January 26, 2014
the fifth reality
Watch out, people! You never know when fate is going to knock at your door. One minute you're sipping a nice cup of hot green tea thinking about sitting in your Quonset hut looking at your cardboard box of Mars rocks, and the next minute you're being bombarded with gamma rays, your skin is attacking itself and you're on the wrong side of the solar system for the next fresh water drop.
Such was the visit with the computer guy that came to my house--let's call him "Computer Guy".
(01.29.2014: It turns out "Computer Guy" has a human name! It is "Marcus". I wonder if Marcus knows that the latin meaning of his name is "warlike" or "Mars". How cool is that? If you want to know more about the God Mars/Ares, see my page My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizza-pies . Marcus will remain "Computer Guy" in this entry for the sake of poetry and prose and whatever.)
So, you may have read many times in previous entries, that I have yet to meet even ONE person who wants to go to Mars (not to mention one who doesn't think I'm kind of crazy myself for wanting to go). So, it was a complete surprise to me when the knock at my door this morning produced not only someone who wanted to go, but someone who had actually applied to Mars One. I was so stunned I didn't even give my prepared Oh-My-God-I've-Been-Wondering-How-Long-It-Would-Take-Until-I-Met-Someone-Like-You and Do-You-Have-The-Other-Half-of-This-Amulet speech. I just started talking. And so did he. And the talking was easy and interesting.
Now, here was a man armed with information. And not just information that people like myself might dig up when they feel like it. Information that a person would only be privy to if they've been interested in something their entire life. Information that had been processed, put together and reformed into something more than information. Knowledge, maybe? (see January 9) But that isn't what this is about.
First things first: he didn't make it past Stage 1. He thought that he had a more than fair chance because he had a hook: he has cancer. By his reckoning, Mars One might do better to send people who weren't too healthy to start (hmmm.....maybe I worried too much about my physical)) and also, of course, the cancer may detract from the fact that he is a white American male---probably one of the least interesting demographics for a globally inspired space mission.
Side note: Part of me is always trying to discredit being picked--like it isn't an accomplishment, but just some weird media thing that has nothing to do at all with who I am. I have no doubt that this is partially true. However, there is another side to it-- and that is, out of the 200,000 people who applied worldwide and only 1,056 made it to the Stage 2 (point five percent, baby!) So, while it must, by design, have nothing to do with me, it also has everything to do with me. Not being a scientist (or a "computer guy") I wasn't really sure if THEY would see how I fit in. I know I fit in to the Mars scheme--but would anyone else see it? So far, the answer is yes. The surprising thing is, when I met Computer Guy today, he seemed like the type of person that I would assume would get picked. SO, instead of saying, "Oh, I'm sorry what a bummer" when he told me he was rejected, I just burst out with "I made it!"
(I like to think that I can be a gracious person, sometimes thinking about the feelings of others, if it is not too inconvenient....[I have been known to do this] but something about Computer Guy inspired my mischievous side--which means I didn't treat him the way I may typically treat a complete stranger. I say this because during one of our initial conversations, pre-Mars Revelation, post-house entry, when the subject of my computer overheating came up [which was, of course, one of the reasons Computer Guy was at my house in the first place] I shared that I had been working on my Mars website that morning, blah blah blah, oh, by the way, I had made it to the short list of the Mars One program. And he just casually announces that he applied too---but got cut. If my eyes could have done a cartoon pop-out-of-my-head action I wouldn't have looked more shocked. What? Really? But, I made it......
Now, to the subject at hand: Reality. Not my strong suit and I don't mind (I believe I will expound on this further at a later time). He clearly knew more about what the realities of going to Mars entailed than I did and he was in a sharing mood. Now, before I even try to remember and list the things Computer Guy told me I want to say this: the "Realities"--if "Realities" they be-- are not totally relevant to me at this time. That's not the focus of this documentation. The focus of this documentation is my reaction to said "Realities". The REALLY important thing to me was that here was a man who understood WHY--even in the face of certain Space Discomfort--one would still want to go to Mars--and that made me feel understood in an area I have yet to feel understood by another. So, after listening to his list of horrors and space travel and sitting "in a pup tent" on a foreign planet (I had to reassert my Quonset hut theory) --did this diminish my dream to become a Martian? Not at all. It just appeared that my time as a Martian might not be as long as I'd hoped, and, according to Computer Guy, shorter might be better.
So, without checking any facts, I will list what I recall him sharing. I am putting my faith in you, Computer Guy, that you would not lead me astray. He seemed a reasonable, likable man and he did seem somewhat impressed that I did make it. He even paid me the compliment of "Well, at least they picked one person who's got her head screwed on right." (I officially include this as testimony to further my goal of getting to Mars)
So, without further ado, the "Realities of Going to Mars According to Computer Guy":
1. If we make it to Mars, we probably won't live more than a couple of years and by the end of that we will probably be begging for death anyway. This is largely based on the human body's capability (or lack thereof) of surviving off-planet with the loss of gravity and other Earth dwelling luxuries (I claimed to never really being an real "Embracer of Life" anyway)
2. If we make it to Mars, skin lesions will probably form pretty quickly from living in an oxygen-only static environment. The skin will be without bacteria, which will be new and unnatural, and begin to eat itself (?) (Hmmm.....really? Right away? That sounds uncomfortable. and not my idea of a "static" environment. And I kind of like my skin the way it is--you know, without the lesions.)
3. Gamma radiation. We will be bombarded with Gamma radiation the minute we leave the Earth's atmosphere and it is never going to stop. Ever. It will do some pretty serious bombardment and there will be damage. resulting in the First Reality. (I told him he was "blowing my high".)
4. The water situation... The only water we will really have is the water we take with us and the recycled water-like products from that water. Even though they make claims to send supply ships at regular intervals, the Physical Universe intercedes and says "Sorry! Mars is not available right now--it is way over there on that side of the Solar System--- and you guys are way over here on this side of the Solar System. Good luck with that whole water thing." (The only solution I can see regarding this issue is that I, Gillian Rene Gontard, will have to locate and harness a local water source on the planet itself. For the record, I am willing to do this.)
5. And last, but NOT LEAST, (heavy sigh)..................when the Sun sets on Mars.......it is blue......
Hmmmm.......
The Fifth Reality. That's why I am going.
How many Realities does one person need?
Such was the visit with the computer guy that came to my house--let's call him "Computer Guy".
(01.29.2014: It turns out "Computer Guy" has a human name! It is "Marcus". I wonder if Marcus knows that the latin meaning of his name is "warlike" or "Mars". How cool is that? If you want to know more about the God Mars/Ares, see my page My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizza-pies . Marcus will remain "Computer Guy" in this entry for the sake of poetry and prose and whatever.)
So, you may have read many times in previous entries, that I have yet to meet even ONE person who wants to go to Mars (not to mention one who doesn't think I'm kind of crazy myself for wanting to go). So, it was a complete surprise to me when the knock at my door this morning produced not only someone who wanted to go, but someone who had actually applied to Mars One. I was so stunned I didn't even give my prepared Oh-My-God-I've-Been-Wondering-How-Long-It-Would-Take-Until-I-Met-Someone-Like-You and Do-You-Have-The-Other-Half-of-This-Amulet speech. I just started talking. And so did he. And the talking was easy and interesting.
Now, here was a man armed with information. And not just information that people like myself might dig up when they feel like it. Information that a person would only be privy to if they've been interested in something their entire life. Information that had been processed, put together and reformed into something more than information. Knowledge, maybe? (see January 9) But that isn't what this is about.
First things first: he didn't make it past Stage 1. He thought that he had a more than fair chance because he had a hook: he has cancer. By his reckoning, Mars One might do better to send people who weren't too healthy to start (hmmm.....maybe I worried too much about my physical)) and also, of course, the cancer may detract from the fact that he is a white American male---probably one of the least interesting demographics for a globally inspired space mission.
Side note: Part of me is always trying to discredit being picked--like it isn't an accomplishment, but just some weird media thing that has nothing to do at all with who I am. I have no doubt that this is partially true. However, there is another side to it-- and that is, out of the 200,000 people who applied worldwide and only 1,056 made it to the Stage 2 (point five percent, baby!) So, while it must, by design, have nothing to do with me, it also has everything to do with me. Not being a scientist (or a "computer guy") I wasn't really sure if THEY would see how I fit in. I know I fit in to the Mars scheme--but would anyone else see it? So far, the answer is yes. The surprising thing is, when I met Computer Guy today, he seemed like the type of person that I would assume would get picked. SO, instead of saying, "Oh, I'm sorry what a bummer" when he told me he was rejected, I just burst out with "I made it!"
(I like to think that I can be a gracious person, sometimes thinking about the feelings of others, if it is not too inconvenient....[I have been known to do this] but something about Computer Guy inspired my mischievous side--which means I didn't treat him the way I may typically treat a complete stranger. I say this because during one of our initial conversations, pre-Mars Revelation, post-house entry, when the subject of my computer overheating came up [which was, of course, one of the reasons Computer Guy was at my house in the first place] I shared that I had been working on my Mars website that morning, blah blah blah, oh, by the way, I had made it to the short list of the Mars One program. And he just casually announces that he applied too---but got cut. If my eyes could have done a cartoon pop-out-of-my-head action I wouldn't have looked more shocked. What? Really? But, I made it......
Now, to the subject at hand: Reality. Not my strong suit and I don't mind (I believe I will expound on this further at a later time). He clearly knew more about what the realities of going to Mars entailed than I did and he was in a sharing mood. Now, before I even try to remember and list the things Computer Guy told me I want to say this: the "Realities"--if "Realities" they be-- are not totally relevant to me at this time. That's not the focus of this documentation. The focus of this documentation is my reaction to said "Realities". The REALLY important thing to me was that here was a man who understood WHY--even in the face of certain Space Discomfort--one would still want to go to Mars--and that made me feel understood in an area I have yet to feel understood by another. So, after listening to his list of horrors and space travel and sitting "in a pup tent" on a foreign planet (I had to reassert my Quonset hut theory) --did this diminish my dream to become a Martian? Not at all. It just appeared that my time as a Martian might not be as long as I'd hoped, and, according to Computer Guy, shorter might be better.
So, without checking any facts, I will list what I recall him sharing. I am putting my faith in you, Computer Guy, that you would not lead me astray. He seemed a reasonable, likable man and he did seem somewhat impressed that I did make it. He even paid me the compliment of "Well, at least they picked one person who's got her head screwed on right." (I officially include this as testimony to further my goal of getting to Mars)
So, without further ado, the "Realities of Going to Mars According to Computer Guy":
1. If we make it to Mars, we probably won't live more than a couple of years and by the end of that we will probably be begging for death anyway. This is largely based on the human body's capability (or lack thereof) of surviving off-planet with the loss of gravity and other Earth dwelling luxuries (I claimed to never really being an real "Embracer of Life" anyway)
2. If we make it to Mars, skin lesions will probably form pretty quickly from living in an oxygen-only static environment. The skin will be without bacteria, which will be new and unnatural, and begin to eat itself (?) (Hmmm.....really? Right away? That sounds uncomfortable. and not my idea of a "static" environment. And I kind of like my skin the way it is--you know, without the lesions.)
3. Gamma radiation. We will be bombarded with Gamma radiation the minute we leave the Earth's atmosphere and it is never going to stop. Ever. It will do some pretty serious bombardment and there will be damage. resulting in the First Reality. (I told him he was "blowing my high".)
4. The water situation... The only water we will really have is the water we take with us and the recycled water-like products from that water. Even though they make claims to send supply ships at regular intervals, the Physical Universe intercedes and says "Sorry! Mars is not available right now--it is way over there on that side of the Solar System--- and you guys are way over here on this side of the Solar System. Good luck with that whole water thing." (The only solution I can see regarding this issue is that I, Gillian Rene Gontard, will have to locate and harness a local water source on the planet itself. For the record, I am willing to do this.)
5. And last, but NOT LEAST, (heavy sigh)..................when the Sun sets on Mars.......it is blue......
Hmmmm.......
The Fifth Reality. That's why I am going.
How many Realities does one person need?
I Will Now Share One of My Early Positive "Computer" Memories (Again)
Atari! When video game skill relied only on one's prowess with a joystick and a button. If the problems of the world could managed somehow with a joystick and a button...well......that.....would be really weird, but the point is, I was good at it. I used to take Polaroid pictures of my high scores (?) and show them to my friends. That's right! I had friends. I like to think that I am just off center enough to be interesting, but not so much as to be overly exhausting.
These were my favorite games to play at home. In honor of them I offer my interpretation of their sound effects in astounding onomatopoetic glory:
Asteroids bpouv bpouv bpouv bpouv bpouv bpouv.......pwew, pwew-pwew
Kaboom! blip, blip, blip, blip, kajooj
Breakout bip. bip. bip. bip. , bip bip, bip, bipbipbipbip pahwh!
Adventure ga:-djaj, woooooooooooooo, kapang kapang ga-djaj wooooooooooo
Donkey Kong woo wok wok wok wok wok wok wok Boo-do-do-do-do! Boo-do-do-dodo!
PacMan whauka whauka whauka whaika, BUCKwheat! BUCKwheat!
Pitfall! ...proing! proing! peoing! Dehj!
Those sounds took longer than I thought to work out. I must have done a good job.
These were my favorite games to play at home. In honor of them I offer my interpretation of their sound effects in astounding onomatopoetic glory:
Asteroids bpouv bpouv bpouv bpouv bpouv bpouv.......pwew, pwew-pwew
Kaboom! blip, blip, blip, blip, kajooj
Breakout bip. bip. bip. bip. , bip bip, bip, bipbipbipbip pahwh!
Adventure ga:-djaj, woooooooooooooo, kapang kapang ga-djaj wooooooooooo
Donkey Kong woo wok wok wok wok wok wok wok Boo-do-do-do-do! Boo-do-do-dodo!
PacMan whauka whauka whauka whaika, BUCKwheat! BUCKwheat!
Pitfall! ...proing! proing! peoing! Dehj!
Those sounds took longer than I thought to work out. I must have done a good job.
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What was originally shared when I shared "I Will Now Share One of My Early Positive Computer Experiences":
One of my first computers looked like this. It's a Compaq! I remember how the screen would get all marked-up when the rectangular curser would burn its little ghost images everywhere. I played a lot of text-based games like Hunt the Wumpus and Dungeon. And there was this "driving" game in which a "road", made out of punctuation marks, would scroll from the top to the bottom of the screen and I was this little part-triangle thing (caret) that I had to "drive" through the "road". The caret basically stood stationary toward the bottom of the screen while the "road" flew by and I used the arrow keys to maneuver left and right. You couldn't tear me away from that thing. If they somehow rigged a Mars Rover to use these controls, I would Blow. Your. Mind.
And this is what I learned after sharing "I Will Now Share One of My Early Positive Computer Experiences":
Luckily, Marcus (the guy formally known as "Computer Guy") informed me:
"....that Compaq Portable computer you show has more computing power than did the entire sum of NASA during the Apollo missions. There was a time when smart did smart things for the sake of doing them. Back then, it was smarties and slide rules. Exactly the kind of people you want to run space missions."
Whew, that was close! It would have been really embarrassing for everyone to find out I grew up with a NASA supercomputer. I mean, they would think it had something to do with getting to Stage 2 in Mars One.
One of my first computers looked like this. It's a Compaq! I remember how the screen would get all marked-up when the rectangular curser would burn its little ghost images everywhere. I played a lot of text-based games like Hunt the Wumpus and Dungeon. And there was this "driving" game in which a "road", made out of punctuation marks, would scroll from the top to the bottom of the screen and I was this little part-triangle thing (caret) that I had to "drive" through the "road". The caret basically stood stationary toward the bottom of the screen while the "road" flew by and I used the arrow keys to maneuver left and right. You couldn't tear me away from that thing. If they somehow rigged a Mars Rover to use these controls, I would Blow. Your. Mind.
And this is what I learned after sharing "I Will Now Share One of My Early Positive Computer Experiences":
Luckily, Marcus (the guy formally known as "Computer Guy") informed me:
"....that Compaq Portable computer you show has more computing power than did the entire sum of NASA during the Apollo missions. There was a time when smart did smart things for the sake of doing them. Back then, it was smarties and slide rules. Exactly the kind of people you want to run space missions."
Whew, that was close! It would have been really embarrassing for everyone to find out I grew up with a NASA supercomputer. I mean, they would think it had something to do with getting to Stage 2 in Mars One.
