News:
Star Trek Into Darkness out today on iTunes
Gene’s Birthday 19th, Frakes, Muldaur
DS9 turns 20

Ten Forward:
Roddenberry’s Box
A Set of rules about the 24th century that must never be violated. Basically, “the future is a paradise - there is no conflict, now go write drama.”
Michael Piller: “it prevented writers from falling back on familiar storytelling devices and forced them to be original.”
Michael Piller: “His demands seemed impossible at first glance. Even self-destructive. And yet, I couldn’t escape one huge reality. Star Trek worked. Or it had for thirty years. Gene must be doing something right.”
Michael Piller: “I’m here to execute Roddenberry’s vision of the future, not mine. Let’s stop fighting what we can’t change. These are his rules. How do we do this story without breaking those rules?”

Star Trek in pop culture:
NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me for Aug 3. Spot the Star Trek.

Episode insight: DS9: Siege of AR-558 (Suggested by Rob Dalton on Twitter, and seconded by chatroom)

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SPEECH:

Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all ship masters have had one happy privilege: that of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

Perfection! That’s what it’s really about. Those moments when you can feel the perfection of creation, the beauty of physics, the wonder of mathematics, the elation of action and reaction. That is the kind of perfection you two are connected to.

Your kind of love, Brigitte, my beautiful sister, and Shawn, my new brother, is one that is effortless, and natural. A love that is true and ever-lasting.

"In this galaxy, there is a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all of the universe, three million-million galaxies like this. And, in all of that, and perhaps more, only one of each of us. Among all that probability, Brigitte and Shawn found each other.

Let us take a moment now and share in a song to give thanks for this beautiful day.

Queue “One Love”

"Too many people dream of places they'll never go, wish for things they'll never have . . . instead of paying adequate attention to their real lives . . .but a dream you dream alone is only a dream. And a dream you dream together is reality.”

"The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible, much like the two of you discovered through your years of friendship.

In place of traditional vows, Brigitte and Shawn have prepared a few things they’d like to say
to each other.

Shawn and Brig’s speeches (NOT INCLUDED)

In all our glory and our imperfections, we need to learn to love ourselves first. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.

-may I have the rings please.
-do you Shawn, take Brigitte as your lovely awesome wife?
-and do you Brigitte, take Shawn as your handsome wonderful husband?

By the power vested in me, I now re-pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now celebrate your love and devotion with a kiss."

KISS

Live long and prosper

The reaction to that was priceless.

Thanks for the awesome podcast. Gets me through my day as a mail man.