30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"Trials and Tribble-ations" (season five, episode six; 4 November 1996): Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: "Trials and Tribble-ations" was a special tribute to thirty years of the original Star Trek series, which debuted in the fall of 1966. "Trials and Tribble-ations" took place during the T.O.S. episode "The Trouble with Tribbles," using contemporary technology to insert the D.S.9 characters into the T.O.S. footage.

Tempus fugit, so now we are fast approaching thirty years since "Trials and Tribble-ations."

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: Go Blue!

Team 144, Game 5: Michigan @ Nebraska
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, "On the Road Again" from Love Their Country (Mike Papa Wolverine)

Commentary: The first road game for Team 144, outside the friendly confines of "the Big House."

Go Blue!

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest & Doctor of the Church (circa 342-420, of Stridon A.K.A. Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus), principal translator of the Vulgate Bible, also a Father of the Church.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '20.

Quoth Minute Meditaions from the Popes:

Lord Jesus, let me imitate Saint Jerome & aspire to a deep & penetrating knowledge of Scripture. May I be ever more deeply nourished by the Divine Word & find in it a source of life.

'Tis the Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Bonus! Real Can of Yams Song o' the Day

Real Can of Yams, "Always, Grand Blanc" from the Nothing Can Kill the Grimace E.P. (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Grand Blanc, you're always on my mind,
Waiting for me with open arms every time,
Grand Blanc, you're always in my heart,
Waiting for me with open veins every time…

"Nestled in the heart of mid Michigan, just off of I-75, lies a shining paradise, with pride for the past, spirit for the present, dedication for the future, and excellence always…"

The Rebel Black Dot Real Can of Yams Song o' the Day

Real Can of Yams, "Set Phasers to Fun!" from the Nothing Can Kill the Grimace E.P. (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Say, 'Goodbye,' to boring nights,
Say, 'Goodbye,'
Say, 'Goodbye,' to boring nights.

"Set phasers to fun, it's just begun,
It's time to smile, it's time to run!
We'll party 'til the sun comes up and then we won!
We'll party 'til the sun comes up and then we won!…"

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"The Assignment" (season five, episode five; 28 October 1996): Wikipedia-link.

Saints + Scripture: Saints Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael

Simplex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Viewer Request: Lesser Known Prayers to Saint Michael the Archangel"

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael, Archangels.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

The Explorers' Club, № CMLXXXII

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 50th Anniversary of Soyuz 12
27-29 September 1973: Soyuz 12 lifted off from the Kazakh S.S.R.'s Baikonur Cosmodrome, with CDR Vasily Lazarev & Flight Engineer Oleg Makarov aboard a Soyuz 7K-T capsule atop a Soyuz rocket; callsign Ural ("Ural"); this was the first flight of a Soyuz capsule redesigned for a duo wearing pressure suits, instead of a trio wearing flight suits; Lazarev & Makarov landed in the Kazakh S.S.R.

Commentary: This was the first crewed Soviet spaceflight since the Soyuz 11 tragedy on 29 June 1971. Complicating the image search for this episode, Lazarev & Makarov would fly together again in 1975, aboard Soyuz 18a.

Bonus! Space Race Song o' the Day: Soyuz 12
The Phenomenauts, "Mission" from Re-Entry (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"…Nor the Battle to the Strong" (season five, episode four; 21 October 1996): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Real Can of Yams Song o' the Day

Real Can of Yams, "Hey, at least You Did Your Best" from the Nothing Can Kill the Grimace E.P. (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

You did your best,
But it just wasn't good enough,
You tried real hard,
But you just couldn't get it done.

Maybe your best
Will never be good enough.
You did your best,
It'll never be good enough.

Hey, at least you did your best."

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places" (season four, episode three; 14 October 1996): Wikipedia-link.

Operation ÖSTERREICH: Saint Michael's Lent

Please Stand By | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 349.4 lbs. (Wednesday, 9 August 2023)

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH!
Letters to Cleo, "Pizza Cutter" from Whilesale Meats and Fish (Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Rebel Black Dot Real Can of Yams Song o' the Day

Real Can of Yams featuring J. Coliadis, "We Had a Chance" from the Nothing Can Kill the Grimace E.P. (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"Do we love the dream despite the cost?…"

The Rebel Black Dot Real Can of Yams Song o' the Day

Real Can of Yams, "Warning Signs" from the Nothing Can Kill the Grimace E.P. (Mike Papa Whiskey)

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"The Ship" (season five, episode two; 7 October 1996): Wikipedia-link.

The Explorers' Club, № CMLXXXI

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 50th Anniversary of Skylab 3, Part IV
22-25 September 1973: Bean & Garriott conducted an E.V.A. to retrieve film canisters from the Apollo Telescope Mount; the trio set a new spaceflight endurance record: fifty-eight days; after their bout with space sickness, they completed 150% of mission objectives, & left behind a surprise for the Skylab 4 crew; the unnamed C.M. splashed down in the Pacific & was recovered by the U.S.S. New Orleans.

Bonus! Space Race Song o' the Day: Skylab 3
The Hippos, "Going Home" from The Hippos (Space Cadet Mike Papa DSKY)

Semper exploro.

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"Apocalypse Rising" (season five, episode one; 30 September 1996): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Real Can of Yams Song o' the Day

Real Can of Yams, "Sometimes, San Rafael" from the Nothing Can Kill the Grimace E.P. (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"You'll take the long road home,
You'll take the one less traveled,
You'll leave your flesh and bone,
You'll leave yourt heart unraveled…"

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"Broken Link" (season four, episode twenty-six; 17 June 1996): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the XXV Sunday in O.T.

The Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Nigel Godrich, "Hello Envy" from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Original Motion Pictue Score (Saint Mike Papa Whiskey)

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"Body Parts" (season four, episode twenty-five; 10 June 1996): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: Go Blue!

Team 144, Game 4: Michigan v. Rutgers
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "He's Back" from More Noise and Other Disturbances (Rude Boy Mike Papa Wolverine)

Commentary: I am once again shaking my head at the mystery of seemingly thoughtful persons who schedule weddings for Saturday afternoons in the Fall.

Go Blue!

Bonus! Song o' the First Day o' Autumn

"The cruel, hot summer
led into the long, hard fall,
becoming the dark, killing winter
until spring replenished us all."
—Bill Willingham, Fables

Scott Joplin, "Maple Leaf Rag" from Classical Treasures: Maple Leaf Rag (Mike Papa Whiskey)

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"The Quickening" (season four, episode twenty-four; 20 May 1996): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Last Day o' Summer

Potshot, "End of the Long Summer" from Potshot A Go Go (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey-san)

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"To the Death" (season four, episode twenty-three; 13 May 1996): Wikipedia-link.

The Rebel Black Dot End o' Summer Song o' the Day

The Ataris, "'Summer Wind' Was Always Our Song" from End Is Forever (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"These break-up songs make sense again,
And I really wish they didn't…"

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"For the Cause" (season four, episode twenty-two; 6 May 1996): Wikipedia-link.

Operation ÖSTERREICH: Saint Michael's Lent

Please Stand By | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 349.4 lbs. (Wednesday, 9 August 2023)

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH!
The Aquabats!, "Pizza Day!" from Myths, Legends, and Others Amazing Adventurs, Vol. 2 (Captain Thumbs Up!)

The Rebel Black Dot End o' Summer Song o' the Day

Sex Bob-Omb, "Summertime" from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"It's summertime,
And it's that time,
To strut and strum,
I'm gonna strut, strut, strut…"

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"The Muse" (season four, episode twenty-one; 29 April 1996): Wikipedia-link.

Bonus! Song o' International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Blaggards, "Drunken Sailor" from Standards (Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Rebel Black Dot End o' Summer Song o' the Day

The Lovin' Spoonful, "Summer in the City" from Platinum & Gold Collection: The Lovin' Spoonful (Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Rebel Black Dot End o' Summer Song o' the Day

Fountains of Wayne, "Mexican Wine" from Welcome Interstate Managers (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"…Because the sun still shines in the summertime,
I'll be yours if you'll be mine,
I tried to change, but I changed my mind,
Think I'll have another glass of Mexican wine,
Think I'll have another glass of Mexican wine,
Won't you have another glass of Mexican wine?"

30 Years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-2023)

Episode of the Day
"Shattered Mirror" (season four, episode twenty; 22 April 1996): Wikipedia-link.

The Explorers' Club, № CMLXXX

The Space Race—Astronaut Group 2 (the "New Nine"), Part X
Elliot McKay See Junior (23 July 1927-28 February 1966), Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve—He was scheduled to fly Gemini IX (1966), but perished piloting a T-38; he was the oldest member of Astronaut Group 2 at the time of selection & a civilian test pilot, instead of active-duty military; he was the only one not to fly in space; he was a test pilot for General Electric of G.E.-engined jet aircraft.

Commentary: See served as Backup Pilot of Gemini V with Backup Command Pilot Neil Armstrong, which normally would have put them in line to serve together as the crew of Gemini VIII. In the course of events, Astronaut Group 3 member Dave Scott flew Gemini VIII with Armstrong while See was assigned as Command Pilot of Gemini IX with Astronaut Group 3 member Charlie Bassett. In response to a question about See's reasignment from Gemini VIII to Gemini IX, Armstrong said:

"Elliot's too good a pilot not to have a command of his own."

Bonus! Space Race Song o' the Day: New Nine—Elliot See
Michael Giacchino, "Tragic Story of Rex Racer" from Speed Racer: Original Motion Picture Score (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Wayback Machine Tour of Elliot See
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCII: In Memoriam Elliot See & Charlie Bassett
The Stars My Destination: The 57th Anniversary of the 1966 T-38 Crash

The Wayback Machine Tour of the New Nine
"The Explorers Club," № CMIII: Astronaut Group 2 (Part I)
"The Explorers Club," № CMXXV: John Young (Part II)
"The Explorers Club," № CMXXX: Jim McDivitt (Part III)
"The Explorers Club," № CMXXXVIII: Ed White (Part IV)
"The Explorers Club," № CMXLVI: Pete Conrad (Part V)
"The Explorers Club," № CMXLVIII: Frank Borman (Part VI)
"The Explorers Club," № CMXLIX: Jim Lovell (Part VII)
"The Explorers Club," № CMLXXI: Tom Stafford (Part VIII)
"The Explorers Club," № CMLXXIV: Neil Armsrong (Part IX)

Requiescat in pace.