OK: Official geekdom is... official (UPDATED)

Well, that's it. I'm waiting for hell to freeze over now.

Real video and pics to come ASAP, but I just witnessed it on live cable: John "I'm a PC"/"Resident Expert" Hodgman concludes his wry jokefest on the D.C. "Nerds' Takeover" before the Radio & TV Correspondents' Association dinner by turning to President Obama two seats away--yep, the Vulcan-in-Chief, according to some mainstream pundits—and offering, "You have been, and always shall be, my friend."

Complete with the you-know what gesture.

It will be all over the tube and Tubes in minutes, I know.

What's doubly funny is, I just saw Nick Meyer earlier today. He must be a proud quotee.

UPDATE: I'm slow, but yep—it's a sensation. Along with (shhhh) the true subtext of Hodgman's nerd/jock subtext of bona fides and second-guessing among the faithful.

Prayers for Walter Cronkite

Not quite a Trekland regular, but ironic on the timing as we approach a major Apollo 11 anniversary ... I couldn't let this pass:

Legendary CBS journalist Walter Cronkite reportedly gravely ill

Legendary CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite, 92, long known as the "Most Trusted Man in America," is gravely ill, according to multiple CBS News sources and published reports.

From joy to sorrow: The Chicago Sun-Times site does indeed carry video of his incredulously stunned Apollo 11 "first step" moment, shared with analyst and astronaut Wally Schirra—as well as his immortal JFK death bulletin announcement.

Two words in the same sentence: 'country' and 'Trek'?

Can this year get any stranger, er, better?

A Newsweek cover is nothin'... but now we have STAR TREK on the opening of Tuesday's Country Music Association awards, fer Prophets' sake? When did THOSE two ever entities ever share a stage together? (OK, well, there was the Brad Paisley/Shat hookup a few years ago... sorta.)

This has to be a good thing, Miri. Cute, well-done, and as broad-based in appeal as the movie itself. Another marketing masterpiece. (And this one doesn't have to worry about heart, canon, breweries, ship sizes, etc.)

Direct link for the video-challenged is here.

10 years without De

June 11 marks a decade without De.... DeForest Kelley, the first of our regular cast to pass on—and perhaps the hardest for me to deal with. Thank goodness we had Communicator then and, selfishly, were able to mourn via the memorial pages of #124—despite its age, perhaps my favorite issue ever as edtor. It was certainly the most personal. I still have copies of this issue and take them to cons; it is perhaps the most popular of the back issues I still have—and we all know why.

Karl Urban's portrayal of McCoy in ST 2009 has won just about universal acclaim as a perfect blend of homage and originality... and puts a great, timely focus back on the inspiration. The shot above is De at Denver's 1988 Starcon, enjoying his fans. (And yes, note the famous left-hand pinkie ring!)

If you're ready to read about De's life story from Georgia to The War to old Hollywood—of which Trek was really just a small, late part—take a look at Terry Rioux's excellent bio and Kris Smith's memory books.

I'm always torn between recalling birthdays versus death days for our celebs. But for De--who cares? It's both.

Back in the saddle

And yes, we are back--and none too soon. Most of three weeks is a long time to be out of the flow, and for that I apologize. Aside from the occasional posts, we are working for the full-scale launch of larrynemecek.com (for real, finally) which contains the Trekland blog, so it's been a good thing this "Dad leave" has happened when it did. Lots of backlog and videos still to post! And thanks to al lthe kinds words of sympathy posted here, on Facebook, and elsewhere.

A lot of reflecting in these quarters recently: not just on fathers but on boyhood, family, old home towns, old homes, where we come from, and how we become what we become ... It's all useful amid this period of flux and change on so many levels, in both the world at large and Trekland in particular—and we emerge from it looking ahead and staying ahead.

And for starters, I have some fun stuff coming up from my own "fleet"... Stay tuned!

Prime importance

Base! Dibs! I’m gettin’ this on the record first!

Actually, it’s a good thing I’m not a cynic, or else I’d already be out there making the point that Leonard’s role in ST ’09 was specifically called “Spock PRIME” … meaning that he existed in the Prime Timeline … or perhaps, more exactly, the “Primetime Line.” Meaning… anything else was not ready for Prime Time?

Or implying, by process of deduction, that anything else actually comes from the Sub-Prime Timeline?

Well, we all know just how much trouble the Sub-Primes have caused lately …

(Baddump-bump)

And now the Farragut is in the spotlight

And the fan film hits just keep on a-comin'.....

New Voyagers/Phase II and Of Gods and Men have grabbed the headlines for years, and now it's Farragut's turn: their “A Rock and a Hard Place” just won Wrath of Con film fest as Best Fan Film for 2009, where they bested them all and then some (eight nominees in all) in the voting. It's their second award in a row at the con's festival, based in Panama City Beach, Fla., and another example of NEO/fx's CGI handiwork under Michael Struck, too.

Congrats to John Broughton and his gang, for “A Rock and a Hard Place,” who like the Phase II crew have built their own standing TOS-era sets in St. Mary's, Ga.—and even threw an open house April 17 to show it all off and thank their local backers and public entities who helped support the Studio One project. With a fan film operation, even on this level, you still gotta have them.

Think about that sidebar: What a great sign for Trekland that either business-owning fans are in a position to help, or they see enough passion and business savvy there to do it on faith.

As with all fanfilms not wanting to anger their copyright studio masters, you can downl0ad “A Rock and a Hard Place” and other offerings free from Farragut at www.starshipfarragut.com. Next up is another feature for 2010 and a dip into 1970s Filmation-style animation with NEO/fx—hopefully with a personal touch by yours truly.

Congrats, guys-n-gals!

Good for Mike Okuda: NASA honoree

This just tickles me, and I'm so happy for Mike Okuda: he's been honored with NASA's highest public honor for "civilians" outside the agency.

Here's word via Wired.com that Mike's been awarded NASA's Exceptional Public Service Medal.

I thought *I* was a NASA fan and space junkie long before Trek or any other post-color TV franchise came along (Just ask Mrs. Large how many Apollo mission bulletin boards I talked her into letting me put up in the sixth grade!)

But Mike tops it all by staying a "NASA nut" and helping design logos for the agency, much less fostering goodwill: there's the whole "mutual NASA/Star Trek love affair" thing, for instance, that he helped keep alive all during the modern Star Trek TV run—along with a crewful of help.

And in case you wonder why, visit he and Denise's portfolio site and get plenty of reasons—both in and out of NASA and Trek.

It all flows from the purest joy of exploration, the need to explore and discover and push out—no matter the obstacles, including the human political ones. And it's hardly a spirit unknown to Trek fans...

Good on you, Mike! (And thanks, Denise, for getting the word out).