Comments on: Pale blue dot http://kelleyeskridge.com/pale-blue-dot/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:54:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kelley http://kelleyeskridge.com/pale-blue-dot/comment-page-1/#comment-6132 Kelley Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:02:55 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=821#comment-6132 @ Duncan -- In the times I saw him in those kinds of situations (squaring off with people who were being silly about science), I was always struck by his grace under pressure and his relentless deep expertise. He just knew what he knew. I've always admired that in people when I see it. @ Janine -- that's a nice way to put it, making people inspired instead of fearful. Because of course fear paralyzes most people. @ Phoenix -- That's the one (grin). Being there was basically like being hit on the head with a hammer every minute for nine months. @ Duncan — In the times I saw him in those kinds of situations (squaring off with people who were being silly about science), I was always struck by his grace under pressure and his relentless deep expertise. He just knew what he knew. I’ve always admired that in people when I see it.

@ Janine — that’s a nice way to put it, making people inspired instead of fearful. Because of course fear paralyzes most people.

@ Phoenix — That’s the one (grin). Being there was basically like being hit on the head with a hammer every minute for nine months.

]]> By: Phoenix http://kelleyeskridge.com/pale-blue-dot/comment-page-1/#comment-6131 Phoenix Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:44:07 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=821#comment-6131 Northwestern?! That Party School On The North Side? Small wonder you were miserable! hmf --P. Northwestern?! That Party School On The North Side? Small wonder you were miserable!

hmf

–P.

]]> By: Janine http://kelleyeskridge.com/pale-blue-dot/comment-page-1/#comment-6117 Janine Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:02:11 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=821#comment-6117 I love that man. As a science teacher, I can only hope to be a tenth as poetic and inspiring as he was. He was a truly gifted truth-teller, able to put things into perspective without making us feel bad and instead inspiring us to act as positive change-agents in the world. "Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those general and emperors, so that in glory and triumph they could be the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." Wow. I love that man. As a science teacher, I can only hope to be a tenth as poetic and inspiring as he was.

He was a truly gifted truth-teller, able to put things into perspective without making us feel bad and instead inspiring us to act as positive change-agents in the world.

“Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those general and emperors, so that in glory and triumph they could be the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.”
Wow.

]]> By: Duncan http://kelleyeskridge.com/pale-blue-dot/comment-page-1/#comment-6088 Duncan Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:14:08 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=821#comment-6088 I've never seen Cosmos, except for a few clips like the one above, partly because by the time it aired I'd stopped watching TV almost entirely. I have the companion book, but have not read much of it, though I have read Broca's Brain, The Dragons of Eden, and The Demon-Haunted World. Since I read a lot of science writing, Sagan had little that was new to tell me, and from the clips I've seen I'm immune to his charisma, but on the whole I respect him. There was one memorable time I happened to see him on TV, though -- he was on the panel of experts who discussed the TV movie "The Day After" after it aired in 1983. For those who don't remember it, "The Day After" depicted the effects of nuclear war in a small city in Kansas. It was very controversial, denounced by right-wingers because showing how such a war would affect *us* would sap our will to fight the Evil Empire. Or something. So the network (ABC?) had to provide balance, which it did by airing a clip of Secretary of State George Schulz denouncing the movie from the White House, but looking rather green around the gills. On the panel, besides Sagan there were, I believe, General Brent Scowcroft, William F. Buckley, and I *think* Henry Kissinger. What impressed me was that Sagan was the only participant who wasn't green around the gills and sweating nervously. He cheerfully and effectively rebutted the politicos. Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_After confirms that Buckley and Sagan faced off but doesn't mention anyone else, and I'm sure there were others. But it was 25 years ago. Anyway, Sagan thoroughly impressed me that night. I’ve never seen Cosmos, except for a few clips like the one above, partly because by the time it aired I’d stopped watching TV almost entirely. I have the companion book, but have not read much of it, though I have read Broca’s Brain, The Dragons of Eden, and The Demon-Haunted World. Since I read a lot of science writing, Sagan had little that was new to tell me, and from the clips I’ve seen I’m immune to his charisma, but on the whole I respect him.

There was one memorable time I happened to see him on TV, though — he was on the panel of experts who discussed the TV movie “The Day After” after it aired in 1983. For those who don’t remember it, “The Day After” depicted the effects of nuclear war in a small city in Kansas. It was very controversial, denounced by right-wingers because showing how such a war would affect *us* would sap our will to fight the Evil Empire. Or something. So the network (ABC?) had to provide balance, which it did by airing a clip of Secretary of State George Schulz denouncing the movie from the White House, but looking rather green around the gills. On the panel, besides Sagan there were, I believe, General Brent Scowcroft, William F. Buckley, and I *think* Henry Kissinger. What impressed me was that Sagan was the only participant who wasn’t green around the gills and sweating nervously. He cheerfully and effectively rebutted the politicos. Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_After confirms that Buckley and Sagan faced off but doesn’t mention anyone else, and I’m sure there were others. But it was 25 years ago. Anyway, Sagan thoroughly impressed me that night.

]]> By: Kelley http://kelleyeskridge.com/pale-blue-dot/comment-page-1/#comment-6086 Kelley Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:25:01 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=821#comment-6086 Glad you like it. The DVDs of the <em>Cosmos</em> series are well worth the trouble to find, if you've not seen it. You get something extraordinary like this about every 10 minutes or so... Glad you like it. The DVDs of the Cosmos series are well worth the trouble to find, if you’ve not seen it. You get something extraordinary like this about every 10 minutes or so…

]]> By: J http://kelleyeskridge.com/pale-blue-dot/comment-page-1/#comment-6084 J Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:10:52 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=821#comment-6084 That's awesome. Never seen it before. It's like therapy. Thanks. That’s awesome. Never seen it before. It’s like therapy. Thanks.

]]> By: Kelley http://kelleyeskridge.com/pale-blue-dot/comment-page-1/#comment-6081 Kelley Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:48:58 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=821#comment-6081 I remember that phrase! Thanks for the reminder. Just one of many beautiful things he said. I remember that phrase! Thanks for the reminder. Just one of many beautiful things he said.

]]> By: karina http://kelleyeskridge.com/pale-blue-dot/comment-page-1/#comment-6075 karina Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:25:32 +0000 http://kelleyeskridge.com/?p=821#comment-6075 OMG! I love Cosmos. I got the collection on DVD for my birthday five years ago, then it was stolen and I just had to have it again this summer for another birthday. When I was in elementary school, I was sort of glad I went down with mumps so I could stay home and watch Carl Sagan on TV. One of my favorite phrases of his is, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself." It gives me hope and fills me with a sense of wonder. It also makes me sad sometimes, that we aren't really living up to it, especially when I look around and realize we spend more time trying to produce more junk to buy and trash than we do getting to know ourselves, fellow planet inhabitants and everything beyond. Thanks for sharing this clip. It brings good memories. OMG! I love Cosmos. I got the collection on DVD for my birthday five years ago, then it was stolen and I just had to have it again this summer for another birthday.

When I was in elementary school, I was sort of glad I went down with mumps so I could stay home and watch Carl Sagan on TV. One of my favorite phrases of his is, “We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” It gives me hope and fills me with a sense of wonder. It also makes me sad sometimes, that we aren’t really living up to it, especially when I look around and realize we spend more time trying to produce more junk to buy and trash than we do getting to know ourselves, fellow planet inhabitants and everything beyond.

Thanks for sharing this clip. It brings good memories.

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