Capsule Review: DS9 1.06 "Captive Pursuit"

It's not often that a science fiction TV episode gets my academic side berserk with excitement. I mean, even I have to admit a TV show about aliens and spaceships that goes on and on about theories of law and economics and social justice would be dull.

"Captive Pursuit," however, is notable for punching me right in the ivory tower without being dull at all. Hoo boy, is it not.

( Let's see if I can make the review not-dull as well. )

Though this is very much an O'Brien episode, the rest of the regular cast played lively supporting roles. I particularly liked how the script built up to Sisko's crucial assist of O'Brien by showing the Commander's sense of timing beforehand. It was as though the station were a symphony, an endeavor of cooperation and trust conducted by a virtuoso. That trust didn't budge even when Sisko chewed O'Brien's head off at the end for his actions. If the result of such ability and camaraderie is an episode like "Captive Pursuit," that's certainly the kind of music I'd like to hear more of.

The Music Post: Two Articles and a Drabble

I am a complete ignoramus when it comes to music, but after getting to know vmuzic I can truthfully say I have at least one musician in my circle of friends. I mean, a few of my friends played instruments very well when we were younger, but so far as I know no one went on to play regularly or professionally, except maybe that one girl who went on to major in church music.

The point being, I started thinking more about music due to our acquaintance, and when I scan the newest Longform.org articles for reading material I find myself saving articles about music that I might have skipped before. Then today I read a really good music fic (not your run-of-the-mill songfic, I promise), so I thought I'd throw the whole lot into a linkspam post.

Pitch Battles

On the history of the standard pitch of A = 440 Hz and how an attempt to change it was associated with weird conspiracy and utopia theories. The idea of lowering the standard pitch itself seems to be based on sound ideas, though. I never knew the standard pitch harmed vocalists.

The Vulgarian in the Choir Loft

A self-professed dick talks about becoming a choirboy. Choice quotes:

Singing is nakedness. And it is a far more fathomless form of nakedness than that achieved by the removal of clothes.

"If a person plays a piano badly, you think there's something wrong with their piano playing. If a person sings badly, there's something wrong with them. There's not that divorce between what they are and what they're doing."

Also, the following is now in my quotes file for future reference:

Most people who claim they "can't write" don't suffer from a lack of talent; they suffer from a lack of license. . . . The truth is that when done right, the struggle to be a good writer—and a good singer—is a struggle not to be good but to be free.

Day of Destiny

This is a drabble I read today by loopy777loopy777 , written for an unusual music-centric prompt that set only the soundtrack (Rastrelli Cello Quartett Piazzolla - Oblivion) and the fandom (Avatar: The Last Airbender). The result is an Ursa story that--well, see for yourself. I think the story should be read with the designated soundtrack playing. The story feels almost incomplete alone because the text and music move together so well.