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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 10, 2006 16:14:07 GMT -6
Know many people that have attended a Star Trek convention? You do now. Because of this experience I know what I am talking about when it is said the original series remains as the best. If you are the perfect specimin of the Trekkie, then I must be the perfect specimin of the Trekker. I have both a Starfleet and a Klingon uniform in my closet. There is a full size steel batleth on the wall (and a half-sized one for my son) as well as a d'ktagh with working side blades. In addition I am the "publicity director" of the Klingon Language Institute. I think my order of prefernce for the shows is: TNG TOS DS9 VOY ENT TNG & TOS had great adventure with fun plots and just enough social commentary to generate great discussions. But TOS was ending as I was being born and I grew up with TNG. DS9 was a great continuation of the series. Not as much adventure, but more intrigue and politics. I prefer the adventure, but loved DS9 just the same. VOY brought back some of the adventure, but I can't quite put my finger on what was missing. Something was, though. I watched regularly, but can't really say that I was ever hooked. ENT! Looks like it was probably a fairly good show in-and-of itself. But I couldn't watch it. I knew the Star Trek history inside and out and was constantly confused and frustrated by Enterprise. Jeremy
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 10, 2006 17:20:31 GMT -6
Jeremy, I just checked the KLI website, and it lists a website for YOU. However, it appears to have gone 404 on us......Jake
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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 11, 2006 21:39:49 GMT -6
My server name changed and I never bothered to update it. The page it takes you to is not a Klingon page, it's a personal page I developed years ago. It is a few years out of date. I don't want any bots finding it, but if you want to check it out, feel free. I'll give you the url with some parts removed. it's neiu.edu/~jcowan with . in front of it. Jeremy
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 11, 2006 22:12:44 GMT -6
Thanks! Good page. You are the only person I know to own not one but TWO actual bat'leths. And how is it that you and your lovely wife happen to have the same middle name?......Jake
(by the by, be sure to check your Private Messages, if you haven't already noticed)
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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 11, 2006 22:24:17 GMT -6
Thanks. I guess I should update it. I have trouble thinking of the small one as "actual", but I couldn't resist it when I saw it. When we were having the "name discussion" before marriage, I insisted that our son take my last name. My wife then also decided to take my name. But as I felt I should do something, I took her last name as a middle name. Thus we both use her maiden name as a middle name and my surname as a last name. Jeremy
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 11, 2006 22:32:04 GMT -6
I figured it was something like that. Totally cool. I think John and Yoko did something similar (He changed from John Winston Lenon to John Ono Lenon or some such). I always thought that a married couple should not automatically take the man's last name, but should take whichever name they preferred out of the two of them, or even make up a brand new name from scratch. I know I would never inflict my last name on an unsuspecting Anglo......Jake
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Post by Ozmale on Jan 11, 2006 22:46:42 GMT -6
There is a full size steel batleth on the wall (and a half-sized one for my son) as well as a d'ktagh with working side blades. Now this is something I need to know for my US trip this year. Where can I get a batleth. Small, large...whatever. My son got a working (well it makes the correct noises - doesn't actually kill people) type 1/ type 2 TOS phaser for Christmas - I am soooo jealous! (And it didn't cost $500 like those replica TNG series phasers). And with regards to the best Star Trek, I say if it's star trek then I like it...with the possible exception of some individual episodes and the last movie - Nemesis, oh yes and that movie where Kirk and crew "find god" at the middle of the Galaxy! Ozmale
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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 11, 2006 22:49:10 GMT -6
I got really pissed when we got married. On the license application was a space to put her new name. I asked them where I was supposed to put my new name and they said I didn't get to ch-ch-change my name. Chauvenist assholes! I have never legally changed my name, but I understand that you can ch-ch-change your name by common law and I have not allowed anyone to use my old name since our marriage (except my drivers license where they demand to see my birth certificate every time I try to ch-ch-change my name).
Jeremy
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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 11, 2006 23:13:44 GMT -6
Now this is something I need to know for my US trip this year. Where can I get a batleth. Small, large...whatever./quote] I must say that I have never seen a good american made batleth for sale. I have seen a couple made by individuals for themselves that were pretty impressive, but they did not plan on making more. I've also seen some aluminum ones for sale at Klingon events or ST conventions, but they are obviously too light and generally don't look right. Every steel batleth that I have seen for sale in the US was Pakistani made and usually being sold for about $100. The same Pakistani batleths can be purchased for about $50 on Ebay. The handles suck, but the blades are real steel. Shipping will be extra, but you'd have to pay for shipping anyway. These are sharp weapons and you would need some sort of special packaging to take them on the plane. I use a multiple-rifle case to carry my bladed weapons on planes. Jeremy
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 11, 2006 23:19:06 GMT -6
I imagine true Klingons have many headaches doing air travel in today's TSA-dominated world......Jake
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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 11, 2006 23:24:20 GMT -6
Oh yeah. I wanted to give you an ebay link: cgi.ebay.com/Star-Trek-Klingon-Batleth-48-Inchs_W0QQitemZ6028308754QQcategoryZ155QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemAnd I decided to share a batleth story. I took it to the qep'a' (Klingon language convention) one year. Since they have now moved the baggage xray into the check-in areas of the airport, I decided to stop and see what would happen as the rifle case went through the xray. The two guys standing at the monitor were deep in conversation and didn't even notice when the xray machine stopped. It was oversized and the xray computer couldn't figure out what to do. I think if it had fit on one screen it would have passed without notice. The baggage loader had to come over and see what was going on. Now the fun started. Eventually every TSA agent in the area was trying to figure out what was on the screen. When they finally pulled it out, everyone gathered around the case for the unveiling. Once everyone had their fun examining the batleth and other Klingon artifacts I had packed with it, they went back to their positions. One agent came and stood near where I was. I said, "I bet you don't see one of those every day." He gave a slight smile and responded, "I'm a Star Trek fan too." At this point my son decided to join the conversation by commenting on the plastic light-up noise-making disruptor pistol I had and said, "And my papi has a GUN too!" I gave a nervous laugh, said, "It's a Klingon disruptor pistol," and hurried away! Jeremy
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Post by Ozmale on Jan 13, 2006 0:04:27 GMT -6
Damn,
Have to stick to phasers I guess. If its got a cutting edge on it then Aussie customs classify it as a weapon and won't permit it. Was looking at bringing back an "Excalibur" type sword from a place I found in Germany once. Was told I had to get a letter from my local police station to state I was a suitable person to hold such a weapon and bring that to customs on my return to Australia with the sword......
Sob, Sob, Sob....
Ozmale
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 13, 2006 11:04:26 GMT -6
If I remember correctly, Kahless made the very first Bat'leth out of his own hair and molten lava. You might try that, Oz.
By the way, if anyone wants a good book about the origins of the Klingon culture, check out the Star Trek novel called "Kahless", by Michael Jan Friedman. I don't know if it counts as "canon" or not, but it's a fun read.......Jake
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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 13, 2006 12:21:48 GMT -6
"Kahless", by Michael Jan Friedman. I don't know if it counts as "canon" or not, but it's a fun read Paramount completely ignores the books when making movies and TV shows. In fact lately it seems they even ignore the previous movies and TV shows. But the fans treat the book as gospel. Jeremy
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 13, 2006 12:59:19 GMT -6
"Kahless", by Michael Jan Friedman. I don't know if it counts as "canon" or not, but it's a fun read Paramount completely ignores the books when making movies and TV shows. In fact lately it seems they even ignore the previous movies and TV shows. But the fans treat the book as gospel. Jeremy I have heard exactly the opposite.
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 13, 2006 13:56:31 GMT -6
I think of the TV shows as canon, and the movies and books as "fiction" from alternate storylines. But that's just me. By the way, here is a Bat'leth in case anyone is wondering what we're talking about.....Jake
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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 13, 2006 15:00:10 GMT -6
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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 13, 2006 15:03:50 GMT -6
I have heard exactly the opposite. How do you mean? Jeremy
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 14, 2006 7:28:22 GMT -6
I have heard exactly the opposite. How do you mean? Jeremy That the books are at best apocryphal (along with movie #5) side stories in the overall historic timeline of the Star Trek universe. The sense I get from online discussion groups and face to face talks with Trekkers is the following heirarchy of authority (in descending order of credibility) for the Star Trek 'history'... the TV live action series (except ENT) the movies (except #5) Enterprise series cartoon series books movie #5 But as is the case with all history, real or otherwise, we pick and choose our sources and versions to believe.
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Post by jdmcowan on Jan 14, 2006 8:34:43 GMT -6
the books are at best apocryphal (along with movie #5) side stories in the overall historic timeline of the Star Trek universe. Ah. Yes. I guess I have to agree there. I thought you meant my take on Paramount was wrong. The fans' relationships with the books are much more complex. Most fans recognize that since Paramount does not consider the books to be canon, then they must also treat them with suspicion and caution. However, there are times when a book fills in a large hole that the fans have been dying for. These stories often take on more importance and are often treated as canon for lack of true canon. This is particularly true in the "Klingon community". Klingon fans will grasp onto whatever little morsels are thrown to them, regardless of the source. Thus my exagerated claim that the books are gospel. In general your take is probably a lot more acurate. Jeremy
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 14, 2006 11:41:03 GMT -6
I'll agree that ST:Enterprise was not particularly popular with many fans (although I enjoyed it), but I don't think there is any reason to decrease its credibility as far as "true" history goes. It does not contradict anything said or implied in any of the other series, as far as I am aware.......jake
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 17, 2006 7:05:23 GMT -6
Jake.. actually Ent did tie loose ends up rather well during the last 10 episodes of the series. Especially with the mysticism aspect of the Vulcans.
I will back off on the assertion that the ENT credibitily is flawed. In thinking of the discussions I have been involved in, the flaw involves the proliferation of alternative timelines outside the envelope of the history that yields the later (earlier) series, and trying to decide WHICH information is germane to TOS, TNG, etc.
One point which was ignored in ENT, was the Romulan wars. I believe that there were references in TOS to the Romulan wars occurring just prior to the formation of the Federation. Rather than spending a season on the Xindi, dealing with the Romulan wars would have been more appropriate and in line with the 'known' history from that timeframe. And, I would have been willing to ignore the statement in the TOS that the war was fought with old fashioned 'atomic weapons', which ENT was clearly past (I suppose that the argument could be made that NX-01 was a special class of vehicle and most of the 'fleet' would have fought with atomic weapons).
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 17, 2006 9:56:02 GMT -6
Fair enough. I can't disagree with any of that......Jake
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 23, 2006 6:26:36 GMT -6
I caught a technical error in a TNG episode last night. In the episode where Ryker, Worf, and Data go to a little casino that some moronic species made to house a 21st century astronaut instead of taking him back home after destroying his ship, Geordi reported the surface temperature as -291 degrees C. Impossible because -273.2 C is absolute zero, cant get no colder than that.
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Post by texjohn45 on Feb 16, 2006 9:49:51 GMT -6
Since thread drift is acceptable...There is an animated show on the Sci FI channel with a character styled after "7 of 9" from Voyager. What a body on that woman! Any way the character in "Tripping the Rift" is a sex cyborg named 'Six". The show is crude, vulgar, and juvenile, maybe that's why I like it.
TexJohn
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carbuff
Member
Make me wag my tail -- pet me !
Posts: 104
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Post by carbuff on Feb 16, 2006 18:25:02 GMT -6
^^^ That cyborg does have a good bounce to her.
Trace
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Post by pixiedust on Feb 17, 2006 15:29:05 GMT -6
I like the Next Generation best, I've watched one of the later ones (maybe the "current") one but not with regularity so I can't comment on it - tho it looked interesting...
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