train disaster move weekend

I ended up watching two train disaster movies this weekend:

I was sick on the couch watching bad daytime weekend television (which is somehow worse than daytime weekday television) and ended-up watching the 1979 TV movie Disaster on the Coastliner. The steady, predictable pacing of a 1970s disaster movie was all I could handle with my head cold. Then today, since I felt better, we went to Unstoppable. Oddly enough, both movies feature former Capt. Kirks heroically saving the day.

Star Trek opening

Here's the bold, bombastic, title to the new and improved Star Trek movie which gives me little geeky Trek chills:

Star Trek: A

Bridge Crew, originally uploaded by Fortyseven.

Scott, Greg, Jay, Grant, and I saw the first Star Trek (IMDB.com) showing on Thursday at 7.

Wow! J. J. Abrams' new take on Star Trek is terrific. The biggest challenge had to have been casting, but they got it right. Chris Pine's Kirk is cocky with a little swagger, but also a little goofy. Zachary Quinto's Spock was just as perfect as Leonard Nimoy's.

McCoy was always my favorite original series character and Karl Urban's portrayal was terrific. Of all the portrayals, Urban's was the closest to nearly mimicking DeForrest Kelley's McCoy, but it still seemed natural and authentic.

Greg mentioned that the movie reminded him of Starship Troopers. I'll reluctantly admit that there are some similarities. Both movies have similar quick pacing and are about young crews leaving boot camp/academy on their first mission. However, Trek is its own movie and style and not quite as cartoonish.

Like any movie, there are some unexplained plot holes. How can two people just happen to separately crash land within walking distance of each other on a planet? Why is the Enterprise the only ship available? Why is everyone on Earth, Vulcan, and other planets completely helpless and Kirk & crew are the only heroes around? But who cares? The movie was fun.

The movie's overall tone and pace has changed the Trek franchise. The movie is so faced paced and flashy that I do want to go see again -- and I haven't wanted to re-watch a movie in years.

RIP Montalban; No News; Chambers on Haggard

RIP Ricardo Montalban

kahn, originally uploaded by mordicaicaeli.

Scott called me at work today with the sad news that Ricardo Montalban passed away today.

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NEWS FLASH!: No Complaints!!!!

The Oregonian's web site reports that an anti-religion billboard has not created controversy, complaints, or outrage in Portland. If I didn't know better, I would suspect The O is trying to create news.

I remember seeing this billboard a while a go. Since the billboard doesn't target a specific religion, I can see why no one really took offense. Also, there are a lot of billboards with odd messages like the saccharine Foundation For A Better Life billboards.

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Ex-Gay Leader Uses Haggard Documentary To Reach Right Wingers

I am not sure what the point of Alan Chambers' commentary on a ultra-right wing "news" website publicizing Exodus to a like-minded audience. Chambers uses the Haggard story to relate his own testimony of being a closeted gay church member and, as Mike Airhart at Truth Wins Out notes, makes several negative assertions about gays and "gay life".

However, Haggard's scandal is not a typical closeted-gay-with-a-secret-life story. Haggard founded his megachurch, chose to lead a major national conservative Christian organization, and chose to lead anti-gay political campaigns. As a leader, Haggard was uniquely empowered and responsible to make sure "the church" was a safe and welcoming place for honesty about personal sexuality, beliefs, and doubts for his followers and and himself. His tragedy wasn't just that he betrayed his wife and public image, but that he did not create own church or change the conservative Christian movement to be safe places.

And yet, Chambers' and Exodus' continuing efforts to stigmatize homosexuality as "sexual brokenness", a "hurt" resulting from "underlying wounds", a lonely lifestyle, etc. would seem to further encourage conservative Christian "stragglers" to avoid ever admitting to such a serious and embarrassing condition. If Haggard bought the Exodus understanding that his natural attractions were unhealthy and rooted in sin and abuse, then it may have contributed to his desperate decision to hire a prostitute. After all, if you're going to consider yourself a "sexually broken" sinner then why not do sexually broken sinful behaviors?

REVISED and re-worded 'cuz it's my blog.

Star Trek trailer!!!! (at Quantum of Solace)

We saw Quantum of Solace (IMDB.com) last night. However the highlight was seeing the new Star Trek trailer:

Not sure about the Tom Cruise/Top Gun motorcycle homage, but the movie looks great.

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Oh yeah, James Bond was good too. Although at times it seemed more like an action-packed video game. The fight scene on a Rube Goldberg-like hanging mobile was hilarious.

breaking: possible Family Guy: Wrath of Khan???

Star Trek Stewie, originally uploaded by mrankinen.

Hot Giggity! From TVWeek.com (via TrekMovie.com):

. . . ["Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane] says, "If Paramount would let us do ["Star Trek II:] 'Wrath of Khan,' that would be the coolest thing." He adds that "Star Wars" works because a majority of the show's fans know the movie line for line, but Lucasfilm is pretty generous with the license, too. . . .

I'm almost more excited about this than the new "Star Trek" movie.

TrekMovie.com has possible Family Guy-STII:TWOK character casting ideas.

Nooooo.- Star Trek Delayed to May 2009!!!

According to TrekMovie.com, the huge new Star Trek reboot has been postponed FOUR MONTHS from Christmas 2008 to May 8, 2009. As of this evening, the official movie website still advertises the old release date, so hopefully it's just a rumor.

Assuming the worse, I've revised the counter.

Star Trek XI teaser

The long-awaited first images and teaser for the new JJ Abrams' Star Trek movie have been leaked. Although it's only a teaser, the unbelievable rumors that the Enterprise was drastically re-designed for this retelling seem to have been exaggerated.

The image shows the original Enterprise being built on a planet -- not a space dock as seen in the prior movies. That seems to be a minor departure from Gene Roddenberry's vision. He wanted the Enterprise to be a spaceship that would be too unwieldy to be mistaken for any Earth-bound vessel.

J.J Abrams Enterprise, originally uploaded by William Moore.

Here is a less than clear version of the teaser on YouTube. Although if it is pulled off YouTube, TrekMovie.com is a good source for tracking the latest leaked Trek media. The trailer is running with Cloverfield which Scott and I plan on seeing this weekend.

Only 341 days until Christmas.

Seattle day trip!!!

On Saturday, Scott, Sheena, and I took my visiting cousin, Travis, to Seattle for the day. We started off at the touristy Pike Place Market. As always, Scott took great pictures:

Pike Place Market, originally uploaded by sweber4507.
Pike Place Market in color Originally uploaded by sweber4507	IMG_2705.JPG Originally uploaded by sweber4507
Pike Place alley, originally uploaded by sweber4507.
IMG_2714.JPG Originally uploaded by sweber4507	IMG_2711 copy.jpg Originally uploaded by sweber4507

Frank Gehry Building housing EMP/SFM, originally uploaded by sweber4507.

Travis loves sci-fi and music, so we took the Seattle Monorail to the Sci-Fi Museum and the Experience Music Project. The Sci-Fi Museum added a terrific costume exhibition and some Star Trek models since our last visit in December. I was impressed with the Deep Space Nine model from ST:DS9 and an Enterprise-D model from ST:TNG. The biggest surprise was the Battlestar Galactica uniform from the current series -- (possibly worn by Jamie Bamber even!).

Unfortunately, photographs were prohibited, so no great pictures from Scott. However, I found some other pictures from less courtesy Flickr contributers:

DSCF1834
Originally uploaded by Julia C. Gulia

Star Trek's Christian episode (UPDATED)

Stone Pillars of the Earth
Originally uploaded by Rexton
(I couldn't find a good religion-related Star Trek image. However, I did find this photo of a church with Star Trek crests.

Here's a copy of a topic I posted at GCN:

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I just saw the last half of the 1968 Star Trek (The Original Series) episode "Bread and Circuses". I was surprised by the overt Christian reference at the end.

[SET-UP: The Enterprise crew visits a planet technologically similar to 20th century Earth, but with a government similar to the Roman Empire. The transcript below is the series' typical final scene in which the cast reflects on the episode's adventure. (Transcript from Chakoteya.net.)]

MCCOY: Captain, I see on your report Flavius was killed. I am sorry. I liked that huge sun worshiper.

SPOCK: I wish we could have examined that belief of his more closely. It seems illogical for a sun worshiper to develop a philosophy of total brotherhood. Sun worship is usually a primitive superstition religion.

UHURA: I'm afraid you have it all wrong, Mister Spock, all of you. I've been monitoring some of their old-style radio waves, the empire spokesman trying to ridicule their religion. But he couldn't. Don't you understand? It's not the sun up in the sky. It's the Son of God.

KIRK: Caesar and Christ. They had them both. And the word is spreading only now.

MCCOY: A philosophy of total love and total brotherhood.

SPOCK: It will replace their imperial Rome, but it will happen in their twentieth century.

KIRK: Wouldn't it be something to watch, to be a part of? To see it happen all over again? Mister Chekov, take us out of orbit. Ahead warp factor one.

CHEKOV: Aye, sir.

The music soars throughout this scene emphasizing how special the realization that this is about the Christ the Son of God. It almost seemed like there should have been an alter call or telephone number at the end.

As a devout Star Trek fan (and Christian), I know I've seen this episode several times previously and vaguely remember seeing this scene. However, watching this scene more carefully now really surprised me for a couple of reasons. First, Star Trek rarely mentions 20th century religion -- in fact in ST:TNG, Picard practically ridicules Earth religions as nothing more than superstitions that are no longer practiced. Secondly, it's so rare today for any commercial TV show to risk offending its advertisers' audience by promoting one religion -- let alone referring to Jesus as the Son of God.

Has anyone else seen this episode?

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This is the same episode in which Dr. McCoy jokingly reveals his god complex:

SPOCK: Then the Prime Directive is in full force, Captain?

KIRK: No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet.

MCCOY: No references to space, or the fact that there are other worlds, or more advanced civilisations.

KIRK: Let's go.

MCCOY: Once, just once, I'd like to be able to land someplace and say, Behold, I am the Archangel Gabriel.

SPOCK: I fail to see the humour in that situation, Doctor.

MCCOY: Naturally. You could hardly claim to be an angel with those pointed ears, Mister Spock. But say you landed someplace with a pitchfork.

[GUNSHOT INTERRUPTS BANTER]

(UPDATE: I also fixed some typos and grammar issues in my original post.)

quote tag

Pam (Willful Grace) tagged me for five quotes. Admittedly, I don't often reference quotes, so here are a few that pop to my head:

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"'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. . . . "

Marianne Williamson's A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles Harper Collins, 1992. From Chapter 7, Section 3 (Pg. 190-191) (Wikiquote).

This quote is often mistakenly attributed to one of Nelson Mandela's presidential inauguration speeches.

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"Ezekiel 25:17: The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the Valley of Darkness; for he is truly his brother's keeper, and the finder of lost children. And, I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers! And, you will know my name is The Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee!"

"Jules Winnfield" played by Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction (IMDB.com). Written by Quentin Tarantino.

I've never memorized scripture, but I've always wanted to memorize this classic quote. Unfortunately/fortunately, Tarantino took extensive liberties in changing this verse. I think I read somewhere that he may have gotten it from someone else's work. The real Ezekiel 25:17 is much shorter: "And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them." (KJV, BibleGateway.com)

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"I will have to say this morning, I was the leader of the universe as I knew it. This afternoon, I am only a voice in a chorus. But I think it was a good day."

"Chancellor Durken", played by George Coe, when asked what he would tell his family about his day after learning that the civilization he leads is merely one among many planets. Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "First Contact". Teleplay by Dennis Russell Bailey, David Bischoff, Joe Menosky and Ronald D. Moore. Story by Marc Scott Zicree. (IMDB.com, TrekCore.com).

I know referencing Star Trek is a little geeky, but this line has always had an impression on me. How would we react to the news that we were just one of many civilizations?

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"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

Epistle to the Romans by Paul of Tarsus. Chapter 7, Verses 15-20 (NIV, BibleGateway.com)

I really identified with this passage -- especially during my ex-gay struggle. Back then, I would have sworn Paul was gay (as I have heard some scholars suggest). Its power is that we don't know what Paul's internal struggle was, but he certainly captured the essence of any internal struggle.

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"I'M CLARE-BO!"

IMG_8148.JPG Originally uploaded by sweber4507.

Scott's & his roommates' cat, Clare-Bo, rallying cry for anything she happens to desire.

Well, okay, she doesn't audibly say these words, but she communicates these words in every other way. Even for her notoriously self-interested species, Clare-Bo is exceptionally selfish and bullying among the three cats and three humans she commands. We're pretty sure we've accurately translated her intentions: 'I'm going to be the first one to eat from BOTH cat food dishes. I'm Clare-Bo!'; 'Get out of my way! I'm going to sit on the window sill. I'm Clare-Bo!'; and 'I'm going outside. I'm Clare-Bo!' (She then sabotages her own escape by "MEOWING" her cry of freedom out the door). Scott and I have adopted her rallying cry much like "TOWANDA!" in Fried Green Tomatoes.

defending my geeky congressman

I feel obligated to defend my geeky congressman, David Wu, who represents my district which I'm sure includes many Star Trek geeks. I suppose to someone who is unfamiliar with Star Trek and its races, Representative Wu's comments sound silly, but he was making a valid point. The chickenhawk Republicans (excluding Richard Armitage) who are advocating this war have no right, dignity, or honor to order 20,000 additional Americans into the battle.

Unfortunately, Wu's point is getting lost in his distracting and somewhat inaccurate metaphor. (Supposedly, Bush's Vulcans are named after a Roman god -- not a Star Trek race.) So here's his comments:

"Mr. Speaker, four years ago this administration took America to war in Iraq without adequate evidence. Since that time, the administration hasn't listened to the American people. It hasn't listened to our professional military. And it certainly hasn't listened to this congress.

You know, it's said of a prominant businessman in downtown Portland that he never listened to anybody. And that if he was ever drawn in a cartoon, he'd be drawn without ears. Now, this president has listened to some people the so-called Vulcans in the White House -- the idealogues. But you know, unlike the Vulcans of Star Trek who made the decisions based on logic and fact, these guys make it on idealogy. These aren't Vulcans. They're Klingons in the White House. But unlike the real Klingons of Star Trek, these Klingons have never fought a battle of their own. Don't let faux Klingons send real Americans to war. It's wrong. . . . "

AICN has Star Trek: SE promotional clip

Merrick at Ain't It Cool News has a clip from the new Star Trek: Special Edition remastered episodes. ST:SE will replace the Star Trek: Enterprise episodes that are still in syndication. I wonder if G4 will still run its Star Trek episodes?

The clip appears to be promotional footage which compares the quality of the old versions versus the new HD, remastered versions. The SE footage is much clearer. One thing that I noticed right away was the greasy make-up technique. Apparently in the 1960s, Shatner's shiny face was suppose to look healthy.

Apparently last week's announcement was a such well-kept secret because Paramount only recently made the decision to remaster the episodes. Merrick previously reported that Viacom/Paramount/CBS is using their in-house CG department to remaster the episodes. Now, there are concerns how can the studio keep up the one episode per week pace and whether the quality will be sacrificed. Although everyone understands this is business decision, you think they would be careful not to screw-up the series that's given them 40 years of re-run income.

Star Trek remastered!!!

Woo-hoo! A TrekWeb news article says CBS Studios is remastering the entire Star Trek the original series. Not only are the visual effects being redone in CGI, but even the original theme music was re-performed and recorded. I had mixed feelings about G4's TOS airings. On one hand, it was a little fun to see pop-up like trivia, but most of it was trivial and distracting. So it makes sense for CBS to reinvest and upgrade TOS especially since there are several fan-produced episodes and the new TOS movie coming out next year. StarTrek.com also has news item and TVGuide's Insider has the exclusive CGI first image.

Star Trek Of Gods and Men Photo

This weekend, TrekWeb.com posted the first photo from the fan film, Star Trek Of Gods and Men, which is currently in production. The actors, Alan Ruck (ST:VII), Nichelle Nichols (ST:TOS, ST:I-VI), and Walter Koenig (ST:TOS, ST:I-VII), are great sports for reprising their roles for the fans. I'm not sure what the story is about, but it looks odd since you have ST:TOS actors on the ST:TOS bridge, but wearing ST:VII uniforms.