Tiny Tauntaun

Here, stop-motion master animator Phil Tippett [center], Mike Pangrazio [right], and I stand between two incredible matte paintings used to depict the windswept snowscape of Hoth. Pangrazio, a legendary I.L.M. artist, painted many such paintings during the production of The Empire Strike Back to allow for scenic vistas, practical sets to be extended, or, in this case, a stop-motion puppet of a Tauntaun and rider to be inserted for a story point.

From Vanity Fair’s Behind-the-Scenes Photos of ILM’s Greats. The “I” in the caption above is Eight-time Oscar winner Dennis Muren.

The Bookie

Bookie combines functionality with beauty, as a book/magazine store, coffee table and Laptop home.

Want.

The Secret of Kells

The Secret of Kells:

Young Brendan lives in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide.

Just watched this on Netflix Instant with the boy. It has to be one of the most beautifully animated films I have seen, but it’s not your typical cartoon (the bad guy’s aren’t vanquished and the ending, though positive, is a bit ambiguous compared to typical kid’s movies). Despite that my son did like it and I think it’s because the animation was so imaginative.  Here are some clips from the film and this A.V. Club article does a good job laying out the film’s back story.

White Lincoln

I’m more than a little obsessed with Totally Nebular‘s White Lincoln. Some more of their odd yet catchy songs are on The Hype Machine. (via einstein music journal)

“The body has a light and silky quality, like fresh whipped cream, that beautifully complements the ever-present note of citron, juniper berry and vanilla. As it cools, the cup blossoms into notes of confectioner’s sugar, rosehips, and soft raisin, resonating on a pristine finish with a touch of milk chocolate.” And then it does a seven-minute noise-rock jam in your colon.

The A.V. Club’s description of Wilco’s new coffee.

Harry Potter Meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

I just finished reading Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney. It was kind of a cross between Harry Potter (a boy leaves home to learn of magical things) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the bad guys are a family of backwood witches that enjoy murdering and dining upon unsuspecting travelers).

It was a fun and fast read, sprinkled with moody illustrations by Patrick Arrasmith. Snag it from Amazon using this link and I should get a penance: Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice)

The library is still cool.

So I suppose all those predictions about libraries being felled by the Internet were a little premature. In fact it looks like all the cool kids are doing the library thing.

According to the newest study from the Pew Internet and American Life Center – the youngest, most affluent and most internet-connected adults in the US are also the most likely to visit a physical library. It wasn’t that way just 10 years ago. How many other legacy industries can you think of today that can say their strongest growth is among young, affluent, power-internet users? Something is going very right in library land.

For once I am one of the cool kids.

$9,250 a song.

You probably have already read this WaPo article (or one like it) about the RIAA‘s next evil plot …

In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer.

This makes me Hulk mad, but the graphic that accompanies the story actually gave me a chuckle:

$9,250 for a Richard Marx song? Now that is a true injustice sir! The RIAA should be happy that people even go through the trouble of downloading his music from a CD instead of just using it as a drink coaster.

{Via Unstoppable Robot Ninja}

Yoda Claus.

Give me good presents he did …

Get the full scoop about this special addition Yoda.

Some jibba jabba.

Check out this awesome Mr. T sock monkey …

More Mr. T sock monkey fun.