dewline | Entries tagged with science fiction

I just self-tested again, and I still seem to be avoiding/delaying my second COVID-19 infection. So that's good news.

I'm scheduled to be laid off because end-of-contract on March 14th. This will have been a personal best at 15 months' steady work. That should improve the odds of being (re)hired somewhat.

The science-fiction club Zoom meeting last night fizzled due to various issues, so we're going to try again in two weeks.

I'm up to working on four map projects with the Tranquility Press fanfic collective.

More later.

Current Mood: busy

Once again, I will not be attending Can-Con in person this year. This is due to my continuing efforts to reduce my risk of COVID-19 reinfection and the consequences of it for me and other people.

Even if Can-Con went back from "recommended" to "required" on its masking policy, OC Transpo isn't even being allowed to bother one way or the other. As the public transit system is my main way of getting around Ottawa, and Can-Con is something I want, rather than need, to attend, it's one more thing I will forego.

I'm sorry about this.

Current Mood: disappointed

Nailed down four more systems' host stars last night. I'm not entirely happy with the choices, mainly because the catalogue numbers available to use are not short enough and distinct enough. Numbers starting with GAIA DR3, APASS9, SKYM2, 2MASS and so on...and the SIMBAD database is very much a work in progress, perpetually playing catch-up with the new data - or old data finally data-entered after months to years' waiting - as it comes in.

Current Mood: busy

LP 552-46 as the candidate host-star.

If you're wondering where to find it:

http://hygmap.space/index.php?select_star=10127957&select_center=1

Needed something close to where the Federation, Klingons and Romulans share a border. Somewhere that was relatively obscure in any case.

More later...

Current Mood: drained

So this is where I was as of last night:

https://www.deviantart.com/dewline-ottawa/art/EoM-DisputedZone-7Nov2023-A-993252400

Current Mood: exhausted

For those who care: this is the tenth anniversary of the launch of Agents of SHIELD and the sixth anniversary of the launch of Star Trek: Discovery. That coincidence shared by two TV series that I favour is worthy of some celebratory attention.

Current Mood: pleased
Current Location: Home-for-now
Current Music: Cross-Country Checkup on CBC Radio

Yes, there still is such an event. The Pandemic hasn't killed it. I hope everyone who goes, is careful and has fun. In that order, please?

https://apt613.ca/tips-on-what-to-see-at-oiaf-2023/

Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out an alternative to epsilon Eridani for Axanar's host star. This leaves me with a history question: how much of the local galactic region was already charted out by the Vulcans before first contact with Earth?

I don't think they knew about Axanar - the planet or the species - going by "ENT: Fight or Flight". So, while the first contact between Earth and Axanar may well have happened at epsilon Eridani, I don't think that species' homeworld should be there as well.

Current Mood: busy

Okay, I'm back.

Hosted by the Roddenberry people - yes, that Roddenberry family! - and they apologize up-front for the sound quality as it was recorded at Star Trek Las Vegas 2023. The panel title was inspired, of course, by Carl Sagan...

https://www.missionlogpodcast.com/the-demon-haunted-panel-live-at-stlv-2023/

I hope everyone involved got home safe from Las Vegas. Of course, I remain convinced that the Pandemic in Progress is not yet done with us. We need to do more work on multiple fronts, including resuming masking-up properly.

Current Mood: busy

Something of possible interest to fans of the following topics:

Star Trek Design
Conlangs
Constructed scripts
Fonts
Fan art
Typography
Font design

https://vulcanquest.wordpress.com/2019/12/22/fonts/

Current Mood: nerdy

Okay, so I've been having fun reading this serialised Star Trek-linked fan-fiction dressed up as a history book called Edge of Midnight by John Concagh AKA "Seamus Devenish". So much so that I've started working on a "base map" to show his version of the affected regions of the Federation-Klingon border.

If you're interested in keeping an eye on my progress and you're not already on the relevant Discord or Facebook pages, I've got a thread running over at the Affinity forums, since Affinity Designer is what I'm using for this project.

Current Mood: nerdy
Current Location: Home-for-now
Current Music: The Sunday Magazine on CBC Radio

Okay...and now it looks like we're finally at the true Main Event...?

Current Mood: hyper

The Doctrine of Discovery repudiated.

Putin's cyberwarfare infrastructure further exposed to public scrutiny.

Starfleet Academy is finally going into production.

Indigenous names are going to get more respect on birth certificates in "British Columbia".

The Mar-a-Lago Malefactor's been indicted.

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: As It Happens on CBC Radio

I was thinking we might have another couple of years left.

https://ca.startrek.com/news/star-trek-discovery-conclude-fifth-final-season

Current Mood: disappointed

Yeah. Picard was fun.

I enjoyed "Disengage", and Amanda Plummer is a joy to watch as she tears stuff apart.

Current Mood: pleased

I'm seeing this from multiple credible sources in science fiction and fantasy fandoms.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/harris-de-lint-recovery-fund

Current Mood: busy

1. I've known James and Charlie as distant and friendly acquaintances going back a couple of decades. This worries me. Especially given the context as explained in the article.

https://www.comicsbeat.com/james-lucas-jones-and-charlie-chu-out-at-oni-press/

2. What Seanan McGuire describes here also worries me. The Pandemic, as many of you reading this blog understand too well already, is not over.

https://twitter.com/seananmcguire/status/1542227819140263938