Well, not really.

But the show is a remarkable depiction of people at their wit’s end. Beyond the robots and the intergalactic travel, “Battlestar” is a tale of survival and desperation – and the many horrible things we might do along the way.

Entering its final episodes, the show is at its strongest point. The writers clearly know where they are going.

Without giving too much away, here’s the gist of it: The Cylons – robots that humans created and fought some years ago – return and destroy all of civilization. All that remains of humanity is a handful of starships, initially fleeing frantically from Cylon, pursuit.

The catch is, the Cylons figured out a way to look like humans. Gradually, they begin acting like humans – and many feel regret about having decimated all of human civilization.

The show masterfully depicts the tension among the Galactica’s crew and fellow survivors: their persistence despite exhaustion and hopelessness. The action is the show’s strongest suit, not because of special effects but because of the characters to whom it happens.

Though the humanization of the Cylons at first feels forced, the show eventually succeeds in casting some Cylons in a positive – nearly human – light. This allows the show to raise several fascinating questions without coming across as trite.

The Cylons, despite being machines, can think and feel; and they do, after all, feel significant remorse. So should we empathize with them? And what of the characters who do?

In many cases, as one would expect, most humans are far from forgiving. But not only that, they are far from understanding. Many are not willing to take seriously a life form that is not flesh and blood. (This makes for some interesting plot twists down the road).

The show does hit some lulls during the second and third seasons. Sometimes it becomes caught up with a set of mythology that is nowhere near as interesting as writers may think.

Sometimes the dialogue is cheesy.

But “Battlestar” now has combined the moral and metaphysical questions raised by the Cylons with the pitch-perfect tension from the earlier seasons. The most recent episode included some of the most riveting moments of TV I have ever seen.

Many people may be turned off from “Battlestar” because of its sci-fi elements.

However, underneath it all lies an intriguing plot bolstered by unparalleled dramatic moments.

One need not be a fan of space travel to appreciate that.

opinion@cm-life.com

Sometimes it’s a stylistic choice. Other times I select shoes that make me look dapper. This is because I am entirely self-absorbed.

But the primary reason I so often wear shoes is that my feet are weak. Really, really weak. They have hardly any callouses and they blister easily.

Most of the time I wear thick cotton socks, too.

So, I would like to congratulate bold men like Waterford sophomore Sean Proctor, who walks shoeless around campus even during winter, for one reason – being manly.

Nothing is manlier than going without shoes. The ice, the cement, the salt – nothing stands between his flesh and the everyday hazards of walking.

Sure, according to medical advice, walking shoeless does not necessarily make Proctor more susceptible to illness. But without shoes, Proctor risks stepping directly on glass or nails. Or squirrels.

Aside from routine discomforts, there also is the risk of harm from sharp objects. That is, unless his feet have developed impenetrable callouses (this is plausible).

Yet Proctor troops on, hardly fazed by the elements.

To put this in perspective, I sometimes have to walk to the bathroom during the night. At this time, I am not wearing socks, shoes or anything of the like. I am barefoot.

As I walk up the steps, there’s a particularly rough section of the carpet. That kind of hurts.

Then I have to walk through the living room, where there is inevitably a crumb or two that is uncomfortably pointy. Another ‘ouch.’

When I’ve managed to make it to the bathroom, I have to do it all over again to get back to my room. More discomfort awaits.

I cannot fathom doing this outdoors, in which the crumbs are replaced by rocks and the rough patches of carpet are replaced by freshly salted ice.

I fully understand Proctor’s shoeless endeavors as the acts of courage and endurance that they are.

One could object that going shoeless is altogether senseless and for no good reasons throws away a luxury common to everyday life. There may be good reasons to prefer not wearing shoes, but these are not applicable when walking on freshly salted ice.

However, this is unfounded. Going shoeless is not just a style choice; it is an act of courage that represents conquering the elements and also having really thick callouses.

And it’s something I simply haven’t the will to do.

features@cm-life.com

It will be full of appeals to authority, question-begging and blunt assertions. (Non sequitur!)

Think you can do better? Apply to Central Michigan Life.

I am looking for columnists to write weekly pieces for CM Life’s Voices page.

In particular, I am seeking individuals with expertise in politics, economics and technology. I want people who can write knowledgeably and accessibly about Obama’s cabinet, the financial crisis and net neutrality, among other pressing topics of the day.

If you feel you have something worthwhile to say, feel free to apply – even if you would like to write about something other than the three topics I mentioned. If you pitch an idea for a column and I like it, we’ll run it.

No prior experience is necessary. The only requirement is a firm grasp on the English language and logic.

Most important is what I am NOT looking for. I am not seeking an ideologue who’s capable of repeating – with dramatic flourish – some ‘hot-button’ catchphrase that stirs up people’s emotions but does absolutely nothing in terms of advancing discussion.

Columnists are required to have a well-reasoned position of their own. But they also are required to take seriously reasonable objections to their views. It’s remarkably easy to make a caricature of an opponent’s perspective (see: many commentators on cable news), but it requires skill, and some intellectual integrity, to debunk an objection in its strongest form. That is the skill I want to see.

Informed commentary has a valuable place in newspapers. A strong columnist can help readers make sense of current affairs. He or she can shed some insight on the latest development in a scandal, an investigation or a piece of legislation.

Ideally, I would like this Voices page to reflect a myriad of opinions from a slew of perspectives. I would like to have a rotation of 10 or so columnists, covering a broad range of issues, from religion to economics to politics.

And for that, I need writers. I need perspectives other than my own. By no means am I capable of thinking through every possible objection to every possible perspective. No one is.

If interested in applying, e-mail voices@cm-life.com. I would be happy to chat about the details of the position.

Oh, and yes, you do get paid.

voices@cm-life.com

So, we made it through 2008.

Sure, employers axed 2.6 million jobs, unemployment hit a 16-year record high and the financial sector went into an outright tailspin – but we made it.

What’s next? More pain, but also some cause for cheer.

At CMU

Tuition hits $350 per credit hour: For current freshmen, tuition is already $324 per credit hour – a 6.6 percent increase from last year.

Since we’re not likely to miraculously receive an influx in state funds or private donations – coupled with the financial strain of creating a medical school – tuition likely will increase again. The $350 mark is only an 8 percent increase.

The CMU Promise has ended, which should allow the Board of Trustees to spread around the financial burden rather than drop it on the backs of incoming students. Hopefully tuition will not see a double-digit hike.

Medical school partnerships arranged for Saginaw: CMU has free access to roughly 60 acres of land from Michigan Healthpark Development. The land is situated between two Saginaw hospitals, each offering distinct opportunities for medical school students.

And the ball is already rolling. Michigan Healthpark sent a proposal to University President Michael Rao and both hospitals. Expect the partnership to be finalized this year.

Judge sides with CMU: Though Rao received the go-ahead from the Board of Trustees last summer, development of a Holiday Inn on the Center for Applied Research and Technology hit a snag with a lawsuit from LaBelle Management LLC, which leases land, including a hotel, on the CART.

LaBelle claims it should have been consulted prior to CMU’s amendment of land restrictions, as required by a 2005 land covenant.

But LaBelle is a long-term tenant, not an owner. As the university noted, the argument relies on an unreasonably broad interpretation of ownership. Expect the lawsuit to run its course without harming the Holiday Inn’s prospects.

As for LaBelle’s other claim – that the Holiday Inn does not sufficiently support the CART’s mission as required by a 1985 covenant – ample academic partnerships should be adequate to debunk that charge.

State, national politics

Obama begins phased troop withdrawals from Iraq: Current estimates on Presidet-elect Barack Obama’s change.gov Web site indicate that, sans a residual force, the bulk of American troops in Iraq should be withdrawn by mid-2010.

Assuming that ground conditions do not suddenly deteriorate, 2009 should see a substantial reduction in troop levels in Iraq.

Obama’s stimulus package proves lackluster: There are two ways this could happen. One, Obama’s plan does not have the expected effect. Or, two, the package that survives Congress is inadequately drastic. I am concerned both will occur.

Though specifics have yet to be revealed, the package likely will contain some combination of tax cuts and public spending. But political sacrifices could render the package impotent. Obama’s economic advisers are urging him toward the $1 trillion mark. The problem is that such a costly plan may not necessarily be cost-effective; it may be laden instead with politically-appealing tax cuts that do not really spur spending.

Even if an ideal plan is passed, there are still doubts about its effectiveness. Obama is entering uncharted territory. The financial crisis, which is increasingly taking a global toll, may sharply limit what his administration can do. (Never mind Obama’s recent lofty statement that he will create or save three or four million jobs. We’ll see how that pans out.)

Public projects include Internet connectivity initiatives: Now for some possible good news. Obama’s creation of a chief technology officer, though now largely responsible for managing the change.gov Web site, reinforces his reputation as a technologically-savvy president. It is plausible that this officer will acquire a larger role.

Obama mentioned one of his objectives is to increase Internet access nationwide. Obama ought to place the CTO in charge of overseeing a massive expansion to ensure affordable Internet is easily available, with the long-term goal of making cheap broadband accessible nationwide.

This would fit perfectly within whatever public works projects he has up his sleeve. It’s not unreasonable to think that Obama correctly believes investment in digital infrastructure is more important now than ever.

Granholm keeps higher ed funding steady: CMU wants more money. The university probably won’t get it. Nevertheless, it would look extraordinarily foolish to reduce funding for public universities – especially given the need to reeducate an unemployed manufacturing workforce. Public pressure alone should keep Michigan from lowering higher education allocations.

SPORTS

Football team wins MAC championship: After three-straight losses at the end of the football season in 2008, coach Butch Jones and will-be senior quarterback Dan LeFevour will come back to Kelly/Shorts Stadium with something to prove.

A few tough matches early on in the schedule – Michigan State, Arizona and Boston College – will end in losses for the Chippewas, but they will dominate the Mid-American Conference. Close matches again will be against Ball State and Western Michigan, and for the first time, in what will be three seasons, CMU will beat Eastern Michigan.

And yes, a bowl game is in our future.

For the first time in three seasons, LeFevour will not lead the team in rushing yards. We say the player to watch is redshirt freshman Jahleel Addae.

LeFevour also will be guaranteed a spot in the NFL draft. It’s been a long time coming, and nobody should be surprised to see his name on the list. And for the sake of saying it, let’s throw the Detroit Lions something. We predict at least a 1-15 season under new management.

On a non-football note, the wrestling team will continue to win. Period. The team remains atop the MAC and continues to rank high nationally. CMU wrestling will rank in the top eight at the national NCAA tournament despite a rebuiding season in 2009.

The wrestling team also will feature four All-Americans, including newcomer and freshman Scotti Sentes at the 125-pound weight class.

WRITE A LETTER

Think I’m entirely off-base in my predictions? Have some better estimates of your own? E-mail them to cm.life.opinion@gmail.com to print in upcoming issues of Central Michigan Life.

Oh, and one final prediction: Abe Vigoda is still alive.

Editor in Chief Jake May contributed to this report.

cm.life.opinion@gmail.com

It’s not only that I need coffee to wake up in the morning. That’s not the worst of it.

It’s that I have a horrid tendency to drink coffee to the point of becoming a jittery mess – especially when refills are easily accessible.

Coffee is often celebrated for its health benefits, as it lacks the sugar and calories of its caffeine competitors: energy drinks and soda.

This is well and good, and I’m certainly happy I’ve opted for the healthiest way to generate artificial energy.

But the problem is closely related: Drinking a lot of coffee, especially while eating or drinking little else, is a surefire way to transform yourself into a highly alert train wreck.

Nearly everybody knows this. I’ve known it for years.

Nevertheless, when the opportunity arises, I almost always go back for a second cup. Or third. Or – on Central Michigan Life production days – fourth, fifth and sixth.

The coffee doesn’t even need to be good. I’ve drank coffee well on its way to becoming lukewarm. Its temperature only underscored the need to finish it quickly; otherwise, it would have gone to waste.

So what makes me drink the stuff?

In part, it is the flavor. A good cup of coffee is one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can have in the morning. It’s ideal for sipping while reading, studying, watching TV – whatever. Good coffee is a way to enjoy the morning rather than begrudgingly wake up.

But even when the coffee is sub-par (and I know sub-par coffee), I prefer it to any other caffeine medium. I’ve found it to be the most effective means to a quick energy boost; sugary energy drinks just make me nauseated.

I may be a jittery wreck, but I’m a productive jittery wreck.

Though my social skills are hindered by my newfound tendency to discuss in full detail why the first few rounds of “Family Feud” are disproportionately inconsequential, I’m able to do things like, say, stay awake during a morning statistics class. And that’s only one of my Herculean feats.

Drinking a copious amount of coffee may occasionally be bad for my health.

It’s certainly bad for my image: As a sharply self-deprecating, neurotic scrawny guy with constantly disheveled hair, I fit nearly every coffee-drinker caricature.

But I couldn’t imagine living without coffee, for both productivity and pleasure.

lifeline@cm-life.com