Apropos of Nothing 2 - Run of the mill randomness!

Bill White · 2004-03-19 09:58:41

The subtext of all the more recent Mars movies is pretty much the same. . .

Go to Mars, and die.

"Ghosts of Mars' John Carpenter? is very much like that as well.

clark · 2004-03-19 13:50:50

Isn't that what most of us want? To go to Mars, to die.

Not immediately, of course. But eventually.

Just enjoy the ride.

clark · 2004-03-19 14:04:17

Still working on my stand-up routine...

Knock-knock.

Whose there?

Me.

Me, who?

What do you mean, "me, who?" Let me into the damn airlock!

Bill White · 2004-03-19 14:07:18

Isn't that what most of us want? To go to Mars, to die.
Not immediately, of course. But eventually.
Just enjoy the ride.

If [http://www.starscream.com/natasha/]Natasha went along on that ride, it might be worth getting killed by Mars ghosts. :;):

clark · 2004-03-19 14:13:06

Mars needs earth women.

Mad Grad Student · 2004-03-19 23:26:15

Mars needs earth women.

And Earth men, Earth people for that matter. In general, Mars needs multicellular life, it'd go great with the planet.

A while ago I was thinking about the problem of keeping astronauts occupied during the transit to Mars. I've never really thought of this as being a problem before, they would be very buisy keeping the ship from destroying itself and them, but the crew just might have some free time and I had free time of my own in French, so the idea occured to me to put something like an aquarium onboard the vehicle. How much would one weigh, 15, 20 pounds? Not much when you consider the ship's size. At least the crew wouldn't be able to complain about a lack of vertibrate diversity, the aquarium would defenately have to be an exotic saltwater one.

You know, these guys would esentially be by themselves for at least two years, no one really knows what the effects of being away from Earth's diversity for that long are. I really don't understand the proposals some have made to limit the crew not only to one species going to Mars (Excluding bacteria), but only one gender. The Bush administration is trying to outlaw same-sex marriage :angry: , should we send a unisex Masr team?

Alt2War · 2004-03-20 03:51:57

Mars needs earth women.
And Earth men, Earth people for that matter. In general, Mars needs multicellular life, it'd go great with the planet.
A while ago I was thinking about the problem of keeping astronauts occupied during the transit to Mars. I've never really thought of this as being a problem before, they would be very buisy keeping the ship from destroying itself and them, but the crew just might have some free time and I had free time of my own in French, so the idea occured to me to put something like an aquarium onboard the vehicle. How much would one weigh, 15, 20 pounds? Not much when you consider the ship's size. At least the crew wouldn't be able to complain about a lack of vertibrate diversity, the aquarium would defenately have to be an exotic saltwater one.
You know, these guys would esentially be by themselves for at least two years, no one really knows what the effects of being away from Earth's diversity for that long are. I really don't understand the proposals some have made to limit the crew not only to one species going to Mars (Excluding bacteria), but only one gender. The Bush administration is trying to outlaw same-sex marriage :angry: , should we send a unisex Masr team?

Fish tanks and Hydroponics are wonderful matches.

Palomar · 2004-03-20 06:36:27

*What a morning.

Let's see: I had very stressful dreams the last 3 hours of sleep...

I walk into my computer room this a.m. and there's a big fat cockroach on its back, legs wiggling like mad, by my chair. I stomp on it...oh great, where'd most of its carcass go? I swear those things are mostly shell and fat.

With disgust, try to clean up the mess...there's a big glob of it at the end of my flip-flop, almost touching my foot {{shudders}}. Two minutes later I almost touch a bit more of the thing which somehow had flung up onto a piece of furniture near my computer.

Yeah, I love starting off the morning this way! Oh well, better a cockroach than a spider I guess.

Two other unpleasantries as well, this a.m.; won't go into those.

Hope you all are having a better start to -your- day.

--Cindy

Byron · 2004-03-20 06:46:04

Let's hope we don't bring any of those things to Mars...no bugs allowed...! hehe.

Sorry to hear about your morning, though...let's hope the rest of your day will be a 100% turnaround from this morning....

B

Alt2War · 2004-03-20 06:48:25

Let's hope we don't bring any of those things to Mars...no bugs allowed...! hehe.
Sorry to hear about your morning, though...let's hope the rest of your day will be a 100% turnaround from this morning....
B

I would bet my left barnicle that the first martian colony will have roaches.

Palomar · 2004-03-20 07:05:25

Let's hope we don't bring any of those things to Mars...no bugs allowed...! hehe.
Sorry to hear about your morning, though...let's hope the rest of your day will be a 100% turnaround from this morning....
B
I would bet my left barnicle that the first martian colony will have roaches.

*I agree...no bugs allowed on Mars! Thanks for the good wishes, too, Byron

Alt: Just our luck, some weirdo radiation exists on Mars, ala those old black and white 1950s sci-fi movies, which makes bugs grow 50 times their normal size. "Attack of the Colony Cockroaches" -- I can see it now! :;):

--Cindy

clark · 2004-03-20 19:14:46

I wonder what Kafka would have to say about all of this.

Palomar · 2004-03-22 12:25:11

[http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=11225]Meteorite anecdote

*Wow, talk about skeptical!

--Cindy

Bill White · 2004-03-22 14:45:24

Cindy,

Did you [http://www.celebstation.org/actors/william_shatner.php]remember? Is 73 too old?

clark · 2004-03-22 14:51:06

Too young.

Palomar · 2004-03-22 15:45:44

Cindy,
Did you [http://www.celebstation.org/actors/william_shatner.php]remember? Is 73 too old?

*Hi Bill:

No (shame on me!), I didn't recall that today is William Shatner's birthday (happy birthday, gorgeous!). Leonard Nimoy's birthday is close to this date as well.

Is 73 too old?...heck, no; my sweetheart is 309 -- Shatner's just a kid! :laugh:

He's 5' 11", huh? That's a nice height for a man.

Thanks for the reminder.

--Cindy

clark · 2004-03-23 09:27:58

Martian joke, at it again. I love the suffering. Yours or mine, I'm not sure.

What did the Martian say to the newly arrived Terran who obnoxiously asked where he might go to get some fresh air on Mars?

"Outside."

clark · 2004-03-29 13:05:30

Where do I come up with these? Martian jokes, continued.

Why is Mars considered to be male?

It's not bloated with water.

Thank you, thank you. I'm looking for a laugh, but I'll settle for some newly found martian gas. Any help?

Byron · 2004-03-29 13:16:40

Thank you, thank you. I'm looking for a laugh, but I'll settle for some newly found martian gas. Any help?

Speaking of "Martian gas"...I can see it in my mind's eye... billboards on Martian byways proclaiming: "Help Terraform Mars...Eat Beans" LOL.

Time to bring out the band now.... :band:

B

clark · 2004-03-30 14:51:56

Here is a song the band can play... to the tune of "Old Smokey"

On top of Mount Olympus,
All covered in dust,
I lost my last rover,
To a Martian sand gust.

My rover is missing,
with nary a beep,
It landed on Mars,
but it came in to steep.

It punched through the sky,
and fell fast to ground,
the rover did bounce,
Around and around.

It finally stopped still,
in craters unknown,
one hundred million miles now,
and a billion dollars is blown.

The politicians are angry,
All wondering why,
We spent so much money,
On this Martian flyby.

They've come looking for answers,
Come looking to blame,
Cause a lost Martian rover,
Is hard to explain,

To voters uncaring,
Or unable to see,
That space exploration,
Is as hard as can be,

So now I am singing,
This sad refrain,
My rover is missing,
And I am to blame.

Palomar · 2004-04-01 13:55:26

*I'm carrying this over from the "Money, Marsian currency, whose face on the marsbill" thread in the Martian Politics folder. I don't want to disrupt that thread further:

Me: "In fact, it has nothing to do with the thread, does it?"

Clark: "Why no, no it doesn't. Very astute of you. But then I merely asked a question related to the man Aetius would like to honor with a quote upon an imaginary Martian coin."

*Interesting that it's -only- Voltaire you've drawn into question at that thread, out of all the other names suggested there. Why is that, I wonder? Also, I went back and read Aetius' comments; I'd suggest you go back and re-read it.

Me: "Clark, you were mistaken about Voltaire's religious sentiments or lack thereof...that your knowledge of Voltaire is found wanting, at best. You make a lot of assumptions. And I doubt you have much working knowledge of Voltaire's moral philosophy."

Clark: "Ah, my ignorance shows, dosen't it? I am but a humble neophyte in the education of Voltaire's teachings in comparison to you. I readily admit such. Yet my previous assumptions, which you seem to take great pains to point out, do not undermine my current point related to the conduct of Voltaire."

*Again: Why -- of all the names mentioned at the thread -- is only Voltaire singled out, regarding conduct or otherwise? You've singled Voltaire out alone. Why is that, I wonder?

Me: "According to esteemed historians Will & Ariel Durant [authors of the "History of Civilization" series of books], sexual relations between uncle and niece was not considered incestual in 18th century France. In fact, uncles and nieces could marry one another. Fully legal. That information was -not- given in connection with Voltaire at all, but included in their discussions of old/ancient laws, mores, customs, etc."

Clark: "Perhaps you misunderstand me."

*Oh no, I think I understand you quite well. <smile>

Clark: " I don't fault him for leaving his previous lover for her either."

*How "interesting." You see, Emilie du Chatelet and Voltaire were still a couple and in fact together when she died. Voltaire didn't leave Emilie for anyone.

Clark: "My point was simply that I find it ironic that his life would be condemned by our own standards today."

*Was it?

Clark: "Most people, generally, do not approve of relationships between an uncle and his niece. I find that it gives a certain amount of perspective on morality, that's all. I hope that clears up any misunderstandings."

*The fact that you singled out 1 person for your special scrutiny and attempted to suddenly wax morally philosophical [smokescreen perhaps?] speaks for itself.

Me: "Did Voltaire and his niece have a sexual relationship? I do know the answer to that. But considering how in the past you've ridiculed me as 'a Voltaire thumper' and a 'proselytizer' when discussing the man and his philosophy...well, if I say much more, I might upset you over my 'thumping' and 'proselytizing.'"

Clark: "Well, since you seem to be afraid of answering
lest you suffer the wrath of Clark"

*I'm not afraid of you, Clark. But go ahead and flatter yourself. I generally don't disclose personal information about people I value to the facetious.

Me: "'Interesting' how your questions just suddenly popped up out of nowhere, completely off topic. You're not the sort of person who likes trying to tear down the credibility and reputation of another person [dead or alive...such as Robert Zubrin] in order to feel better about yourself, are you?"

Clark: "Actually, as I recall, Aetius suggested Voltaire, and that led to my question."

*Wrong again. Too bad you don't re-read threads before you comment on their contents.

Clark: "You seem to take Voltaire rather personally."

*So do you, apparently. Why else would you single him out for moral scrutiny among all the other persons mentioned at the thread? Why aren't you morally scrutinizing them as well, instead of only Voltaire?

Clark: "I don't see how any of this would make me feel better about myself though, anyway you look at it, so your question is just silly."

*The old "silly" comment. Can't scrutinize yourself as closely as you do others, is that it?

Clark: "Get attention? Think that much of yourself do you? No matter, I don't sing for you Cindy."

*Why do you think I was referring the 'getting attention' question to me? Your assumptions say a lot.

Clark: "As for games, want to play some football?"

*Nah.

Clark: "I'm glad you're thinking."

*It's fun. You should give it a try. You can start by getting your facts straight and your motives clear (just a helpful hint).

--Cindy

clark · 2004-04-01 14:24:57

Good ol predictible Cindy.

But as I'm -not- the person who has taken the thread off-course in this manner, I will address the current matter (briefly, and just once).

And yet the dance goes on. How long before I get spaced, I wonder. :laugh:

So let me see how I might answer the latest charges...

As to my choice of Voltaire to examine, I must admit that the thread was weighted in his favor for me to become distracted by him. He is mentioned several times as a candidate. I must say that piqued my curiosity why any Martian would want an 18th century philosopher of questionable character, and little relevance, gracing their grubby coins.

Perhaps you believe something else influenced me to choose Voltaire, but thankfully, I'm not responsible for your beliefs. The world is as you see it, and if it makes more sense to you that there are some ulterior motives on my part, then so be it. Order from chaos and all that rubbish, no?

We seem to differ about whether or not Aetius provided the side thought, and I doubt I will convince you otherwise. Eh, so be it. [shrug]

Now, I might go on an on about some of the other names listed, however, I saw some general relevance to their inclusion as possible candidates for a portrait on a Martian coin. I struggle to find one for Voltaire. Maybe I am alone in this assessment, but I stand by my take on the matter.

*How "interesting." You see, Emilie du Chatelet and Voltaire were still a couple and in fact together when she died. Voltaire didn't leave Emilie for anyone.

That is indeed odd. I wonder then why she would write such prose about losing the man then. In my general, and limited experience, people don't normally talk about a lost love that is still on going. Perhaps you might correct me, but didn't Emilie take another lover after Voltaire left her, became impregnated, and died about three years later?

*The fact that you singled out 1 person for your special scrutiny and attempted to suddenly wax morally philosophical [smokescreen perhaps?] speaks for itself.

Well, in order to talk about any historical figure, I must by necessity single them out, no? Is there another way that i am perhaps unfamiliar with? How should I have approached it? Didn't I just ask a simple question related to his relationship with his sisters daughter? Didn't I then carry on a conversation with Aetius about what I thought about it? To which you decided, apparently, to take rather personally as some attack on your views and your esteem for the man? Granted, distancing yourself intellectually from the object of your affection can be difficult, but you just may want to give it a whirl.

I'm not afraid of you, Clark. But go ahead and flatter yourself. I generally don't disclose personal information about people I value to the facetious.

Thank you for the permission. Generally, but not always? What's that saying... "inquiring minds want to know." :laugh:

Why else would you single him out for moral scrutiny among all the other persons mentioned at the thread? Why aren't you morally scrutinizing them as well, instead of only Voltaire?

Voltaire was mentioned several times, and if it would make you feel better, I will try to scrutinize some others. However, I am a bit confused since you did say I was sidetracking the thread, and the basis for your latest rant is that I chose Voltaire. So Voltaire is "untouchable"?

I will try to start thinking Cindy. Thank you.

Palomar · 2004-04-01 20:29:23

Good ol predictible Cindy.
But as I'm -not- the person who has taken the thread off-course in this manner, I will address the current matter (briefly, and just once).
And yet the dance goes on. How long before I get spaced, I wonder. :laugh:

*Wrong again

You carried that quote over from the other thread.

That statement, which was posted at the other thread (in the Martian Politics folder), pertained to answering your post *there*; (just once, and briefly, because the subject matter was getting off topic for that thread). Not here (Free Chat).
There's no contradiction.

Have a good evening, Clark.

--Cindy

clark · 2004-04-02 10:51:49

Take a midol.

Josh Cryer · 2004-04-13 17:39:54

Wow, I have internet again! I hate being without internet... even if it allowed me to reread the whole Culture Series!

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#76 2004-03-19 09:58:41

Re: Apropos of Nothing 2 - Run of the mill randomness!

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Re: Apropos of Nothing 2 - Run of the mill randomness!

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#80 2004-03-19 14:13:06

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#81 2004-03-19 23:26:15

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#83 2004-03-20 06:36:27

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#84 2004-03-20 06:46:04

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#85 2004-03-20 06:48:25

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#87 2004-03-20 19:14:46

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#88 2004-03-22 12:25:11

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#92 2004-03-23 09:27:58

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#93 2004-03-29 13:05:30

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#94 2004-03-29 13:16:40

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#95 2004-03-30 14:51:56

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#96 2004-04-01 13:55:26

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