As a former electrical engineer, I’m pretty dubious about steam power for personal transportation…just doesn’t seem efficient enough. I did have a steam-powered computer once, but I had to give it up once Vista came on the scene.

A number of Brass Goggles aficionados (Jake von Slatt, Rob Lang and Matt White: who says that great minds don’t think alike) let us in on Tom Sepe’s Whirlygig Emoto. It’s meant to be an electric-steam hybrid motorbike. Taking a 60’s bike frame, Tom has converted the bike to electric drive.

Just as I was going to put my propeller beanie and try my hand at steam power, I realized that the unit is driven by batteries and the trailing clouds of vapour are just for show!

Still, Tom has been very clever in his punkization of the bike. Read the full article by Meredith Scheff at steampunkworkshop.com.

I’ve always loved maps; the more arcane the better. There’s nothing like a really good map to help you find your way (although inaccurate ones can be a lot more fun).

And in the true tradition of route-finding, Justin Fisher has taken the time to create a map (in English and in colour) of Lincoln Island, the island featured in “The Mysterious Island” by Jules Verne. Finding that a map was indispensable to enjoyment of the book, Justin used the original French engraving and Verne’s original notes as references to draw a detailed map of the island.

For those of us who would like to benefit from Justin’s efforts, you can go to Justin’s Map Page and download your own copy or have a printed version delivered to your humble abode.