Archive for 2008

Fiendish Friends

Hooray for singing vegetables! And hooray for Making Fiends on Nicktoons!

As you might have known, the ever popular Making Fiends web cartoon, that was created by Amy Winfrey, is now on Nicktoons. These new episodes were made in the same style and technique as the web cartoon, but are much more detailed for TV. The show premiered in the U.S. on Nicktoons yesterday at 11:30 AM EST (8:30 AM PST). If you missed the show don’t worry, they’ll be on every Saturday morning. Be sure to check out the updated Making Fiends site for yourself.

The Nintendo DSi

Nintendo officially unveils Nintendo DSi!

Nintendo DSi - The DSi will launch in Japan, November 1. It will be released in black and white colors and it will cost ¥189,000 (approx. US $178). Compared to the current DS Lite, the DSi is a smidge thinner and a bit lighter. It’s got a slightly wider screen, two built-in cameras, music playback, an SD card slot and internal storage.

Lots of new stuff and all of it is neat, but I’m a little underwhelmed. It does look like it will come in a matte finish which is a bonus for me, since I’ve scratched up my current DS lite. If you’re considering buying a DS Lite and aren’t in a rush - wait for the DSi.

Dwight Schrute ASCII

Download your very own Dwight ASCII art at NBC's The Office website.

If you saw The Office last week, you saw Pam’s art project was an ASCII Dwight. Now you too can get your very own to print and enjoy at your own cubicle. If you missed the season premiere last week, that was entitled “Weight Loss,” you can go watch it now! It was a fantastic episode and lots more entertaining than a normal day at your office, unless you’re lucky enough to work at a candy and fireworks testing factory.

Friends With ET

Scott Campbell - 'Friends With ET: Soundwaving' giclee print on textured fine art paper

The Extra-Terrestrial and his Decepticon chum Soundwave. This print and other great Scott C. pieces will be released this Friday, September 26th at 12PM PST at Gallery1988 San Francisco. They’ll be limited edition of 100, signed and numbered, and selling for $50. I really enjoy these playful pieces and especially enjoyed his artwork at this past iam8bit show in August. I bet that since Soundwave hasn’t been hanging out with the Transformers lately, he joined The Surreal Life and met E.T. They hang out, talk about the old days, while enjoying their slushies and tunes.

Heroes Season 3 Begins

Hiro Nakamura's adventurous journeys in Heroes Season 3.

Anyone else get excited watching the opening for Heroes Season 3? That was one excellent season premiere! If you were gave up last season, it’s time to return - they’re back on track. If they continue at this level of goodness, this will be an excellent season. The writing and the acting were not super, but it was enjoyable. What did you think about the Heroes opener episode(s)?

*It was cool that William Katt of The Greatest American Hero guest starred. I think he did a swell job. It’d be cool to see him back in his red hero suit again!

Atari Comic Books

Comic books published by DC Comics in the early 80s loosely based on trademarks of Atari, Inc.

Back in the 80s, when the Atari 2600 came out, these were my favorite literature. Combine two of my all time favorite hobbies - comics and games and you’ve got yourself a literary masterpiece. I literally demolished these mini-comics, having read through them countless times, they wore away and were lost to the ages. It wasn’t until I happened across Atari Age, who amazingly has all these old gaming mini-comics including Atari Force, Swordquest and Yars’ Revenge!

Note: My fav was Centipede and the littlest elf Oliver, who turned his insect friends into mushrooms. No thanks to that mean old hypnotizing wizard.

If you liked this post, you might also like this one about classic computing magazines.

Toothache Drops

Toothache Drops! It's the fast-acting anesthetic. Lloyd Manufacturing Co. late 1800s.

I’ll attempt to do this post without mentioning the actual stuff used in this ad, similar buzz words or any of it’s nicknames, like that of a certain a soda company. (Their company is named after the plant, because they once used a significant amount of it in their drink.) I don’t want this site to be a search haven for the stuff. Remember kids - don’t do drugs, build log cabins.

I’ve had a black and white version of this old ad in my collection for quite awhile. It wasn’t until I recently noticed that a color version of it was available just about everywhere online. This amazing plant, which was sold in various forms, was used and marketed as a instantaneous cure for whatever ailed you - as did many medicines of the time. But back in the late 1800’s, U.S. companies actually manufactured it for you to purchase at your neighborhood drugstore.

Fast forward a few decades and the laws have changed. No longer can little Janie or Johnny use it to help them build what appears to be a cabin from sticks, pain free. Now they must endure what ails them, like good little troopers (with misshapened heads), while they toil away building that little log cabin (for their family to live in).

Note: I was reminded to do this post about toothache drops because I’ve got to go to the dentist tomorrow - thankfully it’s only for a normal cleaning.

Fly Away with Stratos

Say hello to MOTUC Stratos! Old meets new. Masters of the Universe Classics.

He-Man.org has pictures of the new Masters of the Universe Classic Stratos figure and it looks like the original Stratos figure only cooler. There’s also pics of Mer-Man with his two variable heads! These new figures look great and I’m especially liking the new Skeletor. (He was one of my favorite characters, next to Webstor.) It’s too bad that these new figures won’t be out for a few months though, but I’m patient.

The Stratos character in the cartoon was one of the cooler characters in the show. I think he was like one of the only guys that could fly on his own. Since he appeared regularly alongside Ram-Man, I imagine being able to fly away from any unwanted, ramming would be useful. (Ram-Man always creeped me out a bit.)

(via Topless Robot)

The World of Mr Toast

Mr Toast and everyone in his world by Dan Goodsell!

Dan Goodsell has created a cute piece of artwork showing of his World of Mr Toast characters. The whole gang’s included like Mr Toast, Lemonhead, Shaky Bacon, Joe the Egg, Sr Cork, Clem Lemon, Drunken Carrot and many more. It’s kind of neat seeing all of these cool characters together in one place. Artwork like that deserves to be emblazoned on a t-shirt, don’t you think?

Tattooed Pickle is no where to be seen though…

Seth Spoofs Super Mario

Seth MacFarlane spoofs Super Mario.

Super Mario Rescues The Princess - I’m not sure if people think Family Guy is still cool, but I still enjoy the show. The shows’ creator, Seth MacFarlane, is making YouTube shorts that are sponsored by fast food giant Burger King. One of the first episodes is a parody of Super Mario Bros. and it’s pretty funny. These cartoon shorts are called Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy, which will be poking fun at pop culture. There’ll be a total of 50 shorts that are created specifically for the web. Wil Wheaton will be appearing in future episodes, so keep an eye out for him.

The Chaos Tower

Chaos Tower educational learning toy can be constructed to be over 6 feet tall or 5 feet wide.

Be constructive with chaos. The Chaos Tower educational learning toy can be constructed to be over 6 feet tall or 5 feet wide. With over 500 pieces, Chaos offers infinite building possibilities and unlimited expansion potential. Kids can move it easily, whether it’s fully or partially assembled. A big plus is that no tools are required for assembly and a complete AC powered motor is standard with every kit. Recommend for ages 8 and up.

Bring on the chaos and bring on the fun. Buy the product at Amazon today.