Does the image of John Candy in that cat dog alien costume come to mind every time you hear the word Barf? Does the word Vespa make you think of a princess from the planet Druidia instead of a motor scooter? Do you imagine Pizza the Hutt is on the other end of the line when you call in an order to Pizza Hut?
Then you have great taste in sci-fi spoofs, and Spaceballs on the brain (which you should probably get checked out).
You may have seen Spaceballs a million times, with the Barf t-shirt and Lone Starr mug to prove it, but there's bound to be some new factoid to discover about your favorite sci-fi spoof on GeekTyrant's 10 Fun Facts About Spaceballs.
For example- everyone knows Michael Winslow did his own voice effects in the film, but did you know the vocal work he did for this hilarious scene saved the production a thousand bucks? Now that's putting your money where your mouth is, Michael Winslow!
Seven-year-old Liam Porter of Augusta, Georgia, is growing up fast. So fast that he keeps outgrowing his prosthetic arm, and insurance coverage limits the number of new arms he can get. Meanwhile, John Peterson of Augusta got a 3D printer and volunteered with the organization E-nable, which coordinates a network of people all over the world to make prosthetics limbs. Peterson made a prosthetic for Liam that resembled a robot and called it a Clone Trooper arm. Liam got his arm during a surprise party after he and his friend Jacob watched a movie at a local theater. The Georgia Garrison of the 501st Legion was on hand to make it extra special.
The troopers of the Georgia garrison of the 501st Legion – whose motto is “Bad guys doing good” – presented Liam with a “Friend of the Garrison” certificate and he fits right in with them as he poses in his helmet with his left arm outstretched, looking identical to theirs. Inside their armor, Jake and Melissa Barnes, of Atlanta, and local artist Jen Belgin, who is some kind of Imperial officer, turn heads as they lead Liam around the lobby drawing smiles and stares and posing for pictures. Belgin painted the helmet and detailed the arm, writing Liam’s name on it in a squiggly language called Aurebesh.
Using his new trooper arm, Liam high-fives Melissa.
“Looking good, sir,” she said, since Liam is now a commander and outranks her. “I like the helmet.”
Later, things quickly devolve as Liam and Jacob grab their blasters and take the troopers hostage.
“Wow, that escalated really quickly,” Jake says, his hands in the air. Liam is a big fan of the Star Wars movies but the family didn’t know what was coming, Ryan said.
The house where author Ray Bradbury lived for over 50 years went on sale last year. You can get a good look at it in the real estate listing photos. Renowned architect Thom Mayne and his wife purchased the house for $1.67 million. And Friday they had it torn down.
The discussion under all these stories, and the post at Metafilter, divides fans into two camps: those who don't want to see history being demolished, and those who say this is no big deal. Both have valid points.
Those who regret seeing the house torn down are sad that it wasn’t preserved for its historical value. It could have been made into a museum. It was a perfectly habitable house, built in 1937, with some interesting architectural details.
Others say the house was outdated and not particularly significant in its architecture. Bradbury’s legacy lives on in his writings. And no one wants to live in a house with only three bedrooms. If fans wanted to preserve it, they should have bought it. One commenter pointed out that if every home in Los Angeles where a celebrity once lived were preserved, there could be no new homes built.
We now officially live in that far off future age presented by that most radical of 80s sci-fi flicks Back To The Future Part II, and yet the reality of 2015 looks a bit boring when compared to a future full of self tying Nikes and Mattel hoverboards.
Well, if you think our world is boring compared to the film wait 'til you get a load of the futuristic Hill Valley tech that didn’t make it into the film.
The film's "future consultant" Tim Flattery and concept artist Edward Eyth came up with all kinds of crazy cool gear, robotic technology and far out vehicles for possible use in the film, most of which stayed tucked away in Edward's sketchbooks.
Some of the concepts are a bit silly as you'd expect from the comedic tone of the film, but a Mobile Automated Hot Dog Vending Unit? Now that's just putting robo-technology to good use!
But not a small man. No, he was strong and powerful in the only way that matters. And, as a result, he would inspire others to be something other than small.
This is A Smallville Man, a short film by Mauricio Abril. We've previously featured another of his works called The Brave Knight: A Gotham Fairy Tale. As with that film, there's no dialogue. Abril tells the entire story with individual frames, like the panels of a comic book. It's a tale of Superman and the superman within.
There is one character archetype in the world of pop culture that is so specific, so exact in attitude and circumstance, that it needs a combination adjective to describe it properly- sadorable.
Sadorable characters are basically a combination of Jungian archetypes The Innocent and The Orphan-they are adorable in looks and attitude yet powerless to control their sad little lives, with the power to thaw frozen hearts and inspire otherwise rotten people to do good.
Here’s an exploration of nine characters from movies and TV shows that epitomize the idea of “sadorable”:
Leopold Stotch, aka Butters, is an innocent victim-he’s constantly getting punished by his parents for crimes he didn't commit, the other kids in South Park pick on him incessantly, and his only solace is the time he spends as his villainous alter ego Professor Chaos.
Yet somehow the sadorable little Butters continues to confess to crimes he didn't commit and let kids bag on him just to make everyone else happy, making young Butters tops in the world of animated TV show sadorability.
Bobby Boucher, aka The Waterboy, is a grown man who lives with his mother in a swampside estate fit for a frog, his wardrobe looks like something you'd find in a thrift store dumpster, and he’s got a stutter that makes him sound like Elmer Fudd’s Creole cousin.
Despite all these setbacks he's still caring and happy to help others, which ups his sadorability factor by at least two touchdowns and a field goal.
It’s a wonder Hans Moleman lived long enough to reach his senior years, because he’s constantly being targeted for pranks, aimed at by angry drivers, struck by flying objects and generally serving as the butt of many jokes around Springfield.
And yet somehow, despite all of the bad life throws his way, Hans remains begrudgingly optimistic, continuing to make his way through a cartoon world hell bent on burying him before he can officially retire!
Last February, June, and August, I offered anime viewing recommendations, as well as invited readers to discuss anything they want about the wonderful world of anime. Let's do it again!
The tag line of Alznoah.Zero is "Let Justice Be Done, Though the Heavens Fall." This is from the classical Latin proverb fiat justitia ruat caelum. It begins with peace negotiations between hostile powers--Earth and Mars--that are marred by a horrific crime. It appears obvious who the culprits are, but there is more that is unseen.
This is a complex, sophisticated story. It's a mecha anime, but not a simplistic one. Kotaku's anime critic Richard Eisenbeis says that unlike many heroic mecha stories, "Aldnoah.Zero takes this common formula and turns it on its head." It is a gripping, dark story that reminds me of Game of Thrones.
The 70s were a rather shaggy time in the world of rock music, and rock icons like David Crosby, Eric Clapton and Frank Zappa were still letting their freak flags fly high, living that rock 'n' roll lifestyle with reckless abandon.
These guys were, like, totally heavy, man, and so far out that it’s easy to forget they actually sprang from someone’s loins.
In 1971 LIFE Magazine photographer John Olson was tasked with shooting a portrait series featuring rock and roll royalty, so he took a wildly unexpected approach- he accompanied these rock legends to their parents’ homes.
Zappa doesn't seem too happy about revealing his parents' purple den of passion to the world, and Clapton doesn't dig spending afternoons drinking tea with Mum when he'd rather be out doing Cocaine with Cream. However, David Crosby seems strangely calm about the whole thing, maybe he popped a few 'ludes before the shoot?
Not all librarians are Jedi like Jocasta Nu. But a lot of us are a bit Force-sensitive, which comes in handy when peering into a patron's mind during a reference interview or intuiting the best resources within a library collection.
It would come in handy if you land this dream job: science fiction librarian. The University of California at Riverside holds the Eaton Collection, a respository of "science fiction, fantasy, horror and utopian literature." Among many other materials, the Eaton Collection includes over 100,000 books and almost 100,000 fanzines. The manager of it holds the position of Jay Kay and Doris Klein Science Fiction Librarian. It's currently open. Do you want to apply?
Get your little X-wing fighter pilot started on his flight training with this variation on the classic rocking horse. DeviantArt member Steveswoodentoys made this beautifully-crafted ship. It measures 45 inches long, 47 inches wide, and 25 inches tall. He used pine, macrocarpa, and rimu. It comes with a removable R2 droid.
The Bat-slap meme is just one of those things that makes me crack up every time. If you're like me, that makes this dry erase board a must-have for your home. Just imagine getting to change the meme every time you think of something new and funny and letting your friends edit the board to write in their thoughts. It even works for your to do list as Batman can threaten to slap you if you fail. It's the perfect home accessory that combines function and style.
Before someone even enters your home, your doormat lets them know a little about you. Are you friendly, efficient, OCD? What about geeky? That's right, now you can express your nerdy self with all kinds of great doormats.
Over on Homes and Hues, we rounded up 12 such geektastic rugs to greet your guests with. From fantasy to gaming and from Doctor Who to IT jokes, whatever your favorite geek interest, there's sure to be a great rug out there to make you smile.
Luke Skywalker grows up on a humble moisture farm on Tatooine. His father, Anakin Skywalker, has adopted the name Darth Vader and become a villanous tyrant. He never bothers to check up on a kid with his own unusual last name.
Why? Redditor scc10n8 has concocted a brilliant explanation. The entire plot of Star Wars Episode IV was a long con set up by Obi-Wan Kenobi:
I don't think Obi-Wan ever meant to confront Luke. I subscribe to the notion that the whole thing was an elaborate trap to lure Darth Vader there for a final battle to the death.
He takes Luke there as a child, doesn't even change his last name to anything other than Skywalker, and leaves him with Vader's mom's family on a sparsly populated planet so there's no over abundance of life to hide the kids force talent which is sure to manifest. Then he just sits there in the desert, waiting for Vader to show up so they can throw down on a hardcore force battle in a desert where there won't be much collateral or many opportunities to take hostages. Only he never shows.
Obi-Wan's plan doesn't work, though. Vader never shows up. So when he stumbles across Luke in the desert, he takes a different, even more insidious approach:
Sure Obi-Wan is old, but this kid is fresh. He's maliable. The Empire is sure to be tracking these droids. He just has to distract him for a while and the inevitable is sure to happen to his family. So what does he do? Start dropping hints about the kids dad. Tell him about him being a great jedi, a great pilot, both things the kid will need to off Vader, and all of it true. And as long as he's hearing what he wants to hear, has stars in his eyes, drop the bomb. Vader killed your dad.
From here Obi-Wan's got him, he's getting ready to somehow steer the kid to go check on his family when they seen the plume of black smoke on the horizon. A blasted out Sandcrawler, mana from heaven! After that the whole thing is dominoes. One after another gathering speed. And in a later showdown with Vader he can die with a smile on his face because he knows he gave it the first push.
The new movie Jurassic World will star Chris Pratt, who plays Andy Dwyer in the TV show Parks and Recreation. The folks at Thanks Mom Productions took that connection a step further and put the character Andy Dwyer into Spielberg’s dinosaur theme park for this strange little mashup. -via Viral Viral Videos
