Randomness

First, let me start out by saying that while I did not hit my magic 15 posts this month, I did more than my minimum 10 from last month, so I'm proud of myself. Hopefully it'll stay up.

As I was walking back from class I saw a slip of paper on the ground that said 'Wear White On Monday to Support Academic Intergrity at Otterbein College'. What if I don't support Academic Integrity? What if I like cheating? Ok, so it's a strategy I don't run arond employing, but if the oppurtunity presented itself, I would memorize multiple choice answers. I am a busy man! If it saves me time and doesn't seem too big a deal, I may do it! I wouldn't put effort into cheating or try to sneak answers into a test or anything the least bit risky, but still... Cheating has been around since the beginning of time. I submit it isn't always bad.

My job and my bosses at this moment suck my ass. Does anyone have a job I can work at close to my present salary and will be flexible with me until school lets out and then let me have my week off in July for vacation? If you know a job, please let me know!

I was watching Yesterday's Enterprise last night and it occured to me that the ulta-military version of the Enterprise-D reminded me of the bridge of the Enterprise-E especially in color scheme and station positions (especially Riker's), which was built during the Dominion War. The first two shows and seven movies always threatened war, the last three shows and three movies carried on with it. What does that say about our culture today versus the sixties or even the eighties and early nineties?

I watched the first ever episode of SNL today (Jonathan - I put it on your tape). Some trivia: It was hosted by George Carlin. He did numerous monologues throughout, but acted in no skits. He sounds totally different today. It had two musical guests, both of whom performed twice. It had 'commercials', a Weekend Update with Chevy Chase, and a film by Albert Brooks. In the opening instead of saying "The Not Ready For Prime Time Players", the announced said "The Not For Ready Prime Time Players". The first skit was the famous John Belushi wolverine skit. It also featured some Bees. They liked those bee costumes in the early days.

My name is Jim and I am an alcoholic (not really).

I have not had a girlfriend since I got addicted to tv. As much as I love tv, and as much as I know I would never let tv interfere with a girlfriend, I'm beginning to think I can't wait until I'm with someone to ditch the tv addiction. I am contemplating doing it soon. If I go through with it, it will be painful.

I also watched a great episode of The Practice where Alan Shore hired Denny Crane to represent him against the firm. Yay!

Qop!
"God isn't perfect... Everything he has created so far has died!"
~George Carlin, SNL

The Next Generation

Ok, so I grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. I must admit I was hooked on Star Trek after watching The Motion Picture (I know, the most boring of all the movies), but TNG was what I had my constant diet of when I was little. And yet I remember so few episodes. I bought seasons one and two long ago and watched them early on in college. I had a hard time getting a hold of season 3 until this past fall and now I am only missing season 5 from my collection. This weekend, being sick, I cleared out my DVR and needed something else to watch. So I chose TNG Season 3. And all I can saw is WOW! I'm halfway through it and I hope to keep going as much as I can around the chaos that will make up the next couple of weeks.

So my memory of 1 & 2 may be a bit vague but I remember the sadness near the end of Season 1 with Tasha's death, and I remember the absence of my beloved Dr. Crusher, much as I respected Dr. Pulaski who should have been made a main character (only sitting out for about four season 2 episodes), but season 3 I think is when the series began to click. Riker and Troi got over each other and could pursue their own love lives without jealousy (although I am still glad they eventually will end up together). Worf got more complex, Geordi became more likeable, O'Brien began showing up more and more, the Bevely / Picard love thing began to blossom, although I am still disappointed nothing will ever come of it. Picard's interaction with the crew became more charming, and yes, Wesley got annoying. We get the first of many, many guest appearances by James Cromwell (who will play a variety of characters), we get plenty of Romulans, Tasha returns with the Enterprise-C (haven't seen that episode but will make it that far before bed tonight!), and the season will end with the second best season cliffhanger in Star Trek (I think DS9 losing the station wins best, especially when it turned into a 7 parter). I am of course referring to The Best of Both Worlds. Yes, Season 3 is bliss. It renews my love for a series I honestly often think of as 'okay'. Perhaps my judegment was clouded with my extreme obsession for DS9, but I can definitely appreciate TNG. I feel like I just renewed my vows with it. :)

Qop!
"I'll have ten hot fudge sundaes."
"I have never seen anyone eat ten chocolate sundaes."
"I'm in a really bad mood. And since I've never eaten before, I should be very hungry."
~Q and Data, TNG: Deja Q, after Q is made mortal and follows Troi's suggestion to feel better

Sick Sucks

So even though I've been trying to be happy and put a positive spin on things (I did go to the opera on campus last night - about fifty feet from my apartment) I have been sick. Strep throat and all that. Even today I have a 101 degree temperature, despite the fact that I have been on antibiotics for 2 days now. So I am supremely bored, but most of the day I couldn't get off the couch. I tried to get some work down, but my head is so messed up I can't concentrate for very long. I am no longer contagious, but still feel like crap and haven't been able to go into work today. We'll see about tomorrow. If I can barely be at my desk for an hour, eight hours in a restaurant would just suck. I made it through the opera because it was so awesome, but yeah, anyway, point is sickness sucks!

Die Fledermaus To Die For!

Die Fledermaus, or literally "The Flying Mouse" or "The Bat" is one opera I have to say I enjoyed tremendously! Otterbein put it on (in English) and it was amazing! The cast was wonderful, led by Jen Braun and David Kaverman as Rosalinda and Gabriel von Eisenstein / the Countess and Marquis Renard. Show stealers included Nora Erhardt as Adele the chambermaid / Tanya Vanya, Robert Price as Frank the prison warden / Chevalier Chagrin, and especially David Price as Frosch the jailer. For those of you unfamiliar with the plot, a man named Dr. Falke (Brian Gray) is mad at Gabriel for tricking him and publically embarassing him last year when Falke was left dressed as a bat and wants revenge. Gabriel is supposed to be going to jail for eight days for insulting an official, but Falke convinces him to go to a party hosted by the humorless Prince Orlofsky (Caitlin Szarnecki) who has been promised no boredom tonight. Falke also manipulates Adele to attend as the actress Tanya and Rosalind to attend as a masked Countess, as well as the warden as a Chevalier. Hilarity ensues as Rosalind's lover is arrested and mistaken for Gabriel, and Gabriel falls for the Countess at the party. It all culminates back in the jail cell with a few unexpected twists and much drunkeness. I cannot recommend it enough. Frosch, as well as being the jailer left behind during the party, frequently comes on stage to stop the action and talk to the audience while highly inebriated. He makes some cracks about the 2005 Hockey Season, Westerville, viagra, and someone named Eckenroth. They put a few modern references in such as us finding out Frank the warden is actually just moonlighting as a warden because his hockey team (The Blue Jackets - during one scene he dones the jersey) is on strike. Shh, don't tell the NHL! I would highly recommend this show. It will be performed in Riley tonight at 8pm and tomorrow at 2pm. Tickets are $5 for students. Oh, and Scott Henning came down from Cleveland and saw the show with me, and then him and Nora and Nora's family and I went to Steak 'n' Shake which was a lot of fun. And no work today!

Qop!
"I once was so desperate for booze that I tried to squeeze the juice out of scotch tape!"
~ David Price as Frosch, Die Fledermaus

Project Runway

So yesterday I felt like total crap and laid on my couch for hours. This gave me the chance to watch the Project Runway marathon that Lisa told me I should watch. The marathon started with eight contestants left so I missed the first few shows. Oh, well. After twenty minutes I noticed that Runway backwards started to spell Yawn, which is what I was thinking of. Forty minutes into it, I started to get involved. Two hours into it and I was liking it more. By the time I got to the last few episodes, I was hooked. I didn't get a chance to watch the finale yet, but that's all I have left. Probably watch it today. Definitely glad they paraodied it on SNL or I may never have wanted to watch it. I hate that bitch Wendy and she needs to go down!!! I think Kara should win, and I so miss Andrew. Jay is my favorite, though. He reminded me so much of Scott Henning I had to tell him. We ended up talking for awhile and that was fun, and he confirmed that others have told him Jay is just like him. Now I gotta see how it turns out. After I go to the doctor and get drugs. :)

U.S.S. Dorkerprise

So I know I have only seen a few episodes of Enterprise and the few I have seen were before they even changed their mind and renamed it Star Trek: Enterprise, as they should have done in the beginning. And yet I am extremely hyped about the finale. When I see the preview for the 'final episodes' of this series of 'television's most enduring franchise' I get excited. Not quite in honor of it, but at least in my mind relating to it, Michael and I, being the humongus dorks that we are, have decided to put together our own Star Trek crews and decide how they would face off. We each picked eight characters and I've been working on a basic scenario for the last few days. I think my crew would kick his crew's ass, and he feels the same way about his crew. Go ahead and give us some feedback about what may happen! Sadly, no Enterprise crew members made the cut. Maybe if I would get around to watching the show...

Michael Me
Ship U.S.S. Voyager N.X. Defiant
Captain Jean-Luc Picard Benjamin Sisko
First Officer James T. Kirk Ezri Dax
Doctor Julian Bashir Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Engineer B'Elanna Torres Reginald Barclay
Security Natasha Yar Kira Nyers (I originally chose Ro but I'm reluctantly giving her up because of a duplication)
Helmsman Ro Laren Tom Paris
Science/OPS Spock Kathryn Janeway
Miscellaneous Guinan Worf

My scenario involves a learning session between Q and his son q. I will post the scenario after I go over it with Michael and we finalize it. Until then, live long and prosper!

Qop!
T'PAU: Live long and prosper, Spock.
SPOCK: I will do neither. I have killed my captain and my friend.
~from the original series episode "Amok Time" after Spock believes he has killed Kirk

Weekend Update

So SNL's Weekend Update this week? Hilarious as usual! The Gates thing was funny, and so was Amy Poehler's stupidity. It was great! Now a quick update of my weekend. Warning, it is not that interesting.

Friday I hung out with Kristen, Amanda, and Jenn playing cards and games. It was a blast! And I drank, but I've been doing that less and less to save money and lose weight, so I guess it's ok. Then right as I was going to bed, Michael called and so I got Laura and went to hang out with him and Lisa and Cindy and Evan until like 2:30. It was a lot of fun, but then I had to get up the next morning and work a 15 hour shift. Work is getting to be a huge drag and I hate it. Saturday night I came home, did laundry, and by the time that was done, I was exhausted and it was late again. I got up early Sunday to work. Sunday night was probably the highlight of my weekend, though. A friend came over and we watched a movie and then hung out really late (I know, sleep is important, blah blah blah :)). It was great. Except even after 10 hours of sleep yesterday, I am still bone tired and have class and another 8 hours of work today. I really don't want to go. Oh, and Monday was Lisa's birthday so her and Michael and I hung out and had Outback. It was also fun. Now I have to go shower and start my marathon day. I'll try to update again soon. I really had nothing to say today, but I'm dangerously close to not getting my 10 postings this month so I had to write.

Qop! (from the Buffy episode "Older and Far Away")
RICHARD: You have weird friends.
XANDER: News from the file marked 'duh.'

Memorial to Star Trek

As a memorial to my beloved franchise, I am publishing a brief timeline of the most important Star Trek events as today' blog entry. You can skip it if you want, but I would guarantee there are things in here that you don't know, and it won't be that long. Please read it as a tribute to this great series that has been around for 39 years and counting.
Spring 1966 - Star Trek by Gene Roddenberry is bought by the failing production studio Desilu (failing after Lucy & Desi's divorce). The original pilot stars Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike, Majel Barrett as Number One, Leonard Nimoy as a smiling Lt. Spock, Susan Oliver (Vina), John Hoyt (Dr. Boyce), Peter Duryea(Lt. Tyler), and Laurel Goodwin (Yeoman Colt). NBC rejects it, but asks them to make 2nd pilot.
September 1966 - Star Trek premieres starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Recurring characters include DeForrest Kelly (Dr. McCoy), James Doohan (Scotty), George Takei (Lt. Sulu), Nichelle Nicoles (Uhura), Grace Lee Whitney (Yeoman Rand), and Majel Barrett (with hair cut and die as Nurse Chapel).
1967 - Whitney (Rand) is fired for drug problems and Walter Koenig (Ens. Chekov) is brought on to draw the younger crowd. DeForrest Kelley is added as the 3rd and final main character.
1969 - Star Trek is cancelled after 3 seasons and 79 episodes. It becomes wildly popular in syndication.
1971 - The first Star Trek convention is held, drawing a crowd of nearly 10,000 where less than 2,000 were expected.
1973 - Star Trek: The Animated Series is launched starring the original cast minus Chekov (not by Koenig's choice, but he still wrote an episode) and featuring new characters Lt. M'Ress (a cat voiced by Barrett) and Lt. Area (the three armed, three legged lt. voiced by Doohan)
1974 - The Animated Series (produced by Filmation which would become Hanna Barbara) is cancelled after only 22 episodes. Deemed "too cerebreal" for Saturday mornings.
1978 - A new live action series called Star Trek Phase Two by Gene Roddenberry goes into production starring the original cast (with Chekov reinstated and missing Leonard Nimoy who published his book I Am Not Spock) and three new characters: Xon (A Vulcan played by David Gautreaux), Commander Decker (Stephen Collins), and Lt. Ilia (a bald Deltan played by Persis Khambatta). The series is set to launch the first ever Paramount TV Network. This would be the crew's Second Five Year Mission. The show is canned along with the network as rumors of a new sci-fi hit, Star Wars spring to press. Paramount decides to compete with movies.
1979 - The pilot for Phase Two becomes Star Trek: The Motion Picture except Decker and Ilia are killed at the end and Xon is killed at the beginning in a transporter accident. Nimoy reluctantly agrees at the last minute to reprise his role as Spock. Other episodes of Phase Two would go on to become Next Generation episodes and the Decker / Ilia story became Riker /Troi. Majel Barret begins voicing the computer and will continue to do so in every movie and television show until Enterprise, when the computer doesn't talk.
1982 - Due to the success of TMP, Star Trek II is released, allowing for Spock's death at Nimoy's request so he never had to play the character again.
1984 - Star Trek III hits theatres with the reinclusion of Spock, whom Nimoy is finally beginning to accept as his life-long role.
1986 - Star Trek IV directed by Nimoy hits theatres.
1987 - Star Trek: The Next Generation is launched by Roddenberry starring Patrick Stewart (Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Riker), Marina Sirtis (Troi, audition for Yar), Denise Crosby (Yar, auditioned for Troi), Gates McFadden (Crusher), LeVar Burton (LaForge), Brent Spiner (Data), Michael Dorn (Worf), and Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher). Guest starring Colm Meany (O'Brien). John DeLancie (Q) begins the first of many apperances on the next 3 shows.
1988 - Denise Crosby has them kill Tasha Yar and Gates McFadden leaves the show, allowing Diana Mauldar's Dr. Pulaski to step up. Worf is promoted to actual position. After a call to Roddenberry, Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan) lands a recurring role. Roots: The Gift is made starring LeVar Burton and featuring Kate Mulgrey and Tim Russ (Voyager's Captain Janeway and Tuvok) as well as Avery Brooks (DS9's Captain Sisko).
1989 - Star Trek V directed by Shatner hits theatres. McFadden returns to TNG due to it's overwhelming sucess and Mauldar's lack of contract.
1990 - Afraid of being typecast and tired of being stepped on and berated by Shatner, Wil Wheaton quits TNG. Later he regrets it, but understands he needed to at that point. Dwight Schultz makes the first of 5 TNG episode appreances as Lieutenant Barclay.
1991 - Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek creator dies. Rick Berman takes over. Star Trek VI hits theatres billed as the last voyage of the original crew. It features a cameo by Michael Dorn (Worf) playing his own grandfather. Michelle Forbes (Ro) is cast on TNG as an introduction into the character they plan on making first officer of Deep Space 9.
1992 - Forbes reconsiders doing DS9 and leaves TNG.
1993 - Star Trek: Deep Space 9 is launched starring Avery Brooks (Sisko), Nana Visitor (Kira, instead of Forbes' Ro), Rene Auberjonis (Odo), Terry Farrell (Dax), Colm Meany (from TNG's O'Brien), Alexander Siddig (Bashir), Armin Shimmerman (Quark), and Cirroc Loften (Jake). Ratings are mixed, but the writing is the best of the franchise. The pilot features the TNG cast and Frakes will guest star later.
1994 - Star Trek: The Next Generation leaves the airwaves after 7 seasons, still on top of the ratings. Star Trek: Generations hits theatres allowing a smooth transition from the original crew to TNG. It features a cameo by Tim Russ (Voyager's Tuvok).
1995 - Star Trek: Voyager airs in January launching UPN, Paramount's first TV network (sound familiar???). It will go on to briefly become the #1 on satellite television. The pilot starts on Deep Space 9 and gives Armin Shimmerman (Quark) a cameor. The series will also guets star Frakes (Riker) and Burton (LaForge), as well as those two directing many episodes. Q (John DeLancie) will also recur. It stars Kate Mulgrew (Janeway), Robert Beltran (Chakotay), Tim Russ (Tuvok) Robert Picard (the Doctor), Garret Wang (Kim), Robert Duncan McNeil (Paris), Roxann Dawson (Torres), Ethan Phillips (Neelix), and Jennifer Lien (Kes). Dwight Schultz makes a one-time Voyager apperance as Barclay in Season Two. Michael Dorn joins the cast of Deep Space 9 in his character of Worf and temporarily soars ratings.
1996 - Star Trek: First Contact hits theatres directed by Jonathan Frakes (Riker) (featuring cameo by Dwight Schultz and lacking the camero by Terry Farrell of her piloting the Defiant no matter how much she begged the studio). Two Voyager actors do cameors: Robert Picardo (who has also been guesting on DS9) and Ethan Phillips. Alexander Siddig (Bashir) and Nana Visitor (Kira) are married in real life and give birth to a son. The pregnancy is disguised with a second O'Brien baby storyline.
1997 - The characters of Worf (Dorn) and Dax (Farrell) are married on DS9. Jennifer Lien (Kes) leaves Voyager and Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine is added.
1998 - Star Trek: Insurrection hits theatres directed by Jonathan Frakes (Riker). Terry Farrell asks that they kill off Dax so she can do the show Becker and not be stereotyped. Nicole deBoer takes over as Ezri Dax, who is NOT married to Worf.
1999 - Dwight Schultz's Barclay is added as a recurring character on Star Trek: Voyager and will star in six episodes, most with Marina Sirtis (Troi). Star Trek: Deep Space 9 leaves the airwaves after 7 seasons, culminating in the death of it's captain, Benjamin Sisko.
2001 - Star Trek: Deep Space 9 Season Eight hits bookshelves featuring Nog's promotion to enginerring chief, a new 100 year old human first officer, Kira's promotion to commander, Ro's return, and a host of new characters. Jake Sisko goes missing. Torres (Dawson) and McNeil (Paris) are married on screen in Voyager and have a child. Star Trek: Voyager ends it's seven year run. Enterprise is launched starring Scott Bakula (Archer), Jolene Blalock (T'Pau), Connor Trinner (Trip), Dominic Keaton (Reed), Anthony Montgomery (Mayweather), John Billingsley (Phlox), and Linda Park (Hoshi). The theme song has words! DeForrest Kelley (McCoy) becomes the first and only main cast member to date that dies.
2002 - Star Trek: Nemesis hits theatres and features Brent Spiner (Data)'s death and a cameo by the now Admiral Janeway (Mulgrew), as well as the long awaited Riker/Troi wedding and promotion and the return of Wesley Crusher. It will be the last TNG movie. Kate Mulgrew escapes being the first lady of Ohio when he husband loses the governor race to Taft.
2003 - Deep Space 9: Season Eight ends with the return of Jake and his father, Ben. Star Trek: Voyager finally launches it's own Season Eight books, but no more books are forthcoming. Enterprise is rennamed Star Trek: Enterprise, a long overdue change.
2004 - Deep Space 9: Season Nine launched on bookshelves. Siddig (Bashir) and Visitor (Kira) divorce quietly. William Shatner(Kirk) and Rene Aubjeronis (Odo) star in the new hit show Boston Legal. Brent Spiner becomes the villian on Enterprise playing Data's creator's ancestor.
2005 - Star Trek: Enterprise is cancelled with a bang featuring Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes (Riker and Troi) and the '05-'06 season will be the first in 18 years with no new Star Trek. Production begins on a new Star Trek movie featuring a completely new cast, probably to be released in 2006.
2006 - Star Trek's 40th Anniversary.

Qop! (from Star Trek)
"Space...the Final Frontier...these are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. It's five year mission, to explore strange new world, to seek out new life and new civilization, to boldly go where no man has gone before!"
(I was going to use "Beam Me Up Scott!" but no one ever actually has said that on Star Trek).

Miscellaneous

I really don't have anything to write about, but it's been five days, and this is only my fifth post this month. I have to do five more in the next two weeks. I guess I could give you a few television updates. For instance, Armin Shimmerman (Quark on Deep Space 9 and Principal Snyder on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) made an appearance on Committed last week as the building's super. Sadly, he died in the episode. Oh, and William Shatner, because of the popularity and success he has had on Boston Legal, will not be appearing on Enterprise this season as previosuly announced by Paramount. Instead, they have signed Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes (Troi and Riker fomThe Next Generation) to reprise their roles for the series finale. Brent Spiner is also expected to be back before the end of the season as the villian. So they are bringing half the cast of TNG in to finish off the show. I guess that gives it it's big send off, but it's a bit disappointing.

Also, Howard Dean was elected Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. I heard this news with mixed feelings. I am excited for him that he is in such a high profle job for the Democrats. Although as SNL said, if he's the head, who's going to be the neck? But this also means he cannot run for president in 2008, which saddens me. I wanted him to win in 2004 and am still unhappy about that scream taken totally out of context and ruining his chances. With Dean out of commission, I don't see any other choice for the Democrats but to run their leading candidate, Hilary Clinton. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a huge Hilary fan, and as SNL said, it's a nice, fresh new way for them o get their asses handed to them on a platter. However, who else stands a chance of winning? I mean, if they put Hilary out I think they only chance the Republicans have of beating her is to get the law changed and run Arnold. Those debates could be on Pay-Per-View! Talk about a circus! Anyway, the Clintons did ok for 8 years and other than my man Dean (and admittedly Arnold), I don't know who else might be a good president, so we'll just wait and see.

Qop!
"Laughter really is the best medicine and that story just cleared up my hepatitus." ~ Bobbie, Joey's agent on Joey played by Jennifer Coolidge (Stifler's mom) in last week's episode.

Hospitals

Hospitals scare me. I don't like hospitals. I just got back from visiting my friend Dave in one and have just a few minutes before band so I thought I'd reflect on this. I hate illness and disease. They kind of scare me. I don't take medicine, not even Tylenol, unless it is an absolute last resort. I will take percription drugs if a doctor makes me. I don't want to get immune or resistant to the drugs in case I really need them in the future. I didn't want to go visit Dave today. Not because I don't like him; he's a great guy. He's 30 years old and he has the body of an 80 year old though, I swear. Poor guy. All those health problems. That kind of thing terrifies me. I definitely don't want to spend any time in hopsitals and hope I just die quietly in my sleep one day before I get too old and need serious medical attention. Anyway, on that sombering note, it's band time.

Qop!
"It's no secret that I don't like people much, and I like doctors even less!"
"That's funny, I thought most doctors were people."
"Then you were wrong. Ask any patient."
~ Graves and Troi, Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Schizoid Man"

Drunken Jesus Gaypants

Ok, so my title today my offend some people. I hope it doesn't as it is intended soley as a joke. Well, sort of. You see, my birthday this year, while on Saturday, and during spring break, falls the day before Easter Sunday. You see my dilema about a party? So I will be having it the following Friday, the Friday of Spring Quarter Week One for all your Otterbeiners, and April Fool's Day (April 1st) for everyone else. Obviously this occasion calls for something way more than normal festivities. So it is going to be a toga party. And a Last Supper-themed party. Weird enough for you yet? I am going to try to get goblets to drink our "wine" or whatever out of. Scott Henning will appear as Jesus and I will be John or Mary Magdalen. Which is it in that famous painting? We'll pose for the Last Supper, take pictures of us performing lewd acts, and get totally wasted! Sound like fun? Mark your calendars.

Also, I updated other parts of my web site! I know it's been months since I did that, but I'm up late anyway and it seemed like a good idea. Check it out.

Qop! (from my friend Michael during a recent viewing of 24, when Tony & Jack were talking:)
"Hey, remember that time we both fucked Nina?"

That Won't Be Delivered Until Tuesday

(about the title) I just keep saying that at work when we run out of things. Several of our big weekly orders come on Tuesday. It reminds me of the movie Star Trek: Generations when the Enterprise-B is in danger and nothing that would help them will be installed until Tuesday. If nothing else, I (and probably Jenn) find it amusing. Anyway...

My uncharaectristic lack of postng most probably stems from my uncharacteristic playing of the video games. I really want to finish the Buffy game and move onto other things. I have just three levels left and have almost everything unlocked. That would be super if I could finish that in a week or two, but I usually hardly ever play. I also bought Resident Evil because it was on sale and I had a gift card. It will have to wait until after Buffy, and should wait until after Lord of the Rings, since I bought those two games first. Hmm. The hard decisions of a bland life. :)

Qop!
"Well, Donald Rumsfeld said, when we talked about bombing the al Qaeda infrastructure in Afghansitan, he said there were no good targets in Afghanistan. Let's bomb Iraq. And we said, but Iraq had nothing to do with this. And that didn't seem to make much difference." ~Richard Clarke. Hmm.

Year of Hell

I stole the name of today's blog from a two part Star Trek: Voyager episode. I feel it is a very appropriate title for today. In the episode things kept getting worse for the crew for 365 days and then things snapped back a year and all those bad things were erased. Any chance we could do that here? I mean, Bush getting reelected was bad enough, but someone else actually moved higher up my 'Would Not Care If Someone Assassinated Him' List, which I never actually made in case you were wondering. It's all figurative. Anyway, Bush is knocked down to #2 as someone who has been hgih up for awhile moves to #1: Rick Berman.

WARNING: THE REST OF THIS BLOG IS HERESAY AND PERSONAL OPINION. I HAVE SOME FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE BUT NO ACTUAL EXPERIENCE ABOUT WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

What did Rick Berman do, you may ask? Here's a brief history lesson for you. Star Trek was created in 1966 by Gene Roddenberry. It was a brilliant show that ran for three seasons and really picked up momentum in syndication. By the 1970's, they had made a movie, and the 1980's saw the spinoff, Star Trek: The Next Generation reach new heights. It was soon followed by Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and Star Trek: Voyager. Voyager was the show that launched UPN. While all this was going on, 10 movies were made, and the fifth show, Enterprise, premiered in 2001. Now here we are about halfway through Season Four of Enterprise, it's ratings are going up, they finally have amazing writers (Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens), and the show gets cancelled! Why? Was it UPN? Nope, that network is proud to carry it and can't wait for the sixth installment. What went wrong?

Gene created TNG and even had a hand in the development of DS9, which was the best made show. Ira Steven Behr took DS9 and ran with it and made it brilliant. Jeri Taylor, a producer from the hugely successful TNG took Voyager and developed it. Brannon Braga, writer os the seventh and eighth movies, took over Voyager from Jeri Taylor and made it the Number One show on UPN when UPN was the Number One station on satellite television. Everything dark in Star Trek can be attributed to Braga. Braga went on to help create Enterprise, but has become more and more detached from the show. Why? I think it's Berman!

Berman screwed up Star Trek: Insurrection (the 9th movie) and took the fantastically brilliant script of Star Trek: Nemesis (the 10th movie) and managed to cut the hell out of it until it was mediocre. Berman took over the franchise in 1991 when Gene died. Berman took TNG and Voyager off the air despite their popularity. Berman kept DS9 from reaching the heights it could have. And Berman is pulling Enterprise just when it's earning it's rightful place among great Trek. BERMAN IS AN ASSHOLE!!! Enterprise has a great cast, great concept, and a great villian this year (Brent Spiner) and is moving towards the birth of the UFP, which was set 10 years after the series premiered. Initial estimates were a 7 year show (like the previous three series) and a movie three years later. Now the UFP will form at the end of the season. I HATE BERMAN!!!

Qop!
"Let me get this straight. You think I'm evil because I brought a bunch of teenag girls out into the wilderness...and didn't touch them?" ~ Giles, Buffy the Vampire Slayer