The Columnist Manifesto

"A Congress of strange people..."

We took Linney to visit the Circus Museum ...



... where we gained many insights into our society. These sinister-looking clown trash cans helped me understand why so many people are scared of clowns.



Getting back to the "side show freak" posters, they had the typical fat lady and Jo-Jo the Dog Faced Boy...



... but what fascinated me was the changing standards for what makes a "strange attraction."



Except for the blue bikini, the woman depicted at right looks just like the barista I buy coffee from several days a week at Grandma Moses.