So I’ve been talking with several friends about my blog posts and my goals for the site. One of them told me that he was downsizing his collection of role-playing game books and offered them to me. Here is the lot which was larger than I expected.
As you can see, there are several cyberpunk games, some fantasy titles and a couple of sci-fi RPGs. My daughter already wants to look through one of them. I’m also certain that a few of these will be used in my 2022 Character Creation Challenge next January. Some of these may even inspire me to write up a review after I’ve read them.
Another friend heard about my goal of collecting the Star Trek Universe info cards that were published in the late 90s-early 00s. He let me go through his extras and I was able to find some that I didn’t have. I believe that I now own 98% of the cards published. I’d love to actually complete the set. Here are the photos of the cards.
Thank you to both friends for providing these to me. I’ll try to pay it forward when I can. These are the type of geek things that I look forward to.
Here are the Daily Star Trek Quotes that will appear on the @STrekQuotes twitter account for the week of June 13th through the 20th.
June 14 “It is an ancient Klingon tradition to commemorate an important event with a poem.” Worf- One Little Ship, Stardate: 51474.2 #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet
June 15 “As a Starfleet Captain, I can’t allow myself the luxury of yielding to personal feelings.” Picard- A Matter of Perspective, Stardate: 43610.4 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet
“If you test me, you will fail.” Sulu- Star Trek Into Darkness, Stardate: 2259.55 #StarTrek #WeAreStarfleet
June 17 “Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Mr. Paris. He calls it ‘Comfort food.’ Isn’t that charming?” Neelix-Faces, Stardate: 48784.2 #StarTrek #StarTrekVOY #WeAreStarfleet
June 18 “To cherry flavored snow cones. What I wouldn’t give for one right about now.” Tucker- Desert Crossing, Date: February 12, 2152 #StarTrek #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet
“I’m impressed. For a moment there, I thought you were just a dumb hick who only had sex with farm animals.” Uhura- Star Trek (2009) #StarTrek #WeAreStarfleet
June 20 “We live in a universe of magic which, evidently, you cannot see.” Ardra- Devil’s Due, Stardate: 44474.5 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet
I was thinking about this subject the other day and realized that it would make for a good blog post. I’ve been collecting autographs ever since I first met several members of the Utah Jazz at a mall in downtown Salt Lake City in the 80’s. The team was trying to drum up interest in fans and they had several of the players at a table signing autographs for anyone who happened to be there. I was able to get four of the five players who were present (the fifth had just run out of photos to sign). I still have memories of going through the mall to that chance encounter. It was one of the many of my teenage times when I would just go wandering off on my own not knowing what I would find while exploring.
As I started going to Star Trek conventions I had the opportunity to meet several different actors. Some I’ve been able to get photos with that I’ve added to my Star Trek Actor’s Photo Gallery. From these conventions I’ve been able to get autographs from several of the actors that I’ve seen on television and movies. To get an autograph, especially when you can see them sign it yourself, is to have something that they have interacted with. I will never forget meeting with James Doohan. Especially since he was staying in the hotel I was working in at the time. I was able to interact with him on the phone after the convention.
Not all encounters were pleasant ones. Sometimes you have to plan to attend conventions out-of-state, make arrangements to get something to sign, think about what you are going to say to the celebrity since you only get a few seconds with them (if you are lucky it could be a few minutes). At a convention in Los Angels I had the opportunity to get an autograph from Dwight Schultz. While he is famous for his role as Howling Mad Man Murdock in the 1980’s television series, The A-Team. I wanted to get a signed photo of Lt. Barclay from Star Trek: The Next Generation. I went by his table before he arrived and noticed all of the A-Team photos, but there were no Trek photos. I enjoyed watching the A-Team. But I knew what I wanted. In the dealers room I found a vendor who had a stack of Lt. Barclay photos for sale and snatched one up. I remember being in the first dozen people in line at the appropriate time for autograph signings. Several people had commented that they liked my Barclay picture. When you get to the table, you hand the assistant your money along with the photo. My photo was the first Star Trek picture of the day for Mr. Schultz to sign and he said “oh” and reached down with his pen to sign the photo. Suddenly from behind him, a hand reached out and yanked the picture away from him. Shocked I looked up to see some woman shaking the picture at me and screaming “Where did you get this picture? This is an illegal picture!” As I started arguing with the woman that I had already paid my money and that I was owed an autograph on the item I selected, Mr. Schultz’s face went back and forth between me and the woman as we yelled at each other. I think she was his agent or something and she wouldn’t budge. I wouldn’t budge either as I had already paid for my product and stated so. Suddenly she whirled around and grabbed one of his photos, slapped it down in front of him and yelled “Sign it!” The poor actor quickly made it out to me an not wanting to fight any more, I thanked him for the autograph. Then the woman grabbed me and stated “You’re going to show me where you got this in the dealers room.” As I was being dragged past the line, I noticed how many other fans with the same photo I had quickly hiding them. I knew that while she was away, they would be trying to get them signed as quickly as possible. Not wanting to get the dealer mad at me, the moment we got into the room, I waived my hand in the general direction and said “he’s down that way.” and I walked in the opposite direction. I couldn’t have been more than a minute later before I heard the harpy scream of this person yelling at the vendor. Every time I see the photo below, I think about that encounter. To this day, I wonder what Mr Schultz thought of what happened. I don’t blame him for it, but I could tell that he was embarrassed by it.
I wish I could say that I’ve met everyone that I’ve got an autograph from. I’ve had several friends, knowing of my hobby to collect and of my interests, provide me with autographs that they have come across on their own. I’ve enjoyed several “Weird Al” Yankovick concerts, but I’ve never had a chance to meet the artist in person. Two different friends procured an autograph for me at different meet-and-greets that they participated in. I am very thankful to these friends. And yes, someday I’ll get a chance to meet Weird Al in person. Until then I’ll continue to enjoy his music and his sense of humor.
I’ve got a quite a few autographs. Not just photos in an album but on artwork, books, action figures, hats, comics, games and other collectibles. And while some have gone up in value, especially with the celebrity passing on from this life, I’ve never thought about selling these items. These are memories for me. Memories of efforts to collect the autograph. Memories from meeting these human beings who have done extraordinary things. Memories of friends who have gone out of their way to help me with my collection. I’m sad that large scale events and online auctions have pushed autograph prices higher and higher. But I am also grateful for the opportunities to meet these people. I still get a smile on my face when I look over my autographed items.
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but at least you’re in the game.” Vic Fontaine- It’s Only a Paper Moon, Stardate: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet
“Excuse me. I’d just like to ask a question. What does God need with a starship?” Kirk- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Stardate: 8454.1 #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet
June 10 “Ritual provides structure in society—good rituals and bad rituals alike.” Deanna Troi- Half a Life, Stardate: 44805.3 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet
June 11 “I wish it were as easy to stop hating…as it was to start…” Chakotay- Nemesis, Stardate: 51082.4 #StarTrek #StarTrekVOY #WeAreStarfleet
June 12 “Part of the fun of a mystery is trying to solve it before it ends… using logic.” Tucker- Impulse, Date: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet
“They say time is a fire in which we burn; right now I’m running out of time.” Dr. Soran- Star Trek Generations, Stardate: 48650.1 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet
“My heart is in engineering. I’d like permission to leave the bear pack.” Rutherford “Rutherford, that is… outstanding! Got to be true to yourself! Am I right, bears?” Shaxs- Envoys, Stardate: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekLowerDecks #WeAreStarfleet
The binders for the Star Trek Universe collection.
In 1998 Newfield Publications released the Star Trek Universe collection. It was a set of ten cards that could be placed into a three-ringed binder. Each card gave trivia and information on a different subject from the (then) four Star Trek series. This included crew, ships, races, episodes/film synopsis, characters, movies, culture, technology and behind the scenes. The company included a set of coasters and three-ringed binders. The publication ran until 2001 when it unexpectedly shut down after 950 cards in total.
Each card had a product number of ####-##-##. The first four numbers were some sort of organization number used by the publisher. The first two digits was the card set number (cards marked 16 from the 16th set) and the last two digits are the number of the card in the set (01-10). For some reason, there is a replacement set for set two that changed some of the cards.
When this first started, I got the introductory set. But I was never able to fully subscribe to the program. I’ve always wanted to have a complete set. Every once in a while I’d come across someone who was willing to trade, sell or just give away the cards that they had. I’ve been slowly completing a set and I’m finally within striking distance of accomplishing this goal. If I can find these last cards, it will be complete.
The Borg Queen (Set 2 Replacement card)
Set 14:
The Galileo Seven
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Lieutenant Saavik
Elim Garak
Tricorders
USS Voyager NCC-74565
Set 15:
The Naked Time
Obsession
Lessons
Dr. Julian Bashir
Amanda Grayson
Dabo
Set 16:
The Ultimate Computer
Chief Miles Edward O’Brien
The Clown
Transporters
Set 90:
Up the Long Ladder
A Man Alone
Babel
Demon
Warhead
Pel
Starfleet Propulsion Specialist Kosinski
Qualor II Surplus Depot
Romulan Tal Shiar
DEEP SPACE NINE Infirmary
I have loose cards and several sets still in shrinkwrap if anyone would like to make a trade. If someone has cards that they would be willing to sell or give away, please let me know by emailing me at Carl (at) TardisCaptain.com
Here is another batch of memes that I have created. Some were created with MS Paint. Others were created with one of the many meme makers available on the internet. Enjoy.
This is another case of finding an image that was weird, and not being able to resist making a meme out of it.
Yea I got in on the screaming lady vs cat meme. I thought it would be funny to replace the cat.
I actually made this for my wife to hang up at work. Part of her job at the time was to prevent people from bringing sodas into the gym. The common reaction was “I won’t spill it.” This way she could just point to the meme and then ask the people to take their Buckets-o-Coke outside.
I created this meme in reaction to all of the “You are…” test results that people were posting all over social media. I really dislike these types of tests because all they really are is data mining operations trying to find out more about you. Some do it for advertising, others are trying to guess your answers to the password recovery questions.
There was a really bad movie made in 1994 based off of the Street Fighter video games. Yes I went to see it, yes I wanted my money back. There was one funny part where Zangief discovers that the other henchmen were being paid to work with M. Bison. Apparently he wasn’t getting compensated for his time and dumbfoundingly stated “You Got Paid?” There were several times I wanted to post this response in message boards and social media when people were claiming that certain people were being paid in one situation or another (but were not). I never found a screen capture or meme with this moment. So I made one myself.
There should be another batch of original memes posted soon.
“I don’t like mobs. In my option, if you need one to get what you want it’s not worth getting.” Odo- Bar Association, Stardate: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet
“That green-blooded son of a bitch! It’s his revenge for all the arguments he lost.” McCoy- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Stardate: 8210.3 #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet
“If you want to be an effective captain, you’ve got to set your personal feelings aside and listen to what other people have to say.” Mayweather- Horizon, Date: January 10, 2153 #StarTrek #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet
“If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains – however improbable – must be the truth.” Spock- Star Trek (2009) #StarTrek #WeAreStarfleet
June 3 “We don’t have to stop being individuals to get through this. We just have to stop fighting each other.” Janeway- Scorpion Part II, Stardate: 51003.7 #StarTrek #StarTrekVOY #WeAreStarfleet
“Just words.” Kirk “But good words. That’s where ideas begin. Maybe you should listen to them.” David Marcus- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Stardate: 8130.3 #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet
June 5 “Among humans friendship is sometimes less an emotional response and more a sense of familiarity.” Data- Legacy, Stardate: 44215.2 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet
“Rules are for Admirals in back offices. I’m out there trying to win a war.” Lorca- Lethe, Stardate: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekDiscovery #WeAreStarfleet
I’ve had a chance to scan in a few more homebrewed stats from different tech resources. These are starships for FASA’s Star Trek Starship Combat Simulator. We finish up the Federation destroyers and move into some unusual starships.
Off the top of my head, I’m not certain which source I used for this starship. I recognize the artwork, but not the book. I’ll have to see if I can find it so I can give it proper credit. It is another member of the upgraded Saladin family.
This also came from the same source as the Thunderbolt. It is also another variant of the upgraded Saladin class. This type of kitbash was very popular in the original source material.
This design came from the fan-made Starfleet Prototype: The Journal of Innovative Design and Ideas. Even though it was listed as “Issue 25 2291-2292”, I don’t know if any others of this journal was released. It is a very well detailed book which has other designs that I have homebrewed, or would like to homebrew.
Found in the Starfleet Dynamics (another excellent fan-made tech publication), the Guam Class was one of the few deck-carriers I had seen. Since FASA’s sources was lacking carriers, I converted this one over and added it to my book.
This starship came from a set of blueprints (also fan made) that I had found on one of my convention trips. I miss the days of going to a con and walking away with another resource book, tech manual or set of blueprints. Again I thought the idea was unique and converted it over.
Another set scanned and uploaded. Keep sending me your feedback. I’ve been enjoying talking with those that enjoyed these types of homebrewing and designs.
“What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.”
“Hey, you sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? There’s a frood who really knows where his towel is.”
Today (May 25th) is Towel Day for fans of Douglas Adams’ series “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” It was started by fans just after Douglas Adams passed away in 2001. I’ve been a fan of this series for quite some time after I saw the first BBC mini-series on PBS Utah (KUED Channel 7) back in the 90’s. The photo posted above was taken in 2011 and I had several co-workers get the reference, while others I had to educate on a book they should be reading.
I really enjoyed the 2005 movie (I saw it at a special sneak preview arranged by I-Sci-Fi), especially when Douglas Adams would make small changes to the story for each media the story was released in. If you go and read the book (I did a re-read several years ago) and compare it to the BBC mini-series, the audio-drama, the text based computer game, the DC Comic series and the 2005 movie, they all have slight changes. All made by Adams.
Why? I found it funny. It was the odd-ball type of humor that was part Monty Python, part Weird Al and part Phule’s Company all combined like a slice of lemon wrapped around a gold brick. Speaking of which, I wonder if I can get Zaphod Beeblebrox to mix me up a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster to celebrate.
“This ship bears the name Discovery. Never has that been more fitting, or more prescient. She has carried us into the future, and it will be our privilege to make that future bright. Let us begin. Together.” Saru- People of Earth, Stardate: 865211.3 #StarTrek #StarTrekDiscovery
May 25 “I suppose it has thorns.” Miranda “I never met a rose that didn’t.” Kirk- Is There In Truth No Beauty?, Stardate: 5630.7 #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS #WeAreStarfleet
May 26 “I happen to disagree with his decision but he is my commanding officer and I follow orders.” Riker- Second Chances, Stardate: 46915.2 #StarTrek #StarTrekTNG #WeAreStarfleet
May 27 “I’m a doctor, not a counter-insurgent. Get a hold of yourself. You’re not just a hologram, you’re a Starfleet hologram!” The Doctor- Basics Part II, Stardate: 50032.7 #StarTrek #StarTrekVOY #WeAreStarfleet
May 28 “Sooner or later, you’re going to have to adapt.” Dax- Bar Association, Stardate: Unknown #StarTrek #StarTrekDS9 #WeAreStarfleet
May 29 “You’re down there, right now, with Vulcans, Andorians and Tellarites, getting ready to sign the Charter. The membership is going to grow. Dozen, eventually hundreds of species. A United Federation of Planets.” Daniels- Zero Hour, Date: February 14, 2154 #StarTrek #StarTrekENT #WeAreStarfleet
