Road Trip! Picasso, Picard, and Conan

Now we fondly reminisce about summer escapades as fall responsibilities weigh heavily upon us.
Even MzTeachuh does that. So let's, review: Road Trip Summer 2015!

Las Vegas! The Picasso exhibit at the Bellagio. His printmaking process was most interesting.

 

T'Soth and T'Mel

T'Mel and Captain Picard.

 Las Vegas 
Star Trek Convention! 
Vulcans T'Mel and T'Soth (MzTeachuh and daughter) analyzed the purview with great logic.

Always great to catch up with Jean-Luc.

What is the trouble with tribbles? It remained a mystery that Spock wasn't much help solving.

Some help here, Mr. Spock!

MzT and daughter impatiently waiting for the show.

I met Conan--sort of.

Drive south to Beautiful Downtown Burbank! Why on earth? To see Conan! We checked out Warner Bros.' studios, clapped and whooped and laughed at the Conan Show. A jolly good time was had by all.

So elegant!

Not the only stars to see in LA are in studios We went to Griffith Observatory. OMG! it is so glorious. The building itself is a work of art, and the drive through Griffith Park is just lovely. Lots of families seeing the moon rock and many demonstrations and it is really cool. Especially the Tesla Coil. 

Griffith Observatory Tesla Coil -500000 Volts record with Sony NEX-5 16mm lens 1080i 60fps AVCHD 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsnmohMbKyc 

Cool new Visitor Center at Mt. Charleston!

Drive back to Vegas--up the Cajon Pass--past the World's Tallest Thermometer (Baker, CAL) and the Alien Jerky Store--buzzing along the I15 to finish the best road trip for nerds ever (nerds and proud.)

A lovely hike up the mountains surrounding Las Vegas. Who knew there was nature in Vegas? We do! Mt. Charleston is spectacular this time of year!  

Hiking up a trail at Mt. Charleston, near Las Vegas, NEV.

Now I'm dreaming of the next road trip...

 

Black History Month: Levar Burton

Levar Burton, actor, director, producer.

Kunte Kinte

Levar Burton is a serious and talented person. We remember Kunte Kinte very well; what an impact. The point being, we remember Kunte Kinte--not that he was played by a young college student from USC.  He was that good in the role.

Geordi La Forge--The Next Generation

The Star Trek blockbuster The Next Generation, both television and movies, had a deeply developed Geordi LaForge. Burton's character was a brilliant engineer yet vulnerable young man. I do believe the writing and performance of this sci fi series has always been greatly underestimated. Try the episode with fellow engineer Leah Brahms (Booby Trap.) There are so many more. Burton also directed many Star Trek episodes.

Then, of course there is Reading Rainbow and its regeneration in ed tech apps. At RRKIDZ, Burton serves as Co-Founder and Curator-in-Chief, ensuring that the projects produced under the banner meet the high expectations and trust of the Reading Rainbow brand.

Reading Rainbow and IPad.

Growing up in a military family, Levar almost chose to be a Catholic priest (I can identify with that since I came very close to being a Benedictine nun.) Maybe that has influenced his thoughtful and excellent way of living before the public. Not since Bill Cosby have we had such an excellent role model.

Last year at Comicon I had the chance for a conversation with Levar Burton at the Star Trek location while getting an autograph for myself and my daughter.  He is such a nice gentleman. It was a privilege. At the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, my daughter got a picture with him, requesting a 'Community' type pose (she emulated Troy's freaked out expression.)  He cooperated in good humor.

Black History Month: Levar Burton

Levar Burton, actor, director, producer.

Kunte Kinte

Levar Burton is a serious and talented person. We remember Kunte Kinte very well; what an impact. The point being, we remember Kunte Kinte--not that he was played by a young college student from USC.  He was that good in the role.

Geordi La Forge--The Next Generation

The Star Trek blockbuster The Next Generation, both television and movies, had a deeply developed Geordi LaForge. Burton's character was a brilliant engineer yet vulnerable young man. I do believe the writing and performance of this sci fi series has always been greatly underestimated. Try the episode with fellow engineer Leah Brahms (Booby Trap.) There are so many more. Burton also directed many Star Trek episodes.

Then, of course there is Reading Rainbow and its regeneration in ed tech apps. At RRKIDZ, Burton serves as Co-Founder and Curator-in-Chief, ensuring that the projects produced under the banner meet the high expectations and trust of the Reading Rainbow brand.

Reading Rainbow and IPad.

Growing up in a military family, Levar almost chose to be a Catholic priest (I can identify with that since I came very close to being a Benedictine nun.) Maybe that has influenced his thoughtful and excellent way of living before the public.

Last year at Comicon I had the chance for a conversation with Levar Burton at the Star Trek location while getting an autograph for myself and my daughter.  He is such a nice gentleman. It was a privilege. At the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, my daughter got a picture with him, requesting a 'Community' type pose (she emulated Troy's freaked out expression.)  He cooperated in good humor.

To Boldly Go...

MzTeachuh's on her way to the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention! Yes, I'm vying for the Nerd of the Year Award! I've an excellent chance.

Commander T'Mel of Vulcan

Here is my ID--and new persona--Commander T'Mel of Vulcan.

Assignment:  Dean, Starfleet School of Medicine, Deep Space Training. Aboard the USS Mary Edwards Walker. (I chose that name for a real person, who was a lady doctor during the Civil War and the only woman to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.)

You see, Klingons have a redundant heart.

I'll be wearing my Star Fleet Medical scrubs. I'm prepared with a tricorder, Star Fleet medical bag, and specialized alien equipment, including a stethoscope adapted for Klingons.




Cue music: Star Trek Original Series Intro (HQ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdjL8WXjlGI

...to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations...
















Here's T'Mel at her assignment:

On the Bridge of The Enterprise NCC-1701-D
http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/08/on-bridge-of-enterprise-ncc-1701-d.html

On the Bridge of The Enterprise NCC-1701-D

Black History Month: Levar Burton

Levar Burton, actor, director, producer.

Kunte Kinte

Levar Burton is a serious and talented person. We remember Kunte Kinte very well; what an impact. The point being, we remember Kunte Kinte--not that he was played by a young college student from USC.  He was that good in the role.

Geordi La Forge--The Next Generation

The Star Trek blockbuster The Next Generation, both television and movies, had a deeply developed Geordi LaForge. Burton's character was a brilliant engineer yet vulnerable young man. I do believe the writing and performance of this sci fi series has always been greatly underestimated. Try the episode with fellow engineer Leah Brahms (Booby Trap.) There are so many more. Burton also directed many Star Trek episodes.

Then, of course there is Reading Rainbow and its regeneration in ed tech apps. At RRKIDZ, Burton serves as Co-Founder and Curator-in-Chief, ensuring that the projects produced under the banner meet the high expectations and trust of the Reading Rainbow brand.

Reading Rainbow and IPad.

Growing up in a military family, Levar almost chose to be a Catholic priest (I can identify with that since I came very close to being a Benedictine nun.) Maybe that has influenced his thoughtful and excellent way of living before the public. Not since Bill Cosby have we had such an excellent role model.

Last year at Comicon I had the chance for a conversation with Levar Burton at the Star Trek location while getting an autograph for myself and my daughter.  He is such a nice gentleman. It was a privilege. At the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, my daughter got a picture with him, requesting a 'Community' type pose (she emulated Troy's freaked out expression.)  He cooperated in good humor.

Ah, Spock, I Knew Him Well

Ah, Spock, I knew him well.

The suspension of disbelief doesn't begin to describe the Trek experience. Serving on the Enterprise with Jean Luc and Worf, or visiting the Doctor at the medical bay on Voyager. Maybe being ripped off by Quark on Deep Space Nine. Reality doesn't get in the way of that. Not even greeting the 'actors' who play these 'parts' can diminish the Star Trek Experience.

Our experience has been that the actors are very sweet to the fans.
I know, I know, its part of their job. But still. LeVar Burton was gracious

LeVar Burton signing the millioneth autograph

to about a thousand folks individually who came for a photo op based on Geordi La Forge fame and also Reading Rainbow.

What I say to the actors from whom I get an autographed picture is this. 'The writers gave you a gift, and you gave us a gift.' And I really mean that. We are fortunate that with recorded performance, we can not only enjoy favorite episodes, but analyze and discuss them. I truly believe television writing and performing is a bono fide literary genre.

Robert Picardo, the Doctor

Okay, I have admitted to being a nerd, but seriously, the stories from Star Trek are excellent. The characters really live. I really enjoy thanking the actors and writers for sharing them with us. Quark, from DS9, still makes me laugh. Armin Shimmerman gave that comedic part lots of sophistication even with alien makeup. The Doctor, Robert Picardo, from Voyager was actually a very layered and sophisticated character. And both actors were very gracious to us humble fans.

There is some kind of interesting validation for fans to participate in the Star Trek
Universe. And folks really go to trouble to create personas and costumes. Even pets and babies, too. 

Another canine fan.

A Borg triple stroller.

Would you buy a used car from this
Ferengi?

The beehive hairdo was created in the future. I did not know that.

Woopee, its Guinan.

I heard the Borg Cube has a great leg press to build up the gluteus maximus.

Releasing Your Inner Nerd

 

In the first days of school, your class is getting to know you. Maybe this isn't the best time to release your inner nerd (though I did know a middle school science teacher who wore his Harry Potter robe, sans hat, every day. He also sponsored the Anime Club.)

LOTT (Lord of the Teachers)

But at some point, knowing Teacher as an individual and his/ her special interests (appropriate to revelation at school) is healthy. Now, some of us are more theatrical. In my family, Vaudeville never died. So I relish the chance to dress up, tell stories, sing, or dance. We're on!

Middle schoolers, especially sixth graders, really love this. Of course, if you are supervising the Halloween Dance, it is almost mandatory you dress up. See picture to the right.

It should be obvious that teachers like reading.

Mr. S's poster.

But maybe a touch of your other interests make school more interesting for the students, or help them identify with you. A computer science teacher had a very straight forward class. Except for one poster up and to the far right on the front wall.

The students were amazed he knew who the Beatles were. (They knew them from Rock Band.)

I am the greatest!

A seventh grade Math teacher has this poster up. I don't think he was a boxer, but he didn't have too many discipline problems in class.

Sometimes teachers have pics of their family, dogs, sports logos. I risked my life putting up a S F Giants pic of AT & T Park in my SoCal classroom. I'm not superstitious, but that was the year they won the Series.  The Dodgers' and Angels' fans at school were so pleased.

Teachers' screensavers, occasionally shown by the LCD projector, reveal special interests, trips, or hobbies. Maybe your wedding, or new puppies. Only as personal as you want to get. One seventh grade ELA teacher had real horseshoes on her bulletin board. Didn't take long for the kids to ask if she had horses. (She did.)

See? I have no pride, will go for the laugh every time.

I would try not to be too freaky at school. But when visiting Comicon in July, I did have fun experimenting with the concept of Zombie Teacher; I wore my teacher union shirt, and other teachery clothes and face makeup I wouldn't wear to school. I did half face makeup. Although, since I arrived at school most days at dawn, this sight might be closer to familiar to the kids than I would like to admit.

If there was an Academy Award or a Highly Qualified Credential for Nerds, I would be a strong nominee. And that's okay. Art teachers, writers and creative types can be like that. I have chosen to reveal my inner nerd. Kids (and grownups) can extend the concept of tolerance to nerds, too. So I am going to take you the the greatest gathering of nerds in the galaxy:  the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention 2012. I'm here and I'm proud.

Ambassador T'Mel of Vulcan

Now I would like you to meet T'Mel of Vulcan, who will be your tour guide this year to infinity and beyond. No wait, wrong slogan.  To boldly go where no nerd has gone before. No wait, plenty of nerds have gone before. Never mind. Live long and prosper.