Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Series 3 Episode 10 — “New Life and New Civilizations” — A Review

11th September, 2025: “New Life and New Civilizations”.

The Introduction.

Right now, I’m not like George Orwell.

Right now, highly civilized human beings aren’t flying overhead: nor are they trying to kill me.

Instead of the Luftwaffe flying over my flat, I have alternating patches of cloud, and clear sky.

Clouds that darkened the sky, leaving the air drenched in torrential rain … 

Then, mere minutes later?

Clouds that have moved: chased east by pleasant sunshine, and bringing the smell of wet concrete.

That’s an attractive smell, I think: and one I can put up with, now the rain has stopped, however temporarily.

~≈🖖≈~

The weather is possibly not why you’re reading this: is it?

No.

You’ve — hopefully! — become so entranced by quizzes and written reviews, that you’ve bookmarked my blog: in an effort to keep up with what I’m doing.

So, I can tell you this.

• I’ve started cooking dinner.
• I’m wondering what the result of my next blood sugar test will be.
• I’m going to watch the last episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Yes: I’m going to be sitting down with “New Life and New Civilizations”: then letting you know what I thought by Sunday, 14th September.

Hopefully?

We’ll have have a big finale … !

~≈🖖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25th June 2025

25th June, 2025.

Right: I’m up early!

Yes: it’s Wednesday … and I have another hygienists appointment!

Whoopie … dingo … !

~≈¥≈~

I managed to catch some online news, recently: courtesy of the Tech Linked YouTube channel.

It seems that users of Microsoft Windows are having trouble installing Google Chrome.

Installing the browser is being blocked by the parental controls in Windows 11: forcing users to jump through hoops to install the thing.

Now, I’m not a fan of Chrome: I’ve always found it less responsive — on the various Macs I’ve owned — than Firefox or Safari.

I’ve also felt Chrome uses the old Embrace, extend, and extinguish* policy too well for my comfort.

So I’m not impressed by Chrome: but don’t think my dislike means you shouldn’t use it.

It’s your browser, and your choice.

I’m also aware that Google and Microsoft are business rivals.

So … ?

I’m not surprised Microsoft is trying a low blow.

~≈🪟≈~

I have to admit to liking slogan t-shirts.

Or, at least, ones with pictures on them: 2000AD, or Terry Pratchett themed ones, are favourites.

So, for my next one … ?

I’m thinking a Traveller or Runequest one could be good: if I can find a good enough picture!

~≈ᚹ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 30th January 2024.

30th January, 2024.

It’s official: it’s Tuesday!

Which means … ?

I’m going to be looking after my nephew, Jude.

Hopefully … ?

We’ll have a video up.

~≈📹≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-5-2023 — Orwell.

26th June, 2023: Orwell.

Right … it’s officially the day after I’ve had a haircut.

OK: that makes money tight.

But … ?

It does leave me feeling a little less sweaty.

It’s possibly well timed.

We’re due to be warm, today.

Now … 

If I can leave you with my most recent review, we’ll move on … 

~≈🖖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17-8-2022 — Animal Farm

17th April, 2022.

Right … we’re looking at blu-rays … 

You’ll’ve realised that I’m a fan of Dr Who: and have been for a while.

And … ?   I’ve got all surviving, available, episodes on an external drive not far from where I’m sitting.

I’ve also got this habit of collecting the Dr Who — The Collection series of blu-ray box sets.

They are extremely worth while: especially for the Behind the Sofa features.

Well … 

It seems the BBC are going to be releasing Season 2 of the classic series — Hartnell’s second, and the most complete of his three seasons — at some point soon.

For a given value of ‘soon’ … !

Assuming I can afford it … ?

I’ll be looking forward to it!

~≈¶≈~

I have a problem.

I’m due to attend a meeting at the Restart course I’m at: tomorrow.

The scheme usually sends me tickets: or, at least, buys them for me, and arranges it so I can pick them up at the station.

After, of course, I email them about it!

I’ve been doing that since Sunday.

And not heard a thing.

If I don’t go: my benefit gets suspended.

If anyone can lend me the price of a return ticket to Chelmsford, by tomorrow, I’d appreciate hearing about it!

~≈¶≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-7-2022 — The Feast of St. James

25th July, 2022.

Right … I’m officially getting my leg x-rayed, this morning.

At lunchtime, at least.

It’s nothing serious: just a bit of checking on some minor deformation I’ve lived with for years.

Hopefully?

It should show some thing.

~≈Â≈~

Oh, just as a quick news piece?

I noticed this piece on the BBC’s news-site.

A chess playing robot has managed to injure the school boy it was playing.

Quite what wrong, there, I don’t know.

But?   You can bet someone’s going to start banging on about Skynet.

Or the Terminator.

Or how robots are going to kill us, and take over the world!

Hey, ho!

~≈Â≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-1-2020: Leaving on a Jet Plane

31st January, 2020.

Right … let me put the in print … so to speak …

“The insularity of the English, their refusal to take foreigners seriously, is a folly that has to be paid for heavily from time to time.”
From ‘England, Your England’, The Lion and the Unicorn essay collection, by George Orwell.

I have to admit, I’ve been reading Orwell’s The Lion and the Unicorn over the past few days.

That quote?

That quote seemed both apt … … 

And relevant: given what we’re leaving, at eleven o’clock tonight.

We’re leaving the European Union.

And, speaking as a Remain voter?

I think we’re making the biggest mistake of our lives.

~≈Ü≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-4-2019: Saint George’s Day.

23rd April, 2019.

Right … 

Did you watch the end of today’s intro video?

Well … ?

Have you yawned … ?

Sorry, I can never resist point out that yawning is — generally — contagious!

At any rate … ?

I had a bit of a late night, last: watching the Jack Nicholson film that is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

It has to be said: sometimes, it’s only when we re-watch these things, we realise quite how powerful they are!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11-1-2019: The Lottery

11th January, 2019.

Yep: I’m actually up good and early, for once.

Or, at least, up early … for me … !

I’ve got a dentist appointment, today: for a hygienist.

They’ll probably not be able to do much … but I’ll possibly feel a touch better for it … !

Say ARRRGGGHH!

~≈§≈~

Just as a quick question … ?

Did you ever hear about Numbers Stations?

They were old fashioned radio stations that broadcast formatted lists of number: aimed — it’s thought — at spies operating in foreign countries.

The best known, was the British operated Lincolnshire Poacher*.

Well, I managed to find this rather fancy video, this morning … 

And wanted to share it with you: as I found it an interesting watch.

I’m just geeky enough to like that sort of thing.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-6-2017

Right … 

I’m back off to work, again, today.

And thinking, with the amount of hours I have, next week?

I should maybe get an extra job.

Ha!

Not that there’s much doing, around here.

Nor — were I looking at going back into the business — are there that many easily accessible pubs looking for a pub-quizmaster.

It’s possibly something I’m going to have to think about.

Now … 

Does anyone want to buy a pub quiz … ?

~≈Ê≈~

Just as a quick thought?

I read in the news that Parliament itself, has been hit by a cyber attack.

As a result?

The ability to access emails from sites outside Westminster was turned off.

Personally?

I’m wondering what on Earth the attackers were doing.

I’d love to have the complete story.

~≈Ê≈~

Dr Who — Series 10: Episode 8 — The Lie of the Land

4th June, 2017

You’ve possibly realised — by now — that I’m a fan of a few things.

In amongst the various bits and bobs?

I’ve been happily glued to Dr Who for quite some time.

And religious watched its spin-off, Torchwood, as well.

I missed out on The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Frankly, it wasn’t my time slot: even though I’m perfectly aware it had the late great Elizabeth Sladen played A central role in the series.

I also know I thoroughly enjoyed the latest spin-off, Class.

Worryingly?

Patrick Ness, the show’s writer and showrunner, has issued this statement: announcing he won’t be helming any more episodes, and that Aunty Beeb was unlikely to be making a second series.

If that is the case, that Class is to go the way of The Fades?

Then that seems a terrible waste of an opportunity.

~≈Ê≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-1-2017

Hmmm … 

Did I mention I’d watched Conspiracy, the other night?

I watched Conspiracy, the other night.

So you know.

Good little film, that.

The problem I had was with the updated version of Handbrake.

Or possibly with the DVD I ripped.

Either way, the film I ended up watching was in old fashioned 4:3 aspect ratio.

Rather than the 16:9 I’d’ve preferred.

Rather frustrating, I thought.

Still … 

I’ve now managed to flag it up on HandBrake’s forums.

I’ll hopefully have some sort of suggestion on how to deal with the problem.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-6-2016

Hmmm … 

You may or may not no the UK’s holding a referendum, in a couple of week’s from today.

Basically?   The question is whether we in the UK should remain in the EU.

As part of that, the government has been encouraging people to register to vote: whether by posting in their registration, or by doing it online.

By the dealing, last night.

You can practically SEE the problems, can’t you?

The site had huge problems, last night: as many tried to register, at the last minute.

Lord KNOWS what’s going to happen as a result of that.

But that could have been avoided, I think … 

~≈É≈~

The Daily Teaser — 25-6-2015

You know, I’ve been reconstructing the now lost TV series: that I’d had on a now gone external drive.

I DO know I’d managed to pick up the first seasons of the remake of House of Cards, and Sky Atlantic’s Penny Dreadful.

Something I’m going to have to sit down with, at some point … !

The reason I say that … ?   Is that — bar Humans — there’s very little on TV that’s catching my attention.

That and the loss of my external drive are possibly a good thing.

They mean I can go exploring … 

~≈Ë≈~

The Daily Teaser — 21-1-2015

Bleugh … !

My arms … ache … !

Still … !

I have to admit to having had one hell of a fantastic night, on Monday: go-karting at the staff Christmas do.

My arms still feel like two bits of lead piping, though.

Damn stiff, in others words!

Still … ?   I’m off to me doctors, today: for something completely different, I should add!

And muscle isn’t the worst of it!

~≈∑≈~

The Daily Teaser — 25-6-2013: George Orwell.

Oh, well, that’s something … !

Remember, yesterday, that I said my boiler was on the blink?   Again … ?

Well, thankfully, when I reported it to my landlords, they managed to persuade the engineers out, on the same day.

To at least look at the thing.

Seemingly, it’s not only having trouble with the pressure — I’d kind of worked that out — but it’s developed a leak.

I had wondered about that, frankly

So I’m happy I know that all that’s needed is a couple of replacement valves: and replacement o-rings.   Which, seemingly, are the really fiddly bits to get hold of … !

About the only thing I need to do, now?   Is hurry up and wait until Wednesday.   Which is when the plumber turns up with the parts … 

~≈◊≈~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting us exactly what she thought about Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft, also bagged three out of five.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s literary questions: here they are, along with the ‘How To’, license and video … 

Q1) 25th June, 1903, saw the birth of writer, George Orwell: what was his real name … ?

Q2) Which of his novels is based — loosely — on his experiences in British India … ?

Q3) The torture chamber in Nineteen Eighty-Four — Room 101 — is named after a conference room in a building that Orwell worked in.   For which institution … ?

Q4) Homage To Catalonia is Orwell’s account of his time fighting in which war … ?

Q5) And finally … which of Orwell’s novels is set on Manor Farm … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 24th June, 1947, saw Kenneth Arnold make what was the first widely reported UFO sighting.   In which US state was this … ?

A1) Washington.

Q2) Near which mountain … ?

A2) Mount Rainier.

Q3) How many did he claim to have seen: seven, eight or nine … ?

A3) Nine.

Q4) What’s the collective name for a group of UFO sightings … ?

A4) A UFO flap.

Q5) And finally … Arnold’s sighting was partly corroborated by a man called Fred Johnson: who’d been on Mount Adams, doing what?

A5) Prospecting.

I’ll leave you with this thought from the man himself …

“Anyone who challenges the prevailing orthodoxy finds himself silenced with surprising effectiveness. A genuinely unfashionable opinion is almost never given a fair hearing, either in the popular press or in the highbrow periodicals.”

George Orwell, 25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950.

And with Bowie’s 1984.

*        First time you’ve heard, Debbi … ?   I’m surprised, as I recall, it was a quite a hit at the time.   Mind you, that could just be in the UK.

The Daily Teaser — 21-1-2013: Mr Orwell

Hmmm … 

That’s going to make things interesting … 

If you’re in the UK — or the same bit of it as me — you’ve probably noticed the weather.

It’d be hard not to … !   At any rate, I have to be in Basildon, today, for the Work Programme I’m on.

Given we’ve only had more snow since I took this photo, on Saturday.

Hmmm … 

I’ll see if I can fill something in later, for you: let’s move on, shall we?

««·»»

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting in her answers: along with bagging 6 out of 6, she also managed to be very flattering*!

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s rather literary questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, license and video … 

Q1) 21st January, 1950, saw the death of writer, George Orwell: what was his birth name … ?

Q2) Orwell did lots of work on 1984, his last published novel, on which Hebridean island … ?

Q3) 1984 notoriously features a torture chamber called Room 101: where IS the real-world Room 101 … ?

Q4) Which of his novels features Napoleon, Snowball and Boxer … ?

Q5) How many of Orwell’s poem’s have been published, over the years: 13, 17 or 19 … ?

Q6) Which well known, left wing, magazine did Orwell write for … ?

Q7) In which war did Orwell take part … ?

Q8) More to the point, what was the name of the novel he wrote about that war … ?

Q9) Burmese Days is loosely based on Orwell’s days as a policeman in Burma: Burma is also called what … ?

Q10) And FINALLY … in his essay, A Nice Cup Of Tea, he insisted on the use of what: teabags, teapots or urns … ?

And here’s yesterday’s Presidential questions and answers …

Q1) 20th January, 1977, saw the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter: what product did he earn money farming … ?

A1) Peanuts.   (He’s also the only US president to have lived in public housing.)

Q2) More to the point, was he the 38th, 39th or 40th President … ?

A2) The 39th.

Q3) EQUALLY to the point: who was inaugurated as US President on 20th January, 2009 … ?

A3) President Barack Obama.

Q4) 20th January, 1945, saw who inaugurated as US president … ?

A4) Franklin Delano Roosevelt.   (One oif the few US Presidents to die in office … of natural causes.)

Q5) Was that for his fourth, fifth or sixth term … ?

A5) Fourth.

Q6) And finally … 20th January, 1961, saw John F. Kennedy inaugurated as US President.   Was he the first Catholic, Mormon or Muslim President … ?

A6) Catholic.

I’ll leave you with this tune from The Eurhythmics: well, it does match the theme.

And with this quote from the Man, himself …

“Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting.”

George Orwell

Enjoy the day, folks … 

*        Oh, bless you for saying so … !   Oh … Enjoy today’s Teaser: there’s a theme … !