My sister gave me an Amazon gift card recently, and before I could thank her (thanks, sis!) I knew what I wanted to use it for. That’s right…a new 6×6 Rubik’s Cube.
Or, more precisely, a new V-Cube. Created by a Greek designer and produced in Greece (think they can sell enough of these to get their economy back on track?), the V-Cube represents the natural evolution of the classic Rubik’s Cube. The mechanics aren’t as smooth as my Eastsheen cubes, but I’m quickly getting used to it, and have noticed that the movement has become a bit more fluid after a day of playing with it.
On my first night with this V-Cube I managed to solve it in two hours by using known patterns. A day later and my time is now down to less than 30 minutes. Many of the same algorithms that apply to the previous cubes can be ported to the 6×6, with one new algorithm required to complete the center cubie section.
The V-Cube is slightly larger than the 5×5, and is noticeably heavier. This is one hunk of plastic that feels good in the hands. There’s a solid click with each rotation that you’ll want to keep an ear out for to avoid lockups.
Here are scans of the package insert (click on them to embiggen). Instructions on how to assemble one of these bad boys can be found here.
Game, toys
Game, toys
I was chowing down on a bag of Cracker Jacks this weekend, and in between glutenous, sticky handfuls of carmel-coated popcorn goodness I took a moment to admire the bold statement “Prize Inside” emblazoned on the packaging.
Per Webster, a “prize” is defined as:
1 : something
offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance
2 : something exceptionally desirable
3 archaic : a contest for a reward
: competition
Wow, prize inside, huh? I find this to be an odd turn of phrase. What did I do to earn this “prize”? I mean, it wasn’t like I ran a sub-four minute mile, solved the Goldbach conjecture, or provided indisputable proof of life after death. All I did was open a bag of junk food and bam, I came into possession of a prize. Talk about the decline of expectations in a generation suffering from a severe case of entitlement-itis.
To satiate my unfulfilled need for instant gratification I think I’ll hit up the cereal boxes in my pantry next. I’m sure there are more “prizes” to be had there that can stroke my ego and give me the feeling of accomplishment in my otherwise drab existence…
Note: Don’t believe for a moment that the “prizes” inside the modern day Cracker Jack are “exceptionally desirable”. They are a pale imitation of what once was. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been informed by these “prizes” that George Washington was our first president. Give me a good ol’ fashioned plastic kaleidoscope or even a few water soluble tattoos, and then we’ll talk…
Commercial Product, toys
Commercial Product, toys
…I’d have no luck at all. At least, that’s how I feel when it comes to my Rubik’s Cubes. Ya see, I’ve been messing around with my 5×5 cube recently, trying to get all Zen with mastering the intricacies of this puzzle when, while single-digit flicking the top layer around, the darn thing exploded in my hand, disintegrating into its individual components, slipping through my fingers and on to the ground below in a shower of colorful plastic cube-ettes.
Whelp, so much for my trusty plastic pal. I think it might be time to look into an Eastsheen model. Now where did I put that credit card…
toys
toys
While unpacking our halloween decorations last week, we were sad to discover that our animatronic singing skeleton wasn’t working. We placed fresh batteries up it’s backside, slapped it around, even going so far as to call it a few choice names. Nada. Zip. It appeared that the darn thing wasn’t going to be singing Putin’ On The Ritz ever again.
This afternoon I was fiddling once again with this holiday decoration trying to will it to work when I noticed the following tag attached to it:
I’d never heard of the “Upholstered and Stuffed Articles Act” before. Curious, I called upon the wonderous powers of the internet and discovered some unusual protections that this (now repealed) act provides:
Unclean material
(2)No person shall use material that contains vermin or is unclean in the manufacture or renovation of any upholstered or stuffed article.
Unsanitary stuffing
18.(1)No person shall sell or offer for sale an upholstered or stuffed article that,
(a) has been in contact with a person suffering from a communicable disease;
(b) is so soiled or in such condition as is likely to affect adversely the health of any
person; or
(c) contains vermin, unless the article has been sterilized or disinfected in the
prescribed manner.
Jeezuz…was there a huge scandal with chain store fluffy doggies and poorly-sewn carney prizes being stuffed with vermin laced rags, soiled linens, and cotton swabs soaked with communicable diseases that required this regulatory Upholstered and Stuffed Articles Act to be adopted? These seem like commonsense rules that shouldn’t require a legal act to enforce.
I remember the Tylenol scare of the 80′s, but have never heard of the giant stuffed giraffe scare of the whatevers. Was there ever such a thing?
Commercial Product, toys
Commercial Product, toys
Taking the Eye In The Sky from the bookshelf, I study the box and wonder, “just who is their proofreader?”
Game, toys
Game, toys
