Eastern culture blows my mind sometimes. We like to think we have deep history and culture here in America, and perhaps the indigenous people do, but nothing to compare with the east. People credit the Chinese with the invention of gunpowder and building really long walls, but very often stop right there. How about silk, paper, medicines, the compass? Their contributions to art, music, recreation and literature are often overlooked but we feel it everywhere. Builder Arzlan celebrates these in this magnificent MOC featuring Go, calligraphy, painting and playing Erhu fiddle. I'd also like to point out one other Chinese discovery, one of which I'm particularly fond of, tea. I'm drinking some as I post this.
What happens when a lifelong Trekkie, AFOL and professional toy designer finally gets an official LEGO Star Trek playset? Samuel Hatmaker explores the new Enterprise bridge and shows why playing Star Trek matters as much as displaying it.