Outer Space @ MindSay 
The pacifists are probably already lining up to denounce the militarization of Outer Space. In this day of psychotic rogue States and irresponsible mindless destructive Islamofascist terrorist organizations, a military presence in Space may save the day for American National Interests when push comes to shove.
The old Cold War adversaries (Russia and China) are increasingly taking the side of Mohammedans that hate America. When the terrorists and rogues acquire (notice I said "when" and not "if") nuclear WMD, our Satellite monitoring defenses will priority protection.
Yes it is obvious that we will need to protect ourselves and our way of life by military presence in Space.
There have been media rumors that China and Russia have acquired the ability to render American Satellites useless. Since China and Russia insist on arming Islamofascists it is imperative to weaponize Outer Space while have the capability to do so.
It is ironic that the so-called "Star Wars" program was one of the defense programs that the U.S.S.R. feared even with public evidence that such a system probably would not be viable. Reagan's Star Wars contributed to the demise of the Soviet Union's military solidarity. The Soviet military could not compete monetarily with increased military spending by America.
I wonder what the effect of weaponizing Outer Space will do to America's enemies.
Perhaps you've read recently about the millionaire who bought a ride on a spaceship to the International Space Station. The report goes that while she was there, a cosmonaut told her, when the ship was docking, to be aware of what she smelled—because it would be the smell of outer space.
She did as she was told. And guess what outer space smells like?
Burnt cookies.
Maybe it's more accurate to say that the space around the earth smells like burnt cookies.
This answers lots of questions for me and offers some hope.
With all of the rotten-egg-smelling catalytic converter fumes from automobiles, belching coal smoke from millions of Chinese factories and buildings, wood smoke billowing from thousands and thousands of acres of forest fires, the toxic vapors of only one substance has been noxious enough to penetrate the earth’s atmosphere and scythe its way into outer space—the fiery gases of cookies smoldering in the overheated ovens of mamas (ok, and a few papas) all over the world.
Why is there hope? Perhaps we’ve found an answer to our pollution problems! If burnt cookie smoke is escaping into space, isn’t it possible that all those other greenhouse gases can tag along on its trail and escape along with it?
Call your congressional representative! Enact legislation!
Burn your cookies!
Everyone who is anyone has seen it. A "classic" in...well...some sense of the word (keep digging - you'll find it!). It has action. It has romance. It has drama. It has thrills. And what better setting for this motley crew of elements than...dun, dun, DUN! Outer space! (Suspenseful sound effects inspired by and borrowed from nomad - I'll give them back when I'm finished, ok? The royalty check is your spam box.)
What could I possibly be talking about, you ask? Why, Leprechaun 4 : In Space, of course! (It went without my answering, didn't it?) Here we have a film franchise already three pictures strong. Just when you thought the premise had run its course - ding! A fresh idea. I know! Let's take this earthly terror we call the Leprechaun...wait for it...wait for it...to another galaxy! Brilliant, isn't it?
You don't quite believe me? Consider, if you will, the premise as it is artfully rendered on the back of the film's video case.
"On a planet in a distant galaxy, a power hungry Leprechaun holds a beautiful alien princess hostage in order to marry her for her royal title. With her title and his beloved gold, he'll be able to rule the universe. While making his maniacal plans, what he doesn't count on is an invading platoon of marines from Earth to save the princess and foil his plans. An accomplished trickster, the Leprechaun stows himself away on the orbiting spaceship and wreaks havoc on the crew in an attempt to recapture his bride."
This is just too much to absorb (i.e. take in, or just take) all at once, no? Let's pick the premise apart a bit so we can truly appreciate this moving picture for what it is.
- On a planet in a distant galaxy > We've previously established that the writers had the brains and guts to ingeniously take their main character where no Leprechaun has gone before. Further, note that the galaxy is not a stone's throw away. It's a distant galaxy. Wow.
- a power hungry Leprechaun > So many films suffer, in my opinion, from a lack of character development. After the release of Star Wars:The Phantom Menace when the world cried out "We want more Jar Jar Binks!" George Lucas listened and obliged in his follow-up masterpiece. Here, we need not even press play on our DVD players to gain more insight into our beloved hero. Power hungry. I feel chills.
- holds a beautiful alien princess hostage in order to marry her for her royal title. > Who can say these writers don't know what they're doing? She could just be a princess, but why stop there? Let's add some mystery to her character. An alien princess. But that's not all! She's a princess. She's from another world. And by gum, she's beautiful. And if you act now, we'll throw in a plot twist at no extra cost! Would our hero, Sir Leprechaun want her for her beauty? Her mysterious ancestry? We've seen that all before. But not Our Man Leprechaun. His diabolical plan is to have and to hold, to love, honor, cherish, blah, blah, blah for her title. You've gotta love a protagonist that knows what he wants and seizes it, don't you?
- With her title and his beloved gold, he'll be able to rule the universe. > The writers anticipated your question and responded. Why, oh why, would he seek this treasure to add to his own stash? Well, duh! He wants to rule. Hello? And not just the world. The universe. Given his ambition, I still wonder why the beautiful alien princess wasn't seeking him out!
- While making his maniacal plans, what he doesn't count on is an invading platoon of marines from Earth to save the princess and foil his plans. > Man, oh man! I hate when that happens! You've got a perfectly good - maniacal even - plan, and who comes along to spoil it but those bloody invading platoons of marines from Earth. Grrr! Oh, the troubles our power hungry friend could have avoided if he'd simply invited them to the wedding!
- An accomplished trickster, > We know he's got power. We know he's hungry. He's demonstrated his ambitions. Could there really be any more to learn? Move over, David Copperfield! There's a new trickster in...er...out of town!
- the Leprechaun stows himself away on the orbiting spaceship > He's got a plan and he's not afraid to use it. Did I mention he was tricky?
- and wreaks havoc on the crew in an attempt to recapture his bride. > Can you feel the love? Look no further than the havoc. Wreaked. (Side note: Is there anything else one can do with havoc besides wreak it?) And all wreaked to recapture his bride from those party-pooping marines. This daring (not to mention tricky) action by Ours Truly propels me back in time. Back in time to a song. A song I believe the Leprechaun was singing in the back of his maniacal mind the whole while he was (what else?) wreaking havoc to reclaim his bride. A theme song...wait for it...wait for it...Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now. You don't see (or hear) the connection? If the deep, deep passion of the lyrics doesn't convince you, what about the recording artists? Starship. Coincidence? Hard to deny, right? (Ok, fine! Maybe I'm reaching a bit. Let's just forget it and return our focus to the expert writers of this fine family film.)
Wondering how the story turns out? (Of course not! Everyone has seen this masterpiece. I'm so stupid!) For those of you too embarrassed to admit that you've somehow missed this piece of art, I won't spoil the surprise. I will tell you, however, what I've learned from it. The lesson is simple. If you ever run out of new material for your protagonist, take him/her into outer space. The sky need not be your limit. If it can work for Jason, Pinhead, or our hero Sir Leprechaun, why shouldn't it work for you?