Star Trek: Nemesis is featured in this week’s Commentary Tracks of the Damned in The Onion AV Club.

What went wrong: Nothing, though Baird’s offhanded and repeated dismissal of pre-established Star Trek canon—characters, design, relationships, backstory, previous Trek
films—strongly implies a fatal contempt for the series. He brightens
noticeably when describing the parts of the film he got to design from
scratch, or redesign to override previous series installments.

Comments on the cast: Virtually none. Baird devotes a bare
word or two of praise to actors Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner, but
mostly seems to regard them as props amid his more interesting sets and
computerized cameras. Judging from an awkward reference to "Patrick and
Brent and… Worf," he doesn’t even necessarily remember their names.

Inevitable dash of pretension: Baird’s entire commentary is
self-important and affected; his gravelly murmurs make him sound like a
beat-poet wannabe at his first open-mic. Suddenly the film’s
ludicrously weighty tone makes more sense.

I wish someone could explain why the final film in the TNG canon was given over to a man who had such obvious contempt for the legacy and mythos of Star Trek. What a waste.

Just a reminder that The Friday Game at PokerStars is all set up, and taking registrations. We had 152 players last week, and I can’t wait to see if we match or exceed that number this week.I’ve had a great time in the first two games (even though I haven’t gotten anywhere near the money) and I’m excited to see what the third week brings. I can honestly say that I’ve been looking forward to the game all week.

Last week, I live blogged the action at CardSquad, and I plan to do it again, to keep the "TV table" meme alive.

Here are the details. Please share them as you see fit:

What: WWdN: Up4Poker Invitational
Where: PokerStars.
When: Friday, October 28th. 9:00 PM EST
Password: monkey
Tournament number: 14090593
Buy-in: $10+1

As always, if you bust me out, you get naming rights for next week’s game . . . but I’m feeling lucky this week, so watch out for my raises. Hope to see lots of you there!

(Thanks, Jessica!)

For the last month, I’ve been doing a show at the ACME Comedy Theatre with Shane Nickerson. It’s called Now That’s What I Call ACME Volume One and it’s a "best of" show.

I’ve got two writing credits in the show, for a poker-related sketch called William’s Tell and a a sketch I co-wrote called Living and Dying In DWP, (which CMack and I wanted to call The Tibetan Sketch of Living and Dying, before we were overruled.)

I’m also in the funniest series of sketches I’ve ever been in, called "Tribute." I love these sketches so much, I will perform them for the rest of my life, if Anne (who wrote them) will let me.

There are four performances left, counting this Saturday night.

Details:

What: Now That’s What I Call ACME, Volume One
Where: ACME Comedy Theatre
When: Saturdays until November 19th.
Time: 8PM
Tickets: $15. (Reserve online)

This is the last chance you’ll have to see me at ACME for a looooong time. I was sick with mono when the last writing session happened, so I won’t get a chance to be in any of the shows before mid-2006.

I keep seeing these magnetic ribbons on people’s cars that say, "I SUPPORT PRESIDENT BUSH and our troops." I always applaud these brave people, who have taken the extraordinary step of attaching a magnetic ribbon to their car as a reflection of their deeply held convictions.

Personally, I don’t think one needs to support the president or the war to support the soldiers, but this is a favorite talking point from the RNC.

Witness the case of Cornell du Houx.

The senior is most well known on the Bowdoin College campus in his role
as development director for the College Democrats of America and as
co-president of the Maine College Democrats. Under his leadership, the
organization in Maine has grown from two chapters to 23.

While Cornell du Houx has actively rallied against many of President
Bush’s policies, he feels that his involvement in the Marines is not a
conflict of interest.

"Regardless of my opinions regarding
the war in Iraq, it is my duty as a U.S. Marine to serve and I am ready
and willing to do my job to its fullest extent," he said.

Others on campus, particularly his political opponents in the Bowdoin
College Republicans, feel differently about his service. Daniel
Schuberth, a leader of the Bowdoin College Republicans and College
Republican national secretary, said, "I applaud Mr. Houx for his
service, just as I applaud any other soldier who is brave enough to
take up arms in defense of his country. I find it troubling, however,
that one of the most vocal opponents of our president, our country and
our mission in Iraq has chosen to fight for a cause he claims is wrong.
Mr. Houx’s rhetoric against the war on terror places him in agreement
with the most radical fringes of the Democratic Party, and I am left to
question his logic and motivation."

Boy, it sure is cute how Daniel Schuberth tries real real hard to spit out his Mehlman-ordered talking points, but has he listened to what he’s saying? Daniel Schuberth, who should probably earn some sort of award from Operation Yellow Elephant, has the fucking nerve to criticize a brave soldier who is following orders, even though he doesn’t believe in the war, when he won’t enlist himself. He may claim that Cornell du Houx is a representative of the "most radical fringes of the Democratic Party," but it’s pretty clear that chickenhawks like Daniel Schuberth are in direct agreement with the mainstream of George Bush’s Republican Party. I’m sure he has "other priorities", just like Dick Cheney did during the Vietnam War. What a brave, brave little fighting keyboardist he is!

Tonight, there are vigils all over the country to mark the death of the
2000th American soldier to be killed in George Bush’s Idiotic
Adventure. Blondesense has links, and advises people who support the
soldiers but oppose the war (a difficult concept for bemagneted car
owners to comprehend, but a valid one nonetheless) to Just Go. I agree.

I would like to ask all young and able-bodied war supporters to join me
as I mark this tragic milestone: I will do everything I can to end this war, and prevent others like it from happening. You can head to your nearest recruitment
center and join up. Dan Schulberth has a spot in the military with his name on it that he’s not using.