Dr. Martin Rundkvist is a Swedish archaeologist, journal editor, public speaker, skeptic, atheist, lefty liberal, bookworm, and father of two.
Stacy L. Mason is an Aard regular and a talented artist. Check out his awesome interpretation of the Swedish tardigrades that are going to Phobos!
In other news, I have issues with the lyrics of the Kick-Ass Mystic Ninjas podcast's theme song, a fine ska tune by 7 Seconds of Love.
I'm gonna flip out like a ninja
'Cause that's what ninjas do
I'm gonna flip out like a ninja
And you should flip out too
The thing that throws me here is the word "because". When deciding on important matters such as whether or not to flip out, Dear Reader, I feel that a person should have a stronger justification than just referring to the habits of ninjas.
Comments
I had assumed that the tardigrades had volunteered for the mission because they had been told the beer would be cheaper even than in Denmark.
Posted by: Bob O'H | August 30, 2009 2:54 AM
I thought they only volunteered because from a distance Phobos looks like a meatball.
Posted by: Sigmund | August 30, 2009 3:03 AM
Yay!(I'm male tho)
Posted by: Stacy L Mason | August 30, 2009 3:37 AM
Stacy, I feel your pain. "Jan", my first name is a male name in Sweden, but a female one in most of the English-speaking world. That's one reason I long ago took to using my nickname "Janne" in writing - though there are a few hardy souls who insist in interpreting it as a misspelt "Jane", as if it's common for people to get their own first name wrong.
Posted by: Janne | August 30, 2009 4:27 AM
I get the misspelling thing as well, most of the guys with my name have a superfluous e in front of the y. Funny, normally an extra vowel makes the name into the feminine version.
I blame postnatal painkillers. Could have been worse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M89c3hWx3RQ
Posted by: Stacy L Mason | August 30, 2009 5:52 AM
My own real name is a common Welsh male name. Unfortunately, I live in America, where health insurers, software engineering recruiters, and HR folk consistently conclude that I must have marked the wrong box in the 'gender' section of their stupid paperwork.
As for the art, it must be a poster for the BEST MOVIE EV4R!
Posted by: llewelly | August 30, 2009 1:31 PM
Ah, the sweet smell of correct pronouns. :)
Posted by: Stacy L Mason | August 30, 2009 2:26 PM
I love the smell of grammar in the morning. But tardigrades don't surf!
Posted by: Martin R | August 30, 2009 2:33 PM