Martian Outpost

I am a huge fan of Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis. I have been a huge fan of the genre since the original movie came out in 1994.

I am always willing to give a show a chance. Now that I have seen 7 episodes of Stargate Universe, I have to say that I am starting to get really disappointed. I know everyone keeps touting that Stargate Universe is “Stargate” grown up and that it is more character developed. I realize that the show needs to change to attract a bigger audience. I am cool with that. I think, however, in their effort to sex up the show and make it more like Battlestar Galactica they may be driving away their core base.

The show fore me, however, has too much character development and not enough action. The character development itself really isn’t that good anyway. I am a huge fan of FireFly, and character development on that show was amazing.

I am really hoping, before giving up all hope, that there will be an episode with some real action (and not of the sexual nature). I don’t want to sound like too much of a prude, but the sexual encounters on this show are a little too much for me. I used to watch Stargate with the entire family, with my own mom being a fan.  Not any more. I won’t watch this with my son. I want my Sci-Fi to be of the Star Wars nature with lots of lasers and explosions.

The visuals, on the other hand, are amazing. I think the ship is beautiful and the CGI is really good. Joel Goldsmith has also written an amazing score for the show.

Eli, to me, seems to be the most redeemable character. I will keep watching a few more episodes before throwing in the towel.

So I just finished Halo ODST. Fun game, but I wouldn’t say $60 fun. It should have been around $35-$40 simply because the campaign is sooooo short! It sure was fun to hear several of the Firefly cast members back together again!

Nathan Fillion … Buck
Adam Baldwin … Dutch
Alan Tudyk … Mickey

Someone there at Bungie is clearly a hug fan of Firefly (as am I). Anyway, I just finished the game and wanted to get all the achievements. I only got 455 out of 1000. I have been trying to find a legit list of achievements and couldn’t find one. Anyway, I logged into my Xbox live account and pulled the list. There are 47 total achievements equaling 1,000 total points. Here’s the list! Enjoy.

Achievement	Description	Points
Campaign Complete: Normal	Completed the Campaign on Normal difficulty.	100
Campaign Complete: Heroic	Complete the Campaign on Heroic difficulty.	100
Campaign Complete: Legendary	Complete the Campaign on Legendary to unlock a new Firefight character.	100
Audiophile	Find all Audio Logs, alone or with another ODST.	75
Coastal Highway	Completed Coastal Highway and unlocked the Last Exit Firefight mission.	50
Data Hive	Completed Data Hive and unlocked the Chasm Ten Firefight mission.	50
Kikowani Station	Completed Kikowani Station on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.	30
NMPD HQ	Completed NMPD HQ and unlocked the Romeo character in Firefight.	30
ONI Alpha Site	Completed ONI Alpha Site and unlocked the Alpha Site Firefight mission.	30
Kizingo Boulevard	Completed Kizingo Blvd. and unlocked the Mickey character in Firefight.	30
Uplift Reserve	Completed Uplift Reserve and unlocked the Dutch character in Firefight.	30
Tayari Plaza	Completed Tayari Plaza and unlocked the Buck character in Firefight.	30
All Ears	Find 15 Audio Logs, alone or with another ODST.	30
Vidmaster Challenge: Classic	Finish any level solo on Legendary, on LIVE, with no shots fired or grenades thrown.	25
Vidmaster Challenge: Endure	In Firefight, on any mission, pass the 4th Set on 4-player Heroic LIVE co-op.	25
Vidmaster Challenge: Déjà Vu	Complete Highway on 4-player Legendary LIVE co-op, with Iron, and no ‘Hog or Scorpion.	25
Good Samaritan	Killing things that are new and different is bad, alone or with another ODST.	20
Tuned In	Found 3 Audio Logs, alone or with another ODST.	15
Super Sleuth	Found the final clue unraveling the mystery, alone or with another ODST.	10
Gumshoe	Found the 3rd clue unraveling the mystery, alone or with another ODST.	10
Junior Detective	Found the first clue unraveling the mystery.	10
Be Like Marty	In Firefight, finish a full round without killing a single enemy.	10
Firefight: Crater	Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Crater.	10
Firefight: Lost Platoon	Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Lost Platoon.	10
Firefight: Rally Point	Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Rally Point.	10
Firefight: Security Zone	Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Security Zone.	10
Firefight: Alpha Site	Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Alpha Site.	10
Firefight: Windward	Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Windward.	10
Firefight: Chasm Ten	Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Chasm Ten.	10
Firefight: Last Exit	Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Last Exit.	10
Boom, Headshot	Got 10 automag headshot kills in any level.	5
Dome Inspector	Got 15 headshot kills on NMPD HQ.	5
Listener	Found the first Audio Log.	5
Tourist	Accessed and downloaded the city map to your VISR.	5
Dark Times	Killed 5 enemies while using VISR mode.	5
Heal Up	Found the first Medical Kiosk and healed yourself.	5
Stunning!	Stun a vehicle with an overcharged plasma pistol and quickly kill the driver.	5
Ewww, Sticky	Get 5 sticky grenade kills in any level.	5
My Clothes!	Plasma Pistol Overcharge and quickly kill 10 Brutes.	5
Pink and Deadly	Get 10 Needler supercombine kills on any covenant.	5
Trading Down	Trade weapons with a fellow character.	5
Headcase	Finish any level with at least one Skull activated.	5
Wraith Killer	Kill all Wraiths in Uplift Reserve.	5
Both Tubes	Get 10 Rocket kills on Kizingo Boulevard.	5
Laser Blaster	Get 10 Spartan Laser kills on ONI Alpha Site.	5
I Like Fire	Kill 10 enemies with the Flamethrower on Data Hive.	5
Naughty Naughty	Killing things that are new and different is good, alone or with another ODST.	5

I like to post a good video from time to time. I just came across a really good one. this is a Spike TV advertisement with Darth Vader playing golf. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time, especially when the guy pulls out his golf club at the end. At the end it says “Star Wars, There Is Much To Be Learned.” Check it out when you have a moment!

I am an avid Star Trek fan. I have enjoyed it since I was a kid, watching the Original Series. I became more of a fan in 1987 with the first airing of Star Trek the Next Generation. I loved and enjoyed the idea of an uplifting future where famine and poverty were gone. Star Trek DS9 deviated too far from Gene’s vision for the future, but I still enjoyed the series. I was a little concerned about the new Star Trek movie with fears it would stray even more from Gene Rodenberry’s vision of the future.

I have to say that I was surprised, for the better. The movie was a stunning success. There are certainly holes in the plot, and even areas that bugged me a little when compared to the original series (Spock and Uhura?). Overall, however, it was really fun to watch. I really enjoyed Karl Urban, Pine and Quinto as the three main characters.

Although I really like the actor that plays Scotty, especially in Shawn of the Dead, I don’t think he made a good fit for the character. I also really didn’t like the boiler-room appearance of engineering. It looked like they didn’t have enough money to complete the set and went with a nearby factory for on-site filming. When they ejected the core at the end of the film, it looked like there were 4-6 cores that were ejected.

I’m iffy about Vulcan being destroyed. That was a jaw dropper. All I could think was, “I’m sure they’ll fix this at the end of the film.” I suppose Tuvok from Voyager will probably never come to be. I have had several conversations with people about weather this was an alternate timeline or the same timeline, now altered. What did you guys get from it?

Anyway, I would give the movie 4.5 out of 5 stars. I still have to say, however , that I still put the Wrath of Kahn and First Contact above this movie in my list. It has been a great summer for movies.

So I just received a free iPod Nano from my sister (thank you), who decided to upgrade to something with a little more storage space. I received the package from her about two weeks ago. I had previously been using a Sandisk Sansa (love it), but decided to try out the PodCasts with my Nano.

I can’t even begin to tell you how bad some of the podcasts out there are, many of them with volume levels all out of whack and hard to understand. Many of them sound like a frat group got together and decided to throw something together on their mother’s computer.

I did a few searches for Star Trek, Star Wars and Stargate and came upon a podcast by a few people out of Las Vegas, Nevada. The podcast is Trekcast. I have to say the podcast is enjoyable, informative and great listening during work. Best of all, the sound levels are just right.   Trekcast also seems to be overall work safe. They also give some good updates on the progress of the new Star Trek the Experience. Dang I miss that place!

When you all have time, you should go check them out and subscribe, that is if you like all things Star Trek.
You can find their site here: Trekcast

I love PEZ candy and Star Trek. As luck would have it, there is a Star Trek TOS themed PEZ dispenser now available. My wife saw Drew Carey give one away on The Price Is Right. As soon as she told me, I thought it must be something promoting the new Star Trek movie. While I have nothing against the new movie, William Shatner is the only true Kirk and Leonard Nimoy is the only true Spock. I decided to look them up on Amazon and sure enough, it is the original series. Pretty cool huh?! You can find the Star Trek themed PEZ dispenser here.

It’s no secret how cool I think Adywan’s Star Wars Revisited is. I think the guy is a genius. Well, I was looking around on YouTube and some of the new Adywan Empire Strikes Back Revisited color correction footage and it looks pretty cool.

For me, watching Adywan’s Star Wars Revisited was like watching a new and very refreshing version of the movie. I expect Empire Strikes Back Revisited to be the same. You’ll have to take a look at the color correction footage for yourself. Enjoy!

I am a huge Star Trek fan and had to post a few comments about Majel Barrett Roddenberry. She passed away on December 18, 2008. Ironically I have been watching Star Trek TNG for the past few weeks now and have recently seen her character many times. Although Lwaxany Troi was a quirky character, I enjoyed watching her and her interaction with Deanna and Captain Picard. I have been watching her since the Original Series.

All I can say is that I offer my sincerest condolences to the family. Hopefully she is up there chilling out with Gene Roddenberry. Thanks for all you brought us Trekkers! I appreciate it all! You will be missed.

I read this on www.roddenberry.com and thought I should post it.

Majel Barrett Roddenberry passed away this morning, December 18, 2008, at 12:27 AM in her Bel Air home. She died peacefully, in her sleep, and was surrounded by family and loved ones.

“My mother truly acknowledged and appreciated the fact that Star Trek fans played a vital role in keeping the Roddenberry dream alive for the past 42 years. It was her love for the fans, and their love in return, that kept her going for so long after my father passed away.” - Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, Jr.

I was curious to see what other cast members from TNG had to say about Majel. All I could find was a comment by Wil Wheaton. You can read what he had to say here.

Feel free to post your own condolences in the “comments.”

It is that time of year again, and keeping with tradition I am posting some cool pumpkins I have found on the Web and am adding a new Gears of War pumpkin stencil / pattern that I created in Photoshop. You may recall how popular the Halo Pumkins post was.  Some people are really tallented with a pumkin and knife. If you like these you may want to open up my Gears of War stencil pattern and create your own. Enjoy!

Gears of War Pumkin 1

Gears of War Pumpkin 2

And last but not least, you can find the Gears of War pumpkin stencil / patter by going here.

You can read my old Halo pumpkin stencil post here.

Enjoy carving your Gears of War pumpkins! Have fun and be safe this Halloween!

In no way can I take credit for this fun flash application, but I found this making the rounds through the e-mails and in the spirit of Halloween thought I would post it here.

Before you carve your Battlestar Galactica or Gears of War pumpkin, test it out here first and see how it turns out! Have fun!

Last year I posted some cool Halo themed pumpkins and patters you can find here. You can also see some really cool Star Wars themed pumpkins by going here.

If this wasn’t cool enough, you can see the full-screen version of the flash pumpkin by going here.