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Wishbook's Flickr Photos
by Erik Gunther
Wed, October 17, 2007, 8:00 am PDT

Merriam-Webster defines "ephemera" as "paper items... that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles." We have an undying love for those "here today, gone tomorrow" printed materials that clog this nation's greatest landfills.

We also have a special place in our heart for the folks who preserve and collect ephemeral items. The age-old axiom about one man's trash being another man's treasure always rings true with us.

Never is the maxim more relevant than when we run across a guy like Alan Swegan. Alan's always been into collecting things, but his crowning achievements on the Web are the crystal-clear scans of his old catalog collection, which he shares on Flickr. His photostream is a magnificent walk down an oh-so-memorable lane. After flipping through an entire catalog, we knew we had to talk to the man behind this awesome archive.

Alan started uploading his scans to the photo-sharing site in 2005, and he was kind enough to take a break from scanning to chat with us about catalogs, Christmas, and copyright...

Hey Alan, how long does it take to scan in and upload a 500-page catalog?

Initially I tried to keep the catalogs intact, but flipping the book over and over got tiresome after 20 pages and there were always problems with the inner spine sections being shaded. Read the full profile...

Filed under: Collecting, Vintage, Flickr, Yahoo! Picks Profiles

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Josh Budich's Star Wars Collection
by Mike Krumboltz
Mon, October 15, 2007, 7:00 am PDT

Most sites dedicated to "Star Wars" figures leave something to be desired (for example, a reason to look at them). Josh Budich's is different. Notable for its crisp design as well as its baffling number of Lukes, Hans, and Darths, this online shrine is unlike any other. We were so impressed, we arranged an interview with Josh. Read on for a look into the mind of a man who's on a quest to possess...

Many people love "Star Wars," but clearly you love it more than most. What is it about the movie that "speaks to you" (so to speak)?

"Star Wars" will always remain the quintessential story of how righteous morals will forever prevail over the forces of evil and corruption... However, now that I'm older and wiser to the "true ways" of the world, I'd have to say that I identify more with the bad guys. The Jedi, passive users of the force, only show their true power when it becomes absolutely necessary, and in order to protect and defend the innocents of the galaxy.

The Sith, on the other hand, realize that their powers are a "gift" that should be used proactively to enhance their own position in the world... Maybe it's this internal struggle that speaks to me... the realization that all of us can be both good and evil at the same time, and that certain paths, taken through our own choices, ultimately define on which side of the Force we will stand.

Which figure was the hardest to track down?

My most coveted of figures in my entire collection is the 2002 New York Toy Fair Silver Vader figure with the lightsaber that pokes out of the top of the bubble. But looking back on what it took to procure it, it was far from the most difficult.  Read the full profile...

Filed under: Star Wars, Collecting, Science Fiction, Yahoo! Picks Profiles

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'60s and '70s Asian Pop Record Covers
by Erik Gunther
Fri, September 28, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

Album covers offer a unique window into the history of music. The cardboard slabs were bold, big, and quite often, beautiful. We've seen plenty of arguments about which LP cases are the all-time best, but the debate is largely limited to vinyl available in the U.S. One look at this fascinating site of vintage Asian album covers might inspire a few music fans to reconsider their beliefs. Cool cases proliferated in Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia during the flamboyant '60s and '70s. For proof, check out the trippy Idaly Sisters, the far-out look of Ismail Haron, or the swingin' dudes known as The Quests. You'll also encounter a Beatles tribute, plenty of bad hair, and a few brash statements. So long! Ding dong! The groovy vibes of these classic covers will leave you strummin' a happy tune all day long.
Visit '60s and '70s Asian Pop Record Covers

Filed under: Music, Collecting, Asia, Album Covers, Rock and Pop

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On My Desk
by Jill Robinson
Mon, July 23, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

What's on your desk? A picture of your sweetheart? A mountain of paperwork? Crusty dinner dishes from two nights ago? It's not necessary for your workspace to be spotless for it to be useful. Take a tour through the homes and offices of other creative souls and see what inspirational items are on their desks. From a knickknack-filled bulletin board to a jumble of paint, from a wonderland of toys to a wading pool, everyone uses different tools to get their work done. There's even a wide variety of office mascots. The workspace itself can be the muse, whether it's a cozy little box room or a vast outdoor office. Maybe now you'll see your own desk in a different light.
Visit On My Desk

Filed under: Work, Blogs, Collecting, Interior Design, Design

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Safety.Mania.ru
by Marty Gabel
Sat, March 31, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

Long-time readers of Picks may remember Rune's Barf Bag Collection, the astounding compilation of sick sacks from around the world. Now, a challenger to Rune's compulsive collection has boarded the flight. Enter Sergei Novikov, a Russian traveler with an ever-increasing count of safety cards, those laminated information sheets, usually found in your airplane seat pocket, which are emblazoned with the legend "PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS CARD FROM THE AIRCRAFT." Well, we thank Sergei for his light fingeredness because this site is full of hundreds of the darn things from all over the world. So, set those cabin doors to automatic, cross-check, and spend some time perusing the pictures. See how fancy Cathay Pacific is with its cards featuring real people. Enjoy the apoplectic colors of Cypess Air's Airbus A319. Question Martinair's decision to go all minimalist with its safety cards. And wonder whether someone should let Siberian Airways know it's about time the Russian fleet found a new artist. Between Rune and Sergei, you should now be well prepared for a safe and un-messy lift-off.
Visit Safety.Mania.ru

Filed under: Travel, Aviation, Collecting

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