Tyralak

Praeothmin! It's great to have you back!

I like the cut of your jib, Mr. Fox.

We have some awesome drive-ins here. They're cheap, and they let you bring in your own food.

Its always been sci-fi, just not gritty. I loved it.

The only problem is the size of a standard photon torpedo. Its too large to fit in the vent.

Its done broked. That's all you need to know.

ASVS prides itself on the principle of free speech and open debate. As such, it's important that all members know what the staff is allowed to do and what they aren't. I do not permit the same kind of mod abuse we see going on at many other debate boards. This is the current list of staff, and is subject to change. Owner: Tyralak Administrators: Paul (Tech Admin, Developer) Commander RayCav Brian Young Airlocke Khas Global Moderators: Questor What staff MAY do: 1. Split threads that have significantly strayed off topic. 2. Move threads that are in the wrong forum. 3. Add spoiler tags to offensive content. 4. Delete and/or edit posts which violate the rules. 5. Split threads which have turned into personal vendettas and move them to Sto'Vo'Kor What staff may NOT do: 1. Police content (other than activities outlined in the rules) 2. Censor opinions or enforce a "party line". 3. Vandalize a member's post by altering the original content. 4. Use or threaten to use mod abilities to retaliate against a member with whom they disagree. 5. Use their mod/admin powers to reveal the identity of a member's sock puppet. 6. Use admin powers to vandalize a member's avatar/signature/title. The following are slight exceptions. 1. The Vulcan Science Academy is a spam free zone, and is meant for discussion of serious scientific topics. Threads that stray off topic are more likely to be split and/or moved to other forums. 2. The Scifights.net Video Discussion Forum is for discussion of Brian Young's videos only, and are to remain on topic. It is essentially an extension of his Scifights.net site. Brian will moderate this particular forum as he sees fit. Discussions which stray significantly will be split and moved to the appropriate VS forum for further discussion. If you feel the staff have overstepped their boundaries, report the incident to me immediately, and I will investigate the situation. Tyralak **********END SUBSPACE TRANSMISSION**********

We plan on seeing it at the local drive in tomorrow night. I can't wait.

I remember my parents taking me to see it when I was 5. It's always been one of my favorites.

That's some good work. It's very easy to read and well laid out. The color scheme is nice as well.

No, it just means you don't know how to hold your liquor.

That seems to happen in a lot of sci-fi. It seems to be closely dependent on the plot requirements. I'm skeptical of the intelligent gun idea. The reason being, it's well known that Stormtroopers can't hit the broad side of a barn. The gun would only be able to control the type of blast before it left the barrel. When they miss their target (which is what happens 90% of the time) the bolt would hit whatever object with the original setting. I haven't seen really any hard evidence that blasters have more than two settings. Stun and Kill. And the stun setting looked like more like it came from a separate device on the blaster rifle. Sort of like a grenade launcher attachment on a military rifle. Being that blasters are clearly a thermal weapon that does its damage through brute force, it would make sense that the stun "setting" would actually be a separate device.

Its a dead link. Did you take it down?

Have you got to see it yet?

I don't have any experience with installing it, but I do know that in the CMOS settings in most computers, you can set it to boot from a USB drive or stick. I would change that first, then you should be able to install from it.

And what result did you get when you answered the questions honestly?

Disgusting. So this is what you've been busy doing. http://www.tomshardware.com/news/research-china-sperm-extractor,17922.html

After retaking it when I wasn't in a pissed off mood, I came out with Chaotic Good, which is probably closer to the truth.

Also posted in the fan fiction section. This is an adaptation of "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe, I call "The RayCav". It's a story of Arwin and his decent into madness after being stalked by RayCav. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I beat off weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of Disney Channel lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a slapping, As of some one gently fapping, fapping near my chamber door. `'Tis some pervert,' I muttered, `fapping near my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.' Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Debore - For the rare and radiant Debby whom the angels named Debore - Nameless here for evermore. And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating `'Tis some pervert creeping and peeping at my chamber door - Some late pervert creeping and peeping at my chamber door; - This it is, and nothing more,' Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, `Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came fapping, And so faintly you came fapping, fapping near my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; - Darkness there, and nothing more. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Debore!' This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, ‘Debore!' Merely this and nothing more. Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a fapping somewhat louder than before. `Surely,' said I, `someone is creeping at my window lattice; Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore - Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; - 'Tis the wind and nothing more!' Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately RayCav of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched near my chamber door - Perched next to a bust of iCarly right beside my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Then this creepy pervert beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance he wore, `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven. Ghastly grim and ancient RayCav wandering from the nightly shore - Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' Much I marveled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was stalked by creepy perverts near his chamber door - Stalker or creep near the sculptured bust beside his chamber door, With such name as `Nevermore.' But the RayCav, sitting lonely near the placid bust, spoke only, That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered - Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before - On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.' Then the perv said, `Nevermore.' Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, `Doubtless,' said I, `what he utters is its only stock and store, Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore - Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore Of "Never-nevermore."' But the RayCav still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of perv and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous perv of yore - What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous perv of yore Meant in croaking `Nevermore.' This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. `Wretch,' I cried, `thy Greg hath lent thee - by Debby Ryan he has sent thee Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Debore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Debore!' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if perv or devil! - Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore - Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us - by that actress we both adore - Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Debore - Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Debore?' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' `Be that word our sign of parting, perv or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting - `Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust beside my door! Take thy dick from out thy hand, and pick thy pants from off my floor!' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' And the RayCav, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting near the pallid bust of iCarly just beside my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted - nevermore!

Wow. That's impressive. That iron melted like putting a flame to plastic.

This is an adaptation of "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe, I call "The RayCav". It's a story of Arwin and his decent into madness after being stalked by RayCav. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I beat off weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of Disney Channel lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a slapping, As of some one gently fapping, fapping near my chamber door. `'Tis some pervert,' I muttered, `fapping near my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.' Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Debore - For the rare and radiant Debby whom the angels named Debore - Nameless here for evermore. And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating `'Tis some pervert creeping and peeping at my chamber door - Some late pervert creeping and peeping at my chamber door; - This it is, and nothing more,' Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, `Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came fapping, And so faintly you came fapping, fapping near my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; - Darkness there, and nothing more. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Debore!' This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, ‘Debore!' Merely this and nothing more. Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a fapping somewhat louder than before. `Surely,' said I, `someone is creeping at my window lattice; Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore - Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; - 'Tis the wind and nothing more!' Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately RayCav of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched near my chamber door - Perched next to a bust of iCarly right beside my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Then this creepy pervert beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance he wore, `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven. Ghastly grim and ancient RayCav wandering from the nightly shore - Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' Much I marveled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was stalked by creepy perverts near his chamber door - Stalker or creep near the sculptured bust beside his chamber door, With such name as `Nevermore.' But the RayCav, sitting lonely near the placid bust, spoke only, That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered - Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before - On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.' Then the perv said, `Nevermore.' Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, `Doubtless,' said I, `what he utters is its only stock and store, Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore - Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore Of "Never-nevermore."' But the RayCav still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of perv and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous perv of yore - What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous perv of yore Meant in croaking `Nevermore.' This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. `Wretch,' I cried, `thy Greg hath lent thee - by Debby Ryan he has sent thee Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Debore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Debore!' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if perv or devil! - Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore - Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us - by that actress we both adore - Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Debore - Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Debore?' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' `Be that word our sign of parting, perv or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting - `Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust beside my door! Take thy dick from out thy hand, and pick thy pants from off my floor!' Quoth the RayCav, `Nevermore.' And the RayCav, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting near the pallid bust of iCarly just beside my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted - nevermore!

OK. First, let me say that the cinematography and CGI was truly amazing. I saw it in 3D at the IMAX. The sound was fantastic, and the 3D was great without being overpowering. That being said, I'm going to have to watch it several more times to get all the details and nuances due to the pure sensory overload. The actors have certainly matured since the previous film. They seemed to have their roles a bit better in mind. Many people objected to the love story between Spock and Uhura as being very un-Spocklike. I disagree. Spock has always had to struggle with his Human side vs. his Vulcan side. It was part and parcel of his character. It always has been. In the last film, the incursion of Nero caused enough disruption, that his life took different priorities. He never was able to develop in the peaceful atmosphere that his counterpart in the Prime Universe did. Thus, he had less chance to master his struggle. The complete loss of control after Kirk's "death" was quite interesting. I could actually see him doing this in the Prime Universe, had the circumstances been right. Kirk was spot on, and when you really think about it, his unrestrained side had been tempered in the Prime Universe because of the influence of his father. He was deprived of this influence in the Alternate Universe, so his chaotic side was given more free reign, but he was still the same Kirk at the core. Checkov was still comic relief, but then he always was. Be honest. Sulu really got to shine a bit more, and I could see many of his qualities from the Prime Universe show up in his character. Especially the scene where he threatened John Harrison. He became a bit of a badass. Bones was Bones. Spot on, just as he was in the last film. I was slightly disappointed with the treatment they game Mr. Scott's character. I felt they didn't take him as seriously as they did in TOS. That being said, he was still the genius we all know and love. Khan. Why Abrams felt he needed to bring Khan into this one, I don't know. I so wanted this film to not have Khan in it. However, the treatment he gave him was very good. In fact, I felt that he mirrored the character in the Greg Cox novels "The Eugenics Wars" very well. If any books should be made canon, it's those. We got to see a lot more of his motivations. He was less of a two dimensional cardboard character than we saw in TOS and TWoK. I really think it would have been a more interesting twist had they make Khan a good guy, and had him work together with the Enterprise then become part of Starfleet later on. Having two sets of villains was interesting, but too predictable. Plus the reactor scene with Spock and Kirk reversed, and Spock yelling KHHHHAAAANNNNNN!!!! was really unnecessary and made me cringe. They should have left that out. Srsly, Abrams. What the hell were you thinking? However, I must say they explained rather well why he was where he was and why. Nero's incursion into this universe really did cause a great deal of upset. Starfleet became much more militaristic, their ships were far bigger and more powerful. Their weapons much more advanced, and their drive systems were wicked fast. They took Mr. Scott's Transwarp beaming technology and created Transwarp drives which rivaled anything we saw in TNG. Because of this, Section 31 became bolder and explored further into the galaxy where they happened upon Khan and his fellow supermen. Interestingly enough, in the conversation with Admiral Marcus, we see models of Starfleet ships on a shelf, and the NX-01 was among them. Speaking of technology, the accuracy of warp drives was amazing. The Vengeance came out of warp probably 100 meters from the Enterprise to a dead stop. Impressive. The toughness of the ships was also amazing. The Vengeance survived a re-entry after having taken a lot of damage, looking roughly the same as it did in space. Many people say of the Alternate Universe that there is too much emphasis on action. That this isn't what Star Trek was all about. We have to remember, that just like in the Mirror Universe, the reality and priorities of this universe are very different. In the Mirror Universe, the Terran Empire was reacting to threats from aggressive powers in the area. This affected their mindset much more than we saw in the Prime Universe. The same with the Alternate Universe, but to a lesser degree. Starfleet still had the same focus, but they had different realities to deal with. It makes sense when you stop and think about it. In short, Star Trek has never stayed the same. Every series had a different theme and feel to it. TOS was frontier exploration. Cowboy diplomacy, and fly by the seat of your pants. TNG was exploration of the human spirit, diplomacy, and a real fleshing out of the Federation. DS9 was a war series, plain and simple showing life on the front lines. VOY was a Star Trek version of "Lost in Space" showing a ship and crew making the best of a hopeless situation. ENT showed Starfleet in its infancy with all the struggles of standing on your own two feet in the galactic community. I feel that this film stays with the grand tradition of Trek, adapting to the times. The Alternate Universe is a great way to explore some of the "What if" scenarios that we may have thought of. Now, being that Abrams has apparently left the Trek franchise entirely, it will be interesting to see if the next director continues in the Alternate Universe, or returns to stories in the Prime Universe. There is no doubt that any future Trek series will be set in the Prime Universe due to licensing issues. I LOVED the fact that Nimoy was in this film as well. It was a very pleasant surprise, and added to the connection between the Prime Universe and the Alternate Universe. In conclusion, I think it was a great film, and one that I will watch multiple times when it comes out on Blu-Ray. Abrams certainly isn't perfect with his films, and some things he does makes me squirm in my seat, but I feel that the hate directed at him is more than he deserves. After all, Insurrection and UPN's horrible business decisions regarding cancelling ENT almost killed Trek. Abrams brought it back, and for that he should be appreciated.

Not to mention, that for the most part, Sci-Fi weapons aren't anywhere near light speed. Especially Turbolasers.