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Mark Anderson of Andertoons set out to make a Lego spaceship that resembled each of the 26 letters of the alphabet. It took two years to accomplish this goal, but he did it! Now all those spaceships are posted for your enjoyment. Link -Thanks, Mark!
As advertising becomes an ever-bigger part of our television experience, advertising characters are becoming pop culture icons. Hero Builders is offering a limited edition line of action figures based on characters from commercials. From the left, the Allstate Insurance “Mayhem” Guy, Dos Equis’ Most Interesting Man in the World, and the Old Spice Guy. There are two versions of the Old Spice Guy, one for all ages, and an anatomically-correct version for adults only. All of them talk, too! Link -via AOL News
Created with Chris Olivieri
What would the web look like as a board game? Can you name the memes?
Today, it’s not land that we look to obtain, it’s content. Content is currency. What more easily transferable currency is there than Memes. I think you get where we’re going with this… Introducing: MEMEOPOLY.
This round board made from oilcloth is one of 5000 made by Charles Darrow in 1933. This is the only circular Darrow Monopoly game known to still exist. It is hand coloured in pen and ink and the pieces are made of wood moulding. Darrow based his game on political activist Lizzie Magie’s Landlord’s Game which she created to point out social injustice at the turn of the last century. Darrow produced his game, set in Atlantic City, during the Great Depression when he was out of work and had a family to support. He sold the rights to Monopoly to Parker Brothers Games in 1934, putting an end to his financial worries.
The Gadget Show staged a foot race among various toy robots from all over the world in Manchester, England. The robots were controlled by audience members, which led to utter chaos. Some robots eventually made it to the finish line. See the whole thing at Technabob. Link
I enjoyed watching the drinking bird at my grandma’s house, but could never have one of my own because I keep cats. The bird never stops, and since there’s no such thing as a perpetual motion machine, there must be some reasonable explanation for the bird’s persistence.
One can only wonder if the inventor of the dipping bird, Miles V Sullivan broke even from his invention. The idea began years before the patent and originally, as you might suspect, it had nothing to do with the bird. Sullivan was an inventor-scientist at Bell Labs but as a young man he enjoyed evenings out.
It wasn’t the music or the lights but the bubbles in the tube at the sides of a juke box that grabbed his attention. He noticed that the energy wasn’t going anywhere and the inventor determined that something could be done with them. What he wanted to do was to harness motion- the idea of the bird came along later to make it more entertaining. Of course, while it is simply for fun it is the science behind it which makes it work.
Oh, you’ll get an explanation of how it works, and more, from Kuriositas. Link
Vimeo user aaron_gx flew through the spinning blades of a wind farm. With a remote-control plane, of course.
This kind of stunt is typically frowned upon in the industry, to the point that the person(s) responsible for aiding him were probably fired, if they were caught. I would never allow such a thing to happen on my watch, but… it’s fun to watch.
Link (embedded vimeo clip)
Artist Jason Freeny made this fully functional Rubik’s Cube puzzle shaped like a brain. Presumably some knowledge of anatomy is essential to solving it.
Link via Super Punch
Previously by Jason Freeny:
The Anatomy of Nemo
Gingerbread Man Dissection
I am just back from New York, where I had a very unromantic Valentine’s Day. You see, your happiness is more important to me than romance and flowers. So instead of staying home with my sweetie and kids I braved New York in February. I was sent there to search for the greatest and newest toys for the NeatoShop. Oh, and did I find them.
Now I am not going to tell you about all the great things that will be coming to the NeatoShop this year. I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprises that we have in store for you. Instead I will share a few pics that I snapped with my phone and camera.
The first thing I did when I got to the hotel was take this picture. This is the drawing my daughter drew for me before I left. It’s a picture of my family. It includes my husband and 3 kids. My daughter drew this so I wouldn’t forget them while I was gone. I carried the photo around with me in my pocket.
Are you getting a clear picture of how much Mommy guilt I endured this trip? Apparently, however, it was needless guilt since my more than capable husband took the 3 monkeys to an amusement park while I was gone. The kids had a blast and didn’t even really miss me.
This is a picture I took when I got to the Toy Fair. If you look closely you can see that one of the Ugly guys is holding the picture of my family. This was no easy task since he could barely bend his arm. Thanks Ugly guys you are awesome!
These are pictures of a really awesome toy that it coming to the NeatoShop this Spring.
That’s all your getting out of me. Frankly, I think I have told you too much. If you really want to know what amazing things I found on this trip you are going to have to check in on the NeatoShop. We suggest you visit us often and frequently.
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Horror Film Plush
- $11.95
Never have Jason Vorhees, Mike Myers, and Freddy Krueger been more cute and cuddly than in these plush forms! They're the perfect gifts for your fellow horror film fans and aficionados of unusual plush dolls: Link
See also: More fun plush toys from the NeatoShop
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Steve Spangler has produced several toys based on the Coke/Mentos reaction, such as the Mentos Geyser Tube and the Soda Geyser Depth Charge Kit. The newest, the Soda Geyser Car, was introduced at Toy Fair 2011, which is still going on in New York City. Cool Things has two videos of the car in action, so you can watch as this vehicle moves under its own “rocket power” fueled by Mentos and Diet Coke. Looks like a lot of fun for kids who have plenty of room outdoors and a water hose to clean themselves off before they enter the house! Link -Thanks, Sunny!
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The world’s most comprehensive collection of American and European toys and trains is currently for sale through Sotheby’s and this is the first time it has been shown to the public. The owner, Jerry Greene, the son of a toy train dealer, has been compiling the rare toys for fifty years. This is the largest collection of its kind with pieces from every European and American manufacturer in operation between 1850-1940. The Jerni collection consists of thirty five thousand top quality miniature works of art, 20% of which are on exhibit at the company’s New York headquarters until the end of this month.
Link – Via The Robb Report
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I doubt that this toy is licensed by Disney, but CLOT’s TRON: Legacy Bambi toy nonetheless goes on sale on Valentine’s Day. They can be found a shop called “Man Is In the Forest” in Shanghai. There are three more pictures at the link.
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Toy and puzzle making company Ravensburger has created the world’s largest commercially available jigsaw puzzle. It weighs 42 pounds and is composed of 32,256 pieces. The completed image is a compilation of 32 works by the pop artist Keith Haring. You can view more images of it at the link.
Link | Company Website | Image: Ravensburger
If you didn’t catch this back in 2006, now would be a good time. Demeter Fragrance Library offers a body scent that will take you back to your childhood. You’ll be the hit of the playground with Play-Doh Cologne. Other aromas offered by this company include Saddle, Laundromat, and Glue.
Link via Geekosystem
In The Twilight Zone episode “Living Doll“, a young girl is given a doll. Talky Tina, as she is known, speaks cute phrases to the girl, but death threats against the child’s father. Now you can have one in your own home! Entertainment Earth is selling Talky Tina replicas which say the following phrases:
“My name is Talky Tina, and I love you very much.”
“My name is Talky Tina, and I don’t think I like you.”
“My name is Talky Tina, and you’d better be nice to me.”
“My name is Talky Tina, and you’ll be sorry.”
“My name is Talky Tina, and I’m going to kill you.”
In his house in R’lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits … bobbing his head. If Valentine’s Day sweetness isn’t for your loved ones, then how about this: the Cthulhu Wacky Wobbler Bobble Head ($12.95) from the NeatoShop: Link
More Cthulhu Items
I seem to have a theme going on here. First the little Darth Vader from the upcoming Super Bowl Volkswagen ad, and now we have this teensy-weensie timey-wimey guy in a TARDIS his dad made for him.
What a lucky little Time Lord! I wish I would have gotten a TARDIS for my birthday! Mateo’s dad, Brian, made this out of corrugated paper, and his mom, Jennifer posted it on on her blog.
Link -via Mateo and Me
Japanese artist Jarashi Suki developed dominoes that trip each other even without physical contact. Each one has a number, 1-5, displayed with dots. You can change the number of a domino by shaking it. When domino 1 falls, it will then trip 2, which will then trip 3, and so on. The video shows creative ways that this system can be used to make domino chains that would be impossible with conventional dominoes.
Scrubs alumn Donald Faison loves Star Wars. Don’t we all? He also produces awesome stop-motion LEGO animation shorts. Don’t we all? Uh, no actually.
Like many younger actors in Hollywood, Faison has been quite open about his love for Star Wars. But unlike most of his peers who talk a good talk (or wear the hell out of a vintage T-shirt), Faison is a genuine nerd, and ‘BLACKSTORMTROOPER2′ proves it. Faison wrote, directed, animated, edited and voiced the nearly three-minute revisionist, stop-motion short that kicks off the adventures of JackMove and TheBlack-R2 as they escape an Imperial Space Station.
Link -via Donald “shundigga” Faison, whose original Black Stormtrooper short (Episode 1?) is also available for viewing on YouTube.
Yub Nub! We’ve just gotten a shipment of Wicket Talking Plush over at the NeatoShop. Now, I’m sure you all know that Wicket Wystri Warrick is a fierce Ewok warrior from the forest moon of Endor, but he can also be cuddly like in this 11" talking plush toy.
Link | More neat Star Wars stuff and plush
toys from the NeatoShop
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War is Hell, be it Sectarian, Civil or Star. And even foot soldiers for the evil Galactic Empire mourn a fallen brother.
Even if they’re all made out of LEGO.
Link via The Brothers Brick | Photo: Shobrick
Confused with what to give to your ham-lovin’ love of your life on Valentine’s Day? How about this cute can-shaped plushy called Haminal?
The cute and tasty* Haminal came to be when one day, while socializing over a campfire, artist Crystal Chesney-Thompson thought it would be so much easier for the ham cannery if there was a small, pink and tasty animal that’s can-shaped. So, all they have to do is pop them into a can, and voila – canned ham!
Everyone loved the idea, and thus Haminal was born: Link
*certainly cute, but Haminal plushy is not edible, nor is it considered tasty by most people.
See also: Neat and unusual gifts for Valentine’s Day | More plush toys
Being a fan of comics and sci-fi means often coveting items that once would have been considered kid stuff, and spending your hard-earned pay at the toy store, or “collector’s boutique.” Well this right here is a bona-fide children’s toy, and I want it more than life itself. A blow-up Dalek that you can drive!
I mean, come on! You really think these nihilist monster-bots were built with toddlers in mind? These are for 20- and 30-somethings to drive around their neighborhood, running errands, and not being judged because it’s not creepy! It’s awesome!
Dutch puzzle maker Oskar van Deventer designed this mindblender. It’s like a Rubik’s Cube, but has 17 cubes on an edge instead of 3:
When Oskar heard of the world records being set for twisty puzzles, like the 7x7x7, 9x9x9 and 11x11x11 by Panagiotis Verdes from Greece, he wanted to try his hand at setting a new record himself. With sponsorship from his close friend Claus Wenicker, Oskar set about designing and testing a number of prototypes, and his third attempt was printed successfully with Shapeways. Sorting and dyeing all 1539 pieces took Oskar 10 hours of work, followed by 5 hours of assembling. The result is an oversized (140 millimeter, 5.5 inches) and fully functioning “Over The Top” 17x17x17 puzzle.
It currently sells for just over $2,000.
Link via Technabob | Photos: Shapeways
Judge me as you will, but this is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. At long, long last, Star Trek Mr. Potato Heads are on the way! I’m sorry, I’m going to need a minute. I’m getting all choked up.
PPW Toys will release Star Trek Mr. Potato Head collectible figures in a series of TOS-centric sets, and they’ll kick it off with Captain Kirk – going from stud to spud — and his old Klingon foe, Kor. Subsequent sets will include Mr. Spock and Lt. Uhura, for example, and they may also feature familiar TOS equipment and Enterprise components.
Oh my God, Uhura Potato Head. Valentine’s Day must have arrived early this year, because I am in love!
Giant Heart Plush – $17.95
This Valentine’s Day, reveal your love in a grand romantic gesture by giving someone your heart. Your Giant Heart Plush, that is. This 11" x 9" anatomical heart by Wendy Bryan of I Heart Guts is perfect for hugging … or beating (Get it? beating? heart? Oh, the pun! *my wife rolls her eyes*)
Link | More I Heart Guts plush on the NeatoShop
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iPhone Schmiphone! If you love Android above all other mobile operating system, then this is the vinyl toy for you. The Android Mini Collectible ($7.45) by Andrew Bell and Dead Zebra is a 3" tall vinyl figure that will look perfect sitting beside your computer monitor at work or home.
Link | More Cubicle Toys from the NeatoShop
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Image: Lucasfilm
Star Wars and LEGO – what could be better than the combination of two geeky favorites? Well, Lucasfilm and LEGOLAND are collaborating to bring your favorite Star Wars goodies – including classics like the Millenium Falcon, AT-AT, X-Wing Fighter and more, to a LEGO theme park near you:
LEGOLAND California will be the first of three parks to launch the Star Wars Miniland, including six scenes from the movie series, and one from The Clone Wars, comprised of about 2,000 individual models and over 1.5 million bricks.
Star Wars and LEGOLAND – like chocolate-filled chocolate sprinkled with fairy stem cells. Sooo good. Technabob has more photos: Link | LA Times article
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Isn’t he sweet? You may have seen this picture around the web the last few days. No, It’s not a tiny polar bear -it’s plush! And you can make one yourself, with a pattern from Etsy seller Tatiana Scalozub. Link -via Arbroath
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