PS2 Game Collection and Middle Earth - WOW

Techabob again:  

Behold! Every PS2 Game Ever Made in One Collection and Unopened

Posted: 07 Jul 2011 10:49 AM PDT

I could never be like PlayStation collector Ahans76 is. I buy plenty of video games and still have a number of PS2 games floating around from back in the day. Generally, I would have the games open to check out before we left the parking lot of wherever I bought it. Not our pal Ahans76 though, this dude bough the games and took them home, slipped them into a bookcase and just left them.

Every one of the games you see here is an official first-party game with the official PlayStation hologram to prove it. The collector says he bought a bunch of the games when stores were going out of business to keep costs down. Right now, he believes his collection has one of every single game made for the system.

That is 1850 games, not counting variants of the games. The collector says the hardest game in the collection to find was a sealed copy of Moto GP. The most expensive was Wizardry: Tale Of The Forsaken Land, which he ended up buying for $300 on eBay. The collection isn't for sale, but I wonder how much it would be worth though in one giant lot.

LEGO Middle-Earth: Yes. All of It.

Posted: 07 Jul 2011 06:27 AM PDT

Remember Kevin Walter and his LEGO Barad-dûr? If you think that was the most awesome thing that could have been at Brickworld 2011, you'd both be right and wrong. Because as it turns out, that huge tower is just part of an even more massive project that won Best Group Layout at the convention. The project? LEGO Middle-Earth.

Pictured above is Minas-Tirith, no doubt a great part, but still only a part of the mind-blowing set up. The whole thing took MOCpages member Chris Phipson and his "Fellowship of the Brick" a year's worth of planning and building to finish. Based on the results I'd call these guys the Lords of the Bricks.

            

Wow. Masterpieces like this are the ones capture the attention of people like me who are not necessarily hardcore fans of both the source material and the uhm, material used. Journey to MOCPages for the full story along with a horde of pics.

[via Topless Robot]

 

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"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -  ºoº Walt Disney ºoº  

 

Darth Vader and Metal Gear

Techabob Blog:

Cute Stuff

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• Metal Gear Solid Snake: Poppet Edition
• Darth Vader Takes a Holiday

Metal Gear Solid Snake: Poppet Edition Posted: 09 Jul 2011 03:00 PM PDT Solid Snake might be a little rough and tough, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a softer side – and by that, I mean plush and squishy. Despite having no idea who Solid Snake was, Crafter averyg ended up having to make a plush Snake for Craftster's Poppet Mini Swap (yes that's "poppet", not "puppet"), in which crafters have to make a requested doll for their swap partner. Other than the giant head and lack of a nose or mouth, the felt and pipecleaner version of Snake is a dead ringer for Hideo Kojima's Snake. Although I'm not quite sure about the eyes either. I'm pretty sure that when the government wanted to create the perfect soldier, they weren't thinking about his eyelashes.

Darth Vader Takes a Holiday

Posted: 09 Jul 2011 05:52 AM PDT

It can get pretty tiring being a Sith Lord, and after a long day of evil-doing on the Dark Side of the Force, sometimes you just need a break. That's why I found this series of photos, entitledDark Holiday, by Nick Presniakov so funny.

Even Darth Vader needs a holiday from time to time. After all, there's more to being a Sith Lord than running the Empire and torturing and killing Jedi. Here you'll find Darth Vader taking a stroll, going for a surf, using a Segway, and just basically trying to have fun.

     

Apart from relaxing and sleeping in seedy motel rooms at night, you can expect Darth Vader to take surfing seriously, even if he has to use a white surfboard instead of a more customary dark one.

[via Thaeger]

Breakfast Smoothie

From Leanne Ely:

 

Ladies and Gentlemen... start your BLENDERS!
 
Leanne's Incredibly Easy, Doesn't Have to Be Measured Smoothie "Recipe"
 
Makes 2 yummy smoothies
 
2-3 ice cubes
2-3 handfuls of frozen (organic if you can) berries, your choice, about 1 cup
2 scoops protein powder (I use a vanilla whey protein powder)
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (I use So Delicious brand)
Put everything in a blender (I have a 450 watt blender that works great!) and LET HER RIP!
 
COOKING NOTES:
You can mix it up on the fruit, but my preference is berries as they are low glycemic. I also add a scoop of Barleans Greens to my smoothie--makes it a dark purple! Adds a little sweet (there's stevia in there) but still very good. This smoothie has more nutrition than my previous conconctions...enjoy!

Smoothies are pretty forgiving--the only necessary component is frozen fruit to make it shake-like.
 
That's it. Pretty simple, isn't it? That's how easy breakfast can be in the morning. This smoothie takes me all of two minutes to make.

 

 

"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -  ºoº Walt Disney ºoº  

 

Top 10 Most Valuable U.S. Coins Found in Pocket Change

From Susan Headley, former About.com Guide

SeeThere are a number of fairly valuable U.S. error coins and die varieties in circulation today. These coins are overlooked by people because they have small distinguishing characteristics, such as a modest doubling of the coin image, or minute differences in the size or spacing of the letters in the legends. Learn which of your pocket change coins is worth a large premium over face value, and why.

Note: Click on the images to greatly enlarge them and see details.

Tip: Be sure to do your hunting with at least a 6x power magnifier so you don't miss anything!

1. 1969-S Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse

Photo courtesy of Heritage Auction Galleries

This coin is exceedingly rare. The early specimens were confiscated by the Secret Service until the U.S. Mint admitted they were genuine. Counterfeits abound, but usually have the wrong mint mark.

How to Detect: Look for clear doubling of the entire obverse ("heads" side) except for the mint mark. If the mint mark is doubled, it is probably a case of strike doubling, rather than a doubled die, which isn't worth much. (Mint marks were punched in the dies separately in 1969, after the doubled die itself had already been made.)

Approximate Value: Around $35,000 or more in EF-40 or so.

 

2. 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse

As with virtually all true doubled die varieties, only one side of the coin shows doubling. If both sides exhibit doubling, the coin probably exhibits strike doubling instead, and is worth little.

How to Detect: The rarer Small Date variety is most easily distinguished from the common type by the weakness of LIBERTY. The Doubled Die Obverse is best demonstrated by doubling in LIB and IN GOD WE TRUST.

Approximate Value: Around $3,000 in EF-40 or so.

3. 1972 Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse

The 1972 (no mint mark) Lincoln Cent doubled die variety shows strong doubling on all elements. The "Cherrypicker's Guide to Rare Die Varieties", which was an important source for this article, suggests using a "die marker" to help verify your finds. A die marker is a gouge or crack that identifies a particular die.

How to Detect: Clear doubling of all obverse elements; look for a tiny gouge near the edge above the D in UNITED as a die marker.

Approximate Value: About $500 in EF-40 or so.

4. 2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter With an Extra Leaf

Variety experts disagree about the cause and long-term value of this type, but I've included in the list because it is very findable in pocket change and worth hundreds of dollars right now.

How to Detect: There is some defect on the die that makes it appear as if there's an extra leaf on the lower left-hand side of the ear of corn on the reverse. The leaf is very clear. Known in two varieties, the High Leaf and the Low Leaf type.

Approximate Value: $200-$300 in MS-60 or so.

5. 1999 Wide "AM" Reverse Lincoln Cent

This variety is known for 3 dates, 1998, 1999, and 2000, with 1999 being by far the rarest. The mint erroneously used a proof die to strike normal circulation coins.

How to Detect: The AM in AMERICA on the reverse is clearly separated in the Wide variety. In the normal variety for these dates, the letters AM are very close or touching.

Approximate Value: $5 to $25 in circulated condition, $75 to $600 in MS-63 or better depending on color. 1999 brings the highest prices, with 2000 being second.

6. 1982 No Mint Mark Roosevelt Dime

At the point in time that these coins were made, the dies sent to the individual branch mints would be punched with the proper mint mark letter for that branch. This variety is believed to be caused because one or more non-punched dies were used to make coins. (The letter P was being used for Philadelphia on dimes at this time.)

How to Detect: The 1982 dime is missing a mint mark.

Approximate Value: About $30 to $50 in AU-50, more for higher grades.

7. Presidential Dollar Edge Lettering Errors

Ever since the first Presidential Dollar (the Washington Dollar issued in 2007) there have been errors associated with the lettering on the edge of these coins. In some cases it is missing entirely. In others, the edge lettering has been placed there multiple times.

How to Detect: Look at the edge. The inscription should appear fully incused all around the circumference of the coin. Missing or doubled inscriptions are rare and valuable.

Approximate Value: $50 to $3,000, depending on the President.

8. 1995 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent

This doubled die variety generated a lot of mainstream interest when it was featured as a cover story in USA Today. Specimens are still being found in circulation all the time!

How to Detect: Clear doubling in LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.

Approximate Value: About $20 to $50 in Uncirculated condition.

9. Certain Uncirculated State Quarters

As the economy has worsened, people who have been hoarding rolls of State Quarters have been spending them into circulation. If you can put together whole rolls Uncirculated quarters of certain in-demand states, you can get as much as $50 per roll for them.

How to Detect: Demand changes from time-to-time based on major coin dealer promotions. Currently, look for Georgia, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Illinois. Quarters must be Uncirculated!

Approximate Value: $20 to $52 per roll for strictly Uncirculated rolls of certain states. For current updates, see the State Quarter Rolls Value Guide.

10. Silver Half Dollars

Most people think that the silver in U.S. coins ended in 1964, but this isn't true. The Half Dollar coin had silver in it until 1970. Many people spend the Half Dollars from 1965 to 1970, or sells them in rolls of halves they take to the bank, not realizing they are 40% silver.

How to Detect: If the Half Dollar is dated 1964 or earlier, it is 90% silver. Halves dated from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver. You might also find silver Proof Half Dollars, which are 90% silver and dated to current. Silver Proof Halves have very shiny, mirror-like surfaces and there is no copper color when you view the edge.

Approximate Value: Value is based on silver spot price.

 

 

 

"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -  ºoº Walt Disney ºoº  

 

I have discovered LUSH...

Love these products. My son is trying this one out right now.

I tried this one the other day. Ummm don't use on your feet unless you don't plan on walking in the shower. Made my feet nice and slippery. Loved the feel on my skin. Nice and emollient.

Love the smell of this shampoo. The lather is so awesome. This is a must try. I love how this makes my hair feel.

60 Days of Summer 2011

Some interesting things to do with your kiddo's. I will have to check them all out to see what my kids would be interested in.

Taken from Martha Stewart.

60 Days of Summer 2011:

Make a Tree Swing 

Host a Picnic in Your Backyard

Pick Up a Summer Book

Throw a Sprinkler Party

Summer Essentials Checklists

Pack Travel Activities for the Kids

Custom-Made Chaise Cushions

Make a Beach Towel Tote Bag

Make Patriotic Napkin Rings

Make Flag Cupcakes

Set Your Fourth of July Table

Make and Enjoy a Shake

Hang Lanterns at Your Outdoor Party

Chill Out with Flavored Ice Cubes

Grow a Garden in a Jar

Dig Into a Summer Cupcake

Try a Summer Sewing Project

Get Pedaling

Bake with Berries

Make a Shell Creation

Sip a Summery Cocktail

It's Potato Stamp Time

Make a Swim Cover-Up

How To Eat a Blue Crab

Make a Summery Pie or Tart

Make a Custom Beach Tote

Enjoy Some Watermelon

Throw a Stove-Top Clambake

Go Fish

Serve Easy Summer Appetizers

Make and Play a Portable Game

Visit Your Farmer's Market

Make a Daisy Necklace

Organize by the Numbers

Make a Picnic-Mat Tie

Host a Summery Sunday Brunch

Create a Crudite Centerpiece

Cook with Corn

Decorate with Botantical Silhouettes

Braid Yourself Some Accessories

Take a Break From the Stove

Start a Collection

Get Our Flea Market Shopping Secrets

Brew a New Kind of Iced Tea

Try Dip Dyeing

Create a Sand Centerpiece

Make Your Own Butterfly Creations

Make a Towel Poncho

Personalized Herb Pots

Try a New Pasta Salad

Craft With Nature

Make a Spa at Home

Master Charcoal Grilling

Create a Canopy

Make a Raffia Cocktail Set

Throw a Sundae Party

Grow a Garden in Your Windowsill

Prevent Ice Cream Drips

Help the Kids Create a Collection

Save Your Summer Memories

Read more at Marthastewart.com: 60 Days of Summer Index

 http://www.marthastewart.com/summer-index

 

"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -  ºoº Walt Disney ºoº  

 

40th Party

Aww this is a cute post. I just celebrated my 4oth and I am not a big birthday person. This actually looks fun. Can I have a do over? lol

 

Oh well I had a good birthday week. I say week because my friends and family decided they all wanted to take me out and feed me. It was so sweet of everyone. I felt really blessed.

 

Taken from "I'm an Organizing Junkie" - 40th Birthday Ugly Dress Party!! 40th Birthday Ugly Dress Party!! So this year, in honor of my 40th birthday, I decided to take matters into my own hands and throw myself a birthday party.  I don't think I've ever thrown a party for myself before but I figured why not!  Taking notes from the Homebased Mom who throws such stunning parties, I knew a theme party was the easiest way to go.  I decided on an Ugly Dress Party and was so happy I did.  The party was a fabulous success!  In this post I will share some of the details of the party with you along with the resources I used to pull it all together.  Hang in there, this is probably the longest post I've ever written :) First, let's start with the invitation. Etsy really came to my aid for this party.  The invitation printable above was purchased from Lora Lang Designs for $12.50.  All I had to do was supply my information and then print out the number I needed.  So easy!  Here's a picture of the Etsy sample. Next I had to think about decorations.  The invitation helped me decide on my pink/black color theme and I continued with these colors throughout the decor. I also purchased this adorable banner printable below from M. Bradley Designs on Etsy.  Again all I had to do was print, cut and tie them all together with some black ribbon.  Anyone can do it! I hung the banner above my food station. I also made these easy tissue paper pom-poms from Martha Stewart that really added some fun to the tables and countertops.  Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can!! The second banner you see in the above picture was a FREE printable I found online from a site called Catch My Party.  So cute! For food you can see the adorable Pink Lemonade Cupcakes my daughter made for me.  They were so good.  I purchased the sweet dress printable cupcake toppers and matching printable floral cupcake wrappers from Etsy as well.  Gotta love Etsy!! My food station was a small second table set up in my dining room.  I made a few things but also asked each guest to bring a small appetizer to share. As you can see no party is complete without my favorite ketchup chips :) A sign for the table made for me by my daughter: My mini crockpot (seriously how cute is that!) was perfect for yummy Hot Crab Dip. Beside the food station, I set up a beverage station so guests could help themselves.  Easier all around.  I purchased my beverage server from Costco for $17.00…sweet! The Strawberry Spritzer I made was absolutely delicious and was only three ingredients!!  I also had a few other things on hand for variety. After everyone got to the party I started with a game of Spoons.  This is one of my very favorite games to play and I knew it would be a great ice breaker.  It definitely was!  We played six people at a time and the "loser" of each round was replaced by someone new until we were down to two.  Such fun! Those that weren't playing spoons entertained themselves by trying to guess the year on some old pictures of me.  Feel free to have a good laugh at my expense :)  For friends that haven't known me that long in my new town, I was very impressed with the winner getting 7 out of 12! My daughter made up cute cards for everyone to mark their guesses. Here is a FREE printable for you to use if you'd like. Download free printable Guess the Year Voting Cards My daughter also made cards for everyone to vote for who they thought came in the ugliest dress. Another free printable for you: Download free printable Ugly Dress Party Voting Cards Now for the ugly dresses! Here I am in all my ugly dress glory. Seriously you had to feel the polyester awesomeness of this dress to really appreciate the ugliness of this dress. I was HOT and NOT in an ooh la la kind of way if you know what I mean. There were some really ugly dresses at this party.  Here is just a quick peek: Old shiny bridesmaid dress: A lovely floral ensemble.  Again you had to feel this material to appreciate it. A chilly pepper dress with a giant matching bow.   Yikes!  I thought she'd win for sure. However the Ugliest Dress Award for 2011 went to this "beautiful" dress below complete with chicken buttons. Don't you think every dress needs some chicken buttons…hahaha! I had made up gift baskets for both the Can You Guess the Year and Ugliest Dress winners.  Both baskets included my book which I thought was a nice touch (ha!) with a whole other slew of fun goodies!  You can see the gift baskets on the table behind me in this picture but unfortunately I forgot to take close up shots. Everyone had such a great time and many laughs were shared.  A big shout out to my awesome daughter who was such an amazing help to me!! Let me know if you decide to host your own ugly dress party, I'd love to hear about it!  Have fun!! 40th Birthday Ugly Dress Party!! is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

 

 

"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -  ºoº Walt Disney ºoº