Friday, June 8, 2007

"Make it so!" says Jean-Luc Picard


It's Friday again and instead of just directing you to a site with a synopsis of why I've featured them, I thought I'd have them visit here instead. So, today's guest of honor is Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise in a Galaxy far, far, away...wait, that's from another universe. I'll have you know that it was quite an accomplishment I pulled off but I managed to pull some strings with the Time Management Authority and here he is! And looking impeccably spry and handsome for someone who's just jumped back in time ~300 years.

Once I lure him aboard my ship with Starbucks Coffee and fresh scones with real Devonshire clotted cream and jam, we settle into the aft lounge to sit for the interview. My stomach roils as my heart races like a Metallica rif. Even my palms are sweating; good thing we already shook hands. This guy's a frelling SF icon, after all!

As if recognizing my discomfort, he gives me a warm and reassuring smile that invites intellectual intimacy. That's Picard's moniker: to ooze erudite competence yet blaze with genuine warmth at the same time.

"So, Captain Picard--"

"Please, call me Jean-Luc," he insists and flashes one of those smouldering intelligent smiles that George Clooney only wished he could deliver. Jean-Luc savors a bite of scone and clotted cream then he picks up the cup of steaming coffee. I notice that his pinky even extends as he sips quietly. Ah! These enlightened cultured men of the future! Then I gather up my self and begin the interview:

SF Girl: "What made you choose the career of a Starship Captain instead of, say, a gardner or garbage collector?"

Picard: Raising a brow just slightly at my last words, he responds with calm dignity, "Well, as you know I've always had an interest in fine wines and growing grapes as a vinter. In fact I do a little on the side ." To my surprise, he brings out a bottle of Chateau Picard red wine and hands it to me. "For you." I bluster my thanks and hope I'm not blushing as I accept the bottle. "Anyway," he continues amiably, "The way I see it, being the captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise is a little like gardening. I tend and water my crew and nurture them with sound direction and fair discipline. Yes, it's a little like gardening, SF Girl..." He ends with that beguiling heart-melting smile again.
SF Girl: "So, Jean-Luc..." I delight in the fact that we're on a first name basis; clotted cream will do that, you know. "What's it like being the captain of a starship...keeping your rather disparate and unorderly crew productive and happy and that somewhat surly Starfleet Command at bay?"

Picard: His lips turn up into a slanted smile of understanding and I recognize true dedication in those sagely eyes that glitter with bright determination. "It's what I do," he says simply. "I make it so."

SF Girl: "Perhaps you could shed some light on the recent Galactic News press release about the environmental degradation of mining dilithium crystals on B planets and the wiping out of a whole race that depends on the special little light rays these crystals give off..."

Picard: I notice that brow creasing a little and his mouth firms. "It would be naive to think that any mining operation wouldn't have some impact. It's a balance of cost and benefit," he informs me. "I believe that reporter was a bit of a troublemaker from a far away galaxy. I think his name was Luc Skywalker."

SF Girl: "What's your opinion of the 50 trillion dollar deficit of the United Federation budget and the rumour that they're negotiating with some loan shark named Bib Fortuna from a nearby Universe for a loan?"

Picard: No comment. But he's now decidedly frowning with obvious disaproval. I've definitely got his goat and that frown is intimidating but I press on, letting a predatory smile slide across my face:

SF Girl: "Would you care to comment on the recent rumour that, in light of the dilithium debacle and the huge deficit, the Federation will be replacing your starship with a flying Smart Car?

Picard: No comment.

SF Girl: "Jean-Luc?"

Picard: No answer.

SF Girl: "Captain Picard?..."

Frell! He's gone. And he didn't even finish the scone and clotted cream. Clotted cream does that, you know...Gee, and I didn't even get a chance to ask him about how that safety manual was going with the crew...




22 comments:

  1. Nina, now you have made me smile!

    Thanks so much for the wonderful interview. You did it so well. I appreciate the mention.

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  2. My pleasure, Jean-Luc. Does that mean you'll come for dinner?

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  3. Wow, Nina. You meet the coolest people with that spaceship of yours!

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  4. Jean-Luc is one of my favorite people. How nice to see him appreciated by someone else! Great interview. (And who doesn't love Devonshire clotted cream?)

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  5. Having a space ship does have its advantages...so does Devonshire clotted cream... :)

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  6. Nina, how could I resist your invitation?

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  7. What a terrific chat with one of my heroes, Nina. I'm surprised to see, though, that Jean Luc was happy to partake of a Starbucks. I've always thought of him as a "tea, Earl Grey, hot" kind of guy :)

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  8. I must say, I've always thought Jean-Luc was uncommonly handsome. Hopefully his transporter will be working properly for this years Christmas party.

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  9. Hi SF Girl,
    You have a wide and interesting range of topics on your blog. Thanks for visiting mine and making a nice comment. Would you like to exchange links?

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  10. Your ship sounds like a really swell place to hang out in sfgirl. Can I join?..Please? I want to meet my heros...

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  11. You can certainly join, Spacer guy! There's lot of room onboard. And I recently renovated the lounge, which includes a bar with lots of exotic drinks! Some as far away as from Tarsis, like Fellip Nectar in the Farscape Universe! :) I'll be happy to link with you, Princess Haiku (beautiful site!) and Spacerguy (fellow Treker!)

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  12. Excellent post, Nina...Very much enjoyed it!

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  13. Glad to see one of my favorite people honored on your blog ... even if you gave him a hard time on the budget front.

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  14. Professor, the transpoter only seems to malfunction when you use it.

    As for Nina, I'll be looking forward to her coming annual Enterprise Christmas Party. See the archives for what happens.

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  15. Yeah...LOL! Someone's got to keep the Federation honest, eh? And I noticed, Zia, that your favorite book is Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke. Awesome book, isn't it? You might want to check my 50 fav scifi books at my virtual library on The Library Thing. See how many you've read and how many match your favs...

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  16. Oh, Jean-Luc! Now you have my curiosity! I will have to check those enticing archives. Thankfully, I have several months to prepare...:)

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  17. that was an interesting interview! By the way, what is clotted cream?

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  18. Nina, look under the 'Enterprise Christmas Party' category on the right side of my page for more info.

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  19. I took a look and... Oh Boy! Are we going to have fun! :)

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  20. I'm sure you'll send a great entry this Christmas, Nina.

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