Yeah, and do it while sitting next to a box of high explosives and a witness.
Okay, There are no explosives in that box. It’s a collector’s item with connections to the American Revolution, and Pierre Samuel DuPont in particular. If you’re ever near Wilmington Delaware, the tour of the DuPont gunpowder factory is awesome, It’s 18th century water-powered technology, and yeah, it’s the origin of the company of the same name.
[Found here.]
I’d be embarrassed to show that to anyone, It’s a very lame repetitive sponge-paint finish. and they didn’t even bother to mask the ceiling trim for the background coat.
So how to fix it? You’ll never match the color exactly, let alone the pattern of the splotchbrush. Oh wait! I know! Let’s put something even crappier and more hideous in front of it as a distraction!
[Parental alert: Might disturb little ones. Image below the break.] Continue reading “Fixing A Crappy Sponge-Paint Finish”
I spotted an article about the resurgence of the popularity of vinyl records recently. The Missus and I were discussing dumping our collection of LP records (actually, only the Missus was) and I remembered that I had some albums that might be of value to someone. The first one that came to mind was this:
I knew a little bit about the history of Introducing The Beatles. It was their first release in the US. Capitol Records and others had turned them down, but VeeJay Records took the plunge and released it in 1964. Quite the collector’s item for an audiophile, but what might it’s value be?
Copies list on Ebay with a surprisingly large spread for such a well-known rarity: $25-$900. Certainly the condition of the disc and album cover affects the value, but it’s still an odd price range.
So I went to fetch my copy of “Introducing…” and I found TWO – one a bit worse for wear, and the other in good shape. There were noticeable differences. The Copy A songs on the disc don’t match the album cover list, but those on Copy B do, and there is an obvious disparity in printing quality of the cover faces. Both copies have the “stereophonic” banner.
That’s my Copy A on the left with my Copy B on the other left. It’s a single photo of the two copies, side-by-side, cropped for posting.
Here are the reverse sides of the covers. Copy A is matte finish and faded; Copy B is glossy.
Here’s a detail with the bottom of the banners aligned. Both images were scanned and cropped with the same software. Obvious differences are obvious, and they’re even more obvious when one looks closer:
Kinda suspicious, eh? By now I was curious, and I found an article entitled “Collector’s Corner – ‘Introducing The Beatles’ (the world’s most counterfeited album)” penned by a guy who calls himself Happy Nat. The guy knows his stuff, and described the history of the album. There were two basic versions printed due to a dispute between VeeJay Records and Capitol records over recording rights. I determined that my Copy A was Version 2, while my Copy B was Version 1. I also noted that the stereo versions are the rarest, and a genuine copy may be worth thousands, depending on other minor variations.
I was convinced that my Copy A was a counterfeit, but what about Copy B? I was drooling, so I emailed both Happy Nat and Gary Hein. Continue reading “Introducing The Beatles – COLLECT ‘EM ALL”
As for the Meglinating Variable Intensity Multifunction Power Tool, I have one and it works great. You have to replace the Narvis coupling occasionally, but that only takes a couple of minutes. Buy spares.
The Narvis coupling is the weak link, and if you don’t have a spare or two handy, you’re screwed. Many agree that it should not be replaced unless a trammel gear fails. I made that mistake once.
If you’ve already got some davised camshanks, you’ve got spares as long as you’re willing to replace the panfold bushings, refrog and align them. Be sure that you have the proper torque trimmer, otherwise you’ll need to disassemble and rebuild every one of the winders, and you’ll end up buying a full set of trammel gears.
P.S. Forget the Bono goggles. Put ’em on and every good lookin’ woman looks like Sonny. I gave mine away for free.
[Found here.]
Update: Download the Hazard Fraught Tools catalog.
I love rural hand-painted highway signs that are spelled correctly and get right to the point, like this one. (Note that the pavement is blackened from all the cars screeching to a stop upon spotting this effective advertisement).
[Found here.]
“Gramma, I know that you and Grampa escaped the old country without shoes, but capitalism is evil, so I made you a lamp to show you how wrong you were to leave.” –Overheard at Zuccotti Park September 2012.
[Image found here. Quote was entirely fabricated only because #OWS is entirely fabricated.]
How can you improve upon improvised pirate swords?
“Bobby! Let’s play pirates!”
“Great idea! I’ll go get the Plastic Guards! I’ll be back in an hour!”
Clever idea, but it won’t fly. Any kid who grew up near fallen branches could tell you that swords of the windfall variety don’t last long, and once your weapon has broken you need to find a replacement fast, otherwise you’re declared dead by default. Stopping to change your guard guarantees it.
Oh, well, it’s the thought that counts, and I wish I’d thought of it first.
[Found here.]
Oh, man, this is a game I’d fight to get in on. I don’t care if it was manufactured and sold by Hasbro, Milton Bradley, Ohio Art or Whammo, the pure psychological strategy of this simple game is awesome.
First step is to show up to the party early. Then get the ante to a decent level, and once the pot is there, that’s when you talk about how you practiced with the set earlier. Of course you don’t remember which color you practiced with, as you start sniffling and hacking a bit. (Complaining about a slight fever helps.) Then start the game immediately, and without hesitation, hock up a loogie into the trash can.
Gentlemen’s rules say anyone who quits forfeits the pot. INSTANT WIN!
[Found here.]
Merry Christmas, and I hope Santa brings you what you wish for.
Tacky Raccoons 