Okay, so generally, it is understood that I overwork myself. And one way to know how overworked I am, is by how many ridiculous searches I make in passing because my mind is wondering due to exhaustion.
SO...I typed 'foxy beard' into my google search bar AND the first image I see is Evil Spock. Of course . . . beard+trek=joyful moj . . . SO, this hyperlink takes me to a magical blog called "Beard Blog: For the love of beards". I was certainly delighted that this person was not only collecting fine images of Trek-beards, but also photos of strangers he meets and chooses to photograph and interview, simply because they're bearded and seem friendly.
Unfortunately, the next thing that I notice is that he was discontinuing said blog. And alas it seem he has.
So...I suppose this post is really more of a "R.I.P. beard blog" update! Because who wouldn't want to celebrate all of the finest beards! In honor of the "Late" beard blog. I am going to share some of the greatest Trek-beards to date!
Kling-Beard!
Visor-Beard
Droid-Beard
Sexy-Beard!
AND THE NEW TREK BEARDING EXTRAVAGANZA! JJ'S KIRK & SPOCK!
Atlantis, we will miss you! You are so cute and cuddly looking. And you like to piggy back on Boeing 747 rides home when you land in California! OH WOA IS THIS MOJ FOR ATLANTIS WILL NOT RIDE AGAIN! May we let this cute little shuttle rest in peace!
This is my favorite shuttle! I know that it doesn't go on long distance missions. Atlantis has never been to the moon. But it appeals to the eco-geek in me! At least it's reusable!
Okay friends, I know I haven't posted in a little while, but I saw NASA's photo/article of the day and I just had to share it with everyone! EVERYONE, meet Hellas Planitia...
[click here to see this article in it's original context]
Hellas Planitia
This image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter covers a small portion of the northwest quadrant of Hellas Planitia on Mars. With a diameter of about 1,400 miles and a depth reaching the lowest elevations on Mars, Hellas is one of the largest impact craters in the solar system.
The area has a number of unusual features, which are thought to be quite old because of the high crater density. The crater inside Hellas has been filled with material, which may be related to volcanic activity on the basin's northwestern rim. It also might be related to the presence water and water ice. However, there is evidence elsewhere that the ground here is rich with ice.
HiRISE will be used to investigate this in more detail when the basin is free from atmospheric dust.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/International Research School of Planetary Sciences
When The Bough Breaks, is a very entertaining extravaganza of intergalactic baby stealing! Haha...okay maybe not baby stealing but, that sounds funnier than child stealing! Personally I think the purpose of this episode was to serve as foreshadow for the second season episode, Up The Long Ladder (if they steal babies in this season, then the audience will be that much more sympathetic when they're stealing DNA in the next season! I'm just saying). [for those unaware - a friend and I produced a very entertaining song about Up The Long Latter, listen to it here.] Refresh your memories for a second with this ridiculously-tacky but absolutely official trailer for, When The Bough Breaks! -
- So anyways, I appreciate this episode because of it's attempt to display the imperfections of future technology again! That's something that I always appreciate about STNG, unlike other si-fi shows (or Voyager - don't get me started), the future's technologies are just as problematic as our technologies today!
Nevertheless, Aldea, the planet that they have been hailed by (which is has been drown in myth in the TNG universe because they've managed to cloak the whole planet so that they don't have to worry about war/invasion/visitors/etc and can focus on community/art/etc) has several very interesting characters. I think that it's interesting that the people on this planet have lost the ability to have intelectual growth because thier "custodian" (aka: computer) controls EVERYTHING! It controls thier way of living, thier execution of technical things, etc. Thier ancestors built this computer so that the people could stop worrying about training scientists, politicians, etc and instead focus on the quality of life & art making!
I'm not sure how I feel about this - is this episode trying to make a statement about the artist's idea of utopia specifically, or is it simply providing a comentary on what happens to culture when there is that kind of imbalance (all artists, no scholars). Maybe I should be thankful that in order to graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago I had to take more art history courses than any other school, and I had to have a full academic roster! Who knows!?
Maybe there is no real critique upon the "artist" so much as in a society who never has to work for anything, they don't understand the value of anything - even another sentient being! Stealing children for a society that cannot bare children anymore is right there with stealing bread for the hungry! Neither is correct, but both seem justifiable!
So apparently not even Trekkies have exalted themselves above silly drinking games. Now despite my lack of ever having drunken alcohol for any reason, nor do I plan to. I can still appreciate the humor built into this game. I suggest for those of you Baha'is, Muslims, former alcholics, and friends that just think beer smells like rubber bands + urine (like I do - sorry drinkers, it's true)...maybe choose to play this game with an energy drink or play it in a group for points, whomever calls it first and racks up the most points gets something special from the group (say a group hug...or thier dinners covered by the group, whatever).
SPECIAL THANKS to Mackenzie (mysterious commenter) for sharing the game with me! Keep reading the blog Mackenzie! I'm so glad you actually commented directly on the blog...most people email me (PUNKS!). Keep it public friends! It's all love here!
STAR TREK DRINKING GAME! click here to see this article in it's original context
Hey Folks, It has long been said that college students will take any and every opportunity to drink, regardless of the circumstances. It's true... we will. And we also manage to make it fun... So the next time you're watching Star Trek, pull this out and drink per each successfully met condition. Guaranteed to get you LOADED. Have a good week. Greg Williams 38williams(at)cua.edu STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION DRINKING GAME RULES (To be played while watching the show.) Have one sip of beer per successfully met condition Anybody: 'Open hailing frequencies' 'Medical emergency' 'Belay that order' 'Energise' 'Hell','Damn' and other swearing. See Rikers special swearing rules. Picard: 'Make it so' 'Engage' 'Come' - two if said in personal quarters 'Captain's log' - two if supplemental 'Proceed' 'Number One' Worf: 'Impressive' 'Admirable' 'Grrrrr' ( A simple sneer qualifies) Data: 'Fascinating' 'Accessing' DRINK WHENEVER: -Riker swears - two drinks; three if it's 'hell'; whole beer if he asks 'what the hell is going on' -Riker walks forward as if he's trying to knock an imaginary door down with his forehead. -A female character has flawless makeup after she's been through the ringer. -Picard straightens his uniform -Data's innards are revealed -Data uses his strength -Data is cut off mid sentence - two drinks if it's a list of synonyms. -Data gripes about his inability to perceive human emotion -Geordie's visor is taken or knocked off -Georgie gets bitched out for faulty engine, warp drive, etc. -Beverly can't figure out some bizarre medical problem -Deanna senses something really shocking -Deanna gives us Betazoid insight into something really obvious -O'Brien has a line (this gets brutal after the third season - weak drinkers may pass) -A crew member drinks - two if it's Picard; three if it's Picard drinking tea; four if the tea is identified as Earl Grey. -A bridge officer is shown in casual clothes (one drink per scene, per officer) = two drinks if it's Beverly in a sweater; two drinks if it's Picard in his chest revealing bedwear. -A bridge officer appears in dress uniform (one drink per scene, per officer) -Every time somebody is addressed by his or her first name - two if there's some kind of sexual tension going on. -Every time they use transporter room three. -A shuttle craft seems like an unsafe place to be. -Somebody reads a book. -Somebody preaches the Prime Directive - two if it's NOT Picard -Somebody preaches about Humanity's Unique Potential -Picard has an accident or is attacked - two drink; three if it draws blood -Picard is possessed - four drinks -An 'old earth saying' is brought up - two if Data has to have it explained to him. -Patrick Stewart tries to speak French -Wesley talks back to his Mom. -Somebody implies that Ten Forward is a Happening Place -They fade for an advertisement playing the 'ominous horns' -Klingon is spoken - two drinks per scene in which Klingons are alone and have no obvious reason to speak English but do anyway. -Each scene in which a nifty new Romulan ship is shown -There's a token alien in the background with no lines - two if it's a Vulcan. -Yellow Alert - one drink -Red Alert - two drinks -Intruder Alert - three drinks -Another Captain or Star Fleet Command officer is on screen. -There's a countdown -Every time a bridge command is handed over -The Enterprise crew avoids a confrontation instead of blasting away. -Each scene in which the Enterprise actually fights (shots must be fired) - two drinks. -Whole beer whenever the saucer section separates. -They contact somebody on the communicator/intercom without going to a panel or touching anything. -A communicator isn't working or is blocked - two if it's out of range. -New Trek contradicts a fact from Old Trek (Unfortunately, players may be too drunk to adjudicate this rule) Enjoy! G.D.W. (38williams(at)cua.edu)
For those of you who are sending me worried facebook inquiries; wondering if I'm growing old, whilst living in my mother's basement, watching STNG all day and blogging! No worries. Such is not the case. IN FACT, my mom lives in MY basement & I'm getting plenty of sunlight right now!!! Just kidding...Or am I?
Regardless, this is the 3rd time I've watched Next Gen in order from 1st episode to last. I decided to revitalize this blog again because it forces me to take 20min breaks from work every 4 or 5 hours! If you knew me well...you would applaud that choice! NOW..back to the 16th episode of the 1st season of STNG! Go-ahead, you know you want to watch this cheasy trailer before I continue rambling!
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You know, I'm not gonna lie...there are definately a handful of first and second season episodes of STNG that I'm just not wild about. This is one of them. I get the fact that in 1987 that awesome make up job on the old guy was something to be noted...but it's 2010, 23 years have passed, and I'm just not feelin it!
However conceptually I am very interested in this episode, because of what's happening in our world's never ending political climate! How many times do countries with power have to send countries at war weapons!? For some reason this always seems like a "good idea" and yet...NEVER is! I wonder how many conflicts would have fizzled out by now if it weren't for UK, Russia, USA, & a handful of Asian countries offering weapons at the drop of a hat!
Now, I inherently don't believe in violence...except to avenge sex crimes
(then the punt-junk punishment should be implemented...often!)
And additionally, I think my faith & almost every other world religion (fact) also doesn't really endorse violence...so when are all of us human's gonna catch up and stop encouraging it!? Sigh...I understand that this is abroad overarching question that cannot be answered...but really...when?
ON A MUCH LIGHTER NOTE! I seem to be having difficulty NOT frolicking about the NASA website today! And I found this image...which made me smile and then made me sad! So I am posting this image in memory of the 9 planet solar system, as it was when I was a youth!
RIP Pluto! Also...I'm kind of tickled that the universe is labeled!
- So basically...blah blah blah...little aliens try to steal the Enterprise... blah blah blah...Riker is distracted and duped by said little aliens, when they program the holodek to create an invented woman that is SO adaptable and "real" that Riker actually falls in love with her! (OH RIKER!).
blah blah blah, they retrieve the Enterprise, and all is well! YAY!!!!!!
[If you look closely, you'll see that Chicago won that game 18 to 12, yeah baby!]
Playing Forward
Edwin P. Hubble--famed astronomer--and basketball star? In fact, Dr. Hubble was both. The University of Chicago alumnus was a member the UC Maroons team that in 1909 won the college championship over Indiana University. It's only fitting that the man, the astronomer, the basketball star be honored for all of his accomplishments as the college championships are being played again in Indianapolis in 2010.
In this image from May 2009 during the Hubble servicing mission, NASA astronaut and fellow University of Chicago alumnus John Grunsfeld paid homage to Dr. Hubble, after whom the telescope was named, by photographing the team’s vintage basketball aboard space shuttle Atlantis. The Hubble Space Telescope is visible through the portholes. click here to read this article in it's original context. -
CAN I GET A "WHAT-WHAT" FOR CHICAGO NATIVE?! YEAH BABY! Now who's going to start a "Sending Mojie-Moj To Space Camp Fund" aready! Seriously!!! I promise it's for a good cause! The "Getting more Chicagoans to NASA" cause, and also the "MOJ REAAAAAAALLY WANTS TO GO TO NASA" cause!
So it is absolutely clear that the universe Start Trek TNG takes place within is not perfect. However amongst the humans several social ills have already been cured. This is precisely what makes some of these episodes when the Enterprise comes into contact with races that very specific social dynamics interesting, because that direct contrast makes those conflicts or cultural practices obviously problematic. All that being said, enjoy the trailer for a moment so that you can refresh your memory, about what "Angel One" was about! -
- Now, I'm not gonna lie, I love a good story about Women prevailing...because I'm biased! My ovaries are warriors, as they should be ;-) But inherently I was raised to believe that men and women are equal and realistically this makes far more sense than either men or women having a higher place in society, regardless of being raised a Baha'i!
In other stories that utilize the manifestation of a male power I often notice that the female characters are either forced to be "beautiful," "meek," "servants," or whatever and those female characters are either non-the-wiser, resentful, or just complacent. However in this episode where all of the men are the second class citizens, the men seem beyond complacent - they seem joyful! Especially excited to be used as sex-objects. --->surprised? hmmm....an interesting observation if nothing less.
Meanwhile, I love how that does not go un-noted by Deanna & Tasha, in fact I am mighty entertained by the hard time that these ladies give Riker when he puts on that sexy number to impress/appease the local "Elected One" (aka: woman in power).
I also think that this is the first episode that Geordi gets to hold a real position of power, as "Acting Captain" while the captain is ill, and the Riker is on Angel One. This episode is a double whammy for the two most oppressed minorities in Western culture. Yay!
I also love that even within the secondary story, ultimately it is a leading Woman who saves the day! If it weren't for our favorite Dr Beverly Crusher - the crew of the Enterprise would be SCREWED! She found the cure for the mysterious virus that was floating around the ship!
Finest quote of the episode! "It, kinda...just...happened!" Wesley Crusher Context: it's more fun to make you wonder!
Now all that being said....WOMEN RULE AND BOYS DRULE!!! Just kidding! Equal! We're all equal :)
-----AFTER THOUGHTS----
I accidentally found the episode dubbed in German! I am so entertained that I thought I'd share this with the world! THE BEST PART is about 2min 30sec in, the German voice for Wesley is AMAZING!!!! -
Ahh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! This episode starts with Data trying to emulate a human sneeze! Which is almost as good as this video of a baby panda scaring the b-jesus out of mamma panda! -
- But without further a due...here is the trailer for this episode! If you're reading on facebook instead of right off of my blog -> it has been requested that I interlink the youtube page for these videos because they will not embed into fb. So make sure you're clicking on those friendly hyperlinks! :) -
- It's true, just like most Trekkies Data's one of my most adored characters! I've heard mixed things about Brent Spiner, the actor that played Data - but I've never met the guy so I couldn't say! All I know is that Brent seems to have an entertaining twitter feed!
The music in this episode is very very well composed. Possibly the most dynamic of the entire season! This is the MOST emotional the music has been so far, ironically, for a story that's about an emotionless android! All that being said there's a hilarious mixture between amazing orchestral arrangments and rediculous 80's synthetic sounds! ha ha ha ha! Quite odd once you really pay attention! But it is as if this episode is 95% has a musical bed, which is far more music than the average episode of TNG.
Finest quotes of the episode! Will Riker: "Does it have all of your...parts?" Geordi: "Will we know how to turn it on?" Context: The crew visited the planet Data was assembled on. They found another android that looks like Data that was disassembled and brought it on board to be put together!
It is too bad that they were all so eager to put the mysterious android together - because Lore (Data's brother) is such a hateful creature! But I guess that's what good writing is - the more conflict...the better!!! Lore & Q are quite possibly the most entertaining evildoers on TNG.
So my friend Seamus, sent me a link to a humorous synopsis of this episode and in the coments of that synopsis this was aptly written by interwebie, Betty Lou, "I was 10 when this episode aired, and mostly I remember how very creeped out I was by Lore. Brent Spiner infused that whole performance with something sinister, and I remember just sitting there boggling that Data and Picard were arguing over whether Lore was an "it" or a "he" and totally ignoring the fact that he was over in the corner radiating evil."
So here I am friends, back at the grind and I hope you LOVE EVERY MOMENT OF IT! Because I know I will! I have been looking forward to this post for a while! So as tradition goes, I've included the original trailer for "The Big Goodbye" below. And as always, feel free to click on any words/phrases that I have hyperlinked (like this word) to learn more about whatever the hell I happen to be babbling about!
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FIRST OF ALL...OH MY! I forgot how fit the whole cast is and how tight the first season's uniforms are! But more importantly, I think this is the first episode that really explores 20th century literature and culture as a means of exploring the neuance of several of the TNG characters. This episode, of course, is all about Picard's love Dixon Hill. This may not be the first holodeck episode but I do think this is the first time that they explore the imperfections of the replicated/materialized realities/objects that can be created in this universe. This is something that I appreciate. I think that it would be very difficult to suspend my belief if it weren't for the fact that the "future" is imperfect! Ultimately I appreciate the overarching "We Mean Well" mentality!
I do believe that this is the first episode, since 'The Naked Now' that we get to see Picard's sass! "What's your fee?" she says. He replies "20 dollars a day..." "Agreed" she says & reaches into her purse, "I haven't said yes yet!" he says. So sassy!
There's also a really lovely attention to detail in this episode. If you look closely Dixon Hill's business cards are in a short alcohol glass, a testiment to Dixon's 'less-than-classy' style!
Now outside of the holodeck there are some interesting things going on too. It's totally weird to see Geordi as a mere pilot! Little does he know that he'll soon be the Chief of Engineering. Even more entertaining are those terrible-terrible sweaters they make Wesley wear in the early seasons!
Finest moment of dialog! So punny! [in holodeck] Cop friend says "When are you coming over for dinner? The kids would love to see you and I know how much you love Sharon's cooking" Picard/Dixon says "I would love to but I've got duties to attend to" Friend asks, "Oh yeah, blonde or brunette" Picard/Dixon proclaims "She's a lady alright, and her name is Enterprise!" friend replies, "Sounds like a working girl to me!"
Alright friends, I know a few of you have been emailing me all summer about resuming my blog! So JUST FOR YOU, I am going to do it! but you'll have to give me a little catch up time. You know...to dust off the old DVDs...put away the Klingon bat'leth and grab my phaser & communicator instead!
Don't worry friends...I'll be back...and ready for action soon enough!
Commander's logs supplemental - Earth Date May 19...Year 2009.
As always I like to include the super campy trailers from STNG for you so that you can refresh your memory about the episode I'm blogging about!
I like this episode well enough. It's the first time we meet Deanna's crazy and outrageous mother Lwaxana Troi, and this episode challenges the practice arranged marriage.
I do like that there's a split between the crew's view of this marriage union. Some of the crew think it's barbaric and strange - others accept it because they want to be understanding and tolerant of other cultures and races. Strange dichotomy, because to me both seem correct or acceptable. On the one hand, who are we to say what's acceptable for another culture - on the other hand it does seem like a practice that doesn't allow people to come together naturally. All that being said...living in America (home of 'free love' and 'love-based-unions') we have the highest divorce rate in the world! - Food for thought?
Furthermore I think it's interesting that it's a Human/Betazoid arranged marriage. Because that makes me wonder if in the Star Trek universe there are still groups of Humans that do practice this. Maybe the human's agreed because they were joyful about the union with the Betazoid family! Who knows.
For those not reading off of blogger - check out the original blog entry at http://mospacecamp.blogspot.com and please comment on the blogs my friends. I get random emails from people..but I'd much rather you comment on blogger!
Feel free to watch the trailer for this episode if you need a little jolt my friends!!!! The trailers are hilarious...very campy - honestly they kind of make Star Trek seem far more ridiculous than it actually was!!! Mostly because of the voice over guy! Enjoy!!!
I have a love-hate relationship with this episode, and I'll tell you why! I heart Q, lets not even challenge that fact! But I feel as if this particular episode...was maybe near the 'camp-level' that the trailer makes it out to be. The aliens that Q creates that are in 17th century war cloths, etc. A little ridiculous.
I think this hilarous you tube review of the episode is quite honest and fun!!! Now I don't fully agree with everything this guy says - however the first season has it's ups and downs...
Feel free to watch the trailer for this episode if you want a little refresher!
In this episode we also find out that the USS Stargazer was the first ship that Picard was ever captain. It comes up many times later in the series and it's nice to know the reference!
It's also the second time we see the Ferengi in this series. And this time their not such bumbling idiots. When we saw them in "The Last Outpost" they were monkey-like - frolicking around crouched/hunched and constantly breathing heavily. This time they seemed "normal" or at least as normal as Ferengi can be!
I'll be honest. I don't particularly like the Ferengi - but I think that's the point! I think Gene Roddenberry meant for some of these alien races to be difficult to like. It's always the races that have intolerance for for other species, are bigoted, aren't willing to grow, or races that undermine the equality of men and women! Ferengi for instance...don't cloth "their" women! Women have no power in the Ferengi world. Ferengi are also very very greedy! So between those two traits it's hard to like them much.
[funny - random note: "Farangi" or "Firang" are terms for foreigners (sometimes derogatory) in Farsi/Persian Language...this humors me because I am half Persian myself - but I was not raised in Iran which means that if ever I went there I may very well be telling people that I am Farangi, "Man Farangi Hastam" - Luckily for me, in Irani woman MUST wear cloths - beyond comfort infact!! Nevertheless, I still feel a little dirty being associated with the Ferengi in any way!]
All that being said, this episode is actually quite interesting because even though I still don't particularly like the Ferengi, Gene finds a way to bring out some of the 'humanity' in these creatures. Because Daimon Bok (the captain of the Ferengi vessel they encounter) is heartbroken about the loss of his son in a battle that Picard lead against a Ferengi ship when he was captain of the Stargazer. This may be one of only a few times that we actually see some 'humanity' from the Ferengi until DS9.
Okay due to popular demand from this blog on I will always include a trailer of the episdoe for those who aren't actually watching in order - but still want to participate. That way y'all can just get a little refresher so that you can comment on my review/commentary! So here it is...trailer love!!!
Okay, so I watched this episode while I was proposal writing last night...but it's a first season episode...I'm sure I kept up just fine. Here I'll summarize the episode: ship in orbit 'round planet, investigative team beams back to ship to tell cap'n 'all is well', away team beams down (it seems Tasha's clearly looking forward to getting some!), they send Wesley to play with other (hairy) children, Wes breaks a law (oh wes!), the 'sensual people' want to kill him - but Picard decides to break prime directive to save him - all the while there's some energy being playing god over the planet! YAY...told you I could multi-task! - that was ALL without looking at the wiki page!
Before I get into it, I just want to say, my favorite quote of the whole episode is when the girl Wesley's playing with asks him to teach her a game she knows HE can teach her and he responds, "There are some games that I don't know how to play yet..." (someday, Wesley...someday!)
While this episode is a little bit...how shall I say..."on the nose" (straight forward) about it...I think the underlying message that laws cannot be absolute is absolutely correct. And I find it interesting that this is tied into an episode where they challenge this energy entity's status as "God". Because that makes me think about religion (clearly) - as much as people start wars and shed blood over the "laws of faith" I feel as if it's too obvious that most rules are meant to be applied as they fit situations. And I don't meant to say that rules should be changed for situations - however sometimes there is gray area...nothing is black and white!
I mean think about it this way If a woman is being raped...should she not fight back? And if the only way to save herself is harm or even kill the person trying to rape her - should she be condemned to hell or shunned from god in the after life!? I think not!
There are trekkies and then there's me! There are humanitarians and then there's me! There are beard lovers AND THEN THERE'S ME! I always take things TOO FAR! Hopefully for the best my friends! Hopefully for the best!
SO...I typed 'foxy beard' into my google search bar AND the first image I see is Evil Spock. Of course . . . beard+trek=joyful moj . . . SO, this hyperlink takes me to a magical blog called "Beard Blog: For the love of beards". I was certainly delighted that this person was not only collecting fine images of Trek-beards, but also photos of strangers he meets and chooses to photograph and interview, simply because they're bearded and seem friendly.
Visor-Beard
Droid-Beard
