[Poll] Is It Tomorrow Yet?

[thefourthvine]

I have been watching All Things Kirk and Spock lately, including some of the original-cast movies. Which means that recently I saw The Wrath of Khan. Now, I've talked before about my history with the pivotal scene in that movie, but to summarize: first time I saw it, in Killa's vid Dante's Prayer, Best Beloved had to narrate the whole thing for me so I knew what was going on, and I didn't get why she was teary. Later, after I came to know Spock through fan fiction, I was the one getting teary. This time? Watching it in the actual movie? COMPLETE MELTDOWN. I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed, and I knew what was coming. But - SPOCK. SPOCK! And then Kirk loses it in an elevator. Oh my GOD.

But that is not my point. (I just can't talk about anything without talking about Spock these days.) My point is that I realized, watching that movie, that it seemed totally reasonable to the makers of it that by 1996 we would have:

• Genetic engineering of complex traits in humans
  
• Long-term cryogenics from which you could reliably be, you know, unfrozen
  
• Prolonged deep space trips featuring (frozen) humans

Those of you who remember 1996 (and if you do, think on this: there are now teenagers whose excuse for not remembering 1996 is that they weren't born yet) will probably also recall that we did not have any of those things then. And, in fact, we don't have them now. And it's not like we're expecting them next year, either.

This, taken in conjunction with a recent post on my friends list, made me think about the future. Are we in it?

(For extra credit, please list your favorite Signs of the Future (either realized or not) in the comments.)

[Poll #1508335]

Comments

[aynatonal.livejournal.com]

I want a tee shirt that says, "We don't have spaceflight until I can get the fuck off this rock."

I feel like I will know it's the future from the clothes. Until I can walk down any city street looking like I'm an extra from The 5th Element without inciting any particular notice, then it is not the future. Sadly, by the time the future happens, I will probably be too old to take advantage of the opportunity. Unless we also get that anti-aging thing down by then.

[aethel]

I second this.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

I think there should be a petition sent to NASA: Get us the fuck off this rock! Stop fucking around over there! *sighs*

And I like the idea that you shall know the future by its raiment. Although *I* would never notice anyone dressed like a 5th Element extra *now*. So maybe the future is just really unobservant?