Most people know what a huge Star Trek geek I am. Y’know, aside from Star Wars, Doctor Who, BSG, etc. For me the Kirk era is the best, always has been. We’re talking archetype storytelling.So this new movie is hitting all the right buttons for me.

The new design for the Starship Enterprise came out and though it took a little getting used to I ended up falling in love with it and so I got in touch with the amazing Ryan Church to congratulate him on his design. You’ll know his work from the Star Wars prequels, Transformers and the soon to to be Avatar. I’m talking to Ryan about the possibility of teaming up with him for something next year, his schedule permitting.

I also learned this week that a very good friend of mine (who I won’t name) is working with a star of the new Trek movie (who I won’t name) and they’re getting a preview of the entire movie on Dec 5th. And I can’t get an invite. It makes me all weepy

Oh well.

I hope it’s as spectacular as the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puXPozd-kuc

I’ve refrained from posting glowing, excited posts about the election of Barack Obama because, well, I’ve never had much doubt that he’d be elected since late 2007, early 2008. I like his cool, steady demeanor, and as such, I’m in agreement that now is the time to work on solving problems, rather than basking in the moment.

Obama has a new website called change.gov where ordinary people are encouraged to submit their ideas for the forward direction of the administration. Frankly, it would be easy to sit down and write thirty pages without blinking, so I decided to list four things that I think are important. Two of them are interlinked, as should be obvious.

I urge everyone to take advantage of submitting their ideas. Priorities are based on consensus, and the more people participate, the better.

1.    A Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the Iraq War.

If we want to seriously end partisan fighting, then much as it pains me to say it, pursuing criminal actions of Republicans from the Bush administration may foster animosity for a generation. Besides, many Democrats went along with them. South Africa held a truth and Reconciliation Commission so that the truth could come out without fear of retaliation in order to encourage healing. By any measure it was painful, but highly successful. This may be just the tonic for learning from the mistakes of the war and uniting the country.

2.    Negotiate New Geneva Conventions to include Terrorism.
The problem facing America is that there is no set guideline for what terrorism is, and how it should be countered. The Geneva Conventions do not cover terrorism and do not indicate whether it is a civil or military matter. This must be addressed or it will remain a gray area ripe with the potential for abuse.

3.    Consider an extra-Judicial system for dealing exclusively with terrorists.
There may be no way to adequately deal with terrorists in civil or military courts. There may need to be a new type of hearing that determines whether a case is terrorist related, and if so, the case passes into a new system designed specifically to deal with such a case. Because of the sensitive security issues at stake, it may have to operate in secrecy like a Grand Jury. This is unpalatable, and strict oversight needs to be included. But unless this is addressed, the courts will continue to struggle.

4.    Rebuild New Orleans, (also speed up building of Freedom Tower.)
I don’t mean just rebuild the houses, I’m thinking of something on such a grand scale that it leaves the rest of the world in awe. Consider Kansai International Airport, in Japan. Built on an entirely man-mad island. What if devastated areas of New Orleans were raised to above sea-level? Perhaps in several areas, like shelter islands, so if the city was flooded again, certain areas would act as local safe havens, and the streets would turn into canals. It’s expensive and would take a lot of manpower. What good would it do? Three things. It would create jobs in a public works program. It would foster a sense of national pride in the achievement, and it would be a powerful symbol to both the country and the rest of the world. Symbols are important. Great leaders build great things.

Where have I been? Busy writing the next book or following poll numbers like a loon.

In the meantime. What’s that? Up in the air! Is it a bird? Is it a plane?