Bobak Ferdowsi is a flight director for NASA’s Mars rover, Curiosity. Widely known as “Mohawk Guy,” he’s become an Internet sensation since Curiosity’s successful landing last week, prompting President Obama to joke that he’s considering getting a mohawk himself.

READING “Ball Four,” by Jim Bouton. I’m a huge baseball fan, and it’s kind of an inside account from a player’s perspective of baseball in the late 1960s. And “Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898,” by Edwin G. Burrows and Mike Wallace, gives you an incredible story of America’s founding, in the microcosm of Manhattan.

LISTENING I have been listening to Johnny Cash’s “At Folsom Prison” a lot lately. It’s got a laid-back vibe that, I don’t know, has a hot summer feeling. Kishi Bashi’s “151a” is kind of the opposite end of the spectrum — very lighthearted with lots of catchy rhythms and melodies.

Photo

A podcast I like is “Thrilling Adventure Hour,” which is like an old-time radio show. There’s a variety of shows within the podcast. One of them takes place on Mars. “The Nerdist” is also a podcast hosted by guys who have interests similar to mine — sci-fi and technology. I’m not sure what the definition of a nerd is. Historically it could have been pejorative but now I think society is more embracing of people that might have more science-y or unorthodox interests.

Advertisement Continue reading the main story

WATCHING I’m kind of partial to “The Big Bang Theory,” since it’s set here in Pasadena and the character Howard is a Mars rover driver. There are some similarities, but my friends don’t make fun of me. And “Top Gear” is a BBC show that’s all about cars. It’s kind of a macho show with all these crazy challenges. But it’s not all about smashing things; it’s got very witty humor.