Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade rating

 Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

8.25/10

October 2020 Overall

 October 2020 Overall

September 2020 Overall: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/441060.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Designated Survivor - The Question: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/441303.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Emily and the Doctor: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/441386.html

Church notes - 4th October 2020: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/441806.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Elias and the Writer's Block: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/441947.html

2020 Budget notes: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/442207.html

The Engineer and the Time Lady - Ship plans v9: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/507033.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Star Trek: A Troublesome Deal: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/507374.html

Beta Request - Q Junior's Lessons - Prologue: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/507472.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Star Trek: The Next Generation: Risks and Nightmares: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/507653.html

Church notes - 11th October 2020: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/507989.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Clara Oswald Never Existed: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/508167.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Strange Days in Lawndale: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/508531.html

Changes in Time and Space - Chapter 1: Invasion at the Azores - Torchwood Saves the Day II: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/508909.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Dragons: Changes in the Archipelago: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/113854.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Doctor Who: McCullough: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/113931.html

Church notes - 18th October 2020: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/114355.html

Star Trek: Discovery: The Hope is You Review: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/114543.html

Note (Andromeda Comparisons): http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/114698.html

Ni No Kuni rating: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/115049.html

Lawndale in the Air Part 1: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/115211.html

Beginnings of 2020 - Daria - Brittany - Party Time: http://fardell30.deadjournal.com/115658.html

Back to the Future rating: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Back-to-the-Future-rating-858850848

Back to the Future Part II rating: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Back-to-the-Future-Part-II-rating-859047487

Church notes - 25th October 2020: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Church-notes-25th-October-2020-859135828

Church notes - October 2020: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Church-notes-October-2020-859136806

Church notes in 2020 so far: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Church-notes-in-2020-so-far-859142837

Star Trek: Discovery: Far From Home review: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Star-Trek-Discovery-3-02-Far-From-Home-review-859358314

Back to the Future Part III rating: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Back-to-the-Future-Part-III-rating-859359001

Daria on Exchange 11 - Jane in Armidale Part 1: https://www.deviantart.com/brenorenz/journal/Daria-on-Exchange-11-Jane-in-Armidale-Part-1-859359614

Quinn's Code - Morgendorffers vs. Amazon - Part 1: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/633173364989673472/quinns-code-morgendorffers-vs-amazon-part-1

Beginnings of 2020 - Daria: Gothic Esteem: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/633204090984366080/beginnings-of-2020-daria-gothic-esteem

Rebecca 2020 mini review: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/633300969269116928/rebecca-2020-mini-review

Comparison: That Hope is You Part 1 and Far From Home with Under The Night/An Affirming Flame: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/633302105788153856/comparison-that-hope-is-you-part-1-and-far-from

Beginnings of 2020 - Daria - A Night at Crewe Neck: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/633302752369459200/beginnings-of-2020-daria-a-night-at-crewe-neck

Beginnings of 2020 - Daria - Trouble at the Coffee House: https://fardell24b.tumblr.com/post/633369547432443904/beginnings-of-2020-daria-trouble-at-the-coffee

Church notes - 1st November 2020

 1st November

Psalm 100

Communion

Hebrews 5:1 - 10

Hebrews 9:11 - 15

God is

Omnipotent - All powerful

Omniscient - All knowing

Omnipresent - Everywhere

Holy

Psalm 100:5

God is good.

We do make bad choices that hurt ourselves and others.

However;

Jeremiah 29:11

1. God's plan for our lives will always be good. He will see us through all difficulties.

Psalm 31

His goodness is there waiting for you.

Romans 8:28

He works for good in all circumstances.

e.g. Joseph and his brothers...

Genesis 50:20

2. God gives me grace, not what I deserve

(Two lines from Hamlet. 

HAMLET: Go out and give them what they deserve.

POLONIUS: Then who will escape a whipping?)

Psalm 103: 10 - 12

3. God puts my good above His own welfare.

John 10:14

Romans 8:32

God gave up His Son as a sacrifice for us.

4. God does not say yes to every request

You don't realise what you're asking.

Luke 11:9 - 13

Isaiah 55:8, 9

5. He wants to shephred us through life.

We need to be shephreded through life.

Psalm 23

Putting your faith in Jesus - not only is He our Saviour, but also our Good Shepherd.

Beginnings of 2020 - Daria - Trouble at the Coffee House

Daria – Trouble at the Coffee House

The small city of Lawndale may have had a reputation of being boring, but that didn’t mean that nothing happened. This was certainly true one Fall evening when there was a break-and-enter at the Alt.Lawndale.Com Cybercafe. The alarm went off, and the thieves scattered, carrying away cash and computer equipment…

 

 

The next day at Lawndale High, the Language Arts teacher Timothy O’Neill threw aside his prepared lesson plan and said; “Class, I thought today we'd take a break from the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet to discuss the real life tragedy that happened last night here in Lawndale. Let's share our feelings of violation following the loss of our beloved cybercafé, alt.lawndale.com.” He turned to one of his students, not realising he was confusing one for another. “Charlene? How about you?”

 

However, the girl he was addressing was not Charlene Ruttheimer. “Charlene? Charlene did you here me?”

 

“You mean, Kelsey!” Kelsey Thompson objected.

 

O’Neill looked at his seating chart again. “Sorry Kelsey, you look like someone else,” he said, despite Kelsey having much darker (and longer) hair than Charlene. “What do you have to say about last night’s horrible event?”

 

“I was home all night. You can ask my parents. Besides, we already have a computer,” Kelsey said.

 

Jodie Landon was annoyed as the teacher continued to ask the dumb cheerleader how she felt. ‘Why can’t we just do Romeo and Juliet?” she asked herself. However, the teacher then asked her.

 

“Jodie, how about you?”

 

“I think the cybercafé served one very particular segment of the community, but it still pisses me off when people take what isn't theirs,” she answered.

 

“That’s what I was trying to say!” Kelsey said, even though it totally wasn’t.

 

“Thank you, Jodie and Kelsey. about that word, ‘community.’ Isn't that the whole idea of a cybercafé? To jack us into the global community? I think what's most disturbing about this crime is the symbolism involved.” Mr. O’Neill then turned to another of his students, a girl dressed in a paint splattered red jacket. “Don’t you agree, Jane?”

 

“No,” Jane Lane said.

 

“Suddenly, we're cut off…”

Beginnings of 2020 - Daria - A Night at Crewe Neck

 Daria: A Night at Crewe Neck

Daria Morgendorffer arrived outside the Crewe Neck gate house to find her friends Jodie Landon and Josie Black were waiting for her. “Finally,” Jodie said. “I was beginning to think you had changed your mind.”

 

“I still think this is a bad idea,” Daria said.

 

“Come on, Daria, It won’t be that bad,” Jodie said.

 

Beginnings of 2020 - Daria - Gothic Esteem

 Daria – Gothic Esteem

Andrea Hecabate-Croft saw the new girl enter the Self-Esteem class. She looked gothic, as much as she did. ‘Maybe we could be friends,’ she mused.

 

 

“…Realising our actuality…” O’Neill babbled.

 

Immediately the new girl raised her hand.

 

“Sorry, question and answer time is later,” O’Neill said.

 

“I want to know what ‘realising our actuality’ means,” the new girl said.

 

“Um, let me get through this part, OK, then there’ll be a video!”

 

Andrea leaned forwards. “He doesn’t know what it means. He’s teaching the course by rote.”

 

“The how will I get through this if I don’t know what the course teaches.”

 

“I don’t know, and I have taken this four times,” Andrea said. “Andea,” she said with her hand extended.

 

“Daria.”

Star Trek: Discovery - 3.03 Far From Home review

 Far From Home

The second episode of the third season. The Discovery arrives in the 32^nd Century and crash lands on a planet. The crash landing sequence was done rather well. Almost as good as the ones in Generations and Beyond, and a lot better than the one in Timeless. The rest of the episode is about the crew dealing with the situation they have found themselves in. Saru and Tilly making First Contact. The rest of the crew making repairs to the ship. Something is up with Detmer! Other things happen.

Saru and Tilly go out on the planet, and find themselves in over their head, discovering that the colony is being exploited by a 'courier' as a result of the lack of dilithium. The Western beats were strong with this one. Zarah was as much a Western antagonist as Calvera, or Buford Tannen. He and his gang certainly had the Coridanite miners under his thumb. He's also an effective fighter, but he was ill-equipped to deal with someone like Georgiou. Him being left alive at the end was a surprise, but it was well done.

Back on Discovery, the crew races to repair their ship. The various characters shine here. What of Detmer? It isn't an injury, or damage to her implant. (it's certainly leading to something.) Culbur, Staments and Reno are all good. Reno is much the same as the previous season, while Staments put himself on the line to make that final repair. That's certainly believable.Reno encouraging Staments to do the repair (so she woundn't have to), and Culbur calling out his partner for being reckless were both good.

Both these storylines are good. Although, having Burnham rescue Discovery from the ice, rather than having them escape under their own power seems anticlimatic. It would have been better for the former occurrence to happen. But that didn't make their efforts useless. Overall, a very good episode. 8.5/10.

Church notes - October 2020

 On LiveJournal: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/444603.html

On Dreamwidth: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/511873.html

Church notes - 25th October 2020

 25th October

Ephesians 1:3 - 14

1 John 5:11 - 15

40 Days of Prayer

Ecclesiastes 3:11

There is a need to connect with God. There are also moments when we all pray.

Prayer is a conversation, not a ceremony. It is a relationship, not a ritual.

1. God wants us to talk to Him about anything.

2. Prayer should be our first choice, not a last resort.

Psalm 103:13

Jeremiah 29:11

God has a plan for our lives.

2. Pray simply and sincerely.

Matthew 6:5 - 15

He encourages persistant prayer, but objects to shallow and repetitious prayer. He wants sincre communication.

Hebrews 10:22

Jeremiah 33:3

3. God shows us His grace by answering prayer.

James 4:2

We need to ask.

Often we ask for the wrong things, or the wrong reasons, out of selfish desires.

Start a conversation, see where it goes. Prayer is opening our heart to God.

4. God longs for you to be close to Him.

Isaiah 30:18

Hosea 6:6

James 4:8

We need to make a commitment, to draw closer to God.

Back to the Future rating

 Back to the Future

The previous ating is still valid. 8.5/10.

Beginnings of 2020 - Daria - Brittany - Party Time

 Party Time

“I don’t know why you had to drop me,” Brian complained as Brittany turned the corner to his school.

 

“Because Ashley-Amber has to go to an audition in Oakwood, and Dad to an auction in Middleton,” Brittany explained.

 

“I could have got the bus!”

 

“Do you even know where your bus pass is?” Brittany asked.

 

“Um…”

 

“I knew you lost it!”

 

“I could’ve found it,” Brian objected.

 

Lawndale in the Air - Part 1

 Lawndale in the Air

The blue plane flew along the skyway. “Girls, I just want you to know your mother and I realize it's not easy moving to a whole new town -- especially for you, Daria, right?” Jake Morgendorffer said.

 

“Did we move?” His daughter, Daria said, as she looked out at the floating buildings that the plane was passing.

 

“I'm just saying you don't make friends as easily as... uh, some people,” Jake said.

 

Daria’s younger sister, Quinn, turned the radio up.

 

“Quinn, for instance.”

 

“That's not what I meant... necessarily,” Jake said as he turned the radio off. “The point is, the first day at a new school is bound to be difficult...”

 

Daria leaned forward and turned the radio back on and cranked it up. “Speak up Dad! Can’t hear you!”

 

“Uh, where was I?” Jake turned the radio off. He saw the school ahead. “Ready girls?” he asked.

 

“Certainly, Daddy,” Quinn said.

 

“Here, we go!” Jake said, as the plane approached the school, Jake leaned the controls backwards, making the plane fly upwards, above the school’s landing deck.

 

“Bye, Daddy,” Quinn said, as she opened the starboard door and jumped out.

 

“I'll try to help her through this difficult period of adjustment,” Daria said, as she got ready to follow her sister.

 

“That's my girl! Wait a minute..”

 

“See you, Dad,” Daria said as she jumped out.

 

 

As soon as she cleared the plane, Daria pulled her chute cord, slowing her rate of descent. She looked and saw her father bringing the plane level and heading in the direction of his new workplace. She looked down towards the school that she would be going to for the next few years and saw Quinn deploy her pink chute, rather close to the landing deck. ‘She always was a daredevil,’ she thought.

 

She saw her sister land (roughly) in the midst of a group of teens. ‘Looks like she has made an impression already,’ she thought.

 

As she descended, Daria ensured that she would land as close to the School’s entrance as possible, thereby not encountering as many of her fellow students that she would have encountered further away.

As soon as she had landed and retracted the chute, she dashed into the school’s internal corridors.

 

 

Quinn landed in the midst of a group of fellow students. She immediately pulled the chute retraction cord and pushed her goggles up above her hairline. “Who are you?” asked an impressed sounding brunette with her hair in two pigtails.

 

“Quinn Morgendorffer.”

 

“Cool name,” added another brunette with wavy hair.

 

“Will you go out with me?” a boy up.

 

Quinn chuckled. “Maybe,” she said, playfully.

 

“Sandi Griffin,” the wavy haired brunette said, indicating herself. “Your aviatrix outfit is very fashionable.”

 

“Thanks,” Quinn said.

 

“It’s not a complement,” Sandi said.

 

“Oh?” Quinn glared at Sandi, her eyes burning with annoyance.

 

Sandi quickly recovered “It’s an invitation. Would you like to join the Fashion Club?”

 

“There is a Vice-Presidential position available,” the pigtailed brunette said.

 

“Stacy is the Secretary,” Sandi said, indicating the pigtailed brunette.

 

Quinn thought for a moment. ‘What’s that old saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, or something.’ She was interested in Fashion, it just wasn’t her only interest. ‘This Sandi seems like someone who I would like to keep an eye on.’ “Sure,” she finally said, as the school bell rang.

 

 

The next day, Daria and the girl whom she met in the Self Esteem Class, Jane Lane, were flying to Jane’s house on their skyboards.

 

“Come on Daria, we’re going too slow, we’re dropping into the lower levels. My house is at a middle level,” Jane said.

 

Daria looked downwards. She could see few airship-houses blocking the view of Old Lawndale and its surrounding farmland and forests below. “Sorry, Highland was much closer together. Lawndale is more spread out.” She indicated a nearby landing platform, attached to one of the mooring poles, to which some of the airbuildings were attached.

 

Jane nodded and so they made to land on it.

 

Daria breathed deeply for a few seconds then said. “So you were saying?”

 

“So, then, after the role-playing, next class they put the girls and the guys in separate rooms and a female counselor talks to us about body image,”

 

“What do they talk to the boy’s about?”

 

Jane and Daria looked at each other. “Nocturnal emissions.”

 

“I don't get it, Jane. You've got the entire course memorized. How come you can't pass the test to get out?”

 

“I could pass the test, but I like having low self-esteem. It makes me feel special,” Jane said. She stepped off her skyboard and pressed the button to collapse it.  She indicated a ladder leading up the mooring pole. “Up about sixty to seventy meters and then another block, we’ll be at my house,” she said.

 

Daria collapsed her skyboard and looked up. “It’s going to be a long climb,” she said.

 

 

As they approached Casa Lane (as Jane called her house) they noticed a small helicopter parked on the front landing platform. “Uh, oh!” Jane said.

 

“What?” Daria asked.

 

“The Bank, they’re trying to foreclose! We have to hurry!” Jane said. She clipped a towrope to her skyboard and threw the other end to Daria.

 

“What are we doing?” Daria asked.

 

A couple of (aftermarket) rockets ignited beneath Jane’s skyboard, causing the new pair of friends to accelerate towards the possibly soon-to-be-foreclosed airship-house...

Ni No Kuni rating

 Ni No Kuni

8.7/10.

Star Trek: Discovery: That Hope is You Part 1 review

 That Hope is You Part 1

The first episode of the third season. It is the 32^nd Century and the Federation has seen better days. But more on that below. Burnham arrives in the 32^nd Century and has a close encounter with a ship. The interactions between her and Booker were interesting. That he wouldn't hear her out at first is believable, but maybe Burnham should have found the city and the information about the Burn another way? As for the Burn, the dilithium obviously didn't explode all at once by itself. There may be someone responsible.

Burnham and Book then go to a city on the planet, where Orions and Andorians are running security. This part is well presented. But Book misleads Burnham as to where the communications array is. Burnham on the truth drug was presented very well. (And may be funny unintentionally.) It certainly a rather good part of this episode. That she didn't blab everything was certainly believable. (As if she was trying to fight the compulsion to tell the truth. She was certainly being truthful, from a certain point of view.)

In any case, the city or planet may not be part of a larger polity, like the Federation but it seems to be working. But Burnham stealing dilithium from a vaunt and Book taking her on an escape course was well done, even if the rapid fire transporting and firing looks like a video game. (Do those blasters even have stun settings? Did Burnham just assume they didn't?) The creature gulping up Burnham was a bit much too. (But it was good to see a Lurian amongst the guards.) Book being a conservationist amongst a family of hunters was a good twist.

The bookends with the liason officer were well done. That people would hold onto the ideals of the Federation in the time of adversity after the Burn is believable and a encouragement in this particular time of adversity. Burnham's hope that the Discovery would be found was good too. 8.6/10.

Church notes - 18th October 2020

 18th October

Mark 10:13 - 16

John 3:16

Matthew 11:28 - 30

Expectations

This is a season in which we need to encourage each other.

Matthew 11:28 - 30

We need to grow in our relationships. With Christ. And with others who know Him.

Ephesians 4:11 - 15

When we are in a storm, Jesus is our Rock.

1. We grow when we feed on God's word.

We can have confidence in Him.

Acts 20:32

We need to spend time each day studying the Word.

2. We grow from different learning experiences.

Personal quiet time - personal study.

Sunday service and sermon.

Small group/home group.

Hebrews 10:24, 25

3. We grow when we develop spiritual habits.

We sow a thought and reap an act. We sow an act and reap a habit. We sow a habit and reap a character. We sow a character and reap a destiny.

John 13:17

1 Corinthians 9:25

Habit of weekly large group worship.

Habit of small group fellowship.

Habit of a daily time alone with God (Reading the Bible and Prayer).

Habit of memorising God's Word.

Acts 2:46

4. We grow when we help each other grow.

Romans 1:11, 12

5. We grow when we expect to grow.

6. We grow when we commit to grow.

1 Corinthians 3:5

Jeremiah 29:13

Beginnings of 2020 - Doctor Who - McCullough

 Doctor Who: McCullough

Law of Nature

Shona McCullough awoke to the sound of the television in the living room. She had forgotten to turn it off the previous night.

 

She found that there was a newsflash about some fugitives from the mysterious UNIT. She picked up her notebook where it lay haphazardly on the coffee table. She wrote: UNIT again? She looked at the time. She then rushed to get ready for work.

Beginnings of 2020 - Dragons - Changes in the Archipelago

 Dragons: Changes in the Archipelago

1

As usual Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III awoke to the sound of the Twins doing their morning announcement in their usual way. “Good Morning, Dragon’s Edge!” came Tuffnut’s booming voice.

 

He saw that Toothless was already up and waiting for him to come out. “Wait a moment, Bud,” he said.

Changes in Time and Space - Chapter 1: Invasion at the Azores - Torchwood Saves the Day B

They waited another few moments and then jumped out again. Two more Drahvins fell to the floor. However, the Drahvins were growing wise to their strategy. They were holding back. “We'll have to withdraw,” Sigrun said quietly.

Jia'hale nodded. They waited and then withdrew, back towards the bridge.

Not all the way. There was another corridor intersection. But only one. “I don't like these odds,” Sigrun said.

“I know there are a lot more of them!” Jia'hale said. “But we can delay them and survive.”

“A bit difficult,” Sigrun groused, as she saw the Drahvin soldiers approach again.

“I know you are there,” the commander of the boarders stated.

Jia'hale remained silent, but waited for the soldiers to approach. She didn't have to wait for long. When they cautiously reached their position, both she and Sigrun leapt out again, and managed to kick the guns out of the hands of the soldiers in the lead. Both then attempted to punch the two of them, but they had withdrawn into the side corridors.

“Shall we pursue?” one of the soldiers asked.

“No,” the commander replied. “We continue to the bridge.”

'Oops!' Jia'hale thought.

Back on the Bridge, the Doctor could see that her companions had been bypassed. 'Good try,' she thought.

“What do we do now?” Daniel asked.

“They can still delay the boarders,” the Doctor said.

“But probably not enough,” Anderson groused.

The Doctor approached the door. “And there are still ways to deny them access to this bridge.”

That was enough to give Anderson encouragement. “You're right. We can set up some traps,” she said.

“I'll examine the bulkhead, and see if traps could be concealed that way.”

“There may be other ways.”

“Of course,” the Doctor said. She took out the sonic screwdriver and used it to scan the bulkhead.

Jia'hale followed the boarders, with Sigrun close behind. They could still help the Doctor and the others. However, two stayed behind to delay them. 'I hope they can be dealt with quickly,' she thought. She paused, allowing Sigrun to catch up. “We have to take them out quickly,” she said quietly.

Sigrun nodded, as the two straggling Drahvins approached them again.

“You've lost, admit it.”

“We haven't.”

“Yes you have.”

“We haven't. We're still standing.”

“You haven't a chance against us.” The two Drahvins then brandished their weapons.

The Valiant II shook as more Drahvin weapons fire hit it. “They're clearly impatient,” the Doctor commented.

“That they would fire while boarding parties are still on board? They probably think they were defeated,” Anderson commented.

“Quite likely,” the Doctor said. The ship shook again.

“Kellira's hailing again,” Franks reported.

“Let's here it,” Anderson ordered.

“Are you going to surrender, Doctor?”

“No!” the Doctor answered.

“Torchwood was a surprise, but we're winning.”

The Doctor called up a tactical display. She could see that the Drahvins did indeed have the advantage for the moment. However, she could also see that additional UNIT and Torchwood forces were on the way. “Probably,” she said.

“More than 'probably,' Doctor!” Kellira said, her words full of arrogance. “We will achieve our objective.”

'If only I could use her arrogance against her.'

Jia'hale and Sigrun had knocked out the two Drahvin boarders. “That's done,” Sigrun said.

“But there are sure to be others,” Jia'hale objected.

“We need to check in back at the Bridge.”

“We'll do that first.”

Back at the Bridge, the Doctor turned back to Anderson. Before she could say anything, the Valiant II shook again. “A feint,” she said.

“A feint?” Anderson asked.

“A pretence,” the Doctor answered. “We pretend the Valiant II is more damaged than it actually is.”

Anderson gave a smirk “That may work.” She was interrupted by another shake. “But we should do it soon.”

“Of course.”

“Damage report,” Anderson ordered.

“Little damage to the superstructure.”

“Feign damage to an engine, reduce power by 10%.”

“Is that advisable?” Daniel asked.

“Not really,” Anderson said.

Kellira saw the Valiant II listing. UNIT was almost defeated, and the Torchwood fleet would soon follow them. “Surround that ship!”

“Aye Commander.”

“The Drahvin ships are moving,” Anderson said.

“They're surrounding us,” the Doctor noted as she looked at the tactical display.

“Prepare to fire at Kellira's ship,” Anderson ordered.

“Wait,” the Doctor directed.

“What?” Anderson asked.

“Getting a message from Harkness.”

“And?”

“The Ianto Jones is moving into position.”

“Tell me when they're ready.”

On the Ianto Jones, Jack looked at the tactical situation. It wasn't good, but there were ways it could be salvaged. 'Wait.' He scanned the Valiant II.

Beginnings of 2020 - Daria - Strange Days in Lawndale

 Daria – Strange Days in Lawndale

1

It was an ordinary day in Lawndale. Daria Morgendorffer was resting in her room. But suddenly her sister, Quinn, burst into the room in a hurry.

 

“Quinn!” she exclaimed.

 

“Something is happening, turn on the TV!” Quinn said with a sense of urgency.

 

“This had better be worth it!”

Beginnings of 2020 - Clara Oswald Never Existed

 Doctor Who: Clara Oswald Doesn’t Exist

The Cybermen closed in on Clara Oswald.

 

“Stop! You can’t kill me,” she called out.

 

“Incorrect.”

 

“I’m a target of strategic value. Alive, I’m a tactical advantage. Dead, I’m your biggest mistake. You don’t know who I am.”

 

One of the Cybermen scanned her. “You are Clara Oswald. You are human. You are unimportant.”

 

“Incorrect!” Clara said, deciding to continue along the line she was going along. “That is what you’re supposed to think. That is what everybody thinks.”

 

“You are Clara Oswald.”

 

“Clara Oswald is a cover story, a disguise. There is no Clara Oswald.”

 

“Identify.” The Cyberman seemed a little incredulous, if a Cyberman could inflict it’s voice so.

 

“Oh, don’t be so slow, it’s embarrassing. Who could fool you like this? Who could hide right under your nose? Who could change their face any time they want? You see, I am not Clara Oswald. Clara Oswald has never existed!”

 

“Identify!”

 

“I am the Doctor.”

 

The three Cybermen came closer. “Well here to start? I was born on the planet Gallifrey, in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm a Time Lord, but my Prydonian privileges were revoked when I stole a time capsule and ran away. Currently pilot a Type 40 Tardis. I've been married four times, all deceased. My children and grandchildren are missing, and I assume, dead. I have a non-Gallifreyan daughter created via genetic transfer. How much more do you need? I'm the Doctor.”

 

“This information is not proof. We require proof.”

 

“Proof?” Clara asked rhetorically. “I’ll give you proof.” She grabbed a fob watch from one of her pockets. “Get ready to scan me again.” She then flipped the fob watch, or rather chameleon arch open. Golden energy rippled over her.

 

“Scanning,” the first Cyberman said. It found something. “Bicardial circulation system… Time Lord physiology detected!”

 

“Told you.”

 

 

Church notes - 11th October 2020

11th October

Ephesians 3:17 - 20

Jesus loves the children.

God shows His love through the people.

The Kingdom of God.

He invites us into His Kingdom.

Matthew 11:25 - 30

Matthew 18:1 - 5

COVID 19 is supercharging poverty.

For the first time in decades global poverty is increasing.

Beginnings of 2020 - Star Trek: The Next Generation: Risks and Nightmares

 Star Trek: The Next Generation: Risks and Nightmares

The Enterprise arrived at the anomaly on schedule. “Beginning scan,” Data reported. “So far, there is no match in any Federation database.”

 

 

The nightmares started straight away. Captain Jean-Luc Picard was reading in Ten Forward when he saw Counsellor Troi sit across from him. “What can I do for you Counsellor?”

 

“There have been more reports of nightmares amongst the crew this evening than any previous night cycle, Captain,” Deanna Troi answered.

 

“What do you mean, Counsellor?”

 

“I mean, it may have to do with that anomaly.”

Beta Request - Q Junior's Lessons

 Title: Q Junior's Lessons - Prologue

Fandom: Star Trek: Voyager

Characters: Q Junior, Kathryn Janeway, Q

Alternate ending to Q2. The Continuum doesn't return Q Junior's powers immediately. Instead, they require him to be part of Voyager's crew until the ship returns to Earth.

Beginnings of 2020 - Star Trek: A Troublesome Deal

 Star Trek: A Troublesome Deal

The Enterprise was too late. Captain James T. Kirk looked at the M-class planet on the viewer. He didn’t need to ask Spock to scan. He saw that the planet would no longer support humanoid life. Even so, he asked for confirmation.

 

“Confirmed. The planet has entered a nuclear winter, Spock reported.”

Beginnings of 2020 - Elias and the Writer's Block

 Elias and the Writer’s Block

It had been a few days since he had been able to write more than a paragraph. He needed a change of scene. Just sitting in his office, being stumped, wasn’t a good idea. ‘Maybe I should go to the Park,’ he thought. He hadn’t been there since the Pandemic started. That was something he had already written about. Those short stories had been well received, but he wanted to write something different. Something that would inspire hope. That was why he wanted to get out.

 

Ten minutes later, he parked his car outside the Park. It didn’t seem like there were too many other people there.

Church notes - 4th October 2020

 4th October

No one by themselves is good enough to be with God.

Hebrews 10:16 - 25

Ephesians 2:4 - 9

It is by grace you were saved.

Ecclesia

- A gathering

Therefore - why is it there?

A foundational truth.

What Jesus accomplished and why it matters.

How do I have access to God?

We all carry shame and guilt. But we we can access God!

Hope

- locked in a person. Jesus.

- A sense of certainty.

- He died on the Cross, carrying our sins. opening the way to heaven for us.

vs 18

Our sins have been dealt with.

vs 19

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place.

Mark 15:37, 38

The curtain tore. The way to the Most Holy Place is open.

vs 21 - 23

'Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace with grace without discipleship, grave without the Cross, grace without Jesus Christ.' - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

We also draw near to each other.

vs 24

How might we spur each other on in love and good deeds?

Finding opportunities. (What is it we can do in the COVID situation.)

Persecution.

'Scripture knows nothing of a solitary Christian. People of faith are always members of a community . God never works with individuals in isolation but always with people in community. The Christian needs another Christian who will remind them of God and who will speak God's word to them. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain, when he becomes discouraged, for by himself the Christian cannot help himself.' - Eugene Peterson

vs25a

Beginnings of 2020 - Emily and the Doctor

 Doctor Who – Designated Survivor – Emily and the Doctor

It was the end of a busy day in the White House, when Emily Rhodes heard a sound that she thought she would never hear again. ‘No! Not now!” she thought. She didn’t want to have to explain the Doctor to the President. She walked through the halls in the direction the sound came from. Then she saw it, or rather her. “Aren’t you a sight for tired eyes?” she asked as she walked up to the blue box.

 

“Emily?” She turned and saw Seth Wright, the Press Secretary. “Do you know what this is?”

 

“Um, yes,” she answered as she grabbed the key she had kept since college. Then on impulse, she turned and unlocked the door.

 

 

The interior was different to how she remembered it. “Doctor?”

 

“Emily Rhodes?” a Scottish voice asked from behind the console.

 

‘Regenerated, figures!’ Emily thought. “Yes,” she answered, at a loss for words.

 

The Doctor stepped out from behind the console. “You’ve done well for yourself. White House Chief of Staff. I knew you would achieve things in Washington.”

 

Emily looked at the Doctor. “You look old, Doctor,” she said, remembering the two brown haired incarnations she had travelled with through her College years.

 

The Doctor was about to say something, but was interrupted by Seth stepping into the Console Room.

 

“Wait! How can this box be bigger on the inside?”

 

“It’s a long story, Seth,” Emily answered. “However. A question must be asked. Why are you here?”

 

“Because President Kirkman is in danger!” the Doctor answered.

 

Beginnings of 2020 - Designated Survivor - The Question

 Designated Survivor – The Question

National Security Advisor Aaron Shore arrived at the White House. It was sure to be a busy day. The various threats to the United States had only grown since the Capitol Bombing. He then received a Text.

 

From: Emily

To: Aaron

 

Please meet in my Office in half an hour.