ChocolateFrogs

The point of this article isn't "come to BrickFair no matter how far away you live; haha we're having fun without you," but rather: Look around and find a convention within reasonable driving distance to your location and check it out because you'll have fun." -CF

I've just finished registering all the MOCs for BrickFair that people have sent me, and just in time too as MOCs submitted after today (ie in the next 20 minutes of typing this) won't have their MOC cards printed out and I'd have had to do that myself. And what dawned on me was how cool our fanbase is that we have art to go along with our MOCs. Aside from Greg Hyland's art here and there, I can't think of another theme displayed at conventions that have fan-made art accompanying their MOCs, aside from the MOCs themselves. And that is something for all you artists to pat yourselves on the back for. -CF (Five days! (My festivities start in 2!))

Very nice. I'm glad that after a few years I bought the Lifetime premier is so I don't have to remember to do it again each year! -CF

100% of you will probably know of at least one of these franchises. Bonus cookies if you're fond of both. First, some more Avengers figs: -Namor (doubtful he's still an Avenger), Maria Hill (technically not an Avenger, but she's in the Secret Avengers title), Rogue (an Uncanny Avengers--protip: Don't read anything by Rick Remender) -Ant-Man and Wasp (she'll be updated with wings once I get the pieces) Now, who's had the pleasure of playing Munchkin? If not, well hopefully I'll remember to bring it to BrickFair, and we'll all have a blast! I wish I could fit the lady munchkin with something on her back too, but the armor gets in the way. I tried stretching a scabbard over it, but ehhhhh... I'm sure other pieces will come to my attention. I think I'll put these two on my brickbadge. -CF

In a continuing endeavor to build more steampunk MOCs, especially before BrickFair, I bring you something that's been floating around in my head for a while now: Hopefully some more ideas will float my way before the con! -CF

I didn't host the picture in the entry to prolong the effect. Click the link to go to the image. I assure you, these are definitely being added to my collection of Avengers minifigs. -CF

I finally got around to digging for the pieces to build one of Marvel's favorite couples (until they weren't). I present, the Avengers ANT-MAN and WASP! I could do Wasp as black/yellow/black, but the brighter colors make her stand out more. My friend has suggested a clip and some head-dress feathers as wings. I'll have to look for a vendor selling some at BrickFair. These will go great with my other LEGO Avengers, both official sets and custom (but purist) minifigs. -CF

The thought crossed my mind, but I'm not nearly that experienced yet... -CF

Sounds fun. I can throw something non-fragile together beforehand if this (and I) pull(s) through. -CF

I've had the chance to start building (after a long lag period) so I can hustle and bring some new stuff to BrickFair. So far I've dabbled in Steampunk (I am the coordinator after all) and fiddled around with Brickbadge possibilities. I wanted to stray away from the stereotypical brown and slapping on gears, but I think the result is more post-apoc than giving two baddie Victorian ladies a buzz-saw tank. And as my brother pointed out I really should put a boiler on the back (with steam) to show off functionality. So I think this will be revamped with the top half in brown and a formidable engine on the back. But overall I'm happy with how this turned out for merely being an idea using treads and having two cockpits for figs I made last month. The buzz-saw is staying. And I might as well give you a tease of what I'm thinking of putting on my brickbadge. I've attended five conventions! Wow! I consider that a milestone, being able to have five convention bricks on your badge. BrickFair '13 marks #6 (and #8 if you include the two I visited), and I feel it's time to stray from the traditional straight up and down, 1x8 brick format. We'll see what I actually do once I put on a graphic tee and find this thing covering half my shirt. This year's theme is birds, though I might find room for a fig or two. Also, blurry: You didn't think I'd reveal the entire thing now, did you? Anyway, back to building! I've got a hot-air balloon to construct with Naboo! -CF

I feel you on intimidating non-fiction. Such reasons are why I haven't touched my Erik Larson books yet. -CF

SO, APPARENTLY, and my source is a LUG member who pays more attention to LEGO community insider news than I, these are stolen from a LEGO factory! Wow! I forget which country, but it's one of the new ones as LEGO is having some trouble with internal theft (which is why some things, like some new, about-to-be-released Star Wars sets IIRC, have leaked and sold on ebay or bricklink recently). Such theft included reject Friends figures. In short: I'd recommend letting Keven Hinkle know who you bought these from on ebay. -CF (So that just adds to the story of these figs. Neat! Kind of like those red Darth Vader helmets. Kind of....)

Don't misunderstand me, I'll buy a paperback book out of necessity most of the time. I just bought Redshirts and will probably buy Mistborn soon too, in paperback. Usually that's all that is around if I'm buying something new because by the time I get around to buying it to read it's in paperback. But when a book as wonderful as American Gods comes into my life, I want to make sure it will stay with me for decades and still be intact with every read. -CF

But what if you want to read the newest SW novel, like Scoundrels? Do you just wait until it's in paperback? Because if it's a hardback, it will last longer. I don't want it to look (and actually happen) like it will fall apart with each page turn in 20 years. I want to invest in a hardback if I'm going to keep it around and lend it out, providing it many rereads by myself and others in the years to come. I don't read ebooks, so they aren't on my radar as such a viable source. I know they are popular though. But my problem with getting an ereader is 1) can't share it with all my friends (or any for that matter, though Velox has a Nook...) and 2) what happens in 5, 10, or 20 years when B&N goes under? Or even Amazon eventually? All those ebooks purchased will be gone once said ereader breaks and no one is around to supply a new one to DL all those books on that system. Only those free ebook sites with the out of copyright stories will be viable. Yeessssss! -CF

I have a question for everyone: What is your preference between hardback books and paperback books? And not just in general, but new books, older books, favorite books, read-it-once-then-donate books, etc. See, I work at a bookstore, and constantly I'll hand someone a hardback (because it's new or is still selling well even after being out for half a year or more) and they'll ask "Is it in paperback?" (Um, no, this new Dan Brown book came out yesterday. It's in hardback because they know they'll make more money by people who can't wait to read it.) (Rinse and repeat for Mockingjay, A Dance With Dragons, and Gone Girl, books that have been out forever.) Now, I can understand that a paperback is lighter to hold and easier to take on trips, despite being cheaper. But whenever someone asks that my first thought is that they are cheap and can't appreciate the work the are holding in their hands. But customers have revealed that they prefer paperbacks due to being lighter, usually thinner, and easier to travel with. For me, I love that I have some gems in hardback, because I know in 20 years they won't look like they'll fall apart ala The Time Machine. I'll definitely want to reread Neil Gaiman, JK Rowling, or Douglas Adams multiple times between now and my death, and these books will need to take a beating between my hands and friends borrowing them. But I can understand wanting to pay less for a book you're unsure about or if money is tight. An $8 pocket paperback is more alluring than a $26 hardback for an impulse buy. So, does anyone feel how I feel, or do you strictly buy a paperback, even if it means waiting 8 months to two years to read the new Neil Gaiman or George RR Martin? (And don't get me started about graphic novels. Only the best of the best need to be in hardback to stand the test of time, dust, and rereads, but those have already been out so long they're only in paperback. And the new stuff most likely doesn't need to be in hardback.) -CF

I guess they weren't allowed to leave without headgear/pastries first? Can't wait to see what you do with these! (At the very least, look at all those amazing head pieces.) -CF

I got lesson that too. I'm pretty good in remembering to say "well" and not "good," in interviews and things, but in a casual setting I kind of forget to care. And I should probably remedy that. -CF

-Build some (like 4) steampunk stuff for the cool steampunk minifigs I've made -Make sure I use more than just brown. Use gears and functionality. (As if that needs saying.) -Build something for the Pharaoh's Quest collab, because Greg is part of WAMALUG and super-cool. -Build my secret Galaxy Squad idea which only works this year. -Build a 16x16 Micropolic thing because that theme is super-cool and I keep forgetting to. -Mope about not building any new Bionicle stuff since 2010, but bring all my old stuff anyway to fill the theme. -Pack. -Realize I won't get much pleasure reading done like I have in most recent months, but it will be worth it. -Register MOCs. -Be awesome. If this list didn't exist I'd just time-travel to August and hang out with you lovely people. -CF

Nice list. From what I've heard, the author of The Prestige was present at one of Nolan's screenings and was thoroughly impressed at what Nolan had done, wishing he had thought of some of it. -CF

YES! This is exciting! I can't wait to finally meet you! What a treat! -CF

This has been one of the best blog entries I've seen in a while! -CF

Well it doesn't surprise me. There is so much to watch, and a lot of it is kind of unbearable (9-episode stories, poor graphics, bad writing, etc). Plus classic Who DVDs are expensive (if watching the legal way), sometimes being $20 for only four episodes (one story). Ouch. (I myself have only seen a few Tom Baker stories for such reasons.) Compare that to simply needing to catch up since 2005. That's three Doctors, better stories and graphics (usually), and a vast internet to google any references to Whonivers history (Cybermats, Autons, the Master, etc). Lots of people might have seen the most recently recovered two episodes because it's exciting news and available to get a hold of for fun. -CF

Leave it to you to make something this awesome. I don't think I've seen a MOC like this before! I hope it arrived at my doorstep soon for Brickfair, ja? -CF

That...was better than I expected. And entertaining. I liked the humor, and the hearkening back to past themes (and playing off present ones, like with TMNT). -CF

I'm ecstatic that Curiosity is coming through as a set! Stephen is a fantastic guy I've had the pleasure of spending time with at many LUG meetings, and it totally deserves the win. So is a signed LEGO box worth more opened or unopened? Do I have him autograph the set itself once built? -CF