1. Cracked.com's Five Stages of Political Excuses chart is satirical, but also frighteningly accurate.

2. Despite the fact that Dungeons & Dragons players and Trekkies are rougly equivalent on the geek hierarchy, you might think that Trekkies get a raw deal, because D&D players have outdoor diversions like live action roleplaying and the Society for Creative Anachronisms, and Trekkies don't. At least in Oregon, you would be wrong.

Last week's dress rehearsal at the Northeast Portland park attracted some curious onlookers, a neighborhood kid the cast seems to have adopted as its mascot and a confused bicyclist who rode through the middle of the set and parked his bike during a dramatic standoff — proof that this is not a production of Shakespeare in the Park. Characters communicating with the Enterprise were played by an actor wielding a bullhorn offstage. An actress doubling as T'Pau, a high-ranking member of Vulcan society, sang the operatic opening as the synthesizer made spooky noises. Spock's pointy ears looked a little fake, but Graff said he'll have better ones by opening night.

Last 5 posts by Ken

• Marc Stephens Threatens Me Some More - February 3rd, 2012
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• Only State Senator Ralph Shortey of Oklahoma Is Vigilant Against Fetus-Eaters - January 25th, 2012