Friday, February 27, 2004

Jasper Maskelyne

Maskelyne was a stage magician in Britain in the 30s. Coming from a dynasty of magicians, during the war Maskelyne realised that his skills in misdirection and illusion- and the other five effects of magic (or was it 18? Or 3?)could be put to practical use in fooling and concealing equipment from the Germans. More than likely to become a bit more famous soon when he will be the focus of a biographic film, War Magician (2004), where he's being played by Tom Cruise. Maskelyne anecdotes Channel 4 - Real Lives Guardian Unlimited - Jasper Maskelyne The Stage Memories - Jasper MaskelyneAdditional Not everyone thinks Jasper was as good as he did. This is a very good critique of the lege...

Friday, February 20, 2004

Jidohanbaiki

According to one of those links, Jido means automatic, hanbai means vending, and ki is machine. (Cigarette vending machine would be "tobacco no jido-hanbaiki"; one for beverages would be nomimono jido-hanbaiki). Japan has a vending machine for every 23 people, and they sell a huge variety of things... PhotoMann - Images of Japanese Vending Machines Vending Machines - Notes and Explanations Jidoohanbaiki - Japanese vending machines Japan, Home of the Vending Machine The Ubiquitous Vending Machine Vending Machines For Sale Little things - Japane...

Wednesday, February 11, 2004

White City

The Anglo-French exhibition was organised to commemorate the Entente Cordiale, of which 2004 is its centenary year. A New shopping centre, travel hub and key workers housing complex is to be built on the site of the old exhibition, now more commonly known as White City in Shepherds Bush. (Location Map, Proposed Layout) History IVth Olympiad The 1908 Olympics were held in White City. London 1908 It must have been very impressive. Have a look at the photo of the Court of Honour. Shopping Centre & Travel Exchange Whitecity Overview, Pictures, maps etc. London Plan - Transport Plan for the Future A look at the possible transport links to be put in. Politic Regenasis The agency in charge Regeneration Strategy and their plan Paddington Unites Against White City Key Worker Provision ...

Sunday, February 01, 2004

Abandoned Tube Stations

There are stations, tunnels, entire networks of metro train systems worldwide that have been forgotten, lost beneath the streets. These are some sites that catalogue a few of them. London Underground History This is the definitive site- if you only want to have a brief read, choose this one first. Brookwood Cemetery Railway The abandoned train of the dead (not a tube I know, but work with me here) London railway Branch Lines London's Abandoned Tube Stations Paris Métro Closed [English] Le métro Parisien [French] Closed stations in the Paris subway system [French & English] New York Abandoned New York Stations Moscow Moscow secret subway system A secret tube system built under Moscow from the Presidential Bunker away from the city. Northern Heights A plan to extend the...

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