There is an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where Picard is captured and tortured by an alien species called the Cardassians. It is called Chain of Command and is a two part episode.
It’s become a touchstone episode because of a famous scene in which Picard is tortured by a Cardassians Gul using an interrogation technique with lights.
Gul Madred attempts another tactic to break Picard’s will: he shows his captive four bright lights, and demands that Picard answer that there are five, inflicting intense pain on Picard if he does not agree.
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Picard withstands the torture but is saved. Later it is revealed he would have broken. His defiance is shown in this popular image macro.
![](https://i0.wp.com/jfredrickson.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_1980-1.jpg?resize=500%2C335&ssl=1)
Variations on meme are a stable of social media. It’s popularity has a meme format has extended beyond just Trekkies.
This is all a long winded set up for my own meme. I was being subjected to Kardashian style torture today. Similar to the Cardassians, the Kardashiam methods and brutal and efficient means of controlling female prisoners
I went to a spa to get waxed. Dramatic right? As I looked up at the bright migraine inducing industrial lights I thought of Picard and saw four lights. Honestly four would have been better. Five in this light arrangement seemed to invite a migraine.
![](https://i0.wp.com/jfredrickson.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/img_1976.jpg?resize=580%2C773&ssl=1)