The Empire Invades the Forum

The 501st Legion invaded the Tampa Bay Times Forum on February 16, 2011 for Star Wars Night, taking over the custom Zamboni and the the ice rink, commandeered by Darth Maul, as well as hanging with the lovely Lightning Ladies. R2-D2 himself flew halfway across the galaxy to be here. Scan through the pictures to find a special treat for visitors to this blog: a video of the Legion's appearance at the Forum, complete with soundtrack!

I organized this event for the Legion, working with the staff at the Forum. As usual, the people we met at the Forum were enthusiastic, easy going and fun to hang out with. Special thanks goes out to Chris, Mathias, Courtney and Zack, our Forum handlers, for being such fun and gracious hosts. 

Darth Maul hit the ice, and was covered by another photographer on this event. Once I get permission to post some of his photos here I will do so. Incidentally, Dan, the Darth Maul, is one of a handful of George Lucas-approved Mauls, who have undergone training and a certification process to appear at high profile events such as this one. Our Darth Maul drove all the way from the east coast to join us for this troop. Click on all pictures for a larger view.

Visitors to the hockey game gather in the courtyard to take pictures of 501st Legion members before the game begins

What visit to the Forum would be complete without meeting the lovely Lightning ladies?

Heading toward the Zambonis for the first intermission

Ready to commandeer a Zomboni to enforce the will of the Empire

The Tesla coil as seen from  directly below, in the back stage area

On the custom Zamboni, getting ready to hit the ice during intermission

And, as promised, an exclusive video created by myself for this fantastic troop. This video is for personal, not commercial use only, and is only intended for visitors and staff of the Forum (as well as the faithful followers of this blog). Please do not burn copies and distribute. Enjoy!

Members cool down in the staging area before heading back out again

Getting stopped for pictures back stage on our way to the VIP area

Posing for pictures during second intermission. The Forum crowd was fun, cooperative and enthusiastic!

In the VIP lounge area, before the troop ends

Lawyer Educates Police About Wiretapping Law

I had seen this video before, but it's worth posting as a case study about how to defend your rights when confronted by the police about recording encounters.

A group called SHARK (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness) protests the activities of a Pennsylvania gun club's pigeon shoots, in which pigeons are released from cages and shot multiple times, until they are dead. SHARK considers the practice barbaric and regularly protests outside the club.

Gun club owners have responded with a variety of threats, harassment, and even assault, going so far as to intentionally try to run over protesters, none of which has resulted in any meaningful police response. Indeed, it has become clear that the police department of Bensalem, PA sides squarely with the gun club, and has consistently refused to take any action against members of the club.

In this video, Bensalem police (accompanied by a gun club member) responds to two women who are protesting the club, with the intention of making them go away. Unfortunately for the police, one of the women is a lawyer who refuses to back down and forces the police officer to make several concessions. She stands up for her rights perfectly, even going so far as to ask what the police response will be if she chooses not to comply.

I think the police officer in the video realizes he has bitten off more than he can chew. Very interesting video, well worth watching. This is how defending your rights is done.

Steve Hindy, a member of SHARK, has documented on video multiple instances of Bensalem police inaction and corruption with respect to this particular gun club.

LINK to SHARK website
LINK to SHARK YouTube Channel

VIDEO:

The 100 Greatest Children's Books

Ranked by Scholastic's Parent & Child magazine, there is a list of the 100 best books for children of all time. I'm glad to see a few of my favorites on it, such as Where The Sidewalk Ends, A Wrinkle In Time, and The Giving Tree. 

I submit that these books are perfectly acceptable for adults to read as well. Embrace your inner child!

Sony Hikes Album Prices After Houston Death

The Guardian reports that just hours after R&B singer Whitney Houston's death was reported, Sony decided to cash in by jacking up the price of her greatest hits album, anticipating a wave of nostalgia at the singer's passing.

This is just the latest in a long line of arrogant moves and offenses against its customers by Sony, a company that takes cluelessness to a whole new level. Stay classy, Sony.


UPDATE: Sony has backtracked, claiming the 60% price hike was simply an accident, issuing an apology in the face of widespread negative reaction to the move. Hmm...funny how this accident just happened to occur hours after the singer's passing. Yeah, I'm calling bunk on this excuse.


No word on if Sony will be refunding the difference to people who have already purchased the mistakenly-priced album, as it was their error. (I wouldn't lay odds on it)


LINK

Link to Guardian article

Previous examples of Sony's contempt for its customers:

Sony finally admits theft of customer's data

Sony's mandatory firmware updates frustrate, alienate customers

Sony's mandatory update takes away right to sue, forces customers into binding arbitration

Sony promotes features on PS3, takes them away without warning, shrugs

Sony infects customers' computers with malware, lawsuits ensue

Sony's disregard for customers, DCMA led to rootkit fiasco

V For Vendetta - An Analysis

The BBC gives Alan Moore space to write about the creation of V For Vendetta, and the inspiration for the Guy Fawkes mask, which has become a world wide symbol of resistance and protest (link at bottom).

What IS V For Vendetta? And who was Guy Fawkes?

Fawkes had been declining as a symbol of protest until the graphic novel, and the subsequent movie was released. 

Guy Fawkes belonged to a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, an attempt to assassinate King James I and VI of England and Scotland, by blowing up the House of Lords. Acting on a tip, authorities discovered Fawkes guarding thirty-six barrels of gunpowder. Fawkes and eight other conspirators were tried and hung for treason.

On November 5th of that year, people of London were encouraged to light bonfires to celebrate the failure of the King's assassination, and November 5th became known as Guy Fawkes Day.

(source: Wikipedia)

The movie, directed by the Wachowski brothers (the same team responsible for The Matrix trilogy) has become a cult sensation for a variety of reasons.

Proof that the graphic novels format is not brain deadening waste of time, but can be important cultural counter points.

V For Vendetta seemed immediately relevant when it came out, with the memory of September 11, 2001 still raw, and the concerns over increasing government intrusions into our private lives, and the ever-growing surveillance of citizens, coupled with the reduction of civil rights, all in the name of security.

It was controversial from the start, with explosions of government buildings being a key part of the plot, and assertions that it encouraged and glamorized terrorism. The film, with its Hitler-like references and stinging commentary about America, inspired much debate when it was released in 2005. Additionally, one scene involves using explosives in a subway; the film's release was pushed back after real terrorists bombed a London subway.

The story is about V, a masked vigilante who appears in a London that has become a near dictatorship, with surveillance vans recording people's private conversations in their homes, and the state being all-powerful. High Chancellor Sutler is brilliantly played by John Hurt, who played Winston Smith in 1984, George Orwell's masterpiece about an omnipresent dictatorship.

V appears out of nowhere to institute a carefully planned attack against Sutler's totalitarian government for its unspeakable crimes, and in the process, rescues Evey, played by Natalie Portman. Hugo Weaving's performance is nothing short of phenomenal, even more impressive considering you never see his face (James Purefoy was originally cast to play V but was replaced by Weaving four weeks into production). Weaving was dropped into the role at the last minute, so some of the fancy knife and fighting sequences were done by a stunt man wearing the mask and costume.

Interestingly, Moore was very vocal about his displeasure of the film, which differed from the graphic novel it was based on in several ways, but there is no denying its cultural impact.

Below is an interesting interview with Weaving about his title role in the film.

LINK to program in which Weaving and Portman interview each other based on viewer questions (embedding for this video has been disabled)


LINKS

BBC op-ed with Alan Moore

V For Vendetta critical analysis

V For Vendetta Spells C For Controversy

V For Vendetta Website

Graphic Novel Review

Click all pictures for a larger view

Blankets  by Craig Thompson

This graphic novel is an autobiographical narrative (the protagonist's name is Craig) that deals with Craig's unhappy childhood, in which he was a social outcast, having grown up under parents who ministered grimly oppressive religious discipline. 

Blankets is a somber and sometimes very sad tale of a person's struggle to find his place in the world, and the result is haunting and moving.

Strangers In Paradise by Terry Moore

I am absolutely hooked on this on-going series by Terry Moore. In fact my goal is to improve my drawing style to come closer to Moore's mastery of expressions, bodies in various poses, and use of pacing to create a compelling narrative.

SIP is about Katchoo, a young woman who has a dark, secret past that repeatedly comes back to haunt her. Katchoo is in love with Francine, whom she has known since high school. Francine is an all-American girl who doesn't realize the depths of Katchoo's feelings. David, who has a secret past of his own, is in love with Katchoo but does not know what to do about it.

Moore is not female, but writes about female friendships with a mastery, weaving in various plots throughout. His characters are so believable you develop an attachment to them and feel their pain. The art is first class, as are the expressions and panel arrangement. Do yourself a favor and check this series out.

Terry Moore has also produced two short books, one about How to Draw Women, the other How To Draw Expressions, that are available on his website.

I ordered both directly from his website and received them very quickly. They're well worth the small price (only $5.00). I found them for free on-line, but I preferred to buy the books and support the artist, as I urge you to do as well.

These books are not a how-to-draw guide as much as they are a window into Moore's approach to drawing, and it's hard to argue with quality of his work. A good addition to any artist's library.

LINK to Terry Moore's website

LINK to purchase How to Draw Women and How To Draw Expressions (click on the Related Books link at the top)

LINK to Terry Moore's blog

Liberty Meadows by Frank Cho

I can't believe I haven't seen this one already!

Liberty Meadows is about an animal sanctuary with talking animals and realistically drawn humans (similar to Bone). 

It is quirky, filled with pop culture references and hilarious. Cho's writing is sharp and snappy and his art is top notch. The strip at left made me crack up big time.


Cho also does several other series, including uncensored stories filled with sexy women, such as Jungle Queen. While Liberty Meadows is fun for all ages, his other work is geared more toward adults. Below is a sample of Liberty Meadows. I love how he plays with the very structure of the comic strip, violating the boxes to make them part of the story.

LINK to Frank Cho's website