Author Archives: startrekprofkorea

About startrekprofkorea

I teach the Ethics of Star Trek at Kyung Hee University, and as such I am Korea's first Star Trek professor. I am proud to say that I was featured in the summer 2019 edition of Star Trek: The Official Magazine.

Another online semester is about to begin

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Captain’s Log: Stardate 20208.19. In a few weeks I will begin teaching another semester of classes online, although only Kyung Hee students will have access to the lectures. We’ll use Netflix Korea to watch Star Trek, which I am pleased to say offers the remastered versions, so there will be fewer comments about outdated special effects. Also, please check out my new handmade TOS face mask. Finally, here’s me as Will Riker again. I know you can’t see my facial features, but the hair, eyebrows, ears and beard make it easy to recognize me. Captain out.

A Painting of Gene Roddenberry

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Captain’s log: Stardate 202007.28. I commissioned a digital artist to do a portrait of the late Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, to pay homage to him. What makes it unique is that it is a composite of two photos, and it shows The Great Bird Of The Galaxy in the engine room of the Enterprise. I will have this framed and hang it on the wall of my office. No copyright infringement intended.

Covid 19 and Star Trek

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Captain’s log: Stardate 20207.27. The semester that just ended had to be taught online only and my students had to use Netflix Korea to watch the episodes. Sadly, Star Trek II, III and IV were not available, so I had to substitute additional episodes of TOS. Next semester will also be online, but the exams are supposed to be face-to-face, unlike last semester. In other news I just ordered some Star Trek face masks from vendors on Etsy, and I had an artist use Photoshop to make me Kirk on the bridge of the Enterprise. Take a look. Will post photos of me wearing the Star Trek masks when they arrive. Live long and prosper.

My Late Dad Met the CDS in 1983

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Captain’s blog: Stardate 202003.21. Thanks to the coronavirus, all my classes are online for at least two weeks, and that includes my Star Trek class. In other news, back in 1983, my late dad (Major Reg Thompson) flew a CP-140 Aurora to Korea and it carried a VIP. Here’s my late dad chatting with the late General Ramsey Withers, Chief of the Defence Staff, onboard the aircraft. The late general went to Korea to participate in a ceremony commemorating the ceasefire that ended hostilities on the Korean peninsula, and he gave dad his 1000 hours on the CP-140 pin as well as a medallion. Definitely one of the highlights of my late dad’s career. He also holds the distinction of being the pilot that delivered the first CP-140 to the Canadian Armed Forces on May 29, 1980.

Dad and CDS painting