Old Stuff - Star Trek Voyager

I was going through some old files on my computer and found a plot synopsis I'd written a long time ago. Three things tell you how long ago: it's a local file, not in the cloud; I'm talking about a computer, not a laptop, tablet or phone; and it's about Star Trek Voyager.  I'd nearly forgotten about that show, but when it was broadcast on TV I watched every week.

I think I'd written the synopsis because I was bemoaning with friends the lack of real science fiction plots in the show.  Voyager was often a soap opera in space.  So, determined to "show them," I came up with some script ideas.  Here's one:

Series: Star Trek Voyager
Title:  Culture

Summary: While replenishing their Trilithium supply, Paris and a red-shirt get infected with a fungus.  The problem with eradicating it from their bodies is that it appears to be a sentient civilization.

Synopsis: Planetside.  Paris and Lee have just finished prospecting for Trilithium deposits on the planet’s surface.  The planet is wrapped in deep clouds, with an extremely moist surface, unusual for Class M planets.  The surface is soft and easy to mine. (Do they have to use the transporter for the Trilithium? Or the shuttle?)
Paris & Lee use the transporter to return to Voyager.  When they return, the transporter shows some odd readings. Janeway orders the transporter team to perform a complete maintenance check on it, and sends the two crew members to sick bay for a physical.
On the way to sick bay Paris stops just briefly to pick up --- something --- in the health club.  At that point he claps somebody in the steam room on the back, and they get infected.

What struck me most is how much I have forgotten those characters. I barely remember what Paris looked like, let alone his personality. And when I read "Lee" I'm thinking Lee Adama from Battlestar Galactica.

So, yes, the plots could have been better. But in retrospect, the characters seem to fade away as well.

31 Tips for Bicycle Commuters

I've been riding to work off and on for at least two decades. I'm lucky to live in Portland, which is a bike-friendly town (it hasn't always been that way). I used to try to avoid anything that made me look too much like a bike geek. Over time, however, I've discovered that some things work well (no matter what they look like).

Here are 31 tips for using your bike to commute to work.

1. Wear a bike jersey. Not only looks swag, but dries quickly -- in a locker, or overnight if you wash it out at home
2. If you have a dress code at work, leave a pair of nice shoes at work so you don't have to haul them back & forth
3. If you've never before cycled to work, use a bike map to find a good route. For example, here's the map for Portland, Oregon.
4. Before using a route to work, try riding it during the weekend to time it out. don't be late for work!
5. Wear a helmet and biking gloves. Stupid things happen. Protect your body.
6. Set goals. Newbie = just ride once. Beginner = 1 time per week. If you're riding once a week, set a goal for multiple days. Keep building
7. In Portland bikes are allowed on Tri-met. If you have a long commute, consider the option of busing to work, and then riding home.
8. For a more calming commute, avoid arterial roads. Find a bike-friendly street on the side.
9. Avoid backpackitis. Buy a removable pannier to carry your work clothes & lunch
10. In the road, bikes are traffic. Follow the rules of traffic, it's your right & responsibility.
11. It’s not all about commuting. Have fun on your bike ride, weekends and weekdays.
12. Make sure your tires have the correct air pressure. Low pressure = more work for you and more chance to get a flat. Too high = bumpy ride and might be unsafe pressure on the wheel frames.
13. Assume that the car/driver doesn't see you...because they probably don't. Use lights, reflectors & bright colors
14. Learn to appreciate topography. Work with the hills on your ride to work, not against them.
15. Get a bell. It’s cheerier than yelling “On your left” and it’s more recognizable as a bike warning.
16. When you’re riding on the sidewalk, act like a pedestrian. Don’t go faster than a jogger. Be polite.
17. Talk with other cyclists - to learn about the route, but also to be friendly during the commute. Say “Hi”!
18. Watch the door zone. Drivers forget to watch for bikes when opening car doors. ORS says it’s OK to ride 3’ away from parked cars.
19. Try to ride predictably. Avoid changing between street and sidewalk mode. Also, avoid dipping into spaces between parked cars.
20. Check your brakes at the beginning of every ride. Be extra cautious after a rainfall.
21. Sometimes you have to take the lane. Here’s a good post on road positioning skills
22. When riding across rail road tracks, approach them at a 90 degree angle. Never try to ride along between streetcar rails
23. Use the ABC Quick Check. A: air pressure B: brakes C: chain Quick: front wheel quick release
24. If you like your bike and want to keep it, use a U-lock. Always lock the bike frame post to a secure place.
25. When riding in two-way bike traffic, follow the general rules of traffic. In the US, ride on the right, pass on the left.
26. Learn left/right/stop hand signals. Use ‘em (when it's safe). Wave thanks! The NHTSA link is here.
27. Call it a Copenhagen left, Box-left, or Two-stage Left, if it makes you nervous turning left on a busy street, learn this maneuver.
28. It rains in Oregon. Here are some tips to be prepared. I usually just get wet.
29. Make it count. Track your commutes. Tell your friends. Join events like the BTA’s Bike Commute Challenge. #bcc #bcc2014
30. Celebrate. Once a week, stop for a treat on the way home. Take a break at a park. Ride with friends.

And bike commute tip #31: do what works. Ride what you've got. Wear what you've got. Don't give yourself an excuse not to enjoy the ride to work. Give it a try.

My old ride to work was along the Springwater Corridor.