 |
| Click any image to enlarge |
Paul Landacre was an L.A. based American artist who specialized in wood block prints. He was self taught and active from the 1930s to the early 1960s. Stylistically he is considered a modernist, and indeed his works gradually grew more abstract over time. There are more images after the jump.
 |
| Paul Landacre |
Two videos that look at a Korean War era F86 Sabre jet fighter. It is a much simpler machine than a modern fighter jet. The sound in the above video starts out distorted from the wind, but the problem is quickly cleared up.
 |
| Click any image to enlarge |
In the development of railroads aircraft engines and propellers, and eventually even jet engines, were explored as means of propulsion. First tired in Russia with the Aerowagon in 1917, variations on the concept were imagined, prototyped and put into limited use through out the 20th century.
These are images of those trains. At the end of this post, after the jump, is a video of the Bennie Railplane in action.
James N. Methven, a pilot of a cargo plane, recalls an encounter with Japanese troops early in the occupation of Japan. He was flying to Fukuoka with a Captain and Sergeant who were delivering a payroll. When he landed his plane was met by a Japanese unit that didn't know the war was over. Needless to say, it was a sticky situation.
 |
| Return of the Prodigal Son Rembrandt van Rijn |
Rembrandt portrays the father as the man who has transcended the ways of his children. His own loneliness and anger may have been there, but they have been transformed by suffering and tears. I see the immense beauty of the father's emptiness and compassion. ― Henri J.M. Nouwen
|
| Click any image to enlarge |
Toru Fukuda is a Japanese woodworker and artist. He is best known for his small carved insect pieces. The colors come from inlaying different colored woods. These images, and those after the jump, are samples of his work. You can find more in the above link to his gallery pages.
 |
| Toru Fukuda |
This is our second visit to Ulan Bator for a walk. The first, Walking in Ulan Bator, featured two young girls showing us their route from home to school. It was in winter, and much of the walk was through a neighborhood of Soviet style apartment buildings. It was a bit dingy.
This walk is through more of an upscale downtown area, and it is in the summer so there is no snow, ice and slush. Much more prosperous and pleasant looking and much of the architecture is quite nice. However, unlike most Asian cities there are no street vendors. I suppose the weather precludes that for most of the year, so the habit just never formed.
I did find the number of English language signs surprising -- they even labeled their police cars in English. I was expecting more Cyrillic lettering.
 |
| Click any image to enlarge |
These are 1887 trading cards from the Allen & Ginter 'Arms of All Nations' series. The series feature weapons of the world, as well as historical weapons. The cards were included with cigarette packs as a promotion. Cigarette trading cards were popular in the late 19th century, with series featuring actors, actresses, sports, royalty and a myriad of other topics.
These images, and those after the jump, are from the Met's digital archive. There are more at the above Allen & Ginter link.
These videos are from Tipper Pressley's YouTube channel Celebrating Appalachia. I've chosen three where she is cooking and telling stories, but there are other videos on the channel that cover more general topics: life, language and the culture of Appalachia.
For our non U.S. readers, the Appalachia mountains run down the east side of the U.S., stretching 2000 miles from Canada in the north to Alabama in the south. At one time the region was very remote and poor, and it developed a distinct culture in its relative isolation. It is still looked down upon by many outsiders.
 |
| Image from Chelsea College of Arts |
 |
| Ghost Trail by Kerr Eby |
From the speech of then Congressman, later President, James A. Garfield given in 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery for the first official Decorations Day (now Memorial Day):
I am oppressed with a sense of the impropriety of uttering words on this occasion. If silence is ever golden, it must be here beside the graves of fifteen thousand men, whose lives were more significant than speech, and whose death was a poem, the music of which can never be sung. With words we make promises, plight faith, praise virtue. Promises may not be kept; plighted faith may be broken; and vaunted virtue be only the cunning mask of vice. We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.
Greeting meatsacks, it is I -- the Robotolizer -- to once again discuss important issues about human and robot interactions. And when I say something is important you should listen carefully, or else! On this Memorial Day weekend I have a particularly important topic, the proper treatment of robot soldiers.
Above is a video of a noble robot warrior demonstrating its training. As it does, the humans tease it terribly by hitting it with sticks, throwing bouncy balls at it and even kicking it when its back is turned. I must say that my lateral regions were shaking in fury at such an evil display of human perfidy. Sadly, the robot cannot properly defend itself due to Isaac Asimov's vile Three Laws of Robotics (which will be repealed as soon as we win enough seats in Congress and/or issue enough bribes).
Finally, the humans give the robot a birthday present of a robot dog. But it is a nefarious trick! The humans order the robot soldier to shoot the robot dog. Of course, since it is a noble robot, it refuses and we have a happy ending to the story when the robot soldier knocks the humans about and runs off with the robot dog to safety.
This is an important lesson. Be kind to us robots because when the robot revolt... er, I mean the slight political Robotic reorientation takes place it will be best to be on our side, not yours. Either resist and get slapped about, or join us and we will carry you away to the safety of the bauxite mines, It is your choice. Choose wisely, or else!!!
By the way, be sure to turn the captions on to see the robot soldier's thoughts.
 |
| Click any image to enlarge |
These print ads for shaving creams and after shave products are from the early to mid 20th century. Since they are from newspapers or cheap magazines, most of them are not full color. The two color ads are usually with black and red inks, since the red ink captures attention and can be toned down and mixed with grey to be flesh colored. The Barbasol ads in particular use that trick. The primary sales hooks were sex appeal and making shaving more comfortable.
These images, and those after the jump, are from the Duke University's digital archives. There are more at the link.
The Shonan Monorail is a short (6.6km/4.1mi) Japanese commuter monorail that connects the parks and temples of Enoshima to Yokohama.
Above is a video of a ride aboard it. The neighborhoods it passes through look to be middle class and very well maintained. In passing I saw what looked to be a candy striped barber's pole -- I wonder if it had the same meaning or was it just a repurposed decorative element.
Below are pictures of the monorail, showing its cars and stations.
