#054 A Bad Case of Crabs

… in which our flustered podcaster stops caring whether or not the Moffat era is all a dream and figures we're going to see David Tennant in the shower when it's all over. It's the "Last Christmas" review and the last review podcast until Series 9. Happy New Year!

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Patreon Video (aka "The Pledge Drive for the Podcast")

This will be my one and only video podcast (or "vodcast"). It's actually a promotional video for the podcast in general and for the Patreon site, where listeners can make pledges and help support the podcast.

#053 The Fur Flies

… in which our fearless podcaster turns his critical eye on two beloved stories (and one beloved companion) from the classic series. Happy holidays!

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SHOW LINK
Oi Spaceman Podcast: Chicago TARDIS recap

Chicago TARDIS Pics from Geek Girl Chicago

Frequent guest of the podcast Lauren Faits has posted her collection of cosplay pics from Chicago TARDIS 2014 on her Geek Girl Chicago blog.

Click here for the write-up and for the picture gallery.

And this year, I'm in the cosplay gallery! Pic courtesy of Geek Girl Chicago.

#052 Suburban TARDIS 2014

A podcast special recorded at Chicago TARDIS 2014 featuring the "Power to the Podcasters" panel with Lynne Thomas (Verity!), Charles Martin (The Happiness Patrol), David Vox Mullen (New Who Podcast), and Ken Deep (Podshock). Special guests Mike Fy (Time Crash), Lauren Faits (Geek Girl Chicago), Gordon Dymowski (Zone 4 Podcast), Robert Smith? & Graeme Burke ("Who's 50"), Erika Ensign (Verity!), and John, Joanna & Nicole (2 Girls A Guy and a TARDIS).

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#051 Fan Mail

... in which the listeners have their say on Series 8.

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Panel appearances at Chicago TARDIS 2014

We FINALLY got a programming schedule for next weekend's Chicago TARDIS convention. I am participating in three panels this year:

All Teeth and Curls: 40 years of the 4th Doctor (Friday, 1pm, Programming 2)
(and I just may be cosplaying as the man himself on Friday!)

Podcasting Panel (Saturday, 2pm, Programming 3), featuring:
* Lynne Thomas (Verity!)
* David Vox Mullen (New Who Podcast)
* Charles Martin (The Happiness Patrol)
* Ken Deep (Podshock)

The God Complex (Sunday, 4pm, Programming 3)

I plan on recording the podcast panel and possibly the Tom Baker panel for future episodes of the podcast. I'll also try to get some "fan in the lobby" interviews recorded as well, so if you see me, stop by, say hi, and if you want, say a few words to the Snowball Blue mic and be on a podcast.

See you at Chicago TARDIS!

#050 Life in Hell

… in which a depressed podcaster needs a hug, even if it's the best way to hide your face, as he conducts a port-mortem on "Death in Heaven".

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#049 Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)

…in which the glass is either half empty or half full as our fearless podcaster reviews "Dark Water".

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SHOW LINKS

Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction - Bidder Form
Chicago TARDIS Charity Auction - Donation Form
Do Bats Eat Cats? - TARDIS Chainmaille Ornaments now on sale!

#048 Morning Wood

… in which our fearless podcaster tries to kick his Coke habbit and finds himself cheering for Team Mickey. Meanwhile the Doctor can't see the forest for the trees, Danny doesn't bother to take roll call on school field trips, and Clara lies.

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TARDIS Holiday Ornaments from Do Bats Eat Cats?

Because the holidays will be here before you know it, why not get a head start for you gift-giving or geek-tree-decorating needs and order a TARDIS Holiday ornament from my girlfriend's online shop? You can get a small star, large star or a dodecahedron* made of silver chain handwoven one ring at at time by Darlene. This is already becoming a fast seller, so get your order in time for the holidays and while supplies last.

You can order the TARDIS Holiday Ornaments at dobatseatcats.com/catalog/geeky-holiday-ornaments

*and yes, I told Darlene about the dodecahedron that appears on "Meglos".

#047 Off the Rails and On the Wall

… in which people die aboard a train, monsters hide along the (two dimensional) plane, the Doctor dances in his box, and Queen is covered by a Fox(es). Also, Clara lies. Our fearless podcaster reviews "Mummy on the Orient Express" and "Flatline".

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#046 Walking On Eggshells

… in which "Kill The Moon" is put under the microscope (or rather the telescope) to see if the test comes back positive. Meanwhile our fearless podcaster catches up with an old friend and fellow Whovian at ARCHON 38. Topics include why Doctor Who is no longer science fiction, ball-jointed dolls and their plans for world domination, and just what is it about redheads?

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#045 WHO 37 at ARCHON 38

A special mid-term review of Series 8 recorded live at the WHO 37 panel at ARCHON 38 in Collinsville, IL with special guest panelists Jennifer Picker of the St. Louis Celestrial Intervention Agency and Marella Sands, a local Sci-Fi author. Topics also include how to kill a weeping angel and whether Susan is a Time Lord or just a Gallifreyan.

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#044 BBC Afterschool Special

… in which our fearless podcaster stays after school and has another go at reviewing "The Caretaker".

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#043 Zero Percent Interest

… in which our fearless podcaster plays catch up with a double feature of new episode reviews. This week it's "Time Heist" and "The Caretaker", and only one of these episodes was reviewed while sober.

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SHOW LINK
ARCHON 38 - Oct. 3-5, Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville, IL

#042 Undercover (Hometown Blues)

… in which The Doctor and Clara have a couple of bedroom scenes, Danny Pink is hot for teacher, and our fearless podcaster returns home to visit two generations of Doctor Who fandom under one roof. Also a preview of the new Time Crash CD "Regeneration". WARNING: Spoilers for Broadchurch (from 49:15 to 50:25)

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SHOW LINKS
Time Crash - new CD "Regeneration" OUT NOW!!
Trivia Night Guy - St. Louis area trivia host (and guest of this week's podcast)

#041 Spoonman

… in which our fearless podcaster plays with a snowball in September, the Doctor is hording all the ice cream (or is it cookie dough), and Clara totally crushes the red velvet. It's this week's new WHO review of "Robot of Sherwood". There is also a new theory on the mysterious Missy as well as some news on the upcoming ARCHON 38 convention.

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#040 Rusty Innards

… in which our frustrated podcaster has to use the MacBook's internal microphone to record his review of "Into The Dalek" because of techincal difficulties beyond his control. To make up for the less-than-stellar sound quality, he also presents a five-year-old recording of a song written over 20 years ago about an alien empath from another Sci-Fi show. Enjoy.

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#039 Breathe Deep The Gathering Gloom

… in which the Doctor literally faces off against his enemies, Clara finally develops into a character, Deanna Troi gets drunk and picks a fight in a bar, and our fearless podcaster suffers from con crud as he reviews the Series Eight premiere "Deep Breath" and recounts his experiences at this year's Wizard World Chicago convention.

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#038 Small Finish

… in which our fearless podcast explores the strange world of Doctor Who annuals and presents an audio adaptation of "The Body Snatcher" from the 1977 Doctor Who Annual. He also catches up with some fan mail and ponders the fate of "big box" sci-fi conventions.

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WHO TOO

Some exciting news today that's not coming from Cardiff!

The Right Brain Project will be producing a sequel to last summer's Doctor Who stage show "The Timey Wimey Fantastic Brilliant Extravaganza (Geronimo!)", titled "WHO TOO" to be produced next summer as part of their 10th season of shows. The show will again be penned by brothers MacKenzie and Justin Gerber.

More details, including audition dates, to come sometime in the not too distant future.

For more info on The Right Brain Project, click on the above link, the link on the "Companion Websites" sidebar, or check out episodes #008 & #009 of the podcast, which can be found in this blog and on the podcast's RSS feed.

#037 Unchained

… in which we finally meet the girlfriend of our fearless podcaster. Our special guest for the 37th episode (in a row?) is Darlene of Do Bats Eat Cats?. We preview her line of Doctor Who inspired chainmaille jewelry and, of course, talk a lot about Doctor Who. Topics include how River Song found out the Doctor's name, what Sarah Jane was really doing in the attic, and why we're still waiting for Silence to fall.

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SHOW LINKS:
Do Bats Eat Cats? - online store (featuring fandom-inspired art)
Do Bats Eat Cats? - Etsy site
Eis4artist on Etsy - The Art of Eliza C. Stockfisch

#036a WHO 101 (Part 2)

… in which eight Doctor Who panelists act like the writers' room of the TV movie and argue about what is considered canon, choose their Doctor Who desert island episodes, ponder the idea of the Doctor being played by a child, and ask "which Doctor is Thai food?"

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#036 WHO 101 (Part 1)

… in which our fearless podcaster joins a rag-tag group of Chicago Whovians in a room full of creepy-clown murals for the Chicago Nerd Social Club's WHO 101 panel. Featuring Gordon Dymowski (Zone 4 Podcast), Phil Salomon (formerly of the "Bar Tab of Rassilon" podcast), Ken Trayling (local Doctor Who cosplayer), John, Joanna & Nicole (2 Girls a Guy and a TARDIS podcast), and Lauren Faits (Geek Girl Chicago). Also we finally have the first guest announcements for this year's Chicago TARDIS convention.

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Photos courtesy of 2 Girls a Guy and a TARDIS

See, I told you the clowns were creepy!

Why Clara is still "The Impossible Girl"

An illustration I made to explain why Clara is still "the impossible girl"...

Click the image to make larger.

#035 Chimeron Girl

… in which it's the 8th season of Doctor Who all over again with the billowing, red-lined cape of Pertwee … uh, make that the coat of Capaldi, and our fearless podcaster explains why Clara is still "The Impossible Girl". We also finish DVD commentary for the year with Part Three of "Delta and the Bannermen".

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#034 - The Crystal in the Kool-Aid

… in which our fearless podcaster returns to Shangra-La for DVD commentary of Part Two of "Delta and the Bannermen". Also a stream-of-consciousness journey through the wilderness years (inspired by the latest "Reality Bomb" podcast).

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Dining w/The TARDIS Tavern @ the Restaurant at the End of the Universe

You can now hear me chatting with Steve & Sean on the latest episode of the TARDIS Tavern Podcast. This week the boys find themselves at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, and we discuss the Peter Davison story "Four to Doomsday".

You can find their excellent podcast at tardistavern.lybsyn.com.

#033 - Delta Dawn

… in which our fearless podcaster has another go at DVD commentary with Part One of "Delta and the Bannermen". Also a look ahead at some future appearances on other Doctor Who podcasts and Chicago fan events.

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#032 - Sexterminate

… in which a very tired podcaster is still recovering from moving to a new apartment and is too mentally drained to come up with any subjects that probably have been covered already by the other hundred or so Doctor Who podcasts in the alliance. So instead he pitches some ideas for the upcoming Doctor Who porn parody.

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#031 - The Great Deceiver

…in which our truthful podcaster questions Rule One by looking back at the show's history to illustrate why "The Doctor lies" and what benefits and consequences he and his compaions face because of his lies. Topics also include Infinite Diversity in Incoming Companions in the comics, and the true inspiration for Sgt. Pepper.

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Highlights from Twitter Commentary - The Twin Dilemma

It's the gayest opening titles ever!
you can seriously stab someone with those backgammon pieces.
That's not a good look for Garmann!
how'd Peri know the Doctor had a mirror in his pocket?
nothing in that wardrobe room is in good taste!
It's "Equations" the exciting new game for the Atari 2600!
remember, always wait at least 2 hours after regeneration before choosing an outfit.
so the bowl haircuts must be hiding their Romulan ears and forehead ridges.
slight delay on the Mestor's Skype connection.
Matt Smith keeps throwing out food after regeneration. Colin Baker assaults his companion after his.
even the police have no fashion sense in this story!
I shall become...AN ACTOR!! GENIUS!!
these woeful twins make me miss the subtle acting of Matthew Waterhouse.
give them artificial respiration?!? GROSS!
wait, wasn't Peri wearing pumps earlier? now she's got boots on?
consoles made of tinfoil. typical end of season budget!
Peri got over being strangled rather quickly.
EXCELSIOR!! Colin does his Stan Lee impression.
Edgeworth turned into Slim Goodbody.
so Tom Baker's Doctor let Edgeworth down 20 drinks and had to push him in a fountain to sober him up?!? what a bastard!
part of the zigzag fell off the tinfoil console. sad.
he found the power pack in the jacket he just put on. coincidence? or shitty writing?
Nicola's crying cause she just realized she's stuck in her contract for the next series.
Colin didn't stand still while they cross faded Nicola out of shot.
Sorry, but that's the worst "crying" I've seen on TV.
what the hell kind of material is Lang's Jacket? it's a Project Runway reject!
the giant slug is crossed-eyed.
"it's a role you play very badly!" speak for yourself Romulus/Remus oh who the fuck cares!
Colin needs a much brighter flashlight to shine on the cave paintings. you can hardly see them.
I know what Mestor reminds me of now! Robot Monster! "To live like the hu-man!"
wow, Colin is more verbally abusive than Hartnell in the unaired pilot.
it's Colin's "Mrs. Robinson" shot.
he's holding a hot glue gun at Colin's head.
did the hermaphroditic slug just lusted after Peri? get in line, buddy.
they're calculating with an electronic Battleship game!
"A 14! B 12! C9! YOU SANK MY BATTLESHIP!"
So the owl people can get into the TARDIS, but not Monarch. or the Van Balen brothers. or Clara.
"it's not anything like hot enough yet." Colin's gone all valley girl.
Azmel should ask the high council for a new set of regenerations. where's the crack?
that guy actually died from heat exhaustion from wearing heavy makeup, feathers and the leather costume.
no, I'm not hiding anything behind my back! no sirree!
Lang's wearing a swatch! anyone else remember swatches?
wow, what horrible lip-syncing!
wow, Colin just grabbed Nicola. still not as shocking as Matt Smith grabbing Jenny and smooching her in "Crimson Horror."
oh, god, don't tell me the twins are going to be companions!
i take it back about the twins being the worst actors on Who. it's a tie between Lee in the TV movie and Artie in "Nighmare in Silver".
love Nicola's smile to Colin at the end, though.

#030 - Who Am I?!

…in which our fearless podcaster does the cheapest form of self-therapy by taking some Doctor Who online quizzes.

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SHOW LINKS

"Which Doctor Are You?" quiz - Virgin Media
Doctor Who Personality Quiz - BuddyTV.com
The Doctor Who Companion Test - OKCupid

JB'S QUIZ RESULTS

#029 - The Old Rugged Blue Box

…in which our faithful podcaster tackles the subject of religion in Doctor Who and observes how The Doctor has been portrayed as a Christ figure at various points in the series. We also find out what happens when you cross- breed an elephant and a rhino. Oh, and by the way, which one's Pink?

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ChiGeeks.Com

Received a nice write-up about the podcast on ChiGeeks.com. The podcast is currently listed on their blogs & podcast page (along with friend of the podcast Geek Girl Chicago.

The write-up also mentioned my girlfriend's Tom Baker chainmaille bracelet, recently featured on both the blog and the Facebook page. Speaking of which, she just finished some TARDIS pieces. Photos to come soon.

Top 40 Countdown - The List

1. City of Death
2. The Caves of Androzani
3. The Talons of Weng Chiang
4. Genesis of the Daleks
5. The Day of the Doctor
6. Inferno
7. Human Nature/The Family of Blood
8. The Doctor's Wife
9. Terror of the Autons
10. Earthshock
11. The God Complex
12. The Fires of Pompeii
13. School Reunion
14. Time of the Angels/Flesh and Stone
15. Pyramids of Mars
16. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances
17. The Eleventh Hour
18. Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead
19. The Sun Makers
20. The Deadly Assassin
21. Horror of Fang Rock
22. Dalek
23. Army of Ghosts/Doomsday
24. The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
25. Revelation of the Daleks
26. Midnight
27. The Edge of Destruction
28. The Five Doctors
29. Asylum of the Daleks
30. Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel
31. Remembrance of the Daleks
32. Carnival of Monsters
33. The Daemons
34. The War Games
35. The Waters of Mars
36. The Tomb of the Cybermen
37. Blink
38. The Daleks
39. Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways
40. Logopolis

#028 - One Year Later

Part Four of Four … in which our fearless podcaster celebrates one year of podcasting by reading some fan mail and finishing his damn top 40 countdown of favorite Doctor Who stories. Topics include why Amelia Pond prays to Santa, a Cyber voice tutorial, being traumatized by strawberry jelly, and trying not to embarrass your girlfriend in front of the Eiffel Tower.

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Doctor Who inspired chainmaille by Do Bats Eat Cats?

I am proud to present the first two Doctor Who inspired pieces by my girlfriend Darlene, aka Do Bats Eat Cats?, a chainmaille artist who specializes in one-of-a kind gothic and sci-fi/fantasy pieces.

The first piece is "Bad Wolf", which features silver and "TARDIS" blue chain, two rose charms and a wolf's head charm.

The second piece is a bracelet done in the style of Tom Baker's scarf.

Both pieces are con-exclusive and are not available at her online store. These and many more Doctor Who inspired pieces will be available at Chicago area sci-fi and fantasy conventions this summer. However if you are interested in either piece or if you have any questions, you can contact her via her shop page, or find her on Facebook or Twitter.

More pieces will be featured soon. Today she got in a shipment of bow tie charms for a Matt Smith inspired piece.

Who Resolutions

I know I'm over a month late with making resolutions, but after recent developments in the television series and after some thought, I have made two resolutions when blogging or podcasting about Doctor Who.

1. I will no longer use the designations "classic series" and "new series". At this point the "new series" has been on the air for almost 10 years, and I feel a bit silly calling it "new". It's all the same show, and yes, I'm including the 1996 TV Movie in case you're wondering. The program that started airing in 2005 is a direct continuation of the program that started airing in 1663, took an 18-month hiatus in 1985, stopped airing in 1989, and made a brief re-appearance in 1996. If I want to speak about a specific era of the program, it will be either in reference to a decade, a Doctor, or a production era (Letts/Dicks, JN-T, RTD, Moffat, etc).

2. Since a lot of fans are up in arms about the numbering system and can't decide if Peter Capaldi is the 12th, 13th or 14th Doctor, I have decided to no longer use numbers and will just refer to whichever Doctor by the actor who played him on the television series. This includes John Hurt, and David Tennant will just count as one Doctor. If I ever talk about "The Five Doctors" again, I'll refer to the fact that Richard Hurndell is playing the William Hartnell Doctor.

Let's see how long I can keep this up.

#027 - Reaching For The Stars

Part Three of Four … in which our fearless podcaster brings up religion, politics and sex while he continues his Top 40 countdown of Doctor Who stories. Topics include dangerous breasts, Tom Baker going Superfly in the middle of a story, why stupid kids will survive an alien invasion, and Matt Smith doing his Bill Cosby impression.

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Feature link: Geek Girl Chicago's blog: "Why I Won't Be at Wizard World Chicago"

#026 - Long Distance Dedication

Part Two of Four …in which our fearless podcaster continues his countdown of his Top 40 Doctor Who stories. This week it's 30 to 21, and it gets a little creepy with companions wielding scissors, Davros serving Happy Meals, and a special appearance by Max Headroom.

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#025 - An American's Top 40

Part One of Four … in which our fearless podcaster begins a countdown of his top 40 Doctor Who episodes. Topics include suicide, racism, science vs. religious fanaticism, funny walks, and giant roll-on deodorants.

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Instructions on how to knit a Tom Baker scarf

While rummaging thru an old box of photos, cards and clippings, I found the instructions on how to knit a Tom Baker scarf.

Modeling the finished scarf, circa Halloween 2004

Sometime during the mid 1980's, I wrote to my local PBS station (KETC Channel 9 in St. Louis) which was offering the instructions for free during a pledge drive. My mom and I bought all the yarn, and my mom hired someone to knit the scarf. I still own the scarf today and still wear it, especially as we're about to be experiencing temperatures as low as -50 degrees next week.

So as a public service, below is a transcription of the knitting instructions...

Salutations,

So, you wanted to know the official BBC instructions for knitting a Doctor Who scarf, did you? Well, here it is (they are).

MATERIALS

Size 10 American knitting needles
8 skeins (3 or 3.5 oz each) worsted wool; or polyester, blended acrylic or orion/dacron yarn in the following colors:

1 Dark Rust (rust)
1 Deep Tap Gold or Gold (yellow)
1 Dark Oxford (grey)
1 Burgundy (purple)
1 Cinnamon (bronze)
1 Olive (green)
2 Camel (light beige)

DIRECTIONS

Using the purple yarn, cast on 60 stitches. In plain knitting (a/k/a garter stitch) knit rows in the following order
(1 row means from one side to the other, NOT to one side and back again):

8 purple
52 camel
16 bronze
10 yellow
22 rust
8 purple
20 green
8 yellow
28 camel
14 rust
8 bronze
10 purple
42 green
8 yellow
16 grey
8 rust

54 camel
10 purple
12 green
8 yellow
18 rust
8 purple
38 bronze
10 camel
8 grey
40 rust
14 yellow
20 green
8 purple
42 camel
12 bronze
20 grey

8 rust
12 purple
6 camel
16 yellow
54 green
16 rust
12 grey
8 yellow
20 bronze
10 purple
12 camel
32 grey
10 rust
16 yellow

The tassels are made of 1-foot lengths of all colors of yarn (producing 6-inch tassels). 8 tassels for each end.

The BBC, which licenses all Doctor Who merchandise, warns that the finished scarf is to be WORN, NOT SOLD.

Allow at least 4 weeks for a completed scarf (assuming that you or the person who makes it will sleep, eat and go to work/school).

Good Luck,
Laura

"Laura" being Laura Cairo, who usually hosted the PBS pledge drives during Doctor Who and who usually wore a Tom Baker or Colin Baker costume (including a variation of Colin's costume made from Hawaiian shirt material).

The instructions were courtesy of the St. Louis Celestial Intervention Agency.