Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Friends Will Be Friends

Humour is a dangerous concept, especially when transmitted over the Internet. When I mentioned a desire for Lego Mindstorms a few posts ago, I wasn't seriously expecting anyone to buy me a set. Well, maybe my wife. For my birthday (which is ages away). When a good friend offered to actually do so (I've no idea how seriously) it took me by surprise. While it is wonderful to have such generous friends, I'm a bit embarrassed at the thought that I appear to be begging from friends. I don't really like seeing myself that way, and am even a bit dubious when friends ask about Amazon wishlists and similar. So there it is - I appreciate the thought, but worry that I might be taking advantage. Just buy me a beer next time we're in the same town.

More straight-forwardly enjoyable is the apparent ability to summon friends to comment here by mentioning them in a post. So far it only seems to work for Gloranthaphiles. I've been wondering how they're finding the site - does the site show up on a Google search for their name? (Indeed, are they as vain as I am, and conduct the odd Google for their own name?) Is there some link somewhere that is driving Glorantha fans this way? Or did I mention the site in some forgotten conversation, and they've been checking in since to catch up with my news?

Final Christmas cards (probably) arrived in the last couple of days. Jeff & Melanie Kyer have the excellent excuse of getting married, moving house (and in one case country) and sending the card across the Atlantic. The lateness was more than made up for by a lovely, long letter, complete with photo from their wedding. I really must send more cards next year, and include my own letter. They're such a pleasure to receive.

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1 comments so far.

LEGO wrote :

MINDSTORMStm and Harry Potter will continue

Due to certain misunderstandings about the future product policy of LEGO Company, it is hereby informed that there will be no radical changes following the company’s new strategy.

Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, owner and CEO, announced at the press conference in Billund on Thursday a change of direction, including, among other things, that the future growth strategy will not be based on big, movie-related IP’s such as Harry Potter.

This does not mean that the company will exclude that kind of stories and themes, but just that the growth should be based on the fundamental products, where sales do not to the same extent go up and down, depending on whether or not there is a new movie this year.

The LEGO Company’s core products are not only the original bricks but also all other products which challenge children’s imagination and creativity.

Hearsay has it that a product range like LEGO MINDSTORMS is no longer in focus. This is not true. On the contrary, MINDSTORMS, CLIKITS and BIONICLE are all good examples of products the company wants to stake on.

For further information, please contact:
The LEGO Company
Charlotte Simonsen
Director, Press Relations
Telephone: (+45) 79 50 65 79

http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=pressdetail&contentid=3423

03:39 pm, 15/01/2004