DEC 31, 2006

  Dr. Jones, Sr., Awaits Offer

  Although the big news this week has been that the IJ4 wheels are turning,
  this article from the BBC indicates that Sean Connery was at the same festival
  where Lucas was when he made the announcement, and indicated that he has
  yet to receive an offer in the newest film.  Stay tuned as we keep our eyes open
  for updates on this.  While you're waiting, feel free to count from 1 to 20.. in
  Greek..

8:00PM - EST    

  Collector Tin Clearance At Walmart

  Just days after the biggest gift-giving day of the year, the Star Wars Collector
  Tin paks are marked down from $35.96 to $26.86 at the local Walmart here in
  MD.  They had full stock of all available combinations.

  And although they're rehashes, there's just something magnetic about them
  2-packs...

8:00PM - EST    

  More On The Star Wars Rose Parade Event

  Scifi.com has provided more updates on what to expect from the Rose Bowl New
  Year's Day event.  Check out their latest updates here.

9:00AM - EST    

  94-Year-Old Ewok Hospitalized

  Ronnie Phillips, who played one of the many Ewoks in ROTJ, was hospitalized this
  week due to a series of falls in his UK home.  We wish Ronnie the best in his
  recovery.  More on the actor here.

9:00AM - EST    

  Indiana Jones IV: GO FOR LAUNCH

  It was confirmed today that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg will bring us a
  fourth installment of the Indiana Jones saga, to appear in 2008.  Finally!!!!

  Click here for the full article.  And to remember what made us all fans of this
  famed archaeologist, check this out.

6:00PM - EST    

  Where One Can Google Over Ewan

  To see one of the most recent interviews done with Ewan McGregor, click here.

6:00PM - EST    

  I Pledge Allegiance, To The Force...

  Scifi.com has a nice review of the latest Star Wars book to hit store shelves,
  Star Wars: Allegiance.  You can read their take on it here.

1:00PM - EST    

  Real-Life Mandalorians

  This site puts both Jango and Boba to shame...  Where do I sign up?

8:00PM - EST    

  Master Replicas Merges With Corgi

  Just in time for the new year, Corgi and Master Replicas merge into one
  unified entity.  We wish them the best of success with their new relationship
  in 2007.  What will that mean for future Star Wars props and related?  We'll
  have to wait and see.  More on the merger here.

8:00PM - EST    

  BTDT Reminder: Spielberg Speaks Tonight On Kennedy Center Honors

  For those of you who may not recall, we posted at the beginning of the month
  that Steven Spielberg has been nominated for this rare award opportunity.

  The ceremony will be shown tonight on CBS at 9PM EST, and you can also see
  a recent interview with Spielberg here.

4:00PM - EST    

  Star Wars Gift-Giving Feedback

  Below is a recap of some commentary provided, regarding the Star Wars
  gift-giving post:

  "When I was a kid my favorite SW gift was the ewoks village- I loved that thing.
  The one thing I never got as a kid was the AT-AT, but I finally got it for
  Christmas when they released the second potf AT-AT; that was also a great
  day."

  -JediMaste_ATT

  "The most memorable gift was 2 of those big plastic storage tubs full of 3 3/4
  and 12 inch figs including a 12 inch Maul from TPM"

  -Lord Horikor

  "This year I got the newest SW paperback book and the Trivial Pursuit DVD.
  I usually don't get much SW stuff becuase my parents don't know what I
  already have and aren't likely to get much OC stuff anyways."

 -Padmes_Sleepless_Knight

  "Nothing. I get my SW throughout the year so it's everyone else's turn at
  Christmas."

  -Quickdraw19

  Thanks to all for your input!

2:00PM - EST    

  Let The Star Wars Gift-Giving Begin

  If you're a known Star Wars fan in your family, this time of year always prompts
  some "interesting" gifts, am I right?  Everything from sweet figure finds, all the
  way down to whatever figures were left on the peg at the store, to Star Wars
  boxer shorts, and last but not least, Star TREK items.  That's always my
  favorite: "well I knew you were a Star Wars fan, so I HAD to get you this-
  the Enterprise bathroom buddy!  Isn't it cool??!!"

  Drop us an email with those most memorable gifts you've received for being
  a Star Wars fan, and we'll post them here at BTDT.  And just remember, it's
  not the gifts themselves, it's the fact that someone went out of their way
  to get you one..  So what if it's a Captain Kirk back scratcher.

8:00AM - EST    

  IGN's Top Movie Franchise Pick Of All Time

  Did you ever have any doubt as to what it was?  

8:00AM - EST    

  Before Lego SW II, Before Empire At War

  A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, there were games and game systems
  which existed way before someone even spoke the words, "first person shooter",
  or "frag".

  Join BTDT for a trip back in time- back to even before when Star Wars had hit
  the big screen, to be exact..  all the way back to 1975, when a little 4-letter
  word reared its head... PONG.  This article from PC World gives you a little
  trip through time, from Atari, all the way up to today's PS3.  Enjoy.

10:00PM - EST    

  Santa Delivers George Lucas' Christmas Present

  The above car is George Lucas' Christmas present from George, TO George,
  this year.  It is the Mosler MT900S, and is powered by a Corvette Z-06
  engine.

  If this guy doesn't get the vanity tag SITH for this car, I might have to fly
  out to CA and yell at him myself.  More on the car here and here.

4:00PM - EST    

  Hidden Holiday Cheer In Your Lego SW II Game

  The folks over at LucasArts have shared with us here at BTDT the following
  Lego SWII secret: how to make jolly ol’ Saint Nick appear.  See below:
  
  Step 1: At the Mos Eisley Cantina, enter the following two codes:
  CL4U5H (for Santa hat and red clothes)
  TYH319 (for white beard Extra)
  Step 2: Go to the Character Customizer and create the
  proper costume. Use a human head, the appropriate red clothing...and don't
  forget the red cap! Santa can wield the weapon of your choice -- we
  recommend the green or red lightsaber to
  seasonally complement his shiny red duds. (Remember, the color of his
   lightsaber decides whether his Force powers are naughty or nice.)
  Step 3: In the Extras menu, activate Disguise 3.
  Step 4: Enter the character-based level of your choice in Free Play.
  Step 5: Spread holiday cheer to a galaxy in pieces.

  Thanks guys!

2:00PM - EST    

  Raiders/IJ Makes #4 On IGN Top 25 Movie Franchises

  We knew this series would have to be in there somewhere, it was all just a
  matter of where.  Read more here.

2:00PM - EST    

  The Force Strikes In Malaysia

  Star Wars fans in Malaysia (apparently known as "Warsies"), have been in   celebration this week, honoring the Asian TV premiere of Star Wars Episode 3:
  Revenge of the Sith on New Year’s Eve. The celebration spans multiple events,
  including a Darth Vader appearance at Sogo KL on Dec 30, Jusco Bandar Utama
  on Dec 31 and Isetan KLCC on Jan 7.

  More on the event here.

8:00AM - EST    

  Obi-Wan Takes On A New Apprentice

  Congratulations to Ewan McGregor and his wife Ève, who have just adopted a
  daughter from Mongolia.  Her name is Jamiyan, and she's 4 years old.  She joins
  McGregor's other 2 daughters, five-year-old Esther and Clara, 10.

  Ewan met her during his round-the-world motorcycle trip two years ago,
  which has since become the documentary The Long Way Round.  We wish
  the family the best with their latest addition, just in time for the Holidays!

8:00PM - EST    

  BTDT Flashback: Star Wars General Mills Kite

  When I was little, I remember how sweet the mail-away offers were for the
  whole Star Wars campaign.  One special one for me was the mail-away
  General Mills kite.

  Although I remember my personal kite meeting its death thanks to a Sith
  electrical wire (they've taken MANY a kite away from unsuspecting children,
  I'll have you know), it has managed to stay in my mental database of SW
  paraphenilia I owned during my youth.  This post is in tribute to those
  memories.

8:00PM - EST    

  New Contest At Technicron

  We are pleased to announce that the crew over at Technicron are kicking
  off a great new contest, where one lucky winner will score a very desirable
  Transformer Titanium figure!  Here's the scoop:

  A lottery will take place, where each member will have their username
  entered into a drawing, which will happen on January 15, 2007 to kick off
  the New Year. The lottery will be for a Transformers Titanium Scourge. All
  current members and new members that register will be entered into the
  lottery. The deadline for new registration will be January 14th, 2007
  at 11:59 PM.

  Sounds simple enough, don't it?  Don't miss out on your chance to score this
  great figure!  Just click on their icon over on the right, and you're already
  on your way..

8:00PM - EST    

  Happy Birthday To The Man With The Mace

  BTDT extends birthday wishes to the Master Jedi with the purple saber,
  Samuel L. Jackson.  He is 58 today.

8:00AM - EST    

  Lego SW II Makes CNN Video Game Pick List

  Blended in with a multitude of other new release video games, Lego SW II
  makes the cut for this CNN video clip.

9:00PM - EST    

  The Perfect Transformers Recipe: A Pinch of Jedi, A Dash of Jones

  It is truly amazing how far the ripple effects of films like Star Wars and
  Indiana Jones continue to spread.  As we posted earlier this month, the
  latest Transformers trailer is available for viewing now exclusively at
  Yahoo! Movies.  And you know that this film has serious potential with
  Steven Spielberg manning the helm as Executive Producer.  But did you also
  know that ROTJ Production Assistant Ian Bryce is also on board?  And the
  goods don't stop there- Bryce also worked with Spielberg on IJ: Temple of
  Doom AND The Last Crusade.  His list of accalades include even more
  well-known projects, but you can check those out yourself.

  When you bring this much talent together under one roof, it's pretty hard to
  have a movie that results in any form of dissatisfaction.  Be ready.  They are
  coming 07.04.07.

8:00PM - EST    

  New Portman Pics

  Last month we provided with details on one of Natalie Portman's most
  recent projects, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium-  As of yesterday,
  some additional images have surfaced over at Ain't It Cool News.  You can
  view them here.  Thanks goes to MadeInChina for the heads up.

8:00PM - EST    

  BTDT Toy Events Update

  For those of you looking to escape the Holiday pre-game show and shopping
  mayhem, the following toy shows are happening this weekend:

12/23: CA, City of Industry (909-444-7955)
IL, Carol Stream (630-668-6000)

  As always, thanks to the gang at Toy Shop for the update.

8:00PM - EST    

  Where Force And Funk Come Together

  Say hello to a group that is part Cantina Band, part Fine Young Cannibals:
  Gnarles Barkley. And this video is what it's all about. Thanks to the guys
  over at Utah Toy Collectors for reminding me about this one.

  And for the record, I haven't seen that many band members on one stage
  since Kool and The Gang...

7:00PM - EST    

  "If you only knew the POWER...."

  According to this article, PS3 owners will never tap the full power of this system,
  because of its technology.  

  Funny thing is, the guy at Sears told me the same thing when I bought my
  75Mhz Pentium PC back in 1995..  

7:00PM - EST    

  Star Wars DVD Box Set: See It Again.. For 40% Off

  For today and tomorrow, Borders Books and Music has a printable 40% off
  coupon for any DVD box set they have in the store-  a perfect opportunity
  to pick up those OT DVDs for almost half the regular price!  You can get the
  coupon here.

3:00PM - EST    

  A Prime Building For Coruscant

  If you're looking for a way to turn your life around, here's the perfect way to
  do it.  This building, that looks like it should be erected next to the Jedi Temple
  on Coruscant, will use solar power to actually TURN the building on its axis.
  More here.

1:00PM - EST    

  Before being the first Jedi who told us about the Force, Sir Alec Guinness
  had already become quite an established mark in the film industry.  One
  example which displays his incredible acting style, shows up on various TV
  channels throughout the Christmas season.  Scrooge, stars not only him
  as Jacob Marley, but Albert Finney as well.  The movie was filmed in 1970,
  7 years before he donned a beard and headed for Tatooine- but it only
  takes hearing a few lines of his dialogue in this film, to recognize that it is
  indeed the man who became more powerful than one could possibly imagine..
  You can check for yourself here.

  Join us in honoring Sir Alec Guinness during this Holiday season.

10:00PM - EST    

  Why You Shouldn't Rush Star Wars

  Poor Neil...  Poor POOR Neil...  Check out some of the other more recently
  listed images here.  These just never get old..

10:00PM - EST    

  New 2007 Star Wars Calendar Commemorates 30 Years

  The newest "official" Star Wars calendar to hit shelves at your local bookstore
  kicks off the New Year right, bearing the "SW 30" logo in the upper right-hand
  corner.  Get ready for a year full of honorariums, contests, and other global
  praises, along with a whole slew of new products bearing this new branding, as
  Star Wars: A New Hope celebrates its 30th anniversary!

7:00PM - EST    

  Happy Birthday Steven Spielberg

  On this day 60 years ago, a man destined to become a legendary film director
  was born.  Not only did this person help bring Indiana Jones to life in the form
  we've all come to love today, but introduced other works which have kept
  us going for decades:  E.T., Jaws, Poltergeist, Saving Private Ryan, War Of The
  Worlds, the list goes on (and many of which also include little tidbits of
  Star Wars history within them as well).

  Our hat goes off to a man who has provided generations of movie-goers
  with some pretty spectacular films..  Keep 'em comin' Steve!

12:01AM - EST    

  Samuel L. Jackson Recounts His Moments As Mace

  The man who we've all come to know as one of the Council, recounts his
  thoughts on becoming a character in one of the greatest film series of all
  time, with the Kolkata Newsline.

10:30PM - EST    

  The Show Must Go On.  And It's Up To One Man..

  And that man is: Charles Ross.  His famous "One-Man Star Wars Trilogy"
  trudges onward, hitting Western Michigan's Shaw Theatre from January 16th
  to the 21st.  And what perfect timing that will be, since Michigan should look
  much like Hoth by then!  Ticket prices and info here.

7:00PM - EST    

  Zuh-Zuh- Ziddio.

  If you're looking for a new fan film to check out, try watching the "zid" called
  Jedi right on the Ziddio main page.  It's a great little adventure highlighting a
  front-yard turf war between a bunch of Padawans..  No dialogue, no horrible
  editing..  Just some classic Jedi moves and some sweet saber sounds!  And
  there are more SW-related films in their library here.

  They also do contests and have some other cool topics.  Check 'em out.

7:00PM - EST    

  Checked Out Technicron Lately?

  For those of you who are new to BTDT, be sure to take a moment to check
  out the main site of one of our sponsors, Technicron.com.  They are currently
  offering a $5 credit to you for registering, $2 for each referral you send their
  way, AND free auction listings (for a limited time).  Be sure to get on their
  roster now, because once the Transformers movie hits next Summer, you can
  be sure they'll be jumpin'!

6:00PM - EST    

  IGN Votes On The Top 25 Movie Franchises Of All Time

  I've enjoyed following this lineup to date, as IGN.com has dug up some great
  film classics to include in this list.  However, as of today, they're at #8 and
  still have not yet gotten to a few that I think should be out there...  Hmm.
  Is it maybe because the ones I'm thinking of will appear in the Top FIVE count?
  Keep an eye out, as #7 will be displayed sometime tomorrow.

6:00PM - EST    

  Empire At War: Map Editor Download Available

  Want to make some sweet updates to the existing Empire At War map lists?
  You now have the ability to edit the Star Wars realm with one swift stroke,
  by using this download.

8:00AM - EST    

  TIE'd To Your Desk

  Check out this custom desk one fan built to accomodate his machine-  The only
  thing I can find wrong with it is you end up "riding" the TIE backwards..

2:00PM - EST    

  SW Galaxies Site Honors Gamer Hazecreator

  The Star Wars Galaxies site spotlights one of their dedicated gamers each
  week, and posts a little interview with the Galaxies player- this week, they've
  put 39-month veteran gamer Hazecreator up on the stage.  More here.

2:00PM - EST    

  BTDT Sneak Peek

   For our Star Wars readers who also double as Transformers fans, this update's
  for you.  Yahoo! Movies has released this still image from the new live-action
  Transformers movie. They will also have the new trailer available next week.
  This is looking simply wicked.  Check out the full size image.

12:00PM - EST    

  On With The Show(s)...

  Just in time for St. Nick is a few toy events across the Nation- check
  below for the gig nearest to you:

12/16 - CA, City of Industry
12/17 - CT, Wallingford
MA, Taunton
NC, Raleigh
NY, White Plains (518-392-2660)

  Thanks to Toy Shop for the intel.

9:00PM - EST    

  The Force In Your Phone.  Death Star Assault Review

  For those who are looking for some Star Wars action in your daily hand-held
  phone, here's a review of the latest game to make it to the mini screen.
  Check it out.

9:00PM - EST    

  Look Out Clone Wars: The Dark Side of Trek

  Not only does the Clone Wars series have competition with a new Spaceballs
  animated series in the works, but it appears a second iteration of a Star Trek
  animated series is brewing as well. More on the update here.

3:00PM - EST    

  Natalie Portman Lives Comfortably

  BTDT reader nezzjo shares with us this great article, highlighting a NY law that
  helps Natalie Portman save $134,000 on her $5.8MM Manhattan condo..

  Sounds like she really needs that savings..  Wish I had that problem!

3:00PM - EST    

  IGN Critiques Lethal Alliance

  IGN provides a nice writeup on the latest Star Wars game to hit the DS (and I
  don't mean the DEATH STAR).  Check out the review here.

10:00PM - EST    

  Autographed Obi-Wan Up For Charity

  Be a part of this special opportunity to raise money for the blind.  This 2-foot
  tall MISB Obi-Wan has been autographed by Ewan McGregor himself, with all
  proceeds going to the National Library For The Blind.  The Holiday season is
  a great time to help those in need.

  "Your eyes can deceive you- don't TRUST them..." - Obi-Wan Kenobi, ANH

8:00PM - EST    

  $10-$20 Off All Star Wars Games At Buy.com

  Thanks to this little blurb over at techbargains.com, you can do some serious
  cash saving over at buy.com on a slew of great Star Wars games!  Check it.

5:00PM - EST    

  Natalie Portman In India
   Source: The Hindustan Times

  Natalie's latest project takes her to the far-off land of India, where she is
  acting in a film called The Darjeeling Limited. The story apparently highlights
  the trip of three brothers traveling through India, and was co-written by
  Roman Coppola.  More updates on this as we get them.

5:00PM - EST    

  ROTJ Star Michael Gilden Dies

  44-year old actor Michael Gilden, who portrayed one of the Ewoks in ROTJ,
  was found dead last week, after apparently having taken his own life in his
  LA home.  Gilden was buried this past Sunday during a private service in
  Mission Hills, California. The sentiments of BTDT go out to his family.

12:00PM - EST    

  Indiana Jones Trilogy A Low 9 Bucks

  BTDT reader OliverStone writes in to tell us you can pick up the Indiana Jones
  on yes, DVD, for a cool 9 clams.  For more info go here.  Thanks OS!

12:00PM - EST    

  Cooking For A Sith?  Be Sure To Add Rosemary...

  Back in July of this year, we posted details regarding a special collector's
  opportunity that highlighted a rare piece of Star Wars history: a collection of
  30 pieces of correspondence from the Dark Lord himself, David Prowse, to a
  fan located here in the U.S.  We're pleased to announce some exclusive
  updates on this topic from the actual fan themselves, whom we'll simply refer
  to here as Rosemary..

  Click here for the full story.

8:00PM - EST    

  "Evacuation control will give clearance for immediate launch..."

  The Space Shuttle Discovery marked another successful launch last night
  at 8:47PM EST, hurdling into Space at over 1,700MPH.  For a glance at some
  of the previous Space Shuttle launches in years gone by, check this out.

8:00PM - EST     

  Naboo Queen Caters To Her People

  Keisha Castle-Hughes, the young woman who portrayed the Queen of Naboo
  in Revenge Of The Sith, was highlighted in the December 11th issue of People
  magazine for her performance in The Nativity Story.  She is also expecting
  her first baby, due in April 2007.

  Thanks to Queen AmiDana for the newsbyte!  You can view the article here.

8:00PM - EST     

  "NO.. I Said StormBREAKER.."

  The kids movie Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker opens today in select
  theatres.  Its cast list includes Mr. Ewan McGregor, and the film is a 007-ish
  story about how fourteen-year-old Alex Rider (Alex Pettyfer) is recruited by
  the British spy organization, MI6.

  More on the film here.

8:30AM - EST     

  Empire At War 1.1 Patch Development In Progress

  This article provides a list of some great enhancements which will be coming
  for one of the latest Star Wars releases, Empire At War.  The article does not
  cite a release date yet for the patch, but mentions that it will be responsible
  for "a slew of balance tweaks, AI improvements, map changes and plenty
  more .."

8:30AM - EST     

  Lorne Peterson Book Signing Tomorrow

  Lorne Peterson, creator of the new book "Star Wars: Sculpting A Galaxy", will
  be signing copies at the store "Every Picture Tells a Story" in Santa Monica,
  CA.  After that session is completed, he will be introducing the 1997 Special
  Edition of ANH at the Aero Theatre.  More info here.

  Now that's a Saturday Night worth attending.

8:30AM - EST     

  Episode IV: The Moments You've Never Seen

  This video does a great job of pointing out the "little" things missed by the
  editor of A New Hope.  Kudos to the folks who took the time to put this
  together.

9:00PM - EST     

  ROTJ Blooper

  This must have been in one of those spliced copies of the film that was
  floating around prior to the remastered versions..

9:00PM - EST     

  When A Sith Plays Poker... 

  You lose.  Hayden Christensen will be portraying "Poker Brat" Bill Hellmuth in
  a forthcoming release called The Madison Kid.  The story revolves around
  the moment when 24-year-old Hellmuth became the youngest World Champion
  of Poker in 1989, defeating two-time defending champion, Johnny Chan.  
  Shooting is scheduled for April/May 2007 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

  "I am altering the deal- pray I don't alter it any further..."

8:30PM - EST     

  McGregor Rallies For More UK Film-Making

  Ewan McGregor has spoken out against the UK's film industry, stating that little
  filming is happening there due to a lack of tax incentives for filmmakers.

  "We should be making more and more films over here. But the problem is there
  are no tax incentives to work here.

  It's crazy. We have such fantastic studios, technicians, and some of the best
  actors in the world – so it's just lunacy. They don't make it attractive for actors
  to work here."

  Lucas filmed all 3 of the Original Trilogy in Elstree Studios in the UK, at first
  because U.S. studios wanted no part of what was considered a crazy space
  opera at the time.  However, after seeing what he was capable of accomplishing
  leveraging the magic of Elstree, Lucas ended up shooting all 3 films, and even
  some of the "newer" Star Wars films there as well. 

  You really have to admire Ewan for his courage in expressing a statement like
  this so publicly.  More on the rally here.

8:30PM - EST     

  R2 Loses His Head

  Up for bid on eBay comes a very rare piece that will be of interest to many
  Star Wars fans- one of the actual R2 domes is up for auction, just in time
  for Christmas!

 This particular unit was used in the filming of Return Of The Jedi and The
  Phantom Menace, and was due to be scrapped before being rescued by a
  passing Elstree Studios employee (or so the story goes).  More on this auction
  here.

8:00AM - EST     

  Lucas Wins Another Award For His Mantle
  
  George Lucas will receive the Irving "Bud" Levin Award, created to mark the
  50th anniversary of the San Francisco International Film Festival, which takes
  place from April 26 to May 10, 2007.  More on the event here.

  The guy must have a room in his house JUST for all of his awards..

8:00AM - EST     

  "That's no moon...  It's a space station..."

  Apparently NASA is requesting a full-fledged lunar base to be established on
  the Moon, to push along President Bush's 2004 objective to send people back
  to the giant rock.

  This article mentions the existing plan, along with an expectation to go around
  the Moon in 2008.  Check it.

8:00AM - EST     

  Natalie Portman Becomes Comical

  Natalie Portman can now be seen in a slew of humorous comics over at
  natalieportman.com.  Click on the above image to see the full pic, and here
  to see the others out there.

9:30PM - EST     

  501st To STORM Rose Bowl New Year's Day

  For those of you who will be sitting in front of the tube on 1/1/07, hung over
  most likely, we're warning you now that the crew of Stormtroopers walking
  with George Lucas won't be a hallucination..

  Lucas is apparently this year's grand marshal at the Rose Bowl parade in
  Pasadena, Calif. Stormtroopers in attendance will be coming from 36 states
  and 22 countries to follow him out onto the field.

  For the full scoop on the event, go here.  And remember, you heard it here
  first at BTDT.

9:00PM - EST     

  BTDT Flashback: In Sweepstakes Gone By

  A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, there was a sweepstakes offered
  where one lucky winner would score all of the following:

-seeing the US premiere of ESB with C-3PO and R2-D2
in Washington, DC
-every Star Wars toy made (and TO be made
according to the certificate)
-a family "all-expense-paid" trip to Washington DC
complete with private guided tours

  All of this transpired, according to this little certificate, way back in the
  Spring of 1980.  It sounds like it was almost too good to be true, especially
  the part about every SW toy ever made and ever TO be made..  That means
  the winner's still getting boxes from Hasbro in the mail, right?

  If anyone knows of this winner from back in the day, it would be great to hear
  how everything turned out.

8:00PM - EST     

  Thursday Night Lights

  For the first time in four years, the next Space Shuttle launch has been
  scheduled for an evening blast-off.  This Thursday at 9:35PM EST, the
  shuttle Discovery will take off on its destination to the International Space
  Station.  More on the mission here.

12:00PM - EST     

  Star Wars Lethal Alliance Pre-order

  Do you have your pre-order in already for the newest SW title to hit the
  gaming realm?  If not, you can put your order in here.

8:00AM - EST     

  Spielberg, Neeson Attend US Arts Ceremony

  A special US cultural award ceremony was held this weekend, where many
  celebrities and even President Bush attended.  This was an interesting event,
  as Spielberg is strongly opposed to many of the decisions currently being
  made by the Presidential Administration.

  Both Liam Neeson and Tom Hanks spoke on Spielberg's behalf, praising his
  accomplishments in film.  The event will be televised on December 26 on CBS,
  and you can read more here.

8:00AM - EST     

  Ewan in London

  Ewan McGregor walked down the red carpet today for the London premiere
  of Miss Potter, alongside Renée Zellweger and many of the film's other cast.
  The above pic shows him signing an autograph for a young boy- something
  tells me that kid wants the auto for another performance Ewan has recently
  done..  More on the premiere here.

9:00PM - EST     

  The Spiel From Spielberg

  Today's Washington Post includes an interview with Steven Spielberg.  It
  mentions that he's up for his 60th birthday at the end of the month, and
  that he has no plans of "retiring" from film-making.  Sadly there is no mention
  of the next IJ film, but we'll stay optimistic.  Check out the interview here.

8:00PM - EST     

  It All Started With Mos Eisley

  "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy..."  Hopefully
  that won't be the case with this new proposed Spaceport to be located in
  Columbus, Ohio.

  The Ohio location, if approved, will be #8 on the list of already-planned or
  existing spaceports in the US alone.  Just remember: pack light.

10:00AM - EST     

  NYC Screening Of McGregor's Miss Potter 12/7

  For those of you in the vicinity of NYC, you'll have a special opportunity
  next week to check out Ewan McGregor's performance in Miss Potter.

  The story follows the writer, Beatrix Potter, as she shoots to fame, and leaves
  her fiancé Norman Warne (played by Ewan McGregor) and struggles to find
  happiness and success.

  The screening will be held at the following location:

  Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m.
  AMC Loews 14 Cinema
  312 W. 34th St.
  NYC

  It's being done on a first-come first serve basis, so don't dilly dally..

1:00PM - EST     

  The 12 Days Of Christmas - Skywalker Style

  I had to post this vid because it was very creative- we all knew Luke could
  whine, but I don't think anyone ever wondered whether or not he could sing.

  Note: you just might want to have Excedrin and/or earplugs readily available..
  And tell me the kid doesn't remind you of Sixth Sense ("I see dead people").  
  

1:00PM - EST