Amusing "Star Wars" mashup Buddha figurines power an Etsy store full of geeky Zen statuettes ranging from Groot to Iron Man to Judge Dredd.

Printed in 3D, this Yoda statue is.Chris Milnes

We always knew Yoda had a good dose of Zen master in him. Etsy seller Chris Milnes, proprietor of the muckychris storefront, really brings out that side of the little green guy with his 3D-printed Zen Yoda figurines. The small statues combine Yoda's head with Buddha's pleasingly plump body.

The Zen Yoda is just one of many statues Milnes offers. Other geek-related items include Iron Man, "Battlestar Galactica," Boba Fett (Buddha Fett?), Darth Vader, Judge Dredd and Stormtrooper buddha figures. The statues are built using the body of a Hotei (laughing Buddha) figure originally created by Thingiverse user SammyDavis. Milne then takes 3D models of popular sci-fi and superhero heads and melds them onto the base, creating seamless little nerd-gods. The designs are possible due to the Creative Commons licensing from the original 3D modelers, along with Milnes' own modeling work.

"My art consists of mashing up existing items to bring a new meaning. In the case of these statues I'm equating Buddhism to 'The Force' in 'Star Wars' lore," Milnes tells Crave. "I'm a digital sculptor and do the modeling and 3D print work myself." Besides his Etsy store, he has also stayed busy with his invention of the SquareHelper, a 3D-printed widget that keeps Square card readers from spinning around when attached to an iPhone or iPad.

Milnes is a Makerbot user with Replicator 2 and Replicator 2x machines in use. It takes about one hour to print a 2-inch figure, three hours to print a 4-inch figure and six hours to print a 6-inch figure, the largest size he offers. Prices range from $7.99 (about 5, AU$10) for the small statues up to $27.99 ( about 19, AU$34) for the big ones. The shiny gold and chrome offerings are particularly eye-catching.

While Milnes has quite a few popular geek brands covered with his Etsy store offerings, he says Yoda, Darth Vader and Stormtrooper statuettes are the most popular. Considering that Jediism has a minor religious following around the world, it's no wonder Buddha-Yoda is such a hot commodity.

Get yourself a zendo-ful of geek Buddha figures. Chris Milnes

(Via Technabob)

Excerpt from:
3D-printed 'Star Wars' Buddhas: Zen and the art of the Force

Q: I've been doing aerobics classes and using the treadmill at the gym to try to get rid of my belly fat. It doesn't seem to be working. I'm turning 72 next month. Is this gut an age thing? Arthur L., Naples, Florida

A: It's great that you do regular aerobics. It's essential to keep pushing yourself if you want to avoid age-related weight gain and muscle weakness. But when it comes to losing belly fat, aerobics alone won't cut it. You need to add weight training.

Now, we don't mean that you should start bench-pressing 200 pounds. But working with resistance bands and hand weights or the weight machines at the gym is essential to get rid of that heart-stopping, inflammatory visceral fat that packs in around organs in your abdominal cavity. Go for reps not pounds, and you'll build muscle mass and bone strength and trigger fat-burning processes at the same time.

A recent study from Harvard's School of Public Health found that guys who did 20 minutes of daily weight training had less of an increase in age-related abdominal fat than men who spent the same amount of time doing aerobic activities. The study also reported that adding 20 minutes of weight training was twice as effective as adding 20 minutes of aerobics for reducing your waistline, "especially among the elderly."

The researchers seem to assume that you're going to gain girth as you age, and to us, that's defeatist. You can burn off that belly fat and stay in shape at any age just go for MORE weight-concentrated training. We suggest 30-40 minutes, but only two to three times a week. (Besides, everyone should spend more time at the gym than it takes to get there and back.) While you're still a long way from elderly, talk to your doc and get cleared for doing resistance work at the gym. Remember, "Resistance Is Fertile."

Q: I bought a hypoallergenic and expensive wrinkle cream and I broke out in big red welts! How is that possible with something that isn't supposed to bother your skin at all? Cheryl W., Mentor, Ohio

A: There's a lot of hype around hypoallergenic products. And unfortunately you and lots of other folks pay the price for products that don't deliver what they promise on the label. How is that possible?

Well, according to the Food and Drug Administration, there's no regulation governing the use of the word hypoallergenic! In fact on their website, the FDA says the term means, "whatever a particular company wants it to mean, but dermatologists say it has very little meaning."

Recently, researchers writing a letter to the editor in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology said they analyzed 187 personal-care products for kids (shampoos, sunscreens, diaper creams, etc.) all labeled "hypoallergenic," "dermatologist recommended," "fragrance-free" or "paraben-free." What they found was that 89 percent contained at least one chemical known to cause contact dermatitis and 11 percent contained five or more contact allergens. Methylisothiazolinone, named "Contact Allergen of the Year" in 2013 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society, showed up in 21 of the 187 supposedly kind-to-skin products.

So what's a consumer with sensitive skin do to? If a product bothers your skin, read the ingredients label and try to avoid those contents in the future. But, said the researchers, that's not easy. The 80 allergens they searched for show up under around 500 different names! Here's our added advice:

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Burning belly fat; don't fall for the hypo hype

WAYNESBURG Beginning next month, Greene County Department of Recreation will start its winter schedule of exercise programs with morning and evening sessions of four fitness classes.

All classes begin the week of Feb. 2 and include sessions of Body Blast! aerobics, Dance Fit, hatha yoga and Zumba. Individual classes can be attended at a cost of $8 per class, but registration discounts are available. The registration deadline for all classes is Jan. 30 and payment must be made in full. Class sizes are limited.

Four sessions of fitness classes will be held in the 4-H Building at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Waynesburg, with one session of yoga planned for Mon View Roller Rink and Community Center in Greensboro. Attendees should wear sweat-absorbing clothes and good support shoes and bring water and towels.

Both Zumba and Body Blast! aerobics will be offered in morning sessions at the fairgrounds. Zumba will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday from Feb. 3 through March 12, and Body Blast! aerobics will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. every Wednesday from Feb. 4 through March 11. The registration discount for the 18-class combination package is $5 per class, for a total of $90.

The fitness program Zumba combines Latin and international music with dynamic, yet simple exercise moves. Benefits of Zumba include efficient calorie burning, muscle toning and cardiovascular improvement. Body Blast! aerobics classes are designed for both high- and low-intensity workouts. Aerobic exercise conditions the heart and lungs; other benefits include increased energy and stamina, toned muscles, decreased tension and improved mood. The classes will combine fun cardio routines with specific and tailored muscle conditioning. Instructor Melissa Frameli will lead the Zumba classes, and Shastina Humble will lead the Body Blast! classes.

In the evenings, sessions of hatha yoga and Dance Fit will be offered. Certified yoga instructor Virginia Wainwright will lead hatha yoga in two different sessions. Wainwright will instruct yoga from 6 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday from Feb. 3 through March 24 at the fairgrounds, and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday from Feb. 5 through March 26 at Mon View Roller Rink. The registration discount for either eight-class session is $5 per class, for a total of $40 per session.

Hatha yoga is a more gentle style of yoga exercise that is great for beginners and senior citizens. It improves balance and overall health, while increasing flexibility and circulation. Attendees should also bring yoga mats, and shoes will not be worn during the class.

The brand-new Dance Fit classes will begin Thursday, Feb. 5, with Humble as instructor. Classes will run from 6 to 7 p.m. every Thursday through March 12 at the fairgrounds. The registration discount for the six-class session is $5 per class, for a total of $30. The classes will focus on dancing and working out to music mixes from the 1950s to today.

For more information, or to register for any of the classes, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323, or visit http://www.co.greene.pa.us.

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County offering series of winter exercise programs