Sounds like you'd do well living in Saudi Arabia or perhaps Afghanistan.

This is a circular argument, with no historical support. Since there has never been a government without any others around, one can not make statements about what kinds of pressures would and would not bring about change.

Joss had to work with what was available. The heroes of the previous movies were a must, and all of them were men. As was mentioned in the article, any more characters would have resulted in clutter.

Having worked in the food service industry - I know that it is best to say "fine" when asked. Vindictive waiters can do terrible things to the food they serve if they feel a customer has slighted them.

Seems a reasonable way to handle it. No need to complain to the wait staff if the problem is with the food.

For someone to assume that all vegetarians would just be over the moon about fake meat that's just like the real thing is infuriating.

Time travel isn't a problem. It's just a story element.

the man was likely a guard of an elite resistance

It's a bit heavy handed in how it handles both Rand and Ono, I think.

All this says is that there are traits that men, in in gross generalization, are attracted to.

The unique climate conditions in that area of North America have been stable for a very long time.

The larger lesson to be learned here, of course, is that the same holds true for all of us.

The Final Reflection is a great book that happens to also involve Star Trek. It offered the first in-depth vision of the Klingon way of life. John Ford went on to write the Klingon source book for the FASA Star Trek role playing game.

This is Space Opera, not Hard SF.

Lucas's primary inspiration (according to him) was another giant of myth, Joseph Campbell.

Given the lead up to this announcement. I'm very disappointed.

Agreed. It certainly looks that way. I'm guessing the ship crashing INTO the water was Pike's ship and the ship coming OUT of the water is the Enterprise.

Private companies like McDonnel Douglas? National Instruments? General Motors?

What's wrong with "she was channelling Apollo?"

Law vs. Chaos can be viewed as Society vs. Individual. Someone who favors individual freedom and choice is Chaotic. Someone who believes that actions must first consider the whole of society are Lawful.