A quick note about Star Trek

Just a quick note.  I've gone much of my adult life without television reception. I pretty much missed those Star Trek Next Generation episodes.  (not that I haven't seen bits and pieces) Now that I have Netflix, I've been watching an episode a night, and I have to say that Season Four has just been fantastic! 

I just finished Season 4 Episode 21 (The Drumhead). It's the one where a visiting Klingon is exposed as a Romulan spy. Immediately a crewman is accused of being a spy as well merely for befriending the Klingon. Captain Picard recognizes that the crewman is being tried without any evidence and found guilty based on mere speculation. He refuses to go along with this witch-hunt and consequently he himself is put on trial as a Romulan collaborator. I admit I was getting pretty worked up about it, but  when Picard stood his ground and spoke the truth about what was happening, I nearly stood up and cheered out loud.  It really struck a personal note for me. I wish I could hope than anyone reading this blog would go back and watch that episode. Our society could really use a dose of that kind of wisdom. I know first hand how such stuff happens.

My entry in the New Yorker Caption Contest #367

This one was tough, but I finally came up with a small chuckle for it.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest 01-24-13

Here is this week's entry into the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest.

New Yorker Caption Contest 01-14-13

I didn't really come up with a very good one for this week's contest.

My Latest Entry in New Yorker's Cartoon Caption Contest

Here's my latest entry in New Yorker's cartoon caption contest.

The more I think about it, the more I think it should have been "You seem a little board." Oh, well.

Update: The reason I didn't use the alternate spelling was because I didn't want to spoon-feed the joke, but it appears I should have because my caption was better than any of the finalists. One of the finalists was outright lousy. "Stop me if you've heard this one." What the hell is funny about that? 

Metropolitan is my New Year's Eve Tradition

     This year I got to celebrate a New Year's Eve tradition that I haven't been able to for many, many years. A movie, yes another holiday tradition of a movie. But what a wonderful movie. It's absolutely one of my favorites. If you haven't yet seen Metropolitan I highly recommend it. 

     I have so much I could say about it, but it's late and I really don't feel like doing a critique. Here's what Roger Ebert has to say about it. ...  I just read it, and it's not a bad review, but there's so much more that could be said about this film. For one, it's hilarious! Even though this is maybe the tenth time I've seen it, it kept me in stitches the whole time. I caught myself quoting many of the lines right along with them. The dialogue is a work of perfection. The insights are brilliant. It does a fantastic job of transporting you to a world you know must have really existed. (Although I would have never been invited.) The characters are so well defined. There are so many really poignant moments. That scene at the end where they're hitch-hiking home....
     There. I said I wasn't going to do a critique, and yet I've been gushing one. It was Whit Stillman's first film. I've seen his other's and they are good, but not as good as this one.  It's on Netflix right now.  If you haven't seen it yet, you really should.  On the other hand. I don't think this film is for everyone. The focus on New York socialites might not appeal to one and all, but if you can get past that, you're in for a real treat.