Knuckles have been rapped.

The minor godlet tells us his review of the Star Trek movie was not correctly reported the other day (26/5 To boldly go...) as the reference to Chekov was apparently lost in transmission.

With apologies for the delay, we are therefore now pleased to add that it would appear from the movie as though poor Chekov must have undergone some kind of major brain trauma prior to his older self being portrayed in the tv series.

In the film we see an elegant young Russian mathematician comfortably handling multi-dimensional calculus on the back of a paper bag (or something like that), obviously destined for great things, whereas in the whole tv series Chekov has but one memorable moment -

The landing party (sigh!) find themselves in the home of a rather good-looking young chap with amazing powers known locally as Zeus (your author at this point is looking modestly down at his fingernails) and on learning the supposed identity of their host Chekov pronounces loudly "If you're the king of the gods I'm the zsar of all the Russias!" End quote. End Chekov's memorable moments.

Way back when, this seemed a satisfactory state of affairs, but given what we now see of the young crewman we surely have to mourn for the lost intellect - not to mention the lost elegance.

Fortunately I can confirm that the good-looking young chap with the amazing powers known locally etc etc is pretty much unchanged even to this day.

bella italia

How lily livered you mortals have become in recent days.

Time once was when a leader was expected to take as many concubines as he wished, for clearly each of the offspring of his loins would bring the leader's own strength anew to the tribe.

But now you turn your back on the old ways.

What can be the future of your tribe when each of the many labourers in the field can contribute the same number of offspring to your tribe's future as can your one leader?

Will a labourer from the fields be an adequate leader for your tomorrows?

Quinine to Wormwood - ACT now

We see a new threat to human health is emerging. Likely more serious than the flu pandemic that was so much publicised - but doubtless not so newsworthy since most affecting those of the poorer lands of earth.

Can we hope that the giants of drug development will swiftly produce a suitable anti-malarial rabbit from their corporate hat?

Take care of yourselves until tomorrow.

How are the mighty?

With the Old World love of sport it caused no surprise to see your newslines today packed with stories anticipating the evening's game of football.

The coverage rather led us to expect an easy victory for the team from Manchester, England - and how could we resist such challenge?

So a distraction here, an invisible touch there - the end result not so expected after all. A fine evening's entertainment for both godly and ungodly.

Forgive us until tomorrow.

To Boldly Go...

The past few days have seen the minor godlet do some major trekking. Reading went out of the window as the class (those who wanted to) got into the mood with a group visit to the Star Trek movie - and it blew their minds! Some are going back for a second helping just to make sure they picked up the nods to all the tv series - a reference to Admiral Archer's beagle suggested there should be plenty of gems for the finding - and in a desperate attempt to try and untangle the plot. Apparently the storyline seems fine until you try and explain it to a stranger, when it all falls apart (as things do).

The verdict of the female viewers tended to be that there was rather too much fighting, and that the young Spock was heartbreakingly gorgeous once you got used to his not being Leonard Nimoy. But what was all that nonsense with Uhura? As if she could ever have got it on with Mr Shatner once she'd melted the heart of the icy Vulcan.

We did say at the start of this post that the movie visit was just a preliminary - details next time of the star-trek-weekend-total-immersion-experience. We can hardly wait!

Subterranean Atomic Blues

First, they shot an arrow in the air -
(see 'It fell to earth' posted 5 April)

Now it's shockwaves below the surface.

And still the world asks - is it for show, to boost political hopes? Or is it for real, as a prelude to War?

Up here we do enjoy a good show, but you mortals might not find it such fun.

Maybe you should make some enquiries before tomorrow.

Officers Mess?

We see an aspiring young man who is keen to let us know he has won a scholarship to one of the world's leading military officer training academies, though he is less forthcoming in letting us know he hasn't yet taken up the scholarship.

According to the young man the offer is open for three years, so he still has the opportunity.

When asked why he hasn't taken the place, as one might have expected in light of his enthusiasm about having won it, he claims it would be a big commitment - one year of training followed by three years of service. Which seems an odd excuse in one so young, when any academic course at his time of life may be expected to take four years.

The question that springs unbidden to mind is whether he was keen enough to apply for the scholarship, and to boast about having won it, but is deeply anxious not to join the armed services while his country is fighting a war.

With that unedifying thought I will leave you until tomorrow.

The Female of the Species

It is accepted that the females amongst our own number can hold positions of much power, but we note this was not always the way of mortal societies.

For some years though, in your India there has been somewhat a tradition of female leaders. It seems the most recent to accept this burden intends to offer what help she can to the poorest of the citizens. There are certainly numberless many who would benefit from such help.

Madam has our warmest wishes for her tomorrows.

Plodding to the Peak

We are pleased to note the success this week of one of your elders.

This could be double triumph were his determination to prove a source of motivation to the idle youth of your troubled earth.

These days it seems the sedentary pursuit of victory against a moving picture has more allure than physical victory against the might of nature.

But maybe it was ever so - the young have after all their youth but once to be enjoyed.

Let us rejoice in all success until tomorrow.

The Bone People

There seems much news today about a set of fossilised old bones.

Scientists tell us it's 47 million years since the animal built round these bones was scampering through the trees - seriously back in time, long before any self-respecting monkey had thought that walking on the ground might be a possibility.

I wonder where we were then? 47 million years ago - was that before the seventh day? After so long it seems hard to remember.

Wishing you newly hatched chicks sweet dreams until tomorrow.

The Lady and the Lake

How strange to see that our post of 13 April: A Beetle Reaches a Conclusion has turned out to be such a very apt metaphor for the unfolding situation in Burma.

The part of the unfortunate beetle is being played of course by The Lady.

Our hopes are very much that the conclusion in this case will not be quite so final.


Until tomorrow.

Nuns go Green

Our eye has been caught by a most charming story.

The benedictine nuns at Stanbrook Abbey in the UK are an enclosed contemplative order, but this has not prevented them being aware of developments in the chaotic world outside their walls.

Looking at the theories of global warming, and at the appalling cost of heating their ancient abbey buildings, they made the decision to relocate to a brand new eco-abbey in the North of England.

And in order to raise additional funds they have been holding garage sales of their surplus books and other non-essential items.

Let us hope that leaders of your secular world take note of this example.

In hopes of a more secure tomorrow.

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean

For many years we saw such brutal sights on this exquisite tear-drop island, as the so called Tigers fought and killed without discrimination in their war for land.

At last it seems the war is at an end, with army tanks converging on the rebel forces - but at what cost for those remaining? They will not forget the screams of injured, unrescued out of fear of falling shells, nor forget the sight of children starving when supply lines had been cut.

All life is said to strive towards enlightenment, but backward steps for many will result from these events.

Look ahead yourself, to what you may achieve for good tomorrow.

Herschel & Planck

A new visitor has joined us, being itself and passengers of a mechanical nature.

We understand the purpose of the beast be to look out into the furthermost distances, back into the very deeps of time, in hope to see what lies Beyond, and to sense what lay Before.


Ourselves, we had always been content to know that before us there was Nothing.

But nothing of course will satisfy you mortals until you have discovered its secrets for yourselves.


Take care to enjoy today, lest yesterday swallow up your tomorrows.

Blockbusters from Page to Film

The minor godlet has been reading again:

In preparation for the cinema release of Angels & Demons and of the upcoming release of his latest book The Symbol, class were asked to read some of Dan Brown's other work.

It's hardly worth mentioning Da Vinci Code as the world and his dog have already read that (and possibly seen the movie too), and Angels & Demons similarly involves a certain amount of papal religiosity. But there is some hard-ish science along the way to stir the geek-ometer, so the book does get the minor godlet seal of approval.

Pre-Da Vinci is the wonderful, the amazing Digital Fortress - if you'd always wished you could be a computer hacker but didn't quite know how to begin, you may well love this book. It's got just about everything - gigantic supercomputers, top secret programme code, huge explosions with massive quantities of impenetrable black smoke, good guys, bad guys, guys who seem to swap sides. And European travel of course, setting the scene for the rest of Dan's books.

On another tack altogether we're in the icy wastes of the arctic for the wonderful, the amazing Deception Point. With this book we seem to gain insights into the hush-hush world at the top of the ladder of american politics, and also (probably) learn an unlikely new word to describe the job of someone who fillets the important points out of lengthy documents and presents the precis to the president - in other words picks out the gist of the document, and is therefore a Gister... All that politicking stuff provides the background and the support for a storyline straight out of Stargate - and all the better for that, claims the minor godlet.

So, if the pope floats your boat, stick with Da Vinci and Angels, but if you've had enough of that stuff, totally do not forget to pick up Digital Fortress and Deception Point.

Good reading until tomorrow.

Who's that in our Garden?

We know how those of you who have the means, enjoy to brighten up your outside space with garden gnomes. Imagine then our pleasure that your Scientists are sending us for our delight a group of action gnomes.

Would it be ungrateful if we ask the uniforms be painted? It's somewhat less a circus act when all are grey.

But thank you for the kindness of your thought.

We look ahead with pleasure to tomorrow.

No Country for Old Men?

It is good to note one of your elders getting the veneration worthy of his years, despite the unhappy habit of your religious to select for the highest status those who least demonstrate acceptance of the joy and pleasure to be found in life.

It is surely a strange god who would create a people able to share and enjoy love in all its spiritual and physical aspects, but then demand of those who would worship most truly that they must forever deny themselves this very gift.

Should all aspire to such enlightenment they would bring a hasty end to mankind's tomorrows.

Hear, Hear!

It made us smile to see that after all these years your myth about the painter's ear was put at last to rest.

The artist altered at a sword-stroke from moonstruck genius (somewhat admired) to unrequited heartsick lover (completely to be pitied).

The price of fame is ever high.

Take care where you step, until tomorrow.

A Land Fit for Heroes

Surely no death in battle is in vain.

It pleases to see you pay honour to your war dead. Their souls will surely rest more easy for this tribute to their valour - some of them warriors half the world away from home.

What battles there have been across your earth, across your years, to such a small effect.


All death in battle surely is in vain.

Take care until tomorrow.

Pied Piper Required?

We note the mice and rats becoming resistant to the poisons you mortals put out to kill them.

And what solution do you propose to this problem? Why, to put down poisons that so contaminate your environment they have been forbidden by your government.

You seem to learn nothing of how to cherish the world you live on, no matter how many crises you precipitate with your Science. Are we not right that those indispensable pollinators the bees are already sickening in their millions as a result of your folly?

Indeed, take care lest there be no tomorrow for you.

P Q and R

Here are no babes and children save our cherubs, and maybe this prevents us seeing clear. It seems some mortal children are kept victim to great harm from those same kin who should be dutifully bound to keep them safe, while others of the family, or those who live nearby, choose often to avert their gaze.

Back through time we see much thoughtless damage done to human young, but not so often such extended and deliberated desecration of small bodies as we seem to find today.

Life for many seems now so crowded and hemmed about with laws, that it seems some choose to use their private space to commit whatever acts they will, confident none will choose to cross the sacred boundary to admit to knowledge of those private actions.

Would the new pandemic somewhat cull the population, allowing more space for those surviving, it would perhaps be rather cure than disaster.

Take care for those around you until tomorrow.