the fact that the characters aren't Big Heroes Out To Change The Universe, they're just ordinary people getting by.

Plus - No. Sound. In. Space.

I obviously haven't watched Firefly yet (but thanks to Jon and Jim and Fiona and John I now have a chance), but just from the reading of it those two things seemed connected somehow - like there's no need for a big dramatic sound effect when a spaceship moves through space because it's not a Big Moment thing that requires the 'big' score/sound, just people getting by. You won't have anything special for somebody getting into a car, and so - in that reality - the movement of a spaceship doesn't require it either. But only by realizing it's not a Big Heroes show can you allow yourself to remember the scientific fact that there's no sound in space.

Sorry, it all made some perfect sense in my mind a minute ago, and then I had to think about it in order to write it, and now it's not.

it's not a Big Moment thing that requires the 'big' score/sound

Good thought, but they do often use music in place of a swoosh, roar, or whatever.

Hayden! We're good. B. is going through a very cute phase again. The only problem is that his sleep patterns are a bit random at the moment. Mostly he's waking up early (way too early, if you ask me - between 5 and 6am). Then yesterday he slept through until 8:30. Go figure. Anyway, I'm a wee bit tired these days.

Glad to hear Benno's good! Hope his sleep patterns regularize themselves out soon.

Nilly, it's nice to see a science-head with a really poetic soul.

I think the No Sound In Space thing was at its worst in Independence Day when not only did the spaceships make lots of noise going past the moon, but the noise and vibration is so loud that it vibrates the dust on the moon.

Three minutes into the movie and I'm already yelling at the screen.

Yes, but it was a fantastic sight gag.

Dave Barry's gift guide this year reviews a Nature's Platform Toilet Squatting Device that lets you convert a Western-style sit-down toilet seat to allow a more-natural squatting position. I've been wondering about this ever since I learned about it. I know men's urinary systems weaken and allow backups if they use bedpans too long instead of standing up, so sit-down toilets could well cause problems too. Have any unamericans had experience with the squatting style they want to share? John H, do they use that kind in Vietnam, or are they going porcelain?

Holy FUCK was that a good episode of Firefly. This show is flying so high and hard now - it'll be a damn shame if they can't keep it going.

John H, do they use that kind in Vietnam, or are they going porcelain?

This is not the kind of thing we reserved british people like to go into detail over, but my vietnamese family have a squatting type toilet, yes. The other type were only found in "western-style" establishments like a Troung Nguyen or "vietnamese starbucks" outlet.

You get used to it.

I don't mind squat toilets as long as they're cleanish. I remember when I first went to SE Asia I hated the idea for about the first 2 weeks until I learned to read while squatting with a torch in my mouth - a basic travelling life skill.