Man, I know I say it a lot, but I just fucking love the Japanese. Especially back in the day when they didn’t give a flying fuck about American copyright. Ghetto Vader control panel, the bowing before the (interrupted) light saber battle, great jumpin’ wookiees? They’re a special people man. Damn special.

Star Wars + ’70s Japan + Sea Chicken – All Semblance of Sanity = This [Topless Robot via CNNgo]

For Taiwanese audiences through the usage of cheap CGI and copyright-infringing superhero metaphors.

Man, I love reality. I mean, seriously we are like gods. Gods who are easily entertained.

The Late Night Wars Explained for You [Slog]

Oh, hells bells, this is pretty damn awesome. Christopher Lee, the second-best Dracula of all time, is making a metal album, a tribute to Charlemagne. No, seriously, check this out

Christopher Lee, famed star of Hammer horror movies, Lord Of The Rings, and much, much more will be coming soon to some earphones near you. Videogum and The Guardian have the news that the 87-year-old actor plans to release a “symphonic metal” album about the life and career of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor and a direct ancestor of Lee himself. “To my surprise and indeed great pleasure, I have suddenly found that there is another string to my bow,” Lee announced.

This is, quite simply, one of the most wonderful things I’ve ever heard, purely on concept. If it’s half as face-meltingly awesome as it should be, we’re all going to be in for a good time.

Christopher Lee Will Rock Your Face Off [Topless Robot, via Onion AV Club]

Yeah, I’m two days ahead of myself, but I suspect I’ll be busy, so I’m sharing now. I hope everyone makes it into 2010 relatively safely!

Allow the lovely ladies of the LA Derby Dolls to explain basic principles of electricity to you, accompanied by a catchy little tune. Mmmm, I love science.

The Electrical Derby [io9.com]

For years, it has been thought that Man alone (and okay, maybe a few birds/simians/mammals) used tools. Essentially though, creatures with spines. Alas, tentacled doom has revealed itself anew with the news that a certain species of octopus has been found to carry around halved coconut shells which it then uses as body armour when it feels threatened. From New Scientist:

When the octopuses come across these on the seabed, they drape their bodies over and around the shells, hollow-side up, leaving their eight arms dangling over the edges.

The octopuses then lift the shells by making their arms rigid, before tiptoeing away in a manoeuvre Finn calls stilt-walking.

When the octopuses feel threatened, they flip the half shells over themselves and hide. Some even use two shells to create a more spacious shelter with an opening through which they can keep a lookout.

Well, you know what this means. First, they build protection, then the weapons. Next thing you know, Ol’ Uncle Cthulhu has an army where every soldier has us at a two-to-one limb disadvantage. I dunno about you, but I’m going to go source some octopus-spray…

Octopus Uses Coconut Shells as Portable Armor [io9.com, via New Scientist]

This is just too cute for words. I’m going to miss this Doctor, very much.

Doctor Who BBC One Christmas 2009 Main Ident [YouTube]

This’d be one of those things Bill Hicks would call a good drug story. In Baseball, for a pitcher, one of the most impressive feats is to throw a straight no-hitter, practically winning a game single-handedly for your team. On June 12th, 1970, Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates did just that, against the San Diego Padres, while tripping balls on acid. This adorable little video illustrates his experience while he narrates in the background. Some good stuff, maaaan.

Turn On, Tune In, Strike Out [Come on, Let's Go via No Mas]

*wibble*

The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody [YouTube]

Why don’t we get after-Hallowe’en statistics like this in Vancouver? I’m very curious as to how many crimes were committed by popular fictional characters. I’m pretty sure Boba Fett tried to roofie a friend of mine. Or was that me?

Later Batman Stated He Was “Sorry About The Window.” [Probably Bad News]