December 31, 2013

Yearly wrap-up of yearly wrap-ups




December 30, 2013

Lego Collectible Minifigs Series 12 LEGO Movie figures

Looks like I have a few more days to figure out a feel guide for the newest series of Lego collectible minifigures. January 1 is the official release date for the LEGO-movie-themed figures.

  1. Robot girl - slant dress and rifle (2 per case)
  2. President Business - funky hair, coffee cup w/ handle (6 per case)
  3. Emmitt - 1x2 tile, no handcuffs (6 per case)
  4. Wildstyle - slant dress and fan (4 per case)
  5. Abe Lincoln - hat with beard (they're attached) (4 per case)
  6. Scratchen-Post - cat (2 per case)
  7. Scribble-face Cop - 1x2 tile and handcuffs (6 per case)
  8. Will Shakespeare - 2x2 tile and quill (2 per case)
  9. Gail, the construction worker - jackhammer (2 per case)
  10. Larry the Barista - coffee cup without handle (4 per case)
  11. Velma Staplebot - 2x2 tile and round wig (2 per case)
  12. Taco Tuesday Guy - sombrero or cheese plate (4 per case)
  13. Where are my Pants? Guy - two legs (4 per case)
  14. Wiley Fusebot - dynamite, gun (4 per case)
  15. Panda Guy - Panda helmet with ears, panda (6 per case)
  16. Marsha Queen of Mermaids - mermaid tail (2 per case)
I'm thinking this set is going to be tough to recognize through the bags. Three figures have 2x2 tiles. Two have 1x2 tiles. Two have slant dresses. Two have coffee cups. I've never felt the dynamite before.

I've had to buy eighteen figures to get the full set of sixteen in each of the past two sets (#10 and #11). I'll aim to be better, but it's going to be tough.

Addenda - Since I started typing this post on Friday, From Bricks to Bothans posted a review and feel guide of the new set. Thanks, folks. I also found some confirmation that the next collectible minifig set will be Simpsons-themed and should show up in May 2014 then that series 14 will tie into the Minifig MMO.

Also appearing this January 1 is the newest Lego Cuusoo set, the Mars Rover, which is a must-buy for me. That'll, of course, be far easier to get absolutely right, and the $25 Lego gift card that I got from a student for Christmas makes that almost free. (Thanks, ND)


December 28, 2013

Well then I'll sail this ship alone...

As this posts, I should be sitting in New Castle Chrysler High School's gymnasium, the largest in the country, waiting for the start of the Hall of Fame Classic. In other words I'll be in heaven.


December 23, 2013

Fallen Astronaut

I know I should keep posting Christmas ephemera, but I feel like taking a little left turn today. I might fit some more Christmas something in later today.

Instead, I want to marvel at the brilliance of the only sculpture on the moon: Fallen Astronaut.


The sculpture is among the most touching, beautiful efforts of commemoration that I've ever heard of. One of the astronauts worked in advance to find as light-weight, hideable tribute to his fallen comrades (some of whom were actual, Soviet comrades - brotherhood knows no political bounds). He managed to sneak the sculpture up TO THE MOON, and then he and his fellow astronauts had to distract mission control long enough to set up a make-shift memorial.

I love the moon. I love the idea that we as a species walked on the moon. I desperately want us to get back to the moon.

More info about Fallen Astronaut on Wikipedia and at the Smithsonian.

December 21, 2013

Taking a break from Christmas playlists




I'm going to take a break from the Christmas playlists and go with the forty seven (8tracks wouldn't let me include all three John Mellencamp songs, so sorry to "I Need a Lover") that always make me happy.

Merry Christmas, folks


December 20, 2013

Christmas playlist #15




Christmas is for kids. It seems like a very straight forward playlist for me to put together, but these folks did a better job than I did.





December 19, 2013

Christmas playlist #14




It's essential that you have a wordless Christmas music playlist. Some would even say that it's instrumental in your holiday enjoyment.

December 18, 2013

Christmas playlist #13




I didn't come up with the Mixed Up Holiday Tunes, but I can endorse it...except maybe for the Ludacris song.

December 17, 2013

Christmas playlist #12




I kind of like this one, so - even though I'm enjoying this banter, it won't pay th ebills.

Oh, and I finally got around to wearing a 


December 16, 2013

Christmas playlist #11




Sadly I couldn't include more of Django Bells, a great Christmas, swing jazz album from the Gypsy Hombres. 8Tracks has some sort of 'no more than two per artist per playlist' rule in their contract. Hopefully the mix of cowboy Christmas and Texas swing- jazz Christmas will tide you over until you get the Django Bells album

December 14, 2013

Don't You Four Cheddar 'Bout Me


December 13, 2013

Christmas playlist #10




The soulful Christmas playlist might be my favorite of the ones I've posted so far. Very happy stuff...

December 12, 2013

Christmas playlist #9



Loving the remixed Christmas classics here. I'd embed the straight Christmas Remixed album because it's outstanding, but this is as close as I could manage.

Buy or download that one immediately.

December 10, 2013

Christmas playlist #8




Today we bring down the guitars and crank the amps to eleven for Christmas rock!

Christmas playlist #7




There just aren't enough oldies and surfin' oldies Christmas tunes out there for my tastes.

There should be more like these.

December 9, 2013

Christmas playlist #6




Novelty Christmas songs are some of the best Christmas songs. They're just so cutesy and novel.

December 6, 2013

Christmas playlist #5




You know all the songs, but you probably don't know these updated versions in today's modern classics of Christmas playlist from 8tracks.

December 5, 2013

Christmas playlist #4




Today's Christmas playlist: lounge music Christmas tunes.

Amazon Prime Air?!?



Really?

It's sort of odd timing for an April Fools joke, so maybe Amazon Prime Air is actually a real if very early prototype program?


December 4, 2013

Christmas playlist #3




It's a folk music Christmas...sadly without any actual songs from Steve Martin, though I would love that.



December 3, 2013

Christmas playlist #2




Come out to the mall and enjoy today's selection of non-threatening, appropriate to all, white bread Christmas music. We've got Andy Williams, Burl Ives, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and more.

Honestly, I love 'em all.

34 years ago today...



December 2, 2013

Christmas playlist #1




Today, Brit Pop Christmas.

More music to come over the coming days.

Happy December!

You could do a lot worse than to follow along with Chris Sims's advent calendar of daily christmas finds from YouTube.

If you need some Christmas music, I have a couple of mixes from the past couple of years that I particularly enjoy...




and...




Or there are dozens of Christmas music internet radio stations: celtic christmas, celtic christmas, various christmas, pandora Christmas, Cincinnati's Christian Christmas, and lots more.

December 1, 2013

I'm gonna go down to Snooky's Bar. Anybody with me?