The driver stopped the car at the top of the hill and stepped out for a cigarette, turning up the "Aicha" volume. The guide said: "Prepare yourself for the ultimate Star Wars experience — we are going to see the real movie location!"

Yeah, yeah, I thought, some more sand and a rustic lunar landscape.

The driver started the engine and the roaring car slid down the valley, leaving sandy fog behind.

What seemed to be just another pile of desert rocks, gradually, as we approached, took the shape of the rockets, satellites and spheres of the 1976 "Star Wars'" production, the real-life science fiction amid the ancient desert.

Link

The Onion and cheese are the best things from Wisconsin. Working for them would make living there bearable. Yo, check it:

"Five a.m. is when the facility is most vulnerable to attack, when the morning shift security personnel replace the overnight crew," said Adib Dhakwan, the cell's second-in-command. "Unfortunately, Starbucks doesn't open until six, and I don't know about you, but if I don't have that first cup of coffee, forget it."

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But all these extra things—where do the Americans put them? How many times will you use a taco-shell holder? 'Oh, I really need this silverware-drawer sorter or I will have fits.' Shut up, stupid American."

Pizza and Coke?

Time to do some shameless ballot box stuffing for a version of "Nerd Idol":

http://www.autodesk.com/masters

Nathan Martz is a friend of mine from college going for some CG industry award thingy. Voting is open until June 3. Thanks in advance & pass it on peeps!

Holy shit. Pic from Flickr user Marshall Astor. This is shot from LA, 26 miles away. Here is some more from user GaleChicago.

Google News says 4000 acres overnight and a couple structure losses, including some hillside homes in Avalon. No mention of the Wrigley House but I did read the Casino isn't threatened.

"Dozens of fire engines from Los Angeles County and as far away as Fresno came through the night aboard giant military hovercraft from the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton. The high-speed hovercraft can carry 60 tons over land or water and are often used by the military on humanitarian missions.

Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters flew in firefighters 32 at a time, and 500 firefighters were expected on the island by afternoon."

Emerald Bay (the children's outdoor ed camp I helped run for MSA) is on the west end of the island, about 15 miles from Avalon (the only large "town" on the island, where the fire is next to) as the crow flies.