It's a very special day... not Captain Picard day, but a special day none-the-less. It's actually the birthday of the man that gave Jean Luc Picard life. That's right kids, it's Patrick Stewart's birthday. "Old Baldy", as his TNG co-stars would lovingly call him, is turning 72 years-young today. We'd like to wish him a very happy birthday by sharing a few of the internet's finest videos. So, here's to Sir Captain Jean Patrick Luc Stewart Picard... may you live another 72 years.

...and that's exactly what he's doing. Michael is playing Duke Frederick and Duke Senior in The Shakespeare Center's production of As You Like It in the Japanese Garden of the Veterans Administration West Los Angeles Healthcare Center through July 29. The cool part about the production is that it's in support of the local VA and involves many vets in the production. Active duty military and Veterans will also receive free admission to the play through its entire run.

I’ve never been so impressed with an artist’s skill before. Ok, ok…I had to squeeze that pun into the article somewhere, so I thought I’d give you a break and get it over with quickly.

Now, feast your peepers on the new line of posters we’re Bye Bye, Robot is launching today. It’s a brand new, fully licensed, series of Star Trek ships as shown through the artist Jeff Foster’s eyes.  His style, being highly influenced by the Impressionists of the late 1800’s, brings this unique juxtaposition of past and future together. No longer is your fandom stuck in the game-room, these art pieces can bring your Star Trek collection straight into your living room. Their beautiful colors, delicate technique, and iconic imagery appeal to fans and art collectors alike.

Back in October of last year I posted an article about a set of removed YouTube shorts called "Stage 9 Interlopers" that I desperately wanted to get my hands on. The videos featured a pair of buffoons breaking into and traipsing through Paramount's  Stage 9 TNG set around the end of season 1. Thanks to a Subspace Communique fan, the videos are back online and compiled into one full length video featuring Captain "does my hair look okay?" Stone and his ever-so-patient camera man.

Former ship's doctor and Life After Trek-er, John Billingsley, is set to star in a new play starting July 28th in Pasadena, California called The Government Inspector. The play is a brand new adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's work. Adapted by (and with original songs from) Oded Gross, the play is re-envisioned as a cutting, tragic farce with influences from Monty Python and Brazil. The play centers around corrupt, self-seeking officials of a small town in Tzarist Russia which mistake a penniless clerk for a government inspector. The new adaptation will launch at the Boston Court on July 28th, running through August 26th.

Day 1 of our live coverage of 2012 BayouCon in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  We're looking forward to hanging with all of the Trek fans that have made the pilgrimage the gulf.  We'll be delivering live blogging from both days of the event and you can watch the day 2 coverage below.  

Day 1 of our live coverage of 2012 BayouCon in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  We're looking forward to hanging with all of the Trek fans that have made the pilgrimage the gulf.  We'll be delivering live blogging from both days of the event and you can watch the day 1 coverage below.  

In a slightly embarrassing incident at LAX, William "The Shat" Shatner was going through a TSA checkpoint when his pants dropped like the shields on the Reliant.  "He tasks me and I shall have him!".... Fortunately, Khan wasn't responsible.  Due to his long flight to South Africa, Sir Billiam was wearing loose fitting clothing and didn't happen to wear a belt.  Some lucky travelers got to see Bill in his Starfleet skivvies.  I bet it was like looking into a rainbow made of lasers and unicorns.

So, let me start this off by saying how much I enjoy the L.A Times. Hero Complex. Its extremely well written & and one of my go to blogs for all things geek. I have to admit a small secret though, I get both jealous and giddy every time I read an article.... Anyway, if you're not reading it, you should be. With that out of the way, Geoff Boucher of Hero Complex recently wrote a fantastic article about Jonathan Frakes and his experience from "Encounter at Farpoint" through the full TNG run, ending with Nemesis. I don't want to give too much away, but I'll drop a few excepts here to peak your interest.