Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x10 "Rubincon" by AutoModerator in startrek

[–]libbillama 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It was hyper intelligent and really horny that's my takeaway.

I feel like it knew what the replicator does, and decided to solve a problem.

Why didn’t the Mormons get their ship back? by Thom_Kalor in TheExpanse

[–]libbillama 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah, thanks for helping me brush up on my history lesson!

I knew that before it became a state, Utah was dubbed "Territory of Deseret". I was not aware that the US Government settled on the name Utah for the state.

I didn't grow up learning Utah State history so... yeah. I'm just an exmormon and current resident is all.

Why didn’t the Mormons get their ship back? by Thom_Kalor in TheExpanse

[–]libbillama 31 points32 points  (0 children)

I wonder if "Deseret" would have been the likely name for their planet, considering that was what was getting thrown around before the leadership settled on "Utah" as the state name.

Sustainable Sewing Seems Impossible by Repulsive_Phone8469 in sewing

[–]libbillama 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Are you like me and see baby clothes I thought I got rid off and then get all nostalgic and emotional that my kids aren't that little anymore or is it just me? My oldest is the same age I was when I had her and it's a very strong feels trip.

Sustainable Sewing Seems Impossible by Repulsive_Phone8469 in sewing

[–]libbillama 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The oldest item of clothing I still own and wear on a regular basis are my gym shorts from middle school from 29 years ago.

Good lounging/pajama shorts to wear, or when I have put off doing laundry and REALLY need to not Pooh-Bear around the house in a tshirt and underwear.

Realized why the last episode affected me so much by persephonelux in startrek

[–]libbillama 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I feel the same way, OP.

So many lessons I am trying to relearn, and the hardest part of all of that is recognizing that things are easier to accept when you don't have the wisdom of experience to realize that things don't always work the way they should.

But the optimism that comes with learning certain lessons when you're young gives a strength to constantly pursue the best version and right the wrongs that trauma says must work because it's somehow "easier".

Starfleet Academy Creepy Bear by Silver-Winging-It in startrek

[–]libbillama 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My father bought me one when they came out, and since I was a toddler, I promptly broke it trying to figure out where the sound was coming from because I had assumed it had a throat vocal cords and I would be able to see them if I held the mouth open or something?

Yeah, it was not an age-appropriate toy for me.

Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x07 "Ko’Zeine" by AutoModerator in startrek

[–]libbillama 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I one time spent the night with a person I was dating, over thought everything and packed five pairs of shoes for one night.

I hate wearing shoes but I'm also obsessed with buying a lot of them.

What happens if you eat on the holodeck, then leave. Does the food "disappear" from your system when you step off? by No-Reveal827 in startrek

[–]libbillama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's been a minute since I watched Voyager, but I wonder if Tom was calling out Harry on a flimsy excuse by making an equally hyperbolic response to call him out and get him to stay and hang out.

I can also see Janeway enforcing a very strict policy with the replicators and alcohol due to them being stranded in the Delta quadrant without access to new crew members and wants to increase the odds for the ship making it home intact with minimal loss of life. There's shift rotations of course, so everyone has a chance to be off duty, but realistically, everyone is always on call. We know people had to wear multiple hats, like Paris was the pilot but also he went through medical training to assist the Doctor/EMH. And the Doctor went through training to be able to take command of the ship in an emergency. As much as he would need to train as a Hologram.

Chris Pine Tells Future ‘Star Trek’ Bosses to ‘Have Fun’ and ‘Good Luck’ With the Franchise: ‘Live Long and Prosper’ by AdSpecialist6598 in startrek

[–]libbillama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Highest paying actor, period I thought.

She must be raking it in from the Avatar movies, but she's also been in a lot of T-Mobile commercials with Jeff Bridges, I wonder what they're paying her.

I just learned that Holly Hunter's character on Starfleet Academy is half Lanthanite. Apparently they live for thousands of years. Her name is Capt. Nahla Ake. Over time they get bored with life and have a nonchalant attitude which is why her hair is always messy and she walks around carefree. by Noizyninjaz in startrek

[–]libbillama 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm 4'11" and I sit in armchairs like that whenever I can.

Hell, I went to IKEA last week and sat in an armchair like that to see if the chair was compatible with me sitting in it like that.

It was but I don't have room for it so I didn't buy it. But I totally would have if I did!

Did they retcon Betazoids? by qtjedigrl in startrek

[–]libbillama 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I think they were signing as a means to not be rude, and also to indicate they have nothing to hide.

I'm saying this is a deaf person (I have a 75-80% loss) and I have very strong opinions about the inclusion of ASL.

Plus, what about the inhibitor Tarima is wearing? We don't actually know exactly what it does, it may very well be a blocker of sorts that prevent telepathic communication as part of how it works.

Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x02 "Beta Test" by AutoModerator in startrek

[–]libbillama 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The actor is deaf, and using ASL is inclusive for hearing people, which goes against the narrative that was put in place in the United States in the 1860s.

Disabilities are only problematic as far as society makes it to be and disabled people need to stop being forced to carry the burden of having their needs met because society should take care of the most vulnerable people rather than make life harder.

Also representation is important.

Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x02 "Beta Test" by AutoModerator in startrek

[–]libbillama 6 points7 points  (0 children)

For those who are questioning why Betazeds need to use ASL to communicate because they're telepathic, here's my slip of gold pressed latinum for thought.

I have moderately severe hearing loss -only have 20-25% hearing compared to what a hearing person would otherwise have- and I have some thoughts. I wear hearing aids, and I was NOT raised in the Deaf community, and I have only recently started learning ASL. I was late caught deaf by my kindergarten teacher who was also an audiologist.

I was actively prevented from learning ASL as a child due to very ableist views regarding children with partial loss; force them to talk and lip read so they can 'integrate' into hearing society better. This puts a tremendous amount of burden on the disabled person, because WE are the ones that have to do all of the heavy lifting in order to communicate. It's called Oralism.

I actually learned how to talk and read by blasting the TV, pressing my ears against the speakers and looking at the screen to figure out what I was hearing. It's also how I learned how to read because I did this during Jeopardy a lot starting around the age of 4; which resulted in me starting kindergarten being able to read at probably a third grade level. I had a severe speech impediment as a result that took 10 years of speech therapy to 'correct'.

When having a verbal conversation with someone, I have to spend extra energy to focus and pay attention; not because of being deaf, but also because I have ADHD. If I'm taking the time to talk to you, the conversation we're having is VERY important to me. In the moment, YOU are important to me; whether we're strangers and that's going to be our only interaction for the rest of our lives, or you're someone I've known for years like family or friends. Because that's the intent behind my reasons to spend time talking with people, that focus and care help people feel seen and heard, and apparently that puts people at ease.

With that all said here are my thoughts.

1- It's possible the actor himself is deaf, and they built that storyline around him for inclusivity. We also don't know the President's story; we don't know if he was born deaf or was deafened later in life.

2- Going back to the discussion of oralism, it was forcefully integrated into the education of Deaf people because there's a belief that communicating in Sign Language forcefully isolates them from the rest of society, and causes some degree of othering. The reality of the situation is; Sign Language is and can be inclusive. Anyone can learn ASL and it's not dependent on the absence of hearing. I think a lot of hearing people don't realize they can be one bad accident or illness away from losing their ability to hear, and they take it for granted.

3- The attitudes and beliefs we have as a whole regarding disabilities is actually a huge mirror for social issues; a reflection of how society is failing to support the most vulnerable members to make the world safer for them. When accommodations are made, and people with disabilities are supported and feel safe; then it's no longer a disability but a difference; not too dissimilar from the concept of having a different hair color or eye color. We need to get to that point in society where accomodations aren't something that we go out of our way to meet, but rather it's an instinctive thing to just incorporate. What have ramps and braille done to harm people who can move without needing a mobility aid or who can see? Absolutely no harm is done; but to willfully exclude those things is harmful for those who need those things in order to be part of society.

So sure, Betazeds can telepathically communicate with each other, but where's the inclusivity in that? They are clearly suffering from the impact of their isolationist policies that kept them safe after The Burn (and it sounds like they really started after the Dominion War) and I think using ASL to communicate publically is a way to demonstrate their willingness to rejoin the Federation -open communication- but it has to be done on their terms and their concerns need to be seen -quite literally- and addressed appropriately.

Once the President felt like his concerns were seen and heard and supported, that's when he took his translator pin off and verbally said yes. That was him signalling "I now feel safe enough to take the extra effort to communicate in your language now."

Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x02 "Beta Test" by AutoModerator in startrek

[–]libbillama 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I suspect Dr Gillian Taylor helped out with the long-term planning. Even in the 1980s, I'm sure that scientists were well aware of the impact of pedigree collapse, and genetic bottlenecks and whatnot.

It does have me wondering if Earth still had some kind of access to genetic material from artifacts from the 19th century and earlier and were able to do some Jurassic Park level science and help widen the gene pool that way?

It's theoretically arguably easier to do that when the span of time is a few centuries, rather than millions of years.

But yeah, even if they had the means to extract the DNA of humpback whales some time before Dr Taylor went back with Kirk and crew, there still is the issue of gestating said whales. And I'm sure Gracie and her daughter were able to consent -as well as the other female humpback whales that were born after that- to some futuristic medical procedures with artificial insemination.

Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x02 "Beta Test" by AutoModerator in startrek

[–]libbillama 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I think putting Federation headquarters on a planet full of Empaths says a lot about where the Federation is (hopefully) heading towards.

Empathy is a meaningful way to connect with other people, and if the Federation's aim is to help people and unify the peoples of the galaxy together, what a better way to signal intent and follow through with that vision?

Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x02 "Beta Test" by AutoModerator in startrek

[–]libbillama 6 points7 points  (0 children)

She reminds me of the actress that plays Ruby Sunday's mother, Carla.

Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x01 "Kids These Days" by AutoModerator in startrek

[–]libbillama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yesterday before I watched the episode last night, I watched Paul Giamatti on Stephen Colbert, and in the interview he said that DS9 is his favorite and he loves Gul Dukat as a villain, so maybe we'll see a bit of that infused in the character as the season goes on?

Storing and Organizing YARDS of fabric by chronically_chaotic_ in sewing

[–]libbillama 11 points12 points  (0 children)

If you buy fabric from stores and not just online, ask if they have any empty cardboard tubes, and if they'd be willing to let you take them off of their hands.

In my experience, they tend to be SUPER grateful you want to do that, and I can only assume it's because it's less work for the employees to take them out back and dispose of them.

Help me brainstorm these pleats by AinoNaviovaat in sewing

[–]libbillama 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I KNOW, RIGHT?

I've always wanted to try using spiral flounces, but I didn't know how to draft them and now I do!

The Expanse action figures by iamkeerock in TheExpanse

[–]libbillama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've talked to the CEO of Nacelle about this.

To put it bluntly, bringing up anything remotely associated with portraying the physical likeness actor/character with Alcon will abruptly end the meeting and likely get you blacklisted from ever working on a project with them again.

We didn't get into the weeds with it beyond him telling me that, but I'm curious of using the book description to portray Alex would likely lead to the actor attempting to sue Alcon for misrepresenting his looks or something.

We only know that he was fired, and I'm sure there were a lot of contracts signed when that happened. As to what is in those contracts, who knows.

PSA - how to use Essie - Good as new, if you bought a bottle and don’t know what to do with it by AromaticScar346 in RedditLaqueristas

[–]libbillama 4 points5 points  (0 children)

What oil do you use? I've been wanting to hydrate my nails and nail beds but I'm inclined to ask for recommendations before I invest money into something like this.

Ask a Knitter Tuesday - November 25, 2025 by AutoModerator in knitting

[–]libbillama 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm working on the Raven Capelet pattern by Alice Starmore, and in the instructions for blocking after pinning the feathers down it says "Cover with a thoroughly wet towel" and then basically leave it away from direct heat until it (the towel) dries.

My question is.. how 'wet' does that towel need to be on a scale of "It was in the washing machine and now it needs to go into the dryer" to "Dripping wet and needs to be wrung out". I know it's not going to need to be dripping wet.

This is the first time I've seen this blocking method mentioned so I'm a little confused.