Kate is a freelance writer who offers her advice on a wide range of subjects drawn from her own Trek life experiences. The views and opinions expressed by Kate are hers and hers alone... and trust us, she has opinions! Click here to send your question to Kate.

Hey Everyone!

Y'know, lately there has been a lot of attention, and rightly so, on recycling. I can just hear all of you now: Kate's getting all environmental on us. Well, that's kinda-not-really true. I guess it just seems a bit odd to me that there is a lot of recycling going on, yet not all of it's the kind that really matters. For example: reruns on TV or remaking an old movie— what, you never thought about that as recycling? Or, how about buying a used car — isn't that recycling too? Buying a house or renting an apartment — hey, that counts! Oh and of course, there's the boot cut/flare-legged jeans — don't tell me, giving bell-bottom pants a new name fooled you? Okay, so maybe it's just me, but isn't it annoying that we recycle all the silly stuff that doesn't matter, but not the things that do? So, while everyone ponders that for a minute, I'm going to look through some questions...Hmmm, let's see... Dear Kate, U R hot... Okay, thanks... umm... Dear Kate, how do I get a date...that's easy, buy a calendar... Fooled you didn't I? You thought after all that talk about recycling I was actually gonna re-use questions, didn't you? Well, that's one thing that Kate doesn't believe in recycling! So let's see what we have this week...Ooh, this one's good...

Hello Kate,
I hope you can help me. I have just bought a Grilka costume from the series DS9, in the episode 'Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places'. This Lukara costume that Grilka wore in Quark's bar (Jadzia Dax wore the same costume in the holosuite when she and Worf were helping Quark) is unfortunately missing the belt and buckle that the two actresses wore in the episode. I've tried to get a picture of the buckle on the web and also tried to freeze frame the DVD but with no luck. Do you know where I could get a detailed picture of the buckle or even some information about what the buckle is supposed to be of, as I would like to attempt to make the belt and buckle myself?
Many thanks,
Gitta T.
London, England

Hi Gitta,

Well, I saw a few pictures on-line, and from that, the belt seems to be the same material as the silverish band on the collar and cuffs of the sleeves. So maybe this could give you a good starting point. I would also suggest looking to see if you can find an official website for Mary Kay Adams (the gal who played Grilka) as they might have more info and additional photos. Of course you could always ask your friendly neighborhood Klingon Ship (Fan Club) — they are always a wealth of information. Just be sure you stand downwind when talking to them — after a battle they can get pretty smelly. And I won't even go into what gagh does to their breath...

Dear Kate,
I am a seventeen year old and I enjoy Star Trek a lot. I was wondering if Paramount or CBS was thinking about starting another series any time soon. I think it would be cool to watch a series from the view of the Klingons or Romulans or even see Riker and Troi back on the Titan for a series.
Sincerely,
Cadet Paul T.

Hi Paul,

Y'know, I would love to see another series on the air, so I can get my weekly Trek fix. But right now, a lot of attention is on the new movie set to come out in December '08. Oh, and the big announcement that J.J. Abrams is supposed to be making at Comic-Con this year. So while I wouldn't rule out the possibility of another series just yet, I have a feeling that the powers-that-be want to see how the new movie and the new crew are accepted before making any other plans — that's just a smart business move. Now keep in mind that I have no direct connection or access to information; however, we know that J.J. Abrams has and is producing hit television shows... and who knows what the future could hold in the sense that the movie is coming out, "Lost" is reaching its end... who knows, I sure don't! But it is fun to speculate... did I just start a rumor?

Dear Kate,
I wonder what early Borg looked liked? Was it just some alien race that decided to go cybernetic? If so, when did they start assimilating other races? Is there a species 01? Questions like this just go on and on, like why do the Borg speak English(they even think in it). I find these questions confusing, maybe you could give me some insight.
YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED 10 of 23-

Hi 23,

Well, since you've asked me... early Borgs are among us! You've seen those people who walk around dazed with an earbud in one ear — early Borg! And those people who have a phone on one hip, an iPod on the other, and a PDA, and have to have the latest and greatest electronic gadgets — oh yeah, Borg too! Besides, haven't we all seen the way the cellphone has evolved, remember how big they used to be only a few years ago? Next we'll be implanted with our phone and we'll have to plug the charge cable into our arm to power the batteries. See, we're being consumed and dependent upon our technology... Technology is overtaking us! Grab your less advanced 8-tracks, and manual typewriters — and go! Run for the hills! Save yourselves!!!

Hey Kate,
Love the column! Anyways, recently I've found myself in a bit of a bind. My best friend and I have been through a great deal together and always made it out alive and well. We've had our differences, but it's never interfered with our friendship. He'll make fun of me for being a Trekker and I'll make fun of him for being a Goth, but whether we're dancing in victory or staggering out of the bar together, we've always been there for one another. But there's a snag that I fear could tear us apart. In short, I've fallen for his sister. He's fairly protective of her (to the point of violence if it ever had to come down to it) and I'm worried that he may see me differently if I ask her out. He knows my past relationships and knows that I always walk into a potential romance with honorable intentions, but this is his sister. It's been eating away at me for months now. I've even tried to convince myself that she's nothing special but failed miserably. She's expressed interest in me, but I've never outright acted upon it, and my friend is clueless as to what's going on. A strong part of me feels as if I'd be betraying him, and I've deeply considered putting my political views aside to join the army before it comes to that. I feel that removing myself from the situation altogether may be for the best. Any help would be much appreciated, Kate. Keep up the good work!
Johnny the Redshirt

Dear Johnny,

I hope that in the meantime, you have not joined the army — I fear with a name like "Johnny the Redshirt" your fate is, ummm... I think you know what I'm getting at. Look, you have obviously given this a lot of thought and have taken everyone into consideration — kudos on that! So it seems to me, the thing to do is to tell your friend that you'd like to go to a movie with his sister — a movie is harmless — and that she seems to have expressed interest in you too. It's very important to convey to your friend that you like his sister, and just as you said in your letter, his friendship is important to! You don't want to him to feel betrayed or used. He is your friend, so if you honestly tell him your concerns he should at least respect the fact that you thought enough of his friendship to not put it at risk and also see what he thinks about the idea first. And maybe even offer to let him come along once or twice, just so he can see for himself how the two of you interact. You might be surprised, your friend might actually like the idea that his sister is with someone he knows really well and trusts. Oh! And I'm sure he'll remind you that if you break his sister's heart he knows where you live.

Hey Kate!
I really enjoy your column. After about two years I finally got to see the final episode of Enterprise in its entirety. It left one burning question that has probably been beat to death for years especially with die hard fans. Why did they kill Trip? I know it was the end of the run but come on... how many main characters have been killed off in a Star Trek series. My experience over the last 20+ years with Star Trek is that they always leave the crew intact for future options... books, movies and the like. I mean, I know main characters have been killed off but it just doesn't make since for them to kill one off that early. I guess this is just a two year delayed reaction.
Was Trip's demise something that Connor wanted or did they really think that the series was that dead that there would be no further use for the first Enterprise engineer? I think the reason the show didn't pick up momentum was because of the time slots and the channel that it aired on. That's just my opinion.
Thanks,
Chuck

Hi Chuck,

I have to admit, when I watched the final Enterprise — and no, I haven't seen every episode, although I did watch almost all of the last season — I too thought the way the writers killed off Trip was a waste and pointless. I mean, c'mon, there had to have been another way for Trip to get out of that situation. I think the writers were hoping it would be shocking and endear him to the fans. Okay so yeah, the fans still love Trip, but personally I think it was more stupid than shocking. I haven't heard that it was Connor's idea — actually, I think it's mentioned in one of the con reports that he didn't like the way it all went down... And on top of all that, why would the producers think it was a good idea to reduce the eye-candy on a show? Thankfully, this is sci-fi and no one really dies, right? But, y'know, the one thing about that episode that really, I mean really bothered me— when Capt. Archer toasted "To the Next Generation." I know that was meant to refer to the future of Starfleet in general, but with Riker and Troi being in the episode, I felt like the writers were saying "Thank you TNG characters for coming on the show and saving our bottoms"... yeah, maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I just felt like Archer and crew got the shaft.

Well, I'm sure that last paragraph is going to get some interesting feedback... Okay sentient beings, until next time, remember to breathe... feed a plant... plant a plant... and all that other recycling environmental stuff. Later!

If you wish to ask Kate a question or need some advice on your own Trek life, you can write to her at columns@startrek.com with the subject "ASK KATE." (Letters are subject to editing at Kate's discretion.)

Letters to Kate become Kate's sole property. Submitting to Kate relinquishes all ownership rights to, or any claims for financial or other consideration in connection with the submitted material, including any ideas, suggestions, script ideas, anything. This goes for you too, Carl!