S. Evan Townsend's Blog, page 20

Strange New Worlds Episode One

I was going to wait until the end of the first season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to comment on it. But I have a huge issue with the first episode so I'm going to discuss that here.

**Spoiler Alert**

In the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Amok Time," Spock starts to experience the "Pon Farr." This is the once-every-seven-years mating period. It is strongly hinted here (and in other Star Trek canon) that Pon Farr is the only time Vulcans mate. 

Also, in "Amok Time," Spock explains that his marriage to T'Pring was arranged (I watched the episode on Paramount+ to confirm this). In that episode he says to Kirk and McCoy that the wedding was "By our parents arrangement when we were but seven years of age."

Yet, in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, T'Pring asks Spock to marry him (not have the marriage arranged) and they go off to celebrate by having sex. That is, mating. Like humans. Not Vulcans. (The sex is interrupted before it gets started by Captain Pike calling.)

I haven't seen today's episode yet, so I have no comment on it.

The above photo is being used under Section 107 of the Copyright Act: fair usage.

Semi-Autonomous Cars... What Would I Do?

Tesla Model SI've been thinking about a new car because my current auto will be nine years old in December. Next year around this time, I'll probably be seriously looking. 

I've already ruled out Tesla because their longest range model (Model S) can't handle the distances I regularly drive. Yes, the EPA range is 405 miles, which would be plenty. But I've read that EPA range is like EPA mileage figures: your range may vary. And if it's too hot or too cold your range will drop. And if you run the air conditioning or the heat, that drops your range more than it would in an internal combustion vehicle. And Car and Driver (my bible for all things automotive) says they only got 281 miles out of a Tesla. Which isn't enough. There is coming the Lucid Air Dream Edition with has an EPA range of 501 miles. That might be enough but it costs nearly $170,000!

Teslas are expensive, too!

While I was researching Teslas, I looked at their "Fully Self-Driving Capability" (which they currently charge $12,000 for). That means on highways and interstates, the car pretty much drives itself. But Tesla makes clear that the driver has to pay attention and have at least one hand on the wheel. It's website says:

The currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous. 

This is, to me, the worst of both worlds. You aren't driving, but you can't do anything else (look at your phone, read, etc.). To me it would be mind-numbingly boring. I'd rather be driving. You can't even really sightsee because... you have to pay attention as if you're driving. 

So what's the point? I guess I'll wait until I can read or look at my phone or sightsee before I buy an autonomous car.

However, I was driving home from Spokane late one night and I was kind of wishing for a semi-autonomous car to help. I was very tired and found myself wandering in my lane. An autonomous car wouldn't do that, I assume. So perhaps they have their place.

How do you feel about autonomous cars? Are you looking forward to them or do you dread them? Let me know in the comments below.

Swimming with Manta Rays

I can't believe I've never posted about this before.

I have been, for years, fascinated by manta rays. I think they are beautiful animals as they gracefully "fly" through the ocean. And they are huge. 

So, I was at this meeting about politics in Washington State a long time ago (when I was in the corporate world). The meeting was put on by a business association. And every year they gave away two tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. I sat at a table after a break and all these attractive women sat at the same table. I felt kind of lucky. Then they did the drawing for the airline tickets. And I literally said, "I never win these things." Then they called my number. I had won the tickets.

My wife and I decided to go to Kona, Hawaii with the free tickets. We'd never been there. So I made hotel reservations and rental car reservations and we went to Kona.

I'd heard about people scuba diving or snorkeling with manta rays. What they do it they go at night and shine bright lights up from the bottom of the ocean and that attracts plankton and the plankton attract manta rays.

So I was talking to the activities person at the hotel and told her I'd like to go snorkeling with manta rays. And she set it up for me (it cost money, of course).

We went at sunset on a boat that went out from the harbor a ways but not very far. Once we got there, they gave us snorkeling masks and pool noodles. The noodles were to go under our ankles to keep our feet from hitting the manta rays. Apparently they have delicate skin.

The mantas that came were small. Nothing like the one in the picture above. But they swam around under us, scooping up plankton with their large mouths. And I loved every second of it. They are such majestic fish. So graceful. I still treasure that memory.

Have you had any experiences you treasure? Let me know in the comments below.

Radio Interview

Today at 4PM EDT (1PM PDT), I will be interviewed on Books & Entertainment. I'll be reading a short excerpt from SMUGGLES OF MARS. Tune in! It's going to be fun.

I'm All Screwed Up

My brain is amazing. Or it was when I was younger. I can remember things in detail from my childhood. I used to be able to read something once and know most of its salient points. Made studying real easy.
In the 1990s I wrote Rock Killer. It has 74 "speaking" characters. I never wrote anything down, I never had to have a "book bible." I kept it all in my head.
Now I'm writing a novel with 34 speaking characters. I had to make a list of every character, job, title, etc. to keep me straight. And I keep finding continuity errors as I edit it.

But my brain is also screwed up. I know I'm bipolar. Technically, I'm type-2 bipolar with dysthymia, That means without meds I'm depressed most of the time but I have manic episodes.  

But I swear I'm also dyslexic, especially when it comes to numbers. I have to be very careful when doing math to make sure I use the correct numbers, especially if the numbers are complex. You tell me "286" and I'll write down "268." Dyslexia is also why I'm a poor speller and proofreader and a slow reader, I believe.

Also, I think I am a bit on the autism spectrum. Not a lot but when I get OCD on something, I really get OCD about it. When I was a kid, I think my spectrum-ness (is that a word?) was more pronounced. I knew I was smart and didn't fit in with other kids and I lived in my head most of the time (unless I could escape into television and later reading). As I got older, I strived to act more "normal" around others. And I think it worked. But I still have problems in social settings. I'm a strong introvert. I just fake it well.

How does your brain work? Are you happy with it? Let me know in the comments below.

Life on Io?

IoI was watching Star Trek: Picard season two on Paramount+ and (slight spoiler) someone was said to find sentient life on Io.

Io (pronounced eye-oh) is the inner-most Galilean moon, that is, one of the four moons discovered by Galileo in 1610.  Due to its proximity with Jupiter, tidal forces keep the moon's core molten and there are numerous volcanoes on the moon spewing molten sulfur.  Some of the volcanoes shoot the sulfur 200 miles above the surface.

My immediate thought was "no way." Io is a very hostile environment. I've been doing research on Io for a book I'm hoping to bring out soon. Io has volcanos with molten sulfur leaving them at over 2,400 miles per hour (I calculate that here and confirm it here). Sulfur dioxide is the primary constituent of a thin atmosphere on Io. Its surface is mostly that sulfur dioxide plus silicas. Io contains little or no water.

There is hardly a moon/planet with a less hospitable environment for life. Especially in our Solar System. 

But, then I thought about what I wrote on this very blog about how we have found life in the most unexpected places. 

So... maybe? It might have to be silicon based, not carbon based.

Life I can see. Sentient life (that has never been mention in Star Trek canon before) is a bit hard to swallow. 

Maybe later I'll do a blog post about all the problems I have about Picard season two. Maybe.

Goodbye Masks (Mostly)

It's been a little more than a month now since the governor of Washington State lifted mask mandates for most situations (except healthcare facilities). And I have to say it's nice to see folks' smiling faces again. It's remarkable how much a simple grin lights up a visage.

Masks are also no longer required in schools in Washington State, unless a school district decides they should be (Seattle's school district has done that).

Some people are still wearing masks and that's okay. It's their choice. But it is now a choice, not a mandate.

I recently visited the Portland, Oregon area and I was surprised how many people are still wearing masks. 

Masks are still required on public transportation (that's a federal thing) until at least April 18th. 

I hate the masks. I have COPD and they made it even harder to breathe. And I'm claustrophobic and the masks made me feel trapped (I'd probably break in seconds if someone waterboarded me). I stopped wearing masks after the first time the CDC said we didn't have to any more. When they put the requirement back on, I simply ignored it. Plus, they said that unless you're wearing an N95 mask, you're not getting any protection. And since I didn't have an N95 mask, I decided not to bother wearing a cloth mask.

But I  made damn sure I had all my vaccines including the booster.

And, as far as I know, I never have had COVID.

But the best part is still seeing people's faces and their smiles.

How do you feel about masks. Do you plan to still wear one or are you glad the mandates are ending? Let me know in the comments below.

Movie Review: Belfast

When the list of Best Picture nominees comes out for the Academy Awards, I like to look and see how many of the movies I've actually seen. When the list first came out there was one: Dune. And I think that was put on the list only in hopes of increasing viewership of the ceremony on TV. Now I've seen a second nominee, and that's Belfast. It didn't win.

I went into Belfast thinking it'll be one of those good but not really enjoyable movies. I saw it was rated PG-13 so I figured the violence couldn't be too bad.

I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's about the "Troubles" in North Ireland in the sixties, but it's told from the perspective of an nine-year-old boy, Buddy. I believe the movie is at least semi-autobiographical by producer/writer/director Kenneth Branagh. It has humor and sweetness and danger and heroics by everyday folk. Despite two F-bombs, it's a movie you could show your great-aunt. You know, the church lady. 

Judi Dench does a remarkable job as Buddy's grandmother. His parents, while they do fight, are obviously in love. Interestingly, Buddy's father is played by Jamie Dornan, who's best known for the Fifty Shades of Grey movies.

I really enjoyed this film. And that surprised me.

Have you seen Belfast? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

The above photo is being used under Section 107 of the Copyright Act: fair usage.

TV-MA on Disney+

A week ago (about) my smart TV said the Disney+ app (I guess that's the right word) needed updated. So I updated it. I don't use Roku or Fire Stick or anything because the apps are built into the television. Which is cool.

When I opened the app, it immediately asked if I wanted to be able to see TV-MA content. I'm an adult, so I selected "yes." I then had to put in my password (which took two attempts) and then I could see TV-MA content.

The first thing I noticed was that the Netflix MCU series (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Punisher, and The Defenders) were all now on Disney+! There's a third season of Daredevil I want to watch and a third season of Jessica Jones I want to watch. (I got bored about half-way through the second season of Luke Cage. And I hated Punisher. I think I've watched all of Iron Fist.) 

So, now the only reason I could think about keeping Netflix streaming was for Stranger Things which is supposed to have a fourth season eventually. So I canceled my Netflix streaming service which will save me $20 a month. I still am on the Netflix/DVD.com DVD/Blu-ray service because that's how I watch new releases since I rarely go to the theater anymore.

So now I only have Disney+ and Paramount+ (for Star Trek shows, mostly) and Amazon Prime streaming services. I also still have Dish for television programing.

What streaming services do  you use? Do you think I'm nuts to cancel Netflix? Let me know in the comments below.

The above photo is being used under Section 107 of the Copyright Act: fair usage.

Television Review: Hawkeye

I know Hawkeye first streamed on Disney+ a while back (around Christmastime I think). I didn't get around to watching it until recently (I was finishing up The Expanse). Also, I was a little nervous about Hawkeye after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier went political.

But Hawkeye is great fun. Lots of action and adventure and zero politics. A few twists and surprises, too. And if you've watched Daredevil on Netflix, there's a surprise for you, too (no spoilers).

The thing I liked about Clint Barton/Hawkeye was his concern about his family. Until circumstances forced him to separate from them at Christmastime, he was all about his kids and wife.

plays Kate Bishop and she's not only beautiful, but a fun character. You may remember Ms. Steinfeld from True Grit and Bumblebee. She's a talent and has a bright future ahead of her.

I really liked Hawkeye. More than I expected to. It's mostly fun. And the "Rogers, the Musical" part is hilarious (don't worry, that's early in the first episode). If you have Disney+, I strongly recommend Hawkeye.

The above photo is being used under Section 107 of the Copyright Act: fair usage.