The Imaginative Robots of Toby Atticus Fraley

Toby Atticus Fraley creates custom robots based on customer requests and his vivid imagination. The robots/art pieces are built primarily from vintage found objects purchased from eBay auctions, yard sales and estate sales. Each piece stands approximately 36 to 48 inches tall and all are wired as room accent lights. Toby also creates custom remotes to control the lighting on each robot.

Prices range from $1,200 to $1,800 and currently the soonest an order can be fulfilled is mid October.

Check out his fantastic creations HERE.

 

The Hidden Radio

The cylindrical device shown below is actually a radio designed with simplicity in mind.

 

The HiddenRadio was created by John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen.  The volume is controlled by lifting the lid of the radio (which also reveals the speaker). Tuning is done by twisting the lid.

 

You can find out more information about this ingenious device HERE.

 

Help Save Superman’s House

This week Brad Meltzer’s new novel, The Book of Lies, arrives in stores. As you may have heard, it touches upon one of Meltzer’s biggest passions: the creation of Superman.

When the author was researching his book, though, he discovered something even more disturbing than anything he had read in a comic book. The Cleveland home where Jerry Siegel created the Man of Steel was in terrible shape.

In hopes of restoring this historic landmark, Meltzer has launched thie website. So far an impressive team of writers, artists and Superman fans has latched on to the cause, including Stephen Colbert, Alex Ross, Neil Gaiman, Tim Sale, Richard Donner, Mike Mignola, Jim Lee and Dave Gibbons. They have contributed a sweet array of auction items, including artwork, a walk-on role on Heroes, the chance to “name the next villain in Ed Brubaker‘s creator-owned comic book” and tons more.

Don’t have tons of cash? You can also help by buying a Chip Kidd-designed T-shirt or donating via the site. All proceeds go to restoration efforts. (Reprinted from Pop Candy)

Jeff Nathanson to Write The 39 Clues Movie Script

Jeff Nathanson has signed on to write the screenplay for the first film installment of The 39 Clues, it was announced today by Stacey Snider, Co-Chairman and CEO of DreamWorks Studios, and Deborah Forte, President of Scholastic Media.

DreamWorks Studios recently acquired the movie rights from Scholastic Media to the highly anticipated multi-platform adventure series which Forte will produce and Steven Spielberg is eyeing to direct.

Nathanson once again joins Spielberg, having worked on three of the director’s films including writing the screenplays for The Terminal and Catch Me If You Can, for which he earned a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Nathanson also contributed to the story for the recent worldwide blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. His other credits include the screenplays for Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3, The Last Shot, which he also directed, and New York, I Love You, which is scheduled for release next year.

“Jeff’s writing brings characters to life with his great sense of adventure touched with humor and suspense, just the right recipe for our family film,” said Stacey Snider of DreamWorks.

“Jeff’s accomplishments as a screenwriter and storyteller combined with his enthusiasm for the project make him the ideal person to adapt ‘The 39 Clues,’” said Deborah Forte, producer.

The 39 Clues centers around the Cahills — the most powerful family the world has ever known. The source of its power is a mystery that can only be unraveled by assembling 39 clues hidden around the world throughout history.

The hunt begins for “The 39 Clues,” an interactive multi-platform adventure series, on September 9, 2008. The first book, “The Maze of Bones,” written by #1 New York Times best-selling author Rick Riordan, will be released simultaneously in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The second book, “One False Note,” by Gordon Korman, will be published on December 2, 2008. Additional authors and publication dates for subsequent titles will be announced at a later date. The official “39 Clues” online game also will launch worldwide on September 9, 2008, on The39Clues.com. Combining reading with online gaming and card collecting, this interactive series for ages 8-12 spans 10 adrenaline-charged books, hundreds of collectible game cards, and an online game that allows readers to play a part in the story and compete for prizes.

The 39 Clues website, The39Clues.com, will allow kids to participate in the adventure by tracking their clues, managing their card collections, digging through the Cahill archives for secrets, and “traveling” the world to collect Cahill artifacts, interview characters, and hunt down the clues. Finding clues and earning points results in prizes — and those who solve all 39 clues will be able to compete for the grand prize. (Reprinted from ComingSoon.net)