Opinion: Trek BBS Board Members And Star Trek Discovery

I wouldn’t ordinarily go through all this trouble, but it seems that some Trek BBS posters and Moderators have made some incredibly serious comments about another group of people.

I have no bones in this, but as someone who regularly reads the TREK BBS (for years now), there seems to be an incredibly bias of some mods to allow some members to get away with incredible statements.

The mean spirit of some members, particularly long term ones, is so disappointing to read. And the mods give them incredible lee way that other members get carded for over and over.

Again, I am NOT a member, and most people there are decent. But again, it’s those loud, obnoxious, opinionated members that float to the top of the pack, and stand out the most.

The reason I am even going through all of this, is because of one long term member. He has been one of the loudest of the group who gets away with pretty much whatever he wants. It’s pretty impressive. The mods love him ever so much.

And it’s the following that made me upset. King Daniel Beyond has decided that it’s appropriate to equate the Facebook group

We Hate The Star Trek Reboots & related JJtrek content & ST Discovery

https://www.facebook.com/groups/56045735885/

with hate groups that target Jewish and Muslim faith people.

In a TREK BBS Thread entitled:

Why Does Midnight’s Edge have such a hate boner for Discover?

by PixelMagic

https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/why-does-midnights-edge-have-such-a-hate-boner-for-discovery.290052/

King Daniel Beyond makes the following statement:

No moderator in sight, and no one coming in to challenge King Daniel Beyond on his incredibly dangerous statement.

And in reality, the mods don’t like people confronting the big dogs on the Trek BBS. KDB has a lot of pull from what I’ve read and concluded.

The issue that I really have, is not how they moderate their own group, but it this particular statement.

To equate a group that “hates” new Star Trek, with groups the HATE of black people, Jews and Muslims, is such a horrible conclusion and statement to make.

There is NO comparison. They’re hate for new Star Trek is no different than MY hate for peas. If I created a group called: We HATE Peas and all Pea related vegetables, would King Daniel Beyond swoop in and start publicly putting me on the same plain as those who hate PEOPLE? If he did, it would be wrong. Because the say that one hate group is literally the same as another, when the context is LITERALLY completely different, is LITERALLY beyond opinion and borderline libelous.

No to be fair, the Facebook group that King Daniel has made a statement about, is a closed group. I have no idea if they actually hate black people, Muslims and Jews. And if they do, the group should be shut down. But if not, if ALL they hate is a fictional TV show, then King Daniel Beyond needs to issue an emphatic apology to this group and their members, as do the mods for not reigning in KDB.

You can NOT equate the hate of something harmless, with the hate of people. It is NOT the same thing. It really is that simple and if they don’t know that on Trek BBS, then they have gotten to full of themselves.

The mean spirited on that site, (and others), is incredible considering what the Spirit of Star Trek was supposed to be about. And what it is that made these people fans, I think, has been forgotten. They’ve been twisted into something undesirable, and I have LONG since disengaged from.

 

 

Volkswagen Canada: Friend or Foe?

My wife and I bought our newest and most expensive car to date. A 2010 VW Golf Wagon TDI automatic.

Purchased in April of 2017 for about $15000, it was a car that was perfect for our needs.

VW Certified used, with their rigorous inspection, and the trust that comes with buying from VW.

And to the date of this publish, I have spent almost as much on repairs and new tires, as I have on the monthly payments.

Due to all the issues so fast, and some quite predictable, I wouldn’t have made such a stink about this if VW paid for most of it.

Unfortunately,  while VW Barrie did offer 20% off some stuff, I was stuck with full bills on things like tires that went bald within 10000km of the car purchase. New rear springs that broke. Time off work due to no loaner vehicle that sales promised would be available if needed.

So the lack of good faith and confidence in their own vehicle has made me want to fight.

I want them to take back their car. VW Barrie says no. It’s all good- though not apparently good enough for them to take it back.

VW Canada, after escalation, says nope. It’s up to the dealer. They can’t do anything.

Makes sense. They are just a lil ole business anyway. Smaller than me?

VW head office Germany has ignored all contact.

Well first off, the lack of help with this has ensured this is my last VW. Secondly, it has made me go public. And finally,  I will not stop.

Here are the issues to date:

CAR ISSUES WITHIN FIRST WEEK OF PURCHASE

 

• NEW WHEEL LUGS ON BILL- NEW WHEEL LUGS NOT INSTALLED (REFUNDED EVENTUALLY)
• ENGINE RYTHMIC PULSING ON STRAIGHTAWAYS CRUISE (VW SAID IT WAS THE DSG TRANSMISSION AND NORMAL OPERATION- STILL PULSES TO THIS DAY)
• REAR LICENCE PLATE LIGHT REPLACED DAY AFTER GETTING THE CAR
• DIRTY ENGINE (LATER FOUND OLD RODENT NEST UNDER ENGINE COVER)
• REAR HATCH REQUIRES FORCE TO CLOSE COMPLETELY
• STALLED TWICE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP
• LARGE PAINT CHIP FLAKED OFF OF PASSENGER FRONT QUARTER PANEL (APPROX 3cm x 3cm)

 

ISSUES/ REPAIRS

• ENGINE STALLED TWICE DUE TO LOW RMP FROM STOP TO START
• WATER LEAK – REAR TOP RIGHT HATCH WIRE HARNESS GASKET (TOP OF CEILING UPHOLSTRY SOAKED)
• CLUNKING SOUND IN FRONT SUSPENSION. FRONT DRIVER STRUT BEARING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (HIGHLY RECOMMENDS BOTH FRONT SPRING REPLACEMENT DUE TO KM ON VEHICLE BY MECHANIC- VW DISPUTES THIS)
• 2 ALLIGNMENTS SINCE PURCHASE – OVER $200
• REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE DOESN’T HOLD WHEN PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED (VW REPLACED AT THEIR COST)
• 2 REAR TIRES BALD AFTER 15OOOKM (2 FRONT WERE REPLACED WHEN PURCHASED) –OVER $350
• REAR DRIVER SIDE  COIL SPRING BRAKES (REPLACED BOTH REAR) –OVER $350
• PASSENGER SIDE AXLE BOOT –OVER $200
• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON
• GLOW PLUG LIGHT FLASHING – CAUSE: EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR REPLACED- TWICE – OVER $600

Over $1700 in repairs, not including taxes since getting the car. That’s on top of the regular servicing costs, and the time I’ve missed work, and use of the car.

Vulcan Warp Sled Shuttle

This is more of a practice model before skinning my 1/350 TMP E. 

I’ve never used decal sheets like this before. So it was a learning curve. 

I actually don’t mind some of the imperfections at this scale. And once weathered, it’ll look like an in use shuttle. 

Star Trek Discovery

I thought STDs Discovery nacelles looked familiar. And fitting, because since I was a little kid, the signal and light indicators on my family’s cadillacs, always seemed Trekky to me. 

Distracted Driving

It is incredible. Driving while operating a cell phone is now a serious offence in Ontario. The consequences, either by collission, or HTA violation fine, is quite high. 

The message is clear and loud. Stay off the phone when driving. 

Yet every day during my commute, at any given moment, I can spot someone reading, manipulating, texting, on their phones. 

It is SO dangerous, and apparently an epidemic. 

I’d love to stop and call the OPP to file a report every time, but that would literally be a full time job.

The alternative is to pull over and fire off a quick text that includes all relevant information. 

And that is all I will ever do. Because if it is as serious as they say, and it is this prevalent, then something better needs to be done to stop them all ASAP!

#putdownthephone

Star Trek: The Next Generation Bridge

Just a teaser for a TNG concept bridge never realized.

I’m throwing it down as the as the USS Galaxy bridge…

 

LED Streetlight: Night Is Gone. I Feel So Safe.

We’re finally getting rid of night time in small town Alliston. It’s to save money of course, and should the argument ever show that LEDs are horrible for us and the environment, the argument will turn into one of safety. 

And I for one am glad! I took out my small print receipt, stood exactly between two light standards, and read that small print clear as mid day. 

I know now that with night on it’s way out, we can all move safely into a 24 hour work day, keeping our economy chugging along by buying, selling, paying taxes. 

I’m okay with the new blinds I have to buy. And the new sunglasses I have to wear at night should I accidentally look into that white bright highly focused, retinal burning LED. 

We’re saving money! We’re safer! Natural sleep rhythms are so 20th century and past! Get with the times. We can sleep at the end of our natural lives. 

No flash. No enhancement. Just a photo of a small print receipt that I can safely, and cheaply, read at 2AM.

Ps. I’m really looking forward to winter glare. ​

1:2500 scale Star Trek

Just some of my ships in progress​​
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Thomas Calnan Presents: The Double Header at Comedy Bar in Toronto on the 25th June 2016

Star Trek kitbash. 1:2500 TOS Frigate

Here’s my Halifax Class Frigate for my TOS fleet. Under Construction of course.