Random thoughts I had while watching the latest episode of Heroes*
1. Judgement calls - Let's have an informal poll: if it's been predicted by a very reliable source that you'll come in contact with an exploding man, absorb his powers, and inadvertently destroy New York City, what do you do? I think going out to meet him right in the middle of New York City wouldn't be very high on the list of things to do. Of course, we shouldn't blame him too much, as he did take the precaution of giving his 16 year old niece a gun and telling her to shoot him if he starts to blow up. In this case, Peter Petrelli, I hope you never have children of your own.
2. Learning curves I wish I possessed - I was quite impressed with how Tom Cruise's character in The Last Samurai became an expert swordsman after training for one winter, easily besting samurai who had been training their entire lives. At the time I attributed it to his mad Gaijin skills, or something. However, that feat pales in comparison to Hiro Nakamura's becoming proficient with swordplay in less than one day. I can train for months without being able to do that stuff. In his defense, we can perhaps attribute this to the relative badass level of his instructor, who happens to be none other than Mr. Sulu**. I mean, really, look at this guy in his prime:
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* though I enjoy poking fun, don't take this as my general opinion of Heroes, a show which is actually quite excellent and worth watching. I do this in the proud respectful tradition of the "Nitpicker's guide to Star Trek."
** George Takei has always special place in my heart. First and foremost, he's Mr. Sulu, and you just can't beat that. However, less important, but still satisfying, in the Hollywood TV network's encyclopedia of cliches and stereotypes, it's been a longstanding rule that Asian men always don't know english/have funny accents, and are always either evil, stern, geeky, or else one-dimensional martial artists. Moreover, Asian Americans in particular do not exist in any shape or form whatsoever. Then, all of a sudden along comes Mr. "born in San Francisco" Sulu to trod on every single stupid stereotype all at once. My hat is off to him.