Monthly Archives: September 2017

Reflecting on Star Trek: The Next Generation, 30th Anniversary…

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30 years ago on this day, Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered with its two-part pilot episode, “Encounter At Farpoint.” And ever since, the show has had a profound effect on my journey through life.

I was lucky enough to catch it on its premiere night, not quite as eager in the beginning. But something drew me, being a mixed cast of characters on a big starship, seeking out new life, new civilizations, and boldly going…. On this new starship, the NCC-1701 Enterprise D, held an android seeking humanity in itself, a mighty alien warrior eager for new challenges, a blind engineer expanding his self in science and technological advancement, a ship doctor balancing her work with the challenges of single motherhood, a ship counselor with empathic abilities often not very helpful, a charming first officer, and a captain who seeks the peaceful, diplomatic, humanitarian solutions to every problem.

This would go on for seven years, and four movies. Star Trek: The Next Generation became a show I grew up with, identifying with much of the crew on their journeys and moral dilemmas. To me, the show was about finding self in seeing what’s out there. For the crew and the journey, establishing humanity’s place in the Alpha Quadrant as a member of the Federation; ever-exploring and spreading peace along the way while interacting with new alien species. Each crew member had an ongoing quest to reaffirm their place on the bridge as an individual and team. Through them as inspiration and admiration, I often dealt better with relatable challenges in school, social explorations, and direction in life.

So, I love Star Trek: The Next Generation. Here are my top five favorite episodes in no particular order:

  • Darmok – Picard is trapped on a planet with an alien with a very complex language system. The challenge puts Picard’s communication skills to a great test, with the solution being finding common ground and learning about each other.
  • Q Who – The omnipotent Q throws the Enterprise into a distant uncharted space, where they meet the Borg. The experience is a lesson in humility for humanity, with new and iconic challenges to come.
  • Yesterday’s Enterprise – An awesome episode with much of everything packed in; time travel, an alternate reality, epic ship on ship battles, revealing history connecting the classic series with the new, crew members put in new roles, moral dilemmas, high stakes.
  • Chain of Command Part II – a gut-wrenching episode where Picard is held prisoner and tortured, physically and mentally. The acting between Picard and his Cardassian captor is intense, with an unforgettable ending. How many lights are there?
  • “The Offspring” – Data creates an android daughter for him, in a continual effort to be “human.” This raises dilemmas and challenges on multiple levels, in a new role he must take on as a father and protector. A mix of emotions results with twists and turns, leaving me as a viewer feeling sad in the end for a fictional character whose existence didn’t last.

Overall, I love Star Trek: The Next Generation for what it was to myself, and what it gave to its growing audience – a vision of the future for a possible destiny in the stars, where the exploring and bonding with the universe and ourselves will never stop. With that, I best recall that epic last line of Captain Picard from its very first episode, that still remains a most important marker for us all…

– Orion T

Pictures of Today 9/27/2017, Waiting for the Night

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Today was nice, especially the evening.

I took the above picture on a spur of the moment while working out some plans and enjoying the continuous breath of fresh air. Location is Myrtle Edwards Park, with West Seattle in the distance.

– Orion T

Picture of Today 9/25/2017, Early Risings..

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Dropped by the friendly neighborhood thrift shops in search of some cords and things today. I see the Halloween decorations and costumes are early up, and ready for the shopping. I enjoy the sights of things most at thrift stores, especially those in Capitol Hill, Seattle.

Above are some masks fitting better for those in spirit for the Mexican holiday, Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead. Its history is traced back further than the popular All Saint’s Eve or Halloween, with its roots reaching back 3,000 years ago in Aztec culture. It’s modern take is the result of many twists and turns through intersecting cultures and religions. Reading up on this, I felt a bit fascinated and curious towards anything locally going on for this coming Day of the Dead, which coincides with Halloween.

Until then, it’s nice to see local shops are prepping early for these interesting spooky days ahead.

Picture of Today 9/21/2017, Goodbye Summer

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Today is the last day of Summer 2017 for the Northern Hemisphere. I hope you took some great looks at the grown green, especially if you’re in the Pacific Northwest, for it’s all coming down soon. Along with it, the warm weather and brighter days.

Yet, I think there will be as much to appreciate in the coming Fall. Wait and see…

Picture of Today 9/172017, Rain Game

Football seems best on Sunday, more time for casual enjoyment and social gatherings among more sports fans. Today in Seattle, the local Seahawks played the San Francisco 49ers (Seahawks won 12-9). I missed much of the game but heard the 49ers played well and the Seahawks offense was a bit weak.

Meanwhile, the rain happened for much of the day. The drops weren’t heavy but were enough in giving the city a much-needed sprinkle, after the recent smoky weather. Every drop on my head felt good, and I look forward to more in the coming days.

-Orion T

Picture of Today 9/10/2017, Admiring Distance…

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Here is a good day in the wind, where I sway low and look away. I admire the beauty of the distance I see, where time is slowed and clarity is gained. I wish I had more of this in the current days. With longer time and attention given to the distance, I could write more.

Orion T

Picture of Today 9/6/2017, The Troubling Skies

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For the past couple days, the skies throughout the Pacific Northwest have been full of ash and remnants of terrible wildfires from the Oregon state. The result here in the Seattle area is everything looking like a bad Instagram filter and health risks. Still, not as bad as Hurricane Irma in the Atlantic Southwest. There, whole islands are now wrecked, with Florida not quite ready for the storm’s violent path.

For now, we must endure wherever we are, until things get better. Here in Seattle, there is a 10%-20% chance of rain, which will help clear the skies and clean things down. Such chances are not the best, but holding on to hope is the best one we can do. As for the other end of the US, we hope for a diminished end of Hurricane Irma…sooner the better. And the hopes don’t end there. We just keep praying or whatever us humans do, for peaceful and clear days.

– Orion T

The picture above is of the Pioneer Square area of Seattle. Here, you have one of two quick shots from my smartphone, then I kept my mouth closed and hurried home.

 

PAX West 2017 Gamingbalooza…

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I spent much of the weekend with friends and strangers, at the PAX West 2017, an annual event gathering for gamers of the video and tabletop variety. The feelings shared among us involved excitement, cheer, and anticipation of gaming.

The event itself is the largest event of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Now held at Washington State Convention Center in Downtown Seattle, the event is host to hundreds of companies big and small, and its many ticket holders (at least 70,000).

For me, the event was about exploration into the ever changing industry of interactive games and its culture. I sought out a lot of new indie games, and stuff coming out for PC (not much of a console gamer anymore). Though VR and MMOs are the rising rage, I loved the new treasures of side-scrolling platformers, tactical turn-based strategy, and single-player RPGs; many with a nostalgic old-school edge to them.  For the tabletop variety, I gravitated toward fun, storyline based card games for play at parties (plenty of new stuff around here).

Now, I am exhausted and will write more of my PAX impressions soon on my other blog, strangerworlds.com. Meanwhile, here are some pics taken by me of select moments of this crazy fun show.

– Orion T