June 17, 2010:
Over the years, I've never found a way of doing a Links section that I've been happy with. I don't like the way I've organized them, or I don't like how long it takes to update them. So, I've decided to get with the times and set up a Delicious account. Now, the Links button will direct you to my Delicious page. All the existing links have been moved over, and a lot more have been added.
June 02, 2010:
A lot going on lately, so not a lot of time for updates. Thought I'd try to post a couple.
Just finished reading "LEGO: A Love Story" by Jonathan Bender. It was a really good read. I haven't found a book that hard to put down since I read "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination" by Neal Gabler. It was nice to see Dan Steininger get a mention, the man that is, to me, the public face of The LEGO Group.
Haven't been doing a lot of sketching lately, but I did find time to use my new iPad and SketchBook Pro to add some color to the custom LEGO minifig sketch of Lion-O from The Thundercats.
April 21, 2010:
I've added a quick sketch that was done by request to the Doodles set on my Flickr photostream. This time, it's three of the characters created by Hanna-Barbera for the '70s cartoon show, Superfriends; Apache Chief, Samurai, and Black Lightning. As always, constructive criticism is welcome.
April 19, 2010:
I've added another new custom LEGO minifig sketch to the Doodles set on my Flickr photostream; DC Comics' Golden Age Dr. Fate. Have scanned enough old sketches that I'm going to have to redo the Flash viewer. Should have it all up to date next weekend.
April 16, 2010:
I've added a couple of new custom LEGO minifig sketches to the Doodles set on my Flickr photostream; DC Comics' Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott, and Phantom Stranger. Will get them added to this site this weekend.
April 04, 2010:
Actually found some time to work on the site today. Reformatted the Links page, and added some new links. Also began adding the custom LEGO minifig sketches to the Sketches page. I figure it's about time to start putting them on my own site, instead of Flickr.
March 11, 2010:
Added a new custom LEGO minifig sketch to the Doodles set on my Flickr photostream. After seeing the inked version of the Hawkman quick sketch from last week, a co-worker suggested I try applying my LEGO minifig sytle of doing characters to one of my favorite '80s cartoons, Thundercats. So, I decided to take a break from DC Comics charaters this week.
I bring you my idea of Lion-O, from Thundercats, as a LEGO minifig. This one's a little bigger than the others, so be sure to click on All Sizes.
This is about the fourth sketch. Just couldn't get a pose I was really happy with. This is one of the most extreme standng poses I've done on a minifig. The other problem was that I kept running out of paper when it came to adding the Sword of Omens. Finally had to add a second piece of paper just for the blade. As usual, I'm already finding things I don't like about it, but I'm still really happy with the way this one came out. I'm going to hold off inking it until I get around to learning Illustrator.
March 04, 2010:
Added one final new custom LEGO minifig sketch for this week to the Doodles set on my Flickr photostream. Yet another quickee sketch done during a "meeting". Finishing this week's Silver Age theme, this one is of Carter Hall, Hawkman. Still using Copic Markers for color.
March 03, 2010:
Added yet another new custom LEGO minifig sketch to the Doodles set on my Flickr photostream. Another quickee sketch done during a meeting. Continuing with this week's Silver Age theme, this one is of Oliver Queen, Green Arrow. Still using Copic Markers for color.
March 02, 2010:
Added another new custom LEGO minifig sketch to the Doodles set on my Flickr photostream. This is another quickee sketch done during a meeting, this time of Hal Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern. Also used Copic Markers for color.
March 01, 2010:
Added a new custom LEGO minifig sketch to the Doodles set on my Flickr photostream. This one is just a quickee sketch I did during a meeting of Barry Allen, the Silver Age Flash. Have had zero time to learn Illustrator, and this was just for fun anyway, so I went back to the Copic Markers to give it some color.
February 23, 2010:
I'm looking forward to today's release of Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths on DVD. With that in mind, I've started a thread on TheFwoosh about what went wrong with the DCUC Alexander Luthor/Ultraman two-pack from MattyCollector and what people would like to see done to incoporate the Crime Syndicate back into the line. Feel free to join the dicussion.
February 10, 2010:
I thought the last season of LOST was supposed to answer questions?!? This is why I gave up on the show two years ago. Well, that, and the fact that we were going a year between season finales and season premieres.
February 09, 2010:
As someone that's lived through several water-standing-in-the-house floods, I can really empathize with the poor people in the northeast dealing with the effects of all these huge snow storms of late, but, being one that delights in irony as I do, it does beg one question. So, how's that Man-made Global Warming thing working out for ya'?
February 08, 2010:
Happy 100th birthday to Boy Scouts of America.
February 06, 2010:
There's a new official LEGO store coming to Houston's Galleria. It will be located near the Abercrombie & Fitch, and the grand opening is scheduled for the weekend of March 26, 2010. Here's hoping this means another visit from LEGO Master Builder: Dan Steininger With two official stores already in Dallas, and now two official stores in Houston, I can't imagine that San Antonio and Austin will have to wait too much longer.
Finally broke down and bought Red Dwarf: The Complete Collection. Only the Brits can pull off a low-budget sci-fi sitcom this good. About to start watching the first episode. So, to use my second-favorite made up sci-fi curse word, smeg off!
You know, I hear the phrase "big in Japan" a lot, but, in truth, the coolest stuff coming out of Japan always seems to be the smallest stuff. Just found out about Nanoblock, and I can't wait to find a U.S.-based source for them. Cool idea, and some really interesting kits.
February 04, 2010:
As if we needed more proof, political correctness and zero-tolerance policies have gone too far yet again. Two-inch LEGO gun gets 4th-grader in trouble. And, it's not even a "gun" that LEGO Group makes.
February 03, 2010:
Poor Barack Obama. When, oh when, will POTUS learn never to speak without TOTUS? http://tinyurl.com/yz86cbp
February 01, 2010:
Finally got the rest of my Green Arrow collection unpacked. Really need to see if I can find one of the DC Direct Green Arrow Deluxe 13" Collector Figure while I can maybe still afford it.
January 29, 2010:
Very disappointed in the CW. Their on-site trailer said they would be showing the two-hour episode introducting several members of the Justice Society of America, in costume, tonight. Turns out it's acutally next week. DVR'd two episodes for nothing.
Built and posted some photos of the MechanizedBrick.com series 2 Sherman set to the Mechanized Brick set on my Flickr photostream. It's a very nice scale-accurate-looking piece with 3 minifigs. To get the scale look, it is somewhat fragile, so I really recommend it as a display-only piece.
Posted all new photos of the new LEGO #8041 Technic: Race Truck and LEGO #8049 Technic: Tractor and Log Loader sets to the 2010 Sets set on my Flickr photostream. This time, I used a white background, so it should be much easier to make out the details. They start here.
January 28, 2010:
LEGO Group released its official 2010 color palette to the public today.
UPS delivered my Holy Grail of Technic sets today, the 8285 Tow Truck. Wish I had bought this when it first came out. Would have saved a lot of money.
Posted some photos of the new LEGO #8041 Technic: Race Truck and LEGO #8049 Technic: Tractor and Log Loader sets built up to my Flickr photostream. They're in the 2010 Sets set, starting here.
January 27, 2010:
BrickArms and BrickForge are featured in a Wired.com video on small-run manufacturing. "Atoms are the new bits"
Found a video with a cool take on Firefly via a tweet by Adam S. Baldwin.
Got on a roll and built LEGO #8041 Technic: Race Truck and LEGO #8049 Technic: Tractor and Log Loader. Will try to post photos tonight. So happy pneumatics are back.
January 26, 2010:
Even though I still buy plenty of System sets (ncluding all the new Atlantis sets), I find I'm becoming much more interested in the Technic sets. I've recently found some good links on the subject.
January 21, 2010:
It's official! The Orlando Sentinel covered today's press conference announcing LEGOLand Florida. The park is scheduled to open by the end of 2011. The quick turnaround is due to building over the top of the old Cypress Gardens park, rather than starting from scratch.
January 20, 2010:
According to the Winter Haven, FL blog, Merlin Entertainment will soon begin construction of LEGOLand Florida.
If you look up the word Irony in the dictionary, there's a video clip of Keith Olbermann calling Scott Brown a "horrifically unqualified senator."
January 19, 2010:
Cool Mindstorms tube-tank.
Trying to figure out recording in Captivate. Just love re-learning an application on a quickly passing deadline.
Pretentious word for the day: Pedantic
January 18, 2010:
Think I'm going to convert the stock Teknomeka into the up-armored "HardTack" version in the third instruction PDF.
Saw "Book of Eli" today. Not at all what I expected, but very entertaining. One of the most interesting post-apoc movies I've seen.
January 17, 2010:
Added a new custom LEGO minifig sketch to the Doodles set on my Flickr photostream. By request, original Firestorm, Ronnie Raymond. Until I get time to figure out Illustrator (not likely anytime soon), I'll keep posting these as cleaned-up sketches.
January 15, 2010:
Pretentious word(s) for the day: Paradigm Shift
January 14, 2010:
Started reading Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton. The fact that the book was released after he passed away almost sounds like the plot for one of his novels. Kind of sad that this will be the last new book I'll be able to read by my favorite author.
With Michael Crichton gone, and Tom Clancy apparently retired from writing, I guess it's time to start looking into other authors to follow.
January 14, 2010:
Pretentious word for the day: Pedagogy
January 12, 2010:
Finished Halo: Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe. Good collection of short stories from a good assortment of authors.
January 07, 2010:
The Teknomeka stock build is done. Almost 4,000 parts. 28" tall. And, 100 photos on Flickr.
January 02, 2010:
I've completed the feet, ankles, and lower leg bones of the Teknomeka build. More photos posted to Flickr.
January 01, 2010:
I've completed the first of the three PDF's available for the Teknomeka build. I've posted more photos of the final assemblies and the completed upper torso, including the arms and headof the skeletal structure of the head.
