Should Star Trek Die?

Great post in the thread, Should Star Trek Die? It's like the guy is reading my mind, I mean this is EXACTLY how I view the franchise currently:

Star Trek:
Western in space. Kinda campy but did have its moments. Very memorable characters. Fanbase: Big enough to get a few movies going after its cancellation. Noteworthy: The fans loved the show and movies enough to get an entire freakin' space shuttle renamed. Nae bad.

Star Trek: The Next Generation:
Pretty deep plots. Much deeper than much of what is shown on TV, which really doesn't say much. Very memorable characters. Very powerful episodes. (Remember the one where the crew find a probe and Picard spends a lifetime on a dieing planet?) Had many people who aren't fans of scifi watching. Noteworthy: Roddenberry died during this series.

Star Trek: Deep Space 9
Very deep storyline spanning many seasons. Characters not as memorable as those on TNG, but memorable none the less.

Star Trek: Voyager:
Unmemorable characters, superficial plots, enough gaps in the plot to make Spock have a stroke. The previously immortal and near unbeatable borg were made to look like a bunch of pussies in this. Time travel became more cliche than it previously was. It's crap, Jim.

Star Trek: Enterprise
New 'hip' series that shits on the pre-federation history laid out by the previous series and movies. Superficial. Unmemorable characters. Plots so shallow not even an infant could drown in them. Superficial. Tries to grab your attention with random semi-nudity. Predictable. Superficial. Theme song sucks. Superficial.

As somebody who used to be a HUGE Trek fan 10 years ago - good. The horse is laying in the middle of the field, four broken legs, broken ribs, and is oozing blood out of its ears. Just shoot it and get it over with. I hate seeing my childhood fave raped for ratings.

I haven't even seen the last Star Trek movie. I don't think I own any past VI.

Lanparty PC Carrying Harness : XaserBag

Just ordered one of these. Been looking for a carry harness for awhile now, and this one fits the bill. Good reviews, and only $18 at Newegg.

Bumper Sticker

Saw a funny bumper sticker on my way in to work today: "Outsource Bush"

Actually, now that I think about it, that doesn't make much sense now does it? If we outsource him, that would mean a non-American would be president... or perhaps it was a subtle commentary on someone wholly dissatisfied with the current regime but disliking the alternative as well...

I'm not terribly open about my own political views. I'm very middle-of-the-road, with a liberal slant. I have some conservative views (gun control) and some liberal ones (birth control)... notice how issues tend to always be about control?

For the first few years of my voting life I was a solid Independent. Didn't really bother me not to vote in the primaries, I'll just choose from the final list thank you. And then after living in Virginia Beach, heartland of the Christian Coalition (thar be Pat Robertson country here, boy!) I was somewhat "driven" to the Democrat Party. So that's what I am now, but I don't consider that to be my voting identity - yes I can only vote in the Democratic primary but on the final ballot I try to vote on character and ideals, not by party line.

Now when "W" came to town, I knew he was an idiot. But I've usually thought of the Presidency as a figurehead position, the real power being those who pulled the puppet strings. Well, "W" seems to be the man in charge, and that scares the bloody hell out of me. Think about it: a man who started a war under false pretenses, when he really just wanted to finish what his daddy started. And if THAT doesn't wake you up at nights, try this: if "W" does something stupid like choke on a pretzel (LOL) then who's in charge? Yup, Mr. Halliburton himself, ole Dick Cheney.

So this election, I'm not really looking at the issues or the promises - they seem to be pretty much the same now, one party is practically indistinguishable from the other, the pre-election rants seem to consist of "I can do the job better than him!" So the main issue for me, is: Do I want the country run by Big Business?

And yes, the Democrat party is just as run by special interests, but they at least have to TRY to maintain the illusion otherwise.

My point? Bush is an idiot who's actually running the country. I'll take my chances with Kerry this year. Doubt he could do MUCH worse, anyways... why, oh why couldn't McCain be on the ballot...

LAN Party this weekend

So this weekend is the monthly LAN party for friends from work, usually about 6 of us at a time but Matt is coming back in town, if we have everyone at once we could have 8 playing at once - w00t!

What irks me somewhat is that I will have to once again play the guilt-trip game with my wife. For some reason she begrudges me this time doing what I want. Personally, I don't find this very fair. I don't go out with the "guys" or anything, I'm home every evening (especially those where she is teaching her cake class or doing Scottish Country dancing) and I was fully supportive of her cake conference awhile back. I know, she does the cakes not just because she enjoys it but because it is also a job for her. Again, I've always been supportive, not just in words but in my own time helping her, cleaning up, taking care of the kids...

But she seems to have always done this. Most likely unconsciously. Back in college, when I tried to get back into RPGs, she cut that short when I wanted to play the full weekend (it was a marathon of sorts). The year before we had all stayed up the entire weekend in the student union building, it was a blast. And whenever I tried to get together with friends to do any gaming, I'd feel guilty about being there and after phone calls from her I'd come home.

I know, wah wah stop yer complaining and stick up for yourself. Well, I've always wanted to do actual LAN parties. Always, since I entered my true computer geekhood about 8 years back. And now I got invited after working here for 3 years. That was such an uplifting feeling, of honor and respect that these people that I respected wanted me to be there. I'm not giving that up this time. The only two times I've done this, I got the same guilt trips -- small comments, little insinuations of displeasure, phone calls in the middle of play asking when I was coming home. But both times I ignored the guilt and enjoyed myself. Immensely. Yes it means less time with the family, but that is the sum of my life right now: Work and Family. I do love my family dearly, and cherish the time I spend with all three of my girls. Donna's breast cancer taught me to not take anything or anyone for granted.

But dammitall, I do need some time for myself. I don't get it at home, or at work really. And God knows with the family illnesses and with the uncertainty at work, I've been under some stress. So I feel I deserve this.

Now, the plan was originally for Monday. But Donna complained about that, it was family time on a holiday like Labor Day. So the other guys actually changed all their plans to accommodate me, and moved it to Sunday. Noon to whenever. I intend to stay till the wee hours fragging my little heart out.

Yes I should talk to her about how I feel, how monumentally unfair I think her attitude is. I've always been able to communicate with her on things, I don't like to keep things from her, but what if I'm the one blowing this out of proportion? Been known to happen. And I dislike confrontations. With great intensity.

Computers are a huge part of my life, who I am now. And though I am a hermit at heart (sometimes I really only like the concept of people, aside from my family) I do enjoy the opportunity to network on a social level with those of my mentality. Even if it involves sneaking up behind them with a shotgun in Far Cry and blowing a 12-inch hole in their back.

It's all good fun.

Your Brain on Blog

Your Brain on Blog. I like it, a clever title. Hard to find nowadays. I'll have to read the rest of his blog, but he actually seems pretty eloquent and meaningful.

OK, I just gotta do it.

The Sage: Workplace Boredom

The Sage: Workplace Boredom

This is funny as hell. I wonder if I could get away with it at my work... hmm...

Work

Every organization is like a tree full of monkeys, with monkeys sitting on all of the branches from top to bottom. When the monkeys at the top look down, all they see are smiling faces. When the monkeys at the bottom look up, all they see are assholes.