Dinosaurs in Miniature has been updated with all the latest releases: Some cavegirls from Reaper, some running dinos from Hasslefree and a Megatherium and Smilodon from Rattrap.
And at long last someone, Amazon Miniatures as it happens, has made the killer pig itself, an Entelodont:
cheerful
Venice was simply amazing. Lovely weather, great food (especially the seafood), amazing sights.
We stayed at the Hotel Rivamare on the Lido, which meant we took a boat across the lagoon into Venice proper everyday. In the city itself we saw all the big names: the Palazzo Ducale or Doge’s Palace, the Basilica di San Marco, the Piazza, the Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal.
Things that appealed more directly to me included the Museum of Natural History was only partially open but we did get to see the excellent Ouranosaurus and Sarchosuchus; The Museo Storico Navale or Naval History Museum which only costs €1.55 and is packed full of relics from Venice’s and Italy’s seafaring history; The Rome and the Barbarians exhibition in the Palazzo Grassi was a ten times more expensive (and I really wanted the exhibition book but at €48 it was too much) but much more extensive than I’d expect for a temporary exhibit.
We also visited some of the other lagoon islands: Murano for the glassmaking; Burano for the lace making and painted houses; and Torcello for the eleventh century cathedral.
For one day we got the train to Verona, passing castles and vineyards on the way. There we visited the Arena and the Castle and had another fantastic lunch. One day wasn’t enough and we plan to go back sometime.
Venice photos and Verona photos.
cheerfulWent to see 10,000 BC this afternoon. Oh boy, history, biology, geography, astronomy - they all get a hammering in this film. I can’t be bothered to even start listing everything that was goofy here.
It was one of the most by-the-numbers renditions of (the easy to understand bits of) Joseph Campbell’s monomyth that I’d seen in a while. I smiled at the bemusement when hunter-gatherers first came across the evidence of agriculture, but of course in Campbell’s scheme there has to be a ‘boon’ to take back home at the end (sorry, that was a spoiler). There were also bits lifted from the Bible, Stargate, Conan and 300, just in case the mention of Campbell misled you into thinking there were highbrow sources being used.
The action and CGI were very good, the actors managed to keep straight face. It’s not a bad movie in the sense that it’s exciting and visual, but it’s certainly one to watch with the brain switched off.
Oh, by the way, the Doctor Who and Star Trek trailers look amazing on the big screen.
sleepyThere’s a pro-creationism, anti-science movie called Expelled, in which a number of prominent scientists were conned into providing interviews by the producers describing a very different and more balanced movie. One of these scientists, PZ Myers, tried to attend a screening and was turned away on instructions from the producers, but there’s a twist. To see why this was as about a perfect own goal as can be, read his account of the evening.
chipper2 packs of Doctor Who micro-universe figures from Woolies, @ £4.99 each.
1 rare Star Wars collectible miniature from eBay, @ £4.51.
1 Dinosaur Planet RPG supplement from eBay, @ £6.24.
4 OOP Grenadier dinosaur miniatures from eBay, @ £10.29.
Total: £31.02. Just about on budget.
I’ve just updated the Dinosaurs in Miniature pages with the latest releases and re-releases.
Wargames Illustrated have finished re-releasing the DZ Miniatures prehistoric mammals. They’re also selling a set of rules called Tooth and Claw to tie in with this range. Written by Chris “every other set of rules out there” Peers who has pedigree on this area with Saurian Safari. My copy is in the post, so with luck I’ll be able to post a review soon.
There are also new rules out from Magister Militum called DinoMight and MM continue to expand their range of 10mm figures, now including some non-dinosaurs.
Finally on the pre-historic front Reaper have released a “Jungle Girl with Sabre Tooth Tiger” which is okay-ish except for the huge mold line in the photo and the fact that it’s an idea that’s been done several times before. Very nice cat though.
Meanwhile… It was only a matter of time… Pre-painted, collectible (i.e. random sealed boxes) miniatures for Doctor Who (via Forbidden Planet). They’re by Character Options which is a good sign (they make the very nice DW action figures) and the price is the same as for the Star Wars minis. On the downside (apart from the collectible nature) is the scale, 35mm, and the lack of anything from the classic series. Will I be buying them? They’re Doctor Who miniatures!
excitedLooking through some old comments that I’d left to moulder in the moderation queue, I cam across this gem:
why will we never know how dinosaurs died because we never knew what they were like i think that we will never know what and how they went extinct and you scintist stop tring so hard
First things first, this comment was left on a page listing 15mm scale miniature dinosaurs. Yes, a page about toy dinosaurs that doesn’t discuss the science of dinosaurs or the reason for their extinction at all.
It is true that we may never know with 100% certainty what caused the extinction of all non-avian dinosaurs some sixty five million years ago. However, their is a large and growing body of evidence that lets us form a number of hyoptheses. Falling sea levels, increased volcanic activity and a massive meteorite impact probably all played their part.
Further study into the K-T extinction will not only tell us more about the end of the dinosaurs but will provide us with insights into the effect that climate change can have on the Earth and the creatures that live here. A subject that is of obvious importance to all of us.
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snapesbabe. Post a comment with “top ten” or “top five” and I’ll give you a subject to base your list around.
Maybe because we start our names with the same three letters but I’ve always liked Steggy. One of the classic dinos that all the kids know, and one of the most fantastically strange looking creatures to ever walk on land.
A big mean predator, not as unbalanced to look at as T.rex but still big enough and toothy enough to give you nightmares.
Of Lofty as we call him round our way. Not only is it one of the biggest dinos but it’s also unusual in having longer legs at the front than at the back (hence the name).
Walking tank. My default user icon.
Velociraptor : Deinonychus = Hobbit : Human
tiredAbout half the moon is in shadow now. South London isn’t the best place for sky watching, especially with the moon right over the floodlights of the bus garage, (so no chance of photos from here) but at least the sky is clear so I’m getting the best view I can.
[Update 22:47] - Nearly totally in shadow now, I can see the the reddish hue on the shadowed parts quite clearly. I tried to take some pictures anyway but the camera just whirred as if to say “there’s nothing there mate” and refused to do anything.
impressed