Category: News

First Lady of Star Trek, Majel Barrett Roddenberry (1932-2008)

from Rod Roddenberry:

Majel Barrett Roddenberry passed away this morning, December 18, 2008, at 12:27 AM in her Bel Air home. She died peacefully, in her sleep, and was surrounded by family and loved ones.

“My mother truly acknowledged and appreciated the fact that Star Trek fans played a vital role in keeping the Roddenberry dream alive for the past 42 years. It was her love for the fans, and their love in return, that kept her going for so long after my father passed away.” — Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, Jr.

Condolences can be sent via email to share@roddenberry.com or by mail to:
Roddenberry Productions
4400 Coldwater Canyon Avenue, Suite 100
Studio City, CA 91604

“First Lady of Star Trek” Majel Barrett Roddenberry Passes Away at the Age of 76

Los Angeles, CA (December 18, 2008) –- Actress Majel Barrett Roddenberry, beloved star of sci-fi phenomenon Star Trek passed away early this morning surrounded by family and friends. Roddenberry was 76 years old. She began her acting career in the 1950’s with roles in such popular shows as Leave it to Beaver, Bonanza and The Lucy Show; but it was her numerous roles in the legendary Star Trek franchise that fans came to know and love her. Roddenberry had featured roles in almost every Star Trek television and film entity and became an iconic figure within the fan community. Her roles included Nurse Chapel in Star Trek: The Original Series, Lwaxana Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation and the voice of the USS Enterprise computer in almost every incarnation of the series. However, it was the love affair between her and the late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry that earned her the title “The First Lady of Star Trek.” Over the course of their more then quarter-century love affair, she became not only Gene’s partner, but also his creative muse. Roddenberry helped Gene expand the Star Trek universe and was an integral part of its continued legacy after his death. Majel recently completed reprising her role as the voice of the USS Enterprise for J.J. Abrams’ new Star Trek film.

Roddenberry succumbed to a short battle with Leukemia at 12:27 AM on December 18 in her Bel-Air home. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her son Rod Roddenberry and family friends. She is survived by her only son Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry Jr. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to the CARE Organization or Precious Paws both of which share Roddenberry’s love for animals and dedication to animal rescue.

Precious Paws
18034 Ventura Blvd., #430
Encino, CA 91316
preciouspaws.org
(818) 304-5595

C.A.R.E.
P.O. Box 56631
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
care4pets.org
(818) 685-9980

Funeral details are pending and a public memorial will be scheduled sometime after Christmas or in early 2009.

Click here for the Majel Barrett Roddenberry Dedication Page
Click here to share your memories and feelings in the Posting Forum dedicated to the loving memory of Majel Barrett Roddenberry: The First Lady of Star Trek.

Vancouver 2010 Winter Games mascots celebrate first birthday with parties at HBC stores

from Vancouver2010.com:

Put your party hats on and make room for some cake; today marks the first birthday of Miga, Quatchi and Sumi, the mascots for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. And there’s even more reason to celebrate because the mascots’ cyber-sidekick Mukmuk is now featured in his own line of playful merchandise! In addition, starting today, a new animated video about Mukmuk that allows his fans to get to know him better will be available at vancouver2010.com/mascots, as well as a new interactive game featuring a flying Sumi.

Mukmuk, a small and friendly Vancouver Island marmot, is now a plush toy and featured on pins, T-shirts, playing cards, travel pillows and even a berry orange and blue toque just like the one he sports online at vancouver2010.com. Special edition box sets of Mukmuk with Miga, Quatchi and Sumi are now available. Mascot merchandise, including a variety of new Mukmuk merchandise, is available at HBC stores, including The Bay and Zellers, across Canada, starting today at 9:30 a.m. PST. It’s also for sale at Olympic stores, at vancouver2010.com and YVR, the Vancouver International Airport.

Best known for his loud cheers during games and races, as well as his unwavering support for his mascot buddies, Mukmuk entered the international spotlight one year ago when Miga, Quatchi and Sumi were introduced and he was named the first-ever Olympic and Paralympic sidekick. While the mascots travel across the country greeting people in person, until now Mukmuk existed in the vast world of cyberspace and in print where he interacts with the public through online games for the 2010 Winter Games as the driver of an ice resurfacer, hockey referee and even a curling skip. He has also acted as postmaster for public questions sent in about the Games.

“Since their introduction one year ago Miga, Sumi and Quatchi have been welcomed into the homes of thousands of Olympic fans. With the support of their friend Mukmuk, the mascots have worked tirelessly to spread a message of goodwill on behalf of Vancouver 2010,” said Dennis Kim, director of licensing and merchandising of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “Mukmuk himself has become incredibly popular — in fact he’s developed a great fan base, so in response, we’re pleased to offer this line of Mukmuk products to complement the popular mascot merchandise available.”

Today, Miga, Quatchi and Sumi will be handing out special invitations at HBC’s flagship downtown Vancouver store welcoming families to their birthday party on Saturday, November 29. Parties will be held on Saturday at five HBC stores in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. The mascot trio will be on hand to visit with youngsters, pose for photos and hand out slices of their special birthday cake. The store locations are:

  • The Bay Park Royal (West Vancouver) from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • The Bay Downtown (Vancouver) from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • The Bay Metrotown (Burnaby) from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • The Bay Oakridge (Vancouver) from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • The Bay Richmond (Richmond) from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mukmuk gets his name from the word “muckamuck”, Chinook jargon for food, because he loves to eat. He is enamoured with all the different types of food found in British Columbia, and is particularly fond of berries and mountain flowers. The Vancouver Island marmot is a species unique to the mountains of Vancouver Island.

A year ago more than 800 schoolchildren witnessed the mascot trio emerge from the mists of a magical West Coast setting of gigantic trees, soaring mountains and majestic ocean. Since then, the mascots have travelled across the country making friends and lighting up the faces of tens of thousands of youngsters and grownups alike at almost 300 public appearances in schools, hospitals and community events. They even paid a visit south of the border where they delighted crowds in Los Angeles and took part in an ice show during the opening days of the Beijing 2008 Summer Games. Highlighting their love of winter sports and the great outdoors, they have skated at Vancouver’s GM Place, travelled by dogsled in Calgary and even snow tubed at the Quebec Winter Carnival, and most recently-cross country skied at the opening of Whistler Olympic Park in BC’s Callaghan Valley.

The mascot microsite at vancouver2010.com has been immensely popular in its first 12 months. Its success includes more than 1.8 million page views, over 336,300 views of the animated mascot video page, more than 92,550 plays of the Operation Recycle game, and well over 500,000 page views of the mascots’ profiles.

The mascots, designed for VANOC by Vancouver-based Meomi Design, are a key component of the Games identity and a playful way to engage a young audience, and, at the same time, increase understanding of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit vancouver2010.com for further details on programs and schedules.

VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com

WALL-E on DVD

WALL-E, the #1 animated film of the year from Disney-Pixar, is released on DVD today, November 18!

The highly acclaimed director of Finding Nemo and the creative storytellers behind Cars and Ratatouille transport you to a galaxy not so far away for a new cosmic comedy adventure about a determined robot named WALL-E.

After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, the curious and lovable WALL-E discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. Join them and a hilarious cast of characters on a fantastic journey across the universe.

Transport yourself to a fascinating new world with Disney-Pixar’s latest adventure, now even more astonishing on DVD and loaded with bonus features, including the exclusive animated short film BURN-E. WALL-E is a film your family will want to enjoy over and over again.

Bonus Features (Single-Disc Standard Edition):

  • BURN-E — Hilarious, All-New Animated Short, “Bringing Light to the Galaxy… Eventual-E”
  • Presto — Amazing Animated Theatrical Short Film
  • Deleted Scenes: Garbage Airlock and Dumped
  • Sneak Peek: WALL-E’s Tour of the Universe — WALL-E Takes You on a Real Ride Through Space
  • Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up — Legendary Sound Designer Ben Burtt Shares Secrets of Creating the Sounds of WALL-E
  • Audio Commentary with Director Andrew Stanton
  • And More!

Feature Running Time: Approx. 98 Minutes/Colour/Digitally Mastered. Rated G. Earth (and Space) Friendly Eco-Packaging: “Get into Environmentalit-E. Join Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment as we strive to develop and utilize the most environmentally responsible business practices. For this release of WALL-E, we developed a 100% recyclable DVD package. Find out how you can help WALL-E reduce waste and recycle. Visit Disney.com/gogreen.”

For more WALL-E information, visit the official WALL-E website and Amazon’s WALL-E page, and pick up a copy of the companion book to the film, The Art of WALL-E.

Order now at Amazon.com:
WALL-E (Single-Disc Standard Edition)
WALL-E (Three-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy)
WALL-E (Two-Disc and BD Live — Blu-ray]
WALL-E (Three-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy and BD Live — Blu-ray)
The Art of WALL-E

More Details Emerge for New Home of Star Trek: The Experience

from TrekMovie.com:

Last month we reported that Star Trek: The Experience (which closed its doors at the Las Vegas Hilton in September) may be resurrected at a new location. Since that time TrekMovie as well as local Las Vegas journalists have confirmed that Star Trek: The Experience is moving to a new home at Neonopolis, in downtown Las Vegas. Today some new details have emerged.

The New (Old) Star Trek: The Experience

In Business Las Vegas has a new feature story on the future of the Neonopolis complex which covers the opening of both a new art museum and the move of Star Trek: The Experience. Rohit Joshi, a representative for the owners of Neonopolis is quoted saying:

The museum and the arts center will represent the past and the present and the Star Trek Experience will represent the future.

There are no specific details yet, but the article states that all five components of the Experience will be moving over:

  • Restaurant/Bar
  • Shops
  • Museum of the Future
  • 4-D Theater
  • Simulator rides

The article notes that the Experience will be “similar but different from its predecessor and includes significant upgrades.” This is a welcome sign; as noted in previous reports from TrekMovie, The Experience at the Hilton was becoming less relevant to the entire Trek franchise, especially regarding The Original Series and the new Star Trek movie.

What isn’t clear is what will be upgraded. For example will the 4-D theater still be based around the Voyager themed “Borg Invasion” or will they have something new. One source told TrekMovie that the simulator rides will continue to feature the TNG-themed “Klingon Encounter”, but new footage will be added (replacing the part where the shuttle lands at the Hilton to where it lands at Neonopolis). Sources also indicate that Quark’s Bar and Restaurant and the “Promenade” shops will be part of the move and likely the first elements to open. The plan is to open these before the Star Trek movie in May.

Regarding the “cast” of characters, it is expected those who were let go when The Experience closed at the Hilton will be offered positions before auditions begin to bring on new staff.

TrekMovie has contacted Mr. Joshi and Neonopolis and will hopefully have an update on the future of Star Trek: The Experience coming up soon. To date, CBS will not comment on Star Trek: The Experience, so it is likely that details are still being worked out.

Election Duel! Obama vs. McCain – Who Get’s Pwned?

Sandeep Parikh of The Guild, The Legend of Neil, and Effinfunny.com recently announced that he was seeking Registered Voters from Azeroth, the world in World of Warcraft, in order to conduct a 2008 Presidential Election Poll. After several days of grueling research, the results are in!

Election Duel! Obama Vs. McCain – Who Get’s Pwned?

Comedian Rich Kuras infiltrates the World of Warcraft to poll players on the 2008 Presidential Election. We broke down the results per race and Class. What we found may…and please excuse the pun…WOW you.

TIME 50 Best Inventions 2008: #15, Dr. Horrible

from TIME:

15. The Direct-to-Web Supervillain Musical

Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris) is just your average lovelorn bad guy trying to make it big — he’s got some dubious weapons, a secret hideout, a square-jawed nemesis (Nathan Fillion) and a video blog. Oh, and he sings. Think The Diaries of Lex Luthor as told by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon conceived and produced the online video Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog during the writers’ strike. It’s hard to imagine a studio green-lighting an idea as weird and ostensibly uncommercial as a 43-min., three-part online supervillain musical. But in a medium that rewards the unconventional — the Web — Dr. Horrible was a hit. After its July debut, the series reached No. 1 on iTunes’ video chart, with 2.2 million downloads a week. Now there’s a sound track, Web comics and a dvd on the way. Cue the maniacal laughter.

Video: The Best Inventions of the Year

Sandeep Parikh Invites World of Warcraft Players to Participate in His Newest Project

from Effinfunny:

Hey all, I’m going to be directing a video for Machinima.com and for it we’re polling the one place with 11 million people that no else is polling, Azeroth, the world within the popular online role playing game The World of Warcraft. So if you play and are old enough to vote, please take two minutes to respond to the following questions (you may just hit reply if you get this through email, otherwise email effinfunny@gmail.com with the subject “Azeroth Poll”)

1) What is your race/class/level/professions in the World of Warcraft (NOT in Real Life!)

2) Who are you planning on voting for in the 2008 presidential elections (Obama, McCain, Undecided)

3) What is the number one most important issue to you when choosing a presidential candidate?

4) Would you be interested in a phone interview with Effinfunny/Machinima.com so you can sound off on your thoughts anonymously about this election? If yes, please leave us your name and number.

That’s it! Thanks! If you’re not a WoWer then go watch episode 5 of Neil (we’re so close to 100K views I can taste it!)

— Sandeep Parikh

Star Trek Featured in This Week’s Entertainment Weekly

from Entertainment Weekly:

After 10 often dismal movies, Star Trek had turned into a pop culture punchline. Even people who’d built their entire careers around Trek could see the writing on the wall. “Star Trek,” says Leonard Nimoy, “had run its course.” But director J.J. Abrams believes he can make the franchise cool again. This week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly has the inside scoop on Abrams’ surprising, idealistic odyssey, which could become next summer’s multiplex juggernaut.

“I don’t think people even understand what Star Trek means anymore,” says Abrams, who saw the first Star Trek film in 1979 with his father at a theater on the Paramount lot. But he feels no warm-fuzzy nostalgia about it. In fact, Abrams can sum up his regard for Trek in two words: Galaxy Quest, the 1999 hit starring Tim Allen that satirized Trek with painful precision. “It’s so ridiculous, so accurate, so sophisticated, it spoils the Star Trek universe,” he says. Plus, at heart, Abrams is still more of a Star Wars guy. “All my smart friends liked Star Trek,” he says. “I preferred a more visceral experience.” Which is exactly why he accepted Paramount ’s offer in 2005 to develop a new Trek flick; creative­ly, he was engaged by the possibility of a Star Trek movie “that grabbed me the way Star Wars did.”

Abrams says he was also drawn to the project because he believed in — and wanted to evangelize — Trek’s unabashed idealism. “I think a movie that shows people of various races working together and surviving hundreds of years from now is not a bad message to put out right now,” says Abrams. That ethos may seem cornball to an America darkened by a decade’s worth of catastrophe, but after an election season that has seen both presidential nomi­nees run on “hope” and “change,” Star Trek just may find itself on the leading wave of a zeitgeist shift — away from bleak, brood­ing blockbusters and toward the light. “In a world where a movie as incredibly produced as The Dark Knight is raking in gazillions of dollars, Star Trek stands in stark contrast,” Abrams says. “It was important to me that optimism be cool again.”

Is the world ready again for Trek’s optimistic vision of the future? Some involved with the film suspect the presidential election may have a dramatic effect on how Star Trek will be perceived. “This is a franchise that offers hope for unity — and so does Barack Obama,” says Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock. “When this movie comes out, and Obama is presi­dent, hopefully there will be some parallels.” Perhaps, but the elder Spock knows that moments of unity can be fleeting. “My only regret is that the movie can’t come out sooner,” Nimoy says. “I think the world could use it. Don’t you?”

While Nimoy will be putting on his ears to play a wizened Spock in the new Star Trek, don’t expect a cameo by William Shatner as Captain Kirk. Last month, the 77-year-old actor posted a video on YouTube, complaining about being left behind, and chastising Abrams, even though Shatner’s Kirk died in Star Trek Generations (1994). “I brought him back to life in one of my books, very easily,” Shatner tells Abrams in the video. “I’m just sorry that I’m not in your wonderful movie.”

Abrams has seen the video, of course. “I don’t know how my life has become a thing where William Shatner talks to me through YouTube,” Abrams tells EW. “I was such a huge fan of his, but we wrote a scene for him in the movie and it didn’t feel right. And he said to us — he said publicly — that doing a cameo didn’t interest him. Which I totally appreciate. But we did try.” EW tried to reach Shatner, but he declined to be interviewed. Through a spokesperson he said, “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to be involved in the Star Trek universe at this point.”

You can read the full Entertainment Weekly article at Star Trek: New Movie, New Vision.

Eco Ewok Treehouses: Finca Bellavista Rainforest Village

by Abigail Doan, from Inhabitat:

If you’ve been dreaming of picking up roots, living on the edge, or literally going out on a limb in terms of eco-lifestyle possibilities, then Finca Bellavista: A Sustainable Rainforest Community might be just the thing for you. Located on the base of an almost 6,000 foot primary rainforest mountain on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica — not far from the Pan American Highway, Finca Bellavista was created with the sole purpose of preserving 300 acres of local rainforest by offering a unique opportunity for ecologically minded property owners to live sustainably in and steward a managed rainforest environment.

With a principle focus of creating a balance between maintaining a fragile habitat for wildlife and using natural resources wisely, Finca Bellavista aims to implement sustainable energy practices such as hydroelectric and solar power, while operating a full-fledged recycling center and a common garden area for the community. This might make it an eco-utopia for some, but for others it’s a possible solution for dovetailing conservation with development.

As per Finca Bellavista’s guidelines on their website, treehouses in the community must be low-impact, stilt-built or arboreal dwellings that utilize a rainwater catch system to provide water for each unit. Waste that is generated is to be treated with “a cutting-edge technology found in biodigestors”. A “hydroelectric turbine system” will power the entire community. The power grid will run via a system of transformers and underground power cables installed along the horseshoe-shaped main access road that runs throughout the community, producing peak power of 62 kilowatts at the generator leads. The power system at Finca Bellavista will produce clean, sustainable, and extremely reliable power for the community, all the while virtually eliminating any monthly electricity bills for residents.

Fancy a bit of socializing or Tarzan action? Residents can opt for either the community’s system of ground trails or its ‘Sky Trail’ network of zip lines and platforms that deliver them to and from their homes in the rainforest canopy. Missing the outside world? A main parking lot exists at the community’s base area, where high-speed Internet and WIFI are available.

The proprietors state that “these requirements will not only preserve the integrity of the rainforest canopy and its inhabitants, but will also provide an unusual and adventurous lifestyle for human dwellers as well. Imagine waking to the sounds of a tropical bird symphony or catching a zip-line to meet up with friends for a meal or an evening cocktail…” This might be a bit too much of an Ewok housing scenario for some, or a real estate development plan that should simply exist as a rainforest preserve, but for now it is on the table as a possibility for how “going native” might be the wave of the future or the cure for what ails us.

+ Two-acre plots from $50,000