An article on NY Times just reminded me how much I miss Carl. I read everything he ever published years ago, even the gigantic volume Cosmos; especially Cosmos, actually. That book changed my brain. I even bought the 12 DVD Cosmos television series, long before I could really afford to buy such things. It was %100 worth it. But as great as he was at explaining science to the dumb masses (hee get it? Dumb-masses?) like me, he was also in posession of a deep philosophical mind and had the gift of imparting his ideas with a forthrightness and compassion that others don't even understand that they're missing. The Demon-Haunted World is fantastic, and does a much better job of delineating the problems facing science vs. religion than Dawkins in all his shrillness could hope to achieve. I can't wait to pick up the new book his widow just published from writings he left behind. He was an impeccable scientist, although to my knowledge he never won a Nobel prize for any of his work, and he was an impressive humanitarian, though he never won a Nobel there, either. (He did win other various lesser scientific and humanitarian awards, however.) Unfortunately, there is no category for him, as his particular gift was a combination of those things, a calm implacable manner, and a gift for explaining complicated ideas in an extremely engaging and understandable way. He was just awesome, is all I'm trying to say, and I wish he was on the scene today.
That's all. Going to Cambodia tomorrow.
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Tuesday, February 13, 2007
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he also liked the ganja - so that makes him ok in my book... No really I liked carl sagan a lot too. Cosmos should be required viewing.
Posted by: Gary | Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at 13:18
Word. It was required reading in my house as a kid. I could never get over his madcap turtlenecks! That guy!
Posted by: Heather | Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at 13:23
The fact that you're having a Holiday in Cambodia has been cracking me up for three days. Hoo hoo!
Posted by: Heather | Wednesday, February 14, 2007 at 23:00
Cosmos damn well would be required reading & viewing, if I was president of everything.
Holiday in Cambodia! Yee haw dude, and I totally just went to see the killing fields today too! Awesome!
Um, not.
Posted by: messiestobjects | Thursday, February 15, 2007 at 05:37
Holiday in Cambodia
Posted by: Heather | Thursday, February 15, 2007 at 09:38