Top 20 Green Holiday Toys
by Toy Whimsy at 4:35 PM PST, November 9, 2009
Green toys are some of my favorite toys to talk about. I love the innovation by many of the toy manufacturers out there, and I love that we are trying hard to do something as an industry to create fun products that are a little better for kids, the environment, and even parents. In putting together my green toy list this year, I have included some Amazon.com Frustration Free Packaging toys. Not only are the toys great, the packing is a breakthrough for any parent who has ever cut a hand, tossed a package, or said some words not meant for children's ears- while opening a toy package. (You can see all our Frustration Free Packaged items here). And now onto the list, I hope it makes your holidays a little greener this year! 1. Sprig Toys Eco-Recycling Truck in Amazon.com Frustration Free Packaging. - I wrote about this little wonder before, but I just adore this truck. It is sturdy, it has a little recycling container that dumps into the back of the truck, there are no batteries to mess with because it is totally kid-powered, and the smell of Sprig Wood is just fantastic (because it is made out of recycled wood, combined with recycled plastic- it feels like plastic but smells like a forest!). Also, because it is in AFFP, there are no ties, no extra cardboard, or wrap. You simply open the box, pull out the truck, and play! 2. Idbid Waverly Eco-Friendly Starter Kit in Blue in Amazon.com Frustration Free Packing - Idbids are a darly way to teach your child about caring for the environment. Made of organic cotton, these little plush friends come with a storybook, a field guide, and a cinch sack to carry everything in. They also have an online component for more learning. Again, because they are in FFP, they are open-and-go toys! 3. Plan Toys City Series Parking Garage - There is something about a parking garage that kids love. My son still loves his that he has had since he was under a year old. Plan Toys use rubber wood from trees that previously would have been burned after they were no longer producing rubber. Plan takes these trees and makes fantastic toys that are simple and pleasing to even the adult eye. 4. Planet Pixies, Kayla Doll - My daughter is just about as opposite as me as she could be. While I was a tom boy who wanted to play with horses and He-Man figures, she is a princess-loving pink freak (and I mean that in the nicest way possible- she is an amazing kid). I embrace this difference and have learned to love pretty, sparkly things (even Barbie!). Something I know she loves are fairies of all kind so Planet Pixies are right up her alley. These dolls are made out of organic cotton and teach kids about the environment with an earth-friendly message. 5. Eco Snoopers - Create Your Own Secret Diary Set - Need something for an older, maybe tween-age, girl? The Eco Snoopers craft kits are made with recycled paper and are fun kits for some creative fun. They come in a diary set, a scrapbooking set, and card making set. 6. Eitech Deluxe Solar Powered Metal Building Kit - Older kids will love this kit that helps them learn about alternative solar power. This huge kit includes plans to build up to five models. We have tested this kits before and found them to be very sturdy, and chanllenging to kids who love to build. 7. Wonderworld Eco-Friendly Rainbow Sound Blocks - If you have a baby or young child on your list this holiday season, blocks are always a welcome gift. Not only are these blocks eco-friendly and non-toxic, they are also fun for baby to discover the noises that they make. Simple toys are usually the best and most used toys in the toy box. 8.ImagiPLAY Veggie Cutting Set - Kids love to pretend to cook. These veggies are fun, eco-friendly, and also can encourage kids to eat healthy foods. Chopping veggies is fun and safe with this preschool set. 9. ImagiPLAY Christmas Tree - I adore this natural wood puzzle. It would be a great family tradition to bring it out every year and have everyone in the family help put it together. 10. Green Sprouts Organic Cotton Splash Toy Set - Totally safe and non-toxic for baby, these organic bath toys will make quite a splash this holiday season. 11.Under The Nile Jack Doll with Extra Clothes - Kids love to dress and undress dolls. This cute organic cotton doll comes with an extra set of clothes. it is hard to find boy dolls (I know from looking for one for my daughter when we knew she would have a new brother arriving soon) and this one is adorable, green, and soft. 12. Plan Toys Chalet Doll House with Furniture - I want to live in this house. Seriously, I love modern design and this is just about the most perfect looking house out there. Made from recycled rubberwood trees, this fantastic looking house comes with furniture and it ready for a family of dolls to move right in.
14. Silk Dragonfly Wings by Sarah's Silks - Silk is a renewable resource, and makes a beautiful play material for children. Sarah's Silks makes great dress up costumes that are 100% silk and itch-free. 15. Eco Kids Eco-Dough - Made from fruit and vegetable bases, this molding clay has no chemicals or artificial dyes. Perfect for little hands (and curious little mouths!). 16. Wonderworld Eco-Friendly Wonder Work Bench - Your little builder can pretend the day away with the great little workbench just his or her size. Made from rubberwood and painted with non-toxic paints, it is adorable and really works! 17. Plan Toys The Green Dollhouse with Furniture - Remember how I said I loved the Chalet dollhouse? Well it is only surpassed by my love for this green dollhouse that is not only made from green materials but also touts many "green" features. There is a windmill, a solar panel, and a rain barrel. There is also a "bio facade" used to give shade or adjust that amount of sunlight in the room. 18. Mary Meyer EarthMates, Fuzz That Wuzz 100% Recycled, Wee Pawzzzz Bear - he was once that plastic bottle of water you drank at the park on a hot day. Now, he is an adorable stuffed animal. These cute and cuddly little guys are made from 100% recycled PET bottles. 19. Sprig Toys Dolphin Adventure Playset - The Sprig guys are back at it with some really cool new playsets in the adventure series. This set has two boats (that really float!), two dolphins and a captain that like to explore your bath tub, sand box, or even a local stream. Made form Sprig Wood once again, this playset is ultra durable and totally green. 20. Wonderworld Eco-Friendly Cooking Center - This play center has plentry of room for multiple children. Made from rubberwood and non-toxic paints, it will help your little ones cook up a pretend storm. Hope you enjoyed this year's list and here's to another green holiday! --Laura M. Popcorn & Kleenex - "Up" and Other Movies that Make Us Lose It
by Armchair Commentary at 4:35 PM PST, November 9, 2009
You know how it goes...the moment when you're watching a movie and you're tearing up a little bit, attempting a quiet sniffle, averting your eyes or taking deep breaths. But then something snaps and you decide to just ride it out, let loose and enjoy the cleansing catharsis of sobbing your heart out. I'm an unabashed crier - overly emotionally responsive to everything...a movie, book, song...if I'm in the right (wrong) mood, just about anything can set me off, but it's a rare occasion when I experience that end-of-the-road-totally-lose-it-moment. And I kind of love it...am I the only one?
Amanda already blogged about the romantic films that make her cry like a baby, but I was curious about the other-non-Notebook-y type movies that destroy us (in the best possible way) and here a few responses from my movie-addict friends here at Amazon. Angela: Million Dollar Baby Ellen: The end of Schindler’s List, when Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) looks at the items of luxury around him (his car, his ring) and imagines how many more Jews he could have saved. It was me and four other people in the theater at a weekday matinee, so that gave me freedom to let the waterworks go. I don’t cry in movies that often, but this was like a heaving-shoulders-sputtering-using-sleeve type of crying, a level of cinematic reaction only matched by the end-title sequence of Philadephia, when home movies of Tom Hanks’ character as a happy (alive) boy play over the Neil Young title song. Stephanie: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan I completely echo Ellen for that end-title sequence in Philadephia - I've got to be armed and ready with tissues and twizzlers to make it through that. The final episode of Six Feet Under also destroys me so completely each and every time that's it's become my go-to viewing for the random occasion I actually want to feel like that. What's your "Lose It" movie or TV show?
Up comes out tomorrow - order the 4 Disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack before Wednesday and get a second Disney Blu-ray movie for $10 off. Check out all the details here and get your kleenex ready (though I readily admit that my reaction was probably not typical :) ---Kira
Nov. 9 Weekly Open Thread
by CarLustBlog.com at 2:40 PM PST, November 9, 2009
I just returned from the SEMA/AAPEX trade shows in Las Vegas last week. If you're not familiar with SEMA, it's astoundingly large and vibrant event that features scantily clad models, hugely expensive exotic and custom cars, and large, flashy displays from most of the major car manufacturers and nearly every aftermarket parts, tire, wheel, and electronics manufacturer. Subtle it ain't, but it is an incredible spectacle. Last year I wrote up a bit of a recap; I didn't have as much time for pictures of coverage this year, beyond getting a cell-phone snapshot of the lowered and customized Gremlin pictured here. Jalopnik has some coverage as well that is worth a look; apparently there was a 1984 Mugen CRX that I somehow missed. Ah, well. --Chris H. Omni Daily News
by Omnivoracious.com at 1:35 PM PST, November 9, 2009
History in the cards: James McManus charts America's rise to wealth and power by looking at our most practiced poker players in an interview with NPR about Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker (one of our Best Books of the Month). Temps perdu, indeed: Now, if someone could just take Middlemarch down next, I'd be eternally grateful. Selling books is good for the soul: Today we find both the audiobook and hardcover of bestselling author and healer Dr. Sha's Divine Soul Mind Body Healing and Transmission System leading our Movers & Shakers list. --Anne Winter Trends: High Fashion in Low Temps
by Shopbop Shoptalk at 12:32 PM PST, November 9, 2009
Winter. A time for both piling on the layers and giving the teeniest party dresses time to shine. So how to look fashion-forward while bundling up and dressing up? Find loads of styling inspiration in Shopbop’s Winter Trends feature. The season’s best daywear is a little rough around the edges. Think flannel dresses and faux fur accents, distressed denim and over-the-knee boots, army canvas and chunky knits: Shopbop’s stylists show how to give plaid a little sex appeal, and make rustic layers look decidedly put-together. And let’s not forget about that most important layer. Though black wool coats are a wardrobe staple, this season uncommon outerwear is coming into its own. Cheetah and zebra, polished plaid and cashmere capes–these styles stand alone. But because layers won’t cut it at festive fetes, it’s also crucial to find a party look that suits your style. Do you love the lamé of Studio 54-inspired ’70s fashion, or adore the elegant, glamorous styles that take their cue from the bright lights of the big city? Or are you in the mood for something vibrant and vivacious, a jewel-toned mini dress accessorized with tights, black booties, and layers of rhinestone and tangled chain necklaces? Ring in the new decade with something perfect for your personality. But don’t let the compliments you’ll be getting distract you from the gifts you should be giving. After a walk through Winter Trends, find something for all the good girls on your list (and everyone else) in the Gift Guide. Tonya End-o'-the-Week Kid-Lit Roundup
by Omnivoracious.com at 11:38 PM PST, November 8, 2009
Quick links from around the kid-lit blogosphere:
NYT: Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2009. Every year, the New York Times pulls together a list of their ten favorite illustrated kids' books. Adam Gopnik (King in the Window) was one of this year's judges, and the NYT site has a great slideshow of the winners.
Publishers Weekly: Best of 2009. Speaking of PW, they just released their list of Best Children's Books of 2009, 30 titles in all, "from accounts of civil rights heroes, to harrowing (and hopeful) stories about contemporary teenagers, to picture books that perfectly capture friendship, curiosity, or flights of fancy."
"Running Wild with Michael Morpurgo." School Library Journal has a new interview with former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo, in which he talks about his upcoming book Running Wild. He also talks about getting kids involved in reading: "If boys don't want to read it's notoriously difficult to make them. The best way to get them interested in books and stories is for parents to read to them and share stories with them at every opportunity and try lots of different genres—classic adventure stories, fantasy, and funny stories. Hopefully, they will soon find something that appeals to them and that they will want to read themselves."
"How to Draw a Bear." A fun (and educational!) video from the illustrator behind The Terrible Plop: Zwieback AWOL. Still Looking for the Cheesecake of My Dreams...
by Amazon al Dente at 10:58 PM PST, November 8, 2009
I had planned to try this recipe, or rather have my husband, the cheesecake enthusiast, try it last week, but finding zwieback, a crisp, twice-baked biscuit, proved impossible. With zwieback AWOL, I needed a substitute, and I spent all last week looking for it. My first thought was biscotti, the twice-baked Italian biscuit, but all the biscotti I came across had strong nutty flavor, which I thought would be overpowering in the cheesecake. I scanned the cookie aisle and finally settled on some crispy Italian ladyfingers. Not the perfect substitute, but I didn't want to wait any longer to try this recipe. In the end, the results were disappointing. The cheesecake was watery, perhaps the cottage cheese should have been drained. The lemon juice and rind was overpowering. I'm still looking for my ideal recipe. Any suggestions for the cheesecake of my dreams? Cottage Cheese Cheesecake Ingredients: Directions: 2. Press the cottage cheese through a fine sieve. Add half the remaining sugar, the flour, salt, egg yolks, sour cream, lemon rind and juice. Whip until thoroughly blended. 3. Beat egg whites until stiff, adding the remaining sugar gradually. Fold into cheese mixture. Strawberry Glaze Ingredients: Directions: 2. Boil the crushed berries, sugar, water, and cornstarch two minutes, stirring. Add the butter, strain and cool. 3. Arrange the whole berries over the top of the cheesecake and pour the glaze over the berries. Chill. --Tracy Schneider "Twilight" spoof on "Saturday Night Live" (Taylor Swift hosts)
by Armchair Commentary at 9:58 AM PST, November 8, 2009
I didn't tune in to see Taylor Swift hosting Saturday Night Live last night, but I hear one of the highlights was the Twilight spoof, called Firelight, and starring Swift as "Stella." Watch it below or on YouTube. --David The Best Music of 2009
by ChordStrike at 10:28 PM PST, November 7, 2009
It may feel a little early for this sort of thing, but we on the Amazon music team have pooled our collective knowledge and taste to determine the best music of 2009. We spent 2009 soothed by Neko Case's wail, moved to dance by Yeah Yeah Yeahs' turn towards big beats, intrigued by Somali hip-hop Troubadour K'naan, and ready to hear three key words from neo-twangsters the Avett Brothers. On the songs side, French popsters Phoenix went nutty for a composer and we went nutty for Phoenix. La Roux made us feel invincible, Jay-Z officially crushed an awful trend, and Passion Pit sent us reeling. Voting with their wallets, our customers told us they really like U2, as it was both our bestselling CD and MP3 album of 2009. Black Eyed Peas also popped up in plenty of playlists, as they locked down the top two slots on our songs chart. Every year, great albums slip through the cracks. This year, our editors wanted to save some from that unfair fate. We shine a spotlight on excellent underheard CD and MP3 albums across all genres, and we've even made a playlist featuring a single song from each record, so you can sample 'til you find something you like. Dig into the lists and see which lists line up most closely with your personal tastes: Best Albums of 2009
> See all top 100 best albums of 2009 Best Songs of 2009
> See all top 100 best songs of 2009 Bestselling CDs of 2009 (through October, including pre-orders)
> See all 100 bestselling CDs of 2009 Bestselling MP3 Albums of 2009 (through October)
Bestselling Songs of 2009 (through October)
> See all 100 bestselling songs of 2009 Outstanding 2009 Albums You Might Have Missed
> See all 100 2009 albums you might have missed at Amazon MP3 Head over to our best music of 2009 store to find complete lists, plus the best in everything from Latin music to Gospel to comedy and all points between. We're aware there's still a decent chunk of the year left. We'll be adding a latecomers and honorable mentions feature over the next few weeks. Hit the comments, let us know what we missed, and perhaps it'll make an appearance. -- Jeff Reguilon Trailer Park: "Sherlock Holmes" (version 3)
by Armchair Commentary at 5:07 PM PST, November 7, 2009
This is the third trailer for the new Sherlock Holmes movie, opening on Christmas Day 2009, and starring Robert Downey Jr. as the title sleuth, Jude Law as Dr. Watson, and Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, and directed by Guy Ritchie. I like Downey and McAdams a lot, but the trailer's mix of high-impact action and comedy seems like it could be really good or really, er, not good. For my money, Jeremy Brett is still the best Holmes, though I know Basil Rathbone has his fans and there's an intriguing Peter Cushing version coming out this December. --David
Not All Amaretti Are Created Equal!
by Amazon al Dente at 12:05 AM PST, November 7, 2009
Turns out Terry liked Elisa's amaretti for more than just their texture. Elisa's recipe includes no almond paste nor almond extract, which Terry finds overpowering, just freshly ground almonds. I like Elisa's recipe because it has only four ingredients, and they're all kitchen staples. Elisa's Amaretti Directions: 3. In another bowl, using an electric mixer, whisk the egg white with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form. With a wooden spoon, thoroughly fold in almond mixture. 4. Using a teaspoon drop small balls of the mixture on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle a pinch of sugar on each and put immediately into the oven. 5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, less time if you'd like them soft and chewy, more time for crisper cookies. Makes 15-20 cookies. --Tracy Schneider The greatest car modification--Car Audio?
by CarLustBlog.com at 11:39 PM PST, November 6, 2009
So what is the very first thing you would improve on your new vehicle? (New, of course, meaning a broad range of things to a group like us Car Lust folk.) For me, it is the sound system. There are many varied ways in which you can modify and personalize your ride these days. While the sound system may not be my personal favorite mod if money isn’t a concern, the reality is, for me at least, that money is always a concern. Every vehicle I have had since my very first 1979 Toyota Corolla has received a stereo upgrade shortly after I have acquired the vehicle. In the early days it was a cassette player so I could plug my Discman in to listen to tunes. Then, shortly thereafter, I installed some new speakers. But these weren’t just any speakers, these were home speakers, still in the box. I was broke and looking for more volume, and honestly, I didn’t know any better I had no clue about impedance and ohms and wire gauge, I just wanted more bump. Of course having speaker boxes sitting in your back seat is inconvenient for carrying passengers; since the speakers weren’t affixed to anything, stopping fast became an adventure in dodge-speaker, the cousin to dodge-ball. My Frankensteining of vehicles with audio components didn’t stop there. A few cars later came my beloved 75 Chevy Impala. This started out with a new cassette player, but this time it had RCA outs. I was looking forward to the day where I would be able to afford a sub-woofer and amplifier to make the thing go boom, but in the meantime I worked my way through the car replacing all the speakers and wiring. First, I put an improved speaker in the center of the dash. Then, wanting better stereo sound in front, I added some 5¼ component speakers up front. Then new 6x9’s in the rear deck. Eventually I added a subwoofer & amplifier in the trunk. Now, you might think I’d stop there, but that wasn’t enough. Here I had one of the largest land barges on the road, with a trunk that could comfortably sleep three. Always being one to experiment, I decided that the whole trunk would be my sound chamber for my sub-woofer. I proceeded to seal any air leaks in the trunk, sprayed everything with sound deadening, and then cut a hole in the rear deck and dropped in a 12-inch sub. Remarkably, it sounded pretty good. It wasn’t until after this project that I bothered to learn about sound dynamics and many other things important to making a stereo sound good. But I was happy; you could hear me rollin’ two blocks away. The vehicle I have put the most time, money and love into, though, is my 1988 Chevy S-10. I have an extended cab that over the years has held little other than stereo equipment. My truck has seen a half-dozen stereos, ranging from cassette to drop-down CD players (I’ve yet to move up the DVD players). I have run various configurations of multiple subs and amps. I have replaced each and every part many times over--high quality dash speakers, rear pillar speakers wiring, etc. I even removed a jump seat and added sound deadening in the hole that created and built a custom sub enclosure that would extend into this new-found space. You name it, I’ve tried it, to the point where today the dash is falling apart from being taken apart so many times. But no matter what, when I get a new ride, it gets tunes. And for me, that makes this the single most important upgrade. The truck can run rough and need a tune-up, but the sound will come first. It might need tires, but I need my tunes. The window is cracked? With just a bit more bass we can get it to run all the way across. What's that you say? I can't hear you, but I'm turning it up anyhow! --Big Chris Bites from the Apple: The Contender
by EndUser at 10:54 PM PST, November 6, 2009
--Agen G.N. Schmitz Monopoly - Flash Back Friday
by Toy Whimsy at 4:16 PM PST, November 6, 2009
"The history of Monopoly can be traced back to 1904, when a Quaker woman named Elizabeth (Lizzie) J. Magie Phillips created a game through which she hoped to be able to explain the single tax theory of Henry George (it was intended to illustrate the negative aspects of concentrating land in private monopolies). Her game, The Landlord's Game, was commercially published a few years later. Other interested game players redeveloped the game and some made their own sets. Phillips herself patented a revised edition of the game in 1904, and similar games of this nature were published commercially. By 1935 a board game named Monopoly was created much like the version of Monopoly sold by Parker Brothers and its parent companies throughout the rest of the 20th century and into the 21st. The Parker Brothers' version was created by Charles Todd but sold to them by Charles Darrow. Several people, mostly in the U.S. Midwest and near the U.S. East Coast, contributed to the game's design and evolution. In 1941 the British Secret Service had John Waddington Ltd., the licensed manufacturer of the game outside the U.S., create a special edition for World War II prisoners of war held by the Nazis. Hidden inside these games were maps, compasses, real money, and other objects useful for escaping. They were distributed to prisoners by secret service created fake charity groups."
For even more about Monopoly see the official Monopoly site. You can also see all the Monopoly versions Amazon offers here. --Laura McMullan The Best Movies & TV of 2009
by Armchair Commentary at 4:16 PM PST, November 6, 2009
As we've done for 10 years now, our editorial team has compiled their list of the Best Movies & TV of 2009. Over the next few days we'll be publishing a number of our genre lists in this space, but we'll start with the basics: the top 100 DVDs of 2009 (in other words, DVDs that were released in 2009). Agree? Disagree? Post a comment and let us know. Our first 10 of the 100:
See the rest of the top 100 DVDs, the top 100 Blu-ray discs, and many other lists at http://www.amazon.com/bestmovies2009. Crazy About Delancey's Clam Pie!
by Amazon al Dente at 9:39 AM PST, November 6, 2009
Graphic Novel Friday: Best Comics & Graphic Novels of 2009
by Omnivoracious.com at 7:57 AM PST, November 6, 2009
![]() This year was an invigorating one for Comics & Graphic Novels, marked, notably, by the debut of a New York Times Bestseller list for the medium. All of a sudden, comics went legit, extending beyond True Believers and into mainstream literary circles. Our editors' picks for 2009's Best of Comics and Graphic Novels showcase the wide spectrum of critical darlings and sleeper favorites that made this year a rewarding one for comics readers. Kicking off our list is David Small's graphic memoir, Stitches, which recently caught a few eyes thanks to a National Book Award nomination. Amazon editor Anne Bartholomew, however, was an early fan and picked it as her Best of the Month selection for September. Stitches marks the first time an original graphic novel has ever cracked the Top 10 of Amazon's Best Books of the Year. The medium, however, received no greater love letters than our No. #2 and #3 picks: Seth's George Sprott:(1894-1975) and David Mazzucchelli's Asterios Polyp. Utilizing intricate and dizzying panel layouts as well as painstaking design--not to mention stories filled with heartbreak and challenging concepts, these are the graphic novelist's graphic novels. This isn't to say that comics forgot where they came from, and 2009 had its share of superhero stories, including Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's end to their multiple Eisner-award winning run on All Star Superman. Together, they proved a Man of Steel can go home again. But back on Earth, R. Crumb, underground comix extraordinaire, chose an auspicious subject for what many assumed would be his trademark ire: The Book of Genesis. What the project blossomed into, however, is a fairly straight-faced approach for Crumb, although it's told through his signature pencils. The Book of Genesis never looked so indie, yet it stays true to The Good Book's dense and complex storytelling. But our bookshelf runneth over. The Best of 2009 Store contains more graphic novels that made this a banner year for the medium, plus plenty of other top picks to explore. Editors' Top Ten Picks in Comics & Graphic Novels
Customer Favorites in Comics & Graphic Novels
Friday Links for Food Lovers, Burger Time Edition
by Amazon al Dente at 7:30 AM PST, November 6, 2009
It's Friday again! Here are a few burger-themed links the Al Dente editors obsessed about this week:
Photo courtesy of The Cooking Photographer And now that you're hungry, make your own burgers with Amazon.com's huge selection of griddles. Did I miss a not-to-be-missed foodie link from this past week? Add a comment or tweet at me! Have a great weekend! --Spanno Toy Tips with Marianne Szymanski - Preschool Toys
by Toy Whimsy at 12:27 AM PST, November 6, 2009
Editor's Note: Marianne Szymanski is a leading expert in toy reviews, and the founder of the Toy Tips Research Institute. She is the author of Toy Tips: A Parent's Essential Guide to Smart Toy Choices and also the editor of Toy Tips and Parenting Hints Magazine. The toddler years are age 1-3. Some argue these years start at age 2 but as preschool programs are focusing younger and younger these days, I think it is important to introduce new toys because there is so much exploration. Don't expect much sharing though. It rarely happens. They have not fully developed that part of the brain yet so toys that encourage following instructions are not easy to do with toddlers. Let them explore and learn on their own.
Children
who have learned to identify their five senses now find an interest to use all
of them. Learning to walk, speak and imitate sounds and words are the
skills to emphasize the most. Toys to choose include simple manipulatives
that allow for interaction and self discovery. Musical toys that allow a child
to repeat a number, letter and eventually words with sequencing are great
choices. Push-pull toys enhance walking and puzzles, nesting blocks and other
chunky building sets strengthen spatial relations and hand-eye coordination. Be
aware that children at this age put mostly everything in their mouth so the
toys should be LARGE in size.
For new toy ideas, visit toytips.com and follow me on twitter.com/toytips for a daily toy tip!. Happy Toy Shopping, --Marianne Szymanski Restomod Roundtable
by CarLustBlog.com at 12:26 PM PST, November 5, 2009
To restore or modify, that is the question We now take up the issue of restomodding, or restoration/modification, in which an old car is restored but with some modern equipment added to make it faster and/or better handling and/or more comfortable. Basically, to one extent or another, to make a modern car with the look of a classic. This isn't a new concept, of course--people have been modifying stock cars probably since the first one rolled off the assembly line (heck, probably before there were assembly lines) and the whole hod rodding hobby is built around modifying the snot out of dad's old Buick to make it into a mean street racer. At the We'll ignore these established extremes and instead concentrate on the relatively recent "project car" phenomenon in which classic--and sometimes not so classic--cars are thoroughly upgraded to drive like an Accord while looking like a Matador. Why? As we here at Car Lust often say, old cars suck. They're generally slow, handle poorly, are unsafe, and often have all the creature comforts of a trip to the urologist. Still, many of them are achingly beautiful, and even if they're not, they very often have a hold on our psyche such that we long to see and be seen driving them as they were in the old days. So why not throw a few new parts in and make them drive like new? Well, to some it's like the old joke about owning an original walking stick carried by George Washington; except the shaft has been replaced three times and the handle four. And so we convene another installation of the Car Lust Round TableTM in order to hash out this issue. Is it cheating to take an old car and turn it into the equivalent of a Hyundai? What about that feeling of nostalgia as you motor down the road feeling what your father must have felt when he bought a similar car new? On the other hand, many of those feelings amount to noise, harsh rides, lousy steering, and standing by the side of the road while the engine cools down. For some useful background, see this bit by the boys at Top Gear:
Anthony Cagle On the other hand, I know firsthand the trials and tribulations of actually owning a typical Car Lust automobile. Especially if your objet d'Lust is, how shall we say, horsepower challenged, it makes it tough to keep up on todays 70 mph-plus freeways. If your pseudo-classic is your only car, it's tough for me to argue--having modified my own car--to keep the thing totally stock. Cookie the Dog's Owner (below) and I are probably in the same chapter if not quite on the same page on I prefer to think of myself as an idealist rather than a purist. When I was debating whether and how to restore and/or modify my own 1978 Mustang II (linked above), I wrestled with these same issues. Were it my second car, no question, I would have kept it as completely stock as possible. But it is my only car and thus needed to be as reliable and functional as possible. But apart from the engine and exhaust system, I've kept it pretty much original. I even repainted it in the same boring Dark Metallic Brown, even though I've always secretly (well, not anymore, I guess) wanted a car in British Racing Green. I love its squishy steering, soft suspension, creakiness, draftiness, and the all-around 1970s-ishness of it. And for some reason, my lower back likes those old lumbar-challenged seats much better than the new models. I guess I have a Classic Back as well. My next Big Issue is the wheels. They don't make many 13" tires anymore and the ones they do make in that size are cheap budget ones (though I suppose they are arguably better than the originals). Even a few years ago you could still get performance tires in this size, but not anymore. The wheels are an important part of preserving the look of the car, so that will eventually test my preservationist resolve as well. But, eh, we'll see. By then I might have changed my mind and decided to turn it into some low-rider monster. Restore or modify? It depends on what you're starting with. I'm all for restoration and I appreciate those who go to extreme lengths to return a car to it's pristine and original state. There's a real historic and cultural value to this kind of effort, and I'm glad that there are people out there who are this specific and detail-oriented, and willing to engage in this kind of project. Count me among those who are inclined toward restomodding. I want to be able to drive my ride, and I want it to perform. I don't want something slow and sloppy that looks new--I already own slow, old and sloppy (a reference to my vehicles, not my hot wife!), and new-looking isn't enough of an upgrade for me to look past slow and sloppy. Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame Cars wear out. Do you restore the car to its original configuration, or do you change it?
If you have an old sailing ship from the 1800s and half the planks are rotted and you replace them, do you still have an old sailing ship from the 1800s? On the other hand, if you use laser measuring devices to get all the dimensions down perfectly, and use modern tools to make an exact replica, do you have a sailing ship from the 1800s? Does it make it less of a replica and more of a genuine sailing ship from the 1800s if you use vintage tools? Or, if you take the original 1800s sailing ship and put a plastic tarp over the helm, do you still have an 1800s sailing ship? What if you add a diesel engine, but change nothing else?
These are all questions of integrity, and these questions of integrity matter when restoring an old vehicle, too. Do you want a 1967 Mustang fastback, or do you want car that looks like a 1967 Mustang fastback? Or do you want to have a 1967 Mustang fastback built with 2009 levels of engineering and tolerance? Is it the history that matters, or the look?
You aren't going to have 1967 tires on that Mustang, right? So isn't it ridiculous to demand the rest of the car be original? If every single 1967 Mustang fastback had scabby, scaly, faded paint and plenty of rust, would it be a sacrilige to repaint one of them? Would it be a sacrilege to repaint one of them in a color not offered in 1967?
To tell the truth, I find it impossible to answer these questions hypothetically. Too much of the decision whether to restore faithfully or just come close depends on the condition of the car, its place in history, my memories of the car (if any), my financial situation, my age, my purpose for owning the car.
If I had a chance to buy a 1968 Pontiac Tempest Custom (the first car I drove regularly), I wouldn't care if the door was dented, the paint faded, and the interior dusty. Why? Because that's the way mine was when I drove it back then. Owning that car would be a return to the past; why would I want to return to a past I didn't inhabit?
Since I'm just over 40 now, however, by the time I'm 80 I would probably want to restore it to perfect condition just to have a pristine cruising car. If we still use gasoline by then, that is. If I had a shot at a 1960s Mustang, though, I'd want it to be as tough as it looks. If money was no object, I would want gleaming chrome, a wonderful paint job, and better handling, power, and braking than any original Mustang had. But I wouldn't want to change it too much. If it doesn't look like an original Mustang, there's no point, there's no cool. So the only changes I could bring myself to allow would be the changes that would enhance the vehicle, like chroming on the engine, and a wicked dark blue metallic flake with silver highlights that the originals never had.
Give me a '72 Plymouth Duster and I'd mod the heck out of it. Why not? It would be cool to have one, but I have never been a Duster enthusiast, so I have no reason to be a Duster purist.
Where I draw the line, however, is when the modding takes the car significantly away from its original configuration. I hate chopped tops, low riders, reconfigured interiors, 30" wheels (or whatever those monstrosities are). And the subset of that, I hate destructive modifications that can't be changed back later by swapping out a part: a cardinal sin, punishable by having to drive a Toyota Solara for the rest of your days.
That's my opinion, but I'll let anyone borrow it as they please.
A quarter-century ago, when I was a (very minor league) collector of roadgoing vintage cars, I cast a heavily jaundiced eye on any modification that compromised the originality of the objects of my lust. This was, it must be said, an era during which bone-stock older cars could be expected to be considerably more reliable and satisfying to drive than their modern counterparts. With that in mind, I bought those cars to enjoy, and despite keeping them in their original state, every one of them saw regular use, and none of them every left me standing at the side of the road. Today, by contrast, you can choose a ten-year-old car almost at random and be fairly certain that it will start, run, and drive with little or no indication that it's been around the block a few times. (This can be said, in fact, of my 1992 Mercury Grand Marquis.) In the mid-1980s, by contrast, even new cars hadn't reached that level of goodness. Those from the previous decade were--despite the oft-inexplicable love with which they're showered here at Car Lust--mostly craptastic in every respect. Thus, when I bought a gently used 1963 Riviera, it was clear to me that a) it was much nicer than the shiny new 1983 model that was giving so much grief to my next-door neighbor and b) any modifications I might choose to inflict on it would turn around and bite me on the keister. I was not alone in this opinion. Older readers might recall a succession of "Boss Wagons" featured in Car and Driver during its glory days. The first one was, I'm pretty sure, a '65 Plymouth Fury; another was a Volvo 265, and I believe a W123 Mercedes and Olds Vista Cruiser got the Boss treatment as well. More recently--within the last five years or so--David E. Davis Jr. admitted that every one of those wagons was, overall, a worse vehicle for having been modified. And so, I must say, are many of the vehicles that have been subject to modification today. I can't imagine that even the most naive driver of a slammed Civic believes that a fart-can exhaust improves performance, or a spoiler that's all right angles enhances stability. But what about that '63 Riviera I wish I still had? Or, for that matter, my neighbor's sad '83 model? What about any older car that's getting a little tatty but still has enough appeal to warrant thoughts of restoration? Some aficionados take the hard line saying "by virtue of having survived, this car has become a part of history, and nothing should be done that will compromise its originality." To them I ask, "Are you talking about one of the handful of remaining Duesenberg SJ roadsters, or are you getting your panties in a bunch about a '65 Mustang, of which there are countless examples spewing blue smoke through exhausts that are mostly old frozen OJ cans?" I can get behind the notion of certain vehicles transcending their original mandates and becoming true museum pieces. But in the case of that first-generation Mustang it's a different story. A car like that, despite its age, can be used and enjoyed by its owner, and that enjoyment will only be enhanced by the application of judicious modifications to the drivetrain, chassis, and other components. Purists will point out, and quite rightly so, that those modifications might--no, will--reduce the car's value on the collectors' market. But the cost of a 99-point restoration to original condition will almost certainly exceed the finished car's market value, so that argument doesn't hold water. And, of course, once the big bucks have been spent on a "real" restoration, the car becomes too valuable to allow out of the garage unless it's going to be presented at a show.
Of course, despite my attempts to live up to these laissez-faire sentiments, some modifications simply go too far. Here is a picture of a familiar-looking car--a real Cobra, not one of the replicas--that was involved in a fairly dramatic wreck. It could have been restored to its original condition. Instead, it became a cartoon character. Just looking at the picture makes me want to sit down and sip a small scotch, and that is just what I'm going to do right now. I think all of the contributors to this round-table agree that there are some cars that are so old, rare, and significant that they simply should not be modified. These cars are historical artifacts, and owners have both a responsibility and a financial incentive to act as stewards of those artifacts. Just as one would not cleanse an ancient Mesopotamian bowl in a dishwasher, so should one not cut apart a Cisitalia dashboard to install a CD player. Happily, most of these truly historic vehicles are valuable enough that they are already protected and preserved.
Obviously these are fringe cases of dramatic modification; there are more subtle and less visible cases where modifications become, well, totally bitchin'. For me, the breakdown takes place based on the rarity of the car, tastefulness of the modification, and consistency with the car's original purpose. As an example, I am in deep smit with resto-modded muscle cars; invariably my favorite part of SEMA week is gazingly lustfully at vintage 1960s and 1970s muscle cars redone with modern bucket seats, high-horsepower crate engines, gorgeously sinister paint, and imposing brake discs and calipers peeping out from behind modern rims. To me, these cars are the ultimate expression of the muscle car art--it's a classic shape wrapping modern hardware, and the package simply updates those cars' original mission to look stylish and menacing while eviscerating the roadway. Likewise, I love the resto-modded E-Type featured in the Top Gear clip above. It's more useful, faster, and completely consistent with the purpose of the car; it's a classic car you can actually drive.
Likewise, as a fan of international touring car racing and off-road rallying, I have an irrational affection for street cars that manage to pull off the purposeful, lowered, and aerodynamic look of those stock-bodied race cars. It's a look that fails roughly 90 percent of the time--sloppy or incomplete execution dooms most attempts--but when it's done right it's stunning. That's what I like, but the my position gets even more conflicted and inconsistent when I think about what I'd like to own. For example, when I bought my 1983 Malibu Wagon, I was enthusiastic about the idea of keeping the car visually stock but dropping in a torquey crate engine that could turn it into a supremely under-the-radar sleeper that could stalk Porsches and move an apartment's worth of boxes at the same time. As I began to bond with the Malibu, though, I began to rethink that strategy. You see, I loved the car's character as it was; I loved it because it was such a clean, stock example in a world in which most Malibus of its era have been turned into street racers. I loved it for its push-button radio. I loved it for its soft, pillowy ride. I even loved it for the gutless dependability of its V-6. That car and I created our own relationship, and that relationship wasn't about speed. From my post on that car:
I feel the same way about other clean older survivors, and that goes back to my point regarding rarity. It's much harder to find a clean, original 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Wagon, or 1986 Saab 900 SPG, or 1978 Volkswagen Scirocco, or a 1989 Audi V8 than a nicely restored 1960s Ford Mustang. This will seem batty to most, but I consider those cars actually more rare than the Mustang, and a greater shame to modify. As a guy who recently completed a used-car search--more on that next week!--I can also attest to the fact that finding original, clean examples of used cars that are generally unloved is incredibly hard. I drove a 1990 Saab 9000 Turbo that was a nightmare of performance upgrades--some of which were functional, some of which posed a dramatic threat to the engine's continued existence--and that was graced with a rear wing and a shift knob. I passed up several old domestic cars that were botched or partial projects where the added modifications simply made me want the car less. Even if those cars had some modifications that I would consider myself, I didn't want them--a car that has already been modded brings that car into conformity with somebody else's vision, not mine. Their changes only limit my options. So, what would I do? I am completely open to tasteful modifications to make a classic car more modern. Those might include an engine upgrade, changing drum brakes to discs, a decent paint job, a better sound system; any modification that improves the car's usability without blemishing its underlying personality or appeal. With a car that I really loved, though, I would be incredibly careful and painstaking not to ruin it, following the example of Gimli the Dwarf in The Lord of the Rings when he describes the care he would take to protect and enhance some beautiful caves he encountered:
Mochi Mochi The dividing line between a good and bad mod or restoration is good or bad taste. Who determines what's good or bad taste? I do. And when I'm not around, you do. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm the arbiter of Cookie the Dog's Owner Let me add to what Nathan and Mochi said. I'm attracted to the idea of the "sleeper," and so my personal preference is for a modified older car to look stock or plausibly stock, even if what's under the sheetmetal is anything but. I appreciate the craftsmanship and personal expression inherent in a hotrod, lead sled, lowrider, or tuner car, I just don't particularly want one for myself. There's a '59 Plymouth Belvedere that shows up at the local cruise-ins that I've written about here a couple of times. The body and interior have been lovingly restored to honest-to-Virgil-Exner day-it-left-the-factory perfection. In the engine bay is a 413 "Max Wedge" engine with a cross-ram induction setup--something Chrysler only put into the 300"letter cars." I'm cool with that--it's got a little of that sleeper vibe going for it. What sort of bugs me about this car is that he has modern alloy wheels on it. The rims look nice, don't get me wrong, but they don't look like 1959. If it was my ride, It'd be wearing stock hubcaps. Nathan If I were in my late teens or early 20s in 1968, and sufficiently wealthy to own a 1967 Mustang fastback with the ability to sink more money into the car, would I spend money to improve it? You betcha.
I don't know what was available back then. I guess I would consider dropping a more powerful engine into it. Better tires, if that was understood back then, would also be a must. Maybe more comfortable seats, or a personalized shifter knob.
The point is, if I had that same car now, why would I hesitate to make historically consistent modifications to a stock car? If it is a change that was available and selected by the car enthusiasts of the time, does it harm the purity of the car to make similar changes now?
I would say it doesn't. Especially if the result is to make a great performing car an even better performer. And once you've crossed that line, it is harder to be a purist in other areas. I do still have my limit, however, on modifications that change the very nature of the car itself. Which I recognize is subjective...but that's where I stand.
The Fiat 126 monster car is from BigFun.be. The Impala low-rider is from the Italiano nel Frattempo blog.
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