Words can not express how badly I want a 2.4 meter tall Alien King sculpture! Made from recycled parts and welded together.

I went to Robosteel site where there are more awesome pictures of the Steel Alien sculptures and the worse thing ever happened.  They are actually for sale… *drool*

(via Fantasy SF Blog)

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I am so stoked to be able to bring you this review. I’ve been waiting for Black Butler to be translated into English for over a year.

A short distance from London, just beyond the fog-cloaked forest, there stands a well-kept manor house.

Kuroshitsuji, or Black Butler, is an awesome gothic tale about a butler who can do absolutely anything. The art in the manga is the best gothic craftsmanship I have ever seen. In fact, before the English translation came out, I had to talk myself out of buying the Japanese version several times because I loved the art so much. I just wanted to hold such beauty in my hands and study the details even, if I couldn’t read the darned thing!

I just finished the English translation version and I am not disappointed in the least. The story and characters live up to the awesome artwork. So, what’s it about?

The Black Butler, Sebastian, is the kind of man anyone could use around the house. He can clean, garden, make the most delicious sweets, and even rescue you from kidnappers. Most would say that his type of know-how is impossible in a mortal and they would be right. Sebastian’s master Earl Phantomville, a twelve-year-old boy named Ceil who is obsessed with games. Being the head of the family that owns Funtom, Britain’s leading confection and toy making manufacturer, liking games is a must.

The other servants of the house are comical, but useless. After all, who needs maids, gardeners, and man servants when one has Sebastian the greatest butler of all time? These other servants make it difficult for Sebastian to do his job by constantly messing things up, destroying china sets, poisoning the garden, and eating the Earl’s desserts. The Black Butler always saves the day with his quick wit, speedy service, and ultimate all around wonderfulness.

My favorite scene is when Sebastian is riddled with bullets and then stands, his coattails all in tatters and looks at the bullets in his hand. Then he throws all the bullets back at the baddies, effectively sending them to their graves. After the fight, he picks up his master and calmly walks for the room while apologizing that dinner has not been prepared.

As I have said, this artist is awesome. I haven’t been this excited about a manga artist since Kaori Yuki’s Godchild. From ruffled cravats and tailored suits to ornamented chandeliers and elaborate tea servings, every detail is beautiful. Even the chibi portions of this manga are well done.

A fun detail is that each chapter, Sebastian makes a special dessert for Earl Phantomville. The dessert is shown up close with a banner stating things such as:

Today’s Dessert: Apricot and green tea mille-feuille.

This awesome book includes seven pages of author notes with translation notes outlining everything you’d like to know about what is described in the book, including what mille-feuille is.

The author is definitely into portraying authentic Victorian England settings and clothing, but I’ve never seen a manga artist pay this much attention to customs, history of the time, and even what people might have been talking about during dinner.

I’ll leave you with a quote from the author:

I like black…
…It’s a color that can’t be violated by any other colors.
It’s a color that simply keeps being itself.
A color that sinks more somberly than any other…
…It’s a passionate, gallant color.
Anything is wonderful if it transcends things, rather than being halfway.

If you haven’t bought a manga yet, this is the one to start with. Few others are in it’s league. You can find out more about Black Butler at Amazon.com.

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Blessed be the Dunecat and all His cuteness. Bless the coming and going of Him, May His passing ease the world. May He keep the world smiling for all his people.

(via Dark Vision Hardware)

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Yes now you too can pick up one of those awesome Arc Generator from District 9 and squeeze the trigger.  Don’t get disappointed when it does not fire,  it’s because you lack the alien DNA to make it work.

Check out the full write up and specs at /Film.

Read more on District 9 including reviews here.

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The tale of SeymourPowell’s Hydrogen Airship.

As I sit listening to the Biography Channels piece on H.G. Wells I came upon a fun article about the rebirth of hydrogen powered airships.  Samsung Corporation and London architectural design firm SeymourPowell created a video to share the vision of a floating hotel concept.

To Dare

This was picked up by many including CNN.  What is sad about the whole story is how many are concerned with the reality of the concept video or if CNN didn’t do their homework.  CNN is clear that the video is a concept proposal not an actual project.

While the Aircruise is only a conceptual proposal, designers have developed a detailed and achievable technical plan for the craft that could allow it to be built in the future. (via CNN )

That misses the point of the whole exercise which is to dream.

To Dream

I’m overjoyed that so many would allow themselves to share in the dream.  To consider what life would be like if we could have floating structures in the sky.  “Castles in the sky may soon be real” is a great article playing in the possibilities and implications.

It is also important to be aware of the concerns in dreaming to help guard from harm.  Asking constructive questions are important.  Like exploring the FAA restrictions on using Hydrogen as a lifting gas in air travel and the obvious aerodynamic complications in the design plus the docking difficulties.  These things are mere points for discussion to possibly come up with a better design.

Being contrary to the tech or position is fine.  To attack or dismiss the conversation is not.  The most important thing is the dream and the conversation about the dream.  That is how we evolve and move forward.

Like H.G. Wells we need to dare to dream to challenge our current existence and to dream of a better future.

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Christopher Walken is a brilliant performer, dancer and has a great sense of humor.  The video below is yet another example of not only that brilliance but how a mashup can culturally make it even better.

A while back Christopher Walken did a reading performance of lady Gaga’s Poker face on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross BBC1.  This reading was very funny to watch leaving me chuckling and doing my own impression of Walken saying “P P P poker face… poker face.”  Then DJ Leekee took it up a notch with a video mashup!

Lady Gaga vs Christopher Walken-Poker Face(Mashup).  Watch the video below.

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Find more videos like this on Project: Shadow

Thanks very much for all of John The Rogue Demon Hunter’s hard work on this vid, it looks awesome!

This video is great it really captures all of the leather, submission, torture and sensuality of both the song, the Mord’Sith and the interactions between Denna, Richard and Cara.  The ending is so perfect, watch the video above.

After my first encounter with the Mord’Sith in Legend of the Seeker I could not help but to think of the song Venus In Furs by The Velvet Underground.  The song, is inspired by the German novella by the same name. The main character’s name is Severin. Severin’s story is basically a guy who was so infatuated with Venus that he takes up the slave role in a BDSM relationship to be with her. She then falls in love with someone else and She becomes their slave.

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How can you say no to these faces?

SPCA volunteers Abby, Karson, Julia, and Cameron (not pictured) want you to donate to help animals this holiday season.

Every year, Macy’s San Francisco gives precious retail advertising space to the orphan animals of the SPCA. Not only do they ask passersby to donate for these poor little guys, they can actually adopt a pet right on the spot! Every animal has been medically screened, vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered. Each animal will come with a 30-day medical assistance plan at the SF/SPCA infirmary, plus a gift bag filled with samples, treats and valuable certificates from sponsor partners of The SF/SPCA and Macy’s.

The window theme this year goes along with Macy’s “Believe” campaign. With the main window showing our favorite guy in red, the other pet windows show letters from children and pets to Santa. These pictures allow you to see some of the cute pets napping their day away in the cozy surroundings as passersby admire their holiday home. Shoppers in the Bay Area can check out the windows from now until January 3rd, 2010.

At www.sfspca.org, you can watch the animal webcam and donate from your pc.  If monetary support is not your cup of tea, they are also asking for volunteers to assist in the event’s success like the girls above .

Macy’s has been a holiday staple in San Francisco’s season for what seems like forever. The buildings spanning two city blocks on Union Square have long been the hub of December activity. Although the SPCA windows seem to be their main focus, their other displays do not disappoint.

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Thanks John The Rogue Demon Hunter for this awesome Legend of the Seeker vid.  In under 3 minutes he captures the epic struggle of Kahlan and Richard against all opposition.  Watch the video below.

Find more videos like this on Project: Shadow

I like how the video starts out cut from one fight scene giving it a slow feeling matching the pace of the song then when the song speeds up the video matches.  The video cuts are tight and really fit the moments.  Lots of sword play, dagger play and other great fantasy combat moments.

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For years now I felt someone should make a toaster as the ideal merchandise for Battlestar Galactica.  Finally someone produced a frakkin toaster.  Thankfully it’s not the killer robot kind.

• $62.99 at the NBC store here
• LED Chrome Toaster
• Toasts a Cylon on one side and Frak Off on the other

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