It's not a Casio, that's for sure (Photo by Don Pezzano) What do you get when you combine Victorian corsets, aviation goggles, and rocket ships? Why the glorious world of steampunk, of course! This week we celebrated International Steampunk Day, and although June 14th has (like the Victorian Era) sadly come and gone, there are still plenty of ways to embrace your inner 19th century Western space explorer. Steampunk is as much a fashion statement as it is a quirky sub-genre of science fiction. Although the genre is itself inspired by such Victorian science fiction writers as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, steampunk is a relatively new artistic movement. Coined in the 1980's, the term is generally attributed to writer K.W. Jeter, who used it to describe a new type of science fiction novel that combined futuristic technologies with 19th century fashion and old-fashioned steam power. Today, some of the most well-known examples of steampunk fiction include such films as "Van Helsing" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," and Joss Whedon's television series "Firefly" and its companion piece "Serenity" -- although some fans argue that the last two more closely resemble space opera than true steampunk. Beyond the silver screen, many steampunk fans have adopted elements from the genre and turned them into a lifestyle. Fans spend hours creating intricately-designed costumes, retrofitting modern machinery, and crafting sculptures that look like they belong on the inside of a pocket watch. However, unlike other fantasy genres, steampunk culture often requires a large investment of time (and money) to recreate its unique look. Since the genre heavily revolves around 19th century machinery, aficionados find that simulating the mechanical look of spinning cogs and brass gears takes long hours and a keen eye. When you're finally done creating your souped-up Victorian look, you'll want to show all that hard work off, of course. There are several steampunk conventions in the United States, each paying homage to neo-Victorianism, bastardized industrial fashion and other mechanical marvels. So strap on your goggles, hop into your Utopian flying machine, and set sail for uncharted territory. It's going to be a stylish ride. Suggested Sites... Steampunk Magazine - all about steampunk events, fiction, music, and other topics. What Kind of Steampunk Style Do You Have? - take this style quiz and find out which look suits you. Steampunk Empire - photos, forums, events, and links all about culture. Steampunk Workshop - fashion, projects, music, and more. Aether Emporium - links to all things steampunk.

Directory categories: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Sci-Fi Authors, Victorian Era, Conventions

Archived under: 19th Century, Authors, Books, Creativity, Cultures, Events, Fanatics, Fiction, Homemade, Nostalgia, Science Fiction, Society and Culture, Technology, Vintage

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Beautiful to look at, but not so much fun to be in (Photo by Mike Hollingshead) The skies darken, churning with heavy, charcoal-colored clouds. The barometer drops and the wind picks up. Pets and farm animals get anxious, and safety-minded people follow suit. They gather their flashlights and solar- or battery-powered radios, close the windows and shutters, and find shelter in basements, ready to wait out the storm like sensible folk. But for a group of thrill-seeking weather buffs, this is where the fun begins. Storm chasers study radar, track pressure zones and storm fronts like fantasy sports team owners, wait for the tell-tale signs of major meteorological events, and when the moment is ripe, they pounce! They load their trucks (some specially designed or reinforced to withstand high winds) with cameras, binoculars, weather-tracking devices, and safety equipment, and hit the road. Some do it to study the formation and effects of major weather events. Others hope to capture beautiful images and footage of powerful natural forces. And some simply do it for the thrill of experiencing extreme weather conditions up close. If you live in tornado country, we recommend that you take shelter when a storm strikes. You never know what might happen if you stay out in the elements. Suggested Sites... Storm Prediction Center - see what's coming your way. Flickr: Storm Chasers - a large pool of storm images. NOAA Tornado FAQ - what to do if a tornado is coming your way. Cyclone Jim - photos and video from a professional hurricane hunter. Extreme Instability - an amazing collection of storm images from a professional storm chaser.

Directory categories: Storm Chasing, Storm Chasing Tours, Storm Spotting, Thunderstorms, Tornadoes

Archived under: Fanatics, Outdoors, Photography, Science, Scientists, Storm Chasing, Storms, Tornadoes, Travel, Weather

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The original movie poster for "Star Wars." (Somehow we don't remember Carrie and Mark flashing that much skin.) On May 25, 1977, one George Walton Lucas, Jr., a little-known director of a couple of well-received but low-budget films, was relieved to see his peculiar adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress" released at last. The film was of course "Star Wars" -- now possibly the most famous film of all time, but it was a movie that almost never got made ... Initially titled "The Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Starkiller," "Star Wars" was rejected by almost every Hollywood studio as both too expensive and too risky a gamble. Only 20th Century Fox thought Lucas had any potential, since the young director's previous film, "American Graffiti," had been well received, grossing $21 million and being nominated for six Oscars. So Fox took a chance, and with perhaps a slightly nervous smile, gave Lucas a whole $8 million to film his crazy story about galactic empires, "hokey religions" and -- good grief! -- Death Stars (whatever they were). But Lucas's problems weren't over yet. Production was dogged by delays, and matters weren't helped by a film crew that refused to take such obvious nonsense seriously. Even Harrison Ford famously said, "George, you can type this s***, but you can't say it!". Costs rose to $11 million, and the cast became worried that Lucas seemed depressed and ill (and, indeed, he was diagnosed with hypertension). "Star Wars" (back then it wasn't "Episode IV: A New Hope," it was just plain old "Star Wars") had a nervous opening. The premiere was moved forward to the Wednesday before Memorial Day, so it wouldn't have to compete with other hotly anticipated summer movies such as, ahem, "Smokey and the Bandit." At the time, Fox gave the film little marketing support and "Star Wars" opened in just 32 theatres nationwide. The most famous of those theatres was Mann's Chinese in Hollywood, where the first-ever showing was scheduled for 10:30 in the morning (not exactly prime-time). However, on that day, something remarkable seemed to happen. What little pre-release press the film had gotten had fueled genuine excitement and tickets quickly began to sell out for all of the later showings. By nightfall, queues for tickets were snaking down the block and all the way out of the theatre’s parking lot. Things just got crazier from there. Despite its inauspicious beginnings, "Star Wars" would go on to win six Oscars (out of ten nominations) and become one of the most profitable films of all time, taking in $460 million in the United States and another $337 million around the world. (And, incidentally, it would help 20th Century Fox's stock price more than double within three weeks, making 1977 the company's most profitable year by far.) Not a bad for a nervous $11 million investment. Suggested Sites... Star Wars.com - official site for everything in the "Star Wars" universe. Lucasfilm, Ltd. - the movie empire that Luke Skywalker built. Filmsite: Box Office Top 100 - adjusted for inflation, "Star Wars" is still number two. You Tube: "Star Wars" Nerds - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog takes on the fans. Wikipedia: George Lucas - biography of one of the director and producer.

Directory categories: Star Wars, George Lucas, Graumans' Chinese Theatre, Science Fiction and Fantasy Movies

Archived under: 1970s, Anniversaries, Directors, Entertainment, Fanatics, Film Production, Filmmaking, Graumans Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, Movie History, Movie Theatres, Movies, Science Fiction, Star Wars

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HUAC at work in Hollywood, rooting out non-existent Communists Dissent is as American as apple pie. The Founding Fathers even enshrined the idea in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. But about 150 years after them (and 72 years ago this week), the United Stated Congress panicked, started seeing threats everywhere they looked, and established the House Un-American Activities Committee, also known as HUAC. The men who ran HUAC had an ... interesting idea of what constituted "un-Americanism." Committee member John Rankin (of Mississippi, it must be said) refused to investigate the Ku Klux Klan -- saying it was "an old American institution." Meanwhile, the Federal Theatre and such long-dead playwrights as Christopher Marlowe and Euripides were seen as imminent threats to the Republic and democracy. Interning American citizens of Japanese descent in prison camps was just fine, but almost any Communist anywhere had to be rooted out (the notable exception being committee member Samuel Dickstein, who was himself on the payroll of the Soviet Union as a spy). HUAC hit its height (or depth) in the 1940s and '50s, when members became convinced that Hollywood was not only a hotbed of Communist activity, but that writers, directors, and actors were sneaking subliminal messages into films and TV shows that were designed to convert Joe and Jane McDoakes into hardcore Reds. Thanks to HUAC's relentless hounding, the careers and lives of scores of innocent victims were ruined. When Senator Joseph McCarthy's similar smears were finally recognized for the flasehoods they were, HUAC's influence waned -- to the point where, in the '60s, Yippies Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman openly mocked the committee when subpoenaed to appear. HUAC was finally disbanded in 1975, but left a decades-long legacy of infectiveness, destroyed lives, and suicides. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: House Un-American Activities Committee - overview of HUAC and the men who ran it. Blacklist: A Different View of the 1947 HUAC Hearings - history of the Hollywood hearings. Third World Traveler: HUAC and the Rise of Anti-Communism - information about the committee and friendly and unfriendly witnesses. Humphrey Bogart: "I'm No Communist" - Bogie takes to the pages of Photoplay to explain that being anti-HUAC didn't make him anti-American. Seeing Red - the PBS News Hour marks the 50th anniversary of HUAC's Hollywood hearings and the havoc they caused.

Directory categories: House Un-American Activities Committee, Red Scare, Hollywood Blacklist, McCarthyism, Congressional Committees

Archived under: 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, Actors, American History, Censorship, Communism, Communists, Entertainment, Fanatics, Government, HUAC, Hollywood, Yippies

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Then there's always the old "truth in advertising" approach (Photo by Chris Harrison) There's no doubt that a name is an important thing. It's a symbol of what makes you unique, the way you identify yourself to the world, and (depending on who you ask) it has an enormous impact on how you're perceived by others. So it's no wonder that the subject of baby names is so wildly popular... and so fraught with peril. Because names are such a big deal, and the process of naming a tiny, helpless human being is so overwhelming, people have strong opinions about what makes a good name. We giggle at outlandish names like Ima Hogg or Shanda Lear or twins called Lemonjello and Orangejello. Many of us have, upon hearing an especially strange moniker, blurted out something insensitive like, "Who would name a child that? That's child abuse!" We all have our pet peeves about other people's name choices, and we certainly know what names we don't like. So when it comes to naming a baby, many of us agonize over it to the point of obsession. We pore over books and sites of impossibly long lists, and we batter search engines with a barrage of name-related queries. We dig deep into our family trees for useful names or previously unknown lineage. We fret over obscure name meanings, potential schoolyard taunts, unflattering rhymes, and accidentally funny initials. Once you exclude the minority of parents committed to family names and those who had names picked out before they'd gone on their first dates, there are three main camps of namers that we've observed: Top 40 Acts - From traditionalists sticking by steadfast classics like Elizabeth and Jacob to trendier parents riding a recent vogue (like the ongoing trend of last names as first names), these folks prefer names that are well-tested. Why dig deeper in the popular names list when there are so many good choices right at the top? Obscurists - Perhaps bored by their own common names, competing with wacky celebrity names, or trying to be the coolest hipster parents on the block, these folks consult lists of literary, historical, or (sometimes bizarrely specific) arcane monikers. Of course, when enough new parents latch onto a formerly esoteric name or look back to their grandparents' generation's names, we get a new boom of Olivias and Henrys for the Top 40 parents to enjoy. Creative Types - Not content with the existing field of choices, these folks want something utterly unique, crafting avant garde spellings or completely new names. Sometimes their handiwork has such mass appeal that they shoot up the charts: "Nevaeh" (yep, that's "heaven" spelled backwards) was virtually unknown before 2001 but now ranks 34 in the United States. Likewise the epidemic of "-adens" (Brayden/Jayden/Hayden/Kaden) and first-syllable-of-one-name-plus-"lyn" names (Kaylyn/Adalyn/Emmalyn/Jazlyn) had to start somewhere. Get these three groups into a discussion of baby names and even the most even-tempered and cheerful parents start to look like toddlers fighting over a shovel in a sandbox. The Creative Types and Obscurists think the Top 40 Acts are boring conformists; the Obscurists and Top 40s think the Creative Types are illiterate weirdos; and the Creatives and Top 40s think the Obscurists are pretentious hipsters. Everyone thinks that anyone who doesn't agree with them is dooming their children to lives of misery and mockery, and everyone is defensive of their own choices. Aren't baby names fun? If you're finding the process of naming your offspring so daunting that you're reconsidering having kids at all, remember that kids named Archibald Leach, Lucille LeSueur, Chaim Witz, Demetria Gene Guynes, and Elgin Baylor Lumpkin turned out all right -- as Cary Grant, Joan Crawford, Gene Simmons, Demi Moore, and Ginuwine -- after slight makeovers. Suggested Sites... Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names - their 2009 stats show that there will be no shortage of Isabellas, Sophias, and Jacobs in the class of 2027. For girls, the E and A sounds still hold great appeal, with Emmas and Ellas and Avas aplenty, and for boys the -aden names show no sign of abating. NameBerry - obsess over names here, with dozens of lists of names, blogs on name trends, and much more. NameTrends.net - graph groups of names and watch name trends over time. The Baby Name Wizard: Name Voyager - unbelievably addictive visual display of name popularity over time.

Directory categories: Baby Names, Parenting, Pregnancy and Birth, Names, Name Humor

Archived under: Babies, Fanatics, Humor, Kids, Names, Parenting, Words

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