TNG » Treknicalities

The Enterprise Has A Three-D View Screen

Jan 242012

It never has been mentioned, to my knowledge, anywhere in Star Trek, but after re-watching the TNG episode “Data’s Day”, I am convinced that the Enterprise-D has a three-dimensional viewscreen on the bridge.

In the last few minutes of the episode, Captain Picard is talking to the Commander of a Romulan ship. When the camera is positioned directly in front of the viewscreen, we see the Romulan Commander straight on, as expected.

A few seconds later, however, the camera cuts to a shot where we see the main viewer at an angle. What we should see on the screen is like what you would see if you displayed the above picture on your monitor, then viewed your monitor from a 45-degree angle; no extra detail and some distortion of the details that are there. Instead, we see this image:

Instead of the flat, distorted picture we should see at that angle, we see detail that doesn’t show up in the straight-on view: the curve of the back of the Commander’s head, the doorway that’s to his right, the way the necktie-looking thingumy on the front of his uniform is above the uniform, not just a flat pattern on his shirt …

Personally, I can’t wait for television to develop this technology. Three-D without having to wear goofy glasses or cross your eyes would be too awesome!

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A computer cart of one kind or another

Star Trek TNG No Responses »

Dec 192011

At first glance, I thought this was one of Dr. Crusher’s hospital computer carts but, according to the website where I found it it’s an engineering cart. I don’t honestly recall seeing it anywhere on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Next time we’re going through that series I’m going to have to keep an eye out for this prop.

To me, it looks like something that would be more useful in sickbay than in engineering.

Whatever it is, I think it would look interesting in a game room or den, especially if the room in question had a Borg regeneration chamber off in the corner.

Caption Contest: New Uniforms

Caption Contest No Responses »

Dec 192011

Another week, another caption contest, and another photo with no entries. Since nobody added a caption to this picture, I’m going with my own caption as the winner:

Kirk: Bones, put that thing away until you can get some guitar lessons.

This week we’re looking for a caption for this picture:

So, tell us: is this a trip into the Holodeck or are these the new StarFleet uniforms, or do you have an idea I haven’t thought of yet? Post your caption in the comments.

As usual the rules are simple:

Post your caption in the comments
Rate other comments with the thumbs-up and thumbs-down tools at the bottom of each comment. The caption with the highest rating will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie, a winner will be chosen by me.
Enter as often as you wish.
Please keep all captions family friendly (PG-13 or nicer)
As the author of this blog, I simply don’t feel right declaring myself to be the winner unless there are no entries other than my own, but I do reserve the right to participate.
Most importantly, have fun. Since the only “prize” is a simple congratulatory pat on the back, there’s no reason to get all up tight and nasty about it. The goal here is to laugh and to make others laugh.

Technorati Tags: science+fiction, television, star+trek, the+next+generation, tng, caption+contest, picture, photo, funny, elementary+dear+data, data, brent+spiner, geordi+laforge, lavar+burton

New poll for October 25, 2011:

Polls 1 Response »

Oct 252011

Captain Picard had a fish in his ready-room, Data had a cat, and Dr. Crusher had Wesley. What pet would you recommend for Commander Riker?

Post your suggestions in the comments. Be sure to use the “thumbs-up” and “thumbs-down” buttons to vote on other people’s suggestions, too.

Technorati Tags: science+fiction, star+trek, television, pets, poll, question

Celebrity Birthdays: Mark Lenard

Celebrity News No Responses »

Oct 152011

Mark Lenard as the Romulan Commander in "Balance Of Terror"

Mark Lenard was born Leonard Rosenson on October 15, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants Abraham and Bessie Rosenson. In 1943 he joined the U. S. Army and trained to be a paratrooper during WWII and was discharged as a technical sergeant in 1946 without having seen actual combat.

The University of Michigan graduate was best known as the actor who played Spock’s father, Sarek, in Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, and later in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was the first actor to appear in more than one Star Trek series as the same character as well as the first actor to play more than one character in Star Trek. In the TOS episode “Balance Of Terror” he played the first Romulan to appear on the show and in Star Trek: The Motion Picture he played the first Klingon with a ridged forehead to appear in the franchise. Lenard wanted to appear in The Motion Picture, and, since Sarek was not a character in the film, he was cast as the Klingon commander in the beginning of the film. He did eventually appear as Sarek in The Search For Spock, The Voyage Home, and The Undiscovered Country, as well as two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Outside of Star Trek, Lenard was known for several roles. In the 1968 Clint Eastwood movie Hang ‘Em High he played the prosecutor in Fort Grant. He played Arron Stemple in Here Come The Brides and the Urko, the hostile gorilla in the Planet Of The Apes television series. He made guest appearances in Little House On The Prairie, Gunsmoke, as well as several episodes of the original Mission: Impossible (including one with Leonard Nimoy) and a two-part episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Lenard died of Multiple myeloma in New York City, New York in 1996 at the age of 72.

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