MORE POSTS 
 

More from Steve Sansweet on Star Wars and gay marriage

Carmine Infantio has died

I can die happy: I've been interviewed by Dungeons & Dragons

Star Wars Episode 7: All My Children?

What JJ Abrams needs to really succeed with Star Wars 7

Star Wars: The Old Republic is gay--on one planet at least

Tongal and Pringles bring us DYI desecration of Star Wars

Reminiscences about West End Games' Star Wars Roleplaying Game

Here's the biggest Star Wars news of 2012

Stephen Quinn interviews me about Star Wars on CBC Vancouver

Star Wars: modern myth or global franchise?

Parents turn child's 1st birthday into extended Lucasfilm/Hasbro advert

Me reading from A Long Time Ago

Highlights and lowlights of the upcoming Star Wars Celebration VI

Grown men (mostly) dressed up as Lando Calrissian

Beggar's Canyon Toys offer Star Wars toy "restoration" service

Blog's t-shirts banned by Zazzle

Will the real David Prowse please stand up?

LaserSaber: Unlicensed, dangerous and yours for only $99

Is this the future of Star Wars?

Is Star Wars link bait?

Dissent not tolerated at the Prequel Appreciation Society

TSOT discovers its nemesis

Comme des idiots: Star Wars teams up with poncy fashion house

US Christian activist attacks SWTOR for being gay

Yodaphone--the latest product pitch from Star Wars Inc.

Attention tortoise-fanciers: do you like Star Wars?

History of Star Wars as related by a bot

Is Star Wars a travesty of science fiction?

Luke Skywalker and company on the Muppet Show

Yoda now shilling instant soup in Japan

Commander who?

$6000 for a toy you can't even play with

Star Wars underwear

Retro Star Wars decor in my son's bedroom

Phantom Menace 3D: Now With Plot

Star Wars and disco: the forgotten love affair

Will Muschamp: What a guy!

Oi, fanboy: grow up! A reply to Darren Franich

 

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Thursday
Jun142012

New from Etsy: Lando Calrissian plush toy

From Etsy seller Jennifer:

This cuddly little Lando features a blue and gold cape and a stylish little mustache. Take him away to Cloud City or bring him along on your space adventures! I make each doll using an original pattern in soft, high quality anti-pill fleece and acrylic felt. The dolls are stuffed firmly with all new stuffing made from 97% recycled plastic. 

Etsy: Lando Calrissian Cuddly Plush Toy

Wednesday
Jun132012

Star Wars Lego version of famous M.C. Escher print

Paul Vermeesch, Lego master, explains:

Six months in the making, I present my largest creation to date: a 1x1x1 foot model of M.C. Escher's print "Relativity" reenacted in the Lego Star Wars theme. A far larger, cleaner, and more detailed rehashing of my 2010 version, this diorama is fully lit from the inside, presents the original Star Wars trilogy in a roughly counterclockwise format, and even features a minifig-scale theatre in the back which plays Lego's CG version of the Star Wars saga. Enjoy!

Boing Boing: MC Escher's "Relativity" recreated in Star Wars Lego, with many in-jokes and grace notes

MOCpages: Star Wars Relativity V2

Tuesday
Jun122012

James Last conducts symphonic funk version of the Star Wars theme

Here's James Last, the phenomenally successful German big band leader and easy listening maestro, conducting his orchestra--including a powder-blue-lounge-suit-wearing horn section--in a funky rendition of John Williams' Star Wars theme.

Thanks to my Germanophile friend Greg Moore, of the marvelous Cocktail 101 blog, for the tip.

Monday
Jun112012

Beggar's Canyon Toys offer Star Wars toy "restoration" service

I've blogged about more than a few unusual and surprising items since starting this blog nearly a year ago. But this is surely as oddball as it gets. Beggar's Canyon Toys is a web site offering to take your loose Kenner Star Wars action figures and "restore" them for you. This restoration process consists of mounting the figure to an authentic replica of the original cardback, then placing the new, would-be mint-in-box figure into a plastic case suitable for display. In short, Beggar's Canyon Toys puts your action figures back in their packages.

But there's more. Beggar's Canyon Toys will also replace missing weapons and other accessories--including, if needed, replacement vinyl capes. So if you always wished your Jawa figure was of the original (and highly collectable) vinyl cape variety, you can make it so for a mere US$2.50.

Beggar's Canyon Toys

Thursday
Jun072012

Carrie Fisher--not a Star Wars fan?

Daniel Horowitz, writing at ShalomLife.com, tells an amusing if completely unverifiable story about a chat with Carrie Fisher at a Las Vegas blackjack table twenty-two years ago:

Fast forward to 1990 when, in Las Vegas, I found myself sharing a blackjack table with Carrie Fisher - Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan herself. We began discussing her latest film at the time, the semi-autobiographical Postcards from the Edge, when through slurry speech and red eyes, the Princess, obviously in no shape to command a ship of any kind, thanked me for my interest.

When I mentioned that while I was a fan of hers and that particular film, I mentioned that I was less enthusiastic about Star Wars. My lack of enthusiasm was quickly confirmed by the Princess who rolled her blood-shot eyes before inserting a finger down her throat in a display of mock vomit.

ShalomLife.com: Not Everyone Loves Star Wars, Not Even Jewish Princess Leia

Wednesday
Jun062012

Wisconsin Public Radio program on the cultural significance of Star Wars

To mark the 35th anniversary of Star Wars last week, Wisconsin Public Radio's Kathleen Dunn Show devoted an hour to a discussion of the cultural significance of the films. Guests were Ethan Gilsdorf, the author of "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms", and Tony Pacitti, author of "My Best Friend is a Wookiee: One Boy's Journey to Find His Place in the Galaxy".

WPR.org: Kathleen Dunn Show (download | stream)

Tuesday
Jun052012

AT-AT bunk bed

Geekologie brings fathers everywhere reason to despair that we will ever be as well loved by our sons as Mr Derek Dutilly.

Geekologie: Where Was Mine Growing Up?: An AT-AT Bunk Bed

Monday
Jun042012

Wired on Star Wars revenue: $15 billion on toys alone

Amazing numbers from Wired. Let's hope I can siffon off a tiny fraction of it for my upcoming book (plug plug).

Wired: Tell Jabba I've Got His Money: Star Wars Revenue Throughout Our Galaxy

Friday
Jun012012

IG-88 The Dancing Robot

I don't know how I haven't come across this before, and since it's been around a long time it may not be new to you but I'm posting it anyways. Thanks to @ratherchildish (he of the world's greatest web site) for calling attention to it in his recent post. Keep an eye out for the Holiday Special references around the 3:20 mark.

The film is by Anton Bogaty. Check out his blog, including this post with screenshots from the film, and his web site, which shows off more of his work.

ACB3--the artwork of Anton Bogaty

Blogspot: The Films and Artwork of Anton Bogaty

Wednesday
May302012

More petty criminality from Star Wars characters

Here's  another story involving petty acts of criminality perpetrated by men in Star Wars disguises. From NorthWestOhio.com:

TOLEDO -- The FBI and Toledo Police are investigating a Wednesday afternoon bank robbery at the Huntington Bank on Monroe Street in Toledo.

The lone gunman walked into the bank around 3 p.m., wearing a plastic Darth Vader mask, when he demanded money from victim tellers. 

After getting an undisclosed amount of money,he fled the scene using a dark colored BMX bike.  

Authorities describe the man as black, about 5’10” to 6’ tall, weighing around 170 pounds, and approximately 20 to 25 years of age. 

In addition to the mask, the suspect was wearing a black zippered hoody, black sweat pants, was carrying a black backpack, and was armed with a black semi-automatic pistol.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact the FBI at 419-243-6122 or Toledo Police Crime Stopper Program at 419-255-1111.

See also:

NorthWestOhio.com: Toledo bank robber uses Darth Vader mask to hide identity