The Next Window

Back in the early 1990′s, I was driving to work one day and heard an NPR announcement of the upcoming radio drama series “Star Wars.”

My excitement at the announcement was overwhelmed by the impression of the actual radio drama!

Instead of the visual candy of the screen version, the radio drama enabled me to visualize the events and people. Definitely a good thing! Several of the roles were reprised by the original actors.

Star Wars (“Episode 4″) was filled in the holes in the movie. The 2.5 hour movie became 13 episodes at about 45 minutes each — lots of time for characters to develop and to address the background, too.

This set includes not only the original Episode 4, but also Episode 5 (The Empire Strikes Back) and Episode 6 (Return of the Jedi).

I highly recommend this CD set. You’ll enjoy it for a long time.
The Complete Star Wars Trilogy, Episodes IV, V, & VI Radio Drama (Audio CDs)

Technorati Tags: Star Wars, Radio Drama, audio book, Star Wars Radio, Star Wars audio book

BBC News reports that a new Star Wars television series is on the way.

BBC Radio 1 interviewed producer Rick McCallum who said that the writing team would be meeting soon to start the project and that filming would begin in 2008 — to be ready for TV that same year!

The series will be placed between Episode 3 (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith) and Episode 4 (Star Wars: A New Hope — the original Star Wars movie).

Christmas is almost here, and we are almost out of shopping time. For many of us, the hardest thing to do is to pick out a suitable gift.

Here are a few suggestions, from the Dream Toy of the Month section of my TerryStockdale.com web site:

• the hottest gift this Christmas, the new iPod Nano MP3 music player,
  in black or white, 4GB or 6GB;
• the Motorola Razr Cell Phone, also available in black for Cingular customers;
• a Parks Light Saber, high-quality Star Wars-type Replica Light Saber, machined from stainless steel or aircraft aluminum;
• a Star Wars Build Your Own Light Saber Kit;
• a 50-inch Plasma Television for the sports fan or movie fan of the house (including YOURSELF!);
• the Sony Playstation PSP portable game system that plays movies, too;
• Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine;
• the Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera;
• a Crucial 1GB CompactFlash, with Rebate, for digital cameras and MP3 players;

For a less-expensive gift for a friend, relative or business contact:

• all-natural toffee, covered with chocolate, from Greenmar Toffee;
• a downloadable anti-spyware program (CounterSpy) for your favorite computer novice or experienced computer user ;
• Click2PDF, a PDF file creator that lets you “print” a PDF file from any computer application that can print;
• web hosting for their own web site, including a free domain name;
• DELIGHT YOUR COFFEE LOVER- Receive illy�s catalog + special offers for coffee gifts, machines, and cup collections;
• Click Here for Star Wars Movie Prop Replicas, Statues, Collectible Pins and More;

Don’t forget, if you are getting or giving a new computer for Christmas or for any other holiday, read my computer buying tips and computer security tips.

Back in June, I wrote the makers of M&M’s to see where I could find more Dark Chocolate M&M’s.

Here’s their response, excluding the info on where to find them in Baton Rouge (They’re mine, you hear, ALL MINE!):

Masterfoods USA is excited about our promotional partnership with
Lucasfilm and STAR WARS as the exclusive confectionery snack sponsor of
the sixth and final movie; Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.

The promotion is dubbed, “The Star Wars M-Pire”, and for the first time,
M&M’S CHOCOLATE CANDIES were made available in dark chocolate beginning in
April 2005.

M&M’S DARK CHOCOLATE CANDIES have been shipped to warehouses nationally.
They are only available for a limited time and are selling very quickly.
The stores in your area that are listed below have recently reported that
they carry this product. However, MASTERFOODS USA does not guarantee that
it will be in stock at any given time.
…
This product will again be produced in limited quantities for a limited
time when the movie is released on DVD this fall.

You will leave them for me —
   BWAAA-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAHHHH!

Well, if you really must know — Target has them. In fact, the Target I visited had them 1/2 price in the Halloween candy section — big oops!

Back in 1981, <i>Star Wars – The Original Radio Drama</i> was broadcast on <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=291&amp;entry_id=70" title="http://www.npr.org" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.npr.org';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">National Public Radio</a>, locally in Baton Rouge on WRKF. I was lucky. I used to listen to NPR's Morning Edition and heard a promo for it one morning — wow, I couldn't wait. <br />
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When it started, I though "what's this? I don't remember this!" I was right — this was a greatly expanded radio drama, with additional characters, additional events, original music and sound effects plus music and sound effects from the movie. I loved it! If you've never heard them, you can hear these radio dramas as part of the CD set. It should be available for order via your favorite CD dealer or you can order it at <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=294&amp;entry_id=70" title="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;tag=terrystockdal-20&amp;amp;creative=9325&amp;amp;path=ASIN/1565111656/terrystockdal-20?%5Fencoding=UTF8%26camp=1789%26link%5Fcode=xm2" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;tag=terrystockdal-20&amp;amp;creative=9325&amp;amp;path=ASIN/1565111656/terrystockdal-20?%5Fencoding=UTF8%26camp=1789%26link%5Fcode=xm2';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">Amazon.com</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=terrystockdal-20&amp;l=ur2&amp;o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />.<br />
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<br /><a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/index.php?/archives/70-The-Original-Radio-Dramas-Star-Wars,-The-Empire-Strikes-Back-and-The-Return-of-the-Jedi.html#extended">Continue reading "The Original Radio Dramas: Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi"</a>

The Light Saber – symbol of Star Wars. Maybe. But Star Wars wasn't the origin of the idea, just the most famous.<br />
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I've wanted a light saber ever since reading the novel <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=551&amp;entry_id=66" title="http://www.noosfere.com/showcase/astounding_1969.htm" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.noosfere.com/showcase/astounding_1969.htm';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">Wolfling</a> by science fiction writer Gordon R. Dickson in Analog Magazine. <u>Wolfling</u> was the cover story, complete with "un-lit" light saber, in the January 1969 issue of Anaog. By the way, the link above is a collector's fantastic brag site that displays the covers of many of the pulp magazines and early pulp SF paperbacks.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=552&amp;entry_id=66" title="http://www.terrystockdale.com/misc/dreamtoy200506.shtml" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.terrystockdale.com/misc/dreamtoy200506.shtml';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">Light Saber</a> is my Dream Toy of the Month for June. I may not ever buy one of these fine light sabers, but they sure look good…<br />

Everybody's getting into the Star Wars act. The latest, or at least I just found it, is an article on how light sabers work. Very well done, but spread across a number of short pages.<br />
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To see <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=254&amp;entry_id=65" title="http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber.htm" onmouseover="window.status='http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber.htm';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">How Light Sabers Work</a>, visit http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber.htm.<br />
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Be ready for their popup ads – I thought they've figured out how to get past <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=255&amp;entry_id=65" title="http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">Firefox</a>'s popup blocking function, but realized that I had turned if off temporarily and forgotten to turn the popup blocker back on.<br />

Star Wars fans, if you haven't seen <i>Star Wars Revelations – Begin the Rebellion</i>, you need to go to their site immediately. Clear 57 minutes from your schedule — 47 minutes to watch it and 10 minutes to sit in awe. <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=256&amp;entry_id=60" title="http://www.panicstruckpro.com/revelations/" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.panicstruckpro.com/revelations/';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;"><i>Revelations</i></a> is the ultimate Star Wars fan film.<br />
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You won't believe this is a non-commercial, independent fan film, it is done so well. Through the time and work of a large number of volunteers who <i>wanted</i> to contribute to the Star Wars legends, Panic Struck Productions and the legions of fans, actors, artists, and sponsors have created a memorable experience. Of course, many thanks also go to George Lucas for generously allowing fans to use his Star Wars universe for fan fiction and fan movies.<br />
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<br /><a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/index.php?/archives/60-Star-Wars-Revelations-Begin-the-Rebellion.html#extended">Continue reading "Star Wars Revelations – Begin the Rebellion"</a>

Just visited Wal-Mart — <i>and they still don't have any Star Wars Dark Chocolate M&M's! </i> Or, the milk chocolate ones, either. The helper said they got one shipment and sold out. I guess Target had the foresight to buy the Star Wars M&M's — they even advertised them in their ad last week. Just checked by phone and they still have more!<br />
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<b><i>Let's try this again. Pay attention this time:</i></b><br />
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<b><i>You do not want Stars Wars Dark Chocolate M&M's.</b><br />
&#160;&#160;[I give a subtle Jedi wave to affect your mind]<br />
<br />
<b>You will set the Dark Chocolate M&M's down. </b><br />
&#160;&#160; [I give another Jedi wave] <br />
<br />
<b>You will leave them for me — </b><br />
&#160;&#160; BWAAA-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAHHHH!</i><br />
<br />

Everybody's heard the title of Star Wars Episode 3 — The Revenge of the Sith. And seen the ads. And the toys. And the commercials including Star Wars (I love the Yoda / Diet Pepsi commercial).<br />
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Just got back from an awesome showing at my favorite theater in Baton Rouge, the <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=260&amp;entry_id=53" title="http://www.ravemotionpictures.com" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.ravemotionpictures.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">Rave</a>. They've got stadium style rows, comfortable chairs and actually have leg space — you can get past a seated person easily.<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/index.php?/archives/53-The-Revenge-of-the-Sith.html#extended">Continue reading "The Revenge of the Sith"</a>