JMS at Mars Soc. Con Aug 14-16; Boulder CO

I think I may have found some information on the mars colony TV project JMS mentionend:

There might be a green light in the red planet's future.

AMC is looking to outer space as it beefs up its slate, developing a series project with writer/executive producer Jonathan Hensleigh based on the sci-fi novel "Red Mars."

"Mars," a 1992 novel by Kim Stanley Robinson, chronicles the inhabitants of the first human colony on the planet. Hensleigh ("Armageddon") is the writer and will executive produce alongside Michael Jaffe and Howard Braunstein of Jaffe Braunstein Entertainment ("The Memory Keeper's Daughter") and Vince Gerardis, Ralph Vicinanza and Eli Kirschner of Created By ("Jumper").

complete article: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...edd888ec498d8a

Interesting, though no involvement of JMS himself, it seems.

Lots of pics from the convention:

http://freemars.org/mnfan/MarsSociety/2008/Mars-Soc-Conf-2008/index-fri.html

[Jan]

What was that bit concerning rumours about a Mars colony TV project? This doesn't sound like the one he mentioned on SDCC; might that be "the Group's" mysterious project, or do you think yet another one might be on the way?

No idea. Whatever it was, it must have been in his Friday session.

Jan

I agree; I also have my problems with the "original sin". I'd be very interested in what the religious people had to say in response. Also how they handled JMS' peculiar branch of atheism in which the universe speaks. Pity all of the religious folks represented Christian branches.

What was that bit concerning rumours about a Mars colony TV project? This doesn't sound like the one he mentioned on SDCC; might that be "the Group's" mysterious project, or do you think yet another one might be on the way?

[Jan]

Yeah, and if even one prophet had slipped in E=MC2 with the note that eventually it'd make sense, JMS'd be on board but none of them seemed to know any more than what their contemporaries knew.

One part I liked a lot was what he said about having a problem with 'original sin'. There was more to it but the example he used was that if your child burns his hand on a hot stove after you've told him not to touch it, do you throw him out of the house or let him learn from his mistakes?

This post says pretty much what he said about original sin at the con

Jan

One of the religious (I'd have to check my notes as to who) did seem to want to engage JMS...perhaps a bit confrontationally.

Yeah, well, he did say he wanted to start bar fights

According to the newsgroup post "No diety in any religion is better than the average person". I can see why the religious side would be a bit confrontational about that

[Jan]

You were there? I'm jealous!!!

I almost didn't, since originally the admission was almost as much as the plane fare and even I have limits when it comes to indulging myself. Near the last minute that I could have booked, they came up with a really inexpensive pass for the Religion and Space track so I went after all.

Typical. So I gather it was more a presentation of POVs, and there wasn't much discussion at all.

A couple of them did follow instructions and ask for clarification/expansion on points made. One of the religious (I'd have to check my notes as to who) did seem to want to engage JMS...perhaps a bit confrontationally. Me, I'd've loved to see him talk to the Jesuit from the Vatican observatory. He had the most personality, I thought. They'd've been a lot of fun to see exchanging views.

Jan

You were there? I'm jealous!!!

Seriously, a transcription would be great. I'd love to hear more about this discussion, as I'm very interested in that topic, and I'd have loved to be there. Living on the other side of the planet can be kind of a disadvantage.

Each panelist was first supposed to summarize their own talk and address points from the others. A couple of them didn't seem to understand the instructions and went on way too long. That was disappointing since I really wanted to hear what they had to say to each other.

Typical. So I gather it was more a presentation of POVs, and there wasn't much discussion at all.

[Jan]

There's this post from the moderated newsgroup:.

I was there for the Saturday sessions.

I'm hoping to transcribe his actual speech sometime in the next week or so. It was short, less than 10 minutes. Afterward he took questions from the audience and I hope to transcribe some of those also. I'm hesitant to try to convey what he said without actually transcribing it since it involved physics and stuff that might be misunderstood if I try to paraphrase.

Immediately afterward was the panel discussion with five people which was kind of a disappointment, partly because it was only scheduled for 40 minutes. Each panelist was first supposed to summarize their own talk and address points from the others. A couple of them didn't seem to understand the instructions and went on way too long. That was disappointing since I really wanted to hear what they had to say to each other.

Jan

So has anyone heard anything about these presentations/panels at all?

Google Alerts is good, too.

Jan

Problem with google alerts is that you only get what google considers "news" sources - which, unfortunately, doesn't equal what I consider news sources.

I'm also struck by the fact that the panel is populated by multiple Christians, one Atheist, but no practicitioners from other religions - were they not able to find people from other religions who were willing to participate?

I agree; apparently they've never seen "Parliament of Dreams".

[timk519]

The rather colourful assembly of speakers suggests it might be interesting indeed

As a Lutheran myself I'm a bit surprised that the panel contains not one but two speakers from Lutheran backgrounds - they'll be interesting all by themselves as they have radically divergent theological perspectives.

I'm also struck by the fact that the panel is populated by multiple Christians, one Atheist, but no practicitioners from other religions - were they not able to find people from other religions who were willing to participate?

[Jan]

It's neither; google is your friend ... it just takes an efficient search strategy.

Google Alerts is good, too.

Jan

No worries, it's him, the introductory article's got it right.

Does JMS publish his public appearances anywhere?

Or is it just blind luck to find where he's going to be?

It's neither; google is your friend ... it just takes an efficient search strategy.

[timk519]

Although it does specify somebody named Michael J. Straczynski. An evil twin perhaps?

i'm thinking a dyslexic twin.