Process of Making a Traditional English Longbow

"The longbow was typically made from yew wood, which provided the right balance of strength and flexibility."

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>History and Significance of the English Longbow

Alien Spaceship Invades my Science Fiction Library

I awoke this morning to find this ceature examing my science fiction library. The stack continues to grow and as well, my list of unread books.

The flying scaucer measures approximately 35w by 30mm tall and is fashioned from resin. It does include fare amount of moulded in details to a silver body with some red and green paint to some molded details. THe clear canopy sits on top of a black center with a set of small colored spheres.

The most merciful thing in the world…

“The most merciful thing in the world… is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on an island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far…”

The Shadow of of Space, H. P. Lovecraft & August Derleth

A Star Wars Medical Droid

A Star Wars medical droid from Star Wars five. A scene where Luke is being treated for exposure by one of the alliance's medical droids.

Man Turns Rusty Leaf Spring into an Amazing Knife

The transformation from a piece of rusty metal from a salvage yard to a beautiful knife is simple amazing. Although I don't see myself doing much in the way of metal work, the video is still inspirational.

5 Beings from Vega XXI

“July 12, 1915 – Arrived this afternoon (3:20 PM.) five beings from Vega XXI.

I have said they glowed and I think by that I mean they glowed in spirit. It seemed that they were accompanied, somehow, by a sparkling golden haze that made happy everything it touched-almost as if they moved in some special world that no one else had found.”

Way Station, Clifford D. Simak

The Star Wars & Hot Wheels X-34 Landspeeder

The X-34 landspeeder first appeared in Star Wars IV, A New Hope and was purported to have been manufactured by the SoroSuub Corporatio. Specific information about the X-34 can be found here.

The Hot Wheels Star Wars X-34 Landspeeder is one of Hot Wheel HW Screen Time line of play vehicles. This line of vehicles is inspired by popular culture in its movies, TV shows, and video games.

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Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas

“We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a saltshaker half-full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers… Also, a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of beer, a pint of raw ether, and two dozen amyls. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can.” Raoul Duke

Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas was required reading way back at the University. Although I haven't ever gotten that ripped, It is one view of the drug cultur films that spurred a lot of us on.

“History is hard to know, because of all the hired bullshit, but even without being sure of “history” it seems entirely reasonable to think that every now and then the energy of a whole generation comes to a head in a long fine flash, for reasons that nobody really understands at the time—and which never explain, in retrospect, what actually happened.”

“Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run, but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant.”

Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Triangulation

Tomorrow never dies, James Bond.

They have used a triangulation technique to hone in on your location, 007.

The Representative of Data

"The core data began to emerge, exposed and vulnerable... "

Text from Burning Chrome, William Gibson, 1986; screenshot from Tomorrow never Dies.

Hot Wheels Street Wiener # 2

This is my second Hot Wheels Street Wiener and my seventh Fast Foodie model. Although they all are related to food and all but one are part of the Hot Wheels Fast Foodie line. One of the Street Wieners is labeled Hot Wheels Lets Race. This die cast model is identical to the Fast Foodie variety. It includes a featured open grill on the rear and spatula like device that acts like a front end spoiler.

My first Street Wiener is lathered in mustard and ketchup, has green wheels, black grill, and silver spoiler, the my second has red wheels, silver grill, and a black spoiler. However it does include two distinct features. The miniature includes several jalapeno slices and a red emblem of a dog with the text spicy dog.

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"Born: 2017
Birthplace: El Segundo
Designer: Hot Wheels®

Specialty: Let's be frank, when it comes performance the Street Wiener will have you saying: hot diggety! A feast for the eyes and a beast on the track, this speedy weenie never fails to make it to the wiener circle."

From the back of the 2017 card. As found on the Street Wiener Fandom page.

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I am sure Hot Wheels will be adding a few more to this mini series before the years out. Fast Foodie Mini Collection (2025)

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20 Hot Wheels Cars That Are Worth A Fortune Today

Exploring Terranox

S is for Steampunk

"Welcome to Terranox – a mesmerizing, steampunk-inspired alien planet where time itself is an enigma."

Retro Future Dreams

R is for Retro. A short AI generated film.

Whittling Tips - The 8 Basic Cuts to Master

Small Projects - 1/ 100 scale Life Boat

The instructions are not the best and parts are very fragile. If I am successful, that is I can remove the lazer-cut parts without breaking anything, it should make for a delicate, neat and eligent model.

It is another of those small projects. Small projects are those that usually lack the complexity of the more multifaceted projects that require hours of work to complete.

Another Fast Foodie from Hot Wheels

Sushi Tuner: "pass the wasabi because this sushi is running hot! Fueled by soy sauce this tuner is about to jump from the dinner table to the track and win the race using its raw power abd fresh speed."

The Sushi Tuner is from the Hot Wheels Fast Foodie line.

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Post From the Past

Food on the go never tasted so fast

Message to Station #18327 - 3

"NO. 406.302 TO STATION 18327. NATIVE OF VEGA XXI. ARRIVING AT 16532.82. DEPARTURE INDETERMINATE. NO LUGGAGE. CABINET ONLY, LOCAL CONDITIONS. CONFIRM.

Way Station, Clifford D. Simak

Mastering the Art of Crafting a Sharp Knife

"Mastering the Art of Crafting a Sharp Knife" is just the first of many how to vidoes on knife making and sharpening.

It is quite odd how when I first posted this there were several other knife making videos including on this page. Now there is just one. And I fear this one might one day be replaced. If that should happen try this one instead.

Message to Way Station #18327 - 2

NO. 406.302 TO STATION 18327. WILL ARRIVE EARLY EVENING YOUR TIME. HAVE THE COFFEE HOT. ULYEESE.

Way Station, Clifford D. Simak

Message to Way Station #18327 - 1

NO. 406301 TO STATION 18327. TRAVELER AT 16097.38 NATIVE THUBAN VI. NO BAGGAGE. NO. 3 LIQUID TANK. SOLUTION 27. DEPART FOR STATION 12892 AT 16439.16. CONFIRM.

Way Station, Clifford D. Simak

Enoch Wallace, the Keeper of Inter-galactic Way Station #18327

“The keeper of inter-galactic Way Station #18327 had one purpose, to prepare Earth to join the other races of the universe.

The alien planets had many things that Earth lacked, eternal peace and prosperity, advanced knowledge of the sciences and the arts. And they were willing to share their benefits – provided Earth showed signs of being civilized.

As the only Earthman in touch with the universe, the keeper of Way Station 18327 was beginning to hope that his fellow men might prove worthy.”

Way Station, Clifford D. Simak

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An interesting find : Science Fiction Studies. Once I have investigated a bit further I might review a bit of what can be found here.

Way Station by Clifford D. Simak

"Enoch Wallace

looked like any other man on Earth – except that:

--Time (about 100 years) had passed and he showed no sign of aging
--his house was invulnerable against destruction from any weapon known to man
--in his family cemetery a tombstone inscribed in an unknown language guarded the grave of an alien horror

For years no one had invaded the solitude of his lonely farm. But now the watchers in Earth were closing in on him, determined to solve the mystery of who or what it was that went under the name of Enoch Wallace—a man, magician, or nonhuman creature from an alien planet.

Way Station, Clifford D. Simak, Macfadden-Bartell Book (c) 1963

Final Faction Action Figures & Accessories

The Kharn

"In the year 2050, a large asteroid collided with our moon. Among the debris, we discovered a hibernating alien mothership. Now, the Kharn are awake and they want to plunder our precious natural resources. So, we recruited teams of special operatives to defend Earth from their alien threat."

This page features specifications on the Kharn and Alpha Team 1 action figures.

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Be sure to visit the 1:18 Action Figure Archive

The Magic of a Well-Designed Bookshelf: 30 Ideas

There is one thing my wife and I can count on, we will purchase more books during the year and that always raises the question where are we going the store them.

Here are few "Well-Designed Bookshelfs" that might do the trick.

Ancient Libraires

Mentions many ancient libraries. Why are we so afraid of knowledge?

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I have created a new label or collection : libraires where I will feaure videos and links to articles on libraires and links to libraires of note..

The Rural Lumber Mill

Every once in-a-while I find these lost assembly instructions. This instruction sheet is to a Woodland Scenics rurual saw mill. These kits are cast from a white metal and formally what I referred to as "small projects" and collection.

I wouldn't say that it is a simple build, however it is far from being complex. I plan on using CA glue. With all the small parts I would definitely use a pair of tweesers to attach the very small parts.

More "Boxed" Signs

Signs printed on the bottom of this Con-Cor kit box.

"Boxed" Signs

My first post of 2025.I hope you had a great holiday season.

Back in the day kit boxes were decorated with signs for your layout. Con-cor was a good source of these signs. Other manufacturers included an insert with a selection of signs.I am thinking POLA here. Many of the signs in my collection are from these sources.