Rossum’s Universal Robots (Act 2)
For my birthday I treated myself to Episode 2 of RUR (Rossum’s Universal Robots) — the play that introduced the word “Robot” to the world 100 years ago.
Future Imperfect (ST:TNG Rewatch, Season Four, Episode 8) Riker Van Winkle
Rewatching ST:TNG after 30 years. After playing the trombone at his birthday party and passing out on a gassy planet, a gray-flecked Riker awakens in sickbay, where he learns 16 years have passed and he is now the captain of the Enterprise. After the requisite medical technobabble (virus, amnesia, blah blah), Dr. Crusher tries to usher him to his quarters, but Riker instead heads to the bridge, where he’s startled…
As a student journo, naturally I covered the visit from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry in 1989
I recall just sort of telling the editors that I would be taking this story, thank you very much. I started looking for this clipping when I reviewed The Measure of a Man for my ST:TNG Rewatch. Sadly The University Journal is no more. When I was at U.Va. it was one of two competing student papers.
Rossum’s Universal Robots (Act 1) Artistic Prosperity
The first act of Artistic Prosperity’s virtual production of R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) is online. I designed the set backdrops and I play the humble builder Alquist. The first act is something like an office comedy, but the story takes a few twists and turns before the epilogue. Oct 12: Replaced link with new version.
Reunion (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season Four, Episode 7) Picard Arbitrates Klingon Leadership Struggle
Rewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break. The Federation ambassador to the Klingon Empire requests Picard’s help about an urgent matter. Chancellor K’empec names Picard arbiter over the power struggle that will follow his impending death. He suspects that one of the two rival faction leaders has been slowly poisoning him. The scenery-chewing Ambassador K’Eyhlar gets a lot of screen time. She and Worf had shared a skin-biting “fade to black”…
Legacy (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season Four, Episode 6) Visiting Yar’s Lawless Colony
Rewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break. The Enterprise tracks a distress call to the lawless colony where the late Lt. Tasha Yar was born. One of the two main factions holds Federation hostages, prompting Picard to editorialize that he “certainly won’t trade weapons for crewmen” — an apparent reference to the Iran-Contra affair. The teaser had established Data’s growing skill at poker, but just how good is he at calling…