J. Kenton Pierce

@BradRTorgersen A favorite of mine, and also scared the heck out of me when I was 5 because the thing could just slither out of the floor to acid you up. This did not prevent me from crawling around on the floor with a blanket over me pretending to be a horta.

TOS re-watch day 26: "Devil in the Dark" is absolutely a Top 5 episode for me, from the original series. There are only a handful of other TOS episodes I've re-watched as often as this one, and it remains excellent all these years later. Everything that makes TOS fire on all cylinders is present in this episode: a genuinely alien mystery, the big three cast each getting opportunities to flex his acting chops, an engineering dilemma for Scotty to solve, good guest stars who inhabit their roles nicely, and a practical worldbuilding problem which drives the drama: beyond dealing with a mere monster inhabiting the shadows, Kirk and his crew have to get the mining colony back into operation for the sake of many other Federation colonies who all rely on the miners' product. The questionable physics of a silicon-based deep-dish pizza creature moving through basalt the way we move through air, takes a back seat to the human problem of confronting a murderous entity which only reveals its true nature at the very end. When the miners have to also face their nature. Each of the species reacting against the other, until Spock (with the mind meld) can broker an understanding. I mentioned in my last review that this was a far better example of Nimoy being unleashed from his stone-faced stoicism, than was true in, "This Side of Paradise." Considering the fact Nimoy is having to convincingly and heavily emote—while clutching at throbbing bladders of spray-painted foam—really shows his range. Meanwhile, the irascible DeForest Kelley gets in several Bones-ian lines such as, "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer!" while barking orders to a junior officer on the ship, and questioning Spock's theses, at the same time simultaneously giving us clues to the mystery through cool-headed forensic talk. And this specific scene—where Shatner discovers the main clutch of Horta eggs—he's staring up into the ceiling of a sound stage. But has to make the audience think he's just seen the most astounding sight imaginable, which suddenly makes him realize just what it is the Horta's been killing for in the first place. Ken Lynch is terrific as Chief Vanderberg, and had an extensive credits history through film and television. A very comfortably familiar face who absolutely sells himself as the production-minded miners' boss. Miner Schmitter (Bill Elliott) likewise had a healthy list of credits, and was important in his brief but key portrayal of a working blue-collar man facing annihilation at the hands of the monster. Security Chief Giotto (John Duke, aka: Barry Russo) would later appear as Commodore Wesley in TOS episode, "The Ultimate Computer." And like Elliott and Lynch, had quite a run of credits. Unlike some other TOS outings, there really isn't much to complain about with this one. The scripting is tight, the plot advances smoothly, the anticipation (as well as horror) is real, and the solution at the end proves quite satisfying. And once again we have clear, undeniable proof that the Federation is not a moneyless utopia, much to the chagrin of Marxist Trekkies. Kirk remarks that Vanderberg and his men are going to be embarrassingly rich once the hatched Horta get going. Likewise, the other colonies depending on Janus VI for rare ores (like the fictional Pergium) are clearly *paying* for the stuff. And any delay in mining or shipping poses a big enough threat to the function of those colonies that Starfleet Command detours the Enterprise to investigate and solve the issue. Thus the economy surrounding the mining is integral to the plot, and inseparable from the worldbuilding. I love this episode. Start to finish. Again, Top 5 for TOS in my book.

We're having a good time chatting with Michael!

@yesnicksearcy Democrats, as always a clear case of projection if ever there was one...

Democrats think black people are retarded.

@Keir_Starmer I'm surprised your police aren't charging the Jews and paying compensation to the attacker.

The antisemitic attack in Golders Green is utterly appalling. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain. Thank you to Shomrim, Hatzola and the police for acting swiftly. Those responsible will be brought to justice.

@mysteriouskat What happen to "Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences"?

Anyone who cares about free speech should understand how absolutely disturbing and dangerous it is when the President of the US calls for someone to be fired because they told a joke he didn't like—as bad as it might have been. 1/2

@TRHLofficial @TheRabbitHole Feature, not a bug for the People's Temple of the Sacred Donkey.

Luigi Leftism is the inevitable result of treating politics like a holy war.

@askaya Congratulations and welcome!

I think it’s so unfortunate that people always try to find the easy way out instead of doing it the right way. So many times people told me I should “JUST MARRY AN AMERICAN GUY AND GET YOUR CITIZENSHIP FASTER” NO. I would much rather follow the law and wait 13 years without compromising my morals. BUT HEY I DID IT😎🇺🇸

From the same party claiming Right-Wing rhetoric causes violence. "Look what you're making us do!"

Paul Weston: "The eastern half of Europe that suffered real communism is now preserving Western civilisation, while the western half that believed itself free has succumbed to Marxist subversion and is sleepwalking toward confrontation or collapse."

@RocketPulpHack Somebody needs to figure out how to use BUFF's as a launch platform. Might not be practical, but it would be *awesome*.

Next year the A-10 will have been in service for 50 years. The youngest airframe is 42 years old. It’s going to the boneyard one way or another, sooner or later.

Well now, what do you suppose is brewing?

Mother of NYC teen who stomped on a girl's head after she refused his advances, is claiming that HER SON is the real victim

I’ll just leave this here! 😂

@ingelramdecoucy @washingtonpost So basically The View, but with no real budget and paying Leftist Tiktokers in exposure to encourage violence against Western Civilization in general, and Jews in particular...

A liberal media outlet founded by advisers to Sen. Bernie Sanders launched a project to counter Turning Point USA’s growing conservative influence on college campuses. It will focus on recruiting and training liberal content creators, organizer said. wapo.st/4e1QVDB

Yeah, foreknowledge is not condemning people to a choice. It's like the First Shirt giving a safety briefing, knowing full well that some E3's are gonna marry the stripper and buy a Dodge Charger, and that he'll probably be picking up a few regulars at the drunk tank saturday night.

Predestined salvation is a galactic horror movie in which every child save a select few is corrupt and vile in the womb. God knew you were evil from the moment you were made. And you will get the lake of fire for eternity regardless of your life or choices. Meanwhile, the select few get a free pass to immortal exaltation regardless of how they conduct themselves. Again, a galactic horror movie.

@iowahawkblog Rectum? Damn near killed 'em.

“I never thought I would be the victim of a gruesome anal goring,” says legendary veteran of a pastime with the highest likelihood of a gruesome anal goring

@GrampsToolshed Democrats so desperate to look like they fight racism that they'll create as many racists as they possibly can to pretend to fight while using it as an excuse to attack any critic or dissenter.

I live behind enemy lines in Minnesota. So I actually have friends, family, and neighbors who are just learning for the first time that their left wing donations were DIRECTLY funding the literal KKK....... I can't explain in words how GLORIOUS today is. 🤴❤💯🏆