Hasta La Gadget!

Science fiction is often charged with naïve technological optimism and historical amnesia. But for present-day Californians struggling with a wide range of environmental and social problems, science fiction might just provide the perspective we need to successfully pivot from the boom times of the twentieth century to the messy prospect of the century ahead. It won’t be the techno-futurist elements of science fiction—miraculously clean energy sources, flying cars, off-planet factories—that are going to save us, though. The classic works of science fiction have a different, more fatalistic side that speaks more usefully to our current condition, awash as we are in the environmental and social consequences of the Golden State’s postwar boom.

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Kim Stanley Robinson is the author of many works of science fiction, including The Three Californias, a trilogy of novels about southern California; the Mars Trilogy; 2312, a novel about climate change; and his most recent novel, Shaman.

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When you have a Wookiee piloting anything, you have to have a seat belt. Wookiees are huge. In the event of an accident, you don’t want a Wookiee flying out of a vehicle. People are going to get hurt as that big ball of fur hurtles through the air.

So always have a seatbelt in your cockpit and make it one that the Wookiee would feel at home wearing, like this one from Etsy artist The Common Room.

This bandolier cover sells for $21.99(USD), and adds style and comfort to an item that’s already designed to save your life. It measures about 19 inches-long and fits all standard seat belts. Just be aware that depending on your car, the seatbelt may not be able to retract all the way back into its casing after use if the cover remains on. Safety first. Even for Wookiees.

[via This Is Why I’m Broke]

I’m not sure what you call a bobble head that doesn’t bobble, but that is what these LEGO figures are. They were created by a LEGO master using the Force named Jose Carlos Fernandez. He is also known as LEGO-man-at-arms and Wolf-at-Arms, so clearly he can’t make up his mind.

He created the scout trooper complete with his speeder bike and a big-headed Ewok right after stealing the speeder bike.

For some reason the scout reminds me of Wall-E. I think it must be his eyes. The speeder bike scenes were always some of my favorite in the original three-film franchise. I think these would make for some popular LEGO sets and they should be official kits.

[via Brothers-Brick]

The Doctor Who merchandising machine has really kicked into high gear of late. It seems like every time we turn around there is something new carrying the Doctor Who brand. This time out, there is a new trivia game for fans of the series to compete against each other with.

The game is the Doctor Who Trivial Pursuit Travel Edition. It’s like traditional Trivial Pursuit, but all the questions are Doctor Who themed, naturally.

I think my friends might like this game. I usually dominate at normal Trivial Pursuit, leaving my opponents feeling dumb and defeated (with good reason). They won’t play the game with me anymore. Since I have never watched a single episode of Doctor Who all the way through, they might have a chance.

The cards have 600 questions and include categories like Time Lords, Companions, Episodes & Stories, Monsters, Cast, Crew, & Beyond, and Years and Dates. The game is available for $19.99(USD) from ThinkGeek. The game comes with a Dalek die,  numerous question cards, and a blue wedge container to hold it all. What, no TARDIS?