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Star Wars Rebels Comes to Disney XD

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Published on: May 20, 2013

Star Wars Gold Logo 200x92Fans of the animated Star Wars tales take note, 2014 will see the debut of the next animated series, Star Wars Rebels.  Set between Episode III and IV, Rebels will follow the Empire as it hunts down the last of the Jedi and tries to suppress the growing rebellion.

Dave Filoni will be on board as executive producer while Simon Kinberg and Greg Weisman join the franchise.  Weisman worked on “Young Justice” which was an excellent series.

The new show will debut with a one hour premier episode on the Disney Channel and then move to Disney XD on a weekly basis.  A preview of the show will be shown at Star Wars Celebration Europe which is coming up in July.

This announcement comes on the heels of the new domain names that Lucasfilm registered earlier in the month and the tease, by Filoni, about drawing a TIE Fighter for the first time.  Now that we know where the Rebels name is being used, we can’t wait to hear what the Wolf Pack domains are destined for!

Head over to StarWars.com for the full announcement of Star Wars Rebels.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Coming This Fall

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Published on: May 17, 2013

Starting with Iron Man, Marvel has unleashed five year’s worth of incredible superhero movies on the world, culminating in last year’s Avengers and heading into phase 2 with Iron Man 3 which released this month.

Keeping the momentum alive, this fall, on ABC, we’ll be treated to “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” a new drama that will follow Agent Phil Coulson, played by Clark Gregg, and a group of agents as they investigate newly identified superheroes.

Ming-Na and J. August Richards, along with a young cast of relative newcomers, make an appearance in the pilot and can be seen in the trailer below.

Although I haven’t gone through all of the Upfronts yet, “Agents of SH.I.E.L.D.” looks to be about the best new offering of any network so far.  It promises action, superhero appearances and more of Agent Coulson’s humor that made him a fan favorite in the movies that spawned this series.

As a side note, I’ve never been a huge fan of Ming-Na, maybe it was the characters she played, but she looks ridiculously hot in this trailer while kicking some serious ass.  Also, she’s gonna be 50 this year so, right on!

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the trailer below and get ready to tune in on Tuesdays this fall.

Star Trek Into Darkness

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Published on: May 17, 2013

Star Trek Into DarknessCan you call a movie “Into Darkness” when it has that much lens flare?

Well, yes, when the darkness in question refers to the darkness in men’s hearts, the darkest hour, the darkness of cold and lonely space and the darkness that can swallow a soul bent on revenge.

Star Trek Into Darkness returns Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk to the command chair of the Enterprise in what turns out to be a new telling of an older, classic Star Trek tale which, if you haven’t read about, won’t be fully explained here.

All of the main cast from 2009′s Star Trek returns for Into Darkness; Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Anton Yelchin can all be found on the bridge while Bruce Greenwood is back as Admiral Pike.  Joining the fun; Alice Eve as Carol, Peter Weller as Admiral Marcus and Benedict Cumberbatch as John Harrison.

While the main story of Into Darkness revolves around the crew of the Enterprise trying to stop a terrorist who has blown up a Starfleet base, there’s a more personal story surrounding Kirk, who finally needs to face the reality of sitting in the Captain’s chair.  He believes that the rules don’t apply to him, that his intelligence, his daring and his sense of loyalty to his crew and his friends will allow him to always win the unwinnable situation, no matter how much he tramples the Prime Directive or dismisses his orders or  how much danger he places himself in.

So what happens when he meets a villain that is also willing to do what it takes to protect his people, to take any risk necessary to dispatch those he feels beneath him or who, at any given time may, in fact, be the smartest, strongest man in the room?

As far as necessary.

Into Darkness, like its 2009 predecessor, is full of action, outrageous stunts and plenty of humor.  There are nods to the classic Trek television show and previous films and while we’re still living in the new timeline created by J.J. Abrams, it’s familiar, comfortable and yet still interesting to watch.

The film does have a few issues; as a friend pointed out, there are a few places where certain things happen in the plot only to put the characters in a specific situation for some over the top action or to force a character to make a certain decision.  But the payoff is usually worth it.

The acting is mostly solid with everyone bringing their A game, but the seriousness in a few scenes does bring out some overacting.  Hey, it’s not like William Shatner didn’t do that a time or 10.

Star Trek Into Darkness looks incredible, whether it’s on a practical set, an alien planet or just a look around futuristic versions of London and San Francisco.  I did not see the movie in 3D but there are a few scenes where I’m sure it would have looked exceptional.  I think I’d still recommend seeing it in 2D because, ultimately, you want to see this movie for the story as much as the visuals.

At the end of the day, Star Trek Into Darkness is a classic Trek story, reimagined to fit in the new reality created by J.J. Abrams and his team of writers.  It’s fast paced, has lots of action, a little classic Trek science and ultimately pays off with an enjoyable movie, satisfying ending and open possibilities for future movies.

I’ll give Star Trek Into Darkness 4.5 wheels of cheddar out of five.

Abandoned Star Wars Sets

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Published on: May 11, 2013
Star Wars Tunisian Set
Photo: Ra di Martino

Our friend Shawn, over at Nerdgasms.net, sent along a link to these cool photos of abandoned Star Wars sets in Tunisia.

It’s interesting to think that these sets are just sitting in the desert but there have been fans that, over the past several years, have journeyed to Tunisia and other shooting locations to track down relics from the movie shoots.  As recently as Celebration IV in 2007, several collectors journeyed to Buttercup Valley in Southern California and uncovered discarded set pieces from the filming of Jabba’s Sail Barge.

Gus Lopez and his wife, Pam Green, have traveled to multiple filming locations and documented their journeys on The Star Wars Traveler section of The Star Wars Collectors Archive.

And we can’t forget about Mark Dermul, who went as far as raising funds and restoring the Lars homestead filming location.

Head over to Nerd Approved for all the photos.

Science Channel’s “Through the Wormhole” Returns June 5th

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Published on: May 9, 2013

Science Channel LogoMORGAN FREEMAN RETURNS TO SCIENCE CHANNEL FOR AN ALL NEW SEASON OF TELEVISION’S MOST MIND-BLOWING SERIES - THROUGH THE WORMHOLE

–Academy-Award® Winner, Morgan Freeman, Takes Viewers from the Depths of the Mind to the Expanses of the Universe in All-New Awe-Inspiring Episodes Premiering June 5 at 10PM/EST—

(Silver Spring, Md.)— Iconic movie star, Morgan Freeman, returns to Science Channel to host the fourth installment of television’s most-astonishing franchise, the Emmy® nominated THROUGH THE WORMHOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN on Wednesday, June 5, at 10:00 PM (ET/PT).  Featuring nine riveting episodes, this all-new season poses thought-provoking and awe-inspiring questions spanning science, space, and humankind sure to satisfy viewers’ insatiable curiosities.  THROUGH THE WORMHOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN analyzes perplexing issues that have puzzled mankind for generations.  Season four’s premiere episode dives right into mystery and controversy with exploration of the charged topic, “When Does Life Begin?”

“One of the inherent characteristics of mankind is our need to understand truth and meaning.  Our drive to ask ‘how,’ ‘why’ and ‘what if’ makes us who we are – and provides the basis for THROUGH THE WORMHOLE,” said Freeman.  “Working on THROUGH THE WORMHOLE gives me the opportunity to bring together renowned physicists, cosmologists and neuroscientists to explore some of science’s greatest questions.”

In season four of THROUGH THE WORMHOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN, Science Channel dares to take on some of today’s most controversial topics. Each episode boasts innovative scientific research and groundbreaking theories brought to viewers by scientists who break down the walls of today’s most compelling subjects. Every week viewers will be challenged to consider new perspectives and confronted with ideas that push the envelope of conventional television. Other questions tackled in this new season include, “Did God Create Evolution?”, “How Do Aliens Think?”, “Can Our Minds Be Hacked?”, and “Will Sex Become Extinct?”

THROUGH THE WORMHOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN is a defining franchise for Science Channel and offers our viewers exactly what they crave – insight into science’s most captivating and mind-blowing questions,” said Debbie Adler Myers, general manager and executive vice president for Science Channel.  “Morgan Freeman is the perfect tour guide to take viewers along as we explore the world’s biggest and boldest topics in search for the truth.  We are thrilled to be back for a fourth season guiding our loyal audience once again ‘Through the Wormhole.’”

For the first time ever, Wormhole fans will be granted exclusive access behind the scenes with Morgan Freeman and the producers of THROUGH THE WORMOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN to get a glimpse of how each question is explored and explained. Find out about Freeman’s deep interest in science and the methods used to visualize and simplify complicated, often philosophical, subjects incorporating the latest discoveries from scientists in the field.  The never before seen footage will be available only at sciencechannel.com/wormhole.

THROUGH THE WORMHOLE is produced by Revelations Entertainment.  James Younger, Morgan Freeman, Tracy Mercer and Lori McCreary are executive producers.  Bernadette McDaid, Rocky Collins and Deborah Adler Myers are executive producers for Science Channel.  McDaid is vice president of production for SCIENCE, and Myers is general manager and executive vice president for Science Channel.

Full series description below:

(9 x 60)

Episode 1: WHEN DOES LIFE BEGIN?

Premieres Wednesday, June 5 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)

The premiere episode explores what defines the beginning of a life.  It is a debate that has raged for centuries’.  Groundbreaking evidence reveals that inside all of us are traces of cells from our relatives, blurring the lines between one life and another. Technology is now giving birth to new life forms made of surprising components—from droplets of oil in a Petri dish, to conscious robots and to a new global internet-connected life form comprised of all humanity.

Episode 2: CAN WE SURVIVE THE DEATH OF THE SUN?

Premieres Wednesday, June 12 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)

The Sun holds a dark secret. Someday it will bathe us in a fiery, planetary holocaust..  Will the Sun someday, bathe us in a fiery, planetary holocaust? How will we survive the death of our star? The technology to move our entire civilization to Mars sounds like sci-fi, but it is almost within our grasp.  Reaching a second Earth across the galaxy could be possible thanks to a radical new propulsion technology from manmade black holes.

Episode 3: HOW DO ALIENS THINK?

Premieres Wednesday, June 19 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)

By studying the non-humans in our midst, scientists are learning how alien minds might function. Biologists and computer scientists watch “dumb” ants form an intelligent super-organism; neuroscientists probe the mysterious brains of octopuses; and a team of researchers show that even plants behave in ways we normally only associate with animals. Meanwhile, a linguist tries to imagine advanced alien language by recreating centuries of human language evolution, a researcher teaches humans to feel an alien sense and a groundbreaking psychologist finds that super-intelligent aliens may still be ruled by emotions.

Episode 4: CAN OUR MINDS BE HACKED?

Premieres Wednesday, June 26 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)

Our minds store our entire lives, our memories and our deepest desires and our brains are biological computers. Could brain hackers someday be able to rewrite our thoughts similar to how computer hackers hack email? For the first time, neuroscientists are translating patterns on a brain scan into specific pictures and words. They have learned how to insert ideas into people’s minds as they sleep and one pioneering MIT scientist has shown he can inject emotions, on demand, into a living brain.

Episode 5: WILL SEX BECOME EXTINCT?

Premieres Wednesday, July 3 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)

Every single person who has ever lived was created from the genes of one man and one woman but human sexual reproduction, unchanged for millions of years, is about to undergo a radical revolution.  Technology is on the brink of making children from two fathers, or two mothers.  Marine biologists are using mechanical wombs to birth live sharks and humans could be next. We may soon cure diseases by making children with more than two genetic parents, or even give our offspring genes from the animal kingdom.  If this is the case, will sex become extinct?

Episode 6: ARE ROBOTS THE FUTURE OF HUMAN EVOLUTION?

Premieres Wednesday, July 10 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)

From our smartphones to our vacuum cleaners to our cars, we have robots that live and work beside us. We are designing these everyday objects to think for themselves giving them the power to learn to move on their own.  Is it possible that these new life forms evolve to be smarter and more capable than humans or will we choose to merge with the machines, combining the best of our world with the best of theirs?

Episode 7: IS REALITY REAL?

Premieres Wednesday, July 17 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)

Do we live in the “real world,” or is it all in our mind? Our perception of reality is controlled by society. We make unrealistic assessments about our own reality, thanks to “the optimism bias,” a twist of the brain that rejects negative information about ourselves. Human senses capture only a small part of nature, and new physics suggests we may be blind to entire dimensions of space or there could be less to reality than we think.

Episode 8: DO WE HAVE FREE WILL?

Premieres Wednesday, July 24 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)

What if everything that has or will happen in the universe has already been determined and we are unable to change our inevitable destinies? Until the discovery of quantum uncertainty, physicists were convinced free will does not exist. Now neuroscientists and geneticists have stepped into the fray, arguing that free will is an illusion thanks to the genes we are born with, the automatic processes working in our brains, and the conforming pressures of society.

Episode 9: DID GOD CREATE EVOLUTION?

Premieres Wednesday, July 31 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)

Is life the product of evolution or is it thanks to the guiding hand of God?    Believers in Intelligent Design argue complex life could not have evolved randomly.  One evolutionary scientist is filling in the gaps in the fossil record by bringing extinct creatures back to life as robots.  An engineer has discovered a single pattern that appears throughout the entire universe. Is the existence of a “moral molecule” in our brains a sign that God created humanity?  Was life created by evolution, by God or both?

About Revelations Entertainment:
Revelations Entertainment develops and produces commercially successful entertainment in all existing and emerging media that endeavors to enlighten express heart and glorify the human experience. THROUGH THE WORMHOLE exemplifies Revelations’ Freeman and McCreary’s vision of leading a group of inspired professionals to develop and produce compelling human stories. Revelations Entertainment’s commitment to produce films that provoke imagination have enticed artists and fans alike. The team’s relationships with entertainment industry leaders combined with an expertise in digital technologies have attracted prominent investors to support the company’s slate of projects.  Revelations Entertainment’s theatrical feature, “Invictus,” was nominated for two 2010 Academy Awards®, including Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Morgan Freeman and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Matt Damon.  The Revelations documentary, “The 16th Man,” was recently recognized at the Fourth Annual Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Academy Honors as one of eight television programs symbolizing television with a conscience.

About SCIENCE:

SCIENCE, a division of Discovery Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), is home for the thought provocateur, the individual who is unafraid to ask the killer questions of “how” and “why not.”  The network is a playground for those with audacious intellects and features programming willing to go beyond imagination to explore the unknown.  Guided by curiosity, SCIENCE looks for innovation in mysterious new worlds as well as in its own backyard.  SCIENCE and the SCIENCE HD simulcast reach more than 68 million U.S. households.  The network also features high-traffic online and social media destinations, including ScienceChannel.com, facebook.com/Science Channel and twitter.com/Science Channel.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 218 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 155 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Across the Nordic region, Discovery owns and operates SBS Discovery Media, a top-three portfolio of 20 television brands that feature leading nonfiction content, as well as locally produced entertainment programs, sports and the best scripted series and movies from major studios. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit  www.discoverycommunications.com.

New Domain Names Point to the Future?

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Published on: May 8, 2013

Dave Filoni TIE FighterFusible is reporting that Lucasfilm has registered over 10 new domain names that could point to future projects.  With the acquisition by Disney last year and the agreement, announced this week, with EA, these could be early hints at new TV or movie projects or something in the video game realm.

Dave Filoni tweeted a photo of a TIE Fighter earlier in the week leading to speculation that he’s working on a new Original Trilogy era property.  Could that be related to two of the new domains, Filoni’s own Wolf Pack Adventures or Star Wars Wolf Pack?  Anyone’s guess at this point.

Hard to believe that I've worked at LFL almost 8 yrs, & this is the first time I have gotten to draw a TIE fighter. http://t.co/0H6Z9hS0lq
@dave_filoni
Dave Filoni

While many of the domains have more of a video game feel to them, Gungan Frontier 2 – 4 and Star Wars Alliance, for example, Star Wars Rebels and the two Wolf Pack names could fit in several places.

As Fusible mentions, still no new word on Star Wars: 1313 or the First Assault games that were in development before Disney shut down LucasArts.

Iron Man 3

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Published on: May 2, 2013

Iron Man 3I have a tendency to run off on movie reviews, either picking apart a film or getting too detailed and kinda spoilerish.  I’m not doing that this time because everyone needs to go see Iron Man 3 and no matter what I can, will or won’t say here, that’s a fact that can not be argued.

Iron Man 3 is not its predecessors.  It has a different feel to it, thanks to Shane Black’s directorial hand, no doubt, but at the core it’s still Robert Downey Jr. playing Tony Stark with all the humor and brilliance that you’ve seen through three movies (Counting The Avengers).

Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow are back as James Rhodes and Pepper Potts respectively, Jon Favreau has a cameo as Happy Hogan and Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Rebecca Hall and James Badge Dale join in and may or may not be the antagonists.  One of the fun additions to the film was Ty Simpkins as Harley Keener, Stark’s young helper.

Unlike the first two films in the trilogy, we don’t see a lot of Iron Man for large chunks of the film.  Iron Man 3 pits Tony Stark, the man, against an enemy who is not only targeting the United States and his closest friends, but also him personally.  It’s also a story about Stark dealing with some leftover demons from his encounter with the aliens during the invasion in The Avengers.

But even with all the attacks going on, the humor that this franchise has become known for is there, even after the credits.  So hang around, there’s an excellent cameo at the end that you can’t miss.

I would recommend skipping the 3D showings of Iron Man 3, there’s not one point in the movie where I thought that added anything to the experience and the only reason I saw it that way was because it was originally the only option for my theater for tonight.  Other than that, the movie looked excellent, the acting was spot on and there were some twists that I never saw coming…although there was one telegraphed early just due to casting.

Even without Iron Man, the film is full of action from beginning to end and everyone gets in on that from Stark to Rhodes to Happy and even Pepper.  The FX in the film were well done as always, and the sheer number of armor versions that have cameos in the film will blow you away.

Iron Man 3 advanced the story of Tony Stark and while it did fit in well with the previous Iron Man movies, there wasn’t as much of a tie in to Phase 2, as it’s called, of the Avengers universe.  But that’s fine.  We still have Thor, Captain America and Guardians of the Galaxy films to get through before we get back there anyway.

Other than skipping 3D, I can’t recommend this movie enough.  It’s a fun an interesting story and it’s driven by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark…armor optional.  Five wheels of cheddar out of five.  Now, bring on the Thunder!

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Grabs Seven Daytime Emmy Nominations

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Published on: May 1, 2013

Star Wars The Clone Wars LogoWhile the pain of losing Star Wars: The Clone Wars to the new Disney acquisition is still fresh in everyone’s mind, there may be some consolation; the animated show from Cartoon Network just picked up seven Daytime Emmy nominations.

  • Outstanding Special Class Animated Program
    • George Lucas, Executive Producer
    • Cary Silver, Producer
    • Athena Portillo, Line Producer
  • Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program – Three separate nominations:
    • Jim Cummings as Hondo Onaka
    • David Tennant as Huyang
    • Sam Witwer as Darth Maul
  • Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program
    • Dave Filoni, Supervising Director
    • Kyle Dunlevy, Brian Kalin O’Connell, Stweard Lee, Bosco Ng, Directors
  • Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition
    • Kevin Kiner, Composer
  • Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing – Animation
    • David Acord, Re-Recording Mixer
    • Cameron Davis, Dialogue Recordist

The 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards will air live on HLN on June 16, 2013.

Disney: New Star Wars Films Every Year Starting in 2015

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Published on: April 19, 2013

Star Wars Gold Logo 200x92When Disney bought Lucasfilm last October, one of their first announcements was a new trilogy of Star Wars movies beginning in 2015 with Episode VII.  Wednesday, at CinemaCon, Disney Studio chief Alan Horn announced that the trilogy would release every two years starting in 2015 and continuing in 2017 and 2019.

Horn also reiterated their plans to do standalone films, focusing on individual characters, possibly releasing in the years between the trilogy films.  However, there are conflicting reports on this matter.

Variety reports that Horn “did not elaborate as to when they would be released,” while CommingSoon.net is reporting that there will be a new movie every year.

Whether it turns out that there will be films every year or every other, it seems that Disney is taking a page out of their Marvel playbook.  It’s not known yet if the individual films will build on characters and plot that feed into the trilogy or if they’ll stand outside of that continuity, possibly looking at the Old Republic period or even moving forward in time.  It’s possible we could even see some animated movies, although they may feel like poor replacements for The Clone Wars which we lost this year.

At this point, I’m not really happy with much that Disney has announced.  So far it seems like mostly bad news, all we’ve had are things taken away from us while only being handed promises that have yet to be backed by any substance.

Looking at this from the standpoint of collectors, people who have been in the game for more than a couple of years have to be looking at the this with mixed anticipation and dread; it’s always fun to add new items to the collection but if you’re a “one of everything” collector, even if it’s only from one company, the prospect of never ending new toys or busts or props to buy, and where to put it, is daunting.

This new announcement seemed to have overshadowed the fact that there were more personnel cuts at Lucasfilm this week, including the licensing department.  Disney seems to be making it very clear that they wanted the intellectual property and don’t really care about the people that helped build the franchise into what it’s become today.  If we start hearing that people such as Leland Chee and Pablo Hidalgo or Mary Franklin have been let go, I think it will definitely signal the end of the Star Wars franchise as we know it.

Richard Le Parmentier Passes Away

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Published on: April 16, 2013

It was very sad to hear yesterday that actor Richard Le Parmentier had passed away at the age of 66.  Best known to fellow Star Wars fnas as Admiral Motti, who barely escaped Vader’s wrath in A New Hope, Mr. Le Parmentier appeared in over 30 projects during his career, including televisions series and films such as Who Framed Roger RabbitSuperman II, and Octopussy.

Richard LeParmentier - Admiral Motti I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Le Parmentier on several occasions at conventions and he was always gracious and took time to speak with all of his fans.  He had an excellent sense of humor and everyone left their meeting with a smile on their face.  He was a  true gentleman.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Mr. Le Parmentier was a staple at conventions around the country, including the Steel City Con in Monroeville, PA, a suburb of Pitt.  Back in 2011, several members of the Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society had the opportunity to take Mr. Le Parmentier out for a beer and, as you can see by the photo; all smiles.

We’ll miss seeing him at conventions but thank him for all the fond memories.

PSWCS Steel City Con 2011
Photo courtesy PSWCS
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