The robots of Star Wars, particularly R2D2, seemed like the wave of the future. Here's the story of a restaurant that jumped on the bandwagon early.

In 1983, a Chinese fast-food restaurant in Pasadena, California hired a curious-looking pair of servers: two robots named Tanbo R-1 and Tanbo R-2.

At 4.5 feet tall and 180 pounds, the robots would scoot around; bringing trays of chow mein, spareribs and fortune cookies to customers’ tables.

Shayne Hayashi, the owner of Two Panda Deli, first put the robots to work in 1983. Each Japanese-built robot purportedly cost $20,000 (about $45,000 adjusted for inflation) but were prone to dropping things and letting radio interference make them go a bit haywire. When they worked, they were a hit, telling jokes and delivering food to customers who were assured that this would be the future of the restaurant business.

It was a case of too much, too soon, at least in hindsight. Robots were the wave of the future, just not in the shape of replacement humans, the way we saw them in the movies. Read the story of the robot waiters at Paleofuture. Link

(Image credit: Lowell Georgia)

(YouTube link)

Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) is today. The official commemoration runs from sundown Wednesday to sundown Thursday. In this video recorded last year, you see the moment of remembrance announced by sirens in an unnamed city in Israel. -via reddit

See a gallery of pictures taken during Holocaust Remembrance Day at The Washington Post. Link

Three robots are being tested at a prison in Pohang, South Korea, on the feasibility of using the machines as guards.

The robot, called Robo-Guard by many in the press, is equipped with several cameras, one of which is 3D, microphone, speaker and circuitry and software that allow it to roam autonomously in predefined areas within the prison. It also has software that allows it to analyze behavioral characteristics of inmates to help in deciding whether to alert the human guards. Its main purpose, according to the AFC, is to reduce manpower costs in prisons and to make a safer environment for both inmates and those that guard them.

So far, the project appears to be doing the same job of a combination computerized video surveillance and public address system, so the push to use robots in prison may be part of South Korea's effort to become the world leader in the robotics industry. Read more about it (and see a video) at PhysOrg. Link -via Ars Technica

Yeah, we've all noticed that a female hero, no matter how tough, gets photographed from the rear for the movie poster. Sometimes it's so obvious that we have to laugh about it. Still, you might be surprised to see how many posters use this same trope in just the past few years.

So, the most recently released image of Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises kind of got me worked up. The moment I saw it I think I said something to the nature of, “If I have to see one more woman posed with her behind in my general direction, looking smouldering-ly over her shoulder, I’m going to punch someone in the face. And you two [my Tor.com officemates] should be worried, since you’re the closest people at hand.” My co-workers generally prefer a non-violent environment, so I decided to work through this the only way I know how: with lots of photographic evidence.

Oh yeah, there's lots of photographic evidence at Tor.com. Link -via Metafilter, where you'll find a lot more links on the same subject in the comments.

(YouTube link)

Mark your calendar, because you don't want to miss a chance to see the moon showing off its glory! NASA ScienceCasts tell us why. You might want to get your camera ready, too. Now, this says that scientists don't fully understand why the moon looks so much bigger when it's near the horizon. I know a couple of scientists who will explain it to you.

The drama played out at the webcomic Sci-?nce.

First it was like this.

Then it was updated like this. There's an even more detailed explanation here.

The story of how it all happened was summed up at Bad Astronomy. Link

Remember the first time you saw an ad for Sea Monkeys? I really wanted some, but never made the order. I figured the X-ray Spex were a rip-off, even in my childhood. Kirk Demarais was fascinated with those ads in the back of comic books, so much that he made a film about them, went to work for a novelty company, and wrote a book called Mail Order Mysteries. He talks about some of those products in an interview at Collectors Weekly.

Collectors Weekly: Isn’t it funny how when your parents tell you something is a rip-off, it just makes you want it more?

Demarais: Oh yeah. Suddenly, it was the forbidden fruit. I trusted my parents in general, but something about that, I thought, “How did they know?” They didn’t order it. It’s also the first time I ever encountered dishonest salesmanship. I thought, “With all the other commercials I see on television, you get what they show you.” Part of me had a hard time fathoming that people would just out-and-out rip you off, especially kids. That’s the coming-of-age lesson behind it.

Read the full interview, and learn the truth behind those tantalizing products at Collectors Weekly. Link -Thanks, Lisa!

(YouTube link)

The Game of Thrones season one trailer never looked so cute as it does acted out by Playmobil toys. -via The Daily What Geek

(video link)

Fix Edukation Now is a supercut of stupid things students say in movies. It might make you feel a little better about struggling to prepare for finals, or your child's latest grade report. See a list of the films at NextMovie. Link -via FilmDrunk

Dick Clark, the man who introduced rock 'n' roll to America, died this morning of a heart attack. Clark was best known as the host of the show American Bandstand, on which he appeared for 31 years.

Long dubbed "the world's oldest teenager" because of his boyish appearance, Clark bridged the rebellious new music scene and traditional show business, and was equally comfortable whether chatting about music with Sam Cooke or bantering with Ed McMahon about TV bloopers. He thrived as the founder of Dick Clark Productions, supplying movies, game and music shows, beauty contests and more to TV. Among his credits: "The $25,000 Pyramid," "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes" and the American Music Awards.

For a time in the 1980s, he had shows on all three networks and was listed among the Forbes 400 of wealthiest Americans. Clark also was part of radio as partner in the United Stations Radio Networks, which provided programs - including Clark's - to thousands of stations.

Dick Clark may be better known to a younger generation as the host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, which began in 1972. Clark was 82. Link

(YouTube link)

This video features a series of vignettes produced for the Danish TV show Dumt & Farlig (Stupid and Dangerous). Watch all kinds of things that you've been told not to do, and other things you never thought of, like using rockets to spin a clothesline or opening a can with a wrecking ball. All in glorious slow motion! -via Metafilter

(vimeo link)

Coney Island has gone through a lot of changes in the past couple of decades, but it still has its charm. Neatoramanaut Robert Kolodny made this love letter to the Brooklyn seaside neighborhood. -Thanks, Robert!

Neatorama presents a guest post from actor, comedian, and voiceover artist Eddie Deezen. Visit Eddie at his website. What can you say about The Simpsons?

The incredible animated series is currently in its 23rd season! The Simpsons has given us dozens of clever, original characters. Every Simpsons fan has his or her favorite character. Let's take a look at the original, real-life inspirations behind several characters on The Simpsons.

BART The original breakout star of the series, Bart's name is an anagram of the word "brat." Bart's character was based on another very mischievous cartoon character, Dennis the Menace. Creator Matt Groening said he was "always disappointed" that the Dennis the Menace TV show character wasn't as mischievous as the comic strip.

HOMER Without question, Homer is the most popular, beloved character in the history of The Simpsons. Homer's character evolved from an irascible, grouchy father to the lovable, bumbling buffoon who captured the heart of every Simpsons fan. According to Dan Castellaneta (who voices Homer), the original inspiration for Homer's voice was the greatest character actor in movie history: Walter Matthau.

MAYOR QUIMBY Springfield's lascivious, girl-chasing mayor, Mayor Quimby was based on our very charming (and very womanizing) U.S. president John F. Kennedy.

BARNEY GUMBLE

Gumble is Homer's best pal and the town drunk. Barney was based on a character from The Jackie Gleason Show of the 1960s called Crazy Guggenheim (played by actor Frankie Fontaine). Crazu Guggenheim was a rum-soaked drunken character who would chat with Jackie in comedy skits. Jackie played the bartender, the straight man to Crazy.

CHIEF WIGGUM Chief Wiggun is Springfield's inept Chief of Police. The Chief's voice was based on the wonderful, legendary movie star Edward G. Robinson.

TROY MCCLURE

Doug McClure, Troy McClure, and Troy Donahue

The quintessential cheesy, grade B movie actor, Troy McClure is actually a combination of two grade B movie stars: Troy Donahue and Doug McClure. In real life, Doug McClure was not offended by the character, but flattered instead. His daughter often called him "Troy."

When life hands you lemons, you're supposed to make lemonade. Six-year-old Drew Cox did just that. Drew's father, Randy Cox of Gladewater, Texas, underwent chemotherapy to treat cancer. Drew wanted to help in any way he could.

Drew said he felt sad and wanted to help his father with medical bills.

“He is so important to me. We like to play with each other. Lots of times we like to play games," Drew told a local television station.

Randy Cox says he has medical insurance but still will have to pay thousands of dollars in medical costs out of pocket.

Drew opened his stand for business outside his home on Saturday morning, charging 25 cents a cup. Word of his benevolent venture spread quickly, with some customers coming from dozens of miles away.

One person wrote a $5,000 check and by the end of the day, Drew raised more than $10,000.

Link -via Fark

The Campbell Soup Company offers 11 “Cream of _______” soups. In today's Lunchtime Quiz at mental_floss, you won't be expected to know them all, but you should know the eight basic flavors that have been around for a long time. How many can you name in three minutes? I got six right off, misspelled one, and never knew the eighth one existed. Link

(YouTube link)

A Cape penguin at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo has a hard time walking up a slippery slope. At first you feel sorry for him, then you start to get the idea that he's enjoying this. My Japanese is a little rusty, but I think the uploader said the little guy gave it up after about ten minutes and went to sleep. -via Arbroath