronica or prodigy or compuserve. Whatever.
97. Nerds. Modern day nerds, revenge of the nerds, fifties nerds with horn rimmed glasses, kick me signs and propeller beanies, go ahead and embrace nerd culture.
98. Vintage Malls. Before every mall became exactly the same with the same stores they had their own personalities. Sometimes they would have amusement park rides on the roof other times they would have murals or fountains or giant mobiles.
99. Out of Date Technology. Get inspired by computers that take up entire rooms, adding machines the size of your desk, teletype machines, the Commodore Pet, The TI
99 4A, whatever floats your boat.
100. Up to Date Technology. Ipad, Iphone, etc. Yes you are richer and more connected than me. I get it.
101. Blogs and Websites with lists of things that will inspire you, but you won’t rip off. Especially this one. Come back at lot! Buy something awesome!
