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Lost Dog In General
by cyberem78 The Lost Dog Collection is a collectable set of resin figurines depicting a loveable dog in various positions and situations. Although in each piece the dog appears in many different poses and scenarios it is always the same character appearing throughout the collection. He is a white mongrel type dog with a grey-brown patch over one ... side of his face and left ear. He also wears a thick leather collar with a chain leash attached. I first purchased one of these from the official online store and since then I have only ever seen them available on the highstreet at a store called Collectables which I believe is a store local to the north east of England. My nearest store is on Northumberland Street in Newcastle Upon Tyne. I imagine they might appear at independant gift stores around the country but I think the best place to get them is probably the official Xystos company website which is at: http://xystos.co.uk/lostdog/ The Lost Dog idea was envisioned by sculptor Craig Davidson and produced by the company Xystos and is based on the idea of a lost or homeless dog that is looking for love and a permanant residence. Many of the figures therefore feature the cartoon style dog in sad and vulnerable situations although there is a comic twist in the designs which make most of them appear more cute than tragic. Many of the figures show the little dog trying to gain love by pulling a sad or innocent face - a lot like the character Puss does in the movie 'Shrek'. There are also serveral figures which show the dog attempting to garner love and affection by doing tricks like fetching sticks (ie. the model 'This Game Takes Two'), offering boquets of flowers ('For You') or begging ('Please!'). As well as this there are a couple of figures which show the dog struggling to survive in the outdoors. I find these figures put a little lump in my throat as they make the dog appear so helpless and pathetic! The figures show the dog sleeping rough under starlight ('Wishing On A Star-Limited Edition'), desperately trying to follow a road signpost ('Which Way Now'), playing alone on a children's see-saw ('Missing You') or braving the elements ('Looks Familiar'). As a person who has a real life dog from a shelter I have to say that I much more prefer the happier figures and those which suggest the dog has indeed found what he has been looking for. Figures such as 'Youre The Pick of The Bunch' is an optimistic choice as is 'Dreaming of A New Home' and the simplistic 'Sit' and 'Walkies' models. If you've never seen and held any of the figures you may be surprised how sturdy and heavy they are. Even the smallest of the figures feel quite bulky and solid and their size means collecting the entire range may be asking too much as far as being able to find living space for them all! Some of the tallest models stand at around 23-27 centimetres tall and make a striking and unmissable ornament in any room. The quality of the figures is extremely high with the finish in sculpting and colouring being perfect. The resin figures have actual leather collars and real metal chain lead in most of the original release models. The dogs have a smooth and sleek feel to them and are easy to keep clean. The detail on some of the figures is amazing with things like flower petals individually etched and details on 'paper' posters written and drawn with precision. When you recieve your figure it is packed in a sturdy box with plenty of protective insulation inside which means it is very unlikely for these to break in transit. The outer cardboard box looks like a crate and is well designed. It is a particularly striking gift box as it is marked with the Lost Dog logo and looks very high quality and as if something terribly exciting is held within. The Xystos website is a fantastic portal for any Lost Dog lovers and owners. It's a place where you can download an 'owners certificate' and officially name your dog. You can also log the dog's location on a special map. There are even fiction stories posted on the website where you can read the adventure of Lost Dog. There is a mailing list should you want to keep up with the latest product releases and news. It's a great add-on that makes you want to feed into the Lost Dog craze! I recommend Lost Dog figures to anyone who really loves dogs and high quality collectable models. I also think you can't go wrong if you get one of these as a gift for a dog-loving child or teenager. With prices ranging from around £10 to up to £35 you can definately find a model which suits your needs. Read the complete review |
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Binoculars
by slender_toned I was given a cheap pair of binoculars a long time ago and having used them quite a bit occasionally, I feel it was a good buy. You can get loads of different binoculars - expensive ones, cheaper ones and ones that can see further than others. The technology in mine are very simple with an 8x magnification, made by Inpro. Mine ... came in a little case, which most binoculars tend to come in. It also has a strap round it so you can wear it round your neck. This always feels a lot safer when you are gazing out of them as you may somewhat lose balance when your vision is miles ahead of you. It's certainly better with more expensive ones too as you wouldn't want to drop them just in case. In general however, they seem to be quite hardy when enclosed in a plastic or rubber case. Some will have coloured lenses to provide some sort of camouflage. You can use binoculars for a range of things, although I generally use them for sightseeing and whenever I may need them. They are quite comfortable to use and you can adjust the eyepieces to the correct distance so you can see a single circle of vision once your eyes adjust. The rubber bit on mine that goes round the eye pieces works well to keep light out but can also feel a little hard and uncomfortable after longer periods of use. I was once on holiday and caught the site of a fire a while away and used my trusty binoculars I had to get a better view. With the correct focus for the distance you are trying to view, they can provide a good picture. However with little natural movements, it can be hard to view something unless you hold the binoculars very still. I find that resting my arms on something like a balcony or even the ground makes it a lot easier to steady the binoculars and get a better view. You can also use them for animal watching including birds. I have never really done this as I'm not the kind of person who would sit there and look for different birds, however binoculars would come in very handy there. They are good for general sightseeing, if you are taking a tour or are going somewhere scenic, you may want to get a better view of the distant landscape and binoculars will allow you to do that. It's certainly better than paying to use a pair all the time at such attractions. I'd recommend everyone has a pair of cheap binoculars. They are quite enjoyable to use and I have found that they always come in handy sometimes unlike other stuff you may buy and neglect. If you like them or they 'open your eyes' to a new hobby, then you may want to invest in a slightly better and more powerful pair. The prices range from around £10 for a cheap pair to hundreds for a really good pair. Thanks for reading! :) Read the complete review |
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Collecting Autographs
by thole09 One of the most discussed topics on Twitter at this moment in time is that actor James Avery, who might be better known for his portrayal of Judge Phillip Banks on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", has passed away. Fortunately this was a false flag report and it's likely that uncle Phil is still living large and in charge! ... However, in light of the recent news scare, I have been prompted to reflect on my time as an autograph collector and took a glance at my collection once again. I was a dissatisfied trading card collector before getting into the autograph scene. I can't quite remember what prompted me to try my luck at sending letters to celebrities, but I do remember one of my first successes being Judge Judith Sheindlin of the "Judge Judy" television programme in the United States. My letter of request was sent through her official website and I received a signed black and white photograph about 10 days later. I have since gone on to build a collection of roughly 70 signed photos, but lulled out of the hobby due to the majority of them arriving damaged through rough handling and questionable delivery practices by the Royal Mail. I didn't feel it was appropriate to dedicate my time to writing personal heartfelt letters to my adored celebrities and for the recipient to accept the cost of printing, packaging, and the like only for the middle man to ruin the experience. Yes I did complain to the higher-ups of the Royal Mail, but no I did not receive a resolution that was to my satisfaction as a customer. My last signed photo was mercilessly shoved through my letter slot on May 11, 2009 and I haven't sent any letters since then. Storage was one of my primary concerns when first breaking into the hobby of collecting autographs. After all, photographs aren't small items by any means and can quickly spiral out of control if the hobbyist is building a collection "in bulk" per se. Many local department stores and national chain stores carry photographic material, but it is rare to find an acid free solution that is said to preserve and protect the photograph for a lifetime. In fact, a lot of what is available to most customers locally could end up destroying the photo over a lifetime! "Magnetic" and sticky adhesive albums should be avoided at all costs as the glue's unrelenting tension can bond to the photo over time and impregnate it with acidic chemicals that eventually distort the image to a yellowish colour. The storage solution that works best for me is a combination of acid free photo sleeves and a similar acid free style four ring folder, which were both ordered from a professional photo shop on the Internet. This allows me to store the folder upright, which effectively displays it as a part of my bedroom or home office's decor and keeps my autographs a part of my daily life. My signed photos also serve as great conversation pieces when guests come over and I needn't worry about unsightly smudges or dirty hands. All autograph pursuits start by approaching the celebrity in person or by sending a letter of request through the post. I find the latter option is the one that suits me best as I prefer to organize my thoughts in writing as opposed to rambling incoherent sentences in a moment of awe. Letters should be formatted as polite, professional, and concise messages. Keeping a letter to one page or less is important as actors, sports personalities, and other famous individuals tend to live with hectic schedules and don't truly have the time to appreciate lengthy five page missives. Letters should also be organized by writing an introductory paragraph, a paragraph of appreciation for their work or achievement, and a closing remark that requests a signed object of some sort. There is a continued debate in the autograph world surrounding the effectiveness of handwritten versus typed messages, but I have usually had success with typed messages as I don't feel too confident about my handwriting. I'd prefer the recipient being able to appreciate my message rather than getting lost in the messiness of it all! It is considered customary to include a self addressed stamped envelope with written requests, which is better known by the acronym "SASE". International autograph requests tend to create problems for stamped envelopes as a lot of us don't have access to the foreign stamps that the recipient's country will recognize as legal issues for postal use. This can be alleviated by purchasing an "IRC coupon" from many high street post offices. IRC coupons are used in exchange for the standard airmail rate in the recipient's country and are generally accepted in most stable populated nations. IRC coupons should be included with letters of request for the recipient to use upon posting. Authenticity is obviously a concern for many autograph collectors. While there are no concrete rules to determine authenticity, collectors may purchase sample books and other authoritative sources that outline the genuine signature of celebrities or high status individuals. No two signatures will ever be identical, but the general "shell" of a signature ought to be present when determining what is authentic and what isn't. Some celebrities are known to use "autopen" machines that trace their signature onto an object, use a rubber stamp, or even employ secretaries to sign autographs. Catching unauthentic autographs can be a difficult process. However, it's all in the fun of the hobby! The circle of life is one that will eventually come to a close on all of us. Celebrities can touch our lives in ways that enrich our free time for the better. A simple letter of appreciation to express one's thanks can do wonders for the soul, but receiving a signed item in return can be a mesmerizing sight. I cherish my handful of signed photos and don't plan on getting rid of them at any point soon. The James Avery scare of today has made me stop and think about the hobby once more. Maybe it's time to write my favourite celebrities again. Read the complete review |
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1 review Discussion / Are you a Lost Dog lover? Share stories about your hoard of these resin collectables... |
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