The last contest of 2007

Yes, it's the this is not a postcard contest.

This contest is open to everyone except for Candy Minx and STAGG, because they were with us in Breaux Bridge Louisiana when Tuffy P found this item.

The mission: tell me what this is, when it might have been used, how one might use it, and precisely what is on the other side of this item.

The prize: I will make an artwork based somehow or another on this and send it to the winner.

The deadline: New Years Eve, midnight.

All answers are to be left as comments on this post. If there are multiple acceptable answers, the first to answer correctly wins. If no answer is 100% correct, the closest answer wins. I'm the judge, and the judge's decisions are final. Got it?

The new and improved Postcard Challenge

As regular visitors to my little island know, I've been periodically posting postcards and asking visitors to tell me something or other about them - and I'm very impressed at how quickly some of you manage to get the right answer.

This one might be a little tougher (but then again, you may surprise me - I think it's possible to figure this one out), so it's time to up the ante a little bit. From this visual clue, I'm looking for a place, a person and a date, and incomplete answers don't count. This time, there will be a prize. Give me the answer I'm looking for and I'll create a a piece of digital artwork incorporating the postcard image, print it out on 100% paper using a genuine inkjet printer, and mail it to you.

Contest closes Sunday November 4, 2007, at midnight my time. Judges decisions (that's me) are final. Only one prize will be awarded to the first visitor to come up with the answers I'm seeking. If you're all stumped (hardly likely), I might consider giving a clue.