Contest #854: the Starship Enterprise in Vulcan, Alberta, Canada

Vulcan, Alberta in southern Canada was our stop this week – home to a large model of the Starship Enterprise FX6-1995-A from the Star Trek series.

Not named Vulcan after the home planet of Spock, but after the Roman god of fire by a railway surveyor fond of the classical world, the town has embraced its link to the Star Trek planet. Throughout the town, one can find Star Trek memorabilia in business names or in the lampposts and painted crosswalks. Vulcan is recognized as the “Official Star Trek Capital of Canada” and attracts tourists visiting to say they’ve been to Vulcan!

Finding the Starship before the hint:

  • Paul Voestermans
  • Graham Hedley
  • Martin de Bock
  • Phil Over
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • Bas van Limpt
  • Glenmorren
  • Hatterman
  • Angie CF

And after the hint:

  • The Curiosity
  • robin

Contest #853 – “A Christmas Story” Leg Lamp Statue, Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA

In the Movie “A Christmas Story”, the father character enters a contest and wins “a major award”. Unaware of what it is, the family awaits the arrival until this very moment:

Ok, so how did that become this? And why in Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA?

Well, it’s quite a circuitious story.

A professor at the University of Oklahoma Art School, Noland James, was born in Chickasha. At some point in his life, he created a lamp using the bottom half of a mannequin

This lamp sat in his office for most of his teaching career and was a subject of interest for many students, faculty and vistors. Once such “admirer” was later to find himself on the production team for “A Christmas Story” and designed the leg lamp for the movie. Was he inspired by Dr. James’s lamp? No one seems to know, but the city leadership of Chickasha took that info and most definintely ran with it.

Starting in 2020, they started using a giant inflatable leg lamp in their Christmas parade. They used the same inflatable in their “Christmas in July” parade in 2021 and their 2021 Christmas (presumably in December?) parade. Such was the publicity and acclaim, that they decided to erect this monstrosity er, statue in the town square by the old train station.

If you visit this small town 50 or so miles south of Oklahoma City, you can also see Dr. James’ original artwork, at the Grady County Historical Society.

Those who won the “Major Award” by finding it before the hint:

  • Graham Hedley
  • hhgygy
  • Garfield
  • Bas van Limpt
  • Angie CF
  • Martin de Bock

and those who had to settle for a “Minor Award” by finding it after:

  • Ashwini Agrawal
  • Paul Voestermans
  • Phil Ower

Contest #852: “Big Pistachio” near Alamogordo, New Mexico, US

One could say that this location started off with a small seed of an idea. It started as a humble tribute from a son to his father. From there, it developed a measure of celebrity and in some ports of call, evolved into a “destination” in its own right. Tim McGinn, owner of the pistachio ranch, said he wanted to “honor the memory of his father, Tom McGinn, who originally founded the pistachio and grape-producing farm.” The World’s Largest Pistachio was built in 2007. The location is just north of the town of Alamagorda, New Mexico in the southwest US.

Found before the hint:

  • Garfield
  • Paul Voestermans
  • Graham Hedley
  • hhgygy
  • Martin de Bock
  • Eloy Cano
  • Felix Bossert
  • Philip Ower
  • Angie CF

After the hint :

  • Ashwini Agrawal
  • Bas van Limpt
  • The Curiosity

Contest #852 Hint

They say that it can take twenty years for a tree to start producing good quality ______s, but the largest one is right here.