MYSTERY UFO ERASER

This is a mystery.

I saw this rubber online.

It says UFO but I don't recognise the two characters at all.

I don't recognise the spaceship either!

Anyone got any idea who or what they are?

RUBBER TOY ANIMALS

Were off to a Tropical World today. Its a standalone jungle thing but similar to the hot houses that used to feature in Zoos when I was a kid. Places like Chester, Belle Vue and Blackpool.

Hot houses were always full of strange exotic smells like warm bananas and butterfly kak. there were probably bigger smells in there too like alligator and monkey.

After seeing the real thing the biggest treat always was to choose a couple of rubber toy animals in the zoo shop.

You know, big locusts, giant spiders and long floppy snakes. For some reason it seemed to be just insects, reptiles and amphibians that were rubberised.

There were boxes and boxes of them and slowly but surely I had my own rubber zoo at home.

My favourite was a large rubber frog. It was cold to the touch and so clammy I couldn't stop handling it!

Did you get rubber animals at the zoo readers?

CALISTO CAPTION PLEASE

I had a chuckle when I saw Calisto in this state online years ago.

What's he thinking readers?

WHAT'S YOUR X-MEN NAME?

I'm a great fan of the X-Men and have spent many a happy time discussing the highs and lows of the film series [I only remember the early comics].

One of my fave discussions with anyone interested is the mutant class numbering system and in particular who is a class 6 mutant. Ultimate powers are hugely attractive to me for some reason and I'm looking forward to the Phoenix movie this summer. I am always amazed to see Iceman in the 'official' listings, but then again he is able to freeze the world and not just his bourbon.

Another fun discussion is what my super power would be if I or others I know were X-men. What would my names be?

I can only speak about myself so here goes with my possible names and powers:

LARYNX - because I never stop talking and could talk enemies to verbal death.

DIGESTION - because I'm always hungry and could eat anything anytime anywhere and would starve my foes. There would be nothing left.

JAMAS - because I love wearing pyjamas and could easily loaf my foes into submission. 

HICCUP - because I have the most violent hiccups known in Mutant Land. They're loud and dramatic and make Wolverine cry.

SNEEZE - because I have the loudest sneeze around, guaranteed to momentarily stop Magneto even thinking of doing anything.

What would your X-names be readers and why?

IMAI UFO BASE 5: DOME SWEET DOME

I have always liked the look of the Imai UFO model bases with the dome units.

This one I saw on Yahoo Japan is set number 5.

In it is a fab little Project SWORD Moon Prospector [far left] and a lovely small fleet of UFO vehicles.

I've never established any formal connection between project SWORD and UFO. It was most likely a creative crossover by the marketing guys at Imai back in the late Sixties, brought to life on the cover by the great Shigeru Komatsuzaki.

Have you got any Imai UFO models?

THE MASSACRE OF MANKIND

Hello Woodsy 

I expect the book I'm reading was encouraged by the new War of the Worlds TV series from the UK. 

I was scared by the 1954 movie, read the Classics Illustrated comic, then was drawn to the book back in the 50's. 

A few years ago Osprey publishers of Military histories and reference books came out with their version as The Anglo-Martian War of 1895 which matched the real UK military units of that time with the action of the book. 

It's a fascinating read. 

The present authorised sequel The Massacre of Mankind is such a hard read. I will plough through it eventually but I'm put off by one of the first characters introduced named Eric Eden. To me he's a Dan Dare artist and it breaks my concentration reading it!

Terranova47

NYC

WHAT ARE HOBBIES FOR?

What are hobbies for?

Are they to calm us after work or a period of labour?

Are they to soothe us during difficult times or take us out of the everyday and let us dawdle in a more pleasant world?

What if we can't indulge our hobbies as much as we'd like? What then? Does it affect us?

Is it possible that our hobbies take over, that they prevent us engaging with reality or even lessen the amount we say and do with family and friends?

Are hobbies only for the good?

What do you think readers?

LOOP GURU

I noticed these Archer spaceman slot-hand repro parts online.

The looped parts reminded of old plastic bag loops.

they came in two parts with a loop and a seperate collar.

For the life of me I can't find any pictures of these old loops!

They'd be cheaper than repro parts!