Sundog

That is precisely why rose colored glasses will never go out of style.

The Longest Day of the Triffids

The Longest Day of the Triffids

Poor St. Peter... now he and some others are going to have to get the pearly gates shined up for inspection

On this day in 1954, the successful trial of Jonas Salk's killed virus vaccine for polio was announced.  A disease that more or less everyone in America dreaded, it propelled Salk to superstar status (perhaps the only scientist to rival Einstein in that regard, for a while) and was a bright, shining blow against the First Horseman of the Apocalypse.  Parents would let nothing stop their children from getting that, I think even if the Horseman Himself had manifested before them.
 
I remember when I was 4 or 5, waiting in a line that wrapped around the block, to get that vaccination some six or seven years later. 

The Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart, Firefight and Calamity. Superbeings, called Epics, some of tremendous power, have emerged throughout the world - and every one of them is a supervillain. The main character is seeking to join a secretive group called the Reckoners - normal humans who target, study and, if they can, kill Epics.

Sad? The guy survived into his SEVENTIES with ALS, and contributed greatly to our understanding of the universe.
ALL HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO!

Sad? The guy survived into his SEVENTIES with ALS, and contributed greatly to our understanding of the universe.
ALL HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO!

Sad? The guy survived into his SEVENTIES with ALS, and contributed greatly to our understanding of the universe.
ALL HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO!

To me, KIllmonger's actions were entirely in character with what we had of his past. His history is one of breaking the narrative - both in himself and of others. He moves from ghetto kid to military discipline, then breaks that again by going to the less-rigid special forces, then to CIA black ops, where he is taught the skills and abilities to break not just the course of individuals, but the narrative of nations. Then he breaks his own story twice more - moving from CIA to renegade mercenary, before violating his position there by killing his employer and heading to Wakanda.
What does he do there? Break the narrative! He kills the legitimate king by goading him into a duel he did NOT have to fight (the time of challenge being long over), then sidelines the council of the tribes, accepts the grudging loyalty of the royal guard, and gets the army pretty much completely on his side, upsetting the entire interlocking power structure. As Agent Ross says, just as he was trained to do.
Killmonger was a prisoner of his past, as was, in large part, T'Challa. This was a sub-plot I loved - two men, both haunted and empowered by the choices of the past made by others. Ultimately, Killmonger, despite his willingness to embrace change, cannot change from his predestined course. T'Challa, as expressly shown in his second spirit quest, can.

To me, KIllmonger's actions were entirely in character with what we had of his past. His history is one of breaking the narrative - both in himself and of others. He moves from ghetto kid to military discipline, then breaks that again by going to the less-rigid special forces, then to CIA black ops, where he is taught the skills and abilities to break not just the course of individuals, but the narrative of nations. Then he breaks his own story twice more - moving from CIA to renegade mercenary, before violating his position there by killing his employer and heading to Wakanda.
What does he do there? Break the narrative! He kills the legitimate king by goading him into a duel he did NOT have to fight (the time of challenge being long over), then sidelines the council of the tribes, accepts the grudging loyalty of the royal guard, and gets the army pretty much completely on his side, upsetting the entire interlocking power structure. As Agent Ross says, just as he was trained to do.
Killmonger was a prisoner of his past, as was, in large part, T'Challa. This was a sub-plot I loved - two men, both haunted and empowered by the choices of the past made by others. Ultimately, Killmonger, despite his willingness to embrace change, cannot change from his predestined course. T'Challa, as expressly shown in his second spirit quest, can.

To me, KIllmonger's actions were entirely in character with what we had of his past. His history is one of breaking the narrative - both in himself and of others. He moves from ghetto kid to military discipline, then breaks that again by going to the less-rigid special forces, then to CIA black ops, where he is taught the skills and abilities to break not just the course of individuals, but the narrative of nations. Then he breaks his own story twice more - moving from CIA to renegade mercenary, before violating his position there by killing his employer and heading to Wakanda.
What does he do there? Break the narrative! He kills the legitimate king by goading him into a duel he did NOT have to fight (the time of challenge being long over), then sidelines the council of the tribes, accepts the grudging loyalty of the royal guard, and gets the army pretty much completely on his side, upsetting the entire interlocking power structure. As Agent Ross says, just as he was trained to do.
Killmonger was a prisoner of his past, as was, in large part, T'Challa. This was a sub-plot I loved - two men, both haunted and empowered by the choices of the past made by others. Ultimately, Killmonger, despite his willingness to embrace change, cannot change from his predestined course. T'Challa, as expressly shown in his second spirit quest, can.

To me, KIllmonger's actions were entirely in character with what we had of his past. His history is one of breaking the narrative - both in himself and of others. He moves from ghetto kid to military discipline, then breaks that again by going to the less-rigid special forces, then to CIA black ops, where he is taught the skills and abilities to break not just the course of individuals, but the narrative of nations. Then he breaks his own story twice more - moving from CIA to renegade mercenary, before violating his position there by killing his employer and heading to Wakanda.
What does he do there? Break the narrative! He kills the legitimate king by goading him into a duel he did NOT have to fight (the time of challenge being long over), then sidelines the council of the tribes, accepts the grudging loyalty of the royal guard, and gets the army pretty much completely on his side, upsetting the entire interlocking power structure. As Agent Ross says, just as he was trained to do.
Killmonger was a prisoner of his past, as was, in large part, T'Challa. This was a sub-plot I loved - two men, both haunted and empowered by the choices of the past made by others. Ultimately, Killmonger, despite his willingness to embrace change, cannot change from his predestined course. T'Challa, as expressly shown in his second spirit quest, can.

I think the key to that, ironically, may have been Agent Ross. T'Challa's first renewed impression of Ross is that he's a cynic, a liar, and a bit of a toady. Whether Ross had been setting a trap for Klaue that was about to backfire horrifically or was genuinely following orders to obtain the Vibranium even if it meant enriching a murderous mercenary, he does not make a good first impression. The T'Challa does something surprising in refusing to let Ross die or become a quadriplegic, even after Klaue had given him his story of Wakanda. He did this even though he didn't know he wouldn;t be betrayed by "the white boy" again.
 
Then Ross shows something remarkable -- gratitude. He sets aside his cynicism and fights for T'Challa's vision of Wakanda even though he is convinced T'Challa is dead. Even though his government would adore the chance to grab Wakandan technology for themselves. He overcomes cynicism and finds nobility, and to T'Challa this is something completely new -- an outsider in Wakanda who isn't out to gain power or make himself rich (as Klaue did).
 
And in his way Killmonger was just as much an outsider as Ross. Before this, he had never even set foot in Wakanda. Everything he knew about it was dim memories passed on from his father -- who was an exile with a grudge -- and further shaped by what T'Challa's father had done to his.
 
Presented with these conflicting examples, T'Challa was both smart and empathic enough (allowing KIllmonger to see the Wakanada sunrise before he died was a brave act of mercy) to realize that Wakanda would inevitably be exposed, and if so he might as well do it on his terms. Continuing the extreme isolation of tradition would be suicidal.

I always figured that without the Hyperdrive the Falcon actually took weeks or months to get to Cloud City.

Citizen Kane (1941)
 
The primary plot is driven by a reporter seeking the meaning of Charles Foster Kane's last word, "Rosebud". The journalist interviews many people important in the life of Kane (a powerful newspaper magnate and one-time Presidential Candidate), and in flashback we see the important events of Kane's life, and learn of the man, his successes, and his failures. Ultimately, the journalist's quest is unsuccessful, though the audience does get to see the answer to the riddle in the final scene.
 
However, the opening scene, of Kane on his deathbed, makes it clear he is alone - there is no one to hear his whispered final word.

And Sojourner on Mars, that went with Pathfinder... hey, found a graphic:
 

So Australia only has to beat France, Denmark and Peru. So nice of them to give us an easy group.

Sloth. Wrath takes too much effort.
 
ICBM vs SLBM

4 Episodes to go, and loving it. I was a big fan of the book, and am quite delighted with most of the changes. I would have preferred they left the Envoy training as a UN military thing.
 

Namorita is hotter.
 
 
 
George Michael "Freedom" vs. David Bowie "We Could Be Heroes"

(Chorus)Never ask that Question! (/Chorus)
 
Vorlon Planetkiller vs ST: TOS Planet Killer

Perhaps, perhaps not. 
 
I knew plenty in the Nav during the 80-90's that spent full tours plus as geo-bachelers long before there was reliable cell coverage more than 5 miles outside a city like LA or Seattle.  I can remember spending 2 hours in line to spend 5 minutes (for $50) to call home and talk to my folks on Christmas.  That was in 90.  And there were more years with no contact because we weren't near a phone.
 
Putting dependents and children on an unsupported ship on the outer edge of no where is something only someone who's idea of hardship danger is spilling a latte would think is a good idea.    Being at sea for long periods of time is tedious at best even with a purpose.  Being at sea with no real purpose is mind crushing.   At least with a ship you can see the sky and breath fresh air, watch broadcasts etc.  On a starship? 
 

Yes. They'd had peace and prosperity for so long they'd forgotten the other half of Starfleet's job - protect the Federation. Which is the real reason why they had disasters like Wolf 359 and their early defeats by the Dominion - Picard's era of Captains didn't really know how to fight.