[rlmorel]

Nothing silly about that at all. How many people entered the sciences over the years because of Jules Verne?

Nothing silly there. I recently watched some episodes of Star Trek on Netflix, and it was hard to watch without observing with chagrin the liberal-speak that was in much of the campy script, but that was back when it was still okay to be principled about something, and to use force to defend those principles when circumstances required it.

I watched several episodes and smiled with nostaligia at the campiness...:)

Now, my tastes go more towards something like “GalaxyQuest”!

[Reily]

I thought Galaxy Quest was hilarious!
It's rare that satire can be such a gem, but it skewered every sacred SciFi (particularly Star Trek!) cow but it a way that was not offensive.

[Reily]

and you can actually study the earth legitimately!
Anyone remember or hear about IGY International Geophysical Year (1957-1958)?