The MOC depicts Hill Valley in 2015, from Back to the Future II. And it’s incredibly detailed with the iconic courthouse, the water pond in front of it, the robotic Texaco station, the 8s Cafe, and even then The Mega-plex showing Jaws 19 in 4D (meh, the Shark still looks fake!). All perfectly to scale and greatly detailed.

So well put together in fact that there’s a movement to get LEGO to consider a Back to the Future line of products. There’s already a custom LEGO maker from Japan who we reported a few months ago that’s making Delorean sets (I don’t know how they get away with that). And with the recent 35 anniversary of the Trilogy, a LEGO Series on the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown would have great potential (Imagine a minifig with Doc’s hair, Great Scott!).

I think it’s a great idea, especially considering that LEGO already has a program where ideas can be submitted by fans and voted for manufacture. Here’s hoping we go Back to the Future Lego Style soon!

In addition to these exclusive, collectible Anakin Podracing 3D specs, AMC plans to give away a host of other cool swag during the first weekend of the film’s 3D rerelease. With the purchase of a Real3D ticket (usually pushing $20, but hey, I’d drop a Jackson for that) kids will also get a Hasbro Star Wars FIGHTER PODS collectible toy. There will also be a LEGO Star Wars feature area, Darth Maul face-painting, special character appearances for photo opportunities
and demonstrations of the upcoming Xbox Kinect™ Star Wars™.

But not every AMC Theater will these special events. Check out the list below for a theater near you:

The 10 participating Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace exclusive event screening theatres are:

Atlanta: AMC Southlake 24; Boston: AMC Loews Liberty Tree Mall 20; Chicago: AMC South Barrington 30; Denver: AMC Highlands Ranch 24; Los Angeles: AMC Tustin 14 at The District; AMC Ontario Mills 30; New York: AMC Empire 25; AMC Garden State 16; Phoenix: AMC Mesa Grand 24; San Francisco: AMC Emeryville Bay Street 16

All giveaways are while supplies last, with limit of one per ticket. The promotion will take place February 10-12 only at the AMC Theaters listed above.

Hat Tip – AFI

We’re all friends here at this kindy
Although at times you wouldn’t think so
But a smile and a hug, or a gently I’m sorry
Makes you feel okay
Okay, okay, okay, okay
- We’re All Friends, Lyrics

Sounds like a great sentiment doesn’t it? But when you’re in a band that makes millions a year in merchandise, CD sales, and concert tickets, that sentiment amounts to more of a line item in a ledger than an actual concept. Even more so if you’re one of the Wiggles who’s been sent packing with his hat in hand.

Sam Moran, aka the Yellow Wiggle for the last 5 years, was abruptly fired over the holidays and replaced with the original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page, who had left the kids band five years ago to attend to an illness he had contracted known as dysautonomia. According to the Wiggles press release, Page had returned to fine form and Moran had offered to step down so that Page could resume his role as the original Yellow Wiggle. But the real story is that Moran was forced out. Dumped to make room for Page’s return.

Passing the shirt.

Now as a parent who has a kid who grew up on the Wiggles, I am happy for Page’s return. The Wiggs weren’t really the same after his departure and apparently everyone thought so as their Disney Channel TV Series was canceled shortly after he left the group and ticket and CD sales have dropped dramatically since. But here’s the thing. Kids who remember Greg as the Yellow Wiggle are approaching their teen years. Kids who know the current Wiggles now, don’t know or even care that Greg was the original Wiggle. He’s the outsider. The guy who replaced THEIR Wiggle in the Yellow Shirt.

And what makes it even more interesting is that the other three Wiggles – Murray (Red), Anthony (Blue) and Jeff (Purple) – are sole owners in the Wiggles, Inc., sharing equally in the annual $28.1 million payday. This is believed to be the reason for Moran’s unceremonious departure as he was merely on a performing contract getting an annual salary. But since Page got a buy out when he original left the group, his returnb means that he is also merely a shirt for hire. So with millions in toys, CDs and ticket sales on the line, the big question will be – if the bottom line doesn’t rise, how long before Page gets the boot for someone else?

Hat Tip – The Telegraph

Now to be accurate, the report comes from D’Vice, which we reference a lot and the reporter seems convinced it’s a fake. He points to a lot of mispellings in Japanese, and the fact that the e “Japan Institute of Technology,” doesn’t exist. He also says that the video was actually produced by SONY Entertainment, which will be releasing a video game next month called WipeOut.

OK fair enough. But if it’s a fake, it’s a damn good one (check the video below for yourself). I mean, who wouldn’t want levitating race cars that can zoom around a track getting faster as it’s pushed by some electromagnets. Toss in that liquid nitrogren “fuel” additive, and you’ve got Bill Nye or Beakman written all over it. It won’t change the world, but it would sure be a blast to play with! So come one, BanDai … get to work on this, will ya?!

I love it when kids conquer their fear by taking things into their own hands. This kid had a bad front tooth and needed to pull it. So he went for his NERF Big Bad Bow toy and did some pullin’!

“Is this gonna hurt?” – Kid
“I don’t know, you’ll have to tell me afterwards.” – Dad

From the YouTube video below, it looks like the kid looked like was handing the tooth extraction all by himself (I especially love how he cocks the Bowcaster with his foot to prime it for firing). He’s got the tooth tied with string, and then he placed the strings on the business end of a NERF dart. Aims. But then he hesitates and asks “Is this gonna hurt?” But you can tell he’s not afraid, just more scientifically curious. He then fires and the tooth flies right out of his mouth.

“It worked!” cries the kid. And then he shows his proud dad who captures the entire thing on video. Now some will think that this is an example of bad parenting. But come on. Dad is supervising. And since we don’t see the kid tie it off, I’m betting dad did the knot. And is it any different than when we used to tie a toaster to our loose teeth as a kid? This looks way more fun. But kids, don’t try this without dad looking on and getting it on tape.

Next stop … under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy!

To get started, just head over to the Image3D website. You’ll have the choice between the personal (celebrate) and the professional (business) options. Click and select “Build a Reel” from the menu bar. You’ll need to register (it’s free) and name your reel. Then upload your images. You have enough room for 7 images, plus a center image. Once loaded, you can click on each image to edit them, add text, background, crop and reposition. Then drag and drop them into the frame. Once you have them done, you can load the virtual Viewmaster and preview the reel.

Once you’re happy with your disc, you’re ready to order. The cost for the first set is $29.95 but that also includes Reels: a reel with 7 of your photos with 3D captions & customized center of reel, a ViewMaster style Viewer style in your choice of Red, Black, Blue or White; and a glossy gift white box. Additional sets costs $15.00 a set, with price breaks at each multiple of 25. If you just want the reel itself, that’s $22 for the first and $12.50 for each additional one.

For more information, check out image3d.com.

Hat Tip – GizMag

The Marines have been collecting Toys for Tots since 1947. Semper Fi!

And it’s grown far beyond and extra curricular activity for off duty Marines. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved making the annual Toys for Tots drive an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve. Over the last 62 years, the US Marine Corps Reserve have distributed over 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation has added to the toy collections by purchasing nearly a half billion dollars in toys to insure that no child gets left behind at Christmas.

And this year, as with any year, the campaign needs your help. You know the mission – pick up an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl and look for one of those dashing jarheads sitting next to a collection box near the entrance to the store. Or, you can Swing by http://www.toysfortots.org/ to make a cash donation to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. While at the site, you can find more information on a toy collecting center in your area.

Semper Fi and Merry Christmas!

The website where you can craft a custom video greeting from the North Pole is at PortableNorthPole.tv. At the site, in just a few easy steps, you can create a personalized video from Santa Claus for your kids or other family members, and even adults. all you need to do is answer a few questions like notable events, trips, what age the kids are, boy or girl, what they specifically want for Christmas and what they’ve been asked to do during the year to be nice, that kind of thing. You can also give it more street cred by uploading a picture of the intended target and a few pictures from the last year. They will be included in the video as well. And this year, the elves will be working a special machine to help Santa decide whether or not you were good! It’s all very suspenseful and fun to watch. Not really thrilled about asking for birthday information, but you can always tell a harmless white lie to get by that one. Besides, Santa already knows anyway, right? He’ll appreciate your discretion to keep Junior’s personal info top secret.

Once you’re done giving Santa some details to include in the video, you give them your email (or Facebook login) and they will send you a notice when the video is done. And you can watch it online, or via mobile device with the Portable North Pole App for Android or iOS devices. And if you like it, you can choose to purchase an HD version of the video for about $6.99.

One thing though, the video is the same from name to name, so if you have multiple kids who are smart enough to notice, this may not be the video for you. Anyway, check it out, it can be a fun addition to the holiday season!

Product Description: Whether it’s techie talk or instant messaging acronyms, geeks have their own special language. Fortunately, this magic ball is fluent in geek speak and features twenty answers that can be appreciated by geeks of all platforms and operating systems. All they have to do is ask the 3-3/4″ (9.5 cm), plastic ball any yes-or-no question and it will magically respond with an answer that any true geek can understand. Responses include such classics as “Fail,” “Can Has” and “Meh.” Illustrated window box.

I like the new responses including Fail, Meh and Can Has. It really brings it into the Twitter like I can haz cheeseburger vibe that is so popular with the lols on the internet. Course, to be truly wired, it would need to twitter responses, but since it only costs less than $8, you can’t expect digital connectivity. Still, it would be fun to have a at a tweet up, wouldn’t it?

Hat Tip – Craziest Gadgets

The LEGO Target gift card also allows you to build a polar bear or a snowman. The card comes with 45 pieces. And although some reports claim all you need to do to get the LEGO set is to buy $5 on the card, there’s other posts that state the card requires a minimum of $25 online to get it sent via mail with the LEGO set. Otherwise the site will merely give you a code for online purchases and no bricks. It’s also believed you can then turn around and use the card to buy more gift cards, cycling it to get more LEGO sets. That would be cool and seems to make more sense. But even at $25, it’s a fantastic gift as it not only gives the giftee a LEGO set, but also $25 to spend as they wish.

The Lego Target gift card is available in stores from November 6-December 25, and is also available for purchase online at target.com. Only available while supplies last, so don’t wait until Christmas Eve to try and get one, because chances are, Santa will have bought most of what’s left for his midnight sleigh ride!

Hat Tip – From Brick to Bothans