toys | Safe As Milk

Mar 20 2023

photos, toys

Jinhao 80

I was reading about the Chinese Jinhao 80 fountain pen, and how it looks like a Lamy 2000 knockoff but only costs $6 ordered from AliExpress. So I ordered one (and a borderline janky bootleg Kaws companion, that I love despite the jank).

It might look like the 2000 while capped, but it doesn’t have the cool hooded nib nor is it a piston-filler. It’s still surprisingly smooth. I inked it up with the Pilot Kon-Peki. It’s a nice blue and decent contrast to the white pen. I don’t know that I’ll have a place for this pen in the regular rotation, but it’s neat to see one.

The internet seems split on it. The Jinhao design is obviously an homage (or a rip-off) of the 2000. The spring clip is neat, especially for a pen that’s so inexpensive

But because of the different fill mechanism and nib, it’s really just the look that is a copy. I’m okay with it.

May 10 2020

fun, photos, toys

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to my impossibly patient and caring wife, Michelle.

Also, please check out this sweet LEGO jam I made.

Jan 31 2019

food, toys

Our Cuisinart Kettle

This electric kettle is one of the smartest purchases we’ve made as a family. For real.

I was electric kettle shopping 5 years ago because I kept burning stovetop kettles by forgetting that I had put them on. Like, I would put on a kettle and then see a neighbor in the street and go chat for half an hour, only to come back to an empty, dry, glowing hot kettle on our electric range. Not good.

So I went to the Wirecutter, like a proper Interneter, and bought their top pick. It was the Cuisinart CPK-17. It has pre-programmed buttons from 160 degrees through boiling so you don’t have to pay much attention when you put water on for, say, a green tea (170 degrees) or a pot of pour-over coffee (200 degrees) or a packet of instant oatmeal (boiling, baby!). We’ve had this thing for 5+ years, I use it twice a day (tea for kids and coffee for me), and we’ve never had any trouble with it. The numbers on the buttons are mostly worn off, but the element inside keeps making the water very hot.

It’s also comforting to my min/maxers heart to learn that this is still the Wirecutter’s pick for best electric kettle.

I’m a smart shopper sometimes.

Nov 05 2014

Movies, toys

“Big Trouble…” by Funko

Some of these Funko toys have been clever but there is something about the big, square head that has kept me from pulling the trigger.

Until now. Damnit.

I have until February to either: 1) forget that these exist or 2) get some kind of toy display deal set up in my office.

Jul 24 2013

art, beers, fun, toys

San Diego, Day Two.

I’ve been home from SD for 2 days and I’m just feeling up to recapping. It was an excellent, exhausting time.

Friday at the con was first about getting in on a Monster Worship sale for these dudes:

I’ve admired Jeff Lamm’s work for a long time but it always sells out (and gets expensive on eBay). This was a chance to get a Greasebat and some of his pals at an easy price. I also impulse bought Johnny Ryan’s “Cannibal Fuckface” (in a different colorway than that link). It’s pretty cool but it’s the only thing I got this weekend that I wasn’t 100% on.

The other big Friday thing was watching David Choe and Asa Akira (don’t google her from work) do a live DVDASA podcast from the floor. It’s sweary and NSFW so take care with clicks.

It was weird and kind of gross with a hint of nudity. Later, they all did a signing at a yogurt shop in Poway, about half an hour outside of San Diego. We went out there thinking that it might be lightly attended since it was so far from the Con and he’s isn’t someone I’d immediately associate with comics in general. We were wrong.

We waited in this line for almost an hour. When we got up front they were giving away three posters that they were all signing *and* David Choe bought yogurt for everyone. It was nice to end the night with a sweet treat.

Jul 24 2013

art, toys

San Diego night one

This was my first time going to after-show parties at ComiCon. We started the night at the CBLDF party with some guys from J!nx at a rooftop party a couple of blocks from the convention center. I had trouble computing the fact that I was standing outside in July and there were patio heaters running *and* they were necessary. It’s a classic tourist move to be amazed by weather but I couldn’t get over the fact that it was chilly outside in July.
From there we went to the Munky King party at a bar that was a dozen blocks away. We needed the healthy walk before piling in more of the drinks. We missed the live drawing art show from some of the graffiti artists but the finished pieces were cool. The crowd had thinned out (we heard later that there was an hour wait to get in at one point, glad we missed that) but it was still a decent crowd while we were there until last call. There was one Wonder Woman who kept her costume on into the night. She was identified as a disaster well before she hopped up on top of the pool table to dance.

Luckily for me California closes their bars so we had to split around 2am. I haven’t been a night owl in a long time so I was pretty well cooked by then. It was a theme I’d follow through on all weekend.

Jul 18 2013

art, toys

San Diego, day 1.

I’m on my bi-annual trip to San Diego to hang with my buddy Chris. We schedule it around ComiCon so we get a couple of days there and a couple dorking around town. ComiCon runs from Wednesday night to Sunday afternoon and the crowds start large and get progressively more bonkers. The plan was to go Con it up today and Friday and then dodge the weekend madness so today was the big shopping day.

The handmade crochet Totoro is a gift for my youngest. I think she will be stoked. The porcelain Beatnik Owl was on my radar going in and moved onto my get List when I saw it in person. It’s excellent. The Coarse owl friend is another one I wasn’t sure about until I saw it in person. It’s good.

Tomorrow will be about seeing everything. I’ve got one or two small things on the shopping list but nothing major (or heavy). We’re off to some Con-related parties down around the convention center now. This will be new for me. I’ll let you know how it goes.

May 31 2013

art, toys

Gnarled Winslow

via Spanky Stokes and in the spirit of Robert Cop, this is Gnarled Winslow, A Cop With Gorilla Arms.

May 02 2013

art, toys

Dead Astronaut Gangsta from 3A

Killer teaser image from 3A.

2 strikes against me getting it: 1) it’s probably 12″ and those tend to cost more than I’m willing to spend and 2) that little light inside the helmet (which is awesome-looking) will make definitely move it out of my price range.

Cool to look at, though.

Mar 27 2013

art, toys

Taxidunnys

Clever. Very clever. The extent that people push the munny/dunny platform is impressive.

M. Clancey will have these customs for sale soon in his store. I especially like the parrot.

[via SpankyStokes]

Category Archives: toys