Scotty's Engineering Log: starwars

Showing posts with label starwars. Show all posts

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Vote Fett '08

I just had to carve a campaign slogan for my favorite political character...

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Motorcycle safety: Star Wars style!

One of the key aspects of motorcycle safety is VISIBILITY. If you've been reading my blog, you know I recently completed the Basic Rider Course (certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation) from Thunder Mountain Harley in Loveland, CO. After taking this course, I have a keen understanding of the need for safe riding skills and proper riding attire.

After I got my motorcycle endorsement on my license, I bought a Scorpion EXO400 full-face helmet so I could begin test riding bikes and figure out which bike to buy. I wanted to make sure I would be visible to other motorists, but also wanted to demonstrate my affinity for Star Wars!

Above is the result. Compared to Boba Fett's helmet, I think I'll be much more visible! For Fett, visibility would be bad, but for a motorcyclist, visibility is paramount.

First, I picked out a pattern thanks to the Boba Fett Fan Club. Next, I found some high reflectivity tape (though a 6x6 sheet would have been easier). I lined up the tape on the back of a printout of the logo, and then used an Exacto knife to trace the paper pattern onto the tape. I carefully cut the design out with scissors and laid out the pieces.

I placed the pattern on my helmet first, to make sure it fit (should probably have done this first!), and then carefully placed the tape on the helmet, lining up each piece to minimize error.

This just goes to show, you can still make a visible statement while being safe! You don't have to just put on boring squares of tape to be visible. Pick out a pattern and make a statement! I also chose the helmet, because it will be the highest location for motorist headlights to see. Because of the large (and skull-like) pattern, I think I can guarantee that I'll be noticed!

For more information on reflective tape and safety through visibility, see:

A powerful ally, this Padawan...

Impressive. Most impressive.

Connor faced Darth Maul in The Trials and successfully completed his training at the Jedi Training Academy!

Monday, August 27, 2007

Legacy

Legacy, originally uploaded by shudson310.

I wanted to be able to create a calendar of all my Star Wars motivators, and had 11 completed. I needed one more, and realized I had not created any entries for my favorite character, Jango Fett. Although this is the most sad part of the film for me, I thought this was a very poignant statement and tribute. It's also a little humorous, in that what Jango really left behind was his head...

The question is still quite valid: What will you leave behind?

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Star Tours turns 20!

I can't beleive Star Tours is twenty years old today! My first trip to Disneyland was when I was in 7th grade, and I remember waiting in line 2 hour to ride Star Tours. It is still as amazing today, as when I climbed aboard those many years ago.

Since then, I've been to DisneyWorld three times and returned to Disneyland with my family for the 50th anniversary celebration. I've been on Star Tours many times with my kids, and we all still love it!

My favorite is probably still at MGM in DisneyWorld because of the huge Endor forest and AT-AT outside.

There is a website set up to celebrate Star Tours. Check it out at: http://www.swstartours.net.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Hey, what're you tryin' to push on us?

Another Star Wars motivator from yours truly!

Categories: Sci-Fi

Sci-Fi Motivators

One of my good friends sent me a link to Star Trek motivational posters. Very funny!

You could come up with a whole series of these things, with classics from Star Wars, Star Trek (each series), Battlestar Galactica (new and classic), Buck Rogers, Doctor Who, and more!

Here's a first attempt with my favorite character:

Categories: Sci-Fi

Thursday, September 21, 2006

White and Nerdy

The new song from Weird Al, "White and Nerdy", just cracks me up! I'm afraid it does fit me pretty well, though I've changed a few of the lyrics below (marked in bold) to more closely align with me:

They see me mowin'... my front lawn
I know they're all thinkin' I'm so white & nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
Can't ya see I'm white & nerdy?
Look at me, I'm white & nerdy
I wanna roll with... the gangstas
But so far they all think I'm too white and nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
I'm just too white & nerdy
Really, really white & nerdy

Outstanding grad there at CSU
Got skills, I'm a champion at CCG, too
MC Escher, that's my favorite MC
Keep your 40, I'll just have an Earl Grey tea
My rims never spin - to the contrary
You'll find that they're quite stationary
All of my action figures are cherry
Got DocBook and DITA in my library
My blog page is all totally pimped out
Got people beggin' for my blogroll spaces
Yo, I know pi to a dozen places
Ain't got no grills, but I used to wear braces
I order all of my sandwiches with mayonnaise
I'm a whiz at Bejeweled, I could play for days
Once you see my sweet moves, you're gonna stay amazed
My fingers movin' so fast, I'll set the place ablaze
There's no killer app I haven't run
At structured markup, well, I'm a Top Gun
Do vector calculus just for fun
I ain't got a gat but I got a soldering gun
"Airwolf" is my favorite theme song
I could sure kick your butt in a game of Atari Pong
I'll ace any trivia quiz you bring on
I'm fluent in XSL as well as Klingon
Here's the part I sing on...

They see me building... my Legos
I know in my heart they think I'm white & nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
Can't ya see I'm white & nerdy?
Look at me, I'm white & nerdy
I'd like to build with... the gangstas
Although it's apparent I'm too white and nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
I'm just too white & nerdy
How'd I get so white & nerdy?

I've been browsin', inspectin'
X-Men comics, you know I collect 'em
If it's Sci-Fi, you know I must get 'em
My ergonomic keyboard never leaves me bored
Shoppin' online for deals on some writable media
I edit Wikipedia
I memorized "Holy Grail" really well
I can recite it right now and have you ROTFLOL
I got a business doin' web sites
When my friends need some code, who do they call?
I do HTML for 'em all
Even made a home page for my mom
Yo, I got myself a Boba jetpack
They were havin' a sale down at the TRU shack
Spend my nights with my family
More bricks, we're Legomaniacs
I'm nerdy in the extreme and whiter than sour cream
I was in Knowledge Bowl and Choir and even the chess team
Only question I ever thought was hard
Was, do I like Kirk or do I like Picard?
Spend money on LOTR, and Trek and Star Wars
Got NASA on my underwear

They see me strollin'... they laughin'
And rollin' their eyes 'cause I'm so white & nerdy
Just because I'm white & nerdy
Just because I'm white & nerdy
All because I'm white & nerdy
Holy cow, I'm white & nerdy
I wanna bowl with... the gangstas
But oh well, it's obvious I'm white and nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
Think I'm just too white & nerdy
I'm just too white & nerdy
Look at me, I'm white & nerdy

Categories: General

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Star Wars Weekends!

When we were invited to go to DisneyWorld with some friends, we didn't realize it would be during two of the Star Wars Weekends at MGM! Here's a cool Sandtrooper that was on patrol on Mickey Avenue...

Categories: Sci-Fi

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Star Wars Lego II trailer!

StarWars.com and LucasArts have released the trailer for the new Star Wars Lego II video game! You can view it at: http://download.lucasarts.com/legoswii_480.mov

The original Star Wars Lego game is a ton of fun, and my kids and I played the game together for hours! The controls are simple enough that kids can actually play, and it's entertaining for both Star Wars and Lego fans.

Check it out!

Categories: Lego, starwars

Friday, February 10, 2006

Lego Star Wars: The Original Trilogy game!

The sequel to the incredible Lego Star Wars game is still in development, but they've finally released some details: http://pc.ign.com/articles/687/687344p1.html

My kids and I absolutely loved the first game, so we are eagerly anticipating the sequel release this fall!

Categories: Lego

Friday, May 20, 2005

Review of the Sith

The circle is now complete. I saw Episode III last night with my best friends, Cam and Don, my lovely bride at THE place to see Star Wars in Colorado: The Continental Theater.

We got there at about 3pm, and were 40th or so in line (by 6pm, the line for our 7pm show stretched from the front door all the way to the end of the parking lot!). I brought my laptop, with the latest IMPS: Relentless chapter and a podcast from theforce.net. Cam brought Star Wars: Trivial Pursuit, with companion DVDs. Thankfully, since my laptop has a DVD drive, we were able to play the full version while waiting in line! It was very fun, with Cam playing Obi-Wan, Don playing Yoda, and myself as Vader. In the end, Yoda triumphed.

Waiting for Episode III

I was disappointed to not see very many people dressed in costume, but I chickened out of wearing a Vader costume, myself... Actually, my friends and I went to Star Trek V in costume as Klingons back in high school, and it was a painful experience (more from itchy makeup than anything), and hard to enjoy the movie. OK, Star Trek V in itself is a painful experience to watch itself, so you can imagine our pain...

So, what did I think of Episode III? Perhaps it's best to give you my preference list:

Episode IV: A New Hope
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Episode I: The Phantom Menace

My biggest disappointment: I can't take my boys, who also love Star Wars. The majority of the film, though dark, I think they could handle. There are two scenes, however, that are extended far longer than a simple "cover your eyes" can handle. These scenes include the Windu vs. Palpatine battle, and the immolation (burning)of Vader, which are both 5 to 10 minute scenes.

The opening sequence, and actually the whole first half of the film is in a word: AWESOME!

I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but my favorite characters are the clone pilots, the Kashykk troopers, and Commander Cody. I was so glad to see Temuera Morrison get so much screen time!

The Star Destroyers are incredible, too. The opening sequence is by far my favorite part of the movie.

So what do we have to look forward to, now that Star Wars is complete? We had prepped by watching Episodes I and II last week, and now I plan to watch Episodes IV-VI!

I am also looking forward to the new Star Wars: Battlefront II game coming out this fall, which will feature many Episode III locations as well as X-wing vs. Tie Fighters!

There is also rumor of a TV show that will be going into production soon, though I think it will be computer animated, not live action. Perhaps it will be a mix, but we will see...

See also: Sci-Fi

Thursday, May 19, 2005

A Day Long Remembered...

Today is the day. The official opening day of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

My best friend Jason got to see it last night in Arizona, but I haven't heard his review yet. From everything else I've read, it will be awesome. And I'm seeing it today!

I do NOT encourage Wookie Hooky (or space opera-related sick day). Instead, do what I did: work extra hours during the week, and make arrangements with your manager!

This has been a big month of closure for Sci-Fi fans: the last of the Star Wars movies, and the last episode of Star Trek:Enterprise

I love them both, so I find these articles very interesting:

Live long and prosper, and may the force be with you!

See also: Sci-Fi

Monday, May 16, 2005

T-Minus 3 days...

A countdown of another kind today. Three days until Episode III!

I got tickets online over a month ago, and I'm going to see it with my lovely bride, and my two best friends that I've known and played Star Wars with since Third Grade!

We didn't see the original Star Wars together, but have seen quite a few of the others, and traded Topps movie cards in school, collected and played with the ships and figures, later played Star Wars roleplaying, and then the Star Wars CCG (Collectible Card Game).

We also went to all of the Special Edition re-releases of the films at the old Cinema 70 in the Springs.

I relish those childhood days, and am proud to call them my closest friends.

They were even quoted in the Gazette Telegraph:

Don Morgan’s parents recorded “Star Wars” on their VCR the first time it aired on television. Morgan and his brother watched the tape so often, they wore it out.

“Not only did we have the movie memorized, we knew all the funny commercials in between,” he says.

Cameron Crawford went to kindergarten with Morgan in Colorado Springs. They’re still friends and they still love to talk “Star Wars.”

“It’s happy season for us right now,” Crawford says.

As he grew up, Crawford says, “Star Wars” grew up with him.

“By the time I reached my teenage years, there was the romantic element to it,” he says. “There’s a little bit to it that appeals from the darker side, the blacker side of it.”

Now that he’s all grown up, “Star Wars” is still there for him. His latest toys are tabletop statues that are almost artistic.

“It’s something you can put on a nice table and not feel so geeky,” Crawford says.

Don has always been a huge fan of the Jedi and rebel forces, and more recently, the clone troopers.

Cam has always been closest to Han, Chewie and Lando.

Myself? I'm shamelessly a fan of Jango Fett, Boba Fett, Clone Troopers and Storm Troopers. The Imperial theme gives me chills. I know, there's one in every crowd...

My wife? She likes Leia, and is amazingly understanding of my sci-fi sickness. :-)

My earliest memory of Star Wars, though, was of Luke and Leia swinging across the Death Star. I was five years old.

See also: Sci-Fi

Monday, April 11, 2005

Star Wars boy

My wife sent me this email when I was in New York a few weeks ago, and I just have to share:

The boys were downstairs playing with star wars ships and their voices started to rise...

Connor - “Star Wars ships aren’t real!”
Collin - “ Yes, they are! Luke Skywalker flies them!”
Connor - “ No, they are just in the movie!”
Collin - “No, they ARE real – I’ve seen them!”
Connor - “ The movies just make them look real!”
Collin - “They are real!”

At this point they were getting heated so I stopped them but just thought it would make you smile to know that your youngest son may be more of a fanatic than you!

After being snowed in by a spring blizzard (16"!) yesterday, we watched the snow scenes from "The Empire Strikes Back". Wonder if that reinforced Collin's position or not? :-)

"Commander, tear this ship apart until you've found those plans!"

Sleep well, and keep your blaster handy!

See also: Sci-Fi

Sunday, April 03, 2005

Good things come to those who wait/blog!

I'm glad my wife reads my blog, too.

When I got home from New York, my wife and sons surprised me with a copy of Star Wars Lego: The Video Game! Not only that, but the game comes with a free ticket to Episode III!

We played the game together Saturday morning, and I was very pleasantly surprised. I'd read some good reviews, but for my 6 and 3 year olds to be able to play the game, and for it to have all the Star Wars and Lego quality I wanted, this will be my favorite PS2 game of all.

The game has a lot of extra features to replay with different characters and build custom lego models in the game! It has a high Star Wars and Lego nerd quotient. If you are either type of these nerds, you must get this game!

The other cool thing to come out on Saturday, was the Episode III collection of Lego sets. I was quite restrained, limiting myself to only 4 of the coolest sets:

More than anything, I'm out of room in my office, and I don't know where to put the new models... I'm going to have to get some of those expandable shelves from Home Depot or Organized Living!

I also let the boys pick out 1 toy of their choice. My oldest chose the Darth Vader Voice Changer Helmet, and my youngest the Clone Trooper Blaster Rifle. I had suggested the Anakin and Obi-Wan starfighters, but they wanted something with cool sound effects.

All I could say was, "Impressive, most impressive." My wife just rolled her eyes...

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

The Dark Side of New York

I'm in New York again this week, and I can't believe I missed this: http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/promo/news20050329.html

The event was at 11am, and I was in meetings from 9am-6pm. Doh. Oh well, if New York was going to have a Dark Side, I'm glad this was it!

For more Dark Side fun, check out: http://www.mms.com/us/mpire/ The Boba Fett M&M figure is cool, too.

In other Star Wars news, it looks like the Star Wars Lego game is out! It's gotten pretty good reviews, too: http://ps2.ign.com/articles/599/599286p1.html?fromint=1

I was going to ask for it as an Easter present, but it wasn't out yet. Instead, I got the Buck Rogers series on DVD!

I'll have to ask for the Star Wars game for some other occasion (for me or my boys!)

See also: Sci-Fi