Star Trek… which one is the best?

Aug 28, 2011 | Blog

(Now there's a headline primed for a flamewar if I ever saw one... Oh, and OS X is way better than Windows.) For a long, long time I've been quite into the various Star Trek series. I grew up watching The Next Generation and that one will always be the one that I think of most when the words "Star Trek" come up. I mean no offense at all to the Original Series -- it's also very, very good and well ahead of its time -- it's just that TNG is what I grew up watching. I also enjoyed Voyager, for the most part. It was a bit more on the inconsistent side of things but it had some very well-told stories. Seeing Janeway and Paris on the holodeck in some campy, black-and-white, 1950s space serial was a hoot! And the Doctor was quite simply one of the best. characters. ever. Unfortunately, I haven't seen enough of Enterprise to be able to cast my judgement on that series. The final episode, however, was... umm... *really* badly done. Sorry to all of those who undoubtably worked so hard on the show. But fitting in an episode of Enterprise with an episode of TNG that really had no room for such a thing is, well, just odd. And the fact that the whole episode built up to this tremendous speech that Captain Archer was to give for the founding of the Federation, but then never actually hearing him give the speech was very disappointing. But I've heard that the series itself was pretty good, especially in the last couple of years. So I'll have to check it out one of these days. But, if I look objectively at the entire franchise of television shows, there is one that I think stands out in terms of storytelling, character, and a plot truly worthy of the galactic stage. That is Deep Space Nine. This past week I once again watched the final, 10 hours of the series. They are interconnected episodes that show the conclusion of the Dominion War and are stuffed full of great writing, acting, effects... well, everything that I can think of that a sci-fi series should have is in that final arc. The concluding episode wraps things up very nicely and has several character moments that could be actual tear-jerkers. The rest of the series has many more brilliant episodes. The 7th season episode, "The Siege of AR-558" is outstanding and hard to watch all at the same time. "Trials and Tribble-ations" is an incredibly well-done crossover episode with the Original Series. Many episodes are full of laugh-out-loud moments. The acting (as is the case, actually, with all of the Star Trek series) is top-notch. The characters are well written and experiences from past episodes carry over into subsequent episodes. And there are so many secondary characters that you really get the sense that the space station is a full, vibrant, and diverse community. And did I mention that the characters are so well written? Even though it (like all television shows) has the odd clinker in the mix, DS9 is just an overall well-done series. Objectively, though I still have a soft place in my heart for TNG, DS9 is far and away the best of the series. Ok... flame war commence! (Betcha didn't think that would come from a priest's blog?)

Rest In Peace

Aug 27, 2011 | Blog

As I type this, the funeral of the Hon. Jack Layton is ongoing. Even though one might not agree with all of his political views, I have no doubt that he had a tremendous passion for serving his country. So, thanks for that, Mr. Layton - and blessings to his loved ones during their moment of grief. Yesterday word also came out of the passing of the former archbishop of Toronto, Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic. He was, by many accounts, a very humble man who cared deeply for those under his care. As an example, Rocco Palmo (of Whispers in the Loggia) tweeted about how Cardinal Ambrozic would serve as a "quiet, hidden volunteer" at homeless shelters and soup kitchens in Toronto, even while he was archbishop. My prayers and thoughts are with the Archdiocese of Toronto and with his loved ones. For both of these men and for all the deceased, may the perpetual light of the Lord shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

Wherein I attempt to spin chocolate into a theological topic…

Aug 26, 2011 | Blog

<attempted_theological_spin> I was asked by Andy and Jane to write about chocolate. Of course, what that really meant for me is that last night I had to mix some chocolate sauce with coffee reduction and use it on ice cream. I probably gained a couple of pounds by doing that and had insomnia last night due to the coffee... but it was so good. Wikipedia reports the first documented use of chocolate at 1100 BC, or about 100 years after King David of Israel. Dark chocolate, in particular, has several health benefits for humans. But this really only happens in moderation. And that's not really what I did with the chocolate last night (and the coffee and the ice cream). And now I'm a bit tired on this fine morning... This just goes to show, once again, that our actions have consequences. And the chemical theobromine, found in dark chocolate, is fatal for many animals, including my dog. That sounds like an even bigger consequence. So no chocolate for you, dog. The fact that I ate this chocolate just after having been sick for a couple of days probably didn't help much, though. But this all seems so trivial in comparison to what has been a very full week for news. There have been sad deaths (from the plane crash in Nunavut; and the untimely death from cancer of the Hon. Jack Layton, leader of the Her Majesty's Official Opposition in Canada's Parliament); shocking resignations (Steve Jobs of Apple and Rob "CmdrTaco" Malda of Slashdot); an earthquake; tornadoes; and a looming hurricane. In difficult moments -- whether great or small -- I always find it comforting to consider the plight of the people of Judah in the 6th century BC. Their country was attacked and taken over by the Babylonian empire. The temple of Jerusalem was destroyed and those who weren't killed were taken captive to Babylon. All in all, it looked like a very bad day for them. Yet, in the midst of everything, as their faith in God was being tested, this was their prayer, voiced by the author of the book of Lamentations (3.21-26):
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
We believe that God continues to be with his people, even in the midst of their suffering and sin. Why? Because, as Christians, we know that he himself descended even into the very depths of death itself, bridging the gap between death and life, between despair and hope, and between the cross and resurrection. If we encounter anything today that is challenging in any way, whether big or trivial: Jesus, who is God, is there with us. Great is his faithfulness; his great love and compassion are new every morning. (How's that work for theological reflections over a morning coffee?) </attempted_theological_spin>

Blogging… starting up again. I think.

Aug 25, 2011 | Blog

Good day everyone, Back in 2010, Pope Benedict's Message for the 44th World Communications Day said the following:
The spread of multimedia communications and its rich “menu of options” might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the Web, or to see it only as a space to be filled. Yet priests can rightly be expected to be present in the world of digital communications as faithful witnesses to the Gospel, exercising their proper role as leaders of communities which increasingly express themselves with the different “voices” provided by the digital marketplace. Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis.
Well, after a while away from sporadic blogging, I am planning to try to take this up a bit more regularly. I particularly like Mark Shea's tagline: "So That No Thought of Mine, No Matter How Stupid, Should Ever Go Unpublished Again!" It's not that I plan to post every thought that comes through my brain (that would be... imprudent), but if I can reflect on things from church news to world events to geek news to the Riders and beyond -- and even have something positive to contribute -- I hope to do so! Is there anything in particular you'd like me to reflect upon? Also, feel free to check out the podcast that I'm involved in, where Andy, Jane and myself reflect on different aspects of pastoral ministry. Keep fit and have fun!