First, some comments from previous columns . . .
Bullies on the Playground and the End of the Nitpicker's Guides
Beginning with Phil Farrand's comments at the end of the 5/15/98 column
Phil: Change is always difficult. I have no doubt that there are other nitpickers who feel the same way as the comments that follow from Jason Barnes so I reproduced them here to give me a chance to respond to them and to others who have been thinking the same!
Jason Barnes: I've been reading all the mail you've gotten on the situation with Dell and it seems to me that you have simply abandoned the idea to even try to write anymore. I completly understand you're need to support your family but you've said repeatedly that Paramount has no complaints on the Guides (heck, didn't they even ask you to submit a DS9 script once???). You've said that it is the publishers that are unwilling to take up the project. Since Paramount has no problem with them, are you absolutely sure that you or your agent couldn't find even ONE publisher unwilling to touch the Guides? I can't believe that at all because it's too similiar to a term onced used not too long ago in the U.S., black listing. I'm willing to bet real money that if you looked long enough (and gotten Paramount's blessings) that you would be able to find a new publisher. <shrugs> I hope I'm not sounding harsh or being a bully but it seems that you've, plain and simply, given up on the Nitpicker's Guides. And considering the sales and fandom you've received from the books, it's a shame to see happen.
Phil: I told Jason I would be using his comments this week and he added a few more.
Jason Barnes: PLEASE don't think of me with a "colorful metaphor" for writing the last letter to you. I KNOW that the family must come first. I mean, heck, we all gotta eat, sleep with a roof over our heads, etc. (sheesh! I've lived on my own for almost four years. I know it all to well.) But you had said time and time again in the columns that you didn't think anything could be done. I'm sure Bijo Trimble thought differently when TOS was rumored to be canceled. Not that I'm saying all us Nitpickers should write Paramount (but hey, if it helps.....). But like Spock said "There are always possibilites" and it seemed, by WHAT YOU SAID IN THE COLUMNS, that the Guides were over and done with PERIOD and I knew that was too close to the definition of black listing, which is illegal. <bows humbly> Am I still in the Guild?
Phil: (to Jason) Of course, you're still in the Guild. Everybody has a right to their own opinion around here! (to everyone else) The probem is simply one of economic and the logic of the economics is unassailable. The Nitpicker's Guides took a lot of time to write: six months a piece on average of full time work. Trying to work at a full time job and do a Guide on the side would be untenable. I wouldn't have time for my family. I wouldn't have time for the work I do at my church. I would only have my employment and the Nitpicker's Guides and, frankly, that's not enough. So . . . that means that if I'm ever able to do a Guide again. I either need to become independently wealthy or find a publisher who is willing to fund me for half-a-year so I can write the project. That means the publisher has to be a publisher of some where with all to begin with. Small publishers just don't have the financial resources to fund that kind of project. So, we're really not talking about just finding any publisher. We're talking about finding a large publishing house to pick up the project. And since I seriously doubt that an overseas publisher would be willing to stake tens of thousands of dollars on my ability to produce a book, we are really talking about finding a large domestic publishing house to pick up the Guides. And, dear friends, there just ain't that many of those guys out there. My agent has talked with some of them but had very little success because if anyone is going to get sued it will be the large published because they are worth suing.
So, it does not appear that a publisher will pick up the Nitpicker's Guide any time soon. John Ordover at Pocket Books had expressed an interest in doing a Voyager Guide and I could write that Guide in my sleep. But . . . while he was all gunho in the beginning and while he supposedly did send off a proposal on it to Paramount . . . there hasn't been any word is weeks and weeks so I seriously doubt anything is going to happen in that arena.
Now . . . I do have the movie reviews that I already had done for the Star Wars Nitpicker's Guide before it blew up and I have--in recent days--considered publishing those in a small book and selling it myself just for the fun of it. But, I have some things to check on before I can do that.
All in all, it was a great ride but there comes a time when you just have to get up and stroll away from the table!
The Death Of Jadzia
Beginning with Matt Greer's comments in the 6/12/98 column
Scott Wasilewski: Phil - something I just thought of this morning? Why does the Dominion (Weyoun and the Founders) refer to the Alpha Quadrant as the Alpha Quadrant? Translation convention, surely, but they're doing it for our heroes' benefit - wouldn't they see the Alpha Quadrant as their quadrant? (Note from Phil: They're just being polite! ;-)
Also, regarding Dax's death - this may shock people, but I would have let both the host and the symbiont die. Think of the character development: Worf has lost K'eylahr (or however you spell it) and went after Duras. Now he's lost Dax - both of them. This guy is probably ticked, and it gives him one more reason to hate the Dominion. Imagine what would happen then - the old Klingon fire is back.
Just my two cents on the whole thing, but I think it would have been much more effective for both Worf's character and the audience (I mean, I have real trouble believing that a phaser shot at close range might injure the symbiont, and a transporter originally was supposed to, but when she's thrown against a wall, the worm survives and she dies? C'mon, Paramount! C'mon, Rick! Get with reality!).
David Lawrence: I don't think that there's a problem with the new Dax going to DS9. There will probably be a line somewhere about the Dax symbiont having vital knowledge of the war situation and no-one else could possibly fufill the role left vacant by Jadzia's death. Of course I do expect them to cast a really stern looking trill character who stands ready in the background of every episode with a bucket of cold water just in case there's any hand-holding or KMYF moments between Worf and new-Dax
Terry H: More comments, this time on the Trill question. Anastasia Brown and Shirley Kolb question how the Dax symbiote can return to DSN since they can't maintain relationships with the symbiote in a new host. Remember, the whole reason we know about the Trill custom is because Dax's previous spouse visited DSN for work purposes! That was okay, just the re-establishment of a personal relationship was not.
Seems like the analogy for our society would be your company hiring your ex-wife. Might not be the best idea, could cause problems, but not illegal. And some people could handle it fine, some could not.
Steve Wilkie: In reference to Shirley Kolb's comments on Trills associating with former hosts spouses, etc., I believe this custom applies only to Trills. Therefore it it fine for Jadzia to associate with Curzon's friends (e.g. Sisko) and Ezri to associate with Jadzia'a husband (Worf). --Levi
Glenn St. Germain: My understanding is that the Trill ban on relationships from previous hosts refers to close relationships such as marriage. Curzon Dax was simply Ben Sisko's friend -- there's nothing that says Jadzia can't be one as well.
As for Worf's presence on Deep Space Nine, Ezri Dax will be violating Trill rules only if she starts pursuing a romantic relationship with Worf. If she treats him as nothing more than a fellow member of the crew, one friend among many, she's not in trouble with the Symbiont Police. Mind you, that's easier said than done, especially since the rules don't apply to Worf himself... this could be interesting.
One could surmise that the Trill definition of "relationship" in these rules also includes close family ties: parents, children, siblings. So if, say, if the Dax host Tobin had a sister called Rena who was the host of a Trill called Zon, a hundred years later Jadzia Dax would have been in deep trouble if she'd have gotten into a romance with Zon's current male host...
But I don't see how the rules could preclude friendships from continuing. And as long as Ezri and Worf keep each other at arm's length, that's all they'd be doing.
Tony Forbes: On the NEW Dax: -Well, it seems that the DS9 cast will be joined by Ezra Dax come this season. Not good! I don't know that much about Nichell DuBois, but I get the smeaking feeling that she's a young woman, just like Jadzia Dax(or, moreover, 7/9). Trill Taboos aside, this situation leaves NO ROOM FOR DECENT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! Arrrgh!
Gerry Canavan: I don't know if you want this information, because it's spoiler-ish, but the appearance of the new Trill on the station has been explained, as far as I can tell. There's a shuttle accident when they're bringing LobsterDax back to Planet Trill, and they have to put it in somebody or it will die. So, they put it in the new person, whose name *I think* is Ezri. Supposedly Ezri doesn't really want the Trill in her but takes it to save its life.
Additionally, the operation doesn't really go right and Dax's other personalities start seeping through, causing any number of (the creators hope, at any rate) hilarious situations.
Phil: Ah . . . humor from the mentally infirmed. There's a nice 24th century-like attitude! ;-) As to reassociation only applying to spouses not friends, I would have to watch the episode again but I could have sworn that "The Great Dax-Kissed-A-Girl Episode" indicated that the taboo extended beyond just the spousal relationship. Of course, made I just misunderstood. I've misunderstood so many things during my years of watching Trek. ("Ferengis? Of course, Betazoids can read Ferengi minds. Oh wait: I must have misunderstood. I guess they can't!)
Tom Servo on the Promenade
Beginning with the comments of Matt Nelson in the 8/7/98 Column
Sara Greenblatt: For all those age- and culturally-deprived Nitpickers out there: Del Floria's Tailor shop was the secret entrance to UNCLE headquarters. "The Man From UNCLE" was a hugely popular (although not in the ratings -- sound familiar?) spy show from 1964-1968. Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. Mr. Waverly. Open Channel D. Sound familiar? *Sigh* Oh, well: sic transit, Ozymandias, and all that. [Look it up, guys -- you'll catch a lot more in-jokes ;)]
Patrick: Tom Servo on the Promenade: I think every one missed the obvious, unless I messed them stating the obvious, but the Zimmerman reference is of course for Herman Zimmerman the, what is he, the prop guy, or the set guy, or something like that.
Religion in Star Trek: I just watched Star Trek 5 on Sci-fi, and it appears that religion and God are very apparent in the 24th Century. How else do you explain everyones reactions???
Gordon Davie Edinburgh, Scotland: I believe the Del Floria tailor's shop was the one seen in "The Man From UNCLE" - Solo and Kuryakin gained access to their headquarters through a secret door in one of the changing cubicles.
Robert Cook: 'Del Floria's Tailor Shop' was the front business for the New York headquarters of the spy agency U.N.C.L.E. in the 60's spy show 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'
Randie Cowan: Scott: FYI: Del Floria's Tailor Shop was featured in 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' It was one of the secret ways into the secret spy group. Agents went into his Changing Room and stayed (for hours or weeks)! The series ran on NBC from 1964-1968, featuring two characters - Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. Both Nimoy and Shatner were in a first season episode called 'The Project Strigas Affair.' There are many fannish websites for this show.
An NCC Prefix For The Defiant
Beginning with the comments of Aaron Dotter in the 8/15/98 Column
Commodore Josh K: In response to Robert Donahou's question, it is true that prototype vessels are always NX, but if Starfleet decides that a prototype is good and that a new class of starships like it should be built, the prototype's NX designation changes to an NCC. This is what happened with the U.S.S. Excelsior; in some episode or movie (I think it was STAR TREK VI), the Excelsior's designation was displayed, and it was NCC-2000. It has been established by now that Starfleet has built more vessels of the Defiant class, so the U.S.S. Defiant should now be NCC-74205.
Terry Hulett: I would like to respond with my opinion on the "prototype" NX designation question as it applies to the Excelsior. Allthough as I recall the movie there was a lot of talk about the engines, future of the fleet, etc., I don't think that necessarily means the whole ship was a prototype. If the new engines were installed on an exisiting ship, then the ship would retain the NC designation and the engines would still be prototypes!
Adam Howarter: NCC stands for Naval Command Commission, or some such. NX stands for Naval eXperiment (thus Kirk's "the great experiment" statement in ST:III.) The first ship of any new class as such would be designated NX while still being put through its paces. Once all the bugs are worked out it enters fleet service and is redesignated NCC. Why the Defiant is still NX? I can only assume its because she is permanantly assigned to DS9 and as such not in "fleet service."
Glenn St-Germain: NX is used for prototype vessels. But if a prototype is successful, it goes into regular production. The Excelsior class was a very successful design -- vessels of that class still exist in the TNG era. My guess is that once the Excelsior Class went into regular production, they painted over the NX on the hull and replaced it with NCC.
Nathan Kibelbek: About the Excelsior and Defiant's prefixes changing to "NCC":
Apparently, the idea is that while the ship is an experimental prototype (and it is the only one of its class), it has an "NX" registry. Once other ships of the class are built, the registry changes to "NCC."
I don't think this is canonical and I don't know if it was based on something in real life, but that is the rationalization that was used. Apparently, some Star Trek fans let Ron Moore (a DS9 writer and producer) know over an internet discussion that they thought the registry should be changed, considering the appearance of other Defiant-class ships. He said he'd look into it, and apparently, the change was made!
Aaron Dotter: I just had to respond to Robert Donahue's comment(perhaps I am carrying this too far?)
The Excelsior did have an NX prefix in ST III and IV- they changed it when Sulu took command- presumably because it gained full deep-space operational status. It would be nice if the creators would tell us when they change the prefix, though! I suppose there are few if any good ways to work it in a story. (Although they did in "Valiant".)
"This Man Is Dead, Jim"
Beginning with the comments of Tom Clarke in the 8/21/98 Column
Stephen Mendenhall:
Hi, I dunno if you'll get this note? Anyway, somebody wanted to know if McCoy ever said "This man is dead?" Maybe he's thinking of the original Tribbles ep. where he says, "This tribble is dead. So is this one. A lot of them are dead. Or dying." That last part isn't an exact quote but it's close. Happy nitting.<g>Robert Cook Anacortes, WA: In the episode (I think) 'Catspaw', an anonymous crewman beams up from the planet of the week, and then keels over on the transporter pad. When Bones examines him, he says something like the quote in question, adding, as I recall, that he's been dead for hours
Phil: Ya know . . . I think that's the moment I was thinking of!
No Chaplain For Star Trek
Beginning with the comments of Chris Ashley in the 8/21/98 Column
Patrick: I just watched Star Trek 5 on Sci-fi, and it appears that religion and God are very apparent in the 24th Century. How else do you explain everyones reactions???
Joe Buss: On the comments about Trek and religion. This is the list of all the times that I recalled human religion is mentioned in Trek.....
In "Bread and Circuses", the crew gets all gushy when the find out the Son is Christ. In "Who Mourns for Adonis", Kirk says "The one is sufficient" when Appolo demands worship. In STV: The Final Frontier, after unmasking "God" as a phony, the crew speculates that God may be "in here" In "Who watches the Watchers", we have Picard treating Religion as something the Mintakas should avoid, saying it will lead to inquisitions and holy wars. In Tapestry, Picard refutes Q's claim to be God, saying, "The universe isn't that badly designed." In "Far Beyond the Stars" grandpa Joe quotes the Bible. And then you have Chakotay's Native American Beliefs.
So, in Five Hundred Eps, that is only six mentions, altogether. On the other hand, you have a good deal of Religion mentioned on Babylon 5, which works on the assumption that religion will be with us in the future.
The Invisible Man From Past Tense
Beginning with the comments of Commodore Josh K in the 8/21/98 Column
Hans Thielman: I thought Ron Howard's brother is named Clint, not Cliff.
Ryan Whitney: One correction regarding Bryan Foster's Comment from 8/21/98 (The Invisible Man From "Past Tense"): Ron Howard's brother is named Clint Howard (not "Cliff").
Todd Felton: Phil, in the 08/21 Ask the Chief column, Commodore Josh K was asking about "the strange character who takes away, and later returns, Dax's combadge... and waves his hand over himself and crows, 'Whoosh! I'm invisible!'" from the DS9 two-part episode "Past Tense" This actor is actually Clint Howard; he is Ron Howard's brother, and was the child who played Balok in the original series episode "The Corbomite Maneuver". (Note, it's not "Cliff Howard" as mentioned by Bryan Foster in the 08/28 column).
Mike Cheyne: Howard recently appeared in the movie "Austin Powers". He is the space traffic controller that says the following exchange:
CONTROLLER: (says he is picking up a Big Boy)
GENERAL: So he's back.
CONTROLLER: The Big Boy never really was gone sir. He's still producing
great food at low prices.
Cloaking Devices and the Treaty of Algeron
Beginning with the comments of Kevin Weiler in the 8/28/98 Column
Commodore Josh K: In response to part of Kevin Weiler's question about cloaking devices on new starships: I doubt the Federation has installed cloaking devices on their new starships at this time, at least not ones that operate in the same way as Romulan Warbirds' cloaking devices do, because if the new Federation starships did have them, we would have seen one on the late U.S.S. Valiant (which was Defiant-class and would have had one just like the Defiant) and on the Enterprise-E in First Contact. However, I did read something on this topic while perusing Reid Rowan's Starfleet Ship Registry Database website. According to the database there (although Mr. Rowan admits that some of the data is speculative), Starfleet's new Steamrunner class, a hit-and-run attack vessel equipped with many of the same cutting-edge weapons systems as the Defiant, possesses what may be seen as a form of cloaking device. (In case you're saying, "I've never heard of that class!", in First Contact, during the part of the battle scene in which two starships move aside to make way for the Enterprise-E, the one on the left that is firing photon torpedoes is a Steamrunner.) One of its special modifications, according to the Ship Registry Database, is a new deflector array which produces ripples in the fabric of space around the ship. This ripple effect confuses the sensors of enemy ships, making it almost impossible to track a Steamrunner with targeting sensors. I won't go into further detail, but the address of the Ship Registry Database is http://www.webzone.net/rowan/sb907/ssrd. Check it out; it's one of the finest resources I've ever seen for reading about the design of the various starship classes.
Recoil-less Glocks
Beginning with the comments of Robert J Wooley in the 8/28/98 Column
Gary Holmes: Re: Pistols on "The X-Files"
They have changed guns several times over the run of the series. At one point, Mulder carried a Glock. I think it was at the beginning of the series. Scully was carrying a Walther PPK.
My personal theory is that whan the show was first being filmed, the props people were just giving them a gun from the props warehouse without any regard to what a real FBI agent would carry. Glocks are usually selected for their futuristic sleek black appearance. Scully was armed with a PPK because it fit Gillian Anderson's small hands. Then, after the show was up and running someone pointed out that the guns needed to change. I believe then they changed to the Smith and Wesson 10mm. Again, this is my personal theory.
My friend Brad is a very big X-File fan. I'll let him know you were discussing this and he can give you details.
Regarding the "no muzzle flip": A lot of the time the blanks used are unable to force to slide back to chamber another round unless there are major modifications to teh gun. I wondered if the muzzle flash was added later by computer. That would explain no recoil and no slide movement. Again, my own personal theory. I didn't watch the episode when it was repeated, so I didn't get to study it.
Re: Buying a Glock I LOVE mine. I have a Glock 19 (9mm). I use it in the monthly Glock pistol matches at Fort Benning and it is a very comfortable gun to shoot. I attended a Glock Armorer's Course at Fort Benning last year and I really gained a lot of respect for the gun and the work that went into designing it.
I know what you're thinking, "A dentist at a Glock Course AND at a pistol match?" At the monthly matches, the Competitor catagory is won regularly by Colonel R.A. Bass, a Dental Corps colonel and a good friend of mine (and my boss until I left to join a private practice here in Columbus).
The DS9 Guide in German
Beginning with the comments of Christian Becker in the 8/28/98 Column
Matthias Roth: T
o my knowledge the German DS9-Guide will be released in October (maybe already in September). Yeah!Phil: Ya know . . . I really would like to get copies of the Classic, NextGen II and DS9 Guides in German. Would there be anybody over there who would be willing to buy them and mail them for m if I sent the moneyin advance?
Season Commencement
Beginning with the comments of Corey Hines in the 8/28/98 Column
George H. Daley Jr.: Re: Core Hines question According to the Star Trek web site, the new season of DS9 begins the week of Sept.28 According to the Starland website, Voyager premieres Oct. 14
On to the questions . . .
Glenn St-Germain: I've also heard a rumour regarding the next Star Trek series, the one which will replace Deep Space Nine. Rumour has it that Paramount has been talking to Jonathan Frakes about it. The new series will take place aboard the Enterprise-E under the command of Captain William Riker. Worf will be his first officer (if they can convince Michael Dorn to continue the role). The only other familiar faces among the crew will be Dax (presumably, Ezri Dax) and Nog. Has anyone else out there heard about this one?
Phil: Hadn't heard that!
Commodore Josh K: Near the end of the column, you said you were going to bed so you could get to work in the morning? Did you find a new job recently?
Phil: Sorry! Must not have been very clear about that. Yes! I have a consulting job! A good one, acutally. I'm really enjoying the people. It's a fun project and I'm making good headway. The only problem is that it's 45 hours a week and an hour a day driving time so that make a fifty-hour week for me. And by the time, I add in my duties at church and try to find a little bit of time to spend with my family, there's not much time left.
Not only that. I have a newsletter to get out this month. AND I have not one but two excellent business opportunities that need my attention and another that won't pay much money but it's one of those things that I really have to do.
I said all that to say that--at this point- I just don't see any way that I'm going to be able to do the Brash Reflections for Voyager when the series commences in a few weeks.
So . . . I have a plan. At times in the past, my fellow nitpickers have offered to host their own nitpicking websites. How about this? How about if I start a "Nitpicker Central Webring of Nitpickers" and spread out the work load a bit? I'm not absolutely committed to you all doing exactly the type of Brash Reflections that I do on my site but I am interested in sending nitpickers to site where I know that their voices will be heard (and credit). And any sites that I endorse will have to follow the Nitpicker's Guild Prime and Secondary Directives (All nits picked shall derive form sources the creators consider canonical. All nitpickers shall perform their duties with light-heartedness and good cheer.)
Now, maybe you don't want to spend a lot of time dealing with other nitpickers comments. That's okay too. If you just want to have a few pages on the web dedicated to nitpicking your favorite movies or television series that's okay too. (I would prefer not to have sites on my ring that deal with horror movies or gore or other unpleasantness. I want this to be a family affair.)
Of course, if I put a web on the ring and discover that it or it's owner have violated the rules . . . guess what? POW! Off they'll go!
Anyway, I am looking for someone to take over the Brash Reflections for Voyager. And possibly someone to do some Brash Reflections for DS9 and maybe even someone to do some Brash Reflections for the sixth season of the X-Files.
I even have a cool graphic for you all to put at the bottom of your website once, I approve it.
NOTE: As with everything I do in with the Nitpickers Guild, my decision as to who or who will not host these Brash Reflections will be final. I will have to be convinced that you understand the kind of work involved with field email every day and compiling it into a file. At times . . . it gets old!
Have a great weekend, everybody!
If you would like to submit a question or comment, send it to: chief@nitcentral.com with "Ask the Chief" or "Question" in the Subject line. (Remember the legalese: Everything you submit becomes mine and you grant me the right to use your name in any future publication by me.)
Copyright 1998 by Phil Farrand. All rights reserved.