17th September

17th September
Paralympics on the 17th: https://plus.google.com/+ChristopherFardell/posts/9RvE24uM8bZ

Parasitology links: https://plus.google.com/+ChristopherFardell/posts/GzXScRHL5Rx

Star Trek (2009) review: http://fardell34.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/star-trek-2009-review.html

52 Tales of 2016: The Many Doctors - Chapter 84: https://plus.google.com/+ChristopherFardell/posts/A8fXf1hyy8M

Paralympics tally so far (Morning of the 18th)

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
China 105 81 51 237
Great Britain 64 39 44 147
Ukraine 41 37 39 117
United States 40 42 30 112
Australia 21 29 29 79

Star Trek (2009) review

 51 Star Trek (2009)

Rewatch. The eleventh Star Trek film. The first set in the 'Kelvin Timeline'. A Romulan mining ship, the Nerada, and Ambassador Spock inadvertantly travel back in time, creating an alternate reality. A good film, if not entirely based on the original series. However, Chris Pine does make a really good Kirk. The scenes near the beginning with young Kirk in the car, serve to introduce the character as he is in this timeline. A young hotshot eager to proove himself. Someone that Captain Christopher Pike sees potential in.

The film then jumps forwards to his attempt at the Kobyashi Maru test. (After he met's McCoy, while enroute to the Academy.) This is consistent with how it is described in The Wrath of Khan (not that it needed to be). Overall the film is rather good. A good way to rejuvinate the franchise after it had gone tired earlier in the decade (not that Enterprise was bad). It could havve been better, though. The concept of the 'Red Matter' isn't that scientifically sound, nor is the galaxy threatening supernova.

But that is just the setup. The rest of the film is rather good in it's presentation. The destruction of Vulcan is appropriately dramatic and poignant. The scenes (mainly the rescue scenes, and the scenes on the drill platform) leading up to it are rather good too. Although killing off Amanda may have been too much, but that plotline does allow Kirk to meet the Spock from the Prime 'verse, and bring Scotty into the mission. This sequence is rather well done, showing that it is the same Spock from the original series and first six films.

However, while well acted, Nero isn't that good of a villain. It isn't really explained why he is taking out his anger on the Federation, given that Spock may have been working alone in 2387 to defeat the supernova. But this doesn't take away from the fact that the film is very well presented (despite Abrams' lens flares). Another great rewatch. 9/10.

Paralympics tally so far (16th)

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
China 84 66 41 191
Great Britain 49 28 31 108
Ukraine 35 27 30 92
United States 30 33 26 89
Australia 14 24 22 60

10th September

Paralympics tally so far: https://plus.google.com/+ChristopherFardell/posts/NZNQoxs6TTw

52 Tales of 2016: Mystery of the Defiant - Hour One: https://plus.google.com/+ChristopherFardell/posts/QkmPyqidpDU

The Living Daylights review: http://brenorenz.deviantart.com/journal/The-Living-Daylights-review-633588753

Star Trek: Nemesis review

 49 Star Trek: Nemesis

Rewatch. The tenth Star Trek movie. The last based on The Next Generation. Picard and his crew are drawn into an unusual situation after a coup d'etat on Romulus. A situation that would have personal consequences for the Enterprise senior officers. Overall the situations presented are done well, but this presentation doesn't match up well compared to the quality of the previous The Next Generation films. Mainly this is because of the nature of the villain. Shizon as an abandoned clone of Picard?

The concept is not well developed. It could have been done a lot better. The Romulan plot from decades ago could have been detailed more. However, these issues doesn't make the film in any way unenjoyable. (It's just not as enjoyable as most other Star Trek films.) The way that the Thalaron Radiation works isn't developed either. With these quibbles aside, it is a good send off for the Next Generation crew, particularly Data. More on that later. Despite the quibbles about Shinzon's nature, Picard's response to this revelation is quite believable.

It is reasonable that he would want to compare himself and Shinzon. Their childhood's, their dreams etc. Of course, both are influenced by the environments. Picard as the explorer, due to the mostly peaceful nature of the Federation. Shinzon as a warrior due to his upbringing on Romulus and then Remus. Then there is Data and B4. Another mirror. And a foreshadowing of what is to come. The way Data went out, was true to his character. It was a sacrifice a human would have made. Then there are other developments, with Shinzon's Romulan 'allies'.

It is quite natural that they would want to betray Shinzon once his true motivations became known. There is more, but this what the movie is mostly about. (No need to question whether the Enterprise E actually has 29 decks!) As said above, the film isn't as good as most other Star Trek films, but still rewatchable. 7.25/10.

52 Tales of 2016 - August

31. ZooTube: Ateles geoffroyi: http://fardell24.livejournal.com/213100.html

32. ZooTube - Vercia veriegata: http://fardell24.livejournal.com/213987.html

33. Reverse Map Game: 2016 -  July December 2010: http://fardell24.livejournal.com/215443.html

34. Thoughts about the Doctor - Heaven Sent: http://fardell24.livejournal.com/216111.html