Atlantis’ Final Landing at KSC

For those of you that didn’t just show up yesterday you are well aware that I’ll post just about anything related to NASA and the shuttle program. If you did show up yesterday – sorry. I didn’t really post anything. That being said the NASA crisp glossy photos are great – this is something better. These pictures make you feel like you are in the crowd watching Atlantis pull up for the last time. These aren’t the best pictures you’ll see of Atlantis from a technical perspective. From a “I feel like I was there looking at them perspective” they are awesome. (Quit reading and click read more already.)

These are pictures from BobG via a co-worker’s sister that lives in Titusville, Florida “The Gateway to Nature and Space” (no kidding their website says that). All I can say is – I’m  jealous.  Thanks so much for forwarding these on they really are special.

Kennedy Space Center – Raleigh, NC

Wrong Kennedy. Wrong Space. Wrong Center.
Yes – this is in Raleigh, NC.

Mystery Solved: Bricks Identified

While we didn’t get a lot of answers here we did get a ton of traffic and more importantly the good folks at www.bricksetforum.com were quick to identify the unusually large bricks and even help place the bricks into a set.  Thanks to users Istokg and RJM for shining some light on the issue.

These are Lego Samsonite Jumbo bricks. Yes – that Samsonite. The best reference I can find (and backup here) says these were released in 1969 – probably this set. The set references the number of bricks as 6 blue, 12 red, 12 white which means based on what I have in front of me all pieces are here.

So mystery solved and a lot of history learned.  I knew of larger than standard size bricks named Duplo or Quatro and smaller bricks named Modulex but I never knew of Samsonite – either the bricks or the association between the two companies.

And before you ask – no I have no idea what the value of these bricks might be.  No one has them for sale on eBay or anywhere else that I can find. Technically they are still BobG’s – we sort of bought them together but I didn’t pay him for them on purpose. I figured if he had accidentally found the Holy Grail of Lego we were better off if I hadn’t bought them officially. While I am not a fan of selling any bricks he may not have the same problem. Now that we know what they are he can decide what he wants to do with them.

More pictures after the jump – these bricks may not fit with any of my existing bricks but they are a pretty cool piece of Lego history. If you run across an odd Lego piece and either want it identified let me know. I’ve found some pretty good resources and enjoy doing the research. If you decide to donate those to McLeod Lego Museum when you are done we’ll add your name to the contributor list.

Can you help identify these bricks?

So I am at a loss and Google isn’t helping. I am currently possess several larger (bigger than Duplo and I think Quatro) bricks that say Lego. The bricks were purchased by the infamous BobG at the flea market at the State Fairgrounds.

My question is are they real and if so where can I find more information on them?  The closest I have come so far is this image which gives me no real information but is the first image I’ve seen online of the mystery brick.

The Lego logo on the brick closely resembles the ones used from 1953-1955. (Look at the similarities between the O.) You can see it better on the close-up images after the jump.

So that is where I am now.  I need your help.  If you can confirm what these are I’d love to hear from you.  I am going to post the link to this post on message boards and email folks that may have an idea. If you need more or different pictures of the bricks let me know – they are sitting here on my desk and I would be more than happy to take a few more.

The Drinking Man’s Diet

We were sifting through items at a local estate sale looking for bargains when I ran across this small paper back book from 1965 in great condition. How could I turn it down? Titled “The Drinking Man’s Diet or How to Lose Weight with a Minimum of Will Power (also recommended for ladies and teetotalers)” – it sounded like the plan for weight loss. Over the coming weeks as I read and explore this find I’ll post more about what is suggested.  In the mean time ponder these -

• Ad exec. off 8 lbs. in 60 effortless days
• Pub. rels. expert off 28 lbs. in 12 months. Has held his weight without “pain” for 2 years since.
• Retired steel exec. off 9 lbs. first 30 days. Held his weight easily to date. (Wow – since 1965?)
• Promotion chief lost 14 lbs. the easy way in 30 days. Holding firm without torture since.
• Partner, accounting firm, fought a losing “calorie counting” battle for 18 months. Four weeks on this diet off 16 lbs. “It’s been my salvation.”
• Working widow, 3 children. Lost 9 lbs. 4 weeks. “Still take my two 6PM tension breaking martinis.”
• Marketing exec., national firm, lost 5 lbs. first weekend.

All from the back cover – if the back cover is this good just imagine the gems inside.  Stay tuned – more wonderful insights coming.