Number_Six, on March 27th, 2013
  Techie this morning sparked a bit of a chat by posting a picture of an interesting art installation. The comments about not ”getting” art reminded me of a fantastic day I had back in the mid-’oughts when I wandered into the Beijing National Gallery and discovered a massive display of works by René “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” Magritte, as well as many of his letters and even home movies. Apparently Beijing locals were uninterested in Magritte because the gallery was literally deserted, so I spent a couple of quiet happy hours staring at works that had boggled me fifteen years earlier from the pages of a textbook in my first year university cultural studies course. I can’t say that I fully understood what Magritte was getting at but I sure as hell love his art. Continue reading User Input: Function with Form*
Number_Six, on March 11th, 2013
 Today we had a bit of a chat here about that odious headcrusher, the forward spring of the clock that accompanies Daylight Saving Time. As a hideous troglodyte northern-dweller, I for one appreciate the sudden appearance of the sun after dinner caused by this artificial construct because it makes me feel like I can stay up past 6pm. Continue reading Shutdown: Timeless
Number_Six, on March 6th, 2013
 click and behugify
Yadan National Geological Park is located in the Gobi Desert, approximately 180km away from the nearest town: Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China. It’s a spectacular but harsh place where wind and sand have carved out an otherworldly landscape. I highly recommend a visit. But if a pretty Uyghur girl [...]
Number_Six, on March 6th, 2013
The Cold War era was often terrifying for those of us who lived through it. But today, from the comfort of a world gone berserk in a somewhat less M.A.D. way, we can sit back and cogitate over the functional beauty of some of the weapons systems designed to rain fiery death on civilian populations. Continue reading Mirage IV
Number_Six, on November 21st, 2012
 
I knew I was never getting a date in high school when the pretty girl who sat beside me in grade ten math class caught me drawing pictures of the Sud-Ouest SO 9000 Trident. Continue reading Sud-Ouest SO.9000 Trident
Number_Six, on November 20th, 2012
  Today’s entry in our freaky French flyers™ series is the wonderfully-named Aérocentre N.C. 3020 Belphégor. Of absolutely no import in the aviation world, we’re posting the Belphégor as an example of the spiral of shame into which a poorly-conceived program can easily spin. Continue reading Belphégor
Number_Six, on November 19th, 2012
  Leduc 0.10 in flight Atomic Toasters’ editorial staff are big fans of early American and British Jet-Age aircraft; and rightly so, given the extraordinary machines they produced. However, we tend to overlook another innovative power of that era: France. Continue reading Leduc 0.10
Number_Six, on August 29th, 2012
  Following up a legend with another great is virtually impossible, just check out The Godfather III, The Who’s replacement for Keith Moon, and the Jaguar XJ-S. There are exceptions to that rule, including Empire Strikes Back, The Godfather II, and the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers. But can anyone name the Supermarine Spitfire’s successor? Continue reading Swapping Spits
Number_Six, on April 25th, 2012
 This scene should have been repeated for the next twenty years The 1950s and ’60s were the best of times and the worst of times for the British aerospace industry. They were the best because the country’s engineers were at the top of their game, producing excellent machines like the Vulcan, Canberra, Lightning, and ground-breaking TSR-2. The worst because of the government’s disgraceful and vicious assault on a world-class industry. Continue reading Roto-rooted
Number_Six, on November 24th, 2011
  Quick, easy, and convenient air travel is something we can still all be thankful for Continue reading Xenu’s Chariot
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