Quotes of the Year: 2015

Quote of the Year : "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP"
-Leonard Nimoy

Quote of the Year (Runner Up): "America has shown to me as an immigrant, that it is the land of opportunity. And I appreciate America so much and this is why it was so important for me to give something back. And we have to keep it the #1 country in the world. So I want to say thank you to America; that you have given me everything that I have."
-Arnold Schwartzenegger

And the rest...
"As I write this, it is not clear that I will ever play guitar again."
-Bono

"What we've said all along, and have been called bigots for it, is when there's this many bad apples, there's something wrong with the orchard."
Bill Maher on Islam

"The interesting thing about Mulder is nominally he is law enforcement but he never solved one case in nine years. So he’s the worst F.B.I. agent of all time."
-David Duchovny

"Fuck you Eddie Van Halen."
-Sammy Hagar

"Whatever you think of Reagan, you have to admit, he had a black belt in badassery."
-Brad Meltzer

"It was all this contemporary music geared for that audience, and it was so disappointing listening to it. Really weak songwriting, insipid vocals and productions. It was really discouraging. I was sorry to hear that. You're waiting for something to happen, musically. You're waiting for some great thing. Like every generation or every decade seemed to have that big thing that carried it through. There's nothing now, at least in rock."

-Alex Liefson

"I felt like I was in a period-piece sometimes. Because I could hear echoes or
sensations of Connery or of Roger, which I didn't try to censor; I'd just allow
them to come in."
-Pierce Brosnan

"Some people think it's a genius album, but I think it's a mishmash of rubbish, kind of like '(Their) Satanic Majesties.'”
-Keith Richards on Sgt. Pepper's

“I’m the only one to separate Siamese twins.”
-Ben Carson

"Calm people live. Tense people die."
-Adam Savage

“Don’t be a slave like I was.”
-Carrie Fisher

Quotes of the Month: February 2015

Quote of the Month: "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP"


-Leonard Nimoy

Stupid Quote of the Month:
"Because Michael, face it -- the guy was basically average in terms of size, strength, speed, jumping ability, all the things that you seem to think make a great player."


-Bill Walton on Michael Jordan


Dueling Confusion of the Month:
"When the final accounting is done, 2014 will have been the most lethal year for global terrorism in the 45 years such data has been compiled."


- Director of National Intelligence James Clapper
"Despite ISIL, despite the visible killings that you see and how horrific they are, we are actually living in a period of less daily threat to Americans and to people in the world than normally; less deaths, less violent deaths today, than through the last century."


-John Kerry
　


and the rest...
"Unless we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place,

remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible

deeds in the name of Christ."


-Barack Obama at the 2015-national-prayer-breakfast
"The only problem we’re going to have is running out of fuel and bullets."


-King Abdullah
"In attempting to reduce the importance of one great talent over another, you make a mockery of all musicians and music from every genre, including your own."


-Shirley Manson to Kanye West
"They were killed simply for the fact they were Christians."


-Pope Francis I
"I am my own man."


-Jeb Bush
"No religion is responsible for terrorism, people are responsible for violence and terrorism."

-Barack Obama

"I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America."


-Rudy Giuliani
"If we looked around the world and say long-term we cannot kill every terrorist around the world nor should we try, how do you get at the root causes of this? Look, it might be too nuanced of an argument for some like I’ve seen over the past 24 hours some of the commentary out but it’s really the smart way for Democrats, for Republicans, military commanders, our partners in the Arab world think we need to combat it."


-Marie Harf

Sci-Fi History: Star Trek (1966)

The network panned the original Star Trek pilot, but commissioned a second. By this point, Jeffrey Hunter bowed out and was replaced by William Shatner. In fact, only Leonard Nimoy returned from the original pilot. The new pilot was more action packed and was picked up. The Original Series lasted three seasons and recounted the adventures of the Starship Enterprise. The show tackled many topics other shows avoided. The episodes made it past the censors because they took place in outer space. Star Trek dealt with not only science fiction topics such as eugenics, but the Vietnam War, Cold War, racism, and other hot button issues. The show was cancelled after three years, but revived in reruns leading to a successful film franchise and several spin off TV shows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdjL8WXjlGI

Spock timeline

Born: 2230 (Vulcan)

As a child, he was betrothed to T’Pring

2237: Spock attempts kahs-wan ritual. His pet sehlat defended him from a le-matya and died. His older cousin saved him from the le-matya. At this point, he decided to follow Surak’s teachings.

2249: Spock opts for Starfleet over the Vulcan Science Academy

2250: Commissioned in Starfleet

2253: Assigned to USS Enterprise as an acting Ensign.

2254: Enterprise goes to Talos IV

2254: Spock programs Kobayashi Maru and eventually charges Kirk with cheating

2258: Spock from 24^th century reemerges in an alternate timeline.

2261: Relationship with Leila Kalomi

2265: Kirk assumed command of USS Enterprise. Gary Mitchell is killed. Spock becomes first officer.

2266: Romulan incursion into Federation space, discovery of Romulan ancestry, and cloak.

2267: Kidnaps Pike and takes him to Talos IV to live out his days unhindered by his injuries.

2267: Spock commands away mission on Galileo shuttlecraft. It gets stranded on Taurus II.

2267: Spock undergoes Pon Farr

2267: Spock discovers time travel (in 1969).

2267: First Klingon War. Spock is present when Organians stop the war.

2267: Travels to 1930 with Kirk to find McCoy and stop him from saving Edith Keeler.

2267: Attacked by Neural parasite. Helps discover a “cure.”

2267: Meets Zephram Cochrane

2268: Babel Conference. He donates blood to save his father’s life.

2268: Giant space amoeba

2268: Spock’s brain is stolen

2268: Helps capture Romulan cloaking device

2268: Saves Kirk from spatial interface in Tholian space.

2269: Travels to distant past with McCoy and reverts to an ancient Vulcan

2269: Travels to Vulcan’s past and saves a younger version of himself (see 2237).

2270: Leaves Starfleet to study the Kolinahr

2273: V’ger Crisis

2285: Dies saving Enterprise from Genesis Device

2285: Resurrected by aforementioned device

2286: Whale Probe Crisis

2287: Spock’s brother, Sybok, steals Enterprise to meet God.

2293: Initiates talks with Klingon Chancellor Gorkon following Praxis’  explosion

2293: Saves Kirk and McCoy from Rura Penthe

2293: Khitomer Conference

2293: Spock becomes diplomat

2329: Marries Saavik

2368: Moves to Romulus hoping for Reunification

2376: Borg attempt to assimilate Spock

2377: Watraii Affair reunites Spock with Uhura, Scotty, and Chekov

2379: Spock helps negotiate with Romulans after the Shinzon Affair

2384: Leaves the Reunification movement to others.

2387: By this point, he is ambassador to Romulus.

2387: Supernova destroys Romulus. Spock collapses the Supernova and is sucked into the black hole. He is listed as missing.

History Shorts: Aristotle's Death (322 B.C.)

Aristotle was the universal philosopher. Plato’s student covered every conceivable topic including physics, metaphysics, politics, rhetoric, theater, music, medicine, astronomy, biology, and ethics. His influence extended long beyond his death. In fact, scholars looked to Aristotle for guidance well into the Renaissance. Some of his scientific observations were not confirmed until the 19th century. His work is still examined and studied to this day.


From Alexander (Christopher Plumber):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW7m_9NOYzI


Quotations (Leonard Nimoy narrates):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n-AlcJnXIk

The Big Aristotle (Shaq):

http://pottheiser.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/smjp2_26723.jpg

Man of the Year

Well, it’s that time again. This is my 4th annual person of the year. This is sooo much better than Barbara Walter's thing. Previous winners include: Rahm Emmanuel (2006), Al Gore (2007), and Barack Obama (2008).

and the nominees:

Glenn Beck: Who would have thought Glenn Beck would become the next biggest thing? He helped organize the Tea Party Protests, exposed ACORN, and brought down Van Jones.

Central Michigan Football and Dan LeFevour: Does he have to graduate? LeFevour is the all-time touchdown record holder for NCAA Football, the team scored its third MAC title in four years, and
CMU is #25 in the nation.

GOP Governors: Bob McDonnell (Virginia) and Chris Christie (New Jersey) sweep into office. They won the independent vote big in a probable portent for the 2010 midterms.

Hockey Hall of Famers: Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, and Luc Robitaille: All members of the 2002 Red Wings and all inducted this year. There will be more Hall of Famers to follow from that team.

Leonard Nimoy: Spock returns and then lands a gig on Fringe. Not a bad retirement.

Sarah Palin: Has the best selling book of the year, became an Obama-esque celebrity, and dueled Shatner on late night.

Shaquille O’Neal: Shaq paid for the funeral of that little girl murdered after her mother sold her into prostitution.

Bruce Springsteen: Bruce had a big year with a new album. He finished a 2-year tour, spent the last few months playing entire albums live, and was the closing act for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame concert. Is it 1985 or 2009?

Sully Sullenberger: Sully landed that plane in the Hudson River saving all hands.

The Black Eyed Peas: Big year for the Black Eyed Peas with the big album, several #1 hits, and Will.I.Am's bodyguard beat up the worthless Perez Hilton.

And the winner is: Leonard Nimoy!!!