Things I learned from Star Trek (the next generation) and the Olympics

1. We like to be reassured that people in the future will be like us, that we ourselves could live in the future. The characters in Star Trek are recognizable and familiar, despite having cured war, invented interstellar travel, and eradicated shoetie laces.

2. We like to see that our flaws and virtues make us superior to every race in the universe, and also that we remain humble enough to deny it.

3. We wish we could dress in pajamas all the time.

4. Why would anyone play chess with Data?

5. It's good to know that even when aliens have superpowers we want, like telepathy, they will still be flat stilted characters without our sexy human complexity.

6. There are a million ways to imagine heaven and hell, and most of them include temporal distorting crystalline beings that suck the memories from your soul.

7. In the future, all government employees will be chosen based on their level of attractiveness.

8. When in doubt, say you are from France. Never play poker with the guy who says he's from France.

9. In the future we will have eradicated cows, pigs, and chickens.

10. Curiousity didn't kill the cat. Instead, the cat built a warp core and used it to build the biggest U.N. ever. And it was a good thing. Never discount the importance of allies, and technology capable of defeating your allies.