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Star Wars: The Magic of Myth
- Dates: April 5, 2002 through July 7, 2002
- Collections: Decorative Arts
The Call to Adventure
In mythology, the hero's journey begins with the "call to adventure." Destiny's herald is usually someone or something fairly ordinary—a frog, a deer in the forest, or in this case a humble droid—that carries an important message for the one who is prepared to receive it.
As the Star Wars story begins, a battle in space rages between the evil powers of darkness (the Galactic Empire) and the forces of good (the Rebel Alliance). Princess Leia sends a plea for help to Jedi Knight Obi-Wan (Ben) Kenobi on the planet of Tatooine. The hand of Fate, in the form of Jawa traders, brings her message to Luke Skywalker, a young farmboy. When Luke sees the message hologram, he is drawn into a quest to rescue the Princess and ultimately to save the galaxy.
The Wise and Helpful Guide
A hero first must encounter "threshold guardians," beings who block the way to the adventure. Luke faces threshold guardians when he is attacked by the Tusken Raiders. He is rescued by Ben.
Often the inexperienced hero finds that he cannot proceed without supernatural aid, in the form of a "wise and helpful guide" who provides advice and amulets to further the quest. Ben serves as such a guide and gives Luke a special token—a lightsaber that once belonged to Luke's father.
Ben also interprets the Princess's message and tells Luke about the spiritual power known as the Force. Luke resists the call to adventure, but when he finds his home burned and his family killed, he joins Ben on the journey to Mos Eisley spaceport to obtain transportation to the planet Alderaan, the home of Princess Leia.
Into the Labyrinth
A labyrinth has always symbolized a difficult journey into the unknown, and in one way or another it is often incorporated into tales of the hero's journey. When the heroes arrive in the vicinity of Alderaan, they find that the planet has been destroyed by the Death Star, a gigantic Imperial space station. The Death Star is a technological labyrinth—a maze of hallways, passages, dead ends, and bottomless trenches. Like traditional knights, Han and Luke don armor to accomplish their first hero deed—the "princess rescue."
The Dark Road of Trials
Midway through the hero's journey comes a long and perilous path of trials, tests, and ordeals that bring important moments of illumination and understanding. Again and again along the way, monsters must be slain and barriers must be passed. Ultimately the hero must undertake the fearful journey of the descent into darkness.
Although the Death Star has been destroyed, the powers of darkness have not been conquered. The Empire has pursued the Rebels to the ice planet of Hoth, where the heroes face new dangers from predatory creatures and the harsh climate and are forced to flee during an Imperial attack.
Hero Deeds
The next step in the hero quest is a challenge to mortal combat. The heroes experienced an initial rite of passage in the Death Star and accomplished the "princess rescue." Now Leia leads Han and Luke to the Rebel base to plan an attack on the Death Star. Luke joins the fighter pilots of the Rebellion. As he puts on his uniform, he puts aside his youthful identity and assumes a new role—that of a heroic pilot, ready to sacrifice his life for his cause.
In the end good triumphs over evil, and the heroes are recognized for their deeds of valor. This moment is the end of one adventure, but it also represents the start of the next stage—further initiation on the "road of trials."
The Sacred Grove
The "sacred grove" is another mythic motif; it represents an enclosure where the hero is changed. Ancient peoples widely believed the tree to be infused with creative energy. Forests came to symbolize mystery and transformation, and they were home to sorcerers and enchanters.
When Luke leaves Hoth, he travels to the planet Dagobah to undergo training with the Jedi Master, Yoda. The hallmark of Dagobah is its large, oddly shaped trees.
Forests can also symbolize the unconscious mind, where there are secrets to be discovered and perhaps dark emotions or memories to be faced. In this forest Luke battles an image of Vader, prefiguring his combat with the Dark Lord later in the story.
The opening of the mind and heart to spiritual knowledge requires a sacrifice from the hero. At this difficult and dangerous place on the hero path, Han and Luke both reaffirm the meaning and importance of their lives by their willingness to sacrifice themselves.
The danger of illusion is symbolized by Cloud City above the planet Bespin. At first the city appears transcendent as it floats among the clouds, but it has a dark underside that becomes a crucible of pain and betrayal for the heroes. Vader follows the Falcon to Bespin and then lures Luke there to entrap him. Han is captured, put into hibernation in the carbon freeze chamber, and taken away by bounty hunter Boba Fett to be delivered to Han's former employer, Jabba the Hutt. Han's friend, Lando Calrissian, who betrayed Han to Vader, will undergo a life change and begin his own hero journey.
Into the Belly of the Beast
One particular mythic motif is the "swallowing up" of the hero by a large monster. This represents the entry into a mystical world where transformations occur, and the eventual escape represents a spiritual rebirth.
Han and Leia are pursued by Imperial Star Destroyers and TIE fighters as they leave Hoth. To escape, Han flies the Falcon into an asteroid "cave," which turns out to be the mouth of a huge space slug. Here Han and Leia at last open their hearts to love.
Vader also undergoes a change at this point, when he emerges from an egg-like meditation chamber. The Emperor appears to him through a holographic message, and Vader is revealed as a slave to the evil forces of the Empire, rather than as their master.
The Path to Atonement
The hero's journey sometimes includes a "father quest." After many trials and ordeals, the hero finds his father and becomes "at-one" with him. This process is called "atonement."
Luke has tried to follow in his father's footsteps as a heroic pilot and Jedi Knight. The dark, unknown side of his father—and of himself—is now unveiled as Luke confronts Vader in the dark byways of Cloud City. Vader reveals to Luke that he is his father. Luke realizes that he must sacrifice himself, rather than become a tool of evil like Vader.
Leia rescues Luke as he falls from the underside of Cloud City, and when Vader calls to Luke through the Force, Luke acknowledges him as "Father"—they have begun to move toward reconciliation. Luke has recognized the dark side of himself as part of his destiny, and Darth Vader has begun his own journey toward transformation.
The Hero's Return
The "hero's return" marks the end of the "road of trials." The hero must return from his adventures with the means to benefit his society. Luke comes home to Tatooine to rescue Han from Jabba the Hutt. This is not an easy transition for Luke; his new-found abilities as a Jedi Knight are doubted by friend and foe alike.
As the story continues, all the characters undergo changes: Han is resurrected from his carbonite tomb, Lando makes up for his betrayal of Han by helping to rescue him, and Leia assures the end of Jabba's reign of tyranny by destroying him herself.
The Shadow Rises
The heroes are not the only ones who can undergo change and rebirth. The forces of Evil can also recoup their power and grow with new strength. While the Rebels continue to struggle against Imperial tyranny, the Empire is constructing a new Death Star. A final confrontation must now take place. The forces of good, represented by Mon Mothma, leader of the Rebel Alliance, and those of evil, led by the Emperor, regroup to plan their strategies. Luke discovers that Leia, who has guided and supported him throughout his journey, is his twin sister. In many ways she represents his positive "anima," the personification of the feminine aspects of his psyche. He also finds that he must confront Vader again. Yet when they make mind-to-mind contact through the Force, Vader appears uncertain rather than aggressive—a sign that he is beginning a transformation.
The Enchanted Forest
The inhabitants of an "enchanted forest" can be both dangerous and helpful. The hero must know the right magic to evoke their protective powers. Luke wins the help of the Ewoks, the small furry inhabitants of the forest moon of Endor.
The Ewoks prove that heroes can come in any size or shape. They battle the high technology of the Empire with logs, stones, and vines. Their lush green environment and harmony with nature make a warm contrast to the cold, austere technology of the Empire. The Ewoks help the Rebels deactivate the Death Star's energy shield generator, so Lando can fly into the Death Star and bomb the reactor core.
Meanwhile, Luke realizes that he must set out on a different path from his friends to attempt to reach that part of Vader that is still his father and to turn him back from the dark side.
The Heart of Darkness
The heroes must at last enter the "heart of darkness," the fortress of Evil itself, to destroy its stronghold.
When Han and Leia finally destroy the energy shield generator, Lando and Wedge fly into the Death Star to fire on the reactor core at the center of the space station. While conflict rages around the Death Star, Luke struggles with the dark forces within the Death Star, where he is undergoing a spiritual conflict in his battle of wills with the Emperor.
The Final Victory
The destruction of evil is not always accomplished by sheer physical force or cunning. There is always hope that those who have given themselves to the forces of darkness can be redeemed. In his confrontation with Vader and the Emperor, Luke wins not through his warrior skills, but through an appeal to his father's heart. It is Vader who slays the Emperor to save his son.
At the climax of the Star Wars trilogy, Vader asks Luke to unmask him. Masks are frequently part of mythic ritual. They can strike fear into the hearts of enemies, summon ancestors, or invoke supernatural beings. Vader's mask is part of his demonic persona. The dropping of the mask represents Vader's release from the imprisonment of his role, a release that comes for him only at the moment of death. Yet this gesture is also an affirmation of life, the final opening up of father to son.
Journey's End
As the Rebels and Ewoks celebrate the destruction of the Death Star and their victory over the Empire, Luke burns his father's armor on a funeral pyre. The spirit of Luke's father, Anakin Skywalker, joins the spirits of Ben and Yoda. Luke has achieved the final triumph of the mythic hero's journey—he has brought back from his adventures the means for the regeneration of his society.
In the end humanity has triumphed over a repressive, monolithic system, and Luke, through his hero's journey, has opened his heart to compassion and succeeded in following a spiritual path between light and dark, good and evil.
The Threshold
The hero must leave his familiar life behind to begin a journey from childhood to adulthood and to a life-transformation. The Mos Eisley spaceport is Luke's threshold to the adventure. Here he encounters danger, but he also finds a heropartner in the form of Han Solo, a pirate and smuggler. Han's faithful first mate is the enormous Wookiee Chewbacca. Helpful animals often appear in myths and fairy tales, symbolizing the power of the hero's instinctive nature.
As they travel from Tatooine to Alderaan in the Millennium Falcon, Ben begins to train Luke in the ways of the Force.
A Forbidden Bond
Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker meet again on Corsucant. She has completed her term as Queen of Naboo and become a Senator of the Republic, where Anakin and his Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi are assigned to protect her. After two assassination attempts, Padmé must flee Corsucant with Anakin as her bodyguard. This journey is also a spiritual transition for the travelers as they learn to open their hearts to one another.
This spiritual, romantic love between two individuals was celebrated in medieval European myth as "Amour." In the twelfth century, Amour was considered a revolutionary concept, as marriages were arranged for social or political reasons and spirituality was associated exclusively with religion. Individuality was subject to strict limitations within the concepts of moral obligation and adherence to an ethical code.
Just so, Anakin and Padmé have dedicated themselves to duty and honor at the expense of their personal lives. Part of Anakin's Jedi training requires him to distance himself from relationships; Padmé is a leader of her people and resolutely focused on serving them. Yet Anakin's passion and Padmé's compassion break down these barriers and allow love to enter their hearts.
However, Amour also opens the heart to suffering, as illustrated in medieval myths such as those of Lancelot and Guinevere, Tristan and Isolde, and Romeo and Juliet. Like those lovers, Padmé and Anakin must pay a heavy price for choosing to value love over duty and social obligation.
The Ruler of Wisdom
Amidala is the young, elected ruler of Naboo. When her people are threatened by the Trade Federation, she leaves her home world to seek the assistance of the Galactic Senate. Her request is rejected, and Queen Amidala returns home to convince the native Gungan, who share the planet, to help her save her kingdom.
Nabu was the ancient Babylonian god of wisdom, so as Queen of Naboo, Amidala is the ruler of wisdom. Enthroned amidst her Councilors and handmaidens, she is a politician and statesman, using her clear perception to govern wisely.
However, Amidala's elaborate gowns, mask-like makeup, and serene dignity also give her a remote quality and conceal the other aspects of her character. When she pleads with the Gungan leaders, Amidala reveals that she sometimes disguises herself as Padmé, while one of her handmaidens pretends to be the Queen. As Padmé, Amidala is touchingly young and sometimes naïve, while at the same time she can be a young woman of decisive action, as shown when she creates and executes the plan to retake Naboo.
In these abilities to hide in plain sight, project an illusion of herself, and yet reveal her true nature as well, Amidala embodies the mystical force of maya. This is the power both to conceal and reveal truth at the same time and is particularly associated with mythic goddesses.
The Servant of Darkness
The treacherous Sith lord sends his apprentice Darth Maul to find Queen Amidala when she escapes the Trade Federation blockade surrounding Naboo. Darth Maul unsuccessfully attacks Jedi knight Qui-Gon as the Queen's ship leaves Tatooine, and later the two meet in combat during the battle for Naboo. Qui-Gon is killed by Darth Maul, who in turn is destroyed by Obi-Won.
While the conflict appears to center around Queen Amidala, it is really part of the ongoing battle between two rival forces in the cosmos, the spirit of light and the spirit of darkness. The ritualized combat between these two powers is a tradition that dates back to the earliest mythic stories. In the best-known variant, reflected in the Star Wars saga, the powers of darkness rebel against the established order, and humanity must take sides in the struggle. Qui-Gon is the representative of goodness and compassion, while Darth Maul is symbolic of violent destruction and the dark forces of evil. Death and evil are closely related in mythology, and Mal is the death-demon, in the service of a dark tyrant who will conquer the galaxy and drain its life energy. With the mutual destruction of Qui-Gon and Darth Maul, the battle is inconclusive and will be engaged again. The Sith lord will find another apprentice; the heroes will find their greatest triumph in turning death from a defeat into a victory and reasserting the forces of light.
An Epic Saga
Star Wars follows the heroic journeys of several characters: Luke, Han, Leia, and even Darth Vader. At the end of Return of the Jedi, Vader shows that he too is a hero when he saves Luke and destroys the Emperor. The beginning of Vader's hero's journey is revealed in The Phantom Menace, when Queen Amidala arrives on the planet Tatooine, and a young Anakin Skywalker, the future Darth Vader, receives his own call to adventure. During the Podrace and his first efforts to save Amidala and her people, Anakin proves himself through his deeds. The early part of his journey begins full of hope and promise, but he has the potential to follow the dark side of the Force.
Star Wars is ultimately a story of a father, mother, son, and daughter, and thus follows the pattern of an epic saga, a mythic tale that spans the generations. The choices, actions, and misfortunes of the parents create a destiny that their children must later fulfill. Events in the lives of the parents are often echoed in those of the children, and so Anakin's and Luke's stories begin in the same way, with a damsel in distress and a call to action.
Myths and Heroes
Every culture has heroes and heroines who have been immortalized in myth and art. Myth can mean "fiction," but some myths are based on real people and events. Actual heroic individuals can become both famous and mythical, sometimes because their deeds and personal qualities represent the ideals of their society.
Many of the works of art displayed in this gallery from the Brooklyn Museum of Art's permanent collections present various cultures' interpretations of the heroic journey. This mythic formula calls for an exceptional individual, mortal or divine, to set out on a great and difficult adventure. Some scholars believe that this story pattern expresses essential universal themes and symbols of human life, including the challenges that confront each of us in the journey from birth to death.
Exemplifying various heroic traditions, the objects in this gallery range in date from antiquity to the late twentieth century. Recently, newer media, such as motion pictures and television, have come to reflect the mythic pattern of the heroic journey, especially in westerns, science fiction, and fantasy. The Star Wars films are a modern interpretation of the myth of the hero that is known to a wide audience.
Star Wars and the Myth of the Hero
A major basis for the Star Wars films is the myth or journey of the hero, which involves the many themes and stages of a heroic quest. The works of art in this gallery, from the Brooklyn Museum of Art's permanent collections, show how related traditions of the hero have been expressed in art throughout history and in many different cultures.
The Star Wars story begins with a hero-in-the-making, Luke Skywalker, responding to a call to adventure and setting out on a quest. During his journey, Luke, like many other heroes in world history, acquires allies and helpers, and even a special weapon—in Luke's case, the Jedi lightsaber from his mentor Obi Wan Kenobi. As Luke continues his journey, he undergoes a series of tests and ordeals, learning and maturing all the while. As in many versions of the myth of the hero, during some of these tests he endures what may be considered a symbolic death, a descent into the Underworld, and a rebirth—transformations also experienced by some of the heroes and heroines depicted in this gallery.
Luke is only one of the heroes in the Star Wars films, which also recount the heroic exploits of Princess Leia and Han Solo. Even Darth Vader, who is finally returned from evil to good, is a type of hero, a redeemed villain with many historical precedents.
The Hero Defeats the Beast
For centuries, in the folklore of many cultures, the dragon has represented the ultimate evil that the hero must overcome. In Greek mythology, Jason faces a dragon that is symbolic of dangerous power, while in Christian tradition, Saint George battles Lucifer in the form of the dragon.
The dragon's physical characteristics vary from culture to culture, with features drawn from a variety of animals. The evil that it represents can take the form of an entirely different creature altogether, as in the fantastic beasts that threaten the heroes of Star Wars. An unarmed Luke Skywalker vanquishes the horrific, reptilian "rancor" in Jabba the Hutt's dungeon (see above). The semidivine Greek mythological hero Hercules defeated a number of strange and powerful creatures in his twelve labors, or tasks.
Such bravery and strength in facing and ultimately defeating these beasts demonstrates the heroes' triumph over the forces of darkness and exemplifies the supreme heroic feat.
Like their male counterparts, heroines embark on dangerous quests in an effort to triumph over evil. They may be warriors, leaders, goddesses, or humble mortals with an exceptional gift and calling, like the young French soldier Joan of Arc, or the American Harriet Tubman, who helped hundreds of slaves to escape north on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War.
In most societies there are traditionally more legends about male heroic warriors, but brave females, mortal and mythic—such as the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, the Greek beauty Psyche, the curious Dorothy of The Wizard of Oz, and the adventurous Alice of Alice in Wonderland—demonstrate that women have also succeeded in the heroic journey. As women's roles in the world have expanded, heroines in more modern popular tales of fantasy and science fiction, such as Princess Leia and Queen Amidala of Star Wars, have become more common as leaders and warriors.
Mortal and Mythical Heroes
In most cultures throughout history, actual individuals have been raised to heroic status because of their deeds or positions. Political leaders or warriors, for example, have been venerated during times of battle. People have also elevated such heroes to mythical status by exaggerating their deeds or comparing them to other heroic individuals. Artistic representations have played a substantial role in enhancing a hero's standing through costume and gesture, as well as through the awed expressions of other individuals depicted.
In some cultures and civilizations, great rulers like the famous ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra have even been revered as divine. In others, where people have not customarily worshiped heads of state, exceptional leaders have sometimes become great, semimythical heroes, as is demonstrated by some of the nearby objects relating to George Washington.
Steeds, Helpers, and Weapons
Heroes are often closely linked to animals, machines, and other conveyances that carry them and aid them in their heroic quests—for example, Luke Skywalker's X-wing Starfighter in Star Wars (see below). Sometimes the animals are fictional, such as the winged horse Pegasus, who helped the ancient Greeks fight the Amazons. But even a real steed could develop into a mythical creature. Alexander the Great's war horse, Bucephalus, after whom the conqueror named a city, was seen as the legendary ancestor of stallions in various lands.
In many myths, heroes are aided in their quests by guides, companions, or protectors. Through these helpers or other means, the heroes often acquire important weapons that aid them in their ordeals. These are often swords, which, as in the legendary tales of King Arthur, can be symbols of legitimate leadership as well as weapons of magical power. In Star Wars, Luke's lightsaber—which once belonged to his father—is both a symbol of this hero's inheritance as a Jedi and a magically powerful weapon.
The Tragic Hero
Not all men and women who embark on the path to heroism succeed. And some who display heroic behavior nevertheless fail as heroes, eventually doing evil rather than good. Such tragic heroes may be corrupted by wicked influences around them, but the cause of their failure is more often their own weakness. A tragic figure may ultimately be saved from evil, as achieved by Darth Vader when he redeems himself by sacrifice at the end of his life in Star Wars.
One precedent for Darth Vader is the legendary Dr. Faust, a scholar and magician who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for absolute knowledge and power. Faust, who is the subject of an image displayed nearby, was a forerunner of the destructive scientist, a type known from novels such as Frankenstein. Dr. Frankenstein's partly man-made creation, the "Frankenstein Monster," can also be seen as a prototype for Darth Vader.


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Customer Favorite
Stretchy knickers with crochet and ruffle bottom trimming. Bottom ruffled layer is mesh. Top waist band folds over. Perfect to wear underneath your mini dresses and tunic tops.
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*By Nightcap
*Body - 96% Pima Cotton, 4% Lycra
*Trimming - 100% Cotton
Measurements for Size Small:
Waist (all around): 25"
Rise: 7 1/2"
Inseam: 7 1/2"
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Explore the Entrepreneurship.org Resource Center to find resources. Designed with entrepreneurs in mind, our resource center allows you to find materials to grow great ideas.
In a matter of weeks colleges and universities across the country will be teeming with students. A new school year will bring the excitement of new discovery, opportunities to meet new people, and the anticipation of learning. On these campuses students will also find a vast array of opportunities to explore entrepreneurship.
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Thiebaud paints with thick brilliant oil color and strong shadow shapes against a white ground. Geometry plays a big part in his paintings: spheres, cubes, triangles (as it does in most of the top Paris pastry chefs creations, but more about that later...)
Cezanne said, if you can draw a cube, a sphere, a pyramid...you can draw anything. And desserts tend to take the form of strong abstract geometric shapes more than steaks, chops or mashed potatos...or broccoli.
Since I love painting round things anyway, cups, saucers etc., I picked ice cream "dixie" cups this time. Not really a big hardship :)
Dixie Couple, watercolor, 10 1/2 x 7 1/2"
I thought I'd stick with green tea flavor, since there's a nice Japanese store in the neighborhood, Family Market on 29-15 Broadway.
Melting Matcha, watercolor, 12 x 10"
They melted really fast in this heat, so I had to eat them quickly. Spoiled food and all that..Course in my rush, I forgot to mix up that special yellowy-greyish green tea color first :(


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Park and Go Garage
Our Park and Go Garage by Hape is the road to fun! Cars can race around the lot, stop for gas, and meet up with the helicopter. An elevator in the center transports cars or passengers up and down. Cars can refuel at the "gas station" by plugging in the wooden peg pumps into the cars included. Wood for this toy comes from an FSC-managed forest accented with water-based paint and is made to meet the strictest of safety standards. Hape toys are designed to enhance developmental skills and are intended to last generations.
- Recommended For Children Ages 3 Years And Older
- Measures 18.9 x 11.8 x 14.7 inches
- Includes Garage and 3 Cars
- Lovingly Designed By Our Friends At Hape
- Made in China


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Who to blame for the price at the pump? Tough to say
The price of gas is determined by a litany of complex and shifting factors (Brent derivatives, anyone?), few of which you'll hear mentioned in :30-second political ads. But politicians are interested less in cause, more in effect.
The effect in this case: your anger. Full Story »


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SPACE pirate and alien life forms could soon be seen zooming around the Lake District – thanks to a new million dollar movie.
Old Hutton writer and director Rick McLeod has teamed up with a group of American producers to make a science fiction film based on cult television series Firefly.
The US consortium, one of whom has done sound-tracks for Mr McLeod in the past, originally began filming experimental sequences in county – but then the idea turned into a feature-length film.
Although $1 million is a relatively small budget for a movie, Mr McLeod said he was 'shocked' when the group gave the figure.
"Last year was a good one for us – we're still reeling from that – so when they approached me my first question was 'Are you serious?'
"It's not easy to make films in Cumbria, especially with the UK Film Council gone. When we had Leslie Grantham here, he was unpaid because he loved the script.
"It's great to know that our hard work is starting to pay off."
The film, called Lost Transmission, follows the lonely adventure of Blake, captain of a mining ship, with no-one but his computer to talk to after war breaks out on Earth. But he leaves the planet to find life on other worlds.
Filming is expected to start in early 2012, and will be split between Cumbria and America.
CGI effects are already being worked on by the studio, which created a castle in the middle of Windermere in a previous flick.
Before filming begins in earnest, Mr McLeod is shooting a short promotional video with action sequences in Old Hutton.
And he is looking for '23rd century pirates' to star as extras in a fight scene on Sunday, to be led by a trained fight choreographer.
"We're seeking punks, goths and heavy rockers. Long or short hair, tattoos and piercings are a bonus but not essential. The more outrageous the look the better," said Mr McLeod.
Filming will last for between two and three hours and anyone interested can email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Participants are requested to send a head shot with their email.
Discussions with actors to play the role of Blake are still going on.
BBC Radio 1 DJ's Chris Moyles and Greg James are packing their bags early and taking their shows to Carlisle a week before Radio 1's Big Weekend.
The pair will broadcast their shows live from Cumbria from Monday (May 9) to Friday (May 13) when they arrive a week ahead of the main event. In addition to their daily shows, Chris, Greg and their teams will be getting out and about in the city and surrounding areas, meeting the residents and celebrating all that Carlisle has to offer.
The pair will immerse themselves in the local community for a whole week, and they also plan to meet the city's students in a Q&A session during the week.
Chris Moyles says: "The Big Weekend is always the highlight of my year and I'm so excited that we get to go up to Carlisle for a whole week beforehand and settle in before everyone else arrives. I'm hoping the good people of Carlisle are going to show us a good time!''
Greg James adds: "I'm really looking forward to this year's Big Weekend and to bring my show live from Carlisle. Chris and I will be out and about meeting the locals during the week and I'm hoping we can experience the best of the city!"
BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend is the UK's biggest free ticketed festival and 40,000 lucky music fans will be able to enjoy performances across four stages at Carlisle Airfield where the event is taking place – the Main Stage; the In New Music We Trust Stage; the Outdoor Stage and the BBC Introducing Stage. This year's artists include, Lady Gaga, Foo Fighters, The Black Eyed Peas, Tinie Tempah and Ellie Goulding.
A truly multiplatform experience, Radio 1's Big Weekend will be broadcast on Radio 1, with a major interactive presence online and many live performances available to watch on demand. There will be highlights on BBC Three and extended performances can be seen via BBC Red Button on digital TV during the weekend.


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Canadean's, Specialist Retailers in Saudi Arabia: Databook to 2017 contains detailed historic and forecast retail sales values, segmented at a channel level. The report takes into account macroeconomic indicators and industry-specific drivers to provide data that helps companies in the Retailing industry better understand the changes in their environment, seize opportunities and formulate crucial business strategies.
This report is the result of Canadean's extensive market research covering the Specialist Retailers market in Saudi Arabia. It provides detailed historic and forecast sales value, segmented at market and channel level. Specialist Retailers in Saudi Arabia: Databook to 2017 provides a top-level overview and detailed channel insight into the operating environment of the retail industry in Saudi Arabia, making it an essential tool for
Author:Bill Thompsone-mailWeb: www.fastmr.comPhone: 18008448156


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Dublin City University has conferred an honorary degree upon Dr. John E Kelly III, Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research. Dr. Kelly, who has worked for IBM for 43 years, today directs the worldwide operations of IBM Research and its approximately 3000 employees, helping to guide the company's overall technical strategy.
Read the full story, here.


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Jul 8, 2008
Taking the NXT hiking... as an altimeter
The HALE mission is rapidly approaching, and one of the things I wanted to do on my payload was fly a good pressure sensor. A really good one, with possible vertical resolution in the range of a meter or better. After some discussion with the folks over at Hitechnic, they were able to put together a prototype for me to fly with very high resolution. But how to test it? First, I made a small vacuum chamber from a Tupperware bowl, aquarium supplies, and a large-bore syringe, testing it out under hot sun & in my freezer (my wife did look at me a little funny...). It worked rather well, but I wanted more. Since ultimately the HALE pressure data would be useful to determine altitude, I decided to test the pressure sensor by taking it hiking. First was Picacho Peak in the Dale Ball trails just outside of Santa Fe, NM. It worked wonderfully here, logging the pressure & temperature for over 2.5 hours, and allowing me to reconstruct a very accurate profile of my hike. But for HALE, I'd need more - more calibration points, & more data storage. So with the help of some friends on NXTasy, I developed an NXT-G data compression scheme & took the NXT to Rocky Mountain National Park. Ultimately the NXT could be toggled between two logging speeds, and a touch sensor allowed the user to input "notes", a brief numeric code that would be time-stamped to a record to notate important places during the hike. This way, I'd be able to calibrate the sensor at known elevations (ones much higher than those available to me in Indiana) under "field conditions"... and have a lot of fun generating profiles of my hikes to boot. Think of it as the LEGO geek's answer to commercial altimeters (I had one of those along as well, for calibration).
This worked out better than I could have hoped. Not only was I able to capture a good elevation profile (as good as the commercial units, actually), but I could do it at a far higher time resolution (on the order of a few seconds) over the entire day, and under my control, adding notes when I wanted (such as at important trail junctions, on top of peaks, or to mark rest breaks, etc.). The result is a gallery of trail profiles (altitude vs. time - your speed may differ) for a number popular trails in the Rocky Mountains, like Twin Sisters peak, Flattop, and up to 12,700' on Hallett Peak (as well as some off-trail bushwhacking adventures my wife had some strong words with me about). You could see when I rested, or what my ascent rate was (at times around 1,400' per hour, not bad for me, a "lowlander", at that elevation). I could record the profiles of the car drives, and even the airline flights as well. The unit also recorded the sensor temperature, so I had a rough record of what the temperature was at each step in my hike as well. Ultimately the sensor was precise enough that I could watch it change even as I went up the steps in the hotel (or if I threw the unit high in the air), & on the trail it showed every hill and minor rock outcrop I climbed.
Now admittedly I did this with a very special, high-resolution sensor, and it took some calibration on my part as well. But it's a nifty example of taking the NXT out of the world of toys and into environments & situations that LEGO almost certainly never intended it (& I don't recommend this for survival situations - the right gear for the right job!). In a future post, I'll review some of the existing commercial pressure sensors out there to determine how well they work (I have two that I purchased from Vernier and one from Mindsensors). Even the battery life surprised me - I used Lithium E2's for their light weight and long lifetimes, and was not disappointed, with the unit logging for more than 54 hours worth of run-time before the batteries finally died on the trip home... and even then, the NXT preserved the data.
Not bad for a toy :).
Brickshelf Gallery of RMNP graphs
Brian "now, if Long's Peak would just clear of snow..." Davis
5 comments:
- Damien Kee said...
Fantastic work Brian!
- Jul 8, 2008, 6:40:00 AM
It's posts like this that keep nxtstep in my web browser Favorite list. This blog is the best nxt resource out there for ideas and inspiration!!! Keep it up!!!
- Jul 8, 2008, 10:30:00 AM
- BlueToothKiwi said...
Yeap - I agree with Keith above...
I been looking forward to reading about this since you got back from your holidays - and as ever, you never let anyone down! Great work and a good write up - Well done.
- Jul 8, 2008, 12:00:00 PM
- Brian Davis said...
I'm happy you all enjoyed it so much. The results were much better than I hoped... and yet the coding that went on "behind the scenes" was an amazing adventure that is difficult to blog about properly. The thread on NXTasy gives you a flavor of the process, and I hope you enjoy the resulting graphs.
- Jul 8, 2008, 12:39:00 PM
- Tim said...
I am working on rebuilding my school in LeoCAD, and plan to use my two NXTs, RCX, and/or spybot to build a rough map of the elevations in my school. Could you send me the formulas and parts used in your altimeter? Will anyone notice the NXT tracking my every move and mapping the school? Can you please ignore the second question seeing how I'm going to program my robot and will know what it records?
My email is email@example.com
- May 25, 2009, 1:10:00 AM


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Collections Browse Hotel Diana from Grafik des Kapitalistischen Realismus (Graphics of Capitalist Realism) portfolio
- Image
- Courtesy Walker Art Center
- Rights
- Copyright retained by the artist
All content including images, text documents, audio, video, and interactive media published on the Walker web site (walkerart.org) is for noncommercial, educational and/or personal use only. Any commercial use or republication is strictly prohibited. Copying, redistribution, or exploitation for personal or corporate gain is not permitted.
To obtain permission, or for information on slides and reproductions, please contact Loren Smith, Assistant Registrar at 612.375.7673 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
- Title
- Hotel Diana from Grafik des Kapitalistischen Realismus (Graphics of Capitalist Realism) portfolio
- Artist
- Gerhard Richter
- Date
- 1968
- Dimensions
- sheet 23.3125 × 33 × inches
- Materials
- lithograph on paper
- Location
- On view at the Walker Art Center, Gallery 1
Object Details
- Type
- Prints (Edition Prints/Proofs)
- Accession Number
- 2011.84.5
- Edition
- 79/80
- Inscriptions
- in pencil vertically along right edge to image TR "Richter 67"; in pencil vertically along right edge to image BR "79/80"
- Physical Description
- A black and white image of Sigmar Polke and Gerhard Richter each in a twin bed. In black text below image "Samstag, 14. Okt. 1967, zwischen 11 u. 12 Uhr (Antwerpen, Hotel Diana, rechts Polke, links Richter), [Saturday, Oct.14, 1967, between 11 and 12 o'clock (Antwerp, Hotel Diana; right Polke, left Richter)"
- Printer
- Birkle + Thomer + Co., Berlin
- Credit Line
- McKnight Acquisition Fund, 2011
- Object Copyright
- Copyright retained by the artist


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Digital version of the Soviet index to journals, covering more than 1,700 publications in the fields of the humanities, natural sciences, and the social sciences for the period from 1956 to 1975. Letopis' Zhurnal'nykh Statei provides access to the periodical literature of an essential time in modern Russian history, beginning with the period of the Khrushchev "Thaw" following the 20th CPSU Congress and continuing through the first half of the so-called Brezhnev "Period of Stagnation". The site was created by Indiana University.
Guest curated by graduate student Katie Wills
Stories from people who were children during World War II and the objects in this exhibit animate the past and inform us of a time when war took over daily life. "Retrospect is a very interesting thing," says Ruthie Kallnder. "At the time I don't recall any of the information we got as being propaganda," but the government tried to influence children to make "necessary" sacrifices. Propagandists made the war a battle between good and evil, democracy and fascism. They also asked children to share in the war effort. In response, many children took on more responsibilities. Ruthie explains that boys and girls felt "if that's what it was going to take" to win they "were willing to do it." The memories of the people in this exhibit and their wartime actions show the power of propaganda's messages and its lasting affect on their lives. Propaganda posters, children's books, and classroom assignments demonstrate how propagandists reached children and involved them in the national war effort.
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Need to relax before your next exam? Try Amos Music Library's playlist.
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Links: Australian Glass and the Pacific Northwest at Museum of Glass
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It's been 5 years since the outbreak that wiped out 85% of the world's population, but the war between Re-Animates (Re-Ans) and Humans wages on. Most of the major cities are still uninhabitable. Within the few surviving cities, the Re-Ans have been segregated into "zones" and are policed by the R-Division of the QUASI S.W.A.T. Unit who hunt to re-kill the Re-Ans in the hope of quelling a second outbreak.
Visit the official site
Cast: Jesse Garcia, Daniella Alonso, Bruce Payne, Scott Adkins, Roger Cross
Produced by:
Directed by: Valeri Milev
Written by: Michael Hurst
Running time: min
Opens: Jan 28, 2011 Limited


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Introduction Things to do
Muharraq is famed for its traditional souq and is adjacent to the manmade Amwaj Islands, known for its beaches and relaxation. To give guests the opportunity to explore further afield, the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle bus service to the Manama Souk and Seef area.
While staying in Bahrain, guests can also visit the Bahrain National Museum with its ancient archaeological artefacts or Arad Fort, a magnificent 15th century fortified castle which was built before the Portuguese invasion of Bahrain. The annual Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix is a highlight for motorsport fans.
The archipelago is also home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Qal'at al-Bahrain, the ancient harbour and capital of Dilmun. In 2012 UNESCO also assigned world heritage status to Bahrain's pearling history, highlighting a collection of buildings in Muharraq, among others.


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7 Vintage-Inspired Engagement Rings
Leigh Jay NachtThis dreamy, replicated art deco ring by Leigh Jay Nacht has an old European center cut diamond and antique finish.
ArtCarvedAn ArtCarved round center stone diamond surrounded by a diamond enhanced band has an heirloom quality that we are swooning over!
TacoriThis Tacori platinum engagement ring features a diamond crescent detail and a sweetheart carriage that happens to be a favorite for Rachel Zoe's Platinum Jewelry Must-Haves.
Peter StormThe lovely profile of this ring is ultra feminine and sweet. The three gratitude diamonds are an elegant touch for this vintage-inspired stunner by Peter Storm.
Parade DesignMilgrain etched scrolls curl up the side of this art deco band to highlight a brilliant-cut diamond that is anything but ordinary. Engagement ring from Parade Design.
Blue NileCrafted with rose gold, a pave-set Blue Nile diamond band compliments a sparkling center diamond. A hint of rose gold is a nice touch for any vintage-inspired engagement ring.
ParleA pear blue sapphire engagement ring has a royalty quality that is romantic and glamorous. Remember Kate Middleton's vintage sapphire? See more from Parle .
Talk about eye candy. These vintage-inspired engagement rings will make any girl say "Yes!" Art deco details and heirloom qualities such as rose gold and unique architecture make these beauties stand out among the crowds.
We want to see your rings! Take a photo of your vintage-inspired ring with Instagram and tag @theknot #vintage, or tweet me @heatherhallm!
> We Love Colorful Rings! See colored diamonds here
> 7 Emerald Cut Engagement Rings That Will Make You Drool


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Don't Fear the "T" Word
You don't have to be a genius to know the basics of running for office: Look sharp, love America, take in big money, and—most important—promise you won't raise taxes. Thanks to Grover Norquist and his band of anti-tax crusaders, raising taxes has come to seem akin to murdering puppies and loving terrorists. Even during the worst fiscal crisis in 80 years, if you're a state lawmaker, you must cut core government programs without ever mentioning the "T" word. And if, God forbid, you decide to raise taxes anyhow, do everything you can to distract people from the effort. Openly calling for citizens to pay more to their government is nothing short of political suicide.
By this conventional wisdom, it may seem like Jerry Brown has a death wish. After years of mounting debt and drastic cuts to state services, California's Democratic governor has proposed raising the state sales tax along with income taxes for wealthy residents. Despite its liberal reputation, California is hardly an easy place to pass a tax hike; to raise taxes, state law requires a two-thirds vote in the legislature or a successful public initiative. Brown has opted for the initiative process, and his statewide campaign lays out the stakes: Failure to pass his plan in November will trigger automatic cuts to education spending. Californians are getting the message. According to a Public Policy Institute of California survey, 68 percent of likely voters support Brown's plan—including 53 percent of Republicans.
Brown's loud-and-proud tax plan is a bracing rebuke to the political norm. "The right wing has been so successful at demonizing taxes over the past three decades that it's hard for there to be the climate for an honest discussion," says Jon Shure of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. But state lawmakers are raising taxes. According to the center, between October 2008 and September 2009—the first year of the recession—taxes went up in 33 states. By and large, the hikes were modest and had to be combined with spending cuts, but they still helped save jobs and preserve essential services. "Despite all the rhetoric," Shure says, "tax increases are in fact a major part of dealing with the impact of the recession and make very, very good fiscal sense."
You wouldn't know it, though, from listening to most Democratic officials. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo campaigned on a promise of "no new taxes, period." Even when he struck a deal last December to raise income taxes on the wealthy to close the state's budget gap, he continued to insist, "I am against higher taxes." When Democrats shy away from championing a vision of fair taxation, it gives conservatives the upper hand, rhetorically and politically.
For instance, as the 2008 financial crisis hit New Jersey, Democrats raised income taxes on those making more than $400,000, as well as sin taxes—on alcohol, cigarettes, lottery winnings. But they didn't make a strong case for the necessity of the taxes and passed them on a temporary basis. When Governor Chris Christie took office in 2010, he refused to renew the increases, and now, as the state faces another shortfall, he's pushing for cuts disproportionately benefiting the wealthy. Democrats are fighting back but avoiding the "T" word as they do—talking instead about the need "to restore the surcharge differential on those who earn $1 million or more."
By contrast, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has been straightforward about raising taxes to maintain the state's schools and services, which are among the nation's best. In 2007, he combined tax increases with budget cuts to address structural deficits. O'Malley got re-elected in 2010—a bad year for other Democrats—by a 14-point margin. This year, even as he positions himself for a possible presidential bid in 2016, O'Malley is pushing a gas-tax increase and an income-tax hike on the wealthy. "Asking our fellow citizens to do more will not be popular," O'Malley said in his 2012 State of the State address. "But without anger, fear, or meanness, let's ask one another: How much less do we think would be good for our children's future?"
In 2012, Democrats have an opportunity to reframe the tax debate, as Brown and O'Malley have done. Public anger has risen over economic inequality. Most states are suffering from cuts to popular institutions—schools, firehouses, parks. Smart politicians can sell tax increases as fair and prudent. In the process, they can also highlight the extremism of Republicans who have sworn to never raise taxes, no matter the circumstances. Advocating a better tax policy needn't be political suicide. In fact, the bigger political risk comes from failing to do so.
Thu, 2012-03-15 16:15
Abby - I guess you didn't look at California's fundamentals. Their tax revenue FELL by 22% in February and they have shed 130,000 jobs in the last 12 months, the same number of jobs that Texas has added. The state is already considered one of the worst states in the union to start a business.
As far as Maryland goes, it has a large poor population who don't pay taxes. You can win alot of elections in places like Maryland promising freebies to people accustomed to freebies.
But, the raise taxes first strategy won't work in places where people like to be productive and start businesses.
And why is it that places like California and Illinois have the largest current account deficits AND largest unfunded pensions when they ALSO have among the highest tax rates? Could it be that the Laffer curve is real?
Abby - I guess you didn't look at California's fundamentals. Their tax revenue FELL by 22% in February and they have shed 130,000 jobs in the last 12 months, the same number of jobs that Texas has added. The state is already considered one of the worst states in the union to start a business.
As far as Maryland goes, it has a large poor population who don't pay taxes. You can win alot of elections in places like Maryland promising freebies to people accustomed to freebies.
But, the raise taxes first strategy won't work in places where people like to be productive and start businesses.
And why is it that places like California and Illinois have the largest current account deficits AND largest unfunded pensions when they ALSO have among the highest tax rates? Could it be that the Laffer curve is real?
Thu, 2012-03-15 16:48
In general, voters don't mind taxes as long as they are getting something for it. In the case of California, they are getting $300K retirement packages for state workers who were making <$100K when they were on the job. Some people object to that. Some people don't . I'm constantly amazed when Progressives complain about people not wanting to pay taxes when people are basically saying they don't want the garbage progressives are offering. I look at my own town budget and get annoyed. Parents complain that the town isn't supporting education, when if they looked at the actual numbers in one school our personnel budget goes to 6 teachers, 4 teachers aides, 1 principle, and 3 assistant principals. We do not need one assistant principal for every 2 teachers! And NO - I don't care what the superintendent in his professional capacity recommends - it's still stupid. California like many parts of the country is debating the least evil approach - increasing taxes will allow for a momentary continuation of things like parks and education, but that money will very shortly be siphoned off into "progressive" policies like hugely inflated public union pensions and hopelessly naive schemes that will increase welfare dependency.
Thu, 2012-03-15 17:57
Maybe this tax raising spree might account for the fact that Republicans took 9 ( more?) state houses in 2010? California is hemorrhaging population. New York lost thousands of millionaires when they passed the " millionaires' tax" - which started at income $200,000. I believe Maryland has a majority minority population. Illinois is losing businesses daily. By all means, tell Dems to campaign on raising taxes. It can only go well for you, no?
Thu, 2012-03-15 18:17
Personally, I can't wait for California to complete its progressive sweep of politics in this state. Democrats currently own every state-wide elected office, a veto-proof majority in the Senate, and are only three Assembly seats from veto-proof status there. Once we're past November, they will complete and total power to pass any law, raise old taxes, create new taxes, and write regulations and environmental laws to their hearts content. The sight and sound of this once great state debt-detonating into a billion sparkly shards will be one for the ageless books. And without a single Republican to blame. Priceless.
Thu, 2012-03-15 19:13
Thu, 2012-03-15 19:56
Thu, 2012-03-15 22:30
"Openly calling for citizens to pay more to their government is nothing short of political suicide."
As well it should be.
In a down economy, with only limited money to go around, which is more important? That people actually get to keep the money they've worked for? Or throngs of government bureaucrats go on getting over-paid for making life more difficult for taxpayers?
Thu, 2012-03-15 23:15
I guess JohnBoy didn't bother to look at California's information very closely.
California's income tax receipts were down in February because more people filed early so the state sent out more returns in February 2012 than they did in 2011. The sales tax receipts were down because the rates were lower; I know that rather hurts your Laffer Curve idea, but it happens to be true.
And I don't know where you got the information that CA had lost jobs over the past year; that's false. California GAINED 130,000 jobs year over year. The unemployment rate, while still unacceptably high, has decreased by 1.5 percentage points from the peak, which is one of the strongest rebounds in employment in the country.
Thu, 2012-03-15 23:27
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Feb 6, 2008
Fueling robot
In Netherlands (a country that seems particularly amenable to technical innovations - the woman on the image is the Dutch Secretary of Economy), the first fueling robot of the world in practical use has been introduced on some gasoline stations, called TankPitstop.
In Europe, where self-service on gasoline stations is a rule, drivers might not be unwilling to get their car fueled by a machine (though fast-paced ones will prefer to remain at performing it by their own, considering the rather easy-going pace of the fueling robot).
The video is nice - however, I wonder how many cars got scratched before that worked reliably. ;-)
Not a NXT robot, but maybe an inspiration for one that can fuel some of the new LEGO® TECHNIC trucks...
8 comments:
- Robotica said...
I wonder how does this machine know were and how to open my gas inlet, and then what fuel to fill it with?
All cars work differently, or does this robot only work with a BWM 5 series?
I would rather see a person filling my fuel, or do it myself fast and correct.
- Feb 6, 2008, 10:07:00 PM
- Christopher R. Smith (Littlehorn) said...
Resistance to new technologies creates the push to polish the problems.
I would be more than happy to have my vehicle filled by a robot (w/ speed & w/o scratches or spills of course).
Pulling the 'Human' out of this picture would help prevent harmful accidents, save countless lives, and future health and environmental problems associated with fuels and refueling.
- Feb 7, 2008, 1:09:00 AM
- Matthias Paul Scholz said...
there's an (German-speaking) article on it, and it says that the types of cars and their particular inlet locations are stored in some database the robot is accessing (though I did not understand how it detects the very type of car).
- Feb 7, 2008, 1:18:00 AM
- Matthias Paul Scholz said...
Of course, as a Dutch you are the perfect test person for that robot. ;-)
Make photos! :D
- Feb 7, 2008, 1:19:00 AM
Nice but since it can do this why not: wash my windows and oh can you check the tires and oil too :)
There is hope in the futur for FULL service once again. Robotic station attendents.
- Feb 7, 2008, 7:19:00 AM
In a newspaper article it says the robot recognizes a car by a 'sticker' on the car window. It will work with 80% of all cars.
- Feb 7, 2008, 7:33:00 PM
- Eric D. Burdo said...
80%? That sounds about right. I imagine it can't handle cars with the gas cap behind the license plate, or anything with an exposed gas cap (such as some trucks/motorcycles have).
But it's still neat. Give it a few years... the technology will improve. In 20 years, we will all wonder why anyone ever pumped their own gas. :P
- Feb 14, 2008, 11:05:00 AM
- Matthias Paul Scholz said...
let's revisit this post in 20 years then. ;-)
In 2027, most people might rather wonder that anyone has ever been allowed to pump his own gas at his own leisure just to drive around with the car...
- Feb 14, 2008, 7:19:00 PM