Star Trek | At Home with Tech

October 22, 2017

Star Trek: Discovery Has Dropped the F-Bomb

I’m sure Kirk and Spock would be a bit more than a tad surprised if they heard some of the bad language coming out of the latest “Trek” iteration.

“Star Trek” has always been about breaking down barriers.

Remember that ‘first’ interracial kiss between Kirk and Uhura in the 1968 “Star Trek” episode “Plato’s Stepchildren?” And the “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” kiss between two women (Dax and Lenara) from 1995’s “Rejoined” episode.

Now, “Star Trek: Discovery” has one of those barrier-breaking scenes that Trekkies will talk about for generations to come. It’s from the “Choose Your Pain” episode.

No, there’s no kiss in this fifth episode of the young series, but we see Lt. Stamets and Dr. Culber brushing their teeth together in their quarters and articulating some clearly intimate feelings. We have our first openly gay crew members. It’s a gentle and charming scene in a show that’s bombarded with harsh uncertainty. It’s well written and another important “Star Trek” moment that supports and builds on its universe of inclusion.

Bravo.

That, in itself distinguishes this episode as one to remember.
And it’s all I should be writing about.
(Other than we are introduced to a young Harry Mudd.)

But unfortunately, that’s not all that differentiates it.

Star Trek and the Four-Letter Word
In what actually felt pretty awkward to me, the writers also decided to throw some bad language into the script.

Variants of the four-letter ‘F’ and ‘S’ words, to be precise.

What???
(I had read this would be coming, but dropping the F-bomb still felt a little shocking.)

Look, I know that “Discovery” is a more gritty and edgy series, and there’s clearly a lot of violence.
So, what’s the problem with a few four-letter words?

We’ll, first off… it just seemed gratuitous. It didn’t feel any more significant except to inform viewers that the universal translator for this “Trek” doesn’t restrict *uck and *hit.

There are no CBS broadcast censors to worry about here.
(Hurray?)

So, I guess anything goes.
I feel it was clearly a message more than anything else.

Message received.

Daddy, What’s that Word Mean?
Suddenly, “Star Trek: Discovery” just became off limits to some younger viewers who aren’t allowed to consume R-rated content.

How inclusive is that?

Are the producers so desperate to distinguish their pay TV niche to attract only adults who enjoy their “Game of Thrones?”

I get the value proposition that if you’re going to pay for your “Star Trek,” the producers have got to give viewers more than what’s available on broadcast television.

But R-rated profanity? Really??

What’s interesting is the writers waited until the fifth episode to sprinkle in the three words at issue.

Hmmm… Actually, how bold is that?
If there’s going to be bad language here…. it should be present… front and center from the beginning of the series.

The Orville Surges Ahead
Speaking of trying to boldly go where no one has gone before, “Discovery” has another challenge to deal with. It continues to be scooped by the spoof over at Fox.

“The Orville” established its own onboard male couple (Bortus and Klyden) in its second episode. Sure, it’s a little different, because there are no females in their alien species.
(Well, not exactly)

And I’ve got to give some kudos to this “Star Trek” wannabe, which is rocking with some big-time guest stars – Liam Neeson and Charlize Theron.

I’m also really tickled how Seth MacFarlane is weaving in references (or boldly borrowing) story elements from some science fiction I grew up with… like “The Starlost” TV series from 1973 with Keir Dullea and 1989’s “Millennium” movie with Cheryl Ladd and Kris Kristofferson.

All of this is to say that “The Orville” in all of its silliness is showing lots of promise.

For Adults Only?
“Star Trek: Discovery” has promise too.

On a lark, I decided to take a look again at the first episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”
(CBS All Access gives you instant access to all “Trek” episodes.)

Whoa!!
Those first awkward minutes from “Encounter at Farpoint” have not aged well at all. We Trekkies really gave that series a lot of leeway until it found its footing.

But it was a series that everyone could watch.

All I’m saying here is I hope “Discovery” doesn’t continue too far down its path of targeting adult viewers only.

A Child of Star Trek
There has always been a younger generation of fans who were inspired by each version of “Star Trek.”

I was among the first wave, and honestly, I can’t imagine being told by my parents that I couldn’t watch “Star Trek,” because it wasn’t appropriate for kids.

Now, it’s true you can make the argument that “Discovery” is already too violent for children, but you wouldn’t find universal agreement on that point.

But you just can’t get around the F-bomb.

Right?

Retain the Universe of Inclusion
I just don’t think “Discovery” viewers need the naughty language.
(One Trekkie’s opinion)

That particular barrier doesn’t have to be broken.
It will just put up another one for younger viewers.

Message to “Discovery” writers:
Please clean up your potty mouth!

October 1, 2017

Why “Star Trek: Discovery” and “The Orville” are Tearing a Hole in My Mind and Wallet

I’ve been a Trekkie all of my life. Here’s a photo of me as a teenager sitting in a replica U.S.S. Enterprise captain’s chair at the 1976 New York City Star Trek Convention. Does this demonstration of core-level nerdiness qualify me decades later to offer my first impressions of “Star Trek: Discovery” and “The Orville?” You bet it does!

I feel like I’ve entered a sci-fi nexus. A place where I can clearly see a warped “Star Trek” from my past and a newly phased, slightly alternate-reality version for the future.

A little confused? So am I.
(Though not entirely displeased)

All right everyone… go find your Spock ears and put them on. This is going to get a little geeky…

Two New Versions of “Star Trek”
It may feel like blasphemy to tinker with the old “Star Trek” some of us grew up with. But as I’m sure you’re aware, two new “Star Trek” based sci-fi series have almost simultaneously arrived after twelve years without new Star Trek episodes on television.

After what seems like an eternity of preproduction, “Star Trek: Discovery” has finally premiered. But it doesn’t entirely own the new-Trek conversation, because Seth MacFarlane’s irreverent “The Orville,” actually beat “Discovery” to the premiere punch by a couple of weeks.

“The Orville” isn’t technically a “Star Trek” series, but it’s clearly paying homage to the original show and “The Next Generation” while also trying to have a lot of fun with the format.

“Star Trek: Discovery” has chosen a darker and grittier path than any of its predecessors, one seemingly inspired by the “Battlestar Galactica” reboot. Starring Sonequa Martin-Green, “Discovery” works hard to remind us it’s “Star Trek.” In the pilot episode, you’ll see a front-and-center shot of what looks like Kirk’s original phaser. Starship doors slide open with the familiar swish. And the gurgles and chirps on the U.S.S. Shenzhou’s bridge come from the same infrastructure as the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Yet, it’s clear that as a series, “Discovery” is a new version of “Star Trek.”

And while “The Orville” isn’t “Star Trek,” in so many ways… it is.
The ship. The bridge. The uniforms. Everything.
The special effects are even good.

Science Fiction for 2017
Both new series are intentionally being disruptive. One is dark.
The other is trying to be funny.

And it is that so bad?
Who said a “Star Trek” series had to be exactly like earlier versions? If you believe that, you can be sure you’d never see another “Star Trek” series ever again.

Hey, Trekkies… Grow up!
Life changes. Entertainment changes. “Star Trek” changes.

Unless you simultaneously resurrect and spoof the old format as Seth MacFarlane has done. As a life-long Trekkie, I’ve been wincing at some of the bits in the first two episodes of “The Orville.” Whether MacFarlane can successfully tap into “Star Trek” nostalgia and then skewer it in the same script will be determined as his series gets a few more episodes in under its belt.

One Trekkie’s Opinion
So, do I like “Star Trek: Discovery?”

It’s really too early to tell. It’s clearly got some big ambitions. The sets and special effects are beautiful, but I haven’t yet been drawn in emotionally, other than to mourn the loss of what I was hoping would be a long-time character.

Sure, I could quibble over how accurately the producers have inserted this series into the official Trek timeline. Should there be force fields that protect destroyed hull plating on a ship that predates the NCC-1701? That kind of tech didn’t start to show up until the Enterprise-D.
Right?
(The new “Star Trek” movies displayed advanced levels of tech… but that’s from an alternate timeline… so anything goes.)

But I know if I get stuck babbling like this, I’m missing the big picture.

Sticker Shock
The big question is whether I am going to start paying for my Trek moving forward.
(Except for the pilot, you can only watch the rest of the series by streaming it on CBS All Access for a monthly cost of $5.99. New episodes are available Sundays at 8:30pm)

As much as I hate the idea of it, yes… I’m in.
Of course, I am.

It’s worth mentioning that “The Orville” on Fox is free to watch with regular commercials. Or you can stream it on Fox.com with only one commercial up front.
(As long as you ‘interact’ with the sponsor’s ad)

A Federation Universe without Commercials
So, I signed up to join the CBS Borg collective using the downloaded app on my Apple TV.
(Make it so!)

Now here comes the illogical part…
I’ve actually decided to pay CBS more than I have to for my “Star Trek: Discovery.”
(What?!)

There’s a second plan offered when you sign up online.
It’s the ‘commercial-free’ plan.

Yep, there’s a four-dollar monthly surcharge to lose the commercials.
So that gooses the price tag up to ten bucks a month.

And why exactly did I decide to throw away money every month?
Well, I figured I’m already paying for my “Star Trek.” I just know how I’d feel being forced to also watch commercials as well.
(There really shouldn’t be commercials in the $5.99 plan either, but I’m not ready to argue economics with CBS.)

So, all in… the price tag comes to $2.50 per “Discovery” episode.
(That’s assuming I don’t take advantage of any other programming on CBS All Access… which is substantial.)

Value Add
There’s actually one possible game changer available on CBS All Access that would help to soften the sticker shock for me.
You get your live, local CBS feed.
(In over 150 U.S. markets)

Now, that’s interesting…

Because as I continue to consider how to cut the cable cord without losing programming that I want, having access to live CBS news, sports and special events is a huge benefit.

Hmmm… Let me think a bit more about that.

Discovery Vs. Orville
If you’ve been expecting me to choose one of these series over the other, spoiler alert… I’m not. As much as they’re both based on the same origin material, they’re entirely different.

Yes, while it’s odd to see two “Star Trek” shows running simultaneously, that’s not unprecedented.
(“Next Generation” and “Deep Space Nine”)

And while it’s early for both series, I do think “Discovery” has a better chance of ongoing success if it can convince enough viewers to pay for the privilege.

“The Orville” relies on a simplicity in television storytelling that’s rather retro these days. And I don’t know if the occasional humor shtick is going to work out.
(Though “Galaxy Quest” and “Spaceballs” did just fine going for the funny bone.)
But at the end of the day, the series will have to decide if it’s a sit-com, a dramedy or just more relaxed sci-fi.

But one thing’s for sure… “The Orville” has heart. Lots of heart.

It reminds me of that sense of optimism and awe that flooded me when I was a young boy watching my first “Star Trek” episodes. I clearly remember that feeling.

Engage!
Even though I’m all grown up now, I yearn for a “Star Trek” to do that again for me, whether the branded name is in the title or not.

Because I’m still a kid at heart…

…I’ll be watching.

2 Comments

March 5, 2017

Why I Bought This GE Microwave Oven

I won’t deny I was attracted to the few tech tricks it offers beyond heating up food fast. And it all starts with a little circular logic….

I said goodbye to our glitchy Samsung microwave oven last week. As some of you know, I’ve had something of an ongoing rocky relationship with this temperamental unit.

Since my wife and I were doing some other work in our kitchen, we decided it was finally time to move on.
(Across five years, there were multiple pain points… First, the microwave’s control panel blew out after two years and was repaired for free. Then, the turntable mechanism stopped working… and more recently, the vent control has become glitchy.)

Yes, technically, the microwave still works, and yes, I could pay more to repair its existing nuisance problems, but it was an easy choice just to say, “Toodle-oo!” and start again.

I expect that microwave reviews probably aren’t top of mind for Samsung these days as they try to move beyond ‘Galaxy-gate.’
(That said, I really liked Samsung’s commercials at the Oscars.)
But I’ve seen ongoing interest in my 2013 Samsung microwave post.
I do hope the future brings better news…

Hello, GE Microwave Oven
So we decided to buy a GE Profile series 1.7 CU. FT. over-the-range microwave oven (Model PVM9179SKSS) to join our year-old GE Profile series gas range/oven (Model PGB940ZEJSS).
(Blogger’s note: Why don’t companies come up with a simple appliance model-naming convention?)

One reason for this particular choice was to create a matching range/microwave pair from the same manufacturer.

Not that it’s wrong to mix manufacturers, but after our Samsung experience, it seemed like a safer bet to go with a brand we felt more confident in.
(Yes, simple brand loyalty to GE)

Chef Connect
I wouldn’t exactly say this GE was a ‘smart microwave,’ but it does come with a Bluetooth feature called “Chef Connect” that pairs it to our GE range.
(Cool!)

But what exactly does that get you?

Three features:

The microwave’s clock will automatically sync to the range’s clock.
The microwave’s surface light can automatically pop on when you turn on one of the range’s burners.
The microwave’s vent can automatically turn on when you use one of the range’s burners.

Huh.

Are these upgrades really that useful? Or are they more like parlor tricks? A synced clock is always helpful, but do I really need more light and fan support every time I turn on the range?

Well, I certainly don’t need the fan every time I decide to boil an egg, but the automatic light trick intrigued me. So I activated it:

You just hold the “Chef Connect” buttons on the range and microwave for three seconds to activate the pairing mode. And then they magically find each other!
(Whoah!)

And then you select which of the three tricks you want to turn on
Easy as pie.
(Sorry for the pun)

The only wrong turn I made was incorrectly assuming that Chef Connect was somehow related to the “WiFi Connect” feature the range possesses, which allows me to monitor the range with an app on my iPhone.
(No… Chef Connect and Wi-Fi Connect are totally different.)

More Tricks
You might be thinking… a microwave is a microwave is a microwave.
It just needs to work!

True enough. But beyond “Chef Connect,” this microwave’s got a few other features I’m already warming to:

You’re able to ‘mute’ that horrible electronic pinging sound you hear every time you press a button on a microwave or oven these days.
(I really don’t need an audible confirmation for every finger action I make.)
The addition of a ‘selection dial’ in lieu of an ‘all keypad’ panel is a more advanced design. This little circular knob reduces the number of times you’ve got to ‘push’ the keypad to get things going…
The ‘Beverage’ button is a dream… One tap heats up your cup of tea to the perfect temperature.
(Not quite as spiffy as Captain Picard saying out loud “Earl Grey Tea… Hot.” But we’re getting there…)

But Wait…There’s More
This particular model is also a ‘convection’ oven. While I honestly don’t know how often we’ll be using the feature, it seems like a valuable functional upgrade for our kitchen to have two ‘ovens.’ So if we’re cooking dinner in the main oven below, and there’s a sudden craving to bake some chocolate chip cookies, we can now do that using the convection oven feature in our new microwave.

Convection tech does push the price tag up a hundred bucks to a ’pricier’ $599 MSRP.
(You can get a base-level GE microwave for less than three hundred bucks.)

But I had already decided to spend a little more on this unit, hoping it would stand up better to the test of time than my not-so-old Samsung did.
(However untrue that logic may be)

The Internet seemed split right down the middle when I did a little research on how the world feels about convection tech baked into microwave ovens.
But I decided to go for it anyway.
(Any feedback out there on my choice?)

At Home with My Kitchen
So we’ve got a new GE microwave/convection oven.
Whoop de doo…

And it’s got a few tricks up its sleeve using Bluetooth tech.
Good enough.

And for now… I feel like my shiny, new kitchen tech is there to
‘improve my life.’ Translation: It’s not a headache… not yet.

Still, that’s a win in my book… So let’s move on!

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