Yes, It’s kinda a minifig. I was looking around my studio for inspiration and I saw my LEGO Club magazine. I know I’ve already done one MINIon based on The LEGO Movie but thought Emmett would be AWESOME.
Category: Lego
LEGO- an Example of Geek Culture
A little over two years ago As I took on the role of “Magnet Integration Specialist” I decided that since the school had spent a bazillion dollars on LEGO bricks, I should learn more about how they could work in the classroom. So one weekend I headed to Fort Wayne, Indiana to go to “Brickworld Fort Wayne” There I ran into a friend who invited me to the next LUG (LEGO Users Group) Meeting. After doing My Geek Odyssey for a few years I had learned that I had only scratched the surface of geek culture. One of the major things I had learned is that everyone is a geek about something… be it football, basketball, curling (GOOOOO Sportsteam!), dogs, model airplanes, books, cooking… you name it and there are people who are really passionate about something that other people don’t care a hoot about. SO two years ago I started to see what the AFOL (Adult Fan Of LEGO) world was all about.
This whole post comes about because while attending Brickworld Chicago (a LEGO Convention) I kept getting questions from friends about LEGO and specifically Lego Conventions. I was going to post this after that (life got in the way) so after attending my third Brickworld Fort Wayne (link to my Flickr Set) over the weekend I decided it was long overdue. I know I’ve covered some of that in other posts, but thought I would consolidate everything here.
What is it all about? Lego is just a toy isn’t it?
From “The LEGO Movie”
The Man Upstairs: You know the rules, this isn’t a toy!
Finn: Um… it kind of is.
The Man Upstairs: No, actually it’s a highly sophisticated inter-locking brick system.
Finn: But we bought it at the toy store.
The Man Upstairs: We did, but the way I’m using it makes it an adult thing.
Finn: The box for this one said “Ages 8 to 14”!
The Man Upstairs: That’s a suggestion. They have to put that on there.
Yes, “The Man Upstairs” is an AFOL… which actually upsets some AFOLs since they “aren’t like that at all” – and comic books are “graphic novels.”
My experience with Lego Conventions (i.e. Brickworld) is this is a place for Fans of Lego to show off and be honored. This is where they can sit back and have crowds of people look at them in awe. While LEGO is a “toy” there is so much more that can be done with it and going to a LEGO Convention is a way to see just the tip of the iceberg of what can be done with a simple plastic brick and some imagination.
At a comic book conventions you have the Exhibit Hall that really isn’t an Exhibit Hall since the majority of the floor space is taken up by people selling things. They call it an Exhibit Hall, but in the old days they called it the Vendor Hall and it still is that. At a Lego Convention it is mostly an Exhibit Hall, a place to see what others have done. Table upon table of things real people have built using the same materials, little plastic bricks. There are vendors, selling a variety of LEGO related items, from old sets to custom pieces, but they tend to be on the periphery, the reason to go is to be inspired by what these artists & engineers have created. So adults and kids wander around screaming with joy over a discovery or just in utter amazement over what is in front of them.
MOCs
MOC stands for My Own Creation and this is what happens when someone builds something that they want from whatever reference they have and it isn’t a LEGO kit. It might have started out that way, but now it is something no one else has ever seen before. Yes, it might have some elements from a store kit, but the colors might be different, or there’s a tweak here or there. I keep looking at the Arkham Asylum set and shutter at how it is a toy (a toy for kids who want to play in an Insane Asylum) but it isn’t enclosed its a playset. The Haunted House is a play set also but was designed to be a show piece also since it closes up like a freaky dollhouse. So what did a Batman fanboy and AFOL do? they built Arkham Asylum they is should have been done and it is a thing of beauty.
MOCS are inspired by the other things that AFOLs are passionate about maybe it’s a book, or movie… could be a genre like steampunk. My only MOC to date has been a portion of the Death Star trench from Star Wars. LEGO had created X-Wing and TIE fighters at a certain scale so I decided to build a scale model of the trench and include something LEGO hadn’t done Y-Wing Fighter/Bombers. Yes, LEGO had at one time created a kit, but as a old school Star Wars fan they didn’t look right, mine may not be perfect but were a lot closer to what was in the film.
Massive Displays & Collaborative Projects
Tables with massive cityscapes, interplanetary mining operations, feudal keeps, pirate ships and treasure filled islands fill the hall, some done by single people, but a number of them are collaborations put together the day before the show opens. People bring what they have and set them all together. With the popularity of “The LEGO Movie” Bricksburg has become a staple. And besides marveling at the detail people also search for Minifigs since they help tell the story. Most AFOLs will put in little jokes “easter eggs” for the worthy person. In many cases it’s a way to keep kids
mesmerized as they search for the familiar figure.
The Great Ball Contraption
Something I marvel at, but just haven’t had the energy, motivation, or bravery to try is the Great Ball Contraption or GBC. This collaborative build has nothing to do with a theme like “pirates” or “super-heroes” this is heavy duty engineering- the purpose is to move a ball around the table. There are guidelines since everyone who participates has only one segment of the machine so everything must line up. Tab A needs to line up with Slot A or all is lost (or at least a whole lot of LEGO balls are going to be lost. As I said, I haven’t even attempted at building a component for this, so all I can say is they are just awesome (as is everything).
Other things happening at the Con
While every Con is different there are usually other things to do besides wandering around looking at LEGO creations. A lot of this is on the Techic side of things- the more engineering and mechanical view, to help kids and parents see that while these are a “toy” you can learn a lot from LEGO. Like remote control LEGO cars that they can drive over a LEGO terrain. Sumo Bots (again remote control) – were you attempt to flip your opponent. The don’t look like Sumo wrestlers the are more like wedges with wheels. Mindstorms robots playing games like Connect Four, or solving a Rubik’s Cube. One of my favorites is RoboRally and Monster Chess that end up at GenCon. Programmable Robots that play chess or RoboRally. Besides this families can build mosaics using LEGO bricks or just build with a table covered with “elements.”
Brickworld Chicago
What I’ve tried to describe to you is just a part of the Brickworlds I have attended, they are basically for the public to see what people can do with LEGO elements. Brickworld Chicago takes it to the next level. It isn’t just for the public, but actually has two days of workshops and presentations before the public arrives. Where LEGO Fans get together, talk and learn from other LEGO Fans. There are a bunch of different competitions for people to enter. The old pinewood derby race, a regatta in the hotel pool, auction and raffles. Think of a typical convention for a professional organization and that’s the “Non-Public” Days for Brickworld.
I haven’t attended any of the other conventions across the country (Brickworld is expanding to Tampa this year) because of other commitments, so I’m no expert, but I’m pretty happy with the experience I have had and really would suggest it to be added to anyone who is creative’s bucket list. Even if you don’t care for LEGO, or haven’t built anything since you were a kid, like going to a Comic-Con or a MINI Cooper rally, it’s just wonderful to see people happy and passionate about something. Oh and I apologize to any diehard AFOLs who feel that I used “LEGO” incorrectly in this entry… It’s not the end of the world (like when the person auctioning off LEGO variant covers of Marvel Comics had no clue what they were- now that was a tragedy).
Reflections on my part in Brickworld Indy
Last weekend I had the opportunity to have a table at Brickworld Indy. Brickworld is a series of Lego Conventions throughout the midwest and having a table basically means I had a display. I did the same thing last year sharing the space with a friend. This year I figured I’d build bigger and better and need the entire table… I was wrong.
To start off let me explain how Brickworld works- Think of it as a juried art exhibition. Displayers are asked to contribute their work for the public to see, vendors pay for booth space, and activities are put together for the attendees. Activities include large piles of “playbrick” to build with, cooperative mosaic builds, stuff like that. Some displayers may have remote control cars for kids to operate, or robots, mostly this show is about seeing the potential in a little plastic brick. Displayers do not pay for their space (as far as I’m aware), they instead get a small percentage of the profits from the show after plugging things into a long complex formula dealing with how engaging their display is.
One of the great things is that most displays are team efforts. So IndyLUG or MichLUG get together and build a massive layout. The night before Brickworld opens they gather and put it all together. Yes, it’s mostly built, but there will always be some last minute tweaking. IndyLUG for example has a massive M-Tron layout (M-tron is a Space set from the 1990s- basically lots of red & black) along with other cooperative builds (Castle, the Lego Movie, the Great Ball Contraption, etc.).
I started with the idea of the improving the Death Star trench display I had last year having it go the length of a 96″ table. For about a week, I worked out how it would look and started with a great idea of incorporating the “Palace Cinema” into the design. Then I was asked if the Cinema could be part of “The Lego Movie” display. So it was time to redesign. Which really wasn’t that bad, I didn’t like how it was turning out.
As Friday rolls around, I’m bouncing between schools and decide on a new idea on how I want it to look. So when I get home I start tearing apart what I had, and rebuilding. Remember the show is Saturday. I bring what I have done to the Fairgrounds that evening and lay it out. Then I start to add detail- towers, guns, and ships. After a while I head home leaving things to sort out in the morning.
Saturday morning as the local news crew is going around I’m back building more and getting ready. The biggest problem- the trench. You see, it’s going the wrong way. Last year I had it cut the width of the table so everyone could see the details in the trench. By making it longer- kids were unable to see it. since it was only viewable on two sides it basically looked like a bunch of grey base plates on a table. At the last minute I took all the Minifigs I had from school put them on two base plates so the space was filled and walked away figuring I would tweak it throughout both days.
Over 19,000 people came to Brickworld Indy this year (thank you Lego Movie), and I watched as kids ran over to see what I had built… and then stare at the MiniFigs. “Look! There’s Emmet! and Lord Business!” Some people were impressed by the actual build, some AFOL (Adult Fans Of Lego) liked it but but commented on the lack of greebling (that’s the term for using small pieces to add random and excessive detail to spaceships). Star Wars fans commented on the fact the trench was too narrow.
So what did I learn from this? If I do it again I’ll work smaller, and add more detail. I have an idea on improving the build. I really do like the way the Lego Movie has a design element to it that makes thing fanciful and yet detailed. I joke that I need more bricks, but even with the tubs I currently have, I used the grey 2×4 bricks I had purchased for school to complete my build. Then again, if I just buy about a thousand more MiniFigs I could just cover a table and be done with it.
If you’d like to see some of the photos check out my Flickr photostream.
Another one bites the dust…
So as Fall Break comes to a close I thought I’d at least share a bit about the adventures I had this past week. For those who don’t know about Fall Break in the midwest (or at least in Indiana) there has been a short break in October for as long as I have been teaching. It started off as a time for teachers to attend workshops and conferences, but slowly (because teachers have families- and therefore need to find daycare for their kiddos) it ended up being a four day weekend, until recently. Over the past few years many people woke up to the understanding that they no longer work on a farm the idea of “balancing” the school calendar had come into vogue. Ideally the calendar would be something like 9 weeks of teaching, then a break. I did my undergraduate thesis and graduate thesis on the advantages of a “year round” calendar and it finally might become reality. Sadly opponents claim this would destroy the time honored tradition of complaining that teachers get “summers off” it could also ruin the even more sacred high school athletics schedule. So many school districts have come up with a compromise, quietly extend some of the already community approved breaks and shorten Summer “vacation” a bit. This is why many people look at me like I have three heads when I talk about going back to school in early August. So this year my school district extended Fall Break to one week (many school districts have extended it to two weeks). We also have a week at Thanksgiving since attendance during that week is awful as so many people pull their kids out to travel over the river and through the woods.
What did I do this week? If you noticed an actual comic strip was published on both Tuesday and Thursday, a tradition I hope to continue. I also tried to relax… no really. I went to a game night on Friday, attended the Kokomo-Con on Saturday, and spent a lot of the week reminding myself why I hate doing artwork for other people, even friends.
Geek-wise I played Boss Monster, Ticket to Ride and Pandemic and had a great time with each. For those who have never played any of these a quick overview of each:
Boss Monster – A chance to play the evil villain in one of those old scrolling video adventure games. You construct a dungeon, room by room, and at the end of each turn you lure heroes to their doom (you hope). It was a Kickstarter project and the gameplay is pretty easy to understand. I have a few questions on the actual sequence of some things, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out if I play it more. – I lost, this time around
Ticket to Ride – Where have you been living? a cave?!? Sorry, Ticket to Ride is a train game in which you attempt to complete routes across the country (there are many versions of this game dealing with many continents the base game is mostly the U.S> with a few side trip into Canada.) It has been around for a few years and is a lot of fun to play, especially with more than two people, when it can get challenging, and a little cut throat. I won! trouncing my opponents with a route from Miami to Los Angeles and Houston to Winnipeg worth lots of points!
Pandemic – I don’t feel so good… Pandemic is one of those games in which it is the players vs. the game. A “cooperative” game. Which is a really cool idea. In this case you are trying to stop the human race from dying off from four different diseases. Each player has a role and therefore special abilities. The problem with many cooperative games is all it takes is one simple mistake, or a bad draw and it’s over…and yes, it was over, we lost. For kids Forbidden Island has a similar game mechanic and is a little easier to grasp. in that case an island is sinking and you are trying to rescue four artifacts and escape before it plunges into the depths forever.
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I’ve been to many a comic-con- I started with Creation Conventions, then WizardWorlds, C2E2, New York Comic Con, and San Diego… and now I can say I’ve been to Kokomo-Con. Kokomo-Con does not compare with any of the other conventions I have been to, but that’s not a bad thing. It has a homey feel about that only a small convention can have. It was small, and it reminded me almost of pop culture flea market, but again not in a bad way. It was a lot of fun and I decided to go for a few reasons. First my friend Jim McClain who does Solution Squad a great comic to engage older kids in Math was going to be there and I had run out of books (silly kids & teachers “borrowing” them) and he had a new poster dealing with the four steps of problem solving which I wanted to get for the schools I work in. Then another friend of mine (from Geocaching and Lego) had posted he was going to attend, so we hung out for a bit looking at all the different things at the show. From rare collectible toys, to a fiberglass replica of the Bat-mobile. Booths stocked with comics & toys and folk art made from comics and toys. I did discover some cool things so it wasn’t at all a waste of my time. Then again, as a teacher, a lot of what I found was stuff that would be great for school. One thing I did pick up was a copy of Boss Monster, I know I’ll have a chance to play it again.
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I started off the week with a long list of stuff, and after the first day decided to dump it all and do some drawing. So I spent most of the week doodling and inking (hence two comic strips getting posted). This reminded me how much I love to draw and just play with images. It reminded me why I can never do artwork for someone. You see MINI Takes The States is coming up next summer and I was playing around with the idea of creating “badges” for some of my friends who would be going. Making them official “Cecil MINIons” I did some artwork for MINI on the Mack and thought it would be fun to extend it. Unfortunately I forgot how difficult it can be to draw for someone, and not just for myself. I asked my friends to give their “MINIon Number” and I would create a badge for that. Now some of these folks I have known for years, and other are fairly new so what they got may be determined by how much time I had spent with them, or the geekiness of their MINIon number. So the person who asked for #42 was pretty easy, a monkey with a towel holding a yellow fish, others, not so much. Stupid me started with the ones I wanted to do, the fun ones. Then like any proud parent I posted them for the group to see… then the floodgates opened with requests- which drained the fun right out of the project. Then my friends started asking for tweaks to the drawing I had done, “Could you add this?” “Could you change that?” “I really want this instead.” Then they started to make requests for their friends… I have stopped working on this project for the time being. I will return to it, but not right now. I do appreciate the person who specifically asked how much I was charging for these badges, and seemed a little shocked when I said “nothing, I’m doing this for fun- it keeps me out of a straight jacket.” I know that many of my friends would help me in a heartbeat if I needed it, so it’s not like the favor will not be returned, but for now, I’m taking a break.
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Besides that I worked a little on a Lego Project- taking the “Just like Beggar’s Canyon Back Home” to the next level, and seeing how I can add some kind of motion to it. I’m about 1400 bricks into my first draft so we shall see how it turns out. Fortunately I have until March to get it done.
All in all not a bad break, kept away from schoolwork unless it connected with something I was already doing, now I just have to figure out how I’m going to get up tomorrow in time to make it to school…
Brickworld & Superman Day at Hall of Heroes! Geek Nirvana in Only 3 Days!
After some deliberation as to when we would head north and for how long- Sue Cecil, and I headed up Thursday to Brickworld Chicago. If you had told me at this time last year that I would be going to a Lego show I probably would have laughed. In the Fall of last year when I had just started my new job, I decided to to attend Brickworld Fort Wayne to learn more since both schools had spent a bazillion dollars on Lego. I then joined the IndyLUG specifically to learn more and see about creating a partnership between the schools and the AFOL (Adult Fans Of Lego) Community. On the way back I picked up my first kit (a Sopwith Camel) to see if I still could build after not touching Lego bricks since I was 12. It’s funny how jobs change your outlook on things. So after a year as a Magnet Integration Specialist I’m off to Chicago and my 4th Lego event. I decided to take this one easy and not display (I’m glad, my builds are still amateurish in comparison), just see what it’s about and decide how involved I want to get next year.
Unlike other Lego events I have attended this one had actual workshops and presentations not just displays. While I like looking at the creativity involved in a MOC (My Own Creation) I was really happy to learn some stuff while I was in attendance. Without even time to check my goodie bag and get my badge on I headed to my first workshop on Microbuilding. Microbuilding is where you build things in a smaller scale, a 1×2 plate is about the size of a car in this scale, and that tends to be one of many constants. Being late I missed a bit of the lecture portion and had to dive right in making a used car lot. As I look at how I want to proceed in my Lego Journey This is a type of build that really fascinates me. It requires a lot of creativity and unique uses for brick. By the time the workshop was over I had a couple ideas, a lighting system for my build and over two gallon bags of miscellaneous brick to build with. Not a bad start. More information about microbuilds can be found at the TwinLUG Website. My thoughts right now are to play around in this scale and see what I can create that might be worthy of display next year.
So after a quick bite to eat I headed to my next workshop presented by a Legoland designer. This was fascinating, but in the immortal words of Barbie, “Math class is hard!” I knew I was in trouble, not about the math, but when he said “Lego Digital Designer is a great program, but it is really difficult to use if you don’t have a mouse.” Using the school laptop without a mouse, I decided after a few valiant efforts that I would head downstairs and check out the exhibit hall.
Brickworld Chicago gives builders time to get their creations built, unlike some other shows where it seems like there is a bit of rush with only a day to put things together, here you have two. So my first trip to the exhibit hall I saw a number of empty tables, some of which remained so up until Friday night. As I looked around one thing I really liked was the variety of displays. Since I had only attended local shows previously you tend to see the same displays from the same people. It’s kind of like going to MINI car club meeting, you see the same cars and you can only say “nice car” so many times. My Flickr Page has some shots of various displays, but I know I missed a lot and some still weren’t finished when I did my final walk through Friday night. Of the displays that stuck in my mind I’d start with “The Wizard of Oz” this was massive and plotted out the entire film scene by scene. It was awesome and one of many displays that took inspiration from literature and film, There were reproductions of comic book characters and pages, scenes from Charlie and Factory, video game builds, even Herschel’s Farmhouse from the Walking Dead. TV themed builds are works of love from people who really are into a specific show. If you look at Lego online you are bound to discover the Firefly/Serenity build. When I went to Fort Wayne I dreamed of seeing this one. It is massive and completely accurate down to the Minifigs. It wasn’t at Fort Wayne, it wasn’t in Greenfield, it wasn’t at Brickworld Indy, it was in Chicago! Yes, it was impressive. Take a look at my Flickr to see some of the interesting things there (not everything)
As you wander you notice that displays tend to fall into a couple different groups- Science Fiction, Fantasy, Medieval, etc, and Trains. A great number of builds have some sort of train on them no matter what genre they are. It might be futuristic mine cars on an alien planet, it might be a steampunk train going around a fantasy city… trains seem to be a big part of Lego culture.
So Friday rolls around and I head back to attend some sessions, I had a number highlighted and ended getting to two. The first one was KidsWorld which may seem strange, but there is some logic to it. As an educator, I always like to see how other people present ideas to kids and what these experts think are the important facts that all kids should know. The room was mostly younger kids averaging somewhere around 1st or 2nd grade. THe Talk focused on building techniques specifically the three things you need for a superior build- Sturdy construction, Detail, and you have to like it. The talk focused a lot on SNOT (Studs Not On Top). I doubt I would normally hear a presenter showing a slide and asking “Where do you see the SNOT on this?” The 9 year old in me wanted to giggle. The session ended with us all heading to the Exhibit Hall and looking at various builds and seeing how they used the techniques outlined. I know I learned a lot, and now I just need to see about putting it into practice.
I then decided to look at Steampunk in Lego which was fascinating. The presentation went on to highlight many Steampunk artists that work in Lego and what they have built along with the history of Steampunk inside and outside Lego. With Lego Master Builder Academy Level 4 being Steampunk… it is definitely looking up for Lego & Stempunk although it looks like I’m going to need a lot more nets and ice cream scoops!
The last session I attended was a Q&A from Lego about their support of the Lego Community. It was interesting as a newbie to see how Lego goes about rewarding the various clubs around the country and just how many clubs there are!
The day concluded with something special, the unveiling of a new kit. This happened during the Charity Auction which I attempted to participate in kind of like the one at C2E2 the prices went sky high quickly, good for the charities, but for a newcomer, I was overwhelmed. So the kits were brought out one at a time for the film crews and the audience. The first one was massive… the Sydney Opera House. The funny thing was so many people were awed, not by the build, but by the 48×48 blue baseplate it sat on. After everyone stopped there the CUUSOO set was unveiled. For those unaware of Lego CUUSOO is another way in which lego reaches out to their fan base. Enthusiasts build a creation, post pictures and try to get votes, any that get 10,000 votes are then considered to be made into a kit. There are licensing issues, and other things that may stop a kit, but it is a really cool process. So in January they should have ready to be in stores the Mars Curiosity Rover! I’m sure my vote helped.
And for me that was Brickworld Chicago. Did I miss out on things? Yes, the Pinewood Derby races, the rubberband powered dragster races, the boat races in the hotel pool, and many other activities… I also missed the public days of the show, so I could visit another thing on my Geek Bucket List, The Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum in Elkhart, IN.
Yes, I’m a geek, I collect Comics and have been doing so since I was a kid. I tend to stay away from many of the other Comic Book related stuff out there, unless it really jumps. I’m still kicking myself for not getting a Rocketeer Helmet when they first came out… Some people aren’t like that. One has taken his collecting to a new level by building a museum. Now years ago there was a museum in Indianapolis that focused on Comics, it had some really interesting pieces, and went bankrupt within months of opening. This one, is a little different. Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum is in a building that looks like the Hall of Justice from Superfriends. It is an amazing place for the comic book geek. Sue, Cecil, and I headed to Elkhart on the way home from Chicago for their Superman Day (Superman’s 75th Anniversary and the release of the new movie) Avoiding a bit of the rain we came in to a crowded place with kids and people dressed up. The prize of the collection is Adam West’s Batman costume, donated by Adam West. Outside of that the walls of both floors are filled with comic books, and comic book related memorabilia. Fortunately, they are divided by hero, so the Flash section was easy to find. I was very impressed and recommend if you happen to be a comic book geek to take the detour and head to the Hall of Heroes. Check out the Flickr Set of the visit While there is did pick up a Superman Robot Sculpture by Jimm Showman… I’d really like to get a few of his robots for around school.
Guilty Geeky Pleasures
While I’ve posted this before (I’m sure it’s around here somewhere) I thought it might be nice to update the list of some of the geeky things you might want to explore and my plans for some of my geeky passions for 2013.
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Podcasts-
Yes, these have been around for what seems like forever, but I’m always amazed at the number of people who still have no idea about what they are. A podcast is a simple interweb audio show it comes out on a regular basis and they cover a large number of topics. When I first heard about podcasting in 2005 I starting looking around and amazingly enough while I add a few here and there a few I’ve stuck with since the beginning- my top (not in any order) are:
Decoder Ring Theatre – Pure escapism from Toronto. The shows alternate (for the most part) between the Red Panda (Canada’s Greatest Super Hero) and Black Jack Justice (with Trixie Dixon, Girl Detective). Both are set in the 1930’s and 40’s and are in the style of the old-time radio serials. The Red Panda will actually get a comic book treatment in Comixology at the end of the month- an announced Feb 27 release date from Monkey Brain Comics. Many times this podcast is what makes me happy during the week.
Podcacher – Family friendly podcast all about Geocaching. When I attended a computer education conference in sunny San Diego I decided to stop in on a session that really changed my life. It was all about this thing called geocaching (gee-oh-cash-ing). Sonny and Sandy are now friends and if you are interested in learning about caching I highly recommend it. It is well produced, and filled with lots of great information.
White Roof Radio – The MINI Cooper podcast. I bought my first MINI in 2005 and started listening to the podcast around that time. The format is a roundtable discussion hosted by DB & Todd with regular appearances by Chad, Gabe, and Nathaniel. The topic is MINI Coopers. While sometimes it gets technical especially when dealing with wheels and tires its a great way to get to know what is happening in the MINI Community. I will admit there have been times when I have skipped a bit especially when they are discussing in depth events I can’t attend. I almost wish they would exercise the Zaxxon rule* but over the years, Todd & DB have become close friends (again one of those great things about podcasts is they are put together by real people) and I enjoy listening to the discussion each week.
Pop Culture Happy Hour – I’m trying to figure out how I stubbled upon this podcast, but it quickly became a favorite. PCHH is put together at NPR and is a weekly roundtable discussion about pop culture. Linda, Trey, Stephen, and Glen have opened my eyes to many parts of pop culture and have added some pieces to my vocabulary including “What’s making me happy this week” and the Zaxxon Rule*
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It’s a crowdfunding site in which you donate money to “kickstart” someone’s project. There are hundreds of options and the rule is the creator of the project set’s a goal. If the goal is met by a certain date- you get charged, if it isn’t you are out nothing. The cool thing for most projects the backers get a reward in return for their support. in some cases it’s something as simple as “gee, thanks!” in other cases it might be some really cool items. Every project is different. I recommend just checking out some of the Kickstarter geekiness there seems to something for almost every kind of geek.
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Comics-
I have always loved comics. For as long as I remember I have read comics. The problem right now as a long time reader of comics is that the major comics publishers seem to be trying to attract a new audience or bring back lapsed readers. So for me, I get confused as to what to read since the creative teams or story lines are getting all mixed up. I liked Captain America, but now he’s battling evil in another dimension. Don’t even get me started with what DC has done to the Teen Titans…
So while I still try to keep up with my old titles (though I keep bouncing between reading Batman & Superman) there are a few titles that I have stuck with- please note not all of these are “all ages.”
Fables- Bill Willingham’s story of what if the characters form fairy tales were real and had been exiled to our world? Not for kids, but frankly much better than some of the TV shows presently on with the premise (although I am a fan of Grimm)
Mouse Guard- David Petersen’s wonder tales of “mice with swords” but it is so much more than that. the artwork is wonderful and the tales compelling. I’m now being very patient waiting for the next issue about the “Black Axe”
The Walking Dead- Yes, it was a comic before it was a TV show. Robert Kirkman’s story of survival after the zombie apocalypse. while in black & white still not for kids.
Invincible- I’ve been reading this since issue #1 and issue #100 just arrived this week. to overly simplify it- it’s the story of Superman’s son, except… I don’t want to give anything away. Like Harry Potter where the first books were for younger kids, the same rule applies, not really for kids, especially as the story has become more violent and dark.
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man- Again another one of those I’ve been reading since the beginning. This started off as a retelling of the Spider-Man story for a new audience. The villains may have the same name, but slightly different powers and origins, making it really cool. Until they decided to kill Spider-Man. THings then became interesting as we discover another spider in the lab escapes and bites another kid and what happens after that. The first part of the story parallels the final issues of Peter Parker as Spider-Man which makes it even better.
While I have issues (and have mentioned them before) about crossover events and how they tend to make me stop reading a title. Once or twice, I can understand, but most of these things cover multiple issues and frankly they don’t need to- the red sky issues in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Hence my hesitance to read Batman or Superman.
What’s on my pull list? (a pull list is what a comic shop has for regular customers, I’ve had a pull list at Comic Carnival for close to 20 years now- to the point where Dan knows when I’ve missed something and will add it back) So here’s what usually is on mine: Earth 2, Fairest, Justice League, Justice League of America, Fables, Flash, Teen Titans, Unwritten, Ultimate Comics: X-Men, Spider-Man and, Ultimates, Captain America… then there are various titles that I bounce around with.
As for comic conventions I’m planning right now on attending C2E2 in Chicago, but will be skipping SDCC this year.
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Games-
I’m still enjoying Fantasy Flight’s Star Wars X-Wing Miniature game. Cecil still thinks I should play an Imperial squadron… I like the game play, and while I have a few games on my shelf (right now Settlers of Catan, Munchkin, Quarriors, and Monty Python Fluxx) finding the time and the opponents seem to be the biggest issue. I am planning on attending GenCon this year (it’s local) and hopefully will branch out and actually play some games instead of just spending money in the Hall.
As for video games- I completed and throughly enjoyed “the Room” on the iPad. and when I think about it the Walking Dead and Bad Piggies are quick diversions.
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Lego-
Yes, this is new and while coming back to Lego after 30+ years it’s like finding an old friend. While I still don’t understand the cost or the various sets or story lines. I am enjoying myself. The thing I like the most is it tends to be relaxing. I can build a kit and really can relax while doing it. Although as with many of my interests I do go a little overboard. I have promised to put together a display for Brickworld Indy and it has required me to actually attempt to create MOCs (My Own Creation) that I’m not quite sure of how well I’m doing. This is also causing me to buy more bricks than I ever thought. It all started with a visit to Brickworld Fort Wayne and thinking about using Lego Brick more at school and now, I’ve working on two different displays of Lego projects at both schools and one of my own.
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Geocaching-
I still am caching and once the weather settles down have planned to put out a couple new series of caches. While I’m slowing down (weather related and other things) IndianaGeocaching.com is going well and keeping me busy.
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MINI-
My initial plan at the end of 2011 was to keep my 2005 Cooper S until the rumored new John Cooper Works GP out, trade it in and have a new GP. In June that all changed and we went with plan “B” which has been wonderful (although all the hype about the GP is tiring). I cannot say how much fun it was taking Alfie (the Roadster) cross country. I really do love this new car, almost as much as my first MINI. Once Spring starts I have a few things on my list. First is new tire for Alfie, then I’m planning on spending the summer working on a much neglected Tink. With everything that has been going on Tink is in need of a lot of TLC and that is the next thing. Besides new tires, she needs a new battery and just another once over in the shop. I really feel bad how much I’ve neglected the classic and I hope that this summer I’ll have the time to get out there and get her back into running order to keep some miles off of Alfie.
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Finally, I’ve made the decision in order to keep my sanity- My Geek Odyssey the comic will be posted once a week, this is at least a schedule I can keep up with.
SO I’ve thrown down my list of geeky suggestions and plans any thoughts? Did I forget something? Do have something you think I should try out? Tim at Comic Carnival did suggest this week that I read the Batman & Robin Annual #1 which was a wonderful story, so thanks for the suggestion.
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*The Zaxxon Rule: from Pop Culture Happy Hour. Limiting discussion (or in some cases eliminating discussion) on something that not everyone has the opportunity to experience. This came about in the “What’s making me happy” segment specifically when Stephen Thompson for weeks would talk about a classic Zaxxon arcade game he was purchasing from Craig’s List. I feel that many podcasts could benefit from adding this rule- one of the nice things about podcasts is you can add “Very Special” episodes focused on “Zaxxon” topics for those who care.
Doctor Who & Lego? My TARDIS Interior Build- a review
For true Lego diehards- the Doctor Who sets from “Character Building” (an arm of COBI, a Polish toy company) and therefore do not use real Lego bricks. I knew that going in, but they are Doctor Who which is really what this should be all about. When visiting the warehouse for WHONA in Indianapolis, I decided to pick myself up a present (a birthday present, my precious) SO after looking at a number of “Lego” Doctor Who kits, I went for the TARDIS Interior which came with mini figs of the 11th Doctor, Amy Pond, Rory Williams, & River Song. Previously, I had purchased online a TARDIS set with the 11th Doctor & Amy, and the complete set of all the Doctors. The TARDIS was a simple build and very small so it really didn’t give me a feel for what building with CB bricks was like. This mega-set did, and I now understand the double entendre in the name (building with these bricks was, at times, “character building”).
The set itself is the interior of the 11th Doctor’s TARDIS which has a slightly steampunky feel to it. Unlike the TARDIS from Christopher Eccleston & David Tennant which was more of a natural construction, the pillars looking like they might be coral. This TARDIS is “shiny.” All in all it is a nice set when it is finished… but the building process and instructions that’s another story.
The Build
CB instructions are interesting in that they remove the color from any previous steps this is a help, but also a hinderance in construction. It helps because you know exactly which pieces are going where. When building the Sopwith Camel it sometimes became a game of “Where’s Waldo” to figure out where a piece went. By having the bricks you use for a step the only bricks in color, it makes it simple. The problem is when you need to check your construction as you move along in the process. In Lego you just look over the illustration and you can see all the pieces and how they fit. In CB I found the need to go back to the page in which I constructed certain parts to make sure it was correct. This back & forth did become a bit annoying. As the build continued I noticed a few things about the instructions, they seem to have missed a few key things that would have helped with the rigidity of the structure. In Lego you start building things and you overlap bricks creating a rigid structure, these directions ended up with larger pieces that were barely holding together. Adding one more connection would add stability. There is still a portion of the TARDIS wall that if I try to reattach it the entire wall breaks! I think the plan could have used someone who had been through the Lego Master Building Academy.
The actual bricks, seemed to feel different, I’m guessing they are lighter and therefore they felt flimsy… from what I could tell they weren’t, but I had the impression that they just seemed a little subpar. CB also created a number of specialty bricks for this build to create the angles needed for the interior. Unfortunately I discovered that unlike Lego bricks these bricks didn’t connect as well and while I am used to putting two bricks together in Lego and knowing that it will take some effort to separate them, in some places these disconnected effortlessly, overall this lead to a less than satisfactory building experience. Again back to one specific portion which I had to rebuild numerous times because every time I tried to attach it,the wall crumbled once the slightest pressure was put on it.
While there is always a bit of overage in any kit I was a little distraught when I got to one instruction and couldn’t find the pieces I needed! This was not my typical “teeny tiny” piece hiding in a pile. I was looking for two large grey planks. They just never made it in the box. What did make it were the exact same sized clear planks that fortunately were extra pieces. These were a middle portion of a layer being used as the floor so they were hidden from sight, but that still made me concerned, and I wasted time going over and over the instructions to see if I had read something wrong.
Final Thoughts
I am happy with the final result, just a little leery about moving it anywhere. Will I buy any more sets? Probably not, right now I’m torn between two different Lego sets, but feel I should probably finish the Lego Master Builder Academy before moving on to any other builds. I did end up picking up some Doctor Who mini figs from series 1 & 2. The CB mini figs are not the generic Lego design which is neat, but also makes it impossible to put them in a Lego build without having them stick out like a sore thumb, Then again having an army of Daleks and Cybermen is cool.
Lego Master Builder Academy Kit 1 – “I Built This”
Interestingly enough I decided to try out the “Master Builder Academy” program from Lego. This because I started sliding down the slippery slope of building with Lego after an over 30 year absence. I made this decision because I work at a school and bought something that I figure will end up in my classroom, with my students. The first kit deals with building spacecraft. It goes into many techniques on building and includes sections highlighting designers. So the actual manuals are a valuable resource. I use the same excuse about watching cartoons. You build three projects and then end up getting pushed (as an adult) back into the creativity of youth when you are asked to use what you have learned and build your own design. As a kid, this would have been easy- slap a few pieces together and there it is… as an adult all those little nagging doubts surface and I realized how much my own spontaneous creativity has been squashed. I say this as I guy who draws… but pushing outside that safety zone in Lego. So while I have thrown this out to the MBA Lego community, I will also throw it out to you- My Own Creation- I consider it a draft or in engineering terms I believe it would be a “prototype.” I called it a MINI Warp Shuttle, although I’m starting to like the word “sled” instead of shuttle.
