Another example of how World War 2 still haunts us. Several paintings have been removed from display because of questions about whether their provenance included looting by the Nazis. All well and good, but when you’re dealing with the collection of a man who got rich supplying weapons to the Nazis, you really should have been asking exactly how he acquired every single one eighty years ago, not now.
How the life cycle of barnacles (and the way shoes with feet in them are the most likely parts of bodies to wash ashore) can be provide answers in missing persons and murder cases.
Even eight decades after WW2, there are still stories to be discovered and retold.
I never went into Softys’ Hard Stuff. In fact, I only went past it once, during a photo wander around Bolton, which is when I took this photo. The picture has now been used (with permission) by Manchester Evening News in an article about the adult shop’s genesis in a TV programme and subsequent run-ins with the law.
A few years ago, I was paid to do some (low stakes, very basic) open source intelligence research. The practise still fascinates me, but I’ve never dived in as deeply as I could. Or as thoroughly as Bellingcat, a company that beats established intelligence agencies analyses all the time.
Wired sat down with the company’s founder to discuss AI, being on Russia’s hit list, and the psychological toll of digging up the truth so many don’t want to hear.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-lead-army-of-digital-sleuths-age-of-ai/
My first go at bashing together some scenery. This is a simple hydroponics dome for sci-fi battlefields. First of many modules, I hope.
North Korea are releasing balloons into their neighbour with suspect, possibly foul, cargo strung under them. They say it’s revenge for the propaganda leaflets that waft over in the other direction.
I got these 1:35 Maschinen Krieger power suits from Hobbylink Japan (affiliate link). Let’s have a look at what comes in the box.
It makes sense, though. The push to make the televised leaders’ debates Tory and Labour only comes primarily from Labour. Starmer will barely have to open his mouth if he’s facing Sunak- just let Rishi be Rishi and Tory votes will keep falling.
But throw a Green, or even a Libdem, into the mix, and viewers will be reminded how far Starmer is from what the country really needs. It makes sense for him to chicken out of that.
Sunak announces UK general election for 4 July
I’ve not built enough so far this year. So I sat down with a simple kit and threw it together quickly, to get the model making muscles flexed and ready for more.
I got this kit from Hobbylink Japan (affiliate link).
Not just the workbench, but the whole of the room it’s sat in.
Modelling time has been eaten into in lots of little ways, but there’s always something going on on the workbench. Lots of somethings. Maybe too many….
Anyway, here’s a quick update.
I must have something Corman in the house that I can watch in his honour.
I’m experimenting with timelapse settings, for possible future projects. Here’s a very quick bit of my commute.
The smallest of the model rail shows I’ve been to so far, but still worthy of its own video. The journey to and from the venue was an adventure as well, on one of the first properly sunny days of the year.
I binged the Kaiju No. 8 manga before Christmas, and now the anime has been added to my must watch list. So I had to have a figure.
I’ve made other Bandai models, but this is my first from the Figure Rise range, and I’m impressed. I got it from Hobbylink Japan (affiliate link).
I’ve had this Linear Tank kit sitting on the shelf for a while. It was time to build it.
It became one of those ‘simple’ builds that took ages, not least because I had to wait weeks for a dry day to prime the base.
Linear Tank 3D printed model by K Scale Models, who is also on YouTube.
My first time going to this show, which is held to raise funds for a Scout troop, so has a different feel to other model rail events. Many of the layouts were more about fun than realism, and the trade stands mixed in with sweet and craft stalls.
Another dip into the vintage magazine pile pulls out this early 80s issue.