Useful

[Ready room]

PICARD: 
Mister La Forge, I would like you to accompany Captain Scott. 

LAFORGE: 
Me, sir? 

PICARD: 
Yes. Look, this is not an order, it's a request and it's one which you must feel perfectly free to decline. 

You see, one of the most important things in a person's life is to feel useful. 

Now, Mister Scott is a Starfleet officer and I would like him to feel useful again. 

LAFORGE: 
I'll go with him, sir. 

PICARD: 
Thank you.


*****

[Conference room]

DATA: 
Captain Picard is not satisfied with Ki Mendrossen's assurances that the Ambassador is in good health. 
Do you consider Sarek capable of carrying out his mission? 

SAKKATH: 
Have I given you cause to think otherwise? 

DATA: 
You have voiced certain reservations to me about his abilities. 

SAKKATH: 
I do not recall making such a statement. 

DATA: 
Not directly, no. 
But you did question me about the diplomatic capabilities of both Captain Picard and Counsellor Troi. 

SAKKATH: 
I am honour-bound to help Sarek carry out this mission. 
That is the only answer I can give. 

DATA: 
Then you must decide which is your greater obligation. 
Your loyalty to Sarek or your duty to the Federation. 
Can you accept the logic of continuing this mission? 

SAKKATH: 
Tell your Captain the mission is in jeopardy.

[Bridge]

DATA: 
Sakkath has been able, until recently, to use his telepathic skills to reinforce Sarek's emotional control, thus protecting others from the effects of his deterioration. 

RIKER: 
He hasn't been doing a very good job. 

DATA: 
The strain of this mission on Sarek has made it impossible. 

PICARD: 
It's ironic, isn't it? 
All this magnificent technology and we find ourselves still susceptible to the ravages of old age. 
The loss of dignity, the slow betrayal of our bodies by forces we cannot master. 

Do you still want to be one of us, Data? 

DATA: 
Sir, it is conceivable, even for me, that time will eventually lead to irreparable circuit failure. 
But there is one thing I do not understand. 
Sarek is a logical, intelligent being. The effects of Bendii Syndrome are apparent. 

Why would such a man choose to ignore them? 

PICARD: 
Logic fails us sometimes, Data. I think this is one of those times. 
I can only guess that he does not see, or he does not wish to see, the truth. 
And he is being insulated against that truth by those who love him most. 


RIKER: 
Someone has to confront him. 

PICARD: 
Not a task that I'm looking forward to. 



*****

PERRIN: 
Sarek is a good man. He's given the Federation a lifetime of service. 
I beg you to let him keep the respect he has earned. 

PICARD: 
He'll never lose that respect. 

PERRIN: 
Mendrossen and I never wanted to deceive you.

My husband's condition came on him so gradually it was so easy to delude ourselves and pretend that nothing was wrong. 

We convinced ourselves that he could complete this one last task and end his career with dignity. 

Help him, Captain. Help him regain his pride, his honour. 

PICARD: 
Believe me, it would give me great pleasure, but there is nothing I can do.

PERRIN: 
The mission can be saved. But he needs your help to do it.


[Corridor]

RIKER: 
I take it the mind-meld was a success? 

SAREK: 
Yes. All went as planned. 

RIKER: 
Is Captain Picard all right? 

SAREK: 
Don't worry, Number One. 

RIKER: 
And the Ambassador? 

SAREK: 
I am myself again. 
It has been a long time.

[Picard's quarters]

(Jean-Luc is voicing the agony Sarek had been keeping locked inside himself) 

PICARD: 
No! It is wrong. It is wrong! 
A lifetime of discipline washed away, and in its place bedlam. 
Bedlam! 

I am so old. 
There is nothing left but dry bones and dead friends. 
Tired, oh so tired. 

CRUSHER: 
It will pass, all of it. 
Just another hour or so. 
You're doing fine. Just hold on. 

PICARD: 
No! This weakness disgusts me! I hate it! 
Where is my logic? I am betrayed by desires. 
I want to feel. I want to feel everything. 
But I am a Vulcan. 
I must feel nothing. 
Give me back my control. 

CRUSHER: 
Jean-Luc! 

PICARD: 
Perrin. Amanda. 
I wanted to give you so much more. 
I wanted to show you such tenderness. 
But that is not our way. 
Spock, Amanda, did you know? 
Perrin, can you know how much I love you? 
I do love you! 

(Beverly comes over to wipe his tears) 

PICARD: 
Beverly. 

CRUSHER: 
I'm here, Jean-Luc. 
I'm not going anywhere.

PICARD: 
It's quite difficult. 
The anguish of the man, the despair pouring out of him, all those feelings, the regrets. 
I can't stop them. 

(He falls, sobbing, into her arms) 

PICARD: 
I can't stop them. 
I can't. 
I can't. 

CRUSHER: 
Don't even try.





PERRIN: 
Thank you, Captain. 

PICARD: 
He loves you very much. 

PERRIN: 
I know. 
I have always known. 

(Sarek enters) 

SAREK: 
I will take my leave of you now, Captain. 
I do not think we shall meet again. 

PICARD: 
I hope you are wrong, Ambassador. 

SAREK: 
We shall always retain the best part of the other inside us. 

PICARD: 
I believe I have the best part of that bargain, Ambassador. 
Peace and long life. 

SAREK: 
Live long and prosper. 

Black Panther

Unicorns

My God, Tommy. 

You certainly got those minerals. 
Well, come on then. Before zee Germans get here. 

Don't be sad — it was never alive in the first place.

Should drag shows be used as a teaching tool in Alberta schools?

Not according to a critic of a new LGBTQ guidebook for Alberta teachers

Andrea Huncar · CBC News · Posted: Nov 01, 2016 7:00 AM MT | Last Updated: November 1, 2016

This purple unicorn is used to describe 'a more authentic way of understanding gender' in a new toolkit being launched by the Alberta Teachers' Association. (Alberta Teachers' Association)

A new toolkit to assist Alberta teachers with LGBTQ discussions is being slammed by critics for suggesting drag shows could be staged in schools and students be addressed as "comrades" rather than boys and girls.  

Those are just two of the proposals in a 150-page document from the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA). The "Prism Toolkit for Safe and Caring Discussions" aims to help teachers create classrooms and curriculum that are more LGBTQ inclusive.  

The backlash over the toolkit, being distributed in schools this month, is just the latest in a divisive battle over LGBTQ rights for students, pitting advocates against religious and parental groups.  

• Alberta home-schooling group fires back at government report
• Edmonton-area Baptist schools defying LGBTQ rules face third-party inquiry
• Edmonton Catholic policy fails LGBTQ students, critics say

The toolkit document includes four pages of LGBTQ terminology, as well as the history and legal framework surrounding LGBTQ issues and lesson plans for students in Grades 7-12 on a variety of subjects, including math, biology and religion.

While the ATA argues the document, developed internally, will help teachers create a safe and inclusive environment for all students, some critics say it excludes many points of view.

"There is this implicit presumption that everyone already agrees on this very specific singular perspective of gender and sexuality," said Theresa Ng, a mother, former teacher and parent rights activist who writes a blog called Informed Albertans. "There's no honouring or valuing of alternative perspectives on this issue."

'Comrades' an alternate for 'boys' and 'girls'

One activity, titled "Drag 101" for cosmetology and drama students, suggests inviting local drag queens to teach makeup techniques and organizing a drag performance for the school.

The toolkit advises teachers to use gender-neutral language. For instance, rather than relying on the traditional terms "boys" and "girls," the guide suggests using alternative terms like friends, folks or "comrades."

Terms such as "caretaker," "guardian" and "responsible adults" can replace "mom" and "dad."

"Grade 7-12 students have no choice to decline these lessons, which happen during mandated instructional time, and are powerless to object to their learning time being used toward political activism for the advancement of LGBTQ rights or watching a school-wide drag performance," Ng wrote in her blog.  

Edmonton blogger Theresa Ng said the tool kit doesn't reflect alternative perspectives held by Albertans. (CBC)

Andrea Berg, head of the ATA's human rights and diversity division, said the toolkit was created based on demand following a similar document released four years ago for elementary school teachers.

"The document came about as a result of demand from teachers in the field who saw a need in their classrooms on how to create the welcoming, caring, safe and inclusive learning environments," said Berg.

She pointed to the high rates of bullying, self harm and suicide among sexual and gender minority students.

Berg said it is hoped the document will help teachers cultivate safe and supportive discussions in the classroom. It includes advice for teachers if a student comes out about their sexual or gender orientation, as well as dealing with homophobic and transphobic behaviour.

The suggestion of staging a drag show "was recommended as an optional activity that teachers could choose to participate in or not," Berg said.

A purple unicorn is used in the guidebook to describe "a more authentic way of understanding gender."

This guide suggests 'caretaker' could replace 'mom' and 'dad'

A picture of a purple, cartoon "gender unicorn" is shown under the heading: "Where do you fall on these spectrums?" It lays out a range of options for gender identity and expression, as well as sex assigned at birth, and physical and emotional attraction.

"Everything in here speaks to a theory of how some people — and I recognize some people feel this way, that gender to them means this, and that's perfectly fine," said Ng. "But what this resource assumes is that is what gender and sexuality mean for everyone."

Ng called for a resource that balances all views in a pluralistic, multicultural, democratic society "without ever abusing our authority."

She urged Albertans to sign up for a campaign launched by Parents for Choice, a parental rights group, demanding that parents be the primary authority in education.

But Berg said the ATA's perspective is "that it is the duty of all teachers to respect all diversity of students, regardless of religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity."

She estimated it cost the association between $30,000 and $35,000 to develop the toolkit, plus part of a $6,000 grant from Alberta Education.

Toolkit optional?

Asked whether use of the toolkit is optional, Berg responded that "it is a requirement from the School Act that schools and teachers work to create welcoming, caring, safe, inclusive learning environments for all students."

But she added: "As far as how teachers are going to use this particular document, it's one tool in their toolkit they can choose. It is absolutely optional if they want to use this."

Ng noted the document contains a warning that suggests optional usage may be subject to interpretation. "Canadian courts have found that schools that fail to address homophobia and heterosexism can be in serious breach of their professional responsibilities and considered to be engaging in educational malpractice," the section reads.

"I think that when teachers read that they see this resource as being not so optional," Ng said.

Education ministry chief of staff Jeremy Nolais said the PRISM toolkit is one of the resources produced from a $191,000 grant to help school authorities implement amendments to the School Act.

"Neither Alberta Education nor the minister require school authorities to refer to the PRISM toolkit or any other external resources," Nolais said.

But school authorities are legally responsible to provide caring and safe learning environments for all students, including LGBTQ pupils, he added.

andrea.huncar@cbc.ca               @andreahuncar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrea Huncar

Reporter

A Vergence, You Say...

Qui-Gon Jinn: 

I have encountered a vergence in the Force.

Yoda: 

A vergence, you say...

Mace Windu: 

Located around a person?

Qui-Gon Jinn: 

A boy. His cells have the highest concentration of midichlorians 

I have seen in a life-form. 

It is possible he was conceived by the midichlorians.

Mace Windu: 

You refer to the prophecy of The One Who Will Bring Balance to The Force. 

You believe it's this -  boy?

verge (n.)

"edge, rim," mid-15c., from Old French verge "twig, branch; measuring rod; penis; rod or wand of office" (12c.), hence, from the last sense, "scope, territory dominated" (as in estre suz la verge de "be under the authority of"), from Latin virga "shoot, rod, stick, slender green branch," of unknown origin.

Earliest attested sense in English is now-obsolete meaning "male member, penis" (c. 1400). Modern sense is from the notion of within the verge (c. 1500, also as Anglo-French dedeinz la verge), i.e. "subject to the Lord High Steward's authority" (as symbolized by the rod of office), originally a 12-mile radius round the king's court. Sense shifted to "the outermost edge of an expanse or area." Meaning "point at which something happens" (as in on the verge of) is first attested c. 1600. "A very curious sense development." [Weekley]

verge (v.1)

"tend, incline," c. 1600, from Latin vergere "to bend, turn, tend toward, incline," from PIE *werg- "to turn," from root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend." Influenced by verge (v.2) "provide with a border" (c. 1600); "be adjacent to" (1787), from verge (n.). Related: Verged; verging.

Hating

You refer to the prophecy of 
The One Who Will Bring Balance to The Force

You believe it's this -  boy?

"The Oak Tree..?!?

Qui-Gon Jinn: 

I have encountered a vergence in the Force.

Yoda: 

A vergence, you say...

Mace Windu: 

Located around a person?

verge (n.)

"edge, rim," mid-15c., from Old French verge "twig, branch; measuring rod; penis; rod or wand of office" (12c.), hence, from the last sense, "scope, territory dominated" (as in estre suz la verge de "be under the authority of"), from Latin virga "shoot, rod, stick, slender green branch," of unknown origin.

Earliest attested sense in English is now-obsolete meaning "male member, penis" (c. 1400). Modern sense is from the notion of within the verge (c. 1500, also as Anglo-French dedeinz la verge), i.e. "subject to the Lord High Steward's authority" (as symbolized by the rod of office), originally a 12-mile radius round the king's court. Sense shifted to "the outermost edge of an expanse or area." Meaning "point at which something happens" (as in on the verge of) is first attested c. 1600. "A very curious sense development." [Weekley]

verge (v.1)

"tend, incline," c. 1600, from Latin vergere "to bend, turn, tend toward, incline," from PIE *werg- "to turn," from root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend." Influenced by verge (v.2) "provide with a border" (c. 1600); "be adjacent to" (1787), from verge (n.). Related: Verged; verging.

"Yes, You Deserve to Die, and I Hope You Burn in Hell!"

(But I forgive you)

Scene where the prosecutor (Kevin Spacey) asks Carl Lee (Samuel L. Jackson) if he thinks the boys that raped his child deserved to die.

Enforcing Boundaries Means Punishing The Guilty Yourself

He Who Has No Boundaries Will Wake Up One Day to Discover That He is Surrounded By Wolves.

Ridley Scott and I, I recognise, are kindred spirits on a very profound level.

He is not an agreeable person.

He is another one of those said to be "difficult" to work with, especially by actors, which all contributes to The Smear Campaign.

He is some about whom they would have said, "He Doesn't Suffer Fools", although that's not a phrase I like particularly at all, personally, I just don't think it's accurate, or particularly authentic.

I'm quite fond of fools myself, personally - I enjoy their company, and I generally get along well with them, and they with me.

I just don't hire them.

And whatever else is True (and most of it is) - Kevin Spacey is certainly no fool.

If you pay someone to do something, for you, it's because you can't do it, and you recognise their superior talent or ability to do the thing you want done in the way you want it done to the standard that it needs to be done well.

If they can't do that, or don't do that, either because they prefer not to, or because circumstances or unseen factors known only to them, which they don't disclose to you when you agree to pay them and employ them, then 

That is an Act of Betrayal


If they don't tell you things when you hire them that you need to know, not because they are frightened or ashamed, but because they are intending to ignore The Problem and stonewall it, hoping that it just goes away, or if they just don't give a fuck about the injury it will do to you (and many others), if they are choosing to expose you to harm, then 


That is an Act of Betrayal


And if, once The Shit Hits The Fan, that person employed by you doesn't call you straight away to explain themselves, apologise for concealing The Truth, beg forgiveness, offer their support and offer to do whatever it takes to make good the damage they caused and make ammends to you personally, and to the people you've placed in the firing line by forcing them to have to suffer the misfortune of being tainted with your shit, thenThat is an Act of Betrayal

Descartes

" THE MASTERY OF NATURE IS TO BE ACHIEVED THROUGH NUMBER AND MEASURE "

- "The Angel" who appeared to René Descartes in Ulm, in September 1619 and told him to establish on Earth the doctrine of Rational Materialism

" ...and Rene Descartes was a drunken fart,

'I drink, therefore, I am' "

- The Four Bruces

The Irony of Science

"I suppose, accordingly, that all the things which I see are false; fictitious. I believe that none of those objects which my fallacious memory represents ever existed; I suppose that I possess no senses; I believe that body, figure, extension, motion, and place are merely fictions of my mind. What is there, then, that can be esteemed true? Perhaps this only, that there is absolutely nothing certain. But how do I know that there is not something different altogether from the objects I have now enumerated, of which it is impossible to entertain the slightest doubt? Is there not a God, or some being, by whatever name I may designate Him, who causes these thoughts to arise in my mind? But why suppose such a Being, for it may be I myself am capable of producing them? Am I, then, at least not something? But I before denied that I possessed senses or a body; I hesitate, however, for what follows from that? Am I so dependent on the body and the senses that without these I cannot exist? But I had the persuasion that there was absolutely nothing in the world, that there was no sky and no earth, neither minds nor bodies; was I not, therefore, at the same time, persuaded that I did not exist? Far from it; I assuredly existed, since I was persuaded. But there is I know not what being, who is possessed at once of the highest power and the deepest cunning, who is constantly employing all his ingenuity in deceiving me. Doubtless, then, I exist, since I am deceived; and, let him deceive me as he may, he can never bring it about that I am nothing, so long as I shall be conscious that I am something. So that it must, in fine, be maintained, all things being maturely and carefully considered, that this proposition: I am, I exist; is necessarily true each time it is expressed by me, or conceived in my mind."

~ René Descartes

Probably one of my all-time favorite philosophers, much of his work laid the foundation for modern western philosophy and set the foundation for the modern scientific method. I would also consider Descartes to be the most influential character to agnosticism. He doubted God, he doubted the objective world around him that he perceived through his senses, he even doubted he had a physical body (Hundreds of years before the invention of virtual reality!). He even doubted his own existence, until he found this was the one thing that could not be doubted, the fact that he was consciously aware of himself doubting his own existence proved he must exist! The famous phrase “Cogito Ergo Sum” otherwise known as “I think, therefore I am.” Our own conscious experience is in fact the only thing we can be certain to exist without a doubt.

Little known fact:

In 1619, while in his early twenties and serving for the Hapsburgian army, one night Descartes has a series of three dreams. In these dreams an Angel appeared to him and told him "The conquest of nature is to be achieved through measure and number." Ultimately the revelation he had from these dreams is what inspired him to persue his works.

So the foundations of modern science were based on a revelation from an angel in a dream. HA! Talk about ironic, how very rational indeed

Purgation

The Penitent Man Kneels Before God

There are 3 parts to Penitence :

• Confession ("I am at Fault")

• Contrition ("I am Sorry")

• Satisfaction ("You have done What is Required to Make Amends")

Or, alternatively, you could just decide you prefer to sh*t all over everything :

WINTER, 1691

SALEM VILLAGE, 
MASSACHUSETTS COLONY

It is Seventy-One years after The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, and England has not yet signed a formal charter.

The New World, still a wilderness frontier, has no clear governing body.

The Winters are bitterly cold, there is little food or dry wood to burn, and hostile Indians threaten this small outpost of settlers.

The only existing law is provided by the Puritan Church, which demands that individual sins be cleansed through PUBLIC HUMILIATION.

Into This World a handful of girls are about to unleash a terror so great that it will forever curse the town of Salem.

Ann Putnam: 

Who will forgive us... who will forgive us?

NOT OPRAH

Justice
Prudence
Temperance
Fortitude 

+

Faith
Hope

Charity