Somehow doing something I came across this article:
MY BEEF WITH THE DESIGNER TOY INDUSTRY
http://albotas.com/2010/02/my-beef-with ... -industry/

It's a great read and the comments left also continues the discussion.
I do agree with lots of what was written by the author.
But there are also other stuff that I do not agree with at all.

As a "Toy Blogger" myself, I'm guilty of the copy/paste of information from other websites.
For those that don't know: http://kaijuchronicle.blogspot.com/
I really don't "blog" about anything. I hate writing. I'm no good at it.
I run KC more like a place of collected information.
I just provide pics and info. Honestly, I feel like that's all some people really want.
I know I do personally. There are some sites I'd visit to "read" more on what people write.
Other than that, even browsing VP or TRE before I started KC, all I wanted to know is when it's coming out, how much and where I can get it.
And whatever pics/info I post up, I always try to cite my sources.
What I feel bad is my shitty translations from all the Japanese sites.
I try my best to make sure it's somewhat understandable and the info I post is correct.

What else...oh yea. My biggest problem w/ all these toy blogs isn't the fact that everyone is posting the exact same information and pictures. Well, slightly. It does get old.
I think my biggest problem is how blog sites work.
You post something new and it's at the top.
But as time goes on, older information gets pushed further down and down, eventually being buried into page 2 and even further.
Not everyone writes shit down and is organized as hell.
I may see something interesting today, but by tomorrow it'll be on page 2 or even further where I'm too lazy to search for anymore.

That's why for KC I came up w/ the AT A GLANCE thumbnail pics table of contents style on top.
I hope people find that useful in searching and keeping track of what's to come and what came out already.
I've also broken down post categories on KC so it'd be easier to search for certain things that have been pushed back in pages.
The [Archive] filter sorts all the postings visually by week.

But yea, I'm not even sure what I'm writing anymore.
I started KC almost for myself in the beginning.
It's been over two years of collecting for me.
Things are a bit different now. There seems to be more and more releases going on each week.
It's really hard to keep track of everything going on and what's coming out.
Shoot, if there was a site like KC out there ran by someone else, I'd love it and tell the site owner so.

Anyways, I can't believe it's almost one year of "blogging" also.
Time goes by fast. But it's been a good ride so far.
I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of great people in this community.
Lots of friendships have formed from that also.

And the whole point of posting all of this is because of what one commenter posted in that article written none other than our Pogue.

Stuff like that makes it worth it for me.
It's always great to hear from people who visit the site.
I would get random PMs here or emails saying how much they like KC and appreciate what I do.
I don't run KC for money or for the fame. I do it for the love of the hobby.
I think Kirkland (http://toybotstudios.blogspot.com/, another AWESOME toy blog! ) put it best one time, it's a labor of love.
It's my way of contributing to the community.
I've always said, anyone can be a collector. All it takes is money and space.
You can keep buying and buying but there's more to it than that for me.

Ok, end rant. TGIF.



C&E! = Collect & Enjoy!

As my grandpa told my mom, and my mom told me, "Life isn't fair." Is it really a surprise to this guy that industry connections are more important than having thought-provoking content. If so, welcome to the world.

And for those that don't know, akum6n (walking Encyclopedia of Japanese toy knowledge) runs a well written site with "real" content & pretty pictures at http://robotxmonster.blogspot.com/.

You know what I have to say about his rant?



work smarter not harder

Wow, that was a lame argument on his part. Funny thing, I've never even heard of this guy's site before. And why does he really care? He did state that he doesn't collect anymore. I love KC; I check it almost daily if not more. Of course connections are important in this industry; that should be a no-brainer. Keep up the good work Joe. I appreciate the time you take to do this. Also thanks for akum6n's blog link. I'll be sure to check it out!

I have 130 url's in my toy sites file. A good percentage of those were gleaned from the Kaiju Chronicles blog site over the last year. Other than Skullbrain, KC is the only other site I visit on a daily basis (quite often more than once a day.)
Thanks Joe for spending your time putting all of that information together for us. Kaiju Chronicles and the Kaiju Fiends Dinner are both a labor of love that we in the community benefit from.

KC is part of my morning routine.
I like it the way it is, with no blabla.

For a guy who hates writing you sure write a lot.

I've been collecting these toys for 10 years now and that's the first time I have heard of that site. That guy/girl needs to do a little more research before making some of those claims.

Long live KC.

I will say anything to make a point and win an argument.

I also look at KC daily. Mostly just to wish for the releases. I appreciate it. Joe, you do a great job. KC and skullbrain are what I spend my time on when I am on-line. Both are the best things I could ask for being a fight figure collector. My collection wouldn't exist without them. All the info and pics are great....

KC has become part of my daily routine as well, Joe, and I thank you for it. I wouldn't even begin to know where to look for half the information on there, and I'm impossibly grateful to not have to

I use KC for the links and pics. Keep up the great work Joe!

I check KC all day long. It's indispensable. Joe's definitely an asset to the hobby.

Aww, so does that mean you didn't really mean it?

Thanks for all the compliments guys.
Glad people find the site useful.


Word?

toybot studios reads kaiju chronicle every day.

vinylpulse reads kc and toybots everyday

I had no idea this many people cared about us bloggers. After talking with Joe last night at Arbito's show, I have a few thoughts to add.

Something like 2 years ago, at Gallery1988, I met Joe and he told me his idea to start a calendar/database of sorts, to keep track of releases, shows, signings, etc. I remember this clearly b/c earlier that week, Joe had just bitched me out for a newbie transgression on Skullbrain, and we had yet to reveal who we were. That's always a fun moment. But we introduced ourselves, shook hands and on went the conversation.

Joe was saying that there are a lot of toy blogs out there (and today, there are at least 10 more than there were in 2008), but no place to get streamlined factual information in an easy to digest manner. He was right, and he's still right for the rest of the toy blogs. Kaiju Chronicle is the only site like that.

My "beef" isn't with what Joe is doing (calendar/database/public service). It's more about what I think a "blog" is supposed to be--which is a new source with a voice. The non-kaiju toy blogs either have NO VOICE (and indeed are just regurgitating press releases) or the voice seems to change with whatever is hip or happening at the moment.

Here's three things about ToyCyte, which, IMO, helped it stand out: 1) I'm a writer before a toy collector. For me, the pleasure isn't just posting the information I got in my inbox, but finding something to say and some context for it. Brian (Super7) and I were talking about this recently: I want to know WHY it's called "Hawaii Colorway." That's more interesting to me than just reposting that 'Super7 is releasing a Hawaii Colorway Ooze Bat.' 2) I was hired--off Craigslist--to write ToyCyte. I didn't own the blog (or I'd still be doing it). I was being paid to post. This allowed me to devote time to it. Most or all of the other sites are being done as hobbies. 3) ToyCyte was not ad-supported. The upshot? I could say critical things about toys by MINDstyle or Kidrobot and their threats fell on deaf ears b/c I didn't have to care the way, say, Vinyl Pulse would about them pulling their ads. The downside? The folks funding ToyCyte ran out of money in the recession, and away it went.

I dunno the solution. Toys are fun and exciting. So why am I bored out of my mind reading most of the toy blogs out there? If a figure kicks ass, I should be able to trust the author's opinion b/c he or she has called foul on an obviously crappy toy. But when everything is all jolly good all the time, you don't know, well is the toy actually cool or is that just what whoever wrote the press release said?

FWIW, here's a post I wrote that got me a long, upset letter from MINDstyle saying, to paraphrase, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." Which is the attitude the ad-supported blogs are up against:

http://www.toycyte.com/ron-englishs-ina ... obama-bust

I love that post, and I'd write it again. I'm still blogging, mostly for Neon Monster and Doodlesplatter, an occasional angsty guest post on SpankyStokes and whoever else invites me to write something where I can be both a writer and a toy collector.

Ha ha loving that pic...I'd never heard of that place before either but felt compelled to comment on it.

People are too hung up on what a "blog" is. KC is perfect as what it does and in the form it does it. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel it does what it needs to do to perfection. Better that than knowing how their bus journey to work was.

Its also ironic talking about lack of opinions or voice and then mentioning Neon Monster when it hardly ever expresses an opinion because it stocks the very toys it blogs about

Oh and Clutter falls into the same trap but that's why our blog is updated for infrequently sometimes...there's so much crap it's not even worth giving the time of day to it

I can't believe there is an article on toy blogging that has spun this post and discussion. Blogs and websites can be about anything and take any number of flavors. What you're saying about ad supported sites being all about Unicorns and Rainbows is partially true, I don't think all blogs necessarily have to have a dissenting voice. If I don't like a toy, generally speaking, I won't post it. therefore the vast majority of my posts will be things I just think are cool. is this lame? maybe.... I just don't have time nor the bandwidth to post the crappy stuff. That Abe Lincoln x Obama bust is horrible, but it would never see the light of day on toybot studios.

Give it time! The Neon Monster blog has only been online about 2 months, and it's evolving. You are correct though: it is a blog for a company that sells toys. I mention it as one of a few places where I blog. Click on the others if you want to read more opinions. (I believe we're also connected via opinion-central aka Twitter.) NM are rad folks and I'm happy they wanted me involved with them in any capacity. Toys, records and comics under one roof, and they're really supportive of local artists (and writers). I've always really enjoyed Clutter! I counter your angst with some of Kirkland's rainbows and unicorns!

As much as I respect other people's opinions, I honestly don't need a blog or website telling me what his/her opinions are (that's what discussion boards are for). Everyone's tastes are vastly different and some person writing for a blog does not represent even a fraction of the audience. Just lay it out there and let the readers judge it for themselves.

KC is my #1 bookmark on my phone, work/home computer

love what you do joe!

[quote="JORDAN23"]As much as I respect other people's opinions, I honestly don't need a blog or website telling me what his/her opinions are (that's what discussion boards are for)./quote]

yep.

There is room for journalism in the toy world. If someone is willing to do the work I will cheerfully suffer their editorializing but they need to do the work 1st.