google ad sense 728 x 90

Star Wars Imperial AT-AT Walker Bookends. And Other Star Wars Stuff For The Holidays.



Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back AT-AT Bookends
• Amazing high-quality bookends from Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
• The Imperial AT-AT Walker has been rendered and sculpted beautifully.
• Measures over 8 3/4-inches tall

Bring home the terrifying metal behemoths of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Cast in high-quality polystone and then hand-painted, each set of Star Wars AT-AT Bookends is numbered and comes complete with a matching limited edition certificate of authenticity. Whether they're holding up an assortment of media or on display proudly by themselves, these collectible bookends are sure to add enjoyment to any home or office.



above: Stills of the Imperial AT-AT Walkers in Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back

First seen on screen at the Battle of Hoth, the feared AT-AT is the primary assault vehicle of the Galactic Empire for large-scale ground warfare. Tasked with destroying the Rebel's shield generator, the Imperial AT-AT Walkers completed their objective with ruthless efficiency, laying waste to many Rebel soldiers, vehicles, and installations in the process.

Coming in June 2013
Pre-Order now here and they'll deliver in June 2013 (estimated date / subject to change).
Price: $224.99

Looking for Star Wars themed gifts for the holidays?  Here's a link to literally hundreds of items from slippers and robes to board games and piggy banks. Star wars collectibles, plush, miniatures, barware and co-branded items from Hasbro, Lego, Angry Birds and more:

Tons of Star Wars Stuff

Peugeot's Onyx Concept Supercar, Superbike and Superscooter Wrap Hybrid Technology and Beauty In Shiny Copper and Matte Black.



There was lots of buzz at the 2012 Paris Motor Show about Peugeot's Concept Supercar, the Onyx and it's no wonder. Aside from radiating beauty, elegance and state-of-art technology, the Onyx Concept Bike and Onyx Concept Scooter are its acclaimed variations. Here's a look at all three wicked machines.



above top: computer renderings and below: at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

The Car
The Peugeot Onyx Concept Supercar



The sporty, finely-honed, streamlined Onyx is a hybrid concept car that slices through the air with pure elegance. Expressing a century of research and innovation, the Onyx is the most accomplished car ever imagined by the Lion brand.



Inspired by passionate people, the Onyx offers its adorers a vision of tomorrow. Shaped using raw materials innovatively, this supercar was designed by enthusiasts who have drawn their inspiration from the world of racing.



Its ingenious bodywork captivates with its striking contrast of materials and colours. Its wings and doors were hand-carved by a master craftsman from a pure copper sheet. This mirror-polished metal is totally self-protecting and uses no tricks. Its aspect will change over time and create a patina effect.





above: as seen at the 2012 Paris Motor Show

Its mid-mounted V8 will take you beyond the limits of high performance. A showcase of technological excellence and craftsmanship, the Onyx Concept Car treasures a HYbrid4 engine under its copper sheet that recovers the kinetic energy from braking and restores it during acceleration.


above: Watch it slice through the air in pure elegance, with its vertical grille and full LED headlights beaming. Its wings and doors, hand-carved by a master craftsman from a pure, mirror-polished copper sheet, make the Onyx dazzle and shimmer.


above: Its tail-lights are designed with Peugeot's distinguishing luminous three-claw signature, a magnificently-exquisite finishing touch. The Onyx Concept Car also incorporates mini impellers which direct airflow and intensify aerodynamics.


above: Bathed in natural, dazzling roof-to-floor light, the Onyx's cab includes a felt-designed console and a revolutionary, new wooden dashboard: made of newspaper-wood. The cab itself is a one-piece pod, without seams, without joins and becomes one with the driver and passenger, embracing them in absolute comfort.

Other detals include Carbon Fiber wheels:

And a carbon Fiber cad rear bumper:


The Bike
Peugeot Onyx Concept Bike, an ultimately-efficient superbike


Drawing from Peugeot Cycles' experience in the field of competition, the teams returned to the brand's origins of speed and performance. Peugeot Cycles' designers drew their inspiration from the Onyx to create an ITT bike that propels the brand into the future with its state-of-the-art and high-performance style. The flexed and harmonious lines of the carbon unibody frame optimize the Onyx Concept Bike's aerodynamics.



Back to the brand's origins with this futuristic, revolutionary, time trial Onyx Concept Bike. The engineers' work in wind tunnels, the frame designed with carbon, the streamlined wheels and disc brakes are a tip of the hat to the brand's automobiles. This groundbreaking style propels it into the future and into a world of speed and high performance.


above: The flexed and harmonious lines of the carbon unibody frame optimize the Onyx Concept Bike's aerodynamics.



above: In keeping with the high-performance spirit, the cables, brakes and battery are perfectly concealed inside the handlebars. And the electronically-controlled gear-change is exceptionally intuitive.


above: As seen at the 2012 Paris Motor Show

The Scooter
Peugeot Onyx Concept Scooter, a hybrid supertrike


Cities are changing but mobility solutions are always one step ahead. Peugeot's Onyx Scooter Concept proposes an original, revolutionary, 3-wheel alternative that switches from scooter to motorbike, from urban-style to sporty-style, to fit the rider's needs and desires.



By combining a 400 cc heat engine with an electrical engine, it provides first-class acceleration and get-up-and-go totally in line with its ultra-sportive style. This scooter has an up-to-the-minute look shared only with the Onyx Concept Car and Concept Bike.


above: With its matt black coat, the Onyx Concept Scooter radiates pure elegance. And through its coppered details, you can catch a glimpse of its pioneering technology.



Integrating the stylistic codes of the brand's automobiles, this 2-in-1 supertrike displays an athletic silhouette with sculptural lines and an extra-large 200/50 R17 rear wheel that radiates the spirit of hypersport bikes.


above: In the city, the rider maintains a more classical position, with feed forward and head held high to snake through traffic easily. Highly-practical, this scooter offers exceptional storage space between the seat and front-end.


above: In sports mode, the rider tilts forward, with wrists used for support and feet in a backward position. Naturally aerodynamic, the Onyx Concept Scooter offers great seating comfort for a passenger without compromising on vivacity.


above: as seen at the Paris Motor Show

Images and information courtesy of Peugeot ; Paris Motor Show images courtesy of Autoblog

Ardbeg Galileo Rockets To Market. The Special Release of A Limited Edition 12 Year Old Whiskey That Is Out Of This World.






Ardbeg Galileo has landed.


Galileo, a vatting of different styles of Ardbeg laid down in 1999, is a combination of spirits that have been matured in ex-Marsala wine casks or in ex-bourbon casks. Together they create a sweet, smokey whiskey. The few thousand cases of the 12 year old whiskey made available are being picked up quickly and the space experiment that it was named after is going strong.



The beautiful packaging by Zing:





Invited by US Space Research Company, NanoRacks LLC, Ardbeg has been taking place in an experiment to test micro organic compounds in a maturation experiment since 2011. Vials of Ardbeg were launched into space and are currently maturing on the International Space Station.

The experiment will help explain the nature of "terpenes" compounds and will provide Ardbeg with information on new chemical building blocks in its own flavor spectrum.

Having recently become available, Galileo is restricted to two bottles per person (but already out of stock on the Ardbeg site). Bottled at a strength of 49% it is non chill-filtered for extra texture and mouth feel.



Tasting Notes
Aroma: A burst of intense smoky fruit escapes into the atmosphere. Add water and breathe in toasted vanilla, sizzling cinnamon and warm hazelnut.
Taste: An explosion of crackling peat ignites flavour explosions. Tangy lemon and lime juice, spiced toffee, followed by smooth buttermilk, bananas and currants. Smoke brims with creamy cappuccino and toasted marshmallows.
Finish: Long and smoky with tarry espresso

above: The Ardbeg Rocket Tour kicked off in Chicago on May 3, 2012 and will stop in 22 states in 28 weeks. Tour stops include key U.S. landmarks in states including California, Texas, New York and Florida. An Ardbeg Brand Ambassador will be on board the tour to educate consumers on the experiment, the brand, and where legal, to sample Ardbeg, recently rated by The Whisky Bible as the "Best Single Malt Scotch – 10 Years and Under."

Ardbeg

Ardbeg only ships within the UK, however other specialty liquor stores around the world do carry the item. Prices seem to range from $89.99 to $199.99

Here are a few online stores that carry the product:
Worldwide merchants who carry the product
Single Malts Direct
Online merchants who ship world-wide

Some Serious Bodywork. Car Wreck Made Of 17 Painted Bodies by Emma Hack For Anti-Speeding Ad (and A Look Behind the Scenes).



above: a close up look reveals the twisted and painted human figures comprising the image

Body painting illustrator /artist Emma Hack put her talents to work for MAC, South Australia's Motor Accident Commission for an anti-speeding campaign. The billboard and internet ad, "Body Crash" features 17 humans painted to appear as a wrecked non-descript sedan and was conceived of by Clemenger BBDO, an Australia-based advertising agency.


above: the outdoor board for Australia

“It had to be slightly nondescript as it was portrayed crashed,” Ms. Hack wrote to Wheels in an e-mail. The artist selected athletes, bodybuilders and members of acrobatics teams to fulfill the technical requirements. “They are used to holding weight and their fatigue level would be higher,” she said.





The subjects also had up to five layers of makeup-based paint applied to their bodies.
“As far as I can see it actually hasn’t been done before, this whole 3-D element of having people stacked on top of each other,” Ms. Hack said about the project.

A behind the scenes video of the project:


At the outset, Ms. Hack executed a sketch of the car to determine the number of people that would be required, as well as the approximate placement of the bodies. “The side mirror would be a head and the tires would be people rolled up,” she said. “Once I started sketching those people on the drawing, everything sort of piled up and made sense.”

The photo shoot lasted 18 hours and up to five layers of paint were applied to each of the 17 male and female bodies.

images courtesy of MAC/artist Emma Hack and photographer Jacqui Way

Please donate

C'mon people, it's only a dollar.