Cosmos

[Brian Jackson]

He is actually great to fall asleep to, he has that soothing voice.

Like that one painter guy that died.
"And now we are gonna paint a little tree over here."

Ahhh... Bob Ross. I go into the "Bob Ross Coma"... he mellows me right out. He was in the US Air Force, which I have a hard time envisioning (especially without that giganto-Afro.) I wonder if there's any correlation between his USAF career and his verbalizations of "Happy Little Clouds."

BTW Overman, I checked out your site via the sig link and dug the "Evolution Rocks" tune. Couldn't help but smile. Any chance you can do a tune about Time Cube? That would be comedy gold!

Cheers,
Brian James/Jackson

 

[KilgoreTrout]

If it weren't for Sagan's Cosmos and The Demon Haunted World, I'd still be reading UFO magazines, believing in various conspiracy theories (for some reason I was really interested in "connect the dots" Illuminati conspiracy theories), and wasting time trying to understand Aleister Crowley's writings. Cosmos inspired me to transfer to a state university and major in physics. I really can't praise Sagan's works enough.

 

[Brian Jackson]

Regarding COSMOS, I haven't seen it since its original airing (I'm showing my age here), but my father and I watched it "religiously." There was one segment Sagan did that has always stuck with me. He was explaining the concept of different, unseen dimensions in layman's terms. He used little square pieces of construction paper scattered on a table to represent "2-dimentional people" whom could see all around them but had no grasp of the 3'rd dimention; height.

He then dropped another paper square in the middle of the array and explained that, from the 2-D people's point of view, this new "person" appeared to materialize out of thin air. Conversely, raising him up just slightly above this flat "world" (tabletop) would appear to the others that he'd disappeared, when in fact he'd simply traversed a dimension that the others weren't aware of.

This simple lesson from Sagan has stuck with me through adulthood and, I hope, has given me a better grasp of both reality and the hypothetical. It is my hope that more teachers will emulate Mr. Sagan... He was truly gifted as an educator as much as he was a scientist. He is sorely missed.

Respectfully,
Brian James/Jackson

 

[Ginarley]

I really believe that Cosmos should be a compulsary part of the science curriculum at all schools. I also think this way about "Unweaving the Rainbow" by Dawkins. Neither preaches, both inspire and encourage curiosity and scientific method, and both are pretty easy for everyone to grasp. Isn't that what science at schools should be all about?

 

[Beady]

My woo-woo cow-orker told me that he'd seen Cosmos, and remembered that Sagan's son claimed Carl had changed his mind on a lot of things. Of course, he can't remember the title of the book he read, or the name of the son (Carl had two?), but he did see the movie "Contact."

How do you talk to people like that?

 

[tsg]

My woo-woo cow-orker told me that he'd seen Cosmos, and remembered that Sagan's son claimed Carl had changed his mind on a lot of things.

What things did he supposedly change his mind on? There's been a ton of new science since the series originally aired. I'd be very surprised if he hadn't changed his mind on a lot of things. Of course, this is usually an argument put forward by the woos that science isn't all that dependable. I mean, really, they actually change their minds when the evidence causes them to. How can you believe anything they say?

Of course, he can't remember the title of the book he read, or the name of the son (Carl had two?), but he did see the movie "Contact."

How do you talk to people like that?

First, I'd have to ask them if they knew the difference between fiction and fact. But then I'd probably just get Clausian: "evidence?"

 

[Roboramma]

How do you talk to people like that?

Give them a copy of "Billions and Billions"?
If they think Sagan changed his mind about the importance of skepticism or the scientific method, I think the epilogue by Ann Druyan should change their minds. From what I remember of it, anyway.

 

[alfaniner]

...He then dropped another paper square in the middle of the array and explained that, from the 2-D people's point of view, this new "person" appeared to materialize out of thin air. Conversely, raising him up just slightly above this flat "world" (tabletop) would appear to the others that he'd disappeared, when in fact he'd simply traversed a dimension that the others weren't aware of.
...

I do hope you've read Flatland by Abbott. If not, it's quite enlightening and entertaining.

Give them a copy of "Billions and Billions"?
.../QUOTE]

If I remember right, in the intro to that book he claims he never said it. At least on Cosmos. That came about more from Johnny Carson's parody of him.

 

[Piggy]

If I remember right, in the intro to that book he claims he never said it. At least on Cosmos. That came about more from Johnny Carson's parody of him.

I haven't read that intro, but it's also my understanding that "billions and billions" is a never-saider, like "Play it again, Sam" or "Come up and see me sometime".

 

[phildonnia]

I haven't read that intro, but it's also my understanding that "billions and billions" is a never-saider, like "Play it again, Sam" or "Come up and see me sometime".

"Billions and Billions" is apparently from a Johnny Carson parody.

Sagan does spit the 'B' pretty emphatically, and it's hard to do that without creating a sense of cosmic profundity. It is said that he doesn't do this in normal speech, but on screen he was trying to distinguish it from "millions".

 

[zizzybaluba]

I'll admit that one of the reasons I came up with for deciding to go to Cornell was the fact that Dr. Sagan was supposed to give a speech to the incoming students during freshman orientation (August/September 1995). I was so disappointed when he had to cancel due to his declining health. I don't think he was ever able to return to Ithaca while I was there, at least not in an academic capacity.
I did get a chance to walk by his house once. All I could see was the gate, but I remember noting that it was on the top of a hill, with a clear view of the night sky...

 

[CriticalThanking]

I was lucky enough to do a consulting gig at JPL in California. No, I never saw Sagan there, but because of my awe at Sagan's Cosmos, I still considered it a privilege just to go there.

CT

 

[Overman]

BTW Overman, I checked out your site via the sig link and dug the "Evolution Rocks" tune. Couldn't help but smile. Any chance you can do a tune about Time Cube? That would be comedy gold!

Cheers,
Brian James/Jackson

Thanks bro!

I appr. the listen! I checked out that Timecube...and I couldn't even figure out what it was?! If you get some time though check out God of the Gaps...link below...I 'borrowed' the lyrics straight from Sagan himself.

More science songs upcoming!