Sweets: R2-D2 Groom’s Cake

R2-D2 Groom’s Cake by Salt Cake City

Source:  Salt Cake City via Geeks Are Sexy

This spiffy little tux wearing R2-D2 groom’s cake was created by Utah based Salt Cake City.  As for the delicious details, R2 is covered in a marshmallow fondant and features a satin ice sugar flower which combined with the bow tie match the wedding colors.

Tattoo: R2-D2 Death Star

"I am pretty happy with my first tattoo" by Perrilyzer

I think I've seen a poster design similar to this before, but it's the first time I've seen the design as a tattoo.  It's lovely, but I think I would have asked for more fine details.

Video Round-Up: January 15, 2016

"Every Time R2-D2 Saves the Day" by IGN

This movie supercut from IGN highlights the many times R2-D2 came to the rescue of Anakin, Luke, Han, and Leia in the first six Star Wars films.

Alan Rickman and Michael Gambon prank Daniel Radcliffe! - Daniel Radcliffe recalls a story about Michael Gambon and the late Alan Rickman playing a prank on him with a fart machine on the set of Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban. The prank was made all the more embarrassing because young Radcliffe had asked to be next to a young lady he “fancied” according to director Alfonso Cuarón.

Atlas Cleans House  - The Atlas Robot built by Boston Dynamics does a bit of house cleaning in a new video showing its whole-body coordinated motion. The robot picks up, sweeps, and even vacuums its lab to clean up its mess.

Baby Elephant Forms Unlikely Friendship with German Shepherd - Earth Touch News reports on the touching story of how a rescued baby elephant named Ubuntu (Ellie for short) developed a special friendship with a German shepherd named Duma.

Video: 25 Facts About R2-D2

"25 Facts About R2-D2 That May Catch You By Surprise" by list25

Many Star Wars characters have become integral parts of pop culture over the last forty years but only one has touched so many people’s hearts, the one and only R2-D2. With his chunky cylindrical silhouette and lively whistles and beeps, the adorable Artoo is not a human but nor is he just a machine either. Arguably the most loved robot in entertainment history, R2-D2 is the loyal friend everyone would want to have by his/her side and today we proudly present 25 Facts About R2-D2 That May Catch You By Surprise.

Humor: Droid Baby

"Droid Baby" by The Skeleton Blog

Damn it, R2!  This is what firewalls are for.

Illustration: Star Wars: R2-D2

"I've Never Seen Such Devotion In A Droid" by London-based Daniel Nash

Link Round-Up: December 2, 2015

"R2-D2" by Grace Sun

Color Pencil on Paper

I Took The Greatest Risk In My Life And Became A Tattoo Artist


In a piece over at Vanity Fair, Gwendoline Christie models a Captain Phasma-inspired dress designed by Giles Deacon. In this video, you see her getting into photoshoot mode and talking about Phasma as a progressive female character.

Learn to Code with Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Minecraft

Patrick Rothfuss always has the best AMA threads.  In this thread, it is suggested that he adapt A Slow Regard of Silent Things into a video game.

This week is Art Basel Miami Beach -- the United States' leg of the three-city Art Basel art fair, at which "267 leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa show significant work from the masters of Modern and contemporary art, as well the new generation of emerging stars." Also in attendance will be scores or hundreds of exceptionally well-heeled art collectors, plus three US presidential apsirants.  With so much significant art for sale (last year's offering was about $3 Billion worth), and so many significant deep pockets, it is perhaps unsurprising that the art fair has also attracted presidential candidates with their own expressions to vend. Jeb! Bush's campaign will host an event called "Pop Art, Politics & Jeb" and Hillary Clinton and Martin O'Malley will also be hosting fundraising events during the fair.  If you happen to be in town during the fair, don't miss these can't miss exhibition booths, and these can't miss shows and events, but don't even try to get into these parties. And if you're looking to buy a little something for yourself this holiday season, here's the full list of exhibitors.

Quick Pic: C3PO and R2-D2 Pumpkin

C3PO and R2-D2 Pumpkins by Pumpkingutter

[ Check out more Halloween Pumpkins! ]

Posters: DROIDS

"DROIDS" by Santiago, Chile-based Jorge De la Paz

Link Round-Up: September 8, 2015

"The Planet of Everlasting Summer" by Japan-based Kit

Conveyer Belt Font. More mathematical and puzzle fonts/typefaces you can play with in your browser. Read about them in the article Fun with Fonts: Algorithmic Typography. [PDF]

David C Roy designed and handcrafted over 150 different one-of-a-kind kinetic sculptures. Common elements in his work include motion and wood. They are powered by constant force springs.  Compare his work to that of  Clayton Boyer.

Electricomics, Alan Moore's new free comics app for Apple tablets has arrived, and it comes with an anthology featuring work from Garth Ennis, Leah Moore, Colleen Doran and Big Al himself. Moore gives an interview about the project here.  From their FAQ page, it appears that they do/did want to bring it to Android, but iOS was simpler. It also appears that they were working with an (primarily) iOS developer, so that may have had something to do with it too. Limited money seems to be their biggest hurdle.

Keith Lapinig offers a Private Full Tour of Disney Pixar Animation Studios!

Ten Exercises to Become a Better Photographer

Merchandise: R2-D2 & C-3PO Shakers

"R2-D2 & C-3PO Spice Shaker Set"

Prints available for purchase from ThinkGeek. US$19.99

This Star Wars R2-D2 & C-3PO Spice Shaker Set is ready to accept your kitchen seasonings of choice. It’s perfect for dried celto to mix into that Life Day Bantha Surprise dinner or for a little cinnamon to top off your Dark Side Roast Coffee latte. And since C-3PO is involved, you won’t have to fear violating dinner table protocol. 

Tech: Anatomy of an Astromech Droid

"The Anatomy of an R2-D2 Astromech Droid!" by Tested

What goes into making R2-D2? In the Star Wars universe, it’s a bunch of fictional technological bits and bobs. In the movies, it’s usually a bit of electronics and Kenny Baker. But if you’re building an astromech droid from scratch, it takes a hell of a lot of technical wizardry, as this video about the R2-D2 Builders Club demonstrates.

"What makes up an R2-D2 Astromech? We chat with members of the R2 Builders club to learn about the process of building your own droid--the materials, power systems, and electronics needed to get started. Chris James of the Bay Area club chapter opens up his own R2 and shares the custom controls and components he's designed to make his droid come alive!"

Tattoo: A Feisty Little One

R2-D2 Tattoo
Inked by Josh Hansen of Big Brain in Omaha, NE

Source: FYeahTattoos Tumblr

This one is a fantastic intersection of attitude, nerdiness, and beauty.  It's a great design.

Vehicle: R2-D2 VW Bus

R2-D2 VW Bus by Instructables user Mimaki cg60

This isn't a model; it's a full-size Volkswagen Bus that has been customized with R2-D2 wrap.  Using CorelDraw and Photoshop he designed the images, then printed them on a vinyl wrap.  The whole project took about fifty hours before the vinyl wrapping was applied, but the end result is the droid every struggling touring band is looking for.

"R2D2's body is a cylinder, so our initial idea was to unroll the cylinder and wrap the bus with that pattern. But it ended up not becoming one with the force, I mean the bus. Simply throwing the original layout of R2's objects on the vehicle was the easiest way, but as you can see on the second image, even by stretching and shrinking the original layout (from a papercraft file), it lacked proper interaction with the bus. So we chose the hard way and decided to re-imagine and recreate the layout specifically to fit the van. The main adaptation would be the head elements, which would go in the front of the bus."

Mash-Up: Boba Fett / Borderlands

"Boba in Borderlands." by France-based Max Fradet (Stain-Art)

Two of my favorite franchises, together at last!  I can just imagine R2's attitude translated into Claptrap's incessant babble.

Fan Film: R2-D2 Unrestrained

"LEGO Star Wars: R2-D2 Unrestrained" by BrotherhoodWorkshop

Prints available for purchase from BigCartel. Etsy. Society6. StoreEnvy. US$

Remember the scene in A New Hope where R2-D2 and C-3PO gets captured by Jawas?  Brotherhood Workshop re-imagines that scene with a twist.  Instead of getting electrocuted and falling over, R2 goes on the offensive, taking out Jawas left and right.  It perfectly aligns with my own personal belief that R2D2 was the secret leader of the Rebellion.

"A group of Jawas get more than they bargained for when they attempt to kidnap a lone droid in the desert. There's a reason they invented restraining bolts."

Short Film: Artoo In Love

"Artoo In Love" by Evan Atherton

"Artoo In Love" is an adorable short film in which R2-D2 falls head over gears in love with a blue mailbox.  It's very reminiscent of the first half of Wall-E.

"Follow our intrepid, droid-hero R2-D2 as he tries to find love in our galaxy."

Quick Pic: R2-D2 Refrigerator

R2-D2 Refrigerator

Source: Daily Picks and Flicks

They dressed it up like R2, then ripped off the legs so he can't go anywhere.

Paintings: Coffee Portraits

Coffee Stain Portraits by UK-based Maria A. Aristidou

Maria told BoredPanda that her first painting was made by accident, now she paints in five different coffee blends to create the perfect shades for her subjects.

Tech: R6: Astromech Droid

"R6: Astromech Droid" by Wiltshire, UK-based Podpadstudios