"Both agencies said nine of the 10th warmest years on record have happened in the 21st century.

"Both agencies said nine of the 10th warmest years on record have happened in the 21st century. The hottest year was 2010, according to NOAA."

Climate change, beyond any reasonable doubt...
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/01/22/nasa-noaa-say-2013-was-4th-hottest-year-on-record/?intcmp=obinsite

Apparently those rumors about a Simpsons House set from LEGO were spot on. Just got this via email...

Apparently those rumors about a Simpsons House set from LEGO were spot on. Just got this via email...

Bwahahaha! Nice one, LEGO...very nice.

Bwahahaha! Nice one, LEGO...very nice.

Originally shared by Chris Fink (OLD PROFILE)

The first Lego Simpsons set is simply awesome

Behold the very first of Lego Simpsons sets! Uncovered by Eurobricks user Carlos S, there are no details about it except what we can see on the box: 2523 pieces, six minifigs including the full Family plus Flanders. It looks really fantastic and detailed and - apparently - it even opens.

source: http://lego.gizmodo.com/the-first-lego-simpsons-set-is-their-house-and-its-awe-1495090699

Chris McVeigh is a seriously talented LEGO artist.

Chris McVeigh is a seriously talented LEGO artist. Check out his whole portfolio...it includes traditional 3D builds as well as these innovative 2D "sketches."

Originally shared by Chris McVeigh

In 2013, I stumbled onto something fun: Brick Sketches. Although the original was intended as nothing more than a tongue-in-cheek parody of the brilliant marker sketches by my talented friends Karen Hallion and Bamboota, and the response was so enthusiastic that I decided to build more. Now at the end of 2013, I have created 23 Brick Sketches and I have many more planned. 

My personal best picks for the year are (3) The Grinch, (2) Oscar and (1) Wolverine Redux. But which one is your favourite?


Here's a few brief notes about my top picks:

(3) Although it was the first sketch I unveiled in December, The Grinch was actually the last sketch I made and photographed in 2013. Most of the sketch came together quite quickly, including the string mouth and stars created with white levers. However, I agonized about the placement and construction of the eyes and nose. I built and rebuilt the face dozens of times, and it was only when I decided to use the lamp holder piece for the nose that it all came together. Or, almost came together. I shot and processed the photo, and just as I was ready to post it, I figured out a better way to assemble the face. And so I reshot the photo, compositing the revised face into the image I'd already completed. 

(2) Oscar almost won out for my favourite brick sketch of 2013. It has great contrast between the aqua plates and the green plates that make up the body. The face is simple but easy to recognize, and the angled 1x2 green plates work well to give the impression of wild, shaggy fur. It's also one of the rare brick sketches that include more than the face of the character. 

(1) Ultimately, however, Oscar lost out to my remake of the original brick sketch. Wolverine Redux has bold yellow and red colours contrasting against the black of the cowl. It also uses dark tan for the visible flesh, which I thought worked well to convey Logan's grizzled mug and permanent five o'clock shadow. A wedge plate helps create a great sneer, which is completed by a roof tile allowing the nose of the cowl to dip over the mouth. And of course, the three blades placed at the bottom suggest his adamantium claws. But what might have pushed the Wolverine Redux to the top of my list is the fact that it represents so much of an improvement over the original!

You can see all my brick sketches at flickr.com/powerpig

Christmas LEGO #throughglass

Christmas LEGO #throughglass

Rear view of those two LEGO cars: mine on the left, #31006 on the right.

Rear view of those two LEGO cars:  mine on the left, #31006 on the right.

Inspired by LEGO's original set #31006 on the left, I whipped up my own version on the right.

Inspired by LEGO's original set #31006 on the left, I whipped up my own version on the right. It uses some of the same techniques (e.g., design of the front fascia is similar), and it also has working doors and an engine hatch that opens. But, theirs seems more Ferrari and mine seems more Lambo. Kinda sorta. Oh, and that muscle-car hood scoop on mine is because The Boy wanted it that way. :-) #LEGO