Sci(ence) Friday

08.05.2005

This is a long Friday, but happily, one devoted primarily to scifi (and some science). But w/ some sad news. Somehow. And I've no idea how this happened (though I was actually wondering if had it this morning as I rushed off to work my once-a-week shift at Rocket Star). But I missed last week's episode of Battlestar Galactica.

The realization hit me as I chatted w/ Kurt, a regular at the café (who's also a rather bright, if quirky, philosophy grad student). We got into talking about Firefly (which he also loves), and then Battlestar. And as he recounted last week's episode to a third party, it suddenly dawned on me. Wait a sec. Did I miss last week's episode? Wow. (I blame K8.)

From there, the day quickly became entirely devoted to all things "nerd". My long-put-off trip to see Fantastic Four happened. And, yes, the movie's pretty bad (though it had lots of potential & a few good moments). I drove out to the theater listening to Science Friday on NPR.

One of the topics was the Mars rover mission, and one of the rover mission's team leaders was on. Lots of cool history on that monumental moment in space exploration. Remember those first color photos from Mars, beamed back by the quirky little robot that could?

And then it happened. Some idiot called in to bicker about how a manned mission to Mars was a dumb idea. Why? Because it was hard. Not because it was a waste of money better spent to heal cancer or end poverty or design a magic peace-on-earth wand. No. He complained about how going to Iraq was a bad idea, people are dying, and made that comparison to Mars. Excuse me? Regardless what anyone thinks about Iraq, the two aren't remotely the same (ok, yes, they're both "far away" & "inhospitable climates"). And not going to Mars because someone "might" die is the worst excuse, the worst sort of species-cowardice advocacy. Not go to Mars because it's hard? Tell that to the likes of Jacques Cousteau, George Mallory, Ferdinand Magellan, Roald Amundsen, or Neil Armstrong. What a sad, little man.

Then back home to watch a rerun of Firefly, which is gearing up for the Serenity movie. Cooked some stuffed manicotti (yes, because it felt like stuffing little spaceships) & roasted some tomatoes. While watching Stargate SG-1 & Stargate Atlantis. Eh. (SG1 went downhill two seasons ago; Atlantis never got me.)

But now I've to catch up again w/ Battlestar, figure out what I missed (Kurt's synapsis helped), and then off to bed all happy & content. I don't expect to wake before 3pm.

Also, two things arrived in the mail. The photos I ordered through Apple's iPhoto printing service (and they look quite good, actually). And the much-awaited new album by Ivy. Let me tell you. You must buy that album. Wow. And double wow. All the promise that was hinted at in Guestroom (their 2002 album of cover song) is fulfilled. It's been four years since Long Distance. And let me say: the wait was worth it.

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NOTE: If the above sounds rather nerdy. Let me make it as clear as possible. I read Tron.

Posted by Miguel at 09:24 PM

Comments

You didn't miss much last week (re BG). Mostly setting the stage for this week's events; namely, the return of Adama from his coma after being shot by Boomer.

Re the argument not to explore b/c it's "hard", folks like that will never understand why some push the boundaries of human knowledge and experience. Best to let them sit it all out on the sidelines.

Posted by: tom at August 6, 2005 06:31 PM