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[Feb. 28th, 2009|08:14 pm] |
Who was it who said that you don't understand a part of physics until you can explain it to a non-physicist? Sagan was superb at this, as was Feynman.
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| "He stopped doing his homework!" |
[Feb. 15th, 2009|11:32 am] |
Here's to those of us who think too much. A clip from Woody Allen's film, Annie Hall, that I thought others here might get a kick out of as well. And really his Mom is right...what is that our business? Ha!
( transcribed dialog ) |
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| One of my favorite Carl Sagan quotes |
[Jan. 23rd, 2009|02:56 am] |
"In science it often happens that scientists say, "You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken," and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion."
-- Carl Sagan |
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| Cosmos Stuff |
[Jan. 13th, 2009|10:23 pm] |
The Science Channel has a Cosmos page with lots of info on Sagan's series, quizzes on how much you remember, an interview with Ann Druyan, a forum, etc... some cool stuff.
There's a slick flash applet but it didn't load in my Firefox for some reason. It did load in IE though. Could just be my install. *shrug*
Located [here] |
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| Project_Argus |
[Jan. 1st, 2009|07:16 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | contact | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  chipper | ] |
Hello all! I've been a Carl Sagan fan for a good while, after watching "Contact" and reading his original novel. It's become one of my all-time favorite stories, and I've gone and made a community for "Contact," ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) project_argus. I hope other fans here might stop on by and give it a jump start! It's just a day old; made on the anniversary of Activation Day of The Machine. ;)Hopefully it'll see growth and good activity in the future!
project_argus Searching for Patterns In The Chaos... A "Contact" Livejournal Community. |
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| Where & When Did You Discover Sagan? |
[Dec. 28th, 2008|05:36 am] |
You know, in the grand scheme of space and time, for whatever that's worth.
I was around four years old and it was PBS (Public Broadcasting Station) in New York, USA. I don't know if that's an absurd age (mind you I began reading X-men comics at nine), but I really liked science young and understood much of what he said through multiple viewings, remaining fascinated by the fundamental concepts running the universe to this day. Had I not known of him until older, I'm sure I probably would have still felt similar -- there's a kind of charisma and lack of pretense that attracts.
Later on I read that there were (are?) scientists who resented Carl Sagan for "popularizing" science, though I don't know a lot about that or understand why. At any rate, I thank him for betting that there just might be a child in a simple home somewhere who could be changed in positive ways by watching a television program in their living room.
________
________
Other than Mr. Sagan, who is a "popularized" scientist/astronomer that you admire?
Do you think any have managed, with respect, to fill Mr. Sagan's shoes? |
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| First-timer, up with an odd one. |
[Nov. 14th, 2008|12:30 pm] |
This is an odd question, and I apologize if it is considered inapporpriate or off-topic, but I have to ask...
In the movie "Contact," Dr. Arroway wears a ring that looks as though it had belonged to her father. It's a silver ring with a round blue stone. I have been determined to find a ring like this since first seeing the movie. Two years ago, I succeeded in finding an almost identical ring at a county fair, but earlier this year, the stone fell out and I never saw it again. I would like to find another ring like this, but I haven't found one anywhere.
Being that I'm likely to find other fans of "Contact" in this community, I thought maybe someone else might know the ring in question and have an idea as to where I might find one similar? I'd like to pick one up for myself as a present for the Holidays.
Any help is appreciated.
Again, my apologies if this is considered and inappropriate post.
P.S. OH MY GOODNESS, CARL SAGAN COMMUNITY!!!! |
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| Free Evolution and Science dvds! |
[Apr. 9th, 2008|02:53 pm] |
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute offers free dvds which contain lectures on various topics, from AIDS, to evolution. Two of them are of interest to you guys:
- Evolution: Fossils, Genes, and Mousetraps
- Evolution: Constant Change and Common Threads
The first is a lecture by Kenneth Miller, and it is a basic introduction to evolution lecture. He also criticizes Michael Behe's irreducibly complex arguments, and even shows a few clips from the Colbert Report. He also argues for the compatability of religion and science. The second dvd has four lectures (each an hour long) going over the basics of evolution, and explaining the mechanisms of it. It also includes a 70 minute discussion on whether evolution and science is compatable with religion. The production quality is fantastic, and the sound and picture quality are perfect.
And they're completely free (no shipping charge as well). I suggest ordering x3 of these so that you can hand some out to relatives, random fundies, etc. They also have other amazing lectures on RNA, AIDS, and tons more issues.
Here's the link to the Free Howard Hughes Catalogue of dvds and videos.
And help spread the link around! |
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| Pale Blue Dot |
[Nov. 9th, 2007|11:44 am] |
Today would have been Carl Sagan's seventy-third birthday.
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| Pale Blue Dot |
[Sep. 7th, 2007|12:46 pm] |
A YouTube tribute to Carl Sagan and some of his philosophy. Definitely makes you think. Wonderful perspective.
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| Maintainer Asking a Favor :) |
[Apr. 9th, 2007|05:29 pm] |
If you think of it, could you please use [tags] in your posts from now on? I've enabled them for use by all users.
This will allow us to easily search subjects and review archived posts on any given subject.
Thank you! |
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| Contact |
[Mar. 28th, 2007|05:18 pm] |
132 new icons from one of my all-time favorite movies, Contact.
  
The rest are here at dork_icons. Please remember to comment and credit. |
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| Space Science is in Trouble! |
[Jan. 6th, 2007|05:49 pm] |
Click here to sign a petition to George Bush to stop cutting space science programs!
Some of the program cuts and delays include:
Europa mission development is cancelled.
The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) development is cancelled.
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is
cancelled.
The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) is delayed.
The Juno mission is stretched out and delayed.
NASA’s Mars program was cut 40% in the past year, despite the enormous
success of the Mars Exploration Rovers
Click here to view a pdf fact sheet of all the projects cut or delayed.
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