Vincent Daly, Author at CuteMonster.com

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Toys arrive for Force Friday

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015 by Vincent Daly

The build up to the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens has already begun. That now includes the tidal wave of movie related toys. Today marks “Force Friday”,an ingenious marketing ploy which counted down the official release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens toy merchandise on September 4, 2015. Unboxing events were held for the media throughout the country starting on the Thursday September 3rd but for the general public, the true fans, the fun began at midnight September 4th. I’m personally a lifelong fan of Star Wars so when a buddy of mine from the 501st legion tipped me off to a special local event at a Toys R Us in White Plains NY, I couldn’t resist.

Toys and Gadgets: Review of the Kenu Stance

September 18, 2015August 13, 2015 by Vincent Daly

If you’re like me your smartphone has become the main source of chronicling the world around you. Unfortunately that means making compromises in how you capture said world. Shaky handheld video, less than ideal group selfie images, etc. all play a part in lessening the value of one’s creative endeavors. Factor in the multitude of sharing these moments in time receive via social media and suddenly the problem becomes compounded exponentially. Enter the KENU Stance, a miniature tripod for the iPhone and Android devices.

Paul Rudd gives big performance in Marvel’s Ant-Man

August 9, 2015August 8, 2015 by Vincent Daly

Admittedly I knew very little about Marvel’s comic book hero Ant-Man. But I’d been following Paul Rudd’s career for years. He’s the type of actor who seems like a great guy in real life which comes across on screen in nearly every performance he’s given to date. I believe his innate charisma, much like Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) and Chris Pratt (Peter Quill aka Star-Lord), was a factor in Mr. Rudd being cast for the lead role. Still, star power comprises only one piece of the puzzle needed to create a successful action blockbuster. Story matters above all. Ant-Man, the tiniest of Marvel’s superheroes, packs the biggest heart.

CuteMonster Web Comic #2

November 28, 2015July 31, 2015 by Vincent Daly

In this CuteMonster web comic, keeping still can be nearly impossible.

Children’s Online Safety Requires Parents to Adapt

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 by Vincent Daly

I was in my twenties in the mid 1990s when the online era began its pervasive worldwide invasion. I worked in New York City’s “Silicon Alley”. At the time, if you could write a line of HTML code you were deemed cutting edge. In fact, if you even knew what HTML code was you were considered a hot commodity. Jobs were plentiful, perks were outrageous, and the possibilities seemed endless. Of course most folks had a painfully slow dial up connection back then. The high speed internet highway still needed to be built in earnest. And there was the soul crushing internet bubble that burst eventually in 2000. It wasn’t the end of course. In fact, 15 years later we still find ourselves at the beginning.

Every Step Counts when #KindMilesMatter

July 13, 2015 by Vincent Daly

For the majority of my existence here on the planet Earth I’ve been an active individual. Quite frankly, I loved the athletic lifestyle. Fatherhood changed my daily exercise routine, yet integrating play with my children allowed me to adapt to a new paradigm of Dad fitness. Still, some of the muscle strengthening activities I participated in as a younger man fell by the wayside. So too did the high intensity workouts such as jogging and sprinting. Last year, motivated by friends, I began to train for an endurance race (i.e. Tough Mudder). My right leg got injured, specifically, tarsal tunnel syndrome. This active Dad’s lifestyle came to an abrupt halt.

S1E1 The CuteMonster Show – Podcast Begins

August 31, 2016July 10, 2015 by Vincent Daly

It’s been a back and forth struggle to get The CuteMonster Show podcast underway in earnest. There was the inevitable prolonged search for the perfect microphone. Also,the incredibly meticulous and time-consuming research about podcasting which in retrospect probably heightened the anxiety and procrastination of starting a show. “It’s got to be perfect!” Then eventually coming full circle to the epiphany that any endeavor worth doing should be fun. And so we begin.

Arnold’s Back in Terminator Genisys

July 4, 2015 by Vincent Daly

Every time you think Skynet has finally met its demise, another Terminator movie arises. What’s significant about Terminator Genisys is the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the iconic role that placed him on the map as a movie action star. Coupled with a story that essentially attempts to reboot the franchise, Terminator Genisys tests the waters to gauge the audience’s interest in humans versus the machines.

Disney-Pixar Inside Out leaves Parents an Emotional Mess

June 28, 2015June 27, 2015 by Vincent Daly

I’ve been watching Disney-Pixar movies since the release of Toy Story in 1996. It would be a decade later that my own parenting journey would begin. The depth of emotion invested in each subsequent movie such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 became more apparent as my life as a Dad evolved. As many parents would attest, Moms and Dads find themselves growing up along with their children. Disney-Pixar’s latest movie, Inside Out, explores the powerful emotions of change experienced by an 11 year old girl as well as the profound effect on the lives of her family.