Day: December 4, 2005

Home of the original/authentic Captain America Bike.

Labor Day weekend not only featured the celebration of Harley-Davidson’s 100th Anniversary in Milwaukee, WI, it reunited Peter Fonda with his original Captain America bike! Surrounded by curious motorcycle enthusiasts, Fonda signed authenticity papers stating that the Captain America bike – currently on display at the National Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame in Anamosa, Iowa – is the only original, authentic Captain America motorcycle in existence. He also autographed the bikes gas tank.

View the Timeline
or Take A Tour.

My name is Kyle MacDonald and I am making a series of up-trades for bigger or better things up to my goal of a house. I started with one red paperclip on July 12th, 2005.

This red paperclip is currently sitting on my desk next to my computer. I want to trade this paperclip with you for something bigger or better, maybe a pen, a spoon, or perhaps a boot.

If you promise to make the trade I will come and visit you, wherever you are, to trade.

PS
I’m going to make a continuous chain of ‘up trades’ until I get a house. Or an Island. Or a house on an island. You get the idea.

This morning Rawnie and Corinna from Vancouver called me up and offered to make a trade of their fish pen for the paperclip. Ronnie and Corinna are Vegans.
~
Rawnie found the pen camping and was sad to see it go, but was pretty stoked on her new paperclip.
~
I’m pumped on having the pen, but in the name of the game, it’s gotta go too.

So, please get back to me if you’re down with trading me something bigger and better than a wooden fish pen to get yourself the said pen.

He’s made a lot of trades since the Fish Pen. I think he might make it!

“Pat Acton is clearly the best matchstick model maker in North America. Quality-wise and skill-wise, he’s the best in the world.” — Edward Meyer, Vice President, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Patrick Acton was born in Greene County, Iowa, and raised on his family’s farm near Rippey. After he graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1977, he moved to Gladbrook with his wife April. It was at this time that Acton began his experimentation with matchsticks. Acton is currently employed professionally as a career and employment counselor in nearby Marshalltown. Making matchstick models remains a passionate hobby.

Many models have historical significance, such as large-scale models of the USS Iowa battleship, the space shuttle Challenger, the Wright Brothers’ Flyer, and the United States Capitol, which measures 12 feet long. Other models have world significance such as the French cathedral Notre Dame of Chartres, which took 2 years and 174,000 matchsticks to construct.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not has purchased 15 of Acton’s matchstick models for their museums throughout the world, including Mexico City, Jakarta, Copenhagen, and Sidney, Australia. In the United States, they are displayed in Branson, the Wisconsin Dells, New Orleans, Key West, Jackson Hole, Gatlinburg, Atlantic City, and others.

The museum in Gladbrook is about a block from where I lived until 4th grade. The “Big Tent” for the Corn Carnival was always right in front of our house.

Tandi the Pug.