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By far, my favorite genre is science fiction.  This is true of television, movies and literature.  I guess it is the true geek in me trying to get out.  I have fond memories of watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, a revamped version of an original, poorly received series that went on to gain a huge following.  Star Trek: TNG was a great series and its timing — as well as quality — won it a place in the hearts of many.  

Currently, my favorite sci-fi series is another remake of a series (this one appeared originally in the 70’s) that didn’t last long - Battlestar Galactica.  Like the original Star Trek, Battlestar also had an intense fan following its demise.  Perhaps the key to making a great, new sci-fi show is finding an old one. The current incarnation of Battlestar is really well-done and has kept me glued to my TV set every Friday night.  It is an production from the SciFi channel whose parent company owns the rights to the original series.  The show has a nice balance of special effects without overdoing (unlike the most recent Star Wars films).  Aside: I think the graphical technology has advanced far enough that the WOW factor is gone in many productions.  Special effects are expected to blend in the background becoming part of the tapestry of the work, rather than the showcase.  The show is dark and has done a good job of character development while consistently advancing the plot with plenty of action and twists.  I love it.  So, if you’re into sci-fi and you have cable or satellite access to the SciFi channel, I recommend checking it out.  By the way, I have the whole season recorded, so let me know if you missed an episode.

Recently the SciFi channel has aired a marathon of episodes from the original 1970’s series.  I dutifully tivo’ed about 8 of them.  I hope to enjoy them.  Curiously, I seem to have memories of watching some of the original shows back when I was a little kid, along with Buck Rogers and Lost in Space.  We’ll see if watching these old episodes jogs any memories.

This story refers to a recent article in Science in which experimentalists put mice into a reversible hibernative state.  Hopes are that this could eventually be used in humans with no ill effects.  Finally, our science fiction dreams can come true…we will be able to hibernate on long space flights to other galaxies or suspend ourselves for future generations to revive us - ala Futurama.  I can’t wait to see Bender!

Connor,

I am amazed at how many things you are aware of at 2 years old.  Most of the time I assume you are oblivious to our grown-up conversations about where we to go that day as you play with your trucks or flop around on the floor.  Then, I’m surprised later when you ask about the mall.  You really are very observant.  We can’t pass a bus or train on the highway without you yelling "yellow bus" or "choo-choo." 

I am excited and a little saddened when I see how quickly you absorb your surroundings and learn the ways of the world.  A couple of situation really made this resonate in me. We were at Best Buy one day to buy a new printer cartridge.  We walked around, played with the keyboards, and looked at the big TVs.   At Best Buy, they are always showing movie trailers and other canned content on the TV sets.  You were so excited to see a "fire-birebuck" (a.k.a firetruck) on one of the TVs.  It turned out to be a clip from Terminator 3, not something I would usually let a 2-year old watch.  Within a few moments, Arnold’s character manages to flip the "fire truck" (which turned out to be a crane) in order to delay his pursuer.  You instantly got very agitated and started yelling "fire-birebuck crash, fire-birebuck crash."  Wanting to shield you from this, I turned the TV off, but you get crying and trying to turn the image back on.  By the time you actually pushed the button, the next clip was on.  You kept mourning the loss of the "fire-birebuck" for the rest of the day.

The second situation happened last week.  Your grandpa Jim had an extended layover in Los Angeles on his way back to Australia.  We met him, Maggie and Rebecca near the airport in Santa Monica at the 3rd St. Promenade, a stretch of shops and restaurants along a street closed to traffic. We stopped at a Border’s Bookstore and browsed the aisles.  You found an airplane book, one covering the design and construction of the Boeing 777.  When it was time to leave, you didn’t want to part with your airplane book.  So we tried to find a more appropriate book for you in the children’s section.  There was only one airplane book. We purchased it and left the store. Within 10 minutes I realized that this book was not the best idea.  The book covered the flying machines from World War II. Although the book was largely illustrated, it contained a few photographs from the war.  One page depicted the bombing at Pearl Harbor.  You fixated on a photograph of a bombed ship in the harbor.  You were convinced it was a crashed airplane and repeatedly cried out, "airplane crash."

Your distress at seeing these images reminded me how calloused we become to the destruction and ruin that is part of life.  You are already becoming acquainted with this.  How long before you accept these things as normal?  I hope you can cling to your innocence a little while longer.

I have a job interview June 1 with ExxonMobil.  This is with the Polymer Research group in Baytown south of Houston.  We are really trying to get back to Texas somehow.  It seems that the Houston area is one of the most likely candidates because of the density of chemical industry there.  This job interview was very convenient since it is very near to the 10 year reunion of the graduating seniors from my church in Arlington.  I’ll be there on June 3 and 4.  Wish me luck on the interview and keep my job search in your prayers.

Woody Norris will win the Lemelson-MIT inventor award for his personal flying vehicle the "AirScooter" which will go on sale this year for $50,000!  Read the story here.