Friday, May 17, 2024

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

WWI Fokker DVII biplane

The above video shows the construction methods and workings of a Fokker DVII biplane. The planes entered service in 1918, late in the war, but proved to be an excellent warplane. After the war all existing DVIIs were transferred to the allies as part of the armistice. Below are a pictures of surviving planes. 

 

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Jungle paintings

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A jungle is woods in a tropical zone. It is miles upon miles of trees underneath which is a dense weed utopia. They are difficult to move through and so, like any remote area, they are cloaked in mystery and romanticized. 

To temperate dwellers they contain strange tropes: from safari members nervously muttering "it's quiet, too quiet" as they watch the trees, to Rosseau-like dreams of animals frolicking together in peace instead of eating each other, to ape-raised Tarzan swinging through the trees as he yodels to elephants.  

Above all, they are places where one's imagination can run as wild as the foliage.  

Happy Mother's Day


my mother
is pure radiance.

she is the sun
i can touch
and kiss

and hold
without
getting burnt.

― Sanober Khan ―
 

Wednesday, May 08, 2024

Stir fried steak & French fries

This a is a Peruvian dish called Lomo Saltado. It is a stir fry of steak, onion, tomatoes, pepper, soy sauce, and French fries served with a side of rice. Sometimes the French fries are also served to the side, but a common preparation includes them in the stir fry so they can absorb the flavor of the juices. Looks wonderful to me.

It comes from an infusion of Chinese techniques into Peruvian cuisine. In the 19th century many well-off Peruvians had Chinese cooks as indentured servants. They introduced stir frying (saltado) and many of the ingredients, including the side of rice, to the dish.       

 

Sunday, May 05, 2024

Ralph Pallen Coleman artworks

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Ralph Pallen Coleman was an American artist active during the first half of the 20th century. He did paintings and illustrations. He started doing work for pulps and local newspapers and worked his way to selling to more mainstream magazines like the Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, and Home and Garden. Later in his career he turned more towards religious-themed artworks. 

Ralph Pallen Coleman

Friday, May 03, 2024