Toaraga

I'd heard about the fires, but I only heard about Legoland this morning, as it was briefly mentioned on the TV in the breakroom where I work. ©1984-2014 Toaraga EAM

http://time.com/99859/san-diego-wildfires-carlsbad-legoland/ Due to the current fires in California, even Legoland had to be evacuated. That's pretty intense. I'm kinda glad I got to visit before this happened.

I spend time away and come back for a visit, just to find out there was a video game theme for a building contest; granted, I haven't built anything significant for a while. Judging by the winning entries, whatever I managed to piece together would've been put to shame anyway. They are impressive indeed. ©1984-2014 Toaraga EAM

Sounds nice, particularly the free set part (no pun intended), but I won't be anywhere near one this weekend. ©1984-2014 Toaraga EAM

From what I've read so far, I think you can read it and not relate it to the final movie. It's so different. Also, with the emoticon thing, while I haven't gotten that far into the script, but just reading what I have, I don't see a problem with its inclusion, Everything in the script seems more of a conversation between friends (or a comedy on BZPower, such as SPIRIT's parodies of the BIONICLE movies from years ago) than anything formal whatsoever... the language alone, if included in the final cut, would've made it less child-friendly. There's hardly any description for settings; at best, they're references to already existing places from other media sources with an unwritten "just imagine this stuff combined." If authentic, this draft is a far cry from the final movie; for instance, while I can visualize what's going on, so many of the ideas are not fleshed out. Besides, the whole message/theme of the movie is about creativity. When it comes to creativity, fleshing out ideas is hardly a starting point, though it is part of the process to improvement. When it comes to writing (or possibly other forms of creativity), fleshing out ideas too soon can sometimes throw off the train of thought. ©1984-2014 Toaraga EAM

Just stopped by for my annual visit, only to learn you've made it all the way to near the top. Congrats. I remember when some of us were down in the trenches of the lower staff together, mucking it up, and now you've gone and grown up. I remember that feeling, but it goes away once you get used to power and having assassins work for you... I mean, there are no assassins (that I can talk about openly). ©1984-2014 Toaraga EAM

I'm still older than you, but keep trying. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

I didn't realize it was that long ago you started working for LEGO. I guess now you're like the rest of us who don't work for LEGO either... except that you did. Live the dream! So now what? ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

That reminds me that I got a Chima set from Brick Fiesta, but I still haven't gotten around to opening it.

That likely means numerous people reported it; I do love the source though. "Available" I'd kinda like to see this in person; I don't know if I wanna spend $35 on it. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

I would like to announce that BZPower staff members Toa Lhikan Hordika (Vance) and Turakii #1 Lavasurfer (Christie) were officially united in holy matrimony this Sunday, July 28, 2013. Taking part in the ceremony were BZPower's own Macku: Toa of Bubbles and Quantum-Phasically Charged Traku (Turakii's mom and brother, respectively). Witnessing the occasion were BZPower members Avohkah Tamer, Lady Kopaka, Swert, and yours truly. Let it be noted that some of us met in person for the first time, but such an event is quite fitting for a first-time meeting, since LEGO does mean "I put together" in Latin, (It was kind of like our own little mini-convention.) Fun times and cake were had by all. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

I don't even remember how many years ago we developed this format, but it's good to see that it's still useful. Although, it'll be a shame we won't be able to access the old links once the Archive is no longer accessible. Granted and unfortunately, some of them can't even be accessed now. You can go to them, but there are no posts. It's so sad, but it'll be okay. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

I was gonna say something about putting the Forum Mentors out of work. As restrictive as people think BZP is with some of its regulations, such as this, I have seen other forums that have about the same restrictions or more, and I don't know that they caused any more or less problems. (I think purpose and relevancy of a forum will make or break it more than anything else.) I recently wanted to download a specific file on a site I frequent (or infrequent) yet had never previously joined, but I had to join the forum to do so, and even then to access that file, I still had to contribute at least 5 posts to the site. It might've been a deterrent had I not really wanted that file or found some places I wished to add something. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

B-b-but my childhood. All my hopes and dreams (and promotion topics) were there. And I was coming here today to specifically look up something there. How odd to learn of this on the same day. Someone did mention Wayback, which I was going to suggest as well. I don't know how useful it will be, but it is better than nothing. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

They get to use each other? Ha. If it is any consolation, you are the perfect maternal leadership figure... I only question your sanity. Staff? Sanity? Are you sure you work here? Wasn't lack of (or desire to lose) sanity like some sort of prerequisite to joining the team? It's the ones with sanity I question whether they're really staff. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

Ooh, just think next year you'll be a teenager and all rebellious and stuff. You'll be trying to break from the rules just to stick to the Toa and assert your own independence, while at the same time apathetic to what that really means. You'll outgrow your old age limits by getting into video games, and in a few more years, you'll even want to learn how to ride an Ussal crab (if you haven't already without your Turaga's knowledge or permission)... because that's what all the cool Matoran do. On the plus side, I think BZPower has lasted beyond the age of the average non-commercial Web site (and even some commercial sites). ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

I'll be there tomorrow, but probably not Sunday. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

That's how much I follow LEGO news. I wasn't even aware they were making Back to the Future sets until my brother informed me. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

One thing I've wanted to do years ago was to visit LEGOLAND in California, though I never had the money or any other reason to visit the state before now, so I didn't really think much about it. But this week I am here in the city of Los Angeles, visiting some friends, and part of my plan is to go to LEGOLAND. I'm looking forward to it. It wasn't the reason I came out here, but I figured since I'm in California, I might as well make the trip to the theme park. I don't know if I'll get another chance later. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

Aw, I was hoping this was about me. I think that was your one post for the year. Happy birthday to you, good sir. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

I heard about a LEGO convention that's happening in my neck of the woods (from somebody who doesn't live in my neck of the woods... see how on top of things I am). Brick Fiesta July 4-7, 2013 Hampton Suites & Convention Center Mesquite 1700 Rodeo Drive Mesquite, TX 75149 I'm thinking about going, if anyone's interested. If I do go, it might just be during the public hours, since I haven't really done anything with LEGO in a while and am not really sure what I have going at that time. (I might have a chance to go with a cousin who's also grown up with LEGO and whom I don't see much). So if anyone else is interested, just let me know. I wouldn't mind meeting up.

You know, we should probably have scheduled some time to meet up or something while you were here... though I suppose there's the next couple weeks, if we find time. Yeah, Texas weather is one of those crazy things to get used to, but I am more partial to heat than cold. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

They just weren't mine. So I never posted this on BZPower or anything (I'm not very active these days), but my brother did get married last September. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

That is so cool, and it explains why I was being asked what I thought I like as a set. "RETIRED DIVISION" makes sense now. I thought it was something math-related, but I guess they're gonna make sets of the Staff, including retired ones. Ha, our sets will be retired, and they didn't even have to do anything. I wasn't exactly prepared for such a question, so I kinda joked around with my description. I just hope they don't my description too seriously. That would be embarrassing... although, I did mention a mustache, monocle, and top hat. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM

Funny enough I just watched the LEGO Story, narrated by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, and risk-taking seems to be how they started and one of the ways they've thrived over the years. As someone else mentioned, the fact they're still profitable (especially when imagination is eaten away by mindless entertainment) shows they know what they're doing. Of course, like any company they have setbacks and failures, but they also learn; if they didn't, they would've probably been gone a long time ago. ©1984-2013 Toaraga EAM