Moo.

The first in a series of giant animals in Iowa:

the T stands for Tiberius

As I'm sure you're all aware, today is Captain James T. Kirk's birthday! Or pre-birthday. Or anniversary of his eventual birth... Is there a term to mark the date of something that hasn't happened yet? Preversary?

Anyway, Captain Kirk will be born 226 years from today in the little town of Riverside, Iowa, which happens to be a mere 20 minutes away (non-warp speed time). Every year the citizens of Riverside hold Trek Fest the last weekend of June. This year is Trek Fest XXXIII: "City on the Edge of Forever."

According to the Trek Fest website, "The festival tries to balance a small town fair that James T. Kirk may experience with a Science Fiction theme," which explains why the festival consists of an odd mix of tractor pulls and Star Trek costume contests (or what I like to call the best of both worlds).

The fact that I have no knowledge of or interest in Star Trek makes Trek Fest no less appealing to me. For one thing, it's basically a weekend devoted to William Shatner. Shatner! Also, it's people in costumes, which is enough of an excuse for me to do anything. I think I might have to experiment with yarn and go as a tribble.

Or R2D2.