Honest Weblog Award
This column is proud to admit that we've been awarded an Honest Weblog Award. We're normally in the habit of handing out awards (on Fridays) here, and this is the first actual award the column's been presented with.
So this column would like to thank its hairdresser, its agent, its publicist....
Um, well, maybe not. I don't think I'm supposed to give a speech at this point. In fact, rules come with this award. I haven't found an "official Honest Weblog Award" page yet, but I did find two slightly different versions of the rules:
Honest Weblog Award Rules:
1. You must brag about the award.
2. You must include the name of the blogger who bestowed the award on you and link back to that blogger.
3. You must choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
4. Show their names and links and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with the Honest Weblog Award.
5. List at least ten (10) honest things about yourself.
Then this second set, which left more room for interpretation:
When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is real. Choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have seven (7) friends. Show the seven (7) random victims’ names and links and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Weblog.†Well, there’s no prize, really, but they can keep the nifty icon. Next, in your blog, list at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!
To prove that the "misguided soul" who bestowed (bestew?) this award is real, I introduce you to Matt Osborne, also well-known and loved here as "OsborneInk." Matt has just started blogging on Huffington Post, and will undoubtedly be a welcome addition to the site. Matt's been doing good things on his own blog Osborne Ink, and has graciously awarded me the honor of being named an "honest weblog."
Matt writes: "Chris writes a single post every weekday, but what he might lack in output is more than made up in quality. His Friday Talking Points are essential reading."
Um, "lack in output"? Really? Well, I like to think that what I lack in multiple posts per day I make up for in sheer verbiastic word-count on a daily basis. Heh heh.
But I've got to say, Matt, "A Pimp Named Slickback" is a hilarious name for a pet rabbit. We'll just have to agree to disagree about Captain Janeway, though.
As for the next requirement, I am improvising even more here, and am throwing the "name seven other blogs" item open to suggestions from you, dear reader. I think it's more democratic this way. Nominate the blogs you read (other than this one, of course) and provide a link in the comments. The only requirement seems to be "honest" -- meaning not limited to politics or any other blog subject matter. So cutting loose is allowed. Indeed, encouraged!
Which means I am left with "ten honest things about myself." Well, honestly, one's about the cat:
1. This one Matt will appreciate -- I think the British show "Connections" was one of the best television shows ever filmed, of all time, bar none.
2. My favorite Star Trek television series, in order of best-to-worst: The Original Series, "Voyager," "Enterprise," "Deep Space Nine," "The Next Generation," although I have to admit I haven't seen many of the last two because I gave up on them at an early point.
3. I have traveled to 48 United States. Each was interesting, in its own way.
4. I believe the purpose of human life on this planet was for Johann Sebastian Bach to write "Toccata and Fugue in D-Minor." It's all been downhill ever since this apex of human creativity.
5. My cat is not a great jumper. She can clear a six-foot fence if she needs to, but prefers not to jump in non-emergency situations. She is, however, a good hunter.
6. I can perform a basic juggling routine, but only with three clubs or other objects.
7. The person I most admire throughout all of human history was Eratosthenes. Around 240 B.C. -- using nothing more than two wells, the sun, and basic geometry -- he calculated the circumference of the Earth (some say within 10%, some say within 1% of accuracy). That's pretty impressive for 240 B.C., you have to admit. Incidentally, I learned this story from an episode of "Connections."
8. I think the federal budget process would be a lot more interesting if we all -- on our tax forms -- were able to divide up our money between government departments. My money would mostly go to National Parks, and the Interstate Highway System.
9. I have always hated shaving. Along with flying cars, I'm still waiting for some futuristic gadget to do away with shaving, as all the Golden Age science fiction writers promised us.
10. I procrastinate frequently, so I put off writing a tenth one for later.
In conclusion, I apologize for the self-centeredness of this column, as we all wait for the silly season to end and Congress to get back to work. But the rules are the rules, even though the "pass it on" nature of the award is so delightfully anarchic in nature. So tomorrow, we'll get back into the swamp of politics. For today, let's hear what other "honest" blogs you read -- don't be shy!
-- Chris Weigant
Ha! I'm glad you're doing it this way. I'm curious to see what suggestions other people have.
Deep Space Nine was better in its last two seasons. Like Babylon 5, when the war kicked off then every little thing started to matter. Generally, I gauge Trek incarnations by whether things blow up enough.
Connections still stands the test of time. But I also remember Carl Sagan covered Eratosthenes in Cosmos, which was also an amazing show.
But I have to add one thing, Chris: if your budget affords it, you can stop shaving forever.
For today, let's hear what other "honest" blogs you read
Well, I read this one.. And then there is... oh no, wait... er.. there is.. Uh no, that one isn't... Ummm Well, this is.... uh.. no, not really..
Damn, I guess just this one..
— don't be shy!
Perish the thought! :D
Michale.....
2. My favorite Star Trek television series, in order of best-to-worst: The Original Series, "Voyager," "Enterprise," "Deep Space Nine," "The Next Generation," although I have to admit I haven't seen many of the last two because I gave up on them at an early point.
Let's assume that we're all purists here and that Star Trek The Original Series is the top of everyone's lists..
(As an aside, I caught an episode of WAREHOUSE 13 last night. The main two characters Pete and Myka are Secret Service Agents assigned to Warehouse 13, which is a top secret government repository for ancient and supernatural artifacts. Think the last scene of INDIANA JONES RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and you get the idea. Anyways, the two characters were complaining that their boss never tells them anything and Pete says, "I am beginning to feel like a 'Red Shirt'." to which Michela replies that it's not as bad as being Red Shirts. And Pete says to her, "I am so turned on that you understand the reference!" :D Sadly, my wife did not understand the reference, but she still turns me on anyways. )
Ahem... er.. Anyways..... Where was I??
Oh yes....
I initially wasn't expecting too much from VOYAGER, thinking it would be just another LOST IN SPACE clone. I was pleasantly surprised and ended up being a devoted fan of the series. The fact that this devotion came around at about the same time that Seven of Nine (or 36 of D as she is sometimes known) joined the cast is ENTIRELY coincidental. Kes was too much the liberal environmentalist type for my tastes... For the record, ya'all can THANK Seven Of Nine for President Obama. If it weren't for her, we probably would have President McCain right now..
I never really could get into ENTERPRISE, as Scott Bakula made an entirely unbelievable Starship Captain. However, to be fair, Enterprise made some really great leaps with providing Trekkers with the "history" of Trek. The Vulcan arc was pretty awesome and the Klingon/Genetics arc that explained why the Klingons of Kirk's era looked human was a thing of beauty to behold.
Too bad that Enterprise takes place in the Mirror Universe. That is, if you accept Star Trek novels as "canon".
Deep Space 9 initially appealed to me because it showed the "darker side" of the UFP et al. But it became too much the serial and, if you didn't keep up, you got lost. Which I didn't and I did. As a side note, Deep Space 9 holds the record for the longest Story Arc in television history.
I have personal biases against TNG so anything I say about that would be subjective. But there were some really good episodes. The Enterprise crew as Robin Hood (Worf:"Captain, I must protest! I am NOT a merry man!!") was hilarious.. Any episode with 'Q' in it was always a good time. And that goes for ANY of the Trek series. John DeLancie always made any Trek episode a great laugh fest. 'Q's appearances on Voyager were truly funny.
My list would be...
1> TOS
2> VOYAGER
3> DS9
4> ENTERPRISE
5> TNG
Referencing the above "Red Shirt" reference, you can also refer to Chris Matthews and his reference to "Red Shirts"...
If one needs a more input on "Red Shirts", see this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJn9Wqm2Ryk
Michale.....
I can't compete with y'all on Star Trek. I enjoyed Next Generation a lot, but I never got past it. So here's my list:
1) Battlestar Galactica (The new series)
2) TOS
3) Next Generation
As for blogs, there's lots of ones out there everyone is probably familiar (Glenn Greenwald, Firedoglake, etc).
One new one people might find interesting is:
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7391
There's been a heckuva scandal going on here in Southern Ohio that is receiving almost no media coverage. Sibel Edmonds, an FBI informant who has been under a DOJ gag order since about 2001, is finally being allowed to testify in the Schmidt/Krikorian election complaint proceedings.
It's interesting because Sibel's testimony is revealing how the Turkish government worked to funnel money in return for support denying the Armenian genocide.
Brad's work was, at first, the only coverage. Partly in response to his efforts, the local media is now paying more attention. This is the new journalism, bloggers breaking the news!
-David
Let's assume that we're all purists here and that Star Trek The Original Series is the top of everyone's lists...
how singularly odd that this happens to be true, at least for the three of us who've responded on that thread so far. however, my remaining picks go in nearly opposite order from you and CW.
1. TOS - purist, guilty as charged.
2. DS9 - Incredibly smart and intricate, although it's true that you have to see most of the series from season 2 or earlier to really get it.
3. TNG - Although a few episodes (and ALL the TNG movies) were preachy and awful, most episodes were well written, acted and produced, with both high IQ and decent T&A. I think TNG's main failing, if one can call it that, is that it wasn't the original.
4. Enterprise - Agreed on Scott Bakula as a sketchy starship captain. It was conceptually pretty good though, and sometimes well-written.
5. Voyager - What can I say? This series makes me absolutely cringe. There's no soundtrack or cinematography to speak of, the writing is nearly always clunky and in need of editing, and the casting is just atrocious. I actually like most of the actors i've seen in other roles, but i just didn't find the characters, or their chemistry with each other, or their collective response to their situation, even remotely credible. for comparison, if one can even call it that, see how the new Battlestar Galactica is written, cast, acted and produced. robert picardo's acting as the EMH is brilliant, and then of course there's jeri ryan's boobs, but otherwise i find Voyager nearly unwatchable.
David,
I have to admit that I really liked the new BSG series. I did this in SPITE of the fact that Ron Moore was producer for it. I have a running feud with him from TNG days.
As an aside, did you catch the cameo of Ron Moore in the series finale of BSG?? The finale was awesome. Like I said, I loved the series in spite of myself..
NYPoet22,
Enterprise - Agreed on Scott Bakula as a sketchy starship captain. It was conceptually pretty good though, and sometimes well-written.
The biggest problem with Enterprise (aside from the very un-starship-captain-like Bakula) was that it was Beavis n Butthead's (AKA Rick Berman & Brannon Braga) attempt to separate Star Trek from Trekkers. IE Separate THEIR idea of Trek from Roddenberry's idea of Trek.. They even went so far as to rename the show from STAR TREK: Enterprise to ENTERPRISE in the 2nd (or 3rd) season. Trekkers all over the world let them know what they thought of that and 'Star Trek:' was restored.
I loved Bakula as Sam Beckett (the ENTERPRISE episode with "AL" was awesome!! :D) but as a starship captain, he was sub par. This (for me) was fully realized when a crewman (Malcolm, Tactical Officer) was captured by cave dwellers and Captain Archer's response was, "We'll leave now, come back in the morning and hopefully things will be better" or actions to that effect. Kirk would have leveled half the planet to get his crewmember back!!! :D
As you say, there were very well-written episodes of ENTERPRISE. Besides the afore mention Vulcan and Klingon/Genetics arc, there was the prequel episode that introduced us to the Organians. The final episode, with all three Enterprise captains was very emotional and moving. But I still think Martina Sirtas looked better in the earlier episodes of TNG. Too much 'Van Halen' exposure ruined her for me...
robert picardo's acting as the EMH is brilliant,
Picardo is a brilliant actor and he made VOYAGER in the later seasons. Although I am not much for musicals, the VOYAGER episodes where he showcased his vocal abilities was excellent. My ringtone on my cell phone (for my wife's profile) is Picardo's and Ryan's duet of YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE. :D
You should catch Picardo in STARGATE SG-1 and ATLANTIS. He was awesome in those shows as well.
and then of course there's jeri ryan's boobs,
I heard 'Jeri Ryan's boobs' and then what??? :D
Michale....