New DinoToyBlog entries

[laticauda]

 The Masiakasaurus is the number one toy on my 2016 wish list, so it is nice to see a review of it.

In the earlier conversation, you mentioned that before you starting writing for the blog, you already knew scientific names should be Italicized.  I kind of laugh at myself as I originally went to college as a Marine Biologist, and I should know better.  It's just something that I never think about. 

[Gwangi]

The Masiakasaurus is the number one toy on my 2016 wish list, so it is nice to see a review of it.

In the earlier conversation, you mentioned that before you starting writing for the blog, you already knew scientific names should be Italicized.  I kind of laugh at myself as I originally went to college as a Marine Biologist, and I should know better.  It's just something that I never think about.

I studied aquatic science in college so there ya go. More in common than we realize.

EDIT: The Papo Velociraptor is probably my most anticipated model of the year but the Masiakasaurus was certainly my most anticipated of the Safari releases. It's actually the only one I have from 2016, so far anyway.

[amargasaurus cazaui]

Bought the Sauropod, the Pleisosuchus and Masiak and fond of them all, they are decent models and priced fairly. My choice of the three would actually be the Masiakasaurus, and I will likely have one repainted and based. Just my two cents...but there ya go

[suspsy]

Since the lack of italics was causing Gwangi to wake up screaming in the middle of the night, I have decided to use them. Here's my review of the mighty Ziggy Jawbreaker:

http://dinotoyblog.com/2016/01/16/ankylosaurus-deluxe-by-collecta/

[Gwangi]

Since the lack of italics was causing Gwangi to wake up screaming in the middle of the night, I have decided to use them. Here's my review of the mighty Ziggy Jawbreaker:

http://dinotoyblog.com/2016/01/16/ankylosaurus-deluxe-by-collecta/

Awww, you didn't have to do that for me.

[suspsy]

Well, we can't have your poor young 'uns developing an aversion to the word "italics" because that's what their daddy keeps screaming in the dead of night!

Kidding aside, I shall now have to go back and edit all my previous reviews too! :p

[Gwangi]

Well, we can't have your poor young 'uns developing an aversion to the word "italics" because that's what their daddy keeps screaming in the dead of night!

Kidding aside, I shall now have to go back and edit all my previous reviews too! :p

You know, when I initially mentioned it I never intended on actually getting into a debate about it. That being said, I'm glad you now see things my way. 

[laticauda]

Since you really didn't mean it in the first place, you are saying, forget that anything was ever said and just go back to the way it was.    Ignorance is bliss right.

[Gwangi]

Since you really didn't mean it in the first place, you are saying, forget that anything was ever said and just go back to the way it was.    Ignorance is bliss right.

It's a pet peeve is all it is. I think other people should do it but I don't think they HAVE to do it, especially if they don't agree with me about the significance of it. I'll write my way, everyone else can write their way, and that's fine. It's not like the actual content of the review suffers for it. That said, if I made a compelling enough reason for it that others change their mind about it than that's all for the better. It certainly doesn't hurt anything to write out a scientific name the way it is supposed to be written. But to each their own. I just better not see anyone referring to T. rex as T-rex because then heads will start rolling.

[suspsy]

To be perfectly honest, if it were simply a question of my own reviews, I'd have kept them the way the were. I still don't believe the majority of visitors to the blog notice, let alone care about italics, and when I asked Adam about the use of them, he said he didn't think it was necessary. But I figured since I'm in charge of posting guest reviews, it wouldn't be right to impose my philosophy on them. And since I don't like inconsistency, it made no sense to use italics in some reviews and not others. Anyway, debate settled, time to move on. I'm very excited about next week's batch of guests reviews; they're very well written. One of them will be a first for the DTB!

[Lanthanotus]

Interesting discussion indeed. My first guest review was published this week (thanks and had no italics (for dinosaurs) in it, simply because I didn't think about it for a toy blog that it is. Nevertheless, I have a (layman's) scientific background and now and then write articles for peer reviewed magazines, so using italics is a must and I'm kinda used to it. On the other hand I also moderate a forum for monitor lizards and try to keep it scientifically correct without unnecessary abbrevations or belittlements, citing sources in my own posts etc. but never really could be bothered to use italics there.

However, the careful reader might have noticed that two words on my review were italicized, the species name of a recent animal. Same goes for a review I submitted this week, two days prior to this discussion. I did'nt really think about, I'm just used to use italicized names for scientific names of recent animals (and plants) when writing something "official" other than forum posts, but I never spent a thought on using italics on extinct species - but promise I'll do in future reviews/publications, so thanks all for the discussion

[laticauda]

To be perfectly honest, if it were simply a question of my own reviews, I'd have kept them the way the were. I still don't believe the majority of visitors to the blog notice, let alone care about italics, and when I asked Adam about the use of them, he said he didn't think it was necessary. But I figured since I'm in charge of posting guest reviews, it wouldn't be right to impose my philosophy on them. And since I don't like inconsistency, it made no sense to use italics in some reviews and not others. Anyway, debate settled, time to move on. I'm very excited about next week's batch of guests reviews; they're very well written. One of them will be a first for the DTB!

Not to keep this going but I do want to mention this.  When I started reviewing and submitted my writings to Dr. Adam, he did make a few small grammar corrections to my review.  I didn't notice at the time but he also edited my writings by italicizing the names.  Just saying.

Anyways, moving on, I am excited for the new reviews, and new reviewers.

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

A mighty Mamenchisaurus continues the sauropod kick:
http://dinotoyblog.com/2016/01/11/mamenchisaurus-dinosaurs-of-china-by-safari-ltd/

Thanks for posting my review  . I forgot I even submitted it so it came as a surprise to me.

[suspsy]

You're welcome. Keep it up!

[laticauda]

A mighty Mamenchisaurus continues the sauropod kick:
http://dinotoyblog.com/2016/01/11/mamenchisaurus-dinosaurs-of-china-by-safari-ltd/

Thanks for posting my review  . I forgot I even submitted it so it came as a surprise to me.

Very nice review and nice photos.   

[suspsy]

A fishy review:
http://dinotoyblog.com/2016/01/18/dunkleosteus-favorite-co-ltd/

[laticauda]

Love Dunkleosteus, nice review Tim.

[EarthboundEiniosaurus]

This is my favorite reconstruction of Dunkleosteus, it's an amazing model, and a great review by Tim. Keep up the good work 

Thanks,

EarthboundEiniosaurus

[gfxtwin]

Love the reviews, gotta get the Dunkleosteus, Plateosaurus and the Shunosaurus at some point! 

[laticauda]

After a bunch of really nice toy reviews, I give you Jurassic World electronic Velociraptor "Charlie".  I hang my head in shame, but somebody had to review it right?

http://dinotoyblog.com/2016/01/20/velociraptor-charlie-jurassic-world-by-hasbro/