I read an interesting history of Lego's evolution that was at one point on their site (can't find it now). It essentially indicated that the toy's popularity began to wane in the 90s, and the company experienced their first quarter with a net loss in its history. The alarm bells sounded, and the marketing geniuses (?) were gathered together. Licensing was the solution. IIRC, the Star Wars brand was the first to be tried, and was a great success.
It pains me to walk into toy stores today. Yes, I'm an adult, but I'm one that yearns for the flavour of the past, and toys are one thing that can connect you to that time without expensive, mind-altering chemicals. Sadly, the items lining the shelves are a crystal clear reflection of today's kids: the toys foster little creativity. Building toys are passed over for ready-made, out-the-box or off-the-card replicas of the sub-standard psuedo-anime that is spewed from the plasma panel. And the building toys that remain are exactly as bigman2003 indicated--pre-fabricated shapes, fitting together in only one way to resemble only one thing.
Alas, this is what kids want today. Simple, fast, easy. There may be a small group that wants the challenge, but their demographic is too small a value on a marketing report.
I'd like to go on about how it's government-sponsored program to control us from cradle to grave, but as a subversive liberal Canadian living in the US, the feds are watching me. Say hello to the nice g-man, people!
I'm fairly certain I've read this before, but it is by no means any less true. I had forgotten the guy's name and stupidly clicked the link. I detest those making money in illegitimate ways. Of course, it is business. But it does brush far too close to plagiarism.
In certain circumstances, as I discovered in October 2004, they do. Allow me to tell a little tale.
I'm Canadian, though I have worked in the United States for several years through NAFTA (TN-1 status). To be able to work in the US, the candidate must be Canadian, have a degree, and have secured a job that is listed in the Treaty itself. (The rules are different for Mexicans.) I have a B.Sc in Biology, and have worked as a Computer Validation Specialist--a job specific to pharma and biotech companies and such. The science background helps in my job as I work with computerized lab instruments, and lab people that know little about computers.
So, I was living back in my homeland, Nova Scotia, Canada for a few months after a Validation assignment finished in Michigan. I got a new job in Minnesota, and loaded up my vehicle and set out to drive (long drive). When I arrived at the New Brunswick-Maine border, I was told by the Immigration officer (Homeland Security) that I could come in to the country as a Computer Analyst (the NAFTA job description I've had for several years) because I didn't have a comp. sci. degree. I was refused entry!
So here I was, supposed to start work two days from then, and I couldn't get in when I knew I was within the law to do so. Now I know that it is a great PRIVILEGE for me to be allowed to work in your great nation, but I had just driving six hours. I wasn't thrilled. Of course I didn't want to cause trouble for fear I'd end up at Gitmo, so I said thank you and I'll be on my way back home.
Oh, no my friend, you have to be fingerprinted and photographed.
"But I'm Canadian, I said, with indcredulity.
"It's policy whenever someone is denied entry that they be fingerprinted and photographed."
I always jokingly suspected that the feds were listening to my cell phone conversations because, well, as a Canadian I'm a raging liberal and like things like civil liberty, care of the environment, global community and all that (you know who I'm talking about). Now I'm in the system.
In fact, they're reading this post right now! Say hello to the nice FBI agents, Slashdotters!
The government has tried for years to make a conversion, but it has resulted in a kind of permanent half-way house situation. I believe the same thing is happening in Canada.
Nope--Canada has pretty much converted when it comes to temperature, weights, and distance. The only holdover is a person's own weight. For some reason we still hold on to pounds (more so when we get older!)
LOL!! Nice. It'd actually need four modes:
1. It's cold oot, eh?
2. It's really cold, eh?
3. It's f**kin' cold, eh?
4. It's too f**kin' hot oot. Good thing it's only this weekend, eh?
--Canadian living in Minnesota. What was I thinking?!
I know it's getting away from the original thread, but on the subject of PCs on TV:
That's IF they show PCs on TV!! Just about every show on the toob these days has everyone using F##@ing Macs. What's the deal with that? I say it's akin to the phone prefix 555 and the shape of the binocular-view on TV. It is a little reminder that you are watching something that's make-believe.
On the topic of CSI, good or bad, I say that anything that wakes people up, gets them away from watching wrestling, and makes them curious about the world is a good thing.
Slashdot Mirror
I read an interesting history of Lego's evolution that was at one point on their site (can't find it now). It essentially indicated that the toy's popularity began to wane in the 90s, and the company experienced their first quarter with a net loss in its history. The alarm bells sounded, and the marketing geniuses (?) were gathered together. Licensing was the solution. IIRC, the Star Wars brand was the first to be tried, and was a great success.
It pains me to walk into toy stores today. Yes, I'm an adult, but I'm one that yearns for the flavour of the past, and toys are one thing that can connect you to that time without expensive, mind-altering chemicals. Sadly, the items lining the shelves are a crystal clear reflection of today's kids: the toys foster little creativity. Building toys are passed over for ready-made, out-the-box or off-the-card replicas of the sub-standard psuedo-anime that is spewed from the plasma panel. And the building toys that remain are exactly as bigman2003 indicated--pre-fabricated shapes, fitting together in only one way to resemble only one thing.
Alas, this is what kids want today. Simple, fast, easy. There may be a small group that wants the challenge, but their demographic is too small a value on a marketing report.
I'd like to go on about how it's government-sponsored program to control us from cradle to grave, but as a subversive liberal Canadian living in the US, the feds are watching me. Say hello to the nice g-man, people!
I'm fairly certain I've read this before, but it is by no means any less true. I had forgotten the guy's name and stupidly clicked the link. I detest those making money in illegitimate ways. Of course, it is business. But it does brush far too close to plagiarism.
Oh, how I wish I had hit 'preview'. Mea culpa my friends.
In certain circumstances, as I discovered in October 2004, they do. Allow me to tell a little tale. I'm Canadian, though I have worked in the United States for several years through NAFTA (TN-1 status). To be able to work in the US, the candidate must be Canadian, have a degree, and have secured a job that is listed in the Treaty itself. (The rules are different for Mexicans.) I have a B.Sc in Biology, and have worked as a Computer Validation Specialist--a job specific to pharma and biotech companies and such. The science background helps in my job as I work with computerized lab instruments, and lab people that know little about computers. So, I was living back in my homeland, Nova Scotia, Canada for a few months after a Validation assignment finished in Michigan. I got a new job in Minnesota, and loaded up my vehicle and set out to drive (long drive). When I arrived at the New Brunswick-Maine border, I was told by the Immigration officer (Homeland Security) that I could come in to the country as a Computer Analyst (the NAFTA job description I've had for several years) because I didn't have a comp. sci. degree. I was refused entry! So here I was, supposed to start work two days from then, and I couldn't get in when I knew I was within the law to do so. Now I know that it is a great PRIVILEGE for me to be allowed to work in your great nation, but I had just driving six hours. I wasn't thrilled. Of course I didn't want to cause trouble for fear I'd end up at Gitmo, so I said thank you and I'll be on my way back home. Oh, no my friend, you have to be fingerprinted and photographed. "But I'm Canadian, I said, with indcredulity. "It's policy whenever someone is denied entry that they be fingerprinted and photographed." I always jokingly suspected that the feds were listening to my cell phone conversations because, well, as a Canadian I'm a raging liberal and like things like civil liberty, care of the environment, global community and all that (you know who I'm talking about). Now I'm in the system. In fact, they're reading this post right now! Say hello to the nice FBI agents, Slashdotters!
This needs to be rated "Funny" as well for the unnoticed Monty Python and the Holy Grail reference.
Nope--Canada has pretty much converted when it comes to temperature, weights, and distance. The only holdover is a person's own weight. For some reason we still hold on to pounds (more so when we get older!)
Yeah, that must be really challenging! Signed, Chris Enlarge-Your-Penis-Now-Free-Vi@gra
LOL!! Nice. It'd actually need four modes: 1. It's cold oot, eh? 2. It's really cold, eh? 3. It's f**kin' cold, eh? 4. It's too f**kin' hot oot. Good thing it's only this weekend, eh? --Canadian living in Minnesota. What was I thinking?!
I know it's getting away from the original thread, but on the subject of PCs on TV: That's IF they show PCs on TV!! Just about every show on the toob these days has everyone using F##@ing Macs. What's the deal with that? I say it's akin to the phone prefix 555 and the shape of the binocular-view on TV. It is a little reminder that you are watching something that's make-believe. On the topic of CSI, good or bad, I say that anything that wakes people up, gets them away from watching wrestling, and makes them curious about the world is a good thing.