(A story I watched while pursuing my epic attempt to watch all Doctor Who during 2013.  (follow along on twitter: https://twitter.com/WatchingDrWho =)

Within the story, Barbara identifies the body of the ancient high priest Yetaxa as having died around 1430, as all the tomb bling around him is from the Aztec “early period” (Aztec empire formed from an aliance in 1427). She confirms that Aztecs were a specialty of hers – which presumably is why she immediately robs the grave for a shiny new bracelet!

Apart from that though, the story is undated.
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/15th_century – list the Doctor and Companion’s visit as “Unknown date”.

The novelisation, for what it’s worth, dates it to 1507.

But I was wondering… can we date the episode more accurately than that, from other plot elements?

I think so…

Since the story climax revolves(sic) around a total solar eclipse, can we use that? Well, yes, but only if we know when eclipses occured over the Aztec empire. This, it turns out, is relatively easy.

The Aztec empire at its maximum extent is shown here – 1519 being the year that the Spaniards landed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aztec_Empire_1519_map-fr.svg

This version mostly agrees on the outline, and also provides a bit of info about when each area fell under Aztec jurisdiction.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aztecexpansion.png

So, what about eclipses that crossed that area of the planet, between 1430 and 1519?

Luckily, NASA has an eclipse page with lots of historical eclipses calculated.
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html

So, here are the ones around the end of the empire – from 1501 to 1520:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas2/SEatlas1501.GIF
…that’s a bust.

What about earlier? Here’s the 15th century…
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas2/SEatlas1481.GIF
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas2/SEatlas1461.GIF
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas2/SEatlas1441.GIF
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas2/SEatlas1421.GIF
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEatlas/SEatlas2/SEatlas1401.GIF

Solar Eclipses for the Aztec Empire

Examining those and comparing, it looks like there were eclipses in 1452, 1477 and 1496 which may fit the bill. So with a bit of screen shooting, gimp and inkscaping, we get an amalgam of map, empire growth, and eclipses…

I’ve included the 1405 eclipse here as it was likely influential to early Aztec culture, but otherwise can be ignored for our purposes. The next one, chronologically, is 1452 – which spanned areas which didn’t fall under Aztec influence until 1486 at the earliest. Similarly,  1477′s eclipse covered area which didn’t become Aztec till 1502. Perhaps these could be argued by someone with more knowledge of the culture of the time (and how it matches known Aztec culture, and what we saw in the episode), but if we trust Barbara’s analysis and stick to a strict “it was actually Aztec” (rather than “soon-to-be-Aztec”) basis here, then that leaves only 1496 – an eclipse which ran across the northern edge of what was, at that time, Aztec controlled land. Indeed, some of which having been Aztec for almost 30 years.

So, 8 August 1496.

Does that settle it then?

Almost… the other factor which should be identifiable and was seen in The Aztecs was the architecture – the pyramid complex itself. And sadly, in my meager searching, I can’t find any sites which had anything like that, in that area…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_pyramids

This would perhaps be the most likely location within that eclipse path, if not for the timing – El Tajín fell in the 13th century:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Taj%C3%ADn

So in conclusion? It looks like there really was only one total solar eclipse which fell on the Aztec empire, and that was 1496. The lack of modern knowledge of the city itself can be retconned quite easily, either through natural jungle processes, or by more fictional means (eg: city was razed between then and now by some other alien or supernatural entity).

Otoh, if an appropriate pyramid site can be found within the paths of the 1452 or 1477 eclipses, then that would present a strong argument there – with the retcon required being Barbara being mistaken about her accuracy of location…

Some external links:
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/The_Aztecs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Aztecs_(Doctor_Who)
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/The_Aztecs_(novelisation)
http://www.drwhoguide.com/who_f.htm
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/SE1401-1500.html

But I think it’s wrong. I’m not a fan of chrome, basically. This is how I see them…

IE

She used to be ugly and obnoxious, but she’s had quite a makeover in both departments. Not enough to want to spend time with her, but you don’t feel dirty if your friends spend time with her at least.

Opera

She’s slightly-more-attractive-than-average, slightly-more-smarter-than-average, but is astonishingly arrogant and thinks she’s a mensa supermodel. She had one clever idea once as a kid (though in truth, Galeon thought of it first). Some people are swayed by her confidence/arrogance, but most don’t want to get involved.

Safari

She’s the anonymous quiet one. She does seem to always have the latest shiny phone gadget though…

Chrome

She’s the kid who grew up and is suddenly a whole bunch of hot, fast and easy.  …But if you spend time with her, you’ll quickly discover she has the depth of a puddle – and if you don’t want to do things her way – well, she can’t easily think of another way to do them, so you probably end up adjusting yourself to suit her and/or getting frustrated…

Firefox

She used to be THE hot one, but looks a bit ordinary in comparison to Chrome. But she’s working to keep trim. You can talk to her, but she’s got so many ideas that you may have to work with her a little bit to get her to talk your own language. Basically, she’s can be a bit high maintenance at first, but then she’s just your seamless companion who Knows What You Like!

Galeon

She was the genius child savant who, according to the few that met her, was going to grow up to be a revolutionary. So they left her to do that, and she starved to death on the side of the information superhighway instead…

And I got thinking about that. I watched all of TNG many years ago, and have long held the view that I wont watch it all again. Just not worth it, too many crap episodes. But there are many good episodes too, and so it solidified a thought I’d had for a while – to compile approximately a season worth of episodes from the 7 seasons produced, that would cover the best that TNG had to offer.

So beginning with the opening and closing episodes, it was pretty logical then to include the entire Q arc. Not a difficult call since Q is arguably the most entertaining recurring character. Q’s arc intersects with the most famous of TNG aliens, the Borg, so the entire Borg arc was then also an easy choice. Continuing in this style, the Borg arc intersects with Lore’s arc, and with one additional non-Lore episode, this arguably covers the main Data character arc. I then included the episodes with cameos from the original series… and a few bonus that are notable for being of high quality anyway, or just personal favourites.

Season1

• Encounter at Farpoint
  • introduction, Q
• Hide and Q
  • Q
• Datalore
  • Data / Lore

Season 2

• The Measure of a Man
  • Data
• Q Who
  • Q, Borg

Season 3

• The Survivors
  • Personal favourite episode
• Deja Q
  • Q
• The Best of Both Worlds – Part I
  • Borg

Season 4

• The Best of Both Worlds – Part II
  • Borg
• Family
  • Picard (and Worf) after Best of Both Worlds
• Brothers
  • Data / Lore
• Qpid
  • Q

Season 5

• Darmok
  • Notably good episode, Picard
• Unification – Part I
  • Spock
• Unification – Part II
  • Spock
• I, Borg
  • Borg
• The Inner Light
  • Notably excellent episode, Picard

Season 6

• Relics
  • Scotty
• True Q
  • Q
• Chain of Command – Part I
  • Picard
• Chain of Command – Part II
  • Picard
• Tapestry
  • Q, Picard
• Frame of Mind
  • Riker
• Descent – Part I
  • Borg, Lore

Season 7

• Descent – Part II
  • Borg, Lore
• Lower Decks
  • Interesting episode
• All Good Things
  • Q

So what have I missed? The main arcs left uncovered would be Wesley Crusher character arc, Worf’s character/Klingon Empire story arc, and Romulan Empire arc. But, including too many arcs has the danger of this ending with “hell, just watch it all” and that would defeat the purpose.

So this posts asks… are there any truly notable TNG episodes or arcs that would be worth including for the sake of a watchable TNG:condensed “season” of episodes?

How did they get to this point?

Here is my trip down OK Go video discovery lane

I was, of course, assisted in this by the existance of all the OK Go videos on one neat site. Conveniently, it’s their own: http://www.okgo.net/media/videos/

Also note: I will mainly be focusing on their video/visual style and evolution, with only passing commentary on the music. Finally, I was assisted in this by my silent partner in review, and her comments will occasionally find note here too.

…And so, on to the chronological order… [edit: it's not really chronological order, it's just the order they appear on their site. This page is basically a snapshot of the conversations my friend and I had about these videos, as we watched them in the order presented to us by the OK Go site]

What To Do

There is not much to say about this early clip. It looks for all the world like label-dictated style for an upcoming group who has yet to define themselves. It features a pretty ‘mainstream indy’ style. Simple setting, shot in black and white. No effects

Notable lyric: “could have been a genius if you had an ax to grind’

You’re So Damn Hot

Another clip which looks for all the world like a label formula. Clips from live shows on the road interspersed with flash-inspired animation. Nothing to write home about.

Get Over It

Yet another label formula clip. This time they’re in the center of an empty hall, performing, with occasionally clip-art shots of popculture items to sync with the lyrics.

Notable video moment: the slow motion ping pong. This felt like the first moment of OK Go’s future video quirkery coming out.

Don’t Ask Me (Dance Booth version)

This is clearly when OK Go started to cut their own creative teeth, as it were. It has a low budget self-made feel to it, with the band and random extras singing/dancing or just showing off (or even looking bored sometimes even!) to the music.

It’s gorgeous and smile inducing.

Don’t Ask Me

This label version of the same song is totally formulaic, and could have been produced for any generic band. Black and white, with simple colour patterns in the background, and don’t forget the cookie cutter dancing girl! (you will though)

It’s boring and yawn inducing.

Notable anything? Sorry, nothing at all.

Do What You Want

This video is a little bit dizzy inducing with it’s rapid motion hyperactive  bullettime-esque motion pans. I’d guess that band had creative input, but still played within the label marketing system. We get a generic band-surround-by-girls setting -  but the wallpaper (more of this next clip) behind them is quirky, and the girls are real (not fake models). But yet we still get a girls-dancing-in-slow-motion scene…

Do What You Want (Wallpaper version)

Taking their own lyrical advice, we have here an amazing example of the band striking out and just making what they want. At least, that’s how it feels! The concept is simple – the band and some performers, all performing… stuff!

The frenetic editing pace suits perfectly – but the masterpiece is the outfits. Everyone and everything (within reason) is covered in the same gorgeously hideous wallpaper pattern. It adorns clothes, instruments, the floor, the wall, furniture, segways…

Watching this, I feel that they have found themselves…

Notable video moment: the pogo stick…

[edit: as noted by Rachel (thankyou!), this clip came after the Treadmill listed below. I don't feel it changes my overall conclusion though. I think it just places it as a clip made with the groups new-found confidence in their own artistic abilities ]

Invincible

This is an odd one. I think it’s a group idea – to blow things up (cos that’s always fun, who cares about originality ALL the time anyway?), but it’s also full of generic ‘band performing’ clips too. My guess is that this is the band’s idea, but that they ceded some creative license to the label for the sake of finances and ability to make it…

Notable video moment: the chandelier

A Million Ways

To me, this is the precursor to the genius of Here It Goes Again, in the same way that Rubber Soul was the precursor to Revolver.

I think this may have been the first time the band ‘just went ahead and made it’ and totally circumvented the ‘system’. And what do they do? They dance around in the back yard! And it’s great!

For the first time we have a feel not only for the groups quirky style, but for the band members involved. Without this, there never would have been the treadmills…

Notable video moment: letting the video run past the end of the performance

[edit: again, thanks Rachel. This was a practice video which was leaked and went viral. Ok, so it wasn't deliberate in it's low-key, but shows their style coming through loud and clear ]

Here It Goes Again

OK Go, On Treadmills.

The clip which may have guaranteed OK Go lasting posterity even if they never made anything else again. I can’t say much to this that hasn’t been said a million times. How do you know it’s genius? From the sound of a million viewers all saying “why did I never think of that?”

Notable video moment: when you rewind to watch it again.

WTF

I must admit, this video actually annoyed me, but my silent partner in review thought it amazing. To my eye, making a whole video where the visual effect is that of a crashed Windows 3.1 (or 95/98/2000/XP) program – was cringe worthy.

In fairness, it did have potential though. If the effect had been applied selectively, whilst other times ‘locking’ the background in place, then I may well have been equally impressed. Silent partner, otoh, thought it was great.

And it’s not like there weren’t scenes which made good use of the style either – I don’t deny that. But the basic premise upon which all this cleverness was built? Just didn’t do it for me. So overall: cringe, with a concession of clever.

Notable video moment: the chair (which instead reminded me of old-skool demo scene

This Too Shall Pass

I love this and think it’s genius (though my silent partner thought it ‘meh, with a side order of cute’). It just grows and amazes as one long clip unfolds and expands, with new people and camera angles when you least expect.  I don’t want to give it away, so I’ll only say that it’s the first reveal of the brass which does it for me.

Notable video moment: every time you wonder how you didn’t see that person before now

This Too Shall Pass (Rube Goldberg Version)

Their most recent piece is a stunning piece of fun invention. I think it shows that the band is willing to now use the medium of video clips to make cool stuff, even if it has only a passing meaning to the song (and why not, it’s not like the formulas the labels push do any better anyway!).

This time a huge Rube Goldberg machine accompanies them in time with the song. A song which soon gets stuck in your head too (though I did find the Marching Band version to be rather forgettable, so ymmv).

The treadmill video gets a cameo here, and I think that the band feels they have more to show the world than just that one idea, and don’t want to be overshadowed by their own history after all.

I only hope that they don’t burn out, forget about the music, or typecast themselves in trying to escape the treadmill meme…

Notable lyrics: “let it go / this too shall pass”

Conclusion

Some groups – and indeed, people, start out quirky and imaginative, but when they begin to achieve fame, they get scared. They close down and start repeating themselves for fear of losing what they have, and instead lose that very edge that got them started.

Others instead, seem to use the power of fame to push the envelope of what is possible/accepted or expected – and so expand their own edge, in relative fearlessness of the effect it may have on their fanbase or reputation.

And it is into this latter category that I put Gonzo the Great.

oh, and also: OK Go.

Post Script:

Being a newly confirmed fan of both their video and their music – and I am kicking myself that I found out they were here in Brisbane a few weeks ago… and only found out this week when I discovered this clip history. No matter, next time…

[edit postscript: I wrote this review after an evenings entertaining video watching. I have since been corrected on some chronology and facts, and no doubt will find new errors in my assumptions down the track. In the interest of satisfying both my desire to not revise history, but also to not spread misinformation; I will update this post with edits like this as I find or am informed of errors. The original post will remain otherwise untouched.

…that’ll sure teach me to write and post at midnight! [1]]

So I’m wary about extensions to his work.

The movie I enjoyed. I thought it could be better, and some parts truly bothered me, but other parts gave me smiles. I accept it as a HHG movie, but somehow it lacked a vibe.

So this week saw the release of the long-awaited 6th Hitch Hiker’s book, written by Eoin Colfer. I bought it, I have read it. This is my review.

So the first thing I’m going to do is write the positive, but then I’m editing it out to the end of the review, because ultimately, it’s not a book that should be leaving a sour taste in your mouth in reviews.

Mostly spoilerfree review follows

First, the negative (minor spoilers)

This isn’t the novel Douglas would have written, right? Well,  yes, and no. In the improbabilities that span the vast multidimensional space of the infinite universe, I’m sure that a Douglas Adams would have written this novel as his 6th after the 5 we know. But it’s unlikely…

Colfer’s Guide feels like he’s taken some of Douglas’ writing formulas, and used them again and again. Almost, but exactly not quite overdoing it, as it were. This was especially evident earlier on, His plot isn’t as rich as we had come to expect from later Adams work. And his characters have distinct aura of ‘loser’ about them. Dent is no longer the everyday man, he has become a worst-at-everything-since-childhood character, and other characters seem to fall under the knife of an author who wants them to be poorer versions of themselves than my own imagination had previously made them out to be.

Adams’ writing always had a very subtle touch of PG humour, whilst Colfer more regularly  seems to make them, or at least allude to dirty jokes in a not-quite Adamsian way. A subtle extra hint of crudeness somehow. Anyway… it’s just not quite what Adams would have written.

The Positive (spoiler free)

So Douglas’ books, especially the Hiker books, have a certain pace, a certain rhythm. They have a certain style, a certain flair. Improbable as it is, and dispite the negatives, Colfer has, by and large, nailed it.

There were parts of the book that I laughed out loud at. Parts that I nodded with big smiles at. Parts that I reflected to myself with a ‘yes, that gives me pause for thought, in a good way’. And most tellingly, and this is the highest praise I can give, parts that I totally forgot I was reading a non-Adams’ Guide story. On balance, it felt natural.

Frankly, if they announced tomorrow that Eoin is writing a seventh, then I’ll look forward to it with the same mixture of eagerness, caution and anticipation as I did for this one.

PS: Originally blogged to: http://blog.thorx.net/2009/10/and-another-thing-a-review Please consider leaving comments at the blog rather than facebook or other social media side this post may be propogated to. Thankyou

It’s the kind of movie where you can see alot of the plot unfold ahead of time, but it doesn’t matter, because it’s not a story which gets it’s power from surprising the audience. Rather, it’s a story which gets it’s power through involving the audience in it. Alot happens, but it never felt rushed

I wont give more away about the movie than that, except to suggest that you go see it when it comes out.

Well, I will say one more thing: it breaks the fourth wall, and I always like that.