Aiming High in the Air Force: 2004, Part One: With Frickin’ Laser Beams
Me (January 2004)
I started off 2004 on a high note. I was granted permission at the end of 2003 to move off base, and I was living in an apartment complex just across the street from the South end of Nellis Air Force Base. It was a one-bedroom, and it was the first time I had ever had a place that was completely my own. My dad gave me a kitchen table and chairs that he was no longer using, and I packed it into the back of my car during my visit at Christmas.
Some thoughts on “Battle: Los Angeles”
I finally got around to seeing Battle: Los Angeles today. I don't see too many movies in the theater anymore, largely because it's gotten so expensive, but also because it requires a fair amount of planning and effort to actually go to the theater, rather than streaming something on Netflix or grabbing a DVD from the Redbox kiosk after checking out at the grocery store. So, I used a coupon code to get a free rental from Redbox, and I chose Battle: Los Angeles. I'd heard a few good things about it online when it came out, and the premise seemed promising enough: follow a squad of Marines in Los Angeles during an alien invasion.
My first thoughts were summed up fairly well in a post I made on Facebook shortly after finishing the movie: "Wow. That was pretty good. Better than I'd expected, in fact. The shaky-cam was a little annoying at times, but I actually didn't even notice it throughout most of the film."
Star Trek Online: Head Start Launch
Open Beta is over, and now Star Trek Online is in "Head Start" for all of us who pre-ordered the game, giving us the opportunity to get a head start before the game officially launches on Tuesday.
In the Open Beta, I planted my tongue firmly in cheek and named my character Captain Dunsel, a tip of the hat to the classic Star Trek episode "The Ultimate Computer." This time, however, I was somewhat more serious. As in the Open Beta, I named my ship the U.S.S. John Rodgers, after my ancestor and the U.S. Navy vessels likewise named in his honor, but my character was decidedly different. Now that the game is launching, several new options are available, and more will be available on Tuesday; I used the option to make my character a liberated Borg drone named Thirteen of Forty-Seven. Okay, so there's still a bit of in-joke in the name, but it's not as readily apparent. At least I didn't name him Forty-Two of Forty-Seven; that would've just been excessive.
Joined the Star Trek Online Open Beta
Today, I installed and began playing Star Trek Online, which is in Open Beta until the end of the month. I'm very impressed; Cryptic has done an outstanding job translating the world of Star Trek into game form. After only a few hours playing the game, I'm already willing to shell out the cash for a Lifetime Subscription when it goes live in a couple weeks. It's really that good.
Because it's Open Beta, our settings won't be retained when it switches over, leaving us to be somewhat whimsical with our name choices if we desire. One of my friends, Winston, decided to use the opportunity to name his ship the USS Lollypop (It's a good ship, he insists). I decided to give a nod to the Original Series by naming my character Captain Dunsel. TOS fans will get the joke immediately. I was somewhat more serious with my ship name, the USS John Rodgers; there have been two US Navy ships with that name, in honor of one of my ancestors. I may reuse it when STO goes live; I haven't decided yet.
Anyone who's also playing in the Open Beta, I invite you to send me a friend request. My username is @jharlan1977.
Qa'pla!
Thoughts on the New Star Trek
I've been trying to wrap my brain around the big picture of all the changes made to the timeline in the new Star Trek movie. I know, I know, why bother? But that's the way my brain works sometimes. I'd rather worry more about if this means the events of the time travel episodes that hadn't happened yet (from the perspective of the characters in the film) still, in fact, happen, or if the ripple in the timeline goes both ways, than to worry about how I'm going to pay my rent on the 1st now that I'm not getting a GI Bill check for June. Entertainment is about escaping your life for a while, and I'd really like to escape mine for the summer while I'm (thus far) going to be unemployed (again).
Everything You Know Is Wrong: Abrams Takes Us Where No Trek Has Gone Before
Director/Producer JJ Abrams has taken Star Trek where it hasn’t gone before by taking it back to where it all began. Surprise; he rebooted Star Trek while no one was looking, and not only did he do it well enough that many casual fans–let alone the general public–won’t even notice, he managed to do it in-continuity with the Trek that had gone before, thanks to a clever plot involving a time-traveling villain who actually succeeds in carrying out most of his goals before he can be stopped, forever altering the history of Star Trek that has been built up over the past four decades. From this point on, as the film makes painfully clear, anything goes.
found the coolest toy
I was at the BX today and found the coolest Optimus Prime figure I've ever seen:
It's the "War Within" design from the comic of the same name, set soon after Optimus Prime was given the Matrix, so he doesn't have a human-based vehicle mode. It's die-cast metal like the original toys in the 80s, and unlike the statues released of this design, it actually transforms into the Cybertronian vehicle mode. Best of all, it was only $15!
Help feed my caffeine addiction
I am reading
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Random Quote
Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you’re a good person is like expecting a bull to not charge you because you’re a vegetarian.
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- So apparently my school is streaming my graduation this morning at http://t.co/j2bir62y
- So this is happening now http://t.co/B1flb6l4 http://t.co/qHMyUhFU http://t.co/XzmFvrfq
- Done with school. About to see Avengers with a few friends...
- Just turned in my final paper. Tomorrow morning, I graduate. It still doesn't feel real yet.
- 3 classes done: 1 grade posted, 1 known, & waiting on the 3rd. Final paper for 4th class due tomorrow. Graduation in 26 hours... Bring it.