The Beginning of the End for Star Trek Continues

Here's the second-to-last episode of Star Trek Continues, the fan film effort that's done a pretty amazing job of capturing the tone and spirit of the original show. This time around Canadian Nebula-winning novelist Robert J. Sawyer wrote the teleplay, which depicts the end of the Enterprise's five-year mission by taking it back to the beginning...

Part one is extremely well done. I look forward to the finale, which hits the Internet in November. 

Swag from 2112

Today the postman delivered my Tweets from 2112 prize package - the officially listed grand prize of a new iPod Touch, but also a copy of Robert J. Sawyer's newest book and - the big surprise - a really lovely Canada Writes leather-bound notebook, which, oddly enough, pleases me most of all. While I'm thrilled with the other two prizes, I certainly could have bought them on my own (and in the case of the book, I would have). But the notebook makes a better memento, and I'll use it to outline my entry for next year's Canada Writes short story contest.

Unfortunately, I inadvertently broke my promise to enter this year's contest. Despite Neil's reminder, the due date simply crept up on me and by the time the contest entered my consciousness I was already up to my ears in freelance deadlines. No excuses next year!

Tweets from 2112: The Surprise Ending

Well, that was unexpected. I posted earlier this week about the the Canada Writes Tweets from 2112 contest, elated to make the long list (twice, as it turns out). I even joked at the time that I thought my Oort cloud tweet was funnier...

And, as it turns out, so did the judge, Robert J. Sawyer himself, naming that tweet the winner from among the hundreds submitted nationwide. As a fan of Sawyer's since The Terminal Experiment, this is a real thrill for me!

The announcement and winning tweet are here; my interview is here.

I hate to resort to a horrible cliche, but I really did not expect to win, especially given the quality of so many of the tweets. I'm very grateful to Bob Sawyer, CBC and Canada Writes for the recognition. Oh, and for the iPod Touch, too, and Sawyer's new book!

Tweets from the Future

Today CBC ran a one-day contest on Twitter, asking folks to send tweets backward in time from the year 2112. Robert J. Sawyer will judge the various entries and announce the winner on Halloween. Win or lose, this was a fun little contest. Here are my entries:

Earl J. Woods ‏@EarlJWoods

Sentient Internet 7.0 hijacks time machine, trolls 2012 Twitter with "fake" tweets from the future that are actually real #canadawrites

Earl J. Woods ‏@EarlJWoods

Canada apologizes to Oort cloud after being struck by comet #canadawrites

Earl J. Woods ‏@EarlJWoods

Commander of CFS Alert complains bikini-clad tourists distracting soldiers; world's #4 beach destination brings record crowds #canadawrites

Earl J. Woods ‏@EarlJWoods

First Canadian immigrant to Mars colony complains "Even with terraforming the weather here is worse than Winnipeg in January" #canadawrites

 

 Earl J. Woods ‏@EarlJWoods

After century of effort, GM chimp finally writes one line of Shakespeare (I knew him, Horatio) on obsolete Twitter app #canadawrites

Earl J. Woods ‏@EarlJWoods

Alberta Progressive Conservative dynasty ends at 141 years; surprise loss to RedGreen coalition blamed on high AI turnout #canadawrites