Building with Legos Is His Job
Master Lego Builder Gary McIntire chats with TFK Kid Reporter Cameron Young
By TFK Kid Reporter Cameron Young
Have you ever dreamed that you would make a career out of building with Legos? Gary McIntire is living that very dream. As the Master Lego Builder at Legoland in Carlsbad, California, McIntire oversees construction of the theme park's life-sized Lego models, and has built many of them himself. McIntire has been building with Legos since he was four years old, and now spends his time in a workshop, surrounded by millions of the plastic pieces. TFK Kid Reporter Cameron Young visited Legoland, and learned what it takes to build the most amazing Lego structures in the world.
TFK:
Did you like Legos as a child?
GARY MCINTIRE:
[Building] Legos is something that I always did. I got my first Lego set when I was about four years old. Whenever we would get a set, my dad and I would put it together. All of the neighborhood kids would always come to my house, and we'd have a big table covered with Legos. We'd build cities, castles, spaceships and stuff. It's definitely been a hobby of mine forever.
TFK:
How long does it take to build a Lego display, such as one that looks like a life-sized person?
MCINTIRE:
A life-sized person takes about a month to build.
TFK:
How do you come up with all of the Lego designs and sculptures?
MCINTIRE:
I'm usually given an assignment. When we put in Captain Cranky's Challenge, [which] is one of our rides, they wanted a model to go at the exit of that ride. So they said, "We want a model that people could sit down and take a picture with, and we want it to be a pirate." From there, I got to decide what exactly the pirate would look like and what he was going to be wearing and what position he was going to be in.
TFK:
What is the biggest Lego sculpture you have ever built? Roughly how many pieces did you use?
MCINTIRE:
The biggest thing that I have ever built, and I didn't do it by myself, was a seven-foot-tall Lego ball—a big, solid Lego ball. There were about 1 million pieces in there. That was a project that I did with the Myth Busters crew. The forklift couldn't pick it up because it was too heavy.
TFK:
How are computers used for helping to create 3D Lego models?
MCINTIRE:
We have a special program called "Lego-izer." [We] will put a 3D model in the computer, and we'll pixelate it down to Lego pieces, and it will give us instructions, layer by layer, on how to build it. Anything bigger than a person is definitely going to be done using a computer.
TFK:
What is the most complicated sculpture you ever built?
MCINTIRE:
I designed a flower arrangement. I had to design all the different flowers out of Legos, and that was tricky because they are really small and delicate. I really had to do a lot of research and become an expert on flower arranging. I first looked at a lot of different kinds of flower arrangements. Then I had to look up different types of flowers and decide what colors I wanted them to be. [After] sculpting them, I had to decide how to arrange them all. It turned out to be one of my favorite things that I ever built.
TFK:
What are you working on right now?
MCINTIRE:
This year, we are going to be opening a new water park, and so I will be installing all of the models in that area. There will be 25 to 35 new models.
TFK:
Is there anything that you'd like to build out of Legos that you haven't yet?
MCINTIRE:
That's a good question. A 1950s-style sci-fi rocket ship would be really cool.
I tried to build something with Lego blocks, but this thing won’t be easy. But still, some people can build big sculptures with many pieces of tiny blocks- sometimes smaller than you pinky finger! Many big sculptures need computers to complete-I don’t know this before, and I even didn’t know Lego has software to install! This man says, he built before many big sculptures, the biggest seven foot tall, and used 1000000 pieces of Lego! He needs to make 25~35 sculptures for this gallery. So after I read that, I know doing this needs a pair of steady hands!
2009/03/20
2009/03/13
Medal Madness
Medal Madness
The U.S. leads the Olympic medals race, with 26 trips to the podium so far
By Suzanne Zimbler
It has been a breakthrough Olympic season for the Americans. For the first time since 1932, the U.S. could collect more medals at the Winter Games than any other country. Will the winning streak continue? Here's an update.
Ice Dance
On Monday night, for only the third time since ice dance became an Olympic sport in 1976, the gold medal did not go to a Russian or Soviet team. Instead, Canadians Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue took home the top prize. They are the first North American ice dancers to win a gold medal. "I'll probably wear it in the shower," Moir said. "I'm not going to take it off all week."
Another North American team, U.S. ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White, won the silver medal. "North America has really come into its own in terms of ice dance," Davis said.
Russia's Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin came in third. Shabalin, who has struggled with a knee injury for the last few seasons, was content with the win. "We are happy with the bronze medal," he said. "It was a long, difficult way for us, and we are happy we did it."
Nordic Combined
Nordic Combined—a sport that combines ski jumping with cross-country skiing—has been part of the Winter Olympics since the Games first started, in 1924. But the U.S. team had not won a single medal in the sport, until now.
This year, the U.S. has won two silver medals in the sport: one in the first event, on February 14, and another in the second event, on Tuesday. The gold medals in the two events went to France and Austria. "To be second is fine with us because the only reason you can be disappointed with second is if you didn't give it your all," team member Johnny Spillane said.
On Thursday, the U.S. team will have one more shot at gold, when they compete in the third and last Nordic Combined event.
Women's Figure Skating
The women's figure skating competition got started on Tuesday. In the short program, the first of two events, each figure skater performs a routine no longer than 2 minutes and 50 seconds.
Yu Na Kim of South Korea came in first place. American Rachael Flatt placed fifth. Her U.S. teammate, Mirai Nagasu, came in sixth. Sixteen-year-old Nagasu was glad to place that high, considering that her nose bled for half of her routine. " You have to deal with what you've got," she said.
Flatt and Nagasu will complete in the second event, the long program, on Thursday. Each athlete could still win a medal, but Nagasu is keeping her expectations in check. "From today's performance, I don't think I can reach the podium," she said.
Unlike the Summer Olympics with many events that athletes compete medals in the hot summer, there’s also Winter Olympics too! It only has a few events, but it will be great to see as the Summer Olympics. In this time’s Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, every country is very competive, but this time America got more medals as other countries. For over 70 years, America has not strong enough to get many medals in the games. This time many good players got medals for their country. Still not strong enough to get gold, America mostly got silver or bronze in the games. But I think every country will be competive and get a few medals!
The U.S. leads the Olympic medals race, with 26 trips to the podium so far
By Suzanne Zimbler
It has been a breakthrough Olympic season for the Americans. For the first time since 1932, the U.S. could collect more medals at the Winter Games than any other country. Will the winning streak continue? Here's an update.
Ice Dance
On Monday night, for only the third time since ice dance became an Olympic sport in 1976, the gold medal did not go to a Russian or Soviet team. Instead, Canadians Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue took home the top prize. They are the first North American ice dancers to win a gold medal. "I'll probably wear it in the shower," Moir said. "I'm not going to take it off all week."
Another North American team, U.S. ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White, won the silver medal. "North America has really come into its own in terms of ice dance," Davis said.
Russia's Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin came in third. Shabalin, who has struggled with a knee injury for the last few seasons, was content with the win. "We are happy with the bronze medal," he said. "It was a long, difficult way for us, and we are happy we did it."
Nordic Combined
Nordic Combined—a sport that combines ski jumping with cross-country skiing—has been part of the Winter Olympics since the Games first started, in 1924. But the U.S. team had not won a single medal in the sport, until now.
This year, the U.S. has won two silver medals in the sport: one in the first event, on February 14, and another in the second event, on Tuesday. The gold medals in the two events went to France and Austria. "To be second is fine with us because the only reason you can be disappointed with second is if you didn't give it your all," team member Johnny Spillane said.
On Thursday, the U.S. team will have one more shot at gold, when they compete in the third and last Nordic Combined event.
Women's Figure Skating
The women's figure skating competition got started on Tuesday. In the short program, the first of two events, each figure skater performs a routine no longer than 2 minutes and 50 seconds.
Yu Na Kim of South Korea came in first place. American Rachael Flatt placed fifth. Her U.S. teammate, Mirai Nagasu, came in sixth. Sixteen-year-old Nagasu was glad to place that high, considering that her nose bled for half of her routine. " You have to deal with what you've got," she said.
Flatt and Nagasu will complete in the second event, the long program, on Thursday. Each athlete could still win a medal, but Nagasu is keeping her expectations in check. "From today's performance, I don't think I can reach the podium," she said.
Unlike the Summer Olympics with many events that athletes compete medals in the hot summer, there’s also Winter Olympics too! It only has a few events, but it will be great to see as the Summer Olympics. In this time’s Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, every country is very competive, but this time America got more medals as other countries. For over 70 years, America has not strong enough to get many medals in the games. This time many good players got medals for their country. Still not strong enough to get gold, America mostly got silver or bronze in the games. But I think every country will be competive and get a few medals!
2009/03/11
My Dream
2009/03/11
My Dream
By Max
Age 10
Everyone has a different dream to achieve in the future. My future dream is to become a math professor. It's not easy to be a math professor, but I’ll study hard to achieve it.
Being a math professor needs a lot of hard work in researching the professional knowledge. First, I need to learn all the basics. I’ll need to be very good on all the math tests. Then in junior high school, I’ll study hard on formulas. I’ll need to be careful because sometimes the questions I answered are wrong. Then I could get good math and the other subjects’ tests to study on a good high school. At high school I need to study hard at math because sometimes there are very hard math problems that I can’t handle with. Then after I graduate from high school, I need to go to better university to study further in harder math. After I can do all kinds of math problems, it’s about to graduate from university and I can not study after all. But I can’t relax because I need to answer all kinds of problems I studied from elementary to university. After I get only 1% wrong from every question, I can advance to being a math professor. I will teach students in university and answer many math questions. That’s my dream to become a math professor.
Being a math professor is very hard. But if I put time and efforts on it, my dream will probably become true. I won’t give up when my math professor dream is a fantasy. I probably will become a computer game designer or a salesman when my dream doesn’t come true.
My Dream
By Max
Age 10
Everyone has a different dream to achieve in the future. My future dream is to become a math professor. It's not easy to be a math professor, but I’ll study hard to achieve it.
Being a math professor needs a lot of hard work in researching the professional knowledge. First, I need to learn all the basics. I’ll need to be very good on all the math tests. Then in junior high school, I’ll study hard on formulas. I’ll need to be careful because sometimes the questions I answered are wrong. Then I could get good math and the other subjects’ tests to study on a good high school. At high school I need to study hard at math because sometimes there are very hard math problems that I can’t handle with. Then after I graduate from high school, I need to go to better university to study further in harder math. After I can do all kinds of math problems, it’s about to graduate from university and I can not study after all. But I can’t relax because I need to answer all kinds of problems I studied from elementary to university. After I get only 1% wrong from every question, I can advance to being a math professor. I will teach students in university and answer many math questions. That’s my dream to become a math professor.
Being a math professor is very hard. But if I put time and efforts on it, my dream will probably become true. I won’t give up when my math professor dream is a fantasy. I probably will become a computer game designer or a salesman when my dream doesn’t come true.
2009/03/05
Winter Games: Video Game Guide
Winter Games: Video Game Guide
These games will provide you with hours of Olympic-sized fun
By Vickie An
Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage
Ubisoft
Rated E
Nintendo Wii
Perfect your snowboarding skills and travel the globe in the warmth of your home with this action-packed game only for the Wii. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage allows players to compete as the Olympian himself. You can also play as one of his friends. Each character has different abilities and tricks on the slopes.
Your rank in the world is No. 100 when the game begins. But as you complete challenges and gain points, your standing will improve. Use the Wii remote to cruise down mountains and tweak tricks. Like the original Shaun White Snowboarding game, you can also utilize the Wii Balance Board accessory. Adjust your position on the board to lean into turns, speed up and slow down, or spring into the air. You'll be king of the mountain in no time.
Glory of Heracles
Nintendo
Rated E10+
Nintendo DS and DSi
This role-playing game for the DS and DSi takes you on an adventure through Ancient Greece, birthplace of the Olympics. According to some Greek legends, Heracles, the great demi-god son of Zeus, invented the Games. But every great champion must start from the bottom up. So where did Heracles begin?
Glory of Heracles offers a different take on how Heracles started on his journey from zero to hero. Inspired by Greek mythology, the story begins when a boy washes up on the island of Crete. He has no idea who he is or how he arrived there. Soon, the boy meets others who also don't remember much about their lives. The new friends learn they have another thing in common: they are immortal, which means they can live forever. Everyone seems to think the mysterious boy is the legendary Heracles. Can it be true?
Help guide the boy on his journey of discovery. Players will visit famous places, battle mythical monsters and face many challenges. Do you have what it takes to be a hero?
Vancouver Winter Games in 2010 is ending about this week. But after the Winter Games, there are some good video games that you can play. That like last time the TFK reporters interview Shaun’s new game, snowboarding. And another video game like Glory of Hercules, I think that’s no match on the Winter Games. Pick your favorite game!
These games will provide you with hours of Olympic-sized fun
By Vickie An
Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage
Ubisoft
Rated E
Nintendo Wii
Perfect your snowboarding skills and travel the globe in the warmth of your home with this action-packed game only for the Wii. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage allows players to compete as the Olympian himself. You can also play as one of his friends. Each character has different abilities and tricks on the slopes.
Your rank in the world is No. 100 when the game begins. But as you complete challenges and gain points, your standing will improve. Use the Wii remote to cruise down mountains and tweak tricks. Like the original Shaun White Snowboarding game, you can also utilize the Wii Balance Board accessory. Adjust your position on the board to lean into turns, speed up and slow down, or spring into the air. You'll be king of the mountain in no time.
Glory of Heracles
Nintendo
Rated E10+
Nintendo DS and DSi
This role-playing game for the DS and DSi takes you on an adventure through Ancient Greece, birthplace of the Olympics. According to some Greek legends, Heracles, the great demi-god son of Zeus, invented the Games. But every great champion must start from the bottom up. So where did Heracles begin?
Glory of Heracles offers a different take on how Heracles started on his journey from zero to hero. Inspired by Greek mythology, the story begins when a boy washes up on the island of Crete. He has no idea who he is or how he arrived there. Soon, the boy meets others who also don't remember much about their lives. The new friends learn they have another thing in common: they are immortal, which means they can live forever. Everyone seems to think the mysterious boy is the legendary Heracles. Can it be true?
Help guide the boy on his journey of discovery. Players will visit famous places, battle mythical monsters and face many challenges. Do you have what it takes to be a hero?
Vancouver Winter Games in 2010 is ending about this week. But after the Winter Games, there are some good video games that you can play. That like last time the TFK reporters interview Shaun’s new game, snowboarding. And another video game like Glory of Hercules, I think that’s no match on the Winter Games. Pick your favorite game!
A Massive Earthquake Rocks Chile
A Massive Earthquake Rocks Chile
The South American nation responds to a devastating quake
By Suzanne Zimbler
Early on Saturday morning, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded tore through central Chile. The powerful quake killed more than 700 people, destroyed or badly damaged 1.5 million homes and affected almost 2 million people. "We are confronting an emergency without parallel in Chile's history," said Chile's President, Michelle Bachelet.
A Shake Felt All Over the Country
The 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck around 3:34 a.m., jolting people awake all over the country. The earthquake originated underwater, off the coast of Chile. The epicenter, or point where the quake started, was 70 miles northeast of Concepcion, the country's second-largest city.
Fernando Abarzua was in one of the many buildings that collapsed there. "I was on the eighth floor and all of a sudden I was down here," he said, adding that he was surprised to have escaped with no major injuries.
The capital city of Santiago, located 200 miles southwest of the earthquake's epicenter, was also affected. An art museum there was badly damaged, a bridge collapsed and a two-story parking lot fell flat, smashing about 50 cars.
The earthquake triggered a tsunami (soo-nah-mee) that swept across the Pacific Ocean, setting off warnings in 53 countries. In Japan and Hawaii, thousands of people evacuated beaches, fearing giant waves. In the end, the tsunami's waves caused major damage and several deaths in Chile but nowhere else.
Dozens of aftershocks, or smaller earthquakes, rattled the area in the days following Saturday's massive quake. Powerful aftershocks were still being recorded Monday, a few as high as magnitude 5.3.
A History of Earthquakes
Chile has a history of earthquakes. The largest recorded earthquake in the world—a 9.5-magnitude quake—struck the country in May 1960. Since 1973, there have been 13 quakes there with a magnitude of at least 7.0. As a result, Chile's newer buildings were constructed to help withstand the shocks.
That is one reason that Chile's quake—though 500 times stronger—has caused much less damage than the earthquake that struck Haiti in January.
Help on the Way
On Sunday, Bachelet ordered troops in Chile to help deliver food, water and blankets and to clear rubble from the roads. Temporary hospitals were planned for the hardest-hit areas.
She later requested help from the international community. On Monday, the United Nations prepared to send 45 satellite phones for officials coordinating earthquake relief efforts as well as 30 tons of food and other aid.
Even before Bachelet's request, President Obama announced that the U.S. was prepared to help. "The United States stands ready to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts," he said.
This is a big earthquake! This earthquake shaked Chile and many people die!, This earthquake even had a tsunami and it went for places like Hong Kong and Japan. But this is not too dangerous than the Haiti earthquake. Lots and lots of big quakes happen in the world often!
The South American nation responds to a devastating quake
By Suzanne Zimbler
Early on Saturday morning, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded tore through central Chile. The powerful quake killed more than 700 people, destroyed or badly damaged 1.5 million homes and affected almost 2 million people. "We are confronting an emergency without parallel in Chile's history," said Chile's President, Michelle Bachelet.
A Shake Felt All Over the Country
The 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck around 3:34 a.m., jolting people awake all over the country. The earthquake originated underwater, off the coast of Chile. The epicenter, or point where the quake started, was 70 miles northeast of Concepcion, the country's second-largest city.
Fernando Abarzua was in one of the many buildings that collapsed there. "I was on the eighth floor and all of a sudden I was down here," he said, adding that he was surprised to have escaped with no major injuries.
The capital city of Santiago, located 200 miles southwest of the earthquake's epicenter, was also affected. An art museum there was badly damaged, a bridge collapsed and a two-story parking lot fell flat, smashing about 50 cars.
The earthquake triggered a tsunami (soo-nah-mee) that swept across the Pacific Ocean, setting off warnings in 53 countries. In Japan and Hawaii, thousands of people evacuated beaches, fearing giant waves. In the end, the tsunami's waves caused major damage and several deaths in Chile but nowhere else.
Dozens of aftershocks, or smaller earthquakes, rattled the area in the days following Saturday's massive quake. Powerful aftershocks were still being recorded Monday, a few as high as magnitude 5.3.
A History of Earthquakes
Chile has a history of earthquakes. The largest recorded earthquake in the world—a 9.5-magnitude quake—struck the country in May 1960. Since 1973, there have been 13 quakes there with a magnitude of at least 7.0. As a result, Chile's newer buildings were constructed to help withstand the shocks.
That is one reason that Chile's quake—though 500 times stronger—has caused much less damage than the earthquake that struck Haiti in January.
Help on the Way
On Sunday, Bachelet ordered troops in Chile to help deliver food, water and blankets and to clear rubble from the roads. Temporary hospitals were planned for the hardest-hit areas.
She later requested help from the international community. On Monday, the United Nations prepared to send 45 satellite phones for officials coordinating earthquake relief efforts as well as 30 tons of food and other aid.
Even before Bachelet's request, President Obama announced that the U.S. was prepared to help. "The United States stands ready to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts," he said.
This is a big earthquake! This earthquake shaked Chile and many people die!, This earthquake even had a tsunami and it went for places like Hong Kong and Japan. But this is not too dangerous than the Haiti earthquake. Lots and lots of big quakes happen in the world often!
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