MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Stanley]

Looks like a demonstration of skill to me. Is it a micro image of 3D printing at the nano metric level?

[Marilyn]

There is a woman at our local markets who will write your name on a grain of rice, for a fee.
(I would only lose it!)
Bet a bag of rice lasts her ages

[Tizer]

Is he a hologram using a 3D Mirascope? I saw something similar when we visited the Parkes radio telescope recently. These were for sale in the gift shop. The little turtle would be placed inside the mirascope and he then appears as a hologram on top.
Description;
"The 3D Mirascope uses parabolic mirrors to capture the light of an object and then project it as a three-dimensional image. These mirrors have a special shape called parabola, and this allows the mirrors to reflect light in a very special way. The 3D Mirascope utilises the properties of the parabolic mirrors to create the hologram. "

Congratulations Liz! You've got it exactly, a Mirascope, and you've provided the explanation of how it works. The source of ours is rather similar to where you saw them but on the other side of the globe - we bought it at the telegraphy museum in Cornwall. They are sold with a little ball of coloured cotton wool but you can replace that with whatever your prefer, hence the turtle. The turtle you see in my photo is not the real object but a projected image. You can poke your finger through it, which freaks out some people who don't know about holograms. The real thing is in the bottom of the device and the image is projected above a hole in the top. Rather than trying to explain if further myself here are two web sites that do it properly:

The simpler version

The geeky version

Even if you prefer the simpler explanation you should still have a look at the geeky version because it has more and better pictures. It's a fascinating bit of kit and they used it in the museum to demonstrate what a hologram is. I think a true hologram uses lasers which is why the Mirascope promo material doesn't refer to hologram. But the effect looks the same and it's good for education. The more we show people stuff like this the better the chance of stopping them believing in ghosts and myths!

[Stanley]

Well I never..... Well done that woman!

[David Whipp]

Thinking about small things... anyone know what this is? A visitor to our house the other day.

[LizG]

Well I never..... Well done that woman!

Thanks, it's not very often I get one!! They really are very cool things. The one we saw had a little frog in it and like Tiz said you can poke your finger right through it.

David, yours just looks like a bee to me.

[PanBiker]

Looks like a bee to me as well, we have a similar variety visit our yard. Unless it's hard shelled, difficult to tell from the photo.

[Marilyn]

A government drone insect...flys in your window to check out your true worth...has a camera that records expensive antiques and counts piles of cash on your bedside table. Also reports signs of prostitution...in full HD video.

[LizG]

I do worry about you sometimes Maz.

[Marilyn]

Worry not. I have impenetrable insect screens!
( must admit I worry about creepy types having hidden cameras when we stay in holiday rentals... I lay there pointing at various attachments on the ceiling asking "what's that? ( as I clutch the bedding under my chin)..they can't all be smoke detectors!)

[Wendyf]

Have you got any corpses lying around David? It could be a Sexton Beetle

[Tizer]

Holiday cottages we visit often have weird gadgets that need inspecting. They seem designed to give out scents, purify the air or to kill insects (or perhaps all three!). We disconnect them from the mains power or take the batteries out, otherwise I'll start sneezing. Even worse is when people kindly leave flowers, especially lilies - they have to relegated to the porch!

[Tizer]

Have you got any corpses lying around David? It could be a Sexton Beetle

Well done Wendy, it looks to me like that's the right ID. Better take up David's floorboards and check what's underneath!

[Marilyn]

Tizzy...just as paranoid as me! ( whew...nice to know)...though your concerns are allergy based?
I think it is just because I live with a man who is totally oblivious to his surroundings. He could sleep in a bed that had a poster above it, with a huge arrow and the words " there is a bomb under this bed"...and he would still climb in and get a good nights sleep. He doesn't believe in locking doors or gates. He trusts in the goodness of people. Security is not an issue for him. ( he will leave his wallet on a pub table whilst he visits the loo)
I don't !

[Tizer]

Yes, it's the allergy problems with me, but like you we have more concern about security than it sounds like Febby does! We are more cautious than average about keeping our doors locked. Mrs Tiz's mum once found a stranger in her kitchen while hubby was out at work. He wasn't aggressive and she managed to get him out but it's a bad shock and leaves you more sensitive about security. He got in via the back yard because the doors weren't locked. We once saw two men exploring our back garden and went out expecting trouble. It turned out they were from the Land Registry and were checking property boundaries. Apparently the Registry has the right to enter private properties but it seems a bit much to simply walk in unannounced when they could have rung the door bell first.

[Stanley]

Liz, I agree about Maz...... Highly individual!
I wouldn't have got the last one.....

[Marilyn]

I'm really quite harmless....

[Stanley]

But a bit cooky at times......

[David Whipp]

Grateful for Marilyn's suggestion - will commence a bug sweep immediately.

Afraid I couldn't get the beetle to stay still long enough to get a decent photo. Thank you for the link Wendy. Not sure that the markings were just like the Sexton Beetle. If it was, maybe the copious corpses of mice that our cats leave lying around are the attraction...

[Tizer]

Better call in the cats for interrogation until they reveals where they hid the one corpse that you still haven't found.

[Wendyf]

Too late, the sexton will have buried it....

[Stanley]

Try this one....

[Stanley]

Need a clue?

[David Whipp]

Adjustable bench foot...

[Marilyn]

I dare not give an opinion...