Star Wars Under The Stars

Members and friends of the 501st Legion watch Star Wars outside with a rescued movie theater screem. A perfect summer evening.

Inside Job - The 20 Trillion Dollar Documentary

Everyone in America needs to see this movie.

I don't normally post movie reviews on this blog, but I'm making an exception for Inside Job, the Oscar winning documentary about the 2008 financial meltdown. Millions of people have lost their savings and their homes, entire towns and cities have been devastated, all because of the actions of a handful of people. This is not an anti-Republican, or anti-Democrat film; both parties were culpable in the economic devastation. Inside job takes us step-by-step, in an easy to understand manner, through the entire financial crisis, so that we can all understand how all of this happened. What happened has affected you, whether you realize it or not.

This is probably one of the most important films you will ever see.

Link to official Inside Job website

If you're interested in reading how truly evil and corrupt Goldman Sachs is, Rolling Stone has a great investigative piece here
 

On a related note, another extremely profound documentary is The Corporation, a film which examines how corporations behave, and the enormous consequences they have on our lives and our planet (most pf them negative)

On a related note, another extremely profound documentary is The Corporation, a film which examines how corporations behave, and the enormous consequences they have on our lives and our planet (most pf them negative)

John James Audubon - Artist and Ecology Advocate

It was recently the birthday of John James Audubon, who lived from April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851, and who's name is now associated with his lush paintings of birds and wildlife. His art was a big factor is fostering the public's appreciation of wildlife and the environment. The organization which bears his name, The Audubon Society is a major advocate for the environment, which these days needs all the help it can get. Consider supporting their very worthwhile cause.

Below are some links if you are interested in learning more.

John James Audubon: America's Rare Bird - from the Smithsonian Magazine

 Wikipedia link

 The National Audubon Society

DOCUMERICA Project by the Environmental Protection Agency

If you have a camera, take pictures of nature for a good cause!

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is looking for pictures from the public of the environment to help people gain a better appreciation of nature and why it is so important to protect it. 

To learn more about this neat program, click HERE! 

To read the New York Times article about this program, click HERE!

Go out and do your part to protect the environment.

The Hobbit - Behind The Scenes

Peter Jackson gives us a behind-the scenes look at pre-production of The Hobbit, and it looks like it is going to be just as awesome, epic and faithful to the book as Lord Of The Rings. I can hardly wait! 

Evening Photos

Taken in Gulfport, FL

Early Morning On The Lake

After doing the Dark Sky Festival in Harmony, Deb and I stayed at the Lakeside Inn Motel, a lovely little motor court on the lake. I got up early and took some pictures of the mirror-flat water. Early morning is one of the best times to take pictures, before the bustle of the day, when things are noisier and more hectic.

 

Later that morning we cruised by Old Town, the glitzy tourist mecca in Kissimmee, near Orlando...

Dark Sky Festival 2011 - April 9, 2011

The Dark sky event keeps on getting bigger and bigger!

This was the Legion's third year doing this event and this year Darth Vader saw fit to supervise and hang with the crowd. The Dark Sky Festival, held in the town of Harmony, promotes solutions to pollution, and light pollution, which affects astronomy and wildlife. (link HERE).

Huge thanks to the organizers who made it possible for us to appear again; I look forward to this event every year. The crowd was respectful, enthusiastic and fun to be with. 

A special shout-out to the folks at the Lakeside Inn Motel; I've stayed there the past two years I have been organizing the Legion's involvement in this fun festival, and love it there; it's like a mini-vacation (and no, I'm not being paid to plug the motel; I feel they deserve a big thanks for being so hospitable).

There are stables where horses are kept, and some exhibits this year had live animals such as possums, snakes, and turtles.

 Pete (the horse), lies down in the park while his trainer tells the crowd about him and other horses there

 

 

 Finally Vader emerges to inspect the troops and survey the festival

"Do we have some Star Wars fans here tonight??"

Below: Darth Vader's new transport

 A little girl shares her popcorn with the Dark Lord of the Sith

 Right: I find your lack of faith disturbing."

 It's amazing how many people want to be "under arrest" when they pose with us for pictures!

 

 

 

 

The picture below is my favorite: