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,

Well, the Holiday Clock is ticking! Thanksgiving is only a couple of weeks away, then Hanukkah, Christmas, Boxing Day and Kwanzaa, all right around the corner. Did I miss anything? Oh yes, New Year's! (Or would we call that "New Stardate"? Not sure how that works...) Certainly a lot of festivities in the works and a lot of things to get started on, like deciding what to buy, how much to spend, how to keep the gifting balanced so no one gets more than someone else, and figuring out who to buy gifts for and who to just send a card... Something else I highly enjoy is, misleading my friends a little. It sounds kind of mean, but it is sooo much fun to tell your friend that you just got them a present (which is true) and watch their face light up and then they blurt out, "Whadja get me?" I love to respond with something like: "I'm not telling you, besides it would ruin the surprise if you knew I got you a videogame." Of course, I didn't, I got them some DVDs instead, but it's so fun messing with them! Heehee! Y'know, speaking of gifts, maybe I should get Carl a new pair of pants to replace the ones that Snuggles kinda destroyed... Oh, and I should get some catnip for Snuggles! Gee, hope that catnip doesn't somehow find its way into one of the pockets of Carl's new pants... Nah, I wouldn't do that ... though it would be awfully fun ... but no, I couldn't. Then again, maybe that would help them get along. I hope Carl isn't reading this ... howabout some questions?

Ah, here's one...

Dear Kate,
I am a very devoted Star Trek fan. I always defend Trekkies not matter what. But I have this friend who cannot wrap her mind around the fact that Star Trek is way better than Star Wars. I am seeking your advice to help me put it into simpler terms for her. I've tried having a face-off between the Enterprise-E v. the Millennium Falcon, Luke v. Spock, and even Janeway v. Solo. But no matter what she won't listen to me. What do you advise I do to make her accept that Trekkies are better????
Eureka4Trip
P.S You give great advice!!! (Are you sure you aren't a Vulcan???)

Hey Eureka4Trip,

I'm glad you think I give great Vulcan-like advice, so I hope you'll listen when I ask you to re-read your letter and see just how illogical you are being. Star Trek is not better than Star Wars, and Star Wars is not better than Star Trek — they're each their own thing! They both have their good parts and their bad parts. Okay, so maybe the guys in Trek take off their shirts a little more, but that doesn't make it better! It just adds to the many differences. Besides, isn't that one of the fundamental teachings of Trek: acceptance and diversity? C'mon now, you have to admit that if everyone liked the exact same things, wore the same clothes, drove the same cars, watched the same shows, etc., the world would be a pretty boring place. Celebrate your freedom of choice, and don't judge others!

Hey Kate, always enjoy your column!
Every week I check out all the latest news and read all about the remastered versions of TOS, but when, oh when will us poor Brits across the pond get to see it? Either on TV or on DVD?
All the Best,
Phil in London, UK

Hey Phil,

Cool, thanks, I'm glad you like my column! Well, I've got some good news for you. According to the information I have located, the DVDs will be released over here (in the U.S.) on Nov. 20. But wait, it gets better! The release date for the DVDs in the U.K. (Region 2) is before ours on Nov. 19! Okay, so it's only one day ... but it's still ahead of us. So check with your local DVD shop as they should be able to give you more info. You might also want to check with the shop on Startrek.com, just to see if they'll be offering the Region 2 version since I know that they'll carry the U.S. Region 1. (If you're wondering how this girl knows all this technical Region stuff — shop and learn, baby, shop and learn!)

Dear Kate,
Do you know of the Star Trek Stardate day-to-day calendar? I am greatly disappointed that there will be no calendar for 2008 that shows a different Star Trek photo every day, which I really enjoyed having on my desk for several years now. I don't want to miss it and I'm sure Carl will agree, too! Perhaps you can ask him to write one of his "special" letters to CBS or Paramount and the publishers at Pocket Books to convince them that licensing issues (which I was told to have caused the trouble here) shouldn't impede publishing this most enjoyable calendar. What do you think? Thanks for your help!
Loving your column,
Stefan from Germany

Hey Stefan,

Yeah, I've seen those calendars, they're really nice! I don't know if there are, or were, licensing issues, but I can tell you this — I don't think one of Carl's letters is going to help your cause any ... besides, he's too busy trying to get on J.J.'s movie and writing letters to Startrek.com (I don't know where your Season 6 set is, Carl!) ... but that shouldn't stop you from writing to the publisher yourself and expressing your opinion!

Hello, i would like to know if their are any more star trek movies coming out, or any more t.v shows. Thanks.
Mark. s

Hi Mark,

You must have been on a very long away mission, huh? Yes, there is a new movie coming out, December of next year. And I haven't heard anything, except for rumors, about a new series ... I think you should spend a little more time on the site. Okay?

Kate,
I command a small crew on the U.S.S. Low Brass, a subsection of Starfleet's Militia Band. Even though I'm their captain, it seems that they don't bother to listen to a single thing that I say. I've tried the usual methods: vaporizing the ones that wear red (helping them personally), challenging them to honorable battle with a bat'leth (asking them politely to fix something), and even mind melds (it is what it says), but they don't seem to get the fact that I am in charge and that they should shut up for a bit. Any suggestions on how to help my crew?
Captain, U.S.S. LB

Hi Captain,

I know that often a person's first instincts are to imitate — that is, when some one yells at you, you want to yell back. But this really isn't the answer, especially when dealing with a rowdy crew. It's kind of like dealing with animals — hang on, hear me out! Seriously, if a dog is barking, yelling at them is not going to calm them down. You have to be the calm one to let them know there is no reason to bark. If you are tense and upset, they will know this and feel there is something wrong and it just makes things worse.

There really is a world of difference between being a leader and being a bully, even though some have a hard time making that distinction. From your letter you are obviously seeing that your actions are not getting the results you want, and though some of what you write is kind of cryptic, it sounds to me like maybe you've got a bully attitude in this situation. Fine, you want to show your dominance, as you probably should being the captain, but no one wants to follow an insecure person. You should be the one that your crew respects, looks up to, and knows that you have their best interests in mind. Set some reasonable boundaries, explain the consequences of their actions, and also start a reward system! This could be something as simple as if they arrive on time for their shift, you'll give them an extra ten minutes for lunch. (To extend the animal analogy, a little catnip can work wonders!) There are ways of showing that you are in charge without being a tyrant. Sometimes the most awakening thing you can do for a defiant crewman is to ask them, calmly and nonjudgmentally, to explain why they did something. Too often people simply react without thinking, and need to be encouraged to explain themselves and to understand their part in the whole scheme of things. And you need to start with yourself, to set an example. I really believe that two-way communication is the first step in getting through to people. I admit, this may be a slow process, but they will respond to a firm guiding hand, which is what they need. Of course, there has to be true sincerity on your part! Trust me, if you try to pull a fast one on them, the crew will know! And they do outnumber you...

Hi Kate,
Could u send me a picture or two of u IN REAL LIFE? That'd be real cool.
Thanks,
Will

Hey Will,

What do you mean, "real"? This girl is 100 percent real, I'll have you know. And I think some of my pictures on the website are really good ones, too. I really like the one where my hair is up and kinda free — better than the ones where my hair is flat ... don't you hate it when your hair doesn't cooperate on picture day? ... but they're all me, baby!

Hey Kate,
Just read your take on Karl Urban as the new McCoy... I'm a fan of Karl ... L.O.T.R ... Riddick ... Doom ... But he's too handsome (like myself...hehe) to play Bones. The Bones character is a very self-aware, cultured, passionate, and when pressed (by our house Vulcan), single-minded. But at the same time can turn around and crack a joke, and have you in stitches. Best described by his own words: "I'm just a simple country bumpkin." And also if I'm not mistaken, McCoy is supposed to be quite older than Kirk and the others. If I did the cast, Karl would be Pike ... and for Bones, I would cast Gary Sinise. Gary, as Spock would put it, "is the only logical choice to play the good doctor." Gary is a very fine and seasoned actor in his own right ... and has all the intangibles to play "McCoy...Leonard H."
nuff said

Well Nuff,

I have to disagree with you on the choice of Gary Sinise, for the simple obvious fact that he is way too old compared to the rest of the kids they are casting. Now I had heard somewhere that in McCoy's past there was a time when he was a little less cautious, but something happened to him. The hard part is that this version of Bones is before he came on the Enterprise, so who knows. Besides, actors will often put on weight, change their hair, do special workouts or what-not for the sake of a good part. Karl Urban is very good at "becoming" his character. As one of my friends pointed out, look at the work he did on Xena — you'd never know that he was both Cupid and Caesar, so I think he'll be okay.

Well, I think this is gonna do it for this edition, though I'm still looking through all your questions... Wow, it looks like there are quite a few about the new movie — so I think I'll save those for next time. And maybe by then we'll know who is going to be Captain Pike! I can't wait for that one! I have a feeling we'll be talking an awful lot about the movie in next several months, so that'll be fun! Yep, a little more than thirteen months ... another thing to add to our countdown list! All right gang, get your holiday checklists in order, mark those calendars, and let the anticipation — and the shopping — begin! 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!