Have you ever tried to get a date or a dance or even just the time of day from someone you thought was attractive and they didn’t want to have anything to do with you? And then one of your friends tried to make you feel better by saying “Don’t worry man, she/he was probably a jerk anyway. Things would have never worked out.”? I feel like that’s the moral behind too many time travel stories. Sure, I get that it’s a metaphor for “you can’t dwell on the past, live for today!” but I think there’s something dishonest about it, like that well meaning but condescendingly upbeat friend. Don’t be unhappy with the choice you’ve made/has been made for you because there’s only one true path to happiness. Bleck.

There was a great TED lecture on making choices if anyone’s interested in looking at how choice affects us. Actually there was a second lecture on the subject that I really enjoyed too. TED lectures are super because they get really smart people to condense their best and most mind blowing ideas into 20 minutes.

Speaking of really smart people, the one time travel story I really enjoy is Doctor Who, especially the new series. So let me add my voice to the crowd that suggests if you haven’t been watching it, give it a shot. It’s fun, scary, funny, touching and very smart tv. The best part is that the Doctor is a hero of heroes because he uses his wits, rather than a space cannon, to save the universe

More time travel mischief in January! (for those of you with time machines and can’t wait).