Plan B Toys released a series of collectible busts between 2003 and 2006 based on Jim Henson’s 1982 film The Dark Crystal. They are long sold out and very hard to get. Here they are.
We’ll start with the best one – the Garthim. Yes, he’s a big creepy bug with lobster hands, but he’s literally the stormtrooper of the Skeksis, the one who brings order. Also, his base is made of the pod people. Here’s a closer look:
Here’s my next favorite one, mainly due to the size. It’s also more colorful than the others. SkekUng is the Garthim master, so he controls the big bug above.
As much as I like this one, he doesn’t seem complete without a few others, surrounding the crystal at the end of the movie after the Great Conjunction.
The mad scientist isn’t available. Plan B Toys only made one prototype. They showed it at toy fair one year but the license with the Henson Company expired before the company could get him to market.
I was a bit shocked to learn that the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in College Park, Md. was closed down. I’ve only eaten there once but I always thought it was an awesome place, considering you can walk around Lake Artemesia to get there. The worst part was that the airplanes were gone.
For some reason, abandoned buildings fascinate me as nature takes over and destroys the place (of course, this building was originally designed to look old to begin with). Here are a few photos I got without trespassing inside.
The passing of Apples Steve Jobs got me thinking: Why arent more decision-makers like him?
Jobs was a perfectionist, and by being that way, he created one of the most valuable companies in the world, one in which people LOVE. Everyone wins. Why dont other companies take this approach?
For years, Microsoft got away with releasing problematic software, causing users major headaches, and ultimately costing companies and consumers time and money, which makes this world a worse place. Having worked at a couple of companies, Ive seen firsthand how short-sighted business decisions can cause major headaches and ultimately cost the company more money. Even worse, lessons rarely get learned, and bad decisions get made all over again. Its 2011, and people are still having the same computer problems from 10-15 years ago.
If Jobs ran Microsoft, would we have suffered so many Windows crashes and viruses? If Jobs ran Dell, HP, or whatever other cookie-cutter PC company, would we have so many computer problems? If Jobs ran IBM, would awful software, such as Lotus Notes, still exist? Forget the tech industry. If Jobs ran any of the automakers, would that industry be in such trouble?
Im certain the answer is no. If Jobs ran any of those companies, consumers and businesses would have better software, better hardware, wed work more efficiently, and wed spend more of our time getting things done than wasting time and spending money on repairs.
So long as businesses and consumers are looking to save a few bucks in the short term, and continue spending on service and repairs for inferior products, these products will continue to get made. But sooner or later, as with Apple, folks will figure out that it doesnt need to be so difficult, and spending more on quality is the better option. Once that happens, the business model of making crap will go away.
What Jobs did at Apple wasnt genius. It was obvious, something that too few people are willing to do.
This season with Caps Outsider, I decided to hire a bunch of folks to help out with that site. I recruited Taylor Lewis, a University of Maryland journalism student; Alena Schwarz, a Towsen journalism student; Nicole Weissman, who writes for Box Seats on washingtonpost.com; Jeffrey Kleiman, a New York-based Caps fan living in Islander territory; M. Richter, who I work with at the Gardens Ice House and blogs for a few other sites; Samantha Bass, also a student; and Mike Xtremist aka Caps Tattoo Guy, one of the most passionate Capitals fans you’ll ever meet. Along with Phil Van Der Vossen from Gunaxin.com, we’ve got a great staff ready to take on some of the most offbeat Capitals content we can find. We also have an army of loyal readers who pitch us nuggets of info and oddball things that wind up on the site.
For instance, I learned about these new Plush Dolls coming out from Bleacher Creatures from a reader. So I posted that an Alex Ovechkin one is coming out. Yahoo’s Puck Daddy got wind of it from my site and wrote a post of his own (going out to a MUCH larger audience, of course). I’m pretty certain that this marketing is what Bleacher Creatures will need to get sales. Sure, it could’ve happened despite my reader tipping me off to them, but I got it before other sites did. If other sites already had it, particularly with a photo of the Alex Ovechkin doll, there would’ve been no point to me posting that.
And that’s the way things work in the blogosphere.
Some people collect stamps. Some people play with model airplanes. I run a site that focuses on offbeat Capitals news. That’s my hobby and it’s utterly thrilling that the world works in such a way now that I’m able to do this type of thing for fun. It’s going to be a great season.
The final episode of any season (and series) is always special, because it’s the one meant to leave a lasting impression on viewers and hold them over until the new season (or movie). Now that Entourage‘s run is complete, let’s look back and rank each of the season-enders, which are supposed to either tie up loose ends or create drama (no pun intended) to talk about during the sabbatical.
8 Season 6 2009
Season plot: Vince has a stalker and the boys try to protect him. It turns out to be a sorority prank. LAME. Lloyd tries to get promoted. Ari buys his old company.
Ending/cliffhanger: Ari goes on a rampage with a paint gun in his old office which he now runs, and all is well with the world of the Entourage boys. Lloyd also gets to be an agent. Finally.
This season was pretty bad, but it’s Entourage, so it still had its good moments.
7 Season 8 2011
Season plot: Vince really likes a reporter who rejects him. Turtle tries, again, to make it on his own. Johnny has tension with coworker Andrew Dice Clay. Eric deals with not being with Sloan, again. Ari deals with being separated.
Ending/cliffhanger: Vince goes to Paris to get married to a girl he just met. Turtle is set for life (resolved in the previous episode). Johnny is finally getting regular work (also resolved in the previous episode). Eric’s issues are completely unresolved but end on an up-note. Lloyd gets to represent opera singers and will likely be Vince’s agent (you know he will). Ari saves his marriage, but gets the proposal of a lifetime.
Too much is bound to happen, especially involving Eric (as if we care), Lloyd (needs a spin-off),Vince (who will get divorced and go back to his old ways), and Ari (who will take the job). This ain’t no Sopranos, there WILL be an Entourage movie (for better or worse).
Season plot: The boys are introduced with a typical first season of a series – a show we vow to keep watching through the good times and bad.
Ending/cliffhanger: Vince hires Eric to be his manager and the world is good.
This was a great opening season and a fine finale, but once again, nothing to think much about other than the fact that we can’t wait for Season 2.
5 Season 2 2005
Season plot: Ari tries to get Vince to make Aquaman but it proves to be a challenge for various reasons, including the fact that Vince has a crush on his co-star, Mandy Moore.
Ending/cliffhanger: Vince doesn’t quit Aquaman, after all, and the world is good.
Not a bad season, but considering that it hinged on Vince choosing to quit a HUGE movie over a girl just didn’t seem plausible. We weren’t surprised when he didn’t.
4 Season 5 2008
Season plot: After Medellin flops, Eric pushes to get Smokejumpers made with Vince, but things don’t work out.
Ending/cliffhanger: Broke and back in Queens, Vince gets a surprise call from Martin Scorsese, who saves his career, and the world is good.
The season finale was fairly good because it showed that the boys were serious about going home when they had nothing left. For a minute there we may have actually believed that the world wasn’t going to be all right. Then ol’ Marty swoops in and we all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Nothing to think about until next season.
3 Season 3 2006–2007
Season plot: For some reason, this was considered one season, though it certainly didn’t feel like it. Season 3, Part I ends with Vince firing Ari for dropping the ball on the Ramones script. Part II ends with Vince picking Billy Walsh to direct Medellin.
Ending/cliffhanger part I: Vince fires Ari.
Now THIS felt like a season finale. Melodramatic, but we know Ari will be back.
Ending/cliffhanger part II: They’re going to make Medellin, finally. In Spanish.
Another one of these ‘the world is all right finales, but there is a hint that Billy is about to screw up big time.
2 Season 7 2010
Season plot: Vince dates a porn star and gets addicted to cocaine. Finally, some reality in Hollywood.
Ending/cliffhanger: Ari separates from his wife and Vince makes a drug-fueled scene at Eminem’s party.
Great ending because it was far darker and the world is not all right. Addiction is something that even non-movie stars can relate too (which I’m sure would be a lot easier with Sasha Grey).
1 Season 4 2007
Season plot: The boys make Medellin. Billy goes nuts. Ari tries to sell the movie. The movie flops at Cannes.
Ending/cliffhanger:Medellin turns out to be a horrible movie and they lose all but a dollar.
This season finale answered a major question that lasted all season, provided comedy, showed the boys won’t always get what they want and life isn’t always a fairy tale in Hollywood. After all, it’s hard to make a movie, as Harvey says. And it’s certainly hard to make a good TV show.
Sad, but cool, too.
This one is smaller than the others, and seems a lot more fragile. This is my least favorite one. I’m sure the Chamberlain would be upset.
The mad scientist isn’t available. Plan B Toys only made one prototype. They showed it at toy fair one year but the license with the Henson Company expired before the company could get him to market.
