Comments on: Science in Science Fiction http://ladyglutter.com/2009/04/science-in-science-fiction/ That is not what I meant at all. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:35:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Apollo http://ladyglutter.com/2009/04/science-in-science-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Apollo Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:24:24 +0000 http://ladyglutter.com/?p=594#comment-103 Our country's education system has been failing science for a long time. It is really sad. I think, though, that science in popular culture is starting to make a comeback. Even if it's fantastical science it can serve to inspire. I'll respectfully disagree with Stephanie about our lack of technology to get to the moon. The technology isn't really our problem, I don't think. It's seems more like, as a nation, we're missing our drive for exploration. Hopefully that will change soon. Speaking as someone who's right in the mix of the space program I can say that there is a lot of cool stuff going on that just isn't getting enough good publicity. No matter which way you try to spin it it's hard to make a $50M robot sound worth while when the world is in the throes of a recession. Also, I liked the King Arthur movie. *ducks* I never really assumed the history was accurate, but I dig Clive Owen and Ray Stevenson and Arthurian legend in general. Our country’s education system has been failing science for a long time. It is really sad. I think, though, that science in popular culture is starting to make a comeback. Even if it’s fantastical science it can serve to inspire.

I’ll respectfully disagree with Stephanie about our lack of technology to get to the moon. The technology isn’t really our problem, I don’t think. It’s seems more like, as a nation, we’re missing our drive for exploration. Hopefully that will change soon. Speaking as someone who’s right in the mix of the space program I can say that there is a lot of cool stuff going on that just isn’t getting enough good publicity. No matter which way you try to spin it it’s hard to make a $50M robot sound worth while when the world is in the throes of a recession.

Also, I liked the King Arthur movie. *ducks* I never really assumed the history was accurate, but I dig Clive Owen and Ray Stevenson and Arthurian legend in general.

]]> By: LadyGlutter http://ladyglutter.com/2009/04/science-in-science-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-93 LadyGlutter Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:33:46 +0000 http://ladyglutter.com/?p=594#comment-93 Wow, that post was full of typos! I apologize to anyone who might have read it before I proofread it this morning. That will teach me to try and write while having multiple conversations. Stephanie, you are very welcome! Once upon a time, I intended to work for NASA. Part of me still wants to, and listening to you speak was a real treat. I was too late to get a copy of <em>Burnout</em> at the convention, but I'll still get a copy. I absolutely agree about my boys, too. Calculator skills don't even show up on the list of priorities. Wow, that post was full of typos! I apologize to anyone who might have read it before I proofread it this morning. That will teach me to try and write while having multiple conversations.

Stephanie, you are very welcome! Once upon a time, I intended to work for NASA. Part of me still wants to, and listening to you speak was a real treat. I was too late to get a copy of Burnout at the convention, but I’ll still get a copy.

I absolutely agree about my boys, too. Calculator skills don’t even show up on the list of priorities.

]]> By: Stephanie Osborn http://ladyglutter.com/2009/04/science-in-science-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Stephanie Osborn Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:59:24 +0000 http://ladyglutter.com/?p=594#comment-91 Hi, hon. Thanks VERY much for the kind words. I'm glad I was able to contribute some useful and thought-provoking items to the discussions. I read everything from graphic novels and comics to hard SF, so have some familiarity with all the sub-genres. I've also been involved in working with young people for many years, dating back to close to 25 years ago when I was a volunteer teacher at the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville. So I've seen the deterioration of science and math knowledge in our young people for some time and bemoaned it. And your pointing out that your child is being given a calculator to use before even getting his basic arithmetic down is a case in point. Take my advice: when he's at home, take the calculator away from him and get a set of flash cards (or make your own with index cards) and drill him on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Trust me: he'll be the better for it. Hi, hon. Thanks VERY much for the kind words. I’m glad I was able to contribute some useful and thought-provoking items to the discussions. I read everything from graphic novels and comics to hard SF, so have some familiarity with all the sub-genres. I’ve also been involved in working with young people for many years, dating back to close to 25 years ago when I was a volunteer teacher at the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville. So I’ve seen the deterioration of science and math knowledge in our young people for some time and bemoaned it. And your pointing out that your child is being given a calculator to use before even getting his basic arithmetic down is a case in point.

Take my advice: when he’s at home, take the calculator away from him and get a set of flash cards (or make your own with index cards) and drill him on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Trust me: he’ll be the better for it.

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