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I Got Merlin-ized

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Despite my addictive personality and love for all things fantasy and geek, I still find myself getting drowned in my daily tasks and chores. I find myself lagging at times when it comes to books and TV shows. Take Merlin, for example. You’ve probably heard about the BBC series about the greatest magician of all time. (It seems like everyone has heard about it and has been following it except for me.)

I just started watching it this afternoon, and I haven’t stopped since then! Anyone who has the slightest interest in the legend of King Arthur will certainly be held captive by this TV series. Admittedly, the plot of the “modern” series has some inconsistencies with the legend that some of us are familiar with. Indeed, I second guessed myself a couple of times, as I hadn’t read the legend – at least the version I read from childhood to my teenage years – in a while.

Guinevere, for example – I don’t remember her being a handmaiden to Morgana, a ward of King Uther Pendragon. Then there’s the Lady of the Lake – the subject of Tennyson’s poem. How about the creation of Excalibur? There are probably a lot more that I haven’t spotted – I am no expert, really; but I have to say that the series is quite mesmerizing.

For sure, purists would be hating on me by now. Again, I have to admit that I am far from being a purist, and I can only say that this series is worth watching. Forget the inconsistencies. Enjoy yourself for a while, as I am right now.

Celebrating William Shatner’s Day

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What’s so significant about March 22? For many, it is just any other day. For geek icon William Shatner, it is probably the most important day of his life, for it’s his birthday! For avid fans, it definitely is one of the most significant days in the year, for if he weren’t born, life wouldn’t be the same, would it?

So guess how old he is? Hard to believe, but the person we all fell in love with as Captain James T. Kirk is now 79 years old! Time does fly by so fast, doesn’t it? And, flattery aside, he doesn’t look his age at all!

I like Curtis Silver’s write up about Shatner’s life – a tribute, if you wish:

James T. Kirk was the greatest iteration of a fictional space captain the world had ever seen, and is still a character that is hard to beat today. Shatner brought a flair to the job, a brash and emotional style, that has yet to be duplicated and probably never will be. Kirk was thoughtful and sympathetic but also decisive and combative. He was a lover to green alien chicks. He was always thinking, even if he appeared to be always fighting. To us, this was William Shatner. There was no difference between the two. We imagined this is how he was. Later we’d see that while similar, Shatner is a man full of life and humor, never afraid to show it to the world.

Indeed, this guy is something else. Even though many actors may have portrayed more popular roles in science fiction, I think that William Shatner is a notch above them all. What say you?

Star Trek Perfume

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163201-pon-farr-star-trek-perfume_180Looking for a new scent to wear? Why not go for something that might not be part of your daily routine – the Star Trek perfume! Dubbed the Pon Farr, this new scent for women is manufactured by a novelty fragrance company that launched Tiberius and Red Shirt men’s cologne.

At this point, I would be very disappointed in you if you have not figured out where the name Pon Farr was taken. True Trekkies would know what it means, and in case you are not – or your memory is simply on the fritz – pon farr is actually the term for a mating ritual that the Vulcans are known for. This term was first mentioned in a very old Star Trek episode, which aired in 1967. The title of the episode is Amok Time. According to Star Trek lore, Vulcan males experience a strong urge every seven years, and strong is an understatement actually. When this happens, the Vulcan male simply has to get lucky and mate with a female. Otherwise, their luck turns real sour and they just up and die on you.

Pon Farr is not guaranteed to make you go crazy and to make you feel that urge to mate, but hey, who knows where it can get you? In any case, the mere idea of having Star Trek perfume on should be appealing to any Trekkie – male or female.

As for the “real” scent, the perfume is a mixture of citrus, black currant, lotus blossom, and water lily. It is not yet available but it will cost $30 a bottle when it is released later in the month. Get me one of those!