Can someone please give me a sensible explanation as to why the light level varies depending on whether it's the day or night watch?
So you can tell if it's day or night ;)
Of course, nobody's got a clock on the Enterprise ...
Circadian Rhythms
I dont know, but I would think having the lights on the bridge dimmed at all times would make those terminals easier to look at.
ROBMAN
Regardless of circadians, all working areas (Bridge, Main Engineering, etc... but NOT Sickbay) should have constant lighting. The remaining areas (including 10-Forward) should have variant lighting to allow humanoid bodies their circadian rhythms.
Having been a shift worker for the past 16 years, I will say that when I have to work at night I like to have the lights on bright. When I go home to sleep during the day I put a blanket over the bedroom window to make it completely dark. This helps to adjust my body's rhythm at will.
Interesting...
When I brought this up the first time around, I don't think anyone thought of that. Thanks guys.
If Data's been studying everything about marriages, surely he's been studying marriage ceremonies so he would know you waltz at Earth weddings, not do jazz or tap, and would realise that Dr Crusher isn't the right person to teach him when he looks up her service record?
Why didn't the Zhukov just take T'Pel to the Neutral Zone instead of transferring her to the Enterprise?
In the entry for Yesterday's Enterprise, I commented on how I only remember seeing 5 nonhuman female crewmembers on the ship. Well, this episode showed a definite nonhuman, possibly female crewmember, in the background of the scene in the ship's hair salon, having her hair done.
Picard can't tell Data which sector of the Neutral Zone, but then he gives Riker a specific heading which takes them very close to the Neutral Zone. Don't you think Data should be able to figure which sector from this information?
O'Brien speaking to Data, as a friend, asks Data to speak to Keiko, so why does O'Brien say, "Thank you, sir." Is this common for friends in military, or pseudo-military, occupations?
If Data has studied texts on marriage, then why isn't he familiar with `cold feet?'
Crusher wipes sweat off her brow with a Holodeck towel. Won't the sweat just reappear when she leaves the Holodeck? (Just kidding.)
When T'Pel finds out that Data will report to the Captain her request for information she cancels her request. Does she think that this will stop Data from reporting it to the Captain?
Once again Riker sits on the tactical controls.
Data tells Crusher, "I may be pursuing an untamed ornithoid without cause." and she correctly interprets that as, "A wild goose chase." Now while it is an interesting way to phrase it, why didn't Data just use the correct slang term? Did Data hear it phrased this way from someone else and just liked the sound of it, or did he come up with it himself in an effort to confuse his shipmates?
Why wasn't Admiral Mendak centered when he transmitted his image to the Enterprise? Did a Romulan engineer misalign the bridge camera?
That thing next to Admiral Mendak looked like some form of Dalek.
The day/night lighting was described in "The Making Of Star Trek" for TOS and I think Kirk also mentioned it to Lenore Karidian in "Conscience of the King."
I think one of those little humanisms that Data doesn't quite get is using expressions correctly. Because he speaks somewhat exactly most of the rest of the time, he repeats the content of the idiom in the manner that he'd say it.
True - although phrasing idioms that way is more indicative of trouble with the language, which clearly isn't the problem here.
You also have to factor in Data's ongoing quest to become more human - ie getting a handle on our more abstract behaviour, like humour.
In other words, if he knew the human expression was 'wild goose chase' I'd think he'd make darn sure - and be able to make sure - that's exactly the way it came out.
(Besides...'ornithoid'?! I have never heard even the nerdiest of ornithology geeks refer to birds only by their genera.)
DELETED LINE:
Data: (impersonating Ted Koppel) Good evening, I am Data...and this is "Nightwatch"
(Music from "Nightline" begins)
In "A Measure of a Man" Maddox wants to dismantle Data and study him. Later, Data formally refuses Maddox's procedure. SO...why is Data writing him?
What makes Data think that Maddox might be "ready" for him? Maddox never hailed him.
In "A Measure of a Man" Maddox wants to dismantle Data and study him. Later, Data formally refuses Maddox's procedure. SO...why is Data writing him?
Hey, Data's an android...he doesn't (at least at this point) do resentment, anger, fear or any other emotion. So he's got no reason to shy away from Maddox once the immediate threat of disassembly has been removed.
It seems reasonable and non-invasive to Data that Maddox would want to know about his day. It doesn't that he would want to take him apart. Simple as that. 
BEST SCENE: The wedding...Picard repeats Kirk's words from "Balance of Terror" to the letter.
BTW...This episode reminds me a lot like "Balance of Terror" (TOS)
John A. Lang: In "A Measure of a Man" Maddox wants to dismantle Data and study him. Later, Data formally refuses Maddox's procedure. SO...why is Data writing him?
kerriem: Hey, Data's an android...he doesn't (at least at this point) do resentment, anger, fear or any other emotion. So he's got no reason to shy away from Maddox once the immediate threat of disassembly has been removed.
Luigi Novi: See the very end of my May 15 post on the Generations board at http://64.33.77.146/discus/messages/4995/19159.html?1018674004.
NANJAO: Spot's first appearance in STTNG
I can't help but wonder what Picard told Starfleet about T'Pel & what Starfleet plans to do to rectify future incidents like this.
So much for Data being thorough in his reports...Why didn't Data tell Maddox that he obtained a cat? Isn't buying a cat a HUMAN quality? I mean...what purpose would an android have for a cat? Maddox might find that interesting.
No, I wouldn't.
Regardless, how do we know that Data didn't tell Maddox about Spot in an earlier letter?
Just because this is the cat's first onscreen appearance doesn't follow that Data acquired him that day...
It just dawned on me that T'Pel fooled the Vulcan Embassy as well...seeing how far she got.
Why didn't Data tell Picard about T'Pel's inquiry about the Enterprise defenses? Sure, she's a "Vulcan" and they don't lie, but wouldn't reporting something to Picard about an inquiry regarding a sensative nature be Standard Operating Procedure (S.O.P.)..no matter who made the inquiry?
"Isn't buying a cat a HUMAN quality? I mean...what purpose would an android have for a cat?"
To the first, not necessarily. To the second, a great many.
Cats have long been of scientific interest for the great number of similarities to people, especially regarding their brain structure. Their brains are so similar to humans that the only think they lack is the area that controls speech. To study the behaviour of cats is to understand, in at least a small part, human behaviour. They are very complex social animals, even more for the fact that they are not pack animals like dogs or people. They don't need companionship, but they thrive on it.
Also, owning some sort of pet may be a way for Data to gain some semblance of humanity, to aim for an attachment to another being. Cats, being more reserved and cerebral than dogs (I'm not knocking dogs, I have one at home that I wouldn't trade for the world), would be a natural choice for him.
You may also take into account Koko the gorilla, and her affection for her pet kitten Ball. The love of small animals in one's care is not a specific human trait. It is, in a way, sort of like having a child, without the undue stress, committment, responsibility, and expense that goes into childrearing. Given that Data has been concerned in the past with raising a child of his own, this is another consideration.
Besides which, who wouldn't want a cat? I know I miss having one...
Isn't buying a cat a HUMAN quality? - John Lang
Who said anything about Data buying a cat? Where would he have bought the cat? And since humanity has evolved past the need for money, what would he have bought a cat with?
To be honest, I think Data's "ownership" of a cat is suspicious, to say the least. I mean, Data claims to own a cat. This cat has changed appearance, breed, and gender on numerous occasions. And yet Data pretends this is all the same cat, when it clearly cannot be.
Freya has brought up an interesting point... one that should prompt animal rights activists to react. If Data keeps cats for scientific study, what is he doing to them and (more importantly) with them. I mean, where did Spot1 go?
Has PETA been disbanded by the 24th century?
Or maybe it's what Brent Spiner suggested... that there are 257 cats aboard the Enterprise, and Data names them all Spot.
Maybe Data bought the cat after hearing of Schrodinger's theory and wanted to test it?
I'm not certain about that.
This episode is one of my favorites. But...that doesn't stop me from nitpicking.
The transporter base appears to have been changed during filming of this episode. In the earlier scenes (I think when T'Pel beams off) the pads have the trim around them that is seen in the later episodes of Next Gen, and all of Voyager. When we see the later scenes, with the Engineering crew doing diagnostics, the pads appear without the trim, as they did in the earlier episodes of Next Gen. It is obvious that this ep was shot out of sequence, too.
Troi must have been napping not to sense that T'Pel might have been hiding something.
At the end of the episode, Worf makes a reference to the Marasaki Quasar...yet another salute to TOS! ("The Galileo Seven")
Troi must have been napping not to sense that T'Pel might have been hiding something.
Yeah...either that or she read the script. (Or more likely the scpipt. )
I suppose we could be charitable and assume that Vulcan/Romulan mental discipline is such that they can block an empath's readings - but you'd think that evasive maneuvre alone should've set off warning bells to Troi.
but you'd think that evasive maneuvre alone should've set off warning bells to Troi.kerriem
Not nessecarily. I might surmise that so many Vulcans (or wanna-be Vulcans) would do that, Troi and other empaths would regard it as natural.
I always thought a good idea would be to have a little box in the corner of the screen showing Maddox's reactions to some of Data's stupider antics on this day like when he says "I have good news...Keiko is calling the wedding off". The look would be priceless.
BTW- I really REALLY can't believe that no one suspected this ambassador to be Romulan. She has been in the Federation for years, now assuming she would have to report to her Romulan superiors on a regular basis surely someone would have cottoned on to either irregular messages or trips by the ambassador.
Thank goodness no one did a mindmeld with her eh?
I thnk it would have been hillarious if they found a way to portray Maddox's reactions to Data's story. Data could send his report to him, but also contact him over subspace to tell the story personally as a test of his social skills. It could have been a nice framing device for the episode, which is mostly non-serious (the T'Pel story comes off as pretty strange as a B story behind O'Brien's wedding).
This whole episode seems like an homage to Balance of Terror, only things tend to go the opposite of how they did that time. The Vulcan turns out to really be a Romulan spy. The couple about to marry both live to see their wedding. The Federation loses this particular game of chess with the Romulan Empire.
GREAT CAMERA ANGLE: The shot of Troi's (Sirtis') cleavage when Troi is pouring the drink.
You don't stare, George. It's like looking at the sun. You get a general impression and then look away.
Is the dancer that the computer created on the holodeck Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar)? It sure looked like her to me but since the actress was wearing a veil it's hard to be sure.
What are you talking about? The dancer wasn't wearing any veil, her face was totally unobscured, and it certainly was not Denise Crosby.
This is Rosalind Chao's first appearance as Keiko; she was also Soon-Li, Klinger's wife, on "MASH" (and don't forget "AfterMASH").
and don't forget "AfterMASH"
But I've been trying hard to do so! 
Is it just me.. or is this the most boring episode of sttng EVER?
Personally, I liked it. To each his own.
I liked it quite a bit. It was a marvelous character touch to have Data's correspondence be ungrudgingly and helpfully directed to the man that wanted to destroy him. What we never got was the return of Bruce Maddox. It would have been gratifying to see the man transformed by this correspondence into viewing and respecting Data as a fellow sentient, rather than a machine.
Not nessecarily. I might surmise that so many Vulcans (or wanna-be Vulcans) would do that, Troi and other empaths would regard it as natural.
I agree with this - Troi has said, I think on a couple of occasions, that someone has such a disciplined mind that she can sense very little from them. This would seem typical for Vulcans and at least within the grasp of Romulans, and must be typical enough that Troi thinks nothing of it.
(Of course, the question then becomes how often does Troi sense emotions from Vulcans.
In addition, the identity of the ambassador that T'Pel was impersonating obviously included the idea that she was in possession of priviledged information. She sent Riker out of the ready room when he brought her to Picard, and besides, ambassadors on such missions would be expected to not be so forthcoming with lesser officers. For that matter, everyone in such a position of authority often "hides" things from the officers serving under them. I would expect Troi to sense nothing out of the ordinary.
Is it just me.. or is this the most boring episode of sttng EVER?
This episode's one of my favorites, along with "Tapestry," "Lower Decks," "Relics" and a few others. For boring Next Gen episodes, you need go no farther than "Masks," "Emergence" and "Up The Long Ladder."
(Then again, I liked Voyager's "Spirit Folk", so don't trust my tastes.)
say Adam, I liked the first ten minutes of this episode. Why would he write to someone who threatened to take him apart? I threw out my uncle when he didn't like my wife-girlfreind in 1986. He wanted our marriage annulled! after 15 years later, he finally comes to apologize to me!
Granted most people on Enterprise are humans but certainly not all. Dimming the lights to maintain circadian rhythms could conflict with other species so why do it at all. If it does conflict, why not put those others on the bridge at night? Sure being on the same shift the whole time might be a little aggrivating, but since the majority of problems on Trek occur during the day it wouldn't really matter.
Why didn't the Zhukov just take T'Pel to the Neutral Zone instead of transferring her to the Enterprise?
Sending the Enterprise lets the Romulans know that the Federation is serious about the negotiations. The Zhukov is just an ordinary ship, while the Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation.(the most important, the best)
If Data has studied texts on marriage, then why isn't he familiar with `cold feet?'
He studied texts on what successful marriages are and marriage procedure, not on what could prevent a marriage.
Was that actually stated or is it simply your assumption of what Data might have studied?
Just an assumption given what he mentioned about what makes a successful wedding- he certainly could have read other things that he did not talk about.
GREAT CAMERA ANGLE: The shot of Troi's (Sirtis') cleavage when Troi is pouring the drink.
Yeah, I noticed that the table where Troi's tea things are laid out seems a bit higher that an ordinary table. Indeed, it's the precise height needed to reveal her chest once the camera pans over to her. In fact, it seems like after a few seasons of the show, the Troi Cleavage Shot came to be a standard element which directors would try to work in now and then. Someone should compile a list of them.
I suspect that John A. Lang would be more than happy to do so! 
Indeed. Give me a few months after I finish watching Next Gen again. 
I suggest a new board be created for this project. So it doesn't get lost in this thread.
I think Phil compiled a list in the NextGen II Guide. Unfortunately, I don't have it handy to double-check.
He mentioned it but didn't compile a list. I remember it was sent into him by a member of the guild near the end of when he was finishing up volume II. He mentioned a few thing about it but didn't have the time to go back and look for that.
Maybe call it the Cheesecake Tote Board & list all instances of gratuitous camera shots in Trek: cleavage shots; butt shots; shower scenes; etc.?
Beefcake could also be listed. I just figure the majority of such shots will be Cheesecake.
By John A. Lang on Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 2:14 pm:
So much for Data being thorough in his reports...Why didn't Data tell Maddox that he obtained a cat? Isn't buying a cat a HUMAN quality? I mean...what purpose would an android have for a cat? Maddox might find that interesting.
Data didn't buy the cat, it was replicated. 
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Since Data commands the night watch, Shouldn't this episode be called Data's Night... or is that reserved for his adventures with Tasha?
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By dotter31 on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 6:49 pm:
Why didn't the Zhukov just take T'Pel to the Neutral Zone instead of transferring her to the Enterprise?
Sending the Enterprise lets the Romulans know that the Federation is serious about the negotiations. The Zhukov is just an ordinary ship, while the Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation.(the most important, the best)
The Zhukov is an "Ambassador Class" vessel, seems like the perfect ship to transports um... an ambassador.
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By Hitchcock on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 - 4:06 pm:
GREAT CAMERA ANGLE: The shot of Troi's (Sirtis') cleavage when Troi is pouring the drink.
Yeah, I noticed that the table where Troi's tea things are laid out seems a bit higher that an ordinary table. Indeed, it's the precise height needed to reveal her chest once the camera pans over to her. In fact, it seems like after a few seasons of the show, the Troi Cleavage Shot came to be a standard element which directors would try to work in now and then. Someone should compile a list of them.
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By ScottN, all in good fun on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 - 6:26 pm:
I suspect that John A. Lang would be more than happy to do so!
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By John A. Lang (Johnalang) on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 - 7:20 pm:
Indeed. Give me a few months after I finish watching Next Gen again.
So John, how did the project go? 
I'll have to watch STTNG again someday, I got sidetracked. Besides that, I saw Marina in person.
Just a note:
"Man of the People" is DEFINATELY the "ultimate cleavage episode"
I thought Let he who is without sin was the ultimate one?
Not to John. It didn't have Troi in it
Two of my favorite pics can be found
HERE
(The last two)
Sorry...GALLERY 8...last two pictures
(For some reason I can't link it there)
Thanks, KAM.
wow what a surprise John, I cant imagine why they would be your favorites ;)
(I bet Will Riker has the same pictures framed in his room)
After the incident that seemingly kills Ambassador T'Pel, Data, investigating the matter, goes to sickbay to ask Crusher to examine the remains left on the transporter pad. Crusher agrees, saying that she is finishing up her report. Am I the only one who found the cheerful smile with which Crusher granted Data's request a bit out of place, given the morbid event in question?
Its Crusher. She is a weird one. my wife and I have long suspected that she is secretly a Verdazine Addict. It might account for her many mood swings over the years.
I can't pass up the chance to say that my favorite part of this episode is Data with that ridiculously huge, forced, rigid smile on his face as he dances with his holodeck partner. It makes me laugh every time I see it or think about it.
Despite his bumbling failure to understand the emotions running wild regarding the wedding (it's on, it's off, it's on again), it's kinda a miracle that he even made it to the rank of lieutenant commander if he's so incapable of understanding people.
I really appreciated all of the Original Series references-- nice touch that I wish had been done more often.
Here's a TMP reference: T'Pel is wearing a Kolinahr necklace, that Spock came thisclose to receiving in the movie, before V'Ger came calling.