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Cake day: August 22nd, 2023

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  • It's a slow burn introduction to Trek. The show starts off having not much to do with Trek, as the crew itself has nothing to do with the Federation or Starfleet, but they go through a process of learning what Starfleet is, and they try their best to aspire to its ideals so they might be accepted to the academy when they reach the Federation. Ideas (e.g., prime directive, augments, temporal directives) are introduced one at a time with explanations. It's not meant to "just" be a kids' show, it's meant to be a kids' introduction to Trek. And as a fan of Trek, I think also a good introduction for a non-fan who might feel lost by how vast the Trek universe is. It's not about politics or diplomacy, but it carries the same spirit of unity, optimism, and the hope for the best of humanity that underlies Trek.




  • It's nice that "new" Trek wants to portray things like equality for LGBT people as a given; hopefully we can reach that one day. And I think it's good that LGBT people can "see themselves" on the screen without having their queerness be the focus of the drama. People just want to live their lives, and they want to see other queer people just living their lives.

    On the other hand, showing the struggle and making it the focus of the drama, as Orville does, is the thing that helps people understand and confront the issues themselves. The whole story around Topa is very strong. Societal misogyny. Klyden's entire journey (his own sex reassignment, hiding it from Bortus, their separation, his rejection of Topa when she transitioned back, the family's eventual reunion). Bortus' struggle to make the right choice as a loving husband and father. Bortus having the choice taken away from him. Topa lacking female role models.

    These kinds of things are still very real issues that a lot of people don't think about unless presented to them on this way. These kinds of stories help people imagine how they might need to support their own children, families, and friends.

    It's not really possible to compare Star Trek vs Orville because Trek is an entire franchise (even now there are 4.5 shows) and Orville is just one. But if I had to say of the current shows, which one does society need the most for social progress, I'd actually say Orville.


  • I'm all for not using Facebook, but this is really dumb. The federal Gov't and media outlets gave Meta and other SM platforms an ultimatum: pay for linking to news, or don't link at all. Meta called the bluff and chose the latter. Now the Gov't and media outlet are crying foul.

    It takes a lot to make me defend Facebook, but they are absolutely not in the wrong here. They are playing by the government's and the media outlets' own rules. It's not even malicious compliance, its just compliance.

    Have these media and the government even offered to make an exception for emergency messaging? I think they would say so of they did (to make themselves look better). The lack of say-so is telling.

    Instead they're trying to shame and coerce Meta into paying them. Well, shame on the govt and shame on the media.