Monday, August 22, 2011

WTF Lundi - Don't Fly That In Here


20 comments:

Vanda said...

Oooh, so steampunk!

dive said...

Isn't it spiffy? I want one.

Speedway said...

Ooh, quick, get me a broom! I'll put the laundry basket on my head and we'll shoo the thing out!

dive said...

I think it's rather sweet, Speedway. It has cute propellors. I'd let it stay indoors except that eventually it's going to need to poo and I really don't want to be the one who has to clear that up.
Okay, I'll open the window, you shoo it outside.

Speedway said...

I like its little wheels and the precise rows of stitching holding the canvas together.

Yeh, well, I shoo it out. Just don't let me crash into the door jamb with that basket on my haid.

dive said...

Isn't bumping into things half the fun of wearing a laundry basket on your head?

Speedway said...

Well, I guess you could keep it if you promise to take care of it. Maybe we if could find what it eats, it wouldn't stray far. Is there an eave nearby where it could hang?

dive said...

It lives in the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. Plenty of nice overhanging eaves there.
I love that place. It's like the Science Museum in London only stuffed full of weirdo French wonders and it has the creakiest floors in the known universe.

Ms M said...

Fascinating flying machine! Since it seems to be in one piece, I assume it actually works? It looks like you could just fold it up, like a tent or a fold-up bike, head out for the nearest cliff and go gliding.

Volmon said...

That's one hell of a mosquito.

dive said...

I imagine it's still in working order, Ms.M. but it's never going to fly.
They have Bleriot's original plane there and a totally cool full-sized replica of it that you can sit in and operate. There's a massive screen in front of the plane and you have to take off and fly around and land under the supervision of a rather attractive lady. All the plane's pedals and levers control a computer flight sim that's projected in front of you. Awesome!

Lucio, a mosquito that big would make for a wonderfully cheesy B-movie.

Volmon said...

ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT MOSQUITOES does have a certain ring to it.

Speedway said...

Oh-oh, guys, in an ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT MOSQUITOS, all of them will be female!

Yep, they'll be buzz-zipping around the picnic grounds looking for juicy males to innoculate.

Ms M said...

The computer simulation sounds fascinating! (I'll pack some bug spray to ward off the mosquitoes...)

dive said...

Lucio, I have the sudden urge to spend next weekend watching old Doug Mc.Lure movies.

Speedway, that thought disturbs even me, and I am one sick puppy. Hee hee.

Ms.M. It's definitely worth a visit when you're in Paris. Great fun!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

I have not been there although I know its exact location. What a wonderful little contraption that is in such an elegant grand hall!

Bises,
Genie

dive said...

Genie you really should visit. It's the perfect way to spend a rainy day. Mind you, it's more of a "boy thing."
They have a fantastic scientific history collection including Lavoisier's original laboratory reconstructed and all sorts of strange wonders. There's a great room for Americans where they have models and photos of the construction of the Statue of Liberty. And of course it is all housed in a beautiful set of buildings. It runs the Musée Carnavalet a close second as my favourite Paris museum.

dive said...

I just realised how sexist that last comment sounded. Sheesh! You don't have to slap me; I've just done it myself. Of course, it's a "girl thing" too.

Petrea Burchard said...

Who cares about the contraption? Look at that setting.

dive said...

Think of all the dusting!