Video Games

Many of us have fond memories of playing with Legos. The small, colorful, interconnecting blocks allowed us to stretch our imagination, use our creativity, and develop our fine motor skills. From mini figures to rubber wheels and everything in between, you can make just about anything with Legos. Legos are considered a classic children's toy. Now it is also easy to find books, video games and movies featuring this popular toy. "The LEGO Book" by Daniel Lipkowitz will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about Legos.

Hey kids, you’ve only got a couple of more days of summer to enjoy before you head back to school. We’re betting most of you are at the beach this Labor Day weekend. We hope so. Put down those video games and make the best of those dwindling sunny afternoons. Yeah, homework’s a bummer, but look on the bright side, at least the weather’s good. The end of summer vacation is even better news for parents who look forward to a bit more solitude without the little ones running wild in the house.

Estancia High junior Bridget Gleason shot 1-under-par 34 over nine holes to lead the host Eagles to a 213-340 Golden West League girls golf victory over Westminster Monday at Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club. Gleason had eight pars and one birdie to earn medalist honors for the Eagles (12-2, 4-0 in league). Lina You (40), Lauren Cushing (44), Taylor West (47) and Lauren Donner (48) also scored for Estancia. UCI Midnight Magic BASKETBALL: The UC Irvine men's and women's basketball teams will be previewed Saturday night at 9 p.m. during "2005 Midnight Magic in the O.C."

"Play my PlayStation 2." If it wasn't raining: "I would skateboard and ride my bike." Devon Reese, 9 Costa Mesa, third-grader at Mariner's Christian School "I go out with my friends, we'll go watch movies, chill, eat." If it wasn't raining: "I'd probably be at the Spectrum." Taylor Hawthorne, 13 Costa Mesa, seventh-grader at TeWinkle Middle School "I hang out with my friends, go skateboarding, hang out at places, whatever we want to go do."

Pharmaceutical company buys firm Costa Mesa-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International announced Wednesday the purchase of San Diego-based Xcel Pharmaceuticals. The purchase enables Valeant to develop retigabine, an epilepsy drug the firm expects to have on the market by 2009, company officials said. Valeant announced the firm would pay $280 million in cash or $230 million and $50 million in stock for Xcel. Both companies' boards of directors gave unanimous support for the deal.

The news of U.S. Marine Jose Garibay's death on the battlefield in Iraq brought the war to the heart of our community, beyond our TV screens where images of war mimic a hybrid of video games and a reality TV show gone haywire. Being able to meet the family and witness the unselfish love and support they received from the community made me realize that regardless of race, religion or political opinion, the people of Newport-Mesa could come together and unite as one. Like a large family sharing the grief of losing a loved one. I hope the Garibay family understood why we, the media, had to follow their story.

COSTA MESA Baker Street: Several video games and three pieces of jewelry worth $1,650 were stolen from a home in the 600 block during the day of Aug. 19. Bristol Street: A radio and a pair of speakers worth $160 were stolen from a car in the 1300 block during the evening of Aug. 14. Bristol Street: Two black, long-sleeve shirts worth $300 were stolen from a store in the 3300 block at 5 p.m. Aug. 11. Golf Course...

SpeedZone is a park for racing enthusiasts or those who just want to have a good time driving and competing. This isn’t those go-karts you see at a miniature golf complex. These are cars designed and built by racing industry experts made for the general population to enjoy. They are faster and run on tracks more advanced than what the average person has experienced at other public tracks. The park offers four different types of racing vehicles on 10 acres of land, including scaled-down grand prix cars; 18-foot long, 300-horsepower dragsters; custom-scaled turbo cars, and special slick track vehicles.

Two words, two little words. Mention those words to a high school wrestler and watch his eyes light up. State meet. It's the ultimate goal — other than winning it, of course — of every high school wrestler. But the road to the CIF State Championship Meet is long and bumpy, treacherous and winding. And for most, that road ends with a dead end before reaching that final destination. Irvine High's 103-pounder Nam Tran got there, wrestling Friday in Bakersfield at Rabobank Arena.