xenexian

Very interesting post.  To be fair, Gene's Roddenberry's vision was always and will be, nothing more than a "hope" for the future.  Gene's vision of humanity which consists of almost zero conflict and cooperation has no basis in the real world.  Human nature, at it's most basic, is nothing to crow about.  As Quark once said, and I'm paraphrasing a bit, Humans can be the most wonderful species of the universe but take away our comforts, and we are no better than the beasts.  Instinctually, we as a species, are no better than anything else on the planet.  Take away anything that we feel we need and we become vicious, hostile and dangerous to the point that nothing matters except us.  Maybe ST needs to more like BSG, showing humans for what we are in spite of our technological advances.  As much as I love ST, the idea that we can resolve anything peacefully and without conflict has no basis in any world, real or imagined.  Show the underside, admit that we don't always get along but try to uphold the ideals is more interesting then what is sometime presented.  Section  31 may finally present the dark underbelly of what the Federation actually is, noble and honorable but also dark, deceitful and conniving.   Coming closer to actual human drama may be what ST really needs then the constant fluff and feel good conclusions we usually see (see DS9-In the Pale Moonlight to get a glimpse).  I'll continue to hope that humankind will evolve into what we see, but I'm not holding my breath.  Until then, ST will still be a beacon of hope and for the future and I will always enjoy whatever is give to me but I also understand, like a bedtime story, it's only happily ever after in an imagined world.  What was Star Trek can never be sustained, human nature won't allow it.

Even though I'm an old Trekker, I'm always still fascinated by the mirror universe.  I've tried to research how the humans came to be so bad and I'm not coming up with much in regards to background.  One of the more plausible explanations I've read was that the Terran empire was the result of the Romulan war.  After losing the initial war (Capt. Archer's era) the Earth was occupied by the Romulans for close to one hundred earth years only to be finally overthrown by the human capacity for not tolerating captivity.  As a result, humans began a program of aggression that the Alpha Quadrant had never seen before.  Never again would humans be subjugated to occupation and conquest, from now on, they would be the conquerors and hold human kind above all.  Were the humans simply responding to their environment or was the mirror universe humans an anomaly, considering our nurturing history, and was a result of a hostile universe and a breaking of human ideals with how we treat those that are different?  Were the humans in the mirror universe a product of what they endured or was the capacity for aggression simply suppressed because of human society and then released when they became conquered?  The idea of an aggressive earth fascinates me because of our capacity for both aggression and peace.  What drove us to relinquish what peaceful teachings we had over millenniums of religious history?  What exactly happened to Earth during the occupation?  Enquiring minds want to know.  If anyone has any other insight  as to how the humans became the scourge of the universe it would be greatly appreciated if they would share.  If not, I have a great  book idea formulating.

It's been quite awhile since I've been here.  So happy to see so many ST fans.  On that note, I'd like to say that since I'm an original Trekker, I've seen and experienced the many incarnations of our beloved series and even though there are still many questionable decisions made by the rights holder, I seem to feel that ST is once again headed in a good direction.  I see a lot attempts by Paramount to rein in a new generation (Prodigy, Lower Decks) The shorts on internet as well as the new series coming soon (section 31 and ST Academy) and I'm beginning to sense a new energy.  So many aspects of the ST universe seem to be coning to the fore and I'm grateful for the expenditures made to continue.  I feel that ST will continue making headway into our culture unlike so many others.  However, I would like to see a dirtier side of the Federation, something more akin to Battlestar Galactica.  Something more akin to the everyday human on earth and how they perceive Starfleet.  We're way too complicated to think that the ST future will be perfect but then again what purpose to dreams have if not to envision something better.  ST will always point a way to that future and I'm glad it will not die what I finally do pass.  The future of st is still in good hands.

my goodness, Please don't take it to heart.  I'm an old trekker, an original fan since 1966, but over the years I've learned to take public perception of Star Trek fans as a compliment.  Is lower Decks making fun of Star Trek fans?  Maybe, but all in good fun.  I'm also a Sherlockian so I get a lot of flak from that too but it also shows how incorporated we are to pop culture.  I don't care if others make fun of me for being a star Trek fan.  In fact, Boimler is a perfect example of what I might be like if I somehow entered the ST universe.  Coming from the advertising world, the saying that bad publicity is still publicity is very real.  There are some who might be attracted to ST if not for lower decks and the more the better.  Being to laugh at oneself for having an odd interest is actually healthy.  The jabs that LD takes at the whole ST universe is like a release and I really don't care what anyone thinks.  Even in my professional career I took jabs at management and the higher ups and got away with a lot of things that were not considered standard, so to speak, so I relish Ensign Mariner and what she is able to do.  But on the whole, LD does not cause any worry.  

I loved the character of Nog.  Watching him grow from the annoying Ferengi to a Starfleet officer made me feel like proud, actually.  His speech to Sisko in Heart of Stone was human and from the heart, so to speak, and laid the groundwork for the best evolved character in the ST universe.  RIP Aron and rest peacefully knowing you are now eternal.   (Except of course for the imagined episode of season 8).   

Just when I thought that Lower decks would be dismissed, here you are.  Lower Decks the best thing to have happened to ST in years.  As an old original ST fan I was so happy so see ST not taken as seriously as some would have it.  The ability to laugh at one's self is primary in being humble and still recognizing the importance and greatness that is ST.  There are many easter eggs to satisfy the hardcore fans and entertainment to bring in the next generation of fans to continue carrying the torch.  I love this series and ensign Mariner is my new hero and right up there with Jadzia Dax.  Any other Lower Deck fans here or have you all become staid?

At my age I still wonder from time to time if the old trek flame isn't dimming just a little. It's been quite a while since I've logged on and when I've looked in the past not much seems to be happening. Has it really been about ten years since I've first logged on here, back in those heady days of when Star Trek still ruled a good measure of the airwaves? Back when this site had an almost 24/7 feel to it? I may be an old trekker but I still enjoy making Star Trek a part of my everyday life. Such things as calling freeways warp corridors, telling the convenience store attendant that I need 15 gallons of anti-matter instead of gas. Decorating my work studio with all Trek memorabilia and throwing a bit of technobabble into everyday conversation. Being an audio engineer I can get away with it especially if I have to track down a stray audio signal, slap-back or signal flow path. It's interesting to hear my clients reaction when I say to them I have to realign the plasma flow to the ISDN unit so I can reverse the polarity to the data stream safely in the foldback audio circuit so they can hear you clearly. I still make Trek fun, first and foremost. But as I started to say at the top, as much fun as Star Trek has and continues to be, I find that the enthusiasm just doesn't have quite the same flavor as before. I still immerse myself in Trek canon, play my star trek computer games and read the New Frontier series (you should too, by the way) and am pleased that the new movies did better than I could have hoped for but I find myself more now willing to see a younger generation catch on and carry the torch a bit. Star Trek will remain a part of me and I'll still be coming here from time to time, more so in the foreseeable future, but I don't know how much more I can add to the already complete, incredible universe that is Star Trek and it adherents. I'm glad to see the site is still here so I'll be back more often again even if it's just to see if any other of us older trekkers are still around.

I recently purchased a copy of Star Trek Legacy for $5.00 at a garage sale (a deal I couldn't pass up), and even though the reviews were terrible and there are a number of issues with the game, I'm still having a blast playing it. I'm wondering if any one else here has played this game and might have a few hints that are not covered by the walkthroughs I've downloaded. Also, I'm looking to supplement my collection of Star Trek items and am interested in purchasing any Star Trek PC games that anyone is willing to sell, especially Elite Force 1. If anyone reading this has any PC games they are willing to part with, please send me a message through this site. Being an older generation Trekker, I'm going to need something to keep me occupied in the old age home someday and having the nurses dress as Orion slave girls might be difficult at best. If anyone is interested, hailing frequencies are open.

7 years? Where has all the time gone? And it seems I'm quite late to the party. It's not too late for Ponn Far yet, is it?

The Youtube police (their own version of the Obsidian Order) may have removed the Voyager episodes from their site but Chromalais has saved the day, somewhat. Her channels on you tube have been removed but if you click on the "Channels" icon and type in "lastchromalais", you'll be taken to the last channel she has left. On the left side of the screen, you'll find a link that once you click, you be taken to a russian web site that she uploaded all that was previously on you tube. She seems quite persistent in spreading the trek gospel as best she can so if you still care to see episodes from any of the Voyager years, this looks like a safe bet. All hail Chromalais for her efforts. For those just wishing to go directly to the site, here's the link.

http://video.mail.ru/mail/voyager_startrek/1/

Let's see how long this last, shall we?

To Bellamorte, Sentra, Willgirl and Krothos. We are all one year more today. WOO HOO!! As Aquarians, we need to stick together so happy birthday to the aforementioned members. We may be the most amount of members here born on the same day. Can we check on that? Perhaps we need to apply as a separate species and demand a place on the council! Anyway, bloodwine for all at 5:00.

Sorry to say but it seems that You Tube has removed all of the Voyager series that was uploaded by Chromalais. No reason given but I suspect it has something to do with copyrights again and the desire of Paramount that nothing shall be free, especially if they own it. Or is it CBS now that owns all things Trek? Strange, as I scan the site, that I see many other Trek episodes from all the series' from other posters uploaded for viewing. Why remove Voyager? May Cardasian voles plague all the execs who made this bad call. And I was up to year 5, too. Shame.

During the last ST convention in Vegas, Robert O Reilly and J. G. Hertzler, in full Klingon mode perform a rap on stage. Glad to see they're not taking this all too seriously. Worth a watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dOgQaFN-nk...feature=related

I still have this episode on tape. It's definitely in that top ten of TOS but what I like more about it is that Manny Coto was able to use this episode to create a "What Happened to it" episode in the final year of Enterprise. It was a great tie in and continuation of the ST universe.

It seems that each incarnation of Star Trek, from the TV series to the movies, all have their own signature Federation transporter visual special FX. I'm sure this was intentional to give each series or movies a frame of reference in the timeline to indicate advances in the technology or the special FX team just did it because they could. Either one is plausible but after watching a few episodes of each of the series and all of the movies, I've come to the conclusion that the Voyager transporter FX were the best. TOS transporter FX were pretty cheesy but it was pretty darn good considering the time that it was made. The first Start Trek movie FX were good but I really didn't care for that strange kalaidascope effect. Enterprise's was interesting with all the molecules condensing into a single point and emerging from the same and DS9's were supposed to be Cardassian in origin so I couldn't really count that one but Voyager's seemed the most advanced of them all. I always like the way the person or object materialized from a single point with the energy of the beam stretching into the vertical in both directions to re-integrate or dissolve what was being transported. I'm sure there are other opinions on this. What say you?

I'm the same age as TNG.

According to your profile you're a year younger than the show, I'm 2 months and 10 days older than it

Geez, thanks guys. Now I really feel old. When TNG arrived, I was three years into my marriage with a 1.5 year old daughter. You "Utes" are not helping :(

No Items this year. I already bought the movie back in Nov.

An octopus with a bit of a hoarding instinct, interesting.

The Defiant was the MEANEST ship in the fleet, imo. Fast and agile with the hardest punch of any ship twice it's size. A warship in every sense of the word, designed for only one thing really, to fight against the Borg. A Federation "Bird of Prey". In any battle I would want the Defiant at the head of the fleet. But the Federation is not a conquering empire and it's ships are mainly designed for exploration. In that sense, the Voyager is my real choice for the best ship in the trek series. So ironically, the little Defiant is the Federation's "big stick".

Well, even a bad series, like this one, will still have life today with all the re-imagining and remakes being done. Perhaps they can actually it work this time, but I'm not going to hold my breath hoping. We have a saying in the recording industry, Garbage in, garbage out. In other words, you can't make that silk purse out of this sows ear. This series was truly bad.

I grew up in the midwest and crabs were not part of our menu. Hard to find any in Lake Michigan. Plus crabs are a member of the arachnid family and I refuse to eat arachnids, in any shape or form. It may be seafood but my brain keeps telling me "sea insect". So no, I don't eat crabs.

While scouring youtube recently I came across a channel that has the entire Voyager series uploaded for viewing. Search for the channel Chromalais with subchannels Chromalais1, 2, 3 and so on, for access to any of the series years. I never realized how many episodes I missed the first time around. Until the prices for the DVD series comes down a bit, this is great substitute. Happy viewing.

I may not have really known you, Joe but as a fellow Trekker, I feel the loss of another who has left us too soon. Our common interest has always made me feel that you were a brother. The way I feel about everyone who is registered here, brothers and sisters all. Without sounding too trite, may your spirit find peace and I pray that your family's grief passes quickly as all who knew you remembers your life as having been lived with honor. I hope that whatever universe or heaven you now inhabit, it finds you in the captain's chair traveling at warp speed exploring the last great frontier. May you be at peace.

Personally, I liked the continuing story arc of the Xindis and felt that Enterprise was finally gaining its sea legs. Season four confirmed it for me but alas, TPTB at Paramount didn't agree. It did leave a lot of unanswered questions though about the Suliban and the Xindis though.

Absolutely, I've seen every one, live action and animated and as first runs yet. I remember watching TAS on saturday mornings back in 73 and 74 which for me at the time, being a senior in high school, was not considered cool because it was a cartoon but to me, it was Star Trek. I may have missed a few reruns here and there but every episode of every series, when it was first run, was on my television. I'm kind of proud of that actually.