JAN 29, 2007

  And The Winner Is...

  The winner of the Technicron contest was posted last night- to find out if it was
  you, click here.

12:00PM - EST    

  Obi Wan Cloak, Indiana Jones Costumes Up For Auction

  On March 6th, 2007, the world will have a rare opportunity to own a very
  significant piece of Star Wars history- Obi Wan's actual cloak from ANH, the
  very one that fell to the floor when he became one with the Force.

  According to the article, the true value of Guinness's cloak was not appreciated
  for some years after the film, and it was available for hire as part of a monk's
  costume. Bonhams auctioneers said the cloak was expected to surpass its
  £50,000 reserve price.

  More on the event here and here.

7:00AM - EST    

  Happy Birthday Frank Darabont

  Birthday wishes go out to Frank Darabont, a man whose perseverance
  contributed to Indiana Jones 4 being brought to light, along with a slew of
  other great film and horror classics!  More on his resume here.

7:00AM - EST    

  BTDT Gamer Training Week #3

  Jade Jedi provides us with the following great Jedi Academy gaming tip:

  This week we'll talk movement. When dueling try not to use linear or straight
  line movement. If you use a circular type of movement, using strafe and
  mouse, it will allow you to move in closer to your opponent and also
  allows you greater opportunity to attack their flanks and deliver more damage.
  

  The weakest part of the defense is usually the flanks, this is true for single
  saber and to an extent staff but for duels it's a lot harder because of the
  two sabers, their defence is weakest from the back.

  Thanks JJ- You can also find Jade Jedi providing further instruction over at
  thejediacademy.net

7:00AM - EST    

  Rush Hour 3 Teaser

  As promised, here is the latest teaser trailer for the newest Rush Hour film, to hit
  the big screen.  The movie takes place in Paris, France.  And, as before, the
  comic duo have a new classic jam that they sing together.

  The trailer requires QuickTime 7 and, uh... don't let that little Russian preface
  concern you..

7:00PM - EST    

  Sideshow Maul Review At IGN

  For anyone on the fence about whether or not to add this item to their collection,
  you can get detailed feedback here.

5:00PM - EST    

  BTDT Events Calendar

  Below are a slew of toy events this weekend, coming to a town near YOU:

Jan 27 2007 AZ, Phoenix. Dolls & Friends Doll Show. Shrine Auditorium, 552 N. 40th St. SH: 10am-4pm, A: $4. Candy, PH: 602-237-4884, Joan, PH: 623-875-9230 or Elaine, PH: 480-540-3474.

Jan 26-28 2007 FL, Orlando. 18th Annual Florida Extravaganza. Orange Cty. Conv. Ctr. Fri. 12noon-7pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 10am-5pm, T: 1,500. PH: 877-470-2826 or www.fxshow.com

Jan 27 2007 FL, Melbourne. The Best Collectible Doll, Toy, Bear & Antique Show. Azan Shrine Temple, 1591 W. Eau Gallie Blvd. SH: 10am-4pm, A: $3., under 12 free. Connie Holland, 324 NW Ontario St., Palm Bay, FL 32907. PH: 321-952-0835 or 243-5179.

Jan 28 2007 IL, Orland Park. Toys, Sports Cards, Cars & More Show. Civic Ctr., 147th St., 1 blk. W. La Grange Rd. SH: 9am-2pm, T: 60-6’, A: $1. John Leary, 9522 W. Shore Dr., Oak Lawn, IL 60453. PH: 708-423-1758.

Jan 28 2007 IL, Rockford. 8th Annual Classic Plastic Model Contest & Swapmeet. Ken Rock Community Center, 3218 11th St. SH: 9am-3pm, A: $2., under 12 free. Dan Meyers, PH: 815-239-2391.

Jan 28 2007 MI, Livonia. 16th Annual MI Toy Soldier Show. Holiday Inn, I-75 & 6 Mile Rd. Exit (Metro-Detroit). SH: 9am-3pm. PH: 248-586-1022 or www.michiganshow.com

Jan 26-28 2007 MO, Kansas City. Annual Show. Independence Center Mall. SH: Fri. & Sat. 10am-9pm, Sun. 12noon-6pm, T: 55, A: free. Tim Belk, 2811 Joplin St., Joplin, MO 64804. PH: 417-781-4422.

Jan 28 2007 NH, Hampton Falls. Seacoast Collectible Show. Fargo Garden, Route One. SH: 9am-2pm, T: 90, A: $3. Chris Morse, 919 Lafayette Rd., Seabrook, NH 03842. PH: 603-474-2283 or 898-4151.

Jan 28 2007 NY, Syracuse. Toy Collectorsfest & Sports Memorabilia Show. State Fairgrounds, State Fair Blvd., Exit 7 off Rt. 690. SH: 10am-4pm, T: 200, A: $4., under 10 free. Central NY Promos., 55 North West St., Ste. 1, Homer, NY 13077. PH: 607-753-8580 eves. or www.cnypromotions.com

Jan 27-28 2007 NC, Raleigh. 57th Sports Collectibles Show. NC State Fairgrounds, Scott Bldg.SH: Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm, T: 200, A: $5., 15 & under free. Inside Pitch Promos., PH: 919-553-4285.

Jan 26-28 2007 OH, Columbus. Expo-Ohio Farm Toy & NASCAR Collectibles Show. OH Expo Ctr., Ohio Bldg., State Fairgrounds, 717 E. 17th Ave. SH: 9am-5pm, A: $2., under 6 free with adult. PH: 941-228-1745.

Jan 27 2007 WI, La Crosse. Tri-State Rail Sale. La Crosse Ctr., 300 Harborview Plaza. SH: 9am-3pm, A: $4., under 12 free. 4000 Foundation, PH: 608-582-4761 or www.lacrosseshortlinerr.org

  Thanks as always to our friends at Toy Shop magazine for the intel..

  Also, for you cycle enthusiasts, check out this event as well.

9:00PM - EST    

  Star Wars - Episode VII: Return Of The Deleted Scenes

  It looks like we may just see another box set of the Saga in the not-so-distant
  future.  Apparently, according to an article in USA Today, there are still scenes
  that were shot during the Prequel and OT films which have yet to be revealed
  to the public.  Check out this highlight:

  Feiner says he worked for three years cleaning up the Star Wars movies for
  release in 1998. "We were then contacted by Lucas to go into another 100 shots
  that we hadn't done before. I basically said, 'Why are we doing this? You released
  the picture.' He said, 'Well, we want to go in and clean up stuff we hadn't done
  before.'"

  That's when he picked up on a bombshell: "I heard through another source,
  some friends of mine up at ILM (Lucas' special-effects company), they were
  doing additional shots to get cut into a new version. I've never seen it, and I
  don't know anybody outside of George and his small cadre that have seen it.
  I'm just making an assumption that they're going to use this for some future
  release."

  I think we're going to have to change the expression "the saga continues" to
  "like sand through the hourglass... these are the Days of our Lives".  More on the
  USA Today article here.

12:00PM - EST    

  One Of The Best Star Wars Fan Films - Hands Down.

  This fan film is definitely worth checking out..  It highlights the Battle of Yavin
  from ANH, done completely with peoples' hands- the best is the explosion of
  the Death Star.

  And now everybody sing with me: "He's got the whole... world, in His hands,
  he's got the whole wide world, in His hands, He's got..."

8:00AM - EST    

  Clint Eastwood With Indy?

  As the rumor mill continues to churn regarding IJ4 and its participants, one
  currently circulating is that Clint Eastwood was actually offered a role in the
  film by Spielberg...  Sound crazy?  Read here.

  "Go ahead......... Make My Marion."

7:00AM - EST    

  To Be, Or Not To Be..... The Doctor.

  The time has come once again for the infamous Dr. Who to shed his skin, and
  when he does, the final result will come to be someone who looks like...
  Shakespearean actor Sir Derek Jacobi.  More here.

  He is one of one of Britain's foremost actors, and was among the founding
  members of the National Theatre.  So just be sure to clap at the end of each
  episode, and wear some nice clothes.

7:00AM - EST    

  BTDT Flashback: Episode III Character Revealed

  On this day 2 years ago, we learned of a "new" (using the term loosely)
  character who we would get to finally see on the screen, in one of the Star
  Wars films: that new character was Captain Antilles (to be portrayed by an
  actor named Rohan Nicols).  Be sure to check out this moment in BTDT news
  history, and others, in our archives.

7:00PM - EST    

  Qui-Gon To Portray Honest Abe

  The Jedi who learned to communicate post-mortem is working to fill the shoes
  of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, in a Steven Spielberg creation,
  Lincoln.  And before anyone gets ansy about this, Spielberg won't be delving
  into this until AFTER IJ4.  More on the update here.

7:00PM - EST    

  30th Anniversary Lineup In London

  If you're located in the UK, you will really enjoy this update-  Celebration Europe,
  an all-Star Wars event, will run for three days and will feature stars from all six of
  the movies plus many other attractions.  It has also been mentioned that
  life-sized replicas of Star Wars vehicles as well as stuff from the Lucasfilm
  archives will be on display.

  The first one to hit the UK will take place at the Excel exhibition centre in east
  London from 13 to 15 July.  More on the Celebration here.

7:00PM - EST    

  BTDT Gamer Training

  For those of you looking to hone your Jedi gaming skills, JadeJedi provides us
  with the following Jedi Academy tip for this week:

  This week's tip is all about the look, setting up your screen, but first you'll
  need to bring up your console by pressing shift + ~ then you can try out the
  following:

1.cg_fov 100 (default is 80) this will pull you back further away from your character and give you a wider field of view.

2.cg_hudfiles 1 (default is 0) will change the hud to a more simplified look allowing you to see more on your screen.

3.cg_lagometer 1 (default is 0) will bring up a lag meter showing you connectivity, packet loss etc...

4.cg_drawfps 1 (default is 0) will show you your frames per second in the top right corner of the screen.

This last one is for those that have wide screen and if your like me, and keep getting a message from your monitor to change resolution to 1680x1050 ever time you start up the game, then here's what to do:

1. go to C:...Jedi Academy\GameData\Base

2.copy your jampconfig to desktop and open with any text editor.

3.find the string 'seta r_customwidth' and set it to the width of your monitor. For instance, '1680'

4.next find the string 'seta r_customheight' and set it to the height of your monitor. For instance, '1050'

5.then you need to find 'seta r_mode' and set it to to '-1'.

6.last of all are going to need to change the FOV now, find the string 'seta cg_fov' and change the value to '115'.

And there you should have it. Remember to COPY YOUR ORIGINAL jampconfig just in case.

  Thanks JJ- You can also find Jade Jedi providing further instruction over at
  thejediacademy.net

9:00PM - EST    

  Neil Kaplan To Appear At ALL-CON

  When we say the name Neil Kaplan, you're probably like "OK so who the crap
  is that????"  But when we say the name Optimus Prime, things should start to
  sound a little more familiar...  Neil Kaplan, who helped make OP the character
  we all best remember from the Transformers series, will be appearing at the
  Dallas ALL-CON this March.  And here's some other great dirt on this guy that
  may catch you off-guard: did you know his voice can also be found in both
  the KOTOR and Galactic Battlegrounds games?  The way I see it, the guy's
  got skillz..

  Read more on his appearance, along with other folks from BSG and many other
  sci-fi spectaculars, here.  If you're near the Lone Star State, and a fellow scifi
  fanatic, and you bypass this event?  You're simply a tool - hands down.
  

9:00PM - EST    

  Your Weekly BTDT Toy Event Update

  Thanks to the gang at Toy Shop, we're glad to provide you with the following
  details regarding toy events happening this weekend:

Jan 20 2007 FL, DeLand. 8th Annual Central FL Farm Toys Show. Volusia Cty. Fairgrounds, I-4 btw. Orlando & Daytona, Exit 118 & Hwy. 44 E. SH: 9am-4pm, T: 8’, A: $3., under 12 free. John Rammacher, 1610 Park Ave., Orange City, FL 32763. PH: 386-775-2891.

Jan 20-21 2007 KS, Manhattan. Annual Show. Town Center Mall. SH: Sat. 10am-9pm, Sun. 12noon-6pm, T: 35, A: free. Tim Belk, 2811 Joplin St., Joplin, MO 64804. PH: 417-781-4422.

Jan 20 2007 MD, Baltimore. Toy Show. SH: 8:30am-2pm, T: 200, A: $4. Dave Hart, PH: 443-506-5205.

Jan 21 2007 MA, Dedham. Antique & Collectible Cabin Fever Toy Show. Holiday Inn. SH: 9am-2:30pm, A: $4.50. Atlantic Group, Marilyn Devlin, PH: 508-379-9733 or www.bostontoyshow.com

Jan 21 2007 MI, Livonia. X-Trava-Con. Knights of Columbus Hall, 19801 Farmington Rd. SH: 10am-4pm, A: $3. Michael Goldman or Gary Bishop, PH: 248-426-8059 or www.motorcityconventions.com

Jan 21 2007 MI, Westland. Hot Wheels Diecast Show. Wayne Ford Civic League, 1645 N. Wayne Rd. SH: 8:30am-1:30pm, A: $5. Sheri Abby, PH: 810-688-3606 or www.motorcityhotwheelers.com

8:00PM - EST    

  Harrison Ford Speaks

  Here's a nice interview with Ford in 2006 at the Fly-In Theatre in OshKosh, WI,
  where he does mention IJ4.

10:00PM - EST    

  Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Stew

  FilmStew.com has some IJ4 updates from screenwriter David Koepp.  You can
  check out the latest commentary from him here.

10:00PM - EST    

  Happy Birthday James Earl Jones

  BTDT salutes James on his 76th birthday today.  Thanks for helping in creating
  one of the most memorable film characters EVER.

12:01AM - EST    

  Sculpting A Galaxy: UGO Speaks With Lorne Peterson

  Back in December, we shared with our readers that Lorne Peterson's new book,
  Star Wars: Sculpting A Galaxy, was hitting store shelves just in time for the
  holidays.  Lorne was also going to be present for a book signing on 12/9 in
  Santa Monica.  It looks like somewhere during that time, UGO.com got to
  arrange some time with him to hear more about the new book, along with
  Lorne's contributions to the Star Wars galaxy.  You can check out the interview
  here.

9:00PM - EST    

  Yoda Will Fight.. Even One-Armed

  "Always with you what cannot be done..."  This Yoda one-armed bandit slot
  machine would be a nice addition to your bar or Star Wars collectibles room.
  More info here.

9:00PM - EST    

  Attention Utah Star Wars Fans

  It looks like Master Kenobi is going to be in your neck of the woods..  Well,
  in spirit anyway-  The Doctor, The Tornado, And The Kentucky Kid (narrated
  by McGregor) will be appearing on the big screen, at X-Dance, on Sunday
  Jan 21 at 2:20PM.

  X-Dance is at 333 Main Street, Park City, Utah – on the second floor of the
  Main Street Mall, opposite the Egyptian Theater. Tickets are available on a
  first-come, first-served basis. For more info, visit the X-Dance website.

  If you can’t make it to Utah next week, remember that the double disc
  Collector’s Edition of The Doctor, the Tornado and the Kentucky Kid is available
  now at www.dtkmovie.com. The Collector’s Edition won’t be available from most
  other websites until February.

  PS: be sure to check out the trailer!

8:00PM - EST    

  In Honor Of A Fallen Jedi

  I announce with great sadness, the loss of one of my first peers in the
  Star Wars online community, Shannon Wagoner.  He actually passed away
  on 8/29/06, but I just got wind of the news this week.

  Shannon was a fellow online junkie (probably why we hit it off so well), in
  addition to being a bonafide over-the-top Star Wars fan and toy customizer.
  When I first came in contact with him, it was in early 2002, at the time when
  the web was still relatively free of rules - folks were downloading as much
  audio and video footage as they could snatch up (using such tools as WinMX,
  Kazaa, eDonkey, and a slew of others).  I remember loving this guy simply
  because he knew how to use all peripherals readily available to him, in order
  to make the most of this window of file-sharing freedom.  At one point I
  remember of him running 3 machines just to satisfy his downloading
  desires!

  Completely separate of that part about him, he was also a fellow Star Wars
  toy collector and enthusiast, and actually sent a few figures my way to help
  fill some holes in my vintage SW collection.  I worked with him when I had
  just begun at a site now extinct, artoosnews.com.  He was always willing to
  help out fellow collectors, and not with just Star Wars-  because he and I
  shared many other interests, one of which being 80s TV, I can say that he
  helped me retain a memory I would have surely lost without him: wayyy back
  in the 80s, there was a limited-run TV show by the name of Automan, starring
  Desi Arnaz Jr.  The show, although short-lived, combined TV sitcoms with a
  little bit of TRON magic, turning it into one of my most favorite weekly TV shows.
  Of course the episode plots were lame, but it really didn't matter to a 10-yr old
  kid who couldn't wait to see a hologram of a man and his car appear and
  dissappear, take road turns at 90 degree pivots, and all kinds of other cool
  stuff.  I remember talking with Shannon about this very show in great detail,
  only to find shortly after that a package had arrived containing 4 CDs...  The
  contents? The first 2 episodes of Automan ever produced.  The guy made
  the 'A' list right then and there.

  Again, I know it has been some time since Shannon actually passed away-
  but I didn't want to let this man be forgotten, without sharing the time that
  he had been a part of my life.  For those of you who remember Shannon, and
  wish to pass word on to any of his loved ones, kindly email me and I will be
  glad to forward those details on.  Shannon was only 36 when he left us.

8:00PM - EST    

  More On The R2 Projector

  Scifi.com has a review and some video of the R2-D2 video projector.  The vid
  mentions it should be in production by March/April, and it includes USB in-ports
  along with ports for many of today's gaming consoles.

  I think the only thing missing is the interface which allows him to interpret the
  entire Imperial network..

7:00PM - EST    

  ILM Alumnus At Bridgewater

  Grant Imahara, will speak at 7:30 PM on Feb. 3 in the Cole Hall at
  Bridgewater College in VA.

  Imahara, an electronics and radio-control specialist, is a former animatronics
  engineer and model maker for George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic, and
  worked with Lucas On Episode I.  More on the event here.

9:00AM - EST    

  Last Day For Technicron Contest Registration

  If you've been too busy taking down Christmas decorations, remember that
  today is the last day that you can register in the Technicron Titanium Scourge
  giveaway!  Details here.

1:00PM - EST    

  Steven Spielberg To Present At Golden Globes

  The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards will include Steven Spielberg as one of
  the award presenters in its lineup.  Funny thing is, many of his recent works
  are in the queue for awards (Monster House, Flags Of Our Fathers, Letters
  From Iwo Jima), so don't be too surprised if you don't see him
  give AND receive..  The event is scheduled for Monday, 1/15 on CBS.

1:00PM - EST    

  BTDT Gamer Training

  For those of you looking to hone your Jedi gaming skills, JadeJedi provides us
  with the following Jedi Academy tip for this week:

  OK the first tip, when dueling DO NOT use special moves or "Katas", by special
  moves I mean where you press and hold attack + alt attack for single sabers, or
  direction + attack & alt attack for dual and staff sabers. The reason for this is,
  at the end of the animation you will be left standing still for a split second unable
  to move or defend. If a player sees you doing a "Kata" they will quickly put
  themselves in to a position (usually behind you) out of your reach but close
  enough to kill you with an Red/Strong overhead swing, which will result in a
  insta-kill if done right.

  Thanks JJ- You can also find Jade Jedi providing further instruction over at
  thejediacademy.net

12:00PM - EST    

  Fanboys Hits Screens In August

  Get ready for this comedy that blends the funny with the Force-  the story
  highlights a group of Star Wars fans who travel cross-country to steal a copy
  of Episode I before it's released.

  The film will include cameos from Carrie Fisher, Ray Park, and even William
  Shatner.  More on the new film and a trailer here.

9:00AM - EST    

  BTDT Toy Shop Report

  Looking for something to do today?  Our friends at Toy Shop have provided the
  scoop on the following toy shows happening nationwide:

Jan 13-14 2007 NC, Raleigh. 59th Raleigh Antique & Collectible Toy & Hobby Show.NC State Fairgrounds, Scott Bldg.SH: Sat. 9am-4pm, Sun. 10am-4pm, T: 225, A : $5., 15 & under free. Inside Pitch Promos., PH: 919-553-4285.

Jan 13 2007 CA, City of Industry. Frank & Son Collectible Show. 19649 San Jose Ave. SH: 9am-5pm, T: 250, A: free. Janet, PH: 909-444-7955.

Jan 13 2007 TX, San Antonio-Live Oak. Eckman’s Toy, Card & Comic Show. Live Oak Civic Ctr., Pat Booker Rd., I-35 & Loop 1604. SH: 9am-5pm, T: 155-8’, A: $3. (12 & older). Dale Eckman, 8050 Pioneer Oak, Converse, TX 78109. PH: 210-945-0003.

Jan 14 2007 NJ, East Hanover. The Big ToyEvent. Ramada Hotel, 130 Route 10 W. SH: 10am-3pm, A: $3.50, $1.50 children, 5 & under free. Heritage Promotions., PH: 570-620-2422.

Jan 14 2007 NY, Elmont-LI. Model Train & Toy Show. St. Vincent DePaul School Auditorium, 1510 DePaul St. SH: 10am-3pm. Frank Deorio, 1500 DePaul St., Elmont, NY 11003. PH: 516-486-6658.

Jan 14 2007 PA, Pittsburgh. Antique & Collectible Show. Castle Shannon Firehall, Rt. 88, S. of Pgh. SH: 8am-2pm, T: 70-8’, A: free. Alan Stricker, 3025 Washington Rd., McMurray, PA 15317. PH: 724-941-2338.

9:00AM - EST    

  "Execute Play Scene 66..."

  Ian McDiarmid is returning to his roots, playing the main role of John Gabriel
  Borkman in the play by the same title.  The play opens February 20th at the
  Donmar Warehouse, and more info can be found here.

  Word has it he's already received a good talking-to, about keeping his Force
  lightning to a minimum..  Local firefighters will be on standby opening night.

9:00PM - EST    

  Signing By A Sith

  Star Wars fans in the vicinity of the Hotel Heathrow in London, UK, are in for a
  special treat this month- the Count himself, the only man we've ever seen go
  head-to-head with Master Yoda , will be signing memorabilia of YOUR
  choice on Saturday, January 20th, from 11AM-5PM.  The announcement reads
  with the following details:

  "Mr. Lee is attending a full day signing event as indicated above. There are no
  photograph sessions, talks, screenings or questions and answer sessions. It is a
  signing only event.

  Mr. Lee will be signing your own items or items provided at the event. Mr. Lee
  WILL sign items from his many films – including JAMES BOND, STAR WARS, LORD
  OF THE RINGS, and THE WICKER MAN etc etc." (wait!! what about my
  Airport '77 and Dracula props??!!)

  So if you know what's good for you, and don't want to lose an arm, just smile
  and be silent as he signs- as stated above, questions could land you in
  deep........ Dooku.

9:00PM - EST    

  "The Story of A Boy, A Girl, And A Universe."

  When seeing marketing promos like this one for the original Star Wars ANH
  release, it really makes you wonder how the movie ever made any money at all-
  This teaser poster sounds more like something you'd read on the back of an
  adult film DVD case, rather than the summary of one of the greatest science
  fiction films ever made (see the additional text at the bottom of the poster).
  At any rate, it can be yours.. for a low $999.95.

9:00PM - EST    

  BTDT Flashback: Drawing The Line 

  On this day in 2005, BTDT posted that the first line had begun in front of a
  theatre in Seattle, WA for Episode III.  Star Wars fan Jeff Twieden started
  waiting in line on 1/1/05, to be the first to get his tickets for the final
  installment of the Star Wars saga.  Cherish the memory with us here.

  And if anyone knows Jeff, tell him to drop us an email- we'd love to talk to
  him!

9:00PM - EST    

  Ewan Says Happy New Year, Mon...

  McGregor rang in the new year in Jamaica, according to this article in the
  Jamaica Gleaner.

  Oh, and that's Mon as in "hey mon", NOT Mon Mothma: Many Bothans, died..

9:00PM - EST    

  Deleted Footage From KOTOR2

  Check out this cut footage (at the bottom of the page) from the KOTOR2 game,
  highlighted as part of the Sith Lords Restoration Project.  Thanks goes out to
  IDAHO for the find.

7:00AM - EST    

  AVP2=R

  No, it's not an algebraic equation to decipher- it's simply the latest update on
  the forthcoming Aliens Vs. Predator sequel.  Although the last film was only
  PG-13, it appears that the directors are going back to using content that's not
  exactly appropriate for the kiddies.  You can read more on the expected 'R'
  rating here.

7:00AM - EST    

  Reminder: Technicron Scourge Giveaway

  Last month we passed word on to our readers that our friends at Technicron
  would be kicking off a contest in the new year for a free Scourge Titanium
  figure.  Well, as promised, that contest is underway, and to make it even
  more enticing, Technicron is giving new registrants a $5 credit for use in their
  auctions, and $2 for each referral you send their way.  Can it get any better
  for a newbie?

  Read more on the contest details here, and be sure to get your autobot in
  gear...  the contest ends 1/15/07!

7:00AM - EST    

  BTDT Spotlight: Harrison Ellenshaw

  One of those guys who doesn't seem to get alot of honor time in the Star Wars
  spotlight is matte designer Harrison Ellenshaw. He is a 2nd generation matte
  painter and visual effects creator, and has worked on both ANH and ESB,
  along with a slew of other non-Star Wars masterpieces.  He is actually an
  East Coaster originally, having been born in Harrisburg, PA in 1945.

  Today BTDT highlights this man, significant contributor to the overall success
  of the Star Wars saga.  You can read more about him here, and you can also
  find video commentary from him on the TRON DVD.

8:00PM - EST    

  Misc Star Wars In TRU Clearance

  If you have TRU gift cards or cash left over from the Holidays, you may want to
  check out the Clearance Section over at TRU.  They have many SW items
  included in the clearance lineup, including the Episode III SW Lego V Wing for
  a low low $9.99, plus a bunch of slightly older games like SW Battlefront and
  Episode III for PS2.  Check it out!

3:00PM - EST    

  Star Wars 3D Updates

  This article in The Japan Times provides some great details regarding the
  forthcoming 3D releases of the original Star Wars Trilogy.  This has been in
  progress for some time, but the below quote was something I found particularly
  exciting:

  This year, the great hope for 3-D cinema is none other than George Lucas,
  who announced in 2005 that, starting in 2007, his entire "Star Wars" trilogy
  would be released again in 3-D to celebrate the 30th year since the release
  of the first movie in May 1977.  

  The company behind the 3-D rendering for "Star Wars," California-based
  In-Three, recently told The Japan Times that the famous sequence where
  Darth Vader enters Princess Leia's starship, converted into 3-D, will mark a new
  era for cinema, allowing the dark angel of the saga to pop out from the big
  screen and visually enter theaters, a new "first" in movie history for the film
  that started the era of visual-effects blockbusters.

  The article is definitely a worthwhile read, as it also highlights forthcoming works
  from James Cameron as well- news that BTDT has been following for quite some
  time.  3D technology has definitely evolved, as anyone who has been to
  Disneyworld and other big theme parks already knows.  You can read more on
  the 3D company In-Three here.  You might even recognize some familiar faces
  behind those glasses...

9:00AM - EST    

  New Lego Star Wars Packs

  How can you not love Lego after seeing these??!!   More info here.

9:00PM - EST    

  Mace Windu: Afro Samurai

  The latest anime series to emerge comes from the mind of Mace Windu himself,
  Samuel L. Jackson.  The show is split into 5 parts, which air every Thursday
  night at 11:00pm ET/PT on SPIKE TV.

  Check out a review on the series here by IGN.

8:00PM - EST    

  Star Wars KOTOR2: All FAQ'd Up

  IGN.com has compiled a nice FAQ section regarding the second installment of
  the ever popular LucasArts hit.  Click HERE to go THERE.

8:00PM - EST    

  Star Wars Miniatures: Starship Battles

  There is a nice writeup here on the newest Star Wars game to hit tabletops
  across the galaxy.  Check it out.

8:00PM - EST    

  The Silents Strike Back

  "It was as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly
  silenced..."

  Ever wonder how Star Wars would have been before the dawn of the "talkie"
  films?  Well here's your chance to find out..  Starring Charlie Chaplin as Vader,
  and Laurel and Hardy as 3PO and R2.

8:00PM - EST