Friday, March 16, 2012

Yesterday's Enterprise

Yesterdays Enterprise is Star Trek TNG 15th episode in season 3 which gives me goosebumps. A ship from the past emerges 22 years into the future from a mysterious swirling cloud. In the blink of an eye, the united Federation of planets turns into a warzone when this battered starship leaps into the Enterprise-D's timeline.

Vulcan's and Romulans are now the cruel masters of the universe and Worf is gone from the bridge of captain Picard's Flagship. Klingons are at war with the Federation which is on the brink of surrender! On closer scrutiny the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D is a warship with Tasha Yar back at her old post as security chief. Just what exactly is going on? Data as usual explains. Apparently 'the cloud' is a temporal rift opening doorways in time allowing timetravelers to effect change in alternate universes.

At first glance all is not what it seems. Guinan's El Aurian intution senses whats wrong. The weird thing is the Enterprise-D isn't supposed to be a ship of WAR but of PEACE! She fills in the gaps for Picard who has a tough time buying her story, especially the bit about FAMLIES living on the Enterprise, LOL.


Billions of lives have been lost in a war that could have been avoided if one ship, the USS Enterprise-C had stayed where she really belonged.

Captain Garret's ship has to go back to 2344 and save Klingons in THE PAST because its the right thing to do. Its a suicide mission dooming the Enterprise-C to certain death but the Picard is desperate and Guinan is probably right.

One more Federation starship in the here and now hardly matters, but 22 years ago, a lone Federation starship rescuing Klingons at Narendra III would be considered 'a meaningful act of honor' by the Klingon Empire.

In the end Tasha Yar, Castillo and the Enterprise-C crew heroically race to their deaths giving Picard's alternate universe a fighting chance to survive but what would you do? Stay on Picard's ship or die heroically fighting Romulans?



Monday, March 12, 2012

Blog Award

It is my honor to announce that Bernd Schneider from Ex Astris Scientia has chosen Star Trek - Sci Fi Blog for a 2012 EAE Star Trek award.

Bernd's trek analysis identifies my weakness for Star Trek which took hold at an early age. You see I was powerless to resist scores of invading pesky space bugs assimilating me into their trektastic collective! Resistance was definitely futile and I was absorbed.

Now I must confess, I felt a warm surge of emotion when I got word of our EAE award over the weekend. Thanks Bernd, you've made my day.

Thursday, March 08, 2012

One Giant Leap for Hamkind.

Girls are Geeks too and heres the proof! Its sound hilarious but in 1961 NASA launched a successful astronaut 150 miles into the heavens and he was a monkey! Apparently Ham was smart enough to test out the original Mecury craft launched into earth's sub orbital atmosphere helping us humans discover whether living creatures could survive the rigours of interstellar flight. LOL, okay so I'm exaggerating a little bit but Ham was congratulated by NASA after his successful flight on January 31st 1961.



Two years later thirteen female pilots sign up for Astronaut training with high hopes of entering NASA's Mecury Program. The female geeks are put through NASA's hoops and pass the same demanding physical, intellectual and psychological tests as Mecury's seven male astronauts and trailblazer Ham. The kicker for the Mecury 13 is the year, 1963. Gender discrimination probably prevented female acceptance into NASA's space flight program but who knows why America just wasn't really ready?

How times have changed! On 18th June 1983 Sally Ride became the first American woman to enter space except Russia's was way ahead of us at warp factor 9. Isn't it interesting Mother Russia had enough faith in their girl geeks to become the first country launching the first woman into space with Valentina Tereshkova in 1963!

Live Long and Prosper, Trekkies and Trekkers.

Monday, March 05, 2012

Ralph McQuarrie

Oscar legend Ralph McQuarrie died over the weekend at the grand age of 82. Ralph was the brains and artistic inspiration responsible for propelling Star Wars trilogy of characters onto the silver screen. His creative visuals won him an Academy Award in 1986 and contributed to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the lost Ark, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home!

His striking Star Wars characters have unquestionably won over the hearts and minds of fans who will forever immortalize Ralph's iconic creations Darth Vader, Bobba Fett, R2-D2, Chewbacca and C-3PO hyperspacing across the galaxy.

Thankyou Ralph McQuarrie for infecting our galaxy.



































Thursday, March 01, 2012

The Evil Captain Kirk

Heres a couple that looks real sweet but I wonder what have these two been up to? Kirk looks like the cat that got the cream hugged by friendly Janice Rand from Star Trek's 'The Enemy Within.'

What happens when a transporter malfunction goes beserk and splits Captain Kirk into two beings, one indecisive and the other a violent hell-bent lunatic with inappropriate desires for the lovely yeoman here played by Grace Lee Whitney?

The dark side of Captain Kirk runs amok aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701 and creates havoc for Sulu who is stuck with the landing party freezing on the planet surface. The Enemy Within does a brilliant science fiction twist on Robert Louis Stevenson's 'the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' which is pure awesome.

Spock figures out that the 'Captain' requires both aspects of the 'Kirk personality' to function as a complete whole. Its really neat watching the good Kirk procrastinating over whether to allow Scotty and Spock use the transporter to restore him with his 'evil' twin.

Would you want to mind meld permanently with the EVIL Captain Kirk?




Join My Awesome Trekkie Squad!

Friday, February 24, 2012

Star Trek 2 Sequel Clues and Movie Shots

Trekmovie has 2 beautiful location shots up on their website with Uhura, Spock and Benedict in action movie scenes! If you're saving yourself for 'Star Trek 2' 2013 then RED ALERT. The following contains SPOILERS.

JJ Abram's second trek sequel is currently shooting on location in Los Angles. So whats new? The first image shows Zachary Quinto aka Mr Spock and Benedict Cumberbatch (mysterious villain) at odds battling it out. In this shot the sneaky vulcan's Neck Pinch puts Cumberbatch on his knees begging for mercy. LOL. Perhaps Spock is getting even for losing one of his logical arguments?

Who do you think is going to win?




In the second shot Uhura holds Cumberbatch at gunpoint with a phaser pointing at his head. Curiously Cumberbatch's got no points on his ears which rules out the Romulan and Vulcan angle.

The Enterprise's Communications Officer hangs tough with this baddie which buys Spock some time at least to complete his secret mission? The question is whats 'Cumberbatch' hiding that affects Uhura and Spock so badly? or the fate of the Federation? Apparently Uhura and Spock are on a 'Space Barge Set' so maybe the duo will call in for some Enterprise Redshirt reinforcements.

Quote and Images courtesy of Trekmovie. Thanks Trekmovie!

Its great seeing Uhura getting in on the action and kicking some villainous butt but has she got the nerves to blow 'Benedict' away?

'I can maybe tell you what I’d like to see happen in Star Trek…for Spock and Uhura to really hook up – for Uhura to get to do whatever physical activities, kick some butt, some Romulan butt.'

Live Long and Prosper, Trekkies and Trekkers.


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Ode to Spot

I rather enjoy listening to Commander Data's wonderful recital of 'Ode to Spot' who wrote it in honor of his cat. I think pet lovers in particular will get a good chuckle out of this episode of TNG 'Schisms' because its just hilarious. The poem itself exposes Spots natural behavioural habits and the personal relationship the creature has with its owner, Data who has come to consider Spot as a true and valued friend.

Tell me, after listening to Data's Ode to Spot, how does your emotional state of mind feel?

Image Owner/Creator: Paramount Pictures and or CBS Studios
.

Felis Cattus, is your taxonomic nomenclature,
an endothermic quadruped carnivorous by nature?
Your visual, olfactory and auditory senses
contribute to your hunting skills, and natural defenses.

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,
a singular development of cat communications
that obviates your basic hedonistic predilection
for a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection.

A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents;
you would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.
And when not being utilized to aide in locomotion,
it often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.

O Spot, the complex levels of behaviour you display
connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.
And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend,
I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.




Live Long and Prosper, Trekkies.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Data's Greatest Moments in Love

Star Trek TNG's 'IN THEORY' unfolds around the Mar Obscura Nebula. Datas deduces the dark matter Nebula creates gaps affecting real space and causing the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D to phase in and out of the space time continuum.

The question for the Enterprise crew is how do they navigate past time shifting pockets hitting the ship?
Mr Data agrees to reconfigure 'the sensors' to detect the anomalies at extremely close range with a shuttle craft 'steering' the bulk of the Enterprise through the tricky cloud.

 At last Picard wants an away mission sidelining Riker on the bridge! Jean Luc pilots the shuttle craft on its new course saving his crew and starship from danger.
The hilarious aspect of 'In Theory' is Jenna's and Data's relationship. Commander Data's mission to understand human intimacy proves to be one of the androids greatest tests when he pursues a romantic relationship. Security Officer Jenna D'Sora is seduced by the emotionless technology of the USS Enterprise-D's android.  

As time passes Jenna, a fully fledged woman, wants to experience real love and passion... It gets even better when Mr Data runs a love programme. Jenna isn't amused when she realises the androids devotions are also totally focused on running the Enterprise instead of her.
The big moment arrives when the lovebirds kiss. A satisfied Jenna looks directly at Data fluttering her wide eyelashes and speaks.

Image Owner/Creator: Paramount Pictures and or CBS Studios.

'What were you just thinking?' Pause for a moment and try to imagine Commander Data sparing his girlfriends feelings! Not Data, IMPOSSIBLE! In his androidlike way, he blurt out the fatal and absolute truth.

'In that particular moment I was reconfiguring the warp field parameters, analysing the collective works of Charles Dickens, calculating the maximum pressure I could safely apply to your lips, considering a new food supplement for Spot...

'Oh well, I'm glad I was in there somewhere.'

Later on Jenna's faces tin man head on. Its the critical hour for Jenna and Data but its not over, just yet. Tin man has a few more surprises up his sleeve.

Jenna: 'You were so kind and attentive, I thought that would be enough!'
Data: 'Is it not?'
Jenna: 'No, it's not. Because as close as we are, I don't really matter to you. Not really. Nothing I could do or say will ever make you happy, or hurt you, or touch you in any way.'
Data: 'That is... a valid projection.' Data reflects. 'It is apparent that my reach has exceeded my grasp in this particular area. I am perhaps not nearly so human as I aspire to become...If you are ready to eat, I will bring our meal.
Data stands. Jenna just looks at him sadly.

Jenna: 'I'd better go, Data.
Data: 'If you wish. Jenna. Are we no longer... a couple?
Jena 'No... we're not.'
Data: 'Then I will delete the appropriate program.' :(

What did you think of Michele Scarabelli and Brent Spiner performances in this episode of Star Trek?


Enjoy your Star Trekking, Trekkies.

Friday, February 03, 2012

The Vulcan Anthem

Great Music universally affects our logical frame of mind putting us in a good mood. I love the lyrics and harmony in the Vulcan Anthem "Live Long and Prosper" because its so emotionally uplifting. When you listen, you might also want to see the song as a story. What I can't figure out is why Uhura isn't here singing with Mr Spock playing the vulcan harp? I guess our Enterprise pals are too busy... hiding somewhere.... I've added the lyrics so you can join in the fun and sing along.

Enjoy your Star Trekking, Trekkers.



The Vulcana Anthem

Live Long and Prosper,
Love, Peace and Soul.
Vulcana Regar,
So Beautiful!
Live Long and Prosper,
Koon-Utt-Kalif-Fee!
Logic for welfare for humility.


Live Long and Prosper,
Love peace and Soul.
Vulcana Regar
So Beautiful!
Live Long and Prosper,
Koon-Utt-Kalif-Fee!
Logic for welfare for humility.

Live Long and Prosper,
Love peace and soul.
Vulcana Regar,
So Beautiful!
Live Long and Prosper,
Koon-Utt-Kalif-Fee!
Logic for welfare for humility
Humility!


Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Almighty Johnsons



'The Almighty Johnsons' is an entertaining Fantasy/drama series which hits SyFy this Thursday at 10PM from February 2nd.

The shows characters have real personalities but in the shape of humanoid gods, goddesses, killer babes and immortals that laugh and enjoy life. These guys make mistakes too and encounter interesting problems. A whole myriad of wonders challenge 'the almighty Johnsons' during their voyage of exploration into the Norsewoods. I never did figure out... How do you resist the tempting advances of killer babes when seeking out that perfect higher lifeform?

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