Hanging out at Science Museum of Minnesota, '08

One day last week, I think it was Friday, I went with three friends to the SMM. It was a pretty cool place with lots of hand-on exhibits and dinosaur bones (though no Velociraptor skeleton - boo! One less dead Velociraptor).

The main reason we went, however, was to see the traveling Star Wars exhibit, priced at almost as much as general admission. It was entirely worth it. In addition to learning cool things about real science as seen in the Star Wars Universe, I got to see tons of models and props that were actually used in the films.

The highlight for me was seeing an actual thermal detonator, which I admit sounds kinda dumb if you have not played Star Wars Mafia (you probably haven't, but it is not dumb).
This is an actual Yoda puppet. He's posed next to a Jedi training device
Original R2-D2 and C-3P0, and half of Leia's dress.
An ominous-looking Imperial Interrogation Droid, just waiting to pwn you and your kids.
Darth Vader's helmet and also Lord Vader.

That abominable snowman dude from Hoth. Originally he was just a hand puppet, but for the remake they had an actual stuffed one. This guy is maybe three feet tall.
A Jawa, who appears to have more eyes thanks to the glass case he's in.

All in all it was a pretty sweet exhibit, and well worth going to if you're in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.