The Moon is a harsh mistress.

Dinnerparty with Tracie Friday night. A potluck affair, Tracie brought the main course - chicken in white wine. L prepared the supporting dishes. There was astronaut ice-cream for dessert.

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Post-dinner music, improvised and beautiful:

Tracie: viola
L: flute
Sabitathica: guitar

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Much dinnertable discussion about the recently announced discovery of water on the Moon. There appear to be two main reactions to this news:

1. water on the Moon means there's probably life on the Moon!
2. water on the Moon will make it easier for humans to live on the Moon!

My responses:

1. No, there's no intrinsic relationship between life and water. Sure, they're connected here, on Earth, a planet who's surface is mostly water. But only a very sorry scientist would universalize this local connection to suggest life requires water.
2. No, humans will live on the Moon whether there's water there or not. In fact, assuming we don't all kill each other first, it's inevitable.

Hey, I love stories about space - I really do. I get goosebumps every time some amateur astronomer names a new comet. If somebody discovers a planet, I go out for a drink to celebrate. I can recite every line from Star Wars by heart. I would love to get excited about water on the Moon, but sadly it doesn't mean anything. It's a chemical compound, that's all. A non-event. These aren't the 'droids you're looking for. Move along. Move along.