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New DC Unlimited World of Warcraft Figures!
Thanks to the good folks over at Toy News International, we're getting a sneak peek of DCU's latest World of Warcraft offerings. I'll be the first to admit that these figures are stunningly sculpted, amazingly painted and brilliantly detailed, but for me, that just doesn't make up for the fact that these are essentially statues with a couple of points of articulation. The pose you get is the pose you get. So you better really like it. I don't play WoW, so maybe I'm missing something here. I imagine to WoW fans, these In fact, being a Conan fan, I have been tempted to pick up the Lo'Gosh figure, because he looks an awful lot like the King of Aquilonia, but the lack of articulation has kept me from shelling out the cash. Anyway, take a look at the TNI link above or visit DC Unlimited: World of Warcraft site for more pics of giant monsters holding swords. New DC Unlimited World of Warcraft Figures! originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 10:54:04.
statues figures are pretty epic.
Matty Releases Pics of MOTUC She-Ra!
I was never a big She-Ra fan, mostly due to the fact that, as a kid, I considered She-Ra to be a girls cartoon, despite the fact that her arch nemesis, Hordak, was 800 lbs of sheer awesomeness. So, I'm only mildly excited about the upcoming release of the MOTUC She-Ra figure. However, it's my duty to point people in the direction of some cool pics that Matty just released, which has set many MOTUC fans abuzz with excitement. You can see the pictures by visiting the Mattycollector Facebook Page. The part I did find interesting however, was her biography, which you can just make out in the pics, or read thanks to Poe Ghostal's efforts in typing it out for us: Channeling the combined Power of the Universe and the Wisdom of the Elders of Eternia, Adora transforms into She-Ra, the most powerful woman in the Universe. Her strength comes not from brute force but from sheer will and her cunning magical powers and healing abilities. She also has the power to communicate telepathically with animals. As both She-Ra and Adora, she helped lead the Great Rebellion of Etheria against the Horde invaders. Later, when Hordak found an escape to Eternia, she followed him along with several of her friends and allies. Once there, the Princess of Power joined forces with her now-renegade Masters of the Universe, who without King Randor, had become outcasts in their own land, fighting against Hordak's new tyranny! Now I wish I would have watched She-Ra more as a kid. Not that I needed another reason to get beat up a lot. Matty Releases Pics of MOTUC She-Ra! originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 10:54:02.
Emerald City ComiCon is This Weekend!
For those of you, like myself, are dwellers of the drizzly Pacific Northwest, and also like me, have a penchant for geeky collectibles, superhero celebrities and real live women dressed like Powergirl, then you probably know that this weekend, March 13-14, is Emerald City ComiCon! Now, I know what you're thinking, and action figure website has no business talking about a comic book convention, but that's where you're wrong! First of all, I'm bring it up because comic book conventions are an awesome place to pick up killer action figure deals. In fact, last year, I managed to fill to the point of bursting two backpacks with action figures, and the prices were so cheap that I only spent about 1/3 of the money I budgeted. Secondly, I'm bring it up because I'm so excited about going that I can't stop jumping up and down like a little girl with a one-way ticket to Magical Sparkly Pony Land*. I'll be there, a giant wad of moola in my pocket, right next to the list of action figures I've just got to find (please, action figure gods, help me find some Serenity figures). So, if you're planning on going, keep you eyes peeled for the guy with two overstuffed backpacks. That'll be me. For more information, visit the Emerald City ComiCon website. *Not a real place. Emerald City ComiCon is This Weekend! originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 15:06:58.
Really, Hasbro? Sgt. Slaughter?!
I grew up with Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero action figures, during the heyday of the line, before they got all stupid and neon-colored. But even during this period, there were a few bombs here and there. Dud characters that never really appealed to me for whatever reason, and were usually relegated to the bottom of the carrying case, never to see any sunlight unless to be taken out for a rousing bout of ridicule from myself and my friends. What can I say? Some figures you love, some you don't. And the Sgt. Slaughter figure was one of my most loathed. I'm sorry, and I'm probably going to catch aitch-ee-double-hockey-sticks from some die-hard Sgt. Slaughter fans, but for some reason, the mirror-shaded loudmouth with the Smokey the Bear hat from the WWF never seemed to deserve a spot on the G.I. Joe team, as far as I was concerned. I felt the same way about the Refrigerator Perry figure, too, and I love the Chicago Bears, so you can't accuse me of bias. But a silly figure is a silly figure. Well, rumor has it that Hasbro is bringing the shouting mustache back in an updated figure according to the 2010 Toy Fair sneak peeks, as reported by Toy News International. Click the link to read the full article and see a larger picture. However, the figure will be a San Diego Comic Con exclusive, so he won't be stinking up my toy store pegs (unlike the gazillion Cover Girl peg-warmers currently taking up space). Really, Hasbro? Sgt. Slaughter?! originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 10:34:37.
Finally! A Scarlett Johansson Action Figure!
Although I may not be that excited about a Megan Fox action figure, I'll push over a gaggle of toddlers to get my hands on a Scarlett Johansson figure! I'm about 18 tons of excited about the new Iron Man 2 1:18 scale action figures anyway (reviews coming soon!) so it's just the icing on the cake to finally get a hold of ScarJo in all of her Black Widow glory. The good folks over at PopEater.com (a website I just learned of recently), we can feast our eyes on the second wave of Iron Man 2 figures (wave one already hitting toy store pegs) including some incredible likenesses of Mickey Rourke, Don Cheedle and Samuel L. Jackson. The figures alone have me pretty excited, so I hope the movie doesn't suck. I loved the first one, so I'm hopeful, but I also know the evils of crappy-sequel-syndrome (curse you, George Lucas!). Still, just try to hold me back from nabbing my ScarJo figure. She'll be hanging out with my Rocket Firing Boba Fett. 2010 is going to rule! Finally! A Scarlett Johansson Action Figure! originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 10:34:36.
Mattycollector's Product Release Schedule
Mattycollector, those makers of the much-loved and much-griped-about Masters of the Universe Classics line, recently gave fans a heads up in regards to their upcoming release schedule through the month of June. I'm not sure if they're doing this to garner internet buzz or to simply give us poor MOTUC addicts a chance to eat ramen noodles in a penny-pinching effort to be able to afford all of these awesome toys. According to their release: March
April
- MOTU Classics: Wun-Dar & Map of Eternia® (Club Eternia subscribers only - items not available for sale)
- MOTU Classics: Hordak (re-issue)
- MOTU Classics: Evil-Lyn® (Club Eternia monthly figure)
- MOTU Ultimate Battle Ground Weapons Pak
- Ghostbusters 12" Peter Venkman
- The Dark Knight Batman (Night Vision)
May
- MOTC Classics: Mer-Man® (re-issue)
- MOTU "Oversized": Tytus
- MOTU Classics: Optikk (Club Eternia monthly figure)
- Ghostbusters 6" Walter Peck (with containment unit)
- The Dark Knight: Two-Face
June
- MOTU Classics: Faker® (re-issue)
- MOTU Classics: She-Ra (Club Eternia monthly figure)
- DCU JLU Lobo
- Ghostbusters 6" Peter Venkman with Slimer
So, who do I high five about the Merman and Faker re-issues? Aw man, my wallet is going to be sore after this.
To see the full list, visit Mattycollector.com.
Mattycollector's Product Release Schedule originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 10:49:02.
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Hot Toys Vid Shows Off Iron Man Awesomeness
I'm starting to suspect that the designers at Hot Toys may very well be actually magicians or sorcerers consider how unbelievably life-like they make their figures. Half of the time, whenever I'm looking at one of the releases, I almost expect it to turn it's little head and say "How do you do?" And if life-likeness isn't enough, they go and take a figure like their upcoming Iron Man Mark III and simply pour awesomeness all over it from the awesomeness bucket. This thing has more cool features than a Swiss Army Leatherman iPod (how cool would that be?) which you can see demonstrated via a video recently posted on YouTube, which contains titles like Ejective Shoulder Micro Mounted Munitions Pod. Go back and read that again and then let it sink in for a minute or two. You can see the video here and if that isn't enough, swing on by the Hot Toys website for some killer pics. Hot Toys Vid Shows Off Iron Man Awesomeness originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 11:41:11.
Megan Fox Fans, You Better Sit Down...
I don't particularly care one way or the other for Megan Fox, but I know that there is a legion of fanboys out there slobbering over pics of her leaning over a motorcycle at this very moment, so I can only imagine that the upcoming release of her Jonah Hex action figure from the fine folks at NECA is easily going to sell a gazillion units. Why? Well, one, it's Megan Fox, and two, she's sculpted in what appears to be the type of garments one would find at Victoria's Secret in the late 1800's. The figure is exquisitely sculpted and painted, if the prototypes are any indication, as to be expected from NECA. And the other figures in the series, Jonah Hex and some old dude with a mustache like a walrus, are as brilliantly done as the Ms. Fox figure, but I have a feeling that she'll outshine them all in the sales department. But then again, I could be wrong. Anyway, get your sneak peek at TNI, who has some great Toyfair pics. And try not to drool on your keyboard too much. Megan Fox Fans, You Better Sit Down... originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 11:41:08.
At Last! Rocket Firing Boba Fett Can Soon Be Yours!
If you of the right age to remember the release of The Empire Strikes Back, then you probably remember the wave of awesomeness with which you were hit when the bounty hunter, Boba Fett, first appeared on the screen. You probably also recall the heart-shatteringly realization that your new Boba Fett action figure does not have a firing rocket feature which you were promised! The outrage! The unmitigated humbuggery! For months, back in the late '70s on up to the release of Empire Strikes Back, action figure freaks were teased with the promise from Kenner that our Boba Fett (whether you sent away for the mail-away figure or waited for him to show up in stores) would have an actually firing rocket, but thanks to some kid swallowing a toy rocket from a Battlestar Gallactica toy, Kenner pulled the plug on the idea, removed the firing mechanism from the backpack section of the figure and permanently glued the rocket into place, leaving kids with a stupid rocket that went nowhere and over the decades, most fans still rankled at the loss of the toy-that-should-have-been. Well, rankle no more, Star Wars fans! Hasbro (the current makers of Star Wars toys) has announced that they will be releasing a special edition mail-away figure, an exact replica of the vintage figure, with the rocket firing "j-slot" mechanism back in place, thus earning the name "Redemption Boba Fett". The only downside is that we have to wait until August 2010 to send away for him, but if we can wait 30 years, a few more months won't kill us. You can see the press release at Rebelscum.com and some more awesome pics of the figure at the Official Star Wars Blog Flickr gallery. At Last! Rocket Firing Boba Fett Can Soon Be Yours! originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 15:04:06.
Poe Wants His Lovecraft Figure!
On the lighter side of collecting, I wanted to share this great post from Poe Ghostal's Points of Articulation, telling the tale of his requesting an H.P. Lovecraft action figure from Accoutrements, makers of such fun figures as Harry Houdini, Edgar Allen Poe, Bigfoot and Albert Einstein, among others. It's an honest request after all, and makes me think of a few "real life" figures that I wouldn't mind having, like Conan creator, Robert E. Howard, and an entire line based on famous sideshow performers, like Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy. Sadly, Accoutrements didn't take kindly to Poe's suggestion, hitting him with this: "H.P. Lovecraft is a great idea for an action figure. However, we do not take outside ideas... Here at Accoutrements, we have a great design team that works tirelessly to create all of our action figures (and the rest of our wacky stuff), and we are always working on new ideas. I hope you and your friends will keep an eye out for new ones in the future." Ouch. Still, I feel your pain, Poe! To read the whole post, visit Poe's website. Poe Wants His Lovecraft Figure! originally appeared on About.com Action Figure Collecting on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 at 11:04:54.
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Dolls of Color Plus Doll Furniture from Expressions of Color
Every now and then I come across a doll site that is just a little bit different. One such site, which I stumbled across today, is Expressions of Color, a site which specializes in unique, handmade dolls of color and also upholstered doll furniture! Wife Jean Henderson makes the dolls, and husband Henry Henderson, upholsters the doll furniture. They are from Maryland, and sell their creations at doll shows across the United States.
Dolls of Color Plus Doll Furniture from Expressions of Color originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 13:25:50.
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Roldan and Klumpe Dolls - Spanish Dolls With A Unique Flair
Roldan and Klumpe Dolls - Spanish Dolls With A Unique Flair originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 01:19:38.
The typical Klumpe or Roldan doll is a Flamenco dancer doll, sold to tourists in Spain in the 1950s through 1970s. However, the companies produced many unique and enchanting characters including artists, football players, travelers, and gardners.The dolls are made of cloth and felt, and were produced in Barcelona, Spain. Find out more in our Doll Profile on
Klumpe Dolls and Roldan Dolls.
Barbie Video Girl - She's a Doll and A Video Camera!
Photo © 2010 Denise Van Patten. Licensed to About.com.
Barbie Video Girl - She's a Doll and A Video Camera! originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 14:36:22.
Seriously, what will they think of next? I don't think I could have imagined a Barbie doll that was also a video camera when I began collecting Barbie dolls in 1989. Yet, that is exactly what I saw at Toy Fair--Barbie Video Girl! The doll has a video camera inside her body, with the camera lens in her necklace and an LCD video screen in her back. The batteries fit in a doll's leg! The doll takes a half hour of video, with video resolution similar to a web cam. The placement of the lens enables girls to create movies from Barbie's point of view. The doll will retail for approximately $50, and will be available this July.
Wizard of Oz Barbie and Vintage Barbie Re-Imagined
Photo © 2010 Denise Van Patten. Licensed to About.com. Wizard of Oz Barbie and Vintage Barbie Re-Imagined originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 at 09:49:44.
Mattel has done many Barbie Wizard of Oz dolls before, and Mattel has done many Barbie vintage reproduction dolls before, but never before has Mattel done a reproduction Barbie as Dorothy (and the witches!) from the Wizard of Oz! These newly re-imagined (and just announced at Toy Fair 2010) Barbie dolls will be available sometime this summer, with a suggested retail in the $50 range.
Nancy Wiley's Lovely Alice in Wonderland Dolls
Ms. Wiley's Alice is cast resin and hand-painted. She is limited to 200 pieces and has a suggested retail of $350. The dolls were produced to accompany Ms. Wiley's new illustrated Alice in Wonderland book that features this doll in many photographs as the basis of the book's illustrations.
Photo © 2010 Denise Van Patten. Licensed to About.com. Nancy Wiley's Lovely Alice in Wonderland Dolls originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 17:47:38.
Unfortunately, many of the smaller doll companies and doll artists no longer show their dolls at Toy Fair. However, many of them do show their dolls at the IDEX show in Orlando, Florida, which generally precedes Toy Fair. The doll pictured is Nancy Wiley's Alice in Wonderland, one of many fresh takes on Alice that were shown at both shows in anticipation of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland opening next month.
They Do Exist! Tonner Shows Doctor Who and Torchwood at Toy Fair
Photo © 2010 Denise Van Patten. Licensed to About.com. They Do Exist! Tonner Shows Doctor Who and Torchwood at Toy Fair originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 18:27:45.
Tonner Dolls has released the finalized Doctor Who and Torchwood character figures at Toy Fair. Although the figures were originally announced early in 2009, the figures were just finalized since Tonner Dolls needed to wait for final BBC approvals. The four characters are The Tenth Doctor (originally titled Doctor Who; in the likeness of David Tennant); Martha Jones (in the likeness of Freema Agyeman), Captain Jack Harkness (in the likeness of John Barrowman) and Gwen Cooper (in the likeness of Eve Myles). The figures should be available in June in limited editions of 1,000 to 2,000 figures each, with suggested retail ranging from $169.99 to $199.99.
Mattel Celebrates 30 Years of the Dolls of the World Series
Photo © 2010 Denise Van Patten. Licensed to About.com. Mattel Celebrates 30 Years of the Dolls of the World Series originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 08:56:55.
One of the most popular way to collect dolls is collecting dolls dressed in national costumes, and Barbie has certainly been part of this trend! This year marks 30 years of the popular Dolls of the World series, and in honor of this anniversary, Mattel is releasing a series of three Dolls of the World dressed as international landmarks! The landmarks are The Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, and the Statue of Liberty. Suggested Retail is $39.99.
Rainbow Brite comes to Life As A New Madame Alexander Doll
Photo © 2010 Denise Van Patten. Licensed to About.com. Rainbow Brite comes to Life As A New Madame Alexander Doll originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 22:30:55.
For the first time, Madame Alexander will bring Rainbow Brite to life as a doll. Well, as two dolls, actually, since Rainbow Brite is being offered as an 8" doll with a plush Sprite, and as an 18" cloth doll. Rainbow Brite was first introduced by Hallmark in a 1984 animated series.
Donny Osmond Introduces Dance Star Mickey
Photo © 2010 Denise Van Patten. Licensed to About.com. Donny Osmond Introduces Dance Star Mickey originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 22:23:34.
Donny Osmond was on hand at Toy Fair today to show Mickey Mouse some new dance moves that he can use as Dance Star Mickey. Dance Star Mickey, an interactive plush doll from Disney and Fisher Price, will be available this October for a suggested retail of $69.99. Mr. Osmond, the winner of ABC's last edition of Dancing With The Stars, presented Dance Star Mickey to the public for the very first time today. When you press Mickey's foot, Dance Star Mickey comes to life with dance moves to five different songs in various musical styles including soul, disco, Latin and techno. Mickey also has interactive games new technology that lets him move in an extremely lifelike manner.
Great Energy on the Floor for the First Two Days of Toy Fair
Photo © 2010 Denise Van Patten. Licensed to About.com. Great Energy on the Floor for the First Two Days of Toy Fair originally appeared on About.com Doll Collecting on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 22:13:41.
Toy Fair 2010 has been crowded with toy vendors and toy buyers for the first two days. The aisles seem more crowded than usual and many doll companies seemed excited about their sales. I've been Twittering from the floor of Toy Fair for the first time, and I've got lots of news to share. The photo at left is of the huge crowd waiting to get into Toy Fair yesterday morning.
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Splashy the Whale Game
Splashy the Whale works a bit like the "Operation" game (compare prices) of our childhood. Players fish out the plastic life ring, fish skeleton and seahorse pieces with a plastic fishing pole. If they touch Splashy's tongue he gives them a spray of water. I anticipated a few drops, but if the piece gets stuck on his tongue, Splashy continues spraying for a good five seconds. Be sure to clear the playroom first! The end result was two happy but soggy kids. They laughed hysterically and unknowingly worked to develop their fine-motor coordination. I just hope it doesn't leave a mark! Splashy the Whale Game originally appeared on About.com Toys on Sunday, March 14th, 2010 at 14:14:23.
I admit it. Splashy the Whale (compare prices) by Pressman Toys sat on my "Toys to Review" shelf for some time before I let my kids get their hands on it. I think I was afraid that a water-spewing whale game would make a mess, and for that reason my children would love it to pieces. My fears were completely reasonable. My 4-year-old son said, "It's so wet that I love it!"
Kid Hip: Personalized Music for Kids
I first saw Kid Hip personalized music CDs in the giant Toys 'R' Us store in Times Square and I was immediately curious. Kid Hip CDs feature nine songs and they say your child's name 50 times! Their list of available names features nearly 1,000 names, including "Dhruv," "Atreya"and even "Vienna" (just in case Jake's looking for a special gift.) I expected the name to sound robotic and out of place, but it really doesn't. We play our CD over and over on the way to preschool and my son loves it. The songs, in my opinion, aren't Grammy-worthy masterpieces, but kids' music comes down to two questions: "Do kids like it?" and "Can parents stand it?" I respond to both questions with a "Yep! You bet." I guess I could do without "Raspberry Spray," an upbeat and catchy little ditty that encourages lots of spitting, but if that's the worst thing I have to deal with before noon then we're doing fine. To hear the music and download MP3's, just visit the KidHip website. Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy. Kid Hip: Personalized Music for Kids originally appeared on About.com Toys on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 19:18:15.
Tiki Time! Check Out Idolz
Idolz are collectible, posable figures that stack to make a sort of action-figure totem pole. You can even wear them around your neck like Greg did! They are funny and sort of quirky with names like, "Gruntor" and "Zebo." Gruntor is one of the many odd little toys that decorate my desk and he always makes me smile. Don't miss the results of the company's custom art contest. Eighth graders decorated the Idolz and the company polled Toy-Fair attendees to select a winner. Tiki Time! Check Out Idolz originally appeared on About.com Toys on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 08:03:54.
Remember when Greg Brady found that Tiki idol? Their whole Hawaiian vacation was cursed! CURSED! Well, hopefully Idolz won't have the same effect on your Hawaiian vacation.
Educational Toys: Tangle Toys
Tangle Toys are fun for fidgety adults but I think their real calling is helping kids with special needs. Twisting, turning and curving the Tangle in their hands makes it easier to focus in school or sit through circle time. I really like the rubbery, bumpy textured version for kids who respond well to texture. A new book called, "Learning with Tangle Brain Tools" features great ways parents and teachers can use Tangle Toys in the classroom or at home. The sections do come apart so it's not for kids younger than 3. Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy. Educational Toys: Tangle Toys originally appeared on About.com Toys on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 07:37:11.
For some reason Tangle Toys (compare prices) are intriguing. They just beg you to pick them up and fidget with them. That's why the Original Tangle has spawned a long line of toys with varying colors, textures, sizes and shapes.
Zipfy Freestyle Mini Luge - More Snow, Please!
We've had a ton of snow this winter, and until my Zipfy Freestyle Mini Luge arrived I never would've wished for more. Now I'm checking the 10-day forecast and hoping for the white stuff! The Zipfy is a high-tech, fast-moving, maneuverable sled that comes in 1o snazzy colors. I test and try every product I review, so there won't be a comprehensive toy review until I get to ride the Zipfy on the sledding hill. I'd love to hear from you if you've tried it because it really looks like fun. Visit the company's website for amazing videos, some really cool music, community conversations and even a schedule of local races. Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy. Zipfy Freestyle Mini Luge - More Snow, Please! originally appeared on About.com Toys on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 07:25:35.
It's National Grammar Day, March 4th (Or march forth!)
In honor of National Grammar Day, March 4th, I'm outing myself as a grammar freak. I was raised by two teachers, I started learning AP style (the writing rules journalists follow) in high school and I majored in journalism in college. I've been writing and editing professionally for more than 15 years and I do my best to ensure that my writing is free of grammatical errors. Though I'm far from perfect, now that I'm a mom who's trying to teach correct grammar to two small boys, I have no patience for toys that use bad grammar. I hope my one-mama crusade against trash-talking toys will be heard by the toy manufacturers, especially now that my voice is slightly amplified by toys.about.com. In honor of National Grammar Day, here are three products in which I've found grammatical errors. Is it important that toys use correct grammar? Would you buy a toy that sings in conversational English? It's National Grammar Day, March 4th (Or march forth!) originally appeared on About.com Toys on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 16:53:23.
Toy Preview: Chicco's New "1 Two 3 Playhouse"
I saw about a million new toys at Toy Fair, but only a few really stood out as innovative and fresh ideas. Chicco's 1 Two 3 Playhouse is definitely special. (That's pronounced "KEY-co"...it's Italian!) It's a kid-sized clothing rack with cute little cloud-shaped hooks. The playhouse toy hangs from the rack, flush against the wall until playtime. Then it easily comes out and invites kids in with its cute, red front door and working mail slot. (What is it about kids and mail slots? They love them!) Then the 1 Two 3 Playhouse easily hooks back up to the rack with Velcro tabs, so there's no flipping and flopping and trying to find a storage space, like we all do with other tents and tunnels. When the 1 Two 3 Playhouse becomes available this spring, I will try it out with my in-house toy testers and provide a full toy review. This adorable and convenient playhouse (a perfect toy for small spaces!) will cost around $50. Toy Preview: Chicco's New "1 Two 3 Playhouse" originally appeared on About.com Toys on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 08:01:55.
Educational Toys: Maze Books
Each of the activity books below offers colorful, educational and interesting mazes for preschoolers. They gradually get harder as the child works through the book. This is a fun way to incorporate educational toys with one-on-one playtime with Mom or Dad. Here are some terrific maze books for preschoolers. Photo of Mindware's maze books © Mindware. Disclosure: Review samples were provided by some of the manufacturers. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy. Educational Toys: Maze Books originally appeared on About.com Toys on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 06:18:33.
Maze books can be fantastic educational toys. They help kids work on fine-motor skills like pencil grip, and they help develop eye-tracking ability. My 4-year-old son is obsessed with maze books right now. He loves to sit at his own "desk," which we made out of an end table and the fabulous, colorful, cardboard Elia Chair.
Bug Toys Have Buzz
Bug Toys Have Buzz originally appeared on About.com Toys on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 01:40:43.
Among the thousands of new toys announced last week at Toy Fair I found a surprising number of bug toys! Bug toys were everywhere. It was an infestation! Bug toys are definitely a hot trend for 2010. Here are some of the new bug toys I discovered at the show.
Great Girls' Toys: Go! Go! Sports Girls Toys
Go! Go! Sports Girls toys come with accessories all right, but they're not pink plastic pumps. Each doll comes with a tiny basketball, a soccer ball or a volleyball in an oh-so-chic, so-NOT-designer backpack! The dolls come in many styles of sportswear including soccer, golf, gymnastics, running, dance, swimming, basketball or softball. They have different hair and skin color, too. The volleyball doll I have has a full head of unruly curls that look fantastic. In fact, she reminds me of a former-college-athlete friend, so I think I'll pass the doll on to her daughter. These cute, high-quality dolls are a refreshing departure from the trashy-looking, furiously texting, rocker girls we often see on toy-store shelves and I love that they go to soccer practice instead of shopping. For every Go! Go! Sports Girls toy they sell, Dream Big Toy Company donates 5% of the profits to Girls Inc. What's not to love about these dolls? Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy. Photo © Dream Big Toy Company. Great Girls' Toys: Go! Go! Sports Girls Toys originally appeared on About.com Toys on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 01:00:02.
I don't care if you have boys or girls, positive female role models are so important. I recently discovered Go! Go! Sports Girls toys (compare prices) and I'm so impressed! The girls each wear different sports uniforms and they model great attitudes like "Be active!" and "Live a healthy lifestyle!"
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Coin Trivia for 9 March 2010
1. What three trees appear on silver Massachusets Colonial coins? 2. Who wrote "The comprehensive Catalog of US Paper Money"? 3. Were any 1938-S Buffalo 5-cent pieces struck? 4. What US Mints struck uncirculated specimens of the 1984 Olympic dollar?
Coin Trivia for 2 March 2010
1. At the US Mint, what side is generally the lower die? 3. What landmark appears on notes issued by Gibraltar? 4. What Mint struck the double eagle overdate of 1909/8? 5. The George Washington commemorative half dollar depicts what structure on the reverse?
Is Numis Network a Scam?
If you've spent any time on the forum or reading about collecting coins on the web, you've probably run into the MLM company known as Numis Network. Without getting into the details, it follows the classic pyramid organization of MLMs where the people at the top make the most money, and progressively fewer people down the line make any money at all. Omar Briones goes into great detail describing how the system works and concludes, "if you're just thinking of joining for an opportunity to make a nice residual check, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time with them at all." I deleted posts on the forum that were advertising the network because in my opinion, it's not a good deal. There are easier and cheaper ways of accumulating MS-70 American Silver Eagles if that's your main goal, and if your goal is to make money, there are much better ways of doing that too. Joining this MLM doesn't serve you from what I've seen. Yesterday I was emailed by someone wanting to advertise on this site. We agreed on a price and this morning I found the link and graphic in my inbox, along with an email notification that a payment had been sent to my Paypal account. The link was to NumisNetwork. In order to be as objective as possible, I decided to take one more look at it. I read through this forum thread where NumisNetwork was discussed in detail by those who don't stand to benefit from you joining. My opinion remains unchanged. As I wrote on my about page, I value your trust more than advertising income. I'll admit, I was tempted to take the money and put the advertisement up, but it's not the way I want to run this site. I refunded the money from my Paypal account and emailed them saying I wouldn't run the ad. To return to the question posed at the start of this post, I can't say definitively if Numis Network is a scam or not, but I can say I don't recommend joining it.Things to Come
I haven't done much with the site for quite some time, aside from the weekly Tuesday Trivia. That's going to change. I have some exciting things planned, one of which is an information product I'm working on right now. I hope to have it ready soon. Other changes I'm considering are moving to a self-hosted forum, updating the design of the site, and a few other ideas I've been mulling around. If you're not already subscribed, sign up to get an email when I post so you don't miss out on the excitement. There will even be a special deal for subscribed readers.
Coin Trivia for 23 February 2010
1. What are the two varieties of Lousiana Purchase Exposition commemorative gold dollars? 2. What is the monetary unit of Italy? 3. What feature of Andrew Jackson has gradually disappeared since first used on US paper money? 4. A coin bearing a 'P' mint mark was struck at what US mint? 5. Who wrote "Hight Profits from Rare Coin Investment"?
Coin Trivia for 16 February 2010
1. Where were the first Mint-marked copper-nickel 5-cent pieces struck? 2. What year did Austria introduce a gold-colored 20 schilling? 3. What design feature on the back of the 1934C $20 Federal Reserve note changed in mid-series? 4. Who issues official presidential inaugural medals? 5. Is the US Mint required by law to sell uncirculated sets every year?
2010 Olympic Contest with the Royal Mint
Want to win an Olympic medal this year? Keep reading. To celebrate the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the Royal Canadian Mint is holding a contest to find out who is the ultimate Olympic fan. The two lucky winners will have their faces placed on 100 collector medallions and be awarded a free trip for two to Ottawa, CA where they will be presented with their medallions. (Estimated value: $10,000) There are two ways to enter the contest: 1. Submit a 30-second video of yourself 2. Submit a photo or short essay (up to 250 words) Check out the The Face of the Games web site for all the contest details. Good luck!
Coin Trivia for 9 February 2010
1. Who designed the Roosevelt dime? 2. What does PROBA mean on coins of Poland? 3. On what modern Federal Reserve note does "E Pluribus Unum" appear? 4. Is the 1916 doubled Buffalo 5-cent piece listed in the Red book a planchet, die or striking error? 5. What was the approximate volume of coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1983?
Coin Trivia for 2 February 2010
1. Where is the Mint mark on a 1969-D half dollar? 2. What is the monetary unit of South Africa? 3. What event did the $2 Federal Reserve note commemorate? 4. The Atwood-Coffee catalog focuses on what type of exonumia? 5. Which US silver denominations were struck in each of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries?
Coin Trivia for 26 January 2010
1. A sundial appears on what two Colonial coins? 2. What country struck the ecu? 3. What veteran of the War of 1812 appears on a 1981 Federal Reserve note? 4. What is the diameter in millimeters of the Lincoln Cent? 5. Britain's Royal Numismatic Society has what American counterpart?
Coin Trivia for 19 January 2010
1. What way does the eagle face on a 1983 Olympic dollar? 2. Who was Aphrodite on Greek coins? 3. What was the first Western bank to issue national bank notes on a continuous basis? 4. What was the issue price of a 1980 US Proof set? 5. What is the name of the Polish coin association in the United States?
Coin Trivia for 12 January 2010
1. During what years were 40 percent silver half dollars minted for circulation? 2. What building appears on the back of the $2 United States note of 1963? 4. What Mint institution produces coins with an "S" mint mark? 5. What is the nickname shared by 1797 British penny and twopenny pieces and US silver dollars?
Coin Trivia for 5 January 2010
1. Who designed the reverse of the 1964 Kennedy half? 2. What metals were the primary metals of the Canadian Olympic commemoratives of 1976? 3. On what issue of notes did the Bank of Canada introduce black serial numbers? 4. What do the initials IOWMC represent? 5. What is the northernmost US Mint?
Coin Trivia for 29 December 2009
1. What does the initial L stand for on some 1864 Indian cents? 2. Five kangaroos appear on a 1984 $1 coin of what country? 3. Whose facsimile signatures appeared on Series 1981 Federal Reserve notes? 4. What war-hero US president appears more often on Hard Times tokens than anyone else? 5. What were the first coins produced by West Point?
Coin Trivia for 15 December 2009
1. What is the name for rounded or tooth-shaped objects used to create borders on coins? 2. At what mints was the Walking Liberty Half dollar struck? 5. What is an alloy of silver with an equal or greater proportion of a base metal?
Coin Trivia for 8 December 2009
1. What is the only 19th century commemorative quarter? 2. What was the fineness of silver in Canadian silver dollars from 1971-1984? 3. Continental Currency notes were issued during what conflict? 4. What is a paper card, often of government issue, depicting a replicate of a note or stamp? 5. What three metals were authorized for use in coinage by the Act of April 2, 1792?
Coin Collecting - The Hobby of Kings
Harry Potter FAQ
More than half of the questions that land in my inbox relate to Harry Potter. So here, for your enjoyment, are answers to the most frequently asked questions about collecting Harry Potter books. Read the FAQ......
Tom Clancy Price Guide
If you come across a first edition of The Hunt for Red October for a song, don't hesitate to buy it. Clancy collectors pay well for this rare first. To find out more, check out the Tom Clancy Price Guide....
Rare? Scarce? Antique?
When describing a book, what is the difference between rare, scarce, antique and used? Read more......
Safe Storage of Paperback Books
A reader asks: "I have over 400 star trek books and about 100 others, all paperback. What would be the best way to store these. I am running out of bookshelf space & would like to hold on to them....
Vintage Paperback FAQ
What's a paperback original? What do Raymond Chandler and Louis L'Amour have in common? How can you tell if a paperback is a first edition? Find out here......
Robert Frost Price Guide
Robert Frost remains one of the great American poets as well as one of my personal favorites. If you admire Frost as much as I do, be sure to browse the price guide to Robert Frost first editions....
How to Identify a Harry Potter First Edition
Here are three tips to help you identify a British or American first edition of books in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Read on......
Book Collecting Jargon
You probably already know that "covers" refers to a book's binding, but what about "recto" or "yellowback"? Check out the Book Collecting Glossary to decipher these and other unique bits of jargon....
How Important is a Book's Condition?
How does a book's condition impact its appraised value? Is the answer always black and white? Our book appraisal experts tackle this common dilemma. Read more....
First Edition? First Trade Edition?
A reader asks: "I have a "First Trade Edition". Does this differ from a "First Edition"? And if so how?" Read my reply......
Maxfield Parrish Price Guide
In 1925, about 20% of American homes had a Maxfield Parrish print hanging on a wall. Parrish's fantastical imagery was featured on greeting cards, calendars, advertisements and fine art prints. However, book collectors know him from his exquisite children's book...
Where Can I Find a Book Appraiser?
Sometimes you need to have a book formally appraised. But, where can you find a reputable appraiser? A team of booksellers and book appraisers answer this question for us. Read their responses......
Price Clipped Dust Jackets
A reader asks: "I have noticed the following and don't know what it means: "DJ not price-clipped." What is "price-clipped" and is it good or bad?" Read my answer......
How to Grade a Book's Condition
Booksellers usually designate a book as fine, very good, good, fair, poor, reading copy or binding copy. But, do you know what these descriptors really mean? How can you tell if the book youre holding in your hand is a...
How Important is a Book's Condition?
What role does a book's condition play in determining its appraised value? Find out here......
About Book Collecting
Get the latest headlines from the About.com Book Collecting GuideSite.
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