Alternate timelines are hardly uncommon in Star Trek. It’s obvious they go for the whole multiverse approach (see Parallels) and they play fast and loose with the rules dependent on what they wish to do. In this case, they don’t want to invalidate 40+ years of history, so it’s just a new timeline, just like the Mirror Universe.
Hmmm…those Star Trek 90210 kids are to young to grow beards…I’m just sayin’.
Lemur866, how do you account for the civilian merchants like Cyrano Jones? What are they trading for? Anything they want, they can replicate. So why head out into space, which is dangerous, and try trading tribbles to/with Klingons?
I didn’t see a thread devoted to the new movie. If there is one, I’d appreciate a link but I’m going to ask here anyhow. I just watched the new movie yesterday. Did I, or did I not see the shipyard where 1701 was under construction, in Iowa, on Earth? Maybe I was hallucinating and should rewatch, but I swear that is what I saw. Now, I remember watching episodes of ST when they were originally aired. I’ve seen all the movies, but I’ve skipped a lot of the ancillary spin-offs so maybe I missed it, or maybe I just assumed, but I thought 300 meter long starships were built in orbit? Like I mentioned, I grew up with ST so my belief is pretty will suspended from the opening title until the ending credits, but that random, useless inclusion took me right out and keep me out for several minutes. Why would Abrams do that?
That seemed like a pointless addition to the movie to me as well. The starships in Start Trek, for the most part, don’t look like they would fare well at all in an atmosphere and gravity environment like Earth. That’s just me though.
Enterprise got low enough in Tomorrow is Yesterday that the pilot of an F-104 could eyeball her.
Voyager landed on a planet. When you think about it, a ship that can handle space at high impulse and warp speeds really should have no problem with a measly gravity. Plus, they have magic propulsion, so it’s not like it costs anything to lift the ship off the planet. It’s probably also easier for construction crews before the artificial gravity and life support are up and running.
They have also shown a remarkable control of gravity and inertia, in Star Trek’s future. (And they use force field technology to support physical load bearing structure, which is what I assume an “structural integrity field” is.)
If we assume that there are sufficient redundant systems and power reserves, I bet there are some pretty impossible seeming architecure on Earth those days. At least, until the Whale-probe shows up…
Enjoy the picture.
But such delicious targets.
Tripler
Ooh, but I’m still waiting to see elanorrigby and carnivorousplant go at it with phasers at ten paces. 
Phasers at five parsecs, or brick bats at half a mile.
Can’t we fight the Vulcan way, like true warriors? Lirpas, baby, LIRPAS!
Watched the first episode of TNG last night. I know it must get better. 
I remember enjoying bits of the show throughout the years… And #1 sans beard looks too much like John Stamos --and that is not a good thing AT ALL. Also, I didn’t realize the doctor was as annoying as all that. I think I used to like her. But Wesley, bless his heart, never changes. (although I note that he stole one of Bill Cosby’s sweaters for the premier show).
If I were you I’d skip to the start of series 2 - season one wasn’t very good and also wasn’t particularly characteristic of the rest of the show either.
OK fine, lirpas at 500 meters.
The second season was even worse. TNG does not get good until the third season.
When Riker grows the beard, you know shit just got real.
Why did he grow that stupid beard, anyway?
The serious answer is that he grew it between seasons, and the producers liked it, so they asked him to keep it.
Troi was not a fan though and thought it was gross in Insurrection.