LEGO

(UPDATED: April 7, 2012)

Through my youth, I have enjoyed playing with LEGO. What makes LEGO fun is in taking what pieces are offered to you and build what the main package consists of. Do you HAVE to, though? Absolutely not! You can take the package of Lego bricks and make other things in addition to what the package is supposed to consist of. That adds to the creativity and appeal of collecting Lego sets. I have a big tub full of Lego bricks (and some other stuff) that I haven't really played with in ages since getting older. Still, LEGO was the stuff I grew up with.

This blog entry is about the little bricks and sets from a Danish company children (and adults) have been playing with since first being made available in 1949. The LEGO Group is based in Billund, Denmark and invented by a fellow named Ole Kirk Christiansen.

PERSONAL NOTE: Hey! Thanks to all of you for keeping this blog post popular. I hope my blog post on LEGO will be to your liking if you've never read it before.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

FEB 19 2012 - simply updated an old post






^ from: actionfigureinsider.com - LEGO... what can YOU create with a bunch of Lego bricks? No... what CAN'T you create?

My First Lego Sets.

The first time I remember getting a Lego set was back in 1992. I think I got a Lego City set of something. The one I wanted for Christmas in 1993 was called Central Precinct HQ. That was a three-story Lego set complete with a police station, a jail cell, and a criminal (because prisons are useless without criminals to jail). I would have a catalog featuring many more Legos from many more collections from some of the bigger sets. When you open up a Lego set, your creativity runs wild as you look for as many ways as possible to turn a pile of Lego bricks into something beautiful. The possibilities are (and should be) endless. Lego sets mostly award creativity and inventive ability. Perhaps this is why I've grown to love Lego sets just about all of my life. Also, this may be how I've grown to become more creative and inventive in many things. I sometimes even enjoy taking about LEGO people and sticking different parts onto different LEGO people. Everything from heads, to arms, to bodies, to legs, to hands, to head accessories... endless possibilities and more fun than playing with those plastic Army men! :-) Some LEGO sets, like the old Train collection, can be equipped with a special device that allows you to put batteries into it to make it come alive. Some may even have a remote control or some other device to allow you to use and control certain LEGO sets that can be powered by batteries.

Legos for All.

For almost everyone ranging from children to adults, there are a variety of different Lego sets to let your imagination run wild. Younger children can enjoy the Duplo lineup. Girls can enjoy the Belville lineup of LEGO toys. More advanced LEGO builders can challenge more challenging sets from the LEGO Technic collection. And if your love of LEGO is what you want to share digitally, you can with a variety of LEGO games ranging from the LEGO Racers games to the various LEGO games based on licensed series (like LEGO Star Wars among others). So there is a LEGO set and collection for you!

LEGO from My Time to Now.

LEGO has really evolved to include many more varieties and sets to use. When I first got into LEGO, I basically played around with some very cool LEGO sets. When I stopped really building LEGO sets, various licensed LEGO sets (like the Star Wars LEGO sets), sets that you can create meticulous versions of actual cars, the Bionicle series, and more. I am not surprised in the least bit that there are various structures and models built ENTIRELY out of LEGO bricks. There are even these LEGO models to this day. LEGO has withstood the test of time quite well.

What is Possible With Lego?

Simple - almost ANYTHING! Don't believe me? Check out these pictures from around the Internet:


^ from: bitrebels.com - So you can't afford a Volvo XC90? Build your own!


^ from: waynehodgins.typepad.com - a LEGO city complete with train tracks and more.


^ from: geekologie.com - LEGO Chess. Checkmate!


^ from: mydigitallife.info - Someone re-created the Bird's Nest for which the 2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games was held along with some other facilities.


^ from: guardian.co.uk - a LEGO-built (non-functional) PC. No Blue Screen of Death guaranteed!


^ from: platformnation.com - LEGO people rock! Literally!


^ from: cartype.com - a LEGO Honda/Acura NSX.

Told you that ANYTHING is possible! That's only the pictures I could use and provide credit for. More Lego goodness can be found at Lego's official website!






For John's Shop Space, I will work to add some material to get things going for the holiday season. I need to continue to offer items from Amazon and abroad to help service my many readers from around the world. My initiative to take some stress off of making blog posts is in offering content in my alternative blog. This blog post will be updated for when I do make a blog post on John's Shop Space corresponding to this JBS (John's Blog Space) post.

You can shop for LEGO sets and accessories I've found on Amazon for you if you visit my alternative blog, John's Shop Space. Click on the link below to shop for LEGO sets and accessories on Amazon:

LEGO (John's Shop Space)

Or, if you want to look for some Lego sets on Amazon, here is a widget from Amazon you can use. Have a look around and thanks for reading my blog post on Lego!




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Stuffed Toys

(UPDATED: March 14, 2012)

Giving stuffed toys can be like giving new friends to others. Think of a guy who gives his girlfriend a cute stuffed animal. Imagine a parent who gives his/her baby or babies a stuffed toy to play with. Whether they are teddy bears or some other stuffed cuddly toy, these are gifts that can capture the hearts of those who receive them. There are kids that love stuffed animals. There are some girls that REALLY love stuffed animals! This blog entry discusses stuffed toys and what they can mean for those who receive these as gifts.

--- Stuffed Toys and What They Mean to Others ---

Money CAN buy you happiness! There isn't a kind of gift that can lift someone's spirits quite like offering a cute stuffed toy to someone. The most common stuffed toys are (of course) teddy bears. Anything from a small teddy bear to a big one can uplift someone's spirits. Some stuffed toys can even be worn as accessories. When such stuffed toys are offered, they can be great fun for those who receive them. It can be like buying someone a new best friend. Of course, money can't buy you friends, but they can buy you some stuffed friends.

--- Stuffed Toys in Pictures ---

Here are examples of cute stuffed toys from around the Internet...


^ from: reliablegreetings.com - This teddy bear loves you! What girl WOULDN'T melt or break into happy tears if given this teddy bear?


^ from: dailycuteness.com - When this eagle soars into the sky, it also soars into your heart.


^ from: craftyavenue.com - A very kawaii kitty! Should please any cat lover (like myself).


^ from: fromourheart.com - This bunny should be dedicated to any shining star in your life.

These stuffed toys can warm anyone's heart. How much so? Imagine hugging and clutching a lovely stuffed animal. Though stuffed toys are made, the most important thing a stuffed toy can make is a best friend. Maybe not a friend whom you can share with the world and introduce to your real friends, but they can be something enjoyable and cute to have.





Of course, there are MANY more stuffed toys of many kinds and sizes. If you'd like to shop for some stuffed toys on Amazon, you have two choices... use a widget or visit John's Shop Space. So do you want to shop on Amazon for stuffed animals, toys, or whatever? I can help you with the widget below. Happy shopping! :)

WARNING: Not all stuffed toys are for all children. Most manufacturers recommend offering these to those 36 months (or 3 years) or older since some of these items can pose health hazards since there are some parts that can come apart. Keep this in mind if shopping for your children.

Use this widget to shop for stuffed toys on Amazon (HINT: change the default search text to "stuffed animals" or "teddy bears" to search specifically for those items):



Or you may visit John's Shop Space by clicking on the graphic below. It includes a few more widgets linking you to teddy bears or stuffed animals:


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Diecast Models

There may be cars you may never drive or see. The next best thing is to go for diecast collectible cars. There are a variety of cars to choose from. Everything from your average Hot Wheels or Mattel cars all the way to serious collector model cars can all be had. It's best to know what you're looking for. This blog entry concerns diecast model cars.

--- Why Diecast? ---

The reason is simple- if there are cars you love so much that pictures can't do it justice, the next best thing is to get a diecast car. Maybe there's a race car you love that you wish you could own a scaled-down replica of with intricate detail? Whatever kind of car or cars you like, ranging from street cars to race cars, there may just be a model car for you.

Depending on your budget, you may get a fairly good scale car for around $20 USD to $30 USD. More hardcore types (like those who look to GMP Diecast for model cars) aren't afraid of spending big money for the most intricate and beautiful collector cars. However, these cars are well north of $100 USD.

--- What to Look for in a Diecast Model? ---

I look for a few important elements in scale cars:

* Build Quality.
I love a car so much, but I don't want some piece of crap design and build of a car I love. I want to be able to have realistic details all around. I don't want a diecast scale car of a beautiful car to be designed so poorly and cheaply.

* Attention to Detail.
I want model cars to be beautifully designed with some extra doors and such to offer great detail. The more detailed (while not being overly complex), the more I will love it.

* Easy-to-Use Doors and Openings.
I love a nicely-detailed diecast car. However, I don't want one that I'll risk breaking and destroying just trying to open up the engine bonnet or something. I want to be able to use something over and over again and touch all over with love and care.

* Getting the Most from its Scale.
A diecast car usually has a scale of 1:18 or 1:25. I want to have the most out of its design overall. I want to be able to open the doors and all that stuff. Whatever scale you're looking for depends on the amount of detail you're looking for.

--- My Diecast Car Experience ---

Of my major scale cars, I have nine diecast model cars. Here are the models I have (I don't have pictures to share):
* a 1990s F-Body Camaro Z28 convertible (red)
* McLaren F1 (silver)
* Dodge Viper GTS (blue with white stripes)
* Cadillac Northstar LMP
* 1998 Zakspeed Porsche 911 GT1
* 2000-ish Mini Cooper (red)
* Panoz Esperante GT1 Road Car (color-shifting blue paint)
* Dodge Viper GTS-R (white with blue stripes)
* Honda Civic Tuner car (red/white/black with Super Street decals)

I have these on my big bookshelf. As much as it's cool to own a number of diecast cars, one other thing is more important...

--- Taking Care of Diecast Cars ---

Every so often, I have to dust off my model cars so that they don't have dust hanging around from being on the shelves so long. So if you have something like this, I recommend you clean off the diecast cars of dust. A nicer option would be to invest in a case with a glass door. This way, you can be able to enjoy your model cars without needing to constantly dust them off every few weeks or months.

There's one important thing to look out for if you have small children or pets or something- these diecast cars have small parts to them that could pose a choking hazard if certain small parts are swallowed. So PLEASE be careful if you have children or pets playing with some of these diecase cars.

--- Model Cars I Would Like to One Day See or Own ---

I mostly want some good model cars from some good companies. I'm mostly interested in a few race cars. Here is one I would most like to own if I were to resume my diecast car collection:


^ (from: motorsportcollector.com)

The Momo Ferrari 333SP is my all-time favorite car, as mentioned in my blog entry on the 333SP. It may not have the sweet roar of the Ferrari engine that powered this car, but I can definitely fall in love with its glorious looks. This is really the only car I'd like right now if I were to resume my collection of diecast cars.

--- Diecast Models and Cases ---

NOTE: This section contains links to Amazon products. You are welcome to click on images and links to learn more about each item. You are free to order any items featured in this section or in any widget if you choose. Please see "An Important Amazon Note" in my blog's sidebar to see more information on any Amazon items shown.

If you don't want to look for your own model cars or cases, disregard this entire section thank you for reading! Pass me some comments on my blog entry.

As long as you love cars and have a car or kind of car you love most, you can certainly find a diecast car you can love to own to add to your collection. Rather than specific items, I'll share with you some diecast car BRANDS rather than specific cars. I don't know what kind of cars you like (if you like cars). So hopefully, you can find something you like from diecast car makers like the following:


Diecast Models.


Bburago Model Cars
^ Bburago makes some lovely model cars. The Viper I mentioned earlier was a Bburago model car. Bburago has a wide variety of collections including modern and vintage automobiles. They even have race cars of various kinds. The car in the picture is the Bburago Lamborghini Revention 1:18 Scale.


^ Majisto - Majisto also specializes in lovely model cars. I am not as experienced about their lineup of cars, but they make some lovely models of all kinds, like the 2008 Audi R8 diecast model car 1:18 scale die cast by Maisto - Light Blue Metallic 36143 in the picture above.


^ Victory Lane Racing Collectibles - They specialize mostly in NASCAR collectible cars and merchandise. They include things like Action, Action Racing, Motorsports Authentics, and more. It's something you definitely want to check out if you're a NASCAR fan. And yes... I'm a Jeff Gordon fan (in addition to Jimmie Johson and Carl Edwards). =)



The majority of this thread is on model cars. But here are some diecast MOTORCYCLES below:



^ This is a diecast version of the BMW HP2 Sport motorcycle.



^ This is a beautiful diecast model of the beautiful Ducati 1098. There are so many beautiful intricate designs to this model.



Cases.
You need to look after your lovely collections! So here are a few cases you might want to look at to safeguard your beauties:



^ If you have a 1:24 scale model car, this is a display case you'll need to safely display the car in without it collecting lots of dust and glair on it.



^ This is the same kind of case as the previous item, but this one is for 1:18 model cars.



^ This is a 1:24 scale car display case with a mirrored bottom. It isn't a bad case for beautifully showcasing your 1:24 model car. Get multiple cases if you own more than one 1:24 car you want to showcase proudly.


Now for some options if you own multiple model cars you want to safeguard...



^ This case carries many 1:24 scale model cars. It has eight shelves which can hold three 1:24 scale cars on each shelf.



^ If you own multiple 1:24 scale cars, this display case will do you wonders. It has four shelves and can be mounted on a wall. It carries up to 20 1:24 scale cars. It's the best way to keep grubby fingers and [more importantly] dust off of your model cars.



^ This case carries up to 24 1:24 model cars on eight glass shelves. This is a must-buy if you want to safeguard so many 1:24 model cars as well as display them beautifully.



^ This display case is almost basically meant for NASCAR fans. The angled shelves give you a nice view of the cars at an angle. Kind of think of this as the cars riding beautifully down a banked straight or banked corner. Though it was meant for NASCAR 1:24 models, it may also be nice for Indy cars.



^ If you have multiple 1:18 cars you want to protect from dust and grubby hands, this carrying case can hold up to ten 1:18 scale cars.


Other than this, more expensive options would be to go to a furniture store and get yourself a big wooden display case with big glass doors. That's especially if you own lots of model cars.





That concludes this blog entry. I hope you love diecast models of various kinds. I've mostly covered diecast automobiles, but there are people who own other kinds of diecast models they want to protect. At least this is a start if you love diecast models and want to safeguard them. Want more diecast models and diecast cases? Find more in my two widgets. Thank you for reading!

For diecast models:



For diecast cases: