Who is this old man?

I photographed this old man in Quartzsite, Ariz. But as you have probably figured out, he's not real. He's a weathered mannequin. But I like his face and his eyes. When you stand right next to him and look into his eyes, it's kind of spooky because you swear he is looking right back at you. I wonder if this mannequin man was modeled after a real person. My guess is yes.

If you know who he is or was, please let me know. And if, by any chance, you happen to be that person, please contact me or send me your photo. I won't be holding my breath, but I thought I should at least ask.

He's pretty interesting looking, isn't he?

The disappearing blue mailboxes

Have you noticed that mailboxes like this one have disappeared from most street corners? They were once all over the place in most big cities and suburbs. Even in the good ol' days you'd seldom find one in a tiny town because the post office was usually a short walk from about anywhere. In my town of Edmonds, Wash., I first noticed the public mailboxes disappearing a couple of years ago. Then, last week, one of the few that remained disappeared, one I would use to drop off a letter on my way home from work.

I guess the postal folks have decided that people can either use their home mailbox or drop by the post office. It's probably a money-saving move -- fewer stops for mail carriers.

Keep an eye on your town's blue mailboxes. If they are not gone yet, I bet it won't be long.