That's Commander Starblanket to You

Say hello to Starfleet's newest commander.

Rowan in her dress uniform.

Her mother would be proud, if Vulcans ever expressed pride.

Qapla'

Review: How to Train your Dragon

In three words: go see it.

I took my RL crew to see the 2D version (older DD gets sick in 3D movies). Even so, it was thoroughly watchable and enjoyable.

Spoilers alert!! Highlight the "empty" section below to see it.

Hiccup is a misfit Viking, physically weak but very intelligent, and a tinkerer . . . oh and he's the chief's son. Instead of killing a dragon when he has the opportunity, he befriends it, names it Toothless, and discovers that dragons are not the enemy that the Vikings think they are. Meanwhile he ends up enrolled in the dragon slaying school and uses his new-found knowledge to subdue the dragons nonviolently and rises to the top of the class, much to the irritation of his rival and romantic interest in the story, Astrid. Inevitable misunderstandings ensue he is disowned, and he and his pet dragon end up saving the village and becoming heroes.

I really liked the characters' portrayals. They came alive for me and I cried at their heartbreaks and rejoiced in their triumphs.  The animation was phenomenal, I was amazed at the textures of their clothes and the way they moved. CG animation has come so far in the past decade. I can't wait 'til the artists finally overcome the uncanny valley as it applies to CG characters.

New Use for Ground-Combat Pause

Multi-angle screenshots!!
There's Tarah again, takin' one for the team. =D

Everybody Needs a Spock

@ GeeCee: Sorry for copying you yet again.

Of course the star of this "show" is Rowan. But just like Spock, all my fan mail is for Tarah. She steals the show. Sometimes I almost think I should have rolled an Andorian. They are awesome: loyal, great to have in a fight, smokin' hot (ok, mine is), and blue. But then, I don't know if I would like Tarah so much if she were the captain. I find myself trying to get shots with her in them all the time, this one was an accident.

It was supposed to be a shot of Rowan vaporizing a thug; but there's Tarah, target optics activated, watching the flank of her sometimes impetuous friend and CO. Thierry is right there moving to protect Rowan, as well, having built his phaser turret. But Tarah and Rowan share a bond much like Kirk and Spock, versus the triad of Kirk-Spock-McCoy. Perhaps it was inevitable that intense and sometimes bitter rival civilizations would produce matched pairs that complement each other so well. Again, like GeeCee, I could probably switch out any of my Boffs, except Tarah. Certainly all of Rowan's bridges will have the Double Command Area.

Tarah has a fuller backstory than Rowan, right now. We've met her bondmate, Shrel, and know the names of her two other bondmates. We know she was homesick before he showed up. We know from the way she appears in all her screenshots she is ever watchful, anticipating the inevitable danger their adventures entail.

I wish I had a companion like this in real life, someone who I knew had my back in any situation. I think we all need that. So, instead of the story about Franklin Drake and Section 31 that I had percolating, you, Dear Reader, are stuck with this sentimental tribute. Ever practical, Tarah would just roll her eyes.

Gotta love Blizzard

A holdover from April Fools Day: let Battle.net make you a match today!