Lego/Toys

Modern Pop Stars As Furbys

March 13, 2013 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

A Furby (plural Furbys or Furbies) is an electronic robotic toy resembling a hamster or owl-like creature which went through a period of being a “must-have” toy following its launch in the holiday season of 1998, with continual sales until 2000. Over 40 million Furbies were sold during the three years of its original production, with 1.8 million sold in 1998, and 14 million in 1999. Its speaking capabilities were translated into 24 languages.

Furbies were the first successful attempt to produce and sell a domestically-aimed robot. A newly purchased Furby starts out speaking entirely Furbish, the unique language that all Furbies use, but is programmed to start using English words and phrases in place of Furbish over time. This process is intended to resemble the process of learning English.

In 2005, new Furbies were released, with voice-recognition and more complex facial movements, and many other changes and improvements. The Emoto-Tronic Furbies (Furby, Furby Baby, and Funky Furby) continued to be sold until late 2007, when these toys became extremely rare. An updated Furby is being sold as of September 2012 for the holiday season.

Filed Under: Lego/Toys Tagged With: Modern, Pop stars, toys, weird

Minigun That Shoots Rubber Bands

December 31, 2012 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

A rubber band (in some regions known as a binder, an elastic or elastic band, alackey band, laggy band, lacka band, or gum band) is a short length of rubber and latex formed in the shape of a loop and is commonly used to hold multiple objects together. The rubber band was patented in England on March 17, 1845 by Stephen Perry.

Rubber bands are made by extruding the rubber into a long tube to provide its general shape, putting the tubes on mandrels, curing the rubber with heat, and then slicing it across the width of the tube into little bands.

While other rubber products may use synthetic rubber, most rubber bands are primarily manufactured using natural rubber because of its superior elasticity.

Natural rubber originates from the latex of the rubber tree. Natural rubber is made from latex which is acquired by tapping into the bark layers of the rubber tree. Rubber trees belong to the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) and live in warm, tropical areas. Once the latex has been “tapped” and is exposed to the air it begins to harden and become elastic, or “rubbery.” Rubber trees only survive in hot, humid climates near the equator and so the majority of latex is produced in the Southeast Asian countries of Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Filed Under: Lego/Toys Tagged With: Gun, Minigun, Rubber band, toys

Shack Full Of Toy Guns

December 26, 2012 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

A shack is a type of small, often primitive shelter or dwelling. The word may derive from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word xahcalli or “adobe house” by way of Mexican Spanish xacal/jacal, which has the same meaning as “shack”. It was a common usage among people of Mexican ancestry throughout the U.S. southwest and was picked up by speakers of American English.

An alternative etymology is that shack derives from teach, pronounced chaċ, meaning “house” in Irish Gaelic, which was absorbed into American English from the 1880s onwards. Similarly shanty may have derived from the Gaelic seantigh, prounced shan-tí, meaning “old house”, at a time when Irish migrants lived in New York’s tenements.

It is possible that up to a billion people worldwide live in shacks. Fire is a significant hazard in tight-knit shack settlements. Shack settlements are also sometimes known as slums or shanty towns.

In amateur radio jargon, a shack refers to the place where an amateur radio operator’s radio sending and receiving apparatus is located and operated. The term originally meant that part of a ship where the radio apparatus was located and operated. This is the inspiration for the name ‘RadioShack’.

In military aviation jargon, a “shack” refers to a successful, direct hit on a ground target.

Bus stops are often referred to as “shacks” by commuters and the common passerby because some bus stops have roofs on top of the stops for shade and protection from the rain.

Filed Under: Lego/Toys Tagged With: Guns, Nerdy, Shack, toys

Stuffed Toys With Disturbing Human Teeth

December 11, 2012 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

Teeth of humans are small, calcified, hard, whitish structures found in the mouth. They function in mechanically breaking down items of food by cutting and crushing them in preparation for swallowing and digestion. The roots of teeth are embedded in the maxilla (upper jaw) or the mandible (lower jaw) and are covered by gums. Teeth are made of multiple tissues of varying density and hardness.

Teeth are among the most distinctive (and long-lasting) features of mammal species. Humans, like other mammals, are diphyodont, meaning that they develop two sets of teeth. The first set (also called the “baby”, “milk”, “primary”, and “deciduous” set) normally starts to appear at about six months of age, although some babies are born with one or more visible teeth, known as neonatal teeth. Normal tooth eruption at about six months is known as teeth ingand can be painful.

Dental trauma refers to trauma to the face, mouth, and especially the teeth, lips and periodontium. The study of dental trauma is called dental traumatology.

Dental anatomy is a field of anatomy dedicated to the study of tooth structure. The development, appearance, and classification of teeth fall within its field of study, though dental occlusion, or contact among teeth, does not. Dental anatomy is also a taxonomic science as it is concerned with the naming of teeth and their structures. This information serves a practical purpose for dentists, enabling them to easily identify teeth and structures during treatment.

Filed Under: Lego/Toys Tagged With: Disturbing, Scary, Stuffed toys, toys

Giant Christmas Tree Made From LEGO Blocks

November 21, 2012 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an ever green conifer such as pine or fir, traditionally associated with the celebration of Christmas. An artificial Christmas tree is an object made to resemble such a tree, usually made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The tree was traditionally decorated with edibles such as apples, nuts or dates. In the 18th century, it began to be illuminated by candles, which with electrification could also be replaced by Christmas lights. Today, there is a wide variety of traditional ornaments, such as garland, tinsel, and candy canes. An angel or star may be placed at the top of the tree, to represent the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.

The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly the 15th century. It acquired popularity beyond Germany during the second half of the 19th century. The Christmas tree has also been known as the “Yule-tree”, especially in discussions of its folkloristic origins.

While it is clear that the modern Christmas tree originates in Renaissance and early modern Germany, there are a number of speculative theories as to its ultimate origin. Its 16th-century origins are sometimes associated with Martin Luther.

It is frequently traced to the symbolism of evergreen trees in pre-Christian winter rites, especially with the story of the Donar Oak and Saint Boniface.

Filed Under: Lego/Toys Tagged With: Christmas tree, lego, LEGO blocks, toys

Hungry Hungry Hippos Replaced By Bowser And His Kids

September 18, 2012 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

Hungry Hungry Hippos is a board game made for young children, currently produced by Hasbro, under the brand of its subsidiary, Milton Bradley. The idea for the game was published in 1967 and it was introduced in 1978. The purpose of the game is for each player to collect as many marbles as possible with his or her ‘hippo’ (a toy hippo model). The game is currently being marketed under the “Elefun and Friends” banner, along with Elefun and Gator Golf.

The game is playable by two to four players and is recommended by the manufacturer for children ages 3 and up. The object of the game is to cause the player’s hippo to “consume” as many of the twenty white plastic marbles on the playing field as possible. The player presses a lever on the back of their hippo which causes the hippo’s mouth to open, extend towards the center of the board, close and retract. Marbles are drawn back into a depression within the hippo, so they do not drift back into play once properly consumed. Play ends when all of the marbles have been consumed by the hippos.

The shaking of the lightweight playing field during play, particularly when children are pounding on the levers to make their hippos capture marbles, introduces a strong random element to the game. The game also is very loud, with the constant slamming of the hippo levers, and bouncing of marbles on the plastic board.

Filed Under: Lego/Toys Tagged With: Bowser, Game, kids, Toy

Coloring Books Intended For Adults

June 1, 2012 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

A coloring book (or colouring book) is a type of book containing line art for a reader to add color using crayons, colored pencils, marker pens, paint or other artistic media. Coloring books are generally used by children, though coloring books for adults are also available.

Paint books and coloring books emerged in the United States as part of the “democratization of art” process, inspired by a series of lectures by British artist Joshua Reynolds, and the works of Swiss educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi and his student Friedrich Fröbel. Many educators concluded that all, regardless of background, students stood to benefit from art education as a means of enhancing their conceptual understanding of the tangible, developing their cognitive abilities, and improving skills that would be useful in finding a profession, as well as for the children’s spiritual edification.

The McLoughlin Brothers are credited as the inventors of the coloring book, when, in the 1880s, they produced The Little Folks’ Painting Book, in collaboration with Kate Greenaway. They continued to publish coloring books until the 1920s, when the McLoughlin Brothers became part of the Milton Bradley Company.

Another pioneer in the genre was Richard F. Outcault. He authored Buster’s Paint Book in 1907, featuring the character of Buster Brown, which he had invented in 1902. It was published by the Stokes Company. This launched a trend to use coloring books to advertise a wide variety of products, including coffee and pianos.

Filed Under: Lego/Toys Tagged With: Adult, Coloring Book, kids, toys

Doll For All Doctor Who Fans

May 13, 2012 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The programme depicts the adventures of a Time Lord, a time-travelling, humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient, telepathic time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior appears as a blue police box from London in 1963, when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, he faces a variety of foes while working to save civilisations, help people and right wrongs.

It has received recognition from critics and the public as one of the finest British television programmes, including the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series in 2006, and five consecutive wins at the National Television Awards from 2005 to 2010, in the Drama category while under Russell T Davies’ reign as executive producer. In 2011 Matt Smithbecame the first actor to be nominated for a BAFTA for portraying the Doctor.

The programme is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world, and as the “most successful” science fiction series of all time, in terms of its overall broadcast ratings, DVD and book sales and iTunes traffic. It has been recognised for its imaginative stories, creative low-budget special effects during its original run, and pioneering use of electronic music (originally produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop). The show is a significant part of British popular culture in the United Kingdom, and elsewhere it has become a cult television favourite.

Filed Under: Lego/Toys Tagged With: Doctor Who, Doll, Nerdy, toys

Creative Wigs Made Of LEGO Blocks

May 5, 2012 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

A wig is a head of hair made from horsehair, human hair, wool, feathers, yak hair, buffalo hair, or synthetic materials which is worn on the head for fashion or various other aesthetic and stylistic reasons, including cultural and religious observance. The word wig is short for periwig and first appeared in the English language around 1675.

Some people wear wigs to disguise the fact that they are bald; a wig may be used as a less intrusive and less expensive alternative to therapies for restoring hair. Wigs may also be used as a cosmetic accessory, sometimes in a religious context. Actors often wear costume wigs in order to better portray a character.

The ancient Egyptians wore wigs to shield their shaved, hairless heads from the sun. They also wore the wigs on top of their hair using beeswax and resin to keep the wigs in place. Other ancient cultures, including the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans, also used wigs. Wigs are principally a Western form of dress—in the Far East they have rarely been used except in the traditional theatre of China and Japan. Some East Asian entertainers (Japanese Geisha, Korean Kisaeng) wore wigs (Katsura and gache respectively) as part of their traditional costumes. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the use of wigs fell into abeyance in the West for a thousand years until they were revived in the 16th century as a means of compensating for hair loss or improving one’s personal appearance.

Filed Under: Lego/Toys Tagged With: Cool, lego, toys, Wig

Space Needle From Seattle Turned Into A Giant Slingshot From Angry Birds

March 27, 2012 by IHaveCoolName Leave a Comment

The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair. The Space Needle is 605 feet (184 m) high at its highest point and 138 feet (42 m) wide at its widest point and weighs 9,550tons. When it was completed it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River. It is built to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour (89 m/s) and earthquakes of up to 9.1 magnitude, which would protect the structure against an earthquake as powerful as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake. The tower also has 25 lightning rods on its roof to prevent lightning damage.

The Space Needle features an observation deck at 520 feet (160 m), and a gift shop with the rotating Sky City restaurant at 500 feet (150 m). From the top of the Needle, one can see not only the Downtown Seattle skyline, but also the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands. Photographs of the Seattle skyline often show the Space Needle in a prominent position, even appearing to tower above the rest of the city’s skyscrapers, as well as Mount Rainier in the background.

Filed Under: Hilarious, Infographics, Lego/Toys, Society, Stuff, Wacky Tagged With: angry birds, Game, Seattle, Slingshot, Space Needle, usa