Posted by Notcot on Feb 17, 2011 in
Steampunk 
Ichnographia urbis Londinii… (A Plan of the City of London, after the great FIRE, in the Year of Our Lord 1666.)
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An extremely scarce 1744 map of London showing Sir Christopher Wren’s plan for reconstructing the city following the 1666 Great Fire of London. In 1666 the Great Fire swept through the old Roman portions of London, laying waste to most of the original walled city. Christopher Wren, a well known architect of the period was quick to respond to the disaster as a opportunity to dramatically redesign and modernize London’s center. Wren having been schooled in Paris envisioned an elaborate classically influenced reconstruction of the city with broad avenues meeting in a series of Piazzas. Despite, or perhaps because of, Wren’s promptitude in producing a plan for a major post-fire reconstruction, his plan exhibits a number of dramatic errors. Wren did not take the city’s topography into account and consequently much of the this plan is unfeasible. Despite claims to the contrary in the document itself, Wren’s plan was never seriously considered by either the King or the Parliament.
Today Wren’s original 1666 plan is lost. This version was drawn in 1744 by the once fashionable engrave P. Fourdrinier, who claims to have replicated exactly a scarce 1724 original owned by the Earl of Pembroke. This map covers London along the north side of the Thames River from Strand Bridge to Great Tower Hill. Shows Wren’s detailed reconstruction plan, along with the regions originally destroyed by the Great Fire. Identifies the proposed locations of parochial churches, markets, piazzas, bridges and warehouses. A vignette in the lower left quadrant depicts Thamesis, the river god for which the Thames River is named. The upper left quadrant bears the image of a phoenix, suggesting that, like the mythical bird, London too would rise from its own ashes and be reborn in fire. The lower quadrants of this plate include the map’s title in both English and Latin as well as a detailed “Explanation of the Plan”.
This plan is highly uncommon and rarely appears outside of institutional collections.
Date: 1744 (dated)
References: Yale University, British Arts, Folio A G 11. British Library, Maps CC.5.a.197. Folger Library, MAP L85c no. 25.
Cartographer: Christopher Wren (October 20, 1632-February 25, 1723)
Christopher Wren was an English architect and geometer active in the later 16th and early 17th century. Wren is considered to be one of the most prolific and highly acclaimed English architects in history. In the late 17th century architecture such as we know it today did not exist, rather it was considered a branch of mathematics and as such was consequently an acceptable hobby for the gentleman of distinction. Wren acquired an interested in architecture as a young man and developed his interest through varied studies at Oxford. Wren career as a architect received a significant boost from the Great London Fire of 1666, which facilitated an almost complete reconstruction of much of the city. Wren is responsible for some 55 churches as well as numerous other significant works. In recognition of his accomplishments Wren was knighted on November 14, 1673. He was also a founding father of the Royal Society. Though sickly as a child, Wren lived to a ripe old age 90. Wren is said to have passed away after taking ill on a trip to London in order admire his greatest masterpiece, St. Pauls Cathedral.
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Posted by Notcot on Jan 26, 2011 in
Cult Film 
Have you ever wondered how Karl Pilkington got where he is today?
This book is an unofficial biography of the genius who has brought us some of the best quotes in recent times.
Explore Karl’s rise to super stardom in this micro guide kindle book. A great point of reference for any fan of the witty Manc.
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Posted by Notcot on Jan 1, 2011 in
Noir 
Director Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard) and writer Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep) adapted James M. Cain’s hard-boiled novel into this wildly thrilling story of insurance man Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), who schemes the perfect murder with the beautiful dame Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck: kill Dietrichson’s husband and make off with the insurance money. But, of course, in these plots things never quite go as planned, and Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) is the wily insurance investigator who must sort things out. From the opening scene you know Neff is doomed, as the story is told in flashback; yet, to the film’s credit, this doesn’t diminish any of the tension of the movie. This early film noir flick is wonderfully campy by today’s standards, and the dialogue is snappy (“I thought you were smarter than the rest, Walter. But I was wrong. You’re not smarter, just a little taller”), filled with lots of “dame”s and “baby”s. Stanwyck is the ultimate femme fatale, and MacMurray, despite a career largely defined by roles as a softy (notably in the TV series My Three Sons and the movie The Shaggy Dog), is convincingly cast against type as the hapless, love-struck sap. –Jenny Brown
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Posted by Notcot on Nov 2, 2010 in
Home Cinema & Video 
Average Rating: 5.0 / 5 (10 Reviews)
HD ZONE Ultimate Premium Pro Gold Range Optical Cable. Superb quality and appearance for all standard Optical audio requirements including Sky,Sky+,Sky HD, Virgin TV, PS3, Xbox with Surround Sound systems and AV Amplifiers. HD ZONE Premium Pro Gold Range Series Digital Optical Cable is designed specifically for today’s hi-performance home entertainment products. TosLinkTM and EIA-J compatible and delivers highly accurate digital information. Constructed from a High Grade Light Conductive Core and insulated by a non-reflective black PVC dielectric, to help reduces jitters and improve resolution. High performance light signal transfer for digital audio High grade fibre optic core for accurate digital transmission our Optical Premium Pro Gold Series TosLinkTM connector ensures connection integrity Immune from noise interference TosLinkTM and EIA-J compatible Available in 1m,Technical Details SKY, SKY+, SKY HD, PS3, Blu-ray, AV Amplifier compatible. Gold Plated Tip. Great for installers wanting a quality Digital cable. Toslink Connection type. 2m / 2 Metres (6.4ft).
- HD Zones Premium Pro Gold Series Optical Cable is Ideal for budget,mid range and Top Range systems
- PS3,XBOX,SKY, SKY HD,VIRGIN,LCD,LED,PLASMA,BLU-RAY,HOME CINEMA SORROUND SYSTEMS & AV AMP compatible
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- Optimise audio transfer,High Quality Digital Surround Sound
- High Quality Single Mode Optical Cable, Length: 2M (6.4ft)
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Posted by Notcot on Oct 7, 2010 in
Peripherals & Accessories 
Average Rating: 4.5 / 5 (29 Reviews)
Product Description
Keep your hard drive cool and get fast data transfers! This 2.5-inch hard drive enclosure is made of Aluminium material and is suitable for all types of 2.5-inch hard drives. It is compatible with USB 2.0 for high speed data transfers up to 480 Mbps.
Its pocket sized shape makes for easy portability! Take your hard drive with you and keep it cool, Order today!
- Super slim, anodised aluminium heatsink enclosure
- High-speed USB2 Interface – up to 480Mbps transfer
- Plug n’ Play and Hot Swappable Supports SATA 2.5″ Hard Disk up to 500Gb (500mA read/write). No Power Supply needed – supplied by USB Bus
- Status LED for Read/Write operations. High-speed USB cable supplied.
- Dimensions: 125 x 75 x 12mm, Weight: 60 grams. Compatible with Windows® 98/ME/2000/XP/VISTA/7 and MAC
LUPO 2.5″ Inch SATA USB 2.0 Hard Drive Case – BLACK
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Posted by Notcot on Aug 18, 2010 in
Photography 
Average Rating: 3.5 / 5 (55 Reviews)
- The latest and fastest version of the Type M xD card
- Provides high read/write speeds necessary for today’s newest digital cameras
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- For most xD-Picture Card compatible Digital Cameras
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Fuji 2GB XD Picture Card Type M
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Posted by Notcot on Jul 14, 2010 in
Cult Film 
Average Rating: 4.5 / 5 (12 Reviews)
Amazon.co.uk Review
A milestone of the silent film era and one of the first “art films” to gain international acclaim, this eerie German classic from 1919 remains the most prominent example of German expressionism in the emerging art of the cinema. Stylistically, the look of the film’s painted sets–distorted perspectives, sharp angles, twisted architecture–was designed to reflect (or express) the splintered psychology of its title character, a sinister figure who uses a lanky somnambulist (Conrad Veidt) as a circus attraction. But when Caligari and his sleepwalker are suspected of murder, their novelty act is surrounded by more supernatural implications. With its mad-doctor scenario, striking visuals, and a haunting, zombie-like character at its centre, Caligari was one of the first horror films to reach an international audience, sending shock waves through artistic circles and serving as a strong influence on the classic horror films of the 1920s, 30s, and beyond. It’s a museum piece today, of interest more for its historical importance, but The Cabinet of Dr Caligari still casts a considerable spell. –Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Das Cabinet Des Dr Caligari
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Posted by Notcot on Jun 16, 2010 in
Photography 
Average Rating: 4.0 / 5 (10 Reviews)
Product Description
Adhering to the new Class 10 specification, Transcend’s SDHC cards perform at a transfer rate up to 20MB/s on devices supporting SD 3.0, ensuring your device remains quick and responsive while recording and viewing files. The SDHC Class 10 series offer larger-volume data storage and optimized recording performance with support for FAT 32 file formats. With capacity of up to 16GB of storage, you can store your entire music or picture collection on today’s high-megapixel digital cameras, HDTV digital video cameras, PDAs and other memory-hungry devices.
Features:
Fully compatible with SD 3.0 Standards.
SDHC Class 10 compliant.
Compatible with all SDHC-labeled host devices (not compatible with standard SD).
Easy to use, plug-and-play operation.
Built-in Error Correcting Code (ECC) to detect and correct transfer errors.
Complies with Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) portable device requirements.
Supports Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM).
Allows In System Programming (ISP) for updating firmware.
Supports auto-standby, power-off and sleep modes.
Mechanical write-protection switch.
RoHS compliant.
Technical Specifications:
Capacity: 16GB.
– Data Transfer Speed Class: 10.
Operating Voltage : 2.7V~3.6V.
Operating Temperature : -25°C(-13°F) to 85°C(185°F).
Durability : 10,000 insertion/removal cycles.
- Transcend Secure Digital High-Capacity Flash Card
- Capacity: 16GB
- Fully compatible with the SD 3.0 Standard
- SDHC Class 10 compliant
- Compatible with all SDHC-labeled host devices (n
Transcend 16GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card
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Posted by Notcot on Jun 11, 2010 in
Home Cinema & Video 
Average Rating: / 5 ( Reviews)
Product Description
LG 42LE5300 42 INCH 100Hz FULL HD LED TV This stunning ultra slim LED TV provides Full HD 1080p picture quality and features TruMotion 100Hz and a USB connection that gives you access to your favourite pictures music and videos. This TV not only looks superb but will also save you money on your electricity bill by using 40% less power than traditional LCD TVâTMs Features LED A Revolution In Picture Quality and Ultra-slim Design. With a contrast ratio of 3000000:1 LG TVs latest LED backlight-technology provides you with crystal-clear images deeper blacks and the most realistic colours available today. LG LED TV will save you money off your electricity bills as LED backlight-technology saves up to 40% of power consumption vs. LCD technology. LG LED backlighting also saves on…
LG 42LE5300 42-inch Widescreen Full HD 1080p 100Hz LED TV with Freeview
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Posted by Notcot on Jun 11, 2010 in
Home Cinema & Video 
Average Rating: 5.0 / 5 (5 Reviews)
Product Description
HD ZONE Ultimate Premium Range Optical Cable. Superb quality
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HD ZONE Premium Range Series Digital Optical Cable is designed specifically for today’s hi-performance home entertainment products. TosLinkTM and EIA-J compatible and delivers highly accurate digital information. Constructed from a High Grade Light Conductive Core and insulated by a non-reflective black PVC dielectric, to help reduces jitters and improve resolution. High performance light signal transfer for digital audio High grade fibre optic core for accurate digital transmission our Optical Premium Pro Series TosLinkTM connector ensures connection integrity Immune from noise interference TosLinkTM and EIA-J compatible Available in 1m,Technical Details SKY, SKY+, SKY HD, PS3, Blu-ray, AV Amplifier compatible. Gold Plated Tip. Great for installers wanting a quality Digital cable. Toslink Connection type. 1m / 1 Metres
- High Quality 1M single mode optical cable
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1M PREMIUM RANGE DIGITAL OPTICAL CABLE FOR BEST DIGITAL SOUND FOR PS3,SKY HD,AMPLIFIERS AND HOME CINEMA SYSTEMS,UK SELLER
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