808 – Sins of the Father | Snore Trek TNG S3E17

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and friends beyond the binary and my patron peeps. What up, patrons? Thanks for supporting the show.

Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing, trouble getting to sleep, trouble stay asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast to put you to sleep. We do a bed time story, all's you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights and press play. I'm going to do the rest.

What I'm going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you can set aside whether … set aside your thoughts, feelings. I never get lost this early in the podcast. They say my voice [inaudible 00:00:50] no, that's too early. Hey, are you up all night, tossing, turning, mind racing, trouble getting to sleep, trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast to put you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story, all's you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights and press play. I'm going to do the rest, what I'm going to attempt to do … Sorry, but like, yeah, this is like a little bit of podcast short circuit or a two for one.

What I'm going to do is attempt to create a safe place where you can set aside whatever's keeping you awake. So it could be thoughts like, “Huh, did I just botch a podcast intro?” No, it's a friendly show here to put people asleep. You can't really botch it. But I'll see you thoughts later at bedtime I'm sure, but so if you have thoughts like that … Has botched been used in this podcast before? Maybe we'll have to take that word back, because it is a powerful word and we want to massage it and tone it down. Word massage, a new service by Scooter. I'll see if I can remember.

So whether it's thoughts, it could be feelings, whether they're feelings about the thoughts, physical sensations, feelings about the past, present or future. It could be other intangibles, I don't know, if they're intangible, right? You don't know. You might not know. There's sometimes where I can't drift off, it's just baffling.

Travel, changes, work, whatever it is I'm here to help then. What I'm going to do is I'm going to try to create a safe place where you can come in, you could visit, you could peek in at a distance. This is one of the few safe places you could attend by imaginary binocular or telescope, you say, “Well, I'd like to check that safe place out you got there, Scoots. I got a new thing, a monocular, and I'll check it out at a distance.” I says that's great, it works at a distance too. Across the room, across the universe, because I send my voice across the deep, dark night.

I also use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones a bit like a frog's voice mixed with something nice. So frog's would say, “Our voices, they're actually not our voices, one, Scooter.” Okay, I didn't think I'd get caught in a frog quibble this early because I'm supposed to massage some words later, but yeah. But creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, superfluous tangents, uhs and ahs and those groans or ers. Whatever it is.

Sometimes it's not like a parody of itself, but I say, “Okay.” So I'm here to keep you company and take your mind off. So now if you're new, I'm glad you're here and let me give you a little bit of a, I don't know, overview I guess. So this podcast is very different, so that's one thing to know off upfront and it's structured different, it feels different. So see how it goes. It might be very, very different than your expectations, right? And that's okay, and it doesn't work for everybody.

But a lot of people say it takes a few tries to work for it and view it with a loose skepticism, almost like you're doing … you're flying by. Instead of like, “Okay, I'm working on this theorem and I'm going to be like a bird flying by scientist, instead of the scientist. You see I'm going listen via scientific method tonight, Scoots.” And I'd say, well, let's keep the scientific method in the day time or the night time, whatever your work schedule is or your hobby schedule.

Right now we're just like a bird flying by, say, “Huh, there's a person down there in a white coat working on something. I believe humans call those beakers and that's funny because I got a beak. Well, no, there's a cloud, I like how they … Oh, there's another bird, I'm going to sing a little song with them. Huh, is that a frog's voice I hear? Because I know frogs don't have a voice, it's just a sound they make.”

So kind of let it drift in one ear and out one ear and see how it goes. There's no pressure really, because I just hope it can help you go to sleep. And it doesn't work for everybody, but again it's different, so again if you're skeptical or you're like, “What?” Yeah, I mean I am glad you're here. I really do want to help you fall asleep.

Now, structurally what to expect is the show starts off with a few minutes of business, it's usually like four minutes of business that is able for us to keep the podcast free for everybody. So I appreciate getting through that and the people that act on that because then it's a great … Our engaged community keeps the podcast free for everybody. Very cool. And then there's a intro. Now, sometimes and particularly if you're new, this is why I say give it a few tries because you'll see what you like and how it works for you. The intro is a rambly introduction to the podcast, takes about 12 minutes. It's not an ad or a commercial or … it really has no agenda. Except, here's a couple of possible ways listeners use it and why it's so long and rambly. It's just it's based on, I guess it's based on feedback because people that just want to get to the Star Trek stuff, which is later, you could skip ahead to that. Because intro's about 12 to 14 minutes, it gives you time to wind down if you're in bed or get ready for bed or ramp down.

Just like I guess if we're, so let's pretend … Let me give you the rest of the structure, then we'll do some pretending. I live in the world of pretend I guess. So that's the intro, it's just a long wind down and then if you start listening, you say, “Well, the intro's not really for me because it doesn't go anywhere.” You could say, “Well, I'm just going to listen to the stories.” Or, “I'm going to join the Patreon and just listen to story only episodes.” But a lot of listeners find, I don't know … I get tons of different ways that people listen, they listen during the day or they fall asleep during the intro, they fall asleep very early in the intro or they fall asleep after the intro as they wind down and get comfortable.

So that's the intro, then tonight we'll be talking. Then there's some business to talk between the intro and the show, so I think that's sometimes where it throws people off, they're like, “You have the bit at beginning.” Then they try to skip the intro, then they hear. That's just a structure kind of similar to most structure of podcasts. So there is business between the intro and the show, then we'll talk about Star Trek: The Next Generation in a way that will kind of … It is pretty fan based, as far as the character, the fans … Is there any characters I don't super enjoy?

It's more of Scoot talking about an episode, which character is going to delay me the most? Or performance is going to delay me the most? Because it could be different every … Is it going to be Riker? Is it going to be Picard? Is it going to be Data? Is it going to be Dr Crusher? Is it going to be Geordie? Is it going to be Lesley? Okay, here's one that's unlikely, O'Brien. Probably unlikely, O'Brien could delight me though. Wharf? Oh, boy. Other main characters? Lieutenant Troy? Yeah. Could be any of those characters or the ones that I'm forgetting that I apologize too whole heartedly.

Polasky? Maybe. Not in this episode because you weren't in it, but so it'll be … You could listen to it whether you watch Star Trek: The Next Generation or not. It's just kind of like a structure for me to meander around, I guess is what I'm saying. And again, if you're new, see how it goes and say, “Okay, well I'm a huge Next Generation fan, Next Gen fan, so I kind of skip those.” Or, “I do, I like to listen during they day or when I'm taking a bath to relax.” So that's the structure. Then there's some thank yous at the end.

Here's the thing, this is a podcast you don't really need to listen to or pay attention to. You can, or you can barely listen to it or you could pretend. You could just kind of tune in and tune out. But if you need to listen I'm here to the very end, so if you can't sleep or you're waking up and you just need a little night time buddy, I'm here. And that goes to the other thing, there's no pressure to fall asleep, this show is more to be here as you drift off and to take your mind off of stuff. To keep you company than it is to really put you to sleep. So you fall asleep at your leisure and just see how it goes. So whether it takes you like some regular listeners, two minutes to fall asleep or you really need the episode because something is going one or you just can't … I'm here to the very end. I'm giving it my all for you.

Because I do believe you deserve a good night's sleep, you deserve a little bit of relief and to make bedtime at least neutral if not something to say, “Hey, at least I got Scoots there. Scoots going to try to right now make a metaphor about word massaging the word botch.” And I guess the intro is a good parallel for that, because just like if I did have, one, I think I would be out of business. Word massage, appointments and walk ins available. Walk ins always available because we haven't had anyone make an appointment yet. And let's just say there's world where words are walking around and botch comes in, or botched. Oh yeah, botched. Oh boy, that's even more letters, I got to get my extended table. Don't worry, botched, I'm ready for you.

Now, I don't really get a lot of massages but I know there's kind of like a ritual or process. Process might be a better word for a massage. There's the waiting room, there's the introduction to the person if they're new, then there's you're getting ready and the kind of like a little, not pomp and circumstance, but you could say a lower level version of that.

I'm not just going take botch and say, “Okay, botch. Let me start working on that beak because, oh boy, does it look like the beginning of where I should start.” First I'd review botched and I'd say, “B-O-T.” I'd say, “Wow, can't be …” Maybe some rapport building. And you could say, “Well, I prefer a quiet massage.” I say, “Well, let me introduce you to my partner Oots. No talking from Oots.” But in this case for botched, botched says, “Yeah, chat me up.” I say, “Well, I don't know if I could chat you.” Maybe they, before, they say, “This is how it normally works.” You say, “Man, I don't know if you … Let me just kind of work your associations out of you. That's where I like to start and so I'm going to do some of this, do some of that. I don't know if you get to feel my hands moving.”

And, “Yeah, ooh does that feel good?” “Yeah.” “Let it out, you're just a bunch of letters that I can't quite spell put together. Like T-C-H-E-D, maybe B-O.” And even B-O you might have your own associations when the two of you … You say, “Well, that's usually B.O.” And you say, “Yeah, oh yeah. Let me get in there. Oh boy, yeah, I can sense it there, where that dot is, it's kicked out of the B-O. Let me just air that out. Get some freshness in here.” And, “Botched, yeah.” You say, “Well, the T-C-H, that hits the palate so, yeah, I'm just going to put my elbow down there and work that right out of you.” And say, “Yeah. Oh yeah, I know it's not easy.

But think about this, here's the thing. I usually like to misquote famous people, influential in the thought, body, mind stuff and I would say Carol Dueck, sorry, Carol Dueck. You're right, botched, I get it, I botched that one. She would say, “If you have your growth mindset then you could start to see botching as an opportunity.” And that's just the truth. So yeah, I mean the whole world hasn't embraced the growth mindset, I mean it's not …

I don't think it comes natural to me. But I'm working on it and I'm now working you. Oh you're right, you are my client, I shouldn't be making it about me, but yeah, I'm glad you're here botched. Instead I usually tell stories, so maybe I'll try … How about this? You just lie there and you just be in this moment.

Right now, you're just all of these letters and a word, botched, with no meaning, lying on my table in my office, in my studio here and I'm going to go through and we're going to talk about Star Trek: The Next Generation while you unwind and sink into that. And while listeners may be listening and getting ready and getting into their beds and getting more comfortable. And I appreciate all of you coming by, you work very hard. I yearn and I strive to help you fall asleep. So thank you so much for your time. And here's a couple of ways we're able to keep this podcast free for everybody. Thanks.

All right, everybody we're talking about Sins Of The Fath, with an N, just in case that word … It's from season three, episode 17 of the Star Trek: The Next Generation and it's around more episodes, so you know it's going to be good. And this continues kind of our getting to know Klingons a little bit better series and Romulans a little bit less so because they're still in the neutrals, or the other side of the neutral zone and we have kind of Worf to help us get to know things.

Star date, according to Captain's Log, is something like 4368.5.2 or something. And we get an update on the exchange program, the Klingon's going to be the first officer, this is when Riker and Picard are walking. Use the term patronize, we'll go through some of the dialogue. Commander Kern I think is the name of the person, does it say, “Request energize.” Maybe something like that. So not O'Brien working in this, whatever, transporter room, they put teleport here. Question that we'll answer later is how long are shifts on the Enterprise? Because that came up. So Kern comes in he says, because he's going to be the first officer, he says, “You're relieved, bruh.” And then he says he's ready for duty.

This is really there's a lot, this is … So definitely worth watching, not just for the story and the content but for the moments, solely moments. Just some classic exchanges. So he says he's ready for duty, he has a stare down like, “What up, Riker? I'm in charge now.” As they walk out of the transporter room, then he gives a speech on the bridge, which he's no joke this Klingon. He is a Commander Kern, discipline, “Not what you're used to, what would … ” Oh, this stuck out to me, so Wesley and Data are whispering and you say, “WTF? No whispering on the bridge, especially when your new commander's speaking.” And I don't know what, I mean Wesley's a young person, but Data, you say, “Data, what are you doing whispering with Wesley when your new commander …” It's just it seemed like a lack of respect to me.

I mean I guess it's like a foreshadowing a bit and kind of like a, not a mini B plot, more of a plot to misdirect plot. But I mean I would send them to the brig, I mean no offense, I mean I would get in trouble for whispering all the time too. Crow awards orders, crew awaits orders, at 2:35, I think it's 2:45 because I'm looking, maybe not 2:35. Oh yeah, it is 2:35, Kern sits down. A really classic moment worth watching.

They had to the outer commentary cloud, which is hard to say because it's commentary not commentary. But Picard is impressed and then the episode opens. Let's see if there's any, they're reflecting on Riker's time at the [inaudible 00:19:36] I'm going through the dialogue now, “Be sure the crew is prepared for unusual orders. Kern's probably studied before he got here. He requested Enterprise specifically.” Comes on board, he's rocking his belt and everything. Yielding first officer, “May I take my station?” Riker says, “What if I show you your room?” He goes, “Dude, I'm here to work not to lie around.” Then he says, “Yeah, you're going to address me Commander or Sir at all times. I know all the Star Fleet, I know your files and with your permission, captain, I'll be a good disciplinarian.”

And then he says, when Wesley's … He says, “We'll see if you live up to your reputations. What are you doing whispering, Crusher? You got something to say?” And, “No.” And then they head out. Okay, then we're at Nine Forward, is that what it's called? 10 Forward. I'm only welcome at four below, like they say, “Scoots, you're banned from 10 Forward, Nine Forward, Seven, Six.” They say, “You could go to Four Below.” Which is like a below deck hangout, it's just was formerly a broom closet and that's where me and Stan hang.

Okay, there are the bar, Riker goes up to Will, he does his classic leg swing. Wes has a socket face then Geordie comes in also very grouchy and he don't normally comment, Geordie's like, “We're going to have to work double shifts.” Even Riker gives a big sigh. These staffers are weak, man. I was not impressed at how … Riker goes, “Huh, let me have this conversation with Wesley. Something up with Commander Kern?” “Yeah, I can't do anything right. He's on my case.” And then Riker says, “Problem, Geordie?” He goes, “Yeah, with …” He goes, “What, did they find someone in engineering?” Hoes, “Yeah, inspection while we're doing maintenance.” And he goes, “Oh, we don't do inspections during maintenance.” And Riker goes, well see Riker first he's like, “Well, it's different because they believe in strict formality of command.” And Geordie goes, “This isn't a Klingon vessel. He's got to loosen up.”

Kind of like he's the new camp counselor or something. Wesley, they're like, “He's on everybody's case except for one person who wouldn't mind it.” Then we go to Worf, let's see. And this is like the most non-passive aggressive, just full passive, he's going … Kern's going full baby mode on Worf. He goes, “Oh, very good, you handled that well.” Worf's face at 6:40's worth about a $1,000,000. Then we switch to Riker on … I'll go through the dialogue. But Riker's picking below his lip, thinking on the elevator.

I'll also put down that Tony Todd is the actor playing Kern, very famous actor. “156, trip to Captain's Mess for me.” I don't know if that's a number. First, oh, this was the first time I went to the Captain's Mess in an episode I think. “A suggestion?” Oh, because Riker kind of has to talk via the chain of command. Wasn't anyone paying attention when that fish dude was on that episode recently? That was the same episode where Riker's on the thing, but Riker raises his voice, he said, “WTF, dude? What kind of Star Fleet Third Command are you?” Riker glares.

Then we're at the Officer's Mess, there's turkey and comedy. Well, this was one thing I thought was funny. I didn't put the time at this, but Data's standing by … So I just presume Data doesn't eat, this is another thing I just don't know and I could probably learn that if I paid attention or anything. But he's standing right by the turkey, of course Picard's carving a turkey, by the food like a goof. He's just standing there. This is kind of awkward, they say, “Okay, I'm only comfortable talking to this person and now they're carving the turkey. Better stand by them while they carve the turkey.”

We get a Caspian Sea shot out, let's see. Yeah, yeah, Worf and Kern, “Oh, great job. Very good. You handled that well.” Worf doesn't like how easy he's going on him. Okay, Riker says to Kern on the elevator or whatever that thing is called, “You're very impressive, your knowledge. But I'd like to make a suggestion.” The dude's like, “A suggestion, bruh? Haven't you been on a …” I mean really, some people might handle it more diplomatically but I think even Picard would be like … He told the blue guy, “Yeah, talk to Worf, he's your commander.” But Riker says, Riker's being passive aggressive, he goes, “Oh, when I was on board the Pa, it was hard for me to adjust to the crew. I had to adjust who I am. Maybe that could help you?” And the guy goes, “No, thanks.” And Riker goes, “Yeah, this isn't a Klingon ship by the way. A super Pa.” And then he goes, “Yeah, you would know it if it was because you'd already be outside floating by.”

And then we have a comedy about the turkey and the replicator. I did find it strange that Kern doesn't like that, what do you call that? Caviar. Because he says, “Boy, I want something a little bit more edgy.” So I thought that was … And then Data tries to explain that, a lot of fun, really this was your comic relief scene. They sit down to eat, he doesn't like the food they say. Troy says, “How are things going?” He goes, “Well, I almost had to take Riker.” He says it's just a really good scene. And Picard has to bring everyone in line. He says, “Yeah, the exchange program is about tolerance.” And he goes, “Shaking up the status quo.”

And then Geordie and Riker still can't let it go. Riker has to say, “Well, he's keeping us on our toes.” And Geordie goes, “And then some, no offense.” He goes, “Yeah, none taken right now, but I won't forget it, Geordie.” And yeah, he goes, “If we were on another ship you'd be in big, big trouble.”

Then the Caspian Sea, let's see, orchids around the table. Oh, it looks like they were drinking fruit punch or something out of flutes. Also everyone seemed like they had potatoes and broccoli both, that's great, boiled or steamed potatoes. Smaller ones, like a selection of colorful ones. I don't know if people call those New Potatoes, I don't know why they got the term New Potatoes. They say, “Well, it's not one of these regular old fashioned kind. It's a New Potato, it's purple, red and other colors.” Dude would be good. Oh yeah, this guy, maybe he was on … This character, Kern, would be great in Game Of Thrones. He's got a little bit of Tormen going, early Tormen.

“Too bland.” Geordie. Oh, oh Geordie goes, “Oh, the food.” Geordie also steps in [inaudible 00:27:36] goes when Kern says, “This food's too bland.” He goes, “Worf seems to love our food.” And they say Geordie seems … Okay, then Worf seems to agree with Worf.

Then we're at Kern's room, doorbell rings, he says, “Enter.” It's Worf, his hands are behind his back, Kern kicks back in a chair to listen and then they kind of go back and forth like an old married couple. [klingon 00:28:07] “This is purpose for a carved league or old broomstick.” I don't know. “That is purpose for [cavlay 00:28:20] or an older browski. “Fitting in details, big news, the challenge? Big music.” Oh, maybe it's older brother?

“That is the purpose, repose for kevlog or an older broski. Fitting in details.” I mean basically Worf says, “Dude, why are you not on my case by being on my case?” And they go back and forth about being a true Klingon. Worf kind of goes, “Klingon.” And he goes, “By the way, I wasn't being hard on you, I just wanted to check if you were a real … you had the heart of a Klingon, because that's what I would expect from my brother.” And they go, then they fill in, “Oh yeah, well I was one when you went to [Kitmer 00:29:17]. Mother and father was supposed to be a quick work trip. No stan lorg.” And that was this, then Worf goes, “Geez, I thought I'd heard you weren't around anymore.” And they said, “Yeah, they thought I was Lorg's kid when nobody came back here.” And he goes, “That's why you're on the Enterprise? To keep an eye on me?” He goes, “Well, I wanted to see what kind of Klingon you were.” And he goes, “Well, you're deceiving me.”

He goes, “Well, it's required.” He goes, “Because of your curiosity?” He goes, “No, they challenged the Klingon High Council. Father's a traitor.” So that's some big news.

Then Picard and Worf are meeting, there's slow zooms on both of them. Worf says, “My dad's been set up or something so I go to go defend his honor.” And Picard goes, “Well, what do you know?” He goes, “Not much, I'll find out. Duras was my father's rival.” He goes, “It'll disgrace our name for seven generations, I got to clear it.” Picard goes, “Well, if I understand it correctly …” First he goes, “Yeah, I'm responsible for my father's mistakes.” He goes, “Will you grant me the leave?” Picard goes, “No, respect the member of my crew. He's in a fix here and your actions reflect on me and the Federation so I should go with you, be at your side.” And so there's a touching moment, there's a lot of nice, touching moments especially with Picard and Worf. “Will you grant me leave?” “No.”

Bridge. Kern empire, great look at 15:45. Nine Forward, brothers talk [Chadeech 00:31:08], Worf does the tough lean in. “On this ship I obey you. But at Chadich you obey me.” “Yes, brother.” Then we see the Enterprise over a greenish blue planet, lightning, temples. We're on cloud, mist, music. Then Riker, Worf, Picard and Kern, which again always seems like, “You just send everybody down there?” They go right into a courtroom and Worf goes and makes a speech.

So let's see, on the bridge, they go to the first city of the Klingon Imperial Empire and they kind of, Worf and Kern, talk at 10 Forward or Four Below. “Yeah, I need a Chadich, will you be my Chadich?” “Yes, sons of Moog or Maag, stand together. Family honor.” And Worf goes, “No, you're going to keep it quiet. You're my Chadich, I'm going to take the heat. You're still whoever that other dude's kid is.”

Also thinking, which we kind of already knew, is that Picard has a lot of latitude with Star Fleet to kind of do missions. Guess it kind of is a diplomatic mission. So when court stars Worf says, “Yeah, I'm son of Moog, I'm challenging this case.” And they say, “Are you prepared to take on things if the case doesn't work out?” He goes, “Oh yeah.” And he says, “Who are you?” And Kern goes, “I'm the Chadich, man, I'm Worf's Chadich.” And this Duras is a really J-E-R to the K, on Worf's case, talking, “Here at my own request.” Oh, Picard's here. He goes, “So what are you wearing a kid's uniform for with outsiders?” He goes, “Dude, I'm Jean Luc Picard.” And Picard goes, “We've done a lot, Worf's done a lot, very proud of him and we're here to help.” In the head compact or whatever it says, “Okay, I can see this is your commanding officer.”

And Duras goes, “At some point the truth has got to come out and now it has, that Moog has sold us out to the Romulans of all people.” He even takes Worf's thing off and Worf goes, “The day isn't over, bruh.” Like, “Just wait.” And then they say, “Well, let's take a break and we'll do the case later.” Let's see, where are we?

Okay, calls out Worf, up in his grill, takes off sash, good day recess, back to the bridge. They go back to the bridge, Picard goes, “Data, get on it. Do this. Computers, give me these reports.” Troy was with Picard so I assume he was also consulting her before the scene started. “Give me a break down of the judge and high council and Duras.” Worf and the judge speak alone. Someone also hands a secret note to Kern like, “Hey, meet me at the playground in 20 minutes.” And the head judge, he says, “Why'd you bring a challenge? Why does it even matter, man? You don't even live here anymore.” He goes, “It's my father.” And he goes, “Well, let the past be.” Meckba, I think maybe that's that dude's name, he goes, “Why are you going to dishonor my dad?”

Then Data and Riker are doing some research and then they call Dr Crusher even. So really this has happened before where you see everybody gets behind the person who needs it. I guess Geordie wasn't there, but they say they don't know if they needed any engineering help. Or Wesley. I'm just laughing at the facts, but what does that say? I don't know.

Then there's the secret meeting with Kern and I think Duras, he goes, “We know you're Worf's brother, man. We're all hahaha. Give up the case.” He goes, “No, he's my brother.” And then they try to send him to the Klingon, to the equivalent of the big farm in the sky for Klingons and they go to a commercial.

When we come back we realize he's okay, he's at the Med Bay under Dr Crusher's care but they say, “Geez, Duras already knows he's my brother.” And Crusher goes, “Worf, you sound like you already lost. I think that you were Worf, positivity city.” And everyone giggles at that. Then Data has some proof, he says, he goes, “Look it, I got some.” He goes, “Actually, according to Moge's, Moogs …” He goes, “I got all these communication databases, right?” And he goes, “Moog did send the shield codes out.” He goes, “These are the real records.” It's Geordie and Riker I think helping him.

Oh, so Geordie is helping, I'm sorry, Geordie. I forgot about you there, but then they say, “Well, there's gaps in the logs.” Then Geordie goes, “The time stamps fall out of sync.” They're really digging into the metadata, and so he goes, “This has got to be a cover up. The time stamps should never have fallen out of sync because they were in sync at one point and then when the gaps occur they fall out of sync.”

Then we have Picard and Worf, he goes, “Oh, coverup city.” Oh, we'll do some of that dialogue. “Not Duras but the whole city council.” Picard's the new Chadich, “I ask you, I'd like the gesture …” Oh, this is a really touching scene. Okay, so Picard and Worf are in Picard's ready room or his office, right? It's a bit like when a soldier maybe, because he says, “This is a coverup, man. This goes to the top from the bottom, I think. And we'll figure it out though.” He goes, “Could be the whole council involved.” And then Worf goes, “Well, I lost my Chadich, I've got to pick a new one. I'd like to pick someone from the crew.” And Picard goes, “Choose whoever you wish.” He goes, “I choose you.” Just like he goes … Remember that Simpsons episode where Ralph Wiggum gave Lisa or Lisa gave Ralph Wiggum a valentine that says, “I choo-choose you.” He goes, “I choo-choose you as my Chadich, choo-choo-choose my Chadich.” That was a hit.

Anyway, and he goes, “Well, don't you want someone tougher?” Worf goes, “Dude, anybody tougher than you?” “Someone smoother?” Worf goes, “Well, you're smoother than Riker really.” “Someone cooler?” And Worf goes, “I can't ask a cucumber, because they're not a member of the crew. They're a replicated vegetable from Earth.” And Picard knows some Klingon so he says, “I accept.” Worf does say, “I can think of no one I'd rather have at my side.” Big breath on the acceptance from Picard.

Okay, then we're at Picard … or then we're back in court, Picard and Worf, and Picard goes, or Worf goes, “My challenge will proceed.” And then Duras is disrespecting everybody or whatever and they say, “Well, what are you doing here? This isn't a spaceship, Picard.” He goes, “I'm not here to command. I'm the Chadich.” They say, “Star Fleet does not teach you.” Or something. Oh, somebody says, “You're not really tough.” Obviously he goes, Picard goes, “You may test that assumption.” Something, something we'll look at that. But it reminds me, I wonder if the episode with young Picard was before or after this, because when you've seen young Picard, you say, “Well, that's a mistake. Picard's B to the A to the D to the A to the double S's.”

Crusher tells Riker, is this like a … I don't know if this is a scene or not. Oh, this is on the ship, Crusher calls Riker and says she found a clue on the Klingon Central Net, so this was, again, how forward thinking the show was. Then we go to Duras making the case for the coverup. Oh, so he says, “Star Fleet doesn't teach you to be tough.” Picard says, “You may test that assumption at your convenience.” So yeah, then they find out that they kind of have someone that worked with Worf's family, then Duras totally makes the case. We also learn, much like grandparents and with phones in movie theaters, Picard doesn't realize in the middle of court case he should have his communicator on vibrate or not on speaker phone when he answers it. He could answer it with his headset and say, “Okay, I'll call you back.” But he puts it on speaker. Remember those phones that were also Walkie-Talkies?

But Riker calls, he goes, “Dude, we got a crack in this case, commander.” Worf or Picard goes, “Sorry, I'm in the middle of a supreme court case and I'm Chadich. Let me just sneak over here.” “Kahless was someone.” Picard tells Worf then, “I got to go meet Kahless in the Old Quarter.”

This is another great moment, 32:45, Worf goes, “I don't know if that's a good idea, you going to the Old Quarter.” Picard goes, “Hey, I'm your Chadich.” All smooth and calm. But Duras's lackeys are watching. We go to a commercial.

Then I said, “Holy Return Of The Jedi! For real?” Because Picard's in full Luke Skywalker at Jabba's palace in Jedi undercover mode, except he's more in a green quilt. And he goes up to Kahless's house, she says, “What do you want?” Picard goes, “Who's the traitor?” She goes, “I don't know.” But Picard knows there's something up. He goes, “Well then, Worf's in trouble.” She goes, “Leave then, Chadich.” And Picard goes into the mist, he goes, “Well, I guess Worf's case is lost then.”

Then he has to showdown with Duras's minions and they get a taste of the old fly boy Picard from back in the day and when Picard needs his own Chadich, Kahless comes out in her bathrobe and sweeps it up. And then Picard gets an idea, he says, “Kahless, what if we just shake loose the truth?” She goes, “What do you mean?” He goes, “You ever see a Tom Cruise movie with Jack Nicholson? All Good Men or something it's called. A Few Good Men it's called.” And she goes, “It hasn't come out yet.” He goes, “Well, this'll be a plot point. And it actually has, but you're right, depending on the timeline.”

He goes, “We'll close this case.” He goes, “Just like they did at work.” And then Picard rolls in, just different than the movie but it seems similar, he rolls into court. He goes, “I got an eye witness, yo.” And an open council, Duras talks about Kahless but the judge knows her, they used to date. He goes, “Hey, it's good to see you again.” And then they sit down for a private meeting and he goes, “I asked you guys to leave, now it's come to this.”

And it turns out that the whole thing is a coverup for Duras's dad because he's rich and powerful. Typical and Duras is a little B-R-A to the T. Then Picard goes, “Well then, Worf's challenge is successful.” And the dude goes, “There was no challenge. This was just a … this was a whatever, straw trial or whatever they call it.” And then we get a taste of Picard outrage which is always good.

Let's see if we can dig up the thing. Because the total thing with Kahless works, where they just bring her in for a minute and they go, “Whoa, we just know what she knows. We'll just go to the press.” More or less like that. If you won't do it in open court.

Okay, so then the judge says, “We just can't do this, it'll cause …” He goes, “Didn't your country have whatever they were called? Whatever they were called where everyone …” And they go, “Oh yeah. Who do you think owns the company that makes all the replicators?” Anyways, so then everybody has a laugh.

So Picard goes, he goes, “You can't make judgements here.” He goes, “We'll break up with the Federation.” He goes, “You can't just make orders, Picard.” And Picard goes, “The alliance with the Federation is not based on nonsense, [Kempek 00:45:20]. You could keep your secrets but you can't railroad this case and Worf and his brother.” And Worf sits up, he says … and Picard says, “Don't, Worf.” And he goes, “Chadich will be silenced.” He goes, “Cover him up for my brother, let him live his life and I'll take the blame.” And Duras goes, “No.” Worf goes, “I'll give you even something better. Discommendation.” And Duras goes, “In open court?” He goes, “Yeah, I'll take it, I'll take it. I'll blame my dad.” And this really gets to justice's thing, he goes, “Wow, you really are a Klingon at heart. You're putting your Klingon home world in …”

[inaudible 00:46:07] “No, we're just like everywhere else. The aristocracy first to keep the peace for everybody.” And then Worf rolls in up on Duras and goes, “Well, even though your daddy's rich, he's the one that caused the Khitomer thing. Don't forget about that.” And then somebody says, “No, I'm ready.” Let's see.

Oh, now Worf says, “Now I'm ready.” Then his brother's like, “Why are you going to do this coverup? Why are you going to coverup for me? I want to get blamed too.” He goes, “No.” Picard has to tell his brother, he goes, “He needs you, man. There's going to be another day, don't forget this. We're going to make a comeback on this one.” And they do a nod and then everybody turns their back, everybody in the high council, turns their back on Worf. Crosses their arms, turns their back, even his brother has to because he's been X'd out or whatever. And then Worf and Picard energize out and the episode comes to a close in what was a very classic, amazing episode of Star Trek. Yeah, no it's Star Trek. I don't know why my brain went on that.

Okay, let's look at our notes. For SAT and patronize is a good word, because we have patrons, it's to act as a patron, support or sponsor. To go as a customer on a regular basis or to treat in a condescending nature. It's just ironic, the word gets used both ways. It gets to be a patron with irony, passive aggressive irony or something, like insincerely. But that's spelled P-A-T-R-O-N-I-Z-E, patronize.

Okay, I wanted to look up shifts on the Enterprise. Let's see. Technical data, physical arrangement, operations, “The bulk of people on the Enterprise could get off in four minutes, which would happen at Starbase 74. There's places people could hide out.” Shipboard life, “Average day aboard the ship …” Oh, this was in Data's day, “Four birthdays, two transfers, two chess tournaments, school play, promotions and a birth.” The Enterprise normally ran on three shifts, increasing to four shifts cause scheduling problems in chain of command. So usually there's three shifts, which makes sense, there's 8, 16, 24.

“Commanders of Ensign rank were required to share crew quarters, but were allowed their own quarters upon promotion to Lieutenant Junior grade. Family use shared quarters, 10 Forward was the center of the ship's social activity. Four Below was where Scoots went. And the holodecks around 10 and 12, which I always wondered for the crew, entertainment for the crew, it says there though …

Oh, here's the Ship's Directory, this is interesting. Deck Two, Worf and Data had the rooms. Deck Seven, maybe Worf had his room. Then another point, Deck Eight, Troy, Riker, they were only one room apart according to this, 9-10 and 9-12. Crusher's quarters, Troy's office, Row Laran's quarters, also deck nine. Could've been cross quarters. Jean Luc Picard's on 36-01 which could be on Deck Nine. Crusher could be on Deck Nine. So this is interesting.

Three shifts, which I've worked at places that had shifts and normally they weren't 9:00 to 5:00 shifts. I think they ended at 3:00 a lot of them and they were in the county, so I don't know if they were eight hour shifts anyway. Maybe they were eight and a half or nine, because you know you only … You got to work your lunch break. I think it worked nine and a half, eight and a half hours. You're at work for nine. I can't remember.

I think you had to be at work for nine hours, because you got a 15, two 15 minute breaks and a half hour unpaid lunch. So eight and a half hours I guess. But that also gives you overlap when you're switching. So wait, wait, 7:00 to 3:00, 3:00 to 11:00 and then 11:00 to 7:00 yeah. I mean I don't know if they were on Enterprise because they simulated, I think they said simulated days.

Okay, let's talk about the great Tony Todd who's so many movies. A lot of movies we've seen. But he was a voice in Transformers and he's just been in a lot of movies, like all the other movies are great movies. He's from the Eugene O'Neill National Actors Theater Institute. Grew up in D.C and Hartford, Connecticut. He's been in movies, films and he's in a movie coming out next year. But he's also been on tons of TV, Boston Public, Law And Order, Hercules, Xena, X-Files, Smallville, Pysch, 24, Charmed, Stargate Andromeda, M.I.N.D, 21 Jump Street, Chuck. He played two different roles on 24, so that's interesting.

He's in Star Trek: Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Online. So a lot of just definitely someone you're like, “Holy cow, okay, I know exactly who that is when you see it.”

Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water. It could be the largest lake or full fledged sea, it's a basin without outflows. It's located between Europe and Asia on the broad steppe of Central Asia. It's 143,000 square miles, 33,701 … 371,000 kilometers. That doesn't count the detached lagoon.

It has 1.2% salinity, it's a third of seawater. Kazakhstan on the north east, Russia in the north west, Azerbaijan to the west, Iran to the south, Turkmenistan to the south east. Well known, a lot of animal and plant diversity. It has it's main freshwater inflows from the Volga River which enters at the shallow north end.

Let's see what else. Yeah, just wanted to talk about it. It's formation is a remnant of an ancient sea, it's sea floor is the oceanic basalt and not continental granite. It got landlocked over 5.5 million years ago due to tectonic uplift and the fall in the sea level. It's the largest inland body of water, 40 to 44% of the total lacustrine waters of the world. So cool, I mean I love the sea. It has characteristics common to seas and lakes, this is all from Wikipedia, it's not a freshwater lake but it contains 3.5 times more water than all of the Great Lakes combined and thee sea level's risen and fallen over the history of it. And it has a lot of flora and fauna, you can read more about it via a link.

Let's see, let's see where … we have 44 minutes here. So let's do A Few Good Men and then we'll see what else we have. Now, I was really surprised, I didn't see this, this movie came out in 1992, I would've bet '99. And one of the reasons it's so catchy it is was written by Aaron Sorkin, which I didn't know. He originally had a play by this name and it's a classic.

Again, I thought it was more modern than '92, which tells me a lot of people probably haven't seen it. It's Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore. It's a Rob Reiner film, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollack, Kiefer Sutherland's even in it, James Marshall, JT Walsh, Wolfgang Bodison act. And it's produced by Castle Rock, distributed by Columbia. Came out in the holiday season in '92, little bit over two hours, budget was like 30 to 40 mil, made 240+ in the box office and contains, “You can't handle the truth.” Is the most famous line from the movie.

But again, it really had this … If you haven't seen it, it's a movie we're checking out. I can't remember the last time I watched it, it was probably in the last five years, maybe six years and again I was somewhere else and I had something to do. And it came on cable, probably at a hotel room or something and I just got sucked right in and I said, “Wow, I forgot how good this is.” And a lot of the roles, I think Demi Moore and Kevin Pollack's roles are definitely very underrated. So definitely a movie worth checking out.

Let's see what else. Oh, the Khitomer Incident or whatever, let's look that up, or Khitomer. It's an inhabited planet in the Khitomer system and it played a role in the Klingon-Federation Alliance as well as the site of the Khitomer Conference. Because when the Romulans snuck in there, let's see, I think that's … It was a neutral site for the Federation and Klingon Empire, this is like 2293, near the Romulan border and that's when they had their conference there, the Khitomer Accords. And then in 2346 the Klingons had a colony there and then Romulans snuck in and I guess that was like whatever his name is dad. Not Worf's dad, who's fully innocent of course. But yeah, it was also in novels and a few other episodes. But yeah, I did want to learn a little bit about that.

Let's see, what about Prince Caspian? “Oh, to be Prince Caspian, to float upon the waves.” As Phish sings. Maybe this is from the film though, this is a fictional character in the Chronicles Of Narnia by CS Lewis. Noble, handsome, brave and merry, strives for fairness and justice. Devoted king. Also known as Caspian The Seafarer. Young nephew and heir to King Miraz of Narnia. 1,300 years have past, let's see, they have the mythical … When he's a small boy he hears all the stories about the history, he has to deal with his uncle.

I guess they don't want to do any of that. But he's in those books, also is in others, a television serial of it produced by the BBC and then the movies which didn't fully get made out. I guess they made, I don't know, I don't see the movies listed here. But that's a little bit about Prince Caspian.

What about Klingon? Let's see, this is from Wikipedia page. They were developed in 1967 for the original Star Trek series. Feudal, authoritarian warriors and it has their makeup effects things, they were redesigned for Start Trek the motion picture, that's when they got their foreheads and kind of made out to be a little bit samurai-esque I guess. And they were recurring antagonists in the 60s Star Trek and the feature films.

Then in Next Generation they became a close ally of humanity and in the 90s in Deep Space Nine they all joined together. Let's see. They have the Klingon language which was developed by Mark Orkland, suggested by James Doohan and it's one of the most … it is the most popular fictional language. Let's see, they were changed for the motion picture and no Klingon characters were in Wrath of Khan but they were in Search For Spock. And they got deeper depiction in Next Generation with Worf and, let's see, there's a lot here so I'll link to it.

Changes in appearance, biology, robust and enduring biology. Let's see, a spiritual people that took over their own gods. Instead of big farm in the sky, they can go to Sto-Vo-Kor or Gre'thor, so that's where instead of big farm. Spiritual leader is Kahless, messianic historical figure. She has her own sword, the sword of Khaless. And let's see, they have their own language as we talked about. They have their own ships, cloaking technology. Their home world has several names, just like we call Earth Earth or Terra. They just call it home, “What the heck? This is our home.”

Let's see, yeah, that's about. I'll link to that. That's just a little bit more about the Klingons and, yeah, that's tonight's episode. Another great Worf related one where we get to know Worf even better. So good night, here's some thank yous.