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Hello World!

What is it about the early Summer that causes technological devices to break down? Last year I had all the well-documented problems with my cell phone, with my laptop, and with the laughable excuse for a phone line while I was away in England. This year, history is beginning to repeat itself.

First my cell phone broke down. I went back to the store that had sold it to me to ask about the warranty, and about the immediate replacement phone that according to my insurance I should get. They told me that after two years of working there, I was the first person to actually try to claim the insurance, and that so they had no idea how it actually worked. After calling the insurance company, it turned out that I will indeed get an immediate replacement phone, but that that means "immediately after they determine it is actually damaged." Never mind that the thing isn't responding at all, I first need to ship it off to the insurance company so they can verify that, and then within a week (or a year, more likely) I'll get my replacement phone.

And then today, a little component on the plug of my network card broke off, which turned out to be pretty much the only thing holding the cable in place while the network is plugged in. As I, quite naturally, couldn't go out to the computer store right in the middle of the Tour de France I had to construct an elaborate temporary set-up using at least two meters of duct tape, which did at least give me an internet connection, but also meant that I haven't dared move an inch all day long now for fear of disturbing this cable.

Tomorrow I'll go out and buy a new network card - knowing my luck, that bare act alone should supply me with another three months of 'Hello World!' material.

Trek BBS Today

Below are some of the topics currently being discussed at the Trek BBS:

-Will the Enterprise have a "the" in front of its name?

-What was the first Trek novel you ever read?

-In Science Fiction & Fantasy: Is 'Aliens' a left-wing or a right-wing film?

More topics can be found at the Trek BBS!

Trek Two Years Ago

Below are some of the most important headlines that appeared on TrekToday on Friday the 16th of July, 1999:

• New Series For Trek Guest Actor - Variety reported that Phil Morris, who had a recurring role on Seinfield as the lawyer Jackie Chiles, would be getting his own spin-off show. Morris had appeared in several Trek projects, starting as a young boy in the Original Series' 'Miri' and ending with the role of Third Remata'Klan in DS9's 'Rocks and Shoals.' Unfortunately for Morris, the series apparently never went anywhere.

• Get A Star Trek Degree - The University of Glamorgan announced that it was offering a degree in Science and Science Fiction, including courses about Star Trek and the X-Files. The program was intended to draw more studies into science, and also included courses on maths, physics and astronomy.

Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was the 51st birthday of Camille Saviola, who had a recurring role as Kai Opaka on Deep Space Nine's first season.

Today's Television Listings

• The Sci-Fi Channel will be showing The Original Series's 'The Cage' at 5:00pm Eastern Time.

• In Canada, Space! will be showing The Original Series's 'The Menagerie, Part II' at 10:00am Eastern Time, TNG's 'A Matter Of Time' at 12:00pm, a repeat of 'The Menagerie, Part II' at 4:00pm, DS9's 'Prophet Motive' at 5:00pm, and Voyager's 'Living Witness' at 10:00pm.

• In the United Kingdom, Sky One will be showing TNG's 'Transfigurations' at 17:00 GMT, with a repeat at 00:00. Thanks go out to the Great Link for this!

• In Germany, Sat.1 will be showing TNG's 'Der Planet der Klone' ('Up The Long Ladder') at 16:00 ECT.

• In the Netherlands, RTL5 will be showing DS9's 'Inquisition' at 18:00 ECT. Thanks go out to StarTrek.nl for this!

Tomorrow's Television Listings

• The Sci-Fi Channel will be showing the Original Series episode 'The Man Trap' at 5:00pm Eastern Time.

• In Canada, Space! will be showing the Original Series episode 'The Conscience of the King' at 10:00am Eastern Time, TNG's 'New Ground' at 12:00pm, 'The Conscience of the King' again at 4:00pm, DS9's 'Visionary' at 5:00pm, and Voyager's 'Demon' at 10:00pm.

• In the United Kingdom, Sky One will be showing TNG's 'The Best Of Both Worlds, Part One' at 17:00 and at 01:10 GMT. At 18:00, BBC Two will be showing Voyager's 'The Voyager Conspiracy.' Thanks go out to the Great Link for this!

• In Germany, Sat.1 will be showing TNG's 'Andere Sterne, andere Sitten' (Manhunt) at 16:00 CET.

• In the Netherlands, RTL 5 will be showing DS9's 'In The Pale Moonlight' at 18:00 CET. Thanks go out to StarTrek.nl for this!

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