Ace Jet 170

"Pollution is Bad", says good stamps

Enough of the chickens already!

Yes, I know, lately I've been a bit obsessed with our feathered providers. They're just so damn interesting but the funny thing is that I didn't really want them. Beating around the bush like there was no day after the current you know what, I stalled the coop build for months thinking my wife would relent. I should have known better. She tends not to and, typical of when we worked together, she has this uncanny knack of making you feel like you really do want to do that thing she's asking you to do even though your more rational mind is telling you that you don't actually want to do it, actually, as it happens.

It turns out, the little peckers are fascinating cluckers and, you may be unhappy to hear, not only provide an abundance of breakfasts but also plenty of, off-theme perhaps, bloglets.

So, although no one's complained, for sake of those less interested in their becombed ways I'm going to keep Chicken Watch to just one entry a week and refocus on things like this...

You may have seen these beauties on Grain Edit. I did. They're bloody fantastic and was compelled to seek some out for myself. And along the way, stumbled on this set for the Hapoel Games of the same year.

Course dot screens. Now that's another one of those things I was talking about last week. Superb.

 

Polish space hardware

Because I'm a designer and not a proper stamp collector I've arranged these by colour, and omitted one because I couldn't get all ten on my Moleskin Pocket Book sized cards.

  

Munich 72

Amongst my backlog of reading matter is that seminal book on Otl Aicher. Just got a few more books to get through first.

And what with my (not so) secret love of the stamp I've been trying to get hold of examples from 72 that incorporate Aicher's ground breaking sports icons. Perhaps someone will tell me otherwise but I've found there are surprisingly few. Thankfully, these excellent Australian stamps (that I first saw on Flickr but I can't remember precisely where now) were available on ebay.

Postal Attraction

Been to a couple of car boot sales lately and had a surprisingly successful time. That's where I picked up the Cape Wrath map. And then last Saturday I picked this lot up.

Feast upon the ephemeral lovelyness.

Kevin asked last week if I could post higher res. images. His wish is my command and as if by magic there are a few more and better quality images of these on Flickr.

What's wrong with this picture?

Within a day of expressing my love of the Air Mail letter I was stopped in my tracks, when entering our local supermarket, by this brilliantly executed bit of CD cover art. It really is well done. Ben would be pleased to see that the script has been done for real, even looks like it's been written on the envelope, which is nicely distressed. The postage mark is spot on. As is the unecessary kiss. Even that pompous photo of Phil looks just like a stuck on stamp. Flip the CD over and the back cover is just as good with the track listing typed onto the back of the envelope on an old typewriter (that wasn't you was it Matt?).

It's so good, I almost (please note, I say "almost") bought it.

Just one problem. Can you see what it is?

Unlike David, I won't keep you waiting. You see, to me, Phil Collins is the musical equivalent of Comic Sans; he's rubbish. Mind numbing, middle of the road, dull, dull, dull drivvle. And yet, I almost bought it. I wanted to buy it. I found myself wishing it was someone else's album, anyone else. I couldn't even bring myself to buy it for my wife who has terrible musical taste and for whom I would buy CD's that I secretly would like but are just too uncool.

I have another problem with it. Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with compilation CDs that feature both new and old material? If Phil's new stuff is any good, why release it along with the same old shite? Doesn't that just smack of desperation, exploitation of his fan base? Isn't one just "a crutch" for the other? Perhaps I'm missing something. Feel free to correct me.

The last thing I'll say on the matter is how it inevitably reminded me of his last attempt to flog a dead horse (see below). Surely, that's a typo on the cover! Surely, surely that "S" is in the wrong place...

Actually, I must add that the intention here is not to offend any fans of the man but just to express my personal opinion. That's all it is.

Air Mail

Like airline tickets and folding rulers whenever I see air mail envelopes, I pick them up. There's so many different kinds, I can't help wonder who uses them? In this email age, is there really a need for so many kinds? My favourite is the one with the graphic that looks like an upside down Stanley Knife blade.