The Fifth Day of Isolation

The second day working from home. I was still able to have the same workflow I usually have at the office. The home internet going on the ‘fritz’ is still an issue. This is mainly because it is still an ADSL connection. It would seem the connecting with colleagues may be an issue. (Just need to have the confidence to call.) However, work isn’t the activity that would take up my day. Bible Study also occurs on Tuesdays. (But It may not have been held tonight either way.)

The Fourth Day of Isolation

The first day working from home. I was able to have the same workflow I usually have at the office. The only real issue is that the home internet connection occasionally goes ‘on the fritz’. Even with a smartphone as a hotspot, there can be a weak connection, causing problems. Otherwise connecting with work colleagues would be next hurdle…

Third Day of Isolation

The third day of isolation.

Because Saturdays are usually spent at home.

Second Day – Livestream Church instead of actually being at Church. Rather like being at Church, except one would arrive late and leave early. This is probably going to be the most difficult aspect of the pandemic to deal with. Of course, I will be reaching out to other members of the congregation by other means.

Church notes - March 2020

On LiveJournal: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/404361.html

On Dreamwidth: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/430899.html

Church notes - 29th March 2019

29th March
Psalm 92:1 - 8

John 14:6
John 16:33

Luke 11:2 - 4

What is something that has changed in the past week?

Luke 8:22 - 28
Hebrews 13:8

The coronavirus is strong and scary, but Jesus is stronger!

Jesus Calms the Storm
1) What does this story show us about Jesus?
2) If we trust in Jesus, does that change how we approach difficult, even dangerous situations in life?
3) Does it mean hard or dangerous situations won't happen?
4) Why trust Jesus if he doesn't always rescue us from every bad situation. What does he rescue us from?

Psalm 91
Life throws curveballs...
Uncertainty and anxiety, not only drought and bushfires, but also COVID-19. (On top of the usual life struggles.)
Job and Psalmists asked why the bad things were happening to them.
John 16:33
In this world there will be trouble.

Why?
Why me?
Those asking want an answer of comfort and hope.
Ultimately, God is in control. He didn't create death and suffering.
Genesis 1:31

Thorns and thistles. The Devil is the one responsible.

Romans 8:21, 22
The creation waiting for redemption.
Romans 8:28

Joseph's story - despite being enslaved and imprisoned, God was able to use him to rescue the people of Egypt and the surrounding nations from famine.

God can bring good, even out of evil.

Though suffering isn't good, God can use it to accomplish good.

Suffering pales into insignificance compared to what God has in store for all his followers.
2 Corinthians 4:17
Romans 8:18

Revelation 21:3, 4

We decide whether to turn bitter or turn to God for peace and courage.

John 16:33
Suffering and death doesn't have the last word. God does.
Jesus experienced these, but He overcame them at the Cross.
Salvation come from knowing Him personally, and receiving his forgiveness.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18

Quinn's Code - Cafe Geekdale - Part 3

“Um, I thought you were fighting,” Quinn said diplomatically.

“We weren't. I was just asking your sister about her music,” Kristen answered.

“Oh, she almost never talks about her music,” Quinn said.

“I got that impression. She hasn't told me very much,” Kristen said. 'But it is enough to know that Daria is quite withdrawn and moody,' she thought.

“Quinn, Kristen, you can leave now!” Daria said.

“What is your problem? We were about to leave!” Quinn said.

“My problem! You are my problem!” Daria almost shouted.

“Oh really?” Quinn began. Kristen slipped out of the room.

“Yes!” Daria shouted.

512 Grandstaff Drive

The Fashion Club were having a sleepover at club president Sandi Griffin's house. After dinner they had all gone up to Sandi's bedroom.

“There is a reason why I asked you to stay over tonight. We have to, like, do something about Quinn,” Sandi said.

“Why?” Stacy Rowe asked. The Fashion Club didn't usually do sleepovers.

“Sta-cy! We need to stop the Geekiness of that Geekendorffer from getting any more popular!” Sandi exclaimed.

“Why?” Stacy asked.

“Tori?” Sandi asked, turning to the Vice President, Tori Jericho.

“According to my sources, whom I have asked in the last week, the popularity of various science fiction and fantasy media amongst Lawndale High students has gone up drastically,” Tori said. She took a bar chart out of her bag. “According to this, the popularity of Stargate Atlantis has gone up by 33%!”

“Is that all?” Stacy asked. 'That is nothing to be concerned about. Even if he's a brain and a jerk, that McKay guy is cute.'

“What do stars and gates have to do with a ci-ity that saaank in the oce-an?” Tiffany Blum-Deckler asked.

“That's not all, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and by association, the other Narnia books, by 50%,” Tori said.

“That's probably due to the movie which is coming out in a couple of months, not due to Quinn,” Stacy said.

“Sta-cy!”

“Eep!”

“I wasn't finished,” Tori said.

“Sorry,” Stacy said.

“Futurama, 10%. Lord of the Rings, 30%. Halo,75%. World of Warcraft, 95 %. The Matrix, 80%. Battlestar Galactica 45 %. Wheel of Time, 25%. Redwall, 55%. Back to the Future, 70 %.” Tori then listed a few more; some not even sci-fi or fantasy.

“I get the point!” Stacy said, even though she liked some of the stories listed.

“Yes. Tori, I see that the games have become very popular. That is why we need to destroy the Geekendorffer's popularity!” Sandi said.

“I have an idea,” Tori said.

“Then tell us, Tori!” Sandi said.

“Today, some of the sophomores were saying that Mr. O'Neill plans to open an old style coffee house for performances,” Tori said.

“The point being?” Sandi asked.

“The point being, Sandi, that it is a venue we can use to discredit Quinn! We can write a speech denouncing her Geekiness!” Tori said.

Sandi thought about it. That was a very good idea. She smiled. “Excellent!” she said, subconsciously copying the mannerisms of Montgomery Burns from The Simpsons.

'Oh no!' Stacy thought. “But there is a problem,” she said.

“What is that?” Sandi asked, turning to Stacy.

“Only the sophomores will be performing at the Coffee House.”

“Oh, Really? I will see about that. I will ask Mr. O'Neill to allow freshmen to perform,” Sandi said.

“Great idea, Sandi,” Tori said.

“Yes, it is,” Sandi said.

Back at the Morgendorffers, Helen went upstairs to find Cindy and Kristen waiting outside Daria's door with concerned looks on their faces. “What is going on?” she asked.

“Mrs. Morgendorffer, Quinn and Daria have been arguing for around ten minutes,” Kristen said.

“Oh my! They usually get tired of arguing after five minutes!”

“I knew something was up,” Kristen said.

Cindy nodded.

“Don't worry. They don't usually come to blows,” Helen said, although her voice showed some apprehension.

The door opened and Quinn came out, visibly sweating. She closed the door and said; “I don't want to talk about it.”

“Are you sure?” Helen asked.

“Something is up between you and your sister,” Cindy said.

“Most of the issues are on her side anyway. You would have to ask her. Good luck with that!” Quinn said as she headed back to her room.

“I would still like to know,” Kristen said.

“I'll tell you when I'm ready. Not right now,” Quinn said as she went into the room.

Cindy followed Quinn into the room. “We don't need to know now. But we can be there when she wants to tell someone,” she said as she stopped at the door.

“True,” Kristen said, as Cindy entered the room. She remained in the hallway for a few moments longer.

“I wouldn't worry overly much. Quinn is strong, although a little obsessive sometimes,” Helen said.

“I know, on both counts,” Kristen said. “Thanks, Mrs.Morgendorffer.”

“You're welcome,” Helen said as her daughter's goth friend went back into the room.

Tuesday, October 19. 2005

Daria entered the kitchen for breakfast to find her mother waiting for her. “Didn't you have a 7:00 AM meeting?” she asked.

“When I called Eric for directions, he said that the meeting was canceled,” Helen said.

“Oh!” Daria said.

“You know, Daria, it wouldn't hurt if you got involved in some after school activities once in a while.”

Daria just grabbed a box of breakfast cereal.

“I'm serious. When you apply to college, they're going to be looking for that sort of thing.”

“They're going to be looking to see whether I can pay for school. This might be a good time to talk about setting up a trust?”

Helen sighed. “I just want you to think about it, Daria. That's all I ask.”

Daria just poured some milk on her cereal.

“Otherwise we might have to make it up over the summer. Send you to some kind of camp.”

“You wouldn't,” Daria said.

Helen just gave her daughter a poignant look.

“You would. But I would have to interpret it as punishment for doing something, very, very, wrong.”

“Nonsense. It would just be an easy way of getting some extracurricular activity on your college applications... If you weren't able to come up with any on your own.

“You're good. When you put your mind to it, you're very, very good.”

“You'll find something to get involved with. It'll be fun.”

“Swell,” Daria said.

“I also heard that you were involved in another argument with Quinn last night,” Helen said.

That brought Daria up short. “Who told you that? I know Quinn didn't.”

“Kristen did. She and Cindy are close to Quinn and want to know what is going on between you two.”

Daria just took a bite of her cereal.

Helen sighed.

Doctor Who - Searching Wherefore

Doctor Who – Searching Wherefore

Surely the Judoon could have just forgotten. But no, it was just her luck that they would catch her at a very vulnerable point. Still, she knew she was going to escape, somehow. She looked around the cell again. There were no obvious avenues of escape, not yet.

First Day of Isolation

Staying at home to avoid contracting the Coronavirus. It definitely sounds like something one doesn’t want to get.

Nor do I want my parents to get it, given that they in a vulnerable age group and have other conditions or work in Age Care.

First day – Not going in to volunteer at the Op Shop I have volunteered at for many years. Mixed feelings about that. (But from next week, they are reducing their hours, being open for less days.)

So far I’m OK with not going in until the pandemic is over (however long that is).

Star Trek: Picard: Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1 review

Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1

The penultimate episode. Quite interesting. La Sirena, Narek and the Artefact arrive at Coppelius, Soji's homeworld. But first, the intro scene, with La Sirena in the transwarp conduit. It it would be turbulant would be obvious, and the shot of Jurati cowering under the table was done rather well. Arriving at Coppelius, La Sirena is attacked by Narek. This battle was done well, including Narek projecting a false image of his ship to gain advantage over La Sirena. Then giant orchids envelop the two ships and the Artefact.

Thus they all crash on the planet's surface near the Synth settlement. But something is up with Picard. Jurati scans him and finds out about his neurological condition, which may be getting worse. The scene where he talks to the crew about his condition and that they shouldn't treat him like a dying man was very well written (and acted). They decide to go the Artefact first, before going to the Synth settlement. There, they find that Elnor, Seven and many XBs had survived the crash. A rather good scene.

The conversation between Picard and Seven was good also. 'Passing the torch' as it were. But Raffi and Rios discover that 218 Romulan warbirds are on the way. (Something about that number? Or 109?) They then go to the Synth settlement, where they discover many Synths. Some who have similar skin tones to Data, including Jana's sister Sutra, and others who look more human. There is also Noonian Soong's son, Altan Inigo Soong. (An unexpected, and interesting development.) Also a Synthetic cat named Spot II.

(A very good addition.) However, not all seems right in this seemingly idyllic community, especially when the vistors reveal that the Romulans are coming to destroy them. They don't have enough of the Orchids for one thing. But something else is up. When Jurati reveals what she knows from the Admonition, Sutra, having studied Vulcan culture, offers to mind meld with her. (Jurati's fear and anxiety was expressed rather well here.) Then Sutra tells what the Admonition means. That an extragalatic federation of Synths will save them from the Organics.

Making matters worse, Narek is captured and Picard tries to dissuade Sutra from her plan. That his speech fails, is understandable, given that the Synths (and Soong) are paranoid. (And Sutra seemingly has framed Narek for murdering one of the other Synths...) An episode with a feel more like TNG, it is still a good set up for what comes next. 8.8/10.

Church notes - 22nd March 2020

22nd March
FEAR
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

Luke 22:54 - 62

We must rely on God's Word and Command Fear to leave.

Kidswise - Peter gets it wrong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjxU8TDtyWA

God is in Control
Jesus tried to warn Peter, but he wasn't prepared. Jesus did ask Peter and John to pray, but that wasn't enough.
Denied Jesus at the courtyard belonging to the High Priest.
Make sure you're following Jesus more closely.
John 18:15 - 17
Peter's fears were growing

Peter had  been unfaithful to Jesus.
So have we, silent, not defending Jesus.

vs 60, 61
Eye Contact, Peter remembered.

'f Satan can't destroy our faith, he tries to destroy fellowship, joy and hope, so that we live in misery, are ineffective, and are neutralized as far as furthering the kingdom of God and diminishing Satan's sphere of influence.' Ralph Wilson.

1 John 1:9
Peter followed the path.
A point of failure. Guilt can't help us achieve anything.
A Juxaposition. Juxtaposition is an act or instance of placing two elements close together or side by side. This is often done in order to compare/contrast the two, to show similarities or differences, etc.
E.g. Three sisters at the Three sisters.

The moment of eye contact.
Juxtaposition of guilt and forgiveness.
Shame
- Negative Emotion, feeling something is basically wrong with you,
- Unresolved shame - can lead to depression and anxiety.
- Can lead to withdrawral and addictions.

By going to the Cross, Jesus has dealt with our shame.

God's long term plan
- Jesus knew he was going to the Cross, to save the world. He wasn't surprised by Peter's denial. Similarly God wasn't surprised by the Coronavirus.

John 21:15 - 19
Jesus restored Peter and gave him a job. No matter how great our shame, Jesus forgives us.

Conviction of sin.
Confession of sin.
Forgiveness through Christ's blood.
Repentance - a decision to turn from sin.
Restoration - the relationship repaired & renewed.

Romans 12:12

Star Trek: Picard: Broken Pieces review

Broken Pieces

The eighth episode. Picard and Soji's arrival on La Sirena causes Rios to go into hiding. Jurati recovers. Seven of Nine arrives on the Artefact. The scene where Rios seems to recognise Soji was done rather well. The way he withdrew was very moving. More on Rios below. Raffi calling out Picard for bringing Soji on board was done rather well. (Like, of course, she would be suspicious of Soji!) Meanwhile, Jurati has recovered and confesses that she murdered Bruce Maddox. This part was done well also.

On the Artefact, Seven comes to the rescue. Her line “What is happening on this cube?” was rather good. Her and Elnor avoiding Narissa and the other Romulans was done rather well, but the most impressive sequence was when she temporarily became a Queen to defend the Xbs. Very impressive indeed. Hearing “We are the Borg” while Seven tried to save the XBs from being spaced by Narissa was rather chilling. Elnor's innocent “Are you going to assimilate me now?” was also rather good. But “Annika has work to do,” was the best line.

Back to La Sirena, Raffi's detective work while she tries to coax Rios out of hiding was very well conceived. Each Emergency Hologram is a reflection of a different part of Rios' personality. The way Raffi interviews each of them and then holds a group session was very good writing, very well presented. Of course, the Emergency Engineering Hologram didn't need to be Scottish, but it worked. The EMH and the Emergency Navigational Hologram “Enoch”were the best of the bunch. The scene where Raffi confuses Enoch for Rios was very good.

But there's another revelation, that what had happened on the Ibn Majid involved contact with synths, including one who looked like Dahj and Soji, named Jana. This is why Rios went into hiding, as it caused his captain to take his own life when Starfleet ordered him to kill them. Certainly an interesting development. And the Ibn Majid's design looks rather good, similar to a cross between a Sovereign and a Crossfeild. Jurati trying to share what she learned from Commodore Oh was done very well.

Some kind of warning for the future about synthetic life, which the Romulans had discovered and which is used by Zhat Vash for initiation purposes. That the Collective cut off the Cube rather than let the information disseminate through it seems interesting also. Overall a rather good episode. 8.7.5/10.

Beginnings of 2020 - Faith in a Crisis

Faith in a Crisis

It was late in the afternoon when Daniela Field arrived home. The news wasn’t good. The situation was definitely out of control. She wanted to get her mind off the subject. However, her husband wasn’t home.

Doctor Who Series 12 Overall review

Series 12 Overall review

Over all this was an interesting series, with many different plot lines and themes. Espionage, hidden truths and struggles with identity feature prominently. Each episode shows each of these aspects in varying degrees (even the poorly contrived Orphan 55). In some cases, there are plans within plans, and counter plans. Aside from these elements, there is character development, even if some of it is subdued. The Doctor's struggles with the destruction of Gallifrey by the Master, and what he reveals about the Timeless Child were done very well.

Graham, Ryan and Yas also get more time as they deal with the situations that come up, albeit not consistently. They all appear with Captain Jack, for instance, and their fears are examined in Can You Hear Me? But more time could have been spent with each of them. (But maybe more episodes would have a good idea too.) More about each of them below. The Espionage/secret agent theme was used to great effect. What was thought to be a one off in Spyfall was in fact a set up for the rest of the series.

Spycraft and keeping secrets, more with the hidden truths theme. The Doctor working in the background to defeat the Master's scheme, leads to her discovering her own hidden truth when she tries to counter the Judoon's intervention in Gloucester. (I still think Ruth is Season 6B, rather than pre-Hartnell, given the TARDIS is a Police Box. Occam's Razor) This leads to the finale where it's revealed that the Division had used the Timeless Child/Doctor as an agent. It is certainly most prominent there.

It also links with the memory wiping. The Doctor's memories, and also Lovelace and Noor (although it's still distasteful, especially with the latter). Moving on, secrets also appear in Praxeus, convoluted it may be, where Suki turns out to be an alien. Struggles with identity also appears through the series, being most prominent in Can You Hear Me? (as would befit an episode released during Mental Health Week), where most of the characters deal with their struggles in one way or another.

And of course, this thread leads to the climax in The Timeless Children, where the Doctor learns that she's the Timeless Child. It was a very good example of foreshadowing. I certainly like to know where this leads. Graham continues to like travelling with the Doctor, but as the series goes on he questions whether he wants to continue to travel with the Doctor. (Especially after that awkward talk with the Doctor about whether his cancer would come back. The same for Ryan, although he managed to take out that group of Cybermen.

He too was questioning whether he wanted to continue travelling with the Doctor. However, Yas is more certain she wants to continue travelling with the Doctor, as her travels have awoken the sense of adventure in her. Overall a better series than the previous one. 8.47/10.

Series 12 Overall review TLDR summary

An interesting series with different plot lines and themes. Every episode shows all those aspects. Plans within plans. Character development occurs. The Doctor's struggles were presented well. The 'fam' gets more time, but probably not enough. (Maybe 10 episodes aren't enough.) Espionage theme is prominent from Spyfall through the rest of the series. Spycraft and hidden truths. The Doctor works in the background to defeat the Master's scheme and later finds her own hidden truth with Ruth.

There is also Suki. There are also struggles with identity, especially in Can You Hear Me? and with the Timeless Child. Graham and Ryan probably won't continue travelling with the Doctor, but Yas would. A better series than the previous. 8.47/10.

The Engineer and the Time Lady - Investigation v0.3

7. Investigation

Alpha heard a noise. She turned and saw Nina enter the Bridge. She saw that she had rested and smiled. “You are ready for duty?”

“Yes. What happened on that ship shouldn't have happened.”

“It would probably be a while before I'll let you go on another away mission.”

“I was thinking about that,” Nina said as she sat her console. “It would depend on the kind of mission.”

“It would,” Alpha said.

“I was considering travelling forwards to this planet's information age and copying historical data from the worldwide network.”

Alpha was intreagued, but cautious. “So, you'll go forwards, and steal a data storage device with the data on it?”

Nina interuppted. “I'll take a tricorder and use that to copy the data.”

“That would be better,” Alpha conceded.

“I can do it today,” Nina sated.

“Sure,” Alpha was pleased that Nina seemed to have recovered from the previous day's experience, but she was still concerned that she was letting her exuberance get away with her. “But not right away.”

Nina examined more of the data collected by the Baffin crew, specifically that on the version of Tanarexa IV in the first alternate universe they visited. Her conclusion was inconclusive. Whatever, or whoever, was responsible for the displacements on that planet probably wasn't going to help her and the holocrew return the ship to it's home universe. 'But maybe we could try?' It wouldn't be the first time a Time Lord tried to turn a powerful being to their side.

1200 hours. Alpha turned to Nina. “If you want to go on that forward journey, you can.”

“I shall.”

In the shuttlebay, Nina grabbed several tricorders and PADDs. “Are you sure you'll need all those?” Alpha asked.

“The contents of the network may be greater than the storage capacity,” Nina answered.

“That's unlikely, the PADDs have a storage capacity of four gigaquads each. Same with the tricorders.”

“I'll find a use for them.”

“You probably won't be gone that long.”

“Probably not.”

“You might need this,” Alpha said, holding out a phaser by the emitter end.

“No. I don't think I would get into that kind of trouble,” Nina said with a shake of her head.

“Away Mission Personnel shall not go into an unknown area unprepared for the possibility of combat.”

“Is that a regulation?” Nina asked.

“Yes,” Alpha answered.

Nina sighed and took the phaser. “I'll be back as soon as possible.”

Soon, the TARDIS dematerialised, and Alpha left the shuttlebay.

Nina looked over the Console Room as the TARDIS travelled forwards in time. It was still in it's default design. She hadn't changed anything since she had fled Gallifrey. She considered that it was time to make changes. 'Starfleet certainly knows how to design a ship interior that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing,' she thought. She turned back to the console and accessed the Architectural Configuration System. 'Now, the scanner has the Baffin's interior on file.' She then set the ACS to style set the Console Room Theme to Starfleet.

That done, she left the Console Room to find the wardrobe. She suspected that just wearing the Starfleet uniform would draw unwanted attention.

After finding a simple Time Lord robe that matched the colour of the uniform, Nina entered one of the auxiliary console rooms and quickly re-assigned control of the TARDIS to that room. The ship was about to land.

As soon as the ship had landed and she had used the scanner, Nina found that she had indeed landed in the planet's information age. So, she interfaced one of the Tricorders with the Scanner and set it to send the information to one of the PADDs. “OK, copy the information from the planet's network to the PADD,” she said as she set the scanner. The tricorder than began to receive the data from the scanner and transmiting it to the PADD. 'Good!' she thought.

She emerged from the ship to see that she had landed next to a large library, and that the ship had disguised itself as a motor home (with the Baffin's regristry number, translated into the local number system, on the licence plates, and in Circular Gallifreyan on the sides). She also noticed the Starfleet pennants on the roof. 'Great! Is the Chameleon Circuit glitching?' She didn't want to worry about that. Instead, she decided to go into the library.

The library was what she expected. A well organised space, with many people interacting and looking up information, like any library she had seen. She also saw that there were librarian jobs available. 'Not sure how long I'll be staying, even if I could be back at the Baffin within a minute of depature.' She decided to stay at least a day or two. 'And I can work at this library for a day. She took a place at one of the desks and used the PADD to interface with the TARDIS, instructing her ship to create an identity for her.

Half an hour later, she came to the desk and handed over her application.

Name: Nina Lumbra

Age: 27

…

“Nina Lumbra? Sounds foreign,” the librarian said.

“My father was from the North,” Nina responded.

“I see.”

“Everything checks out, you can start tomorrow.”

“That's good.”

The librarian handed Nina a card. “Welcome to the Rladibud Library.”

Alpha waited for Nina to return. Thus she spent another day to herself listening to Klingon Opera and occasionally checking on the marooned ship via the probe.

“Commander's log, Day 1024, Crewman Nina still hasn't returned for over a day... Otherwise the Baffin is still ship shape”.

Alpha finished the log and called up the data on the stranded ship Nina had visited two days before.

She noticed something. She called up the data from two days before. She could see that the wave action against the ship had further compromised it's structural integrity. “Computer, estimate time until structural collapse.”

“Estimated time until structural collapse any time from six to ten days.”

“Right.” She thought for a while. There had to be away she could rescue that crew without violating the Prime Directive. She couldn't go, the 29^th Century technology behind the mobile emitter hadn't yet been reverse engineered. But using probes to repair the ship would almost certainly cause a violation. And simply beaming them off definitely would be a violation. That seemed to lead to one solution. A Synthetic. The schematics for Synthetics, including the positionic brains, were in the Baffin's databases.

Alpha entered Engineering with a PADD showing instructions. “Computer, activate Emergency Engineering Holograms Beta and Gamma.”

“Affirmative.”

“Please state the nature of the Engineering Emergency,” Beta and Gamma said in unision. They then looked at each other in surprise before turning back to Alpha.

Alpha handed Beta the PADD. “Build a Synthetic that can go on away missions, so we can rescue the crew of a sailing ship without violating the Prime Directive?” he asked, once he had read it. He handed the PADD to Gamma.

“Yes,” Alpha answered.

“But, what will you be doing?” Gamma asked, her curiosity showing in her voice.

“I'll be in one of the holodecks, running repair simulations,” Alpha answered.

Both Beta and Gamma nodded, before turning to one of the consoles.

Alpha approached Holodeck 1. “Computer, load scan data of the crashed ship to Holodeck 1.”

“Affirmative.”

Ten seconds later, the computer reported. “Program complete.”

Alpha entered the holodeck onto the virtual ship's deck...

The next day, Nina returned to the Library.

Tales of 2020 - Reverse Map Game 2019 -1920

1920

North America

The North American War/Implosion continues. As Little Egypt continues to collapse, Great Lakes and the United States co-ordinate their various armies more and more. This co-ordination would be one reason why the Plantagenet Plan would fail. The separatists in Kentucky and Missouri are also defeated.

Of course, more is going on than the War. The 1920 election for instance. Incumbent Republican Mark Marquez wins re-election.

Africa

Minor colonial skirmishes.

The 'Spanish' Influenza pandemic finally burns out in the Congo.

Europe

United Kingdom

Early in the year, Prime Minister Oswald Mosely gambles by announcing a general election. The Imperial Party ends up increasing it's majority by six seats. The leadership role in the Opposition coalition changes from Labour to the Liberal Democrats.

Following the election, Irish separatists plan to murder the Cabinet, but the Met quickly arrests the conspiratists.

The stock market suffers a correction due to the East India Corporation finally collapsing due to bankruptcy. It recovers by the end of the year.

With tensions increasing between the United Kingdom and Denmark, preparations for war continue. This includes the launch of the HMS Atlantic, the Royal Navy's first submarine aircraft carrier. (But it would prove to be unreliable during the war, and would be sunk in action off the Georgia coast.

Denmark

Tensions with the United Kingdom continue to increase through the year. Clashes between fishing vessels in the North Sea occurr through the year...

Netherlands

Tensions with Germany increase through the year.

France

Tensions with Germany increase through the year.

Germany

Hiedler and the rest of the Government continue preparations for war. Tensions with the Netherlands and France increase through the year.

Asia

India

The remaining assets of the East India Corporation are nationalised.

China

The Taiping make gains. The Communist rebels consolidate their previous gains.

Japan

The last Red Scare ends with a mass arrest of suspected Communists in Sapporo...

Oceania

Tensions between the British Dominion and the Danish colonial confederation rise throughout the year.

Church notes - 15th March 2020

15th March
Jeremiah 29:11
Psalm 27:1 - 3
Psalm 40

How to respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Take it seriously, but in a loving way.

Pandemic
Easily spread.

Luke 22:39 - 52

Fasting Communion
Passover
Luke 22:14 - 23
Jesus took the punishment for us.

Luke 22:39 - 52
Jesus, fully Human and fully God. When we pray to Him, He can understand what we are experiencing.

How can Jesus feel anxiety and pain?
See his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Gethsemane - literal 'Olive Press'.
A working Olive farm.
A million people stayed in Jerusalem during the Passover period. Only a portion could stay overnight.

Not a normal night! Jesus was going to wait and pray. He wasn't waiting for something tedious. He was waiting to die.

Fight or Flight. He could have fled. But He stayed in the place where He knew Judas would find Him.
vs 42
He was pouring out His feelings to the Father. Prayer is a process.

Mark 14:43 - 50
During His prayer a spiritual victory was acheived. He was strengthened.

Jesus was following the will of the Father. He chose to be sacrificed for us.
Hebrews 4:15, 16
The High Priest can symphathise with us.

Star Trek: Picard: Nepenthe review

Nepenthe

The seventh episode. Picard and Soji arrive on Nepenthe and meet Riker, Troi and their daughter, Kestra. La Sirena escapes from the Artefact, where Hugh and Elnor find themselves in over their heads. On La Sirena Jurati struggles with what she knows... Flashback, three weeks earlier. Commodore Oh mind melded with Jurati, showing her something similar to Spocks vision of CONTROL's apocalypse. (Of course, whatever the Zhat Vash are afraid of would be something different.)

However, the whole scene was very well presented, leading into the chase of La Sirena later in the episode. The struggles of the La Sirena crew in escaping from the Artefact were done very well. But the main focus of the episode was on Nepenthe. Picard and Soji arrive on the planet and are greeted by Kestra. (A rather good easter egg there, and a there is a thematic link when it's revealed that Kestra wasn't always an only child.) Picard's line about his heart being pure duratanium was a good call back to the fact he has an artificial heart.

Meeting Will and Deanna again was very nostalgic. The way their characters were developed for the episode was consistent with their characters in the series and movies. The following scenes were also well done. Of course, Soji would be questioning her existence, and be uncertain as to the reality of the situation. That it would be Kestra who would help her through it was obvious. Kestra having an older brother who died to a disease that couldn't be treated after the Synth ban was an interesting way to connect the situation to the overall themes of the series.

(And Thad wanting a homeworld of his own and coming up with constructed languages was also well conceived.) The interactions between Hugh and Elnor as they try to evade the Narissa and the other Romulans were very well done. But Hugh getting it, as it were, is definitely a missed oportunity. More could have been done with his character. But there is a very effective lead in to the next episode with the Fenris Ranger beacon. Back to La Sirena, they discover that Narek is following them...

Rios suspecting Raffi before Agnes doesn't seem that believable, but then she didn't say why she was down there. The way Agnes deals with the issue shows her desperation in the situation she has found herself in and it was very well depicted, showing that she didn't have much choice. 9/10.

Doctor Who: The Timeless Children and Series 12 finale overall review tldr summaries

The Timeless Children review TLDR Summary

Did anything change? Were questions from the previous episodes answered? Was what the Master told the Doctor of the Timeless Child and Tecteun only his opinion on the events? (Tecteun doesn't investigate the rift the Child came through?) The Master telling Ashad that turning oneself into a robot isn't special is a good scene. Yas and the others escaping from the ship by pretending to be Cybermen is done well, even if it's inspired by previous incidents of companions pretending to be enemies.

The scenes at Ko Sharmus' base were also done well. Yas stepping through to Gallifrey is consistent with how her character has been going so far. The revelation of the Doctor being the Timeless Child doesn't really change anything. The scene were she escapes the Matrix was a highlight of the episode. Her escape from the Master and CyberLords was also done well. More below. 8/10.

Series 12 Finale overall review TLDR Summary

A thematic link between the Master and Ashad. Self-Loathing. But with similarities there are also differences. Ashad's plans are different to the Master's. But the main plot is the Doctor being the Timeless Child. The parallel between the Brendan story and that of the Child is obvious. The Doctor's driven by her decision to give the Cyberium to Ashad, but Ko Sharmus feels more responsible for not sending it back far enough. More on Yas, she wants to continue to travel with the Doctor.

Whereas there have been hints the other two may want to stop. They all play roles encouraging the survivors. The latter group's joy at being on Earth was well done. (Future storytelling potential?) Overall a very good way to end this series. More in the overall series review (which will also have one of these summaries). 8.25/10.

Beginnings of 2020 - Reverse Map Game 2019 - 1920

1920

North America

The North American War/Implosion continues. As Little Egypt continues to collapse, Great Lakes and the United States co-ordinate their various armies more and more. This co-ordination would be one reason why the Plantagenet Plan would fail.

Of course, more is going on than the War. The 1920 election for instance. Incumbent Republican Mark Marquez wins re-election.

South America

Africa

Minor colonial skirmishes.

The 'Spanish' Influenza pandemic finally burns out in the Congo.

Doctor Who: Overall series finale review

Series Finale Overall review

Mainly Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children with the Lone Cyberman's appearances in The Haunting of Villa Diodati. The Lone Cybermen, was a very effective character as someone who tried to volunteer for conversion but was rejected part way. Self loathing. (That is a link thematically, to the Master being upset at the lies in Gallifrey's history. More on that below.) His goal to use the Cybermen to get rid of all organic life was developed as a lead from this. And this causes the clash with the Master's plans.

But the main plot in these episodes is the Timeless Child and the implications for the Doctor of what the Master had discovered. The Brendan subplot links in rather well as a type, a cover, for the TimelessDoctor's missions for the Division. From the child found on the road, until the memory wipe. The parallel between Tecteum's discovery of the Timeless Child and the father discovering Brendan is obvious. The Garda makes a good stand in for the Division. Of course, there was more to what was happening on Gallifrey than that.

The Doctor is on a mission to atone for her decision to give the Cyberium to the Lone Cyberman. That is what drives her as she fights the Lone Cyberman, and the Master. And it also links to Ko Sharmus setting off the death particle instead of her. He feels that he's more responsible for what's occuring with the Master and the CyberLords than the Doctor. His anguish as he ruefully considers that the Cyberium hadn't been sent back far enough was well done. It's he who sets off the particle and allows the Doctor to escape.

It is obvious that he stays at the Boundary because he feels that he doesn't deserve to interact with others, damaged by the war... On to the 'fam'. Each one of them gets something to do, even if it is hinted that Graham and Ryan may want to stop travelling, it's Yas who is the saddest upon disembarking from the House TARDIS. She wanted to continue travelling with the Doctor, and thinks she is dead. (So, will we see Yas moving into the House TARDIS, being rueful, wondering if the Doctor survived after all?)

Graham and Yas both encouraged the survivors through the ordeal on the escape ship, on the Cybercarrier and at the Boundary (and also were able to find the Panopticon in the ruins of the Citadel). As stated before, Yas leading the group through to Gallifrey is consistent with the way haer character had been going. She barely hesitates before stepping into the boundary. She then later argues with the Doctor about what to do. The Doctor tells her that she has to go. The survivors aren't developed much, but their joy at being on Earth was well done.

(Maybe there's future storytelling potential there?) There is not much more to say about the Judoon ending, but overall these two or three episodes was a very good way to end this series. More in the overall Series review. 8.25/10.

Church notes - 8th March 2020

8th March 2020
Matthew 7:13, 14
Romans 5:8
Acts 4:12

Luke 22:1 - 34

What do you bring to the table?
Judas - What did Judas bring to the table?
Betrayal!
vs 3
What does it mean to 'enter'?
It wasn't that Satan possessed him and took control.
John 13:2
Satan prompted Judas, who was already thinking about betraying Jesus. His motivation?
Money (Hence the 30 pieces of silver...)
Judas sets the events in motion, but later, he can't stop them.
Parallels with the nature of sin.

Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Feeding your 'harmless little sins'
Will eventually consume you.

What the disciples brought to the table?
Selfishness! (Disputing about which one would be the greatest in the Kingdom.)
St. Augustine - Incurvatus in se - Curved in on oneself. Navel gazing. Can't see anyone or anything else.
vs 24 - 25
His Kingdom is built on Spiritual Power, not fear.

Peter
What does Peter bring to the table?
Failure!
Luke 22:60 - 62
Peter had failed and became aware of the depths of his sin. He broke down in despair.
But.
John 21:15 - 19

Conviction
Confession
Forgiveness
Repentance
Restoration
That is what is offered to us.

Jesus - What does Jesus bring to the table?
Forgiveness
Restoration

He gives the means of Forgiveness and Restoration.
It's more than just participation.

What do you bring to the table?
Not what the disciples brought, but the life giving message of the Gospel.

Giving ourselves totally. Bring your all.

Doctor Who: The Timeless Children review

The Timeless Children

The last episode of Series 12. Does everything change? Does nothing change? Who's the Doctor, really? Were there Cybermen on Gallifrey? Was the Master telling the truth? Where did the Timeless Child come from? What did Brendan have to do with anything? Some of these questions were answered. The Master pulls the Doctor through to Gallifrey, leaving the survivors, the 'fam' and Ko Sharmus to fend for themselves. In the Citadel, the Master hooks the Doctor up to the Matrix...

The Master uses the Matrix to tell the Doctor what he found out about the Timeless Child and the origin of the Time Lords. Or, what his view of it is. An ancient Gallifreyian Shabogan explorer, Tecteun discovers a child alone, next to a monument and a rift to another dimension. (Which she doesn't investigate when the child refuses to say where she came from?) It certainly increases the mystery. The two send more time exploring before returning to Gallifrey. And then it's revealed that regeneration comes from the child.

(And that Tecteun experimented on the child to splice the ability into the Gallifreyians. Certainly an interesting idea.) Then the big whammy. The Master then says that the Timeless Child is the Doctor! Like, what? Doesn't really make sense. But at the same time, the Master is talking to the Lone Cyberman. Telling him to come through the Barrier to Gallifrey so they can join forces. Ashad reveals his goal. Get rid of all organic life via a death particle in his chest, after turning the Cybermen into robots.

Although the Master says that isn't special. That is a particularly good scene. Yas, Graham and the others escape from the ship by pretending to be Cybermen. It's certainly inspired by earlier instances of companions pretending to be antagonists, but it works, and it was done well. It is also consistent with the development of the characters so far. The scenes in Ko Sharmus' base were also done well, with Ryan's 'slam dunk' destroying a group of Cybermen being a rather good call back. The Master compresses the Lone Cyberman, but the particle isn't activated (yet.)

Yas steps through to Gallifrey first. Consistent with the way her character has been going. I'd like to see more of her. The Master reveals that he's turning dead Time Lords into CyberLords. Interesting idea, and a rather good scene. But not as good as when the Doctor escaped from the Matrix by using her memories. (Ruth, Doctor and Morbius Doctors pre-Hartnell... Still, everything and yet, nothing.) The revelation hasn't really changed the Doctor. But escaping, the Master and his CyberLords was done well.

A House TARDIS in Sheffield, and a Tree TARDIS on the desolate planet. Judoon surprise! A good ending to this interesting episode. More in the Three or Two Part finale review. 8/10.

Star Trek: Picard: The Impossible Box review

The Impossible Box

(Written before viewing Nepenthe)

The sixth episode. Soji is having recurring nightmares, and La Sirena is approaching the Artefact. (More on Soji's dream below.) Jurati had covered up her role in Maddox's death. (Wouldn't the EMH say that he was deactivated by Jurati?) They have Raffi talk to a friend in Starfleet to allow them to have access to the Artefact, to so Picard can talk to Hugh. This was done rather well. And Raffi's downward spiral, after her son's rejection, also continues to be depicted well. However, given his previous experience with the Borg, Picard is anxious about being on a Cube.

Indeed, the presence of the Artefact, makes everyone nervous. Even more so when Picard needs to go alone. His flashbacks, to being Locutus, once over there were very well done, as was his meeting with Hugh. Hugh showing him the reclaimation processes and asking him to advocate for the xB/former drones was done well, as well as his realisation that the drones are victims of the Collective, rather than monsters. Then Picard aks Hugh to help him find Soji. Hugh is onto Narek's agenda...

Soji's recurring nightmare. As a young girl, she's frightened of a storm, and goes to her father's workshop, where she wakes up. Narek has her questioning things, in his slimy narcissistic way (prodded by his sister) and she discovers that everything she owns is only just over three years old. That particular scene was rather moving, and showed her confusion rather well. She confesses her discovery to Narek who takes her to preform a Romulan ritual to look into her recurring nightmare to see what her subconcious is trying to tell her.

The progress of the ritual was interesting, and well presented. Narek prodding Soji all the while (narcissim showing), she does come to the realisation she's not as she thought she was, and he flat out tells her she's not real. After finding out where she was made, Narek tries to kill her, but she 'activates' and escapes, eventually running into Hugh and Picard. Picard's plea to trust her was particularly well done. Hugh leads them to the 'Queen Cell', where there is a spatial trajector, technology assimilated from the Sikarians.

It's within character for the Borg to have such technology and not use it to go on an assimilation spree. (Otherwise they would have sent a whole armada to assimilate the Federation at the end of 2366...) Overall a rather good episode. 8.8/10.

Tales of 2020 - Reverse Map Game 2019 - Late 1921

Late 1921

North America

Canada

Canadian historians would be divided on whether it was Canada, or Great Lakes who started hostilities. Both had been preparing for war for a while. The same could be said for the hostilities between Canada and Nordamerika. Even so, the Canadian forces manage to go quite far into Great Lakes before the tables are turned.

Great Lakes

Great Lakes historians (in the years between the two wars) and later American historians would disagree whether Great Lakes instigated hostilities or not. According to the interwar Great Lakes historians, it was the Canadians, but according to their American successors, Great Lakes.

Dakota

Dakota invades Canada in response to the other two major TUNA members being attacked.

Cascadia

The same as with Great Lakes, similar disagreement would ensue. But in fact it was the Canadians and Japanese invading together...

Virginia

According to the Wellington Plan, the Virginians invade Great Lakes and the United States similtaneously. But while Britain had sent additional troops according to the Plan, they aren't enough, and the Americans quickly invade Virginia...

United States

War had been expected for years. Tensions between the United States and the Japanese in the west had always been high. However, the Department of Defence had prepared. Even so, the Virginians and Japanese capture some territory before being thrown back. The British attempts to land troops in South Carolina and Georgia are defeated.

Spanish attempts to land troops on Cuba are defeated.

In Kentucky, most of the infrastructure damage from the Implosion has been repaired. The Territorial administration begins preparing for a referendum on independence on Statehood or Independence. But the War will force Congress' hand...

Mexico

The Japanese make some progress into Mexican territory before being thrown back.

Africa

With the onset of war in Europe, Turkey invades Israeli Cyrenacia.

Europe

United Kingdom

Prime Minister Mosely holds a Special Meeting of the Imperial Council in mid July. Preparations for war are complete.

Two plans for war in North America are put forward. The Wellington Plan. A coordinated invasion of the United States with Japan. (And possibily dividing the nation along the Mississippi River.)

And the Plantagenet Plan, to conquer Great Lakes from two directions.

It is at the at the instigation of the Imperial Council that the various Dominions declare war on their neighbours.

France

It is a 'random maneouvre' over the border, that causes Germany to declare war upon France. This is the main casus belli.

The French claim it's a random maneouvre that lead to the declaration of war, but it was a deliberate provocation.

Spain

The Spanish Government declares war on Germany in response to the declaration of war on France., thinking that this would help bring unity in the New World colonies.

Germany

Tensions with France had been rising for some time. When the 'random manoevre' occurs, Hiedler is ready, and immediately declares war.

Intermarium

With Germany going to war against France, Casimir III declares war against Russia. The Russians quickly turn the tables, and penetrate into Intermarium territory. But, the tables had been turned again by the end of the year.

Asia

China

The warlord era continues.

Oceania

New England, New Zealand, Northern Tasmania, Pacifica, Queensland and Western Australia all declare war on Denmark and the Indo Kingdom.

The Indo Kingdom annexes and conquers the Cape York Penninsula.

New England makes some progress in taking Danish territory, but the tables are quickly turned.

Northern Tasmania doesn't take much Southern Tasmanian territory before the Danes begin their conquest...