A Second Skin?

I haven't got time to look at it right now, but over here http://techtv.mit.edu/file/237 there's a video presentation, and that sure looks like a prototype second skin on the young lady in the background?

Off we go, into the wild blue yonder . . .

Star Trek: Balance of Terror

Sure enough, NHK is showing the digitally mastered original Star Trek, or at least a few selections. Today was Balance of Terror. This was the Enterprise vs. the Romulans - a cloaked Bird of Prey crosses the neutral zone, and Kirk has to figure out what to do. Incidentally, there's a synopsis over here http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/episode/68678.html

Some things that caught my attention. First, as they are chasing the invisible Romulan ship through interstellar space, they hope to catch it in a comet's tail. The streaming clouds will reveal the ship despite the cloaking device. Of course, I have to wonder about a comet having a tail in interstellar space, but - I think the tail comes from the solar wind against the comet, and there didn't seem to be a sun nearby. The shimmering clouds are nice, but skipping lightly along . . .

Next, when they are playing a waiting game - why are personnel on both ships being quiet? I can see cutting electronics, both to avoid emissions and conserve power, but sound? I can pretty much guarantee that you could hold a yodeling contest on either ship and no one on the other ship would notice anything. I suppose it does provide an eerie sense of hiding for the audience, but . . .

Last, but not least, when Spock accidently sends out a burst of emissions - and I do appreciate that he actually pushed some buttons rather than just knocking a screwdriver to the deck - and the Romulans start running, Kirk warns that "He'll try to slip under us." Given that they are space craft playing around in interstellar space, this seems an odd concept. Certainly the Enterprise seems to have an up-down orientation, but in playing strategic positions in space, slipping above or around is just as effective as under.

One point that I appreciated - there's Uhura, still looking good. Check around on Google for Uhura and Martin Luther King, and you can find references to her having talked with Martin Luther King and his pointing out what an important role model this was. And in this episode, when Lt. Styles heads for weapons control, Kirk quickly orders, "Lt. Uhura, take over navigation, please." and she simply steps down and takes over, with a "yes sir" (might have been "aye aye, sir"). The good part of this is that it shows she is capable of running navigation - and the casual way that it was done. No hesitation about it, just do it. Against the background of Lt. Styles prejudice against Romulans (which turns into active prejudice against Spock because he looks like them), this casual little bit is even more impressive.

I'm not sure what the digital remastering does - aside from what might have been brighter colors here and there, I didn't notice any particular additions or changes. Still, it is nice to re-acquaint with the old master. December, 1966? The Black Panthers have just been founded, Martin Luther King is leading marches in Chicago, and there's Star Trek proclaiming Space, the Final Frontier.