Why does the last space shuttle flight have the smallest crew in a quarter century?

Image via WikipediaI'm back in the Geek Trivia game full throttle on two fronts: TechTalk radio and TechRepublic's Geekend, asking why the final space shuttle mission will only carry four astronauts into orbit, which hasn't happened since Michael Jordan still wore Carolina blue.

Quoth the Geekend:

"Not since the maiden flight of Challenger in 1983 has a space shuttle operated with just a four-man complement. This reduced crew size can accommodate the extra payload on STS-135, but the payload isn’t the reason Atlantis is flying with the smallest crew in 28 years. That’s just a bonus."

I divulge NASA's secret in efficient text form via the Geekend, but go into more auditory detail on TechTalk. The latter podcast also includes an unrelated interview with the authors of The Techno-Human Condition (affiliate link), which is a fine primer on transhumanism. It's worth a listen above and beyond my trivial contributions.

The most popular thing I've ever written (makes fun of SyFy Channel movies)

When you Google my name, Jay Garmon -- and yes, I do this from time to time, for all the same reasons you'd expect -- only a single actual piece of writing earns first-page results. Winnow away all my social media profiles and bio pages and the intentional Google-bomb that is my blog URL, and you're left with a column I wrote in 2007 postulating on where Sci-Fi [sic] Channel movies really come from.

I take potshots at studio scriptwriting processes, B-list actors, the LA County sheriff's department, Perl and Corin Nemec (who is Parker Lewis and therefore a separate category from B-List) along the way. How this particular little gem of a column found it's way into Google's good graces I'm unclear, but I'll take the publicity where I can get it. My ego-surfing results change day to day (thanks, Panda), but this post has stayed a consistent first-page winner for a very long time.

I expect that the popularity is due to several factors, all obtuse:

• Link equity: A few sci-fi and writer blogs cross-linked to this post when it went live 4 years ago, and I expect those links are still valuable
• Longevity: As noted, 4 years is a long time to acquire link equity in Google's eyes
• Authoritative URL: Say what you will about TechRepublic, but Google doesn't think they're a content farm
• Keywords: I snark on a topic that many have snarked about before, and thus this is the most popular item to which my name is attached, Moreover, I hit a large number of topics and keywords in the progress of the post, which gives me a minor little Google boost along the way

If you're curious, I invite you to take a look at what I actually used to get paid to write, and the kind of thing I expect I'll be writing once more now that my noncompete has expired and I have clearance to work for CBS Interactive as a contractor again.

Oh, and the moral of the story? You never know which line-item on your bibliography will be the most long-lived or well received, so don't be any more of an asshole than absolutely necessary.

Related articles

• SyFy, The Killing of Science-Fiction (godofnothingnow.wordpress.com)
• Red Faction's Made For TV Movie May Spawn A Series [Syfy] (kotaku.com)
• Sharktopus is the Champion of SyFy's Monster Madness Battle (tor.com)

My favorite unappreciated alien invasion story

Image via WikipediaMy favorite unappreciated alien invasion story is revealed -- alongside the more cogent and/or traditional selections from Jeff Patterson, Lisa Paitz Spindler, Jamie Todd Rubin, Fred Kiesche, John DeNardo and Patrick Hester -- in the latest edition of the SF Signal podcast. Comic book nerds will probably get a jolt from my nomination, especially if you're younger than 25.

Give a listen. You'll love it or your money back.

As always my rap sheet of past SF Signal podcast misdemeanors is available here.

Related articles

• Why are we so excited about alien invasions all of a sudden? [Rant] (io9.com)
• Is Robert Heinlein still relevant? (jaygarmon.net)
• Are comic books a legitimate media for science fiction? (jaygarmon.net)

TechTalk Trivia: What medieval poet and author is responsible for the modern day celebration of April Fool’s?

Image by Mykl Roventine via FlickrAnother Saturday, another horrifying example of my radio non-talent, courtesy of TechTalk WRLR in Chicago. This week, I enthrall listeners with the knowledge of which medieval poet and author is responsible for the modern day celebration of April Fool’s. Thankfully, the show is rescued from my pedantry with a discussion of how to recycle your old cell phones in service to a good cause. Give a listen.

TechTalk Trivia: What 2 types of propulsion was Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft to use?

Image via WikipediaYet more damning evidence of my radio ineptitude courtesy of TechTalk on WRLR Chicago. This time around, I divulge what two types of spacecraft propulsion that Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft in history to use. If that sounds like your cup of tea, I promise the info survives my bludgeoning attempts at being entertaining.

More importantly, Mike Kastler explains how to use the Internet to up the efficiency and honesty of your charitable donations. Listen for that service, if nothing else. Skip over my trivia nonsense, if necessary.