We Need This Limited-Edition Star Wars Parka
If you’re a big Star Wars fan and hate being cold, Columbia Sportswear has created a jacket you may want to find under your Christmas tree.
In 1979, the cast and crew of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back filmed the legendary Battle of Hoth in an ice-cold Norwegian forest. The original jackets the crew members wore to stave off sub-zero temperatures and blizzard conditions are rare and highly prized by collectors. One sold at auction in 2017 for $8,000. But you’re in luck: Columbia Sportswear has recreated the winter gear for Star Wars enthusiasts with a new, limited-edition Empire Crew Parka (and it’s much less expensive).
Purposed for extreme winter weather, the bright blue parkas were designed in conjunction with Lucasfilm Ltd. They feature shoulder stripes to increase visibility in whiteout conditions, a Darth Vader chest patch, Star Wars logos, and a customizable nameplate, which can be personalized with embroidery or a marker. The jacket’s lining even has the coordinates of the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier in Norway where the bone-chilling scenes were filmed.
The small group of tenacious cast and crew members spent several weeks at the glacier near the town of Finse to film the legendary battle scene between Rebel snowspeeders and Imperial AT-AT walkers on the remote ice world Hoth. The Star Wars cast and crew braved incredibly frigid conditions and required clothing that could protect them from the glacial temperatures.
Less than 100 of the original jackets were created by Norwegian designer Per Frølich Poppe, but hardly any are left. The Columbia parkas are the next best thing.
Columbia’s limited-edition parka features waterproof, breathable fabric that is insulated with thermal-reflective lining. The faux-fur trimmed hood is removable. The unisex-style jackets will be available on ColumbiaSportswear.ca/StarWars starting at 12:01 a.m. EST on Dec. 7 for $649.99 CAD. They are expected to sell out pretty quickly.
A few U.S. stores will have parkas signed by Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker. Fans can purchase them for $1980 USD, and proceeds will be given to charity.
Steven Tyler Is The Latest Celebrity Ordained Minister
Singer Steven Tyler has added another feather to his cap by becoming an ordained minister. The Aerosmith frontman recently revealed that he paid $80 online and will conduct your wedding if the price is right.
When confronted by a TMZ reporter at LAX, Tyler said, “I am now an ordained minister. I just married my son. I married my son to a beautiful girl. … I went online, paid 80 bucks and I became a father. God knows I’ve been a mother for so long!”
When he was asked if he planned on officiating any other weddings, Tyler commented, “Me and Mick Fleetwood, we’re gonna marry people.”
He also offered to help Justin Bieber out, even though the singer reportedly already wed model Hailey Baldwin. “Justin, you need to get married, I’m the man to do it,” Tyler said.
The reporter noted that he was getting married in a few months, and Tyler said he would do the job “no problem” for $200,000. It’s unclear if his offer was genuine, but it would be kind of cool to have Steven Tyler at your wedding.
Tyler received his certification from the Universal Life Church Monastery, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. The ULC website boasts: “As an ordained minister of the ULC, you will possess the full legal status required to officiate marriages. In addition, you will be qualified to perform baptisms, preside over funerals, and conduct any other religious ceremony of your choosing.”
The certification is “free” and intended for “people of all cultures, creeds and belief systems.” However, they charge a fee for paperwork and other things. Basically, all you have to do is fill out a form, pay around $80, and a confirmation email will serve as a receipt of your ordination.
There are actually quite a few ordained celebrities. Jonah Hill officiated at Adam Levine’s wedding to model Behati Prinsloo in 2014, and Emma Stone officiated at her publicist’s 2012 wedding. Other famous ministers include Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks, actors Ian Somerhalder and Jason Segel, talk show host Conan O’Brien, and singer Lady Gaga.
If you can’t afford a Steven Tyler wedding, you may want to see him in concert instead. Aerosmith is marking their 50th anniversary in 2019 by launching an 18-date residency in Las Vegas. Guitarist Joey Perry has promised that the experience will be different than what fans have seen during their regular tours.
Mark Hamill Reveals ‘Solo’ Movie Cameo
If you want to keep something under wraps, don’t tell Mark Hamill. The Star Wars actor recently divulged information about a major actor who will be appearing in the upcoming Han Solo movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story.
During an interview with the Washington Post’s Cape Up podcast, Hamill talked about one of his colleagues who will be appearing in the film and then regretted letting the little detail slip. But to true Star Wars fans, the reveal comes as no surprise.
“Tony Daniels is so happy ’cause he’s in every single Star Wars movie,” Hamill explained. “Every single one. All the prequels. He’s in Rogue One, He’s in Solo. Whoops! I hope that’s not…but anyway, he’s in every single Star Wars movie.”
Anthony Daniels plays the droid C-3PO, and while he has appeared in every single Star Wars film up until this point, it hasn’t been confirmed (until now) that he would appear in the Solo film.
“That’s not such a reveal,” Hamill added. “All Star Wars fans expect him to be in every movie. I said to Tony, ‘It’s perfect. You never age. And, you know, if you give them enough trouble, they’ll just find somebody else that fits in that suit. With me, what are they going to do, fire me? No, they can kill me. They’ve done that already.”
When asked if Luke Skywalker is actually dead, Hamill talked about one of his “terrible ideas.” He said perhaps Luke force projected himself out of his robes to a nudist planet. “I’m not convinced I’m dead,” he noted.
Daniels has appeared as C-3PO in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), Star Wars The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). The actor also briefly appeared as a human character in Episode II and has voiced the character for several Star Wars animated series.
Solo: A Star Wars Story opens on May 25.
Send Your Name To The Sun Like William Shatner (For Free)
April 2, 2018
William Shatner is sending his name to the sun, and you can too. The Star Trek star’s moniker will be included on a microchip that will catch a ride with NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (SPP). The probe will be studying the star this summer.
“The first-ever spacecraft to the sun, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, will launch this year on a course to orbit through the heat of our star’s corona, where temperatures are greater than 1 million degrees,” Shatner explained in a new NASA video about the mission. “The spacecraft will also carry my name to the sun, and your name, and the names of everyone who wants to join this voyage of extreme exploration.”
Anyone can include their name on the microchip, for free, by visiting NASA’s Parker Solar Probe website here. Space adventurers have until April 27 to do so.
It isn’t the only time Shatner is sending his name into space. His name will be included among 2.4 million others on a microchip featured onboard NASA’s Mars InSight mission this May.
The SPP is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 31. According to NASA: “SPP will swoop closer to the Sun’s surface than any spacecraft before it, facing brutal heat and radiation conditions. The spacecraft will come as close as 3.9 million miles (6.2 million kilometres) to the Sun, well within the orbit of Mercury and more than seven times closer than any spacecraft has come before.”
It will perform 24 close flybys of the sun over the course of seven years.
The spacecraft and instruments will feature a 4.5-inch thick carbon-composite shield to protect them from the sun’s extreme heat. Temperatures outside the spacecraft will reach nearly 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,377 degrees Celsius).
The probe will examine the sun’s structure, magnetic and electric fields, and solar wind, reports Space.com. The goal is to determine why solar wind is accelerated and why the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, is hotter than the surface.
“Parker Solar Probe is, quite literally, the fastest, hottest — and, to me, coolest — mission under the sun,” project scientist Nicola Fox, of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Baltimore, said in a statement. “This incredible spacecraft is going to reveal so much about our star and how it works that we’ve not been able to understand.”
The probe will be the fastest in NASA’s history, topping out at speeds of about 430,000 mph (690,000 km/h) during its closest approaches to the sun.
Game Of Thrones Voted “Most Binge-Able Box Set”
Jan. 7, 2018
A new study of 2,000 adults reveals that HBO megahit “Game Of Thrones” is the most binge-able box set of all time. The fantasy series launched in 2011 and is based on the books by George R.R. Martin. The show centers on nine families fighting for the Iron Throne.
Coming in second on the list is “Breaking Bad,” starring Bryan Cranston as Walther White, a high school teacher with cancer who winds up manufacturing and selling drugs to support his family.
Third on the list is the British series “Downton Abbey” about the aristocratic Crawley family. The fourth and fifth most binge-able box sets are zombie favorite “The Walking Dead” and mob drama “Sopranos.”
The study was commissioned by Samsung UK and reflects British preferences. Steve Mitchell, head of TV product management, said via the Independent: “We’ve seen over the last few years that there has been a radical change in how people watch TV and their favourite programmes. Whether through box sets or streaming, we all have an opportunity to watch whatever content we want at a time that’s convenient for us.”
People are watching a lot more TV these days. One in five admitted they are watching more shows than they did five years ago and also admitted to “box set binge.” No doubt the popularity of streaming services such as Netflix has helped people binge watch. And 44 per cent of those surveyed said they prefer to watch television on demand versus live.
Rounding out the top 10 shows on the binge-able list are: “24,” “Sex and the City,” “Lost, “The Wire” and an option characterized as “other.”
Not surprisingly, survey participants said the show they were most looking forward to is the upcoming season of “Game of Thrones.” The eighth and final season is expected to air later this year, though some experts believe the network won’t release new episodes until 2019. Fans also can’t wait for new seasons of “Sherlock,” “Line of Duty,” “Doc Martin” and “Dancing on Ice.”
The top 20 most “binge-able” boxsets are:
- Game of Thrones
- Breaking Bad
- Downton Abbey
- The Walking Dead
- The Sopranos
- 24
- Sex and the City
- Other
- Lost
- The Wire
- Peaky Blinders
- Dexter
- Orange is the New Black
- House of Cards
- True Blood
- Gossip Girl
- Sons of Anarchy
- Spooks
- Homeland
- Desperate Housewives
Einstein’s Note on Happiness Sells For Insane Amount of Money
Nov. 3, 2017
A note about happiness that Albert Einstein gave to a bellboy in 1922 has sold at auction for $1.56 million, far surpassing its estimated value of between $5,000 and $8,000.
The year 1922 was a big one for Einstein. The physicist was given the Nobel Prize for Physics, he finished his first paper on unified theory, and he traveled to France, Palestine, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Japan. Einstein stayed at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel while visiting Japan. He met the emperor and empress at the Imperial Palace and was greeted by thousands of people. He also gave a four-hour lecture in the capital city to a group of almost 2,500 people, according to NPR.
When a bellhop delivered something to Einstein’s hotel, he did not receive a tip, either because he refused to accept one or the physicist didn’t have small change in his pocket. In lieu of a tip, Einstein wrote some words of wisdom on hotel stationery:
“A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.”
Einstein wrote another message on the second sheet of paper: “Where there’s a will there’s a way.”
The physicist told the bellhop that he should hold on to the notes because they may be valuable one day—and he was right. The note about happiness recently sold at an auction in Jerusalem, Israel, to an anonymous bidder for $1.56 million. The second note sold for $240,000. The notes were reportedly put up for auction by the Japanese bellboy’s great-nephew.
According to a spokesman for the auction house, they expected the notes to receive bids between $5,000 and $8,000. Meni Chadad told the New York Times: “It was an all-time record for an auction of a document in Israel, and it was just wow, wow, wow. I think the value can be explained by the fact that the story behind the tip is so uplifting and inspiring, and because Einstein continues to be a global rock star long after his death.”
Frank Zappa’s Hologram To Go On Tour
Sept. 23, 2017
Frank Zappa died nearly a quarter of a century ago, but fans of the rock star will have a chance to see him in person in the near future—sort of. Zappa will appear as a hologram in a series of concerts later this year and in 2018. The hologram has been developed by Eyellusion, which created a similar one of classic singer Ronnie James Dio.
The most anticipated event featuring the Zappa hologram is a complete reconstruction of the musician’s rock opera, Joe’s Garage. The hologram will step in for Zappa in the role of the narrator, Central Scrutinizer. Zappa recorded the three-piece rock opera in 1979. It centers on a young man who forms a garage band, throws away his money, gets caught up in the rock ‘n roll lifestyle, and is sent to prison. When he’s released, he finds out that music has been banned and he goes insane.
The former members of Zappa’s band the Mothers of Invention and several “stunt guitarists” will be involved in the project, according to the rocker’s son Ahmet Zappa, co-trustee of the Zappa Family Trust.
“I’m thrilled that Frank Zappa will finally be going back out on tour playing his most well-known music as well as some rare and unheard material,” said Ahmet. “We can’t wait to bring his creative work back to the stage with the musicians he loved to play with, such as Steve Vai, Ian Underwood, Adrian Belew, Arthur Barrow, Vinnie Colaiuta, Scott Thunes, Mike Keneally, Denny Walley, Warren Cuccurullo and Napoleon Murphy Brock among others who are committed to being part of this epic endeavor. When I spoke with them, they were excited at the prospect of performing alongside Frank once again and can’t wait to give fans an unforgettable experience.”
Ahmet also expressed a desire for his father’s hologram to reunite with his siblings, with whom relations are currently tense. Ahmet said, “Also, how radical would it be to have Moon singing ‘Valley Girl’ onstage with Frank? Or to see Dweezil side by side with our father playing dueling guitar solos? That would be my greatest wish, and I look forward to bringing this special celebration of Frank’s legacy to a town near you.”
In 2016, Dweezil was reportedly forced to license his last name to play in a show he created in tribute to his father. He was also banned from selling related merchandise. Dweezil claimed the Zappa Family Trust tried to prevent him from using the Zappa Plays Zappa name to promote shows and because of it he dubbed his tour, “Dweezil Zappa Plays Whatever the F— He Wants — the Cease-and-Desist Tour.”
Co-trustee Diva Zappa, Frank’s youngest child, said of the hologram, “Frank was an innovator and his art transcended so many different mediums. He left behind such an extensive body of work and we want to celebrate his music with really creative and unique live hologram productions that will introduce his music to a new generation of fans and let so many that enjoyed his music when he was alive experience it again. We have had this idea for many years and after meeting with the team at Eyellusion, we knew that they were the right partner to make it a reality.”
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Recreate Princess Diana’s Famous Photo At Taj Mahal
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, on Saturday, the last day of their tour to India and Bhutan.
During one of the pair’s most anticipated moments, they posed for photographs on the “Diana bench,” a marble seat positioned in front of the Taj Mahal. It is a famous spot because William’s mother posed there in 1992, just months before her separation from Prince Charles was made public.
The photo of Princess Diana is iconic because she looked sad and alone while dealing with a crumbling marriage. In contrast, the Duke and Duchess were all smiles as they held their hands in their laps and smiled for the cameras.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson told People Magazine that the moment was not planned ahead of time: “They decided to sit on the bench this morning. It was not something they had properly considered until this morning.
“The decision for them was that is the place where people who come here to see this place will sit. It is a totally symmetrical position, right in the center. That’s the reason the Princess of Wales sat there when she came. It’s the natural place. They made the decision on that basis.”
Middleton stunned in a white and blue dress by Indian designer Naeem Khan despite the 109-degree temperature. The Duke matched his wife in a blue blazer and khaki pants.
This $465,000 Final Fantasy XV-Inspired Audi R8 Is Cool AF
Audi looked to Final Fantasy XV to create the R8 Star of Lucis, one of the coolest video game-inspired cars to hit the market. The one-off model was created for the Japanese market, and according to the official description was designed for the fictional Prince of Lucis and features the kingdom’s most notable color: black.
The car was specially designed with details inspired by Square Enix’s RPG. It features an Arabesque pattern on the side blades, air intakes, wing mirrors and rear wing from “the Tenebrae oracle clan [that] confers peace, blessings and well being.”
The wheels include a rose petal pattern along with elements taken from the kingdom’s “finely sculpted swords,” reports CarAdvice.com. Inside you’ll find a Bang & Olufsen sound system, virtual cockpit instrument panel, and built-in internet connectivity.
The all-wheel drive R8 Star of Lucis sports a 5.2 liter R8 V10 and a 7-speed transmission with a top speed of 330km/h (205 mph).
The average gamer won’t be able to afford the special edition vehicle, which is valued at $465,000. Compare that to the standard R8, which will only set a driver back a mere $150,000. Interested buyers must enter a lottery system, which will open on Nov. 21.
Final Fantasy XV will be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on Nov. 29.
National Geographic’s ‘MARS’ Tells The Story Of A Mission To The Red Planet In A Unique Way
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says what many of us feel: “Creating a self-sustained civilization on Mars would be the greatest adventure ever in human history.”
Many of us have imagined what it would be like to visit Mars, or at least watch the first crew make landfall on the red planet. National Geographic’s new series “MARS” gives us a glimpse into what it may be like when humans finally touch down on the fourth planet from the sun.
The six-episode event series combines scripted drama with real-life interviews. It focuses on a fictitious crewed mission to Mars in 2033 on the spacecraft Daedalus and how they handle such a historic exploration. Interspersed between the drama, viewers are exposed to commentary from today’s experts, such as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, former NASA astronaut James Lovell, and Musk.
The Daedalus crew is composed of an international group of astronauts: an American mission commander, Korean-American mission pilot, Spanish hydrologist and geochemist, French mission physician and biochemist, Nigerian mechanical engineer and roboticist, and Russian exobiologist and geologist.
In the first episode, the crew faces a life-threatening emergency when the ship’s landing system goes offline. Mission Control monitors the situation from Earth while the crew’s commander risks his life to fix the issue.
The episode also centers on aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company SpaceX’s current attempt to help humans reach Mars.
The series is executive produced by Academy Award- and Emmy-winning producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. It premiers on the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Mundo in the United States on Monday, Nov. 14 at 9/8c and internationally in 170 countries and 45 languages on Sunday, Nov. 13.
Getting That Magical Harry Potter Black Light Tattoo May Be A Really Bad Idea
A really cool looking “Harry Potter”-inspired tattoo that has over 1 million views on Imgur may be harmful to your health. The ink features black footsteps with the phrase, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,” which can only be viewed under a black light.
The quote refers to Marauder’s Map, which reveals a person’s location in Hogwarts. In order to view someone’s whereabouts, a wizard must tap the parchment with a wand and recite the phrase.
Similarly, in order to see the complete tattoo, a person must shine a black light on the skin.
There are some problems with this type of ink, also known as a UV tattoo. First, it may cause an allergic reaction. Black light tattoos often contain phosphorus, a chemical that may cause severe blistering, a burning pain, and a rash. UV ink has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on humans.
In addition, according to Tattoodo.com, “Scarring from the tattoo machine may also occur, causing the traces of the tattoo to look a bit visible under normal light after it’s healed.”
One person commented on Imgur: “These tattoos are the worst, they fade so quickly and most tattoo artists flat out refuse to do them.”