Ahh, to be 10 and playing in the woods again.

Summer is icumen in...and we're sweating BUCKETS. It's going to be over 100 degrees at TGHQ for the next couple of days, so if you're a local, carry that ice water around and stay in the shade!

It's also totally BBQ weather, so local geeks...if you're grilling delicious meats, let us know. If you don't mind a small invasion of hungry monkeys, that is.

Last weeks links from the Twitter, Google+, and Facebook 'verse:

Do you <3 your job as much as us ThinkGeek monkeys <3 ours? How we describe ThinkGeek. (TwitPic)

If any of you geek ladies out there need an excuse to purchase a Death Star skirt, it *is* con season. (Etsy - GoChaseRabbits)

Happy Take Your Dog to Work Day! Meet Buford, TG's resident bulldog. Talents: snoring, adorableness. (TwitPic)

A song asking GRRM to write faster, @jeffylew, & @paulandstorm cavorting in costumes? Yes, yes, & double yes. (YouTube)

How to make 60 lightsabers in 2 hours. Hint: Inhaling spray paint does not count as using the Force. (TwitPic)

Piranha Plant wine glasses, for the more discriminating fire ball drinker. (Etsy - BasementInvaders)

Haiku is not hard/ for sarcastic 4th graders/ See example here. (TwitPic)

The world's most dangerous garbage incinerator. It also happens to be a volcano. (YouTube)

Texts from video game companies. At least they don't leave voicemail? (TwitPic)

Great primer on @MarsCuriosity's "7 minutes of terror" as it goes from 13,000 mph at entry to 0 at surface. (YouTube)

Throwing a creepy party? Hire this face painter! (TwitPic)

The most adorable droid yarn bombing you'll see today. <3! (TwitPic)

Afternoon theater Part 1: Crispy Tauntaun by @epicmealtime. (YouTube)

Afternoon theater part 2: One joke from every MST3K supercut. (YouTube)

Disclaimer: This is crazy & don't try at home. Got it? Now watch a kite flyer jump a FL pier in TS Debby. (YouTube)

Imagination is a super power! Very cool illustrations by deviantARTist AndyFairhurst. (deviantART)

Now that's recycling! Fish sculpture made from plastic bottles. (20min)

How to prank a Whovian. (Tumblr)

What a 12 pound Care Bear coat looks like. Make your own with the Instructables guide. (Instructables)

Effective! Dark Knight Rises billboard spotted in US. (ComicBookMovie)

Spotted at Sam's Club, probably on a pizza run. (Geekologie)

Signal boost! Here are some links from our Twitter, Google+, and Facebook friends that might be interesting to look at:

Victim of bullies: Help a girl get the doll of her dreams. (IndieGoGo)

Education for a better future for my children (IndieGoGo)

Air conditioning FTW!

This mashup makes our brains go funny in the best way posible

Another week of witty and fascinating links and all we can think about are swords. So click on brave and possibly bored netizens. We'll be over here setting up awesomeness.

Last weeks links from the Twitter, Google+, and Facebook 'verse:

Wine rack in disguise. (TwitPic)

One thin crust Necronomicon pizza coming right up! Extra evil, no anchovies. (Twitpic)

Good luck, @NASAVoyager! After 34+ years & 11.1 billion miles, it's near the edge of our solar system. (NASA)

How to make drive through cashiers totally flip out: Floating Cup trick. (YouTube)

Hey, wait! Charley the baby duck just wants to say happy Monday!"Squeak." (YouTube)

Just a little reminder that nature could crush us all. It would make a nice desktop, too.. (Twitpic)

And now, the Harry Potter theme on played on musical glasses. (YouTube)

What's more unstable than an AT-AT? An AT-AT on a bike. (YouTube)

Awesome Pac-Man sidewalk trompe l'oeil. Waka waka waka. (TwitPic)

Before you get too excited about Portal LEGO sets...it was rejected by LEGO Cuusoo. :'( (Brickthing's Flickr)

Sing it, Yoda! <3! (TwitPic)

If Star Wars, Alien, Blade Runner, & The Matrix were pulp novels, by @timandersonart (TwitPic)

Afternoon theater part 1: Avengers a la Firefly. (YouTube)

Afternoon theater part 2: Daenerys Targaryen attack ad (YouTube)

Awesome working LEGO Turing Machine is awesome. (Turing's 100th bday is coming up on 6/23!) (Vimeo)

THIS. (TwitPic)

Cat loading, please wait... (YouTube)

R.O.U.S. graveyard discovered in Australia! Want to learn more? As you wish. (BBC)

This was a triumph. Chell in the style of Norman Rockwell by Jesse Rubenfeld on Etsy. (Etsy)

Hey, ladies, it's Avogadro's number. (FakeScience's scientific flyers collection) (Scribd)

Studio Ghibli + Adventure Time = <3 (Deighvid's Tumblr)

Puny cupcake. (Loki cupcake) (Nerdache Cakes)

Please raise a glowing hand if you saw Futurama last night! (Might want to put the Slurm Loco down first.) In case you missed it, new eps just started and here's the live action intro in its honor. (YouTube)

WANT. Recycled globe chandelier. (Recyclart)

This could be interesting. First photo of Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, the witch from Sleeping Beauty: http://j.mp/LymiEh (Directed by Robert Stromberg, production designer on films like Avatar and Alice in Wonderland.)(Movies.com)

In case you haven't yet witnessed the abomination that is Nic Cage Cats, the horror continues.(Tumblr)

Signal boost! Here are some links from our Twitter, Google+, and Facebook friends that might be interesting to look at:

Aether Dancer, Steampunk Open Source Project (IndieGoGo)

AUROR'S TALE - A Fan Web Series (Kickstarter)

We'll have to make the *Boosh* *ssh!* *ZZP* noises ourselves, but that's half the fun, isn't it?

He has the best of intentions. Really.

Want to get your hands on a legendary Sith Lord?

It's your lucky day. ThinkGeek is teaming up with Sideshow Collectibles to give one random geek a chance to be the very first person to get their hands on a Legendary Scale Darth Maul figure this September, worth $2,000!

What does Legendary mean in relation to figures, you ask? Well, it means that the Sith Enforcer that you're getting a chance to win is 40 inches tall and so exquisitely detailed that you can make out the pores on his face and you can practically hear the leather creak.

There's no reason to wait aside from that lingering fear of Force choking--Go ahead. Make his day.

Disclaimer: ThinkGeek is only partially responsible for friends and family members turning to the Dark Side after exposure to the awesomeness of this figure.

It is time for your training to begin.

You've been waiting for this moment for most of your life. So have we. Now it's finally going to happen--and we haven't even breached a barrier in the multiverse to access a galaxy far, far away.

One of our ThinkGeek monkeys is a Sith lord lady who is extremely skilled in stage sword combat. She's also a talented actress, and we've lucked out because she's offered to teach us how not to poke our eyes out when we spar. (Either that or she plans to Force-choke us all. It's a risk we're willing to take.)

You know what this means.

If you're a local-to-us geek, we want you to join us at ThinkGeek HQ on Friday, June 29th at 6pm for 'Saber lessons!

Here are the details:

• Stage Swordplay Lessons will occur on Friday June 29th, 2012 at ThinkGeek HQ at 11216 Waples Mill RD, Suite 100, Fairfax VA 22030.
• Doors will open at 6:00pm. Prepare to have your hand stamped, your email ticket checked and to enter your name for raffled prizes which will definitely include at least one Tauntaun.
• We will divide you all into one of three groups, so that our Sith Lady Bette can easily instruct you. Lessons and tours will begin at 6:30pm and continue until 8pm, and the event will conclude around 9pm.
• We will provide practice dowels lightsabers (please do not bring your own) and water.
• Please wear comfy clothes, and perhaps bring a towel.
• Happy news! We've managed to team up with Stix (your tastebuds may remember them from last years Marian Call and Art of Akira show) who will be bringing us thematically-appropriate grilled meats and veggies on sticks! So come hungry, and bring some cash for them! There is an ATM nearby, but ATM fees suck. Forewarned is forewarmed!

• We're also working on bringing out some local geeks for some show and tell--like a Red Cross emergency response vehicle bristling with tech, and perhaps some tiny, tiny squigs from Mythic--so more information on that later.

A few notes on attendance:

• Only 50 local geeks can attend! We have picked 50 random lucky geeks who entered over this past week and will email them shortly!
• Everyone can bring one other human with them! Be sure to specify this in your entry, though, so we can get an accurate headcount.
• Everyone who makes it onto the list of 50 will receive an email that will double as a ticket for entry. We will contact you by June 21st to let you know if you've made the cut. Make sure to print a copy for yourself and your companion!
• You must reply to the emailed invitation to confirm! If you haven't confirmed by June 22nd, we'll have to give your invite to another random geek.

• Older-than-12 geeklings may attend, but they will be considered your one companion if they do. As there will be a lot of commotion and flailing with sticks, younger geeklings probably shouldn't come. Besides, anyone younger than 12 is a little too young to be introduced to the Dark Side.

It is done. Our 50 have been chosen. Keep an eye on your inboxes! If you're one of the lucky ones, you should see an email from us soon!

Good luck! We'll see the lucky 50 on the 29th!

Geek Dad love his Geek Kid!

We have a Most Ultimate GeekDad Giveaway Winner!

Just in time for Father's Day, our decide-a-trons whizzed and blorped and wiped away oily tears as they picked a single, random entry from the thousands we received. We read the story included with their choice and our cold, hard monkey hearts softened. We nodded and hrmed in nostalgic understanding. Yep. The decide-a-trons picked a good one.

Kate's Dad inspired a love of knowledge:

Some kids grew up hearing about Jack and the Beanstalk, or The Three Little Pigs... sure, I heard all that, but they were interspersed with stories about battles -- at Hastings, at Little Big Horn, at Pelennor Fields -- and all kinds of other stories about places and people which (I later learned) aren't typically told to four- and five-year-olds.

How I kept history and myth straight, I really can't say, because the "adventures" and feats of the likes of Jesse Owens, Buzz Aldrin, and Galileo Galilei seemed quite as fantastic as those of Jim Hawkins and Frodo Baggins. And you know what else? If I asked some crazy kind of "Why is ...?" question, he'd really try to answer.

It's only now, once I've reflected and started taking stock, that I've realized: dad raised me geek. So thanks, dad!

Thanks for sharing your Dad's awesomeness, Kate! Hope he enjoys his $1000 ThinkGeek shopping spree and his fabbster 3D printer (that we're a little jealous of)!

If you're still looking for the perfect present...well, you're a little late. Thankfully, gift certificates appear pretty much instantaneously due to the magic of the internet. So if you need a little something to give your GeekDad, go for one. We recommend folding it into a crane before handing it to Dad, though. Just for extra fanciness.

Thanks for being awesome, GeekDads! Happy Father's Day!!

Star trails as seen from the International Space Station--SHINY.

Space. Xenomorphs. Predator. Bunnies. Mr. Rogers. The links that we shared last week contained alternating doses of Geigeresque creepiness and comforting fluff, almost as if we were intentionally preparing ourselves for seeing Prometheus yesterday.

Enjoy the linky goodness, everyone. We've, uh, we've got to run from this thing rolling towards us.

Last weeks links from the Twitter, Google+, and Facebook 'verse:

And this is why you keep wormholes on a leash. (TwitPic)

We found your new desktop! Star trail photo from the International Space Station. (Flickr)

Oh, Mister Rogers, you were the best. Nostalgic, inspirational Mister Rogers Remixed. (YouTube)

Best unauthorized use of the new Twitter logo so far, by @mywayhome. (Twitpic)

Here's to best friends on National Best Friends Day! <3! (TwitPic)

Apparently cats can think with portals, too. (Twitpic)

Bunnies! Bunny show jumping. (YouTube)

More Bunnies! Bunny & kitten wrestling match. (YouTube)

"Fire rainbows" are neither rainbows nor are they made of fire. Discuss. (TwitPic)

Um, a little privacy here, please? This isn't a public litterbox. (YouTube)

Hey @jimchines, dare you to try reproducing the Catwoman #0 pose! (Tumblr)

Alien & Predator have hit some rough patches--but that's not unusual for a married couple. <3 (TwitPic)

"Astrophysicists assure us the universe has no center. Therefore, you cannot be it." HS grads aren't special. (YouTube)

Set course for the last 10 seconds of every ST:TNG episode. Engage! (YouTube)

What would happen if Portal guns were real? Cave Johnson would be proud. (YouTube)

"Monkey orchids do not smell like bananas, but they do look like Timmy, so that's cool. (TwitPic)

Tetris fingernails look awesome...but what happens when you clear a line!? (TwitPic)

Robocop remake? Maybe okay. Starring Hugh Laurie, Gary Oldman, Joel Kinnaman & Samuel L Jackson? WELL THEN. (Hollywood Reporter)

Facehugger dates always end the same way. (TwitPic)

That thing that you think would eventually happen in an underwater polar bear display finally does. (Zookeepers, you may want to remove rocks from enclosures.) (YouTube)

The US Navy has signed off on a $27,883,883 contract from military contractor Raytheon to install Linux ground control software. [...] After a malware attack on the Air Force's Windows-based drone-control system last year, there has been a wholesale move to Linux for security reasons. (The Register)

Two IKEA oval mirrors with orange & blue rope lights mounted opposite each other = Portal loop. (Technabob)

If you love Star Trek so much, why don't you marry it!? Star Trek engagement ring in sterling silver, $500. (VaLaJewellery Etsy)

We don't have to tell you which Avenger gown is which, right? (by deviantARTist Kelseymichele)

Signal boost! Here are some links from our Twitter, Google+, and Facebook friends that might be interesting to look at:

Revive HP Lovecraft font! (Kickstarter)

Kickstarter by Neal Stephenson to create a realistic sword fighting game. Ooo. (Kickstarter)

Until next week, folks! Remember--stay away from vases filled with black ooze and you'll be mostly fine. Mostly.

He looks good in glasses, don't you think?

You've been doing that whole "working" thing and have missed out on a week's worth of links again!? That's okay. That's what this post here for. Click, read, and be happy.

Last weeks links from the Twitter, Google+, and Facebook 'verse:

If Dr. Seuss created Star Wars. Classic. (TwitPic)

Awwww. A girl and her AT-AT. (TwitPic)

It's official: George Lucas has put down the lightsaber. Kathleen Kennedy is Lucasfilm successor. (LA Times)

Caiden is a lucky kid! His dad made him an AT-AT loft bed! It looks surprisingly stable. (Twitpic)

Thank you for existing, awesome audience guy. It's the little things. (YouTube)

So long & thanks for all the trololo, Mr. Khil. Trololo Guy passed 6/3. One last time. (YouTube)

Warning: Never volunteer to be Nina Conti's puppet on stage. It gets cookin' at ~10 mins. (YouTube)

Game of Thrones theme played on squeak toys really captures the, um, weight of the series. (YouTube)

This is what you call a "statement ring" & that statement is "doot doot doot doot". (TwitPic)

Word of the day: "Syzygy," a straight line configuration of 3 celestial bodies--like transit of Venus. (YouTube)

<3! Five Star Trek captains photographed together for 1st time ever. Who's *your* favorite? (TwitPic)

Best papercraft Prometheus trailer you'll see today. (YouTube)

"If you enjoy living, it is not difficult to keep the sense of wonder." RIP, Ray Bradbury. (Associated Press)

You wouldn't like The Credible Hulk when he's angry... (Twitpic)

Life-size Iron Throne from #GoT can be yours... for only $30,000! Shipping's a bargain at $1,800. (HBO)

"Wreck-It Ralph" not only looks like a good movie, but Bowser, Eggman, & Clyde share the screen, too. (YouTube)

The rockinest Reading Rainbow theme you'll hear all day. Nice shirt, @thehumantim. \m/ (YouTube)

Deformable, tactile touchscreens coming in 2013? And yet, still no hoverboards. (Fast Company)

This photo is the sound of a conservator's heart skipping a beat. Space shuttle Enterprise suffered some cosmetic damage when it was caught by wind and pushed into the wooden pilings under a railroad bridge. (Collect Space)

Signal boost! Here are some links from our Twitter, Google+, and Facebook friends that might be interesting to look at:

Michael Legary is in a competition to win $100,000 that he'd like to put into the community with a set of 22 grants for not for profit collaboration spaces. Lend him a hand? (BDC)

Mini desktop vacations are SUCH sanity savers, don't you agree?

Step away from the cloning vat.

Listen, we know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and that you'd happily clone your GeekDad for both scientific and personal reasons, but current technology just isn't up to the task. (Besides, you're taking that axiom a bit too literally.) How about this--we'll give you a chance to flatter your Dad with the next best thing to DNA duplication.

Enter our Most Ultimate GeekDad Giveaway (So Far) for a chance to win your GeekDad a fabbster 3D Printer with all of the trimmings along with a 32GB ASUS Transformer TF300T Tablet, a $1000 ThinkGeek shopping spree and a loot list too long to go into here. Not only will entering prove that you are the Most Valuable Offspring, but you'll get one step closer to your cloning dreams with that 3D Printer!

To Enter:

1. Compose a texty tribute to the father(s) in your life
2. Surf on over here to enter your vital information
3. ???
4. Profit.

Need a little inspiration?

Sarah's GeekDad: Thanks to my Dad, I'm a Trekkie. At the age of 5, I remember curling up with him and watching The Next Generation, The Original Series, and Deep Space 9. He also was the only one who could debate over the relevance of Monty Python's Holy Grail with me. I love my geeky dad!

@Loottheroom's GeekDad: My office was throwing out an old server cabinet. Rather than just chuck it on a junk heap, I persuaded them to let me take it. My dad drove the hour out to my office, helped me get the thing into his van (and MAN are those things heavy) and back out to his garage. There, we removed the internals, screwed wood shelves onto the runners, and converted it into a wardrobe. Then we painted it blue. Why blue? Well it'd be a damn silly looking TARDIS in any other color. So now, I have an ex-server cabinet TARDIS wardrobe with working lights. It beats the hell out of the particle board and wood-grain decal Ikea thing it replaced.

What are you waiting for? Father's Day is coming! Enter!

See something familiar?

A little monkey told us that there have been some questions regarding the sources of the type that we used on our Geek Pride Day pins. We've held out for a while, to let you figure it out for yourselves (and to watch you squirm), but it's time to clear up the mystery.

Are you ready? Hover over the type below or highlight the page to reveal the answers. You're going to be mad at yourselves for not figuring this out by the time this is done. Just warning you.

	Battlestar Galactica
	BLAMBOT comic book font
	Star Trek
	Star Wars
	Harry Potter
	Atari
	Lord of the Rings
	World of Warcraft
	Indiana Jones
	Doctor Who
	NASA
	Classic Amiga font

There you have it! How many did you guess correctly?