Introducing: Paul.

Bah Weep Gragnah Weep Ni Ni Bong, T’Laina fans!

I know, I know - you came here today expecting to drink tea and read some epic Star Trek blog posts, and I apologize if you’re adamantly against trying new things… and now you're just curious as to what the hell is going on. Who is this interloper babbling on about nonsense? I’m the girl’s boyfriend. I’m the lovely bloggers biddy boy. I’m the one who pays for 8% of her memorabilia and such.

Call me Paul.

A Ceti Eel larvae creeps up on Paul's shoulder...

I’ve known the lass for a good four years, and obsessed over her and lovely eyes the entire time. This year, shortly after my birthday we consummated our relationship with the purchase of a rather expensive Transformer (Sentinel Prime, for the curious), she demanded I “do” a blog post about Star Trek and Doctor Who - and who am I to argue?

Before I met her I must confess, Star Trek and Doctor Who were in the background of my life - present, but not in the forefront. I was aware of it, the characters, the eleven different incarnations of the Doctor… but it never really interested me. Even the 2009 Star Trek rape - I mean film - made me shrug and say “meh”.

After T’Laina started dating me, she put me in mandatory trek classes, and then Doctor Who classes. Color me surprised - I found myself very much enjoying both. The characters, the situations, the performances… all very nuanced material actually. I won’t say I stereotyped either as “generic sci-fi crud”, but I didn’t expect the intelligence or social commentary.

Into the ear canal, to the cerebral coretex!

T’Lania speaks very highly about her Trek and Who, tons and tons of hours whittled away on it. Sometimes it bothers me, but most times not. It depends on how much she does it.

For me, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of either Star Trek or Doctor Who is a combination of Wrath of Khan and the very poorly made movie Dr. Who and the Daleks, starring my personal favorite Actor, Peter Cushing. T’Laina hates that particular film, as she says it is a bad knock-off. I only like it because it’s Cushing.

Now, just saying up front:
Favorite Captain: Kirk
Favorite Doctor: Sylvester McCoy.
Why? They’re the ones I find the most enduring.

I must confess that I myself am a nerd in general - my heart and interests lie in a sea of giant monsters and DC superheroes. But with T’Laina, an adventure into the world of television sci-fi was made very enjoyable. I would be very happy to read a comic wherein Batman throws punches with Spock!

That is all for me today, dear friends. I return you to your regularly scheduled blog posts.

Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Ads - Playmates Figures and Game of Trivia 1993

Going through a copy of Starlog Magazine (1993), I found quite a few interesting ads, articles,  and comics relating to Star Trek: The Next Generation. I am actually scanning them right now. Until I have scanned some actual articles, here are a couple of advertisements.

Coming this fall: I don't actually have this game as of yet, but from what I have heard I would definitely like to.

Game description:

Star Trek: The Next Generation Trivia, Exploration and Discovery is a game of navigation, search, and discovery. The object of the game is to ‘seek out new life and new civilizations’ on an unknown number of planets and be the first to report them to Starfleet Command. It is a fun, challenging game for those with general Star Trek knowledge and even more exciting for dedicated Star Trek fans.

You are the Captain of your own starship, in control of your navigation and in command of your actions. Your knowledge of Star Trek: The Next Generation influences your success. Unpredictability abounds. You are always on the lookout for chance encounters with the Borg ship, Temporal Fluxes, “Q”, planets, and other starships. Your sensors detect these entities to keep you abreast of your relative position.

Test your knowledge of Star Trek: The Next Generation as you commandeer your own starship through unexplored territory.

There is also an ad on the back of the magazine for some TNG Playmates figures that come with exclusive Skybox Playmates collector cards.

One thing I don't have enough of is Borg merchandise. I find the Borg to be quite fascinating, as well as aesthetically pleasing. I would love to get a hold of any one of these figures - but if I could get a hold of those two Borg, I would be utterly elated.

A Different Sort of Mirror Spock.

My best friend has always made cute dolls and tiny foods out of felt. In fact, it was she who got me to try my hand at making a Dalek, Vulcan, and Andorian. For the last couple of years, she has made me a small doll for my birthday. This year, she came up to me at work and gave a small felt Spock doll:

I noticed right away that the insignia was on the wrong side, but justified this by telling everyone that he was a different sort of "Mirror Spock" - the one that Spock himself sees in his reflection. Also, that our reflections in the mirror are actually us in another universe, and that we are actually copying them.

Thanks, Kaitie!

Bitter Ambiguity - Branching Odd

I have been away from Vibrant Oxymoron lately, due to an extremely busy schedule and the fact that I have delved into the arts once more. In fact, I have set up an alternate blog called Bitter Ambiguity which I devote entirely to the messes I create. You can check it out by clicking HERE or by clicking the picture link on the sidebar. Here is a tiny preview:

PS. This will be the only post that is not in any way related to Star Trek or Doctor Who. But there is some Trek/Who drawings on there...

Also PS. I am back now, so expect some Trek/Who posts soon...