Happy 50th annivesary, Sputnik

"We'll have space vehicles ... capsules to sail off in rockets - devices that create giant explosions...explosions that are so...powerful that they..."

"... they break the pull of the earth's gravity and send their projectile through outer space."

-characters Doc Brown and Clara Clayton from "Back to the Future III" paraphrasing Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon 1867
(Incidentally, Amazon? You suck. This novel was NOT published in 2007 by NuVision Publications.)

A great example of how one dreamer inspired other art ... as well as science itself.

Although, while doing a search for Verne, I found this interesting editorial about science fiction, the narrow-mindedness of Dali, and (M)Ann(ish) Coulter, of all things.

( ... Accusing an entire literary genre of murder is a new one for me )

Given recent interests, maybe I should read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea next ... *G*

Diana frowns in your general direction

Just came back from Subway, getting lunch. The couple in line behind me started with the PDA as soon as they came through the door, him all snuggled at the counter behind her, his arms around her - him with an expression of absolute annoyance for lesser creatures under him (it's an expression, incidentally, that I have learned to associate with many cops - sorry if you're friends with any, but that's FAR different than dealing with them in a professional capacity as I have for about 14 years), her with this sort of haughty "oh joy" look. I only mention the PDA because it was clear whomever was the object of their scorn, it wasn't each other. The world, I suspect.

The girl filling the orders is kind of timid and I confess, not the greatest worker, but she's still kind of new. When Haughty ordered her sandwich, she asked for cheese on the bread - still on the cutting board - as the girl was turning to put only the meat in the microwave (something you normally do before you cut the bread or put on the cheese - I managed new trainees at two Subways back in college - and it's fairly easy for the customer to see as soon as you punch the buttons, you're coming back to them). As she gets to the microwave, Pseudo-Cop BARKS "Excuse me!"

Both the girl and I turned to look his way (though I suspect her expression of confusion was nothing like mine of WTF?), whereupon Haughty coolly repeats her directive for cheese. So the girl has to put the meat down, put the cheese on, and then go back to put the meat in the microwave.

When I'm needing to get a server's attention, I have no problem raising my voice and waving, or calling, or whatever. It's always served me well, either by myself or with a group of diners at my table.

Sandwich in hand, I then walked into the other part of the convenience store to buy a chocolate milk, Haughty ended up behind me in line buying a couple of sodas. You have no idea how much self-control it took not to look around and ask, "Does your keeper know you're spending his money?"

Take note, very young girls and women who think this kind of "chivalry" is charming: Random strangers around you WILL wonder if you lack either the power of speech or a brain. They'll know you lack any taste. But I guess at least they'll know your pussy's in working order.