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DIECAST
Collectible Model Cars And More
| Item# |
Description |
Stock
Status |
| 91502 |
Jada
Toys Dub City Kustoms - Chevy Camaro Concept Hard Top (2006,
1:24 scale diecast model, Asstd.) 91502 |
Restock |
| 50549FU/24 |
Jada
Toys Dub City - Hummer H2 (1:24 scale diecast model, Asstd.)
50549FU/24 |
Restock |
| 91563 |
Jada
Toys Bigtime Muscle - Chevy Corvette Z06 Hard Top (2006, 1:32
scale diecast model, Asstd.) 91563 |
New |
| 90588 |
Jada
Toys Scarface Baller Haulers - Kenworth T2000 Tractor Trailer
(1:32 scale diecast model, Black) 90588 |
Restock |
| 91784 |
Jada
Toys - Chevy Camaro Concept Hard Top (2006, 1:64 scale diecast
model, Yellow) 91784 |
New |
| 12002W16 |
Jada
Toys Dub City - Wave 16 (1:64 scale diecast model, Asstd.)
12002W16 |
New |
| 12006W12 |
Jada
Toys Bigtime Muscle - Wave 12 (1:64 scale diecast model, Asstd.)
12006W12 |
New |
TOYS
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Lu
Toy Wonders, Inc.
www.toywonders.com
201-229-1700
God
and the Art of Toy & Diecast Model Car Marketing
The Intrinsic Beauty of Words
By Lu Su
All right,
back onto the subject of words. We took a little break. We gave
pause to honor of our veterans of war and then another week on
Thanksgiving. We last left the subject of the intrinsic power
of words. This is where I attempted to convince you that the determination
on how powerful words are is dependent on 1) the words ability
to change human behavior and 2) the words longevity of its effect.
The intrinsic
beauty of words is made known when something involving the word(s)
is discovered. As if some revelation or enlightenment is brought
about -like a light bulb turning on.
Words have
a beauty all their own. Skilled Scrabble players knows that ‘xi’
is a beautiful word, particularly when play in such a way that
the ‘x’ falls on a triple word score and forms two
separate words; one going across the other down -like ‘xi’
and ‘quixotic’.
Another way
you find beauty in words is when the origin of its meaning is
revealed to you. There actually is a name for this study. The
study of the words is called etymology. So say this word three
times fast and use the word it in a sentence and you will see
that your spouse will neither be impressed nor develop any amorous
feelings towards you (so definitely not a powerful or beautiful
word). So the etymology of the word ‘etymology’ comes
from the Greeks; the first part étymon, true meaning, which
is derived from the word 'etymos' which means true. The last part
of the word most people already know -logy, means study of. So
you could say etymology is study of true meaning.
I think most
of us understand concepts better with examples. Let’s look
at a few and perhaps the beauty of words might blossom before
your eyes. The origin of the word ‘diecast’ is actually
a relatively new word dating back to the early 1930’s. Technically
the word should be die-cast or die cast, because the origin of
this word comes from die casting. Die casting is the process of
forcing molten metal under high pressure into the cavities of
moulds (usually made of steel). The moulds are called dies. So
then objects made from this die casting method then get to receive
the prized adjective die cast.
Do you know
how we got the word ‘skid row’? In our culture this
term now refers to a run-down or dilapidated area where vagrants
hang out. It wasn’t always this way. The term skid row dates
back to the mid 1800’s. In Seattle, WA there was and still
is today a street called Yesler Way. History tells us that loggers
would skid their logs down this road so when the logs reached
the bottom of this hill they could then transported by river to
another destination. Back then this was just a steep dirt road
and those in the logging industry nicknamed this road Skid Row.
Eventually when that local economy soured, bums and the homeless
started to hang out and live there; thus Skid Row took on a new
negative meaning.
The word ‘berserk’ that we have today in our English
language has its origins in a Nordic pre-Viking era. The word
literally means Bear Coat. ‘Ber’ pronounced the same
as our English word “Bear’. And ‘Zerk’
means coat in the Nordic tongue. So how in the world does the
word ‘bear coat’ (a noun) turn into an adjective in
the English language for violently or destructively frenzied?
A study of this culture’s history reveals this Viking like
leader wore a bear coat on raids into villages. My guess is that
he didn’t pass out any business cards, so the people didn’t
know what to call him. Bear Coat seems like a very good name.
Legend has it that these men plundered villages with axes. I also
heard it from a good source that these men that accompanied Bear
Coat were not big on civil liberties, equality, and human rights.
When these guys pulled up to your dock, it was basically time
to leave – right now. When you eventually returned, you
usually returned to a burned down village. Anyone who had decided
to stay, usually did not end up in good health. Soon this merry
band of men were then nicknamed the Berserkers.
I noticed
that we don’t use the word ‘berserk’ any more
– at least I haven’t heard anyone use it for a long
time. I wonder if some type of new 21st century word will replace
berserk. Can you think of any vocation where some of its men just
go berserk at times? Will those who engage in the postal trade
be the next contributors to a new word? I checked Wikipedia and
sure enough, it’s there: Postal, the U.S. slang phrase “going
postal”, meaning a killing spree. (So I hope that after
reading this article, nobody goes postal on me).
‘Excruciating’
is a very interesting word. As you know it means extremely painful;
causing intense suffering; unbearably distressing; torturing:
In the English language there probably is no other term that trumps
this word for pain. The etymology of this word is from the Latin
word excruciatus, which is the past participle of excruciare.
When you break this word down you get ex- + cruciare which means
'to crucify'. Interesting that this word in the English language
for unbearable and disressing suffering is derived from a tortuous
type of execution that Jesus Christ experienced. It might be interesting
to note that the wealthiest author of our times ran with this
same Latin based word in one of her Harry Potter books. The "cruciatus
curse" caused almost unbearable pain and was one of the forbidden
uses of magical powers by any Wizard –and could result in
imprisonment and banishment to Azkaban.
Now for the
words I have found intrinsically powerful and beautiful. In the
Bible, there is a book called John. It was written by Jesus’
best friend. John was very close to Jesus. While hanging on the
cross he instructed John to look after his mother Mary –not
a job you give anyone. This book is sometimes referred as God’s
love letter to the world. So in the first Chapter that John wrote
it reads:
In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through
Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come
into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
And then in
that same chapter it says
And
the Word became flesh,
Those are
both intrinsically powerful and beautiful words. I don’t
think anyone can fully comprehend the long lasting and profound
implications of that short sentence. Here the Bible says God incarnates
(something many of us are suppose to be celebrating in a few weeks).
God becoming man! From my study of many world religions, this
event is an exclusive claim to Christianity. So why did God need
to become a man? God incarnated for a reason. Unlike like the
Hindu God Krishna, whom they believe came into our world several
times, he never actually incarnated; he put on guises to appear
like a man. Many world religions peg Jesus Christ as a good and
moral teacher, a prophet, a miracle worker, a wise man, and even
the son of God. All are correct, but God did NOT need to incarnate
to accomplish or be any of those. Why did he need to give us the
word excruciate? Because he loves pain? No, it is because of love
-because of his love for you and me. It is my hope that one day
you too will find those words powerful and beautiful.
