If ruining the only religious icon I have leaves me vulnerable to Martian vampires, I'll have to risk it.

Problem is (follow me closely here, the science is pretty complicated), if I cut a hole in the Hab, the air won't stay inside anymore.

As with most of life's problems, this one can be solved by a box of pure radiation.

Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be “in command” if I were the only remaining person.”What do you know? I’m in command

How did I end up in this situation? I'm the district sales manager of a napkin factor. Why is my daughter in space?

Turns out even NASA can't improve on duct tape.

I'm so close to Schiaparelli I can taste it. I guess it would taste like sand, mostly, but that's not the point.

It is of course dangerous to set off an explosive device on a spacecraft.

Mars and my own stupidity keep trying to kill me.

I stumbled up the hill back toward the Hab. As I crested the rise, I saw something that made me very happy and something that made me very sad: The Hab was intact (yay!) and the MAV was gone (boo!).

Space is dangerous. It's what we do here. If you want to play it safe all the time, go join an insurance company.

There are so many things and people craving your attention such that you could so easily forget that you have a purpose to fulfill within a specified time on the earth.

There is no doubt that Einstein's pipe was his closest associate, while others--including wife and family--were never permitted the illusion that they would ever be at the center of his life.

The great delusion of modernity, is that the laws of nature explain the universe for us. The laws of nature describe the universe, they describe the regularities. But they explain nothing.

I don’t care what other people think about me. Most people are idiots, and they can think whatever they want.

Change is not made without inconvenience even from worse to better.

Appearances may be deceiving.

Why did children seem to be so often spontaneous, joy-filled and concentrated while adults seemed controlled, anxiety-filled and diffused? It was the Goddam sense of having a self.

I have put my whole soul into this work [The Pathetique Symphony] . . . You cannot imagine what joy I feel at the thought that my days are not yet over and that I may still accomplish much.

The Nixonization of Obama has started. The Hooverization comes next.

I guess my main influences are Jesus, rock n roll and ex-wives. In that order.