William Shatner - Seeking Major Tom

For my birthday (which happens to be in three days, by the way) my amazing boyfriend got me William Shatner's new album as an early present! I have been excited about this album ever since I first heard about it a week or so ago.

The first thing one notices is the cover, and the casing: brilliant colors and badly photoshopped Shatner-astronaut fronts the beautiful fold-out cardboard case.(right click and open in new tab or window to view full size)

And then you open it up. I may be biased, but everything I see is amazing. Absolutely beautiful. The colors, his face, the anticipation. I have heard all of his other song covers, and he always has a sense of humor when he does them. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds? You can hear his humor there. He has fun with what he does.

Can you imagine William Shatner with a nose ring?

The album has the exact effect that Shatner says he was going for - one gets the feeling of being involved in Major Tom's adventure after he is lost in Space. In between songs, it keeps reverting the phrases from the song "Major Tom" - two sides searching for each other, and Major Tom's wonder at what has happened to him. Through William Shatner's renditions, we experience the heaven and hell that Major Tom goes through, from his perspective.

The songs may feature William Shatner's voice, but one must listen to it as if one were listening to Major Tom himself. It is his narrative - and in being a lost man's own narrative, it is not to be trusted. What happens at the end? Does he see planet earth, or is it merely (another?) hallucination?  

This album also includes an original composition by William Shatner in conjunction with Adam Hamilton: Struggle, which is absolutely wonderful. But nothing can compete with his rendition/interpretation of Bohemian Rhapsody, Spirit in the Sky, and Iron Man (for which he received an Honorary Head Banger Award).

It also comes with a little booklet (which I have not scanned, because I am lazy and sick and scanning stuff would involve getting of the couch and kicking people off of the other computer). Just believe me when I say that the booklet is booklet-y and has more pictures of William Shatner's "space wonder" face.

Seeking Major Tom is out now. They have it at Walmart even - get it, or the Romulans will get you.

Doodle Story Time - Destructive Dalek and Giant Spock

I do a lot of drawing, practically every hour of the day. Unfortunately (or fortunately, I guess) on the one day when I was supposed to do a "sketchbook assignment" I didn't want to draw. I didn't want to do anything, but I had to hand something in. So I drew like a five year old and created a story that only barely made sense if you were hit in the head.  

To read it, start at the Dalek and go counter-clockwise. To enlarge, right click and open in a new tab/window.

I drew it in ink, and decided today that I would color it using Sumo Paint. I actually love how derpy everything looks, especially the Dalek and Spock. Maybe I should draw like a five year old more often.

But probably not.

Spock Gets a Box of Tribbles from McCoy for Christmas

Once upon a time, the crew of the enterprise decided to bring back the "secret santa" tradition. Most were very excited, with the exception of Spock and Doctor McCoy. Spock felt that such a tradition was illogical and meant for humans, to which McCoy responded harshly, "You ARE half human, Spock - how about you try getting into the spirit of things, you green blooded hobgoblin."

Things really got interesting when McCoy picked Spock's name out of the boot.

"I'm a doctor, not a damn Santa!" McCoy exclaimed loudly as he paced Kirk's quarters. "What am I supposed to give to a Vulcan for Christmas?"

The corner of Kirk's mouth turned up slightly - "Why, appeal to his human side, Bones."

Christmas day finally came around on the Enterprise, and the main crew was gathered on the bridge. Each held a small box or bag in their hands, looking around anxiously.

Kirk recieved an antique paperback from Uhura - "The Crucible". McCoy was given a beautifully framed picture of his daughter Joanna and himself, Scotty a bottle of vintage scotch, Sulu a genuine leather cloak, and Chekov a Russian history book with wide margins where he could add his own "facts".

Spock had gotten a hold of another Vulcan Lute for Uhura, which she accepted gratefully and began to play. As she played, she sang a song in Swahili.

Finally, it was McCoy's turn to present Spock with his gift. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he handed to package over to the Vulcan. Spock, raising one eyebrow, inspected the package before untying the bow and and lifting the lid.

Trying to hide his surprise, Spock watched as the box overflowed with tribbles that fell at his feet. Kirk and McCoy were beside him now, not bothering to hide their grins. Lifting a tribble from the box in his hand, he held it up inquisitively.

The entire crew broke out in laughter - Spock cocked his eyebrow once more, and with the tilt of his head, muttered... "fascinating."

McCoooooooooooy!

And there you have it - the back story I made up (in a couple of minutes, just now) to go with my new figure. I got this amazing figure at the same time and place as I got my Doctor Who glass and duvet set - from a wonderful man who really knows his stuff. I am in love with the structure of his face and ears here, hence all of the close-ups. Whoever made this is a glorious being.