Zombie Ants (Ophiocordyceps camponoti-rufipedis)

Would you believe me if I said there was something out there that is more deadly than rabies. More vicious than rabies, and more chilling than rabies. It is called Ophiocordyceps camponoti-rufipedis, it comes from the fungus family Cordyceps, (which is what I am going to refer it to since its just easier to read) and you will be happy to know that it doesn't affect humans only ants, at least right now, I am not sure if it will jump the species barrier anytime soon.

Your probably wondering what is Cordyceps and why should I care, and a reason I would give is that it is super interesting and cool to read about. Cordyceps is not a disease or virus, unlike rabies it is a fungus, which is really what makes it creepier. What it does is it grows inside the host (an insect) eating on non-vital organs until it grows strong enough to move into the brain. Once inside the brain this freaky fungus sends out signals and forces the ant to move, it basically has full body control over the ant. What it does in control is lead the ant up a plant, kill it by devouring it's brain, and sprouts a mushroom out of the ants head. Eventually this leads to just a mass graveyard of dead ants with mushrooms growing out of their head, creating spores therefore spreading the fungus further.

All of this is really quite interesting and if you want to read more about Cordyceps than do so because it really is a fascinating thing that not many people know about. The creepiest part about this is just that it is something else controlling your body, you are basically dead while this parasite is in full control of your movements.

Space Travel

I don't know if you've noticed, but space travel isn't something that is readily available to the average person, nor is it a fast or efficient way of transportation, but I want to know, when is that going to change, when will I be able to travel to an asteroid at my leisure?

This is a pretty big topic just because of how little we are prepared for space travel. Think about air travel like planes. You need certain permits to fly a private plane, there are restricted areas that are no fly zones, and other similar issues that arise, but at least there are laws. If space travel somehow got to the average middle class person or even just a couple thousand rich guys, it would be chaos. There are little to no laws in space so what happens if one of the space ships go around and break all the satellites and TV for thousands is out. Is it illegal, if so, who's laws are they breaking? American laws, German laws, Turkish laws? Does the UN punish them? It is a very open ended question that doesn't really have an exact answer. So we really aren't ready for the future like this. Maybe there should be no laws in space because there is little to no way of enforcing any laws in space. All of this is just something to think about because a future like this really isn't as far away as it seems.

Star Wars Rumors

I read something a few days ago that was some pretty cool news. A character from the Star Wars prequels may be returning. More specifically from Phantom Menace. Don't get your hopes up, it isn't you or my favorite character Jar Jar Binks, but rather Qui-Gon Jinn. Yes Liam Neeson in a recent interview said he was interested and would definitely replay his role as the Jedi Master. This is fantastic news not only because he is one of the best characters in the Star Wars universe, but it's nice to hear something about the Stars from the Prequels, because I enjoyed a lot of those characters but for the most part I feel that nobody even talks about the prequels. Qui-Gon was what the ideal Jedi should be. He is cool and collected, but isn't afraid to go against the order a little bit, something that we don't see throughout the films after episode I. It was a shame that he got so little screen time and that he died at the end of Phantom Menace (spoiler alert). But that said, he is dead, so how would a new film even be made with the character now.

The Star Wars universe a great way of doing this. He could reappear as a force ghost and help guide the jedi in a future movie. He obviously won't be in the Force Awakens, but there is no reason we have to rule out the next 2. Episode III hinted at this with Yoda telling Obi Wan that his master (Qui Gon Jinn) has learned the way to immortality. And he actually does show up in the animated Clone Wars series. They already have Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Kenny Baker, all these guys from the original trilogy coming back, so why not give some nostalgia to those who grew up with the prequel trilogy...

If there is no way to work Qui Gon into the plot of the main trilogy again, than that is fine. Being a ghost, it wouldn't do the character as much justice anyway. That is why a stand alone, Qui Gon Jinn film would be just as great. It could be like a prequel to the prequels, possibly even feature padawan Obi Wan, and this time, just them without an annoying kid or an even more annoying native of Naboo. It could explain the background of the character and really show him off and flesh him out more. There has been a rumored Boba Fett side movie so I again, don't see the problem with doing one featuring a different, yet just as cool character. Another thing that would be plausible is Christopher Lee could play Dooku alongside Qui Gon Jinn, showing Dooku as a Jedi, which is something we never get so see. As you may know he was a Jedi turned Sith at some point in time between episode I and II. All of this theorizing is getting pretty far fetched but still. I am trying to hit all the possibilities here, whatever they may be. It may seem like I am trying to get Disney to milk the crap out of the franchise, but why would you care? Ever since 2004 we have had hardly anything Star Wars that was actually good, and some would argue even earlier than that. So I say go ahead and milk it because I will enjoy any film they put out. Heck, Marvel launches a superhero movie every year, sometimes more, and pretty much all of them turn out great, Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winter Solider both came out in 2014 and both were good films. All this news to me proves that you can't have enough Star Wars. Star Wars has no maximum, no limit, so churn the movies out all you want Disney, I will watch every, single, one.

Galactic Government

Say 300 years have passed. You are dead. I am dead. But our great great great great grandchildren wouldn't be (give or take 1-2 great's). In this alternate reality, we have encountered aliens and years have passed and we have representatives in some space government. Our representatives would then be representing all of mankind. Is it even possible? Perhaps we have colonized planets too, its too many people to represent. Lets take a page from Star Wars, as usual. The Republic has a Galactic Senate. The future could have a Federation of Planets where each planet has representatives. But even then, humans are all so different, nothing can be done ever that would satisfy EVERY person in the world. An alien race could all be nearly identical in personality and beliefs but humans are not that similar. So maybe just find a planet that has similar views as you do and that's the best way to go about this. Another point to bring up is how would the human race fit into this government. What would we contribute. We could be unwelcomed. Treated as the scum of the universe because we are flawed compared to these super aliens with their fancy senate. Or we could join it and realize it's corrupted, by an old, powerful ruler who won't give up his spot in office. (hint hint wink wink).

What history tells me is that this probably won't be the case, at first. Think of how Americans treated natives of America, how English treated natives of India. If karma is real you would think the aliens would come in and just take over our government and do what we did hundreds of years ago. Treat us as lesser beings. Not as mindless animals or anything, just pathetic things that don't deserve to rule ourselves, and who knows, maybe they are right. I think it would be pretty funny if an alien armada came in, took over all government on the planet, and then things were better than they had ever been. Economic growth, industrial growth, all under some galactic alien control. Nobody could even really get mad. Since we are viewed as a species it would be true, full blown equality, so there is a positive. It could be just like Communism, without a greedy ruler doing Communism wrong like every time here on Earth...