July 1998 | Ramble Index | May 1998

6/29/98: New Annals of the Unrespected A new installment from wordsmith Matt Alt, with photos provided courtesy of Roy Ng. Jump here to link to the Info Library to check it out! And don't forget chat tonight at the Cafe Chogokin!

6/21/98: Web-Collector Collision Rifts in the time-space continuum result in a shocking meeting of mind and metal: Collector/writer Matt Alt warps up from Maryland for noodles and an afternoon o' toys! (That's him shown at right wearing impressive Hawaiian shirt while acheiving Toy Oneness with my shelf.) Matt's afternoon trip to my Cambridge studio was so successful that I've decided to offer a Toybox package tour to Boston. For a mere US $2999.99, I'll buss you straight into Cambridge where you'll be wined and dined at the Porter Square Golden Arches. After an intriguing "super-size" meal, we'll avoid the Freedom Trail, the Boston Common, and anything else vaguely educational as we head for my toy-laden pad. Once there, we'll fondle robots to the soothing theme music of Getta Robo and Metal Geeg. Select tour-takers may even be granted special access to my secret toy packing closet -- a veritable bonanza of styrofoam pellets and decomposing boxes. Still need convincing? Well -- you could try to find me on your own, but maps of the Metro Boston area are, uh, terribly scarce. A local sherpa is essential to finding your way around. Also: there's the convenience of it all -- nuff said! So email now to reserve your space. At a price like this, I'm sure to be booked through the millenium... Have Happy Toy Week!

6/18/98: Ouch! Long time... ...no update! Apologies for the long delay, and for my generally scattered demeanor at the last two Cafe Chogokin chats. I've had a difficult three weeks, and am just now getting back on my feet. (Enough personal crap.) Thanks to Matt for this picture of the ultra-cool Valkyrie GBP Armour (click to see it bigger.) Check Digital Shelf for some new images as well. Monday night's chat session was ravaged by the hosing of the chat server at Basichat.com. They have rectified this problem, but if anyone has other clients they'd like to suggest, forward them URLs...

6/5/98: Ryu=Ugly Ouch! A trying and difficult week for me, as those who are privy to my personal baggage know. I finally got to a round of updates to the Gallery, including shots of Gold Baron F.M.F., Ugly Popy Gatchaman Ryu, and Takatoku Nove. At right, one of the lumpiest and ugliest Popy toys I own: Gatchaman Ryu!

6/1/98: Alt.Matt.Guest.Ramble! Collector Matt Alt Reports: "At the last Tokyo Toy Show, Bandai unveiled a new line of toys: the SIC, or 'Super Imaginitave Chogokin.' There are pictures on page 163 of the newest Hobby Japan. "There are three figures in the first wave: 'remakes' of Ishonomori Shotaro pieces, which are Kikaider Zero-Zero, Kikaider Zero-one, and Bijinda, a female robo-rider. They are unposable statues of 'combination media,' based mainly on cho-go-kin zinc-alloy diecast. They'd be among the greatest pieces ever made if they could only be posed. Check 'em out! "HJ sez they're soliciting reader comments on the pieces and will publish in a later issue. Should be interesting." Check it out! Just got my new Day-Old Antiques Poster by Coop, featuring the big blue guy in stunning color. These are -- trust me -- cool, and are limited and numbered by Coop. To order, jump to Day-Old... Click to see it really big. (You knew that.)

July 1998 | Ramble Index | May 1998