Their first task is to get down there and make contact with the crew and the craft, and then negotiate the safe return of both,

It's a chicken or the egg principal. Carriers and brokers are asking 'who is going to adopt this first. 'Who is going to be the leader to build an ACORD XML interface?' The risk is the first one out there is going to have to find a partner to do it with to try to get some type of ROI.

The notion of a universe filled with cowards... who stay cowardly FOREVER, no matter how advanced they become... seems no[t] only unimaginative and temporally myopic, but deeply dismal, as well.

He had to negotiate the rope ladder down to the launch. It was not an easy task, but no one offered to help him. Eventually, he managed.

Usually in features, I'm the lead. I consider the director the captain, but I consider myself the first mate, and it's up to me to keep in contact with the heart of the crew.

That is a first. I told the crew it was satisfying the very first day we ran it. Everyone had a big smile the first time around the track because it makes it sound like a Formula One track.