“Matter tells space and time how to curve,” says Ballard, “which is to say that time is a lens. A lens is defined as a medium which alters perceived information. When we look into other worlds–quantum possibilities, or light from other galaxies, or, say, manifestations of fiction–the period of time which is our frame of reference by definition distorts the view. Visual appearance is relative and malleable to the era of the beholder.”

“That’s a very labored attempt to explain why TOS looks so crappy compared to Enterprise,” says Cote.

“Actually TOS looks kind of awesome now,” says Ballard.