Step by Step: Peak Foliage 2026

7 out of 7 days on fitness goals this week.

Star Trek: Scorpion

Episode: "Scorpion"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 3, Episode 26

Original Air Date: May 21, 1997

via Memory Alpha

There's a new bully in town.  15 Borg cubes zoom past Voyager, evidently in too much of a hurry to assimilate our heroes.  Not long after, the crew happen upon the same cubes, completely destroyed.  What could be so powerful that it could so easily overwhelm the irresistible force of the Borg?  Species 8472, that's who.  The Doctor invents a nanoprobe that could be used to combat the new enemy.  Janeway hatches a bold plan: give the nanoprobe tech to the Borg in exchange for safe passage through their territory.  

Yup, "Scorpion" is quite a story.  For many, it is Voyager's very best.  The Janeway proposal presents a Trek dilemma of the highest order and the resulting tension between the Captain and Chakotay brings extra weight to an already solid season-ending cliffhanger.

Thoughts on Season Three

General Impressions

Voyager found more sure footing in its third season.  While quality is still uneven, the disastrous offerings of early Season 2 seem distant memories.  The show still feels like DS9's awkward younger sibling but the best episodes are satisfying.

Favorite Episode: "Distant Origin"

I can understand how one might prefer "Scorpion" if they like lots of action and a fast pace.  But if anything, Forra Gegen's trial over his assertion that his people, the Voths, descend from Earth's dinosaurs feels even more poignant now than it would have in 1997.  Plus, using the holodeck to extrapolate how that evolution might have occurred is one of the coolest applications of the technology to that point, even if it does feel quite a lot like 2020s AI in hindsight.

Least Favorite Episode: "Macrocosm"

This choice is actually a reflection of the series's improved quality in Season 3.  "Macrocosm" really isn't so bad, just not my cup of tea.  Compared to the disastrous lows of Season 2, "Macrocosm" is pretty good.  

In an Aliens send up, Janeway prowls the corridors in a tank top with a big gun, hunting the overgrown micro-organisms that have infected the rest of the crew with a debilitating disease.  I'm not keen on horror movies so this one didn't do it for me.  But it's not terrible.

Favorite Recurring Character: Rain Robinson

via Movie and TV Wiki

Because of the nature of Voyager's broader epic, recurring characters are rare compared with other series.  This time, I'll take Rain Robinson (Sarah Silverman), the scientist caught in the middle of Voyager's cat-and-mouse chase with the evil Henry Starling (Ed Begley, Jr.) in the two-part "Future's End."  She's also a low-grade love interest for Tom Paris.  

Favorite Blast from the Past: Sulu

Overall, I was underwhelmed by "Flashback," the big nostalgia offering to help celebrate Star Trek's 30th anniversary.  But I still love Sulu.  It's always good to see him in the Captain's chair and who wouldn't be drawn in by that low, resonant voice.  You get Janice Rand and Kang in the episode, too, but Sulu's the star.

Favorite Guest Actor, One-Shot: Giusseppina Pentangelli

via Memory Alpha

A fictitious 22nd century opera diva, Pentangelli (Carole Davis) was Mimi to The Doctor's Rodolfo in the latter's La Boheme holodeck program.  Davis barely gets any screen time at all but she makes the most of it.  The singing voice is her own, too.  The character would have been well worth bringing back but alas, "The Swarm" is her only appearance.  

Onward

Big changes are coming and right soon.  We'll gain a principal character and the narrative impact is seismic.  We'll lose one, too - one of my favorites.  Stay tuned.

Step by Step: The Catamount Trail

The Catamount Trail, as you can see on the sign, is a cross-country ski trail.  It runs 300 miles, the entire length of Vermont from the Massachusetts border to the Quebec one.  Maintained since 1984, it was inspired by the much older hiking trail, The Long Trail.  In the off-season - and thank goodness we don't have any snow just yet - it is open to hikers.

7 for 7 on fitness goals for the week and I've raised my daily step goal to 10,000.  Maintaining that through the winter might be a challenge but at least for the moment, I'm up for it.

Star Trek: Empok Nor

Episode: "Empok Nor"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 5, Episode 24

Original Air Date: May 19, 1997

via Memory Alpha

Garak episode!

In the midst of conduit repairs, Chief O'Brien finds he needs a replacement part.  Spare parts for the Cardassian-constructed station aren't exactly easy to come by and, for technobabble reasons, can't be replicated.  He travels to Empok Nor, an abandoned station, with a small crew, including both Garak and Nog.  Unfortunately, in addition to the usual booby traps, the Cardassians left behind a couple of guards, preserved in stasis.

The heat rises when Garak is exposed to a psychotropic drug that turns him into a killing machine.  At first, he targets the "bad guys" but once they're taken care of, he turns on his friends, ultimately killing Crewman Amaro.  I'm not sure "Empok Nor" is a good episode, exactly, but it's a good one for Garak development, pressing hard on the question of whether or not he can be trusted.  Pairing him with O'Brien, the combat veteran of the Cardassian War, also opens interesting avenues.  

Like "The Ship," "Empok Nor" also makes a point of giving names and lines to red shirts...

Acting Notes

via Critters Wiki

Tom Hodges played the role of Crewman Pechetti, an engineer on the mission who meets an unfortunate end.  Hodges was born in Chicago, July 1, 1965.  He is best known for playing Bruno in Lucas and Rich in The Hogan Family.  Other films include Revenge of the Nerds II, Steel Magnolias and Heavyweights.  Other television appearances include L.A. Law, The Facts of Life and JAG.

Step by Step: Calais

Northwest Vermont, where we live, is the warmest part of our state.  The Champlain Valley is afforded some protection from nordic winds by the Green Mountains to the east and the Adirondacks to the west.  As a result, we also hit peak fall foliage later than the rest of the Vermont.  Traveling beyond our region in any direction, we get a preview of what's coming.  This weekend, we drove to Calais to the east of us.

I've been thinking a lot about how photography falls short in capturing the magic of autumnal splendor.  Mind you, the limits don't stop me from trying but there's no denying the third dimension of depth matters.  A single tree is never monochromatic.  Its interior leaves are a slightly different shade from the ones that get more sunlight so there's a dappled effect as one moves past.  There's the dazzling play of sunlight bringing out varying color notes at different times of day.  Walking through a forest can be like strolling past stained-glass windows on all sides, including directly above.  So yes, the photos are wonderful but you really have to be here to understand.

7 for 7 on fitness goals for the week.

Star Trek: Worst Case Scenario

Episode: "Worst Case Scenario"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 3, Episode 25

Original Air Date: May 14, 1997

via Memory Alpha

Torres discovers a holonovel in the ship's computer based on a Maquis mutiny.  The adventure soon becomes the talk of Voyager, with Janeway's encouragement.  Tuvok, of all people, had created it as a training module in the early days of the mission.  Now he worries it sends the wrong message to the crew.  The Captain, on the other hand, sees it as healthy and much needed entertainment.  She even encourages the author to finish the story.  Unfortunately, our old pal Seska, who appears in holographic form, set a few booby traps in the program before she left the ship.

"Worst Case Scenario" is a lot of fun.  Having Seska back, in particular, is great.  As I've written before, though, I think it's a shame the series mostly backed off of the Maquis-Starfleet tension.  Why plant that seed if you're not going to draw from it more?  I feel the same way about the Tom Paris redemption saga.  Chakotay punched him the first time he saw him on the bridge!  That moment promised more than has been delivered.

But that's no reason not to enjoy "Worst Case Scenario."  Once again, Voyager builds on ideas from NextGen's Moriarty arc and I definitely approve of that.

Production Notes

via Memory Alpha

Richard Dale James was the production designer for 151 episodes of The Next Generation and 168 episodes of Voyager, including this one.  He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, April 7, 1936.  He graduated from Texas Tech.

James and set decorator Jim Mees won an Emmy for TNG's "Sins of the Father" and were nominated for three other episodes.  Voyager highlights include the bridge and the captain's ready room.  Film credits include Getting Even as production designer and Local Hero and The Beast of War as art director.  

James passed away in 2024 at age 88.

Step by Step: Autumn 2026

Vermont is famous for its fall colors.  According to the online trackers, we still have a few weeks to go until peak foliage but I will do my best to document the changes.  I took the two photos below in the same spot six days apart.  As you can see, there's still a lot of green but the progression, once it starts, moves quickly.

Monday, September 21

Sunday, September 27

7 for 7 on fitness goals this week.

Star Trek: Blaze of Glory

Episode: "Blaze of Glory"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 5, Episode 23

Original Air Date: May 12, 1997

via Memory Alpha

General Martok brings an intercepted message to Captain Sisko.  The Maquis have launched cloaked, guided missiles at Cardassian targets.  Both leaders know the fall out from such an attack could be disastrous.  Sisko knows of one man who can help him: the traitor Michael Eddington, currently serving out his sentence in a Federation prison.  Meanwhile, Nog, back on DS9 as a security officer, is struggling to win the respect of the Klingons on the station.

The episode feels like exactly what it is: an effort to tie up the Maquis storyline as neatly as possible so the writers could move on from it.  Eddington gets a noble death, at least in his own eyes (spoiler).  The movement is reduced to single-digit membership, just enough for Voyager if they want to return to the thread, which they never really do.  I'm not much of an Eddington fan - "look at me, I'm so smug."  Thus, I'm okay with moving on, too.  The Nog development is more meaningful, long term.

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

Gretchen German played the role of Rebecca Sullivan, Eddington's wife.  German was born in Austin, Texas, March 18, 1961.  Most of her work has been on television.  She's had recurring roles on Wings, Almost Perfect and Home Improvement as well as guest appearances on Will & Grace, Family Tree and Pacific Blue among others.  Her films include A Man Called Sarge and What Matters Most.  

Step by Step: Balnea Spa

Happy Equinox!

My wife and I spent some time at Balnea Spa in Bromont, Quebec this past weekend.  I have written about our love for thermal spas before, most expansively here.  For me, there are few things more relaxing than a hot bath.  As phones are typically forbidden within the facility, a spa is a wonderful place to unplug, one's only responsibility giving in to calm, pleasurable sensation.

Given the phone prohibition, my photos are not from the spa itself but from the surrounding area:

7 for 7 on fitness goals this week.

Star Trek: Displaced

Episode: "Displaced"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 3, Episode 24

Original Air Date: May 7, 1997

via Memory Alpha

Crew members are vanishing while strangers, beings calling themselves Nyrians, are just as mysteriously appearing all over the ship.  In time, our friends discover this is a complex and effective hijacking scheme on the part of the Nyrians.  Voyager is quickly overtaken and the entire crew - including even the EMH - find themselves on a prison colony where they're told they'll spend the rest of their lives.  Obviously, that won't do.

"Displaced" is fun with an old school sci-fi feel.  The portals our heroes find to other prison habitats are somewhat reminiscent of the original series episode "All Our Yesterdays."  I half-expected Mr. Atoz and his librarian clones to pop up.  I also enjoy the fact that the leverage Janeway finally finds to hold over the Nyrians is... cold weather (also echoing the TOS story).

Acting Notes

via West Wing Wiki

Kenneth Tigar played the role of Dammar, the leader of the hijackers.  Tigar was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, September 24, 1942.  He received both a BA and a PhD in German literature from Harvard where he was also active in theatre.  "Displaced" is his second of two Trek appearances.

Tigar's films include two Lethal Weapon movies, Primal Fear and Conspiracy Theory.  He has a brief but memorable role in Avengers as German Old Man.  When Loki commands a crowd to kneel before him...

On television, Tigar had a recurring role on L.A. Heat and guest appearances on Cheers, Dallas and ER among others.

Step by Step: Long Sleeves

There are many ways to track the change in seasons.  The days get shorter.  The leaves turn.  One could also track one's own wardrobe changes.  This past Friday was my first day wearing a long-sleeved shirt to work this year and I didn't regret it.  I've been wearing warmer clothes to bed recently, too.  The extended forecast shows highs in the 70s a few days this week but then all 60s the week after, just in time for the equinox.

7 for 7 on goals this week.

Star Trek: Children of Time

Episode: "Children of Time"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 5, Episode 22

Original Air Date: May 5, 1997

via Memory Beta

The crew of the Defiant discover a planet inhabited by their own descendants!  Apparently, our friends will attempt to leave the planet in two days AND encounter a temporal anomaly that sends them back two hundred years AND crash land again on the planet where they'll be forced to remain.  The dilemma that unfolds: do Sisko and company circumvent this scenario?  In doing so, they could go back to their own "current" lives but it would mean the 8,000 current inhabitants would cease to exist.

The story is awfully contrived but there's a broader narrative reason for all this.  Odo's on the planet, too.  Our Odo.  Evidently, Changelings have a much longer life span than most humanoids.  He looks not the same but better.  200 years of shapeshifting practice have paid off nicely.  But that's not even the big deal.

This Older Odo admits to Kira that he loves her and always has.  Current Odo is incapacitated at this time so he is saved the embarrassment of the admission until the end of the episode.  "Children of Time" is a means of hitting fast forward on the Kira/Odo will-they/won't-they romance tale.  Of course, they found the most roundabout Star Trek way to do it.

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

Gary Frank played the role of Yedrin Dax, Jadzia's descendant and host of the Dax symbiont.  Frank was born in Spokane, Washington, October 9, 1950.  He had a principal role on Family for which he won an Emmy.  He had recurring roles on Fantasy Island, Hill Street Blues and Remington Steele and guest roles on Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote.  Films include Enemy Territory, Deadly Weapon and The Distinguished Gentleman.  

Step by Step: My Sister Will Read Every Word of This Star Trek-Related Post

Ticonderoga, New York - most famous for the 18th century fort of the same name - is home to an extraordinary museum: the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour.  James Cawley, who amassed his "fortune" as an Elvis impersonator (no, seriously), devoted 14 years to rebuilding the set of the classic television show according to original blue prints.  There are a few original pieces scattered around but most was built anew from the ground up.

Why does my sister care?  She is not remotely interested in Star Trek but she has her own classic television obsessions.  I intrigued her when I shared this little nugget: Trek and The Brady Bunch used the same chairs.  I don't just mean the same kind of chairs.  I mean the same, actual, physical chairs.  Trek had them first - the two shows didn't quite overlap.  For Trek, they slipped a black covering over the back to make them look future-y.  Without the covers, they passed for suburban stylish.

We learned a lot of cool stuff.  The original set builders were a resourceful crew.  Much of the random technojunk you see on the walls is made from reclaimed packaging materials.

The two boxy things above our tour guide are from electric typewriter packaging.  The studio had bought 120 IBM typewriters for office use.  The set guys swooped in to grab the styrofoam.  

Funny story about the spray bottles here in Dr. McCoy's lab:

Spray bottles were introduced to the public at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City as a futuristic wonder.  As they were creating a space age show, the set guys bought a bunch of them.  Of course, by the time the first episode aired two years later, spray bottles were ubiquitous in American homes.  But they still had the bottles.  They had to find a use for them.

Another link to my sister's passions...

The displays includes a Jefferies tube, invented for the series and named after the art director who designed them, Matt Jefferies.  Jefferies was also the art director for another of my sister's favorite shows: Little House on the Prairie.

The tour addressed a matter that came up on my blog several years ago.  My post about the original series episode "Journey to Babel" inspired a discussion in the comments about the rise of color television.  Apparently, NBC, Trek's original network, carried more color programming than its competitors and there was a very good reason why.  NBC was owned by RCA, the world's largest producer of color television sets.

I highly recommend the museum.  We had a marvelous time.  If you're a Trekkie and you're ever in the area, it's a must-see.  Even if you're not one of the devoted, I expect if you have any interest in the television medium's early days, you might still find it fascinating.  

Right, my fitness goals... I was 7 for 7 this week.  I was actually a little worried about meeting the step goal the day we went to Ticonderoga.  Generally speaking, sightseeing is great for steps, especially the way we do it.  But the museum is small - not exactly Smithsonian scale.  Plus it meant a lot of time in the car, there and back.  Fortunately, I still managed.

Star Trek: Distant Origin

Episode: "Distant Origin"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 3, Episode 23

Original Air Date: April 30, 1997

via Memory Alpha

Forra Gegen, a Voth paleontologist, discovers his species traces its origins all the way back to Earth.  He and his research assistant set out to observe Voyager's crew incognito.  Unfortunately, they're rather clumsy about it and our friends discover their presence on the ship quickly.  In a panic, Gegen kidnaps Chakotay in order to take him back as proof of the genetic link to the leaders of his world.  

"Distant Origin" is a send up of Galileo's trial over his revelation of a non-geocentric universe.  People cling hard to their mythology and let's be honest, we don't have to go back centuries to find examples in human experience.  Nor do we have to travel to distant worlds.  It's all playing out in the United States of America, 2026.  Those who adhere to a nationalist Christian view of human origin, human law and the white protagonist role in American history hold greater political power in our nation than they have in generations.  Truth is negotiable.  Might makes right.

It's an excellent episode - indeed, one of Voyager's best.  Using the holodeck to extrapolate how dinosaurs could have evolved into an intelligent, humanoid life form is the coolest application of the technology to date (and deeply AI in hindsight).  "Distant Origin" is also a wonderful Chakotay story.  Our First Officer is going to have to fight for narrative relevance in the series moving forward (true for most of the cast) but he's the right choice as Gegen's sideman at the trial.  Chakotay is willing to sublimate his ego a lot more quickly than would have been possible for any of the other principals.  

Acting Notes

via King of Queens Wiki

Concetta Tomei played the role of Odala, leading minister of the Voth's Ministry of Elders.  Tomei was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, December 30, 1945.  She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an education degree then, after teaching for four years, studied theatre at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Tomei's stage resume is stellar.  She appeared in Richard III with Kevin Kline, The Elephant Man with David Bowie and Cyrano de Bergerac with Kline and Jennifer Garner.  On television, she's had principal roles on China Beach, Providence and Madman of the People.  She's had recurring roles on L.A. Law, Falcon Crest and Wings and guest roles on 7th Heaven, Touched by an Angel and The King of Queens.  Her best-known film role is Mrs. Crandell in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.  

Step by Step: A New School Year

The school year has begun and so far so good for keeping up with fitness goals: 9,000 steps/day plus a more vigorous workout.  I was 7 for 7 on the week.  I have recess duty rather than lunch duty to start the year which definitely helps.  Given the strong start, I'm thinking about increasing goals soon but as discussed last week, I'm reluctant to push too hard too early.  Ultimately, I want to be able maintain the good habits through the winter.  

Beyond photography, I find it meaningful to pay attention to the gradual seasonal changes in my surroundings from week to week.  In late summer, it can be harder to notice because it requires awareness of what's shutting down for the fall.  Our brains are programmed to see what is there that wasn't before rather than what has disappeared.  It's definitely starting to get cooler.  5 out of the 7 days had a lower high temperature than the same day the week before.  Once school starts, I'm eager for things to cool off.  I'm not a big fan of summer heat anyway.  Vermont is wonderfully mild compared to most of the country which is a major selling point for me.  

Star Trek: Soldiers of the Empire

Episode: "Soldiers of the Empire"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 5, Episode 21

Original Air Date: April 29, 1997

via Memory Alpha

General Martok is asked to command a Klingon Bird-of-Prey and he enlists Worf to join him as first officer.  Dax invites herself along, too.  Sisko obligingly advances the narrative by approving the leave time.  Morale is low aboard the Rotarran and in their efforts to help, tensions rise between Martok and Worf as well.

In my NextGen wrap up post, I advocated for a Klingon-centered Star Trek series.  "Soldiers of the Empire" is precisely the sort of episode that demonstrates the possibilities.  Each of the Klingon characters on board has a distinct personality and interactions are meaningful.  In other words, the Klingons are nuanced for a change, even if they are all still "warriors."  The Martok story in general offered considerable spin-off potential, but then that's true of a lot of DS9 threads.

Acting Notes

via The West Wing Wiki

David Graf played the role of Leskit, helmsman on the Rotarran.  Graf was born in Lancaster, Ohio, April 16, 1950.  He graduated from Otterbein College.  "Soldiers of the Empire" was his second of two Trek appearances.

Graf was best known for the role of Sgt. Tackleberry in the Police Academy movies, appearing in all six films.  Television guest appearances included M*A*S*H, Voyagers and The West Wing.  Graf passed away in 2001 from a sudden, massive heart attack.

Step by Step: Setting Goals

For me, the beginning of the blogging year coincides with the beginning of the school year, a good time to set fitness goals.  I have learned over time, reasonable expectations are important.  During the summer, I have near-complete control over my schedule plus there's plenty of daylight.  So knocking out goals is easy.  Once school starts, it's harder.  A step count isn't much of an issue.  Teaching literally keeps me on my feet.  But finding time, energy and, most crucially, motivation for anything beyond that is challenging.

My step goal at the moment is 9,000, 1,000 above the factory setting for my fitness tracker, AmazFit Band 7.  Last year, I ended up reducing the goal back to 8,000 over the winter months and I hope to avoid the same this time.  Additionally, I would like to include a more intensive workout each day.  During the school year, it will likely need to happen during the evening and that's not always easy.  The workout is definitely the bigger ask.  Over the summer, I did alright with it.  Let's see if I can keep it up.

This past week, I met both of those goals every day.

A walk in our hilly neighborhood is my default exercise choice.  Vermont is dependably beautiful so photography is one of my best motivators.  I have five spots which I approach with a Monet-esque philosophy.  It's meaningful to capture them at different times of year.  

8/16/26

8/18/26

8/22/26

8/22/26

8/22/26

With wildlife, it's get what you can when you can.  Don't waste time trying to get closer or waiting for better light or whatever.  Reptiles and amphibians are unusually cooperative because their default defense is lying still in hopes of evading detection.  With birds and mammals, you'd better be quick.  And lucky.

Red-Spotted Newt

Common Garter Snake