Some of them are small, some are realistic, and some are ‘out there’.

And I mean really ‘out there’…

I’ve always had a few dreams in life; one dream is to see the Earth rise over the horizon of the Moon.

That’s okay, I’ll give you a second to get the giggles out.

A therapist would probably have something to say about ultimate escapism and how it’s all related to running away, but for many many years now, the images from the Hubble space telescope (and various other space-bound probes) have filled me with such a serenity and awe that it’s difficult to put it down in to words. Galaxies and Nebulae, often rife with toxic gases, become these infinite works of art spanning light years that have come about purely as another form of life (albeit a non-sentient, life-of-a-galaxy, kind of life).

However, I do not have the same reaction when discussing space travel. Having visited Kennedy Space Center in Florida, seen the rocket technology, seen the IMAX films, seen the launch pad out at Cape Canaveral, and watched many documentaries on the lunar missions and subsequent orbital ones, I cannot help but be filled with an immense feeling of disappointment.

Regardless of anyone’s opinions on the factuality of the moon landings, there is no denying that the Space-bound future we were promised some forty years ago has yet to materialise. The end of the cold war took away the need to develop new rocket technologies (which were the primary reasons behind government funding to NASA - the space-travel was merely a commodity that could be sold to the American people to help convince the spending).

In 2008 there are no space-ports, no lunar hotels, no rocket-ships to Mars. The very idea of Mankind regaining an image of explorers, discoverers and pioneers (ala Cook, Columbus, Cortez, but in space) has really died on its arse. We haven’t had a new shuttle design in decades, the international space station is a Meccano set of technology obsolete on Earth long before it even gets launched out of our atmosphere, and the shiney-white surfaces of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey are far from reality anywhere other than the eighth floor of the Hotel Americana in Madrid. On Earth.

But I’ve always felt that the private sector would push this forward. In every true area of innovation it is always those companies willing to put the money forward without the bureaucracy that stifles efforts of governments.

I took great interest in the Ansari X-Prize, a competition designed to push the innovation in space travel forward by offering the prize of some $10m to the first private manned space flight. The competition itself was modelled on the many prizes from the early twentieth century that helped push forward the development of air flight. One of the more prominent was the $25,000 Orteig Prize that motivated Charles Lindbergh to fly solo across the atlantic. Somehow, innovation always works with the prospect of money behind it, eh?

The winner was one Burt Rutan, along with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. One of the major sponsors was a Mr Richard Branson (he might have been a Sir by then… I’m not sure).

The $10m pales now in comparison to the some $100m that has been spent on investment and development since then, and the resultant corporate entity that has emerged has already had many column inches of discussion. This week, that company unveiled it’s craft designs and the full extent of the branding.

And that’s when I really was drooling….

With a wonderful eye motif, crisp futuristic lettering and this wonderful idea of the evolution of flight, the branding really makes me feel inspired. It says The Future, it says ‘You won’t believe your eyes’, it says ‘Kubrick was right - look at this’ and ‘wow, isn’t it all full of such wonder?!’.

For a measly US$200,000 Virgin Galactic is offering passengers 3 days of intensive training at its Dan-Dare-esque training facility in New Mexico before taking a sub-orbital flight some 360,000 feet above the surface of the Earth in it’s SpaceShipTwo and WhiteNight craft, developed from the design of Rutan’s SpaceShipOne. Giving just over five minutes of zero gravity and possibly one of the best visuals known to man, this is possibly the closest I’ll get in my lifetime to reaching my dream. And my god, haven’t they made it look sexy? Take a peek at the site and the promo video that’s there. The interior of the craft are phenomenal, and totally in-keeping with what the future should be. I only hope one day, when I’m wearing one of those jump-suits, that I’ll look that good.

But what, prey tell, is all this about Martian-esque Juicers?

Well… there are very few designers (be it graphical people like me, architects, interior designers, or engineering designers) that ever make a name for themselves. One of the few is a man who has designed everything from hotel rooms to watches, spectacles to remote controls and possibly the worlds most famous ‘what the hell is that thing’ fruit juicer.

That man is somewhat of a legend in my eyes and quite wonderfully described the design of Amazon’s Kindle “A little sad” and “almost modern”. Who else could it be but Philippe Starck.

The link?

That branding for Virgin Galactic is his. :o)

Design agency Sky26 have also chipped in with some brilliant bits too, and kudos really should be thrown their way too. They came up with the wonderful Galactic Girl designs, based on Sir Richard’s daughter Eva.

Sky26 also provided the visuals for the craft.

Hell, I might even…. yep…. I will……

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Donate any amount:

Here’s some donate buttons in case you want to help with the ‘Get Lee in to Space’ fund. Go on. I only need 100,000 people to send me £1 or $2 and I’ll have a flight. I may even start up a facebook group!

Haha!

So, Califor-nhi-ay, eh?

Yes, I am travelling on the 13th of February to the wonderful city of Los Angeles¹ for a week of fun and frolics with friends, including a romping-good day at Disneyland² with none other than my friend Jarrod Cooper, and good ol’ Dalek writer Rob Shearman. Should be a jolly!

Then, of course, there is my first proper North American Doctor Who convention, in the form of Gallifrey One. It’s a research trip for an upcoming event I’m helping to organise, as well as a chance to talk to a writer I’m working with on a “secret project” that I’m not sure I’m allowed to talk about just yet. The type of convention will give you a clue, but you’re only half-way there.

I’m also hoping to cram in some other sight-seeing³ whilst I’m there, taking in such monumental vistas like the Hollywood hills, Rodeo drive, the Graumans Chinese Theater and Sunset Blvd.

And I’ve gone and got me one of those new fangled RFID passports, haven’t I. Not normally one to cringe at gadgets, my fears of near-field pickup are pricking their ears right now. Thing is, its essentially the same thing as my Oyster card for Tube travel, except its got more information about me (date of birth, town of birth, passport number, etc etc) and looks like a freaky bit of spy kit.

For those that are interested, Rules of Modern Policing: 1973 Edition has sold over 75,000 copes and is now in it’s 4th reprint! How cool is that!

Till next time!

1. ah, them angels, eh? [back]
2. aka ‘The MotherLand [back]
3. site-seeing? sight-seeing? what’s grammatically correct, eh? [back]

Essentially, you go to bed a little earlier than normal (for me it was an hour earlier than usual), and before sleeping, thrust your head in to your pillow several times whilst counting. Continue until you’ve counted up to the time that you want to wake. For example, waking up at 9am would require nine thrusts.

Yes it sounds stupid.

But, I woke up, clear as a bell, at 8am this morning. Admittedly, I’d aimed for 9am, but still, it kinda worked!

In other news, I also had a strange dream about me and my Nan going house shopping in Brooklyn, NY. She was pretty impressed by a building almost entirely built from damp and mould. It was horrendous. I seriously couldn’t believe the state of the place (or it’s current residents). Ugh. And I was quite concerned that she wasn’t aware that Brooklyn was infact not in Manhattan, and just because we’d gotten on and off a train underground did not mean that we hadn’t crossed the east river. Weird.

Also, in terms of superheroness (thanks IAM), it turns out that I’m

You are Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman 85% The Flash 75% Green Lantern 75% Catwoman 75% Robin 74% Superman 70% Spider-Man 65% Supergirl 65% Batman 50% Hulk 45% Iron Man 40%

You are a beautiful princess with great strength of character.

Click here to take the “Which Superhero are you?” quiz…

“In the end the iPhone is like some glorious early-60s sports car. Not as practical, reliable, economical, sensible or roomy as a family saloon but oh, the joy. The jouissance as Roland Barthes liked to say. What it does, it does so supremely well, that what it does not do seems laughably irrelevant.”

My first impressions are positive (really, who expected any different!?!?). The whole connection process was really quick and painless, the syncing identical to an iPod and the whole thing is just brilliant.

I also have EDGE coverage where I am in London and it ain’t that bad for checking emails. I had a perfect moment earlier when I was trying to explain to my roommate about how funny a particular League of Gentlemen sketch was (and my comic timing sucks!) so I just got up YouTube, did a quick search and the clip was right there!

I looked like a flash git, and I was proud of it!

I managed to avoid most of the crowds this evening by skipping both the Regent Street and Brent Cross Apple stores and heading straight for the Wood Green 02 store. Arriving there at 5:25pm I was third in line. By the time the doors opened at 6:02pm there were about fifteen or so people behind me.

All in all, I’m pretty stoked.

Plus, this keyboard really rocks. Seriously. From this whole blog post I’ve made like a hundred messy types and the phone has just corrected each and every one! I’ve only had to use the backspace key twice!

Which is currently better stats than my regular keyboard!

My name is Lee, and I love my iPhone.

PAC Code? Check!
Cancellation notice sent to Carphone Warehouse? Check!
Contacts backed up on Mac? Check!
iTunes 7.5 downloaded, running and all good? Check!
Jawbone Bluetooth Headset ordered? Check!
Cleared funds in either credit or debit card form? Check!
Countermeasures plan if Apple Store looks too busy? Check!
Secondary countermeasures plan if Countermeasure location looks too busy? Check!

Friday, as near as possible to 6:02pm I shall be the owner of an iPhone.

If I’m not - please do not come near me until I get one; I can assure you I will be so seething mad I will be able to maim and kill with just my little finger. This is for your own safety.

Here’s hoping that Apple & O2’s severs don’t fall over like AT&Ts did when the phone launched in the states!

Weeee!!!!

ps - also, if you’re a facebook user, check out http://apps.facebook.com/genehunt - I made that!

Oi! You Ponce! Buy My Bleedin’ Book!

www.rulesofmodernpolicing.co.uk

Says it all really!

In other news:
Shitness goes off line for months. The world farts, scratches it’s arse and rolls over, going back to sleep.
No one notices.

Except my mum three days ago.

The Rules Of Modern Policing: 1973 Edition is released. Sells extremely well. Second printing ordered. Total copies printed to date: 60,000.

Life On Mars: The Official Companion, Volume Two is completed. Today. Out in stores as soon as the ink dries.

Spooks: The Definitive Collection partwork is being tested. Possible national launch imminent.

I have several ideas in development right now. Two are related to a show I love. One is related to a DJ I know very little about. One is related to one of literature’s most famous people.

And yes, that’s all I can say right now.

Oh…. and on Friday… I’m buying this: