tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27055842.post-8066736336658637042007-04-07T14:31:00.000-07:002007-04-07T14:42:46.872-07:00<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8BSVuwkOHiA/RhgOHfUN4aI/AAAAAAAAAA0/K0RPHNfe2NM/s400/36m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050802503924179362" /><br /><br />In the "life imitating art (imitating life)" category...<br /><br />Saw this news item in the Dutch News this morning. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2007/04/space_agency_wants_mars_volunteers.php">Space Agency Wants Mars Volunteers</a><br /><br />Seems the European Space Agency, having missed the whole Biodome saga here in the US back in the 90's, wants to run an isolation trial of 6 victims/volunteers "isolated in metal tanks for 18 months." <br /><br />Granted, i'm guessing they won't have to grow their own food, but I have a feeling that even if this actually gets kicked off, the simulated "mission" is going to quietly be "cancelled" somewhere along the way when either (a) the Jack Nicholson character goes nuts and tries to kill his fellow mars explorers, (b) they realise that they forgot a recharger for their iPod or some other key techno device they'll need to keep from dying of boredom, or (c) a real emergency actually does come up (although apparently appendicitis is not considered such an emergency....). Even so, I suspect such a cancellation will occur with the usual self-congratulatory kudos for all that they have learned even though they didn't complete the mission. <br /><br />Because, you know, in real space, you get do-overs too.Shubber Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01658643926598033722noreply@blogger.com