While the Dream Book shows photos of two Star Trek ornaments for 2007, Hallmark actually is releasing three. If you squint and read the type at the bottom of the catalog page, you’ll see we have a Lieutenant Uhura ornament available in limited quantities starting on Ornament Premiere Weekend (July 14-15 — the first days 2007 ornaments can be sold in stores). Anyone wanting to get all three would have the best chance by visiting a Hallmark Gold Crown store that weekend. The Uhura one is likely to go fast.

The batteries vs. pigtail cords question is one that collectors and fans go back and forth about. The starships use tiny watch batteries that seem to last forever, and the bigger ones use two or three AAAs. I get that some people prefer to hang the ornaments and plug them into the tree’s light string for holiday use. I like the fact that batteries allow me to keep the ornaments on my desk and goof with them all year long. The 2005 NCC-1701-A still glows as strong as it did when i bought it, and I fire it up three or four times a day. The Future Enterprise-D looks fantastic when it’s lit thanks to engineering advances since making the 1701-D back in the ’90s — and no pigtail hanging from the back end. I only wish Hallmark was doing batteries when they did the Guardian of Forever ornament a few years ago. I’d love to have that lit on my desk instead of just sitting there cold.

If batteries really were the only reason you skipped last year’s ornaments, Tenacious MC, that’s too bad. The TOS transporter is one of the coolest ornaments Hallmark has done for Star Trek yet — and the Wrath of Khan bridge scene is fantastic with the sound and light. You’ll have to see it for yourself.

The Hallmark Keepsake Ornament line is getting better and better — and I’m not just saying that because I’m involved in it. The designers, engineers and sculptors all are huge fans and really want to do Star Trek justice (as well as it can be delivered in ornament form). And the stuff that’s planned so far for 2008 and 2009 is just as cool … to a fanboy like me, at least. :)

There’s a “Fan Films” category in this week’s news, but no mention of Intrepid’s long-awaited first release? ;-.

http://www.starshipintrepid.net/

It’s an honest first effort that packs a punch, IMO; a rather well-written and engaging story, with a good vibe and loads of potential. Don’t let the uneven audio bother you too much (expect better audio in their next film).

See the fan film that Dennis Bailey has called “… the best-conceived, best-written and overall best-performed ‘Star Trek’ fan film I’ve seen.”

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But I must agree adding that third nacelle seemed a pointless addition and looked ridiculous… probably the only thing that annoyed me about “All Good Things…”

I think I still have the Hallmark Galileo Shuttle new in the box.