This week saw the death of a star. Most readers know that I’m a keen fan of Star Trek in all its forms, even to some extent the Jar Jar movies in the Kelvin timeline. This week saw the death of a star in Barbara March who played the character Lursa (one of the Duras sisters along with B’Etor [played by Gwynyth Walsh]) who appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space 9, and the movie Star Trek: Generations.
Death of a star
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Lake Ginninderra Sunrise 
Lake Ginninderra Sunrise 
The Owl Statue on Sunday morning 
The Owl Statue on Sunday morning
B’Etor and her older sister, Lursa, were Klingons from the House of Duras who plotted against the Federation as well as members of the Klingon High Council when she and her sister sided with Romulans to begin a civil war. At one point they kidnapped Geordi and tried to seduce Worf.
Without wishing to detract from the performances of March and Walsh, it always struck me as odd that women of colour were not cast for these roles.
Barbara March died with a malignant disease aged 65. Too young for a fine actor.
Health update
Last week I shared an update from my last GP visit three months ago.
I went to see my GP on Monday. He told me to keep going with the low carb life and we’ve organised some more investigations for later in the year.
What have I watched this week?
I’ve watched very little this week on TV, at least during the week. I’ve been getting home and cooking dinner, watching the news and then turning the TV off. I’ve been feeling so cold that I’ve been in bed before 8 pm some nights. Bed really is the warmest place to be in winter.
Veronica Mars
“Drinking the Kool-aid” S1E09
There’s a cult called the Moon Calf Collection. Veronica sort of gets sucked in. Veronica’s old man is very cool.
Stargate SG-1
“The Serpent’s Lair” Start of season 2.
This is the first episode, to begin with, a “Previously on Stargate SG-1” segment. It is voiced by Christopher Judge(Teal’c). This is used throughout the series.
Farscape
“Durka Returns” S1E15
Chiana appears for the first time. Chiana is played by Australian actor Gigi Edgley. Apart from Crighton, the rest of the cast is Australian or from New Zealand. Farscape is really one of the better productions to have been made in Australia.
Chiana: “I apologise for calling you a toad.”
Rygel: “Huh, I make allowances for stress on this ship.”
Harry Potter
Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire
The fourth movie. The kids look so grown up.
It’s pretty cool all the movies are now available on Netflix.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Arena
This is a classic episode because of the appearance of the Gorn for the first time.
Apparently, at Star Trek conventions, the Gorn are a favourite for cosplay.
I’ve never been to a Star Trek convention or a comic convention. I’m not sure if I’d ever go. As much as I’d be fascinated and probably enjoy myself, I have a strong dislike for crowds.
Star Trek: The Animated Series
“The Time Trap”
Sulu hardly looks Japanese. Artists who did the animation seem to have trouble with Sulu’s depiction.
“No! The Klingons have hidden an explosive aboard the Enterprise…she will be destroyed!”
Star Trek: Deep Space 9
“You are cordially invited”
Martok is appointed Supreme Commander of the 9th Fleet. He’s concerned with the amount of paperwork with being SC. [Sarcasm on] Something tells me Martok would struggle in a civil service job in a Commonwealth country. [Sarcasm off]
Worf and Jadzia prepare to wed on DS9 through arduous trials in Klingon tradition. Highlights for me are seeing Jadzia in a crop top and then her wedding dress 😃
National Rugby League
The Brisbane Broncos defeated the Penrith Panthers.
LAW & ORDER
“Magnet”
Jack McCoy: This wasn’t the way to get justice for your son
Mr Garcia: How then? Because I don’t have money to buy it
The result is a good win for McCoy and his team.
What have I listened to this week?
Music
I’m not a very musical person but this week a friendly Tweep mentioned that she’d been discussing with friends the song “Cats in the Cradle”. Her friends had no idea who composed and sang the song and made it a hit.
Click on the tweet below and you can read the conversation we had.
I just witnessed the Mendela Effect first-hand, with my two dinner companions arguing with me about who wrote and released Cats in the Cradle. I held firm, and was proven correct.
— 💧 alivicwil (@alivicwil) August 11, 2019
And now I ask you: which 1970s artist had a hit with Cats in the Cradle?
I’ve been a Harry Chapin fan since high school. Sadly it was in 1981 when I was in the fifth form that Harry was killed in a motor vehicle accident. Another untimely death of a star.
So this week, I’ve been listening to Harry’s greatest hits live album a few times.
On Tuesday night I was also in a funny mood and listened to a live album from The Angels.
As I was listening, it struck me that compared with much of the music of today, the music of the 1980s was easy to listen to and easy to understand the words being sung. I listen to the music of today and find it difficult to understand.
The 1980s really was a great era. Gee, I really sound like an old man don’t I?
I cried when The Angels lead singer, Bernard Patrick “Doc” Neeson died in 2014. Bloody brain carcinoma, caused the death of a star.
Meet the Microbiologist
ASM’s Julie Wolf chats with Dr George Gao who is the Director-General of China’s Centers for Disease Control. His commentary on China and its global outlook was fascinating. Good to see another outstanding veterinarian leading in public health globally.
Check out the show via the link in this Tweet
What have I eaten and photographed this week?
I’ve eaten pretty well this week. There’s been a lot of leafy green vegetables and on Thursday I had a little blow out with a Wagyu wrap and hot chips. The hot chips from the Urban Bean Espresso Bar in Phillip are really good. The hot chips are consistently good. The Wagyu wrap was also juicy and moist.
I also cracked open a tin of Spam on Friday night and enjoyed eating the salty goodness that is Spam.
Videos
Photographs
This is a gallery of photographs. Click on one image and scroll through the rest of them.
Monday tea. Pan-fried salmon with crispy kale sprouts, cherry tomatoes, avocado cheeks, and Tabasco Hollandaise sauce. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb #noaddedsugar Salmon, Kale sprouts, Tomatoes, Avocado, Hollandaise sauce, Chilli flakes G’day food lovers, I went to see my GP today. He told me to maintain the low carb life. I tossed some kale sprouts in olive oil, iodised salt, and chilli flakes before spreading them out on a baking sheet and putting them into a hot oven for 15 minutes. I massaged my salmon fillet with rice bran oil and seasoned it with iodised salt. I put the fillet skin-side down onto a cold frypan and then turned the frypan up to as hot as it would go and put the lid on. I set the timer for 5 minutes and titrated the temperature with the amount of smoke coming from the salmon. After 5 minutes, I flipped the fillet over and cooked it for a further minute and then turned off the heat and allowed the salmon with rest on a plate while the kale sprouts were getting crispy. I served it all with some halved cherry tomatoes, slices of avocado, and homemade stick blender Tabasco Hollandaise sauce. Have a good night. Bye for now. 
Celery, Carrot, Coon, and Dates 
The Owl Statue on Monday morning 
Wednesday tea. MEATER™ made roast chicken thigh and vegetables. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb #noaddedsugar Chicken, Corn, Broccoli, Cauliflower G’day food lovers, It’s so bloody cold in Canberra. I’m so sick of the cold weather. Tonight I used my MEATER™ wireless meat thermometer to help me cook a piece of chicken perfectly. I stuck my probe deep into the chicken meat and then used the MEATER™ app to guide the cook. Under the chook I had some broccoli and cauliflower soaking up chook juices and a couple of pieces of sweet corn snuggled up next to the chook. I hope you had a good feed tonight too. Catch you later. Bye. 
Celery, Carrot, Coon, and Dates for lunch 
Thursday tea. Leftover MEATER™ made roast chicken thigh and creamy buttery Dijon vegetables. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb #noaddedsugar #meatermade Chicken, Tomatoes, Kale sprouts, Cabbage, Dijon mustard, Butter, Cream G’day food lovers, I had a very filling lunch today. I had a Wagyu beef wrap with amazing hot chips from Urban Bean Espresso Bar. I needed something light yet comforting for tea tonight. I had a piece of leftover MEATER™ made chicken which I cooked last night. I broke that up and set it aside. In a frypan I sautéed some red cabbage and kale sprouts until they softened. I then added in the chicken pieces and the cherry tomatoes and put the lid on the frypan for three minutes. I added a knob of butter and a splash of cream with a teaspoon of Dijon mustard and stirred that through along with some sesame seeds and poppy seeds. I served it all in a bowl. Catch you later. Bye. 
Wagyu beef wrap and hot chips from Urban Bean Espresso Bar 
USS Enterprise NCC-1701 starburst 
Friday tea. Spam and creamy buttery Dijon vegetables. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb #noaddedsugar #queenslandnuts #macadamia Spam, Kale sprouts, Cabbage, Dijon mustard, Butter, Cream, Queensland nuts G’day food lovers, Tonight I’m thinking of a friend whose grandmother is very ill. It’s Friday night and it’s been a good week so I need to have an easy Friday night tea. I grabbed a tin of Spam with bacon. Opened it up, sliced the slab in half coronally and then cut it into cubes. I tossed the Spam into a frypan and got some colour on the Spam. I then added in some kale sprouts and red cabbage and put the lid on. After a few minutes I added a knob of butter and watched it melt. Once the butter had melted I splashed in some cream and a teaspoon of Dijon mustard. I then added in some Queensland nuts. You know what, call ’em Queensland nuts and Macadamia nuts. Genus Macadamia consists of three major species and most of the trees grow in Queensland and some parts of cockroach land. Anyway, it was a delicious meal and now I’m ready to go to bed. Have a good night and have a good weekend. If you like what I’m doing here please let me know. Me with a tin of spam 
Pork chops and chef’s special sauce at Garran Kitchen 
Saturday tea. Slow cooker ham and cauliflower soup. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb #noaddedsugar #hamhock #soup Ham hock, Cauliflower, French onion soup, Black peppercorns, Cream, Butter, Parsley G’day food lovers, Tonight I enjoyed slow cooker ham and cauliflower soup. I cooked the cauliflower florets, French onion soup packet mix, ham hock, and black peppercorns in a slow cooker for six hours. After six hours, I removed the ham hock and pulled my meat with forks. I puréed the cauliflower and black peppercorns with my Bamix™ stick blender and then added some of my pulled pork plus some cream and a knob of butter to finish the soup. I garnished it with chopped parsley. It was bloody amazing. Have a good night. Bye. 
Saturday tea. Slow cooker ham and cauliflower soup. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb #noaddedsugar #hamhock #soup Ham hock, Cauliflower, French onion soup, Black peppercorns, Cream, Butter, Parsley G’day food lovers, Tonight I enjoyed slow cooker ham and cauliflower soup. I cooked the cauliflower florets, French onion soup packet mix, ham hock, and black peppercorns in a slow cooker for six hours. After six hours, I removed the ham hock and pulled my meat with forks. I puréed the cauliflower and black peppercorns with my Bamix™ stick blender and then added some of my pulled pork plus some cream and a knob of butter to finish the soup. I garnished it with chopped parsley. It was bloody amazing. Have a good night. Bye. 
Saturday tea. Slow cooker ham and cauliflower soup. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb #noaddedsugar #hamhock #soup Ham hock, Cauliflower, French onion soup, Black peppercorns, Cream, Butter, Parsley G’day food lovers, Tonight I enjoyed slow cooker ham and cauliflower soup. I cooked the cauliflower florets, French onion soup packet mix, ham hock, and black peppercorns in a slow cooker for six hours. After six hours, I removed the ham hock and pulled my meat with forks. I puréed the cauliflower and black peppercorns with my Bamix™ stick blender and then added some of my pulled pork plus some cream and a knob of butter to finish the soup. I garnished it with chopped parsley. It was bloody amazing. Have a good night. Bye. 
Saturday tea. Slow cooker ham and cauliflower soup. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb #noaddedsugar #hamhock #soup Ham hock, Cauliflower, French onion soup, Black peppercorns, Cream, Butter, Parsley G’day food lovers, Tonight I enjoyed slow cooker ham and cauliflower soup. I cooked the cauliflower florets, French onion soup packet mix, ham hock, and black peppercorns in a slow cooker for six hours. After six hours, I removed the ham hock and pulled my meat with forks. I puréed the cauliflower and black peppercorns with my Bamix™ stick blender and then added some of my pulled pork plus some cream and a knob of butter to finish the soup. I garnished it with chopped parsley. It was bloody amazing. Have a good night. Bye. 
Saturday lunch. Spam and cheese. #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb 
Steamed egg wilted spinach and Coon 
Sunday lunch. Leftover slow cooked ham hock, sugarloaf cabbage and kale sprouts. Ham hock, Cabbage, Kale Sprouts, Cream cheese, Tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, Cream, Garlic butter #yummylummy #foodphotography #lowcarb 
Steamed egg, wilted spinach, and parmesan.
Yummy Lummy this week
Slow cooker ham hock and cauliflower soup
Check out this flatus inducing soup I made. If you want to clear your bed of unwanted guests, give this a go. Imagine lighting a match. The explosion would be like the death of a star.
The cookbook
Haha, I’ve done nothing this week. There’s been too much other stuff to do.
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Final thoughts
- Does the death of a star register with you when it happens?
- What sort of music do you like?
- What era of music is your favourite?
I like using @SkylumSoftware Luminar 3 for photo editing
— Gaz 🖖 (@garydlum) August 15, 2019
Check out the product https://t.co/HnxMkLpw1J
Yes, if people buy from this link I get a reward.
Death of a star
Today’s post “Death of a star” was written while watching live streaming TV. Undoubtedly, a few of the people acting are dead and could have been featured as “death of a star” material in this post too. I just hope Sir Patrick Stewart lives long enough to keep his new show going.
Interesting. Are the Klingons meant to be like the Black race equivalent? (Seen it occasionally but obvs not a nerd fan). And yes you are sounding like an old man! 😂 You can just imagine parents in the 80’s saying the same thing.
Good to see you back 😃
Klingons are a warrior humanoid species from a planetary system not too far from out Sun. In the 1990s, the actors cast for Klingons tended to be white men and women with heavy makeup. In later series of Star Trek and especially the recent series, viz., Discovery, the actors who play Klingons tend to be African American. Exceptions exist.
The interesting thing about the Klingons is they have a complicated caste system and as a species are multiracial. In addition, as a warrior species they have evolved so their anatomy and physiology has built up redundant systems like multiple hearts and reinforced skeletal structures. It was also confirmed in Discovery that male Klingons have two penes.
Ha ha! You Star Trek nerd you! Love it! What a great explanation! I actually feel like proactively watching it now just to see these points!
Can you work your magic with Harry Potter? I just – don’t – get – it?… I mean I get the concept (which I like) and because of all the hype I wondered what I was missing and have tried watching various releases at least 4 times and just cannot complete the mission. I feel like such an outsider!
I wish I could help. I’ve read the books and watched the movies but I don’t find it as compelling as Star Trek 😂🤣
Lol. Then Obi Wan Kanobe you were my only hope! I will never get this phenom. 😀
…Jeez I made the effort with this freakin’ Obi Wan joke and realized I have confused Star Wars and Trek. But it took time so I’ll be damned if I’m deleting it! 😂
Do Trekkies shoot people for this kind of thing?
Haha, most lovers of Trek also like Star Wars, so there’ll be no shooting here 😂
I’ve seen all the Star Wars movies but I can only remember the ones that came out in the 1970s when I was a boy. The others all seem to be a bit of a blur.
Phew!…Tells the protection officers to stand down.
You’re safe with me.