I’m writing today one year into the future because I can’t stand not knowing what’s going to happen in the next few hours. (Strange, I realize, but I can’t just publicly ask my future self in a few hours due to contract obligations relating to the answer… so I have to send this far enough out to not cause any legal troubles.)
In short – I’ve got a phone meeting in a few hours that may result in my getting offered to participate in a TV show, and I have no idea what will happen and/or what I should do(!). The show relates to my paper on xenoarchaeology – it triggered interest in a show on investigating suspected UFO crash sites from an archaeological perspective… If there is an offer, accepting might stretch my scientific credibility – not to mention that my pregnant wife may object to my leaving to perform fieldwork for weeks at a time with a newborn at home.
What to do? What to do?
So, future self: What happened? What the heck happened? What did you do? Was whatever you decided to do a good idea?
Out of my mind with anticipation,
Ben
July 20, 2011.
July 20, 2011. 12:54pm.
Astrowright 
Well, Ben, you would scarcely believe what ended up happening. As may not be surprising to you, you ultimately decided to dive in. The results of this decision will include for you some of the highest highs and the lowest lows you’ve yet to experience.
There is, indeed, a television show offer! -National Geographic Channel picked up the concept and ordered a full season. You deliberated for a spell and then decided to do it, figuring that this would be an unparalleled outreach opportunity. -The people curious about UFOs are asking the right kinds of questions, you would come to reckon, and they would be very receptive to astronomy, cosmology, and planetary science concepts.
This could be the perfect sugar coating on a hard-science pill.
Filming was an unparalleled adventure, frought with extremely late days and nights, wilderness adventuring both in-and-out of the country, and a woeful time being separated from your wife and new son, Gray. It was thrilling and exhausting. You tried as dilligently as possible to include as much science content as you could possibly conjure. The rest, I’ll say, was not up to you.
I do believe the idea to participate in a project like this was a good one – you’ll do the right thing – and the experience was certainly one of a lifetime. You made some dear friends and dipped your toes into aspects of cultural lore you’d never imagined setting foot toward.
The jury is still out regarding the ultimate consequence of the project and how it may affect your career, for good or ill. Perhaps this will turn into a leapfrog timestream post to figure out if the answer gets any clearer a few years from now…
Cheers,
Ben