UPCOMING: Mickey & MINI 4
July 22, 2008:
Roof patterns
Morning dew reveals patterns in the roof of GBMINI#6 …
July 20, 2008:
Early Mini sketches
Something I acquired a while ago … postcard prints of early “concept” sketches of the Mini by Alec Issigonis, apparently published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mini (and sadly, no indication of the date of the sketches):
July 20, 2008:
The Awesomeness Of Small - Magic Window Decryptor Needed
If you’re not in to MINI collectibles, you might want to skip GBMINI.net for a while … I’m sorting out my huge collection 
Remember The Awesomeness Of Small? This was a “stealth” MINI advertising campaign with strange encrypted adverts in magazines, a “spy package” ending with a gift Toggle Switch re-label kit, and a reward medallion.
It turns out that some new MINI owners are still receiving the decoder kits, but of course can no longer find the adverts needed to decode them … so I scanned at high resolution and uploaded the advert which needs the Magic Window Decryptor (right-click here to download it) … if you print this at 300dpi (7.583″x10.43″), you can then use the decrpyor successfully to send you to a certain website about Citizens for Fair Insect Treatment (have your cars VIN # ready, and turn off pop-up blockers!)
I also uploaded a 300dpi scan of the advert for which the Super-Secret Decoder is needed (again, print at 300dpi = 7.533″x9.48″)
July 17, 2008:
A ViewMaster collectible
Now and then something quite unusual appears on my eBay MINI Collectibles watchlist, the 8-Ball is one such item (I’ve seen a few of them, and got one) - and recently there was this Achievements In Motoring ViewMaster:
I suppose the ViewMaster itself is normal (except for the added on logo), but the image disc is surely unusual, featuring MINIs in unusual locations across America … to my surprise, scanning it was successful:
(click for higher resolution)
I was also surprised to be able to take an image through the ViewMaster:
“… or to Coltsville, Massachusetts, where there’s a shipwreck in a parking lot …” - since this is in my home state, I really should go and visit (oh, but Google says it’s gone from MA)
Other images:
The world’s largest fire hydrant in Beaumont, TX
The world’s largest covered wagon in Milford, NE
A drive-through donut in La Puente, CA
The world’s largest kaleidoscope in Mt Tremper, NY
Places to visit during MTTS’10?!
July 15, 2008:
Where are we, iPhones?
Josh managed to get hold of one of the last 3G iPhones in Massachusetts last night … we compared the location seeking ability of my 2G (using a single hopeless AT&T cell tower with next-to-no signal), and his 3G which clearly used GPS - indoors - to get a very precise (and correct) fix!
Also note the display differences - both iPhones are set to the same brightness …
