The choices in this list are an odd mix of ones that almost everyone acknowledges as top ranked and others that are likely not.

A Mathematically Perfect Redemption as the only standalone Lower Decks episode to make the cut?

No TAS classics such as Yesteryear, The Slaver Weapon or the Counterclockwise Incident?

TNG Qpid but not Q Who?

Nothing at all from Prodigy — the best effort and most successful landing of a serialized season the franchise has achieved?

Thanks for the thought experiment OP.

My spouse and I found this season opener disappointing, if for different reasons.

My partner couldn’t get past the bad science. More, something made them feel like they were watching low budget mid 20th century scifi.

I found the performances/acting off across the board. Given the strength of the cast one has to wonder why they were overwrought and unconvincing. The pacing and rhythm of dialogue definitely was part of it. The direction has to be part of it but the episode director has done a lot of better episodes in the this era.

I’m usually pretty forgiving on science and engineering as long as the process feels right. Without the actors selling it, I just didn’t get into the show in a way that allowed for suspension of disbelief.

The cast is saying they feel this is their strongest season yet. Based on episode one, I am unconvinced.

This is good news.

It was well done and might be something Paramount is willing to do more of even if the television franchise is on ice.

15
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website to c/quarks@startrek.website

David Ellison announced yesterday, as financial markets closed, that the Paramount-WB merger would be paused until mid 2027 in response to ongoing antitrust concerns. The 12 intervening states successfully obtained a restraining order last Monday.

From the Gizmodo article:

Paramount has agreed to a delay of its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery after a group of 12 states sued to stop the $111 billion deal. The states, led by California, brought the lawsuit over antitrust concerns, and Paramount has agreed to close the deal until five days after a potential trial is held or June 1, 2027, whichever comes first, according to a court filing.

11

Cool article about a great initiative.

If you’re not reading articles frequently from The Japan Times, the paywall shouldn’t kick in.

35
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website to c/monsterverse@startrek.website

A suitably summery Godzilla cartoon from Grickle. Available for purchase from the creator at the link to their website.

7

Titans in a theme park ride set in the Hollow Earth? Sounds cool.

A press release describes it as a “multimedia dark ride,” as well as “the world’s first attraction to integrate Legendary’s Monsterverse into a fully immersive theme park experience,” and it’s joining Lotte World Adventure‘s slate of attractions starting July 24. Here’s an effects-heavy trailer setting the mood but not giving too much actual insight into what to expect.

Wish it were closer than Seoul, South Korea. Perhaps Canada’s Wonderland could add something like this?

12

This coverage by Variety of the legal challenges to the Paramount-WB merger is intriguing.

Are blockbuster films a separate market? Or are they interchangeable with other forms of entertainment?

The $111 billion ParamountWarner Bros. merger may hang on that question. On July 13, a coalition of 12 states sued to block the deal, arguing that it will lead to excessive concentration in the theatrical and basic cable markets. The strongest claim may be that the combined entity will control 30% of the market for “anticipated top-grossing films.”

17

A new official trailer for Godzilla Minus Zero was dropped today by Toho.

Enjoy!

I’ll come back with another post with links to some of the trailer analyses out there after a few days

10

📣 REMINDER: Next The Ark Mastodon watch / rewatch party will this upcoming Saturday, July 11th 3:00 pm EDT (UTC-4).

S1E7 A Slow Death is Worse

S1E8 Every Single Person Matters

I host there from my account @AlsoPaisleyCat@tenforward.social.

We took a hiatus for the US national holiday last week but will be continuing with the first season this Saturday.

Please feel welcome to join in. There’s a groupbot to help boost posts and federate. If you would like to participate or just lurk, please make a follow request to to the fedigroups bot and I will approve.

8
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website to c/monsterverse@startrek.website

While the production information in US-based entertainment media have emphasized that the new Apple Cold War 1980s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters spinoff — working title Birdwatcher — will be shooting in Australia or South Pacific locations, it appears that production licences are in place for Prague and surrounding areas in Czechia.

Given the Cold War focus, locations in Eastern Europe make sense. Canadian locations can only stand in for so much of Russia and Kazakhstan (as they did in Monarch). Prague features in many shows needing urban Eastern European locations now that Russian coproductions are not viable.

In the May issue of Location Internationalmagazine, Czech Film Commissioner Pavlína Žipková discusses international productions filming in the country this year, and references the project under the title The American Birdwatcher

Stillking Films, one of the Czech Republic’s leading production service companies, has registered the project with the Czech Audiovisual Fund and will coordinate local production activities.

10

JG Dillard shared this first behind the scenes production photo on Instagram for the new ‘Young Lee Shaw’ Monsterverse Apple spinoff series starring Wyatt Russell.

The working title is ’Birdwatcher’. Production started in mid June.

28
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website to c/quarks@startrek.website

Just watched the Mainland Chinese movie Per Aspera Ad Astra on Netflix. It’s the summer movie I’ve been wanting.

It had a cinematic release earlier this spring and was released on Netflix June 18th.

While set in space, it’s focused on virtual reality and AI. Some have described as a mix of EEAAO and The Matrix. I’d add in a fair dose of high concept Star Trek too.

It’s a fun ride with a good message. Highly recommend it for sci-fi fans looking for a well executed story with competent problem solving and positive values.

Dylan Wang He Di, Victoria Song Qian and Wang Duo deliver a compelling and action packed tale. While I watched with subtitles because the cast all voiced their own parts in the original Mandarin, the English language dub is reportedly excellent. I found the special effects well done (but would really welcome the views of experts here ).

Here’s the synopsis from Netflix:

An AI system lets people live their dreams during space travel, but when a crisis arises a technician must enter the dreamscape to save the passengers.

And here’s a translation of the original promotion for the movie:\

High school student Zhang Qi Meng, focused on preparing for exams, is pulled out of the examination hall by a stranger named Brother Biao, who breaks through the window. He is then informed of a shocking fact: his world is just a virtual metaverse program. In reality, Qi Meng is an astronaut in hibernation, and at this moment, disaster is rapidly approaching their spaceship...

https://

4

For those not aware a ‘Godzilla El Niño’ is forecast for Africa in the coming months.

It’s a serious threat to the well-being of the population on the continent. Seems worthy of the name.

Severe damage to agriculture and infrastructure is expected across large parts of the continent, and Africa has just a few months to prepare.

Both droughts and floods may cause “severe” exacerbation of food insecurity, says Rainer, who notes that some of the worst affected areas are also grappling with the effects of conflict. “In the worst case, drought can mean a complete loss of the harvest including the seeds for the next season, especially if non-adapted varieties, for example of maize, are grown.”

Climate models suggest Africa has just a few months to prepare for the short-term impacts.

This cash-crop industry perspective from a coffee industry publication definitely is doing its bit to serve its clientele.

36
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website to c/quarks@startrek.website

Given the overlap between OG The Magic School Bus and science fiction / genre fans, this project from Legendary Entertainment to bring the show to the big screen in live action may be of interest.

Given the quality of Legendary’s Dune and Monsterverse productions, there’s reason to believe that it will be a cut above many other legacy IP adaptations.

[-] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 99 points 4 months ago

It’s a silver lining to see Shatner using his platform for the greater good.

[-] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 53 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

”…the show failed to find its significant audience.”

Put a show on a streamer that is targeting a completely different audience, and let the entitled vocal fans run wild with unchecked brigading, and then be surprised by low “crowdsourced” ratings.

Sigh.

This is depressing, if accurate, in that it may also be a signal that the new owner is looking for a new production company to manage the franchise just when things had finally and consistently stabilized with Secret Hideout.

I’m not hopeful for an SNW continuation in a Year One show, or Tawny’s project either.

[-] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 39 points 2 years ago

There are exceptions. Someone who was up until recently a teacher may fall into the category of being in a position of trust or authority towards the minor. Without knowing the legal precedents, it’s hard to know how much of an edge case this is.

From the JusticeThe following factors may be taken into account when determining whether a relationship is exploitative of the young person:

From the* Justice Canada webpage on Age of Consent*

Sexual exploitation A 16 or 17 year old cannot consent to sexual activity if:

  • their sexual partner is in position of trust or authority towards them, for example their teacher or coach
  • the young person is dependent on their sexual partner, for example for care or support the relationship between the young person and their sexual partner is exploitative

The following factors may be taken into account when determining whether a relationship is exploitative of the young person:

  • the young person's age
  • the age difference between the young person and their partner
  • how the relationship developed (for example, quickly, secretly, or over the internet)
  • whether the partner may have controlled or influenced the young person
[-] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 54 points 3 years ago

There’s still very low understanding of how devastating and threatening the convoy protests were for the residents and businesses in the core of Ottawa.

Residents, businesses and people who work downtown in Ottawa roll with protests day-in and out. Large ones usually are usually respectful of the legal limits, and local people know how to plan their days to avoid them if they need to.

This protest damaged hearing with unremitting high decibel air horns, polluted the air with weeks of nonstop truck emissions, actively harassed, intimidated and threatened local residents trying to get to work and essential services, filled the streets with garbage and feces.

They also created significant fire hazards and risked major explosions, including by creating a large stash of gasoline in tanks in Confederation Park - directly across the street from city hall, an armoury, and close to a high school as well as right across the narrow Rideau canal from National Defence headquarters.

But it was the utter lack of consideration for the most vulnerable that truly showed the incredible selfishness and lack of compassion of the protesters.

There are many lower income, disabled and senior residents in coop apartments downtown. Many rely on visiting services from care workers who could not get through the protests on most days. A small proportion had family and friends who were able to host them outside the area of the protests, most were trapped, isolated and terrorized.

[-] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 27 points 3 years ago

While in no way intending to minimize the economic hardship inflation has had on Canadian’s lives, to be clear, this is ‘standard of living’ defined as real GDP per capita.

That is it measures the arithmetic mean or average of what the economy produces adjusted for general inflation. It says nothing about how income or wealth is distributed or other key factors that determine wellbeing at an individual, household or societal level.

This is not generally viewed as the best measure of quality of life or societal wellbeing. Critics from across the political spectrum globally have been critical of the focus on GDP per capita for decades. It says something that TD as a bank is still focused on it.

The OECD Finance Ministers adopted a Wellbeing Framework to measure and compare across countries. Canada has its own version that StatsCan is reporting on.

[-] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 29 points 3 years ago

There just doesn’t seem to be a limit to the amount of hype I’m willing to soak up in anticipation of this crossover.

Nothing close to too much as yet.

[-] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 35 points 3 years ago

Well, I have to give the OP credit for outrageous audacity.

Coming to the main community on the dedicated Star Trek instance to argue that users should subscribe elsewhere is inherently a criticism. It says a lot about the tolerance of the mods and admins here that it’s been left to stand.

I myself appreciate a well moderated community because I believe it enables more discussion not less.

[-] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 29 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago)

What stood out to me in the article was the disingenuous quote from the Oil & Gas industry saying that tax breaks aren’t subsidies because they are part of the tax system.

Those familiar with the tax system and public finance will be aware that Finance Canada has published a list of Federal Tax Expenditures and their value for a long time. There’s even a distinct section for fossil fuels.

Tax subsidies are subsidies.

[-] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 27 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago)

Overbooking is regrettably the long standing practice of Air Canada.

Missing a holiday of a lifetime is really unfortunate. We’ve nearly experienced more dire circumstances travelling with small children when Air Canada attempted to bump us when we were connecting overseas from a codeshared flights.

Dan Gardner is right to profile his experience. I especially appreciate his underscoring that no matter how many steps he took as a customer - early online checkin 24 hours before the flight, arrival and in person checkin the airport well in advance, he and his son were still mysteriously taken off the flight at the gate at boarding with no explanation. The blithe disrespect that the staff at the checkin and gates have towards the travellers in such situations is one of the things that make flying with Air Canada so incredibly stressful.

Once upon decades ago, Air Canada used to offer vouchers for free additional flights as an incentive for travellers to agree to take a later flight. Now Air Canada feels it has the right to impose significant financial and personal cost on it customers without compensation, recourse or explanation.

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StillPaisleyCat

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