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I am behind today. I'm typing fast ans furious so expect typos! First, some comments from previous columns . . .
Gareth Wilson: There is an synopsis of the season finale of Voyager circulating the Internet at the moment. I don't want to spoil the episode, but it is NOT a rip-off of "Best of Both Worlds", and actually seems like a good, original story.
Phil: Good!
The Meads: Doesn't Dorn feel the blood from West? Maybe it was the texture that tipped him off.
Phil: Perhaps! Now . . . I need to call a halt to the Klingon blood stuff at this point because, there's really no good resolution to it and we're just going in circles!
Corey Hesselberg: I have a response to Sean Corcoran's question about why Chakotay is refered to as "Commander" when it looks like his slashes show lieutenant commander. If they do (I haven't looked close) there is a simple explanation. In the present military, when you greet someone with a long-sounding rank, such as Lieutenant Commander or Rear Admiral or Brigadier General, you would say Commander or Admiral or General for two reasons. One, it's not as wordy. Two, for respect because it gives the impression that you're rubbing it in that they are only a LIEUTENANT commander, not a commander.
Samuel Lawrence: According to an interview which I remember reading in a 1991-ish issue of Smithsonian magazine, in an article which dealt with the Smithsonian's restoration of the original Enterprise model for the 25th anniversary exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum, I believe that Matt Jeffries (The original designer of the Enterprise and the art director/production designer of Classic Trek)stated that "NCC1701" was actually the number on his car's license plates back in 1963, when he was designing it.
Beau Landaiche: There is a way to explain Scotty's apparent confusion. If you recall from "Relics", there was a .003 degradation in Scotty's pattern when he was in the Jenolen's transporter buffer. That degradation could have caused a memory lapse in Scotty, meaning he could have lost the memories of Kirk's "death" in the Nexus.
Phil: Yup! And, we might remember that Scotty hit the booze frequently so his brain cells might have gotten fried later in life. Or . . . there is even a more convoluted explanation that Scotty got bored with life in the 24th century so he took the shuttle, shot it around a star and went back in time to the 23rd century and *then* got onboard the Enterprise-B! (Unless something spectacular comes in . . . this topic is closed. We've covered it before! ;-)
JC Fernandez of Coral Springs, FLAnother possible answer for Scotty's "amnesia" about Kirk's death is sarcasm. As in: "Yeah, right, you're from the Enterprise. And I bet ol' James Kirk himself pulled the old ship out of mothballs."
A more important question to me is: At the end of the show, why does Scotty automatically assume that Picard is giving him a shuttlecraft? Does he always just walk into rooms and claim objects as his? If so, his method of acquisition would definitely be an asset to the Ferengi.
Joseph Burke: I want to ask Paramont, or whomever is in charge of Star Trek TNG something about the episode The Inner Light. In this episode, Picard learns how to play a resican flute, and teaches himself a song which later gets featured in another episode. I want to see if they can give me a lead on where to find the sheet music for that song. However, all of my research on Paramont has not revealed how to get ahold of someone who could answer my questions. Do you have any leads that I might be able to follow?
Phil: Have no idea! Anybody? (Of course, you could always get a musician to transcribe it for you. It's not that complex of a tune!)
Edward Watson: I think the woman in the smoking patch commercial (I don't remember the brand either) is none other than Minuet! I don't know for sure, but as I read her question, that was the first thought that came to me.
Phil: (Light bulb goes off!) Got it! Yes, indeed, that is who she is! And now with the slightly longer answer:
Matthew Chase Maxwell of San Francisco CA: The character to which Ms. Medina is referring is Minuet from the first-season TNG episode "11001001," Stardate 41365.9. The character also made an appearance in the fourth-season TNG episode "Future Imperfect," Stardate 44286.5. Minuet is played by Carolyn McCormick. Ms. McCormick also regularly portrays Dr. Elizabeth Olivet on the NBC series "Law and Order."
Phil: Thanks as well to Steven Perry, Alexander Shearer, Melina Kendrick Tye, Brad Kasperson, Rob Levandowski, Beverly Martin, Lisa Shock and Colleen Rubin who sent along this information as well.
Christopher Pope: Regarding Jim Caldwell's question about "Come Cheer Up My Lads," lyrics to most of the songs in Star Trek and about Star Trek (up to 1995) can be found, among other places, at http://www.netshop.net/Startrek/lists/faql.rec.arts.startrek.music.
Here are the words to the song from "Allegiance":
Come cheer up my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something new to this wonderful year;
To honor we call you, not press you like slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
Heart of Oak are our ships, Heart of Oak are our men,
We always are ready.
Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
We ne'er meet our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away;
If they run, why, we follow, and run them ashore,
For if they won't fight us, we cannot do more.
Heart of Oak are our ships, Heart of Oak are our men,
We always are ready.
Steady, boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
Phil: Thanks as well to Robert Cook, Murray Leeder and The Meads for sending information along.
On to the questions . . . .
Jackie Joe: Can you tell me (roughly) how many people live on DS9? I seem to recall an episode where they revealed the number, and it was much smaller than the number of people on the Enterprise-D ( which surprised me greatly.) Can you help me with this?
Phil: According to an official source, there are approximately 300 permanent residents on DS9. Of course, now that the Klingon are around that number is probably greater and station population does fluctuate with the traffic. I believe there's also a figure on station population stated in "Civil Defense" but I am cramped for time this morning and can't spare the few minutes to look it up!
Tom Elmore of Columbia SC: Last weekend me and my wife were watching MST3K's presentation of the "classic" sci-fi film "The Mole People". During the movie my wife noticed that everyone wore an emblem simmilar to the USS Enterprise "delta" emblem from the original series, lying on it's side much in the manner of the tunic that Kirk sometimes wore in the first and second seasons. It was also on doors and walls. (It was explained in the film that a few rays of sunlight came into the sub-terrian world in this shape-don't ask.)
Please restore my faith in The great Bird of the Galaxy, and tell me that the logo that we have come to know and love (while making mega-bucks for Paramont) did not come from this turkey of a film.
Phil: During the design phase for the Nitpicker's Guide for Next Generation Trekkers, "someone" told me that the symbol can be referred to as a "chevron" and that it predates Star Trek by many, many year. It seems like it's an old French symbol but I can't really remember. So, the mole people probably appropriated it just like Roddenberry!
Brian S. Wozny, Parma, Ohio: Was the original Star Trek Theme actually ripped off from Mahler's First Symphony (Titan)? I was browsing the cheap classical CD's at Best Buy yesterday when I saw a two CD set of Mahler's First and Fifth Symphonies. For the amazing price of $1.49. A bargain for three hours worth of tear jerking Germanic angstmusik. Anyhow, I popped it in the car CD on the way to work this morn (I live in Cleveland, and the sun was out, so I needed something dark, brooding, and heavy to balance my mood), and thought I had bought the theme music from the TV show for about 30 seconds.
All they did for Star Trek was change about two notes. I did a net search and found at least one contributor also attributed the theme to Mahler (a different work). Quite possible Mahler wrote so much stuff he sort of forgot having written this theme once before.
Anyhow, I can't believe I'm the only Trekker that listens to classical music that includes Mahler. Well, if you have $1.49 and a Best Buy near you, go out and see for yourself!
Phil: Well, rats! I was going to go buy these CDs this week and take a listen and I just plain ran out of time! Sorry. Anybody out there want to comment?
Erin Hunt: Whatever happened to that "holo-novel" Janeway was running on the holodeck? The one where she plays a Jane Eyre-type governess? The story wasn't finished yet, but it hasn't even been mentioned in ages.
Phil: Seem to have disappeared, hasn't it?
Matt Nelson: My dad was wondering if you ever have watched & nitpicked that show "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". It's one of his favorites; the thing makes me want to retch. How about it?
Phil: I've seen it a couple of times. It has some cute moments. The only episode I actually watched all the way through was one of the ones with Aphrodite. Basically, the plot consisted of several very attractive women frolicking through their dialogue dressed in lingergie and other kinds of skimpy oufits. I don't know if that particular episode is indicative of all the episodes but . . . I certainly didn't find the episode unpleasant!
Mark Vadnais: Although there is no screen credit, isn't one of the alien women with fighting sticks trying to keep Harry Kim in place for the joining ceremony near the end of ST Voyager's "Favorite Son" played by actress/stunt-double Patricia Tallman, known as Babylon 5's Lyta Alexander? I watched the shot 4-5 times and believe it's her. Can you confirm this?
Phil: I watch fuzzy-TV when it comes to Voyager so if she isn't credited, I'm at a loss. Anybody else want to comment?
Chris Gervais: My question is in reference to the Judith & Garfield Reeves Stevens novels (one w/ Shatner as you'll see). In the novels, "Federation" & "The Return" there are references made to Pavel Chekov returning to Starfleet and ascending to the rank of admiral. Is there mention of this event in any of the "newer" series episodes or in any other novel?
Phil: I can't speak for the novels but I do not believe there is any reference in any of the television episodes or the movie that gives Chekov a rank of admiral.
Corey Hines, Hamilton, ON: Why hasn't the technology of DS9 caught up to the technology of Voyager or First Contact? The computer sounds and transporter patterns in the runabouts and the Defiant look and sound like the ones from TNG. The computer noises were changed in Generations. In VGR and FC, the transporter patterns were different. Obviously they have upgraded.
Phil: I can't give you the official explanation but I suspect that it has something to do with the fact that DS9 is actually a Bajoran space station, built with Cardassian technology. I would imagine that O'Brien is only allow to do what is necessary to keep the thing going. Since Bajor is not a part of the Federation, Starfleet might be hesitant to fully equip it with their latest technology. (Yes, some things have already been shared with Bajor--as indicated by Worf's briefing of Kira in "Indiscretion"--but that doesn't mean everything is automatically passed along!)
Ronan Mitchell: Can you tell us about the sidebars in the X-Files guide?
Phil: Haven't written them all yet! I'll start on those next week.
Joe Vrablik of Aurora, CO: Now, I'm sure we've all seen the episodes "11001001" and "Remember Me". However, what no one seems to notice are the problems with the doors on the Starbases. Now, these are the same models used in Star Trek III, IV, and VI. Also, if you look closely at the side shuttlebays and windows, you realize that the scale is the same. Both the Enterprise 1701, 1701-A AND 1701-D seem to fit neatly through the doors. However, the Enterprise 1701-D is THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF A CONSTITUTIONAL CLASS STARSHIP. Anyone catch my drift? The Enterpris-D should be roadkill back in first season on the sides of those doors.:-)
Phil: Yup! It's a problem!
Joe Vrablik of Aurora, CO: Also, you had a problem with your review of Generations. Geordi couldn't possibly have ejected the warp core. They had a COOLANT LEAK. As "Yesterday's Enterprise" established, if you have a coolant leak, you can't perform an emergency shut down (which is, in its highest level, the ejection of the warp core as established by several episodes AND the Tech Guide). I quote: "Coolant leak! Bridge, we've got a coolant leak. I can't shut her down. I estimate two minutes to a warp core breach."
Phil: Well . . . in the first place, "Yesterday's Enterprise" was an alternate timeline so you really can't use events of that episode to prove anything from our timeline. Nor do I find anything in the Tech Manual that says that if you have a coolant leak, you can't eject the core. The issue for me is this: I have a hard time believing that the designers of the Enterprise didn't account for the possibility of a coolant leak when they designed the warp core ejection system. Since ejecting the core will likely occur during one or more catastophic scenarios, wouldn't it make sense for the designers to have a back-up system that would work no matter what else was happening at the time? The Romulans had a manual ejection system for their ship in "The Next Phase." Why doesn't the Federation have one? (In fact, the Technical Manual for the Enterprise-D does mention a manual ejection. It states that is it not generally regarded as workable in a crisis situation but in Generations, the ship is going to blow up anyway! What harm could it do to try?)
James R. Dolan III: I think I found a new nitpick in ST: Generations. On the Amargosa Observatory, the security extra calls to Riker, "Commander, you'd better take a look at this." As Billy Boy climbs the up the ladder, you'll notice something odd. At the bottom of the "shirt" part of his uniform, where it meets the pant waist, there is a patch or tag of some kind. At first, I thought that this was just a tricorder, but upon further observation I decided that it wasn't. What's your opinion on this one?
Phil: I noticed this but for some reason it didn't make it into the NextGen II Guide! (I could have sworn that it did but I checked and it's not there!) I think what you are seeing is the top band on Riker's underwear! ;-)
James R. Dolan III: I also have another question. Is information from the CD-ROM "Star Trek: Borg" considered cannonicle (or however you spell it)? It is obviously Star Trek. It does have Q in it. It has a better plot than most of the Voyager episodes. What is your take on this, O NitPicker King?
Phil: Unless Paramount specifically says that it's canonical, I'd have to say no. Typically, only the television episode and movies are considered canonical (and the reference books that are based on the episodes and the movies.)
Kristian John Harper: Is Star Trek: Klingon canonical? Because it contains pink blood (a la ST:VI) and is basically a ST episode on television. Hey, Jonathan Frakes directed it!
Phil: Same answer! ;-)
Robert A. Ogden II: Something I’ve wondered about since I first saw the episode “Second Chances” was why Tom Riker wasn’t promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander shortly after his rescue from Nervala IV. We know from the DS9 episode “Defiant” that he is still a Lieutenant, or at least he was until the time that he went A.W.O.L. from the U.S.S. Ghandi to join the Maquis. The reason I’m wondering this is that we know that Wil Riker received his promotion from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander for “Exceptional Valor During the Evacuation of the Nervala IV Outpost”; Tom Riker should logically receive the same promotion. Or does Starfleet somehow feel that, despite overcoming the horrible psychological trauma of being left behind for eight years, he didn’t display the same level of valor? Any thoughts?
Phil: I think he should have gotten the promotion!
T. Knight of Los Angeles, CA: I am a little confused by your definitive statement in The Nitpicker's Guide for Classic Trekkers that there were no female starship captains (Boys in the Hall, item #5). I've watched 'Turnabout Intruder' several times trying to find the dialog that supports this assertion, and the only thing I've heard that even comes close was Lester's statement: "Your world of Starship Captains doesn't admit women". This is not the same as saying Starfleet doesn't allow women to be starship captains. She could have been referring to the very sad and true fact that Kirk couldn't allow himself to become involved in a normal relationship, with her or anyone. The isolation of command and all that. Kirk's statement later in that episode, "To gain a position she doesn't merit either by temperament or training", seems to support the idea that a properly trained and psychologically fit woman would be allowed to command, same as anyone else. My question: Was there some actual dialog stating that women weren't allowed to command that may have gotten cut? I have the supposedly uncut Collector's Edition, and 'I, Mudd' IS cut, so this one could be too. I know we never saw any female starship captains during TOS, but Spock would be the first to say that assuming there weren't any because we never saw any is not logical.
Phil: I am way out of time this morning and I have to get started with my real work so I apologize in advance that this reply won't be as reasoned or as lengthy as it could be. I this it's important to put Classic Trek into the cultural context of it's time when reviewing the dialogue in the episodes. I believe that--at the time Classic Trek was created--the statements in this episode would be interpreted by those who viewed the episode to mean that there were no female captains in Starfleet. And, I believe that this was the intention of the creators in making those statements. You might recall that Roddenberry tried to include a woman in a position of power for his first pilot, "The Cage". You might also recall that the test audiences reacted badly to this character. Not only the men but the women as well! At the time, the cultural environment in America simply didn't respond well to women in positions of leadership. It's wasn't right. It simply was what was.
Erin Hunt of High Point, NC: Who directed the "Real Life" episode of Voyager? If it was Robert Duncan McNeill, I'm going to start writing to Paramount to ask them to give him more directorial projects.
Phil: Anson Williams is credited as the director of "Real Life" on the copy that I have!
Have a great weekend, everybody!
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Copyright 1997 by Phil Farrand. All rights reserved.