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RochesterRob

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Crap Throwing Clavin
6 minutes ago, RochesterRob said:

  There were definitely issues in terms of creating new stories.  Charlie X comes shortly after the second pilot WNMHGB in terms of godlike beings derived from humans.  Not long after KIrk bumps heads with a Federation authority in The Galileo Seven he does so again in A Taste of Armageddon.  Supreme beings in Arena then again a few episodes down the line in Errand of Mercy.  For me my love of the show in substantial part is in the concepts, characters, and imagined technology.  Most of the stories are well conceived but there are quite a number of series that do better in the story and writing departments.  

 

A lot of that was Roddenberry.  All the way up to ST:TMP, he had a standard plot of "The Enterprise meets God.  And God is a child, a computer, or both."  And probably half the first season of ST:TNG was the Enterprise meeting some sort of supreme being, from the giant horny space jellyfish of the ham-handed pilot to the tar baby that killed Tasha Yar.

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2 minutes ago, Crap Throwing Monkey said:

 

A lot of that was Roddenberry.  All the way up to ST:TMP, he had a standard plot of "The Enterprise meets God.  And God is a child, a computer, or both."  And probably half the first season of ST:TNG was the Enterprise meeting some sort of supreme being, from the giant horny space jellyfish of the ham-handed pilot to the tar baby that killed Tasha Yar.

  Forgivable in the 1960's when looking at the state of television and competing shows such Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.  It was relatable if not overly realistic to the American public back in the 1960's.  Not so forgivable in the late 1980's after seeing Close Encounters among other works.  

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RochesterRob

   This week's review will be of the episode A Private Little War airing Wednesday Oct 6 on WHEC 10.5 Rochester Heroes & Icons.  In short a planet Kirk visited while a junior officer is being interfered with by the Klingons.  To complicate things an inhabitant Kirk knew from years ago is caught up squarely in an arms escalation.  After overcoming the problems that the landing party encounters including Spock being shot by a flintlock and Kirk being attacked by an ape-like creature Kirk then prepares the counter strategy of arming the opposing side with flintlocks in theory putting the conflict in balance.

 

 

  Guest Stars : Nancy Kovack as the priestess Nona.  Very attractive and she puts her wares to good use to show why nearly all men are enamored with her.  She also does well to display her central motive which is power when she presents Tyree's adversaries with a hand phaser.  When the camera is on her it is hard to not focus in on her even at points where her looks are secondary.  It might have been nice to have Kovack back in a role where she might be a bit more socially evolved to see what she could have done with such a character.  Michael Witney as Tyree.  Witney does well to portray the leader of the villagers including a sense of naivety.  Also, does well displaying anger after the death of Tyree's "woman" Nona.

 

 

  Plot : A basic Cold War tale where we could have been talking about Vietnam.  Interesting side story where we get to glimpse what happens when an alien such as Spock is injured.  We know that they are not going to kill off Spock but maybe this was a little less obvious back in 1968 when most people did not worry about such things in the week that bracketed each episode.  Nice to see that the Enterprise has doctors in addition to McCoy.  Kirk falling to the spell of the priestess woman was interesting as well.  The non-interference directive is brought front and center when Spock cautions Kirk while Kirk is reaching for his phaser.  Kirk instead grabs a small rock and throws it to distract Tyree's pursuers.   The Enterprise can tell when the Klingon ship assumes orbit but yet the Klingon ship's instruments can't detect the Enterprise?

 

 

  Enterprise Crew : Spock and McCoy are free to voice their opinions and concerns which puts the advisor aspect on display to good effect.  I don't like Nurse Chapel's mushy displays of affection towards Spock but I thought the character was well used here.  Scotty even gets a good showing as her drops into sickbay as Chapel is therapy slapping Spock into consciousness.  Dr M'Benga sounds like a very competent medical person.

 

 

  Writing : In my opinion time was wasted writing the Mugato creature in to provide the door for Nona to access Kirk.  McCoy makes noise while in the blacksmith shop to spark a confrontation seemed a cliche to me.  I have to give credit in that in most a good job was done to create supporting characters that enhanced the production.

 

 

  Music : Pretty much reused material applied well but maybe a new score might have been nice for the orbit shots of the Klingon ship assuming orbit.

 

 

  Special effect bonus :  I liked the just previously mentioned assumption of orbit by the Klingon from a viewing standpoint.

 

 

  Summary : A Cold War analogy well done.  Spock is critically injured.  A good supporting actress in Kovack.  Not a favorite when I was young but the episode has grown on me.  I give it a B.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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RochesterRob

  Programming note.  H & I is moving Star Trek TOS from 8PM EST to 12AM EST starting Oct 18.  My intention is to keep doing the TOS reviews based on what is airing on H & I.  I have most of it on DVD and I would imagine that many have their own source including downloads from services.  If I see views fall off on a weekly basis then I might switch over to TNG for reviews.  

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RochesterRob
3 minutes ago, B-Man said:

 

 

 

You know what's going to happen...........

 

 

4778a38f94f751c2d2cf59442d8005e422d5545d

 

 

 

 

  If Gary Seven does not get there first.

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34 minutes ago, Crap Throwing Monkey said:

 

When he gets back, we should dress up a group to greet him like this.

 

planet-of-the-apes_0.jpg

You sure you're not confusing Shatner with Heston?

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Crap Throwing Clavin
1 minute ago, Foxx said:

You sure you're not confusing Shatner with Heston?

 

If it were Heston going to space, even better.  But he's dead, so I'll settle for &#%$ing with Shatner's head.

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12 minutes ago, Crap Throwing Monkey said:

 

If it were Heston going to space, even better.  But he's dead, so I'll settle for &#%$ing with Shatner's head.

Right. Maybe when he got back, he might of thought he actually aced that audition instead of losing out to Charlton.

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1 hour ago, Crap Throwing Monkey said:

 

When he gets back, we should dress up a group to greet him like this.

 

planet-of-the-apes_0.jpg

 

Before launch, somebody should tape this to Shatners window

 

 

 

 

e40ba94e8490ab0690fc32c7c34e62f2.png

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   This week's review will be of the episode Bread and Circuses airing this Wednesday on WHEC 10.5 Rochester Heroes and Icons.  In short wreckage in a star system leads the Enterprise to a world that the state of existence is patterned after the Roman Empire.  To complicate things further a former academy classmate is front and center in interfering in the affairs of that world.  A moment of regret along with some ingenious interference by Scotty rescues the landing party as a hail of bullets threatened to kill them.

 

 

  Guest Stars : This episode is rich with them.  Logan Ramsey as the proconsul Claudius Markus.  It was a delight to watch him hound Kirk and Merrick.  And to watch him push Kirk's button with a hottie slave girl sent in to work Kirk over.  Also, he readily can show viciousness such as overseeing the gladiatoral games.  In real life Ramsey was an aircraft carrier pilot during WWII and proud of his service.  His dad Logan Sr was at Pearl Harbor and sounded the alert as the raid unfolded.  William Smithers as Merrick(us).  Good job playing a character with a weak spine.  I had no sympathy for him which was the intended effect when he lured his men down to ultimately being slaughtered.  My belief that the actor Smithers was the influence for the weak sycophant Smithers in the Simpson's.  Rhodes Reason as Flavius.  He had me believing he was a caged bull coming to accept the peaceful tenants of Christianity.  Ian Wolfe as Septimus.  Quiet and wise as the years in the Empire inadvertently made him.

 

 

  Plot : OK, we get the Roman Empire this week but to get in the story we have to get the landing party captured by the Roman guard.  Would not standard procedure be to keep an eye to the distance especially with the former slaves?  Kirk over a barrel because Markus had machine guns leveled at him?  This emphasizes the point which has been made in print since the series was still in first run Kirk should have never placed himself in this position considering his place as a celebrated captain.  Further, would not logic dictate that this is a point where if placed in this kind of danger that it goes no further?  Kirk should say "Go ahead but this is where your party stops."  McCoy can putz his way through a gladiator contest for a few minutes until Spock can bail him out.  I just don't think that McCoy is that skilled in combat.  

 

 

  Enterprise Crew : Good episode for Spock and McCoy while in the prison cell pondering  the fate of the landing party.  I like it when Scotty gets to shine even if for only a moment with the temporary power outage.  Uhura gets a good moment as she waxes philosophically about the players on the planet and the likely hood Christ has appeared in that culture.

 

 

  Writing : Plenty of good dialogue to go around among the regulars and the guests which was not all that common of an experience.  I'd rather had Merrick's crew written away as being lost before making contact to make Merrick a little more credible.  Have it obvious that Merrick's arrival cost lives of the inhabitants to emphasis how weak and despicable he is.  Very little time wasted and the episode does not feel like it was being dragged out.

 

 

  Music : Pretty much reused material and done fairly well although a new score such as in the Spock-McCoy gladitorial scene  might have been nice.

 

 

 Special effects bonus.  Nice shot of the planet and moons in the remaster.

 

 

  Summary : An abundance of good actors and good characters.  The concept of a modern Rome and Christ to chew on intellectually.  Two antagonists that you can enjoy booing.  I give it an A -.

 

 

  Post note : I write this review with heaviness in my heart as a beloved pet is dying.  I think that my cat is having a quality day today but I know she is struggling.  I can see her failing in real time.  I'll need to pull out the shovel soon as the inevitable is coming.  I cried last night thinking about it.  God Bless her.

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Crap Throwing Clavin
23 hours ago, RochesterRob said:

 His dad Logan Sr was at Pearl Harbor and sounded the alert as the raid unfolded.

 

Point of note: he ordered the alert (the famous "Air raid, Pearl Harbor, this is no drill.") sounded.  He didn't send it over the air himself.  In fact, here's his testimony to Congress.

 

Quote

"Our patrol planes covering the operation areas were carrying live depth charges and had specific orders to sink any submerged submarine sighted outside of the submarine sanctuary and without a close escort. At approximately 730 on the morning of December 7th I received a telephone call from the staff duty officer who informed me he had received a message from 14-Prep-1 (a PBY aircraft in Patrol Squadron 14) to the effect that they had sunk a submerged submarine one mile off the entrance to Pearl Harbor. I asked him if the message had been properly authenticated, because there was in the back of my mind the feeling that it was quite possible that it was a mistake, a drill message of some variety that had gotten out by accident. So I ordered the staff duty officer to request an authentication of the message immediately. However, that did not stop me from making an immediate report of the information to the staff duty officer of the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet. I believe at the time I did not consider that as definite information of any enemy attack. I went immediately to the Command Center and for no reason that I know of, drew up a search plan for our aircraft under the conditions prevailing that day. I prepared it in dispatch form. Meanwhile, I was waiting for an authentication of this message. There was a slight delay, and approximately 5 or 10 minutes after I reached the Command Center, I saw, together with the staff duty officer, a single plane making a dive on Ford Island. The single plane appeared at the time to both the staff duty officer and myself in the light of a young aviator "flathatting" (flying low in a reckless manner) and we both tried to get his number to make a report of the violation of flight rules. He completed his dive, pulled up and away. We were commenting together on the fact that it was going to be difficult to find out who the pilot was, when the delayed action bomb which he had dropped, and which we had not seen drop, detonated, and I told the staff duty officer, "Never mind; it's a Jap." I dashed across the hall into the radio room, ordered a broadcast in plain English on all frequencies, "Air Raid, Pearl Harbor. This is no drill." The detonation of the bomb dropped by that first plane was my first positive knowledge of an enemy attack."

 

 

23 hours ago, RochesterRob said:

  Post note : I write this review with heaviness in my heart as a beloved pet is dying.  I think that my cat is having a quality day today but I know she is struggling.  I can see her failing in real time.  I'll need to pull out the shovel soon as the inevitable is coming.  I cried last night thinking about it.  God Bless her.

 

Sorry to hear that.  We've got one who's dying of cancer - 18 years old, she's had "weeks left" for about two years now.  She has good days and bad.  It's tough to watch, but she's somehow still happy, and mobile, and eating, so it's not quite time yet.  

 

Pic attached.  That's from a few years ago.

tania.jpg

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3 minutes ago, Crap Throwing Monkey said:

 

Point of note: he ordered the alert (the famous "Air raid, Pearl Harbor, this is no drill.") sounded.  He didn't send it over the air himself.  In fact, here's his testimony to Congress.

 

 

 

 

Sorry to hear that.  We've got one who's dying of cancer - 18 years old, she's had "weeks left" for about two years now.  She has good days and bad.  It's tough to watch, but she's somehow still happy, and mobile, and eating, so it's not quite time yet.  

 

Pic attached.  That's from a few years ago.

tania.jpg

  In regards to Ramsey Sr that is what I meant.  That he order an alert be put out.  PH is a huge facility and most communication was likely in written form so as nothing is left to chance in terms of hearing.

 

  My cat is losing body mass fast and as of this morning she does not seem clear headed.  I've had animals put down in the past because it was such an easy call in regards to the suffering and quality of life.  I was around enough yesterday to see she enjoyed that day and this morning early on but that is starting to change.  It's a bad day for me right now.  I had a white cat like that who lived to 2017 and we figured she was around 17 years of age.  We think she had a heart attack as she just fell over in the den and nothing after that.  

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Crap Throwing Clavin
14 minutes ago, RochesterRob said:

  In regards to Ramsey Sr that is what I meant.  That he order an alert be put out.  PH is a huge facility and most communication was likely in written form so as nothing is left to chance in terms of hearing.

 

He did actually give a verbal order, that the voice message be sent out over all channels in the clear.

Don't mean to sound as though I was dismissing what he did: he acted decisively and properly.  Not a few captains ashore would wait for higher direction, or insist on security.  

 

Quote

 My cat is losing body mass fast and as of this morning she does not seem clear headed.  I've had animals put down in the past because it was such an easy call in regards to the suffering and quality of life.  I was around enough yesterday to see she enjoyed that day and this morning early on but that is starting to change.  It's a bad day for me right now.  I had a white cat like that who lived to 2017 and we figured she was around 17 years of age.  We think she had a heart attack as she just fell over in the den and nothing after that.  

 

I think it's easier when they drop like that - our cat has a bad heart murmur (and anemia, as well as cancer), and could go at any moment.  

 

My best advice: decide on a "line in the sand," and stick to it.  For the last cat we lost, she was sick for a while...but we decided early when her arthritis got so bad she couldn't climb in to the litter box anymore, it was time.  For this cat, when she stops meowing at meal times, it'll be time.  Doesn't make the decision easier, per se...just less agonizing, for taking the emotions out of it. 

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On 10/13/2021 at 11:45 AM, RochesterRob said:

  In regards to Ramsey Sr that is what I meant.  That he order an alert be put out.  PH is a huge facility and most communication was likely in written form so as nothing is left to chance in terms of hearing.

 

  My cat is losing body mass fast and as of this morning she does not seem clear headed.  I've had animals put down in the past because it was such an easy call in regards to the suffering and quality of life.  I was around enough yesterday to see she enjoyed that day and this morning early on but that is starting to change.  It's a bad day for me right now.  I had a white cat like that who lived to 2017 and we figured she was around 17 years of age.  We think she had a heart attack as she just fell over in the den and nothing after that.  

  I had my cat put to sleep this morning.  I don't think she drank any water last night and it was obvious this morning she was having trouble moving.  I think if she could have gotten out of the house last night she would have moved off to die.  She was a great cat (no hyperbole) and I told her so until the very end.  Probably the best cat I have ever had.  Very affectionate but very strong headed.  They just do not come around like that very often.  I was not feeling good about the state of affairs before this but this is one more thing to feel blue about.  

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