This last column before the spring run to the season (or series) finale comes at a moment of great energy in human events. As problems below tempt our better natures into bitter collapse, it's important to consider the example of nations in cooperation above. Let's take a moment to salute the crew exchanges going on hundred of kilometers overhead. The retiring duo of Expedition Eight has their historic achievements tucked away, and no doubt are busy preparing the frontier outpost for the challenge soon to face Expedition Nine. Padalka and Fincke must set up sparse shop (and hopefully resolve that annoying percussive noise), then in time affix new hardware outside the station, building on the extravehicular experience of their predecessors. Godspeed to the safe exchange of all, scheduled between the 19th and 29th of this month.

The Russians are sensibly calling for year long tours, and I wonder if they've considered rotating a three man crew at six month intervals allowing wider overlap to share notes. (Unless the tub's not really all that hard to row. Har!) In turn the US should take up the slack of providing more supply rockets, a wonderful opportunity for private ventures. Also to that I hope we start to see more space touristy-types; so far they've done good. It's time for a professional artist- pick an art- to go.

It seems one of those creepy coincidences of history that the Star Trek televised franchise stands poised at a crisis crossroad simultaneously with the world. So the more I think about the promise we're so close to losing- a promise made to each of us willing to watch- all the less I want it to stop. But that's not always how it works, I know, aware of handling unwarranted expectations. Times like these suggest the philosophy from the pragmatic Malone in "The Untouchables": Don't wait for it to happen. Don't even want it to happen. Just watch what does happen.

Yet (to Pasteur's credit), "chance favors the prepared mind." The collective mindpower of Trekkers is awesome to behold. If there's anything to the ties alleged between Trek and Forbidden Planet, now's the time to prepare your mind for peace no matter what happens. As UPN deals with the decision to renew I don't envy anybody that responsibility. The body of Enterprise delivered in three seasons is satisfactory, and if that proved good enough for TOS then it should be good enough for ENT. Fix a few problems though, come another season we'll all be watching.