Gifties for Your Valentine (or Yourself!)

We're not too big on Valentine's Day in my house, which is fine with me. I don't need the jewelry/flower/chocolate cartels pressuring us to get gifts! But then I see all those ads, and I can't help it -- all I think is "Shiny!!" I like shiny.

But, as a geek girl, married to a geek boy, shiny things really aren't a part of our culture. So instead, I share with you a couple of alternates for your Lovable Geek.

First up - the 8-Bit Flower Bouquet (via ThinkGeek.com). Maybe it's because my husband is a Mario fan, so I always keep an eye out for Mario-themed gifts, but I think these are cute. I would totally put them on my desk, and AND they won't die (this always saddens me with cut flowers)!

Or how about a nice Star Trek themed cologne? I chose to feature "Pon Farr" (for her) from UrbanCollector.com but you might try "Shirtless Kirk" or "Sulu Pour Homme" for the geek guy in your life.

You might prefer a home made touch, so what about some delicious cupcakes? Whether you be gamer geek (h/t Hello Tauren!):

Or Star Wars geek (h/t Geekologie):

Finally, if you still think jewelry is the way to go, consider these nice dog tags, err "necklaces" for all the geek archetypes. Mine, of course, would be the global "Geek Girl," though your girl might prefer "Anime Geek" or "Fiend" instead.

Whatever you end up deciding, Happy Valentine's!

PSA - How to Talk to Your Kids About Star Wars

(h/t Laughing Squid)

This is the most awesome thing I've seen this week, from Asylum. If you have a child, or have small children in your life, be sure to check this out. It's important that kids get the right message about Star Wars. And that word is NO Jar Jar Binks!

(Plus, how do you not love the baby Yoda featured here?!)

Star Wars - Victorian Style

Apparently, it's been a while. I think missing Comic Con this year threw me off my bloggerific game. Sigh. Well, I'm rebounding now and hoping to post a few quick things before I'm out of the loop again for a short medical leave. (Summer has been great times this year!)

h/t to Rich for sending along this link to an LA Weekly profile on artist Greg Peltz, and his Victorian Star Wars paintings. Check out all the shared images over at the LA Weekly link, but here are a couple of my favorites:

Jabba with a top hat and mustachio.


Chewbacca with monocle.




Love these! I feel like they need some very flowery, ornate frames to really give them the extra oomph.

Finally, I just have to note that the artist, Mr. Peltz, is a 23-year-old artist, who is also a technical director at Pixar. Now I feel old and under accomplished.

Back to the cubicle with me...

Is it Really Summer?

Portland "summer" weather really loves to fake you out. One day it will be cold & pouring rain, and the next it is like 82F and you can't get the fans on high enough to cool off your apartment. Or so I've heard.

But, I'll try to be optimistic for a moment, and believe that the weather we have today might last us until September. And in that spirit of optimism, the fact that it is technically summer, and that there is a major BBQ holiday coming up, I present you with this:

The Death Star Watermelon!



Festive and healthy. I bet it would be great if you drilled a small hole and poured some vodka in it. Mmmmm, liquored fruit...

Celebrate Geek Pride Day - Return of the Geek

Or maybe this post should be called "Empire of the Geek" but this is the 3rd post and that would ruin continuity...

It's hard to believe, but 30 years ago was the release of the best of the Star Wars trilogy (imho) The Empire Strikes Back. I'm no critic (which should be fairly apparent based on the fact that I can find good in most every movie, even the bad ones) but Empire struck a chord with me. Maybe it was the fantastically cool scenery of the Ice Planet Hoth and the furry snow beast native to the planet, the Tauntaun.


Maybe it is the vision of ominous yet captivating AT-ATs marching across the icy tundra. They are still an iconic reference to me. Also I'd really love to ride on one. Can someone work on that? Thanks.


And while I favor the first part of the movie on Hoth (so desolate, so cold) there are so many other great moments in Empire.

The gang escapes the Empire (again). Meeting Yoda. And Cloud City, with of course, Lando. I mean, look at this guy. Does he not exude super hip administrator?

Finally, this is the movie that taught me a movie could end unresolved, without the "happily ever after" BS. And that it is ok, because there is another episode on the way (with Ewoks!). That even if you find out **SPOILER ALERT** Darth Vadar is your father and your best friend was just frozen into a carbonite block and sent to one of the Hutt's for debts owed, good guys do good, and will keep on fighting the good fight. Use the force, etc. etc.

Oh, yeah! And this is the same movie that introduced fandom to Boba Fett. If you do not know of the devotion and love of the Fetts, spend some time on the friendly interwebs. It will likely shock and amaze you.

Insert gratuitous Boba Fett picture here because he is so fu**ing cool!



I leave you with this quote from Han Solo, whom I've adored since I was 6 years old:

You like me because I’m a scoundrel. There aren’t enough scoundrels in your life.

So true Han, so true.

Happy Birthday, ESB.

Sequels

Over on The Facebook, my friend the Comic Book Guy (well, he co-owns a comic book store and is about to become a published writer) has posed some great comic book-related questions to fans of the store. For instance, last night's was "Who is your favorite supporting character?" I'll let you ponder that for a minute...

If you know anything about geeks, we can spend hours vehemently arguing/discussing topics like this one. Or the merits & flaws of comic book TV/movie adaptations. Or speculate about which actor would make the best (insert random character to appear in next movie here). Or which character/story deserves a reboot. Or how "true" to the story any particular adaptation is to the original work.

But one of the most hotly contested topics (especially at Con after a few drinks) is that of the Movie Sequel. Really good sequels in any genre are hard enough to pull off (I say Godfather 2 makes the cut), but doing a follow-up to a really good comic book or sci fi movie seems to be a particular challenge. A lot of initial offerings suck so much or can't find enough of an audience that they aren't even considered for a sequel. But there are some really good ones, occasionally better than the first. Here are the ones that are on my Decent (or better) Sequel list:

• Empire Strikes Back (duh)
• Superman II (on TV tonight as a matter of fact, and the reason for this post)
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Khannnnn!!!!)
• Evil Dead 2 (maybe a bit out of genre, but love it)
• Batman Returns
• The Dark Knight (2nd of Christopher Nolan's Batman movies)
• X2
• Spiderman 2
• Underworld: Evolution
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (don't laugh - I liked it)
• Toy Story 2
• and the most recent release, Iron Man 2

I'm sure there are others. What am I forgetting? Add to comments.

More Star Wars Paraphernalia

Apparently seeing parts of The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clone Wars over the weekend wasn't enough Star Wars for me. This is what happens when you are home sick -- Star Wars and detective/crime show marathons. Good times.

But I like these "recruitment" propaganda posters for the Empire by Feng Zhu -- who did designs for Revenge of the Sith (via Unreality Magazine here).

Tauntaun Sleeping Bag is Awesome!

Another fun one from Think Geek. I would love to get one of these Tauntaun sleeping bags. You know, for camping.

Yeah. Camping.

Geek Food

I love geek-related food. There are some really creative people out there doing fun things with food. I feel a little guilty about the prospect of eating it, but if I had it in front of me, I won't lie, I would scarf it right down. After at least taking a picture.

Death Star Watermelon via Laughing Squid:



QR Code cupcake via Boing Boing (you can actually scan these and it directs to Montreal Science Centre):




Super Mario cake via Rare Unlimited:



I wish I was talented enough to make this cake; I know my husband would love it for his birthday! Where's that community college schedule...


I think I might do a whole series on just this topic. I have some pics of nerdy bento boxes that I started collecting one day while surfing Google images.

Amigurumi = Cute!

Thanks to good ol' Wikipedia, I learned what "amigurumi" means, other than ridiculously cute.

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll.

There were two BoingBoing posts this week featuring nerd-inspired arigurumi, both inciting me to "Awwwww" at my monitor. That's how I know they are good. I also am reminded that I need to start knitting and/or crocheting again. Maybe after I move. And start volunteering. And learn how to race a dragonboat. You see where this is going. Sigh...

Anyway, enjoy some cute toys.

Toy Fair Highlights

I wish I could be at Toy Fair this week. I love a nerd convention, and one focused exclusively on toys would be amazing. Except that I'd have to go to New York in February, during what I've heard has been one heck of a snowstorm. Given that I've had 3+ days without rain in Portland, also in February, it's a toss up.

But since it's not even an issue this year, I'll just share some highlights I've seen floating around the web. Plus, I'll get to see some of these toys later in the year at San Diego Comic-Con.

via Comics Alliance come an image of a new AT-AT from The Empire Strikes Back. I love that they are still making toys from movies that are pushing 30. But Empire is still my favorite of the Star Wars movies, mostly because of the scenes on Hoth (see poster in yesterday's posting!). So check out this AT-AT figure that can hold 20 regular sized Star Wars figures inside.


I spent so much time looking for other reports and good images from Toy Fair, that I'm already out of time this evening. Sometimes, research for the blog takes a while! But, I did find a great set of images on Flickr from Ken Miller. I picked a few favorites either because the toy looked really cool or I love the property (or know someone who does!).

First up, from the Mr. Potato Head family and in honor of the new Iron Man movie due later this spring, "Tony Starch." Get it?


In honor of the Peanuts' 60th anniversary, Dark Horse is releasing some vintage-Peanuts figures. I heart Snoopy!


I spied these new Venture Bros. figures and immediately thought of Rich! I'll be looking for these in San Diego...


Finally, Rorschach (Watchmen), Lobo (DC) and Beetlejuice -- because they amuse me.




In looking through quite a few of the images, it appears there continues to be an interest in the 80's, as reflected by new toys based on Ghostbusters, wrestling icons of the era (Rowdy Roddy Piper, anyone?), Terminator, and so on. So, there's more of the 80's to look forward to, in case you didn't get enough the first time around.

I'm thinking of doing another post just on some of the female figures. I used to collect those and still have a place in my heart for them. Sadly, I have no room in my storage container for any more.

Happy Toy Collecting!

Amazing Posters

Last week, Boing Boing had a great post about some very cool posters that take inspiration from some of our favorite movies & TV shows. The first series, created by Justin Van Genderen, are minimalist travel posters based on the Star Wars universe (link here).




Next are some very stripped down TV show posters by Albert Exergian. I love these even if I don't always understand how the image represents the show (some are more obvious than others, at least to me).






These posters reminded me of another set of vintage-like Firefly travel posters that came out a couple years back (available at ThinkGeek.com). I clearly need a house with some large, tall walls for all the art I want on them.


Star Trek is a pretty obvious set--so many great references could be done. But, can someone do a set that are Buffy/Angel-related? What other TV shows or movies do you think would lend itself to a great series of stylized posters like these? Or maybe inspired by video games? I wish I was an artist or designer; I think I could have fun with this theme...

Star Wars Valentines

I love these Star Wars Valentines from James Stowe (via laughing squid). I particularly love the images of those who were previously foes but are now clearly friends!