Greg In The Desert

Lego is having a black friday sale until 30 November which is nearly 10% off. I’m planning on purchasing the 10194 Emerald Night train set. They Emerald Night works with the new power functions sets. These are nice since there are no longer train specific motors and controllers but it’s made all my previous train engines obsolete.

I emailed Lego and asked why they no longer carry the Emerald Night with power functions and the new flexible track as a kit. They responded with the following:

The product you inquired about have been discontinued from our current product line as a kit and we do not expect to offer it that way at this time.

Purchase any 4 Items of Power Functions accessory and Get 10% off, or Any 8 Items and Get 15% off, instead of releasing a new Power Functions Train Accessory Pack.

Here are the individual items that need to be purchased with the Emerald Night to make a complete kit.

• 8867 Flexible Train Track
• 8878 Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box
• 8887 Transformer 10VDC
• 8870 Power Functions Light
• 8879 Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control
• 8882 Power Functions XL-Motor Item
• 8884 Power Functions IR Receiver

I’m sure you’ve heard of the big train wreck in Los Angles, that killed 11 people. A guy, Manuel Alvarez, wanted to commit suicide but chickened out at the last minute, left his SUV on the train track causing the whole mess. I find this painfully ironic.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said 11 counts of murder had been filed against Juan Manuel Alvarez. The charges carried a “special circumstances” allegation that meant prosecutors could decide to seek the death penalty if Alvarez is convicted.

What’s more, they have him under a suicide watch. Now that he could be facing death has he changed his mind? Is it symbolic to allow the state to kill him but not let him take his own life? If he had gone through with it, would we have suspected him as a terrorist now?