It's not feeling very springlike around here - stormy, wet with flash flood warnings, the odd tornado watch, but the grass is growing and greening, at last, and trees are budding.....so it must really be spring!
For winter's rains and ruins are over,
And all the season of snows and sins;
The days dividing lover and lover,
The light that loses, the night that wins;
And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.
~ Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909)
Atalanta in Calydon (1865)
Neil deGrasse Tyson is the 21st century's version of the late Carl Sagan. A guy who has that rare talent of engaging, educating and entrancing an audience of people quite unversed in science and astrophysics, with never a hint of pomposity or talking down. He's obviously in love with his subject - the mark of greatness in any teacher or communicator.
He had some contact with Carl Sagan: (From Wiki):
For Astro fans: Dr. Tyson has Sun/Mercury and Venus in Libra.....his charming presentation style! Neptune/Jupiter in Scorpio, his dedication and passion for the subject. Moon somewhere in the first half of Cancer - his sensitivity to his audience. Saturn in Sagittarius, Mars in Gemini.
I came across this video yesterday. Watching it helps to wash away side-effects of the Santorums of this world. It's appropriate, too, for this day of equinox:
For winter's rains and ruins are over,
And all the season of snows and sins;
The days dividing lover and lover,
The light that loses, the night that wins;
And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.
~ Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909)
Atalanta in Calydon (1865)
Neil deGrasse Tyson is the 21st century's version of the late Carl Sagan. A guy who has that rare talent of engaging, educating and entrancing an audience of people quite unversed in science and astrophysics, with never a hint of pomposity or talking down. He's obviously in love with his subject - the mark of greatness in any teacher or communicator.He had some contact with Carl Sagan: (From Wiki):
Astronomer Carl Sagan, who was a faculty member at Cornell University, tried to recruit Tyson to Cornell for undergraduate studies. During an interview with writer Daniel Simone, Tyson said, "Interestingly, when I applied to Cornell, my application dripped of my passion for the study and research of the Universe. Somehow the admissions office brought my application to the attention of the late Dr. Sagan, and he actually took the initiative and care to contact me. He was very inspirational and a most powerful influence. Dr. Sagan was as great as the universe, an effective mentor." But Tyson chose to attend Harvard University, where he majored in physics ...
For Astro fans: Dr. Tyson has Sun/Mercury and Venus in Libra.....his charming presentation style! Neptune/Jupiter in Scorpio, his dedication and passion for the subject. Moon somewhere in the first half of Cancer - his sensitivity to his audience. Saturn in Sagittarius, Mars in Gemini.
I came across this video yesterday. Watching it helps to wash away side-effects of the Santorums of this world. It's appropriate, too, for this day of equinox:
10 comments:
wash away side-effects of the Santorums
You'll be voting for Romney then, Twilight?
GP: Very nice presentation. As you say, T. Takes one away from politicians (any) and their (so) human fabrics of lies and distortions.
Often I thought if science and understanding of the origins of what exists were more prominent in people's minds, there would be no need of religions and their more modern succesors like political parties and money minded "do-gooders".
"all the fundamental ingredients of life"
er.... not quite. Like all scientists he forgets to include 'life' which is not inherent in any of these so called ingredients and because he cannot fit it into his theories he quietly ignores it.
Here is 700+ pages of scientific heresy-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Irreducible-Mind-Toward-Psychology-Century/dp/1442202068/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332258291&sr=1-1
Among the authors' conclusions is that the quantum theory of physics has completely undermined all scientific theories in every discipline and we can no longer be sure about anything. They also point out that this is such a shocking idea that most have turned away rather than confront it.
:)
hope you are well Twilight and that your computer is behaving itself :)
James Higham ~
I haven't decided who to vote for yet - too far ahead.
I'm wondering whether to take the late, much-lamented, George Carlin's advice:
"I have solved this political dilemma in a very direct way: I don't vote. On Election Day, I stay home. I firmly believe that if you vote, you have no right to complain. Now, some people like to twist that around. They say, 'If you don't vote, you have no right to complain,' but where's the logic in that? If you vote, and you elect dishonest, incompetent politicians, and they get into office and screw everything up, you are responsible for what they have done. You voted them in. You caused the problem. You have no right to complain. I, on the other hand, who did not vote -- who did not even leave the house on Election Day -- am in no way responsible for that these politicians have done and have every right to complain about the mess that you created."
Anonymous/Gian Paul ~~ So true, GP, so true! :-)
JD ~~ Hi! Well now, let's give Dr Tyson a bit of leeway, this tiny video doesn't tell the whole story.
He might well have thoughts on the issue you raise.
I'd say that "life" happens when the various elements interacted - causing (for want of a better word) sparks. Consciousness, as we call it, evolved from those sparks. That's one idea.
It's a question to which we'll never know the answer, not really. Some might have faith in their own answers - but faith isn't fact. I'm staying as a "don't know".
Thanks, yes, computer is behaving, so far. My new Norton 360 caught a
malware re-direction type thingie just 10 minutes ago from a link at Google - something that previously would have had me tearing my hair out!
"My new Norton 360 "
I am not familiar with that particular motorcycle. I remember the 600 and the 750, but a 360?
:)
Was there ever such a need for Spring as this year, T? :)
I saw this Tyson speech on another journal I subscribe to.
Wondrous reminders of our very origins.
XO
WWW
JD ~~~ Hmmmm - I did wonder why it came with a crash helmet.
;-)
Wisewebwoman ~~ Yes we need our springs more than ever now (minus tornado activity though!)
I've seen Neil deGrasse Tyson a few times on TV, both presenting something of his own and on chat shows. I've been impressed every single time.....just as I used to be with Carl Sagan. :-)
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