How I got Started with Lego Trains

I started building LEGO trains by building the refrigerator car
from the instructions in Jacob McKee’s “Getting Started With
LEGO Trains” book. This is still the basic design for the current
refrigerator cars I build, but I changed the side details to better
accommodate my stickers.

I have always favored box cars, so I adapted the refrigerator
car design to build my custom freight cars. This freight car was
intended to be a less costly design that also looked a little more
contemporary, while the refrigerator car was meant to have a
more classic look. This allowed me to go to a much cheaper sliding
door, which is also more readily available. I would prefer to
use a black door, but due to cost and availability, the gray door
is a compromise.

Next, I started looking at what to build, and I saw that people
seemed to like gondolas, so I first created a MOC gondola on a
6 x 28 train base. I didn’t find this design to be very popular, and
the gondola always seemed a bit too large to me, so I took the
design and adapted it to the shorter 6 x 24 train base. This design
lowered the cost and seemed to be a hit. I have to admit, I
was a bit surprised, but happy. This design is not really based on
any Santa Fe designs, but I tried to give it some real detail on the
ends, which I felt was not very well done on other MOC gondolas
I have seen. I also chose to use reddish-brown LEGO parts, because
I always imagine gondolas to be rusty and well used. The
reddish-brown brick selection allows you to capture that rustic
look, but still look good.

My latest MOC was inspired simply by the fact that it seemed
that the rest of the world, unlike me, is crazy for grain hoppers.
I still prefer box cars, but I started looking around for a Santa
Fe grain hopper design, and found exactly what I hoped for. I
don’t think reality could have provided a better design for me
to recreate as a LEGO MOC. It was also very fortunate that LEGO
came out with its large space shuttle set a while back, and that
they went on clearance at all the Targets about a year and a half
ago. This created a massive surplus of the required parts at super
good prices! I couldn’t believe my fortune. So I ordered the parts
I thought I would need and wanted to try using, and after getting
my first couple of BrickLink orders, sat down to build. With
a picture of the real grain hopper in hand, and a pile of parts in
front of me, the design came together in about 2 to 3 hours; it
felt like it almost put itself together. This has been the design
that I think really started to get my trains noticed out there, so
needless to say, I’m really pleased with it.

Collecting Rare Canadian Coins

Anyone that is interested in acquiring rare collectible coins that possess the potential for increased value should look towards Canada. Over the years, the nation has produced many rare Canadian coins with collectible value. Some may be surprised at the notion that Canada has produced coins that are popular in collector’s circles since the US, Spain, and France is commonly cited nations known for their rare coinage. However, it is also true that Canada has produced many coins with high collectible value as well.

Now, what is it that makes these coins so rare and valuable? There are many reasons and they center on the actual original production of the coins. Due to a variety of factors, some rare coins have become exceeding rare. So, let’s take a closer look at some categories of rare Canadian coins:

During the early days of minting Canadian coins, many were produced from pure gold and silver. Since gold and silver are precious metals, they are both rare and in demand. This means those gold and silver coins may have potentially more value melted down. This is even doubly true when the coins are taken out of circulation and are not used for common transactions. While melting down the coins may have delivered an immediate benefit to those in need of pure gold or silver, it reduced the volume of coins in existence. This leads to the coins becoming quite rare and valuable. Today, the few pure gold and silver coins that exist commandeer high interest from collectors.

As is the case today, many older rare Canadian coins may have been released as limited edition coins. Since only a few of these coins were produced and their availability was limited, the collectible value of these coins has increased over the years. In some instances, the most desired and rarest of Canadian coins are those that were originally released as limited edition items. This means they will perpetually increase in value and make a great investment item to purchase.

Human beings are prone to making errors. This is simply the nature of being a human being. When it comes to minting coins, the coins are not protected from this aspect of human behavior. In other words, there are ways in which coins can me made improperly. While this certainly was not appreciated by the Canadian government, collectors of rare coins rejoice as they have very valuable coins available on the market as a result. Whoever said mistakes do not come with their benefits?

Commemorative coins are also known for their high value in collector’s circles. Over the years, many unique and interesting coins have been minted that promote the history and culture of Canada. So brilliant was the design of a number of these coins that their collectible value is quite significant. And, of course, these collectible coins can be quite stunning to look at as well.

Some of these rare Canadian coins include the 1911 Canadian silver dollar, 1921 Canadian 50 cent coin, and the 1921 Canadian 5 cent coin.

Yes, Canada can be considered a true treasure trove for rare and special coins. That is why collectors are advised not to overlook the many wonderful coins produced by Canada. They are simply too unique and valuable to be ignored!

Olympic Red Mittens: Why Oprah, Stephen Colbert & Joe Biden Love 'em – Where To Get Your Own Winter Games Red Mittens – Hobbies – Crafts – Co

“WHERE CAN I GET MY OWN RED MITTENS?”

When Oprah gave her audience the Canadian Olympic Red Mittens, one of her producers reported, “It was incredible. I’ve never seen an audience EVER as excited as getting these Red Mittens!”

In a sign that what started as an experiment has now entered the global popular culture, Canada’s Olympic red mittens were noticed in the crowd during a TV taping by Oprah Winfrey that week.

She reportedly commented on how much she liked them, and the historic Hudson’s Bay Company of Canada duly sent her 300 pairs, which she gave to her TV audience while interviewing American snowboard gold medallist Shaun ‘The Animal’ White.

*

If they were hand-wringingly hard to get before, now that Oprah Winfrey got her paws on them, they’re next to impossible to find. As the Canadian Press reported, “America’s hottest TV show host sported Canada’s coolest Olympic swag on her program – a pair of official Olympic retailer HBC’s red mittens with a white maple leaf on the palm.”

The accessory was pronounced the “hottest item” at the Olympics by the daytime TV queen.

When the lights came up as her show began, it was hard not to notice the scarlet adorning her hands, prompting some pouting from the guest being beamed in over satellite from Vancouver, NBC journalist Matt Lauer.

“Nobody can get a hold of these red Canadian mittens and we have scoured the entire country to find one pair for you,” Lauer, co-host of the Today Show, said on air while holding up a pair of the gloves and shaking them in fake exasperation. “And you open the show wearing the darn things.”

In true fashion, Winfrey then proceeded to give the $10 ‘it’ item of the Vancouver Games away to her entire audience.

They cheered and clapped as though she’d given them a car, and then gave mitten-clad high-fives to Winfrey’s next guest, American gold medal snowboarder Shaun White.

Winfrey told her viewers that she noticed some of her audience members sporting the mitts since last week, and decided she wanted some.

A spokeswoman for HBC said the company sent a batch of more than 300 pairs to Winfrey at her request.

The retailer stocked store shelves across the country with three million pairs of mittens, and two million of them sold even before the Winter Games began.

Comments online were mostly warm and fuzzy over the mitten’s guest appearance.

“I don’t think anyone in Oprah’s audience should get red maple-leaf Olympic mittens unless they’re more available to the rest of us,” one Twitter user posted.

But it’s still another touchstone moment in the sudden rise of Canadian patriotism, said marketing professor Lindsay Meredith at Simon Fraser University.

“Finally, it looks like Canadian nationalism has come out of the closet,” he said.

*

They were the hottest commodity at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games – those elusive red mittens.

The woven hand warmers had been flying off the shelves at HBC stores and Olympic retail shops since the games began, but now that they’ve been stamped with the official celebrity seal of approval, finding a pair even now is a challenging task. That is, unless you’re Oprah – or comedian Stephen Colbert, hockey icon Wayne Gretzky or U.S. VP Joe Biden, who all sported their pairs on TV.

E-bay is still doing big business on what has become THE collectible item of the 2010 Olympics.

Even home crafter MomInStitches couldn’t keep her home knitted Red Mitten/white maple leaf fridge magnets on her eBay (goodday008) and Etsy (MomInStitches) pages, reporting that they were even outselling her popular “I need a hug!” sweater fridge magnets.

*

When the Canadian Olympic Store first announced the mittens, no one knew they would gain such popularity: “This winter, keep warm and show your support of Canadian athletes in their quest for gold at the 2010 Winter Games by wearing a pair of Vancouver 2010 Red Mittens.

“Wear your mittens at the rink, schoolyard or along the Olympic Torch Relay route when it comes to your community. At only $10, the Red Mittens are one of the must-have mementos of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“Net proceeds from every pair sold go toward supporting Canadian athletes in gaining access to top equipment and training…”

If they only had known…

What to Look for in the Best Online Casinos

In the world of online gaming, there are many places where you can hone your skills and place your bets. When getting started, whether your risk is small or larger, what will you decide? It is very important not to take the decision lightly. After all, in a worldwide market as large as the Internet, it is difficult to root out the Wild West mentality of many online gaming communities. It is simply too easy to run scams successfully when not enough users do the research needed to protect themselves from fraud.

Not to worry. It does not take as much effort as you might think to align yourself, and your money, with trustworthy, reputable dealers: in other words, the best online casinos. Here are five qualities to watch out for when making the decision of whom you should trust:

1. Bonus opportunities: Do not just take a website’s word for how great they are. If they are as good as they say, they will want to prove that to you. This is why some of the best online casinos put their money where their mouths are by offering you the user bonus opportunities. Just what those bonuses are vary by the online casino, and they are definitely worth evaluating before you decide to take the plunge. Some places offer flat dollar amounts, while others will base the bonus off your initial deposit. Either way, it is a great way to maximize your earning potential.

2. Game variety: The best online casinos stay on the cutting edge of gaming technology, and they use that technology to offer the best variety in games and fun for the online gamer, from casual to hardcore. No matter if they offer live dealer casinos or free wireless, the best online casinos will usually have anywhere from sixty to well over one hundred games for you to choose from.

3. Strong word of mouth and connectivity: This is a quality you may just take for granted, but how much value are you placing on user interaction within your online casino? The best online casinos make it easy for you to build relationships with other gamers that share your interests. They will also not hold back on allowing you to research their reputations. It is best to check with other users when evaluating the safety and reputability of a website before deciding to deposit your money and start earning.

4. Ease of play: For the beginner, it can often be difficult to figure out the maneuverability and logic behind each game. After all, some sites have more than 120. It is for this reason that you should do a dry run and check the ease of game play on each game of interest before making a deposit.

5. Free gaming: Don’t jump right in before doing your homework and taking a test drive. Most of the best online casinos offer free gaming to those looking to dip their toes in the water before throwing in their wallets as well. Take advantage!

The best online casinos can make you a lot of money and deliver a lot of fun. But don’t take the plunge without doing your homework first.

How to Choose a Special Doll

There is one reason for choosing a special doll, and that is to please the receiver.  The search for a special doll can seem overwhelming because of the many types of dolls to choose from.  This article aims to help clarify how to choose a special modern doll for a chosen person. 

A brief review of the past 200 years of doll making categorizes dolls into antique dolls, vintage dolls, and modern dolls.  Antique dolls are considered to be those dolls produced prior to 1930.  Vintage dolls are the dolls from the mid-20th century.  They were generally made between the years of 1930 – 1980.  Most vintage and antique dolls were made as children’s playthings.   Modern dolls are dolls created from approximately 1980 to today.  Modern dolls, as well as being made as children’s playthings, have become a relatively new phenomenon as collectible dolls.  The market for modern collectible dolls was significantly established in the 1990’s. 

The search for a special doll begins with research of what’s available from modern doll companies. Some companies to search are Barbie, Madame Alexander, Vogue, Tonner, Only Hearts Club, Adora, Marie Osmond, Jan McLean, Effenbee, Corolle, Ashton Drake, and Middleton Doll.

Since the person receiving the doll could be of any age, it is important to research these companies to learn which age group is being targeted by a particular doll company.  The receiver of a special doll could be a young baby or toddler under the age of four, a young person over the age of three, or an older person who enjoys dolls. 

Of the modern doll companies searched, Madame Alexander and  Middleton Doll seemed to target the largest age group audience by offering choices of dolls from ages 0+ through all ages.  In addition to appealing to all age groups, Middleton Doll specifically targets interested doll collectors by offering limited edition collectible dolls.  Barbie, Tonner, and Only Hearts Club make dolls that appeal to pre-teens who enjoy fashion dolls and realistic dolls. 

 In comparing the modern doll companies, Middleton Doll is an excellent choice for finding a special doll because it creates dolls that appeal to a very large doll audience. PlayBaby baby dolls are just right for babies 0+ through 4years. The Middleton Now collection appeals to the 3+ age group.  In addition to these choices, Middleton Doll extends its collection to appeal to the modern doll collector by offering Limited Edition Collectible dolls.  These dolls are produced for an adult’s aesthetic taste, not a child’s aesthetic taste, to appeal to the older adult.

Hopefully, this article helps in the search for finding a special doll that pleases the special person.