The world’s largest model airport went on display at Germany’s Minatur Wunderland in May 2011. The approximately 1,600 square-foot model – loosely based on Hamburg’s airport – features 40 model aircraft and 90 vehicles that move and “fly” (due to tiny wires), as well as 15,000 computerized people. The remarkable detail also includes about 40,000 lights, 10,000 trees, 1,000 wagons, 500 cars, 300 buildings, 200 switches, 100 signals and 50 trains. There’s no mention of who built the model; but considering it took more than 6 years and $4.8 million, it was obviously built by people with “model behavior”.
Scott Weaver, a 51-year-old San Franciscan, built an abstract model of San Francisco using only toothpicks – about 1,000,000 – and Elmer’s Glue. “Rolling Through the Bay” depicts area landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Lombard Street and Alcatraz. The model is 9’tall x 7’ wide x 30” deep and took 3,000 hours over a 34-year period to build. But that’s not all. The model contains 4 different ping-pong ball paths that wind around and through the landmarks. Considering Weaver started building with toothpicks when he was 8 years old, he’s “kept the ball rolling”.
Despina Stratigakos and Kelly Hayes McAlonie, both architects, lobbied Mattel to make “Architect Barbie”. In her 52 years Barbie has had more than 125 jobs, including 4 as a presidential candidate. In this job Barbie is meant to both inspire young girls and improve statistics. In 2011 40% of architecture students are female, but only 20% become practicing architects. Although Architect Barbie has black-rimmed glasses on her head and is carrying a hard hat and a document tube, she is wearing a strapless dress and high-heeled boots. If Barbie has designs in that tube, I think they’re on Ken.
Finally there’s Smokey, a 12-year-old, British cat with a Guinness world record. The gray-and-white tabby has the loudest purr made by a domestic cat – 67.7 decibels. It seems that Ruth Adams, the cat’s owner, ran a local contest for the loudest cat purr. A college student recorded Smokey’s purr and submitted it to Guinness. According to Guinness, the loudest animal sounds are the low-frequency pulses made by blue whales and fin whales, which reach 188 decibels. In comparison, a lawnmower’s sound reaches 90 decibels. By that standard, Smokey’s purr – which is reportedly as loud as the coo of an angry dove – may not have come from “purrgatory”.
Comments