Obama a closet Trekkie?

[kay1864]

Obama stood off-stage at the Des Moines Historical Society Museum in Iowa. He had wanted to go back to the state of his first great triumph to give a speech unofficially kicking off the fall campaign, even though Clinton officially was still in the race.

"That's an interesting belt buckle," he said to Michelle, mischievously. She feigned offense and said, "I am interesting, next to you. Surprise, surprise, a blue suit, a white shirt and a tie."

Obama grinned and bent down until he was almost at eye level with her waist. He jabbed a playful finger toward her belt buckle, and let loose his inner nerd. "The lithium crystals! Beam me up, Scotty!" Obama squeaked, laughing at his own lame joke as Michelle rolled her eyes.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/167755/page/6

(yeah, yeah, so it's dilithium crystals...but he was close)

[Guava Jelly]

1. I did this the other day in GD:pfft

lithium crystals
Episode: TOS 002 - Where No Man Has Gone Before

Predecessor to dilithium as used in early starship warp drive reactors. Because the rare crystalline form was required, lithium so used had to be refined through an energy-intensive "cracking" process.
http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/technology/article/70138.html

http://trekmovie.com/2008/11/06/obama-first-trekkie-president/
more evidence of Obama's Trek nerdness here..

[kay1864]

4. Way cool, thanks!

That blogger did some great research.

Obama giving the Vulcan salute to Leonard Nimoy...excellent!

[baldguy]

2. The reporter got it wrong.

Real trekkies know about dilithium before they know about plain old lithium.

[kay1864]

5. I considered that too

That the reporter just heard it wrong, and that Obama said 'dilithium'.

I can see it now...a State Dinner at the White House for the Trek cast, past and present.

(and of course there's the Jeri Ryan connection...)

[insanity]

3. Our President is a geek

and I'm so stoked on it.

[tigereye]

6. that's so cool! I love the idea of a Pres. who makes Star Trek jokes!

Now I'll go hide.... :yoiks:

[Sequoia]

8. Hey, me too. Don't hide!

I bet he has the TOS DVD!!

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I wanna see that belt buckle