I actually watched some TV today and saw an interesting commercial. The Intel one where the people are throwing themselves on the co-designer of the USB. Made me think who my 'rock stars' are. Not planning on starting a meme or anything, but it would actually be nice to hear who other people idolize.

1.) Neil Armstrong (While other kids collected baseball cards, I collected space cards and had the full Apollo 11 set. He was also on the list of people you could send paperwork to to get congratulations for achieving Eagle Scout... I was so happy when mine arrived in the mail.

2.) Charles Darwin (As a biologist, do I need to explain this?)

3.) Albert Einstein (Wild-haired physicist, absolute genius, and also bad at math.)

3.) Benjamin Franklin (preferred) or Thomas Jefferson (acceptable) (Would like to discuss their ideas on freedom of thought, where they felt the US would be in 2010 concerning this. Ben Franklin, would also love to discuss scientific views.)

4.) Dr. Eric Guiler (yep, he is definitely on my list. I would say he was probably the greatest authority on the thylacine. I credit him with igniting me my current obsession. Just would like to hear him speak about the thylacine & tasmanian devil.)

5.) Richard Dawkins (I have heard him talk but would actually just want to shake his hand and thank him. For the longest time I thought I was alone (and possibly crazy) in being unable to believe in a personal deity. Through his lectures, books, and website, realized that I am not alone and that Im not the crazy one. Also his defense of agnostics/atheism helped me approach my parents about it and get them to sorta accept our theological differences.)

6.) Nikola Tesla (guy deserves more credit and praise for his accomplishments. Really a pity.)

7.) Teddy Roosevelt (a rare breed, someone I would consider an honest politician. Loved the concept of the Square Deal, his beginning of the conservation movement, and him being the only 3rd party to come in 2nd place in the elections. I think the US could really use a Teddy clone in the White House...)

8.) Wernher von Braun (yes he created the V2 rocket, but he is one of the people who helped humanity to get to the moon. Its a pity that the space program has floundered so much as of late.)

9.) Meatloaf (Yep, I do have a real rock star on my list. I hated his music when I first heard it. But it it grew on me like a bad habit. Rock needs more sexy fat men in poofy shirts singing power ballads. Besides, out of all the women I have dated, the sane ones that did not wind up being creepy stalkers liked his music. Creepy stalkers all hated him.)

10. William Shakespere (Love his literary work. Would love to meet the man behind it.


Ok, as for the show. Just happened to think about some ideas for other steampunk vehicles (a flying Tesla-like fortress) and half remembered watching this show with one of my friends back in grade school. Remembered some bits with said friend but neither one of us could come up with the name.
It was on the Disney channel mabe 12-15 years ago, was live action and I think ran 2 seasons. During a prank a kid (think it was set in Australia) gets transported to a semi-post-apocalyptic alternative dimension. Seemingly its a medieval world but it has a ruling elite (I think their title was what the show was called) that have access to a very Tesla inspired steampunkish technology. Flying machines that use broadcast power from this castle to fly via magnetic levitation. The elite also had odd suits they could throw lightning, primitive radios, etc. Not much, but thought that with the varied interests of some people I have talked with, someone might remember something more. Sadly, came up with absolutely nothing on my internet search.