Interesting links of the day

Some days I don’t have anything substantial to talk about. Ok, most days. But I still find things that are interesting. I usually share them on Twitter (and my latest tweet is always on the left side of the page), but Twitter moves fast. So today, I bring you two links that are merely coincidentally related.

The Return of Clinton Futurism?

The last time the Democrats controlled the White House and both houses of Congress, Gillian Anderson wore pants. There were two Star Trek series at once, which promoted women and minorities and looked at the dark side of the Federation. Cyberpunk reigned supreme. The future was a shiny place — but with dread lurking just beneath its polish. Now that the Democrats have finally scored another grand slam, are we going to see the return of sunny-but-questioning science fiction?

Obama Positioned to Reverse Bush Actions

Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone to reverse White House policies on climate change, stem cell research, reproductive rights and other issues, according to congressional Democrats, campaign aides and experts working with the transition team.

To provide just some brief commentary, both of these notions excite me. To be honest, I’d love to see another Star Trek series, myself–perhaps the upcoming film will breathe some new life into a franchise that has been flailing about since the cancellation of Enterprise. However, I suppose that’s neither here nor there when it comes to the bigger picture of truly thoughtful and intellectual science fiction that is still wildly popular and entertaining, something that there’s been a sore lack of “new blood” in these past several years.

I am equally, if not more excited over the prospect of an administration that values scientific opinion again. I have never much cared for anti-intellectualism, particularly among those who are supposed to be our leaders. I am also delighted that the incoming Obama administration seems to have a better grasp of the executive’s Consitutional powers. President-elect Obama is a Constitutional scholar, after all, which gives me great hope (if you’ll pardon the expression) that the highest law of our land will again be viewed as the foundation of our leaders’ goals rather than as a hinderence to them.