Whoa…Star Wars and the United States Postal Service

Whoa…the United States Postal Service and Star Wars team up?

http://www.uspsjedimaster.com

`Star Wars’ droid R2-D2 to collect mail

WASHINGTON – Thirty years ago, in theaters near and far, far away, a movie opened the imaginations of millions, combining the magic of mythology and special effects to launch the “Star Wars” phenomenon.

A star of those films — the brave little robot R2-D2 — is about to take a turn collecting mail as the Postal Service and Lucasfilm Ltd. commemorate that movie launch.

The post office is wrapping mail collection boxes in some 200 cities nationwide in a special covering to look like R2-D2.

It’s part of a promotion for a new stamp to be announced March 28, said Anita T. Bizzotto, the post office’s chief marketing officer.

“It’s a little teaser for the upcoming announcement and we decided to have a little fun with it,” she said.

About 400 mailboxes will be covered to look like the stout droid. “When you look at a mailbox, the resemblance to R2-D2 is too good to pass up,” Bizzotto said.

While postal officials would like people to look for these mailboxes and maybe even drop in a letter, Bizzotto urged people not to tamper with them, noting that’s a crime.s

EVENT – Rebel Legion Laser Tag Extreme Day in OHIO to Support Charity

An FYI to all Jedi-Minded folks in the OHIO region. The Rebel Legion and the Jedi Knights of Cleveland (both costuming groups based around the Star Wars theme) are hosting a Laser Tag day to raise money for charity. Most people I know realize that I am an active member of the Jedi Guardians (a JEDI realism movement combining training – service – community based response) so I wanted to post this to increase the awareness. If you like Laser Tag, Star Wars, dressing up or giving to a good cause, come out and support the Rebel Strike Team.
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Bowl For Kid’s Sake Fundraiser
Lazer Extreme
Southland Shopping Center
13409 Smith Rd.
Middleburg Heights, OH
March 31, 2007

“General Solo, is your strike team assembled?” – General Madine (ROTJ)

Not since 1983 and Return of the Jedi has there been a more important mission for the Rebel Alliance. That is why the Rebel Legion are proud to announce their continued support of Bowl For Kids’ Sake, a charity fundraiser event to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland. For the past five years, Rebels (and Imperials) from across northeast Ohio have bowled, in FULL costume, to raise money and awareness of the need for BBBS and the dedicated professionals who place at-risk youth with positive role models in our community. For the second year in a row, PrincessLeia92 has volunteered to command “Rebel Strike Team.”


In addition to bowling, Rebel Legion (along with our friends at Ohio Garrison 501st) have come up with a unique way for all of us to contribute to the campaign. Each year, we host a special “Star Wars Day” laser tag event, where Rebel Legion and 501st members gear up and play laser tag with customers (complete with music and sound effects from the Star Wars movies) with proceeds going to our Bowl For Kids’ Sake teams. Our thanks to Jim Bemer, and the folks at Lazer Xtreme for once again hosting this year’s fundraiser:

When: Saturday, March 31st
Time: Noon-9pm
Where: Lazer Xtreme
Southland Shopping Center
13409 Smith Road
Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130

More information and signup for the Lazer Xtreme fundraiser can be found on the Ohio section of the MWB forums.

If you would like to donate to one of the Rebel bowlers, visit the Rebel Strike Team website:

Or donate to our friends from 501st at the Imperial Strike Team website.

Our continued support of BBBS has earned “Rebel Strike Team” and Rebel Legion both local and national media attention. Rebel Strike Team has been featured twice on Bantha Tracks Online, the Hyperspace exclusive newsletter of starwars.com; along with several local newspaper and television reports.

Both Rebel Strike Team and Imperial Strike Team will be at Freeway Lanes ( Parma) as part of the Bowl For Kids’ Sake “Community Bowl” held on Saturday, May 5th.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is the largest provider of one-to-one youth mentoring services in the United States . BBBS has been bringing caring adults into the lives of our nation’s children for over 100 years. The mentoring programs, offered by Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland, have a positive impact on the lives of children and families by offering a professionally supported, relationship between a caring adult and a child. Big Brothers and Big Sisters (Bigs) are friends, mentors, and positive role models to the children (Littles) with whom they are matched.

Tonglen talk—unplugged from the Source

This past weekend I was at a retreat in which I lead a short introductory talk on Tonglen meditation. Tonglen is the Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice of “sending and receiving”. Tonglen is a wonderful practice which has given me an understanding how to change those heavy, constricting negative feelings into light and love and compassion. This has shown how we all have a very strong and free core and the heart of the Bodichitta. 

And this weekend I was show just how small and petty I still can be. This weekend I was experiencing some hormonal fluctuations in my being and was short on patients and compassion. When I arrived on Friday evening I could tell I wasn’t completely open. There were some people attending this function whom I would describe from my own self-righteous position as “clingy” and attention seeking. And as a result of my perception of these people I didn’t want to deal with, I “shielded” myself and avoided most conversation with them.

So much for being of benefit to all beings! Or is it being a benefit when you won’t give the attention junkies their fix? I don’t know about that and I know I’m in no place to judge, but I know that my limitations were that my short fuse was not extending much in the way of compassion or loving-kindness. Observation of my own personal defects… Breath in my own awareness of the ropes which prevent my heart from being free. Breath out a healing energy which changes my hiding-tendency to open my heart and be strong in my personal boundaries.

So I give this talk about the transformation and healing power of Tonglen and it happens to be given when I was very disconnected personally from the Source which fuels my fire for these talks. I wonder what is suggested when this happens? Is one supposed to NOT give the talk? Is speaking inauthentically to a group serving to cause more or less suffering? Ideally I would travel with another person who is skilled in this subject as well and if I’m not feeling it, I could pass the baton to them to deliver the talk. But I know that I’ve experienced a talk from a teacher who wasn’t feeling it that particular day. They still talked. And yes…I knew they were not giving their all.

I’ve never asked what is suggested in these situations.