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The world of science fiction and fantasy art and design has lost one of its true legends as Ralph McQuarrie died today at the age of 82. McQuarrie began his design career after moving to California from Indiana in the early 1960s. While he started out working as a technical illustrator for Boeing, he also found jobs designing film posters and providing animation elements for CBS News coverage of the Apollo space program. An offer to work on concept art for a film project followed, and his designs caught the eye of director George Lucas, who had an ideal for...

It would cost $852 quadrillion dollars to build a real Death Star That's 852 with 15 zeros following it. I know, that figure is insane. You know what that means. It means Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader were rolling in the money like filthy rich rappers. I guess ruling the Galactic Empire isn't so terrible when you're ballin'. Finally putting some questions to rest, the smart folk over at Centives calculated how much iron it would take to build the planet-destroying space station and even figured out how long it would take to build. Here's the reality-check breakdown: • Based...

In the dock, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace stands accused. Counsel for the prosecution is Neil Smith. Counsel for the defence is Jonathan Crocker. Court is in session!The Phantom Menace has the dubious honour of being perhaps the most despised film of the last 20 years. With expectations sky-high following everyone's favourite sci-fi trilogy, Part I, for many, failed to deliver the pure thrill the Star Wars universe promised in the 70s and 80s. George Lucas must have instantly regretted the inclusion of infamous alien rasta Jar Jar Binks. With The Phantom Menace coming to cinemas in...

Residents of the southern Tunisian towns of Tataouine and Matmata, small desert cities that furnished the setting for Star Wars movies, woke up to an unusual sight today: snow. The snow started to fall overnight from Sunday to Monday, leaving a thin layer that was enough to transform the landscape from an arid desert to a glistening-white tundra. The Sahara desert, particularly the region of Remada and the neighboring area of El Borma in the governorate of Tataouine, also saw snow falling near the oil fields of El Borma. Oil fields workers were thrilled at the sight of snow, a...

The force was not strong with a man in Portland, Ore., who was sentenced to 45 days in jail and a mental health evaluation after police said he attacked some toy store customers with light sabers in December. On Tuesday, 33-year-old David Allen Canterbury apologized to his victims before his sentencing on assault charges, the Oregonian reported. Portland police told the publication that during the incident, Canterbury had a Star Wars light saber in each hand and swung at three customers at a Toys R Us store. Officers said he walked out of the store with the toy swords and...

MOSCOW -- A deal with Washington to assuage Moscow's concerns about U.S. missile defense plans in Europe is still possible, but time is running out, Russia's foreign minister said Wednesday. Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed that Moscow will take retaliatory action if moves by Washington to deploy missile shield components around Europe pose a threat to Russia. ... Moscow agreed in 2010 to consider NATO's proposal to cooperate on the U.S.-led missile shield, but the talks have run into a deadlock over how the system should be operated. Russia has insisted that it should be run jointly, which NATO has rejected. ......

How much force needs to be with you to eat a black burger? The Belgian fast food chain Quick is celebrating the upcoming "Phantom Menace 3D" movie premiere by launching a line of "Star Wars"-themed burgers. The burgers will debut in Quick restaurants throughout France on January 31, just before the film's February release in the country. Despite being in French, the ads for the burgers have sent the entire Internet into a tailspin of equal parts repulsion and curiosity.

Man in 'Star Wars' mask attacked trooper: FHP.Darth Vader may be able to handle most lightsaber-wielding Jedis, but he's met his match when it comes to Florida Highway Patrol troopers with pepper spray. Authorities say a drunk man wearing the "Star Wars" villain mask was arrested Thursday in Orlando after he tried to punch and kick an FHP trooper near a construction site. The trooper responded to the area of Summerlin Avenue and Anderson Street around 2:45 a.m. when he was advised by construction workers of an intoxicated man walking in the roadway in the mask, according to the FHP....

Mumbo-Jumbo Mystic Impervious To Cops' Electric Blasters For those of you who've ever wondered, like you do, whether the Jedi lightsabre or the Taser is the more effective weapon, we're delighted to report that the electric dispenser of justice is no match for Obi-Wan Kenobi's mighty glowing tool. David A. Canterbury earlier this week went on the rampage at a Portland Toys R Us store, assaulting three customers with a plastic replica of the Jedi weapon. Cue swift intervention by law enforcement operatives, who found 33-year-old Canterbury wandering in the parking lot, "talking incoherently", and still swinging his Star Wars...

The UK’s “The Guardian” has an excellent article by Simon Tisdall entitled: “Putin prepares the Russian empire to strike back.” (HERE) Mr. Tisdall, right at the outset of his article, states what to Americans, on the right side of the political spectrum, is obvious. He says: “The reincarnation of the current PM as president poses a challenge to western powers for which they seem ill-prepared.” Mr. Tisdall is absolutely “spot-on.” The recreation of the Russian Empire is another reason the United States MUST relieve Mr. Obama of his seat in the Oval Office and replace him with a realist –...

Uploaded by WilliamShatner on Nov 28, 2011 William Shatner responds to Carrie Fisher's video. Is there finally peace in the galaxy or will the Rebel Allliance seek war with the Federation? Time will tell.

It is the debate that has been raging between generations of science fiction fans. But Star Trek star William Shatner believed he had delivered the coup de grace two months ago when he delivered a stinging critique he thought proved his franchise was superior. But there is a new hope for Star Wars fans, as original cast member Carrie Fisher has struck back with a rebuke that could return the Jedi-filled universe back to prominence. In a somewhat rambling YouTube video, the Princess Leia star let rip on the rival sci fi favourite. She said: 'They are not in the...

‘Star Wars’ actress: Date with Sen. Dodd brought wild questions from Sen. Kennedy Holy Obi-Wan Kenobi! “Star Wars” actress Carrie Fisher claims the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) asked her some pretty frank questions while dining out with the star and former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). According to published excerpts from Fisher’s new book, “Shockaholic,” the entertainer, best known for her role as Princess Leia, was fresh out of her first stint in rehab and on a date with a then single Dodd back in 1985. Kennedy joined the pair at dinner in D.C.. Fisher writes, “Suddenly, Senator Kennedy, seated...

A STAR Wars fan was yesterday jailed for life after murdering his wife in an alleged revenge attack for smashing up his cherished toy collection. Advertisement >> Rickie La-Touche, 30, told a court that his Thai wife Pornpilai Srisroy, 28, had damaged his precious Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker memorabilia. He later suffocated her during a row and then ran sobbing to his mother who lived nearby. La-Touche later told police his wife had smashed up his Star Wars collection as part of a campaign to “make his life hell”. He also claimed he “flipped” when she threatened to leave...

Darth Vader will lose a little more of his dignity in Star Wars original trilogy Blu-rays. Listen for yourself! George Lucas is not satisfied with turning the puppet Yoda in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace into a CG creation. Or just fixing some of the wonky lightsabre effects in the original trilogy. He's going a bit further. Lucas had promised that fans would have a few new details here and there to notice in his newly remastered HD versions of his classic trilogy — and now the first details are leaking out. And fans are not happy. Some of the...

He could be the first among his kind to be a Star Wars look-a-like. But this dog is proving it's no wookie when it comes to copying the image of its favourite intergalactic beast. This pooch was caught bearing an uncanny resemblance to Star Wars favourite Chewbacca as it sat in the front seat of what could be a Ford Galaxy far, far away.

As the eldest daughter of Star Wars creator George Lucas, the force was bound to be with her. After years of Martial Arts training, Amanda Lucas, 30, has become a professional cage fighter. As incredible pictures have been released of her training, the adopted eldest daughter of George, who appeared in the Star Wars prequels, said she turned to fighting to battle her own demons caused by growing up as a 'fat and wimpy'' kid. She said her billionaire father is 'very supportive' of her new career as a pro cage fighter - but he can't stand to watch her...

When it comes to believing in mutual assured destruction, or MAD, as the basis for Russian security, Russia never left the Cold War. Today’s leaders are as determined as their predecessors from the Soviet era to base Russian security on holding the US and Europe at risk with nuclear missiles. They regard anything the US does with missile defense as a threat to that strategy.Putin, Medvedev, and their diplomats couch their objections as follows: American missile defense plans “threaten Russia’s strategic deterrent.” And the proper response – the honest, consistent response – is: “Of course. That’s what they’re supposed to...

CORUSCANT — Obi-Wan Kenobi, the mastermind of some of the most devastating attacks on the Galactic Empire and the most hunted man in the galaxy, was killed in a firefight with Imperial forces near Alderaan, Darth Vader announced on Sunday. In a late-night appearance in the East Room of the Imperial Palace, Lord Vader declared that “justice has been done” as he disclosed that agents of the Imperial Army and stormtroopers of the 501st Legion had finally cornered Kenobi, one of the leaders of the Jedi rebellion, who had eluded the Empire for nearly two decades. Imperial officials said Kenobi...

May the 4th be with you!!