STARFLEET Prom, May 2010

To the Journey

It's been almost a year since my last post on the blog.

I've been keeping up my Trek work with my STARFLEET chapter on the USS Cumberland NCC 74669 and am serving as a Commander and Executive Officer for the ship. It's been a year since I joined STARFLEET, and it's been fun adventure so far.

I started a wiki for the USS Cumberland, completed the STARFLEET Academy's Officer's Command College course with honors, which was most challenging, and in May, I attended my first Region 1 Summit, where the USS Cumberland was commissioned. The Region 1 Summit was an enlightening experience, filled with meetings of other diverse and interesting Trek fans sharing their love of all things Starfleet and Trek. The commissioning ceremony was a blast, and the Cumberland crew held a celebration party that received only one noise complaint.

Star Trek: The Exhibition at the Franklin Institute

On Stardate 200908.10, I was fortunate enough to travel to Philadelphia to see Star Trek: The Exhibition at the Franklin Institute. The entire city of Philadelphia seemed to be on red alert for the exhibition as fans were greeted with Star Trek posters on trains and billboards around the city.

While any Star Trek exhibit will always seem too short, this exhibition satisfied a bit of what has been lost for fans since the closing of the Las Vegas Hilton’s The Experience last year. In fact, the bridge of the Enterprise NCC-1701- D from TNG that was once part of Hilton’s Experience is part of this travelling collection. The exhibit, advertised as the largest collection of authentic Star Trek artifacts ever on public display, features original character costumes, replicas of weapons, series props, and ship models from all of the television series and films from over the past forty years. Although photography is not permitted in the exhibition hall, attendees can have their pictures taken on the Enterprise NCC 1701-D bridge, in the Captain Kirk’s original captain’s chair or on a TNG transporter platform. This exhibit also presents artifacts in the context of actual advances in space travel, science and technology.

My personal favorite items in the show include a model of the space probe featured in TNG’s “Inner Light,” costumes from TOS “What Little Girls are Made Of” and Klingon uniforms from TOS and costumes from the latest film Star Trek. The highlight of the exhibit, however, is the simulator ride narrated by Michael Dorn that takes fans on ride on the Hawking shuttlecraft with a Borg encounter. One bit of disappointment for fans attending the exhibit in Philadelphia is the absence of the Guardian of Forever, which was advertised as an item of the collection. There was no explanation why this item was missing from this show, but perhaps it will return to the exhibit in other cities.

The exhibition closes September 20, 2009. Fans who would like to bring Star Trek: The Exhibition at their local science museum are encouraged to make a request at http://www.startrekexhibition.com/notfiy-my-museum/. The exhibition is headed back to the West Coast to Silcon Valley at the Tech Museum in San Jose, California.

Enlisting in Starfleet

Well, it's official. I've enlisted in Starfleet, and I've even finished my first class for Officer's Training School to become an XO. I'm not yet sure how I feel about enlisting--moving from Star Trek nerd to perhaps Star Trek freak. All I can say is, "I want to raise my freak flag higher and higher."

Stay posted for upcoming communication transmissions.

Abrams Delivers: A Star Trek for Everyone

Thanks to some wonderful Trek friends (to whom I send much gratitude), I was able to view a sneak peek for the film this past weekend. I've been cautious in my expectations about the film, wondering if Abrams could deliver for new and long-time fans. I have to agree with the one viewer who was treated to the Austin, Texas sneak peak, "It melted my pants!".

Abrams delivers on his expectations. The casting for the Enterprise crew is well chosen and fresh. Both Pine and Quinto nail their roles as Kirk and Spock. The rest of the cast also fills out the Enterprise crew with great performances. As a long-time fan, I was most delighted with the attention to detail and care that has been taken in each character's role, each portrayed with allusions, which will delight devotees, to what have become the iconographic characters of TOS.

The action never slows down in this film. It's one long blast. I must admit that in the past, action was always lacking in previous Trek flicks, but this one will keep audiences tense on the edge of their seats. Not only is the action beautifully relentless, there are plenty of moments of awe--first sight of the Enterprise and first sight of Ambassador Spock were two of my favorites.

If it seems I'm gushing, you're correct. Abrams' Star Trek hits the balance for long-time and new fans. It's a Star Trek for everyone.

"The Wait is Over". . . for the Theatrical Trailer at Least

Two good things happened in the universe this past week to create great excitement for Trek fans. First, word came down that it looks like the Star Trek Experience may have a new home in Las Vegas at Neonopolis. Drink orders for Warp Core Breaches may be placed as early as next spring 2009 at the resurrected Quark's Bar in time to toast before XI lands in U.S. theaters. And speaking of the Abrams' project, this past weekend the official Star Trek XI theatrical trailer premiered, now widely available on the web. Based on the sneek-peek, it looks like we'll have much to toast.