Countdown to Celebration: Body Art

I'm somewhat jonsing for tattoo #2.

Although I initially planned to wait until I reached that magical 200 lbs to celebrate with some more body art, with the impending Celebration IV I think it's time to re-evaluate and re-ink.

I was considering getting another of the galactic era symbols to join the Rise of the Empire logo on my left shoulder, or just a simple copy of the famed Mandalorian "Mythosaur Skull" insignia on my right.

But a new coffee table book, The Force in the Flesh, written and compiled by Shane Turgeon, creator of http://www.tattoosandtoys.com/, puts my simple tats to shame. From single images and basic symbols like mine, to complex full torse or whole sleeve works of art, the book showcases the elegant and intricate work of 45 artist and tattoo enthusiasts from the world over. Maybe I should reconsider just what my future insignia should be?

The book will be released during the convention and will also be available on their site.

Countdown to Celebration: Another One?

Yes, Hasbro has revealed a third exclusive figure to be sold alongside R2 and 3PO at the upcoming Celebration IV here in LA and Celebration Europe in London.

Though already rumoured to be one of the McQuarrie Signature Series figures accompanying Hasbro's regular waves of figures, Luke Skywalker, formerly known as Luke Starkiller, joins the growing ranks of characters from Ralph McQuarrie's concept illustrations to be immortalized in plastic.

Over at Sideshow the've just released images of one of their convention exclusives, the 12" version of Luke Skywalker dressed in his I've-just-blown-up-the-Death Star finery. Priority pre-ordering for these beauties begin Thursday, April 12th at 10AM (Pacific Time). Unfortunately I think I'll be passing on this one.

Sunkist, Sunkist, Rah! Rah! Rah!

Rock 'N' Roll Ralphs on Sunset is always out of Diet Sunkist!

No matter what time or what day you go, they're out. They have rows and rows of Coke, Cherry Coke, Pepsi and 7-Up, but no Diet Sunkist, in fact it seems like Diet Sunkist is the only soda they're ever out of!

For some reason, they also no longer sell my other favourite soda Diet Coke with Lime (in the 2-litre bottles), so of late, when faced with this lack-of-Sunkist dilemma, I've been taste testing a number of the other sodas, sampling from the plethora of choices available in the pop aisle, to see what else could possibly hit the spot.

Tropicana Sugar Free Orangeade had a disgustingly artificial aftertaste, Pineapple Fanta had no chance (having been raised on Lilt, and it's totally tropical taste), but the Caramel Cream flavoured Jazz, from the makers of Diet Pepsi, well, that was a lovely surprise.

Fearing that it too would be too saccharinely sweet, Jazz knocked my taste buds out of the park. Just enough caramel, not too much aspartame, and snazzy packaging. What more could you ask for from a soda. I'm almost hooked!

New York Pro: 6 Weeks Out

Guest posing at last weekend's 2007 NPC Northern Colorado show in Boulder, CO was Branch Warren, my fraking favourite bodybuilder and at only 5'7" and an off-season weight of around 270 lbs, one of the ultimate mass monsters in the sport.

Branch is currently prepping for the New York Pro championships on May 12th. At his last show, the Arnold Classic in March, he placed 7th, narrowly missing out on automatic qualification for this year's Olympia (only the top 6 qualified, the top five in New York will also qualify). Branch hasn't placed too highly in his last few competitions. Back in 2005 he took home back-to-back first place trophies (at the Charlotte and Europa Super Shows), but since then, although he's gained a good 20+ lbs of muscle, he hasn't been able to dial it in quite as well. This guy is all fraking muscle however, check out the following quick clip:

Later this summer Branch will turn promoter when he hosts The NPC Branch Warren Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Championships in Houston, TX. Until then however he's got the New York Pro to win, and if his current 6-week out conditioning is anything to go by, he's got grown men running scared!

Countdown to Celebration: Exclusive Figures

As expected, Hasbro's action figure exclusive(s) for Celebration IV here in LA (and July's Celebration Europe at the ExCeL exhibition center in London) are 3¾" versions of concept artist Ralph McQuarrie's original illustrations of those iconic bickering droids C-3PO and R2-D2.

McQuarrie concept figures accompany each wave of the new 30th Anniversary figures (with versions of the Stormtrooper, Boba Fett and Chewbacca already previewed). This signature series will continue throughout the year with Darth, Luke and Han amongst others already rumoured. R2 and 3PO's conspicuous absence from the rumour list made them highly likely candidates for this year's convention exclusive.

Limited to one set per convention day pass purchased (which means if you've purchased a 4-day pass you’re lucky enough to be able to buy 4 sets – one to keep MIB, one to open, and 2 to ebay - sadly I only have a day pass) these figures will quickly become hot commodities!!!

May the Force be with you!