Month: September 2016

(cross-posted at sswslitinmotion.tumblr.com)

Here are some photos of mine from Brooklyn Book Festival 2016. Not nearly as cool as my photos from 2013,  from 2014 (like this one from 2014) or from 2015…

A photo of the Borough Hall Courtroom, where I attended the panel “Not So Generic: Diversity in Science Fiction presented by the Center for Fiction.”

Here’s another angle of the Borough Hall Courtroom.

Here’s a photo of One Pierrepont Plaza, from the Cadman Plaza view.

Below is an angle of Brooklyn Borough Hall, home of the office of the Brooklyn Borough President, with banners of the Borough President Eric Adams and Deputy Borough President Diana Reyna. My photo came off a little dark, since I didn’t realize that the sun was behind it (I’m not much of a photographer). The banners were a little puzzling to me, since prior Brooklyn Book Festivals of the past have used the Brooklyn Book Festival banners, but oh well. The festival was okay anyway; the construction around the area are nearing completion, so it overall looked decent.

I went to the Brooklyn Book Festival with a friend; had a nice time.

This year, I’m still pleased that the Alma Mater Law School hosted some of the events, proactively involved with the community. Plus: we’re the best law school in Brooklyn, as the dean, Nicholas Allard, said during the panel he moderated, “Politically Correct?” (mind you, we’re the only law school in Brooklyn). This panel included
Ralph Nader (Breaking Through Power: It’s Easier Than We Think), Thomas Frank (Listen Liberal), and Gloria J. Browne-Marshall (The Voting Rights War), discussing the election process and voter empowerment, in light of the current political climate.  Here’s a link to the photo of them over at the Brooklyn Book Festival’s tumblr.

I thought that the “Politically Correct?” panel was interesting, even if it wasn’t surprising about the current political climate. I’ve heard Browne-Marshall speak before at a few bar association continuing legal education programs, and at the panel, she was impressive about the need to vote (relevant things that people of color and women ought to remember – as people would have been deprived of the ability to vote and have been marginalized over voting power is concerned).

Nader made some good points about the need to participate (putting aside that I didn’t quite appreciate third parties as much as he does).

Frank raised some good points about how liberalism (or the current Democratic Party’s version of it) takes the working class for granted (which were good points; I wasn’t sure of what we would do about it, since I don’t think that the policies of the current version of conservatism necessarily helps the working class either). Frank’s previous book, What’s the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America, is one of those pivotal analysis on what the Republicans did – which I still ought to read already).

The program would have been better if there had been more time for Q&A, something that always depends on timing available, anyway.

My friend and I also attended the panel, “Not So Generic: Diversity in Science Fiction presented by the Center for Fiction.”  (see here for the Center for Fiction’s event page for this panel; and here for the Center for Fiction’s tumblr). The panelists included
Catherynne Valente, Seth Dickinson, Alyssa Wong, and Alice Sola Kim, and they discussed how science fiction and fantasy as genres are currently covering gender constructs and sexuality (and the backlash of that). I thought that this was a well-done discussion, especially as modern society has to deal with how we are (or aren’t) inclusive.

The book vendors were quite a diverse crowd.  I really noticed, more than ever, that by separating the children’s portion to Saturday rather than on Sunday, there was more physical space, but I felt a different vibe on Sunday.

We went to the food trucks.  Man, I’m such a sucker for the tasty empanadas from the Nuchas truck; there was also the Gorilla Grilled Cheese NYC truck.  See here for a nifty photo of the food trucks at the book festival, from the Brooklyn Book Festival tumblr.

Some of my photos from the book festival will be shown on the next post.

(cross-posted at sswslitinmotion.tumblr.com)

I’m not so crazy a fan that I own a Starfleet uniform, contrary to popular belief.  I do say that I’m a Trekkie (since I’m not so dedicated that I’m a Trekker, as I’m far more loose and whimsical about ST, and I believe that Trekkers are that much more committed than I am). I liked the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special, a lot (and I’m not even a real Whovian by any stretch of the imagination), and I wish ST could have something as remarkably moving.  We shall see as the 50 anniversary year proceeds!

Some links to my past blog posts over at triscribe regarding what I thought were some great ST moments; my thoughts on the leaders of ST (Kirk vs. Picard vs. Sisko vs. Janeway vs. Archer); and last, but hardly least, my thoughts on the future of ST (or ST and the future).

I haven’t yet figured out how to write up a blog post on what I thought of the Justin Lin directed movie, “Star Trek Beyond,” but it’ll eventually come around.  Suffice to say, I liked the movie as it was okay, but it wasn’t the greatest thing (summer movies 2016 is pretty much summed up in that way).

I had found this tribute video of ST over at YouTube some years ago, celebrating the 40th anniversary – the 50th anniversary is as good a time as any to watch it again. The music is based on the TNG episode, “The Inner Light,” and the whole thing is such a hopeful tearjerker.  (embedded below)  I think it holds up very well.

(cross-posted at sswslitinmotion.tumblr.com)