Author Robert Schimmel amuses late-night yuck-meister Conan O'Brien with anecdotes about surviving cancer and being mistaken for Howie Mandel.

Elsewhere in the solar system, Neptunian warlord Dreg Mulaar intently observes transmissions of Cleveland Democratic debates from Earth. Still disappointed about Romney.

CHADES CHALLENGE IX: UNHAPPY TOTEM
Post your woebegon gods a week from today....or suffer their melancholy wrath.

For those of you interested in religion and science, you may want to check out Duelity, a film that tells the Biblical account of creation through a scientific voice, and evolution through a deistic syntax.

My take on James Gurney's 'sketchblog' challenge to illustrate the caption: "Starships or no, Khalians weren't high tech by human standards."

"Impressive...most impressive."



Jambe Davdar has assembled a plethora of behind-the-scenes Star Wars material, including interviews with cast and crew, as well as deleted scenes and outtakes, and has constructed awesome documentaries over Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (why A New Hope gets no love, I have no clue). Here are the first installations of each documentary, I'm sure you all know how to navigate YouTube to find the rest.

Building Empire

Returning to Jedi

Addendum 2.27.08
Found the commentary for A New Hope.

I've been schooled.

The latest Chades Challenge was 'armored giraffes' and I don't think any of my concepts were as dynamic as the ones in this geekologie article shown to me by the ever-reconnoitring Steve MacLeod.

This cracks me up, why'd the illustrator of this chart put the therapods in cool sprinting poses, and the homo sapien in the universal 'Howdy!' stature? What a lame species.

The thing I love about dinosaur artists is that they feel very deeply about their work. Here's a poem from artist Douglas Henderson.

Stooped weary over outlined forms,
To bring alive on paper blanks,
Extinguished zoos I miss and mourn,
That give me not a single thanks.

Cold their hearts those ancient saurs,
That proofed the world with reptile stare
And if regarded from afar,
Could something be more unaware?

This reverie of deepest time,
May prove a Recent dream absurd,
Wandering in doodled pine,
In hopes of fetching some warm word.

Nothing inspires me like music. And for me the less lyrics, the better. I caught this guy on Conan O'brien and he blew me away. So I'm just passing on the coolness of Jake Shimabukuro. Enjoy!

BACK...IN OUR FUTURE!

Christopher Lloyd is coming back as everyone's favorite scientist (sorry, Mr. Nye), Doc Brown in an O'neal McKnight music video. A clip from the set can be found here.
In bizarrely related news, real scientists today are making leaps and bounds in brain-to-machine algorithm technology, the field Doc is toying in before his accident in the bathroom. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said Wednesday that they've developed an algorithm for a neural prosthetic aid that can link an individual's brain activity to the person's intentions; and then translate that intention into movement. More on that here.

Frank Gorshin, master impressionist
He literally hits the transition to Brando in one frame--amazing. It's funny how so many people's Brando impression is more of a Godfather, but Gorshin nails his body language, timing, AND thought process. I'll shut up now and let you enjoy the clips.

Please practice blind contour drawing. It could just save your life some day.

Two new dinosaur species have been revealed recently. Both are therapods, which is awesome because carnivores are much rarer than herbivores. One of the species, Kryptops (or 'old hidden face'--you gotta love dino names!) had a snout covered in beak-like texture. More evidence that these fellas turned into birds!

Illustrations by fellow dino-enthusiast Todd Marshall

Chades Challenge VIII: Armored giraffes
Man, giraffes are tough to draw. I'm definitely going to need another week of this challenge. Check out giraffes from Leo Matsuda, Steve MacLeod and Moro Rogers as well!

Yahoo movies has posted the trailer for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and though the footage looks cool, the trailer itself is pretty lousy. How do you open up an Indiana Jones trailer with anything other than John Williams? Blasphemy!

Vi told me to draw a glowing serpent. This guy's hardly glowing, but he sure is serpentine. Unfortunately for me 50% is still an 'F'.

CHADES CHALLENGE VIII: Armored Giraffes
Couldn't find a good image of a giraffe in knight's armor, but you get the idea. Post your art this friday!

The wise time traveller triple checks his calculations so as to not apparate in the midst of a Camarosaur stampede.

This started out as a drawing of a shaolin monk. I can't tell whether Robin is angry at the loss of Batman or if he's finally defeated the caped crusader and claimed the cowl for his own.

He's out. And I'm back.