https://www.feanorsworkshop.com/blog/logorss.jpg An online journal... of DOOM! Sat, 16 Nov 2013 17:14:00 +0000  by Fëanor

A while back I gave Griffin the old Vehicle Voltron that my brother and I shared. This is really an impressive toy. It's fifteen separate vehicles that can be assembled into three larger vehicles, or into one gigantic robot. My folks had kept it intact in their attic, in its original box, complete with original styrofoam insert, all these years. Needless to say, the box was soon wrecked. Griff kind of liked it, especially the cars it uses for feet, but in general it sat forgotten in the corner of his play room.

Then, just recently, Griffin discovered Power Rangers. I'd been thinking for a while that he'd probably like this show, as it involves a team of guys, each wearing his own bright primary color suit, who rescue people and fight monsters, and also ride in gigantic transforming robot animals. It's kind of totally his thing. He'd been watching it for a while when he started taking his Transformers Rescue Bots toys, stacking them on top of each other, and calling them Rescue Bot Voltron. I was surprised he even remembered Voltron, but I guess I'd mentioned it a few times in connection with Power Rangers. I've always thought of Power Rangers as a lame, live-action rip-off of the original, far superior Voltron (although to be honest, Voltron was pretty lame, too). Anyway, when I heard him say that, I couldn't help myself. I went down into the basement and brought up the bag that contained Lion Force Voltron. Yep, we had that one, too, and my folks also kept it intact in their attic. Well, Griffin's a pretty big fan. He played with it continuously for a couple of hours. "These lion Transformers are pretty cool!" was his comment.

Anyway, more later. I gotta get back to this episode of Power Rangers. Did you know the Power Rangers Samurai Megazord has different powers depending on his hat?

Thumbs Up? (1)

Tagged: Children, Griffin, Toys, TV, Video]]> Children Griffin Toys TV Video Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:07:00 +0000  by Fëanor

I got a video game for Christmas! And poppy and I played it for a while today! Crazy!

The LEGO video games are all pretty similar, but all pretty solid fun. You play through a series of story-based action/platforming levels collecting stuff. There are fun cut scenes in between with a silly sense of humor. You unlock new playable characters and new abilities as you go. This means you can go back and replay earlier levels to collect even more stuff, and replaying those levels is actually rewarding and fun because now there are new things to do and new sections to explore. If all you want to do is beat the game, by which I mean, complete every level and see the end of the story, you can do that pretty quickly. It's collecting 100% of the stuff that's the real challenging part.

Some things I really hate in a video game: if it is punishingly difficult; if it makes you redo long portions again and again until you get them exactly right; if it makes you play for a very long time before you can safely save and quit (I don't have a lot of time here, people!). The LEGO games do not have any of these problems. Not only do they auto-save often, they also give you the option to manually save pretty much whenever you want. Also, although you can be "killed" in the game, there are no consequences to dying beyond losing a handful of the studs that are the "money" in the game; you immediately respawn and keep going right where you left off.

This particular game has all the advantages of your standard LEGO game, with the added advantage that it's set in Middle-Earth! It starts with you playing as Elendil, Isildur, and Elrond fighting Sauron himself!! That's how it opens! Of course, it quickly jumps thousands of years forward in time and acquaints you with Sam and Frodo. I was a little disappointed that you don't get to explore Bag End (UPDATE: we've discovered since that later on in the game you do get to go back and explore Bag End, although only a limited portion of it), but you do get to wander around a surprisingly expansive Hobbiton, and then down the road to Bree, and out into the Wild. When you pick up the rest of the Fellowship at Rivendell is when things get really fun. Legolas, Gandalf, Gimli, and Aragorn are all bad-asses (especially Legolas; bow and arrow! Jumping and swinging and climbing!), but even the hobbits have all been given useful and unique abilities so you often find yourself jumping between many different characters to get through a particular puzzle or sequence. Something they've added for this game that I haven't seen in the previous LEGO games I've played is that each character actually has an inventory and can carry multiple objects at one time. The way it works is a bit awkward (every time you pick something up you have to immediately indicate which spot in your inventory you want it to sit in; why not just have it automatically go to the first empty spot?), but still, inventory!

One of my favorite things so far: not only can you pick up Gimli and carry him around, you can also throw him at things! And not only can you do this, you actually have to, and often! It is pretty hilarious. Oh, and also? I got to rocket down a pit in Moria, jump on the back of a Balrog, and hack at him with Glamdring until he was dead. That was awesome.

UPDATE 1: Now that we've played a bit more, I can reveal that the Balrog was not dead yet! They split the Balrog fight into two sections, and the second part is pretty great, too. Also, you eventually get to play as Ents, which is fantastic. Once you're that big, you don't even have to fight the Orcs anymore; they're just little scurrying things that you sometimes step on.

UPDATE 2: We've now gotten to the end of the story in the game, but haven't even collected half the things yet. Last night we built something called the Disco Phial. You owe it to yourself to seek out this item and equip it. Then sit back and witness the hilarious awesomeness.

Of course, the game has its problems. For one, it's a bit buggy. Even in the few hours of play we put in, twice we ended up stuck in a dead-end where the game would not let us continue because the thing we needed to do to move forward had become impossible. (In the first case, a rock we had to push over to move on got stuck and would not go any further; in the second case, the creature outside the gates of Moria became invulnerable.) We had to quit out and go back in to get things going again. Luckily, like I said, it lets you save often, so we didn't have to repeat too much, but still. Also, although the game is often good at giving you onscreen tips and hints so you can figure out what to do next, sometimes the path forward is highly counter-intuitive and frustratingly difficult to discover. (Fighting the troll in Moria was particularly annoying.) Finally, the way the game splits the screen so each player can see their own surroundings is sometimes either confusing or simply doesn't work at all; for example, while we were fighting that troll in Moria, I sometimes couldn't see myself at all.

Still, even with the flaws, the game has overall been fun so far, and I'm looking forward to jumping back into Middle-Earth as soon as we can.

Thumbs Up? (3)

Tagged: LEGO, Tolkien, Toys, Video games]]> LEGO Tolkien Toys Video games Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:24:00 +0000  by Fëanor

I bought building blocks for Griffin as soon as he entered the safe age range of the set that had the lowest safe age range (Mega Bloks has sets that are okay for ages 1 and over - they're basically big, chunky LEGO bricks that not even the most determined infant could choke himself on). I love building blocks and remember countless happy hours as a kid putting crazy stuff together with them. The thing is, infants and toddlers aren't so much builders as destructors. The boy wasn't really interested in doing anything with his Mega Bloks but knocking over and taking apart stuff built by other people. We kept his bag of bricks in his playroom, but didn't touch them much; he's been focused mostly on playing with cars and guys.

Then, yesterday, while he was pulling down and throwing around all his toys (like he does), he came across the bag of Mega Bloks. He handed it to me and I asked him if he wanted to build something with them. He said yes. We dumped them out (he loves dumping things out) and I asked him what he wanted to build. He didn't seem sure, so I suggested robots. I built a small one myself, and then, after some trial and error, he built two more. When he was done he did a little dance and said, "RO-BOTS! RO-BOTS!" Although it was more like "WO-BOTS! WO-BOTS!" Our creations are below. Mine is the one on the left.

I'm a little embarrassed at how happy and proud this made me.

UPDATE: I should add, the boy's robots would have been bigger if we hadn't run out of blocks. I was like, "We ran out. We need more blocks!" I'm dangerous in toy stores. The other day we were in Target and he was playing with a little car, and I think he would have actually put it back and left peacefully, but I said, "No, you need to have this."

Thumbs Up? (9)

Tagged: Children, Griffin, LEGO, Parenthood, Parenting, Personal, Toys]]> Children Griffin LEGO Parenthood Parenting Personal Toys Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:44:00 +0000  by Fëanor

Fëanor pours the entire internet into the Recyclotron, and only the best links come out the other end for you to enjoy.

• If you have not been to the Windows 95 Tips, Tricks, and Tweaks Tumblr yet, you are missing out on something seriously disturbing and hilarious. Here is a representative sample.


• Pretty cool collection of GIFs highlighting the major characters from Return of the Jedi.


• Speaking of GIFs, I still deeply love flux machine. A couple of vaguely recent entries. That long, anxious moment as you wait for the GIF to do something creepy might be the best part.


• 72-year-old grandfather models women's clothes for his granddaughter's clothing line. Pretty bad-ass.


• Great redesign of Darth Vader.


• Here's an idea for a new James Bond film: Idris Elba as James Bond and Tom Hiddleston as the villain. All kidding aside, that would be amazing.


• Some great classic monster movies got redesigned posters on Reelizer lately. Here's The Mummy, a couple of Frankensteins, and an Invisible Man.


• You probably already saw this amazing photo floating around somewhere or other (like on any or all of my social media platforms). But have you seen the Spockified version??


• Brad Bird was forced to confirm on Twitter - numerous times! - that he is not directing Star Wars VII. Ah, well. It was a lovely dream while it lasted.


• Heh.


• Maybe people will finally wake up to the dangers of climate change when wild coffee starts going extinct? What a horrifying thought.


• Pretty amazing photo. And they went to a lot of trouble to get the shot, so worth a click.


• Fun toy roundup on Super Punch. Tis the season and so forth.


• Reimagining Snow White as an anarchist.


• A Stardust the Super Wizard action figure! There's a Kickstarter to make this a reality.

Thumbs Up? (4)

Tagged: Animated GIFs, Art, Celebrities, Comedy, Comic books, Computers, Disney, Environment, Fashion, James Bond, Links, Movies, News, Photography, Recyclotron, Star Trek, Star Wars, Toys]]> Animated GIFs Art Celebrities Comedy Comic books Computers Disney Environment Fashion James Bond Links Movies News Photography Recyclotron Star Trek Star Wars Toys Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:19:00 +0000  by Fëanor

Fëanor pours the entire internet into the Recyclotron, and only the best links come out the other end for you to enjoy.

• YESSSS new Broship of the Rings! Eowyn slaying the Witch-King and Thranduil and Legolas. Also, have you been reading Noelle Stevenson's Nimona? It's good stuff!


• Speaking of Lord of the Rings, GeekDad got some fun details on the upcoming LEGO game. I'm a little disappointed that it will stick closer to the movies than the books, but not too surprised. Anyway, it still sounds pretty awesome.


• I tweeted this a while ago, but good enough for a repost: somebody illustrated scenes from an imagined Harry Potter prequel focusing on James Potter and his buddies.


• Here is video of an SUV getting struck by lightning while driving.


• I like the T-shirt featured first in this Super Punch art roundup.


• A poster for one of the greatest movies never made, Jodorowsky's Dune.


• Some very neat art involving fantastic beasts by Chris Applehans.

Thumbs Up? (2)

Tagged: Art, Avengers, Clothing, Comedy, Dune, Harry Potter, LEGO, Links, Lists, Mario, Mashups, Monsters, Movies, Recyclotron, Shirts, Tolkien, Toys, Video, Video games, Weather, Web comics]]> Art Avengers Clothing Comedy Dune Harry Potter LEGO Links Lists Mario Mashups Monsters Movies Recyclotron Shirts Tolkien Toys Video Video games Weather Web comics Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:44:00 +0000  by Fëanor

Fëanor pours the entire internet into the Recyclotron, and only the best links come out the other end for you to enjoy.

• The Badass Scooby Gang go to the beach!


• Baby platypuses! Platypi? Platypeople?


• A couple of dudes are drawing their favorite LEGO sets from childhood. Cool idea! (Via)


• Fun Frank Frazetta fan art! Fffff!


• Nicolas Delort does some pretty amazing illustrations, including some inspired by Harry Potter. (Via)


• Basic Instructions covers both sides of the old Star Wars vs. Star Trek debate.


• It's technically a commercial for a car, but this amazing video also features slow-motion footage of said car crashing through glass and breaking giant water balloons, so...


• Apparently Ryan Reynolds is going to be the new Highlander. Hmm.


• This illustration roundup features a catbus!!! Auto-post!


• The guy who made that pretty amazing Super Mario Crossover online game is Kickstarting something similar involving original characters.


• The new Penny Arcade game sounds good! I need to play those at some point...


• Speaking of Penny Arcade, they have a comic and a news post that do a great job explaining why the Diablo 3 real money auction house makes no damn sense.


• This is a pretty wonderful story.Pretty great Joust illustration.


• Heh.


• The UK trailer for Looper! The director himself warns that it's a bit spoilery, though, so consider carefully before watching.

Thumbs Up? (1)

Tagged: Advertising, Animals, Art, Automobiles, Cartoons, Celebrities, Clothing, Comedy, Commercials, Diablo, Diablo 3, Harry Potter, Hayao Miyazaki, Highlander, LEGO, Links, Mario, Movies, News, Photography, Recyclotron, Scooby-Doo, Shirts, Star Trek, Star Wars, Toys, TV, Video, Video games, Web comics]]> Advertising Animals Art Automobiles Cartoons Celebrities Clothing Comedy Commercials Diablo Diablo 3 Harry Potter Hayao Miyazaki Highlander LEGO Links Mario Movies News Photography Recyclotron Scooby-Doo Shirts Star Trek Star Wars Toys TV Video Video games Web comics Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:06:00 +0000  by Fëanor

Fëanor pours the entire internet into the Recyclotron, and only the best links come out the other end for you to enjoy.

• Dude, my friends wrote a book! You can buy it! You should buy it. Buy it now!


• One of my favorite of the recent posts on Reproductive Ryan Gosling. My very own poppy is a co-founder and contributor!


• Awww, look at the tiny Avengers! So tiny!


• A little goat! Hopping! On a bed!


• I love Marion, and I love Raiders of the Lost Ark, but... yeah. Baskets. *facepalm*


• Female Holmes and Watson.


• Blue And Bluer celebrates one of the great film classics, Grosse Pointe Blank.


• Some Game of Thrones humor.


• A little Daily Show for you.


• Heh. Poor Michelle.


• SANDWICH POLICE. That is all.


• Now here's something you can base a system of government on!


• Can't remember if I posted this before, but it's worth a repost if I didn't: Elmo and Grover as Street Fighters.


• An old script for an episode of the original Star Trek that was never filmed is going to get turned into a webisode by the New Voyages crew. Nice!


• There are birthday cake Oreos? Where can I get them?!


• Oh hey, it's that time of year again! March M.O.D.O.K. Madness!


• I kind of want this bird nest bed.


• Some pics from, and a new trailer for, Men in Black 3. I want to like this, because the original Men in Black is such a great movie, but... I just don't know.


• Another movie I want to like is John Carter. You can watch ten minutes of it right here. I was hoping to be really impressed by this, but despite some clever moments (and an inspired choice of when to cut short the clip), I could take or leave this movie.


• Some really cool props from Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor are up for auction.


• Cool Star Wars crayons.


• Cute Saruman figurine. All right, maybe cute isn't the right word, but whatever, I like it, is the point.


• Wow. Mike Mignola did a book cover for Heart of Darkness. Two great tastes that taste great together!


• I've mostly soured on the whole Simpson-izing thing, but these Simpsons versions of Scooby and Shaggy are fun.


• Look out! Tiger Batman!

Thumbs Up? (4)

Tagged: Animals, Animated GIFs, Art, Avengers, Batman, Books, Captain America, Cartoons, Celebrities, Comedy, Comic books, Craft, Food, Game of Thrones, Iron Man, Links, Mike Mignola, Monty Python, Movies, Muppets, Photography, Politics, Products, Recyclotron, Scooby-Doo, Sherlock Holmes, Simpsons, Song of Ice and Fire, Star Trek, Star Wars, Street Fighter, Thor, Toys, TV, Video]]> Animals Animated GIFs Art Avengers Batman Books Captain America Cartoons Celebrities Comedy Comic books Craft Food Game of Thrones Iron Man Links Mike Mignola Monty Python Movies Muppets Photography Politics Products Recyclotron Scooby-Doo Sherlock Holmes Simpsons Song of Ice and Fire Star Trek Star Wars Street Fighter Thor Toys TV Video Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:04:00 +0000  by Fëanor

Fëanor pours the entire internet into the Recyclotron, and only the best links come out the other end for you to enjoy.

• You can stream Sinead O'Connor's new album, How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? (which is a great title, btw), in its entirety on NPR. I'm not really too familiar with her work, but I enjoyed large portions of this one. Although the last track is crazy overdone and melodramatic. (Via)


• My blue-haired pal is a trusted source for important GIFs.


• A great piece celebrating the messy end of one of the major villains in Raiders of the Lost Ark.


• There's now a book of Donn Kenn's amazing post-it note monster art.


• This news piece about Abraham Lincoln's birthday includes some footage from the upcoming film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. (UPDATE: And here's the first official trailer. Pretty silly!)


• It's almost Valentines Day! Who cares! Nobody! Except, Comics Alliance is posting a series of gender-swapped Valentines! Yay!


• Pics of new LEGO sets! Lord of the Rings! Avengers! My poor credit card!


• They're doing a new Ringu film in 3D. That's terrifying!


• Some pretty great geeky custom hockey jerseys.


• Cool Super Mario sneaks.


• Amazingly gigantic Optimus Prime snow sculpture.


• Super Punch highlights some of the more interesting toys at the 2012 Toy Fair.


• Kevin J. Anderson will novelize Rush's new album. That's actually perfect! They're perfect for each other! Not a compliment!


• I'm sure you're already aware of the Ryan Gosling "Hey Girl" Tumblr meme. Here is one that fits my interests, via Sarah.

Thumbs Up? (2)

Tagged: 3D, Animated GIFs, Art, Avengers, Books, Celebrities, Clothing, Comedy, Craft, Harry Potter, History, Holiday, Indiana Jones, LEGO, Links, Mario, Monty Python, Movies, Music, News, Photography, Recyclotron, Tolkien, Toys, Transformers, Vampires, Video, Video games]]> 3D Animated GIFs Art Avengers Books Celebrities Clothing Comedy Craft Harry Potter History Holiday Indiana Jones LEGO Links Mario Monty Python Movies Music News Photography Recyclotron Tolkien Toys Transformers Vampires Video Video games Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:17:00 +0000  by Fëanor

Part of our current nighttime routine is that the boy watches Scooby-Doo with us for a bit in our room before I take him off to his room, read him a few stories, and then put him in his crib to sleep. He always takes his beloved stuffed giraffe with him during this process. Tonight when I picked him up to take him to his room, he was already holding a car in one hand and a truck in the other. So he wrapped his legs around giraffe and dragged him off that way. That's my boy.

Thumbs Up? (5)

Tagged: Children, Griffin, Parenthood, Parenting, Toys]]> Children Griffin Parenthood Parenting Toys Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:53:00 +0000  by Fëanor

Since even before my son was born, I have been engaging in the time-honored tradition of Dads everywhere by telling him strange, pointless stories and awful, unfunny jokes, and giving him completely useless advice. I've decided to inflict some of this on you. Enjoy.

• "Hey, you must be Two-Foot McGee! I can tell because you have two feet!"


• When attempting to get the child to put his arm in a sleeve: "Hey buddy, who's your favorite character actor from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine? That's right! Arm-in! Armin Shimerman!


• "Don't lose your Han Solo. Daddy lost his Han Solo once and he never got over it."

UPDATE:

• "Why are the people of the planet Wars so clean all the time? Because they're always Wartian!"


• "Are you a dude? Do you have dude powers? Were you bitten by a radioactive dude?

Thumbs Up? (3)

Tagged: Celebrities, Children, Comedy, Griffin, Parenthood, Parenting, Star Trek, Star Wars, Toys, TV]]> Celebrities Children Comedy Griffin Parenthood Parenting Star Trek Star Wars Toys TV