io9: phasers

New Phaser-Shaped Office Tower for California

Annalee Newitz — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:55:17 PDT

The economy may be in tatters, but that hasn't stopped a California business dreamer named Walter Horsting from pushing a plan to build a giant, 40-story office tower in the shape of a massive golden phaser. Oh, actually it's in the shape of a railway spike, and Horsting is hoping to erect it in California state capitol Sacramento to commemorate the history of the state's now-failing railway system. Horsting says this strange monument won't cost taxpayers a penny because it will be an office building. The whole thing sounds insane, but who wouldn't want to work in a giant golden phaser? I call dibs on the laser trigger. [via Phoenix Business Journal]

Must See: Enterprise

charliejane — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:26:50 PDT

Must-see TV shows are futuristic classics that shouldn't be missed. Of course, not every must-see is perfect. That's why we've rated them 1-5 on the patented "crunchy goodness" scale.

Title: Enterprise (later Star Trek: Enterprise)
Date: 2001-2005

Vitals: The early seat-of-your-jumpsuit days of Starfleet, complete with Klingon and Romulan first contacts. Oh, and mysterious future people want to change history for some mysterious reason.

Famous names: Scott Bakula, Jolene Blalock, Connor Trineer, John Billingsley, Dominic Keating, Linda Park, Jeffrey Combs, Brannon Braga, Rick Berman

Crunchy goodness: 2

Stunt casting: Quantum Leap's Bakula as the intrepid captain, who never quite loses his dazed look, as if wondering where he's ended up this time.

Life lesson: Humans may be new to interstellar travel, but our ballsy shoot-first-ask-questions-never attitude is worth way more than the Vulcans' hundreds of years of experience.

Deadliest spoiler: Trineer sacrifices his life so Captain Archer can survive to give a speech to the new Galactic Elk's Club.

StarTrek.nl - News, Episode Guides & More.

Must See: Star Trek: The Next Generation

charliejane — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:18:50 PDT

Must-see TV shows are futuristic classics that shouldn't be missed. Of course, not every must-see is perfect. That's why we've rated them 1-5 on the patented "crunchy goodness" scale.

Title: Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Date: 1987-1992

Vitals: The Enterprise is voyaging again, but humans have outgrown all our aggression, and we no longer interfere in other cultures quite so blatantly. Plus, now there are kids on board!

Famous names: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Wil Wheaton, Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, Ronald Moore, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn

Crunchy goodness: 4

Design breakthrough: The boxy furniture and swivel chairs of the original series give way to sleek curvy consoles and luxury car seats. Plus, the Borg borrowed zombie imagery to make cyborgs creepier than ever before.

Stunt casting: Patrick Stewart brings a whole fancy Shakespearean veneer to the role of Jean-Luc Picard, elevating lines like "Engage," or "Let's see what's out there," to an almost mythic timbre.

Sights you'll never unsee: Klingon cowboy vs. android cowboy.

Tim Lynch reviews a number of Next Generation episodes.