The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports

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That’s right, ladies and gentlemen.  Pull out your wildest hats and crush up some mint for that julep, because this weekend is the first weekend in May and that means only one thing: The 138th Kentucky Derby.

So who should a Star Wars fan root for?  After all, none of this year’s horses have anything to do with Star Wars. Unless, that is, like with all things thoroughbred, you take a look at the pedigrees.  I knew there was a horse named Star Wars (son of horse Star Trek).  Looking through his pedigree, I saw a name I knew: Northern Dancer.

For those of you not inclined to go running through the pedigrees of all the horses racing in the Kentucky Derby, Star Wars is related to these four horses slated to run in the Kentucky Derby through Northern Dancer: Union Rags (9-2 odds), Alpha, (15-1), Gemologist (6-1), and Done Talking (50-1).

As for Shane and I, I hate to say it, but we’ll be rooting either for Dullahan or Optimizer, since they’re Kentucky-bred and so are we.

The 138th Kentucky Derby airs May 5th on NBC from 5-7 pm EDT.  Post time is 6:24 pm EDT.

Girls’ Guide to Star Wars: What You Need to Know If You Know Nothing

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Dreamy.

As your boyfriend—or brother or father or uncle—probably told you, Return of the Jedi is hitting theatres this Friday. And you, dutiful girlfriend—and sister and daughter and niece—are attending. But you hate sci-fi movies and practically fell asleep during the previous two Star Wars films. (How have they possibly made a third? It’s so boring! You don’t care that Star Wars is the biggest grossing film of all time. You liked Annie Hall so much better.

But don’t fret, ladies. This is the last of the Star Wars films, so after this, you can stop pretending to care about this effects-laden piece of “cinema.” But to get you through Return of the Jedi without having to ask a ton of questions (just in case you’ve managed to stay awake the entire time), we’ve created a streamlined girl’s guide to the galaxy far, far away. (That’s nerd speak for the Star Wars galaxy.)

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Tosche Station Radio #15: Writer’s Toolbox with Mike Stackpole

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Stream Here | Download

This week on Tosche Station Radio, we’re excited to feature our first ever interview on the show.

Kicking off the show, we highlight what’s new on the blog. We asked you to tell us what kind of attractions you would like to see at a Star Wars theme park and you delivered some delightful suggestions. New blogger Maggie posted a spoiler-free review of the Avengers, Marvel’s latest entry into their successful film franchise. We’re not jealous that she was in the UK to see it a week early or anything. Meanwhile, we’re holding a contest. We’re sick of Mara’s awful catsuit, so we’re asking costumers and artists to replace it with something more appropriate.

In Fixer’s Flash, Nanci’s been reading a neat young-adult novel called Across the Universe and is looking forward to completing the series. She’s also been rewatching firefly, something Brian ought to do. She also announced that she’s launched a new blog of her own devoted to her writing projects. Go check it out! Brian’s been keeping himself busy with Marvel’s comics and a rewatch of their films leading up to the Avengers. Unfortunately, he’s been too busy with midterms to do much beyond that. Boo midterms.

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Moviefone Posts Condescending Article, Pisses Off Fandom

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Who likes antiquated gender stereotypes? Moviefone does! Staff writer Jessie Heyman thought it would be a good idea to post a horribly condescending article that reads like it’s from 1972.

As your boyfriend probably told you, “The Avengers” is hitting theaters this Friday. And you, dutiful girlfriend, are attending. But you hate action movies and you’ve never even read a comic book. (Of course, that’s not a slight against the girls who actually do read comic books — i.e. real fans, actual people with varied interests — but for this, let’s just go with the stock view of ladies, ladies!)

Still, there’s no need to fret. Beyond the fact that Joss Whedon’s action film is Awesome (note the capital A), we’ve created a streamlined girl’s guide to ward off any confusion or mid-movie what’s-going-on whisperings.

Including cocktail introductions a la “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and boyfriend impressing tidbits, below is everything you need to know about “The Avengers.”

They’re now hiding behind a hastily thrown up “satire” shield in a later edit, but we all know this was a terribly written, horribly executed article. This piece was so awful I’m not even going to link to it and inadvertently give them traffic. You can find it yourself if you want your eyes to bleed or if you want a trigger to Hulk out.

Now, I’m not a woman, but I imagine most women would object to sticking with the “stock view of ladies.” I imagine many would object to the contrived list of things to say to your manly action loving significant others while watching the movie. I imagine most women are going to object to this frakking awful article as a whole.

The truly hilarious thing is that this just perpetuates the tired and sexist stereotype that comics are for guys  and that women should stay out of that domain. Hell to that. Most of my Marvel-savvy friends are women, one of which introduced me to the world of comics. She’s one of the most passionate, genre savvy fans you will ever find.

So shame on you Moviefone. You’ve got some apologies to dish out.

Lucasfilm Departure From Lucas Valley Could Hurt For Years To Come

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A few weeks back, Lucasfilm eighty-sixed plans to build a brand new movie studio in Lucas Valley in San Rafael, California. Citing too much pushback from estate homeowners in the region, Lucasfilm abruptly pulled up stakes and shifted their efforts towards finding a new home elsewhere in the state.

The victory for homeowners may ultimately prove to be tragically short-sighted, reports the North Bay Business Journal.

Several professional firms had been contracted to work on Lucas’s Grady Ranch project during its development, providing services such as environmental consulting and architectural planning. Including the indirect economic activity for restaurants and other local businesses, the two-year construction phase was expected to add nearly $134 million per year into the local and regional economy, according to an impact study released last month by the Marin Economic Forum.

That phase was also expected to generate 690 new jobs in Marin County during construction, and nearly $5 million in combined annual state and local tax revenue, according to the study.

Yet with the announcement on April 10 that George Lucas and his real estate company, Skywalker Properties, would no longer proceed with the project, the possibility of direct and indirect economic stimulus for the region’s economy has evaporated.

In efforts to keep a movie studio out of their estate communities, the residents of Lucas Valley may have cost the region countless potential jobs and a staggering influx of hard cash. According to the article, for every 100 employees Lucasfilm brought in, Marin County businesses could have generated as much as $82 million in revenue and $3.8 million in combined state and local taxes.

Via Parker Publicity

Rogue and Wraith Squadron Fanfic-A-Thon

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There hasn’t been an X-Wing novel in thirteen years.

That’s an awful long time for fans of the Rogues and Wraiths who have been wondering what shenanigans they’ve been getting up to while the Jedi have been dealing with the weekly galactic apocalypse of certain doom and terror. While, thankfully, we’re finally getting a new book this August, there’s another way fans have managed to fill the void over the last decade and change: fanfiction.

Over at the Rogue and Wraith Livejournal comm, members have put together a starfighter jockey-themed fanfiction marathon. If you’d like to read some great stories about Wedge, Tycho, Wes, Hobbie, the Rogues, and the Wraiths, head on over and read the entries.

Her Universe Teases New Products

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I hate May the 4th. While I don’t mind puns in general, basing “Star Wars Day” around a lispy pun is lame, IMO. In my personal canon, Star Wars Day will always be May 25, the day the original Star Wars premiered in 1977. (May 14, the Maker’s birthday, is also acceptable.)

However, I will tolerate May the 4th shenanigans for one reason: new products from Her Universe! Ashley Eckstein has been busy teasing several products on Twitter and Facebook, and my wallet is already crying.

Princess Leia hoodie

Day of the Dead t-shirt

Racerback tanks