We would like to wish a very happy birthday to Mike Okuda. He has been responsible for a myriad of things throughout the various Trek incarnations since the mid-1980s starting with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Mike gained notoriety for his work on Star Trek: The Next Generation as a scenic artist / technical consultant and for designing the futuristic graphical user interface (LCARS or Okudagrams) used throughout the TNG era and all the way to DS9. I would also like to personally thank Mike and give him credit for inspiring me to work professionally in the graphic arts and user interface design. Thanks Mike, your work has inspired an entire generation of graphics professionals!

Does everyone remember how Worf schooled Duras in the TNG episode "Reunion"? And, by schooled we mean he took that cowardly Klingon to the woodshed with a bat'leth... Duras went out like a suckah! Let's hope that Michael Dorn doesn't do the same to his future co-star Nathan Fillion on the hit detective drama Castle.

That's right ladies and gents, our favorite Russian raised Klingon security officer is set to play a psychiatrist in at least two episodes. According to DigitalSpy, Michael Dorn's new character will help Detective Kate Beckett (Played by Stana Katic) deal with being shot in the third season finale, but her sessions may also examine her relationship with Castle.

Here's something really cool, that just popped up on our viewscreen thanks to longtime Subspace Communique friend Starfleetmom. It's a new 20-minute short film / presentation pilot called Liberator that stars Austin Comic-Con favorite & Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno, La Femme Nikita star Peta Wilson, Don "The Dragon Wilson, Ed Asner, and our lovable Mr. Woof (said in our best Lwaxana Troi voice), I mean Mr. Worf, Michael Dorn. Liberator revolves around a disgraced, washed-up, ex superhero (played by Lou Ferrigno) whose secret black ops past catches up with him -- just as he's trying to put his life back together.

For Trek fans in the Austin, TX area; a local favorite, Master Pancake, is set to premiere the sixth iteration of their popular Star Trek debates/TV parties. Because they can’t agree on which is the best iteration of the show (JOHN is a fan of original Star Trek; JOE loves Next Generation) they’ll be showing – and mocking – one episode of each.

Past formats have included Kirk vs Picard, Spock vs Data and Old Klingons vs New Klingons. This time around they’ll be pitting Lt. Uhura against Deanna Troi to see who is the "least-uselesss scantily-clad communications facilitator on the bridge".

We'll be there to soak in the Pancake goodness!  If you see us bouncing around, be sure to stop and ask for Subspace Communique stickers. Check out more details and order tickets here.

Just like the recent announcement and launch with Netflix, Amazon Instant Video is adding Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, & Star Trek: Enterprise, for your streaming pleasure.  Announced today, CBS via Amazon is also going to server up other hit shows like Cheers, Fraizer, plus more on Amazon's Netflix competitor.  No word on an exact release date, but Amazon is promising "this summer".  Check out the full press release below.

Update - Maybe The Animated Series?  We noticed that the press release said the entire Star Trek Franchise.  We'll have to get confirmation...

On this day in 1940, during the second World War in Mirfield, Yorkshire, England, a future award winning actor, starship captain, and Knight of the Realm was born. Happy birthday to Sir Patrick Stewart, he turns 71 today. He's a very busy man, from attending several conventions, to starring in video games and Shakespearean plays, Sir Patrick seems to be consistantly in the news. Heck, he's even receiving an honorary degree.

Aside form his various accolades and accomplishments, Patrick has his own idea of how he'd like to be remembered. When asked in an interview earlier this year, he responded: "For being funny, but I don't think that will happen." Of course to Trek fans, he'll always be the captain of the Enterprise-D, Jean Luc Picard.

Shore Leave, one of the longest running fan operated conventions, is quickly approaching.  We've never been to this particular con, but we have had fantastic reports the last two years thanks to The SciFi Diner's Miles McLoughlin.  Be sure to check out the Shore Leave 31 & 32 reports to get an idea of what to expect.  There's an interesting group of stars that visit Maryland every year and this time is no different.  If you're a TOS fan (and who isn't?) Gary Lockwood & Sally Kellerman from "Where no man has gone before" will be on hand.  Of course you'll know Gary from 2001: A Space Odyssey and Sally from the motion picture version of MASH as well as many other TV and motion picture appearances.  On top of that, our favorite omnipotent being Q, John De Lancie, Star Trek authors Dayton Ward, Kevin Dilmore, David Mack, Keith DeCandido, Peter A. David and many others will also be on hand.

As of today (July 1st) 4 out of the 6 Star Trek series are now available on Netflix via it's Watch Instantly service.  Notice how we say 4 out of 6, we're including The Animated Series in those numbers.  Included are Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, & Star Trek: Enterprise.  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine will be available in October, with no word on when The Animated Series will be available.  

We've started the celebration by watching some Voyager...  That's right, the big V word.  We love Captain Janeway and the crew and began our Netflix Trek journey with two favorites, "Workforce PT 1 & 2", and "Q2".  What will you be watching?

Get your Trek on at Netflix.com

This news is music to fans’ ears all over the country…possibly, the world. How many of us have wonderful memories of watching Reading Rainbow as children, when we didn’t have a care in the world? For those of us who watched it, it was a great time in our lives when all sorts of things were possible and dreams were endless. LeVar brought our imaginations to life and encouraged us to read, all at the same time. This PBS gem will forever be part of many grown-up kids’ fondest memories.

You can see the idea and organization of the Reading Rainbow Flashmob spring fourth from LeVar’s very own twitter feed. Here are some of his tweets:

27 Jun “Someone posted via @Zaarly a request to sing the Reading Rainbow theme with me, and are apparently willing to pay good money!”