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YouTube user Landstrider, in six hours of work, compiled every scene of a lightsaber being turned on or off.

The first one always bothered me a little. I mean, Luke almost bisects Obi Wan the first time that he picks up a lightsaber. The Jedi need something like Jeff Cooper's four rules of gun safety.

via Geekologie

This image was snapped inside a restroom at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

While we're on the subject, Captain Kirk's pre-refit chair on the old 1701 always looked like it would be uncomfortable.

Link via Gizmodo

I've previously featured das chupa's mashup of Up and Star Wars. Here's one of his more recent works. I don't understand the multiple tentacles reference, but it has been a long time since I've read Peanuts. I guess that it was weirder than I remembered.

Link via Super Punch

The US and Japan are about to mark the 50th anniversary of their defense pact. In order to strengthen an endangered relationship, the US military is publishing a multi-issue manga designed to promote good relations between the two nations:

The story features an American boy called Usa-kun -- a word play on USA and "usagi", Japanese for rabbit -- who wears a hooded jacket with bunny ears and befriends a Japanese girl, Anzu Arai.

In the first issue of "Our Alliance -- A Lasting Partnership", to be published online Wednesday, the boy tells Anzu that he has come to defend her home because they are "important friends".[...]

In the four-part comic series, the two main characters "explore and learn about the US military in Japan and its role in the US-Japan alliance," according to a statement from the US forces.

The US military chose the manga format because it is "a very common way of communicating in Japan," Major Neal Fisher, deputy director of the US forces' public affairs office in Japan, told AFP by telephone.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jP3LgTrhlK2O7_pgtq4XpD6UksQQ via Digg | Image: AP

I like it; it's clever. Kind of classy for tramp stamp.

Don't add anything on the back -- leave it up to the viewers' imaginations which movie they're watching.

Link (NSFWish) via Great White Snark

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Waterloo Labs states that different parts of the human eye have different electrical charges. Align electrodes with those movements and you can measure them with an electro-oculogram. These signals can then be translated into commands in a NES. Then it's a simple matter of inserting the Super Mario Bros. cartridge.

via Popular Science | Official Website

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Malte Jehmlich and Matthes Mikysec made an analog version of a racing arcade game. They built a cardboard tunnel and set up a remote controlled car with a camera. Then they built an arcade cabinet for the screen and controls. The track is designed to look like the 1995 game Wipeout.

via technabob

Cartoonist Eric Feurstein lampooned John Marston's adventures in Red Dead Redemption by chronicling 24 hours of his life. This is 9:12 AM.

Well, sometimes you have to move the plot along, even if it means that the PC's actions don't make sense.

Link via Kotaku

Artist Brian McLachlan made a set of comic book covers for cult movies including Shaft, The Warriors, Mad Max, Heathers, and The Goonies. Pictured above is a scene from a Red Dawn remake that I would love to see.

Link via Geekosystem

More Kinect Videos

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Xbox's new Kinect gaming platform may seem nifty and high-tech, but as this video shows, it can't do all of the things that Connect Four can. It's four times as advanced -- or else, they would have called it "Connect" instead of "Connect Four, right?. Comedy courtesy of IGN.

via Nerd Bastards

Marvel has a page of preview art for Deadpool #1000 by Phil Bond. You can view the full page at the link. I gather that Canadian government representatives are trying to persuade Deadpool to work for them.

http://marvel.com/images/791112.DEADPOOL_1000_preview_art_by_Phil_Bond/from/content.story.13424 via reddit | Image: Marvel Comics

An anonymous family facing the foreclosure of their home found a box of old comic books in the house. Most are now worth only a few dollars. But one was the prized Action Comics #1 -- the first comic book to feature Superman:

In a statement released through ComicConnect, the owner of the prized comic book said the family was still "a little shell shocked" after the unexpected find. "I was so nervous when I realized what it was worth," the owner said. "I know I am very fortunate but I will be greatly relieved when this book finds a new home."

Last Thursday, the couple's copy received a 5.0 VG(Very Good)/Fine rating on a scale of 1 to 10. It could fetch upwards of $250,000 when it goes up for auction on ComicConnect.com from Aug. 27 through Sept. 17.

Link via blastr | Image: blastr

Flickr user Ryan Palser made an AER9 Laser Rifle from Fallout 3:

I built it from scratch, using mostly wood and sheet plastic. It's an amazing design, and was a great learning experience. Being the first "realistic" prop that I've attempted, I'm pretty stoked about the final result. I got the blueprints from Harrison Krix over at Volpin Props.

You can view more pictures at the link.

Link via Make

Artist Jonathan Kuriscak makes custom action figures. He's created a set of (dieselpunk?) bounty hunters from Star Wars from a World War II setting, such as the above Boba Fett rocketman figure.

Link via Super Punch

This is fun! Ed Fries of Code Mystics put together a playable version of Halo that resembles a classic Atari 2600 game. When you start, go straight up to find a gun. Use the arrow keys to maneuver and the spacebar to shoot.

Link (self-starting audio) via Geekosystem