Back to the future!  This week we're talking about conventions, tours, Atari, George Takei and more!

Links: The latest Slice of SciFi podcast (which covers the FedConUSA debacle), the Aerospace Museum's Star Trek: The Exhibition page and George Takei's homepage.

Music this week: Odd Austin Aeschliman's "Atari", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

This episode of the Jefferies Tube looks at the Starfleet health plan.  Need universal coverage?  They've got it.  Don't want to pay anything for instant treatment?  No sweat.  Sound good to be true?  Quite possibly.

Music this week:  Jim Tyrrell's "Bacon Wine", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

An entire life cycle of news this week...  the gestation of Star Trek XI, the birth of Star Trek: The Tour, the death of Star Trek: Online and the resurrection of Talk Trek.  The miracle of life in a mere 22 minutes!

Links: Star Trek: The Tour, Star Trek Online, the Talk Trek podcast and the official Star Trek XI website with trailer. 

Music this week: Possible Oscar's "Talk Nerdy to Me", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

Console gamers rejoice!  This week we're discussing Star Trek Conquest, a recent offering from Bethesda games.  Guide your empire to total dominance of the Alpha Quadrant, killing billions of innocent civilians along the way.  Hurray!

Links this week: Bethesda Software's Star Trek Conquest page, Star Trek Conquest and Star Fleet Command II at Wikipedia and the Argus Array podcast.

Music this week: Smart Bomb Radio - "Super Mario Brothers Plumbing and Drain Cleaning", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

SPOILER ALERT!

ALL PERSONNEL WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE DEEP SPACE NINE EPISODE "IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT" SHOULD PROCEED TO AN ESCAPE POD IMMEDIATELY!

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE ATTEMPT TO LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST!

Music this Week:  Sunspot's "Power Word Kill", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

Battle stations!  Borg cube incoming!

This week we take a look at the Battle of Wolf 359 and its repercussions.  Hoping I could get a half an hour out of this may have been a little optimistic.

Music this week: Kerry Politzer's "I Cried Wolf", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

Links: Battle of Wolf 359, the punk band, a list of the starships destroyed at Wolf 359 and the battle itself at Memory Alpha and Wikipedia.

This week we revisit one of the neatest Star Trek techs: the replicator!

Any food you want, any time you want it, all with the same nutritional value.  Who wouldn't be eating piles of bacon and washing them down with milkshakes all day long?

Thanks to Memory Alpha for invaluable info this episode.

Music this week: Dan Warren's "Parallel Universes", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

This week: TV theme songs!  Whether your taste runs in the traditional Alexander Courage direction or towards the contemporary Russell Watson style of songwriting, you'll find something to enjoy in this one!  Viva la Trek!

Fun links: the Star Trek soundtracks website, some info on the TOS theme at Wikipedia, The Star Trekkin' Page, Jerry Goldsmith's website, Alexander Courage at Wikipedia, Snopes page about the TOS theme controversy and the Enterprise theme music petition.

Music this week by Alexander Courage, Jerry Goldsmith (x3!) and Russell Watson.  Hooray!

This week's episode looks at Nathan Archer's entry in the Star Trek: Voyager line, "Ragnarok".  It's a fun novel from 1995 that features the Voyager kicking all kinds of butt in a massive galactic conflict.

Warning: here be spoilers for a 12-year-old book!

Links: Nathan Archer at Fantastic Fiction, this novel at Amazon.com
(it appears my positive opinion of "Ragnarok" may be in the minority) and the 1995 page over at the Complete Starfleet Library.

Music this week: NOW is NOW - "Other Worlds", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

Make your saving throw vs. geek -- this one's all about Star Trek role-playing games!

Links: Roll 2d6's history of Star Trek RPG's, Wikipedia entries for FASA Star Trek and Decipher Star Trek and, again, the Star Fleet Games website.

Music this week: Tom Smith's "Insert Geek Cliche Here", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

The X-Men.  Right-wing politics.  Star Trek XI.  Listener e-mail.  Death.

What do these have in common?  Not much, other than the fact that they all get discussed in this week's Jefferies Tube.  This one is (intentionally) all over the place.  I may repeat this format at some point in the future.

Links this week: Star Trek Weekend at NRO (including that James Lileks article), a page about the X-Men/Star Trek crossover, the website of Star Trek audio publishers Darker Projects and the Memory Alpha entry for death.

Music this week: Paul and Storm's "Randy Newman's Theme from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" from music.podshow.com.

Sorry, I just didn't care for her.

Fun links: Memory Alpha entries for Jadzia, Dax and Trills in general.  Also, here are some cool YouTube videos dedicated just to Jadzia: 1, 2 and 3.

Music this week: Sonny Combs and Kitty Kat Rodeo's "Thin Disguise", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

Play ball!  This episode of the Jefferies Tube focuses on Star Trek sports.  From the racquetball court to the holosuite baseball diamond, we'll take a closer look at how Starfleet personnel keep so fit.  You'll lose a few pounds just listening!

Some fun links are the Memory Alpha entries for racquetball,
tennis, fencing and baseball.  For a laugh, here's the official site for
Calvin and Hobbes, mentioned in the episode.

Music this week: Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew - "The 7 Seas", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

Behold the power of cheese! 

Neelix's first attempt at a macaroni dish goes horribly awry in the suprisingly good Voyager episode "Learning Curve".  Maybe he should have just replicated up a box of Kraft EasyMac instead.

But if that wasn't enough, we also get to see Tuvok the drill sergeant!  This is one of those silly Star Trek episodes that should fail on every level but somehow manage to be very entertaining.  File alongside "Shore Leave" and "One Little Ship".

Music this week: Art Linton 's "Wanderlust" courtesy of music.podshow.com.

I just finished watching the first season of Star Trek.  William "Coolest Guy Ever" Shatner.  Leonard "I am Not Spock/I Am Spock" Nimoy.  DeForest "Gary Sinise Will Never Replace Me" Kelley.  Salt-sucking monsters.  Gorn rubber suits.  Flying vomit. 

Who could ask for more?

Advertisements courtesy of Smart Bomb Radio (via music.podshow.com).

No, not the end of the Jefferies Tube (heaven forbid!). 

After years and years of television series, movies, books, comic books, CD's, posters, costumes, props, autographed pictures, board games, computer games, trading card games, collectible plates, figurines, model starships, 3-D chess sets, Christmas tree ornaments, commemorative toilet seats... when is enough enough for Star Trek?

Music this week: Rebel Soul Band's "Destination Unknown", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

Since we recently took a look at "Caretaker" it seemed appropriate
to revisit the very first episode of Enterprise: "Broken Bow". 

Lots to discuss!  Captain Archer.  T'Pol.  The NX-01.  Suliban shape changers.  Some weird dude from the future who wants the Klingons to fight each other for unexplained/inexplicable reasons.

(It took much willpower to avoid titling this one "From Bad to Worse"...)

Music this week: Sunspot's "Scott Bakula", courtesy of music.podshow.com.  Great song.

This week: upcoming Trek DVD releases.  I complain a bit about the cost of said box sets, but it's all done out of a sense of childish envy.  Those of you with vaults of gold-pressed latinum to spare should be fine. 

 

Links to these releases: the bargain priced Star Trek Fan Collective - Captain's Log, the reasonably priced Star Trek: The Next Generation - Complete Series and ludicrously overpriced Star Trek Remastered: Season One.

 

Music for this episode: Shelly Niebuhr's "Best Things In Life - Don't Put Your Faith In Money".  I grabbed it from music.podshow.com, where they just give this stuff away.  Maybe music.podshow.com will buy out Viacom one day and release Star Trek for free over the net. 

 

I wouldn't count on it, though.

"Fire!"

With one word, Captain Janeway destroyed the Caretaker's array and condemned her crew to a long, long trip back to the Alpha Quadrant.  Was she right?  I'll address some of the major criticisms of her decision.

Wonderful links this week!  "The Court Martial of Captain Kathryn Janeway" can be found here and here.  Other interesting sites include the Caretaker's array entry at Memory Alpha, an alternate history fanfic called "Enmity Mine" and a long Usenet argument over Janeway's decision.

 
Music this week: Mark LaForme's "Long Gone", courtesy of music.podshow.com.  Star Trek and country music -- two great tastes that taste great together!

ACHTUNG: MAJOR SPOILERS FOR DS9 AND B5 IN THIS EPISODE!

Ahh, the Babylon 5 vs. Deep Space Nine controversy of yesteryear.  Was it mere coincidence that these two similar shows debuted within a month and a half of each other?  Did the suits at Paramount have it in for JMS?  Or do the conspiracy-minded Babylon 5 fans just need to get a grip?

These are good questions.  I have no answers.  Hope you enjoy the irresponsible speculation!

Related links for this topic include the "Babylon 5 vs Deep Space Nine" page, the WWWF Grudge Match and The Babylon 5 vs. Deep Space Nine FAQ.

This week I talk at length about Origins 2007, the Star Fleet Universe and lots of different Star Trek board games.  The geek factor is through the roof!

Games discussed include Star Fleet Battles, Federation Commander, Federation and Empire, Tribbles Customizable Card Game and Battlestations.

Also, here's a link to Richard Hatch's War of Magellan setting, though I couldn't dig up anything specifically related to the board game.

Awesome music this episode! Possible Oscar's "At The Con", courtesy of music.podshow.com.  (They deserve much credit for the punny title of this episode, as well).

TV and movies are fine for a cold winter's night, but when it's a hot summer day it's time for the next frontier: Star Trek vacations!  Whether it's a quick jaunt out to TrekFest or two weeks at sea on CruiseTrek, this is your guide to squandering your life savings Trek-style!

Attractions discussed include Iowa's TrekFest, CruiseTrek, Canada's own Town of Vulcan and the official Star Trek convention at Star Trek: The Experience!

Music this week: Magic City's "OHIO Beach Party", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

This week: some big questions about transporters!

Why doesn't everyone in the 24th century have one?  What does transporter technology say about the existence of a human soul?  Why can't the Federation use them to just crank out a bunch of clones? 

(I'll take a Yeoman Rand, please!)

 

Music this week: Tom Smith's "I Want My Flying Car", courtesy of music.podshow.com.

This week on the Jefferies Tube: religious beliefs of the Ferengi!  Hope y'all enjoy this episode.  Though, in the words of Rule of Acquisition #19, "Satisfaction is not guaranteed!"

(Apologies in advance to the five or six people who heard this the first time around.)

Hilarious music this week courtesy of The Martians.  The track is "Heaven" and I grabbed it from music.podshow.com.

Size matters!  This week's episode of the Jefferies Tube looks at the idea of shrinking in sci-fi film and television.  Who doesn't like Fantastic Voyage and Innerspace?  Then it's on to one of my favorite Deep Space Nine episodes, "One Little Ship".

I also mention Deep Discount's current 20% off sale.  You can get that special by using the promotion code "DVDTALK".

Music this week: "When Did You Get So Small", courtesy of Todd Lerner via music.podshow.com.

Romulan ale.  Klingon Blood wine.  Synthehol. 

Have I whetted your appetite yet?  This week's edition of the Jefferies Tube looks at the major alcoholic drinks in the Star Trek universe.  If you want a truly interactive podcast experience, just replicate some Saurian brandy and drink it during the show.

A couple of fun links on this topic: a wonderful essay entitled "Space -- the Wino Frontier" and this YouTube video of "Star Trek: The Experience".

Music for this episode is courtesy of Al Foul, via music.podshow.com.

A week of "what ifs"...  Actors, actresses and characters that almost made it into the Star Trek universe!

(All apologies to Genevieve Bujold for butchering her name.)

A quick recap of the events of Star Trek Generations and then the main course: the death of Kirk!  Why did The Powers That Be kill off one of the series' most enduring characters?  Did they do a good job with it?  I'll take a look at the film's broadcast ending and also the original, deleted ending and offer some thoughts.

Some fun links relating to this episode:

Roger Ebert's review of Generations, TrekNation's list of Top 100 Reasons Why Kirk Should Return From the Dead and an impressive, extensive look at this subject at BringBackKirk.com.

1967... The Summer of Love.  Haight-Ashbury.  The Mamas and the Papas.  Jefferson Airplane.  Abbie Hoffman.

But who cares about all that?  Star Trek was on hiatus between the first and second seasons, but that doesn't mean this was a summer without aliens.  Deep within the Mojave Desert, one Canadian TV actor encountered the unknown. What did William Shatner see in those California skies?  Why did his motorcycle come alive on its own? Did UFO's visit other Star Trek actors?  Using all of the investigative tools at my disposal (i.e. Google), I attempt to learn more about this close encounter.

 I refer to Bruce Rux's Hollywood vs. the Aliens, William Shatner's Mysteries of the Gods and the "I Love William Shatner" and "Secrets of the Mojave" webpages.

Brace for impact!  The first public episode of the Jefferies Tube looks at Captain Picard's clone, Shinzon.  Why did the Romulans create him? Why did he turn against them?  Is he really a mirror for Picard or just an evil jerk?  Listen to some clips from Star Trek Nemesis, hear my thoughts and then decide for yourself!