I got a note from Greg Banks last week. He's the coach to the FIRST LEGO League team, the PigMice. This team won the Champion's Award at the World Festival in June, and deservedly so!
The challenge for 2008 has not been revealed yet, so right now, not much is going on, except for funding. One of neat things that has happened to me is that the video I did about the FLL World Festival has been requested by teams to help promote FLL. The PigMice did a presentation and tour at IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California. What's cool is that the team is based in Portland, Oregon - IBM invited them!
Take a look at this link. This is the presentation the team did. This is not a short program, but it's a good look at FLL for everyone - the kids are delightful to watch, and they are VERY professional in their presentation.
And my video was shown!
Greg's note told me about that, but it was still a surprise to see...and this was seen by the IBM Board of Directors as well as the peple who saw this online and at the presentation. I'm proud to see this happen, as one of BrickJournal's missions is to publicize the best of the LEGO community and hobby. And it's happening - in the most surprising ways.
I made the video because I wanted to show everyone all the cool things about the Festival - and while there were some things in the video, there is so much more to see and discover. Seeing the PigMice presentation also reminds me about the most important thing about FLL: It inspires.
Watching the team answer questions at the presentation is impressive too, because IBM scientists are asking them about their robot - and they are answering!
For me, its wonderful to be able to help in some small way.
Thanks Greg!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Brickworld Indy 5.0 Racing
Indy 5.0 is a MINDSTORMS racing event, where the cars are programmed to do the run. Video is by Zach Donohue.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Brickworld Great Ball Contraption Vide
This was filmed by Zac Donahue, one of Rafe's sons!
I got some more footage and will be working toward making more videos.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Another Brickworld video
This is a video of some of the displays at Brickworld - the video was mostly taken by Zac Donahue, with some video by me.
I hope to have more set up soon.
I hope to have more set up soon.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Brickworld in just over a minute!
A time lapse of the entire weekend!
900 frames were taken for this, one every 5 minutes!
900 frames were taken for this, one every 5 minutes!
Friday, June 29, 2007
A funny story...
Now you might think that I miss certain things - as in the DC event that happened this past weekend and the Indiana Jones sets coming from LEGO.
Well, I missed the DC event completely. Indy I knew about as a low-level rumor since the beginning of the year, but really couldn't say anything (no verification) until last week...when everyone else got the scoop.
And no I wasn't too terribly happy about it. I want BrickJournal to get the scoop, if only to keep the rumors down.
So I got back from Brickworld and sent some notes to the LEGO PR team, asking them to send me any materials on these things - and I got this:
whoa...that's not what I expected. It's better.
How neat is that? I'm looking forward to the Indy sets.....
Well, I missed the DC event completely. Indy I knew about as a low-level rumor since the beginning of the year, but really couldn't say anything (no verification) until last week...when everyone else got the scoop.
And no I wasn't too terribly happy about it. I want BrickJournal to get the scoop, if only to keep the rumors down.
So I got back from Brickworld and sent some notes to the LEGO PR team, asking them to send me any materials on these things - and I got this:
whoa...that's not what I expected. It's better.
How neat is that? I'm looking forward to the Indy sets.....
Brickworld Day 2 Expanded
Friday was an important day because I actually had something to do. With Brickworld, I did a couple of things under the hood, so to speak (most notably the event program), so I was actually quite the relaxed person at the convention.
My task for the day was a BrickJournal presentation set for 11 am. And as usual, I had very little preparation. Things usually happen like this:
Two weeks before deadline: - I think about some ides and a presentation with slides....and then forget about it.
One week before deadline: I remember about my ideas and start thinking again about it...and then forget again.
One day before deadline, in the car: I remember again and think about doing something on my laptop...and promptly fall asleep.
Apparently, I don't like to plan presentations. I like the town square meeting, where I get to talk and field questions. I also like to take suggestions. So I usually write some really quick notes, then throw them away before I start. I know more than anyone about the subject, so I really am not afraid of the questions.
But before the presentation, I had to findthe meeting room. I found it easy enough with Mel, the European Bureau person with me. WE went to the presentation before mine: the Art of the Brick, with Adam Tucker, Royy Cook and Felx Greco. WHile this was meantto be a discussion of how Adam built his skyscrapers, this quickly became a discussion on art...which was something my brainwasn't quite ready for at that hour. And I was hungry, so Mel and I cut out to eat breakfast before my presentation.
So how was it? It was pretty good. I got soe nice feedback from the LEGO Group and teh people who attended. Many people are curious about the hardcopy date (which I am planning for winter - issue 10) and others were just curious to see what I was planning...
I did lunch with Sean Kenney, Certified LEGO Professional. He's a great guy and has offered to help BrickJournal on a number of occasions. We chatted about getting the CPs in BrickJournal more and also some other ways that BrickJournal can help out the community.
After that, it was a lot of wandering and pictures! In fact, I was called upon to take pics at teh opening ceremony and also to do a crowd picture....but more on that in a bit. I was supposed to take a pic outside of all the attendees.
My dinner was a Black Plate Sponsor dinner, so I was with Tommythe Brick Engraver, Brick Forge,LEGO, and Greg Hyland as well as the organizers. That was pretty nice. However, I noticed that it was dark outside earlier than I expected. It was overcast, os I wondered about that and asked about the picture. Plans were quickly changed to the next day.
Besides, there was teh LEGO Store shopping event later this night...and I had to take pics of that!
I got to the store and was allowed in early to take pics....the line was LONG! And once the doors opened, it was a a trickle that quickly became a flood...and there were people everywhere and the constant noise of plates and bricks being taken and thrown in tubs and cups. Sets were being bought by multiples and the lines were long and slow. But no one complained. In fact no one got upset at all...it was all fun.
Me? I didn't buy anything at all...I reached the point long ago where I cannot buy anymore until I build something.
And after that I got back to the hotel, took some more pics and called it a night...at 3 am.
My task for the day was a BrickJournal presentation set for 11 am. And as usual, I had very little preparation. Things usually happen like this:
Two weeks before deadline: - I think about some ides and a presentation with slides....and then forget about it.
One week before deadline: I remember about my ideas and start thinking again about it...and then forget again.
One day before deadline, in the car: I remember again and think about doing something on my laptop...and promptly fall asleep.
Apparently, I don't like to plan presentations. I like the town square meeting, where I get to talk and field questions. I also like to take suggestions. So I usually write some really quick notes, then throw them away before I start. I know more than anyone about the subject, so I really am not afraid of the questions.
But before the presentation, I had to findthe meeting room. I found it easy enough with Mel, the European Bureau person with me. WE went to the presentation before mine: the Art of the Brick, with Adam Tucker, Royy Cook and Felx Greco. WHile this was meantto be a discussion of how Adam built his skyscrapers, this quickly became a discussion on art...which was something my brainwasn't quite ready for at that hour. And I was hungry, so Mel and I cut out to eat breakfast before my presentation.
So how was it? It was pretty good. I got soe nice feedback from the LEGO Group and teh people who attended. Many people are curious about the hardcopy date (which I am planning for winter - issue 10) and others were just curious to see what I was planning...
I did lunch with Sean Kenney, Certified LEGO Professional. He's a great guy and has offered to help BrickJournal on a number of occasions. We chatted about getting the CPs in BrickJournal more and also some other ways that BrickJournal can help out the community.
After that, it was a lot of wandering and pictures! In fact, I was called upon to take pics at teh opening ceremony and also to do a crowd picture....but more on that in a bit. I was supposed to take a pic outside of all the attendees.
My dinner was a Black Plate Sponsor dinner, so I was with Tommythe Brick Engraver, Brick Forge,LEGO, and Greg Hyland as well as the organizers. That was pretty nice. However, I noticed that it was dark outside earlier than I expected. It was overcast, os I wondered about that and asked about the picture. Plans were quickly changed to the next day.
Besides, there was teh LEGO Store shopping event later this night...and I had to take pics of that!
I got to the store and was allowed in early to take pics....the line was LONG! And once the doors opened, it was a a trickle that quickly became a flood...and there were people everywhere and the constant noise of plates and bricks being taken and thrown in tubs and cups. Sets were being bought by multiples and the lines were long and slow. But no one complained. In fact no one got upset at all...it was all fun.
Me? I didn't buy anything at all...I reached the point long ago where I cannot buy anymore until I build something.
And after that I got back to the hotel, took some more pics and called it a night...at 3 am.
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