Merry Christmas!

Yak's Pub

Best Halloween Mash-up Ever

See for yourself.

from Rebel Scum's Halloween Costume Contest

Wedding & Reception

Yeah, the whole day rocked.

More pictures here.

Thanks to all of our family, friends, and those involved that made the wedding day extra special. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful setting or time with so many great people!

Site Updates Coming

Well I'm home. For good. Kelly and I made the trek from West Lafayette, IN to Sinking Spring, PA over two days 10 days ago now. We left on Friday, June 19th and arrived here Saturday evening. We've unpacked (for the most part) and Kelly has returned to her family for the final week before the wedding. Yes, that is THIS SATURDAY. Holy crap.

Anyway, with me being home now I've had a chance to go through all of my Star Wars stuff. I have a bunch of pictures to add that have been missing, indicated by the ambiguous "coming soon" image. Fear not! All those will be gone soon. With the help of my best man Brent B. I was able to go through all my extra stuff and things I'm willing to part with to come up with a "for sale" list. I'll be posting that sometime this week as well.

So check back often these next two days as I add images to the site and list things I have for sale.

PSWCS Charity Fundraiser for Operation Ward 57

The fine folks of the Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society are raising money for Operation Ward 57 through a limited edition coin. Press release and coin pictures below.

The Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society is selling a limited
edition medallion as a fundraiser to support Operation Ward 57. The
medallion features Obi-Wan Kenobi, the heroic Jedi Master from Star
Wars - The Clone Wars. The medallions were produced in a one-time run
of 1000 pieces with the permission of Lucasfilm Ltd. The cost is $10
per medallion, with a limit of 3 medallions per household. 100% of the
proceeds generated through the sale of these medallions will be
donated to Operation Ward 57.

Operation Ward 57 is a charitable organization that collects donations
to benefit the veterans in the orthopedic Ward 57 at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center. Ward 57 cares for some of the most severely injured
military veterans who return from operations overseas. Operation Ward
57 purchases comfort and support items to help these veterans and
their families through difficult and trying times. To learn more
about Operation Ward 57, please visit: http://www.operationward57.org

The members of PSWCS hope you will consider supporting this worthy
cause through purchasing these medallions. You can order at:
http://www.pswcs.com/OperationWard57

UPDATE: Already mentioned on Rebel Scum!

Happy 20th Anniversary, Ghostbusters II

Happy 20th, GB2!

On this day in 1989 the Ghostbusters canon got its second feature length installment. While treated harshly over the last two decades, the sequel is by no means an awful movie. It's hard to live up to a legend. Ghostbusters II is still incredibly funny and exciting. And you should never take anything in a franchise you love for granted. After all, you may not get much substance out if it again for a quarter century...

Just a Few More Hours

Today is the day. Ghostbusters: The Video Game has been released. As I type this, versions of the game for Xbox 360, Wii, DS and PC are headed towards my apartment. The Blu-ray is approaching my parent's house. And I'm stuck at work. But fear not! It is only a half day and I shall be bustin' ghosts as soon as one of the games gets in my hands. That moment can not come soon enough.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

UPDATE 1: People seem to be just as excited for the video game as me, at least on the Xbox 360. At Amazon.com the regular 360 version is out of stock until tomorrow!!! (updated below)

UPDATE 2: 16th, 19th, 40th and 93rd. 17th, 19th, 39th and 91st (as of 10 AM EST). Those are the Amazon.com ranks for Ghostbusters: The Video Game based on units sold! Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and PC, respectively.

UPDATE 3: According to Proton Charging, an iPhone Ghostbusters game (not the same as the newly released video game) is out (and has been since the 12th). It took 4 days for that to come to light!?!?!? GETTING IT NOW!!!

UPDATE 4: Downloaded the Ghostbusters iPhone game and, after a few minutes of game play, I am completely underwhelmed. It's extremely simple; just a tap to throw the proton beam at a ghost (in the beginning, the librarian) which you can use to direct her to a trap at the end of a very simple maze. I've played just two sublevels of the first section so this is a very quickly formed opinion. I have some screens from the game below.

Opening screen for the Ghostbusters iPhone game.

Screen capture of the first sublevel in the Ghostbusters iPhone game.


Ghostbusters iPhone game screen after successfully completing a sublevel.

Update 5: Actually, now you can't get Ghostbusters: The Video Game from Amazon.com until Thursday!!!

Update 6: The Ghostbusters Blu-ray is selling well too. It is #4 in general Movies & TV and #1 in Blu-ray!

Update 7: Well I finally got my Ghostbusters: The Video Game Amazon.com Exclusive Slimer Version (Wii). It arrived ~3:30 this afternoon. About 2.5 hours later UPS dropped off my copies for PC, DS and Xbox 360. Got my free shirt from Game Stop too, w00t! Here's some evidence...

I'm so happy.

The loot from the Amazon.com Exclusive Slimer Edition. In the box is the Slimer on No Ghost logo statue (below). In the middle is the Gamer Graffix stickers/skins. On top of that is the electronic Ecto keychain. And on the far right is the Wii version of the game.

Here's the exclusive statute. It's about 10 inches tall when put together. Very sturdy; a great piece.

Merry Ghostbusters Eve!

So we've made it. Less than 24 hours before Ghostbusters: The Video Game hits stores nationwide. Let's celebrate the celebration that shall come tomorrow! MERRY GHOSTBUSTERS EVE!

Ghostbusters Fans

I have the game preordered and being delivered tomorrow for Xbox 360, PC, DS and Wii (Amazon.com Exclusive Edition). I've also been wearing my Ghostbusters t-shirts every other day for the last week. Got one more saved up for tomorrow! Luckily since this is my last week at the IN Climate Office, I am working half days both tomorrow and Wednesday. Lots of bustin' happening the next few days!!!

CAN'T WAIT!!! JUST A FEW MORE HOURS!!!

Congratulations On Earning Your Masterate

Kelly successfully defended her Master's thesis less than an hour ago. While she technically hasn't graduated yet, you may now refer to her as Master Kelly (if you so choose). Actually, perhaps Masterate Kelly? Or Kelly Ross (soon to be Mays), Ph.M.? Her committee has expressed to her that the amount of time and work she has dedicated to her project is above and beyond what is normally expected of a Master's student; it's somewhere between Master's and Doctorate level. Hence my proposed title of Masterate.

Regardless of the nomenclature, she's done it. And done it well. Congratulations sweetie, I had all the faith in the world that you'd accomplish your goal. I love you.

A Look Back At Star Tours

The official Star Wars site has some photos and commentary on Star Tours. The final page includes a "Did you know?" section. I wonder if this a subtle hint - and way to archive the past - that a revised adventure will be invading the parks soon?

Toyfare #144 Q&A with Harold Ramis

The Ghostbusters push continues. The most recent issue of Toyfare magazine (#144) features the Ghostbusters on the cover (Ray and Egon, specifically), has a rundown of the toys from 1984 and the new ones (no release date for the Mattel stuff yet) and a Q&A with Harold Ramis.

TF: What do you think it is about the Ghostbusters that keep people coming back?

HR: Well, you know, to me, "Ghost Busters" worked on a lot of levels. For kids it was a pure action/supernatural thriller with some really cool tech and some really, fairly cool guys and decent story. For grownups it was a satire on all things paranormal, on the kind of guys who would pursue this career. And I think the three of us represented a fairly broad spectrum of attitudes in regard to the supernatural and paranormal. And Sigourney [Weaver] was such an admirable heroine and Rick [Moranis] was such a lovable nerd. It was just really something for everyone.

Check it out here!

Random Musings #4

• 1 day until my last day working at the apartment office
  
• 5 days until Kelly's masters defense
• 6 days until Ghostbusters: The Video Game is released
• 7 days until my last day working at the Indiana Climate Office
• between 9 and 12 days until Kelly and I leave Indiana and return to Pennsylvania
• 23 days until the wedding!
• 30 days until my first Phillies game at Citizen's Bank Park in nearly two years
• 31 days until a trip to Knoebels, where I haven't been since 2005
• 38 days until Ocean City, MD - first time in almost 2 years
• 44 days until Toy Town in Macungie, PA - we will not miss it two years in a row!
• Please let it be football season soon.
• The Phillies will win the NL East in 2009, their third straight division title.
  
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be good, but not quite as good as the first movie.
• I can't wait to go see Up.
• Tuesday is going to be INSANE.
  

A Visit to the Children's Museum of Indianapolis

I am currently 24. Kelly is is currently 23. We have no children at this time. Yet we were at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis this past Sunday. Why? This is why...

Yes, that is actually Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi Starfighter from Attack of the Clones.

On March 23rd, 2009 the Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Exhibition opened at the museum. Kelly asked if I wanted to go when she found out about it a few weeks ago and I said we could if we were able to fit it into our schedule. Well Sunday, June 7th was the day.

We left West Lafayette at 9 AM and arrived at the museum just after 10 AM. We parked (in their free parking structure) and took the short stroll across the skywalk to the actual museum. Here's a picture of Kelly posing on the skywalk. Downtown Indianapolis is visible over her shoulder.


After purchasing our tickets we entered the museum to the view of the starfighter, pictured above. We made it down to the ground level where I got my picture taken with a Jedi near the actual prop starfighter.


And you know I had to get a picture with Captain Rex and Clone Trooper Denal (wall stickers, not real).


The actual exhibition was basically a small scale version of my trip to the Franklin Institute to see Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination in April 2008. The children's museum exhibition focused mainly on stuff from the new animated series and there was even a sneek peak at a design for season 2!


The place was appropriately decorated with 2D cutouts of the main characters, ripe for pictures of course!

Kelly poses like C-3PO.

I pose with Jabba the Hutt with Asajj Ventress looking over my shoulder. Jabba looks almost 3D thanks to the cutout contours and the camera flash.

Kelly and I try to grab a quick shot with Anakin.

Like many Star Wars exhibits, there was no lack of film props. Weapons and costumes were the focus, which came from the movies (I think mostly AOTC, to tie-in with the cartoon a bit).

Lightsabers and blasters from the Star Wars films.

Anakin's Jedi robes from AOTC.

The Clone Wars stuff came in the form of sculpts, maquettes and drawings. Director Dave Filoni developed a coll sign-off for the prototypes. He used a stamp or signature that said "Plo Kool" if he agreed with what he saw. Below the Mace Windu, Padme Amidala and Chancellor Palpatine get the OK from Filoni.


The coolest things there were definitely the 3D sculpts. They had a few busts (Chancellor Palpatine, Mace Windu, Count Dooku and a Clone Trooper) as well as scaled full body ones.

Production Clone Trooper bust from The Clone Wars.

Padme, Anakin and Ahsoka production maquettes.

As I said before, there was a TON of production art. Here are a few of my favorites.


After taking in the entire exhibit - which you can do in about 30 to 45 minutes - we got some tickets for the planetarium show at 11 AM. We also took some time to check out a few other exhibits, such as the aquarium, model trains and the dinosaurs.


Once we are all finished, which was a little before noon, I took one last picture of Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter and the trip was over.


I took a bunch more pictures. You can see the Star Wars-related ones here and any other exhibits here. It was a great trip and another thing to add to my Star Wars site. I'm definitely glad we got to go!

Happy 25 Years, Ghostbusters

(via Cake Central)

Twenty-five years ago today my favorite movie of all-time was released. Of course I refer to the best, the beautiful, the only, Ghostbusters.

Some facts from the release in June 1984 and after:

• The film grossed $13.6 million on its opening weekend and $23 million the first week.
• #1 at the box office for five consecutive weeks.
• It grossed $229.2 million in 1984, second most that year (damn you, Beverly Hills Cop!).
• It was rereleased in 1985 and earned another $9.4 million, which surpassed Beverly Hills Cop for box office gross. This withstood the next four years as Ghostbusters finished the 1980s as the top grossing comedy.
• According to IMDB, Ghostbusters currently ranks as the 55th most successful film EVER (in terms of box office gross, not adjusted for inflation). Including inflation the film jumps to 31st!

Awards and Recognition

• American Film Institute's 28th best comedy of all-time
• IGNs top comedy of all-time
• Entertainment Weekly's funniest movie of the past 25 years
  

A week from tomorrow the next-gen video game hits consoles. Later this summer there are new toys from Mattel. In two or three years we will - finally - be getting a Ghostbusters 3.

Life is good.

Happy 25th anniversary, Ghostbusters.

Happy 24th Birthday, Brent!

Happy birthday Star Wars collector Brent Behrenshausen, 24 today! Hope your day is full of wookiee cookies and a Yoda birthday cake!

Join the Ghostbusters Team Digitally

Now is your chance to "join" the Ghostbusters team! The GhostbustersIsHiring.com has released a new portion of their site where you can upload, crop and size a photo of yourself to be standing there, ready to bust some heads (in a spiritual sense, of course), with Egon, Peter and Ray! Check me out with the team...

I make this look good.

June 16th can't come soon enough!!!

Tom Sabbatelli on Wheel of Fortune

One of my good friends from Penn State, Tom Sabbatelli, was on Wheel of Fortune on May 25, 2009 (Memorial Day). The show had been taped way back in February and finally aired three months later. Tom was not allowed to divulge how the event went but Kelly and I had a sneaky suspicion he'd do well. That was an understatement. Here is the full show (minus commercials!) split over three parts from my YouTube account.







Here are some screen grabs of Tom's illustrious journey...

The Wheel of Fortune title card on May 25, 2009.

Tom shoots out of the gate, answering the first toss-up correctly.

Tom being introduced by Pat Sajak.

Tom told a story about how he use to imitate Vanna White as a toddler in his high chair. He did the pose and then Pat asked Vanna to do it too. Separated at birth?

Tom correctly answers toss-up #2.

Tom correctly answered the first puzzle. Funny, that's what people will be doing to relive this adventure of his.

Puzzle #2 was the only thing Tom didn't get.

Mystery prize round!

Yep, the prize could be $10,000 (sponsored by IHOP).

And it's a prize puzzle. Where will the winner be going?

Suspense! Tom lands on the mystery prize spot.

Tom reaches down to remove the mystery prize. Bankrupt or $10,000???

Tom chose wisely. The mystery prize was $10,000! Thanks IHOP!

The third puzzle gives a hint of where the prize vacation may be. Where is Tom headed?

Before we find out, Tom headbutts the set on national television after he solved the third puzzle.

Tom is ecstatic about winning a trip to beautiful New Orleans. Value? $5,000.

Tom is up to $22,400 after solving the puzzle assuring him the $10,000 mystery prize as well as a trip to New Orleans.

I have no idea how he got "RUNNER-UP" so fast. This was the third and final toss-up.

The fourth and final puzzle was cut short but Tom still came out on top.

Tom knows he has a chance to add a lot more to the money and trip he already won.

Tom finished the regular part of the game with $29,900.

Tom ready to spin the final wheel full of prizes.

Tom spins the wheel of prizes, landing on M. We'll find out what he will (or won't) win soon.

The default letters are helpful. Tom added D, C, M and A to get even closer.

Tom guesses "GIANT SQUID" and is correct! What did he win?

Tom celebrates earning $25,000 for getting the final puzzle correct.

Tom hugs his mom after winning a total of $54,900!

Tom did absolutely amazing! You can check out his Wheel blog here. Congratulations, Tom! Some other links below...

'Wheel' spins just right for new PSU graduate | Centre Daily Times
Memorial Day 2009 Game Recap & Discussion | Sony Pictures Boards
PSU Grad Wins Big On Wheel Of Fortune | Onward State
10 Questions With Tom, PSU "Wheel" Rep | Onward State
Recent PSU grad wins almost $50,000 on Wheel of Fortune | The Daily Collegian

UPDATE: I am sort of mentioned in The Daily Collegian article about Tom.

Friends of Sabbatelli have loaded the episode to YouTube so it can be viewed. A search for "Tom Sabbatelli" will bring up the three-part video.

"Friends" should be "Joseph Mays". Haha.