Lego

Re "Lego's 'Ladyfig' toys have critics, and plenty of buyers," Business, Sept. 1 I'm not a fan of gender stereotyping (or any stereotyping), but anything that gets girls building and strengthening their visual and spatial skills is a good thing. Besides, no one has been upset by Lego's gender stereotyping aimed at boys (Star Wars, DC Superheros, monster fighters, cars, factories and more). Amanda Brooks Lompoc ALSO: Letters: GOP propaganda? Letters: Trees or a space shuttle?

Arden Hayes is 5. He loves Legos and running so fast across the living room to flip onto the couch that his feet end up pointing at the ceiling. He also loves the presidents - especially 11 and 33. Arden knows all 44 U.S. presidents. In order. Ask him who was 29 and right away he'll say Warren G. Harding. As for 11 (James K. Polk) and 33 (Harry S. Truman), they're his favorites, he says, because "they're dark-horse candidates. " Also, Polk got us California, which happens to be Arden's home.

Debuting an invention that even the creative minds that design plain old plastic Lego bricks probably couldn't have imagined, biologists announced this week that they had figured out a way to make Lego-like bricks from DNA - and to use the teeny-tiny modules to build a variety of different, often intricate, three-dimensional shapes. Having the capability to build nanoscale structures out of DNA bricks is more than mere play: Someday it could help engineers improve medical devices for drug delivery or components for electronic circuits, among other advances, the team wrote in a study that described the new building method ( abstract here )

A new themed land debuting at Legoland Florida this summer will take visitors to a fantasy world where animal tribes battle for possession of a mystical energy source known as chi . Photos: World of Chima themed land at Legoland Florida Debuting in July, the new World of Chima themed land will include an interactive boat ride, a 4-D film and walk-around characters based on a new line of Lego construction toys and a Cartoon Network television...

One small step for Felix, one great leap for Lego. OK, one big jump for daredevil Felix Baumgartner. It only seemed like there were tributes posted in world-record time after he landed in the record books on Sunday, breaking the sound barrier in a 24-mile fall. One of those was this video clip, a re-creation using Lego figures to promote the ModelMaker Fair in Vienna, which starts Oct. 25. All that was missing was the authoritative, British-accented narration we were treated to during the Summer Olympics.

LONDON -- Only the Guardian can make the Olympic men's weightlifting event look more interesting -- Lego-style, brick by-brick -- than the actual competition itself.  Welcome to the contest for the strongest man in the world. As they say, slightly tongue in cheek ... "prepare to be amazed": "This is the final weight division of what has been a riveting men's competition and like so many sports of these games, it has drawn a crowd mixed with aficionados and those who never in a million years would have thought they'd be sitting here, watching this.

  LONDON---The brilliant minds at the Guardian were at it again, putting up an animated, brick-by-brick look at Usain Bolt's victory in the 100 meters. "How could we ever have doubted him?" It's hard to say if this offering was better than the Michael Phelps-Ryan Lochte, brick-by-brick showdown in the 200-meter individual medley. Call it a photo finish. ALSO: Usain Bolt stars in morning track session Aly Raisman wins gold medal in floor exercise Canada says they lost to referee, not U.S. in women's soccer        

A Lego tribute to the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton , which  scales down Britain's biggest social event of the year to a miniature diorama, has been erected at Legoland Windsor . Photos : Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Lego Royal Wedding The 4-inch-tall royal bride and groom are joined by Lego versions of Queen Elizabeth , Prince Charles and Prince Harry ...

Ending a nine-month competition between the governors of California and Virginia, the Danish toy maker Lego has decided to build a 40-acre, $100-million theme park in suburban Carlsbad rather than Prince William County, Va. At the request of Lego, which has guarded the selection process like a military secret, California state and local officials were asked to refrain from publicly rejoicing over the selection until a formal announcement is made at a news conference this morning.

A new themed land debuting at Legoland Florida this summer will take visitors to a fantasy world where animal tribes battle for possession of a mystical energy source known as chi . Photos: World of Chima themed land at Legoland Florida Debuting in July, the new World of Chima themed land will include an interactive boat ride, a 4-D film and walk-around characters based on a new line of Lego construction toys and a Cartoon Network television...

The new "Legends of Chima" 4-D film coming to Legoland California this spring will take moviegoers to a fantasy world where animal tribes battle for possession of a mystical energy source known as chi . Scheduled to premiere March 7 at the Carlsbad kiddie park, the 4-D film will feature special effects using wind, smoke, water and motion. The 12-minute animated movie tied to a new line of Lego construction toys is also scheduled to debut this year at Legoland theme parks in Florida, Denmark, Germany, England and Malaysia . The " Legends of Chima " story line follows four young animals on a journey through the battle-torn kingdom before concluding with a chariot race pitting lion-leader Laval against the evil crocodile Cragger.

A Back to the Future Delorean Time Machine Lego set? Yes please! Lego has announced that it will start to put a new Lego set featuring the Delorean time machine, a Lego Doc, and a Lego Marty McFly on a hover board, into production in the next year. Exact timing and pricing are not currently available, but hopefully you just got plenty of Christmas goodies to keep you occupied while you wait. The Delorean Time Machine set came out of the Lego CUUSOO website, where Lego enthusiasts are invited to submit ideas for new Lego sets.

The Skid Row Housing Trust has spent decades revitalizing abandoned buildings and hotels in downtown Los Angeles' most destitute neighborhood to serve as shelter for the city's chronically homeless. But for its latest housing project, the trust abandoned its usual technique for a seemingly elementary construction concept. A 102-unit, $20.5-million complex is being built by stacking pre-outfitted apartments atop one another in a Lego-like fashion, limiting construction costs and fast-forwarding the project timeline.

Debuting an invention that even the creative minds that design plain old plastic Lego bricks probably couldn't have imagined, biologists announced this week that they had figured out a way to make Lego-like bricks from DNA - and to use the teeny-tiny modules to build a variety of different, often intricate, three-dimensional shapes. Having the capability to build nanoscale structures out of DNA bricks is more than mere play: Someday it could help engineers improve medical devices for drug delivery or components for electronic circuits, among other advances, the team wrote in a study that described the new building method ( abstract here )

One small step for Felix, one great leap for Lego. OK, one big jump for daredevil Felix Baumgartner. It only seemed like there were tributes posted in world-record time after he landed in the record books on Sunday, breaking the sound barrier in a 24-mile fall. One of those was this video clip, a re-creation using Lego figures to promote the ModelMaker Fair in Vienna, which starts Oct. 25. All that was missing was the authoritative, British-accented narration we were treated to during the Summer Olympics.

Click here to download TV listings for the week of Sept. 23 - 29 in PDF format This week's TV Movies     SERIES  Animal Practice:  After a sneak peek last month, this sitcom starts its regular run with Justin Kirk as a New York veterinarian who has an unorthodox style and a penchant for hitting on his clients (8 p.m. NBC). The Middle: Mike (Neil Flynn) accidentally reveals who his favorite child is in the season premiere of the family comedy (8 p.m. ABC)

The new "Legends of Chima" 4-D film coming to Legoland California this spring will take moviegoers to a fantasy world where animal tribes battle for possession of a mystical energy source known as chi . Scheduled to premiere March 7 at the Carlsbad kiddie park, the 4-D film will feature special effects using wind, smoke, water and motion. The 12-minute animated movie tied to a new line of Lego construction toys is also scheduled to debut this year at Legoland theme parks in Florida, Denmark, Germany, England and Malaysia . The " Legends of Chima " story line follows four young animals on a journey through the battle-torn kingdom before concluding with a chariot race pitting lion-leader Laval against the evil crocodile Cragger.

Legoland Malaysia will feature miniature Asian landmarks, including a 42,500-brick Taj Mahal and a replica of Malaysia 's twin Petronas Towers -- which will become the tallest Lego model in the world -- when the theme park opens in late 2012. Photos : A behind-the-scenes look at Legoland Malaysia Expected to draw 1.5 million visitors annually, Asia's first Legoland will be just across a waterway from Singapore, where a Universal Studios theme park opened in 2010.

Re "Lego's 'Ladyfig' toys have critics, and plenty of buyers," Business, Sept. 1 I'm not a fan of gender stereotyping (or any stereotyping), but anything that gets girls building and strengthening their visual and spatial skills is a good thing. Besides, no one has been upset by Lego's gender stereotyping aimed at boys (Star Wars, DC Superheros, monster fighters, cars, factories and more). Amanda Brooks Lompoc ALSO: Letters: GOP propaganda? Letters: Trees or a space shuttle?

Lego's so-called Ladyfigs, plastic dolls with slim bodies and budding breasts, are raising the ire of feminists - and profits of the popular Danish toy maker. Though better known for its plastic building bricks, Lego in December unveiled a female-centric product line that also features play sets such as Andrea's Bunny House and Butterfly Beauty Shop. The items, part of the Lego Friends collection, have set off protests, with one feminist group accusing Lego of "selling out girls.