JavaScript is so freakin' cool.

Check out http://moofx.mad4milk.net/tests.html and http://moofx.mad4milk.net/. I have a few web apps I'd like to make super-fun like that, if only I had some time (and a good reason).

Homosexuality and Star Trek

So Mr. Sulu is gay! Well, George Takei is. That's cool. I'm glad he was able to take this step -- it's not many 68-year-olds who come out. Thanks to lifein2x3 for the link.

Star Trek has had a long, and frankly depressing, history with GLBT representation. (way more info than anybody needs!) In the sixties, the show was renowned for featuring diversity when it was unusual, interracial relations (Kirk and Uhura kissed) when it was never done, and (most importantly) peace on Earth. Nobody was trying to get the queers on TV back then, but when Star Trek: The Next Generation showed up, queer issues were front and centre in the world. Gene Roddenberry said there would be gay characters. The stars wanted gay characters. But nothing.

In 1996 we thought that Lt Hawk, a new character in the movie that year, was going to be gay. No such luck. Gene Roddenberry's replacement contradicted statements by the actor and crew to that effect, saying he was definitely straight. A later novel, Rogue, explicitly made him gay (though not explicitly gay!). But novels aren't canon, which means they don't count. Also, he died in the movie. :(

I really used to enjoy Star Trek, but the newer series got less and less interesting to me. Partly due to not seeing myself reflected in that universe. I'm probably the only one who cares about this, but whatever.

It's at this point that someone mentions how stylish and metrosexual the Star Trek pointy sideburns are.

Star Trek X

I finally saw Nemesis tonight. For a trekkie who really likes the movies, I had oddly never bothered to see this one. Never really called out to me, I guess. Plus maybe I was cranky that Wil Wheaton was cut from it. *shrug*

Anyway, I finally downloaded it and watched it. What a piece of garbage! Hardly worth my time. Certainly would feel more abused if I were home and not lonely in a Winnipeg hotel, that's for sure.

I'd reel off the problems with it, but that's maybe taking this "it's my blog and I can talk about whatever I want" thing a bit too far.

So, I guess it comes down to VI, II-III-IV, V, I, and then VIII, VII, IX, X.

I need a paid account so I can have a Star Trek icon for these things.