Vibrant cultures want something; exhausted cultures don’t. And what do we actually want, today? For a thought experiment, imagine hearing this on tomorrow evening’s new shows:
The Vatican announced today that it will soon begin colonizing the planet Mars. Many parts of the mission remain unclear, but the plans to launch the first rocket from a pad on the island of Malta appear definite, with a tentative launch date in July 2010. The goal will be to establish a colony capable of sustaining itself within 20 years, with the long-range aim of completing the terraforming of Mars within 100 years. Accompanying the initial group of 142 Catholic settlers on the 297-day flight will be a priest and an auxiliary bishop from the diocese of Rio de Janeiro.
I'd say
- They've got a lot of engineering to do to make a launch date of 2010.
- So that's what Burt Rutan is up to.
- 'Add To Shopping List' *Click*
- Honey, you did say you'd follow me anywhere.
and
- Hey, Father Flanigan? I've been meaning to speak to you about converting ...
