Tag: 501st legion

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The fandom minute: Lightsaber restrictions, 501st helmet project, Falcon song, LEGO nativity

Clearly there's a whole different set of problems in-universeFacepalm du jour: Woolworths in the U.K. is requiring that people must be 18 or old to purchase a cheap plastic lightsaber, because it might be mistake for a gun. Meanwhile, I bet anyone can go into the hardware section and buy a working flashlight fully capable of braining a full-grown man.

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The fandom minute: Secrets, Lightsabre, Fanboys

  • At random: In the latest PostSecret, someone confesses “Over the years, I’ve discovered Star Wars fans make the best lovers.” Aww.
  • Fansites: Lightsabre has the third part of their Robert Watts interview, a Star Wars Blueprints giveaway for UK fans, and a report from Polcon.
  • Another Fanboys release date: It’s listed for November 26 on the Weinstein Company website, TFN notes, as well as a (another) possible DVD date.
  • Fandom: Report on a Metro Detroit library event with the 501st’s Great Lakes Garrison and the Rebel Legion’s Midwest Base.
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Are stormtroopers softening up America for fascism?

Here’s one for the ‘quite probably taking fandom phenomenon way too seriously’ bin:

Suppose tomorrow the Bush administration announces plans to deploy thousands of Homeland Security Troops to American cities, to walk the streets armed in the search for un-American, possibly terrorist activities (such as taking photos where there isn’t anything obviously pretty to be taking a photo of, being overly swarthy, videotaping cops and Homeland Security Troops, etc). These guys would only be answerable to the DHS, and they would be recruited from the likes of Blackwater, Wackenhut, and so forth.

Obviously there would be some outrage, yeah? I mean, not as much as there should be, but a lot of folks wouldn’t care for this at all.

Now imagine that these troops are outfitted exactly like Stormtroopers from Star Wars.

All I have to say is that the 501st bothers me a hell of a lot less than the Jediism crowd. Thoughts, true believers? (via)

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Fans in the news: Ernie Cline, 501st

  • We haven’t heard much from the Fanboys camp lately, but UGO talks to the film’s co-writer, Ernie Cline. He has good news, though – director Kyle Newman is back on board, and his cut is the one that will be released later this year.
  • The Pioneer Press features Minnesota droidmaker and costumer Michael Hansen and pals.
  • And there’s more 501st action over at The Lake Oswego Review, which covered a Make-A-Wish event in Oregon, where Darth Vader gifted Owen Miller, a young boy with cancer, with his own stormtrooper armor and lightsaber.