I owe George Lucas dearly. You see – Star Wars has been a huge part of my life. I was never what you might call a fanboy. I never pretended to be a Wookie or pilot the Death Star or be orphaned on Tattoine. Honestly, I barely remember watching the films as a child.

My first real Star Wars experience came when they re-released the trilogy to theaters in the mid-90’s. I took a date to try and see Return of The Jedi and on the way I got pulled over for running a red light (Author’s Note: Do not drive a motor vehicle like you would a Podracer) and despite my attempts to get us there on time we still missed the movie. Oh, and I also got a $200 ticket. So Andrea, again I apologize and I sincerely hope you have finally overcome that traumatic night.

After that debacle and subsequently seeing the next Star Wars film on a mild-altering substance, I decided that George and I needed a break. But fate brought us back together at the release of The Phantom Menace. The newspaper I worked for in Germany wanted to cover release day, and it piqued my interest. I volunteered for the story and once again we danced the dance.

And I fell in love. I adored the new films. (I know, I know… Haters keep your comments to yourself.) I assumed after Episode 3 I was done with Star Wars. But I had a son. And the cycle started again.

It was all due to Lucas’s incredible marketing machine. There are all sorts of things Star Wars. Lunch-boxes, coffins, games, toilet paper; you just name it. Dylan’s particular pleasure was Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network. He loved it and it got him asking me all about Star Wars. For a child whose family had recently split up it was an entirely new World to escape in. Plus it was something special we shared in common. It was just ours – sister need not apply.

We submerged ourselves pretty deeply into the World of Star Wars. We bought Nintendo DS’s and two copies of the Lego Star Wars game. We’d watch a scene from one of the movies and then hop onto our DS and play the corresponding level together. But it’s about a lot more than just escapism. The movies have allowed us to have some awesome dialogue; relationships, good and evil, right and wrong, fathers and sons, split families, honesty. It’s bonded us on an entirely new level. And for that, I owe you greatly Mr. Lucas.

Warcraft account….$17.99 a month.

Buying 5000 gold from Chineses farmers for flying mount….$175.76

One-hour session with a shrink to discuss game addiction…$75

The Onion lampooning us for being geeks…PRICELESS!

I was just contemplating how much our lives will change over the course of the next 40 years or so. First there was the Industrial Revolution, then the great Technological Revolution, and I believe we are soon to enter the next large revolution — a Biotech Revolution. Essentially Nanotechnology and Biology are going to change the ways in which we function and live, as well as expand our life expectancies exponentially. Don’t believe me? Shop around a bit for yourself! Check out the “Futures in Biotech” podcast with my buddy Leo Laporte over at Twit.tv. Or do some googleing on the subject. It’s fascinating stuff that’ going to be the next big thing to impact our world.

On a much lighter note, and gave in and picked up a new HD DvD drive! But wait! HD DVD is dead! What are you thinking? Well, here’s a great deal for anyone who fits the criteria.

1. I didn’t have a next-gen drive yet; Blue-Ray or HD

2. I had an HDTV (720p) and an XBox 360

3. I was bored.

So, I went and picked up the HD add-on drive from my 360. Now I realize that HD discs aren’t being produced anymore, but hear me out on this. I can buy movies on clearance for dirt cheap right now, and I’ll pick up a handful of films that I enjoy enough to watch on multiple occasions. But more importantly, this drive (when connected via HDMI) is an upscaling DVD player. And here’s the best part: it now costs only $49.99. And that comes with a free film. That’s a steal. So I highly recommend picking one up if you’re in the market.

Well, it looks as if the weather is going to be piss-poor tonight, which really puts a damper on my evening plans, which mainly consisted of sitting around and playing Burnout Paradise. I guess I should have tried to relegate my 360 time to the day so I could focus on family tonight….but it felt SO nice to sleep while everyone was gone. I tried to read a little, but I just kept dozing off. More on the novel to come, it’s really stellar and highly recommended reading.

Anywho, my point is this: Burnout Paradise is freakin’ amazing. I don’t even enjoy racing games yet I can’t seem to pull myself away from that damned Xbox. The game is just so engrossing – it’s much less like a racing game and a lot more like a whole world I exist in outside of this one. I guess it was quixotic of me to think I wouldn’t spend too much time playing video games, but hey…it’s worth it. Now just as long as I don’t get the dreaded Red Rings of Death…