Month: September 2021

Posted in: Quotes, Star Trek

Daily Star Trek Quotes: September 27-October 3

Written by TardisCaptain
A piece of Star Trek technology I wish was real.

Here are the Daily Star Trek Quotes that will appear on the @STrekQuotes twitter account for the week of September 27th through October 3rd.

September 27
“We’ve learned to tie into every Human organ in the body except one. The brain. And the brain is what life is all about.” Dr. McCoy- The Menagerie, Stardate: 3012.4 #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet

September 28
Star Trek: The Next Generation premieres on this date in 1987 with the episode Encounter at Farpoint. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet

“If we’re going to be damned, let’s be damned for what we really are.” Picard- Encounter at Farpoint, Stardate: 41153.7 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet

September 29
“Stop breathing down my neck!” The Doctor “My breathing is merely a simulation.” EMH Mark II “So is my neck, stop it anyway!” The Doctor- Message in a Bottle, Stardate: 51462 #StarTrek #StarTrekVOY #WeAreStarfleet

September 30
“Knowledge is freedom.” Kirk- The Magicks of Megas-Tu, Stardate: 1254.4 #StarTrek #StarTrekTAS #WeAreStarfleet

October 1
“Your ambushes would be more successful if you bathed more often!” Worf- The Vengeance Factor, Stardate: 43421.9 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet

October 2
Happy Birthday to Avery Brooks. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Avery_Brooks #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet

“There’s an old saying: Fortune favors the bold. Well, I guess we’re about to find out.” Sisko- Favor the Bold, Stardate: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet

October 3
“I lived on Earth for more than 30 years, Commander. In that time I developed an affinity for your world and its people.” Soval “You did a pretty good job of hiding it.” Tucker “Thank you.” Soval- Awakening, Date: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet

Posted in: Dungeons and Dragons, Video Game

New Video Games to play

Written by TardisCaptain
New PS4 video games I just picked up.

So last month was my birthday. One of the gifts I received from my from my wonderful wife was several gift cards for ThinkGeek. In the past she had given me the same gift and I was able to pick up several interesting items off of their website. So with a lot of excitement I pulled up the ThinkGeek website… only to be sorely disappointed. It had been several years since I had been to the site and it was a shell of what it use to be. Only a handful of items and none of them interesting. The really off the wall geek items use to be available on ThinkGeek. However once it was taken over by GameStop, the number of items was cut back to nothing.

Luckily for me, the local GameStop would take the gift cards for any purchases. So the next question was, what would I pick up. They had the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition starter set, but no other books. I would have picked up anything if it had been available. A bunch of Funko Pop stuff, which I don’t collect. Some other nick-nacks, which again were uninteresting or too expensive. And of course a lot of video games. I’ve been more of a computer gamer than a console gamer. I’ve played a few games that I’ve enjoyed on the Nintendo systems. I had yet to find an XBox 360 game that has kept my attention. My college age kid loves several PS4 games and there were a lot of them in the store. But again, how do I make sure I get a game that I’ll actually enjoy. I left the store and started doing some different searches on PS4 games. And I thought I had found one.

As it turns out, Blizzard has released a re-master of the Diablo II game. I loved this game on my PC several years ago since no two gaming sessions were the same. The first Diablo game had also been very enjoyable, but Diablo III on the XBox 360 was… well just there. It didn’t grip me like Diablo II had. I haven’t had a chance to play Diablo II recently as my laptop is still a hold-over from school. The advertisements stated that the game was available for the PS4. So that was going to be my choice. I had some back up ideas based off of several video game articles I had read, but the re-mastered D2 is what I wanted.

So a few days ago I went back into my local GameStop and talked with the employee. She looked up the game and discovered that they did not have it at all. They didn’t even have any “coming soon” options. So I looked around for some of the backup ideas.

I had read some good reviews on the Dishonored series and a game called Prey. It had been recommended in an article for fans of stealth type games like the No One Lives Forever series. Luckily all of the games were in one collection. I had been looking at a few other options such as Wolfenstein and other titles I had recognized. But then the Baldur’s Gate series jumped out. This was a game based off of 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. It was enough that I pulled the trigger on both sets.

Since the Dishonored set was brand new, I elected to wait on that game. Baldur’s Gate was used so I wanted to check it out first just in case it didn’t work. So far I’ve actually been impressed. It feels like I’m playing a 2nd edition game. There have been several THAC0 references and some familiar spells. As I was going through the tutorial, I kept looking to the left where my gaming shelf was and wondered if I should pull out the 2nd edition AD&D player’s handbook for reference. I just might do that in future gaming sessions.

So I’ve found a game that I can hop on and play for a few hours. This should help distract me when I want to stop thinking about things for a while. I’ll report on the other games as I get a chance to play them.

Posted in: Community Service, Conventions, Cosplay, Fan Club, Rant, Star Trek

FanX after-con report

Written by TardisCaptain
Salt Lake Magazine interviewed me at FanX 2021
Salt Lake Magazine interviewed me at FanX 2021

FanX: The Salt Lake Comic Convention was held at the Salt Palace on September 16-18. In my duties as Commander-in-Chief of Starfleet Command’s Seventh Fleet, I helped man the charity booth that we were running at the con. The club was raising funds for the Best Friends Animal Society of Utah.

While I was there, I was able to get some additional photos for my online photo gallery. I was also able to obtain some new Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars autographs for my autograph collection. Spending time with Larry Nemecek and John Eaves was a highlight of the convention. I was even interviewed by Salt Lake Magazine in one of their FanX video reports. The video is posted below.

Salt Lake Magazine interview

Some of the additional good things included how most people were following the health guidelines. Watching the attendees from the booth I’d say that 99% of the people were wearing masks. Hopefully enough people will take steps to make the conventions next year a safer event. I also really loved the wider aisles that were mapped out on the vendors room floor. While the con was still crowded (I was told that more tickets were sold for 2021 than 2019) it wasn’t crazy sardine packed on the vendors floor. I really hope that FanX keeps the wider aisles for future years.

I’m going to go a little bit on a soapbox here. I really think that autograph prices are getting way too high. There were several guests that I ended up skipping because I didn’t want to pay that much for a signature on a photo. I think that managers hear the term “Comic Con” and automatically hike the prices up by 30-50%. It also bugs me that the autograph prices are not advertised before the con so I can budget ahead of time. The con website posts the photo op prices, but the autograph prices are always listed as TBA. When I show up and find out that someone wants $90 for an autograph that I didn’t plan for in advance, I turn it down. Speaking of photos, what is the deal with charging for a selfie? Yes an autograph creates a value on an item that can be resold, so I can understand a guest charging for that. But you can’t really re-sell a selfie. All of the selfie-style photos that I have posted on this website were obtained without extra payment. While they are kewl and I thank the guest for posing with me, I don’t see myself paying for a selfie. If I wanted to pay for a photo with a guest, I’d get a professional photo done. End of rant.

After not being able to attend a convention for two years, it was good to see my convention friends and geek out. There are a certain number of people that I only see at these events. It was good to see who had kept themselves safe. I hope that things will get better so we can continue to have more events and conventions. The new uniform worked great and I may pick up a few more from that manufacturer.

Here are some of the photos that were taken at the con.

Posted in: Quotes, Star Trek

Daily Star Trek Quotes: September 20-26

Written by TardisCaptain
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Here are the Daily Star Trek Quotes that will appear on the @STrekQuotes twitter account for the week of September 20th through the 26th.

September 20
“Captain, we have the right to survive.” Deela “Not by killing others.” Kirk- Wink of an Eye, Stardate: 5710.5 #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet

September 21
“You ‘improvised’ your way through an entire cheesecake as well as three servings of Ktarian chocolate puffs! Now I have to deal with the consequences.” Seven- Body and Soul, Stardate: 54238.3 #StarTrek #StarTrekVOY #WeAreStarfleet

September 22
“I sense you have a closed mind, Captain.  Closed minds have kept these two worlds apart for centuries.” Spock- Unification II, Stardate: 45245.8 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet

September 23
Happy Birthday to Rosalind Chao. @rosalindchao https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Rosalind_Chao #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet

“Knowledge is power.” Keiko- A Man Alone, Stardate: 46384 #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet

September 24
Star Trek: Discovery premieres on this date in 2017 with the episodes The Vulcan Hello and Battle at the Binary Stars. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_Discovery #StarTrek #StarTrekDiscovery #WeAreStarfleet

“We were biologically determined for one purpose and one purpose alone: to sense the coming of death. I sense it coming now.” Saru- The Vulcan Hello, Stardate: 1207.3 #StarTrek #StarTrekDiscovery #WeAreStarfleet

September 25
“To employ an aphorism, one cannot “cheat fate.”” Data- Time’s Arrow, Stardate: 45959.1 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet

September 26
Star Trek: Enterprise premiered on this date in 2001 with the episode Broken Bow. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_Enterprise #StarTrek #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet

“Do you know how to tell him to shut up?” Archer “Shut up!” Sato- Broken Bow, Date: April 15, 2151 #StarTrek #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet

Posted in: Quotes, Star Trek

Daily Star Trek Quotes: September 13-19

Written by TardisCaptain
Worf after watching The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Here are the Daily Star Trek Quotes that will appear on the @STrekQuotes twitter account for the week of September 13th through the 19th.

September 13
“Why don’t I give you two some privacy?” Janeway “Oh, Kathy, don’t you like to watch?” Q- The Q and the Grey, Stardate: 50384.2 #StarTrek #StarTrekVOY #WeAreStarfleet

September 14
Happy Birthday to Walter Koenig. @GineokwKoenig https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Walter_Koenig #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet

“The Garden of Eden was just outside Moscow. A very nice place. It must have made Adam and Eve very sad to leave.” Chekov- The Apple, Stardate: 3715.3 #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet

September 15
Happy Birthday to Tom Hardy. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Tom_Hardy #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet

“Our eyes reflect our lives, don’t they? And yours, so confident!” Shinzon- Star Trek Nemesis, Stardate: 56844.9 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet

September 16
Happy Birthday to Jayne Brook. @thejaynebrook https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Jayne_Brook #StarTrek #StarTrekDiscovery #WeAreStarfleet

“We wanted the best of Starfleet to survive. And as this conversation makes clear, that was you… and all you represent.” Cornwell “Thank you.” Pike “You’re welcome. Now, will you get off my ass so we can get back to work?” Cornwell- Project Daedalus #StarTrek #StarTrekDiscovery

September 17
“Captain, perhaps it would be best if we discussed this…” Picard “SHUT UP.” Riker “…I beg your pardon?” Picard “I said SHUT UP! As in close your mouth and stop talking!” Riker- Future Imperfect, Stardate: 44286.5 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet

September 18
“Logic saved us, but it took us nearly fifteen hundred years to rebuild and travel to the stars. You Humans have managed to do the same in less than a century.” Soval- The Forge, Date: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet

September 19
“Wives serve, brothers inherit. Rule of Acquisition number one hundred thirty nine, if I’m not mistaken.” Odo- Necessary Evil, Stardate: 47282.5 #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet

Posted in: Community Service, Fan Club, Star Trek

My Star Trek Day interview on KRCL 90.9FM

Written by TardisCaptain
The Treknologist plaque that I mentioned in the interview.

Wednesday, September 8 2021 was the 55th Anniversary of the Original Star Trek premier on NBC with the episode The Man Trap. Star Trek fans have been celebrating this date as Star Trek Day. There were several events that happened on this date including several series announcements for Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Picard (season three confirmed) and casting news for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

My friends from The Thermians from Utah Galaxy Quest fan club (hat tip to Frank and Roxanne) reached out to me to see if I wanted to be interviewed by Lara Jones the host of RadioACTive on Community Radio KRCL 90.9 FM. I had a great time talking by Zoom with Lara and we probably could have talked for several hours about Star Trek, Stargate, Star Wars and Doctor Who. But unfortunately I wasn’t the only guest scheduled for the hour long program.

Here is the link to the RadioACTive September 8th show notes with a recording of the interview. There is a brief introduction about Star Trek Day at the beginning followed by an interview regarding the Utah Greek Festival. Then the section with my interview starts around the 27:39 minute mark. After the interview I realized I mistakenly stated David Allen Stiers instead of David Ogden Stiers from MASH fame (I’m horrible with names). There is a little bit of electronic garble from the zoom connection, but other than that I thought the interview went pretty well. I was able to talk about Starfleet Command’s Seventh Fleet, what Star Trek meant to me and why am a Treknologist and she even mentioned this blog. Playing Star Trekkin by The Firm was a nice touch to wrap up the interview.

This isn’t the first time I’ve been interviewed. Back in the early 90’s a roommate was an intern at a local talk radio station and he got me on the air with a host to talk about Star Trek. I really hope I can find the tape recording of that interview as it now contains the voice of a friend who has long pasted on. I’ve been interviewed by magazines and local newspapers. Dan Pope of KTVX Ch 4 has interviewed me at FanX and I’ve been down to the Ch 4 studios for a cosplay special.

Thank you Lara Jones and KRCL 90.9FM for the opportunity to talk about Star Trek. I hope you all had a happy Star Trek Day. Live long and prosper.

Posted in: Quotes, Star Trek

Daily Star Trek Quotes: September 6-12

Written by TardisCaptain
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB! LITTLE LAMB! LITTLE LAMB!

Here are the Daily Star Trek Quotes that will appear on the @STrekQuotes twitter account for the week of September 6th through the 12th.

September 6
Happy Birthday to Idris Elba. @idriselba https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Idris_Elba #StarTrek #WeAreStarfleet

“Without struggle, you would never know who you truly are.” Krall- Star Trek Beyond #StarTrek #WeAreStarfleet

September 7
“The question is, who will take the initiative? Who will make the first gesture of trust? The answer is, I will.” Picard- The Enemy, Stardate: 43349.2 #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet

September 8
Star Trek premieres on this date in 1966 with the episode The Man Trap. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Original_Series #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet

“One of the missions of the Enterprise is to protect human life in places like this.” Kirk- The Man Trap, Stardate: 1513.1 #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet

Star Trek The Animated Series premieres on this date in 1973 with the episode Beyond the Farthest Star. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Animated_Series #StarTrek #WeAreStarfleet

“It’s beautiful. What kind of people could have built it, to touch even a starship with grace and beauty?” Uhura- Beyond the Farthest Star, Stardate: 5221.3 #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet

September 9
Happy Birthday to Jeffrey Combs. @jeffreycombs https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Jeffrey_Combs #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #StarTrekVOY #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet

“Don’t you think resolving family squabbles can wait until after we’ve won the war?… Weak eyes, good ears.” Weyoun- Favor the Bold, Stardate: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet

September 10
Happy Birthday to Harry Treadaway. @TreadawayHaz https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Harry_Treadaway #StarTrek #StarTrekPicard #WeAreStarfleet

“Everyone is hiding something. Whether they know it or not.” Narek- The Impossible Box, Stardate: Unknown #StarTrekPicard #WeAreStarfleet

September 11
Happy Birthday to Roxann Dawson. @roxdaws https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Roxann_Dawson #StarTrek #StarTrekVOY #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet

“I don’t run to sickbay every time I stub my toe.” Torres- Extreme Risk, Stardate: Unknown #StarTrekVOY #WeAreStarfleet

September 12
“I guess even Vulcan can fall prey to temptation.”  Archer- The Seventh, Date: Unknown #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet

Posted in: Role Playing Games

#RPGaDay2021 After Action Report

Written by TardisCaptain

So the #RPGaDAY2021 challenge is over and I was able to complete all thirty one days. So what did I think of this challenge?

I went back and re-read my entries, and there are a few that I’m quite proud of. I had the feeling of excitement when I put the post together. I couldn’t wait to share the link on MeWe, Twitter, Facebook and the RPG.net forums. Here are some of my “Best Of” entries.

Day 2: Map: I knew I had a lot of favorite maps from different RPGs. But I didn’t want to list all of them. So I went through my books and decided on the one that I had enjoyed the most.

Day 4: Weapon: I had just watched a documentary talking about how dangerous the medieval sling was. I had to write something up about it.

Day 15: Supplement: I talked about some of my favorite RPG supplements. I actually got some good feedback on this one.

Day 17: Nemesis: I did my first homebrew for Star Trek Adventures.

Day 25: Box: I show some of the damaged boxes that I have of older RPGs. I had a few people who wanted to hear about my efforts to repair the boxes in future blog posts.

There were a few others that I’m also quite proud of, but I think that the above entries are the best of the bunch.

There were several suggestions on the list that just made me scratch my head. When I first put together the spreadsheet to try to plan out the month, there was a lot of blank spots. I almost didn’t participate. But seeing the other blog writers posting their entries on various social media platforms encouraged me to jump into the pool. I’m glad that I did. I think it was a good challenge for me. Being my first year, I don’t know how this list of suggestions compares to past years. Right now I’m about 60-40 on doing this again next year. I didn’t hate it, but it could have been better.

I am still working on some ideas for the blog. Just before I found out about this challenge, I was putting together a personal challenge of my own with Secret Agents and Espionage games. I’m still thinking about putting this together, but instead of being a theme for a month, I may spread it out on a certain date. Secret Agent Saturdays or some general idea.

I want to thank those who took the time to read my posts. If you have any comments for me, feel free to send them to Carl (at) TardisCaptain.com (I’m still trying to set up a feedback section for the blog entries that won’t be spambait). I would also like to thank the organizers for putting this challenge together and the other participants. Reading about some of their entries (after I had done mine) was quite interesting.

Be seeing you.

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