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University offers course in training the Jedi way
Lightsabres are not included but Queen’s University Belfast says it is the first institution in the UK to offer a course in Jedi.
The course, entitled “How to train in the Jedi way”, will use the psychology of the Star Wars knights to teach techniques for personal development.
"Battle your dark side: fear and aggression," says the course blurb. "Begin your own hero-quest. Lightsabres not provided."
Dr Allen Baird, course tutor, said: "I'm using Star Wars as a kind of teaching aid looking at psychological development techniques, social and political themes that are explored in the films."
Jedi Knights must master flow and mindfulness, which Dr Baird says are researched techniques to enable students to be fully immersed in a task, and control their thoughts and behaviour. The course will also explore the nature of liberty in the face of a facist empire and the place of technology. "Darth Vader becomes more and more mechanical as the film goes on and he loses his humanity," he said.
But the university admits that the course is really a publicity stunt to get people involved in life-long learning rather than a serious Jedi training scheme.
"I can't teach people telepathy, which the Jedi Knights use, because there's no such thing," Dr Baird said, "But I can teach you to recognise other people's state of mind through empathy, which is the basis of all human social interaction."
The open learning course, which begins in November will feature dialogue and clips from the Star Wars films. Director, George Lucas was strongly influenced by Joseph Campbell, professor of comparative mythology and religion.
Dr Baird describes himself as "a mild science-fiction fan" who collected Star Wars figurines as a child, and says he is expecting some people to turn up to the course in full Jedi attire. "I'm expecting I'll get a few people who believe there is a force, but I hope they will get something out of it too." Lightsabres are not included but Queen’s University Belfast says it is the first institution in the UK to offer a course in Jedi. ... more -
Techo Walrus Jedi
The Techno Chicken! Watch the funniest, coolest and hottest viral videos out there every weekday on Current Virals.
To watch the full versions of all five videos just click on the links in the comments section below. The Techno Chicken! Watch the funniest, coolest and hottest viral videos out there every weekday on Current Virals. ... more -
Move Things With My Mind
"Kung Fu Panda" co-director Mark Osborne found a personal connection with the main character in the film.
"Kung Fu Panda" is in theaters Friday. "Kung Fu Panda" co-director Mark Osborne found a personal connection with the main character in the film. ... more -
Church of the Jedi reaches 400,000 members
Its leaders, Daniel Jones, and his elder brother, Barney, formed the Holyhead chapter in August 2007, and they are now part of an organisation claiming a worldwide membership of more than 400,000... Its leaders, Daniel Jones, and his elder brother, Barney, formed the Holyhead chapter in August 2007, and they are now part of an orga... more
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Jedi baseball
America's favorite pastime + America's favorite lethal weapon = Awesome!
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Star Wars comes to Holyhead as Darth Vader strikes back in Jedi's back garden
A Star Wars fan got closer to his idols than he would perhaps have liked when he was attacked in his garden by Darth Vader. Jedi Master Jonba Hehol - known to family and friends as Barney Jones, 36, of Holyhead - was giving a TV interview in his back garden for a documentary when a man, dressed in a black bin-bag and wearing Darth Vader's trademark shiny black helmet, leapt over his garden fence.
...people do some pretty crazy things. A Star Wars fan got closer to his idols than he would perhaps have liked when he was attacked in his garden by Darth Vader. Jedi Maste... more -
Can a lightsaber cut through Superman?
Can a lightsaber cut through Superman? Nerds at Gizmodo and sister site io9 put their combined nerdy gadget knowledge and nerdy superhero knowledge to the test and came up with reasons why it could and reasons why it couldn't.
So cute, funny, and of course, nerdy! Can a lightsaber cut through Superman? Nerds at Gizmodo and sister site io9 put their combined nerdy gadget knowledge and nerdy superh... more -
Fed up with Christianity....try the Jedi Church
yes its real!
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Welsh weddings go Jedi
Love Star Wars? Love weddings? Then Wales is the place for you!
Master Jonba Hehol and Master Morda Hehol (commonly known as Barney & Daniel) are offering Star Wars fans the chance of a lifetime - to marry in a church under the UK Church of the the Jedi 'religion.'
Continuing the fight against the Dark Side, the brothers will head up sermons on The Force, light sabre training, and meditation techniques, whilst wearing Jedi robes with their congregations wearing the traditional black.
It seems adding Jedi as your religion on your election form really did have an impact - albeit a really small one, but sometimes less is more . Love Star Wars? Love weddings? Then Wales is the place for you! ... more -
The FX Movie (A Tribute To Visual Effects)
This short film is a tribute/parody of all those special effect movies I grew up watching with over-the-top non-stop action. Inspired by movies from Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and anything that ILM and WETA are involved with. This short film is a tribute/parody of all those special effect movies I grew up watching with over-the-top non-stop action. Inspired ... more
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Ugly Man Takes Han's Place in Carbonite
How do you secure your nerd-cred for eternity?
By acquiring a life-size replica of Han Solo in Carbonite, having Han's face removed, and replacing it with your own. How do you secure your nerd-cred for eternity? ... more
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