Will we be thrown about randomly as we accelerate?

Ok, ok, my fellow Gormogons have subtly prompted me to post something, anything related to Star Trek. So let’s start with this tidbit. Over on SPACE.com, there is this article reporting on some scientists’ belief that faster than light (FTL) travel is possible (a/k/a Warp Drive). There has been this problem with Einstein’s thoeries and all sorts of possibilities of what would happen as a person or object approaches (and maybe passes) the speed of light – pancakes into single dimensionality, ages faster as speed increases (a la Walter Donovan), etc. Given the advancements we’ve seen in the last 50-100 years, I can’t say that I’d rule it out. I’m not sure when or if we’ll get there, but even the possibility is worth pursuing as it would open up the Solar System, the Galaxy and beyond for exploration. Of course, if we have to hunt the universe for dilithium crystals to power it, I’m not on board.

(Note, I’m peppering this with links to augment your reading experience…)

Taking a left turn here, I’m actually interested in seeing the new Star Trek movie (although I might have trouble expecting Zachary Quinto/Spock wanting to slice open people’s heads with his finger-pointing telekinetic power). In my opinion, Rick Berman and his crew weakened the Star Trek franchise. Sure, there were some a few cool ships and technologies, a few good characters, but largely it was weak or stiff acting with a kumbaya storyline with uninteresting characters. I’m sure I will get lambasted by others to defend elements from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Enterprise and all of the movies but please note, I did say “largely” and one can easily go back and find crappy episodes from the original and some cheesy characters. I do admit, I have a weak spot for the short-lived animated Star Trek series – at least it was very appealing at the time. Having said all of this, I’ve read and heard that the writing, casting and acting in the new film is excellent and that J. J. Abrams does a good job opening a new opportunity in the “Star Trek universe”. Jonathan Last gets it right here – I tend to agree with his premise about the rise and fall of Star Wars and Star Trek franchises.

Are you one, Herbert?

GorT

GorT is an eight-foot-tall robot from the 51ˢᵗ Century who routinely time-travels to steal expensive technology from the future and return it to the past for retroinvention. The profits from this pay all the Gormogons’ bills, including subsidizing this website. Some of the products he has introduced from the future include oven mitts, the Guinness widget, Oxy-Clean, and Dr. Pepper. Due to his immense cybernetic brain, GorT is able to produce a post in 0.023 seconds and research it in even less time. Only ’Puter spends less time on research. GorT speaks entirely in zeros and ones, but occasionally throws in a ڭ to annoy the Volgi. He is a massive proponent of science, technology, and energy development, and enjoys nothing more than taking the Czar’s more interesting scientific theories, going into the past, publishing them as his own, and then returning to take credit for them. He is the only Gormogon who is capable of doing math. Possessed of incredible strength, he understands the awesome responsibility that follows and only uses it to hurt people.