Comments on: Fort Magic: rod-and-connector system for building elaborate fabric forts http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 07:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Alissa Mower Clough http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1300142 Alissa Mower Clough Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1300142 Bring back The Toy from the Eames, I say! Enough of these cheap imitations. Bring back The Toy from the Eames, I say! Enough of these cheap imitations.

]]> By: Alex Young http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1300131 Alex Young Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1300131 I like to believe this was an intentional reference, and hilarious. And yes, M is a *fantastic* film. I like to believe this was an intentional reference, and hilarious. And yes, M is a *fantastic* film.

]]> By: digi_owl http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1300077 digi_owl Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1300077 I give those parts a week before they break from some kid putting too much weight on them or something. I give those parts a week before they break from some kid putting too much weight on them or something.

]]> By: digi_owl http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1300075 digi_owl Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1300075 ...else. …else.

]]> By: LightningRose http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299780 LightningRose Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299780 I've always known the lyrics as: Sneaking on my sneaky feet, sneaky feet, sneaky feet. Sneaking on my sneaky feet, everywhere I go... I’ve always known the lyrics as:
Sneaking on my sneaky feet, sneaky feet, sneaky feet.
Sneaking on my sneaky feet, everywhere I go…

]]> By: Ben Kadie http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299773 Ben Kadie Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299773 Here are some other large-scale building sets we've owned or played with (search for them): "Quadros Building Sets" - strong enough to climb on "Fisher Price Fantastix" - Thick soft tubes (discontinued) "Giant Tinker Toys" (discontinued) Others (never played with): TOOBEEZ Roylco Straws and Connectors (light weight, but cheap) Here are some other large-scale building sets we’ve owned or played with (search for them):
“Quadros Building Sets” – strong enough to climb on
“Fisher Price Fantastix” – Thick soft tubes (discontinued)
“Giant Tinker Toys” (discontinued)
Others (never played with):
TOOBEEZ
Roylco Straws and Connectors (light weight, but cheap)

]]> By: girlygirl http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299769 girlygirl Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299769 I think you are confusing Fort Magic with Crazy Forts.  Fort Magic is 100% sturdy and super well made.  And if you notice, in the videos the kids are actually picking up the forts and moving them.  They cover them with fabric and crawl all though them.  Fort Magic is way awesome! My sons love their Fort Magic.  I think you are confusing Fort Magic with Crazy Forts.  Fort Magic is 100% sturdy and super well made.  And if you notice, in the videos the kids are actually picking up the forts and moving them.  They cover them with fabric and crawl all though them.  Fort Magic is way awesome! My sons love their Fort Magic. 

]]> By: Franklin http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299744 Franklin Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299744 Really? They used "In The Hall of the Mountain King" as their theme? Has nobody here seen "M," the 1931 film about a child murderer who whistles that as his theme song? And if you really haven't seen M, go see it. It's terrific. Really? They used “In The Hall of the Mountain King” as their theme? Has nobody here seen “M,” the 1931 film about a child murderer who whistles that as his theme song?

And if you really haven’t seen M, go see it. It’s terrific.

]]> By: hexwench http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299728 hexwench Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299728 It was great watching this, muted, with Marnie Stern's "For Ash" playing. Kids building, accompanied by guitar shredding! It was great watching this, muted, with Marnie Stern’s “For Ash” playing. Kids building, accompanied by guitar shredding!

]]> By: drukqs http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299722 drukqs Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299722 Some Occupy protesters ought to get their hands on this technology for some sort of mind-asploding self-referential irony. Of course, it wouldn't not be complete without a boombox blaring Grieg's  In the Hall of the Mountain King with an awkward edit at 0:35. Some Occupy protesters ought to get their hands on this technology for some sort of mind-asploding self-referential irony. Of course, it wouldn’t not be complete without a boombox blaring Grieg’s  In the Hall of the Mountain King with an awkward edit at 0:35.

]]> By: parrotboy http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299698 parrotboy Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299698 Someone gave our 5 year old a set of those things.  They work fine, as long as nobody touches them, rests any weight on them or otherwise causes them to fall down.  Looking at them seems to work. In other words, neat idea, if your kids are robots who don`t actually play with them.  Now the stick things are mostly just swords, and the balls are just annoying. Someone gave our 5 year old a set of those things.  They work fine, as long as nobody touches them, rests any weight on them or otherwise causes them to fall down.  Looking at them seems to work.

In other words, neat idea, if your kids are robots who don`t actually play with them.  Now the stick things are mostly just swords, and the balls are just annoying.

]]> By: Daniel Morgan http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299684 Daniel Morgan Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299684 This looks like an overpriced set of pvc pipe. MakeDo does this way better.  http://mymakedo.com/  This looks like an overpriced set of pvc pipe.

MakeDo does this way better. 
http://mymakedo.com/ 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299679 Antinous / Moderator Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299679 Actually, I agree with you. The kids will probably just play with the box that they came in. But...growth! How can we have economic growth if people use what they already have? Actually, I agree with you. The kids will probably just play with the box that they came in. But…growth! How can we have economic growth if people use what they already have?

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299664 EH Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299664 I'd say 16" at a minimum. I’d say 16″ at a minimum.

]]> By: A J http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299657 A J Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299657 I've designed and printed a few 3d printable connectors for 0.5" PVC pipe - you can make your own wendy house with my instructions or design and build your own construction.  I'll be adding new connectors/joints as I test them. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:13073 I’ve designed and printed a few 3d printable connectors for 0.5″ PVC pipe – you can make your own wendy house with my instructions or design and build your own construction.  I’ll be adding new connectors/joints as I test them.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:13073

]]> By: s2redux http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299649 s2redux Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299649 Hmm...wonder if the adults know that the kids know the lyrics... Slay him! The Christian's son has bewitched The Mountain King's fairest daughter! Slay him! Slay him! May I hack him on the fingers? May I tug him by the hair? Hu, hey, let me bite him in the haunches! Shall he be boiled into broth and bree to me Shall he roast on a spit or be browned in a stewpan? Ice to your blood, friends! Hmm…wonder if the adults know that the kids know the lyrics…

Slay him! The Christian’s son has bewitched
The Mountain King’s fairest daughter!
Slay him!
Slay him!

May I hack him on the fingers?
May I tug him by the hair?
Hu, hey, let me bite him in the haunches!
Shall he be boiled into broth and bree to me
Shall he roast on a spit or be browned in a stewpan?

Ice to your blood, friends!

]]> By: jackbird http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299636 jackbird Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299636 Wanna share the lengths your ad-hoc process finally optimized at? Wanna share the lengths your ad-hoc process finally optimized at?

]]> By: Michael W. http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299634 Michael W. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299634 This will be perfect for when the kids want to play <i>Game of Thrones</i>.  <i>"Mom, Billy keeps banishing me from King's Landing and said I smell like a Dothraki horse lord."</i> This will be perfect for when the kids want to play Game of Thrones. 

“Mom, Billy keeps banishing me from King’s Landing and said I smell like a Dothraki horse lord.”

]]> By: Joseph Francis http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299633 Joseph Francis Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299633 Sounds a bit like Dean Collins's old Tinker Tubes concept for building cheap photographic light diffusers. https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=tinkertubes Sounds a bit like Dean Collins’s old Tinker Tubes concept for building cheap photographic light diffusers.

https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=tinkertubes

]]> By: Paul232 http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299630 Paul232 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299630 Planet is called "Melancholia." Oh, you knew that. Planet is called “Melancholia.” Oh, you knew that.

]]> By: Nagurski http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299620 Nagurski Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299620 How witty. You're a real wag! How witty. You’re a real wag!

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299608 Antinous / Moderator Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299608 <blockquote>Have homes suddenly become devoid of furniture for fort frames?</blockquote>Why play with Legoes when you can just stack rocks and dried cat poo?

Have homes suddenly become devoid of furniture for fort frames?

Why play with Legoes when you can just stack rocks and dried cat poo?

]]> By: Matt Palenske http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299606 Matt Palenske Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299606 This will be perfect for when that unknown planet starts barreling towards earth at 600,000 mph!  This will be perfect for when that unknown planet starts barreling towards earth at 600,000 mph! 

]]> By: MrRocking http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299595 MrRocking Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299595 #occupy... somewhere. #occupy… somewhere.

]]> By: MrRocking http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299593 MrRocking Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299593 Nah.. I'll wait for it to turn up on the HDSLR market as a Multi-purpose Light Tent Kit at 4x the cost. Nah.. I’ll wait for it to turn up on the HDSLR market as a Multi-purpose Light Tent Kit at 4x the cost.

]]> By: waetherman http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299588 waetherman Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299588 Also provides temporary housing for the whole family when the bank forecloses on your main home. Also provides temporary housing for the whole family when the bank forecloses on your main home.

]]> By: LightningRose http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299590 LightningRose Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299590 Much cooler than the recently posted card table log cabin. http://boingboing.net/2011/12/05/giant-plastic-log-cabin-ad-19.html Much cooler than the recently posted card table log cabin.

http://boingboing.net/2011/12/05/giant-plastic-log-cabin-ad-19.html

]]> By: bunaen http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299581 bunaen Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299581 I cut up lengths of 3/4" PVC pipe and bought a bunch of T's, Y's, X's, caps and couplers for the kids to make forts (and monorails, towers, etc.). You have to cut different but coordinated lengths of pipe (this was an ongoing ad-hoc process) so they go together into complete structures. It was moderately successful.  The lack of kiddie scaffolding was a problem as the kids always wanted to build "up". I cut up lengths of 3/4″ PVC pipe and bought a bunch of T’s, Y’s, X’s, caps and couplers for the kids to make forts (and monorails, towers, etc.).

You have to cut different but coordinated lengths of pipe (this was an ongoing ad-hoc process) so they go together into complete structures.

It was moderately successful.  The lack of kiddie scaffolding was a problem as the kids always wanted to build “up”.

]]> By: Nagurski http://boingboing.net/2011/12/17/fort-magic-rod-and-connector.html#comment-1299571 Nagurski Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134785#comment-1299571 Have homes suddenly become devoid of furniture for fort frames? Have homes suddenly become devoid of furniture for fort frames?

]]>