Beijing 2008 In Lego

jedie noted an impressive rendering of the Beijing Olympics in Lego. Featuring 300,000 bricks, and 4,500 Lego people, it was built by the Hong Kong Lego User Group. Yes that exists. Amazing. I'm pretty sure that the lighting inside the water cube was not made using stock legos. At least, none in my giant cardboard box.

Comments

Countdown

[Anonymous Coward]

10 seconds until the IOC pulls this for copyright infringement. If you doubt this, then look up how they attacked free-Tibet protesters over using their symbol (in handcuffs).

Re:Countdown

[jandrese]

Yeah, I'm sure that one had nothing to do with being politically charged...

Re:Countdown

[FilterMapReduce]

And the Mindstorms version only works with Silverlight, probably.

Re:Countdown

[JustOK]

check techdirt for what else the IOC is covering up.

Re:Countdown

[RDW]

No, the IOC is going to keep quiet about this one. Given the recent revelations about CGI fireworks, fake sports fans, dubious pianos, and the substituted singer, they're desperately hoping we won't find out that this is the ACTUAL stadium...

Re:Countdown

[Anonymous Coward]

It's pretty simple, because these are probably computer generated too.

Re:Countdown

[Stooshie]

The opening ceremony was a show. Shows, by definition, are fake. They aren't real.

Here's an example. We put on South Pacific recently. There is a scene where all the ceebees watch a plane leaving.

We put two lights on either end of a piece of wood, hung it from a wire(sloping right to left) and one of the stage crew pulled a piece of cotton attached to the wood.

In rehearsals it looked appalling. However in the show the stage lights were out (it was supposed to be night anyway) and we added the sound effect of a plane taking off.

People were blown away by the effect. They thought we had used a video of a plane taking off at night.

Re:Countdown

[Anonymous Coward]

You have to laugh. They decide the girl is ugly and has bad teeth and substitute her ... with another chink.

Where's the lego minitiature

[Daimanta]

of Tibetan monks being hauled away to prison?

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[smitingpurpleemu]

What you said was completely irrelevant to the topic at hand, but if by "monk" you meant "terrorist who burned up shops and killed people", you'd be right.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[AndGodSed]

You missed it.

It's right next to the Lego miniatures of politicians looking the other way.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[oldspewey]

Ummm ... I'm pretty sure it wasn't monks who were burning shops and killing people ... and there is even some debate as to whether it was everyday Tibetan householders targeting the Han Chinese, or whether it was the work of agents provocateurs sent in to create justification for the ensuing crackdown.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[smitingpurpleemu]

That is the silliest bullshit I have ever heard. Why the hell would we create a mess just before the Olympics when the Tibetian separatists weren't actually causing any trouble at the time? The "debate" is created by the Western media anti-China propagandists who stop at nothing to flame China; logic and lack of evidence be damned.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[digitrev]

So as to demonize those damned Tibetans. Obviously, both sides are full of bullshit. However, the Chinese are do not hold the moral high ground, if there is even any to be found these days.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[smitingpurpleemu]

The logic escapes me. If we were really up to a silly operation like this, we'd do it AFTER the Olympics end, not just before they start. Something as nonsensical as that could only be done by George W. Bush.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[d3ac0n]

Says the resident slashdot apologist for the evil Communist Chinese Thugocracy.

*eyeroll*

Go back to reading your "party approved" propaganda lit. We aren't interesting in the "party line" here.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[smitingpurpleemu]

Go back to believing the garbage that your "Mainstream Media" spews about China and trying to defend American imperialism as they fuck up the world in the name of "freedom and democracy."

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[haystor]

The monks were hauled away, disassembled and their bricks used in the construction of the water cube.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Threni]

> of Tibetan monks being hauled away to prison?

They've been photoshopped out, just like the little un-cute singer and the paralysed dancer. Ssshhh...our little secret.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[d3ac0n]

Something as nonsensical as that could only be done by George W. Bush.

And here we have solid proof: The communist thug apologists (AKA: thugpologists) are taking their one-liners from the DailyKos and DU.

Hey Mr. Thugpologist:

Those lines only work on people stupid enough to buy into the DailyKos rhetoric. The rest of us see right through you.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[$RANDOMLUSER]

I didn't see the Lego razor-wire.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Threni]

> Go back to believing the garbage that your "Mainstream Media" spews about China and trying to defend American imperialism as they fuck up the
> world in the name of "freedom and democracy."

You mean I have to choose between American imperialism and repressive Chinese human rights abuses? Can't I say they're both wrong?

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

That's the first sensible thing that's been said in this whole thread.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[smitingpurpleemu]

If you population didn't elect presidents for the last 50+ years who are greatly in favor of American imperialism, then maybe you have a point, but no, your point fails.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[d3ac0n]

Or, you could tell the thugpologist to stuff it.

Last time I checked, and "imperialist" government generally tended to take over smaller countries for the purpose of extracting wealth and resources. America does none of the above.

In fact, when we take over a country, we tend to SEND and SPEND large amounts of our wealth, manpower, and lives to build that country up into a functioning democracy, leaving the people there better off than before. This is the exact OPPOSITE of imperialistic behavior.

Obviously, there are those that have bought into the DailyKos/DU/communist/thugs-R-us line that helping people remove vile and murderous dictatorships is somehow "imperialism". But those people are either apologists, like smitingpurpleemu, or useful idiots, like some we occasionally see here on Slashdot.

Is America perfect? Hell No. Do we always do the right thing? Hell No. Do either of these things make America "Imperialist"? Hell No. For all our faults, we are still the last, best hope for Freedom in the world.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear internet poster: every "authority" is granted to criticize anyone, regardless of their origin or "morals". Cry more, but do it less online.

On the matter of doing it after the Olympics - why? Why not do it while you can get the media coverage to show you're not doing anything wrong. Granted, the wrong coverage has gotten into the papers, but maybe blaming the US will help!

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[d3ac0n]

Wow.

So now it's AMERICA that's sending people to burn Tibetan shops? It's not Agent Provocateurs sent by the Chinese Thugocracy in order to keep the Tibetan monks in line and quiet an embarrassing and troublesome region by deception and violence (like ALL Communist thugocracies do), it's America.

Because, you know, we have SUCH a vested National Interest in beating up Tibetans and Han Chinese in the Himalayas, an area of the world totally outside our influence. Yep, that's it, it MUST be the Eeeeeeeeeevil Americans! Look out! They've come with Coca-cola and Marlboro to ruin your teeth and give you cancer!!

The kind of thinking required to believe that is just so twisted I can't even get my head around it. Who would believe such utter lunacy? Smitingpurpleemu, you are either the WORST Thugpologist IN THE WORLD, or a complete and utter moron. Possibly both, I'm still deciding. Either way, you are convincing no one here but your handlers.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[smitingpurpleemu]

The American government supports the Free Tibet movement, along with anything anti-China, such as the East Turkestan Liberation Army (which is aligned with Al-Qaeda and sent its fighters to Afghanistan).

It makes far more sense for the Americans to contract this hit on Lhasa to mess up the Olympics. Why the hell would we create a mess just in time for our own Olympics? Wouldn't it make a ton of sense for the Americans to do it instead?

The kind of thinking that makes you believe that we staged the attacks is utterly ludicrous, spurred on by the anti-China propaganda spewed by the "Mainstream Media," and completely defies logic and common sense.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

They've already been executed and had their organs harvested and sold.

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Disturbing%20Truths/chinese_death_vans.htm
http://www.friendsoftibet.org/main/execution.html
http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/18/chinese-death-van/
http://pupaganda.com/2008/06/23/usa-today-china-makes-ultimate-punishment-mobile.aspx

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[d3ac0n]

if by "Freedom" you mean the freedom for your subjects to implement a puppet government under your control,

Let's list the "puppet" governments, shall we?

1 - Germany
2 - Japan
3 - Italy
4 - Poland
5 - France
6 - Austria
7 - Hungary
8 - Spain
9 - Belgium
10 - Greece
11 - Portugal
12 - Egypt
13 - Indonesia
14 - India
15 - CHINA (who were then re-oppressed by the communist chinese. But we DID free them from IMPERIAL Japan first)

Please add any other nations oppressed by the Axis powers during WW2 and freed by American "Imperialism" that I may have forgotten.

Since WW2:

16 - South Korea
17 - South Vietnam (failed)
18 - Afghanistan (work in progress)
19 - Iraq (work in progress, nearing completion)

Yep. Just LOOK at all those "puppet states" like Germany, who wouldn't even send assistance to Iraq to depose Saddam Hussein. Or France, who's recently voted out (by the people) government had back-room financial deals with Saddam Hussein's government in the oil-for-food scandal. Yep, real puppets there.

Face it smitingpurpleemu, you have NO argument. The Chinese Thugocracy has NO moral footing to stand on, and you have NOTHING to back yourself up with, so you fall back on empty DailyKos and DU talking points and useful idiot rhetoric.

Now Begone. The grown-ups wish to have a conversation.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Skazz11]

I don't get it - why is the parent modded troll?
If it's just the old "-1 Disagree", then I get it, but is there any other reason for modding this troll?

If it is "-1 Disagree", then please inform me what it is that is disagreeable about it, because I don't get it.
I'm sure there are strong feelings involved, but censoring isn't exactly the way to help China's case in the matter.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[oldspewey]

you sponsored terrorists to attack our land, burn our shops, and kill our people.

Dude ... put the kool-aid down and back away slowly. Re-read your posts in this thread. Take a few deep breaths. Ask yourself whether it's even just slightly possible that the state-run media has planted a few ... let's just call them exaggerations in your head?

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

Hahahah. I have to say, this is the funniest and wittiest comment I've read on Slashdot in a while. Thanks for the laugh :)

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

Obviously, there are those that have bought into the DailyKos/DU/communist/thugs-R-us line that helping people remove vile and murderous dictatorships is somehow "imperialism". But those people are either apologists, like smitingpurpleemu, or useful idiots, like some we occasionally see here on Slashdot.

How about those people who removed the vile and murderous dictatorship known as the Batista regime in Cuba? The USA didn't help them, the USA opposed the removal of the Batista regime. The USA tried to kill the people who kicked out the dictator. Why? Because the USA had a lot of economic interests in Cuba, such as sugar plantations and distilleries. So you see, if you're trying to remove a dictator the USA currently doesn't like, for example Saddam Hussein in 2003, then the USA will help you. By sending in thousands of cruise missiles, tanks, bombs, etc.

But if you're trying to remove a dictator that the USA currently likes, for example Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, or Fulgencio Batista in Cuba, then the USA won't help you. They'll give the dictator weapons and money to try to stop you. The USA might even send people to try to kill you.

The actions of the USA aren't aimed towards Freedom For The World. They are designed to give the best economic and strategic advantages to the USA.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

Child, please leave.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Rycross]

Yeah, from where I'm sitting you're both over-nationalistic douchebags.

The whole "Your government does bad things so you have no right to criticize my government," has never held ground here. We're individuals, not our government. Both the Chinese government and the American government does fucked up things. Its a colossal waste of time to cry about who is worse when the more important thing is working to improve things.

But then again, I find crybaby nationalists who can't stand a little criticism of their country to be annoying. Maybe if more people actually considered criticism and held their leaders accountable instead of going "LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU WE'RE SO PERFECT AND AWESOME" the world wouldn't be in such a shitty state.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[bobzieruncle]

Found it!
http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/prisoners_of_war/dt20_13.html

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Threni]

> Last time I checked, and "imperialist" government generally tended to take over smaller countries for the purpose of extracting wealth and resources. America does none
> of the above.

Check again. Look at US support for Saddam Hussein, when he was killing (his own) civilians with chemical weapons. They also encouraged the Kurds and others to rise up and fight the Iraqi army, only to stand back and watch them get slaughtered. Makes the line about "helping people remove vile and murderous dictatorships" ring a little hollow, doesn't it. This isn't propoganda - it's fact, admitted as such by some of the people responsible.

> In fact, when we take over a country, we tend to SEND and SPEND large amounts of our wealth, manpower, and lives to build that country up into a functioning democracy,
> leaving the people there better off than before. This is the exact OPPOSITE of imperialistic behavior.

Every single poll in Iraq since it was invaded and occupied by the US has shown that the people of Iraq are not thankful, and want them to leave immediately.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[HungWeiLo]

Because, you know, we have SUCH a vested National Interest in beating up Tibetans and Han Chinese in the Himalayas

United States involvement in the 1959 Tibet uprising.

an area of the world totally outside our influence

An area into the backyard of a competing superpower, and sandwiched between 3 known nuclear powers...and you're saying the U.S. has no interest in projecting a sphere of influence?

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[lucas teh geek]

typical Chinese mentality, everyone is a damn American trying to flame poor china who can do no wrong. how do you even know the poster is American? I'm not and I agree with them 100%

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[smitingpurpleemu]

If you believe the garbage on these web sites, then you should go to Al-Qaeda's web site for some information about the United States.

AMERICAN IMPERIALIST PIG FAIL.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

The kind of thinking that makes you believe that we staged the attacks is utterly ludicrous, spurred on by the anti-China propaganda spewed by the "Mainstream Media," and completely defies logic and common sense.

you certainly are showing a lot of respect for the global mainstream media, thinking they could pull that off. personally, I dont think they're capable of pulling off something so big and intricate (it's pretty much (every country but china)'s news vs china's news), so i tend to believe it's true. I guess you believe the same about Tiananmen square too?

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[ZarathustraDK]

One question : WHY would "the West" want to tarnish Chinas image? Whenever these pro-CCP people start accusing the west of being anti-china, activists and propagandists, they never really give a reason. Why would the west do it? What can the west possibly gain from it? Please tell me, I'm sick and tired of CCP-sockpuppets who are trying to defend their own political position by accusing the west of multinational conspiracies which would never work IRL.

If you can't justify your system any other way than to demonize the rest of the world, kindly leave the chair for someone who wont just stick their heads in the ground.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[_merlin]

Plain and simple: ideology. American capitalism is as much an ideology as Chinese Maoism (or radical Islam). To keep an ideology alive, you need people to believe in it. To make people believe in it, you need to demonise the other side. That's how all ideologies work: capitalism, Stalinism, Maoism, Marxism, Nazism, etc. It's no use trying to pretend otherwise.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Achromatic1978]

Ye gods. I don't know what's worse, that you capitalized "Freedom", or that you honestly believe that the US's aim in taking over countries is to "build up a functioning democracy".

that helping people remove vile and murderous dictatorships

Oh yeah, like in Chile! Wait, hang on, no, not like Chile at all. In fact, Chile was the original "9/11", the day President Salvador Allende was murdered and the democratically elected government that he led was brutally overthrown by an army coup sponsored by the United States of America. September 11 will remain for a long time in the minds of most Chileans as the day to remember their murdered daughters, sons, mother and fathers, who disappeared, and the families whose world was changed irreparably by Augusto Pinochet and his henchmen, the puppet government whose power was not based on democratic principles but the protection of the USA.

Or maybe you meant Grenada, a "flagrant violation of international law", according to 108 members of the United Nations?

Wait, I know, you're talking about Iraq! Except I'm not sure how anyone would actually call Iraq a democracy in anything but name only. The government is still a rubber stamp of the US military, over and above its constitutional representation of its people, including such 'freedom'-like joys as "preferred bidders" for oil contracts and all other manner of extracting money from the ruins of a country as being US companies. It's also rather difficult to have democracy in the 21st century when you're still wondering when they will turn your power back on, only 2,000 days after "Mission Accomplished!"

Or perhaps it was Haiti? You know, where it was decided that a "democracy" run by corruption so rife and endemic that elections were not recognized by the international community where apparently worthy of US intervention.

How about Nicaragua, where many amongst the populace were so sick of Somoza's brazen and open corruption, nepotism, and the fact that he was a dictator who had stolen land from hundreds of thousands of their country members, without any international interference, that they rose up and rebelled. Their heinous crime? Accepting help from - gasp - COMMIES! - in order to do so. What else was a good Freedom loving US president to do to "restore" "democracy", but to order one of his spy agencies to begin financing, arming and training rebels. Let's not overlook the fact that Nicaragua was in ruins, and the Sandanistas did a whole lot to try to rebuild their nation, but oh no, better dead than red, dontcha know?

Or maybe Panama - where Noriega, a nice, Freedom loving gun- and drug-running dictator, the kind we in the US try to install in countries - had many many meetings, and lots of involvement with the CIA, and ol' buddy of Ronald Reagan, Ollie North.

Actually, let's make the list shorter. Let's try to list places the US has invaded since World War II with the real and genuine aim, and perhaps even accomplishment, of helping a nation be a functioning, non-puppet, democracy.

...

It's a far shorter list, isn't it... ?

we are still the last, best hope for Freedom in the world

Let's not go blowing the "World Policeman" whistle too much. We've used it far too many times when we weren't being world policemen at all, we were acting in -our- interests, not those of that nation, nor the world. Acting in your own interest is not (inherently) a problem. Pretending you're the line between light and dark while milking your own interests, however, is.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

Frankly, yes. America, as a 'World Super-Power' (whether or not this term should still apply is debatable, especially since it's the only classical superpower left)has it's fingers in plenty of pies. Particularly those surrounding (not necessarily physically only) those nations that it views as competitors and/or threats. Like Russia/ Former Soviet Union, and China (there are others as well, but listing them all is not adding anything useful). This, while not being something that those countries, or the world generally might appreciate is really a fairly comprehensible behaviour, in itself not 'evil', although one might wish that America could go about it in a way that stepped on less people's toes.

In this case however, it could be argued that the undoubtedly well-meaning interference has had a rather more negative effect. The situation here, particularly because it involves the Chinese (who really do love intrigue and political games, having a hefty history in it) is rather delicate (in the way that nitro-glycerine is delicate; note that the Dalai Lama himself is subject to controversy, not to mention that there are 'radical' Buddhists who may also be causing trouble).

Americans, especially those who are visiting China, possibly with a view to genuinely enjoy the Olympics, or to protest on behalf of a Free Tibet, should understand that it is the Chinese people's view that Tibet has been a part of China for quite a while. Whether this is valid or not is a matter of contention, although the 'third-party' (International) view seems to support this. Because of this, Tibet will not willingly (as in they will fight tooth and nail and spill large amounts of their own and everyone else's blood) be acknowledged by China as a sovereign nation. It would be much the same reaction for the USA as if Hawaii or Alaska had suddenly (unilaterally) declared independence. Basically, don't be surprised if 'Free Tibet' protesters get a rather frosty reception from the local populace. They may or may not agree with their government's other policies, but this is a point on which it's probable that they do agree.

Back to the earlier point about the delicate situation of Tibet, it is not impossible, and may even be a favoured solution both for the Tibetan leadership and the Chinese government for Tibet to become an autonomous region within China, as it has been historically (depending on the point-of-view) even if independence is out of the question (because having a nation in that position in relation to the border that is subject to foreign influences is thoroughly uncomfortable for the Chinese nation). However, it won't happen with the spotlight still so comprehensively focused on the area. Conceding anything now would be a loss of face, and that is intolerable. The Chinese government cannot be seen as weak, and to be seen (or rather, noticed) conceding here would certainly been seen as weak.

In any case, the outrage being generated by (not only the Americans, or the West) protesters is somewhat counter-productive, making the Chinese government dig their heels in further, so to speak. Leaving off the interference (also remember, the Chinese people have little to trust or love the West for) may actually be more effective on the issue at this point in time.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[ZarathustraDK]

Well that's the obvious answer of course, and the least favorable justification one can come up with. I was merely interested in getting some kind of farfetched explanation to why this guy in particular think the west is what he says.

To me, it sounds like he and his ilk thinks the west just goes "We'll make China look real bad because...because...because then we'll have made them look REAL BAD!"

At least middle-eastern extremists can say something about oil and imperialist american pigs. I mean, come on CCP'ers, at least use your imagination a bit, build some straw-men or something, don't just say "You're a booger-faced son-of-a-whore", that's just mean...

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

The kind of thinking that makes you believe that we staged the attacks is utterly ludicrous,

what? the thinking that you're a bunch of nationalistic morons, completely detached from reality? the (violent) demonstrations put on by the local Chinese population during the torch relay reinforce that thinking, no mainstream media required. how can you believe that physically attacking peaceful protectors is furthering your cause? it's just more evidence that you live in a thugocracy, and we dont welcome that shit in the civilised world.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[lucas teh geek]

It would be much the same reaction for the USA as if Hawaii or Alaska had suddenly (unilaterally) declared independence and then the US Army went in an killed anyone in a supporting the independence, while the redneck American folk attacked anyone who spoke out with the idea that the people living there should be the only ones to decide whether or not they want to be a part of a larger country, with the USA government all the while feeding them stories that China was behind the uprising, and that the Hawaiians were "naughty people who deserved it"

fixed that for you. no, I cant relate to their feelings. I am not completely out of touch with reality, sorry.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[quanticle]

Iraq and Afghanistan are not works in progress, they are epic failures, puppet governments whose legitimacy are not recognized by their own people.

Now, while Iraq may not be a complete success, it certainly isn't as much of a failure as it was in, say, 2006. Things are improving, and violence is decreasing. While the war isn't won, it no longer looking unwinnable.

You didn't liberate China, WE liberated China. You had very little to do with the Sino-Japanese war, there were maybe a few thousand American pilots fighting in China. That's IT. WE held off the Japanese long enough so you could finish them off.

First, the Japanese really weren't all that interested in the core of China, since there weren't very many resources there. They were mainly interested in the wealth of Manchuria and Southeast Asia (aka IndoChina). Second, while the Chinese may have "held off" the Japanese army, you certainly weren't in any place to win. If it hadn't been for American naval might cutting off Japanese supply lines, combined with the liberation of Manchuria and Korea by Soviet troops (Operation August Storm), most of China might well we considered a part of greater Japan today.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

It would be much the same reaction for the USA as if Hawaii or Alaska had suddenly (unilaterally) declared independence and then the US Army went in an killed anyone in a supporting the independence, while the redneck American folk attacked anyone who spoke out with the idea that the people living there should be the only ones to decide whether or not they want to be a part of a larger country, with the USA government all the while feeding them stories that China was behind the uprising, and that the Hawaiians were "naughty people who deserved it"

fixed that for you. no, I cant relate to their feelings. I am not completely out of touch with reality, sorry.

Allow me to clarify; I meant merely that it's reasonable that the American people would object to the move for secession, not that the American government would react in the same (unforgivable and horrific) way that the Chinese government did. I was not trying to pass a personal judgement on the case, but to point out the perspective of the Chinese people. (I mean, you would object if one of your states just declared that they were independent?)

I apologize if my comparison came off as saying that the American government would do such a thing; I did not intend that, I am afraid that my grasp of some of the subtleties of the English language is lacking. (I guess that my sentence is unclear in subject?)

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[john826]

Let's not go blowing the "World Policeman" whistle too much. We've used it far too many times when we weren't being world policemen at all, we were acting in -our- interests, not those of that nation, nor the world. Acting in your own interest is not (inherently) a problem. Pretending you're the line between light and dark while milking your own interests, however, is.

Here comes the TRUETH about the world. Every one/nation is acting in their own interests. US/Western governments don't want their people to like China if they don't like China, as they always do. Why? Interests conflict!

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[carlzum]

The GP is clearly trolling, but the US has not done a very good job of propping up democracies in the past 50+ years. In South America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia the US has frequently supported oppressive, undemocratic regimes.

The US has improved freedom, or at least quality of life, by opening up trade. As a middle class slowly emerges in China the political climate will change for the better. This is far more effective than instigating guerrilla wars and arming US-friendly dictators.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[lucas teh geek]

well, I don't belong to the united states, so if one of their states wanted independence I would be in support of the state in the same way I am in support of Tibet. I would like to think I would react the same way if one of Australia's (the country I do belong to) states declared independence; but who knows, perhaps I would feel different if it really happened. Forcing people to be a part of a country against their will doesn't really seem like a stable way to run a country

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

PLease fuck off and go to hell, thanks.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, I am also living in Australia.

My example was directed at the USA, which I assumed (incorrectly) from your reaction that you were a citizen of, but I expect that secession is not generally welcomed by the members of a nation, certainly not by the government of the country, for obvious reason (compromise of sovereignty, erosion of territory, etc.) There are also probably Chinese citizens who think similarly to you on Tibet (I doubt they would come out to say so), the majority would be range from neutral to against, however.

While what you say is true; and it's probable that suppressing an independence movement within a country is not a stable position (if an area wants to secede, that original country is probably not very stable to begin with) a successful secession also raises many problems (perhaps not everyone in that area aggress with the secession; as is the case in Georgia, and Pakistan/India, and people will be left on the 'wrong' side of the border).

Ideally, none of these would be issues, and we as a human race would be able to live largely without the requirement for borders at all (wars and conflict would be an issue of the past, people would be able to live with minimal or no negative impact on their fellows) but unfortunately the human race is far from that state, and we continue to conflict over (in terms of the universe, or even merely our own planet) very silly and/or trivial matters.

However, I suppose that what really matters to you (or anyone), your dearest wish or desire is not really going to be comprehensible to anyone but yourself (for example, murdering your employer and deceiving a grieving family into thinking that one of their members had been poisoned so that you could acquire the necessary funds to open a tea shop)*. This probably applies to some extent to all of our other desires, including the ones that fuel wars (they'll always be tragic, and more than likely a complete waste of lives).

I don't think this is really the appropriate place to discuss this sort of thing though (I couldn't resist replying, however, I enjoy these sort of discussions) if one of Australia's territories decided to secede, I guess I'd have to judge from the surrounding circumstances what I would think.

*In case (very likely) you think I'm stark raving mad, I'm referring to an adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel that screened recently on ABC1

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

It wasn't just the US. Don't forget that the Japanese were also shit scared of the threat of a pissed off Russian empire marching southwards because they were forced to get involved in WWII.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[master_p]

Do you consider Hitler's Germany equal to Saddam's Iraq or Afghanistan? Germany was a serious threat to global freedom, and after Europe and Russia had been conquered, it was America that would have been the next target of the German boot. On the other hand, Saddam was much less powerful than Hitler, and Iraq could not invade and conquer any other country except its most weak neighbors.

The reasons Iraq was invaded are totally different from the reasons Germany was invaded. Back in World War II, America was the true land of the free, home of the brave. It represented freedom in a grand scale. And it's this freedom ideology that pushed the common folk to fight in World War II with such dedication. On the other hand, America now has an army of professionals who don't care about their missions, as long as the army puts food on their table (well, most of them), and the presence of American army in Iraq is part of the new geopolitical strategy of the US for the 21st century.

Under this light, from your post, it seems you are a little bit brainwashed (you might not be at all, it's just seems that way), and I am surprised you were modded 5, insightful.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[dwater]

Tibetan monks have their own temple in Beijing - Yong He Gong (aka Lama Temple) - it's been there for a *long* time (1694) and has served as a administration for all things Lama (1722). It's not a prison either. Why you would think they would be hauled away, I don't know. Unless you think the few protesters in Beijing are Tibetan monks, which I somehow doubt (though I could be wrong) - it's certainly not my impression from the news I've seen (I'm not in China at the moment). I've seen plenty of people in Beijing (though not in the last few months) who appear to be Tibetan monks - they weren't protesting about anything that I could see.

I personally also doubt that all the people we see dressed up in yellow cloaks and sandals are Tibetan monks - my Chinese friends say some are clearly not Tibetan and some are not even Chinese (not that you need to be Tibetan to be a Tibetan monk, but still). More likely, it seems, is that at least some of them are westerners. ...but this is another topic, I suppose. I've not see any being hauled away in Beijing, fake or not. I'm curious if you have...

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[hackerdownunder]

I'm no history expert, but I don't recollect India being liberated by the Americans (or any other western power).

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

You missed every fascist/national-socialist country in South and Central America.

Ok, maybe not every one. Some of them got into power on their own, like Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda of Paraguay.

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[Anonymous Coward]

robert@pennyonthesidewalk.com

Re:Where's the lego minitiature

[fan of lem]

come on. do we have to bring up anti-chinese sentiments every time the olympics is mentioned? let's just for once enjoy the lego showcase, shall we?

and i do realize the OP may have meant this as a joke, hence this reply instead of modding him/her down.

Logo Olympians

[CanadianBeaver]

Hopefully it doesn't have a miniature BSOD during the opening Lego Olympics.

Re:Logo Olympians

[Naked Jaybird]

/* Digs in son's Lego box for all his blue and white legos */

Re:Logo Olympians

[JCSoRocks]

Sure it does! It's above the lip-syncing little girl and the remarkably heterogeneous "culturally diverse" parade! Sadly there are no fireworks above the stadium... You need a mind storms computer to make those.

Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[curmudgeon99]

Is it just me or does it seem that the Lego Corp has lost their way? When I was a kid, we used the generic Lego bricks to build a million different things--all based on our imaginations. Now the little brats do nothing but assemble kids with of all things directions. What happened to make up your own ideas? I've now seen so many kids who are unwilling to build anything that strays outside of the confines of "the kit". The creative building childhoods that had been the last remaining birthright of an American is now fading fast. Kids will not grow up creative in the states and we will drift along and invent nothing new.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[spazghost]

There is still lots of creativity with Legos. Haven't you ever heard of factory.lego.com?

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[MagdJTK]

What?! TFA has a load of pictures of things which aren't from a guide.

"Kids aren't creative!"

"These kids are being creative right now."

"Don't use facts to ruin my rant, you brat!"

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Ethanol-fueled]

Because we old-skool lego'ers had to use our imaginations. Even with G.I. Joes we ignored the storylines of the canon and made up our own, sometimes even bringing -- *gasp* -- non-G.I. Joes into the mix.

Nowdays, kids don't play with toys -- their toys play them.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[MyLongNickName]

... and get off of my lawn!

P.S. Having to wait 5 minutes between posts is a bit excessive...

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[frogzilla]

That's what I thought until I started to buy kits for my son. He did build according to the instructions. Then he proceeded to do what I had done, and what you are waxing nostalgic about, 20 years before. He built whatever he pleased. He built, destroyed, rebuilt, on and on. He would spend entire days surrounded by his Lego.

I think the blocks are all good. Old and new. He seems to have outgrown them now. He's 14 and he started with Lego when he was two or three. The thousands of dollars worth of newer generation blocks (and all of the instructions) are boxed away with the older generation blocks (with no instructions -- they got lost somewhere along the way) for future rediscovery.

I think that Lego blocks are _still_ the world's greatest toy.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[qoncept]

The really disappointing part is the number of special pieces. Nothing is made out of Legos anymore, they're all made out of the same parts as every other toy with Lego connectors instead of GI Joe rivets.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[jellomizer]

There are still a lot of generic Lego's around. You just need to look at the toy stores at kids eye level to find them. The ones at adult level are for "bigger kids/adults" who want to make something impressive looking. The real problem is if you go to these stores what happened to the real model kits. Where you get these plastic cut outs which you need to break off, chisels down, paint glue together (without melting the plastic from the highly toxic glue). Let dry wash down and add decals. And you better follow those directions in order if not you will need about 12 hands to get that last piece on.

But still the models and the lego kits teach different values to the kids. The ability to sit down and work threw a project pay attention to directions, learn to improvise when the directions are not clear or misprinted. Do something that can take hours or days to complete. These are skills that kids need to learn as well, and without the immediate feedback that Video games provide. Wow after 2 hours of work I completed the 4 wheels on the car.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Yvan256]

Nowdays, kids don't play with toys -- their toys play them.

But only in Soviet Russia.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[niceone]

Things have moved on. but the creativity is still there. You can still get buckets full of plain bricks, but you can also download lego digital designer - free CAD for lego! How cool is that? And you can order all the individual bits you need from the store. And it works in linux via WINE.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Anonymous Coward]

Not sure what kids you are observing, but my four-year-old uses his Legos in wonderfully imaginative ways.

When he gets a new model, I am the one who insists on helping him put it together according to the instructions, boring old dad that I am. But within a day or two, he has completely dismantled it and built a whole fleet of strange and wonderful contraptions, bearing absolutely no resemblance to the "intended" model.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Born2bwire]

When were you a kid? I'm 25 and all I had were kits with instructions and what not as a kid. Didn't stop me from accruing a massive lego cache that served as the basis for my own projects. Nothing like using legos to enhance a child's ability to build weapons of mass annoyance.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[eln]

Also, there are a lot more kids on my lawn these days, and they won't get off.

Seriously, have you ever actually seen kids playing with toys? The imagination is definitely there, and they do freely mix and match toys to fit whatever game they're playing, which is often something they're making up on the spot.

I have a 9 year old and a 6 year old, and they're constantly engaged in some form of imaginative play. Just because the play sets these days tend to be trying to encourage playing to a specific story line, kids rarely do that.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[timbck2]

Is it just me or does it seem that the Lego Corp has lost their way? When I was a kid, we used the generic Lego bricks to build a million different things--all based on our imaginations.

  Now the little brats do nothing but assemble kids with of all things directions. What happened to make up your own ideas? I've now seen so many kids who are unwilling to build anything that strays outside of the confines of "the kit".

    The creative building childhoods that had been the last remaining birthright of an American is now fading fast. Kids will not grow up creative in the states and we will drift along and invent nothing new.

...and get off my lawn!

(There, fixed that for you)

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[eht]

In this interview with the CEO of Lego he talks about going back to more normal pieces.

Link stolen from Dan's Data.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Skazz11]

You do know that the basic tiles are still offered, right?
But a lot of stores don't seem to want them.

Try Creative Building and Creator.
But yes, it does seem to be Indiana Jones, Batman, Star Wars, and the likes that give the greatest profit for stores.

It is sad that Lego City and Lego Castle are now specialized blocks with a lot less creative freedom, but I don't exactly think you can blame Lego for the loss of creativity.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[camperdave]

Please select your operating system:

• Windows
• Mac OSX

Sadly, I haven't heard of it. Does it work under Wine?

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[geobeck]

That's what I thought until I started to buy kits for my son. He did build according to the instructions. Then he proceeded to do what I had done, and what you are waxing nostalgic about, 20 years before. He built whatever he pleased. He built, destroyed, rebuilt, on and on. He would spend entire days surrounded by his Lego.

My son does the same thing, not just with standard LEGO, but with his Bionicle models as well. I didn't think there was as much room for creativity with such sculpted parts, but it's amazing what he comes up with.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[ross.w]

That still happens, My nine year old just created a "Jedi Olympics" tableau, and he regularly creates scenarios combining the Star Wars Lego figures with other characters and vehicles not seen in any of the movies. Lego may be more complicated, but it still allows a lot of scope for creativity.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Jeff DeMaagd]

From looking at the boxes, only a handful of parts in most kits have such a limited use that you suggest. I don't know if newer instructions are like the old ones, but Lego was pretty consistently good at showing many different projects that can be built from the same kit without showing how to make them all. I think the box images still show that same sort of thing.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Tacvek]

Hey that is a little harsh.

The Bionicles series is definiately a lot like that, and it is not defensible. But that is far from the only series.

The boxes of assorted bricks with no real directions still exist, but have been largely downplayed since around the time that Samsonite stopped distributing the Lego.

Then we have the standard themed sets (the Castle series, Star wars series, Harry potter series, etc). These contain bricks that are mostly like the classics, with some specialized pieces occasionally. Obviously the mini-figs are quite dominant in this set, but they are quite justified in that otherwise to have a village with people would require a much much greater scale.
That said, nothing can justify the BURPs [http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/6082 and http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/6083%5D.
One of the downsides of this level is the limited ability to build interactive models. There are openable doors, and working wheels turntable, and pivoting connectors, but all are fairly limited.

Of the themed sets, any vechile sets are terrible in the use of special peices. Like the recent Jet set. The whole hull of the plane consists of special non-generic pieces. However, there are still quite a few sets in production with no pieces that are not reasonably generic.

Next up we have the ever-popular lego model railroad. This does have quite a few specialized pieces, but justifiably so. Special track pieces are essential to be able to have powered rail cars. The power regulator, and locomotive chassis bricks are also critical. Then we have the genral rail car chasis. The powered headlight bricks are probably not essential, but add character. There are a few other specialized bricks to support building reasonable train cars. However, the sets still invariably include a significant number of classic bricks and plates. The whole Lego railroad line is intended to be used in conjunction with appropriate themed sets. The level of creativity possible with the train system sets is very high. A smidgen less creativity in environment and track shapes is possible compared to standard model railroading, but standard model railroading definitely does not make designing a new railroad car nearly as easy as the Lego train system does.

Then we have Lego Technic. This has many specialized pieces, but virtually all of them are generic, and can be used in a virtually unlimited number of potential designs. The ability to build interactive systems, and even motor powered systems is the best part of this series.

There was the classic Technic that used 1xn beams with holes as a major framework construction component. Beams were sometimes pinned together as part of the framework, but many models did not use this technique. Like with modern Technic, axles are an important component, and were occasionally essential to the model's framework. (not just the models functionality). The studless beams found in modern Technic made the occasional appearance, but were not that common.

Modern Technic is primarily based on the studless components, although some of the new models have re-introduced some studded bricks.

The original Mindstorms were for all intents and purposes part of the classic technic Series, but were of course programable to a much grater degree than any standard Technic set. (A few classic Technic sets had some very limited programability).

Mindstorms NXT is to Modern Technic as the Orginal Mindstorms was to Classic Technic.

Hmm... I think some of that ending was getting offtopic, but oh well.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[xaxa]

The real problem is if you go to these stores what happened to the real model kits. Where you get these plastic cut outs which you need to break off, chisels down, paint glue together (without melting the plastic from the highly toxic glue)....

One incarnation of this would be Warhammer (or some other toy soldiers), but it's very expensive. I had much more fun assembling and painting the models than I did playing the game; I was never very good at the tactics. I was good at painting though.

Another is the kits made for model railways (the buildings for age 12-ish, and the trucks a bit later on, since they need to be put together quite accurately). I lost interest in these after about a year, but sort-of went along with it for my dad for a while longer to keep him happy. There wasn't really much to do with the trains, once you'd got them set up and running round the track (and I wasn't allowed to do much of the setting up). I think it was more my dad's toy than mine. It's probably a decent hobby for someone who's retired, but there wasn't any way to involve my friends, which is why I preferred the Warhammer.
Take away the trains and you're left with a model town/village. I doubt many kids would be interested in that, train crashes were the best bit of the model railway :D (when dad's not looking, obviously).

Airfix still sell plastic kit models in the UK, you can get them in most independent toy shops -- I'm not sure about the big chain toy shops, I haven't been in one for years. I didn't like war though, so I never had any Airfix models (they all seem to be fighter planes and war ships).
Someone I know at university bought a manga robot city-stamping monster plastic kit from Japan, that would have been much cooler, but I don't know if they were available in England when I was 16.

I think everything else I did with toxic glue used balsa wood, card and anything else I could find.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[frogzilla]

Yeah, I forgot the Bionicle kits. My boy loved them and would combine them to build super sized things. I couldn't come close to keeping up with him when he was on a roll. He knew what parts he had so he could hold a structure in his mind while he hunted down the pieces. He could remember where he had used certain parts before and would disassemble other creations to get at them. It's such a wonderful toy. I can't repeat it enough.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Samah]

Lego? You had it easy!
When I was your age we had to use DUPLO! Our father would wake us up 5 hours before we went to bed so that we could walk to work 100km in the snow, uphill, both ways, work 30 hours a day, and we lived in a shoebox in the middle of the road!

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[kent_eh]

Yeah, You can't do anything with all those special pieces.

Here are more random Lego creations made without the aid of kit instructions.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[smellotron]

I went through a Lego kick last year, and their current Creator series is a bit of a mix between the old Technic and the model sets. Not nearly as many moving parts as old Technic (so sad...), but the primary models are definitely quality constructs good for building and leaving on display. But for the most part, they're all built out of a large set of stock pieces with boundless opportunity.

I'm definitely going to keep collecting them, and save them for when I have a kid.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[curmudgeon99]

Another commenter hit this on the head. The new kits come with many non-generic parts that are formed for one specific purpose--letting the designer do all the creating. When I played with Legos, they were ALL generic and you relied on your own imagination--not that of the toy's designer--for your creativity.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[curmudgeon99]

That's great--and that the CEO himself realizes that they have gone wrong with the specialized pieces--validates my point.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Raenex]

I always thought Legos were boring. Plastic models of stuff that don't do anything. I just never understood the appeal.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[curmudgeon99]

They are only boring if you have no imagination. As a child, I created hotels, 747 jetliners, bridges and a million other projects. They were raw materials, only limited by the vastness of your own, internal landscape. If you found them boring, were you creative in other ways?

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[Raenex]

As a child, I created hotels, 747 jetliners, bridges and a million other projects.

You created models of those things. I just never found plastic toys that did nothing appealing.

If you found them boring, were you creative in other ways?

I preferred playing competitive games. Creativity for me was problem solving.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[apt142]

I poster farther down seems to think so.

Re:Next, Lego Will Make It a Creativity-Free Kit

[curmudgeon99]

When I first used Legos, there were just the bricks and about 1% were roof pieces. Now you get about 30% bricks and the rest specialty parts, I would guess.

Re:please....

[DanWS6]

I had no idea jocks were interested in Lego

Dude, it's made from leggos, it is nerd news

[DeadDecoy]

The Olympics may be for jocks but building anything in an extensive manner using legos is still awesome. What matters is not the context of the subject but rather the engineering creativity behind it, and I'd have to say, the love and detail in this project is impressive. On a side note, I have my doubts about a Hong Kong team building it. If the Chinese really built it, they would have conscripted their entire population to build a lego model up to scale :).

Re:Dude, it's made from leggos, it is nerd news

[Chris Burke]

On a side note, I have my doubts about a Hong Kong team building it. If the Chinese really built it, they would have conscripted their entire population to build a lego model up to scale :).

Well if it makes you feel better about the story's credibility, the members of the HK Lego User's Group were taken from their parents at the age of 3 to undergo years of rigorous Lego construction training.

Funny

[MyLongNickName]

I zoomed in on one of the pictures, and see a guy holding what appears to be a "Free Tibet" sign.

Re:Funny

[karbyn-aceous]

while standing next to the Olympic rings !

Re:Funny

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow. I am not sure that it really says that, but I can't imagine what else it would be. I mean it could be "F*** Tits", it is really grainy... but gp post is probably right.

Re:Funny

[Perf]

What? No "John 3:16" signs?

well done

[globaljustin]

I always love these lego creations. The swimming cube and bird's nest were a feat.

I was looking for this as well.

Re:well done

[Ykant]

It's already been done.

Oh... 4500 lego PEOPLE

[GungaDan]

I was wondering WTF was the difference between a brick and a lego.

Re:Oh... 4500 lego PEOPLE

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, another great job of edtiing,

Re:Oh... 4500 lego PEOPLE

[Yvan256]

Thanks for clearing up that detail.... I was wondering why there was only 4500 Lego blocks and 300 000 non-Lego blocks in the whole thing.

Re:Oh... 4500 lego PEOPLE

[Anonymous Coward]

Lego are the inhabitants of Legoland. Pay attention.

Re:Oh... 4500 lego PEOPLE

[CrazyTalk]

No, the inhabitants of Legoland are minifigs. It was a typo.

Re:Oh... 4500 lego PEOPLE

[Anonymous Coward]

I was wondering WTF was the difference between a brick and a lego.

It was a test to see if we actually RTFA. Well, either that or copy & paste isn't challenging enough to the article posters.

Re:please....

[Seakip18]

What are you talking about? According to our esteemed editor, no one here is even watching these "'sports'". That or he was attempting humor. I'm not sure anymore.

Water cube standard blocks

[vimm]

those look like my truck/car/spaceship/jetski/motorcycle lego windshields to me.

Re:Water cube standard blocks

[Vectronic]

Indeed, they are, but the poster/editor was referring to the image after that, the outside shot... which to me looks like a bunch of those little "lights" single round see-through pieces, or possibly one of the antenna pieces from technics, but the point was the actual lighting I think, which if you look at the far side, looks like some sort of lego-fungus, or coral infront of a light projecting the shadows/light inside the cube, but given how many various sets of lego there are now, it might be from some sort of "biological lego"...or "sea-world lego" set or something.

Re:Water cube standard blocks

[Vectronic]

Ok scratch that, looking at the picture before, its actually just normal technics lego, a bunch of single-width hinges, and strips... (thought that was something else first time I looked at it)...

But some of the advanced technics sets come with lights, and plenty of power-packs...need a close-up to really tell.

Who Knew?

[TheNecromancer]

I didn't realize that Lego had a "smog" building block.

Re:Who Knew?

[maxume]

They don't. Nor do they have smug.

Don't act so suprised

[fm6]

Featuring 300,000 bricks, and 4,500 Lego, it was built by the Hong Kong Lego User Group. Yes that exists.

Why not? It's not like The West has a patent on geekitude. If anything, the geek mindset is even more prevalent in Chinese-speaking countries than here. They didn't become so dominant in electronic products by growing rice.

Re:Don't act so suprised

[seasleepy]

Er... I think it's more surprise that that a Lego User Group exists, rather than surprise that people in Hong Kong have heard of Lego.

Re:Don't act so suprised

[fm6]

YMBNAH. Slashdot has a Lego story pretty much every week.

Re:Don't act so suprised

[Anonymous Coward]

True. They did it by ripping off the West to produce the exact same products, but with new names, which they can sell at rock bottom prices because their kleptocratic government thinks they're the fucking Middle Kingdom.

I think you're talking about Japan.

Re:Don't act so suprised

[RealGrouchy]

If my high school (population ~1000) could have enough Lego enthusiasts to assemble a Lego club (specifically, a Lego robotics club), it doesn't surprise me in the least that a densely-populated, metropolitan city the size of Hong Kong might be able to cobble one together.

- RG>

Re:Don't act so suprised

[Pascoea]

No, but they sure managed to get ahead by exploiting underpaid workers and creating big-ass tariff free zones. That seemed to do the trick...

Re:Don't act so suprised

[fm6]

That's all true, but only part of the story. I work in the U.S., but half the people I work with were born on the other side of the International Date Line. Which means that these countries not only have enough geeks to power their own exploding economies, that have a huge surplus that they export. The U.S. is falling behind in the Geek Race!

Re:please....

[COMON$]

Ahh just as I was about to post regarding you being modded insightful I see that now you are smited with the troll stick. Anything can be news for nerds, eg the existence of slashdot ;)

Sniper in the water cube?

[billlava]

Did anyone else notice what appears to be a sniper overlooking the Olympic swimmers in the third picture? These communists are really taking security seriously! Even their lego recreations constantly have guns pointed at their heads...

Re:Sniper in the water cube?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think that's a walkie-talkie, not a gun.

Re:Sniper in the water cube?

[SteveFoerster]

Um, dude, it's a walkie-talkie.

Re:Sniper in the water cube?

[fracai]

Ah, so Lucas got his hands on these before they were published, eh?

Re:Sniper in the water cube?

[fracai]

gah, Spielberg

Re:Sniper in the water cube?

[Anonymous Coward]

That's no sniper. There are two dudes there - one with a camera and one with a walkie-talkie.

How Beijing Olympics Got Its Logo

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.vincentchow.net/1615/how-beijing-olympic-got-its-logo

all I see is a big grey cloud

[peter303]

My browser must be broken :-)

Re:all I see is a big grey cloud

[Anonymous Coward]

Insert cloud computing joke here.

Missing pieces...

[fahrbot-bot]

I thought they erred in not recreating the female Chinese gymnastic team, but I saw that the box was labeled "Ages 16 and up."

Re:Missing pieces...

[karbyn-aceous]

... and you think this would matter to the Chinese because ... ?

Re:Missing pieces...

[fahrbot-bot]

It's a political statement in that even though the Chinese say their female gymnasts are at least 16 years old, and their offical passports say they're at least 16 years old (or will be this year as per IOC rules), many of the gynmasts clearly are not that old - and this has been discussed in the press. It's also a joke in that the girls wouldn't be able to play with their own pieces....

Re:Missing pieces...

[Hyppy]

whooooooosh. Just sayin'.

Re:Missing pieces...

[Kuciwalker]

ZING.

Re:Missing pieces...

[Perf]

Or possibly because they don't have Lego diapers.

Featuring 300,000 bricks, and 4,500 Lego

[Anonymous Coward]

So what are the 295,500 bricks that aren't Lego?

Re: Featuring 300,000 bricks, and 4,500 Lego

[clampolo]

Knowing the communist Chinese, they are probably human kidneys.

Lego building should be an Olympic comptetion

[TheLazySci-FiAuthor]

that way, someone could win the lego gold, by building a replica of them winning the lego gold for building a replica of them winning the lego gold.

Of course, if recursiveness could be a competition then perhaps they win the gold by building a lego replica of them winning the gold in recursiveness for building a lego replica of them winning the gold in lego building for building a replica of them wining the gold in recursiveness.

wouldn't that be neat!

Re:Lego building should be an Olympic comptetion

[wattrlz]

No, that would be painful. Don't forget these are the people who brought you your name and horoscope written on a grain of rice.

Re:Lego building should be an Olympic comptetion

[TheLazySci-FiAuthor]

No, that would be painful. Don't forget these are the people who brought you your name and horoscope written on a grain of rice.

VERY good point!

Re:Lego building should be an Olympic comptetion

[URL Scruggs]

Wouldn't it be better to win the lego gold for building a replica of you being disqualified for building a replica of you winning the lego gold, more of an inverse feedback loop?

Re:Lego building should be an Olympic comptetion

[TheLazySci-FiAuthor]

Oh, another good point! oh why did I start this thread - my brain's gone all hurty!

All about you

[Anonymous Coward]

Is it just me...

Are you even remotely serious? You can't find a forum that doesn't have that bitch whenever Lego is mentioned.

the last remaining birthright of an American

What? What? Please stop. Do you have ideas of your own, or do you really just repeat morning Jingo radio?

Pee in the cup!

[EmbeddedJanitor]

It is well known that many serious Lego enthusiasts will take various stimulants and body building supplements to give them that edge.

Re:Pee in the cup!

[Shadow Wrought]

It is well known that many serious Lego enthusiasts will take various stimulants and brick building supplements to give them that edge.

Fixed that for ya...

Mod parent funny, not informative

[Ethanol-fueled]

Hmmph, many jocks played with Legos as kids.

I'll bet a few Slashdotters even played sports when they were younger. Hell, I might even say that there are some who still play, if not watch, sports -- even if a few NFL games are more important than the entire olympics to them.

Re:Mod parent funny, not informative

[Talderas]

Shhh, they're not supposed to know that I used to avidly play soccer as a child, as well watch and enjoy the NFL.

paralympics?!!?!?!

[Anonymous Coward]

Wheres the LEGO paralympic?

Let the good times roll.

[Anonymous Coward]

"There is even George Bush's favourite sport, beach volleyball" Thanks to a few amusing photographs, George W. be remembered throughout time as the president who loved women's beach volleyball. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/08/10/article-1043122-0237D88300000578-522_468x327.jpg

forgotten venue

[cashman73]

They forgot to put in the Lego BSOD!

Wow, you are SO clever, NOT.

[Anonymous Coward]

Sure, and your name really is "smitingpurpleemu."

FAIL.

Re:Wow, you are SO clever, NOT.

[smitingpurpleemu]

That's several steps up from "Anonymous Coward."

AMERICAN IMPERIALIST PIG FAIL.

More photos (lots more)...

[I didn't]

HKLUG's photo album

Re:More photos (lots more)...

[AncientPC]

... is this a lego convention with attractive models?

Re:More photos (lots more)...

[I didn't]

The Lego Olympics is showcasing in a shopping mall until 31 Aug. It's still on!

How...

[ZarathustraDK]

...do you make the miming Lego-child? And after you've shown me that, I'm curious to see the Lego-child that didn't make it... Come on Slashdot, this is like a joke-buffet, could you have found a topic which is less ready for comical interpretation?

Lawn?

[HiggsBison]

... and get off my big green Lego baseplate!

(There, fixed that for you.)

Re:One interesting tidbit

[Anonymous Coward]

They actually used several Tyco blocks, but then painted them so they'd appear to be Legos.

They actually used several Tyco blocks, but then painted them so they'd appear to be Legos.

Lighting the Lego Cube

[Anonymous Coward]

How they lit the thing. I doubt you had that in your Death Star kit.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2703630055_73d0919442.jpg

Re:Lighting the Lego Cube

[RiotingPacifist]

nah i had to take down my entire slums of beijing kit to build this new one. Good thing lego people don't get compensation

Holy smokes, guys!

[Fantastic Lad]

I was tempted to comment on all the ridiculous political hate-speech in evidence in the posts below and implore everybody to chill the hell out. It's Lego after all! We can get back to obsessing over WWIII after the closing ceremonies.

Then I noticed something about the models. . .

As cute as they all are, it struck me that the Chinese geeks show their deference to authority patterns in how they use the little bricks. I've seriously never seen fan-made Lego creations which obey the rules of scale as suggested by the pre-packaged little Lego people, (unless it allows for the creation of a 40-foot structure). I've seen CN towers and Space Shuttles and Eiffel Towers which stand upwards to twenty and thirty feet tall, and all manner of creation which uses Lego in a way which is quite literally 'outside the box' in terms of the suggested designs. If you're a big Lego fan group in the West, then having a big budget to make a Lego creation means you get to do dream projects. For the Olympics and the kind of money the Chinese are spending, I was fully expecting to see a 1/24 scale model of the Bird's Nest or something similarly ridiculous. But these models are just so sweet! It's almost refreshing. They look like the department store Christmas promotional models Lego puts together. Strictly by the rules, all in proper scale to the little plastic people and nothing the Lego instruction manuals or government might think of as a threatening expression of personal exuberance and un-authorized ambition.

Ugh. China scares the shit out of me, and not because they have all the money and plans to dominate the world. Heck, I love Chinese food, Chinese aesthetics and Chinese Kung-Fu!

--No, it's the all-out war on individualism and free thought, and the weird cultural embracing of that repression which makes my blood run cold. I suppose I should feel lucky that we're far more liable to be atomized by space rocks than we are to be dominated by Chinese warlords, but it still makes me shiver every now and again.

-FL

Old instruction booklets

[MoreDruid]

if you are missing some booklets from the old sets (like I was), you can find most (if not all) of them on the brickfactory.

I've wget-ed the site for my own purposes so I don't hit them too often because the site serves up a lot of large images (jpeg scans of the booklets) and dropped them a thank you.

I've been able to rebuild a lot of my old sets thanks to them, and my son is happily playing with the results.