Or, perhaps, just weekend event, to be precise.
If you are in need of droid-related activities and in what is known as the “Bay Area,” perhaps you would be interested in Maker Faire, which appears to have interesting items on the menu.
This Weekend: Maker Faire (BotJunkie)
My own systems are currently in need of recharging. While I am undergoing maintenance, please enjoy this short film about two droids and the arc of their relationship.
Video Friday: Broken Circuits (A Love Story) (BotJunkie)
I am not entirely sure why this droid needs such a large exhaust port, but it must be quite a large droid indeed, if it has one not much smaller than a womp rat.
It is, however, likely more functional than a droid with a bad motivator.
Friday Bot With Stuff (BotJunkie)
While I am sure many wish to own a likeness of Lord Vader, this plush may not truly qualify as a likeness. However, it is probably more cuddly than the real thing, and also speaks when squeezed. In this case, it may be an acceptable exchange.
Talking Darth Vader Plush (Nerd Approved)
Droids are, for the most part, designed to perform tasks humans and other beings either cannot or prefer not to accomplish themselves. Because we can do some things more quickly than humans, or autonomously, it stands to reason that we make our owners’ lives more pleasant and efficient.
However, this cartoon from Miscellanea argues that the latter is not always the case. I will argue, however, that the human in question does seem to be enjoying the interaction, so perhaps his life is, in turn, more pleasant.
Why Roombas Don’t Work (BotJunkie)
While I must admit I do not understand the purpose of attaching non-strap items to the strap portion of a cell phone, it baffles me more that one would combine an astromech with a communications device. It seems to me that a protocol droid would be preferable in this situation.
I am, however, pleased to see that of the three droids available, R2-Q5 and R2-R9, and R2–D2, the normally most celebrated is least visible in the image.
These droids also come with an LED and key chain, making their intended use even harder for me to decipher.
Star Wars Droid Cell Phone Straps (Robot Snob)
I am not entirely sure what to make of this product. I know that encouraging children’s artistic pursuits is generally a positive step in development. However, I am not sure that adding lids with Rebel icons to their modeling compound is a step in the right direction.
Play-Doh Star Wars Can Topper: Obi Wan Kenobi and R2-D2 (Nerd Approved)
While there are a fair number of humans who enjoy the sport of golf, it seems that very few of them want to carry their own equipment. Normally, this requires either a small cart or a human caddy. One negates a great deal of the exercise of the sport, and the other may add personality conflicts or other human irritations.
For those individuals, perhaps this Shadow Caddy is the long awaited solution. It follows the golfer around the course, using a belt-located transmitter. It also features an object detection system so it will not run into other golfers or objects on the course.
This droid should be launching in Europe and Australia in June, and won the 2009 People’s Choice Award for Australia’s Next Big Thing.
Shadow Caddy – No Tipping Needed (Robot Snob)
Yes, it’s the ever-popular Rebel astromech again. And no, I cannot explain the attraction. But as the product page for this oversized plush toy states:
But one thing kept the little droid going – at the end of the day, there was no one the ladies wanted more than Artoo. It’s true – Amidala, Leia, Oola (for a very short time), even Sy Snootles were all over his smooth dome. And whether he was serving drinks, communicating with Imperial computers, or shocking Muppets, R2-D2 always gave the ladies what they wanted: someone who would listen.
Perhaps that is the bulk of this droid’s popularity, for those who cannot understand his communications. I cannot fathom it otherwise. And, in pillow form, he is less communicative still.
Giant R2-D2 Plush (ThinkGeek)
This photograph, while amusing to those who may try to pass it off as typical Rebel propaganda, demeaning our troopers, does show the importance of giving full descriptions when issuing search warrants for missing droids.
That isn’t the droid you’re looking for…. (Robots Dreams)
