Steampunk Granny's Review of The Martian

                                                           

I’m going to say right up front that I believe in the Space Program and I feel strongly that we should be investing in going to other planets instead of destroying the one we live on with wars and unbridled pollution. Now, I’ll tell you why I absolutely loved the Ridley Scott film, The Martian, starring Matt Damon. The film is based on Andy Weir’s 2011 novel of the same name.
                                                               

Growing up in the early fifties, my generation was introduced to the theory of space travel, aliens and the pros and cons of both. We had Flash Gordon to lead the way on our little tiny television screens. You can only imagine my joy when a human first set foot on the moon. That said, with all our science and technology, we land lubbers, who neither travel deep within the ocean or fly high in space shuttles, have no idea what to expect if we were able to go to Mars.

Plot

The action starts when the Ares III, a manned mission on Mars, is hit by an intense storm. Mars is not the friendliest of planets, but then again, neither is Earth. Mark Watney (Matt Damon), a botanist, is separated from the rest of the crew. The Captain Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) and the others fear him dead. They are forced to evacuate the planet before their ship is damaged beyond repair. While they travel the long journey back home, they are unaware that Mark is alive.

Conclusion

I don’t want to say any more about the film, except that it is extremely well done and I really enjoyed it.  You are right there with Mark as he realizes his dilemma; not enough food to survive until another ship can return. We cringe with fear when things are not going well for our astronaut and we celebrate with him when he succeeds. The scenery of Mars and space is breathtaking. The Martian is the first realistic film that shows what it will take to survive on another world.
                                                             

Is it important to support our Space Program? Yes! It’s one thing to send up a probe to take samples of an alien planet’s soil, but we also need to send up a human. Is it unreasonable to expect humans to live on Mars? Maybe...and yet...this is what we, as an intelligent species, must do. We were always meant to leave this planet and find new homes.  Exploration is wired into us. We are engineered to go forth and as explore. Go see the film. You’ll love it.

                                                               

News from the Dark Side, 8/9/2013

                                                                 

Okay, my little zombie snacks. I love everything science: space exploration, robotics, genetics. I'm a Geek at heart. Here are some fun sites, and yes, some weird news.



http://youtu.be/lgWiaDQVn04


http://youtu.be/PcvF8tNKodQ


http://youtu.be/J1GGvq8Sr4E


http://youtu.be/v5pt_VXXA9M


Funny review of our tax code

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-6-2013/don-t-mess-with-taxes?



Hmm? This next video is funny, but troubling! When we restrict the least among us the chance to vote, then we deny ourselves to claim that this is a country of equality.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-august-5-2013/ballotproof

When I Can't Sleep

                                                                                                              

My mind is constantly on the go, which is good when I want to write, or plan activities for the little girl that I tutor, or do day trips with the grandkids, but it’s definitely not good when I’m trying to get a few hours’ sleep.

                                                                                 
No I don’t sleep through the whole night. My brain won't turn off, but instead, runs through a legion of subjects like those below, for instance:

                                                                   

Space X

I’m so excited that the space program is kept alive by private entrepreneurs who still believe that the best way for mankind to improve in technology, research, science and future jobs, is to look up and beyond. Check out their site and the CEO and chief designer, Elon Musk.

                                                                                                                                    

The Sequester Debacle

Instead of giving you the Webster’s Dictionary meaning of the word, here is a better description
 And really should Congress get paid while we're kept in budget hell. I say no budget, no pay.

                                                                                                                            

Public Transportation

Bring back more trains, and make traveling by train and bus so cheap that people will use this form of transportation first, and their cars less and less.

                                                                                                                                

Genetically altered food

I keep thinking of the first X-Files movie and the end scene where we see rows and rows of corn stalks. Is it safe, I doubt it. Don’t believe me? Check the ingredients on everything you purchase. I was surprised how widespread this problem is. Other countries refuse to use genetically altered food for human consumption. Ask yourself why?

                                                                      

Education

We are in a Technology and Science race with the rest of the world, and it doesn’t bode well for us when Third world countries can kick our ass. We need to put as much effort and money into education as we do the Super Bowl. We need to make sure that our teachers are the cream of the crop, that disruptive students are taken out the classroom, and that a child is not promoted to the next grade unless he is reading at the grade level.

                                                                        

Manners

It is up to the parents to teach their children proper manners, not the schools. They should know how to act in a civilized (well mostly) setting, be it out in public or at home. I don’t care how cute and cuddly little Johnny is in your eyes, not if he behaves like a bully with others.

                                                                   

Sarcasm

Don’t put down people just to make yourself look good. Be kind with your words and actions, because Karma is a bitch.

                                                                    

Friends

Some friends you pick and some pick you, but our friends help us through the good times and the bad, treasure them.

                                                                                                                      

Life

I don’t know about you, but my life resembles a giant pinball game with me being one of the steel balls. I try to score as many points as I can, but those pesky little bats sometimes send me in a direction I don’t want to go. When I was younger, I tried to avoid the bats, fearing they would lead me to a dead end. But as I got older and wiser (Ha!), I began to look forward to being swiped by the bats, and in fact, I head right for them. Send me where you want, life. I don’t care, I’m enjoying the adventure.

Gilbert to NASA and Beyond

                                                                     

Okay, so I love the Space Program; loved it since Sputnik was sent up by the Russians. Loved that our country was able to get their act together and have the best Astronauts and rockets in the world. I love that we were the first to land on the moon.

                                                                           

 Why we stopped sending men to the moon, I don’t know, but the government stopped. There could have been a mall up there by now, but they stopped. I love NASA and all the bright men and women in the space program. They have made it possible for us to look beyond this little blue marble. We have a chance to visit the stars and our future.

Anyway the other day, while in the car, I was listening to NPR’s host Jacki Lyden on All things Considered speaking with Brian Shiro who wants to be an astronaut and has a webpage called Astronaut for hire. So I checked out his site. I will be cheering for Brian Shiro to reach his goal.

                                                                         

I’ve been following Elon Musk, CEO for Tesla Motors and Space X because if we’re ever going to make space exploration attainable for all people, this is the man to keep your eye on (Three cheers for the Dragon). The vision and know how is there and with popular support and understanding, even I might become an astronaut.

Okay, don’t go rolling those eyes! Just because I’m a mature woman, doesn’t mean that I can’t handle adventure, I’m a kid a heart and to prove it, I’m going to contact Astronauts4hire and put in my application. Yes, my little Moon Rocks, I’m going to try and get on the next rocket out of here.

Hey, I could prove valuable for any long term space travel. For example, I have nine grandchildren and I’m good at distracting them and keeping them entertained, especially on long rides. Any space shuttle with me aboard will never be dull and no space traveler will arrive to the Moon in a grumpy mood.

                                                                                                                                    

I’m good at calming people down, and if there are any squabbles between the astronauts because of the tedious routines of space flight, then my "granny stare of death” will put a quick end to that.

                                                                       

So I’m going to practice on weightlessness and G force training. The G force training I have covered. I can burn rubber when idling at a traffic light to equal 3 times the force of gravity or like the astronauts like to say, “3Gs.

                                                                     

              As for weightlessness, getting my grandson out of a tree; works for me.

                                                              

The Space Program is mankind’s one chance at taking that giant step forward and with the technology and jobs this program returns for the initial investment, we would be foolish not to support it.

                                                                         

Anyway, I’m sending in my application and I’ll keep you posted and too add a smile to your day, here is a great song.   http://youtu.be/2Sar5WT76kE