Free Republic

Lego overtook Mattel this year to become the world's most-profitable toy company. Lego has had quite a run over the past few years. Those little colorful bricks and minifigs have rocketed the Danish manufacturer past Mattel, the maker of Barbie and Hot Wheels, to the top slot as the world's most profitable toy company, says Quartz. It was only last year that tLego took the number two slot away from Hasbro, which makes everything from Nerf guns to My Little Pony to Transformers, Jenga, Clue and Monopoly. Lego's ascendancy was built on a few changes. The company, says Forbes, expanded...

Asymmetric Solutions is a Division of Applied Defense Technologies. The St. Louis-based company is staffed by combat experienced SpecOps vets, including: Army Green Berets, Army Delta, Navy SEALs, SEAL 6, and Agency SOF. The company offers a real-world training environment with exceptional instructors on self defense from criminal violence.On Tuesday Assymetric Solutions tweeted out that they were being deployed to Ferguson, Missouri.

It’s all about race. Everything, that is. Just when you think it’s ok for your child to enjoy an innocent, wholesome cartoon that has been thrilling little tikes for seven decades, you find out that it’s — what else? — RACIST! That is, according to the ridiculous screed of Tracy van Slyke, of The Guardian, which is so stupid it just must be a joke. Right? Wrong! She’s serious. Check out what she said about the evil Thomas the Tank Engine: For the record, all the “villains” on Thomas and Friends are the dirty diesel engines. I’d like to think...

Lego has apparently heard the criticism that its plastic universe is mostly a boys' club, and things will change this summer. A new line of figurines due out in August will feature a female chemist, paleontologist, and astronomer, reports Time. The set was suggested by a female geochemist in Sweden as part of the Lego Ideas platform in which regular folks get to suggest ideas that get put up for a vote. One thing the Guardian likes: The coming set looks "notably devoid of pink." It's about time, writes Abby Phillip at the Washington Post.

The National Toy Hall of Fame, established in 1998, recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period. Each year, the prestigious hall inducts new honorees and showcases both new and historic versions of classic toys beloved by generations. Anyone can nominate a toy to the National Toy Hall of Fame. Final selections are made on the advice of historians, educators, and other individuals who exemplify learning, creativity, and discovery through their lives and careers.Toys and year of induction: 2013ChessRubber Duck 2012DominoesStar Wars Action Figures 2011BlanketDollhouseHot Wheels 2010Playing CardsThe Game of Life 2009BallBig WheelNintendo Game...

A controversy is brewing over a request to remake Barbie in way contrary to the iconic image so many girls knew growing up. Plus-Size-Modeling.com is suggesting Mattel create a plus-size Barbie. While some say more realistic curves would be a better role model for girls, others say an overly large Barbie would be an unhealthy example. Plus Size Modeling conducted a poll on its Facebook page on Dec. 18 asking, “Should toy companies start making Plus Sized Barbie dolls?” In just under two weeks, a picture of the poll has received over 40,000 likes, 5,000 comments and 2,700 shares. “Sure,...

As parents across the country ponder what to do with their children this October half-term, the results of a new study could come as a welcome relief. Instead of playing with for expensive toys or gadgets, many children would be much happier indulging in simpler pursuits such as baking, finger painting or carving a Halloween pumpkin. Many of the activities make up a seasonal list put together by shoemakers Clarks, which commissioned the research. Children are happier playing simple games according to shoe retailer ClarksAlison Sudbury, spokesman for the shoe retailers told The Express: 'You don't have to spend a...

BrickStix LLC, a Hartland company formed around an idea young Greyson MacLean had for making removable stickers for Lego bricks, has reached an agreement with Toys "R" Us that will have the retailer carrying the stickers in in all of its stores. The company's stickers will be in nearly 600 Toys "R" Us stores, said Matt MacLean, Greyson's father and BrickStix's lawyer. BrickStix began shipping its patent-pending stickers to the retailer on Thursday, and the product will be available in stores later this month, he said. They are already sold in smaller toy stores across the country, at Harrods department...

Outrage as toy company creates 'crystal meth lab' for children with Breaking Bad play sets • 500-part set has all the drugs paraphernalia used in hit American series • Lego refused to sanction or endorse the toy, which was made by independent company Citizen Brick • Twitter users blasted £160 toy as an inappropriate plaything Children can now build their own drug dens with a shocking new play kit inspired by TV show Breaking Bad. The sell-out £160 kit, branded 'SuperLab', lets any child or adult recreate Walter White's notorious crystal meth lab. Complete with protective masks, drug paraphernalia, figurines...

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Matchbox die-cast models, which have gone from child's toys to collector's items. I don’t like to boast, but by the time I was 10 years old I owned a fleet of Ferraris, a Lamborghini Countach and a Peugeot Paris-Dakar racer. Being a child, I would smash these motors into each other and then, at the end of a hard day’s driving, forgo the comfort of a dehumidified garage in preference to lobbing them all in an old ice-cream tub. These old Matchbox cars survive to this day, tucked away in my parents’ loft...

Just when you thought it was safe to get out of the water ...

Such is the impact of the shale gas revolution in the United States that it's quite possible that babies born today will no longer play with plastic dolls and cars made in China. It's almost become a fait accompli that China is the world's factory, but the early warning signs that this may be changing are starting to show. The advent of cheap natural gas in the U.S. is threatening to displace expensive naphtha in the production of petrochemicals, the key building blocks for plastics, synthetic fibres and solvents and cleaners. While the shale gas boom is certainly no longer...

Andre Cassagnes, the inventor of the Etch A Sketch that generations of children drew on, shook up and started over, has died in France, the toy's maker said. Cassagnes died Jan. 16 in a Paris suburb at age 86, said the Ohio Art Co., based in Bryan in northwest Ohio. The cause wasn't disclosed Saturday.

Lego has been accused of racism by the Turkish community over a Star Wars model that supposedly resembles one of Istanbul’s most revered mosques. tria’s Turkish community said the model was based on Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul and that the accompanying figures depicted Asians and Orientals as people with “deceitful and criminal personalities.” The Turkish Cultural Community of Austria released a statement calling for Lego to apologise for affronting religious and cultural feelings. The anger was provoked by “Jabba’s Palace”, a model of the home of Jabba the Hutt from Lego’s Star Wars product range based on the blockbusting...

Following the Dec. 14 violent gun killing at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut that took the lives of 26 people, including 20 children aged 6 and 7, Santa Monica peace activist Jerry Rubin has resumed his "No Toy Guns Merit Award Project.” Rubin’s "Alliance for Survival" peace group will offer merit awards to children and families who pledge to not buy or play with toy guns. Rubin said the free personalized 8-1/2" by 11" merit awards were suitable for framing and could be obtained by sending a letter or email stating "Why I will not buy toy guns...

TUNISIAN CHILDREN’S MAGAZINE SHOWS KIDS HOW TO MAKE A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL ... Sadly not a misprint. Because that’s the first thing that’s on any kid’s mind, how to light someone else on fire. Kind of reminiscent of the Hamas’ kiddie program featuring mice and bunnies that incite children to commit acts of terrorism. So no folks, this is nothing new. RTNews: A Tunisian children’s magazine “Kaws Kouzah” has recently published a detailed step-by-step instruction of how to make a Molotov cocktail. Now the periodical is facing a lawsuit for endangering kids lives. The Tunisian Ministry for Women and Family Affairs...

Seeking advice on brands and sources to select and buy a piston recoil reducer in my AR-15 stock.

Two drunks — one driving a rare Bentley, the other a Beemer — went head-to-head early yesterday, leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of mangled metal littering a Chelsea street corner, cops and witnesses said. Eight people, four from each car, were taken to Bellevue Hospital after the 3:45 a.m. crash, but none suffered life-threatening injuries.

Buckyballs, the three-year-old innovative toy company that makes magnetic desk toys for adults, is in the fight of its life. The Obama administration’s Consumer Product Safety Commission has filed a lawsuit to stop the firm from selling its products and to issue a recall of its toys. Several retailers have yanked the magnets, despite the company’s clear warning that Buckyballs and Buckycubes are for adults — not children. Buckyballs executives have taken to social media and radio airwaves to save the company.

Remember those old Pull-String dolls from the 60's? Every string-pull played a random track from a miniature phonograph inside. Here's a typical example - Vintage Mickey Mouse Chatter Chums Pull String Doll Does anyone make an Obama version of these? Pull string. "Whirrrrrr ... The private sector is doing fine!" Pull string. "Whirrrrrr ... I've been to 57 states!" Pull string. "Whirrrrrr ... This is NOT a tax!" Pull string. "Whirrrrrr ... Only the wealthy who make over $200,000 will pay more taxes." I have seen "Inspirational Quotes" Talking Obama Dolls (gag!) on eBay. And there's a viral image of...