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My Heart Is an Imperial Occupied Zone

Posted in Fun, Reviews with tags , , , on 22 July 2017 by Megan

Or, Merry Christmas in July.

Anyone spending any amount of time on this blog should know by now that I am deeply loyal to the Empire. Not to Emperor Palpatine — who was a corrupt Sith Lord focused on himself and more concerned with gaining power than making the lives of Imperial citizens better — but to the Imperial system, which strikes me as the only viable, logical method of government for such a huge and diverse stretch of territory. I stand with Admiral Pellaeon in the pursuit of forming a bastion of the new order, a system focused on the citizen and resistant to the pettiness of easily-corrupt bureaucrats.

As such, I admire the boys in white, who keep our Empire safe. I salute the officers in their attractive, professional uniforms. I shun the old Republic and the frail senators creating civil war and dissidence in their quest, not to make lives better, but to get their old jobs and positions of power back. Pax Imperius!

So it was an obvious move when a friend gave me The Imperial Handbook for Christmas last year.

Now, The Imperial Handbook occupies a strange place. It was published in 2015 after Disney|Lucasfilm decanonized the EU. But it’s part of a series of handbooks that are squarely part of the EU. (Things like this are why Disney|Lucasfilm can’t even begin to grasp the magnitude of what they’ve done.) I’m not particularly acquainted with the history, such as whether it had already been completed by April 2014, but the rest of the series has been cast out by Discanon. It doesn’t contain anything from Discanon, and that’s all that matters insofar as marking it official “realcanon.”

The concept of the series is that they are meant to be in-universe reference guides, not unlike The Illustrated Star Wars Universe, containing information written from the point of view of characters with the intended audience of “other people who live in the GFFA.” This was ostensibly written by Imperial information services to be disseminated among officers of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. Of course there are lots of little things that break such immersion (officer’s handbooks aren’t usually dotted with attractive watercolor artwork, and at least one ship is mis-identified), but it’s cute and it’s fun and I accept the conceit.

It’s also been annotated by leaders of the rebellion, which allows me to dismiss certain errors in the text (such as an attempt to emphatically claim a government-sanctioned racist policy that could never exist in a galaxy like the GFFA). I just assume that the rebel leaders made their own edits before circulating it as propaganda among their own crew. Gotta make the boogeyman boogeyer if you expect those bright young pilots to die getting your position of power back!

Ultimately, the book is a valuable if somewhat shallow resource. It needs supplementation, but its bullet-point break downs of branches of service, visual outlines of rank, armor, equipment, and bonus essays by such figures as General Veers and Baron Fel make it invaluable. My library would be grossly incomplete without it, despite its few minor shortcomings.

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Return of the Collection

Posted in Challenges with tags , , , on 24 April 2014 by Megan

I did a bit of a quickie once on showing you my collection (here). When I was packing all my things up last summer, I counted ten boxes containing nothing but Star Wars stuff; I did have a picture of said ten boxes (basically two stacks as tall as I am), but I have no idea what happened to it.

The short version is that I have a lot of Star Wars stuff, and it’s all quietly getting water damage in my storage unit because it’s been a long, wet, vicious winter and my homelessness stretches on into a near eternity. The version I’m going to do for this post, though, is to tell you all about the Star Wars stuff that is special enough to me I keep it out of storage, and/or the Star Wars stuff that was purchased since packing everything away.

As a sort of pre-postscript, allow me to say that the two most important things in my collection are the movies themselves and my lightsaber. I have about 30 copies of the 6 films, which you can see pictured at the top left at the link above, and the lightsaber of course you can learn about in its full glory here. (Or see me wearing it on Halloween last year here.)

Now, on to me showing off the Best of My Star Wars Collection!

This is the stuff that I pretty much always have on hand. If you see me at any point during the day, odds are these things are within reach.

Notebooks are important

Notebooks are important

Two Star Wars keychains — Lego Boba Fett and Empire — my Star Wars diary (I have a couple like that) and my Maul mini notebook, cause you never know when you might need to take notes. (I have a trooper one but it’s full and in storage.)

Lil Obi-Wan & Co.

Lil Obi-Wan & Co.

Lil Obi-Wan has accompanied me to Ireland, the UK, and France, as well as all over the US east coast and midwest. He is always in my purse and he has his own tumblr. Boba Fett is my flash drive, worth every penny, and he says clips from the movie when I plug him into my laptop! Also, he provided the background for my phone, which is named Fettlet.

Shakespeare got to have lunch, son

Shakespeare got to have lunch, son

And finally, my lunchbox, the best meal of the day. Actually my sturdy ESB anniversary lunchbox carries all three of my day’s meals (banana, granola bar, sandwich, applesauce, and usually some type of microwave pasta or ramen, cookies, and instant coffee), and brings my Doctor Who Fifth Doctor coffee tumbler home at night. On Fridays, it also carries extra free doughnuts from work home for me, too.

By home, I mean, in general, the corner bedroom at my sister’s where I tend to stay from about 10:30 PM to 8:30 AM between works. I’ve cozied it up fairly well though and here’s the Star Wars stuff that is always on display where I can see it during the two hours I’m there and not sleeping.

2014, only $2 at Odd Lots!

2014, only $2 at Odd Lots!

My 2014 Star Wars calender that cost me next to nothing . . .

My shelf of goodness

My shelf of goodness

Here you see my totally amazing 6″ fully articulated Luke action figure, my two charming kiddie books, my Han Shot First window sticker, Lil Luke, “The Ladies of Star Wars” playing cards, and of course my beloved Obsessed With Star Wars, one of the first things I ever reviewed on this site . . .

Looking good, Luke.

Looking good, Luke.

I’m just so proud of that picture. I think it came out incredibly well. Look at the articulation! It’s brilliant and amazing.

Some new additions

Some new additions

I don’t have a kitchen or anything so it hasn’t seemed pointful to even get these out of their packaging, but when ThinkGeek had a buy one, get one 50% off sale on drinkware, I had to — I’ve been wanting those 10oz collector classes for 4 years! The others were just a bonus. And the plastic cup was less than a dollar at Target.

Something old. Even retro!

Something old. Even retro!

I just found these at HPB so recently you can see they still have the stickers. This is pure nostalgia, because back when I started on Star Wars, I always had to read the book and listen to the book on tape. It started as necessity, because our library tended to buy things so haphazardly — like, they would buy book 2 and book 3 as hardbacks, but only have book 2 as a book on tape. Sometimes I could get an entire trilogy on book or book on tape, but I never read Jedi Search until the entire trilogy was given to me! That’s how bad that library was. Anyway, these are read by Dennis Lawson and Anthony Daniels, so the win can barely be contained.

Good ones and new ones

Good ones and new ones

The films actually live on the shelf with the glasses. The stationary set — R2D2 pencil box, Darth Vader notebook and pencil case, Boba Fett notebook, Yoda scratchpad, Vader pen, trooper pencil topper, Vader erasers, and quote pencils — I got at Wal Mart for half of what ThinkGeek wanted. The tote bag you may remember as a present from Dad, and the soundrop keychain is awesome though I regret seriously not collecting more of them. Also, my Star Wars grocery tote.

Fuzzy company

Fuzzy company

Here we have Trilogy the Bear, whom you doubtless remember from the last time I touched on one of these. And accompanying Trilogy, it’s Sergeant Lieutenant General Captain Iasson TrEy ’cause I can’t ever decide/remember his rank. He’s a Stormtrooper ragdoll, which is a brilliant investment if you want one.

Ready for his closeup

Ready for his closeup

Like, there is something impossibly charming about a Stormtrooper doll, and the detail is impressively impressive. A good Stormtrooper never leaves his post, and this guy is so friendly and squishy.

Detail shot

Detail shot

Also, here’s a better view of what makes Trilogy so Star Wars. That and that galaxy blue fur is the softest stuff ever. His ear tag fell off, which makes me sad, but there was nothing to be done for it.

Finally — on any given day, you might see me wearing one of these . . .

SW Socks FTW

SW Socks FTW

Yes, that is how I wear them. Because life’s too short to not wear mismatched socks.

Teeeeee shirts

Teeeeee shirts

T-shirts are my favorite thing ever, and these are some good ones. I only have a couple other SW shirts, and these are the two I have on hand.

I guess in conclusion, I can say that yes, I still have my Star Wars purse, though because it’s hard to carry it and the lunchbox, it doesn’t come out on weekdays. The last Star Wars collection item that is permanently on hand, then, are my cats’ “costumes” —

Because she rowls and sheds.

Because she rowls and sheds.

Unfortunately, Lilly has turned this beautiful Chewbacca collar that is no longer available (the tags say “Chewie is my copilot”) into a white mash of torn fabric.

Because she communicates pretty well without a protocol droid.

Because she communicates pretty well without a protocol droid.

Haiku still wears her Artoo collar and it looks very, very fine. The jingle bell is a definite plus because she’s so quick and dark, she’s always getting stepped on otherwise.

Okay! So that’s it! Same time next week . . . with some big news on the way!

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Waking up like a Wookiee this Christmas!

Posted in Spotlight with tags , , , , on 8 December 2013 by Megan

A guest blog from Adam about the Star Wars side of the holiday season!

Whether you want the Light Saber with a glass tube or your own personal Millennium Falcon, letting out a Wookie War Call is only half the fun of a Star Wars Christmas.  Here are three ways to go to sleep the night before and wake up Jedi ready to open your gifts and have a fun themed photo with your friends or family.   All of these images came from and the products can be found at http://www.crazyforbargains.com.

A Wookiee Wake Up.

If you want to tear through your gifts, there’s no better way than dressed as a Wookiee.  If you combine the faux-fur Chewbacca Star Wars bathrobe with a pair of faux-fur bear slippers, you will be ready to rip into your gifts and war call your way into Kashyyk Christmas.  You’ll love posing while ripping apart a gift in your cool new Chewbacca bath robe.

A Dark Side Christmas Morning

If you’re not such a fan of the Wookiee wake up, or sunlight in the morning, try celebrating with a Darth Vader dark side morning.  By combining the Darth Vader hooded bathrobe with these fun lounge pants for men or women and a black tshirt, the dark side can be the right side this holiday season.  What better way to scare the person who bought you that gift you really didn’t like than dressed as the original bad guy himself.

Let the War Begin.

If your house is like mine, then there is a definite war going on when it’s time to open gifts.  To create a fun photo for the holidays and also have a cool way to open gifts, you can try the hooded Jedi Robe and if you have another person, get them the Hooded R2D2 robe for a fun in flight photo.  If there are still more people, you can throw in the Storm Trooper Hooded Robes, Yoda with Ears, and also a Darth Vader if someone wants to steal a gift for the photo.  Not only do these robes make the perfect gift, but they will create a holiday photo everyone on Facebook will love and something you will all remember.  You could have R2D2 in front steering everyone with the Storm Troopers to his side.  The Jedis behind or in front kneeling down and Vader holding a gift and a Lightsaber defending his stolen gift.

If you have a Star Wars fan in your house, he or she probably has every collector’s item and fan gear available.  If you want to get him or her something they’ll love, actually use and that can make an awesome holiday photo, the Star Wars robes are the perfect solution.  They’re unique, fun and functional which is why they make the perfect present for the holidays, a thinking of you gift, or even for a birthday.

 

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Review: Just Wait Till Your Ears Read This

Posted in Reviews, Spotlight with tags , , , , , , on 7 April 2013 by Megan
Subtitled: The Genius of Ben Burtt

Subtitled: The Genius of Ben Burtt

Let me lead with this: This is by far the best I have ever heard. For an auditory person like me, who has often dreamed of Foley work, it’s a dream come true, giving a truly unique and never boring glimpse behind the scenes of the process of Star Wars in a way most people have probably never imagined. Bonus points for a segment on the origins of the Wilhelm screen, and enough obscure Star Wars trivia to make you truly a delight at parties and informal get-togethers!

If I’m honest, though, there is just one tiny complaint preventing me from giving it five stars: the book does not explore the films equally at all. Acknowledging that it’s only logical to emphasize the Original Trilogy (where Burtt pioneered the effects and methods), and that I understand his not wanting necessarily to spill his secrets on his newer sounds — I’m pretty disappointed that the Prequels get less than half as much attention, and a ridiculous portion of the book is spent on The Clone Wars series (Burtt’s work on Droids and Ewoks and The Holiday Special are only briefly mentioned, so why waste my time on this exploration of a non-film entity?). While the Original films each receive a detailed treatment, step-by-step through each part of the film with excellent pictures and an average of 57 sounds each, the Prequels are reduced to their two or three big moments and quickly glossed over. Episode I has 33 sounds, fully 11 of which are Podrace only. E2 and E3 are given a pittance of a mere 18 and 14 sounds each . . . and one of those sounds isn’t even matched to the “creation story” attached to it (the book describes Burtt using a sonic boom for Vader’s heartbeat in the immolation sequence, but the sound linked to it is simply the Vader breathing/helmet squeal from ESB).

A great book, but it could have been better.

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Picture

Posted in Fun with tags , , , , , on 8 February 2013 by Megan

My Life, 80 Days: Day 73 (a light-themed picture) via Hundredaire Socialite.

trilogytrilogy

Not sure if this is light-themed, or just awesome

I picked this picture for the light-theme because it’s just the coolest picture of light I’ve never taken. Trilogy is my Build-a-Bear given to me for Christmas by my brother-in-law in 2010. I took this picture a couple of weeks later, just before going back to Indiana. Trilogy looks like a Force-casting Jedi Master or something. (And you would not believe the softness of his sparkly blue fur.) Also, that’s my newer VHS addition, a widescreen 1997 special ed.

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My New Purse

Posted in Spotlight with tags , , , , on 20 January 2013 by Megan

Let’s try to keep some posting going on around here. Today let me expound upon another fantastic purchase from the monkeys at ThinkGeek. Again, I’m borrowing content from my main blog because I honestly think this one needs content. So here we go!

DSCN8872

In all its vinyl glory

First things first: I finally bought this delicious vinyl Star Wars purse from ThinkGeek last week. When it was on sale, I really didn’t have any money and talked myself out of it, but in subsequent weeks I realized just how much I really do need a purse, and not one I was carrying around at the age of 15. So I combined some different offers and got it for $14 off. And I’m very pleased with it. I’m also very pleased to be in the sort of career where I can exhibit such geeky eccentricities (in the event I ever get a real job . . . ). And just because I like it so much, I wanted to share it.

Moving backwardly, on to my other topic: pie for breakfast. This is a tradition going back literally tens of years. I have a fairly distinct vague memory (or a vague distinct memory, depending on the day) of one day-after-Thanksgiving, when I was fairly young, when Mom asked me what I wanted for breakfast, and I was astonished when my joking “Pie!” was answered with a cheerful, “All right.” And so every year since, the morning after Thanksgiving, I’ve had a piece of pumpkin pie for breakfast. Did I mention it has to be pumpkin? No other pie is valid, and though I’ve eaten various pies for breakfast over the years, none of them count.

Thanksgiving evening, as things were winding down and I noticed food being packed up, put away, and distributed, I had the sudden panic that maybe no one was going to keep a piece of pie for me to have in the morning. All the dietary changes around here have resulted in a severe famine of all things dessert-shaped, crusted, wheat-based, so it was a legitimate fear. And then I started thinking along the lines of just how important this is to me; like, I would’ve been really disappointed if I hadn’t noticed where the pie had been put away in the fridge. The last few years, I’ve even foregone eating pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving itself because I would be eating it the next morning.

I wasn’t going to post about Thanksgiving at all except for that piece of pie. Which, by the way, I did enjoy thoroughly the next morning, cold from the fridge, all thick and pumpkiny. Last Thanksgiving was a really wonderful time, and I felt a lot of affection for my family that went along with my general assurance of how good the universe was and how well everything would continue to go. This year I simply didn’t care about the holiday at all, and all I was really interested in was that piece of pie, because it linked me to a simpler and happier time, connecting me with many good Thanksgivings past.

I didn’t and still don’t feel particularly grateful for anything this year, which is why I wasn’t going to post about it. Which isn’t to say I feel some kind of sullen resentment instead; I simply don’t feel anything at all. I feel frustrated, which is a good word, but not much else. I’m planning to spend a great weekend with Michelle in the middle of December, but after everything, I can’t really work myself up to hoping for it. I kind of feel like one more disappointment is going to break the camel’s back. But, I do feel kind of glad I got my pie. And I’m very pleased with my purse, although I couldn’t really afford it. And now I’m watching A New Hope, because I’ve been meaning to do this for weeks.

This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. A more elegant weapon, for a more civilized age. — Obi-Wan Kenobi

(Pie for Breakfast via Hundredaire Socialite)

Reading list, Star Wars purse, hot coffee

Reading list, Star Wars purse, hot coffee

The other great thing I’ve learned about this purse is it can hold a number of library books, plus lunch and other necessities. A great investment.

Lil Obi-Wan rocking it on the way to Maryland in December

Lil Obi-Wan rocking it on the way to Maryland in December

My absolute only complaint is that the vinyl has worn and cracked at an excessive rate considering the short amount of time I’ve had it, but ThinkGeek shipped me a replacement at no extra cost. I think I just got a dud one. The new one is great. I love this purse.

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Pictured Collection

Posted in Fun with tags , , , on 11 January 2013 by Megan

I’ve talked collections before. This guest post from HS is from my 80 Day Challenge again, meant just to keep content coming in, and it just gives some images of what I’ve got.

Day 61 — A picture of your collection

allstarwarsallthetime
This will give you an idea of a small portion of my Star Wars collection, which is by far my most intense and largest collection. (I also collect books, pennies, typewriters, and stuffed animals.) Most of these pictures aren’t up to date, but they’re the best I have, so consider the picture representational, not comprehensive. I own about 150 Star Wars books, including fiction, reference, and historically significant items, as well as some five copies of each film. As far as ephemera and physical objects are concerned, I have some six boxes full of this stuff. So. Yep! This is sort of a picture of my collection.

My Life, 80 Days: Day 61 via Hundredaire Socialite.

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