Help with International Mutoscope Reel Company flip film?

A friend found this International Mutoscope Reel Company flip film in her basement and would like to learn more about it. The imprint on the metal rim says "Inter. Muto. Reel Co. Patd, Made in U.S.A. N.Y.C. Subject No. 7680". The reel is like a circular flip book which shows a movie of a woman in various states of undress.

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According to Wikipedia...

Mutoscope

Mutoscopes were a popular feature of amusement arcades and pleasure piers in the UK until the introduction of decimal coinage in 1971 made the mechanisms obsolete. The typical arcade installation included multiple machines offering a mixture of fare. Both in the early days and during the revival, that mixture usually included "girlie" reels which ran the gamut from risqué to outright soft-core pornography. It was, however, common for these reels to have suggestive titles that implied more than the reel actually delivered. The title of one such reel, What the Butler Saw, became a by-word, and Mutoscopes are commonly known in England as "What-the-Butler-Saw machines." (What the butler saw, presumably through a keyhole, was a woman partially disrobing.)

Mutoscopes were originally manufactured from 1895 to 1909 by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, or its licensee Marvin & Casler Co., formed by two of American Mutoscope's founders. In the 1920s the Mutoscope was licensed to William Rabkin who started his own company, the International Mutoscope Reel Company, which manufactured new reels and also machines from 1926 until 1949. The term "Mutoscope" is no longer a registered trademark in the United States.

International Mutoscope Reel Company

The mutoscope was a peep show-style movie viewer that was first manufactured by the American Mutoscope and Biograph company, and is notable for being one of the first means by which motion pictures were exhibited. The company gradually changed its focus to motion picture production and projection, and by the early 1920s, had stopped production of both mutoscopes and the movie reels that were played by the machines.

Does anyone have any more information on this content? She's interested in selling this to a collector. If anyone has an idea of how much it might be worth, please post a comment below.

Technorati Tags: mutoscope, flip film, girlie reels

Breaking Open Facebook with Open Source Software (Part 2)

The following entry provides an open source social networking infrastructure inspired by my earlier post, “Breaking Open Facebook with Open Source Software - Part 1”.

The architecture below provides a high level overview, not a detailed requirements specification. I invite your comments and feedback, especially in areas where I may have missed existing open source infrastructure that may be useful.

My proposed open source social networking architecture includes a core module and several optional components. Click the image below to enlarge.

The core module provides the basic services necessary to enable a hosted, distributed social network community. The core module is to be installed widely by open source advocates and anyone who wishes to host their own profile privately or start their own online community.

The core module provides services that link these new open source networks together and offer consumers the ability to choose one service to host their profile, while still interacting and connecting with friends on other services. Whereas today, consumers are locked in to using proprietary social networks where most of their friends gather, this architecture would allow consumers to choose their own profile service while still interacting with friends on other services.

The core module is made up of four elements:

1. Profile Host. The core module provides the ability to host one or more member profiles and publishing these publicly or privately on the Web and to directories such as the Friend Finder below (or search engines).  

2. Profile Editor. The Profile Editor is a Web-based profile builder like Facebook’s own or Friend of a Friend (FOAF). The editor makes it easy for members to build and update their profiles with personal information.

3. Friend Finder. The Friend Finder is both a Web-based user interface and a Web service for browsing and finding friends across this new distributed network of open source social networks. Using the Friend Finder, members can associate with friends from many distributed networks into their profile. 

4. Social Networking Web Services. This is a web services layer that can be bundled with the Profile Host and Profile Plugins (below). These web services will become the primary social operating system platform supplanting proprietary interfaces such as the Facebook Developers API. This API will support building and managing friend networks with the Friend Finder (perhaps using XFN or FOAF), status updates/microblogging and messaging. It will also generate feeds such as the XML profile site map for search engines, RSS activity feeds and any friendship network feeds that are needed. Additionally, it will provide services for registering or deleting members from various profile directories. It also provides an API for Widget and third party application developers to access data related to members’ profiles. In some cases, Widgets will just be gathering data the member wants to make public whereas in other cases, the API will be used to modify and access private data. It should make use of OpenID or other authentication methods to establish sessions and securely share data as chosen by the member.   

Technorati Tags: social networking, facebook, open source

Seattle's Streetcar Has a Website

This is the only idea of Paul Allen's I like, though rumor has it that there are no long term funding sources to keep it operating after the first year:

Seattle Streetcar Website

I think Seattle needs a dense network of streetcar lines - Lake Union will be a great testbed. Just once though, I'd like Paul Allen to build something in Seattle that he doesn't feel the need to squeeze taxpayers to partially finance.

I'm in Toronto this week where they have subways and tons of streetcars. The fares are a kind of high ($2.75 per trip, $30 per week unlimited) and streetcar service a bit slow at times, but getting around without a car is quite easy and fun. I love riding the rocket!

Technorati Tags: paul allen, seattle, seattle streetcar, ride the rocket, toronto, streetcar

VivaTerra: An eco-conscious, sustainable gift and wedding registry

A friend of mine is registered at VivaTerra, an eco-sustainable socially responsible shopping site with some Fair Trade and a gift registry:

Our name VivaTerra or living earth is inspired by our dedication to living in harmony with nature - for a healthier life now and for future generations. All of our products reflect a commitment to:

ecology and elegance: The finest goods that uniquely fuse exceptional quality and design with eco sensitivities.

organic, sustainable sources: The purest ingredients and sustainable resources possible - selected to be the best available.

earth and people friendly: Partners and suppliers who share our values and work to make a positive difference in the world.

handcrafted by artisans: Distinctive goods of uncommon value, handcrafted by passionate designers and artisans.

celebrate life: Celebrate life and human spirit by honoring traditions from cultures around the world.

Technorati Tags: viva terra, fair trade, wedding registry, gift registry, environment

Microsoft's Misguided Investment in Facebook

By investing $240 million in Facebook for a 1.6% share of the company, Microsoft just gave the company a huge injection of cash to continue development of its popular social network. If Microsoft ever wanted to offer its own social network, it just gave its number one competitor enough cash to act on all of its ambitious development plans. Meanwhile, Microsoft received only a tiny share of the company in return.

What Microsoft did get in return is a long term contract on Facebook advertising which will help its advertising business compete with Google's. Personally, I think this was incredibly shortsighted. It's a perfect example of an investment by one part of the company shooting the foot of another part of the company.

Historically, Microsoft's most important asset has been its Windows API. While it has failed to move this API to the Internet (and is only now trying to do so with its Windows Live effort), it seems to be undervaluing the competitive nature of Facebook's own social operating system platform. While Facebook likely would have received cash from another company if Microsoft hasn't invested, I find it strange that Microsoft chose to directly invest in a company that represents a potential long range threat. Perhaps this is an example of keeping your enemies closer.

Not sure what this means for Microsoft's own Wallop (see Wallop.com) social network, but it can't be good.

Technorati Tags: facebook, microsoft, wallop

Toronto has a coffee problem

At the JetFuel, this is a soy latte... if you want a shorter one, you'll have to ask and take it in a to go cup:

Technorati Tags: coffee, jet fuel, cabbagetown, toronto, coffee culture

Thrift stores in Canada

You won't see this at thrift stores in the U.S.:

Technorati Tags: canada, skates, thrift stores

More troubles at United Airlines

Apparently, United Airlines has been unable to charge MasterCard or American Express cards the last 24 hours or so. They tell me I have a confirmed seat and to check back tomorrow. I'll hope for the best and call then.

More on my experience with United Airlines from last week. Why would I fly United again you ask? Frequent flier miles, best available routes and schedules. I'm sure the maintenance of the planes is handled much more professionally...

Technorati Tags: united airlines, mastercard, american express

I'm not gay but I love Larry Craig

He's my favorite Republican ever. And he is definitely not gay ;)

Update: I want to add a bit more context to this. I believe that the Democrats wouldn't have won Congress if it weren't for pedophile GOP congressman Mark Foley last year. But I am happy to see Larry Craig stay in Congress through the 2008 elections. Foley gave the Democrats a one term majority. Craig's helping them cement it.

It's a tragedy that Larry Craig seems to be unable to come to terms publicly with his homosexual behaviors. I would have a great deal of respect for him if he came out now and taught our country a little about tolerance and understanding.

Technorati Tags: larry craig

National Geographic Live '08 Seattle Ticket Sales Now Online

National Geographic Live '08 Seattle ticket sales are much improved from last year. Past subscribers can buy tickets beginning today on the Seattle Symphony Web site. This is one of Seattle's most popular lecture events and the site was slow from all the traffic (warning: the checkout process has about ten pages). But, it worked ... and this is much easier process than in the past.

Technorati Tags: national geographic live, seattle, tickets