Star Wars Resistance: Episode 13 - "Dangerous Business"

Synopsis: Flix and Orka head out for a day break, leaving Kaz in charge of the shop ...

What I thought: Yes, another episode not obviously central to the overall arc as a whole but this one brings up a siematic recognition of more First Order sneaky stuff as the piece of mining equipment that the mining guild member was after looks heavily like they were using it to extract more minerals from somewhere. The presence of 4 stormtroopers on his very large vessel clearly indicated it was for them, as they guarded it. If we add this to the space station episode recently, it shows clear evidence of the First Order up to no good. Exactly what though, isn't fully clear.

This week's star of the show goes to Bitey, the pet of Flix and Orka, whom bites anything that's waved in front of his face. Somehow Kax manages to get bitten at least nearing ten times this episode without drawing blood or needing medical attention. Tetanus anyone? Given the size of the nashers on that pet, that's some pain resistance Kaz has! As one might have suspected by Bitey's continuous presence, his biting comes in handy, as a way to bring down ships. Whether the one cable being bitten would do it, or it was a combination of a chain reaction by the pet being shot and electrocuted, we'll never quite know, although I suspect the latter.

Clearly one knew that Kaz looking after the shop was going to bring chaos, and not only did he lose them the equipment, but also totally trashed it, as if a bull had gotten loose. BB8 did a fantastic amusing job of trying to defend the place, but ultimately it was Kaz and Bitey who somewhat saved the day quite spectacularly. News of this will undoubtedly spread across the station, and can only grab more attention on Kaz.

BB8 defends the shop.

Bitey does what he does best.

Abandon ship!

Rating 7/10 - Entertaining episode once again with charismatic Kaz at his outrageous best, BB8 entertainingly defending the shop, and Bitey proving to be an amusing and useful side-kick.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 12 - ""Bibo"

Synopsis: Nekku makes friends with a smelly hungry creature which brings danger to the whole platform.

What I thought: I know what you're all thinking: this is a filler episode. Where's the First Order? Where's the season arc that we all got excited about in the mid-season trailer? Well, if that's what you're after, you'd not be liking this episode, but there's much more to this show than the overall Sequel Trilogy arc.

This was an entertaining episode. Sure, it was quite clear to see where the whole plot was going to end up as soon as the big creature turned up, but we got to see a lot of the mechanism and heart of the station, from the top boss, Captain Doza admiring Kaz's piloting skills, to the engineering section which reveals those two children from several episodes ago (Children from Tehar) have even more significance than before: the younger one is clearly force-sensitive. Was this why the First Order wanted them? Did they know this? Are they hunting down force-sensitive children much like the Emperor did?

Then there's the reference right near the start to The Clone Wars, in regard to the salved equipment that Synara trawled up. Name dropping like that is delightful. Also, great to see Synara back although still clearly conflicted as she's in league with the pirates still and potentially still assisting them although it's still highly possible she's looking for a route out and will eventually side with the platform crew.

Brilliant also to see the Aces out there. Fast they are becoming individually more interesting, especially the stormtrooper helmet pilot with the tie-esque fighter. We also get to see that Kaz is easily as skillful, if not more skillful, than the Aces.

Neeku and his smelly friend.

The children are back.

Octopus is on the menu.

Rating: 7/10 - Predictable, but enjoyable episode with Neeku in fine form throughout, and tidy pickings of extra information gleaned regarding the children.

The Curse of Oak Island S06E01

We’re back and it’s a foggy wet day on Oak Island, much like my brain is clouded when it comes to remembering what happened last season; lots of digging, chatting in the War Room, money being spent and a cross as the big find? That’s about the gist of my failing memory. However, it’s great to be back, as we can look forward to how people with a lot of money can cause a lot of destruction in a relatively small space for little reward … for another season. This is TV entertainment folks!

Things get started with the obligatory air shot of Oak Island, which is a little foggy today, as Rick and Marty drive towards the island fresh with bags of money and plenty of ideas of how to make as much of a mess as possible. We’re reminded that this is a 50-year-old childhood dream for the brothers who are hoping that this year is the year that dreams come true: much like the last 5 seasons then. Marty says he’s only 70% convinced that something happened on Oak Island, which apparently is much more than he started with, which goes to show how someone with a lot of money can soon find them parted from the $$$$s.

OMG! There’s a new War Room! Apparently, tourists have been causing havoc so a new one has been established in a secluded spot, which you’d think wouldn’t be easy on such a small island. It’s still got the same sign on the outside though (EST. 2013) but hey, who cares about accurate dates on this island? Everyone is inside, like the knights of the round table, including Dan who has rarely left the house. Pleased to see Craig Tester is still there, despite what he said at end of last series. The big three are on the table, no, not Rick, Marty and Jim, but the targets for this year: the swamp, the money pit and Smith’s Cove. The latter involves the idea of a massive coffer dam so they can find that wooden structure underneath which they think are trapdoors. H8 in the money pit is also one of the 3 where they hope a series of multiple seismic analysis will finally reveal what’s below. This feels a little familiar when it comes to wanting to find out what lies below, aside from mud and water. Also on the table is having metal detector expert Gary spend the rest of his life scanning the island, starting with lots 1-8 and a few others never previously checked before. There’s excitement at nuking area of trees in order for Gary to wield his manly detector.

The next day and there’s a trip to the money pit to map those seismic tests. In comes a geophysical company to do the dirty work. First up, a test! Blimey, that’s a change. They have mapped up where they know a searcher shaft from mid 1800s (called Halifax Tunnel) is located. If this goes well, the brothers will feel more willing to spend one million dollars on having the whole area scanned.  A series of 2ft holes along that area are filled with dynamite and then detectors to pick up the vibrations: good vibrations one hopes. This literally is akin to blowing up money.

Marty and three of the team head to Smith’s Cove to see if the winter’s storm has washed anything up. Gary is out with his detector and … he finds a modern iron spike. Next up, they find some lead! Possibly from a ship, so the hype wagon drums up to us. They all seem super excited already.

It’s the first trip to the pub of the season, as some of the gang look over the lead speculating about it, including that maybe those who lost that cross on the cove lost the lead. Hmm, maybe. Or, maybe not. They want to get the lead tested to find out its original geological location. Which, partially in my mind, might be the off the back of a nearby fishing vessel.

Next day again, and the seismic test in the money pit is almost ready, but Gary and Rick head to Lot 2 which has been a little mutilated. Apparently, this is the first ever time this lot has been metal detected. First up, there’s a massive boulder covered in moss which they clear and find a signal near. They found a massive coin from 1797! Wowzers. Now this is actually something tangible. Very handy when they have dates on them huh? Doesn’t really answer much about the mystery of island but shows people were here and pretty careless with their money in the 1790s. It could show that there was a British presence not long after the discovery of the money pit in 1795.

At the Money Pit, the test line is almost ready as they detonate about 150 small charges that will be detected. Not all at once though but one by one. Next day in War Room they look over the results. This shows the a 2D layer cross section of the area that’s like a mosaic mess of colours, but they do show that Halifax tunnel in the results.

Next day and there’s a convoy onto the island as the seismic test team start preparing about 1,000 charges and detectors to create a 3D map of the ground beneath the entire money pit. It feels strange to detonate the ground although I assume it’s a muffled detonation that’s not very destructive.

Craig, Dave and Peter are on a car ride 300 miles NW to Fredericton to watch over a test of that lead cross from last season. At a university they will laser the cross and then get its isotope that’ll tell us roughly where it came from.

Back at Lot 2, Gary and Jack the destroyer are searching the forest undergrowth. There’s nothing at all to start of with but they zero in on another boulder and, hey presto, there’s something there that’s iron; literally on the top of it and a hole on the side. Definitely manmade but when and why? Gary thinks it might have been used to put a ring and rope around to help pull something along, maybe treasure?

Back at Fredericton and the chemical analysis is on its way. First up, there’s traces of hey ho silver in it which isn’t unusual due to a lack of techniques in the past to refine better. The next main revelation is that it’s not from North America. Let speculation begin! These results are later discussed in the War Room via a teleconference. There’s still a good chance it’s Templar related, not least because it looks very similar to their crosses. There’s talk of Europe specialists to call upon next. Is this another plane trip?

Back at Lot 2, Rick and Laird join to look at that boulder, and pull back more of the moss to reveal yet more drill holes. There’s also a small triangular shape chiselled onto the side of the stone. Is it a freemason mark? Or is it nothing in particular?

Next day and more charges are detonated in the Money Pit but in Smith’s Cove the guys bring in an EM61 metal detector equipment on wheels that can go much deeper than the handheld ones that Gary uses. Poor Gary must be feeling inferior right now.

Rick, Dave and Craig are on a road trip to Irving Company, who have been the people making those big massive holes in the money pit these past few years. These guys have some proposals on how to construct that dam at Smith’s Cove. By way of augmented reality, they show how it’ll look with two massive cranes helping to construct the dam. The guy wearing the headset was totally unnecessary really and timewasting, but it seems Rick and co see enough to cement the deal. No real surprise there then? Some companies only have to sneeze, and Rick is ready to wipe their noses.

Back at Smith’s Cove and the EM61 has trawled the area and locates something metallic in one area deep below the sand although there’s not much to say what it is.

Gary and Rick head to Lot 21 which has also been a little mutilated as well. This is where Daniel McGinnis used to live back in 1700s, whom we had his descendants visit last season and tell the story of a cross said to have been found by him. First up, an old hinge. Then … it’s another jewel/gem brooch of a red colour. Ohhhhhhh, it’s beautiful.

The Money Pit gets yet more destruction by way of dynamite.

This is the result of Money Pit tests ... yeah, It makes no sense to me either.

Oh, a 1797 beautiful coin!

And a broach ...

Rating 8/10 – A very decent start to the season with concrete plans, discoveries, and more money being spent than you can possibly imagine. It all looks very promising, but then, it always does at this early stage of a season doesn't it?

Conversing about 'Citizen Curators' - Core Session 5

Believe it or not, we've arrived at the final core session before things go full-on project crazy up until the end of the programme. It's a trip back to Helston's 'Museum of Cornish Life' for us in the West Cluster of Citizen Curators, where there are more objects from all aspects of life than you can imagine ... and more. So much more than you'd think, that my imagination feels quite feeble when I'm within the walls of this museum.

Before getting to the subject matter of the hour, there was a recap on our conventions (an opportunity to guess amusing responses to the clues) and reminder about our log ... ooops. I'm totally failing on that aspect but at least I have a blog and my diary to help fill in the gaps when I get round to the log :)

Interpretation and (re)Presentation

We started with a trip back to the 1970s by way of John Berger's 'Ways of Seeing' TV series; particularly episode 1, 30 minutes of which is on youtube, which we were supposed to see before the session; I totally forgot. Thanks to Christmas and New Year, up until a few days ago, I thought the next Citizen Curators session was next week so my schedule was totally mixed up! Today we watched ~ 10 minutes of the episode, which provoked different views from those of us in the room: from those finding it absorbing, right up to disinteresting. For me, it had a rather psychedelic feel, much like everything in the 70s, and being a big fan of progressive-rock (which originated in the 70s) I really like that vibe and atmosphere that you get. He provoked thinking and did things in a surreal manner at times via the camera angles. Not everyone can watch old programmes and connect with them, but being a bit of a retro fan, and enjoying the mystery he created when talking about our perceptions of art, I found it strangely soothing and absorbing. When it comes to art, I'm much a "like what I see" person and less on the finer details, yet Berger's programme did make me think much more about the art itself, and how most art is taken out of its original contextual setting and reproduced amongst other paintings in galleries. Seems early art was mostly commissioned, and only ever destined for a specific room in a specific location. The lighting and other objects/colours in the room influenced the artist, yet all that it lost in reproductions and paintings being just one of many in a gallery. And yet, by having reproductions and paintings being plastered all over the internet, it actually encourages some people to physically go see them. Then there's the grandeur nature of museums when it comes to art and by having painting hung and positioned in certain ways, people immediately will believe a painting could be more magnificent than it is. I'm reminded of many a stories I've seen when non-displayed objects have accidentally fallen on floors in museums, such as someone's glasses or a pen, and you see tourists gathered around them as they believe that fallen object is a piece of art itself. All in all, Berger's programme certainly created an interesting debate within my mind and the group itself whilst watching the programme.

Storytelling

Thereafter we moved on to how objects on display can have different stories created about them, from the more scientific life story of the object, to any new or unexpected knowledge that might have been discovered that one can tell the audience. How can we make that object more relevant to the people viewing it? I've been in plenty of museums that don't even bother to make objects interesting, and simply just give the standard 'museum label' and info. i.e. a jug. The more simpler the object, perhaps the more inventive one needs to be. A jug is a jug after all, but who handled it? What was in it? What's it made of? Where was it found? Why should anyone care about this jug? There are of course objects that are fascinating to observe even with the simplest of descriptions present, but not everyone is going to lap up an object with a mundane label next to it. How to cater for all types of audience?

Group Task - Key Messages and Calls to Action

This mini-task was all about selecting an object and thinking about what it was about that object that you want the audience to know about it, and then look at how to help the audience interact with it by way of some form of action.

In my Penlee Museum group, we concentrated on the object that forms the basis of our upcoming project: Penlee House itself. What we wanted the audience to know is that this is a house that was lived in and hadn't always been a museum/gallery; that's our key message. In terms of calls to action, we would ask things like "Can you imagine what it was like to live in this house, as a servant, as one of the family?"

Moods & Meanings

Just before the lunch break we went through the numerous ways that information about objects can be presented the audience:

• The Museum Label - Your bog-standard obligatory label next to an object that tells you what it is and, if you're lucky, a little more about it.
• Punditry - As you might think, this is less about in the museum, but more about those critical "experts" who like to tell you what they think the object says and how you should think about it.
• Personalisation - This is about bringing people into the object, much like those classic fairground displays where people put their heads through a gap in a display to make it look like they are somewhere else. Whether they get the right message about the object is debatable, but they go away with a memorable experience.
• Poetic - There's been plenty of poems written about people and objects; perhaps something with a zangy rhyme to it or thought provoking verse can cast a certain perspective and view about an object..
• Musical - Everyone likes a song - but by having music accompany an object, it can make it much more interesting and even have you tapping your feet or thinking more about it than if there was just a deathly silence.
• Humours - A witty label? Animated painting anyone? Some think this is sacrilege but if you're bored or uninterested in a painting, and it winks or smiles at you, it certain gets your attention where it wouldn't have before.

Group Task - Words and Senses

In the afternoon there was another group task where once again we chose an object (we stayed with Penlee House) and picked a "sense" out of the glove and present the object in the manner of that senses interpretation. We got "picture" whereas another group got "Music". In this task, picture literally meant picture: so no words. However, as this was more about planning than performing, the plan of course featured lots of words. We came up with numerous ideas about having a nice old map or the area on display with pointers to where modern scenes fit into the old layout and having the windows of the house filled up with enlarged photos that show a view that people might have seen in yesteryear whilst looking into the house.