Zee End of Aprils Blog Challenge

Its the Zee End of April's Blog Challenge. Thank you Alex for giving me this opportunity to test the little grey cells in my brain box. Parting is such sweet sorrow, shall we say goodnight till it be morrow?"


Live Long and Prosper, everyone.

Majel Barrett's X Factor.

What was the name of Lwaxana Troi's former valet (before Mr Homn) who had pornographic thoughts of her and was dismissed? Lwaxanna could read him like a book and mentions him in Star Trek's TNG "Haven" episode.


A. Xendi
B. Xandu
C. Xelo
D. or Xylo?

Wicked Weapons

W is for Wicked Weapons.

Fighting and warfare have been the subject of Science Fiction stories from almost the beginning of time itself, with writers out foxing themselves in creating new weapons for the future. The familiar and once ever present ray gun is but one of a class of weapons called energy weapons, that fire a beam or ray at various settings and deadliness.

My favorite is Star Trek's Type 2 classic hand held phaser of 2266. Its got three extremely powerful variable settings. The lowest stun setting will weaken moving targets and cause them to fall unconscious. The highest setting will disintegrate dense material, heat rocks, heat coffee, cut metal and vaporize humanoids! For safety phasers are normally set to stun. On top of the Type 2 hand held unit is a small type 1 phaser which snaps into place to complete the set. Some of these weapons are distinguished by the type of energy they use or sound they fire such as heat rays and laser guns. Star Wars fanboys and fangirls love the lightsaber which features a deadly buzzing sound and bright blade. Other weapons are noted for their effects, blasters, death rays, disintegrators and disruptors.

Now tell us what your favorite Science Fiction Ray Gun is? Its over to you, trekkers.

Who is Darth Vader?

Who is the dark lord of Star Wars? Its safe to say Darth Vader personifies the evil of the Galactic Empire... but what about the voices behind the dark Lord of the Sith? James Earl Jones was not George Lucas's first choice for Vaders dialogue. In fact Lucas went through several tapes of people including Orson Welles. After hearing Jone's deep bass voice, Lucas realized he had sourced the perfect commanding voice for Vader. Several actors dressed in flowing black robes with their faces masked by the famous black metal breathing screen skyrocketed Darth Vader to super-stardom. James E. Jones told Star Wars Insider ' David Prowse worked very hard to create the character of Darth Vader,' 'He is Vader'.

So who else was there? Bob Anderson had been Britain's Senior National Fencing Coach for thirty years. Anderson doubled for David Prowse in Empire's dueling sequences but also helped choreograph the fights. Vader seems to meet all the criteria for the perfect space villain on the surface- deep voiced, black clad, heavy breather and built 2m high for battle. He employs his extra sensory powers to keep Emperor Palpatine in power. Vaders 'dark side' aids Governor Tarkin in the destruction of the rebels. In 1980 Star Wars "Empire Strikes Back" becomes the 'Years Best Movie' exposing an inescapable truth between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.

Remember, Darth Vader is Master of the Dark Forces and wants you!

Unbelievable Star Wars Fun.

Today I trekked with my friend Novadove to the Star Wars Invasion at Dublin. It turned out to be a fantastic weekend. Star Wars Fans from all over the globe took time out to join in the Unbelievable Fun in that "Galaxy far far away".......

The senators of the Emerald Garrison seen in the photo came out in force to entertain "the fans" and it wasn't long before everyone was having a good time. Can you name the actors in the photo?

Being a trekker, I found himself surrounded by thousands of sci-fi fans probably "StarWarsians" so I kept stump about my inner "trekkie". Lots of people herded into the enclosed stadium which was had loads of merchandise stalls adding to the extra buzz and excitement.

 On my way in I bought some Sci-Fi merchandise and took lots of photographs with my digital camera for later. During the show Nova and I got the chance to mix with several costumed characters. The place was packed with fans waving light sabers through the air!

"I demand the uniform code of justice before my trial." Yes, its me Spacerguy!

Darth Vader, Commander Bly, Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Shock trooper, Sand trooper, Scout trooper, R2D2, Clone Captain and Clone Commander were all there walking around taking photo turns with the fans.

The biggest moment for us was meeting Julian Glover aka General Veers and then it happened, I met and spoke with Kenny Baker the legendary chirpy robot R2-D2.

Queen of the Galaxy, Carrie Fisher was notably absent as was David Prowse (who played Darth Vader in the movies) and sounded so awful they had to do a voice over with James earl Jones. Both were no shows. For a brief moment in time and space, the galaxy stood very still but even so I was pretty stoked considering.

It was pretty neat chatting with Stars Wars actors. It was quite an experience as I momentarily found myself rubbing shoulders with actors and friends of the Star Wars universe. Julian Glover kindly agreed to stand with me as Novadove took our photo! ....So there. Forever immortalized with General Veers himself in living color! Questions and Answer's followed later with Tarfful, Admiral Piett, R2D2, Greedo, Boba Fett and General Veers recounting favourite and worst movie moments. Kenny Baker explained that the dessert temperature and sandy conditions made filming R2D2 movements quite challenging.

Live Long and end transmission.

Star Wars Convention

I'm off to a science fiction convention with my trekkie friend Colm on Monday, so saddle up Solarians, lock and load. Tickets for Sunday's and Monday's 'Invasion Dublin' shows can still be obtained at a 20% discount when bought online.

I've got my digital camera charged and ready for shooting at.... the next Star Wars invasion. I know, admitting this is certainly putting my neck on the line. Star Wars defection never even crossed my mind. I promise, LOL. Spacerguy is not defecting to the darkside!

Hey, Maybe I'll get David Prowse to sign my Star Wars Book. LOL...

Realistic Reading

Really short messages are just as good as really long messages in fact they're better. Twitters success is based on getting your point across quickly "called tweets" using only 140 characters or less. I've broken a cardinal rule by mentioning Twitter but who really cares? Twitter is good for reporting realistic, rapid, relaxing, randomized, respectful, rumors to its ready, resolute and resourceful readership.

'Pick' Your Brains out.

Its Trekker Pick your brains time. How good is your knowledge of Star Trek's Final Frontier or has it gone off the boil? Well, theres only one way to find out and it doesn't involve any Star Trek technobabble jive. Although forgive me if I sneak in just a little. This Trekker Quiz will scan your galactic memory banks and establish how finely tuned your wits are pitted against Star Trek's elite. The answers will follow tomorrow.


1. How many Photon torpedoes could a federation starship simultaneously launch from a single photon torpedo tube?

A. 4?
B. 7?
C. or 10?

2. How manyPhaser banks does Captain Jean Luc Picard's flagship U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-D have?

A. 10?
B. 12?
C. or 17?

3. PADD was a handheld information unit used by Starfleet personnel aboard Federation starships. What does the acronym stand for?

4.Pattern enhancers were used by Starfleet landing parties during transport missions to amplify the beam up signal and lock on any object contained in their triangular formation. How many Pattern enhancers were generally used in Star Trek The Next Generation and Voyager?

A. 2?
B. 3?
C. or 4?

Worf's Big Win

Name the Neurogeneticist in Star Trek TNG "Ethics" whose experimental Genetronic Technique gave a badly injured Lt Worf extremely high hopes of walking again?

1. Dr Lewis Zimmerman?
2. Dr Toby Russell?
3. Dr Phlox?
4. Dr Leonard H. McCoy?
5. Dr. Julian Bashir?
6. Dr Beverly Crusher?

Live Long and Prosper, Trekkers.

Spookiest Star Trek TNG "Schisms"

M is for Majel Barett. Do you ever get that creeped out bogeyman vibe? You know the kind that surprises unsuspecting sleepers with goosebumps during the night.

 But hey, thats never going to happen! right?? Schisms is one of the most disquieting TNG episodes to air with Riker, Troi, Data and Worf being kidnapped overnight and taken to alternate dimension. What made this epic even more gruesome were the aliens, who conducted medical experiments on the USS Enterprise-D crew and crikey... These creatures were pure ugly, not exactly what you'd want to wake up to in the morning, if you catch my drift.

But take comfort. If you're a cat owner or petlover then the chances are good you'll really enjoy Star Trek's TNG Schisms. This episode has Data reading his "Ode to Spot" poem.

The crew of the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D thought they were invincible, safe aboard their mighty Federation Flagship but Starfleet's finest thought wrong, big style. I must warn you readers, "Schisms" is pretty creepy, so prepare yourself for an awesome Star Trek TNG episode with sinister aliens. So Commander Riker, Chief of Security, Worf and Chief Engineer, Geordi La Forge are sleeping soundly when an insidious race of solanagen-based aliens sneak silently aboard the USS Enterprise-D flagship!



What follows comes in the shape of a Medical Horror with biobed nightmares freaking out crew members. The abductees try to piece together a reproduction of the biobed from their hazy memories by reaching deep into their subconscious thoughts. The mysterious aliens conducted a secret experiment on living Enterprise crew for no other reason other than to satisfy scientific curiosity. The aliens fail to realise that they are leaving behind clues.

The abducted Enterprise crew are kept drugged during their ordeal, but the big give away is physical exhaustion. Some of them seek medical help bewildering Dr Beverly Crusher who soon figures theres more to this than bad dreams and disturbed sleep. Many Enterprise crew have undergone metabolic changes and some have had limbs severed and invisibly reattached. Sweet dreams Trekkers!