The Gadget Blog » Toys

Too Much Time + Lego = Long Awesome Post

Rico Mossesgeld — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:25:47 +0000

Most of us enjoyed turning our imaginations into semi-reality through Lego (and who hasn’t drooled over those large city reenactments when they were younger?). Looks like Nathan Sawaya continues doing so, at a entirely new level. Some details courtesy of Abduzeedo:

Nathan Sawaya is a New York-based artist who creates very nice pieces using some unlikely things, mostly LEGO bricks. Sawaya has some portraits, logos, large and small sculptures … all made of bricks. As you will see here, his work is very amazing since he puts together lots of bricks to form very nice and unique work. He is currently touring North American museums in a show titled The Art of the Brick, an exhibition focused exclusively on LEGO as a way of art.

Click on any image for more details on each creation, from the mouth (or hands?) of the man himself!

So much more pics follow.

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BuckyBalls: Seriously Fun Magnetism at Play

Rico Mossesgeld — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:36:43 +0000

What can you do with the 216 tiny spherical magnets that make up a ZoomDoggle’s BuckyBalls set? A lot apparently, especially if you’ve got a geographic imagination. You can pull the magnets apart, stick them together, and shape the whole metallic clump in virtually limitless ways. You can even create the famous “BuckyBall” molecule structure this magenetic toy was named after.

ZoomDoggle’s BuckyBalls are available from getbuckyballs.com for $25 a set. First set requires an additional $6 for shipping (worldwide), but getting two makes shipping free.

Even better, the folks behind getbuckyballs.com have graciously offered an additional $5 discount to The Gadget Blog readers. Just apply the coupon code “gadgetblog” before checking out.

(image courtesy of getbuckyballs.com)

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Useless But Cool: iDaft

Rico Mossesgeld — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:35:33 +0000

Fans of Daft Punk—and sample pad enthusiasts—will find iDaft entertaining. Basically, iDaft is a website that presents samples from Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger in a clean grid format. Each cell plays an individual sample when clicked on or its corresponding keyboard shortcut is pressed. It’s cool being able to imperfectly replicate the intro of Kanye West’s Stronger, which by the way, used samples from Daft Punk’s original.

This isn’t really something that will change your life or boost your productivity tremendously. But like I said, it’s cool. What’s amazing is that no one’s attempted to turn this into a mobile app! I can imagine iPhone and iPod touch users need another reason to back-up their gadgets’ professed superiority, though it wouldn’t hurt to see a Java version of this online app, made for mobiles.

Also, it would great to see other versions of iDaft, like iBritney iJustin, or whatever you can think of.

(image is screenshot of iDaft)

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Hey Jude: A Game for Really Bored People

Rico Mossesgeld — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:00:30 +0000

Feeling pretty bored but too lazy to unglue yourself from the computer? Then load your favorite media player and set it to random mode! Start playing any song. Now all you have to do is answer a bunch of questions (received from a friend) by pressing next on your media player. The results can be really hilarious, totally weird, or in my case, strangely accurate. A sample of this game in action is available for those who continue reading.

I’m pretty sure this game can work on other social networks. Here’s what I posted on my Facebook account (yes, the answers below are true, unfortunately):

INSTRUCTIONS:
- Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
- For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
- YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS. DON’T LIE.
- Tag 10 friends (make me #11 so I can see your results). or however many you want…
- Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
- Have fun!

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY?
Wayne Wonder – Hold Me Now

2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Sara Bareilles – Love Song

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Bone Thugs – Bump in the Trunk

4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
No Place Like London (Sweeney Todd OST)

5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Dean Martin – Sway

6. WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?
Fatboy Slim – Praise You

7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Mick Jagger & Dave Stewart – Old Habits Die Hard

8. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Stone Temple Pilots – Big Empty

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Corinne Bailey Rae – Like a Star

10. WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Wyclef Jean – Guantanamera

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Belazamusica – Inside Out

12. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Mary J. Blige – Just Fine

13. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Plan B – No Good (Chase & Status and Benni G Remix)

14. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Estelle – You Are

15. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Peaches and Herb – Reunited

16. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Vitamin String Quartet – Maybe Someday

17. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Backstreet Boys – Just to be Close to You

18. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Jamiroquai – Everyday

19. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Johanna (Sweeney Todd OST)

20. WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Sade – By Your Side

21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Linkin Park – In Between

22. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Joe Anderson – Hey Jude (Across the Universe OST)

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Awesome Lego-Built Pneumatic Engines Guarantee Geekasm

Rico Mossesgeld — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:30:37 +0000

Played with Lego when you were younger? Then I guarantee you’ll go gaga over these pneumatic-powered lego-built engines! First you’ve go an inline 3-cylinder engine:

And, even more awesome, a V8!

These engines are meant to power lego-constructed vehicles, and are at least 11 bricks high. Check out lpepower.com for more details. (via)

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Rubber Band Metal Gun DIY

Rico Mossesgeld — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:44:01 +0000

Check it out: mimicking the classic wooden setup, but in the words of Boing Boing, “this one has a working safety and is far prettier. (And heavier!)”

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