One wall was destroyed, many more were built.

October 28, 2010 9:17 AM

Ever wonder how the folks who make all those cool Lego creations get all those pieces? It's not because they buy multiple sets to get thirty or so cheese slopes. They go to Bricklink, where hundreds of sellers offer up individual parts you can get in pretty much any quantity. Bricklink was started by Daniel Jezek in 2000 (it was originally called "BrickBay" but someone pressured him to change that) and is at the top of every Lego enthusiast's list of bookmarks. Jezek passed away suddenly on September 24th at the age of 33. His memorial page on Bricklink reveals that his was not an ordinary life, as this Americanized entrepreneur was born in Communist Czechoslovakia. The Lego Community would simply not be what it is without Dan Jezek.
posted by Legomancer (20 comments total)

I enjoyed the recent CBS Sunday Morning Segment: Adult Fans of Legos.
posted by ericb at 9:21 AM on October 28, 2010

Legos.

Oh dear.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:23 AM on October 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

I had no idea Bricklink existed! Thank you so much for this post, Legomancer.
posted by Greg Nog at 9:25 AM on October 28, 2010

Legos. Oh dear.

Yep. CBS refers to the group as 'AFOLs,' but I think they goofed.

Previouc FPP: AFOL A Blocumentary.
posted by ericb at 9:33 AM on October 28, 2010

You mean I could be building old Blacktron sets right now? What am I doing hanging out with you bozos? Later...
posted by keratacon at 9:34 AM on October 28, 2010 [6 favorites]

.
posted by brundlefly at 9:47 AM on October 28, 2010

I now know what to do with the 200 lbs of legos sitting in my spare room.
posted by Zophi at 9:48 AM on October 28, 2010

EndsOfInvention: "Oh dear."

Are you trying to bring up the debate over the plural of Lego?
posted by Plutor at 9:52 AM on October 28, 2010

Aw, man. I remembered that someone had posted something before about a Lego guy who had passed away suddenly. So I went back in Legomancer's other posts and found this one.

What is up with the early deaths? Is there something in the plastic?

Sad times. These guys packed a lot of fun into their all-too-short lives.
posted by Madamina at 10:05 AM on October 28, 2010

I now know what to do with the 200 lbs of legos sitting in my spare room.

NOOOO! MeMail me first! If they are Technic, I almost certainly want them. If not, I may want them.

But what I came in here to say was that Brinklink is awesome and I spent too many hours paging through finding specific pieces before forcing myself to not go back very often
posted by DU at 10:06 AM on October 28, 2010

BEST. TOY. EVER.

I called them "legos" when I was a kid and I see no reason to change that practice. I suppose if I had to write an academic or journalistic piece I might try a little harder to use the right plural form.

On a sort of related note, I've been following the AFOL scene for a few years now, but it's actually been Minecraft that has rekindled my desire to get out the old rubbermaid bin and start building again.

I can't till my two boys are old enough so we can build together.
posted by jnrussell at 10:15 AM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

Bricklink is a little tough to navigate at first, but once you work it out it's a blessing...and a curse. I can't tell you how many times I've gone there to get one or two things and ended up dropping a lot of cash on stuff I didn't know I needed!
posted by Legomancer at 11:29 AM on October 28, 2010

Does it say anything that the link to the Lego tag on Metafilter shows as previously visited on this, my work computer?
posted by shakespeherian at 11:50 AM on October 28, 2010

"it was originally called "BrickBay" but someone pressured him to change that"

Pirate Bay? Damn pirates.
posted by dgaicun at 12:38 PM on October 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

I can't till my two boys are old enough so we can build together.

I am there. Let me tell you...it's fantastic and joyous in so many ways.
posted by drinkcoffee at 12:47 PM on October 28, 2010

In the next week, I should be scoring the elusive set #4999 ...
posted by scruss at 12:52 PM on October 28, 2010

.
posted by mdoar at 2:51 PM on October 28, 2010

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posted by Fleebnork at 2:55 PM on October 28, 2010

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[_]

posted by Joe in Australia at 4:02 PM on October 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

Some of the happiest moments of my childhood was when we had no TV, no computers and no car, sitting in the living room building Lego with my father.
posted by Sutekh at 9:04 PM on October 28, 2010