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post #51 of 80
5/13/07 at 6:22pm

More on parsecs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson
I've read that the retconned explanation is that the Kessel Run is a very difficult bit of navigation, so difficult that success is measured not by how fast you make it through but by finding the shortest route through it. Therefore, getting through by traveling only 12 parsecs means you cut lots of tight corners and were pretty much flirting with disaster the whole way through.
As I was reading The Making of Star Wars, I noticed that George Lucas noted that "the modifications [Han] made to [the Falcon] are rather extensive--mostly to the navigation system to get through hyperspace in the shortest possible distance (par-sects) ." (My emphasis).

I don't know if that sheds any light on the debate, but it seems clear to me, despite Lucas' misspelling of parsecs, that he knew that parsecs was a unit of distance. Perhaps hyperspace is more in line with space travel in the movie Event Horizon, where the hyperdrive shortens the distance between two points by bending space. I think that's how warp speed works as well.

Any thoughts?
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post #52 of 80
5/13/07 at 6:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spook

Any thoughts?
Yes, I think people are putting more thought into the whole "parsecs is a unit of distance not time" than George Lucas ever did.
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post #53 of 80
5/13/07 at 7:46pm
And that worrying about accurate science in the Star Wars movies is like using the Bush administration to illustrate points on ethics.
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post #54 of 80
5/13/07 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chavez
Yes, I think people are putting more thought into the whole "parsecs is a unit of distance not time" than George Lucas ever did.
The answer to this whole question is in Ben's reaction right after Han says it. The look on his face says, "You've gotta be fucking kidding me," and Han even picks
up on it by the way he says, "She's fast enough for you, old man." Han was trying to pull one over on the two rubes and Ben caught him.
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post #55 of 80
5/13/07 at 8:10pm
Along the whole Kessel Run thing, I vaguely remember this: In one of the Jedi Academy books by Michael J. Anderson (OK, so this is all EU stuff), they make specific reference to the whole parsec thing. The planet (maybe moon) of Kessel is near a double-black hole called the Maw Cluster. Supposedly the trick was to get from Kessel to some point beyond the black holes. While most would skirt around one of the holes, Han managed to go between them. So essentially the holes were next to, but not touching one another. Han somehow slid past on that "cosmic taint", if you will, to shorten the distance to 12 parsecs.

Again, this is something that I kinda-sorta remember from a book I read once almost 15 years ago. Feel free to set me straight!
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post #56 of 80
5/13/07 at 8:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by liquidchicken
Again, this is something that I kinda-sorta remember from a book I read once almost 15 years ago. Feel free to set me straight!
Okay: stop reading Star Wars novels. Consider yourself set straight. And don't make me do this again. If I find out you've been reading Dragonlance novels, that's a paddlin'.
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post #57 of 80
5/13/07 at 9:36pm
I'd love to say those were the last ones, but I had to read that Zahn two-parter some years back. Ohhhhhh... *hung head in shame*

Back on topic, I know more one-hit wonder bands than I should, but not nearly as many as my dad.
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post #58 of 80
5/14/07 at 4:00am
JFK's brain is missing from the National Archive because RFK came and claimed it during the autopsy.
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post #59 of 80
5/14/07 at 8:47am
There was going to be a Red Baron game for the Nintendo 64.
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post #60 of 80
5/14/07 at 10:50am
I can name all thirteen dwarves from The Hobbit from memory.

I know the names of the other two wizards Tolkien never mentioned in LOTR.

I can calculate THACO.

I know where all the sensors are on all the aliens on the Men in Black ride at Universal Studios Florida, and can hit maximum score about 2/3 of the way through the ride.
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post #61 of 80
5/14/07 at 12:26pm
I've been following the Harry Turtledove "If the South Had won the Civil War" since the beginning and can tell you about the poltical structure with in it.

Not to mention I can practically lip sync to Livin on a Prayer.
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post #62 of 80
5/14/07 at 12:47pm
Chuck Yeager is one of only two soldiers allowed back to the European Theater after having dealings with the French Resistance. He had to ask permission from Eisenhower in person.
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post #63 of 80
5/14/07 at 6:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken
Van Nuys, CA was the place where some of the special effects for Star Wars was done. The final scene in Casablanca was shot and it was where Nirvana recorded Nevermind.
Another bit of final scene trivia from CASABLANCA: cardboard mock-ups of the planes and midgets for the mechanics were used in the background to achieve the perception of background distance from the hangar.
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post #64 of 80
5/14/07 at 7:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casey Moore
Chuck Yeager is one of only two soldiers allowed back to the European Theater after having dealings with the French Resistance. He had to ask permission from Eisenhower in person.
Resistance, or Vichy?
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post #65 of 80
5/14/07 at 7:49pm
I just remember it as the resistance. I would have to go dig through some books to find out. It is just one of those random bits though that sticks in my head.
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post #66 of 80
5/14/07 at 8:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken
I've been following the Harry Turtledove "If the South Had won the Civil War" since the beginning and can tell you about the poltical structure with in it.
I fell off the wagon with that after A Time In Hell or whatever it was.
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post #67 of 80
5/14/07 at 8:44pm
Steve Buscemi is from the same town as I am.
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post #68 of 80
5/14/07 at 9:33pm
What I still can't believe but it's true was that Buscemi was an FDNY firefighter for a few years back in the 80s
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post #69 of 80
5/15/07 at 12:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken
In England, lawyers are either solictors or barristers and only barristers do arguing in court. Solicitors are the lawyers who do the contracts and other office related stuff.
Really? Not sure that's the case. Australia pretty much follows the English system and one becomes admitted as either a 'solictor and barrister' or just a barrister. I'm getting admitted this week, so I would hope I have a decent grasp on things by now, but anyway, solictors do act as advocates in court appearances on an almost daily basis. Barristers (aka Counsel) are specialists in certain areas and have a higher threshold for expertise and more rigorous obligations imposed upon their duty to act. For instance, barristers are subject to the "cab rank" principle wherein they may not refuse work offered to them unless they have relatively serious concerns about the merits of the case, the dodginess of the client (ie: complete unwillingness to remunerate Counsel) etc. It's the foundation for equitable access to "justice" and the right to legal representation. And also the reason the guy who prosecuted the case against Charles I of England was later hanged, drawn and quartered for his trouble.

Anyway, in short: solicitors do lots of arguing in court. Barristers are bloody expensive!
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post #70 of 80
5/15/07 at 12:49am
Nihilism is correct.
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post #71 of 80
5/15/07 at 1:13am
I must admit, since Ianthe is being admitted into law profession. He would in fact have a better grasp of the concept than I.

However on another note

The phrase Normalcy was actually a mistake created by Warren Harding when he mispronounced the phrase Normality.
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post #72 of 80
5/15/07 at 1:47am
The Opera "Aida" was written as a way to honor the opening of the Suez Canal.

The first ever televised murder case appeared on TV during the week of December 5th-9th, 1955. The accused was Harry Washburn.

China was the first country to permit kissing on film. The year was 1926.

The UNIVAC 1 was the computer used to decide the 1952 Presidential Election.

Bambi was originally published in German.


Golf was banned in England in 1457 because it was considered a distraction from the serious pursuit of archery.


The silhouette on the Major League Baseball logo is Harmon Killebrew.
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post #73 of 80
5/15/07 at 3:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken
I must admit, since Ianthe is being admitted into law profession. He would in fact have a better grasp of the concept than I.

Er, she
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post #74 of 80
5/15/07 at 3:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ianthe
Er, she
I think having nude Winslet as your avatar threw people off.
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post #75 of 80
5/15/07 at 3:25am
Blame Samurai Mike.

I'd change it at some point if the confusion persisted but as I don't think she's unattractive either, I quite like the image and am happy for it to be my public representative on the boards.

In short: it's Mike's fault.
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post #76 of 80
5/15/07 at 3:33am
Hey, I'm not complaining. I'm happy for it to be there myself.
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post #77 of 80
5/15/07 at 4:17am
On SUNSET BLVD, during the scene where William Holden is on the lot talking to the script girl about her nose job, he says he'll walk her home by "way of Washington Square". He is refering to the set of William Wyler's THE HEIRESS, which was shot at Paramount a year earlier. Washington Square was also the name of the book the film was based on.

Also, when washing the nacho cheese/pizza sauce servers, hold them underwater while you power spray them to avoid having it shoot out into your face. Putting on disposable food service gloves is easier if you wet your hands first. It is easier to wash dishes and stock everything first, then make pizzas/prep dough after the place has closed with no interruptions. Always spray the no-stick on top of the breadstick dough to brown it while cooking, otherwise it gets flaky and nasty. Never spit in people's food, somebody at the factory has probably already done that for you.
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post #78 of 80
5/15/07 at 7:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anderson

The silhouette on the Major League Baseball logo is Harmon Killebrew.
That's cool, I never knew that. I do know that the silhouette on the NBA logo is Jerry West.
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post #79 of 80
5/15/07 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ianthe
Er, she

D'oh!
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post #80 of 80
5/16/07 at 11:49pm
Buck Rogers is older than Flash Gordon.
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