Trekkie Tuesday

Datalore- Season 1, Episode 12
The Enterprise visits the planet that Data is from. The planet is found to be dead, a wasteland with no life around. They discover a hidden building which turns out to be the lab where Data was brought to life. They also find another android in disassembled form.

Data wants the other android to be assembled and activated if possible. He says that it is important for him to find out if this other android can be activated or not. He hopes that in doing so he may learn more about himself. Data is also intrigued by the idea of having another android walking around.
Data has always been my favorite character on Next Gen. so I tend to be drawn to the episodes that are centered around him.

 In this episode, we find Lore, the other android, who appears to be like Data in most ways except that he is more adapt at certain human faculties, such as humor. Lore also seems to be more human in his mannerisms and speech patterns. It's off the basis of this that Lore projects he is the superior android. While Lore may be more human it is these very human qualities that corrupt him.

He feels he is superior to all humans and especially to Data. This seems to be the motivation for Lore to put the people on board the Enterprise in danger. Lore can communicate with a being known simply as the Crystal Entity.

This entity feeds off all forms of life and was led to the colonists on Data's home planet by Lore, who then destroyed them. It was Lore's intent that the Crystal Entity also feed off the Enterprise.
I found it interesting that they chose to use the qualities that Data wishes to cultivate more in himself as a springboard for ill intent in a "brother" android. Data's loyalty to the captain and crew members seems to be what tempers this revolt in Lore, though he ultimately gets destroyed. So superiority of self is pitted against loyalty to others and I would agree that the latter would be a good mark of a well adjusted human.
What are your thoughts about Lore?
Until we meet again, live long and prosper!

Writing: the First Time

This will be my first post about writing so I feel I should explain a little bit about why it will be a regular part of this blog. I have always been drawn to writing, both out of personal interest and artistically. My favorite character in Little Women is Jo March, the writer.

I have kept a personal journal for over 20 years and I even bought a few books on writing. Since I am such an avid reader it seems only natural that an interest in writing would follow. I've never fancied myself as a great writer but I do have my moments of true insight and have even shown a flare for satire. In these posts, I want to share not only samples of my writing but also my musings on the act of writing as well as quotes from beloved writers. The subject matter will include everything under the sun and will be non-fiction; I've never been very good at making up stories. I hope to open up a dialogue with your comments and criticisms and who knows what will happen from there.
The sample I'm going to share today is admittedly a little depressing but it's recent. Please don't think that I wallow in self pity because I don't. This is an excerpt from my journal and journals are meant to be places where you can dump your emotions, get a load off your chest and vent and rant to your heart's content. With that in mind, lets take a look at the workings of my brain pan.

At the very heart of my loneliness is my lack of purpose. I have never known what I am to do with my life. I have always felt like a directionless wanderer, picking up little bits here and there, being totally fascinated by everything but never being able to commit to one thing. The knowledge of the world holds great adventure for me. Unfortunately, one cannot live off the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.    

This is only the smallest of scratches on the surface of what will be presented here. I know that I sound terribly formal but I want to make sure that I am understood and then we can all relax with a nice cup of tea. And here is a quote from one of my most beloved modern authors:

Ache, the toppling over, the feeling that something vital is distinguishing,
 the stuck in muck feeling seeping at the edges. 
- Sabrina Ward Harrison
The True and the Questions

If you have not heard of this woman you need to check her out. Her work is beautiful, amazing and insightful. She is a true inspiration! Don't forget to share your thoughts below. Bye for now.

Trekkie Tuesday

"Loud as a Whisper"- Season 2, Episode 5
This is one of the more intellectually intriguing episodes. The Enterprise is acting as transport for a mediator for a civil war between two tribes. They are not to be engaged or involved in the social transactions in any way. Of course, this is exactly what happens, to an extent. The mediator, Riva, is def and uses a psychic link with 3 other individuals to communicate with the world.

 I find the idea of communication through others and psychic links really intriguing. I wonder how different our world would be if this was our main form of communication.
Each individual represents an emotional aspect of the mediator: there is intellect, passion and harmony. They are referred to as his Chorus. The 3 do not always accompany Riva wherever he goes. When Troi takes him to his quarters, the translator of passion is the only one who follows them. Sometimes, I think it would be nice to be able to segregate un-needed or unwanted parts of my emotions in a similar way. But I suppose that it's better that we humans are meant to deal with our emotions rather than run away from them.

 Riva's chorus end up getting killed during negotiations and he is forced to think of a different way to talk with the warring peoples.  Their deaths affect Riva more than he expected and he feels hopeless and no longer wants to mediate. Troi is able to convince him to use this disadvantage as an advantage.

Without his interpreters, both of the tribes are on level ground. Riva decides he will teach them sign language. While they are learning to communicate with Riva they will also be learning to communicate with each other. This will be the basis for peace to be made.
I found Riva's character to be especially interesting in this episode. His way of communication is as Troi put it, "elegant and beautiful." Such skill would take years to accomplish and would require great patience and perseverance. If we learned to communicate in this way would we have greater understanding of each other? Would there be less fighting and warring in the world? What do you think?
Thanks for hanging. Live long and prosper.