In just the last 50 years, we’ve gone from landing on the moon to... trying to get back to the moon.

Memory Alpha indicates that Starfleet grew out of the United Earth Space Probe Agency.

Starfleet represents all of Earth, not the US. So it probably starts in whatever world government grows out of the ashes of the late 21st century.

SPOILERS for The Secret Commonwealth

But is it explained before The Amber Spyglass?

Yeah, I don’t remember the books talking about “God” or “the church” either. It’s “The Authority” and “the Magisterium”. You’re supposed to make the connections on your own.

And Trump always sticks to contracts he’s signed.

I don’t see faithfulness to source material as a virtue. I do like it when I see my favorite moments from the books show up (e.g., Lyra in the cinema), but I am not keeping track of every detail of every scene and measuring it against the books. 

Saw it last night. Enjoyed it. As with Inception, it’s not nearly as confusing as it’s made out to be. If you’re the kind of person who does not want to have your brain chewing over the movie for the next 24 hours and spitting out “Oh that’s why he said that!” moments, then please do not watch it. Oh, and do watch it…

I mean, the movie is about a black guy who outwits all the white guys and saves the world.

The movie definitely reminded me of the Time Tombs.

I think the analogy between Coulter and Schafly is spot-on.

I do love how easily seduced Boreal is by the little luxuries of our world.

I had the same experience in Japan.

I think a lot of the choices that seemed a little wobbly in S1 (like introducing Will instead of waiting until S2) are finally paying off.

Yes, this is the perennial weakness of science fiction and fantasy. The only counterexamples I can think of off the top of my head are Foundation and Empire and The Last Jedi.

2) I’m so glad they included the cinema scene, which is one of my favorite scenes in the book. They do not have cinema in Lyra’s world, so she is entranced. If I remember correctly, it was a cartoon. So Paddington is a reasonable substitution, though maybe one of the Pixar films might have been better? The look on…

Yeah, it’s like a “these United States” moment. I really think McNutt is making a mountain out of a linguistic molehill here.

Judging by the preview clip, it looks like even in Season 5 they’re going to try to bring in the protomolecule-adversary-related content from the later books.

I will never get tired of the Vancouver Public Library.