THANKSGIVING SURVIVAL 101

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday when you are a guest, when you are the host the situation is a bit different. Often times you have to stress over the turkey, aunt June will bring her hideous casserole, and the kids will make a horrible mess on their new thanksgiving themed turkey sweaters. In short thanksgiving is a hosting nightmare. I will cover the following topics: 

• Television
• Air conditioning
• Health
• Cleanliness
• The house pet
• The desired end result

All of this advice comes from one thanksgiving I had back in 1989 where I witnessed the start of a small national conflict. I recall the gathering was being hosted at an unusual place by people in the family whom I was not so acquainted with. In the end there were headaches, lost dogs, and hurt feelings, bless the memories. I can remeber the battle that ensued when the dog got out during a discussion about the George Bush administration.

I have taken the liberty to go ahead and give you a few tips on how to survive hosting a thanksgiving dinner. The first tip is to make sure that you have two TV sets, a large one with football on and a smaller one with the parades for the elderly. My next piece of advice is to keep the air on because if you don't there's a good chance your home will turn into a sauna. I would advice keeping some aspirin handy in order to deal with the pulsating headaches that you'll get as a result of the arguments that are sure to erupt over politics and religion.

On the cleanliness end I would advice you to use themed paper plates and plastic utensils, it seems that the messes created in thanksgiving are something else and no one is likely to aid you in the task of cleaning up. I would also say, make sure that your pets are secured because with the constant opening and closing of the doors there is sure to be an opportunity for Rusty the curious Chihuahua to step out for a sabbatical of sorts.

My last piece of advice on how to survive hosting a thanksgiving dinner is not to lose track of the occasion and have fun. Thanksgiving is a day for family; it celebrates the idea of togetherness. Make sure you really give thanks for your elders, your dog, the cranberries, themed sweaters and horrible casserole; because you never know when that will all go away.

I'M YOUR DADDY LUKE

I love Star Wars and I always have, in part I love it because there was nothing like it and to this day there is nothing like it. I always wondered if there was a way to create a real lightsaber because I was really down with the idea of having my own lightsaber. I would not use my lightsaber on anything other than plastic bottles and Somali pirate ships.

Apparently I may have my big chance because it seems like scientists may be close to creating my dream device. The following link will take you to an article about the near creation of the lightsaber:

http://www.i4u.com/2013/09/56020/real-lightsaber-created

What I think is amazing about this development, besides the fact that I may now battle Somali pirates, is the fact that it's only been 35 years since this was first conceptualized. I'm almost certain that this type of development will meet with serious political and religious opposition. On the flip side of the equation I am certain that science advocates will welcome this with open arms, just because it means that we can eventually master anything we can think of.

Read the article, make your conclusions and may the force be with you.

STAR WARS EPISODE 7: THE RETURN OF GERIATRIC JEDIS FROM THE HOME IN ENDOR

The rumor mill for the latest Star Wars film have taken off. Everyone feels that JJ Abrams will be able to refresh the story telling in the latest film and make it a new flavor. I think it's great that everyone is this exited about the new series but there are a few things that concern me. They are talking bringing back Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher for the latest film.

I can see Harrison Ford accounting well for himself but Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher have not done anything on that level in years. While this would be a sort of career resurrection for the two of them, what will it do for the series? I think that the level of buzz surrounding this latest episode will surely generate a record first week, the story itself will likely be suspect.

The Star Wars universe has countless stories to chose from, many of those stories are centered around characters that would otherwise be seen as lees substantial, characters like the members of the Emperor's Royal Guard. I am a huge fan of the series and the original stars but I think that for them to really sell their portion of the story it will take a whole hell of a lot.

MARK HAMILL BACK AGAIN

The rumors of Mark Hamill's comeback are running rampant. I mean that Hamill is likely coming back to reprise his role Luke Skywalker in the new Star Wars saga. I want to come back to something I wrote previously with regards to this very speculation. How will the movie be written? Yes there is an expansive Star Wars universe that goes far beyond the first three films and also the prequels but that universe lives on in print only.

I like Mark Hamill but he is a little beyond past his prime so the big thing is going to be making the Jedi middle aged and kind of in that mold of the old guy that had something long ago. A lot of the speculation centers on making the children of Luke and Han and Leia the focus of the new story. All of this speculation is obviously feeding the machine which is great for future box office numbers. I still wonder how a reunion of the original characters will be received by die hard fans.

Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, and Harrison Ford all look like they have been fighting wars through the galaxy for the last thirty years. In a way all the players look like George Lucas hoped they would when he mentioned this particular set of stories. Other rumors even mention Luke as the center of all three films, I think that would be a mistake. Star Wars has youth appeal combined with the idea of an elderly and sage kind of advisor leading the way to maturity and an eventual confrontation with the villain. I am interested to see where this particular set of trilogies will go especially given the possible participation of original cast members.

Time will tell how this story will be told but one thing is for sure and that's my presence on opening day  because I am still a little dork at heart.