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George Takei Now an Asteroid

Posted by samzenpus on from the lock-phasers-on-gimmick dept.

ineedbettername writes "In recent news, the International Astronomic Union has decided to rename the asteroid "1994 GT9" to 7307 Takei in honor of George Takei, the actor who played Sulu in Star Trek. He now joins the ranks of other famous sci-fi figures in space, such as 4659 Roddenberry, 68410 Nichols, Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov."

29 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. An asteroid? by geminidomino · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey may be getting a little soft in the middle, but come on... that's overstating things a bit.

  2. Loaded headline by edwardpickman · · Score: 3, Funny

    To keep things organized please post all gay jokes under this posting. Thank you for your cooperation.

    1. Re:Loaded headline by heinousjay · · Score: 5, Funny

      Why? Is the asteroid gay?

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    2. Re:Loaded headline by skinfaxi · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I have always admired George Takei and think it's great to name an asteroid after him. Gay jokes and calling him names is pretty foul. You would think I was new here to expect any better.

    3. Re:Loaded headline by halivar · · Score: 3, Funny

      You must be new h--

      Nice UID.

    4. Re:Loaded headline by tverbeek · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't expect any better. But I will answer both the snickering adolescent homophobes and the people who have have a stick up their puckered asses over a mere "celebrity" being honored this way.

      Yes, George Takei is queer. And although he felt he had to hide this fact for most of his adult life, he had the courage and integrity to come out of the closet, by choice, giving inspiration to those fans who are gay (of whatever age) to be a little more courageous in their own lives. Plus, he's done it with class and humor.

      Yes, George Takei is an actor. But his dignified and non-stereotyped portrayal of a starship officer for whom being Japanese was only one of several interesting character traits, helped expose viewers to a broader picture of what Asian people were like, and to Asian kids in particular it gave another idea of what they might become. Plus his obvious contribution to Star Trek's promotion of space-related science.

      So, yeah: There's no question he deserves the modest honor of having an object in space named after him. And he can handle the jokes.

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    5. Re:Loaded headline by kisrael · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well said.

      And he does put up with the jokes with humor and grace, even when Howard Stern was getting in on it. He does sound like a bit of a "queen", and I like him all the more for it, he's likely living the life that feels that much more natural for him, and probably having a ball doing it.

      And the character of Sulu was always one of the coolest ones on that bridge. Kirk was always a bit too much bluster for young people to relate to quite as well, Chekov (inspired by the Monkees) was a bit too goofy. Sulu was all professionalism and skills.

      Random Trek bit... one line that they say got through the sensors was when there was that mind-altering virus thing and everyone goes nuts, bare-chested swashbuckling Sulu addresses Uhura "Fair maiden..." and she replies "sorry, neither" -- very cute.

      So, good for him.

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    6. Re:Loaded headline by Lord+Ender · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I respect Takei greatly. I am an advocate of gay rights. But I also thought that "Takei hitting Uranus" joke was pretty funny. Does that make me a bad person?

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    7. Re:Loaded headline by danlock4 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Because Star Trek is a nerdy subject. That's why it's appropriately categorized as "news for nerds." It matters to nerds because it is a nerdy subject. If nerdy subjects did not matter to nerds they either wouldn't be nerdy subjects or the "nerds" wouldn't be nerds.

      [Of course, not all nerds are interested in Star Trek. However, since a large portion of nerds are interested in Star Trek and it is, therefore, a nerdy subject, it remains "Stuff That Matters"--even if it doesn't charge your phaser.]

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    8. Re:Loaded headline by gihan_ripper · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Takei's hilarious response to NBA player Tim Hardaway's homophobic comments. The video is available on YouTube.

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  3. I Have Decided To Reciprocate... by patio11 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... and name a rock in my backyard after him. Now he has his name applied to two hithertofore anonymous rocks which he will never see.

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  4. Big Star Trek Fan...but.. by teebob21 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I never knew Gene Roddenberry's first name was really 4659. "Gene" must be a stage name.

    Plus, I'm not sure who this Nichols cat is, but Issac Asimov; I know. Now there's a sci-fi guy who's not afraid to use his real name!

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  5. And thus begins the jealousy tantrum by davmoo · · Score: 4, Funny

    I bet Shatner is pissed over this one.

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    1. Re:And thus begins the jealousy tantrum by owlnation · · Score: 4, Funny

      SSSSuuuuuUUULLLLLuuuu!!!!

  6. Oh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    my.

    1. Re:Oh by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Sulu dead ahead, captain!

      Mr. Asteroid, take evasive action!

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  7. First Uranus joke ... by weighn · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why? Is the asteroid gay? Depends if Takei will crash into Uranus.
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    1. Re:First Uranus joke ... by clickclickdrone · · Score: 4, Funny

      >Depends if Takei will crash into Uranus.
      It's the dark matter you have to be wary of.

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    2. Re:First Uranus joke ... by kooky45 · · Score: 3, Funny

      While he's at Uranus he could pick off a few Klingons.

    3. Re:First Uranus joke ... by lbmouse · · Score: 4, Funny

      Professor: "I'm sorry, Fry, but astronomers renamed Uranus in 2620 to end that stupid joke once and for all."
      Fry: "Oh. What's it called now?"
      Professor: "Urectum. Here, let me locate it for you."

  8. Re:What's next... by SolitaryMan · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think CowboyNeal deserves to have a black hole named after him.

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  9. Sulu? Who's Sulu? by aeschenkarnos · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh! You mean Hiro Nakamura's dad! :)

  10. Don't mix entertainment with history by suv4x4 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I honestly can't believe how people blur the edges of reality and sci-fi series. So now people deserve special honour because they played in Star Trek? I mean, the guy was probably a great actor, but what the heck.

    Reminds me of the 20-th century museum in Futurama, where they have messed up the entire history and thought The Honeymooners were the first people to step on the moon ("Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon, Alice!"), and reimaging the astronauts as movie-style space cowboys complete with cowboy hats and attractive behavior.

    It's just idiocracy happening slowly before our eyes.

    1. Re:Don't mix entertainment with history by Seumas · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Don't mix entertainment with history . . .

      So . . . to hell with Bogart. Grant. Reagan. Arnold.

      First of all, these are people in the science community honoring those that inspired or intrigued them in the pursuit of science. Or just acknowledging someone whose work they greatly appreciate. Second, it's not like this is a finite resource and naming a cosmic entity after anyone diminishes the chance for others to have them named after other people.

    2. Re:Don't mix entertainment with history by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, but ST gets a bit of a free pass on this because (despite being somewhat cheesey) it genuinely inspired a whole generation of real astronomers / NASA personnel / general space enthusiasts. We all know why the first orbiter was named Enterprise, and it wasn't the bullshit official reason of being named after the CV-6 / CVN-65 carriers.

    3. Re:Don't mix entertainment with history by Loke+the+Dog · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, what about all those ancient gods we have up there? They're just as distanced from reality as star trek.

      And what names should we use in your opinion? I'd much prefer having objects named after celebrities than astronomers naming the rocks after their cat or whatever.

  11. Wil Wheaton by n3tcat · · Score: 3, Funny

    So when does Wil Wheaton get his own asteroid?

    1. Re:Wil Wheaton by aztektum · · Score: 3, Funny

      It will be the one that is on an impact course with Earth. Named something like 45344 CRUSHER

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  12. Re:What's next... by caluml · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think CowboyNeal deserves to have a black hole named after him. G0-AT-5E?
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