I was thinking of a Bleat banner I used many years ago, after the election. The Donkey and the Elephant clinking glasses of beer. It was the one thing upon which they could agree! Aside from the importance of free and fair elections and the rule of law and a strong defense posture to deter foreign foes and a foundational belief in the role of the nuclear family as a means to carry civilizational precepts into the next generation, and a few other things.

Hmm . . . something in my head connected that image with a hotel room in Los Angeles, which would mean . . . 2016? When I went out to do election night on the Hewitt show? Let me check.

Yep indeed. There was also this one, which I liked because of the young man’s expression.

Do go on, Pops, with your hoary old ideas that have no relevance to the world to come, the smart, capable world that will be constructed by a new idealistic generation unburdened by the sodden mass of history

Not to use an overused and slightly tired internet phrase, but that is a rather punchable mug.

Looked in some Minnesota papers from 1956 for political stuff - cartoons, urgent editorials. Lots of ads. Alden Advocate had this fellow, looking somewhat revolted by all this:

Andresen would win, but he died in office in 1958.

It's a young Floyd the Barber:

The state used to be full of guys like this.

He had farmed in the township until he came to Albert Lea 31 years ago. Since 1939 he had been manager of Community Coop Oil Co. on Water Street. Mr. Talle was a member of the First Lutheran Church and a past president of its congregation.

He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of all the local Masonic orders, a member of Osman Shrine Temple in St. Paul and the Albert Lea Shrine Club.

He belonged to the Sons of Norway, Elks Club and United Commercial Travelers.

He had served on the City Council (Sixth Ward) and was a past president of the Lions Club and a past director of Northwestern Petroleum Association and the Odd Fellows Lodge.

That’s the bare minimum for civic participation, if you want to go into politics. Are there any contemporary equivalents to this sort of life? Yes yes, those orgs still exist, including the United Commercial Travelers, but men who belong to the Masons and Elks and the rest seem rare and quaint.

I roamed to other papers for election news and political cartoons, but got stuck on this:

I always enjoy learning about old words that everyone used, but have fallen out of favor as technology changed.

Clinker coal is a result of coal seams catching fire and burning so hot that the surrounding rock layers bake into brick-like formations. The term "clinker" comes from the sound the baked rocks make when struck by a hammer or walked on.

And from that we have our modern word for something that was a minor but noticeable failure.

Anyway, now we begin Election Results Fortnight, unless it's beyond dispute. I don't watch the election results anymore. I check out and tune in around 11. And then the next day I go about my business and do what I can and do what I must, like everyone else.

As much as I hate it, YouTube is the greatest public library of video you’ll find. So why do I hate it? The sidebar full of goggling faces. The inanity of the comments - which, to be fair, are better than they used to be. The layout. The look. The boring ads. On the other hand, if it wasn’t for the suggestions, I wouldn’t have stumbled on a 1934 short movie about Phil Harris.

It was not a dramatic fork in my life. But it was one of those moments when I see something and think: that’s familiar. Could it be? And it was.

I don’t know why I’m surprised anymore. Every time I look up a situation like this and read the bio, there it is. Father of. I remembered the name from reruns of a series I’d probably watched four times over.

He did many, and he did the last one.

His father died young - but not before he directed some of the best Rogers-Astaire musicals. His other son was also a TV director - what are the odds - and did, among other shows, Columbo and Quincy. (As an AD, but still.)

It’s 1917.

Unremitting research and scientific betterment have brought you the pinnacle of the Soda Fountain:

Bottled pop put them smack out of business. The old factory:

J. Hungerford Smith is quite the high-hat name for a fountain drink:

Still a Conagra brand, to my surprise. Never heard of it. His factory still stands in Rochester:

And it still bears his name.

They were huge! Big popular brands of flavors and toppings, and eventually they bought the A&W Restaurant chain.

That must be “Tom.”

The company left little trace on the internet aside from the usual letterheads on eBay, but a search for the store mentioned turned up this great old picture of their Wabash entrance.

Goes without saying that one’s gone.

Well, okay, if it’ll make you happy

A better look at that factory:

Lilly is still in Indianapolis, and its facilities are still on McCarty Street. No big signs asking us to call it the Ampule House, though.

Makers not just of Apple, but the fine print says Loju as well. You know, Loju! That was made of loganberries.

This ad says Northwest Fruit Products made it; a 1919 ad says it was made by Phez, of Salem, Oregon. Huh? Ah:

It appears as if the Pheasant Fruit Juice Company began the production of Phez juice.  The Pheasant Fruit Juice Company merged with rival loganberry juice producer, the Northwest Fruit Company in 1919.  The merged company also produced, Loju loganberry juice, Applju sparking cider and had the largest jam and jelly plant west of the Mississippi River.

Stewart again:

Stewart-Warner, if I read the history correctly.

The French Hygienic Society draped their most august medallion around the next of the genius who gave the world the . . .

If you’re wondering, yes, it’s to maintain daintiness, although they wouldn’t come up with that term for a while.

Today we remind you that nothing ever really ends at lileks.com. It's the return of Quasicomics! That will round out the year's offerings.