#lego technology development

[icaninfotech]

LEGO became a leading toy company through several factors such as its innovative and high-quality products, strong brand recognition, strategic partnerships, and effective digital transformation initiatives.

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Month - August 2024

1.Negative Power Prices Hit Europe as Renewable Energy Floods the Grid

European power markets are experiencing a notable shift as renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar, become a larger part of the energy mix. On Wednesday, power prices in several European markets, including Germany, dipped below zero due to a surge in green electricity production.

2. Taiwan introduces ban on performances by captive wild animals

Live performances by wild animals held in captivity, including performances by dolphins, tigers, and other non-domesticated mammals, will no longer be permitted in Taiwan under new Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) regulations.

3. FTC bans fake online reviews, inflated social media influence; rule takes effect in October

The FTC voted unanimously to ban marketers from using fake reviews, such as those generated with AI technology, and other misleading advertising practices.

The ban also forbids marketers from exaggerating their own influence by, for example, paying for bots to inflate their follower count.

4. Chinese drones will fly trash out of Everest slopes

Come autumn, Nepal will deploy heavy lifter drones to transport garbage from the 6,812-metre tall Ama Dablam, south of Everest. This will be the first commercial work an unmanned aerial vehicle does in Nepal’s high-altitude zone.

The heavy lifter from China’s biggest drone maker, Da Jiang Innovations (DJI), will take on tasks traditionally handled by Sherpas. Officials believe it will help reduce casualties on Everest.

5. Swiss scientists have found a way to use the whole cocoa fruit to make chocolate and not just taking beans and discarding the rest.

Kim Mishra (L) and Anian Schreiber (R) cooperated on the new chocolate making process

Food scientists in Switzerland have come up with a way to make chocolate using the entire cocoa fruit rather than just the beans - and without using sugar.

The chocolate, developed at Zurich’s prestigious Federal Institute of Technology by scientist Kim Mishra and his team includes the cocoa fruit pulp, the juice, and the husk, or endocarp.

6. Six-year-old boy found in Vietnam forest after five days

A six-year-old boy who was missing for five days has been found deep in a forest in Vietnam. Dang Tien Lam, who lives in the northwestern Yen Bai province, was playing in a stream with his nine siblings on 17 August when he wandered into the hills and got lost, local reports said.

He was found on Wednesday by local farmers who heard a child's cry while they were clearing a cinnamon field close to the forest.

7. Lego plans to make half the plastic in bricks from renewable materials by 2026

Lego plans to make half the plastic in its bricks from renewable or recycled material rather than fossil fuels by 2026, in its latest effort to ensure its toys are more environmentally friendly.

The Danish company last year ditched efforts to make bricks entirely from recycled bottles because of cost and production issues. At the moment, 22% of the material in its colourful bricks is not made from fossil fuels.

----------

That's it for this month :)

This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation here:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Also don’t forget to share this post with your friends.

[archive245]

Legacy of gods head cannons: Kiss the Villain

Gareth

- Gareth and Killian used to be really close before the whole mouse incident (FUCK ASHER)

- Like Gareth would let Kill sleep with him at night if he had a nightmere or would just fall asleep while playing lego or gaming together

- Like Gareth used to be Killians role model with how he always took care of him

- Like all older siblings he felt the need to care for his younger brother, that forced him to mature pretty quickly compared to others

- He kept trying to take care and protect Kill after the whole incident but since he kept distancing him from him, they both drifted apart and while kill developed a resentment towards him, gareth believed he deserved it and that he failed as an older sibling

- Due to his image of being the golden boy of the group and family he relies heavily on academic validation

- Prob cried several times (In secret obviously) if he got a bad grade

- Very this is me trying, the prophecy, and you’re on your own kid

- Always felt like the second chance, probably because as he got older he saw how everyone wanted killian, how all his past girlfriends prob slept with killian first, then after he dropped them they came to him and after a while he got used to that

- He never loved anyone romantically before kayden

- Loves call me by your name (prob his bi or gay awakening

- Reads and studies to escape reality

- Sucks at math, hence why he chose to major in law

- The stalker psycho genes run in his DNA, hence why he developed an obsession with professor lockwood

- I would die for gareth to be the one whose like “Your mine, let anyone touch you ill kill them” instead of kayden being the one whose like that

- I like to believe that hes Bi, but we’ll figure it out during his book 🤔

- Never takes naps, thinks their for the weak

- Surprisingly has a normal sleep schedule

- Compulsively cracks his knuckles when nervous, anxious or feels uncomfortable

- Mild to Moderate OCD nothing serious where he loses his mind if a colour pencil is in the wrong place but like likes to have things in order and in the same places

- Hates having things misplaced, it developed as killian would mess up things to mess with him over in the long run made him hate disorder

- Hates losing control, of literally anything, his emotions, his surroundings, anything

- Cold hands 24/7 365 probable due to consistently being in fight or flight

- Kill is known as the strategist but gareth is the ones who plan all the heathens stuff like for the initiation he was the one who set the time, place, text message, etc. Hes in charge of all the smaller details

- Wears the white dress shirts with sweaters, yk with the collar poking through (UGHHHHH 🤤)

Kayden Lockwood

- GLASSES GLASSES GLASSES

- From the limited snippet we got about him from GoF and GoR I definitely think gareth would make the first move, subtle hints like sitting at the front of the lecture halls, asking questions (or dare I say arguing with something Kayden said just to talk to him 🫢), going to every👏single👏office👏hours👏, etc very sublte things yk

- The type of professor to ask if you want to a dance infront of the class instead of a final exam

- Only uses blue pens (Idk why but yes) (switches to green pens after getting into a relationship with gareth, i wonder why)

- Very nonchalant i think, and would prob brush off gareth little crush on him because lets be real he prob had hundreds of students have a crush on him

- But little did he know gareth crush would be different from the others in was that yk be would follow him around in his car, and stalk around his favourite grocery stores

- That would prob get his attention and instead if being creeped I think he would be interested

- Doesnt drink, doesnt smoke but gets high off the feeling of winning chess games

- Doesnt do with technology (even though he’s in his early to mid thirties) and has a battle with the projector every lecture

- Gareth will definitely make fun of him for not getting Gen z slang

- Insomniac who lives off coffee

- Teaches criminal law, and was at a big city law firm before he became a professor

- Has a 4.5 on rate my professor, and one 4 review on his profile made him loose his perfect 5.0 rating, hes still very salty about that

♫ྀི love me like you do - ellie goulding, illict afairs - taylor swift, dirty little secret - nessa barrett, guilty as sin - taylor swift, love wins all - IU

[fipindustries]

does F.I.P stand for anything in particular or is it a secret

ah, my favourite question to answer, fuck it, this time im going to give the long answer:

a primer on FIP

you know.

i dont have the best memory of my past, i truly dont. i claim that certain things happen at certain ages but there is no way for me to know for sure.

long long ago i decided, a bit at random, that the age at which i came up with the concept of FIP industries might have been when i was eleven. that was a guess, an educated guess but a guess all the same.

i know the very first idea of something akin to fip industries came to me on a family trip after watching the now forgotten cartoon show called the project zeta. and this all happened roughly in 2003 - 2004. so that is why i use that date.

which would mean that its been 20 years since i came up with this project. i do remember distinctly that i promised my self at that age that i would not allow maturity or growing up to take this thing away from me. that i would not forget this story or these characters. indeed that i would make it grow and dedicate the surely considerable resources i would have as an adult to make it come true.

and i didnt.

ten years after that, when i was 21, i wrote a novel called F.I.P. industries. it's... fine, for a first draft of a first work of someone who had never written a novel before at 21 years of age. it develop the story, it crystalized it. it gave it a coherent shape and a strong foundation. what's more, it cemented the arcs of many of its key characters, characters that had started as broken, improvised toys made out of key chains and legos and pieces of toy cars. the lore also went through an EXTENSIVE overhaul, i incorporated elements from other stories, fused characters together into a single character, changed the race and gender of many other characters, changed dates, names and arcs around and streamlined the whole thing.

then in 2020 i decided to overhaul the entire lore a second time. dramatically changing the timeline and the importance of certain characters, cannibalizing a bunch of other stories, retooling a lot of things and, once again, pushing everything into a new direction.

and of course i should add that during those 20 years i kept adding characters, side stories, spin offs, lore, backstories and actually continued the story along. twenty years have passed both in the real world and in-universe.

and given that this is the story's 20th aniversary (i think), it is time for me to share this story with all of you, from beggining to end, explaining every character along the way. this is going to be a long and arduous excercise and i genuenly dont know if i am going to get through it all, but i will try all the same.

ill be making a series of posts under the tag #FIPindustries the story can be divided in three eras, it will be one masterpost per era, where i will go over the main chronology of the story and the main characters in each era.

Era 1, also known as the golden years covers the founding and original expansion of fip industries as a research lab covering multiple different disciplines and fields of studies, trying to find synergies between the different investigations. this was all financed and directed by its founder, Filander Ignatius Patrick. this era ends with the collapse of the company during a terrible incident that ended up killing, vanishing or transmutating most of its employees. what few survivors there were left scattered to the winds. key characters in this era are Montogmery J. Black, also known as the shadow, Craig Sterling, legally assigned as grim reaper, and Franchesca Turimov, cyborg, rabble rouser, bad news.

Era 2, also known as the dormant era, covers the fallout of fip industries collapse and the different stories of the multiple scavengers that managed to salvage the lost technology from the ruins of the company. this era is mainly dominated by Maximillian Sicamore, a sinister man with many secrets and even more plans, who used to be an employee at the company and one of the few survivors of the collapse. key characters in this era are Maximillian Sicamore, criminal mastermind, proud father, The four crazy kids, Marten, Ralph, Sarah and jessica, freelance heroes, The harpsichord crew, sky pirates.

Era 3, is the return of FIP industries to its former glory under the helm of maximillian's son, Erik Sicamore, who takes over his father's empire, re hires many of the old scientists that survived (and many of those who didnt as well), and includes a fresh batch of new blood, amongst which you can find many of fip industries old enemies. Under the control of Erik the company is redirected to more "charitable" goals, such as finding a source of infinite renewable energy for the world (which is all a front for his real plans, killing god). key characters for this era are Erik Sicamore, leader of FIP industries, broken man, trans, Peter, tamed serial killer, Leenard and Sasha, scientists, lost in time, lost in space

with this quick introduction you should be ready to parse whatever the more indepth dives i might make some day on each era in the oncoming posts.

welcome to F.I.P. Industries

[lpslopbunny112]

I am SO STOKED that lego released a new ice planet mini figure in the latest cmf series! The entire lineup is amazing, referencing other old factions such as M-tron and Blacktron 2 but I still can’t get over the fact they brought back arguably my favorite space faction of them all! Lego ice planet. Unfortunately the transparent neon orange we all love is gone but this is still a pretty great homage to the originals just reimagined in a modern fashion.

Here is also a comparison with my original Dr. Kelvin minifig from the 90’s side by side with the new version of her.

Im pretty sure they are meant to be the same person, I like to imagine that the new figure is an older version of herself in a future where she becomes the new captain of the crew (since captain cold is pretty old) and they also develop more advanced technology. I much prefer the older helmet and I miss the hoop earrings, they are super cute and give her a unique little touch. Im also partial to older lego faces, so my biased side says I like the older one better but the new one looks extremely good too. The new tosro is especially nice, the printing looks amazing on both the back and the front.

The coat’s neck fur is my favorite part, it looks so cute and fluffy! It almost makes me wanna get doubles of this figure just to give these coats to my oldschool minifigs too. They’re perfect. The new chestplate is also amazing, It displays a very detailed little print of the ice planet logo.

I also wanted to highlight the added robot penguin. Ive always imagined that planet Krysto would have arctic animals on it so this little addition supports that idea of mine, not to mention it’s also just very cute! I see this little guy acting like a camera, it easily blends into the environment and can record videos of wildlife or even warn the crew about incoming invaders.

Well congratulations, you’ve reached the end of my mini review! As you can tell… I really like lego ice planet. I’m extremely happy with this new little minifig and I wanted to share the details with those who are interested 💖

-Mimi

[destinysbounty]

Yo what if you went off about s3, it'd be cool

The love triangle, the quick tech development, whatever you want, I wanna know what you think

(I saw you in the tags of that post, please gimme the analysies. pretty please)

The entirety of my thoughts on Ninjago's technology are long and vast and complicated, and I could probably make a full video essay on just that topic alone. But for the sake of simplicity, and also because I'm too lazy to write a 10k-word essay with screenshot evidence on why Ninjago tech isn't actually anachronistic, I'm going to just focus on the season 3 issue for now.

Now, one criticism that often gets lobbed at Rebooted is the matter of the technology. How did Ninjago suddenly become a hyper-futuristic technoscape in the span of what couldn't be more than a year? At first glance, I can understand how that might feel unrealistic. I used to feel the same way! But it actually makes total sense when you realize that this technology probably already existed, if only in a beta form, for years before s3 started.

But wait! If the technology already existed in some form, then why wasn't it used? Why did Ninjago only become a cyberpunk dystopia during s3??

The answer to that question is something that sounds like a no-brainer, but should probably be said anyway: just because a technology exists, doesn't mean it is democratized. That is to say, just because a society has made certain technological advancements, doesn't mean everyone in that society can actually access those advancements. Look at any country in our contemporary world - richer and more industrialized communities typically have better access to cutting edge developments, whereas more rural communities may not even have reliable internet access. Even Ignacia, which is one of the most rural communities we've seen in the entire show, was depicted as having landlines and telephone poles in the very first scene.

Moreover, it's reasonable to assume that robotics and digital technology has existed - and fairly advanced - for decades in-universe.

My evidence? The creation of characters such as Zane and Unagami. Both were invented roughly 40 and 20 years pre-canon respectively. Coding, and especially programming an AI like both characters are classified as, requires the existence of a computer. Which means that computers existed as early as the Serpentine War. (Unless Zane is the product of magi-tech, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Especially since Zane's original body also has other functions that, to my knowledge, wouldn't be possible without programming. For now, I'm proceeding under the assumption that Zane was created purely with technology.)

For these reasons I would argue that certain technologies, and in particular digital technology, have existed in-universe for a lot longer than we might think at first glance - but due to what appears to be some very extreme wealth disparity, technology has only recently become more widely accessible within the last few decades.

Think about it. Most human settlements we see are fairly small and rural, except for Ninjago City. Ninjago City is the only city we've seen on-screen in the entire series (with a few small towns here and there, but it's mostly just villages). And even then, the cost of living in Ninjago City itself is astronomically high. There's clearly something funky going on with this country's distribution of wealth.

With that in mind, it makes total sense that the tech we see in s3 was at least in development a lot earlier than anyone might realize. It's just that it was too expensive and exclusive for anyone in the general public to actually use it.

Now, let's look at this in the context of Rebooted.

Imagine you're a multi-millionaire tech mogul and the CEO of a very powerful tech company. The city is in shambles in the wake of an apocalyptic battle against Lego Satan. You take this opportunity to spearhead the reconstruction efforts. On top of being an impressive PR stunt, this is also great for business as it presents you with the perfect opportunity to populate the city wholesale with your own products: flying cars, holographic floating streets, AI vending machines, elaborate VR and AR setups, mechanical spider wheelchairs, the whole nine yards. The government probably even writes you a big check to make this process more accessible to your consumers - I mean, to the citizens of your the shiny new corporatocracy you may or may not have stumbled into creating. Whether or not you employed lobbyism to get this check is neither here nor there. After all, this is for the greater good! And to finally seal the deal that this city has become a Borg Industries outpost, you rebrand Ninjago City to New Ninjago City. This isn't just a city anymore, it's a corporate asset. It's an ad campaign. It's a way of life.

This also explains why all the tech mysteriously vanishes after s3 ends: supply and demand. A robot apocalypse is, among other things, bad for PR. I don't wanna think about the existence of a Lego Stock Market because that will hurt my brain, but a robot apocalypse is definitely what I would classify as a "black swan event" (an unpredictable crisis that severely disrupts the stock market). The company starts faltering financially because of all the public backlash, people stop buying and investing in their tech, their stocks start to crash, and Borg Industries has to roll back on their infrastructural monopoly. And so the technological status quo is (mostly) restored.

The theme of s3 isn't "technology bad" - at least, it shouldn't be. If you're as brainrotted as I am then the theme of s3 instead becomes, "maybe you shouldn't let one sole company have a total monopoly on your society's infrastructure because they might accidentally start a cyberpunk dystopia". And that is a...disturbingly apt moral for our current day and age (cough cough Amazon).

...can you tell I've been listening to The Fine Print by Stupendium on loop for too long?

[missjukebox8bit]

Today I've decided to introduce a Mega Man OC of mine that I made up for a chapter of my fanfic The Roboticists' Daughters, but that's taking a while to make sooooo here's a bio for her!

Fluga Bonne

Art by @switchnx

The heiress of the Bonne family fortune (as of 20XX), which made its fortune when her parents developed Digster, a popular file-sharing platform, though the company recently expanded to building robotic mechs for humans to pilot. Fluga is enrolled in Pajitnov Academy, the number one technology school in Russia, to learn how to build such machines so she could one day run her family’s company, which she fully believes will keep her family name well known for centuries to come. And probably her own name specifically, you know, hopefully.

Fluga has an intense rivalry with her classmate Kalinka Cossack, and they clash a lot on their opinions of modern robotics. Fluga believes that robots should just be tools for humans, and doesn’t really see the point of them having “personalities” and “feelings” and “independent thought”, so she has a strong dislike of her growing friendship with Roll. Definitely not out of any kind of jealousy or anything.

Good point: Creative, good with technology, is only 11 so she still has time to get better as she grows up probably

Bad point: Arrogant, stubborn

Likes: Mecha, LEGOs, historical/media preservation

Dislikes: Sentient robots, being ignored

[lmk-aus-galore]

Cinema Sins/Wins Rip Off of Lego Monkie Kid.

Yeah yeah I’m back folks, I just decided to take a looong break.

Inspired by @satansaidmyturnintheh3||scape

Rules:

-I won't be counting Animation Mistakes, because Idk how to do that, and I myself am a beginner animator (more like incredibly amateur, to the point I'm asking my sister for help) Unless of course the Animation is obviously and clearly having a mistake for me to watch.(Or it is said in the wiki) The other reason is because I don't want to keep repeating a scene just to check for an animation mistake.

-!This is mostly for entertainment purposes, sorry if I sound too mean!

-I also won't be counting flashbacks as 'mistakes' because most of them are based on bias.

-I'll be formatting it like this

-Neutral

-Sin

-Win

Let’s get started.

——————————————-

-Intro.

._.

-Love how you can see where Mei, Sandy and MK are in this scene.

-On the other hand why does Pigsy have a random game machine beside his shop? I know there are apartment buildings on top of said shop but in Season 2 he actively has authority to remove it.

-Secondly is MK currently on break at the moment or is he just, ‘slacking off’ judging by his clothes he should be currently working.

-Dragon Horse and Stone Monkey.

-Ah yes the underrated trio. Sandy, Mei and MK. Please tell me this group has a name.

-Bad time to call your daughter.

-The way Mei is so nervous to talk to her mother and the way she talks as if her mother doesn’t even give her enough time to explain, like I think Mei’s Mother is cutting her off at times here and it’s not really okay. It feels like Mei is talking to her boss than her Mom.

-Sandy for the win.

-The finishing move is a spin of the staff and a hit to the leg…wow MK.

-I really love how Sandy is just casually friends with these guys. Like these guys just met Sandy a few weeks ago and all of a sudden they said ‘Let’s be friends’

-Ok MK you should really get social cues…or at least let Mei get a word in-

-‘I always wanted to see Mei’s secret Dragon House full of secret Dragon stuff’ makes me wonder why no one believes in the Monkey King stories. Either that or why Mei isn’t being worshipped like a deity by now.

-Also MK, kinda creepy…but to be fair Mei put cameras on all of you…

-BRO THIS BULL CLONE HAS EVERYTHING ON HER?!

-Why does this Bull Clone pull out the same Two Pictures twice?

-Mei doesn’t smile in her photo, along with the rest of her family :(

-In fact she looks kinda restricted.

-Also Key detail, looks like Mei’s little green hair things are dyed!

-PIF confirms that Sha Wujing’s spear and Zhu Bajie’s rake are Celestial Weapons that later tie into Season 4

-We also have the Calabash, PIF’s fan, Wukong’s staff, Nezha’s spear and two of the Samadhi Fire Rings…though I think by this time of development this probably is Nezha’s little ring thingys in his shoes? Not really sure. The only one we don’t know about is the unidentified sword and the random rope.

-Also is she implying that her own fan is a powerful artifact? I guess that makes sense…?

-Why does PIF’s animation always stretch her or squish her I can’t take her seriously XD worse that it’s usually the face.

-Mei wanting to be a normal child is so sad. On the other hand why don’t we have more fanfics of Mei and her family dynamic? Come on people the angst is right there!

-When you think about it, the High-Tech security might’ve been the reason Mei became the ‘Tech Girl’ in the group. Since her family dabbles in High-Technology it’s only obvious she grew curious of that stuff.

-On the other note, what’s with Ancient families and suddenly getting a grasp at handling High-Technology? Like bro Red Son and Mei have so many parallels to each other it’s insane.

-MEI THIS IS WHY YOU DONT LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN.

-You know Red Son you might need to double down in calling Mei a peasant because uhh…wow, the place is huge.

-Mei’s room doesn’t have a door, which shows how shitty these people actually are.

-Also Mei has a lot of rock aesthetic posters, including one with a spider meaning Mei canonically had a rock phase. That or a goth phase so goth Mei is probably canon.

-Why I thought of rock is because of the two sets of guitars she has, one being an electric guitar.

-Mei also has a skateboard indicating she used to skate.

-She has an indoor TV with two game controllers (Why didn’t they just play in her bedroom?)

-And finally she has some things I think her parents would’ve given her such has the pony statue and the meditation carpet on the floor.

-Also apparently she plays the piano? Or is that even a piano?

-The legend of Mei’s sword is kinda cool actually.

-WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH IT?! HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO GETS TO WEILD IT THEN?!

-I have a feeling I know why no one has been able to hold that sword in like…ever (They all look so mean)

-‘You two boot up the old TV!’ What TV? There is literally no TV there? Is there a TV off-screen? Even so where would you put said TV? And again, why not your room?

-MK control your strength- how the hell does that even happen?

-Bull Clone literally just yeeted his hat at him.

-Said Bull Clone took the precious Dragon Sword despite the fact that he was struggling to get it off the statue

-Mei calls her Motorcycle like a horse, get it? Dragon Horse?

-Okay now I don’t blame MK I think that pinball machine is old. BECAUSE HOW DOES THAT JUST HAPPEN?!

-Mei this house should at LEAST take up a whole acre, HOW BIG IS YOUR HOUSE?!

-Mei fixing her bike is while she is chasing the Bull Clone is badass as hell. We do not talk about her enough.

-Pro tip: Never mess with Mei.

-This is why we need to give this family some doubt, okay if literally all her ancestors are dissing her and insulting her to her face because of the way she acts then maybe you shouldn’t turn a blind eye.

-‘You know what I am part of this family! I am Mei! Descendant of the Great Dragon of the West Sea, this is mine! And this is my House!” You go girl, show these guys a what you’re made of!

-A very good take on Mei accepting who she is despite her family’s expectations on her. She’s part of the family but she knows that she needs to stand up for herself. Good bravo.

-IS IT JUST ME OR IS THAT THING BIGGER THAN NORMAL?!

-I wonder what the parents’ reaction was, Holy cow this might’ve been QUITE the sight.

-Yep that Bull Clone is straight up dead.

-MK I think that machine is really just old.

-Lol, Sandy making sure MK doesn’t lose focus.

-‘Somebody forgot our luggage’ then she stares directly at the dad and said dad doesn’t give a damn.

-The fact that Mei has to apologize first before getting praised is messed up as hell. If someone is trying to steal a really powerful relic such as that, then obviously it’s gonna be chaos, but the fact she has to apologize first before they acknowledge she did something good is messed up.

-But to be fair I think they do love Mei, really, but the way they parent just icks me.

-And Mei’s mom sounds like she pulled that whole talk out from google.

-Mei’s dad sounds…familiar hold up-

-KNEW I HEARD THAT VOICE SOMEWHERE. (Also apparently Mei’s mom is the same VA as Mei, so Stephanie Steph is just talking to herself)

-Poor MK…

[loemius]

im too like fuzzy from cough syrup to answer YOUR question-- Hephaestus is associated with copper specifically from my understanding, but I know a lot of modern helpol folks associate him with stuff like computers, the internet, metal in general. Hephaestus needs some love, whats some other things you associate him with, either upg or historically (I kinda like thinking of him as the god of disability aids like wheelchairs and prosthetics)

OH BOY I LOVE THIS QUESTION!!!!! i love hephaestus and i am so glad to spread some love for him. thank you for this fantastic question <333 historically speaking: -cranes! paper cranes are really fun and easy to make and would be an awesome votive for him. -donkeys! i think about this one a lot and his myth with dionysus where he'd been cast out of olympos and dionysus was the one who came after him and was able to convince him to return, and he rode back on a donkey: "One of the Greek legends is that Hephaistos, when he was born, was thrown down by Hera. In revenge he sent as a gift a golden chair with invisible fetters. When Hera sat down she was held fast, and Hephaistos refused to listen to any other of the gods save Dionysos--in him he reposed the fullest trust--and after making him drunk Dionysos brought him to heaven." [theoi.com, Pausanias 1.20.3] i mean just look at him on his steed. i love it. [also sourced from theoi.com]

-this is a weird one but chains. he's got a lot to do with chains, from the aforementioned binding of hera to the net of chains to capture ares and aphrodite in their affair to the binding of prometheus. i havent quite developed my thoughts on this yet, but i think it's very interesting. -hammers. he's often seen depicted with his hammer, and of course he helped zeus give birth to athena by using his hammer to split his head open. having experience in metalworking really made me appreciate this more, because there are SO many different kinds of hammers and using the wrong one can completely change the outcome of your work. also, its hard work! makes me think more about just how strong lord hephaestus is to make such grand works. -i think about him a lot with jewelry making, since he's got quite a few historically attested pieces of jewelry that he's made. upg: -i also associate him with mobility aids of all kinds. i also think about him and apollo working together to make medical technology, which means a lot to me as someone who's had health struggles. -i also associate him with computers too. i pray to him when my technology doesnt work LMAO -tobacco. i liked to smoke a cigarette with him before id go into the metal shop (dont smoke please its terrible for you) -the smell of metal. weird one but id go into the metal shop and take a sniff and be like :') ahhhhh hephaestus. i worked a lot in copper and bronze bc theyre soft and cheap metals, and the smell of copper on your hands after spending hours on the jewelers saw... like nothing else in this world. -soldering. when i learned to solder i would pray to him to help me do it well and get a good solder. it is harder than you think, especially when working in silver which can and WILL melt if you're not careful enough. it really made me appreciate how diligent and patient he must be. on a similar note, annealing metal also made me think of him. annealing is the process of heating and quenching metal to strength it once it gets too soft and you are quite literally just blasting it with a torch until it’s red hot. takes so much patience and carefulness. -open flame cooking. he's associated with fires after all and just. tossing something on the grill or over a campfire always makes me think of him. i also think of zeus when i grill things but i dont have a reason for that other than grilling is dad behavior and he is the ultimate dad. -LEGOS. any time i play with legos i am thinking about him. its the building aspect and the creativity. -really i think about him, athena, and apollo a lot when i'm creating, especially 3d works for hephaestus. i'm pursuing a bfa so i make a lot of things, and i think a lot about his skill and dedication to the craft when i make them.

thank you so so much for this ask!!! i loved answering this and would love to hear others thoughts on this <3 gods bless you with health and happiness!!!

[ralfmaximus]

Death to programmers!

We don't need you anymore. FINALLY the shackles of oppression are broken and any moron with a keyboard can make software!

THANKS TO AI, ANYONE CAN PROGRAM!!1!

Watch this smug jackass make outrageous claims about LLM-driven coding. He's the CEO of GitHub, so of course his opinion that software development is exactly like snapping Legos together matters, right?

Please. Do not fall for this bullshit. Yes, LLMs are an amazing technology and can improve certain projects. But having the thing do the work for you, without intervention or guidance is a crazy bad idea. If your AI assistant works perfectly 90% of the time that simply means you must be hypervigilant to catch the 10% when it inevitably fucks up. In some ways that is more stressful than if you did the whole task yourself.

It's the same way self-driving cars work. Even the best ones require you to keep your eyes forward, paying attention. It's the same level of effort & attention required in a manual system, with the added bonus that you're expected to jolt into adrenalin fueled action if the car misbehaves.

Which, if you're gonna do all that, why not just drive the fucking car yourself??

I cannot wait for this stupid AI techbro bubble to pop.

[legosaurus]

McLaren & Lego Unveil Lego Technic McLaren P1

The British supercar maker McLaren Automotive and the Lego Group today unveil their latest collaboration paying tribute to the world’s most pioneering hybrid hypercar, with the introduction of the Lego Technic McLaren P1.

The McLaren P1 redefined automotive high-performance as the most exciting, most capable, most technologically advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar of its time. The P1 leveraged McLaren’s advanced motorsport-based engineering, featuring ground-breaking advances in weight reduction, packaging, high-speed performance, powertrain and aerodynamics.

Created with the intention of being ‘the best driver’s car in the world on both road and track’, the design and technical specifications of the McLaren P1 provided the ideal foundation to deliver on this ambition. The remarkable hypercar is recognized as a landmark both for McLaren and the development of high-performance hybrid vehicles.

The incredible engineering and technology underpinning the performance, style and functional design the McLaren P1, made it the perfect challenge for the Lego Technic team to replicate in 1:8 scale.

Unveiled as part of the Lego Technic Ultimate Car Concept Series, the all-new 1:8 scale Lego Technic version consists of 3,893 elements and each car features a unique serial number which unlocks special behind-the-scenes content. The model has a 7-speed gearbox with 2 shifter drums, suspension, V8 piston engine, adjustable rear wing, and opening dihedral doors with advanced mechanism �� all guaranteeing an immersive building experience from start to finish that is authentic to the real McLaren P1.

The Lego Technic McLaren P1 set will be available from 1st August 2024 priced at €449.99 / £389.99 / $449.99.

[makers-muse]

CODING FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

The world of coding can be scary, with obscure symbols and complicated logic. What if we told you it might be a creative and problem-solving playground for children with special needs? Intrigued? Buckle up, because we’re going to discover the thrilling world of adaptive coding strategies!

Here’s how coding transforms into an inclusive playground:

Block-based coding language: Scratch, Blockly, and Codemonkey Jr, these drag-and-drop interfaces make coding more visual and intuitive, which is ideal for children who struggle with traditional text-based coding. Imagine making colorful animations with just a few clicks!

Voice-activated coding: Speech recognition software allows children with physical restrictions to code using voice commands. This enables kids to contribute and express their creativity via code.

Gamification: Gamifying learning makes it more enjoyable and inspiring. RoboGarden, for example, turns coding into a game in which children solve puzzles and accomplish challenges, thus fostering problem-solving abilities in a fun way.

Physical computing: Makey Makey and Sphero robots are two examples of tools that help to connect the digital and physical realms. Coding becomes tangible and interesting for kids when they can program their robots to overcome difficulties or make their own musical instruments.

Multisensory learning: Multisensory learning environments are very beneficial for kids with special needs. Interactive coding exercises that combine visual, tactile, and audio components improve learning and memory. Through the combination of physical building and programming, interactive coding toys such as Botley the Coding Robot or LEGO Education SPIKE Prime offer a hands-on learning experience.

Several initiatives have successfully implemented adaptive learning techniques to teach coding to kids with special needs:

CoderDojo’s Autism Pilot Program: The international network of coding clubs CoderDojo has introduced a trial program, especially for kids with autism. Through the use of customized support, visual aids, and sensory breaks, the program established a warm and inviting atmosphere in which kids could flourish.

Tech Access: TeachAccess promotes accessible and inclusive design in technology-based learning. Their materials and training courses give teachers the skills and resources they need to design coding curricula that are accessible to learners of all skill levels.

Apple’s Everyone Can Code Curriculum: All students can benefit from inclusive and accessible coding instruction thanks to Apple’s curriculum, which includes activities and materials designed specifically for students with disabilities.

Remember: It’s all about finding the correct match! Investigate multiple coding platforms, try out new strategies, and celebrate little wins. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so customize the learning experience for your child’s individual needs and interests.

Coding is more than just building snazzy websites or mobile apps. It is about developing problem-solving abilities, promoting creativity, and instilling confidence. By embracing adaptive learning methodologies, we can provide access to this exciting world for all children, empowering them to become future coders, inventors, and innovators.

[yetanotherthriftblog]

Went to the Goodwil Outlet after a dental appointment today and here's the haul:

Three Blu-Rays that I intend to donate to another thrift that doesn't just throw out their adventure movie Blu-Rays.

"Christmas Organ & Chimes" by an unknown artist. Seriously, no info here and Discogs.com doesn't know either. Does sound good, it's not obvious whether this is not actually a synthesizer so could be real.

A bag of magnetic words. Which I took out of a bag of magnetic letters, but they were huge so didn't go with my decor.

A completed roll of 35mm film. Hilarity and development will ensue someday.

There was an IKEA '"Fixa" tool set in the bins, but only 4 of the 17 pieces were in it -- three drill bits and the hammer. The hammer stayed, the drill bits came with me.

A little metal toy car. You don't see those often enough.

A vintage 6' tape measure (Monitor #206) which will get its own entry on Vintage Technology as soon as I oil the insides a little.

A box of blue Dennison stars. Supposed to be 15, there are 10.

Hello. Hello again.

A Samsung Tab 8.4 (T320), which is plugged in but not charging... seems to require being connected to the computer to get juice at all. I think the reason someone got rid of it and no one else took it before I saw it is because it uses Android 4.4.2 the back is made from that horrible plastic that after a few years or exposure to elements it becomes sticky like flypaper... I scrubbed it with Dawn to get the glitter and hair off of it. That was a little help but it's still absurdly adhesive. Folks online say it can go up to Android 10 or 11 with custom firmware. Eh, will try.

An industrial-sized ricer. Squish a whole potato into mash with it!

A pair of tongs. The axle is missing one crimped end so I can't say how long I'm going to keep these but here they are.

Someone's high school tennis team photo with three of someone's prom photos (I presume; it's a teen couple on a boat).

Rack for the shower or sink with two suction cups.

There an amazing shop semi-locally called Yard Birds, and apparently they put out a DVD with their history: Skinny & Fatty - The Story Of Yard Birds. Of course I had to have this.

Lego-emulation from a giftshop (I have seen several other models at the rest stop at East Summit, Snoqualmie) of a polar bear.

Bottle brush tree, 'tis the season.

Bike helmet. For when I want to ride the scooter I bought for my girlfriend and I lost the one I had with my own bike in a move. I think there's supposed to be an inner pad because there's a series of strips of Velcro (pointy surface out, ugh) all the way around.

And the real find: Tupperware 'Jel-n-Serve' gellatin mold from the 1970s! The parts are the main ribbed bowl, the large top (bottom) lid, and four small bottom (top) lids with debosses of a tree, a heart, a star, and a tulip, plus the instruction sheet. You better believe I'm gonna make some freakin' tuna aspic!

[melymigo]

Character's descriptions of the Lego Skywalker Saga game.

Full descriptions here:

Hunter

Hunter is the leader of Clone Force 99, the squadron of clones that developed advantageous mutations during their cloning process. Despite their desirable skills, the squad are often ironically  referred to as the "Bad Batch". Hunter's unique mutation lead to the enhancement of all his senses, which make him a keen strategist and effective leader in the field.

Tech

A member of Clone Force 99, commonly known as the "Bad Batch", Tech is an elite soldier that developed beneficial mutations during the cloning process. His heightened cognitive abilities make Tech a gifted engineer and scientist.

He provides the Bad Batch with unique advantages in the field, such as translating alien languages to communicate with locals and gain vital intel. Despite his penchant for technology, Tech is known to be a rather talkative clone.

Wrecker

Wrecker was one of the many clones created for the Grand Army of the Republic, but due to his desirable mutations,  he was assigned to Clone Force 99. This unique squad of clones referred to themselves as "The Bad Batch" and each of the members had beneficial mutations that gave them an advantage in the battlefield. Wrecker had developed increased strength and was vastly bigger than regular clones.

Crosshair

The cantankerous clone known as Crosshair is a member of the Clone Force 99, or the "Bad Batch".

His unique genetic mutations have Crosshair exceptional sharpshooting abilities, making him one of the galaxy's most gifted marksmen. The sniper has a reputation of being a rather cynical figure and is often heard disdainfully referring to regular clone troopers as "regs".

Echo

Gravely injured whilst, on Lola Sayu, Echo was captured by Separatists and turned into a cyborg. The injured clone was kept in stasis on Anaxes (Skako minor) unwittingly feeding the Techno Union intel on the Republic. He was eventually rescued by Clone Force 99, who subsequently invited him to join their ranks, as his cybernetic abilities made him a perfect candidate for the squad. With Commander Rex's blessing,  Echo accepted the offer and now proudly serves in clone force 99.

Commander Cody

CC-2224, or "Cody", was a Commander in the Clone Army. A master tactician and gifted soldier,  Cody not only had the respect of his fellow clone troopers  but also the Jedi. He was especially close to Master Obi-Wan Kenobi,  whom he accompanied to the Outer Rim in search of General Grievous.

Captain Rex

CT-7567, nicknamed Rex, was a respected leader of the 501st legion of clone troopers and a hero of the Republic Army. An unusually freethinking clone, Rex was a leader who cared much about the clones under his command and became fast friends with both Anakin Skywalker and his apprentice, Ahsoka Tano -completing many successful missions together.

[farsight-the-char]

What ships and stations look like in my SiFi Setting.

Cosmic Federation: Federation space-faring technology is often based around manufacturing base sections of facilities first, and assembling them around the engine, attaching them like lego. This leads to a very blocky look to some ships, but easy modularity and cross-compatibility. Newer stations, especially planet-bound ones, have a very Brutalist look, though as things develop more some more variety is added. Humanity brings their culture with them for the interiors. 

..

The Commonwealth: Civilian ships have a very “nautical” feel to them, often looking like historical sailboats, a deliberate practice to maintain the Nyat connection to their history. The warships are sleek and maneuverable, even the larger ones. Stations for the Commonwealth are full of nature and art. Given the loss of the Nyat homeworld because of the civil war, the determination to maintain their culture in space makes sense. 

The member cultures of the Commonwealth, such as the Rex’can and Man’tai, take notes from the Commonwealth but have their own spins on things.

Rex’can do not make distinction between warship and civilian vessel for their own fleets, thus every ship made has combat potential (even if it lacks visible armament).

The Man’tai design their ships after the animals of their homeworld, predatory lizard-beasts for the warships particularly. 

..

The Sanctuary Republics: FLYING FUCKING CASTLES! The ability to create is the gift of the divine in the Fal’kor society, thus Republic ships are masterworks of art and science. Civilian ships have grand artworks painted on the hulls, their stations adorned in many murals, awe inspiring displays of faith, history, and industry.

Their warships bring a greater “Cathedral” look, though the number of warships the Republic has in its possession is limited, because they get very resource intensive quickly. 

..

The Grand Unity: Because of the diverse number of species the Unity, their ships often resemble trains, different cars accommodating the needs of individual species with several “cars” serving as places of meeting between cultures. Stations emulate this idea, several sections divided up but built around a central facility. 

The warships maintain the “train” idea, and a fleet of the Unity’s ships is often compared to a dance of dragons in how they maneuver around each other

[xstrike]

Top 10 Fun and Educational Kids Activities in Dubai

Dubai, a vibrant city known for its luxurious lifestyle and architectural marvels, is also a haven for children. With a plethora of fun and educational activities, it offers an enriching experience for kids of all ages. Whether you're a resident or a tourist, here are the top 10 kids activities in Dubai that blend fun with learning, ensuring a memorable time for your little ones.

Xstrike UAE

For those looking for action-packed indoor activities near me, Xstrike UAE is the perfect spot. This state-of-the-art tactical entertainment center offers an immersive experience that combines the thrill of video games with physical activity. Kids can learn about teamwork, strategy, and problem-solving while having a blast.

Highlights:

- Tactical entertainment

- Immersive gaming experience

- Promotes teamwork and strategy

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Located in The Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is a must-visit for families. Kids can marvel at the 10-million-liter tank, home to thousands of aquatic animals, including sharks and rays. The underwater zoo offers educational insights into marine life, making it both an exciting and learning experience.

Highlights:

- Glass-bottom boat rides

- Interactive sessions with marine biologists

- Shark diving experiences

Kidzania

Kidzania, also situated in The Dubai Mall, is an interactive mini-city where children can role-play various professions. This unique concept allows kids to learn about different careers while having fun. From being a doctor to a firefighter, Kidzania provides a realistic and engaging environment for kids to explore and develop new skills.

Highlights:

- Over 80 role-playing activities

- Realistic city layout

- Educational and entertaining

Dubai Science Park

Dubai Science Park is an excellent destination for young minds curious about science and technology. The park offers interactive exhibits and hands-on experiments that make learning fun and engaging. It's a fantastic way to spark interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects.

Highlights:

- Interactive science exhibits

- Hands-on experiments

- Educational workshops

Green Planet

For a taste of the rainforest in the heart of Dubai, head to the Green Planet. This indoor tropical rainforest is home to over 3,000 plants and animals. Kids can learn about different species and ecosystems, making it an educational adventure. The Green Planet also offers interactive sessions with biologists, enhancing the learning experience.

Highlights:

- Indoor tropical rainforest

- Over 3,000 species

- Educational biologist-led tours

Dubai Dolphinarium

Dubai Dolphinarium offers an opportunity for kids to interact with dolphins and seals. The live shows are not only entertaining but also educational, providing insights into marine life and conservation. The Dolphinarium also offers swimming sessions with dolphins, making it a memorable experience for children.

Highlights:

- Dolphin and seal shows

- Educational marine life insights

- Swimming with dolphins

Children’s City

Located in Creek Park, Children’s City is a dedicated learning center for kids. It features interactive exhibits on various subjects such as space exploration, human body, and international cultures. The center also includes a planetarium, adding to the educational value. It's an excellent place for children to learn through play.

Highlights:

- Interactive learning exhibits

- Planetarium

- Focus on space, science, and cultures

LEGOLAND Dubai

LEGOLAND Dubai is a theme park designed specifically for families with children aged 2-12. It offers a range of rides, shows, and attractions based on the iconic LEGO bricks. The park promotes creativity and problem-solving skills, making it a fun and educational outing for kids.

Highlights:

- Over 40 LEGO-themed rides and attractions

- Water park

- Creativity and problem-solving focus

IMG Worlds of Adventure

As the world's largest indoor theme park, IMG Worlds of Adventure provides a variety of thrilling rides and attractions based on popular cartoon characters and superheroes. The park is divided into themed zones, each offering a unique experience. It’s a fantastic place for kids to enjoy and learn through interactive exhibits.

Highlights:

- Four themed zones

- Cartoon and superhero attractions

- Interactive exhibits

Dubai Miracle Garden

Dubai Miracle Garden is a floral wonderland, featuring over 50 million blooming flowers arranged in stunning designs. It’s a great place for kids to learn about different types of flowers and plants. The garden also includes a butterfly garden, adding to the educational experience.

Highlights:

- Over 50 million flowers

- Butterfly garden

- Educational on flora and fauna

Conclusion

Dubai offers a wide range of activities that are both fun and educational for kids. From exploring the wonders of the underwater world at the Dubai Aquarium to role-playing various professions at Kidzania, there is something for every child’s interest. These activities not only entertain but also provide valuable learning experiences, making Dubai a top destination for family fun. So, the next time you search for kids activities in Dubai or indoor activities near me, you’ll know exactly where to go for a perfect blend of fun and education.