1.A great tutorial from a fellow blogger

2. Heh

3. The Universe.
I could sit and stare at these pictures all day

4. Vintage-y Love

5. Inspirational video on some great art

6. Land Art for Kids.
New website from Richard Shilling.

7. Another inspirational video

8. More and More everyday I love Bloglines. Great site to keep all the blogs I follow in order

9. Some beautiful jewelry from some my fellow Etsy sellers

10. More cute looking animals

I hope you all had a great week!

by – ‘Tiger’ Oliver

Seeing as National Turkey Genocide Day is in just a few short days, I’ve been thinking of things that I’m thankful for.

And, seeing as I’m an O’Colly Gamer, video games topped the list; edging out my closest friend, family, good drinks and the feeling you get when you tear a piece of paper out of a notebook perfectly along the perforated line. Oh, and when you eat at a Chinese buffet after not eating in 16 hours.

Anywho, I think it’s time to take a look at a few of among tens-to-hundreds of games I’m thankful for playing this year:

Conker: Live & Reloaded (XBox – Rated Mature)

By far the best looking Nintendo 64 game revamped for the original XBox. Trust me, the graphics are so amazing that you’ll think it’s an XBox 360 game, even given the fact that it only plays in 4:3 aspect ratio. A remastered game track, reconstructed multiplayer and the classic Bad Fur Day relatively untouched makes this game a definite play for platformer fans. Just don’t let the kiddies play this game, it ain’t rated M for nothing.

Saw (XBox 360, PlayStation 3 & Windows – Rated Mature)

I’m thankful for this game because it reminds me of how such a promising game can be so damn disappointing.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Saw as much as the next guy, but this game is horrible. It plays horrible, the graphics are horrible, the music’s horrible for the fact that it gets annoying as all get out after you listen to it for so long. It’s kind of like the movie, the storyline is the only thing that saves the game for me. But not enough to make me play it again.

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Super Nintendo, Wii Virtual Console & Game Boy Advance)

After not having played this game for over eight years on a Super Nintendo, I’m reminded of the timelessness of such game series like the Zelda franchise. Very few games these days have that timelessness, and even fewer capitalize on it through a sequel.

Guitar Hero/Rock Band (Multiple Platforms)

Because, SRSLY, where else will you be able to fulfill your rock star fantasy without the risk of drug addiction and STD’s?

Trog! (NES & Arcade)

What can I say, it makes me nostalgic.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (All major consoles, handhelds, mobile phones, Mac OS & PC)

When a franchise releases one of the best games of that year and, quite possibly, of this generation, it’s no small matter. When that franchise is Star Wars, you know it’s a hell of a game.

Left 4 Dead (PC, XBox 360)

Hundreds upon thousands of zombies coming at you, a seemingly endless supply of ammunition, a gun toting maniac and a hot chick who knows how to multitask with annihilating the undead horde whilst looking innocently sexy – if Left 4 Dead 2 is any better than this, then I’ll have no problem selling off all my Rock Band controllers just to get my hand on it.

And last, but certainly not least:

Tetris (You name it, it probably has a port of it)

You can have all the legions of enemies breathing down your neck, the high-definition graphics, orchestrated soundtrack by the biggest names in music and awesome state-of-the-art technology made exclusively for your game. Tetris will still pwn you and have enough in its tank for another million rounds. The best thing to come out of Russia since vodka still has what it takes to this day.

Besides, who doesn’t remember how they felt the first time they cleared four lines at the same time?

What are some of the things your thankful for? Better yet, some of the games you’re thankful for playing, good or bad?

Actiunea incepe atunci cand Obi-Wan impreuna cu Kit Fisto membru al Consiliului si spadasin de temut, practicand al Formei I de lupta cu sabia de lumina (considerata printre cele mai periculoase dupa Vaapad) asisa la o demonstratie dintre o clona si un robot.Clona este invinsa in mai putin de 30 de secunde iar Kit este rugat sa coboare pentru a incerca calitatile robotului.Desi iese invingator Kit recunoaste ca a fost aproape de un dezastru robotul fiind mai mult decat ceea ce s-ar fi asteptat acesta.Cancelarul ii informeaza ca droizi au fost denumiti JK – Jedi Killer si au o anume sensibilitate la Forta, ceea ce-i face oponenti de temut chiar si pentru Jedi.Cei doi Jedi impreuna cu echipa de comando desemnata special trebuie sa plece de urgenta pe Ord Cestus pentru a incerca sa opreasca productia de droizi,care urmau sa ajunga iminent pe frontul de lupta facand astfel si mai grea misiunea Marii Armate a Republicii si asa depasita de fortele Federatiei Comerciale conduse de Contele Dooku si generalii sai Asajj Ventress si Grievous.Echipa de comando era formata din: Nopt-liderul,Cepatru-comunicatii,Treijdo-armament greu,Patruspa-plasarea minelor si bombelor,Ixdoi-pilotutarea navelor.Planeta Cestus a functionat mai intai ca inchisoare pana ce o mana de pionieri neanfricati au descoperit resursele sale bogate in minereu si au pus pe picioare industria productiei de roboti de pe urma careia Cestus supravietuia.Ajunsi pe planeta Obi-Wan incearca sa rezolve totul pe cale diplomatica insa nu reuseste.In acest timp Nopt se indragosteste de o femeie de pe planeta.Acest lucru era considerat imposibil, clonele fiind create pentru a lupta si a murii.Insa Nopt sfarama aceasta bariera, devenind liber, permatandu-si sa iubeasca si sa fie iubit.Intr-o ultima incercare disperata Obi-Wan si Kit incearca sa saboteze fabricile droizilor.Acolo insa cei doi se intalnesc cu cel mai teribil dusman al lor:Asajj Ventress.Dupa o lupta grea in care Kit a fost ranit Obi-Wan o invinge pe Ventress punand-o pe fuga.Insa aceasta schimbase coordonatele balizelor de ghidare puse de Obi-Wan pentru crucisatoare astfel incat milioane de oameni urmau sa moara.Insa Nopt se sacrifica schimband la randul sau coordonatele si fara sa stie salvase viata nu a sute cum crezuse initial si a mii de oamenii.O clona nu ar fi putut face niciodata asa ceva…sa nesocoteasca un ordin direct.Insa Nopt nu mai era o simpla clona…era liber…si a ales sa-si jertfeasca libertatea nou dobandita pentru a salva milioane de oameni….lucru pe care modelul original Jangi Fett nu l-ar fi facut niciodata.In cele din urma misiunea se incheie, productia de droizi fiind sistata.Obi-Wan insa nu poate uita sacrificiile facute pentru acest lucru si nu poate sa nu se intrebe cati oamenii mai trebuie sa moara pentru incheierea razboiului.Nopt este ingropat simplu de catre fratii sai. Acestia au sapat un transeu scurt in care au depus cu respect trupul lui Nopt.Fiecare a aruncat deasupra o mana de tarana.Apoi au rostit o replica : “Din apa ne-am nascut, in foc vom muri.Trupurile noastre vor insamanta stelele”.Apoi i-au ridicat un mormant de piatra,mai mult inalt decat lat cu un singur deget aratator inspre stele.Apoi au incheiat si nu le-a mai ramas nimic de facut….asa ca au plecat…

Ha! Ich hatte Recht. Meine letzte Woche aufgestellte Vermutung zu Cad Banes “Tod” traf zu (auch wenn der liebe Herr Ridiculous mein Genie auf übelste Weise runterspielte… Pah! ). Hier die Kurzfassung zur dritten Episode aus Staffel 2 von The Clone Wars, Children of the Force.

Ich hatte ja letzte Woche vermutet, dass Cad Bane sich als Klon ausgegeben hatte und sich an Bord des fliehenden Jedi-Schiffs geschmuggelt hatte. Dies traf dann auch vollkommen zu, wie ich heute sah. Bane beziehungsweise der Klon, den er verkörpert wird von Ahsoka gebeten, sich zur medizinischen Station zu begeben. Ahsoka entdeckt, dass der angebliche Klon doch keiner ist, und wird von diesem niedergeschlagen. Bane flieht und schnappt sich einen Jedi-Sternjäger. Anakin weist Admiral Yularen an, die Hyperraumringe abzuschalten, was dieser jedoch zu spät tut. Bane entkommt erneut. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu und Yoda versuchen durch Meditation herauszufinden, welche Kinder die ersten Opfer von Bane sein könnten. Dieser hat bereits ein Kind entführt und knöpft auf Rodia einer Mutter ihr machtsensitives Kind ab, indem er sich als Jedi ausgibt. Auf Naboo hat es der Kopfgeldjäger auf ein Gungan-Kleines abgesehen, doch Anakin und Ahsoka können ihn dingfest machen. In einem Verhör bringen sie Bane gemeinsam dazu, ihnen den Standort des Holocrons und der verbleibenden Kinder zu verraten. Als Mace Windu und Obi-Wan jedoch Banes Raumstation betreten, tappen sie in eine Laser- und Blasterfalle. Bane kann mit einer Fluchtkapsel entkommen. Die beiden Jedi schnappen sich das Holocron und entkommen kurz bevor die Station explodiert mit ihrem Raumschiff. Anakin und Ahsoka entdecken im Hangar der Resolute an Banes Schiff Vulkanspuren. Kombiniert mit Banes letzten Landestationen vermuten sie, dass Bane sich auf Mustafar mit dem Auftraggeber getroffen habe. Sie begeben sich dorthin, wo zwei Droiden für Sidious währenddessen versuchen, die beiden Kinder auf die dunkle Seite zu ziehen. Als die Jedi ankommen greifen die Droiden Anakin und Ahsoka an und benutzen die Kinder als Schutzschilde. Die Jedi können ihnen die Kinder jedoch abnehmen, kurz bevor die Station – durch den von den Droiden aktivierten Selbstzerstörungsmechanismus – in sich zusammenfällt.

Ich musste diese Zusammenfassung etwa dreimal kürzen – um nicht zu detailliert zu schreiben. In der Tat ist diese Episode sehr umfassend und verworren. Nebst etwa fünf verschiedenen Planeten verbindet sie auch zwei Handlungsstränge. Das macht das Ganze etwas unübersichtlich. Sonst finde ich die Folge sehr gelungen und auch die kleinen Kinder sind echt toll & süss gemacht – vorallem das Gungan-Kleine und der Baby-Rodianer, dem der Ball auf den Kopf plumpst! Knuffig! Nicht so knuffig ist das ganze Bumm-Bumm. Eine Raum- und eine Forschungsstation gehen in dieser Folge in die Luft. Dass die Bösen so verschwenderisch mit ihren Ressourcen umgehen verwundert mich leicht – Sonst ist die Folge alles in allem ein würdiger Abschluss des Bane-Dreiteilers. Jetzt muss aber etwas neues her.

"Help me find Obi-Wan; I feel like McDonald's."

The 3-D action movie “Avatar,” due in theaters December 18, is creating a market product for companies like Coca Cola and McDonalds. These companies have managed to recreate 3D experiences in product containers like the Coke can or the McDonald’s Happy Meal “McWorld virtual world.”

Relative: a little side project to make more money, just like Hot Topic did with the Twilight gear.

For the article, visit Marketers Hop on Augmented Reality Bandwagon to Promote \’Avatar\’

Avatar Coke Zero

Yesterday, against my better judgement, B was allowed to watch Star Wars (IV; as in one of the proper ones).  H is on a stag weekend (locally, but to save the soft furnishings I encouraged him to camp down with the guys. Since he peed on the high chair I prefer him to stay over somewhere on big nights out) but he’d promised B could watch it.  B’s enjoyment was marred only by my continually interrupting to ask if he was scared.  Needless to say nothing phased him; not the Sand People, not Jabba, not even creepy old Vader could give B a single heeby-jeeby.  Then, as I peeled potatoes in the kitchen, B came rushing in with eyes like dinner plates and hands flapping like a baby bird, all of a dither.  He was gabbling about a fire in a town, buildings falling down, lots of people being killed and so forth. Then he turned on his heel and ran back to the sitting room, clearly fascinated by such horror. 

I rushed through slightly alarmed and feeling rather guilty at forgetting this grisly scene of violence in the film, only to find Star Wars was on a break - as is often the case on ITV – to allow for the evening news.  Nothing in the raging battles between the Rebels and the evil Imperial rulers had caused a moment’s upset but this glimpse of real life had frightened the bejesus out of him.

He’s got a point.

FBTB.net (From Bricks to Bothans) the ultimate Star Wars LEGO Fan site is hosting its first Charity Drive.

FBTB is getting into the holiday spirit! This site, the community, and especially you, the readers, is what I am thankful for this holiday season. And it’s time to channel some of that good will towards a charitable cause.

FBTB is giving away one of these:

and all of these:

to one lucky winner. But wait, there’s more! If you’re not chosen as the grand prize winner, you are eligible to win the consolation prize! The second place prize includes everything in the second picture posted above, basically, everything the first place prize winner gets, minus 8038 The Battle of Endor. That’s 1 MINI Tie Fighter, 1 Chrome Darth Vader, 1 Chrome Stormtrooper, 1 Chrome C-3PO, 1 LEGOLand California 2005 Star Wars Weekend promo brick, and 1 LEGOLand California 2009 Star Wars Weekend promo brick . Sound cool? Here are the details on how you can win. There’s a lot of text, so please read carefully:

* It’s basically raffle where each “ticket” costs $2.00 USD.
* You can purchase your ticket by hitting the donate button below and completing the Paypal checkout.
* You can purchase as many tickets as you’d like. If you are planning on making a large donation, unfortunately, you will have to complete the checkout process each time in $2.00 USD increments. But remember, each time you complete the checkout, you get another ticket into the raffle increasing your chances of wining.
* The raffle is open to anyone in the world able to complete the Paypal checkout process.
* The last day to purchase tickets is 11:59pm December 20, 2009.
* As the donor recipient, I get an email notification for each donation received; that is your raffle entry. You will also receive a receipt of your payment via email from Paypal. You do NOT have to email me or forward me your receipt. There’s nothing more you have to do besides complete the Paypal checkout process.
* All the emails will be filtered into a special folder. After the deadline, I’ll use a random number generator to select the lucky winner numbered in the chronological order received.
* 50% of the first 100 donations will be used to cover the cost of the prize package and postage and handling for prize delivery. The other 50% will go towards the charity. After the first 100 donations, 100% of the proceeds will go towards the charity.
* Prize packages will be mailed out on December 21, 2009 via USPS Express Mail, just in time for Christmas.*

The charity chosen for FBTB’s Charity Drive is Penny Arcade’s Child Play, a non-profit organization raising money and toys for sick children hospitalized during the holidays. For more information on Child’s Play, visit their website: Child’s Play.

I’ve made my donation, so if you would like to be part of the raffle go to the FBTB Charity Drive Page. Good luck!

This is a listing of all of the fanfiction that I’ve written over the years.

STAR WARS

Anakin & Padme Vignette Collection *Vignettes/One Shots*
Sandstorm Celebration *Short Story*
Stranded *Vignette/One Shot**
Alderaan Blessings *Short Story*
Memories of my Beloved Alderaan *Short Story*
The Passing of the Torch *Vignette/One Shot*
Episode 1: The Republic Show *Vignette/One Shot*

My Alternate Reality EU series
(EU= Expanded Universe – all of these stories are set years after RETURN OF THE JEDI and focus on the extended families of Leia & Han and Luke and Mara Jade. You don’t need to know anything about the EU to enjoy reading them since I wrote my own mythology.)

Destinies Entwined: Part 1 Jaina’s Journey *Novel*
Destinies Entwined: Part 2 Nubian Son -Family Skeletons *Novel*
Destinies Entwined: Part 3 Unmasked Soul – Roots of Evil *Novel*
To Court A Queen *Novel*
Legacy of Light *Short Story*
Carida Avenged: Unnatural Selection *Novel*
Carida Avenged: Purity Control…abandoned story..

SMALLVILLE

Lois and Clark Vignettes *Vignettes/One Shots*
Redlust *Short Story*
Superman: Destiny Embraced *Novel*
Superman: Fractured Reality…In Progress Novel

LEGEND OF THE SEEKER

Unspoken Want *Vignette/One Shot*
The Burden of Power *Vignette/One Shot*

My last post about Threadless submissions is about the first design I sent in. I thought our stormtrooper cartoon would look good (I think the image looks much better on the shirt than the other two designs) so I tried that.

The design had too much text on it and was rejected. I was interested in seeing how the whole voting process worked though, so I removed the text and resubmitted.

This wasn’t the smartest thing to do since without any words there’s just a stormtrooper standing there. Who is going to look at this and think ‘It looks like he’s got some sex toys on one end of his blaster and I see how that contrasts with the other end’? No one — except Rob

Hätte ich Geld – ich würde noch so manches Buch verschlingen. Doch ich hab leider keines. Und in naher Zukunft wohl auch nicht. Momentan les ich zwar gerade zwei Bücher auf einmal (siehe meine “Recently Schweinisch”-Rubrik rechts oben), doch wenn ich wollte wärens deren 5. Da wären:

• Robert Zimmermann wundert sich über die Liebe von Gernot Gricksch – ich hatte damals in “High Fidelity” einen Auszug gelesen – köstlich und erfrischend locker geschrieben!
• Happy Aua 1 & 2 von Bastian Sick – kenn ich durch meine Schwester, wobei “lesen” eher falsch ist, bei diesen “Bilderbüchern” – krummlachen garantiert !
• Darth Bane 1 & 2 von Drew Karpyshyn – Den Anfang dieser Trilogie wollte ich schon immer lesen – soll spitze sein!
• … der Abenteuer von Enid Blyton – Mir fehlen noch etwa zwei Bücher dieser Reihe. Die sind einfach klasse – mochte ich schon immer.
• Erich Kästner – Ich kenn die zwar nur als schweizerdeutsche Vertonungen, 35. Mai sogar als Buch, aber die muss man gelesen haben =)
• Merde-Reihe von Stephen Clarke – Ich weiss nicht mehr von wem mir die empfohlen wurde, aber ich hab gehört, sie soll echt fies sein – gut so!
• Juliet, Naked von Nick Hornby – soll auch bald als TB kommen. Hornby forever !

Nächste Woche – die CDs die ich hören möchte…

El talento que derrochan algunos seguidores de ciertas sagas es bien conocido. En este caso, seguidores de Star Wars, se han trabajado éste estupendo vídeo a modo de falso documental para plasmar el universo de Star Wars en la Tierra. Es curioso ver en el firmamento la Estrella de la Muerte, o destructores sobrevolando puentes. Su talento es notable, pues todo se integra a la perfección en el entorno. Además, el realismo que le imprime el grabar cámara en mano y en situaciones comunes, hace que todo se más creíble.

Wheeeeeeeen the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore!

(Patrick Stewart)

Are you in love with that gal you met at the show?

Picture by: dunno source Caption by: caitofga via Our LOL Builder

» Recaption This!

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Après une collection ratée consacrée au label Def Jam, Adidas Originals tente de se racheter avec une collab Star Wars avant tout destinée aux geeks. Composée de baskets, de T-Shirts et de vestes reprenant des personnages cultes comme les Stormtroopers, Yoda, Luke Skywalker (dans son X-Wing) ou encore Dark Vador, la collab sera disponible en shop à partir de janvier 2010. Le temps que filtrent d’autres visuels et qu’on puisse déterminer si le hoodie Vador est si abusé que ça ou non. En espérant que le style soit avec eux.

Pour voir plus de photos de la collection Adidas Originals x Star Wars, vous pouvez cliquer pour

Watching as Lord Vader’s shuttle left the hangar bay, my attentions returned to Lieutenant Sardon.

“Why didn’t you come forward with this information earlier?!” I snapped.

“All apologies, Commander, but Moff Tarkin is the man who sentenced me to death and it was rather difficult to find a window for an audience with the Dark Lord and evade both Tarkin and his protegé in the process.”

I sighed and shook my head. “He’s up to no good, Sardon. Vader has already had visions concerning Tarkin through the Force.”

“So, he knows already of the threat Tarkin presents?”

“Indeed he does.” I replied, looking out the viewport in disdain, “I just hope they don’t try something underhanded like an attempt to outnumber him…”

“Like they did the Jedi?”

“Lieutenant, your remarks are most out of line.”

“It’s the truth, Brisard. Surely you know as well as I. You support the Empire, yes, but you have standards above all this…”

“And you don’t support the Empire? Why go to all this trouble? Why risk your life to warn Vader?”

“There was a time in which I believed in the Empire, Commander, but that time is long past. Tell me, what do you believe in?”

“I believe in Vader’s Empire. The time will soon come in which his plans shall come to fruition. Then we shall have peace again.”

Sardon shook his head. “I hope so, Commander.”

“Sardon? How good are you at ciphering codes?”

“Quite good, actually. Why?”

“Come with me, I intend to put your skills to good use…”

To all Sci-Fi fans, Adidas Originals collaborated with Star Wars to bring you a collection of new shoes and apparel designs.  The styles will be be at Original Stores  and selected retailers by January 2010.

Pictures courtesy of HYPEBEAST.COM

¡Ya tenemos FRIKADA del día!

Os dejo el enlace al foro de la comunidad creativa francesa CFSL.net para que admiréis lo que es capaz uno de estos manitas con un simple cúter y varios sencillos del metro de París…

Créditos: Hubert de Lartigue

¡¡¡Un IMPRESIONANTE X-Wing!!! Y la banda magnética ademas de simular bastante bien la cabina queda genial…

Si queréis ver los pasos uno a uno pasaos por su correspondiente hilo del foro

(Me lo chivó Nikonifera )

Dago-Booyah!