All those images our good friend MW keeps putting up from the Life archive have fostered a thirst for knowledge about WWII life. Good Girls, Good Food, Good Service: The Story of the USO Hostess During World War II adds a little sex appeal to the reading list. The author is Megan K. Winchell, associate history professor at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Her work is published by UNC Press.

Throughout World War II, when Saturday nights came around, servicemen and hostesses happily forgot the war for a little while as they danced together in USO clubs, which served as havens of stability in a time of social, moral, and geographic upheaval. Meghan Winchell demonstrates that in addition to boosting soldier morale, the USO acted as an architect of the gender roles and sexual codes that shaped the “greatest generation.”

There are many misconceptions about the great state of Connecticut. It’s all rich folks. They’re is too much interest in women’s basketball. The only fun thing there are the Indian casinos. 

These perceptions deny a rich heritage. For much of the 19th Century, Connecticut was a hub of manufacture. Cities like Waterbury, a major Brass center, dominated heavy industry. The center part of the state, connected by the great waterway of the Connecticut River (now the base of the I-91 corridor), developed a set of totally unique food ways and cultural traits that were fueled by industry as they fueled the workers themselves.

One of these grand traditions is the steamed cheeseburger. Almost completely exclusive to Meridan, steamed burgers have fed hungry folks for over 100 years. Now, thanks to Dale Greenbacker you can have your own home steamedcheeseburger chest . Thrill your taste buds. Captivate friends. Relive history, and become part of a continuing tradition of fine invention from the Constitution State.

While not a totally new item, our discovery of it is too good not to share.

Celebrating the longevity of his success, Ralph Lauren has now published a new book, entitled with his name. Whatever you might think about the brand, they have managed to stay relevant in their entire 40 year history in the fashion business. Less the clothes, but the presentation, stores and overall look of the brand impresses. For us it is still an experience to walk into the Ralph Lauren stores in NYC, Milan or London. You feel like you enter a different world, the Ralph Lauren world.

“Ralph Lauren isn’t easy to define. Unlike many designers, he is not known for a single signature look, but rather for his sweeping dreams of American living. Over the course of his career, the images of luxury, adventure, and beauty that he created have come to define American style. In this visually stunning book, Lauren speaks candidly for the first time ever about himself and his art. In part one, we get to know the designer through never-before-seen pictures of him in private life and with his family, living the lives he designs for. In his own words, we hear about his life, work, and inspiration. In the second part, Lauren displays and writes about his most important, most iconic, and most beloved work, hand-picked from hundreds of runway shows, collections, and his signature cinematic advertising campaigns. Lauren’s aesthetic influence and unique design sensibility are captured here by fashion’s finest photographers, including Bruce Weber, Deborah Turbeville, and Patrick Demarchelier. Featuring an introduction by Audrey Hepburn (from her 1992 presentation speech at the CFDA awards), this is truly a unique fashion monograph, a personal expression of the artist, and a rare peek into the mind of one of America’s most accomplished fashion designers of all times.”

There is nothing better, than a nice oversized, 14-pound book with history, style and historical photographs. The book is now available at Amazon.