[2012-05-24] 21st on 21st

It was around this time last year that I had a birthday, so I guess it's fitting that I have another one this year. The big TWO-ONE for me was on the 21st of May - just in case you thought the title of this post referred to something else entirely, like an alpha-numeric code for 'A Beast on A Beast' (think about it for a few more seconds...there we go, genius!). It seems that my birthday wasn't just a local celebration this year, as the whole universe decided to join in.

'Sun, Moon, why don't you guys get together and give him something special' - the Universe

Now before those reading from The US or Europe say 'but that was on the 20th!!', remember I'm Australian, so over hear it was the 21st, cos we live in the future. Unfortunately, I missed it...could you guys do it again please? Still, there was more waiting for me on the Internet. Other than the much appreciated Facebook birthday love, in which roughly one quarter of my Facebook friends participated, I also received a special gift from Cracked: The Worst Possible Gifts for 21 Famous Figures. Sure, they didn't explicitly say it was for me, but think about it - "21", "Gifts", "Famous People" - I think it's pretty clear what they were getting at.

"What's that, you like Star Wars? Here, we'll put Darth Vader as #1 for you" Oh, you guys...

Speaking of Star Wars, it should be no surprise that many presents I got were Star Wars related. I'm not going to go through all my presents (some I haven't even used yet), but here's a couple. Do you remember as kid, ever going to a planetarium? Or as a parent, taking you kids? Or as someone between those ages groups going just cos you can? Did you ever think, 'I wonder what the Star War Galaxy would look like'?

'That's no moon, that's a galaxy'

That's right, you can get a planetarium that shows (with labels!) the entire Star Wars Galaxy, from Tatooine to Hoth, from the Core to the Outer Rim. Project it on your walls and ceiling, and map out the Kessel Run. Then, you can compare it to our own galaxy by placing the plastic dome on top. Nothings named on it, but if you know your constellations then you should be able to find some. You can count on me to find Orion any day - or night rather - just don't ask me about anything else (fun fact: did you know Orion has genitals?). When you've finished star gazing, the lid goes on top of both domes, and ta-da, it's a Death Star. It doesn't go *pew* *pew* (the Alderaan in the planetarium is safe...for now), but it does look awesome. And it comes on a nifty transparent stand that lets you place it at any angle, and makes it look like it floats. Party Tip: tie string through the battery compartment and hang upside down from the roof - you now have a floating-disco-ball Death Star.

So now I can find Kashyyyk, planet of the Wookiees, but should I ever take a trip there, I doubt I'd be able to talk to them, or even understand them. Skip to 2:20, what do you think Chewbacca is saying?

"Haha, good one Leia!" might seem like a reasonable guess. It does sound like he's laughing - wrong! What he was actually saying is, "I'm on board with this strategy". Now obviously, that doesn't make sense...or does it? No, it doesn't. But thanks to Star Wars How to Speak Wookiee, I learnt that's what Chewie really says. Sense or not, I'm not gonna argue with him - I like to keep my arms intact.

I'm gonna stop here, cos this post will be way too long if I keep going (also, I don't have any time to keep going, so this is like the 'what I could be bothered doing' post). I'll likely discuss my other presents in various other posts (some may have a special post of their own...). Don't forget to vote in the current poll; I'm glad I don't collect stats on them, it'd be the most inaccurate and probably biased data base ever.

Chris